Circular by the Bishop of Christchurch

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 35, 27 August 1903, Page 19

Circular by the Bishop of Christchurch

The Presbytery, Kumara, August 20, 1903. Very Rev. and Rev. dear Fathers, and dearly beloved children in Christ,— ' *• T . he '.! or f ov y into whicn w e were recently plunged by the death of the great and saintly Pontiff, Leo XIII has now given place to unbounded joy. Hardly had the last solemn rites been performed over the remains of the Pope, whose loss we, with the whole of Christendom, so justly deplored, than the Almighty gave us another manifest proof of His tender watchfulness over His Church.

Whilst from all parts of the world the wildest conjectures were being made as to the result of the Conclave, the children of the Church were full of confidence in the action of the Holy Spirit. Earnest in prayer and supplication to the throne of the Most High they besought Him, Who had promised to be with His Church to the end of time, to guide and direct the assembled Cardinals, that, laying aside all worldly considerations, they might choose a worthy, successor to the illustrious Leo XIII.

Our prayers have been heard, and we have the consolation to know that the choice of the Conclave, or rather heaven's choice, has fallen on a most learned and holy PontiS in the person of Joseph Sarto, Cardinal Patriarch of Venice No sooner was the will of God made known to him than the newly elected took the name of Pius X.

The Christian and civilised world seem to be unanimous in applauding this choice. As faithful children of the Church, and loyally devoted to the Chair of St. Peter, 'tis our bounden duty to return heartfelt thanks for his happy election, whilst fervently praying that the divinely appointed Vicar of Christ, the lawful successor of St. Peter, may long be spared to rule over, guide, and direct the flock committed to his keeping. On the occasion of the Papal election his Grace the Archbishop of Wellington cabled to the Sovereign Pontiff the united congratulations of the hierarchy, clergy, and faithful of the province. A most gracious answer has been received, expressne of the Holy Father's pleasure in receiving this filial homage from his children in New Zealand, to whom he sends a most cordial blessing. To give public expression to our joy and a practical proof of our interest in the welfare of the new Pope we desire. (1) That in every church and chapel of the diocese a solemn 'Te Deum, 1 with the prescribed versicles and prayers, be sung after the piincipal Mass and Benediction on one of the Sundays during the month of September or October. (2) In places where a solemn ' Te Deum ' cannot be sung, the hve Glonous mysteries of the Rosary shall be publicly recited morning and evening instead, with any other lawfully approved prayers of thanksgi\mg (3) Where it can be properly carried out, the Most Blessed Sacrament may be solemnly exposed from the principal Mass till after Benediction on the same day. (1) Until further notice the prayer for the Pope, ' Deus omnium fidelium,' shall be said or sung at e\ery Mass and Benedict ion whenever the rubrics will allow it (5) A recent decree of the Congregation of llites, confirmed by the late lamented Pontiff, directs that the invocation, ' Mater bom consilii, ora pro nobis' (Mother of good counsel, pray for us ') be inserted in the Litany of Loretto immediately after that of ' Mater Admirabilis,' (' Mother most admirable, pray for us.') We hope to return to Chnstchurch the first week in September. That the blessing of our Holy Father the Pope may be a source of renewed grace in time, and additional glory throughout eternity is the earnest wish of Yours devotedly in Christ, %. J. J. GRIMES, S.M., Bishop of Christchurch.