BY DIVIJSE PROVIDENCE POPE

Ta Ouf Vénérable Brethren the Patriarchs, Primates^

Archbiahops, and Bishops of the whole ivorld

in favor and communion wiih the

Apostolic See.

Vénérable Brethren,

Health and Apostolic Bénédiction.

We return thanks as it meet to the sovereign goodness of Grod, Whose will and providential wish governs the whole of men's lives. that the fiftieth anniversary of our priesheod has shown upon the Church. Moreover, the wonderful unanimitv of hearts displayed in tokens of respect, the libéral gifts, the public manifestations of readiness, is such as He alone could hâve inspired, on Whom entirely dépend the spirits, the wills, and the hearts of men, and Who rules and directs events for the glory of the Christian religion.

It is indeed a wonderful and mémorable event, whereby the eneraies of the Church, in spite of themselves, whether they désire it or not, see with their own eyer. that the Church maintains her divine lile, and the virtue with which she is endowed from heaven ; this indeed makes them feel that the impious strive in vain when they rage and plan foolish attacks against the Lord and against his Church.

In order that the memory of this heavenly benefit may be continued, and that its utility may be spread as far and wide as possible, We hâve laid open the treasures of heavenly grâces to ail the flock cornmitted to Our care. We hâve not been wanting in imploring the succors of divine mercy in favor of those w^ho are outside the ark of salvation whereby We h ope to obtain that ail nattons and ail peoples, United in the failli hy the bond of charily^ may soon form one flock under one shepherd. This is v^hat We hâve asked of Our Lord Jesus-Christ in Our supplications on the occasion of the late solemn canonizations.

For lifting up Our eyes towards the Church triumphant We hâve solemnly decreed and accorded on the one hand the suprême honor of the saints ; on the other the title of Blessed to those Christian heroes, the examination of whose sublime virtues and miracles hâve been happily concluded according to due rights of law, so that the heavenly Jérusalem may be joined in a communion ot the same joy with those v^^ho still pursue on earth the pilgrimage which lead them to Grod.

But by the help of Grod, in order that we may crown this joy, We désire to fulfil, as far as lies in Our power, Our apostolic duty of charity by extending the plénitude of Our infinité spiritual treasurers to those beloved children of the Church who, having died the death of the just, hâve quitted this world ol strife with the sign of faith, and are branches of the mystical vine, though they cannot enter into ever lasting rest until they hâve paid the uttermost farthing which they owe to the avenging justice of aod.

We are moved to this both by the pious desires of Catholics to whom We know that Our resolution w411 be especially grutefal, and by the fearful tortu res which the soûls of the departed sufi'er, but we are

also animated by the custom of the Church, which, amidst the most j oyons solemnities of the year, fails not to make a holy and salutary commémoration of the dead that they may be delivered from their sins.

Therefore, since it is certain by the doctrine of the Catholic Church, that the souh detained in purgatory are henefittedby the prayers ofthe faithful, and especially by the aygust Sacrifice of the A/tar, We think We can give them no more nseful and désirable pledge of Our love than by everywhere increasinsc the ofFering of the pure oblation of the Most Holy Sacrifice of Our Divine Mediator, for the extinction of their pain. We therefore, decree, with ail the necessary dispensations and indulgences, the last Sunday of next September as a day of ample expiation on v^^hich will be celebrated by Ourselves, and equally by each of our brethern the Patriarchs, Archbishops and Bishops, and also by other Prelates exercising jurisdiction in a diocèse, each in his own church, whether patriarchal, metropolitan, or cathedral, a spécial Mass for the Dead with the greatest solemnity possible, and according to the rite ordered in the Missal for the Commémoration of aJl soûls.

We désire also that this' should take place in the same manner in ail parish and collegiate churches, both of the secular and regular clergy, and by ail priests generally, provided that they do not omit the proper office of the Mass for the day where it is obligatory.

As to the faithful, We strenuously exhort them after sacramental confession devoutly to partake of the Bread of Angels for the benefît of the soûls in purgatory. We grant by our Apostolic authority a plenary indulgence to be gained by such of the faithful, applicable to the dead, and the favor of a privileged altar to ail those who, as has been said before, say Mass.

Thus those pious soûls who expiate the remainder

oftheir siiis amidst such tortures will receive a spécial and opportune consolation, thanks to the life-givino: Victim of the Universal Church, united to her visible head, and, animated with a like spirit oi charity, will offer to Groà that He may admit them to the dwelling- of His consolation, to light and éternel peace.

In the meanwhile, Vénérable Brethren, we aifectionately grant you in the Lord as a pledge of celestial gifts the Apostolic bénédiction, to you and to ail the clergy and people committed to your charge.

GTiven at St. Peter's, at Home, at the solemnity of Easter, in the year 1888, the eleventh of our Pontificate.

LEO XIIL, POPE.