TEXTE ET TRADUCTION

January 19, 1896, Archbishop's Ilouse, Westminster S. W.

My dear Father,

I rejoice to learn that at last some one has been again found to put forward the need of an apostolate of prayer for the conversion of England — and to do this from thorough conviction that it is the chief means given to us whereby to attain the end. You will see what has been my own mind on this subject by the address which I delivered some years ago upon « The conversion of England by prayer » — which I hâve had sent to you. The Holy Father's Letter ad Anglos has completely justified my own conviction, or rather I should say the conviction of St Paul of the Cross, of F. Igna-

tius Spencer, of Cardinal Wiseman, that prayer is our weapon. The conversion of soûls is preeminently the work of grâce : arguments, controversy and human persuasiveness are feeble instruments and of themselves totally inadéquate ; whereas prayer touches the heart of God himself. Dextera Domini fecit virtuterriy dextera Domini exaltavit me.

Upon the publication of the Letter ad Anglos I fprmed a Board for the purpose of sending the prayer appended to that apostolic Letter to ail the clergy and religions men and women throughout the world, and of inviting them to pray continually for the conversion of England. When in France last year, I agreed with the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris, with the Bishop of Poitiers and some others upon a plan of procédure. Unfortunately a multiplicity of pressing affairs hâve up to the présent caused a delay. That delay has been permitted perhaps by Providence, until the publication of your book, until men's minds are now fuUy prepared for the invitation.

I welcome your coopération, dear Rev. Father. You hâve known England well : you are

able to speak from expérience. I greatly value your well directed zeal. I hope you will urge forward in France the apostolate of prayer for the conversion of England, as a work of singular efficacy.

I hâve no trust in the prophecy of a conversion en masse, It is not so that people like the English are converted. A couvert needs much instruction before he is thoroughly converted ; a conversion en masse might easily end in confusion en masse. But the conversion of soûls in units, just as they corne into the world and go out of it to their judgment in units, that is what I look for as the resuit of prayer and dévotion to our Lady.

In the times of the ancient British Ghurch the British Bishops sent over to Gaul for assistance against the inroads of heresy; in the time of St Augustine, France took her place in succouring the nascent Ghurch in England.

Your Bishop of Autun to this day uses the Pallium in virtue of a privilège granted to Autun by St Gregory the Great in 599 for the services which he rendered to St Augustine and his companions — the apostles of our

Ibrefathers. We cîtn never forget how the présent religious movement in England owes in great measure its origin to the wonderful example of piety, of disinterestedness , and faith, given by thousands of French Émigrés who came over to England at the end of the last century. And now I appeal through you to the Ghurch in France to come once more to our assistance, and by organised and persevering prayer to open the flood gâtes of heaven, and thus to obtain for us such a downpour of divine and efficacious grâce that England may once more return to the fold of Peter.

Wishing you every blessing, I am your faithful and devoted servant