CONCLUSION

We read in the Old Testament that, after the captivity of Babylon, a certain number of Jews returned to Jérusalem, and set to work to rebuild the temple. The officers of Darius having asked them by virtue of what

authority tliey repaired the walls of their city, and built the temple, the Jews answered : We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth% and we are building his temple ; nos sumus servi Dei cœli et terrœ, et œdifcamus templum (I. Esd. 5. 11.).

We also, O. D. B. B., whom the grâce of baptism lias delivered from the captivity of sin, and made children of the Church, we are the servants of God, and we hâve to build, within our heart, a sanctuary to the divine majesty : Dei œdificatio estis [I. Cor. III. 9.]. The temple of God is holy : which you are, says St. Paul ; templum Dei sanctum est, quod estis vos [ibid. 17.]. The architect of this temple is Faith, and God, who has called you to this marvelloas light [I. Peter, IL 9.], has not granted it to you, to satisfy the curiosity of your mind, but to direct you in the work of your eternal salvation Having become by faith the children of God, you should also by faith live for God. He that believeth not shall be condemned, says Jésus Christ ; qui non crediderit, condemnabitur [Mark, XVI 16.] ; but faith ivithout works is dead, says St. James [IL 20.] ; fides sine operibus mortua est ; if therefore, O. D. B. B., you do not act conformably to the teachings of faith, if faith be not the rule of your desires, of your judgments, of your words and of ail your actions, your faith is dead, and cannot save you.

Undoubtedly, O. I). B. B. you must, for this, make some sacrifices ; but be not disheartened, says St. Paul, for that which is at présent momentary and light of our tribulation, worketh for us abovemeasure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal : but the things which are not seen are eternal: quœ videntur temporalia sunl, quœ autem non vidcntur œterna sanl (II Cor. IV. 10...). Dearly bcloved, says the apos-

tle S. John, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not y et appeared what we shall be, We know that, ivhen he shall appear, we shall be like to him, because we shall see him as he is. And every one that haih this hope in him sanctifieth himself as he also is holy ; omnis qui habet hanc spem in eo, sanctificat se, sicut et ille sanctus est (I John, III. 2...),

This faith and this hope shall hâve their consommation in charity, which forms the happiness of the elect in heaven, and then the mercies of the Lord we will sing for ever.

The grâce of our Lord Jésus Christ, and charity of

God, and the communication of the Holy Ghost be with

y ou ail ; gratia Domini Nosfri Jesu Christi et charitas

Dei et communicatio Sancti Spiritus sit cum omnibus

vobis. Amen. (II Cor. XIII. 13.)

The présent Pastoral Letter shall be read and explained at the prone of ail parishes and missions of this ecclesiastical province, and, in chapter, in the religious communities, after its réception.

Given at the Archbishoprick of Québec, under our signatures, the seal of the Archdiocese and the countersignature of the secretary of the archdiocese, on the twenty-sixth of May, one thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.

^ E.-A., ARCH. OF QUEBEC

ffr L.-F., BISH. OF THREE-RIVERS.