DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 30, 23 July 1903, Page 19

DUNEDIN

The following circular has been sent to the clergy of the diocese of Dunedin by his Lordship Bishop Verdon :—: — St. Joseph's Cathedral, Dunedin, July 21, 1903. Very Re\erend and Reverend Brethren,— With deep regret I announce to you the death of our holy and beloved Father in Christ, Pope Leo XIII. The Venerable and Illustrious Pontiff died on Monday, fortified by all the consolations which our Holy Religion can attend. His life was spent in the practice of cv cry wrtae His death was precious in the sight of the Lord

When we think ol his unceasing labors, his unafiected put}, his patience in Ihe midst of suueiintis, and his unsweiMiig fidelity to duty, we may confidently hope that so holy and useful a lite is e\en now receiving its reward in iiea\en Still, we should le uußrc-Uful childien ll we did not remember him in our prajers, and. no doubt >ou, \eiy Re\ and Re», Brethren, will oflei up the Ilo>v Sac nice as soon as possible, and e\hoi t \our Luthful people people to pray earnestly, lor the repose of his soul I ask voii, moreover, to cilehiate a hoduuni Ma<-s on next Monday, and to announce to voui flocks on Suiidav next, 1 lie houi at which the Ma'-s will Yo celebrated A Solemn Reqi'iein foi the eternal icprse of the late Pontifl's soul will be celebrated in St Joseph's Cathedral at 9 30 on Tuesday next

After ten day s ot mourning the Cardinals will enter C'onc'a\e to ciut a success^ to tie late illustrious PontifT It is oiii flu t \ to yid\ (arrest!y thi 1 1 t l c Holy Ghost may guide them m tie chtice of a worthy successor Dunng tht liiteiicgnrm von will say each day at Ma^s as pie<es l'npeiatae the Collects taken from the Alissa pio eligendo Suiinno Poiitificr, sede \ acant c, whic h may be found in the "Mi'-'-al alter the Missae Votivae de vS Maria —Wishing you e\eiv blessing, I am, \'ery Reveiend and Revoierd Biethren, ■^ ours smeeielv in Clinst, >{- M VERDON, Bishop of Dunedin. By direction of the Mayor the Town Hall flag was flown at lialt-m,->st out of respect to (he memory of the deceased Pont ill \s soon as U'f news of the Pope's death reached Dunedin the C.ii'.Miral was dmpod in black, the 101 l was tolled, a n >;■ i < n«it ion assembled, and prayeis lor. the deceased Poi ii wcic recited by Father iUurphv \1 a meetif; oi the Dunerlm branch of the Hibernian Society on Tuesday evening a resolution was passed iecoidmg the members' cieat sonow at the death of his Holiness, and deploring the loss of so holy, able, and eminent a Pontiff.