XIII

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Now you know the times, Venerable Brethren, which, indeed, are not much less calamitous in the Christian republic than those which have ever been most calamitous, Among many we behold faith, the principal of all Christian virtues, perishing ; charity becoming cold; youth growing up depraved in morals and opinion; the Church of Jesus Christ attacked on all sides by violence and craft: furious war carried on with the Pontificate; the very foundations of religion attacked, with daily increased audacity. How low men have descended in these latter days, and with what projects their minds are further agitated, this is now too well known that it should be necessary to be shown forth in words.

In so difficult and so miserable a state, since the evils are greater than human remedies, it remains that all healing of them must be sought from Divine power.

For this reason, We have deemed it necessary that We should excite the plety of the Christian people to implore more zealously and pressingly the help of Almighty God. Wherefore, as the month of October is now approaching, which We have before decreed should be consecrated to the Virgin Mary of the Rosary, We most eagerly exhort that that whole month be observed with the greatest piety and devotion, and by the largest number possible— We know that a refuge is prepared in the maternal goodness of the Virgin; and We have the certainty that Our hopes are not placed in it in vain. Ila hundred times that goodness has brought succor in

great crises of the Christian republic, why should it be doubtful that she will renew the examples of her power and her favor, if humble and constant prayers be every where addressed to her ? Nay, we believe that she will bring her aid so much the more wonderfully, the longer she has preferred that it should

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