The Translation affixed to this edition of the Encyclical Letter of our most Holy Father, Pope Pius IX, having been diligently compared with the original, and found to be faithful, we hereby approve the same, and authorize it to be printed. THOMAS, BISHOP OF OLENA, V. A. L. LONDON: PRINTED FOR CHARLES DOLMAN. PIVS PP. IX. VENERABILES FRATRES, SALUTEM ET APOSTOLICAM BENEDICTIONEM. Qui pluribus jam abhinc annis una Vobiscum, Venerabiles Fratres, episcopale munus plenum laboris, plenum sollicitudinis pro viribus obire, ac Dominici gregis partem curæ Nostræ commissam pascere nitebamur in montibus Israel, in rivis et pascuis uberrimis, ecce ob mortem clarissimi Prædecessoris Nostri Gregorii XVI, cujus certe memoriam, atque illustria et gloriosa facta aureis notis inscripta in Ecclesiæ fastis semper admirabitur posteritas, præter omnem opinionem cogitationemque Nostram, arcano divinæ Providentiæ consilio, ad Summum Pontificatum, non sine maxima animi Nostri perturbatione ac trepidatione evecti fuimus. Etenim si semper grave admodum et periculosum Apostolici ministerii onus merito est habitum atque habendum, hisce quidem difficillimis Christianæ reipublicæ temporibus vel maxime formidandum. Itaque infirmitatis Nostræ probe conscii, et gravissima supremi Apostolatus officia, in tanta præsertim rerum vicissitudine, considerantes tristitia et lacrimis Nos plane tradidissemus, nisi omnem spem poneremus in Deo salutari Nostro, qui numquam derelinquit sperantes in Eo, quique, ut potentiæ suæ virtutem ostendat, ad suam regendam Ecclesiam POPE PIUS THE NINTH. VENERABLE BROTHERS, HEALTH AND APOSTOLICAL BENEDICTION. For many years past, Venerable Brethren, having, like yourselves, endeavoured solicitously to discharge to the best of our ability the laborious duties of the Episcopal office, and to feed on the hills of Israel, among its streams and fruitful pastures, the portion of the Lord's flock committed to our care, behold, by the death of our most renowned predecessor, Gregory XVI., whose truly illustrious and glorious memory, inscribed in golden letters in the Calendars of the church, posterity will ever deeply venerate, contrary to all thoughts and expectation on our part, and not without great perturbation and trepidation of mind, we were exalted, by the hidden counsels of Divine Providence, to the dignity of the Supreme Pontificate. For, if the labour of the Apostolic ministry is ever justly held and considered to be very onerous and dangerous, it is indeed especially so, and greatly to be dreaded, in these times, when the affairs of every portion of the Christian World present a troubled and complicated aspect. And therefore, fully knowing our own infirmity, and considering the onerous character of the office of the Supreme Apostolate, especially in so intricate a position of affairs, we should utterly abandon ourselves to grief and lamentations, if it were not that we repose all hope in God our Salvation, who never abandons those who place their trust in Him; and who, in order that He may show the mightiness of His power, ever and anon calls forth the weak to rule over His church, so that men may learn more and more that it |