THE EIGHTH OF DECEMBER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 357, 20 February 1880, Page 11

THE EIGHTH OF DECEMBER.

(Roman Correspondence of the London Tablet.) Leo XIII, received on the Sth, in the Hall of Consistory, the Italian pilgiims, several hundred in number, chiefly from North Italy, under the direction of CcmmendatoreAcquaderni. His Holiness entered the hall at half past 12 noon, accompanied by Cardinals Monaco, Zigliara, D' Ayarizo, De Luca, Pccci, Ledochowski, Giannelli, Oreglia, Pellegrini, Pacca, Mertel. Sacconi, Hergenrother, De Falloux, and Cattani, by Mgr. Marinelli, and many other prelates of the court. To the address read by Com. Acquaderni, the Holy Father thus responded :—: — " In this most auspicious day, which closes the fifth lustrum from the solemn proclamation of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, it is but right my beloved children, that your hearts, and the hearts of all the faithful, should be opened to an extraordinary rejoicing, the fruit of most precious memories. " Twenty-five years have now elapsed since our glorious predecessor, of happy memory, Pius IX., to whom Providence reserved the foituno of adding to the crown of the Virgin a most splendid gem, and of associating his own glories with hers, promulgated to the obsequious and applauding Catholic world the dogmatic decree of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. And at once the faithful, moved by the most feivid love for their Mother, tender of her greatness, full of sweet hopes, devoted themselves then and in the subsequent years to celebrate everywhere her singular prerogative with boundless pomp. "At the approach of this first jubilee recording the memorable day, you, on occasion of the fifth Italian pilgrimage to Rome, manifested in our presence your desire of commemorating in the most solemn manner the twenty-fifth anniversary of the dogmatic definition ; and we, it is pleasant to remember, finding such holy purpose fully conformable to our own wishes, highly applauded your inten- . tion, to which we gave our benediction with all the desiie of our heait, being disposed to open to the faithful, with the greatest amplitude, the celestial treasury of indulgences, On an occasion so joyful, the Bishops of the Catholic world, in their pastoral zeal, were anxious to make a stirring appeal to the devotion of their flocks, and the people willingly responded to the invitation, so that in a short time a lively desire was everywhere kindled, with a most noble rivalry, to honor the spotless Virgin with most splendid demonstrations of f religious piety. " And while you, with happiest forethought, placing your sixth pilgrimage under her auspices, determined to assemble first at the

tomb of the Prince of the Apostles in the august basilica from whence this most marvellous privilege was proclaimed to the world, and to confiim to-day with new and solemn- protest your obedience to the Vicar of Jetus Christ in all Italy, or rather in all the world, there was but cue thought amongst all tine believers on this day, namely, to pay honour to the Immaculate Virgin, to exalt her glories, and to recommend to her the Church and the visible head who now governs the Church. " This burst of piety and devotion, so arJent, so universal, so unanimous, gives to us great consolation, and, in the midst of the battle which rages so fiercely against the Chuich, kindles hopes of a complete triumph over error and over the powers of darkness. " The error in fact which stupefies all, and which chiefly causes the proud intellects of our day to deviate from the truth, is ttat cold and low naturalism which has now invaded all the orders of public and private life, substituting human nature for Divine, nature for grace, and ignoring the Redeemer. Now the Virgin, by means of her Immaculate Conception, opportunely reminds faithful people that by the fall of op first parent?, all the human race lay weak and infirm for centuries, a prey to error and the passions ; that from Jesus Chrifct only can be derived in abundant grace, truth, salvation, and, life ; that without Him there exists not for man either dignity or greatness or real truth ; and that, finally, whosoever tries to withdraw himself from the beneficent influence of the Redeemer remains in darkness, falls into turpitude, and proceeds to certain ruin. " Furthermore, the Immaculate Conception reveals to us the secret and the first cause of the most mighty power of Mary over the common enemy, who by means of his tru&ty satellites wages such fierce war against the Chuich. For this doctiine teaches us the belief that Mary, from the commencement of the world, was destined to exercise an implacable and eternal enmity against the devil and his seed ; Inimicitias ponam, inter te et wvlierem ; fnd that even, from the first instant of her existence she was able to crush victoriously his proud neck : Ipm conteret cajnrt tvvm. This thought lifts up the soul to confidence in her who, strong in the power of her , Divine Son, extinguished all heresies, and in the severest trials was the shield and most precious aid of Christians. This thought pours into our hearts the certainty that this time also the final victory will remain with Mary. " Do you then, my most beloved children, and along with you all faithful people, by frank and open profession of your faith, by practice of virtuous works, by fervent and constant pra\ - er, by sincere devotion to the Virgin, hasten that wished for moment, wherein all the human family shall newly rejoice in the most signal blessings of Christ's Redemption, hasten, we repeat, the advent of that wished for moment in which, by the intercession of the great Mother of God, the storms being appeased, days of prosperity, peace and glory shall return to the Church. " And now, to increase your piety, to confirm your holy resolutions, and in pledge of our fatherly affection, receive, my beloved children, the Apostolic Benediction, which we, from the bottom of our heart, bestow upon you, your families, and your works." '■ Benedictio," &c. Bursts of loud applause broke from the pilgrims at the termination of this speech of the Holy Father, who was visibly impressed with the devout enthusiasm produced by his words.