Pope Pius IX

“ Moved not only by the grave calamities of the Church and of this century, but also by the necessity of imploring Divine aid, we have never omitted in the time of our pontificate to arouse the Christian people, in order that they might strive to appease the majesty of God and merit celestial clemency by holy habits of life, by works of penitence, and by pious and dutiful continuance in prayer. ”

“ But since we, by virtue of the office of apostolic ministry, embrace, with the deepest sentiments of charity, all the nations of the Christian world, and, though unworthy, administer here on earth the vicegerent work of Him who is Author of Peace and the Lover of Charity, we cannot refrain from inculcating again and again, on the minds of the people themselves, and their chief rulers, mutual charity and peace. ”

“ As almighty God appointed Joseph, son of the patriarch Jacob, over all the land of Egypt to save grain for the people, so when the fullness of time had come and He was about to send to earth His only-begotten Son, the Savior of the world, He chose another Joseph, of whom the first had been the type, and He made him the lord and chief of His household and possessions, the guardian of His choicest treasures. ”

“ What a pious and holy solemnity was seen in this our century when, the Jubilee of the year 1825 having been intimated by Leo XII. of blessed memory, our predecessor, this benefit was received by the Christian people with so much fervor, that the said Pontiff could rejoice in having seen during the whole course of the year a never-interrupted concourse of pilgrims in the city, and through which was marvelously manifested the splendor of religion, piety, faith, love, and all the virtues. ”

“ It is particularly agreeable to us to see that you, illustrious and honorable President, and your people, are animated with the same desires of peace and tranquility which we have in your letters inculcated upon our venerable brothers. ”

“ Wherefore, omit nothing you can undertake and accomplish by your wisdom, authority and exertion, as far as compatible with the nature of the holy ministry, to conciliate the minds of the combatants, pacify, reconcile, and bring back the desired tranquility and peace, by all those means that are most conductive to the best interests of the people. ”

“ Because of this sublime dignity which God conferred on his most faithful servant, the Church has always most highly honored and praised blessed Joseph next to his spouse, the Virgin Mother of God, and has besought his intercession in times of trouble. ”

“ Amongst the various and most oppressive cares which weigh on us in those turbulent and perilous times, we are greatly afflicted by the truly lamentable state in which the Christian people of the United States of America are placed by the destructive civil war broken out amongst them. ”

“ Return, therefore, sinners, be reconciled to God; the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; cast off the works of darkness, put on the armor of light; cease to be the enemies of your own souls, so that you may at the last merit peace in this world, and in the world to come the eternal rewards of the just. These are our desires, these things we will not cease to ask from the most merciful Lord, and these same benefits- all the sons of the Catholic Church being united to us in this society f prayer- we trust we can obtain accumulatively from the Father of Mercies. ”

“ For we are confident that they would comply with our paternal admonitions and hearken to our words that more willingly, as of themselves they plainly and clearly understand that we are influenced by no political reasons, no earthly considerations, but impelled solely by paternal charity, to exhort them to tranquillity and peace. ”

“ If to obtain these benefits your minds and efforts are united, it cannot fail but that the kingdom of Christ and His righteousness shall receive great increase, and that in this acceptable time and in these days of salvation the divine clemency shall pour upon the sons of love a great abundance of heavenly gifts. ”

“ Nothing then is more worthy the time of the Holy Jubilee than being unweariedly occupied in every work of charity; this, then, also shall be the duty of your zeal, venerable brethren, the adding of stimulus, so that the poor may be relieved, sins may be redeemed with alms, the benefits of which are shown to be so numerous in Holy Scripture ”

“ To this end we have, with apostolic liberality, several times opened to the faithful the spiritual treasures of the indulgences in order that, animated thereby to the penitence and purged by the sacrament of reconciliation from the stains of sin, they might be able to approach the throne of grace with more confidence, and be worthy of their prayers being benignantly received by God. ”

“ For the rest, if any, having the intention of gaining this Jubilee, after having commenced the fulfillment of the prescribed works, overtaken by death, shall not be able to accomplish the prescribed number of visits, we, desiring to fill up the measure of their pious and ready intention, will that the said persons, truly penitent, confessed and communicated, may participate in the aforesaid indulgence and remission in the same manner as if they had in the prescribed days really visited the aforesaid churches. ”

“ The Divine Majesty sufficiently shows what he requires from us, while now, for a long time, through our depravity, we are laboring under His threatenings and under the inspiration of the spirit of His anger. In truth, “men are accustomed when they are suffering under a too hard necessity, to send embassadors to neighboring nations to receive some aid. ”

“ In the mean time, relying upon the mercy of God and on the authority of His blessed apostles Peter and Paul, by virtue of that supreme power of binding and loosing which God willed to be conferred upon us, however unworthy-to all and every one of the faithful of Christ, whether living in this our alms city, or who shall be about to come to it ”

“ Because then not only the example but the whole work of the ecclesiastical ministry is necessary in order that the fruits of the desired holiness may be had among the people, do not omit, venerable brethren, to excite the zeal of your priests, willingly and readily to exercise their ministry particularly in this time of salvation ”

“ So likewise let your anxious zeal watch constantly over the maintenance of discipline among the clergy and securing the right ordering of the clergyman, and in every possible way give assistance to the youth around you, who are placed in so many dangers and who are subjected to so many great perils. ”

“ Equally may the same confessors absolve the above-named penitents from all the sins and excesses, however serious and enormous they may be, as has been said, reserved to the said ordinaries and to us, or to the Apostolic See, enjoined to them as a salutary penitence, and other things to be enjoined by right ”