Page:The True Story of the Vatican Council.djvu/155

Rh (3 Kings xix. 11). Let them remember that a few years ago they held the opposite opinion, and abounded in the same belief with us, and in that of this most august assembly, for then they judged in "the gentle air." Can two opposite consciences stand together in the same judgment? Far from it. Therefore we pray God that He who alone can work great things may Himself illuminate their minds and hearts, that all may come to the bosom of their father, the unworthy Vicar of Jesus Christ on earth, who loves them, and desires to be one with them, and united in the bond of charity to fight with them in the battles of the Lord; so that not only our enemies may not deride us, but rather be afraid, and at length lay down the arms of their warfare in the presence of Truth, and that all may say with S. Augustine, "Thou hast called me into thy wonderful light, and behold I see."

The Te Deum was then sung, and the pontifical benediction closed both the fourth Public Session of the Council of the Vatican and a conflict which for centuries had troubled the peace of the Church. In the first voting on this Schema before the Public Session, 601 fathers of the Council voted. Of these 451 voted for the decree, 88 against it, and 62 for it juxta modum, or aye conditionally. In the fourth Public Session 535 voted: 55 absented themselves, which would raise the number to 590. Eleven were absent, from what cause is unknown; but as permission had been given some days before to leave Rome, they may have set out on their journey homeward. In the majority of 533 were included 52 of the 62 who voted juxta modum, or conditionally, in the last general congregation. This raised the 451 of that day to 503.