HIS L0KD8HIP THE BISHOP OF OTTAWA

Announcing His Approaching Vistt to Eome.

JOSEPH THOMAS DÏÏHAMEL,

By the mercv of God and the favourof the Holy Apostolic See? Bishop of Ottawa.

7b the Clergy, to the Religions Communities and to ait the

failli/ni of the Diocèse of Ottawa. — Health and Bénédiction in Our Lord .

Our Dearly Beloved Brethren,

St. Mark tells us (c. vi, 30) that the Apostles, returning from a mission fulfillêd, came together tinto Jésus and related to Ilim ail things they haddone and taught : Et convenientes apostoli ad Jesum, renuntiaverunt ci oui nia quae egerant et docuerant.

As the Apostles did on the occasion related by <1ki red writer, so it is the duty of Bishops also to do They arerequired to repair from time to time to Rome, the Eternal City, and presenl themselves before the Vicar of Jésus ( Ihrist.

Thèse visits, besides having an object of pious gratification, are made for the purpose of proclaiming aloud the unity that exists between the Pope and ail the Bishops of the world. The iîrst pastors of diocèses take this advanta^e, as in duty bound, to give évidence of their fidelity to the Holy See and of their devotedness to the personofthe Sovereign PontifF. They profit too of their stay in the Capital of the Catholic world, to report on the condition of the churches which they administer, and on the faith and morals of the clergy and people intrusted to their care.

The time has corne for Us, Dearly Beloved Brethren, to fulfill this obligation, and betake Ourselves ad limina apostolorum.

Already twice hâve We visited the parishes and missions of this Diocèse, after the manner of the Grood Shepherd, that We might know and be known to Our flock ; to break the bread of the word of Grod for the children of the Cfmrch ; to communicate to them the gifts of the Holy Grhost ; to be informed of their wants. An easy task then shall be Our's to render an account of what is done, in this portion of the vineyard of the Father of the Household, for the glory of God and the salvation of soûls.

Moreover, at this particular time, when a new Pope has just ascended the Chair of Peter, is it not meet, if not necessary, that we should draw closer and firmer the bonds that unité us to the Apostolic See ?

Therefore will We visit Rome. Our departure is fixed for the eighth of October next. We will approach the center of Catholic unity, the focus of sacerdotal zeal, that true zeal which should fill every pastor's soûl. There is not in the whole world a more favorable place wherein to meditate the virtues of Our

holy state and the grave obligations with which We are charged. Already We hail thee from afar, Chair of Peter indéfectible in the faith, immortal Throne unshaken by the révolutions of âges ! Oh ! how We long, O Holy Roman Church, to corne and make, to thy universal supremacy, the offering of filial love and unswervingattachment !

But yet there is grief mingled with Our joy. The Church sufFereth persécution, — wicked men would enslave her. How sorrowful the spectacle We shall hâve to contemplate ! It is only within a prison, for such his palace has become, that We may throw Ourselves at the feet of the Successor of St. Peter. We shall behold Léo XIII despoiled of his goods, a pensioner upon the alms of the faithful, exposed to the insults and calumnies of the wicked. But to Us his person shall be ail the more august and sacred. And may the homage which We will offer him relieve his soûl somewhat of its load of anguish !

We will acquaint him of the zeal of the priests and of the piety of the Catholics of this Diocèse. We will tell him how the ctargy understand and fui fi 11 the duties confided to them ; We will tell him too with what docility the iaithful submit to their spiritual guides. We will assure him that in ail your prayers you beseech the Sacred Heart of Jésus to grant him length of years, and to the Church final triumph. Then shall We return io continue Our sacred ministry in your midst.

But before beginning Our pious pilgrimage, W»1 feel the want, and are prompted to solicit the assistance of your prayers.

Wherefore, the holy name of G-od being invoked and Our trust placed in the Immaculate Virgin, We

hâve ordained and decreed, and ¥e now ordain and decree as follows :

lo. Sunday, the 6th October next, at the end of mass, both inparishes and Religions Commnnities, shall be snng the Litany of the Blessed Yirgin, to place Our voyage nnder the protection of the Star of the sea.

2o. On and after the 6th October next, to obtain snccess for the religions affairs of the Diocèse, ail priests shall sing or recite, according to the rnbrics, the prayer Pro quacumque necessitate ; and We ask ail the faithfnl and the members of ail Religions Commnnities to offer one or several commnnions for the same end.

3o. "We appoint the Very Révérend Lanrent Jonvent Administrator of the Diocèse, both as regards temporal and spiritnal affairs, with ail the powers which We hâve already given him on the 14th Jannary, 1875, when appointing him Onr Yicar Greneral.

Shall the présent Pastoral Letter be read at the prone of parochial masses and at chapter in Religions Commnnities the first Snnday after its réception.

G-iven at Ottawa, nnder Onr hand and the seal of the Diocèse and connter-signed by Onr Secretary, the eighth day of September, one thonsand eight hnndred and seventy-eight, being the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Yirgin Mary.

t J. THOMAS, Bp. of Ottawa By Command,

M. J. Whelan,

Secretary.

ând. Séries, No. 8.

CIRCULAR TO THE CLERGY

Episcopal Résidence,

Ottawa, Sept. 8th, 1878.

Beloved Cooperators,

Another scholastical year has just commenced. Numerous pupils are rapidly filling the houses of higher éducation and elementary schools. Every where those who are devoted to the instruction of youth rival one another in zeal and ardor to insure the success of the great work that occupies them.

Thèse efforts should, undoubtedly, be seconded by the pastors of soûls, since it is their duty to continue the mission instituted by Our Divine Master when He said : Go, teach ail nations.

You will then judge it right, Beloved Cooperators, if I invite you to give this year again, and always, your whole attention and most constant care to the cause of éducation. Remind parents of the strict obligation for each one to instruct his children, or hâve them instructed, according to his condition and the means Providence has given him ; above ail, remind them that Religion demands that youth shall receive a Catholic éducation.

Spare no pains, Beloved Cooperators, to establish

Catholic schools and support them in the best manner possible. Frequently visit the schools of your parish. Thisis an excellent way of showing the interest you feel in the instruction of children, and of stimulating masters and mistresses to the serious performance of their task, often a thankless one, but which you can render more easy and agréable by the advice, counsels and encouragement your visits will bring them.

Remember always that in this country, as ( verywherelse, it is of paramount necessity that childlen should be trained from their tenderest years to lead a pratical life of rectitude and virtue. The impious use many means to seduce, and lay clever snares to tear away the young from the bosom of the Church ; they even offer lavish bribes in gold. Is it not Our duty, as pastors of soûls, to préserve them in the Church ? They will remain true to Our Holy Mother if they receive a solid Christian éducation at school. To work then, Beloved Cooperators, to work ! It is to labor, not to stand idle, that we heve become priests. Yoracious wolves scektosnatch away anddevourfhe little lambs of the flock of Jésus Christ. Shepherds ! protect them at the cost of your repose, and even at the risk of your life.

With the présent Circular you will receive a little pamphlet intitled : la Petite Œuvre du Cœur de Jésus. Eead it attentively, and you will find therein indicated a means to save those little lambs from the jaws of the wolf.

I entreat you, believing it to be expédient, to preach frequently on the love and submission they should bear towards the Church, who profess to be her children. You will find an occasion in opposing

those disorders that are so fatal to faith and moral s. For ins ance, you will warn your people that rnixed marriages are rather tolerated than permitted by the Church, and remind them that they who, notwithstanding the threats of the Church, contract marriage before a Protestant minister, are guilty of mortal sin. Also explain to them the reasons for which the Church has established certain impediments of marriage, and induce them at the same time to conform to the conditions required of those who wish to obtain dispen-

sations, etc. etc

The last point deserves spécial attention. But, in order that this duty may be the more easily performed by you, especialy when parties intending to marry bc;ar with impatience delay, occasioned by the necessity of waiting until a dispcnsation of bans can be obtaiued from the Bishop or his Vicar Greneral, I grant to ail parish priests, acting parish priests and missioners, the faculty of dispensing even with the three bans of marriage, for any canonical reason.

The prayer Pro Papa is replaced by that which I hâve ordered in my Pastoral Letter, No. 7. Let us not, however, forget that ail the clergy and faithful should frequently oiier to Gi-od fervrent supplications for the Sovereign PontifF, that the Almighty may grant him an abandance of His grâces, with strength toovercome his enemies and obtain triumph for the Church.

Please notil'y your parishioners, not to présent themselves to the Bishop to ask l'or dispensations without m letter from their parish priest. This letter should explain eiactly whal dispensation is required and the canonical reasons forwhichit maylx4 granted.

I hâve accorded, and in so far as necessary, hereby accord to ail the Révérend Oblate Fathers, ordinary jurisdiction to hear confessions and to preach throughout the whole extent of the Diocèse of Ottawa. Parish priests and other priests acting as such, requiring their services, may therefore apply to their Superiors, no other spécial authorization of the Ordinary being necessary.

Accept, Beloved Cooperators, the assurance of my entire devotedness.

t J. Thomas, Bp. of Ottawa.

2nd Séries, No. 9.

PASTORAL L.ETTER.

OF