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PASTORAL LETTER 
 
 OF 
 
 0tfeWp the §i$li0p 0f ®0tattt0, 
 
 ON HIS PSOOEEDIHG TO THE GERERAL COUNCIL OF THE VATICAN. 
 
 JOHN JOSEPH LYNCH, by the Grace of God and by 
 
 the Authority of the Holy Apostolic See, Bishop 
 
 of Toronto, Assistant at the Pontifical 
 
 Throne, &c., &c. 
 
 To the befoved Cleiyi/, Jieliffiou.i Communities, and Faithful 0/ oar Diocese, 
 health and benediction from our Lord. 
 
 In obedience to the call of Our Holy Father, Pope Pius IX, Viair of Christ, Hcail 
 of.the Olmrch, and successor to St. Peter, we are about to proceed to Rome to take 
 part in the General Council consisting of the Bishops of the Catholic world, to whom 
 in connection with the Pope, Christ has given charge to govern the whole Cliurch, — 
 " Wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you, Bishops to rule the Church of God 
 which He hath purchased with His own blood." (Acts xr. 28.) The Church of God 
 is composed of all baptised persons, whether actually or in desire — not of unbaptized, 
 persons— for St. Paul says, "What have I to do with those without the fold." 
 Hence the Council is to legislate for those who apparently do not belong to our fold, 
 who, though receiving the gospel in general, reject many of its most saving ordinances. 
 The Church is also composed of teachers and disciples. " Go teach all nations," was 
 addressed to the Apostles and their successors : they arc the teachers and the nations 
 arc the disciplc3 to be taught. A general coixncil of the Bishops of the Church is an 
 a-ssembly of divinely appointed teachers who meet together in the name of Christ, 
 under His headship and inspired by His Holy Spirit, to review the situation of 
 tho Church, to correct abuses, to point out .errore and to decliuc the truth that is in 
 
the Lord Jesus, (Roinnns 0, 1). The ilecistion of the Church teaching hi council in 
 infiiUible. If Christ promised to he in tlie midst of two or th. ; meeting in His 
 name, directing and blessing them, He has promised in a special manner to be with 
 His Clnirch, " Behold I am with y( u all days, e\'en to the consummation of tjio world,' ' 
 and"the gates of Hell, that is of crror,8hail not prevail against it." He that said, "Ho 
 that wilt not hear the Church let him be to thee as the heathen and a publican,' 
 would not have given such an order if that Church could lead any one into enor 
 St. Paul calls the Church "The pillar a!id giound of truth." As the Jews were 
 directed in their course to the Promised Lund by a i)illar of a cloud during the day, and 
 a pillar of fire b}' night, so the traveller in search of the heavenly land is guided by 
 the pillar of truth, which is the Church, to his eternal abode, ft is the one which is 
 founded on that rock upon which Christ built His Church. 
 
 The Church, from its infancy, continues the work of C'hrist. It preaches the 
 doctrine he preached, it administers the sacraments which he institute<l, and it cor- 
 rects the abuses which he corrected; conswpiently, it has to sutt'er as he suttere<l, 
 calumny, j)ersec\ition, and opprobrium. The world hates the Church, as it hated 
 Christ ; makes war upon it, and crucifies it, as it did Clu'ist. When we speak of the 
 world, we do not mean the natural world, the world creatt^nl for our temporary 
 home and plea.sure. Nor do we mean persons, who though living in the Avorld, 
 acknowledge tlirist as their head, and love Him and His doctrine. And, though 
 surrounded with human frailty, sin thi.-ugh weakness and inadvertancc, yet rise 
 ttgiiin and make use of the healing sacraments, which He has instituted for our fallen 
 humanity; and who repair their faults by acts of mortification, penaTice, and liberality 
 to the poor. Bat we speak of the world — that is of pei-sons who war against Christ 
 and His Clnn'ch ; who endeavour to set up their private reason and judgment against 
 His divine word; who make a Cod of their Ijcllie.s, who i)ersecute the saints, who 
 declai-e that there is no difference between right and wrong, no punishment for the 
 wicked nor reward lor the good in the next life, who wish to subject the Church of 
 Christ to the empire of Satan ; who proclaim the feebleness of man .superior to the 
 power of God ; those who wish to .sap the foundation of society by proclaiming its 
 keystone, matrimony — l-lessed and instituted by Christ, (is a permanent and holy 
 state — to be a mere civil contract, to bo broken by the whims and fancies of the 
 licentious and ur,go<lly, who wish to make the Cluirch as a mere human institution in 
 the hands of civil governments, and to make the ministers of that Church mere tools 
 of despotism ; to anuise and keej) the people (juiet, without any reference to the sujic- 
 rior order of heaven and the interests of immortal souls. Witness the degraded con- 
 dition, spiritually speaking, of the so-called Churches of England, Russia, Denmark, 
 and other Protestant stfites, where religion is the handmaid of worldliuess, and of 
 the stuj)id .sons of wordly men, where the heads of state claim to be the divinely 
 coinmissioned heads of the Clnu'ch. St. Chrysostttm cries out against this state of 
 things, when he sii^'s, " t'lirist did not build His Church ujion kings and emperors, 
 but uiMjn Petei', the fisheiniau." The Church, too, has to legislate on a niodcru,but au 
 
s 
 
 old sore, callofl iiidiflVTontisni. Ppopln «ay, no matU-r what oluirnh yon In-loiig to, or 
 whether you belong to a elinreh or not, provided you are nn honest hmui, ami upright 
 ill your denlings with your neighbour, you will be saved. What would you think of 
 a man connneneing a very jjerilous journey by sea, who would thus nay to hinmelf* 
 '' No matter what boat I take, provided it is a boat— I will reach my journey's end." 
 Clirist holds a diflerent doctrine. God has his rights us well tus our fellow man, and 
 we have our duties to perform towards Him; wo must love him with our whole 
 heart, keep all liis commandments, and comiily with the precepts of His Son, 
 Jesus Christ. No matter what churdi you belong to, you say. Are all so-called 
 churches, then, ecpially right ? Their members do not think so, hence they join what- 
 ever church they think best, Alas I too often to suit their fancy or their interest. 
 How can any one pronounce that all churches are right, and such a church is wrong, 
 if he does not examine its constitution. And if the true Church be an object of your 
 search, why not conunence by incpiiring into the claims of the oM Catholic Church, 
 the tii-st, uiid to be tlie last. But it is as.serted that the Church founded by Christ 
 ha,s fallen into enor ; then Christ must be i>ronounced a false prophet, since ho has 
 .said, " and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." To be saved, you nuist 
 belong to the true Churc^h, jirofessing the true faith. St. Paul says, ' without faith," 
 that is, of course, the true faith, " it is impossible to please God." You nuist belong 
 to the one fold of the Shepherd Christ. Those who pi ofe.ss Christianity and don't 
 follow its maxims and precepty are almost in the same condition as if Christ did 
 not come. Christ founded only one Church and only one ministry for that Church- 
 He would not be the true (tod were he to found many Churches, with different 
 creeds such as we have now-a-dnys. 
 
 If it were not necessary to belong to this Church, why establish it ? If it were 
 not necessary to be baptized, why did Christ say to His apostles : " Go teach all 
 nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy 
 Ghost ? " Why say, " Unless you are born again of water and the Holy Ghost, you 
 .shall not enter the kingdom of God ? " Why say again, " Unless you eat the flesh 
 and drink the blood of the Son of man, you shall not have life in you." " Strive to 
 enter by the nairow gate." Heaven is taken by violence. Seek first the kingdom 
 fif God and Hi.- justice. How do these te.xts comport with Indifferentisni ? 
 
 Worldly governments claim the education of youth. W^orldly education can 
 make good mathematicians, natural i)hilosophers, &c., but not a moral man. The 
 Church alone, with its true religion, can effect this. Government requires oaths, and 
 oaths suppose a knowledge of God ■ ^^e name is invoked, and the rewards and 
 punishments of the next life. But ho ■^' can the citizen bo lormed to truth and 
 uprightness without the true religion. The Council has not to legislate on this 
 point, a.s H is an old settled question. To the Church belongs to teach all nations, 
 not indeed the science of this worM, but the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ,. 
 
 Worldly governments teach that riglit can be acquired by violence and bloodshed ; 
 b\it the Church teaches the contrary. 
 
No now (lognirm of faith are to ho invonted l.y the Council. Christ rcvetvU'd nil 
 throtigh luM Holy Spirit, '■ But whon tho Sj)iiit of truth is come, he will teiieh you 
 nil truth. For he simll not n\mik of hiinsi'if ; but what things soovor he hIiuU hear, 
 he Mhiill s^K'iik, autl the things that are to come he shall show y(»u" (St. John xvi. 1.1). 
 
 The fathers of tho Council will draw their decisions from tho treiwury of truth, 
 contained in the written words of Ood and in the traditiois of the Church. " There- 
 fore, hrethern, sUmd fast: and hold the trmlitions you have learned, whether hy wont 
 or by epistle. ' (11. Thes. 2, 14.) The world pretends to laugh at the Coiuieil as at 
 )in obsolete systeu) of govermnent. If ho, why occupy so much time and money in 
 sending on the lighting wings .so many reiiorts true and false ; and why so many 
 ■peculations of governments antl people concerning its future decrees f Why so much 
 <lismay at the meeting of men, genenilly ohl, and considered by the world of littlo 
 importiince. Councils an- old modes of governing tho Church. They date back to 
 the time of the Apostles, when they assembled together in Jerusalem to settle tho 
 ditticidties of the early Church. (Acts ch. xv.) 
 
 The Coiuicil will have one etfect ; it will, at lea.st, ju.<tify God " That he may be 
 justified in His words and overcome when He is judged." (Ps. 50.) When God 
 judge.s and condemns the wicked, they cannot allege the want of knowing the truth. 
 
 The Council will review the condition of the worl.l. l.st. The Pagan world. It 
 S^^>t> consists of at leust J^«To millions of Pagans who don't acki.owledgu Christ, or the 
 redemption which ho has wrought. They tt:c divided into See.s in paftibus, though 
 subject to the jurisdiction of 2()() Bishop.s scattered throughout the world, with all 
 Pagan obstacles to encounter. What are iOO Bishops for such u nniltitude ( The 
 liarvest, indeed, is great, but the laborers are few. The Coinicil will take into con- 
 sideration what is to be done for that vast multitude of souls made to the image and 
 likene.Ms of God. 2nd. T1k> Christian world. It is divided into two classes, 200 
 millions in Conununion with the Holy See, and between GO and 70 millions of 
 Protestants, who, though baptised, do not belong to the one fold. The Coimcil 
 will see what abuses or want of discipline may exist amongst the Catholics, and 
 what remedy is to be applied to these abuses, what further lustre may be added to 
 tho works of the Church, and what means to be taken to extend its boundaries. 
 Tlie Council will take into consideration her rebellious children who protest against 
 her authority and teaching. Those rebellious children are called by the generic term 
 of Protestants; but are divided and sulnlivided into innumerable sects, all diftering 
 more or less from one another. A sect can only produce r. sect, never an entire 
 boily. Those sects are so numerous that lexicogiaphcrs can hardly keep tmck of 
 them. Dictionaries have been compcxsed giving an accctunt of the doctrine and des- 
 cription of those sects. And this extiiiordinary product of private judgment with 
 respect'- to religion has been aptly styled the "abenations of the human mind." 
 Amongst those sects there are very many well-meaning people. They are unea-sy, 
 fretful and yearn after the truth ; they wish to belong to the true fold of Clniat ; 
 
)mt their piiily eiliicntion, prejiulifc niul ignoranec, and alM)vo all, the dark and lying 
 colors in which the? true Cliurch of Christ has hfcn painted fur thcni, inuke thcni 
 afrai<l of looking towards that t'lnirch. We shouM be very sorry, indued, tiuit 
 they would be obligetl to join a Church professing stich doctrine and practices as are 
 falsely attributeil to the Catholic Church. 
 
 The Council will see to the means of enlightening these erring children, and 
 .pointing out to them the way, the truth, and the life, md to follow in the way marketl 
 out for them by Jesus Christ our Lord for eternal sidvation. The words of Christ 
 are applicable to them : " Other sheep I have, who are not of this fold, them I also 
 must bring, and they shall hear my voice, anil tliere shall be one fold and one shep- 
 herd " (John X, l(j). ! sjiy, in fine, the Council will perform its duty of teaching the 
 wliole world, and pointing out the duties of rulers 'ind people, for all are eijually 
 subject to the Church. The Bishops will return from the Council with increased 
 zeal for the spread of tln^ true faith, and for the more exact observance of the laws 
 and discipline of the Church. What a glorious sight will this vast as.sembly present. 
 Men, worn out by apostolic labors and cares, collected from every nation uniler the 
 sun, speaking various languages, assembled under the glorious dome of St. Peter's, 
 near the sacred shriuii of the princes of the apostles, St. Peter and Pa\d, and in the 
 presence of his august suece.ssor Pius IX., all speaking the one language of faith, 
 united together by the strongest ties of brotherly love, and aiming at the one object, 
 tlM' advancement and glory of the kingdom of Christ on earth.-^ 
 
 The tenth year f)f our admiidstration of our Diocese is coming to its clo.se, at 
 the end of which time the Holy See demands from the Bishops of the Clnnch of 
 Canada (from other Churches more freijuently) an account of their stewardship. 
 Notwithstanding the numerous bodily infirmities, and the trials attending our 
 charge, we have endeavored to carry out the object of our consecration. Through 
 the gieat mercy of God, and the patronage of His Hcdy Mother, and the many self- 
 sacrifices of a devoted clergy, a.ssisted by religious comnumitics of men and women, 
 with the cc-operation of an ever faithfid and generous laity, great things have been 
 etlccted. Our venerable predecessors are largely entitlcl to the glory of this success; 
 we are but reaping the fruits which their labours have sown. 
 
 The priesthood of the Diocese has been augmented by 25 ordinations. 40 Sisters 
 of St. Josepli have made their vows; 14 novices are at present in the convent. 39 
 nuns of Loretto have also nuide their vows, and there are 9 novices, with many 
 lto.stulants. Five convents have been established, viz.: St. Jo.seph's (Clover Hill), 
 Loretto Abbey, Wellington Place, that of Bond Street, and Niagara Falls. A branch 
 of the Loretto has been established at Hamilton, and one of St. Joseph's sent to 
 London. Sixteen churches have been built in the Diocese, viz. : at Penotanguisheno, 
 Poit Dalhousie, Bradford, Bell Ewart, Clareville, Christian Island, Fort Erie, Grimsby, 
 Markan>, Mcdonte, Whitby, Wellaml, Prince Albert, Brechin, Jordan and Uxbridge. 
 A still trreater uundjer have either been enlarged, finished or dccoiuted. All are 
 supplied with sacred ornaments and likewise many old debts have been paid off. 
 
Among thc/to that have Wow iMiliir^od or (Icconitt^tl mt' St. Paul's 8t. Mary's, the for- 
 mer St. Pntrit'k's (wliicli was Imnit), North ami Smitli AiIjhIm, Hcavortoii, ('i.liing. 
 Wdiid, (leorgiiiiiu, (iwllliiiilnuy, Highliiml Cnok, Fins, Niuj,'ara Falls, Port Coll)oriie, 
 St. ( 'athariiic.H, Main, Smithvillc, Ht. Croix. Brick Pro.shytiM-ii-s have Ik'ou erct'tud at 
 St. Paul's, St. Patrick's (Turoiitn), Nnrth ami South Adjala, Brock, Barrlc, Calt'don, 
 Diitllu's (Vwk, Mara, Siiii(mcrvillc,Thoriild, and the (lore of'Toroiito; and a parochial 
 rf'sideiict", valued at .1<2;<)(H), bought at St. Catharines. All the I'reshyterieH arc fur- 
 nished as |)ro])erty of the c(>n<,'rej,'atioii for the pastor, and all the Church propert} .s 
 in tht) hands of the opis(!i>|);vl cor|)oration, in trust for each congregation. Real 
 estate was purchased at Niagara Falls, 220 acres, upon which there is a commodious 
 convent erect(ul. It is our intention to have a monastery built on this land, that the 
 Catliolic Church may he fittingly represented in the midst of so much grandeur and 
 lieauty, ami where so many visitois come from all countries. Four acres have been 
 added to St. Michael's Cemetery. The lot on which the Ht. Patrick's Presbytery and 
 Sihool-liouse now staml, was purchased for .S.S.OOO, 8+,()<>0 was expended for the 
 St. Nicholas Hotel, for working boys, and the lot adjoining it, on Richmond Street ; 
 besides mnnerous other sites for churches and pn sbyteries jjurchased throughout 
 the diocese. Sehool-hou.ses have been built at St. Patrick's and at St. Mary's 
 (Toronto), Gore of Toronto, St. Catherines, St. Joseph's Convent ; estfiblished at 
 O.sliawa; St. Mi"haels College considerably eidargeil ; a scho<d-hou.se and lot pur- 
 chased at Stamford aiJd at Chippawa, a convent established at Thorold, where a 
 house and lot were purchased. The Academy of the Brothers was enlarged and 
 ropiiired, and about 17(t respectidile boys are in attendance. A school was established 
 on Bond Street, Toronto. All the female schools are under the direction of the Sistei-s, 
 and the schools for boys under that of the Brothers. The House of Providence was 
 fmi.shed, and largely fitted up. St. Michael's Cathedral has been finished, by the 
 additior. of the most magnificent spire in the country, in which a large bell has been 
 placed. An elegiint and conunodious sacristy has also been addeil to the Cathedral. 
 The anunuit of money expended for these works and purposes, amount at least to 
 Sl.-)0,0(»0. 
 
 VThilst occupied with these nuiterial works, the spiritual good of the faithful wius 
 not by any means neglected. Retreats, missions, forty hours' adoration and confirma- 
 tions were attended to each year in all the principal chun !ies, and, every two or 
 three years, in all the other churches. All these s[)iritual e.xeriises were well 
 attended, and with great fruit. The Sacraments of Penance aiul the Holy Eucha- 
 rist were frequently received, and many tej)id Christians, long absent from their 
 duties, have been reconciled to their God. The young people have .shown greater 
 si<Tns of piety and attachment to their faith. Confraternities of the Ble.s.sed Sacrament. 
 Blessed Virgin, and St. Jowph, have viistly increased their number. New Confer- 
 ences have been established by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. The Society of the 
 Propagation of the Faith, though not so largely supported as we would wish, is, never- 
 th-'less, in a fair condition in many places The Hou.sc of Providence, the doom of which 
 

 are over opon to tliu imligent and tliHtreiwfd invaliils, vindicate the holy providonco of 
 Owl. A fair ninoiiiit Ims boon loalized for tho Eccli'Mlastical Kdiicatioii Fiiiid.nrKi, on the 
 whok., God lias lx!cn intinitoly merciful to the Diocese. All these greitt works of the 
 Diocese could not have bcenoH'ectod without great Mncrifices on »1! skIch, on the part of 
 PricHts and people. AVe camiot diHguine from oumelves t><x tact that there are some 
 tepid christians amongst our Hock, who do not freijuent the .sacraments, othciu are 
 hardened sinnera who disregard every solicitation of their "nstoi-s to return to God, for 
 whoue conversion we earnestly pmy. Notwithstanding ull, wo have to praise God, 
 and hope|for meicy for oui-solvcs and for tlie Hock conKdcd to our care, The Priests 
 wore content, like St. Paul, with food and clothing, while the people in general con- 
 tributed lilwrally, according to their means, with plwisure. We see union, harmony, 
 respect and obedience loign in every Parish, aud the i)eaco of God, which surpas.ses 
 all nndei-standing, cxisung among them. The St Nicholas Hotel, an in.stitution which 
 causes us great delight, has been recently cstablishe.l. Here many a noble boy will 
 be .saved from the influence of vice, and will become honorable members of the church 
 Rud .society. We have the happiness also to announce to our dear children in Christ, 
 that a Convent of the Nuns of jthe Most Precious Blood hiw been lately founded, 
 at St Mary's (Toronto). This con. .nmity is to me, as I trust it will bo to you, a 
 great source of joy, consolation and succor. These noble ladies, pray aud immolate 
 themselves day and night in continual adoiiiti- 1-, of the Most Precious Blood in the 
 B. Sacrament, for the conversion of sinnei-s. Besides various other acts of great 
 mortification and penance, they rise at mi.l-night to recite the Divine Office, passing 
 an hour and a half in mcditition and innuolation before the Mcst B. Sacrament 
 They again rLse at Ave, spend aiunher hour before the Most Blessed Sacrament, then 
 follows Ma.ss, at which they receive conununion every monung. The rest of the day 
 is spent idtcnuitely between prayer and visits to Blessed Sacrament, and their 
 domestic duties. The linuts of this pastoral, in which wo have touched on so many 
 topics, will not allow us to speak further concerning thir fervent connnunity. We shall 
 take another occasion of allutling to it But it is the great consolation of my heart. 
 We would be glnd to say, Xtinc dimltlis seruum tuum. I long for the tran- 
 quility of holy litude, where I may piepare my soul for eternity, and to give an 
 atwount, to a merciful but, just Q(k1, of aU my actions, and also of my omissions"; of the 
 evil I have done, and of the good I neglected to do. Oh, were it not for the Holy 
 Sacrament of Penance, whore judgni.nt is all merciful, and forestalls the judgmentj 
 to conie,how miserable we should be. Aly shattered constitution reminds me to beware 
 Many things have yet to lie done for the good of souls, in this Diocese. For the Work 
 of God is daily increa*.ing, which re(iuires gieater corpond and spiritual powers than I 
 po.ssess. ^ I do not Hy from labour, if it were possible to be ettected, or were I capable of 
 pedbrming it. Should the Holy Father think jnoper to relieve me from my heavy burden 
 I should deem myself highly favoured; I take this opportunity of a.sking pardon of 
 all my Priests and good people if I should have oHendcd them in any way. Our inten- 
 tions u)»y not have always corresponded with our jwta. Wo thank our good Priests fur 
 
8 
 
 that noble generosity with wliicli they have borne with us, and for their liearty 
 co-oi>eration in all onr projects for good. We thank our generous, kind heaitcd, 
 and noble children of the Laity, both rich and poor, young and old, for their iu'yaria- 
 ble kindness to their chief Pastor and respective Pastors. Should God permit us to 
 RiTive at Rome, and again visit the Tombs of the Apostles and Martyrs ; when 
 kneeling there, and celebrating mass upon their altars, our most fervent prayers will 
 be for the temporal and eternal happiness of our good children in Christ of Toronto. 
 \Vc .shall also beg the Holy Father to senil an especial blessing to all. We have 
 matle provisions for the administration of the Diocese in our absence, or in eswo of 
 death. We have appointed our zealous, prudent, and pious Vicars Generals, viz. : 
 Vciy Reverend Father Jamot, and Very Reverend Father Rooney, administrators 
 of the Diocese. The Episcopal authority therefore resides in them ; and we have 
 every reason to hope that they will be loved, obeyed and rcsi)ccted more than wc 
 could hope for oureelves. 
 
 Every Sunday We have oftered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for all our chil- 
 dren in Clirist, and every Satui"day for the Priests. We hope in return that we will 
 not be forgotten in their mementoes at the Holy Altar, and in the private prayers 
 of eaeh of our faithful children. 
 
 Tliis Pastoral is U) be read in all the Cliurches and Religious Communities as 
 soon as convenient after its reception. 
 
 Mnj' the grace of out Lord Jesus Christ, and the counnunication of His Holy 
 Spirit, be with you all. 
 
 f JOHN JOSEPH LYNCH, 
 
 Bishop of Toronto. 
 
 Gicea o.t Ht. Mkhud'g I'liluo', 
 2'J(li. ,iq>tc>aba; FiUDt of St. Mkhud th<: Ardnuiyd. 
 
 K. B. — His Lordship the Bishop leaves for Rome in the second week in October.