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duties, notwithstanding his head had been fractured, causing himself to be carried in a chair into the church, and continued his ministry, in despite of his broken limb. They made war upon him through means of the passions; but by the rigours of penitence he overcame them; and in recompense whereof the Lord was pleased, thenceforth to preserve him from similar assaults.

"Whilst he was in the prosecution of his ministry, there were at times communicated to his mind, various extraordinary impressions of virtue, and since they were in the habit of crowding upon him many at a time, he was accustomed to exclaim, 'Not all at once;' as in the exercise of a feeling of obedience he one day stated to a superior, who was questioning him as to this, and wherefore he had exclaimed, Not all at

once.

"It was no uncommon occurrence, during the time he was preaching, and indeed throughout the whole course of his ministry, to behold in the churches, blasphemers trailing their tongues upon the ground; gamesters burning their cards of play, or tearing them to pieces; the dissolute going with ropes about their necks, seeking pardon for their infamies committed.

Upon one occasion he was desirous of seeing the preparation of the tapers for the function, and in witnessing it, he observed, 'Amongst these is one taper which is not acceptable to Jesus, Christ.' In lighting the candles afterwards, there was one that it was not possible to kindle, notwithstanding the rest were all burning. Then exclaimed the blessed man, Did I not tell you that it would not be accepted by Jesus Christ; take it out, and cast it away; which was done. Upon examining it afterwards it was discovered to have been given by a person, who had never but once attended the service, and that for the purpose of deriding the missionary; he shortly afterwards was consigned to the general doom, with but few marks of a genuine Christian. The ministers of God have truly cause to look up to our blessed man with rever

ence.

"He also inculcated with ardour, devotion towards the suffering Jesus, and Mary his afflicted mother; teaching all, how it behoved them to meditate on the sufferings of the Redeemer, and the afflictions of the Most Holy Mary.

"Some especial graces bestowed by the Almighty upon Father Angelo. God has promised to glorify him, who levotes himself to the spreading abroad is glory. This sometimes is verified,

not alone in heaven, but also on the earth, during life, and even after death, as we behold in the case of our blessed man. He was pleased to confer on the blessed Angelo, the graces of his Holy Spirit, so that he might appear to the eyes of the world as his beloved friend, and be recognised by all as sent from him, for the good of the faithful; distinguishing him in life, by many gifts, and after death, by numerous miracles.

"But passing by, for the sake of brevity, so many other privileges of this description, there were especially communicated to him from God, the spirit of Prophecy, the perception of the thoughts, and an insight into the heart; the gift of working miracles, and the privilege of supernatural contemplation. This last was in him the more transcendant, so to express ourselves, since not only whilst in prayer, or celebrating mass, was he wrapt into ecstacy, and bereft of his senses; but occasionally this happened to him in public, and not unfrequently whilst in the act of preaching. We might indeed adduce many, many instances in which this occurred; but it is sufficient briefly to hint at those which took place in Aprigliano, in Montebene, in Fiumefreddo, &c. where in the sight of all the people, whilst standing on a bench, and executing his mission, he became ecstatic, and his body was lifted up some distance in the air, to the astonishment of all. In one of these ecstacies, whilst standing in the air, he opened the hand which held the crucifix, and it remained thus without falling. In Finmefreddo whilst preaching in sight of the sacrament, he became deprived of his senses, and soared towards the altar, almost ten paces distant from the pulpit, remaining stationary in the air, so that the influence of obedience was ineffectual in recalling him to his senses. The same thing also occurred to him in the country of Belmonte. What matter of amazement for the people whose destiny it was to witness such scenes!

"The Almighty was pleased, in various places, whilst in the act of preaching, to manifest him in the eyes of all, encircled, at one time, by rays of extraordinary light, at another, crowned with a wreath of never-dying roses, at another distinguished by a star, the most resplendent, on his forehead, filling all his auditory with joy.

"Occasionally he was, at the same instant of time, in two places, and in both executing his functions, as was witnessed with amazement at Amantea, at Cetraro, &c. Sometimes he was, as it were in an instant, transported from

one place to another; and at others, passed over rivers, and marshes, without in any measure wetting his feet or dress.

"He performed afterwards so many miracles, that with difficulty can they be numbered. The first that we read of, was the giving sight to a blind man, a native of the city of Rossano; and to the end that the miracle might appear the more striking, he touched one eye only, and its sight was instantly restored; and the man beseeching him to illuminate the other, be replied One is sufficient for you to get your bread.'

"The happy passage into Eternity of the Blessed Angelo.-The Almighty had revealed to his servant, that he should continue to exercise the Apostolic ministry until the seventieth year of his age, as he himself had observed to several.

"Precisely on the day, and at the hour he had mentioned, his happy passage into eternity took place. In proportion as the time drew near, the fervour of the Spirit increased in him, and he became enkindled with divine love, more frequently going off into ecstacy. Six months before his precious death, he lost his sight. Extraordinary is it, that he acquired it again so as to execute his divine functions, and the holy mass, and then lost it as before. Vast prodigy!

"At length the day and hour predicted by him arrived, namely the 30th Oct. 1739. At the break of day, the hour that had been devoted by him throughout his whole life to discipline, supported by the religious, and calling upon the most holy names of Jesus and Mary he tranquilly resigned his spirit into the hands of his Creator. Oh! precious death!

"Events that took place after his death. The body was exposed to public view in the church, and seemed merely to be in deep meditation, and at times the countenance appeared to brighten with a smile. After the lapse of a few hours, they attempted to let blood, by order of the Prince Sanseverino, but they found the skin hardened, and the veins dry. Upon the third day notwithstanding, the Vicar General of the diocese, again desired them to let blood, directing the surgeon to open the vein of the arm, which had the appearance of that of a person still living. Scarcely was it touched, when the blood spouted forth so as to fill a couple of phials, and moveover to stain some linen cloths, which are objects of veneration even to this day:

"The proceedings, preparatory to the

VOL. VI.

canonization, were under the direction of the Bishop of Bisignano, and the Archbishop of Cosenza; these were received by the sacred congregation of the rites and ceremonies, after a due examination into his virtues, and the miracles worked by the Almighty, through his intercession.

"In pursuance whereof, Pius VII. of holy memory, issued on the 17th June, 1821, the decree "Constare de virtutibus, theologalibus, et cardinalibus, earumque adnexis in gradu heroico." And the sanctity of our Lord Pope Leo XII. happily reigning, was manifested on the 30th Nov. 1825, in the decree "Constare de miraculis," which are the following:

"Francesco Sirimarco, a child of seven years, in the county of St. Agatha, and diocese of St. Mark, now consolidated with that of Bisignano, was precipitated from a wooden stair-case of twelve-steps, and in his fall struck his breast against a projection of the wall beneath. After a few minutes he sank down, and was deemed to be dead, not alone by his mother, but also by the persons assembled; and from thence being carried into a neighbouring church, the surgeon examined him several times attentively, and pronounced that there was no hope of life left.

"It happened that a Capuchin of the third order, was passing through the place, in the act of making contributions* for the beatification of the Father Angelo; and he was prevailed upon by the people to enter the church; approaching, he placed upon the child an image of the blessed man, and falling down upon their knees, they commenced the Litany of the Most Holy Virgin: In pronouncing the "refugium peccatorum," the same surgeon, who was still present, and many other persons then assembled, testified, that the child shaking off his countenance of death, opened his eyes, gazed around, and seemed desirous of raising himself up ; but this he was prevented from doing, until the close of the Litany."

We conclude our extracts with the following just remarks of the CHRISTIAN GUARDIAN:

"Such is the faith, and such the practice to which the Sovereign of St. Peter's, the infallible head of the Romish Church has afforded his official sanction and commendation. Many of our readers have probably seen the Declaration of the Catholic Bishops, the Vicars Apostolic, and their co

*It seems that a Saint cannot get to his throne in heaven without money!!

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adjutors in Great Britain, in which they attempt to explain away the charge of Idolatry and superstition; but to us it appears that no dexterity of special pleading can exonerate the canonizers of the blessed Angelo, biographers of his life, and the authorities under whose sanction that life appears, from encouraging the grossest idolatry and the most debasing superstition. We leave therefore the conclave of St. Peter's, and the hierarchy of the British and Irish Roman Catholics, to settle which party is right, simply reminding

them that both are condemned by the Word of Gord, and that so long as they continue to countenance, defend, and adhere to their present practices, so long are they treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath, and adding fuel to that tremendous pile which shall shortly be kindled by the wrath of the Lord, and sweep away the Romish Babylon with all its Popes, and Cardinals, and highuamed authorities, and deluded advocates and supporters into the gulph of everlasting perdition. Go ye out of her, that ye be not partaker of her plagues."

FOREIGN RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

FRANCE.

Lyons. For the first time since a number of years, a Synod of the Clergy of this archdiocese has been held under the superintendance of the Archbishop. This assembly, consisting of about six hundred of the Clergy, regulated a number of ecclesiastical matters. The members loudly and unanimously approved of the expression of one of their number who stated in his address, "I am a friend to the principles of the Gallican Church, and declare myself as such before this Synod with pride."

Amiens. In many parts of France, the remnants of the Protestant Churches, scattered at the revocation of the edict of Nantes are again appearing, while new places of worship, erected principally by the contributions of the congregations, are every where building. One has been solemnly dedicated at Mens, in the départment of Isere in Dauphiné, the Protestant inhabitants of which place are probably descended from the Waldenses, who from the revocation of the edict of Nantes, up to the year 1787, persevered in holding their religious assemblies and celebrating the sacrament of the Lord's Supper by night, in the neighbouring forests to avoid detection. Another Church has been opened at Condé-sur-Noireau in the department of Calcados-still the wants of the French Protestants are very great. Seven congregations near Amiens, consisting principally of weavers, are so poor, that till lately they could only be visited by a minister of their religion once, or at most, twice in the year, when they were obliged to hold their assemblies in cellar or garrets, which were unable to contain more than 150 persons.

For the last five years they have been enabled to support a resident minister whose exertions have been blessed with signal success, so that it is now absolutely necessary for them to build a place of worship sufficiently large to contain the increasing congregation. The minister, the Rev. Cadoret, has therefore solicited the contributions of the benevolent and wealthy, to aid the exertions of his parishioners, which are received in Paris at the bureau of the Archives du Christianisme, rue Scivier.

Paris. In the year (1826) there were in this city 29,970 births, of which number 15,187 were boys and 15,78 females. Of these no less a portion a 10,502 were illegitimate children, and 2,604 of them only were affiliated. There were 7,755 marriages. The total number of deaths was 25,341, of which 12,562 were males and 12,770 females. In comparing this statement with that of 1825, (which we gave in a former Number,) there appears to be in 1826 an increase of 717 births and 204 marriages. The amount of deaths has experienced the sensible diminution of 1,552. This difference must in part be attributed to the small pox. The victims to this disease in 1825 amounted to 2,194, while in 1826 they did not exceed 240.

Paris. A Jesuit Priest, Contrafatto, has been condemned by the criminal tribunal of Paris to be branded and sent for life to the galleys, for attempting to violate a child of eight or nine years old, entrusted to his care. We learn with horror, that the government and priesthood made every exertion to save the wretch from punishment, and that the public demonstrations of indignation alone brought the criminal to justice.—

It is still supposed that the Priest will be conveyed out of the kingdom before the sentence is executed.

NETHERLANDS.

Brussels. A general law has been passed, forbidding interments in churches, chapels, and other places of prayer, throughout the whole kingdom, which is to take effect from 1st Jan. 1829.

The late Concordat.- (From a Correspondent)-Oct. 5.-"The impression which the announcement of the Concordat, entered into with the Romish See, and concluded on the 8th of June, regulating the affairs of the Catholic Church among us, has made, is very favourable and satisfactory. After a period of long uncertainty, after so many obstacles, we may at last hope that a fixed and permanent system will establish tranquillity and unanimity. In the northern provinces two episcopal sees will succeed the present apostolic vicariats, which could only partially supply the wants of the Church, and occasioned perpetual disputes. In the southern provinces a new see, Burges, is to be added to the four at present in being, viz. Namur, Liege, Tournay, and Ghent, and thus the expectations of the people are surpassed.A parish priest, highly esteemed, is fixed on to fill the bishoprick of Namur, nor are worthy men wanting for the other

sees.

The committee of the Council of State, lately declared permanent by his Majesty, appointed for superintending the affairs of the Catholic Church, has been increased by the addition of two members, who, as representatives of the province of Brabant in the States-General, have proved themselves the defenders of the rights, and promoters of the welfare of their constituents. One question is every where asked: Will the government endow the chapters and episcopal seminaries? The 11th article of the Concordat of 1801, which is the foundation of the late arrangement, declares it to be free from this charge: the 24 article of the present Concordat is silent upon this point; and the Pope, when he speaks of these endowments, merely mentions the assurances of the ambassador ;- -a formal promise, therefore, on the part of government has not been made. Yet when it is considered how paternally the monarch has supplied the necessities of the Church in towns and in the country, by voluntary donationswhen, above all, the care shown to promote scientific and moral institutions is remembered, it cannot be doubted that much will be done in this matter. A circumstance which has excited general as

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tonishment, and displeased not only the enemies of the Roman Catholic Church, but the public in general, is the total silence in which the Philosophical Institution at Louvain, established about two years ago, for the further education of candidates for the priesthood, has been passed over. For in those parts of the Papal Bull in which the education of the clergy is spoken of, the philosophical as well as the theological parts are exclusively entrusted to the episcopal seminaries. After the resolution with which the government endeavoured to maintain this institution against the prohibitions of the clergy-after all the marks of fa vour which were bestowed on it, at the expense of the episcopal seminaries-after the suppression of so many smaller places of education in which scientific instruction was given, preparatory to the admission of young persons into the bishops' schools-it was expected that that philosophical college would be sanctioned in the convention, and some early reports justified this expectation. present, attendance at it is required by no stipulation, and the institution which was laudably intended to raise the Roman Catholic clergy of this country to a higher degree of mental cultivation, and unite them more closely to the state, can only be preserved by new liberalities on the part of government. Indefatigable pains are still bestowed on its enlargement, and on securing the best possible methods of instruction; the studies are very attentively pursued, and five hundred pupils are expected to attend the next winter course; so that the enlightened Roman Catholic still fondly hopes that an agreement may be entered into by the government and the bishops, which may unite this excellent establishment with their seminaries. It is ascertained with tolerable certainty, that the government will not fail to watch minutely over the external discipline of the Church. short time ago there appeared a small pamphlet, written by a Dutch priest, declaring that the Concordat of 1801 was incompatible with the rights of the Roman Catholic Church, and particularly the organic articles which the French government considered necessary to determine the external connection of the church with the state, and against which the Pope protested. An anonymous writer replied to this publication in another pamphlet, entitled "Observations sur les libertés de l'église Belgique," in which he plainly showed that those organic articles granted to the state no other rights save those which the state had always exercised over the church in the

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Netherlands, and which were indispensably necessary for the preservation of peace and order. This work, we have heard from good authority, was approved by the government, and translated into the Dutch language, and it is remembered that in the decree of the 16th September, 1815, which first appointed the Committee of the Council of State for the affairs of the Catholic Church, it was especially enjoined to them to watch over the liberties of the Belgic Church, and that since that time prosecutions have been ordered against several of the priests offending in this particular. These circumstances enable us to interpret the meaning of the following words in the royal placet: "That the Papal Bulls may be published, yet without approving of the clauses, forms, and expressions, which therein may be at variance with the laws of the kingdom."

ITALY.

The King of Sardinia has issued an ordinance confirming the right of registering births, deaths, and marriages in Genoa (where the French laws had hitherto prevailed, which confided these matters to the civil magistrate) to the Roman Catholic clergy.

GERMANY.

Frankfort, Oct. 9, 1827.-This day the learned Joseph Fell, Roman Catholic pastor of the church of St. Leonhard, Inspector of the Roman Catholic boarding-schools, and Catechist of the Roman Catholic scholars in the Gymnasium, having resigned these offices, was, before many witnesses, received into the communion of the Evangelical Lutheran Church by Doctor Boukard, at his residence. By renouncing his former creed he has afforded a striking illustration of the power of the true Gospel, since he has resigned an income of 1200 florins,contented to rest on providence for his future support. He is about thirtysix years of age, of a cultivated understanding and unblemished character; he has promised to give to the public a brief account of his life, his gradual conviction of the errors of the Romish Church, till he found it necessary for the peace of his conscience to abandon its communion, and his reception into the bosom of the Protestant Church,

Munich. Dr. Michael Fischer, late Professor at Landshut, which situation he vacated by embracing the Protestant religion, has been appointed to a similar office in Hof.

Vienna. The following declaration drawn up by the present Archbishop of

Vienna, Prince Leopold Maximilian, in December 1823, must be made and signed by all converts wishing to become Roman Catholics. "As I, the undersigned, feel induced to profess the Roman Catholic religion, I beg that a Catholic priest may be appointed to instruct me and examine into my motives, in conformity with the existing laws. I declare on my honour and on my conscience that I

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years old, and married (or unmarried). That I have conducted myself honorably in my past life, and am not evil reported of, nor burthened with debts:

That I have no worldly views in wishing to change my creed; that I have been forced or seduced to do so by no man; nor have been induced by flatteries or promises:

That I expect no temporal aid, patronage or promotion, as a consequence of my conversion:

That I will endeavour to be a Catholic not only in name, but in my conversation and manner of life."

Gottingen.--We noticed in a former number the exertions of some pious individuals at the University of Gottingen, to promote the cause of religion, by assembling for prayer, and the study of the Holy Scriptures. Such a proceeding was not only in perfect accordance with the laws of the State, but was specially recommended by a royal edict of other and better days, viz. of 1734, which says, "it is not our intention, nor was it that of our royal father now resting with God, by his ordinance of the 15th of May, 1711, to forbid any one to promote his own spiritual edification or that of the members of his family, or or FRIENDS ASSEMBLING WITH HIM, by the exercise of prayer, singing of psalms and hymns, reading the Holy Scriptures and other pious books, together with exhortations and conferences, in his own house: yea rather we would exbort them to do so." And yet a pious and highly respectable clergyman, and a member and doctor of the University has met with various persecutions as a reward for his piety and conformity to the above edict. His license to teach in the University has been withdrawn, he has been removed from his official situation, and finally obliged to quit the city. Dr. Ruperti, a man opposed to spiritual religion, and occupying a distinguished station in the University, has candidly acknowledged that meetings held by this persecuted individual, Dr. Bialloblotzky, were not accompanied with any evil consequences, nor tended to cherish fa

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