DIVINA PROVIDENTIA

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LITTERiE APOSTOLIGiE QUIBUS EXTRAORDl- NARIUM JUBlLiEUM INDIGTTUR.

Venerabilibus Fratribus '^atriarchis^ Primatibus^ Archiepiscopis et Episcopis cum Apostolica

Sede Pacem et Communionem Habentibus et Dilectis Filiis

Universis Christi Fidelibus^ Salutem et Apostolicam

Benedictionem

LEO PP. XIII

Venerabiles Fratres et Dilegti Filii.

Militans Jesu Christi Ecclesia, quae hominum geiieri maxime potest salutem incolumitatemque prsestare, tam graviter in hac calamitate temporum exercetur, ut in novas quotidie procellas incurrat, vere comparanda cum Genesarethana illa navicula, quae, dum Ghrislufn Dominum ejusque discipulos olim veheret, maximis turbinibus ac lluctibus quatiebatur. Rêvera qui cum catholico nomine gerunt inimicitias, ii nunc numéro, viribus, consiliorum audacia praeter modum indolescunt ; neque salis habent doctrinas cœlestes palam abdicare, sed summa vi impetuque contendunt, ut Ecclesiam aut omnino a civili hominum consociatione repellant, aut saltem in publica populorum vita nihil posse cogant. Ex quo fit, ut illa in fungendo munere, quod ab Autore suo divinitus accepit, magnis undique se difficultatibus implicatam slz retardatam sentiat.

Nefarise hnjus conjurationis acerbissimi fructus iil Pontificem Romanum maxime redimdant; cui quidem, legitimis juribus suis dejectoatque in exercendis maximis muneribus multitimodis impedito, figura qusedaui regise majestatis, quasi per iudibrium, relinquitur. Quapropter Nos, divinse Providentise consilio in hoc sacrse potestatis fastigio collocati, Ecclesiseque universse procuratione districti,et jamdiu sentimus et ssepe diximus, quantum hœc, in quam Nos temporum vices compulerunt, aspera sit et calamitosa conditio. Gommemorare singula nolumus : verumtamen manifesta sunt omnibus quse in hac Urbe Nostra plures jam annos geruntur. Hic enim in ipso catholicse veritatis centro sanctitati religionis illuditur, et dignitas Apostolicse Sedis Iseditur, et in crebas profligatorum hominum injurias pontiûcia majestas objicitur.

Erepta potestati Nostrse plura sunt, quse Decessores Nostri pie liberaliterque instituerant,ac successoribus suis inviolate servanda transmiserant ; neque temperatum est, quin jura Isederentur sacri Instituti christiano nomini propagande ; quod quidem non de religione solum, sed etiam de humanitate gentium prseclare meritum, nulla unquam vis superiorum temporum violaverat. Templa catholici ritus clausa vel profanata non pauca, hseretici ritus multiplicata ; doctrinse pravitas scribendo agendoqueimpune diffusa. Qui rerum summa potiti sunt, dant ssepe operam constituendis legibus in Ecclesiam nonemque catholicum injuriosis : idque in conspectu Nostro, quorum curse omnes ex Dei ipsius mandato vigilare in eo debent, ut christiana res incolumis et Ecclesice jura salva sint.

Nullo autem respectu ad illam, quse est in Romano Pontifice, docendi potestatem,ab ipsa institutione juventutis auctoritatem Nostram intercludunt ; ac si Nobis est permissum,quod nulli privatorum inierdicitur, in institutionem adolescentium scholas sumptibus Nostris aperire, in eas ipsas legum civilium vis et severitas invadit. Quarum rerum funesto spectaculo multo vehementius commovemur, quod succurrendi facultas, quam maxime op-

iaremus, Kobis non suppetit. In polestate enim sumus verius inimicorum quam Nostra ; atque illa ipsa, qiise Nobis conceditur, nsura libertatis, cum eripi aut imminui alieno possit arMtrio, certum non habet stabilitatis constantiseque firmamentiim.

Interea quotidiano rerum iisii manifestum est, malorum contagionem magis magisque serpere per reliquum christinse reipublicse corpus, et ad plnres pro'^pagari. Etenim aversse ab Ecclesia gentes in miserias incidunt quotidie majores ; atque ubi semel extincta aut debilitata Mes catholica sit, finitimum est iter ad opinionum insaniam rerumqae novarum cupiditatem. Ejus autem, qui Dei vices in terris gerit, maxima et nobilissima potestate contempta, perspicnum est nuUos hominum auctoritati frenos superesse tam validos qui possint indomitos perduellium spiritus compescere aut ardorem démentis libertatis in multitudine coercere. Atque his de causis civilis hominum societas, etsi magnas jam calamitates sascepit, majorum tamen periculorum suspicione terretur.

Quo igitur Ecclesia queat inimicorum conatus refutare suumque mu nus, utilitatis omnium causa perficere, multum laboret necesse est multumque contendat. In hoc autem certamine vehementi et vario, in quo de divina agitur gloria, et de sainte animarum sempiterna dimicatur, frustra esset omnis hominum virtus et indnstria, nisi cœlestia documenta snppeditarentur opportuna temporibus. Quare in tu .\ldis afïlictisque christiani nominis rébus hoc semper laborum ac sollicitudinum perfugium esse consuevit, summis precibus a Deo postulare, ut opitularetur laboranti Ecclesise suse, impertiretque depugnandi virtutem, triumphandi potestatem. Hune igitui Nos prseclarum morem discipiinamque majorum imitati, cum probe intelligamus, tanto Deum magis esse exorabilem, quanto in hominibos major est vis pœnitendi gratiseque cum eo reconciliandse voluntas, idcirco, cœlestis prsesidii impetrandi atque animorum juvandorum causa, sacrum Jubilaeum extraordinem catholico orbi per has Litteras Nostras indicimus. ,

Itaque de Omnipotentis Dei misericordia, ac beatoruni Apostolorum Pétri et Pauli auctoritate confisi, ex illa ligandi atqiie solvendi potestate, qiiam Nobis Dominus licet indignis contulit, iiniversis et singulis utriusque sexus Ghristi fidelibus plenissimam peccatorum omnium indulgentiam, ad instar generalis Jubilai, concedimus, si modo effecerint, qui in Europa agunt, a proximo die 19 hujus mensis Martii, sacro ob memoriam Sancti Josephi Beatse Marise Virginis Sponsi, ad diem primum NovembriSj solemnem ob memoriam cœlestum universorum inclusive ; qui vero extra Europam, ab eodem proximo die 19 hujus Martii usque ad postremum diem labentis anni MDGGGLXXXI inclusive, quse infra prsecepta sunt : scilicet quotquot sunt Romse cives vel hospites Basilicam Lateranensem, item Vaticanamet Liberianambisadeant, ibique per aliquod temporis spatium pro catholicse Ecolesise et hujus Apostolicse Sedis prosperitate et exaltatione, pro extirpatione hseresum omniumque errantium couversione, pro christianorum Principum concordia ac totius fidelis populi pace et unitate secundum mentem Nostram pias ad Deum preces effundant: iidem uno die esurialibus tantum cibis utentes jejunent, prseter dies in quadragesimali indulto non comprehensos, aut alias simili stricti juris jejunio ex prsecepto Ecclesiae consecratos : prseterea peccata sua rite confessi sanctissimum Eucharistise sacramentum suseipiant, atque eleemosynse nomine in pium aliquod opus quidquam conférant.

Qua in re ea Instituta nominatim commemoramus, quorum tuitionem caritati Ghristianorum haud ita pridem per Litteras commendavimus, nimirum Propagationem Fidei^ Sacram Jesu Christi Infantiam et Scholas Orientis ; quas quidem in remotis etiam et silvestribus plagis instituere et provehere, ut pares necessitatibus sint, optatissimum Nobis destinatumque in animo est. G^eteri vero omnes extra Urbem ubicumque degentes, tria templa ab Ordinariis locorum vel eorum Vicariis seu OfTicialibus aut de eorum mandato et, ipsis deficientibus, per eos qui

ibi ciiram animarum exercent designanda, bis, vel si duo tantum sint templa, ter autsi unLim,sexies, dicto temporis intervallo, adeant ; item alia opéra, quse supra commemorata sunt, peragant. Quam indulgentiam etiam animabus, quse Deo in caritate conjunctse ex hac vita misgraverint, per modum suffragii applicari posse volumus. Praeterea locorum Ordinariis indulgemus, ut Gapitulis et Congregationibus tam ssecularium quam regularium, sodalitatibus, confraternitatibus; univ^rsitatibus, seu collegiis quibuscumque memoratasEcclesias processionaliter visitantibus, easdem visitationes ad minorem numerum pro suo prudenti arbitrio reducere queant.

Goncedimus vero, ut navigantes et iter agentes, ubi ad sua domicilia, seu alio ad certam stationem sese receperint, visitata sexies Ecclesia majore aut parochiali, ceterisque operibus, quse supra prsescripta sunt, rite peractis, eamdem indulgentiam consequi possint Regularibus vero personis utriusque sexus, etiam in claustris perpetuo degentibus, nec non aliis quibuscumque tam laicis, quam ecclesiasticis, ssecularibus vel regularibus, qui carcere, infirmitate corporis, aut alia qualibet justa caussa impediantur, quominus memorata opéra, vol eorum aliqua praestent, concedimus atque indulgemus, ut ea Confessarius in alia pietatis opéra commutare possit, vel aliud proximum tempus prorogare, facta etiam potestate dispensandi super Gommunione cum pueris nondum ad primam Gommunionem admissis.

Insuper universis et singulis Ghristi fidelibus, tam laicis quam ecclesiasticis, ssecularibus ac regularibus cujusvis Ordininis et Instituti etiam specialiter nominandi, facultatem concedimus, ut sibi ad hune aSectum eligere possint quemcumque presbyterum Gonfessarium tam ssecularem quam regularem ex actu approbatum ; qua facultate uti possint etiam Moniales, Novitise, ailiœque mulieres intra claustra degentes, dummodo Gonfessarius approbatus sit pro Monialibus. Gonfessariis autem, hac occasione et durante hujus Jubilaei tempore tantum.

omnes illas ipsissimas facilitâtes largimur, qiiae a Nobis tributae foere in alio Jubilœo concesso per Nostras Litteras Apostolicas datas die XV. mensis Februarii anno MDGGGLXXIX., quœ incipiunt " Pontifices Maximi^'' ils tamen omnibus semper exceptis, qu?e in iisdem litteris a Nobis excepta fuere.

Quo autem frucLus salutares, qui Nobis propositi sunt^ ex hoc sacro jubila30 tiitius alque uberins percipiantur, hoc magnopere studeant universi, ut magnam Dei matrem prœcipuo per id tempus obsequio cuUuque demereantur. Tpsum autem sacrum Jubiheum in tutelacn fidemqiie Iradimiis ac commendamus sancto Josepho, castissimo Beatœ Virginis Marine Sponso, quem gloriosse recordationis Pius IX. P. M. totius Ecclesi^e Patronum declaravit, et ciijus opem snppliciter qnotide implorari ab omnibus Christi fidelibus optamiis. Pi'œterea cunctos hortamur, ut peregrinationes suscipere piettais causa velint ad sanctorum cœiitum œdes, quœ peculiari regione in variis regionibussanctœ ac venerabiles haberi consueverint; quas inter in Italia prœstat sacrosancta Virginis Marit*© Lauretanai domus, quam altissimorum mysteriorum memoria commendat.

Quapropter in virtiite sanctœ obedientise prœcipimus atque mandamus omnibus et sin .^ulisOrdinariis locorum, eorum Vicariis et Offîcialîbus, vei ipsis deficientibus, illis qui curam animarum excercent, ut cum praesentium Litterai'um Iramsumpta a ut exempta etiam impressa acceperint, illa in sua quisque dictione publicanda curent, populisque etiam verbi Dei prsedicatione, quoadfieri possit, rite prœparatis, Ecclesiam seu Ecclesias visitandas ut supra désignent.

Ut autem prsesentes Litterœ, quse ad singula loca deferri nequeunt, ad omnium notitiam facilius deveniant, volumus ut prœsentium transumptis vel exemplis etiam impressis, manu aliciijus Notarii publici subscriptis, et sigillo munitis personœ in dignitate ecclesiastica constitutse, ubicumque locorum eadem prorsus fides habeatur,

qu3e haberetur ipsis prsesentibus, si forent exhibitse vel ostensse.

Datiim Romae apad S. Petrum sub annulo Piscatoris die XIL Martii A. MDGGGLXXXI., Pontificatus Nostri anno Quarto.

LEO PP. XIII

ENCYCLICAL LETTER PROCLAIMING A JUBILEE.

The Apostolic Letter of Our Holy Father Léo XIII., to ail Patriarchs, Primates, Arclibishops and Bishops in peace and communion with the Apostolic See; and to ail who, faithful to Christ, are Our Beloved Ghildren : Greeting, and the Apostolic Bénédiction : —

LEO PP. XIII

Vénérable Brelhren and Beloved Sons :

The Church Militant of Jésus Christ, which in the highest degree gives prosperity and soundness of condition to the human race, is so tried in the wretched state of the présent times, that, falling from storm into storm, as days succeed each other, she may well recall to memory the Bark on the Sea of Genesareth, bearing indeed Christ, the Lord, and His disciples, but fearfully tossed by winds and waves.

In very deed, they, in numbers, in the powers they seek to combine, and in the insolence of their designs, are pufTed up beyond example, who are making war on the very name of Catholic. Nor does it suffice for them to abjure the heavenly doctrines, but with force and violence they strive, either to repel the Church altogether from the civil commerce of men ; or, at least, to render null her power on the public life of peoples. Whence is found how, in performing the obligation she received from her Divine Author, she finds herself, and ever more and more, hampered and hindered by great embarrassments.

The bitterest results of this criminal conspiracy fall, in an especial manner, on the Roman PontifF. A shadow of régal majesty is left him, as a robe of mockery ; but he is displaced from his legitimate rights, and trammel-

led in a multitude of ways in discharging his most important functions. Wherefore we, placed by Divine Providence in this highest place of the sacred power, and bound to provide for the whole Churçh, hâve long felt, and often said, how harsh and misérable is the condition into which we hâve been forced. It is not our wish to give détails; but every one knows what has been perpetrated in this, Our City, (Urbe Nostra). For hère, in the very Centre of Catholic Truth, the holiness of Religion is derided, and the dignity of the Apostolic See is v^ounded, and the Pontifical Majesty is subjected to insults ever recurring — by corrupt men. Our rights are robbed of many beneficent Institutions held by our Predecessors, by pious endowments, and transmitted by them, from Successor to Successor, to be held as sacred trusts.

They hâve not stopped short of invading the rights of the Institute for the Propagation of the Christian Beligion; which, not only on religious account, but as deserving well of men as men, no previous prevailing force ever had violated. We see not a few Catholic churches closed, or profaned ; heretical rites multiplied ; wicked doctrines spread, without censure, by writings, and by speech, Those who hold sovereign power often giving aid to the enactment of laws hurtfuU to the Church and to the Catholic name ; and that in our very présence, whose every care, by the command of God Himself, ought to be to watch over the safety of the Christian Commonwealth, and the integrity of the Church's rights.

But paying no regard to that power to teach that rests in the Roman Pontiff, they shut off our authority from the very éducation of youth ; and if it is permitted us — as it is forbidden to no private person — to open at our own expense schools for the éducation of youth, the civil laws, by force and violence invade even thèse.

"We are much the more deeply troubled at the sad sight of thèse things, because the means of coming to the rescue, which we would exceedingly wish, are not at hand.

Aiid that very usage of liberty yielded us, has not a solid and sure resting basis, since it may be crippled or altogether taken away by the will of another.

By the practices that are in vogue it is very clear, meanwhile, that the plague is creepiug more and more through the rest of the body of the Christian Gommonwealth, and propagated afar. And, again ; Nations alienated from the Ghurch, are falling into w^retchednesses growing greater day by day. And where Gatholic Failh is extinct, or weakened, the border-road is laid towards a madness of théories ; and a greed of Revohitions. For it is clear that no reins can last strong enough to curb the wild spirits of social conspiracies, {indomilos perducl^ Hum spiritus compescere^) or to repress the flame of unbridled license, among the masses of people, if that most chief, and grandest, power is coutemned, that is held by the Vicar of God on earth. And so the commerce of human society, though already it has received very rude shocks, stands in dread ; looking out for yet greater périls.

Because, then, the Ghurch seeks to baffle her enemies, and to discharge her duty for the good of ail, she must do hard work, and stand on the bieach of the battle-field, The contest is fierce, and of varied marks. Always, the protection of the Divine Honor, on one liand ; and, on the other, the eternal salvation of soûls, is in question. Vain the cleverness and skill of men, were not helps from Heaven to corne down fitting to the times.

Because in times of trouble and sorrow for the Christian name, it is a practice of long date to ask of God, by most effective prayers, as the accustomed refuge for labors and cares, that lie would vouchsafe to His Ghurch that is in labor, strength for the conflict, and power for triumph.

Following, therefore, this renowned usage and custom of Our Predecessors; and knowing well that God is alvi^ays the more ready to hear as men are more ready to do penance, and hâve the better will of reconciling

themselves with Him, therefore, to help soûls, and to invoke Heavenly aid ; We Proclaim, in this Encyclical, an Extraordinary Holy Jubilee, for the whole world,

Relying therefore on the mercy of God Omnipotent, and on the authority of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul ; We grant, out of that power of binding and loosing which the Lord has conferred on us notwithstanding our unworthiness, in the form of a General Jubilee to ail and each of the faithful of Christ, of either sex, a most full indulgence for ail their sins, if only they shall hâve fulfiled the conditions, those in Europe between the nineteenth of March présent, sacred to the memory of St. Joseph the Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the first day of November, devoted to the memory of AU the Saints; and those outside of Europe, from the same nineteenth of March to the last day of the présent year, both days inclusive ; that those résident or visiting Rome shall twice hâve visited the Basilicas of the Vatican, the Lateran, and the Liberian ; and there prayed to God for sonie length of time, according to Our intention, for the prosperity and exaltation of the Gatholic Church and of this Apostolic See, for the extirpation of hérésies, and for the conversion of ail who are in error ; and that the same shall fast on strictly meagre food for one day outside of the days not embraced in the Lenten indulgence, or otherwise consecrated to a fast of the strict rule, by precept of the Church ; and, moreover, having duly confessed their sins shall receive the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, and in the title of alms shall give something to some pious work.Under which head we mention by name those Institutes whose fostering we hâve commended, not for the first time in this letter, to the charity of Christians, namely, the Propagation of the Faith; the Sacred Childhood of Jésus Christ, and the Schools of the East ; the providing and promoting of which, in distant and désert régions as necessity urges, is according to our mind a most desired object.

And ail others, wheresoever dwelling outside of Rome^ mast visit three churches or chapels, ('' templa ") twice ; or, if there be only Iwo churches, thrice ; and if but one church, then six times, within the aforesaid space of time ; and perform the other works above pointed oui. The churches to be visited are to be designated by the Ordinaries of Diocèses, their Vicars, or Administrators, or by their command ; and in default of any such, by those having charge of soûls, in such districts.

This Indulgence we will may be applied, in the way of suffrage, also to soûls that hâve passed from this life united in love to God. We grant to Ordinaries, Ghapters, and Gongregations, Secular and Regular, to Sodalities, Gonfraternities, Universities or GoUeges whatsoever, visiting the said churches in solemn procession, that they may reduce the number of the visits to a lesser, at their discrétion.

And to travellers by sea or land, we grant that, complying with the other duties prescribed, they can make their visits when at their own domicile, or at any place where they are stopping, by visiting any principal, or parochial church six times ; and gain, as others, their Jubilee.

But to Regulars of either sex, perpetually cloistered ; and to ail others, laies or clerics, seculars or regulars, hindered by imprisonment, sickness, or whatever other reasonable cause from fulfilling the works above enumerated, or some of them ; We grant and indulge, that the Gonfessor may commute thèse into other works df piety; or prorogue their fulfillment to another time, — not distant,—and the faculty for dispensing from Gommunion children not yet admitted to First Gommunion.

And farther, to ail and to each of the faithful of Ghrist laie or cleiic, seculars or regulars, of whatever Order or Gongregation — even of those that claim a spécial right to be named — we grant the right that, for this Jubilee [ad hune effectum]^ the may choose, as Gonfessor,

any Priest whomsoever, of those approved to hear cori-' fessions of such. Nuns, Novices, and other women in cloisters;— only Ihe Gonfessor miist be one having faculties for hearing confessions of nuns. But to Confessors, for this occasion only, and for the time of this Jubilee, we extend ail those same faculties that were granted by us in Our Apostolic Letter of February 15, MDGCGLXXIX., beginning : " Pontifices Maximi ; " — those things excepted, however, which we excepted in that Letter.

But that the salutary fruits that we intend, by this sacred Jubilee, may more surely and fruitfuUy be obtained, let ail the Faithful strive that they may win the patronage of the Great Mother of God, by a conspicuous homage and worship rendered her, especially during this Jubilee time.

And this sacred Jubilee we give and commend to the guardianship and care of Saint Joseph, the most chaste Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom Pope PiuslX., of glorious memory, declared Patron of the Ghurch Universal ; and whose help we wish to be implored daily by Gatholics in their supplications. Besides, we exhort ail to multiply pilgrimages, piously undertaken, to shrines of saints that, in varions régions, hâve been held in especial veneratian ; among which, in Italy, stands prééminent, the House of Loretto, of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, consecrated by the memory of highest mysteries.

Whereupon, in force of holy obédience, we prescribe, and command ail and every of Ordinaries of places, their Vicars and Administrators, and thèse failing, those having care of soûls, that, this Letter received, copied, or even printed, each one shall take care to hâve it published in his jurisdiction, and shall designate the church, or churches to be visited by people, so far as possible, carefuUy prepared by preaching the word of God.

But that this présent Letter which may fail to reach every place, may come more readily to the knowledge of ail, it is Our will that transcripts of it, or even printed

copies, subscribed by an y of Our Public Notariés, and with the seal of any person in Ecclesiastical position, in any of thèse places, shall hâve the same vahdity as if this very Letter were shown or exhibited.

Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, iinder the Ring oT the Fisherman, March 12, An. MDGGGLXXXI, of our Pontificale the fourth year.

LEO, PP. XllI.

cx:Ee.ou.x i A J-:R.Ei

DE

MGR. L'EVEQUE DE MONTREAL

Au Clergé de son Diocèse.

to. Voyages de i)laisir, etc. — 1o. Jubilé. — ."îo. Litanies. — io. Reliques. — 5o. Comptes fies Fabriques. — Go. Itinéraire de la Visite- Pastorale

EvECiiK DE Montréal, 29 Mai 1881.