cited, in order to obtain the powerful intercession of the holy Mother of God for the same object. "4th. That on Sunday, the 8th of May, the Litany of the Saints, with the accompanying prayers, &c. be sung or recited, in order to obtain the intercession of the holy apostles and all the saints, for the same purpose. "5th. That on these days, and on all week days intervening, when not forbidden by the rubrics, the Collect, Secret, and Postcommunion, Contra persecutores Ecclesiæ,' be added at every mass for the same intention. "6th. That during this period the faithful be earnestly exhorted worthily to approach the sacraments of Penance and the holy Eucharist, in order thereby to put themselves into a proper condition for receiving the benefit of the jubilee, and to make their prayers, in favour of their suffering brethren, more acceptable with God. We declare, that all who so approach the holy sacraments, and who join in the Litanies above appointed, fulfil the conditions of the Indulgence in the western district. 66 But, 7th, should it happen that any individuals, belonging to or residing in this district, omit or be prevented from complying with these conditions during the time above mentioned, we permit, in virtue of authority which we have received for this purpose from the holy See, that they gain the benefit of the indulgence by worthily approaching the sacraments, and by offering up prayers for the Church of Spain, in whatever place, and at whatever time their respective confessors may prescribe, from the reception of this letter till the 16th of October next. "The overwhelming spiritual miseries, of every kind, which now afflict these islands, the relentless persecutions which were so long inflicted upon the adherents of the Catholic faith, the deplorable want of sympathy which prevails between the wealthier and the poorer classes, and particularly the unexampled misery which has been entailed upon the latter since the overthrow of the Catholic religion, and the suppression of its benevoleut institutions, ought to make the Catholics of this kingdom more alive, than perhaps any other people, to the terrible nature of those calamities which are now hanging over Spain, and which never fail to follow, sooner or later, the subversion of the true religion of Christ, a religion which its divine founder conferred upon the world, not only as the greatest of spiritual, but also of temporal blessings. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the charity of God, and the communication of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.' 2 Cor. xiii, 13. PETER AUGUSTINE, Bishop of Siga, V.A.W. &c." “Given at our Episcopal Residence, Prior Park, this 16th day of April, 1842.” CENTRAL DISTRICT.-Dearly Beloved,-When we addressed you at the commencement of Lent, we suggested to you, as a fitting subject of earnest prayer, the calamitous state of the Church in Spain, afflicted and persecuted by the civil government. We did not, however, then feel it our duty to appoint or propose any general or definite form of supplication for this purpose. But now, alas! the measure of tribulation heaped upon our brethren, the venerable prelates and clergy of that Church, as well as upon religion in general, through that unhappy country, has reached such a height, as to overflow the entire Church of Christ, and fill the heart of His spouse with sorrow. "The Sovereign Pontiff has appealed to those bonds of faith and charity which unite the Church Catholic in one body, on behalf of that most precious portion of it now suffering under the severity of God's judgments. He has, therefore, invited and enjoined all the bishops in communion with the apos tolic see, to exhort the faithful committed to their charge to offer up most fervent prayers for the spiritual welfare of Spain, for the restoration of religious liberty to its clergy, and of peace, virtue, and piety to its afflicted people; for it may be necessary to inform you, dearly beloved in Christ, that, for some time past, the government of that country has, by every art and even by violence, endeavoured to overthrow the unalienable rights of the holy See, to thwart the bishops and clergy in the free exercise of their religious duties, to prevent the legitimate appointment of pastors, and to strip the Church of her possessions, and even what is necessary for the becoming celebration of her worship. Many of her clergy are now in prison or in exile, or harrassed by cruel persecution through the tribunals of the country, for their resistance to the impious decrees and mandates of the civil rulers; and God and his Church have been glorified by their meekness and patience in suffering, as well as by their constancy and intrepidity in withstanding. Now, while we fully sympathise with those noble confessors, and would willingly recommend ourselves and our dear flock to their prayers, were so consoling a communion with them allowed, we cannot refuse, on our parts, such comforts and assistance to them and the Church which they honour, as our humble and less worthy suffrages at the throne of grace may procure: wherein we are chiefly encouraged both by the pressing and earnest call of our most holy father, the Pope, and by the thought that our supplications will be joined to those of the whole Church, proving to Heaven the truth of her Catholic unity by the union and universality of this her prayer. "Nor should we of England forget the special claim which Spain, in religious affliction, has upon our affections: seeing how generously she dealt with us in the hour of distress, giving shelter to our priests and religious, and education to our future missionaries, when the fury of persecution drove them from our shores. We have a debt of gratitude towards her to discharge; and this, the call of our common father, Christ's vicar, gives us the opportunity of doing. "A solemn jubilee has been proclaimed by him for this purpose by his apostolic letters bearing date the 22d of February last, to continue for fifteen days; and we hereby appoint the third Sunday after Easter, being the 17th day of the present month of April, for its commencement throughout the central district. The following are its conditions: "1. On that, and the two following Sundays, and on the week-days intervening, before each public mass in every church or chapel, shall be sung or recited the psalm Miserere, with the versicles and prayers set down at the end of this pastoral. "2. To gain the plenary indulgence in form of jubilee, granted by the Sovereign Pontiff, this service must be attended at least three times in the course of the specified period. "3. And, further, it is necessary for each one contritely to confess his sins, and receive the holy communion. "We exhort you, therefore, dearly beloved in the Lord Jesus, to enter as becomes faithful children into the wishes of the Holy Father, and, by diligent compliance with the above conditions, and by adding thereunto your earnest private prayers, to gain the spiritual advantages thus offered you, and assist your suffering brethren in Christ. "And may the God of all consolation deign to hear the united supplications of His afflicted Church, and restore to its more suffering portion that glorious title of Catholic, in which till lately it gloried. 66 "Given at Birmingham, this fourth day of April, being Monday after Low Sunday, M.D.CCC.XLII. THOMAS, Bishop of Cambysopolis. "NICHOLAS, Bishop of Melipotamus." DISTRICT OF WALES.-Dearly beloved, the common father of the faithful, he supreme pastor, under Jesus Christ, of the church upon earth, addresses himself to us and you, with a heart overwhelmed with affliction. He summons you to observe with alarm how schism, infidelity, and persecution are committing frightful ravages upon one of the fairest provinces of Christendom-Spain, for so many ages pre-eminently Catholic: and to make common cause with all our brethren of the faith against those destructive aggressors. The weapons of the Church are earnest prayer and works of temporal satisfaction, offered to propitiate a just, wise, offended, but still merciful and Almighty God. Arm yourselves herewith, dearly beloved, at the command of the venerable successor of St. Peter, to whom in a special manner belongs the solicitude of all the churches, and combine with the earnestness of eharity and hope in this holy warfare under his guidance. "But knowing how much less calculated are our feeble words than the inflamed accents of the holy father to animate you to the succour of your afflicted and persecuted brethren in Spain, we invite and implore you to hearken to the earnest and pathetic appeal to the Catholic world which he hath transmitted to us for your exhortation and direction; and which we feel ourselves called upon to lay before you by a literal translation. * * * * "In accordance, therefore, dearly beloved, with the truly apostolic exhortation of his Holiness, and for the end so ardently sighed after by him, and by every fervent member of the Catholic Church, we appoint, until we shall otherwise direct, that from Sunday next inclusively, at every mass within this district of Wales, when permitted by the rubrics, the Prayer, Secret, and Postcommunion, be added "Contra Persecutores;" that on all Sundays, after the principal mass of each misson, the psalm Miserere be sung or recited, in Latin or English, to be followed by the prayers as below; and that the aforesaid psalm and prayers be recited after every public mass, on the week days, during the period assigned for gaining the indulgence. 66 Moreover, we appoint that, in this district of Wales, the fifteen days during which a plenary indulgence, having the privileges and graces of a jubilee, is offered to the faithful, open on Sunday the 17th inst., and close on Sunday, the 1st of May, inclusively; also, that the private prayers, required for gaining that indulgence, be offered in any church or chapel approved of by us for public divine service in any of our missions. "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the munication of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Chepstow, April 5, 1842. charity of God, and the com- Bishop of Appolonia." EASTERN DISTRICT.-"To the faithful, the clergy and laity of the Eastern district of England.-Dearly beloved, we think it our duty to inform you, that we have received from our holy Father Pope Gregory XVI, a copy of his Apostolic Letter, addressed to the whole Church, recommending and prescribing public prayers and supplications in behalf of our suffering and persecuted brethren of the church in Spain. "For a considerable length of time, the Catholic religion in that once most Catholic country, has been the object of severe persecution, outrage, and insult; the property of the Church has been confiscated; her ministers have been forced into exile; the dignity and authority of the Holy See have been insulted; and such measures are daily in progress as must shortly end in the destruction of Catholic faith and piety. Our holy Father, whose tender solicitude for all the churches' makes him feel for the necessities of every portion of the widely extended flock committed to his charge, has long felt his heart overwhelmed with affliction at the sight of these miseries, both temporal and spiritual, under which the Church of Spain has so long groaned. And finding all ordinary exertions and representations ineffectual to arrest the progress of evil-imitating the example of his predecessors in times of similar calamity-he has judged proper to have recourse to the united prayers of the whole Church of God, for the purpose of imploring peace, freedom, and comfort for this afflicted portion of his flock. He calls, therefore, most earnestly upon all the dignitaries and prelates of the Church to join with him in tears and supplications to the Throne of Grace; and to engage the clergy and people entrusted to their care to unite their pious endeavours in the same holy cause. In obedience to the voice of Christ's Vicar on earth, and with an humble but sincere wish to contribute, according to our poor abilities, to the relief of our distressed fellow-members in Christ, we ordain and commend to your notice the following regulations, to be observed in every congregation in our Eastern district, during fifteen days, commencing on the second Sunday after Easter, and ending on the fourth Sunday after Easter inclusively : "1. The Litany of the Saints to be repeated before every public mass offered during the fifteen days. "2. The CollectNe despicias,' with the Secret and Postcommunion pro quacumque tribulatione to be added in every mass when allowed by the rubric. "3. The faithful to be instructed, that by receiving worthily the sacraments of Penance and the Holy Communion once, and joining in the above public devotions three times during the fifteen days, they may gain the benefit of a plenary indulgence in the form of a jubilee. "N.B. As in times of jubilee, the ordinary pastors may commute or modify the above regulations, in favour of those who cannot observe them from sickness or other urgent impediment. 66 "WILLIAM, Bishop of Ariopolis, V.A.E.D." Northampton, Easter Monday, 1842." NORTHERN DISTRICT-FRANCIS, Bishop of Abydos, and Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District. After announcing the receipt of the Apostolic Letter, the venerable Bishop thus proceeds : 66 Whilst, therefore, beloved brethren and children in Jesus Christ, we mingle our tears with the tears of the holy Father on this common topic of sorrow, we cannot but admire the lofty sentiments, the apostolic zeal, and the dignified reproofs of the illustrious Pontiff, so well calculated to strike remorse into breasts where remorse can enter, and excite sympathy where sympathy may be freely indulged. . . . Entering, therefore, into the charitable views, and aiding to the best of our power the sublime purposes of his Holiness, we enjoin, beloved brethren and children in Jesus Christ, that the term of the said jubilee shall commence on Sunday, the 24th of April, to continue until Sunday, the 8th of May, inclusive. The said jubilee and plenary indulgence to be available to all those who, having duly confessed and received the holy communion, shall three times at least assist at the public prayers hereinafter prescribed, aud who shall three times during the fifteen days fervently pray for the object recommended by his Holiness in any church or chapel in which mass is celebrated; all which details we recommend to our beloved clergy minutely to explain. "We appoint that in every mass after the receipt of this letter until Whit Sunday, when the rubrics will allow of it, the prayer Contra persecutores Ecclesiæ,' beginning Hostium nostrorum,' with the Secret and Postcommunion, be added. "Also, that on every day during the fifteen days of the indulgence, after the congregational or community mass, the psalm Miserere,' with the versicles, responses, and prayers as below, shall be said or sung either in Latin or in English. "With regard to the private prayers enjoined by his Holiness on three occasions, they may be said in any church or chapel of the district in which mass is celebrated, and such prayers may be chosen as best suit each one's devotion. We would suggest the Litany of the Saints, or a portion of the Rosary. "Children who have not made their first communion, may gain the jubilee by complying with the other conditions; and the sick who are not able to come to chapel, by complying with the conditions required as far as may be in their power. "The grace of our Lord Jesns Christ, and the charity of God, and the communication of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen." FRANCIS, Bishop of Abydos, "Clifton, April 9th, 1842." 66 and Vicar Apostolic of the Northern District." Ps. L.—“ Miserere," or, have mercy on me. V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. V. Show unto us, O Lord, thy mercy. R. And grant us thy salvation. V. Help us, O God of our salvation. R. And for the glory of thy name deliver us, O Lord. V. Let not the enemy have advantage over us. R. Nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt us. V. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us. R. As we have hoped in thee. V. O Lord, save thy people. R. And bless thine inheritance. do V. Thou wilt not deprive of good things them that walk in innocence. V. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come to thee. V. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit. Let us pray. (Deus qui, &c.) O God, who by sin art offended, and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of thy people making supplication to thee, and turn away the Scourges of thine anger which we deserve for our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. Amen. Let us pray.-(Exaudi nos) Hear us, O God of our salvation, and by the intercession of the blessed and glorious Mary ever Virgin, Mother of God, and of thy blessed Apostles Peter and James, and all the saints, deliver thy people from the terror of thine anger, and by the abundance of thy mercy make them secure. Prayer.-(Deus à quo.) O God, from whom are holy desires, right counsels, and just works, give to thy servants that peace which the world cannot give; that both our hearts may be disposed to keep thy commandments, and, the fear of our enemies being removed, the times, by thy protection, may be peaceable. Prayer. (Deus refugium.) O God, our refuge and strength, thou who art the author of mercy, attend to |