Christmas Congratulations to the Pope. An Important Speech.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 193, 5 March 1887, Page 8

Christmas Congratulations to the Pope. An Important Speech.

Ok Thursday, before Christmas, the Popereceived in the morning, in private audience, all the members of his household, who presented him with their Christmas wishes. At noon the same day his Holiness gave audience in the throne room of theVatican to all the Cardinals present in Rome. Cardinal Sacconi, Dean of the Sacred College, presented a suitable address in the name of his eminent colleagues with all the auguries for the solemn and happy Christmas season. The Holy Fatherresponded with an important speech,, from which the following passages are extracted :- " The part which the Sacred College, through the mouth of their dean, take in our trials, and the auguries of better times offered to us on the glad recurrence of the Christmas holy days, we accept with feelings of extreme gratification ; % and wo return the most fervent wishes for - every most desirable prosperity for all the members of the Sacred College. May the joy diffused from the Divine Redeemer's, cradle penetrate all hearts and strengthen them amid the anguish and apprehension of the present disturbed times and fill them with the courage of heavenly consolation, whereof, > to say the truth, wealsofeelacutely the need. It in not, as we have bad already occaeion to eay. that we are afflicted and embitteredat the daily insults and affronts against our person. When these are borne for the.* Church and for justice, they have in .themselves potent reasons for supernatural comfort. That which vexes us in the most lively manner is the even more cruel war waged against the Catholic Cburch and against the divine institution of the Papacy. We deplore bitterly, as is just, all that to , their injury is committed in other, even Catholic, nations ; and we do not cease to < do what the Apostolic duty imposee. upon us for defending and watching over everywhere the sacred righta of God and the Church. But most deeply touches and pains us what is happening in Italy and in Rome against Catholicism and the privileged seat of' Christ's Vicar, where inimical strokes areso much the more serious, as they. strike more directly the supreme power, to which is closelj bound the good, the life, and the social action of the Church of the World. Now, our causes of complaint have for some time increased beyond measure. Under all kinds of pretexts are apparent still heavier measures against the Church, Her most beneficent institutions, her doctrine?-, ministers, rights — nothing -is spared. Fresh laws are threatened, which while they strike at the little property left to the Church, aim at favouring lay interference in ecclesiastical matters, with all the disastrous consequences therefrom proceeding. All arms are whetted against Christian education ', not only are Catholic principles to be eliminated from it, there are even those who openly clamour for antiCatholic instruction. Effects of increasing hostility also are the odious measures recently taken against the poor and harmless nuns, worthy of all compassion, who are deprived of the companionship and help of persons dear to them, who had freely elected to dwell with them in their modest retreats. But the furious attacks of all, and the most implacable -hatred of inimical eocta, are directed against the supreme Pontificate foundation stone of the Church. It is enough to ?ay that they dare publicly to denounce it as the enemy of Italy in all oge9, with the application of low and mocking epithets the tongue refuses to repeat. What wonder, then, if the Pontifical dignity is insulted in various Italian cities ? The worst sign of the times is, that these displays of hate and fury have taken place without auy attempt bein&made to hinder them. What safety then, what kind of liberty ia left us in tbe exercise of the Apostolic ministry ? They say, it is true, anu repeat continually, that under the present condition we are not hindered in the government of the Church. What of that ? The Popea governed the Church in the first centuries, in the midst of persecution. They governed her as they best could, even in prison and in exile. But thia proves her divine power, not the freedom enjoyed in those times by the Pontiff*. But then, if not wholly hindered, is not this government rendered always more difficult to us ? Does not the increasing end making more difficult the obstacles of its exercise depend upon the will of those in power ? Hence it is evidently impossible we can suit ourselves to the present condition of things. We feel it our duty to renew our most formal protestations against both former and present attacks, and to assert tbe rights of the Ohurch and the Apostolic See to our independent guardianship. Our trust is in God, to whom are subject all human events. May he benignantly listen to our human prayera and those of Catholicism in these days of grace and mercy ; and deign to satisfy our ardent petitions " The Pope concluded with the Apostolic Benediction upon all the cnrdinals, archbiahops, bishops, and others there present.