OUR MOST HOLY FATHER LEO XII

LEO PP. XIII

To our Venerable Breilven the Patriarchs, Primates, Arcabishops, Bishops, and to other Ordinaries of Places having Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See.

Venerable Brethren, Heaith and Apostolic Benediction:

Althoug'; on several occasions already, We have ordered special prayers to be made throughout the entire world, and the interests of Catholicity to be recommended to God in greater measure; let it not, however, seem wonderful to any one if We deem it necessary again to inculcate this same duty on all minds at the present time. In adversity, especially when the power of darkness appears to be able to dare everything for the ruin of the Ohristian name, the Church, indeed, has always been accustomed to invoke God suppliantly, its author and defender, with great earnestness and perseverance, the saints of heaven being also appealed to, and especially the august Virgin Mother of God, by whose patronage strength shall most surely be brought to its affairs. Moreover, the fruit of pious entreaties and of the hope placed in the Divine goodness appears sooner or later,