POPE LEO XIII.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 268, 21 June 1878, Page 4

POPE LEO XIII.

(Continued.)

We cannot in these brief pages relate the individual acts of the long episcopate o£ Cardinal Pccci, the zealous works for tlio of souls and for the advantage of culture, the piety and discipline of his clergy, which he did or which he promoted. We '"will content ourselves, then, "with simply indicating the series of the most memorable, such as it has been transmitted to us by the exquisite courtesy of the Most Mgr. Lain'cnzi, Bishop of Omata and Auxiliary of Perudfi, from wlaoni we have sought it. Certain of doing au act which will be grateful to our readers, we publish it in chronological order, This summary catalogue speaks for itself, and expresses much hotter than our pen could do what were the Apostolic labours of Pope Leo XIII, whilst he was Bishop of Perugia. 1848. — He reforms materially the Seminary College, to re-open it under a new form and discipline. 1849. — He pi % csides over and executes the under talring of paving the cathedral with marble. He assists at a general Assembly of the Bishops of Umbria. assembled in Spoleto, to consider what benefit might be procured for their dioceses, and he is charged with the compilation of the acts.

1850. — He issues a Lenten Pastoral against the vice of incontinency. He is constituted Apostolic-Visitor of the Congregation of S. Filippo in. Monte Palco. He assists at the happy discovery of the body of S. Clare of Assisi. He publishes an instruction and dispositions for the sanctification of festivals.

ISSI. — He institutes the Teaching of Pious Places, with statutes and organic rcsrulations for the administration of the same. By a decree, he establishes and orders the discipline of the external clerics. He founds and opens the snnctuary of P.onte dclla Pictra near Perugia in honor of the wonderful image of Maria Madre della Misericord ia. He institutes and presides over a new Commission for works of architecture and painting in the cathedral church.

1852. — He publishes, together with other co-Superiors, opportune ordinances for the good government of the Sacro Monte di Pieta. ISSB. — Being nominated Cardiual-lMcst with the title of St. Chryscgono, great honour is clone to him by the whole diocese. He. publishes an edict with special dispositions against blasphemy. In opening his second Visitation he publishes a Homilj-, spoken in the Duomo, containing warnings against the chief vices dominant in society at present. 1854. — Before the Holy Congregation of t v c Council he defends and revindicates the right of the pastoral visit to Confraternities. He issues provident and charitable dispositions to supply the public wants on occasion of a food famine. He issues a pastoral publishing the Jubilee. He is nominated Visitor-Apostolic of the Collegio Nobilc Pio.

1555. — As Visitor Apostolic of Panicale he published the organic and'administrative regulation for the reorganization of the same. He calls and establishes the Belgian Brothers of Mercy, as the directors of the Male Orphanage, after having reformed it in the material as well as well as in the disciplinary part. He solemnly crowns the miraculous image of Maria Santissima della Grazie in the Duomo of Perugia. He opens for young girls the Conservatory dell' Opera Pia Giaziani, and proposes the Belgian Sisters of Divine Providence for its direction. Solemn anniversary of the dogmatic definition of the Immaculate Conception is announced by Pastoral, likewise, in thanksgiving for the cessation of the cholera.

1856. — As Chancellor of the "University of Studies he issues dispositions for regulating the admissions and University courses. In republishing the diocesan catechism he gives special instructions, byPastoral, to the parish priest on the teaching of Christian doctrine. 'Ho blesses and inaugurates the new Domini Refuge for women with chronic ailments.

1857. — He opens the noble G-iniceo di S. Anna in an edifice built at his expense ; he entitles by the name, and places it tinder the patronage of the Holy Father Pius IX., and appoints the Ladies of the Sacred Heart for its teachers. He issues on edict against the abuse of magnetism, He receives from the Holy Father Pius EX. a gift of a golden chalice for his cathedral. He receives the Holy Father Pius IX. in his journey through his states, and accompanies him on his return from Etruria as far as Rome. He publishes an instruction to parish priests, with a manual of practical ivies for the exercise of their ministry, so far as regards external discipline. 1858.— He institutes, by Pastoral, the so-called Giardini di San Filippo Neri, to catechise the boys on festivals and withdraw them from play and dissipation. 1559. — He inaugurates the Accademia Scientifica di S. Tommaso d'Aqnino, to promote scholastic study. He obtains for the city and the diocese the Office and the Mass of the Most Pure Heart of Mary.

IS6O. — He writes a Pastoral Letter upon the Temporal Dominion of the Pope. He protests against the suppression decreed against the Religious Orders. He joins'with the Umbrian Episcopate in protesting against the dispositions of the Commissary-General of the subAlpin kingdom. 1861. — He issues a Desree, with, liturgical rules, for extraordinary functions of worship. He writes two letters to King Victor Emmanual, to protest against civil matrimony and against the expulsion of the Camaklolese Hermits of Monte Corona. He joins with the Bishops of Umbria to publish a doctrinal declaration against civil matrimony, and gives, in an Encyclical, opportune instructions to the parish priests. He is cited before the tribunal of Perugia by three ecclesiastics suspended by him, because they had sigued an Address against the Temporal Power of the Pope, and comes forth victorious. 1863. — He issues a Pastoral warning to the people of Perugia against Protestant schools. With the Umbrian Episcopate he publishes a solemn act upon the dispositions of the Regio Exequatur. He writes a Pastoral letter against the work of Renau. 1864. — He issues a decree to regulate the synodal alms of Masses. He writes a Pastoral Letter upon the Current Errors against Religion and the Christian Life. 1566. — He prescribes rules to the clergy for their conduct in times of political commotion. He writes a Pastoral Letter on the Prerogatives of the Catholic Church. IS6S.— He writes a Pastoral Letter upon the Christian Struggle. IS69.— He announces the Jubilee, and with a Pastoral instructs tlie people on the (Ecumenical Council of the Vatican. He institutes the pious work for the redemption of clerics from the military conscription. 1871.— He celebrates, amidst the homage and festivities of the people and the clergy, the twenty-iifth year of his episcopate. He sends, together with the Episcopate of Umbria, an address to his Holiness Pius IX., after the occupation of Rome. He obtains from the Holy Father. Pius IX. indulgences for the illustrious relic of the Sant Ancllo. He publishes- a homily on the Prerogatives of the Roman Pontiff. By an Apostolic Mandate he consecrates in the cathedral church the Bishop of Orvieto and the Bishop of Ptolemais.

1872. — He solemnly consecrates the city and the diocese to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, previously publishing a Pastoral. He publishes the normal programme of studies in the Episcopal seminary. He writes a Pastoral Letter against the violation of feasts and on blasphemy. He organizes and ordains the hours of Masses and catechetical instructions in the churches of the city for days of festival. 1873. —He publishes a Pastoral Letter for Lent upon the dangers of losing the Faith. He consecrates the city and diocese to the Immaculate Virgin. He founds the Ho Consorzio di S. Criqacehino, for indigent ecclesiastics. He institutes first solemn communions in the city. 1874.— He publishes a Lenten Pastoral Letter upon the daily tendencies of this age against religion. First foundation, of the Sacri Operii Diocesani for preaching. 1875.— He writes and publishes Latin hymns iv honor of the principal Patron, S. Ercolano, Bishop and Martyr. He writes a Pastoral Letter upon the Holy Year. He promotes and increases the Third Order of S. Francis in the diocese, and he is made Protector of the Brotherhood of the same in Assisi, where, on occasion of taking possession, he pronounced an Allocution. 1876.— He publishes a decree to parish priests concerning the catechism for adults. He writes a Pastoral Letter upon the Catholic Church and the nineteenth centui^'. 1877.— He writes a Pastoral Letter upon the Church and Civilization. He is nominated Camerlengo of Holy Church. He consecrates his Bishop-Auxiliary in the Church of San Cbrysdgono, in Home. 187S.— At his expense he had the Chapel of S. Onofrio, m the cathedral, painted, and its history recorded. He wrote and published, ten clays before being assumed to the tiara, a second Pastoral Letter upon the Church and Civilization.

i (To conclude next weelt.)