THE POPE AND IRELAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 96, 27 February 1875, Page 7

THE POPE AND IRELAND.

Hib 'Eminence Cabdinai Ctoleit ha^ng recently sent a sum of £2,600 to his Holiness the Pope, as the contribution of the Catholics of the archdiocese, his Holiness, in reply, sent to his Eminence the following letter, which was read on Sunday in the churches and chapels : — Beloved Son, Health and Apostolic Benediction — Although your sincere attachment and devotion, as well as that of your clergy and faithful people, to us and this Apostolic See, were already well-known and proved on many occasions ; yet, dearly beloved sou, the dutiful tribute of filial piety which, in. your name and that of your flock, you have lately conveyed to us in yoiu* affectionate letter, with its accompanying offering, did not afford us the less pleasure and gratification. On the contrary, we received these repeated testimonies of your love with the greater good-will and gratitude, inasmuch as they clearly proceed from sincere faith and affection, and put in the strongest light I the constant zeal with which you and your flock strive to help us in our tribulations. Besides, in receiving these new marks of your affectionate respect, our consolation was largely increased by the x*epeatcd assurances given iv your letter of the fervor with which your Catholic people pour forth assiduous prayers for us and the Church, and of the zeal and alacrity with which, in their straitened circumstances, they abound in works of piety and charity, and contribute to erect and support good and useful institutions, thus showing forth the strength and ardour of a faith which actively worketh through charity. From the bottom of our heart in all those things wo thank God, the author of all good, who gives such strength to His children ; and we earnestly beseech Him to fortify more and more every day their good resolutions, and also to bless with abundant fruits yoiir own pastoral exertions and cares. And here, dearly beloved son, we cannot but bestow the highest praise on you and your colleagues, the Bishops of Ireland, who, in order to provide for the salvation of your faithful people, unhesitatingly raised your vo es in condemnation of the nefarious doctrines lately delivered to tlio public in your Catholic country, under the preten c of promoting science, by unbelieving men. We firmly trust that yotu- pious flocks, listening with docility to the voice of their pastors, will ever keep aloof from such poisonous pastures, and imitate the steadfastness of their forefathers, who constantly and willingly j submitted to the greatest and severest trials and affliction rather than consent to be stripped of their precious treasure of the faith by enemies, of whom St. Maximus of Turin says, "Nothing is to be dreaded so much as spiritual pirater, who make it a trade to despoil not merely the bodies but also the souls' of men ; who strive to make prey not so much of earthly gold as of the gold of faith ; who plunder their victims not so much of worldly wealth as of the wisdom of Christ." Hence, knowing the great clangers to which Catholic cducatiom among you is exposed, we earnestly beseech the Father of Mercy to look -with a propitious eye on the youth of the country, and by His protection to preserve their faith safe from dangers and evils. For the rest, imploring an abundance of all heavenly graces on you and your clergy, and all the faithful confided to your care, we bestow, most lovingly and with all our hoart, upon you and them our Apostolic benediction, as a presage of those graces, and as a plodgc of our special love and gratitude. Given at Rome, at St. Peter's on the 11th November, 1574-, iv the Twenty -ninth year of our Pontificate. — ' Dublin Freeman.'