Page:Catholic Magazine And Review, Volume 3 and Volume 4, 1833.djvu/128

114 In the month of February of the year 1823, one of the founders of the association was deputed to Rome to acquaint his Holiness, Pope Pius VII. with the origin and progress of this eminent work of piety and charity. The aged and venerable Holy Father, then hastening to the close of his earthly career, welcomed the joyful intelligence, blessed the Almighty for this fresh token of love for his church, and conferred on the association his apostolical benediction, together with the grant of ample indulgences in favour of its members. Their majesties, Louis XVIII., Charles X., and the King of Sardinia honoured the society with their patronage. In the dominions of the latter a branch association was also formed, as well as others in Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Savoy. Such a commencement was the harbinger of success worthy of the noble enterprize. At the expiration of six years from the foundation of the society there bad been received in weekly contributions and disbursed amongst the various missions in Asia and America the sum of £37,000.

Who, after reading this brief notice of the formation of the society for the propagation of the faith, can refrain from pausing in grateful admiration of the wonderful ways of that Almighty Being, the author of every good work, who, to accomplish his bountiful designs in favour of man, and to confound the loftiness of human wisdom, often adapts means the most simple and weak in appearance to the execution of his noblest purposes? Thus, when the moment marked out by his eternal decrees has arrived, he inspires into the soul of perhaps but a single powerless individual a pious, strong, active and overruling thought or desire analogous to the effect he would produce. This person communicates to a few other virtuous friends the holy enthusiasm which burns within him. These applaud his zeal, and are eager to become sharers in his merit From that moment all obstacles! seem to be surmounted; the path to the desired end id levelled before their feet, and every step betokens further success, because the hand of the Almighty directs their movements. Such, in the present instance, seems to have been the economy of his Providence. And what a work has been here set in operation! Nothing less than that of wresting from idolatry and bringing into the path of salvation an innumerable