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ing to her in whose honor it is employed, and most pleasant to be able now to insist upon and confirm the same face. Herein we have an excellent opportunity to parentally exhort men’s minds and hearts to an increase of religion, and to stimulate within them the hope of eternal reward.

The form of prayer we refer to has obtained the special name of “ Rosary”, as though it represented by its arrangements the sweetness of roses and the charm of a garland. This is most fitting for a method of vener.ting the Virgin, whois rightly styled the Mystical Rose of Paradise, and who, as Queen of the Universe, shines therein with a crown of stars. So that by its very name it appears to foreshadow and be an augury of the joys and garlands of Heaven offered by her to those who are devoted to her. This appears clearly if we consider the nature of the Rosary of Our Lady. There is no duty which Christ and His Apostles more emphatically urged by both precept and example than that of prayer and supplication to Almighty God.

The Fathers and Doctors in subsequent times have taught that this isa matter of such grave necessity, that if men neglect it they hope in vain for eternal salvation, Every one who prays finds the door open to impetration, both from the very nature of prayer and from the promises of Christ. And we all know that prayer derives its chief efficacy from two principal eircumstances : perseverance, and the union of many for one end. The former is signified in those invitations of Christ so full of goodness: ask, seek, knock (Matt. VIT, 7), just as a kind father who desires to indulge the wishes of his children, but who also requires to be continually asked by them and as it were wearied by their prayers, in order to attach their hearts more closely. to himself. The second condition Our Lord has born witness to more than once: If two of you shall consent upon earth concerning anything whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by My Father Who is in heaven. For where there are two or three gathered together in My name, there Iam in the midst of them

Matt. XVIII, 19, 20). Hence that pregnant saying of Tertullian : Let us gather into an assembly and conegrevation that we may, as it were, make up a band and solicit God ( A pologet. e. XXXIX): such violence is pleasing to God; and the memorable words of Aquinas: Itis impossible that the prayers of many should not be heard, if one prayer is made up as it were out of many supplications (In Evang. Matt. e. XVIII), Both of these qualities are conspiçous in the Rosary. Tor, to be brief, by repeating the same prayers we strenuously implore from Our Heavenly Father the Kingdom of His grace and glory; we again and again beseech the Virgin Mother to aid us sinners by her prayers, both during our whole life and especially at that last moment which is the stepping-stone to eternity. The formula of the Rosary, too, is excellently adapted to prayer in common, so that it has been styled, not without reason, “ The Psalter of Mary". Ard that old eustom of our forefathers ought to be preserved or else restored, according to which Christian families, whether in town or country, were religiously wont at close of d y, when their labors were at an end, to assemble before a picture of Our Lady and alternately recite the Ri sary, She, delighted at this faithful and unanimous homage, was ever near them like a loving mother surrounded by her children, distributing to them the blessings: of domestie peace, the foretaste of the peace of heaven. Con idering the efficacy of publie prayer, We, among other deerees which from time to time issued concerning the Rosary, have spoken thus: “It is Our desire that in the principal church of each diocese it should be recited every day, and in parish churches on every feast-day (Apostolic Letter Salutis Ille, 24th December, 1883). Let this be constantly and devoutly carried out. We also see with Joy the custom extended on other solemn occasions of publie devotion and in Pilerimages to venerated shrines, the growing frequeney of which is to be commended, This association of prayer and praise to Mary is both delightful and salutary for souls, We ourselves have most strongly experienced this—Our heart rejoices to

ying of

cone'rend and s pleasis: [tis | heard, suppli- I these e brief, mplore s grace Virgin during which of the nimon, ho foreording untry, labors r Lady ted at near ildren, ae, the c effiwhich have neipal day, 'stolie iis be with ns of rines, nded, bot h have ces to

reeall it—when at certain times in Our Pontifieate We have been present in the Vatican basilica, surrounded by great crowds of all classes, who united with Us in mind, voice, and hope, earnestly invoked by the mysteries and prayers of the Rosary, her who is the most powerful jatroness of the Catholic name.”

And who eould think or say that the confidence so strongly felt in the patronage and protection of the Blessed Virgin is excessive? Undoubtedly, the name and attributes of the absolute Mediator belong to no other man than to Christ. for being one person, and yet both man and God, He restored the human race to the favor of the Heavenly Father, One Mediator of God and man, the man Christ Jesus, and gave Himself a redemption for all (Tim. IH, 5, 6).

And yet, as the Angelie Doctor teaches, there is no reason why certain others should not be called in a eertain way mediators between God and man that is to say, in so far as they cooperate by predisposing and minister ing in the union of man with God (Summa, p. HT, q. XXXVI, articles 1, 2) Such are the angels and saints, the prophets and priests of both Testaments ; but especially has the blessed Virgin a claim to the glory of this title. For no single individual can even be imagined who has ever contributed or ever will contrthute so much towards reconeilinyg man with God. She offered to mankind, hastening to eternal ruin, a Savior, at that moment of peace brought to this earth by the A with that admirable act of consent in the name of the whole human race (Summa, q. HE, q. XXX. art. 1), She it is from whom is born Jesus, She is therefore truly His mother, and for this reason a worthy and acceptable * Mediatrix to the Mediator.” As the various mysteries present themselves one after the other in the formula of the Rosary for the meditation and contemplation of men's minds, they also elucidate what we owe to Mat for our veconeiliation and salvation, No one ean fail to

neel,

be sweetly affeeted when considering her who appeared in the house of Elizabeth as the minister of the divine ts, and who presented her Son to the Shepherds, to the

Kings and to Simeon. Moreover, one must remember that the Blood of Christ shed for our sake and those members in which He offers to His Father the wounds He received, the price of our liberty, are no other than the flesh and blood of the Virein, since the flesh of Jesus is the flesh of M inv, and however much it was exalted T the glory of His resurrection, nevertheless the nature of His flesh derived from Mary remained and still remains the same (De Assumpt. B. V. M. ec v. amoung the Opera S. Aug.)

Yet another excellent fruit follows from the Rosary, exceedingly opportune to the character of our times This we have referred. to elsewhere. Tt is that. whilst t \ irtue of Divine Faith is daily exposed to so many dangers and attacks. the Christians may here derive nourishment and strength for his faith. Holy Writ calls Christ the Author and finisher :f faith (Heb, V IE 25 the Author, because He taught men many things which they had to believe, especially about Himself in w hom dwellest all the fullness of the Godhead (Colos, IE. 9), and also because He mercifully vives the power of believing by the grace and. as it Were, the unction of the Holy Ghost: the Finisher, because in Heaven, where He will change the habit of faith into the splendor of glory, He openly discloses to then those things whieh they have seen in this mortal life as through a veil, Now Christ stands forth clearly in the Rosary. We behold in meditation His life. whet er His hidden life in jov, or His public life in excessive toil and sufferings unto death, or His glorious life from His triumphant resurrection to His eternal enthr nement at the right hand of the father. And sinco Faith, to be full and sufficient, must display itself, —for with the heart we believe unto Justice, but with the mouth confession is mad unto salvation (Rom. X, 10).— so have we also in the l'osary an excellent means unto this. for by those voeal prayers with which it is intermingled, we are enable to expre and profess our faith in God, our most watchful Father in the futur life, the forgiveness of sins: in the Invsteries of the August Trinity, the Incarnation of the Word, the

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Divine Maternity, and others. All know the value and merit of faith. For faith is just like the most precious germ, producing now the b'ossoms of all virtue by which we are pleasing to God, and hereafter to bring forth fruits that will last forever: for to know Thee is perfect Justice, and to know Thy justice and Thy power is the root of humortauity (Wisdom XV., 3) It is here the place to add a remark respecting the duties of those virtues which faith rightly postulates. Among them is the virtue of penance, and one part of this is abstinence, which for more reasons than one is necessary and salutary. It is trne the Church is growing more indulgent towards her children in this matter, but they must understand they are bound to take all care to make up for this maternal indulgence by other good works. We rejoice for this reason also to propose particularly the use of the Rosary, which is capable of producing worthy fruits of penance, especially by the remembrance of the sufferings of € hist and His Mother.

To those ther fore who are striving after supreme happiness this meas of the Rosary has been most prov-

identially of rod, « .d it is one unsurpassed for facility and convernicuce or any person even moderately instructed in!) religion can make use of it with fruit,

and the time it occupies cannot delay any man’s business. Sacred history abounds with striking and evident examples. [tis well known that there have been many persons occupied in most weighty functions or absorbed in laborious cares who have never omitted for a sinele day this pious practite. Combined with this advantage is that inward sentiment of devotion which attracts minds to the Rosary, so that they love it as the intimate companion and faithful protector of life; and in their last agony they embrace and hold fast to it as the dear pledge of the untading Crown of vlorv. Such a pledge Is vreatly enhaneed by the benetits of sacred indulgences if properly employed for the devotion of the Rosary has been richly endowed with such Indulgences by both Our Predecessors and Ourselves, These favors will certainly prove most ctteacious to both the dying

and the departed, being bestowed as it were by the hands of the mereiful Virgin, in order that they may the sooner enjoy the eternal peace and light they have desired,

These considerations, Venerable Brethren, move us incessantly to extol and recommend to Catholie peoples this excellent and most salutary fon of devotion. Yet another very urgent reason, of which we have often spoken, both in Letters and allocutions, encourages us to do this. For that earnest desire, whieh We have learnt from the Divine Heart of Jesus, of fostering the work of reconciliation among those who are separated from Us daily urges Us more pressingly to action; and we are convineed that this most excellent Re-union cannot be better prepared and Strengthened than by the power of prayer,

The example of Christ js before us, for in order that His disciples might be one in faith and charity, he poured forth prayer and supplication to His Father. After concerning the effieacious prayer of His most holy Mother for the same end, there is a striking testimony in the Acts of the Apostles, Therein is deseribed the first assembly of the Disciples, expecting with earnest hope and prayer the promised fulness of the Holy Spirit. And the presence of Mary united with them in prayer is Specially indicated : All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with Mary the Mother of Jesus (Acts L, 14 ),

Wherefore as the hascent Church rightly joined itself in praver with her as the patroness and most excellent custodian of Unity, so in these times it is most opportune to do the same all over tho Catholie World. particularly during the Whole month of October, whieh we have | mg ago decreed to be dedieated and conseerated, In the solemn devotion of the Rosary, to the Dix ine Mother, in order to Hi plore her fon the utieted Church Lot thon the zeal for this prayer everywhere be re kindled, purticularly for the end of holy Unity, Nothing will he more agreeable and acceptable to Mary : for, as she is Host closely united with ( ‘hrist, she espe iaily M ishes

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and desires that they who have received the same Baptism with Him may be united with Him and with one another in the same faith and perfect charity,

So may the sublime mysteries of this same faith by means of the Rosary devotion be more deeply impressed in men's minds, with the happy result that “ we may imitate what they contain and obtain what they promise."

Meanwhile as a pledge of the Divine Favors and Our affection, We most lovingly impart to You, your Clergy and People, the Apostolie Benediction.

Given at St. Peter's in Rome, September 20, 1896, in the 19th year of Our Pontificate.

LEO XIII, POPE

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re R 4 m Nat CON NRC oy d — ^.

5ieme sérle— No. 42,

CIRCULAIRE AU CLERGE

ARCHEVECHE D'OTTAWA, le 10 décembre 1896.

I. Enevelique sur l'Unité de l'Eglise, en anglais. À | ^ 5 HL Renouvellement des pouvoirs extraordinaires, Ill, Matines et Laudes à 2 h. P. M, IV. Jefine et abstinenee pendant le eareme, V. Le temps de remplir le devoir de la communion pascale,

VI, Autel privilégié daus l'église et meme dans ln saevistie pendant les mois ot ib est permis d'v garder le S. Sacrement

VIE. Le S. Saerement dans les ehapelles des religieux et cles relrodenses

VIEL Iudulgenees à gagner en visitant la saeristi

IN. Induluenees des XL heure

X Questions des eonferenees de 1897

CHERS COOPÉRATEURS

Je vous ai envoyé, il v a déjà que Iques j jours, le no. du journal The Pilot, de Boston, qui contient la traduction anglaise approuvée de l'Eneye lique. sur VUnité de l'Église.

Je regrette de n'avoir pu me la procurer sous une autre forme, Cependant il vous aura été facile de la déc uper de façon à pouvoir la coller sur des feuilles de papie r blane du format de ce tte circulaire et de la garder ainsi dans vos archives,

Sa Saintete a daigné, dans son audience du 24 novenibre dernier, autoriser te secrétaire de la Propagande à signer le renouvellement des indults m'accordant des facultés extraordinaires,

En vertu de ces nouveaux indults je vous contirme pour dix ans, les pouvoirs extraordinaires dont mention est faite sur vos feuilles de nomination ou de juridietion

SSmus D. N. Leo XIII, die 24 Novembris 1896, R. R Presbyteris dicecesis Ottawiensis, de consensu Ordinarii, facultatem tribuit ad quiugueuiitin recitandi priva tin, levitima concurrente causa, matutinum cum leudibus diei sequentis elupsis duabus horis post meridiem.

Vous pourrez done continuer, e Ing ans encore lorsque vous en nurez une raison À jouir du priv loge. de réciter matines et laudes dès deux heures de Papres-midi,