THE RO-ARY OF MARY

Pope Leo's Encyclical to the Faithful.

To our Vénérable Brothers the Pcàriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Ordinaries in peace and communion with the Apostolic See :

tion.

LEO XIII, POPE

Vénérable Brothers, health and Apostolic Benedic-

How important it is both for public and private interests that dévotion to the most august Virgin Mary should be maintained assiduously and spread with ever growing zeal, will be understood by every body who reflects on the eminent position of honor and glory in which God has placed Mary. From ail eternity He chose lier to become the mother of the Word who was to clothe Himself in human flesh. He so distinguished lier, too, from among ail that is most beautiful in the three orders of nature, of grâce and of glory that the Church justly attributes to this Virgin the following . words : " I came out of the mouth of the Most High, the firstborn before ail créatures." (Eccl xxiv., 5)

Then after the âges had begun their course, after the parents of the human race had fajlen into sin and ail

their posterity became marked with the same stain, Mary became the pledge of the re-establishment of peace and salvation.

The only son of God lavished upon His most holy Mother wonderful tokens of honor. During His hidden life He took the Virgin as auxilary in the first two miracles He performed — one a miracle of grâce by which Elizabeth's babe leaped in her womb when Mary saluted lier; the other a miracle of nature by which Jésus changed water into wine at the marriage of Cana. And afterward, when Christ, at the end of His public life, cstablished the New Testament, which must be signed with His Divine Blood, He confided the Blessed Virgin to the beloved apostle with thèse sweet words, " Behold Thy mother." (John, xix., 27).

Wherefore We, who, ail unworthy as We are, represent hère below the Son of God, will never, as long as the light shines for us, cease to celebrate the praises of such a mother. Knowing well that by reason of Our advanced âge this period will not be long, We cannot help repeating to Our brothers in Jésus Christ, ail and singly, those last words which He Himself, nailed to the cross, left us as His testament : " Behold your mother."

We shall consider ail our aspirations crowned if the resuit of Our exhortations be that dévotion to Mary becomes nearer and dearer than aught beside to every one of the faithful, and if it be given to ail Christians to attribute to themselves the words which John wrote of himself : " The disciple took her to his own." (John xix., 27.)

On the approach of the month of October, We were unwilling, Vénérable Brothers, to fail to write to you again this year ; with our utmost ardor we exhort each one of you anew to merit grâce for yourselves and for the Church militant by the récital of the Rosary. This species of prayers seems in the Providence of God to hâve taken on a marvellous growth at the end of this century, in order that by its means the flagging piety of the faithful might be stimulated, as witness those temples,

those noted and renowned shrines consecrated to the service of the Mother of God.

In the month of May we offered flowers to this divine Mother, and now we would" that October, the month of fruits, be employed by ail to honor her with a spécial dévotion and affection. For it is fitting that thèse two seasons should be consecrated to her who has said of herself : " My flowers are the fruit of honor and riches." (Eccl. xxiv., 23.)

Those bonds conimon to the formation of which men are generally inclined, hâve never, perhaps, been so binding as in our own days, nor sought after with such warm and universal ardor. None can complain that this natural leaning, which is in itself a most notable one, is often diverted from its true end and turned to evil. We do indeed witness différent combinations of groups of impious men who join effort " against the Lord and His Christ." (Ps. ii., 2.) Yet it is observable (and very agreeable is this to us) that among Catholics pious associations are better appreciated than they were, that they are more numerous in the Church, that the bonds of charity unité ail the faithful as in a common home, and, so to speak, establish them to such a degree that they may be truly called and that they seëm in reality to be " brethren."

On the other hand suppress the charity of Christ and no::e can take glory in this name or in this union. Tertullian once vigorously expressed this truth in thèse terms : " We are y our brothers by nature because we hâve but one mother, although you be hardly men, seeing that you are wicked brothers. But how much more justly are they called brothers and recognized as such who acknowledge one God, who hâve imbibed one spirit of holiness, who from the one womb of like ignorance hâve passed amid terrors to the one light of truth."

Catholics are wont to establish under manifold forms those sa utary societies of which we speak. Such are clubs, rural banks, gatherings held on feast days for the récréation of the mind, patronages for youth, confrater-

nities and many other unions founded for excellent ends. In truth, ail thèse institutions, though secmingly of récent origin, owing to their names, forms and tbeir particular and immédiate ends, are in reality very old. It is, indeed, certain that associations of this kind are to be found at the very beginning of Cbristianity. But in the course of time they were confîrmed by law, distinguisbed by insignia, endowed with privilèges, devoted to service in the churches, consecrated to the wants of soûl and body ; they received différent names at différent epochs. To such an extent did they increase with the passing of centuries that in Italy especially there is not a district or town, and hardly a parish which does not contain several, or at least, one society of this kind.

Amid thèse groupings We hâve no hésitation in assiging the place of honor to the confraternity known as that of the Most Holy Rosary, for, considered in its origin it is distinguisbed above ail similar institutions by its antiquity, since it bas had for its founder Dominick himself. Taking account of its privilèges it bas, thanks to the munificence of our predecessors, obtained them in the largest possible numbers.

The forai, and, so to say the soûl, of this institution is the Rosary of Mary, the virtue of which we hâve elsewhere explained at length, but the power and efficacy of this same Rosary, regarded as an obligation imposed on the members of the confraternity to which it has given its name, are especially important.

Nobody is unaware how necessary it is for ail men to pray, not that the Divine décisions may be modified, but that, as Gregory puts it, " men, by asking, may merit to receive what Almighty God has decreed from ail âges to give them." — (Dialog. 1. 8.) Augustine, too, has said : " He who knows how to pray well knows how to live well." — (In Ps. cxviii.) But prayers are especially effioacious in obtaining heavenly aid when made publicly, with persévérance and union, by a great number of the faithful, in such wise that they who pray form, as it were, one choir, This is very clearly shown in thèse

words of the Acts of the Apostles where it is said that the disciples of Christ, awaiting the promised Holy Spirit " persevered unanimously in prayer." (Acts i., 14.) Those who employ this method of praying can never fail to obtain fruit.

Now this is precisely the case of the associâtes of the Holy Rosary. Just as the priests, by the recitation of the Divine office, beseech God publicly, constantly and most efficaciously, so too, the prayers of the associâtes in reciting the Rosary, or, as se vei al Roman Pontiffs hâve named it, the " Psalter of the Virgin," are in a sensé public, unceasing and coir^on.

And as public prayers kre, as we hâve said, préférable to private prayers and hâve a greater power of impetration, the confraternity of the Holy Rosary has been styled by ecclesiastical writers as " the suppliant host, gathered by Father Dominick under the standards ot the Glorious Mother" — that mother whom the Holy Scriptures and the history of the Church salute as " She who has vanquished the devil and triumphed over ail errors." In truth, the Rosary of Mary does unité the faithful who practice this dévotion by a common tie similar to that which exists between brothers or among soldiers lodge in the same tent. Thus is constituted a well disciplined army, most potent against ail enemies from without or within.

The members of this pious association may thenjustly apply to themselves those words of St. Cyprian : " We hâve a public and common prayer, and when we pray it is not for one alone, but for ail the people, because we are ail the people united." — (De Orat. Domin.)

Moreover, the annals of the Church prove the efficacy of such prayers by recalling the defeat of the Turkish troops near the Echinades, and the brilliant victories gained in the last century over the same people at Ternes var, in Hungary, and in Corfu. Gregory XIII. perpetuatcd the memory of the first of thèse triumphs and instituted a feast in honor of Mary of Victories. Subsequently, our predecessor, Clément XL, put this

solemnity under the title of the Rosary and decreed that it should be celebrated every year troughout the Church.

From the very fact that this suppliant host is " recruited under the standard of the divine Mary," a new merit and a new honor redound upon her.

The fréquent répétition of the " Angelical Salutation " after the " Lord's Prayer," in the recitation of the Rosary, tends mainly to this end. At first sight it might seem as though this répétition is in a sensé incompatible with the honor due to the Divinity, and that it créâtes a danger of giving some foundation to the belief that we place greater confidence in the patronage of Mary than in the Divine power. But the real effect is so différent that, on the contra ry, nothing more easily touches God and makes Him propitious to us.

For, Catholic faith teaches us that we should address our prayers not only to God, but to the blessed and to the inhabitants of heaven (Trent Sess., xxv.), tbough the manner of supplication should differ, since it is the source of ail blessings that we invoke in God, whereas, we look upon His holy ones as intercessors. " Prayer," says St. Thomas, " may be two fold." We may ask a person for something which he himself can give us, or we may beg him to obtain something for us from another. To God alone ascends prayers of the first category, for ail our prayers should be subordinated to the obtaining of grâce and glory, which God alone gives, according to what is said in Psalm lxxxiii., 12th verse : " The Lord will give grâce and glory." But prayers of the second kind are addressed to the saints, to the angels and to men, not to make our requests known to God by them. but in order that our prayers may be heard through the merits of intercession. Hence it is that we read in the Apocalypse, chapter viii, fourth verse, that " The smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel." (St. Th., 2a., 2ae., q. lxxxiii., a, iv.)

Now who, of ail the dwellers in the abode of the elect

would dare to prétend to rivalry in nierit with the august Mary of God ? Who sees more clearly in the Eternal Word the pains that weigh upon us, the wants which besiege us. To whom lias been given greater power to touch the Divinity ? Who can equal her effusions of maternai tenderness ? Hence it is lhat although we do not pray to the blessed inhabitants of heaven as we pray to God — " for we ask the Holy Trinity to hâve mercy on us and ail the saints to pray for us " (ib) — yet our manner of imploring the Virgin lias something in common with dévotion to God. so that the Church supplicates the Virgin with the same words she uses to supplicate God : " Hâve mercy on sinners "

The members of the confraternifcies of the Holy Rosary are doing an excellent work in weaving wreaths of prayer, as it were of roses, to Mary. So high is the greatness of Mary, so powerful the favor she enjoys with God, that not to hâve recourse to her in need is to attempt to fly without wings.

The association of which we speak has another quality about which we must not be silent. Whenever we meditate in the récital of the rosary of Mary on the mysteries of our salvation we imita te as closely as possible that most holy office once entrusted to the heavenly host of angels. They revealed successively and in due time, those mysteries, thep played a great part in them, they added to them their pious présence, at one time afflicted, at another triumphant.

Gabriel was sent to the Virgin to announce the incarnation of the Word Eternal. Angels celebrated the birth of th Saviour in the cave of Bethlehem. It was an angel who warned Joseph to take flight and to withdraw into Egypt with the Child. In the garden of Olives, when Jésus overwhelmed with grief, saw the sweat of blood ooze out from ail His body, it was an angel who reverently consoled Him. When He came forth from the sepulchre triumphing over death it was angels who announced the fact to the holy wonien. Angels reveal the truth that Jésus has ascended to

heaven and proclaim that He will return thence, surrounded by the heavenly hosts with whom He will join the elect to lead them to the celestial choirs over which the holy Mother of God lias been exalted.

It is, then, to those who recite in coramon the pions prayer of the Rosary that are best applicable the words which the Apostle Paul addressed to the new disciples of Christ : " You are corne to Mount SiDn, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jérusalem, and to the company of many thousands of angels " (Heb xii., 22). For what is there more glorious or sweeter to dwell upon than the thought of praying in company with the angels ? What hope, what confidence may one conceive of enjoying in heaven the blessed society of the angels when one has, as it were, helped them on earth to fulfil their office !

For thèse reasons the Roman Pontiffs hâve always lavished the most exalted praise on an association so devoted to Mary. Innocent VIII, calls it " the most devout confraternity " ( Splendor paternœ glor la, 26th Feb., 1891); to its efficacy Pius V. attributes the foilowing results : " The faithful of Christ are suddenly changed into other men ; the darkness of heresy is dissipated and the light of Catholic faith revealed " (Consîiëverunt R. R. P. P., I7th Sept., 1569); Sixtus V., noting how usetul this institution has been to religion, avows his own zeal for the Rosary. Many other Pontiffs, too, either enriched this dévotion with the most abundant and honorable indulgences, or took it under spécial protection by giving fb a name or by according to it divers proofs of their benevolence.

Stimulated by the example of our predecessors, we, too, vénérable brothers, fervently exhort and encourage you, as we hâve often before done, to cherish with especial solicitude this sacred host, in such wise that it may, thanks to your efforts, see a daily increase of effective membership enrolled under its standard ; that, by your concurrence and that of those of the clergy under your charge to whom the care of soûls is chielly intrusted,

the mass of the people may arrive at a true knowledge and appréciation of the virtues of this association and of its utility for the eternal salvation of rnen. We urge this the more earnestly since, within quite récent times, there has been a reblossoming of one of those forms of dévotion to the Mother of God in the Rosary — the " Perpétuai Rosary." We heartilly bless this institution and earnestly désire you to consecrate your zeal and activity to its increase.

We entertain a most lively hope that the praises and prayers of the Rosary will prove most powerful when, issuing from the lips and hearts of a great multitude, they go on unceasingly, and when day and night alternate in the différent régions of the globe the continuous concert of prayerful voices rises in harmony with méditation on divine things. The continuity of prayer and praise was désigna ted many centuries ago by those divine words addressed to Judith in a canticle of Ozias : " Blessed art thou by the Lord, the most high God, above ail women upon earth, because lie hath so magnified thy name this day that thy praise shall not départ out of the mouth of men." And ail the people of Israël acclaimed thèse words, crying out : " So be it, So be it ! "

And now, as a pledge of heavenly favor and in testimony of our paternal love, we grant the Apostolic Bénédiction most affectionately in the Lord to \ ourselves, vénérable brothers, to your clergy, and to ail the people confided to your faith and vigilance.

Given at Rome at St. Peter 's, on the 12th of September, 1897, in the twentieth year of our pontifîcate.

Léo xiil, Pope.

5ième série — No. 49.

CIRCULAIRE AU CLERGE

Archevêché d'Ottawa, le 8 octobre 1897.

Reconstruction des églises de South Casselman et South Indian.

Chers Coopérateurs,

Vous savez, sans doute, que les villages de South Casselman et de South Indian ont été complètement détruits, mardi dernier, par un terrible incendie.

Les flammes, dans leur sauvage fureur et leur prompte activité, ont fait cette œuvre de destruction en fort peu de temps, à peine trois heures. A peu près toutes les maisons et leurs dépendances, et ce qu'elles renfermaient ont été consumées jusque dans les fondements ; l'église de South Indian, l'église, le presbytère et le couvent de fcouth Casselman sont en cendres : cloches et vases sacrés sauf un ciboire et un ostensoir, sont fondus ; il ne reste

plus un seul des ornements sacerdotaux, ni des linges nécessaires au culte divin. Le même feu a brûlé bon nombre d'habitations dans des localités voisines.

Cinq personnes de la mission de South Indian ont péri dans cette désastreuse conflagration. Je les recommande à vos plus ferventes prières.

Les autres incendiés n'ont sauvé que leur vie et les habits de travail qu'ils portaient au moment de l'affreux sinistre. Leur pauvreté est absolue, au moins pour le grand nombre, car le feu les a même privés des petites sommes d'argent qu'à l'approche de l'hiver ils avaient soigneusement renfermées dans des tiroirs ou cachées dans quelque coin de leurs demeures.

Cependant je suis heureux de vous dire que le Révérend J. H. Touchette a réussi à sauver le Saint-Sacrement, C'est pour lui et pour tous une grande consolation.

J'ai confiance que la charité publique ne fera pas défaut à ceux qui, aujourd'hui, se trouvent soumis à une si rude épreuve. Déjà, le Conseil Municipal de la ville d'Ottawa a généreusement voté une somme de mille piastres pour subvenir aux besoins les plus pressants ; la Compagnie du " Canada Atlantic " et des particuliers se sont empressés d'envoyer et à South Indian et à South Casselman des provisions de bouche, des couvertures, etc. Des appels à la charité ont été faits dans d'autres villes et il y a raison d'espérer les secours dont les pauvres victimes de l'incendie ont tant de besoin, comme je l'ai constaté moi-même sur les lieux.

Ce qui afflige surtout les catholiques de ces missions, c'est de se voir sans églises et sans moyens suffisants d'en bâtir d'autres. A peine étais-je arrivé au milieu d'eux qu'ils m'entourèrent pour me supplier de leur venir en aide pour l'œuvre de reconstruction. Comment rester ici, me disaient les uns, si nous ne pouvons rebâtir la maison de Dieu ! Nous quitterons immédiatement cette place, s'écriaient les autres, si nous ne pouvons espérer d'avoir bientôt une église ! Avant tout, ils veulent Dieu avec eux ! C'est bien là l'esprit de foi catholique !

Ils ont été consolés et encouragés lorsque je leur dis : l'architecte qui m'accompagne va, de suite, tracer les plans des nouvelles églises et la reconstruction se fera dès cet automne. Nous aiderons autant que nous pourrons ! dirent alors, dans la joie de leur cœur ces chrétiens si grandement éprouvés ; ils le dirent avec cette énergie que la vraie foi, seule, peut inspirer.

Lorsque les Compagnies d'assurance auront payé les sommes pour lesquelles les édifices religieux ont été assurés, toutes les dettes pourront être éteintes et il restera en main quelques centaines de piastres. Ceux qui ont échappé au feu souscriront un certain montant, selon leurs moyens. Mais leur pauvreté ne leur permettra pas de donner beaucoup.

Vous le voyez, Chers Coopérateurs, il nous faut leur venir en aide.

Après avoir consulté ceux d'entre vous que j'ai pu voir, je me suis décidé à ordonner une quête spéciale dans toutes les églises du diocèse.

Elle devra être annoncée le premier dimanche après la réception de la présente, et faite le dimanche suivant. Le produit en sera envoyé à M. le Procureur de l'Archevêché.

Que chacun veuille bien faire appel à la générosité de ses paroissiens, comme il voudrait que le feraient ses confrères s'il s'agissait de sa propre paroisse.

Agréez, Chers Coopérateurs, l'assurance de mon entier dévouement en J. M. J.

f J. THOMAS, Archev. d'Ottawa.

5ième série — No. 50.

CIRCULAIRE AU CLERGE

Archevêché d'Ottawa, le 28 octobre 1897.

/ — Orati&ad petendam pluviam.

II — Rapports annuels, quêtes, contributions, etc. III — Lettres et autres documents à conserver dans les archives.

Chers Coopérateurs,

Les feux de forêts ne sont pas encore éteints ; ils continuent leur œuvre de destruction. 11 est temps de prier le ciel de faire cesser ce fléau. J'ordonne donc que les prêtres disent, à la messe, lorsque la rubrique le permet, l'oraison ad petendam pluviam, et tant qu'il sera nécessaire.

Ceux qui n'ont pas encore envoyé leurs Rapports annuels, le produit des quêtes et contributions, ou le montant du droit cathédratique, etc., devraient, ce me semble, réparer leur négligence sans délai. Je !es prie de remplir immédiatement cet important devoir.

Je rappelle à ceux qui l'ont oublié qu'ils doivent conserver soigneusement dans les archives toutes les lettres traitant d'affaires et tous autres documents qui leur sont adressés en qualité de curés, de missionnaires ou de desservants ; qu'il n'est permis à aucun, lorsqu'il change de paroisse ou de mission, de les emporter avec lui ; que tous ces documents officiels doivent être tenus en bon ordre et présentés à l'évêque lorsqu'il fait la visite pastorale, etc.

Agréez, Chers Coopérateurs, l'assurance de mon entier dévouement en J. M. J.

t J.-THOMAS, Archev, d'Ottawa.

5ième série — No. 52.

CIRCULAIRE AU CLERGE

Archevêché d'Ottawa, le 13 janvier 1897.

Encyclique Affari vos et Mandement de S. G. Mgr. L. N. Bégin, la publiant.

Chers Coopérateurs,

Avec la présente vous recevrez : lo. le texte, en anglais et en français, de l'Encyclique que Sa Sainteté le Pape Léon XIII vient d'adresser aux archevêques et évêques de tout le Canada, sur la question des écoles du Manitoba ; 2o. le Mandement de Mgr. L. N. Bégin, archevêque de Cyrène et administrateur du diocèse de

Québec, publiant dans les deux langues cette Encyclique. J'ai donné mon adhésion à ce Mandement et j'en ordonne la lecture, dans toutes les églises et chapelles où se fait l'office divin dans ce diocèse, et en chapitre ou en assemblée spéciale dans les communautés religieuses, le premier dimanche après sa réception. L'Encyclique devra être lue immédiatement après.

Cette lecture sera faite sans commentaires, mais vous exhorterez vos fidèles à l'écouter avec respect, avec l'intention bien arrêtée de suivre en tous points, l'enseignement du Vicaire de Jésus-Christ. Vous leur rappellerez que les évêques sont chargés de leur communiquer et de leur expliquer la parole pontificale, et que, sous aucun prétexte, les prêtres et les fidèles ne doivent s'écarter de la direction donnée par les premiers pasteurs inséparablement unis au Chef de l'Eglise.

Que tous fassent leur devoir ; que personne ne s'écarte des règles tracées par le Saint-Siège en 187(3 et en 1881, ainsi que par les décrets IX et XVIII, du IV et V Concile de Québec et de la circulaire des évêques portant la date du 11 octobre, 1887. Alors la vérité brillera aux yeux du peuple entier, le droit triomphera, et la paix promise aux hommes de bonne volonté régnera en notre cher pays.

Agréez, Chers Coopérateurs, l'assurance de mon entier dévouement en J. M. J.

f J.-THOMAS, Archev, d'Ottawa.

5ième série — No. 58.

CIRCULAIRE AU CLERGE

Archevêché d'Ottawa, le 3 février 1

Contributions et Quêtes.

Chers Coopérât et ths,

Vous trouverez ici les tableaux des contributions de chaque paroisse et mission aux différentes œuvres recommandées dans ce diocèse, ainsi que du montant des quêtes faites dans les églises, en L897, ainsi que des arrérages payés.

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