Page:The Great Encyclical Letters of Pope Leo XIII.djvu/25

Rh this end it will certainly help not a little to encourage and promote those pious associations which have been established, in our own times especially, with so great profit to the cause of the Catholic religion.

Great indeed and beyond the strength of man are these objects of our hopes and prayers, Venerable Brothers; but since God has made the nations of the earth for health, when He founded the Church for the welfare of the peoples, and promised that He will abide with her by His assistance to the end of the world. We firmly trust that, through your endeavors, the human race, taking warning from so many evils and visitations, will submit themselves at length to the Church, and turn for health and prosperity to the infallible guidance of this Apostolic See.

Meanwhile, Venerable Brothers, before bringing this Letter to a close, We must express Our congratulations on the striking harmony and concord which unites your minds among yourselves and with this Apostolic See. This perfect union We regard as not merely an impregnable bulwark against hostile attacks, but also as an auspicious and happy omen, presaging better times for the Church; and, while it yields great relief to Our weakness, it seasonably encourages Us to endure with readiness all labors and all struggles on behalf of God's Church in the arduous task which We have undertaken.

Moreover, from the causes of hope and rejoicing which We have made known to you. We cannot separate those tokens of love and obedience which you, Venerable Brethren, in these first days of Our Pontificate, have shown Our lowliness, and with you so many of the clergy and the faithful, who, by letters sent, by offerings given, by pilgrimages undertaken, and by other works of love, have made it clear that the devotion and charity which they manifested to Our most worthy predecessor, still lasts, so strong and steadfast and unchanged, as not to slacken