brought to an end.

(M43) Pius IX. was still an exile at Gaeta when, observing the increasing
piety of the Catholic world towards the Blessed Virgin, and moved by the
representations of many bishops that were in harmony with his own
conviction, he issued the Encyclical of the 2nd February, 1849, addressed
to the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops and Bishops of the whole world,
in order to obtain from them the universal tradition concerning the
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Mother of God. In this Encyclical the
Holy Father recognizes the fact that there was a universal movement among
Christians in favor of the belief in question, so that the complete
acknowledgment of it appeared to be sufficiently prepared both by the
liturgy and the formal requisitions of numerous bishops, no less than by
the studies of the most learned theologians. He further states that this
general disposition was in full accordance with his own thought, and that
it would afford him great consolation, at a time when so many evils
assailed the church, to add a flower to the crown of the most holy Virgin,
and so acquire a title to her special protection. He declares, moreover,
that with this end in view he had appointed a commission of Cardinals in
order to study the question. He concludes by inviting all his venerable
brethren of the Episcopate to make known to him their sentiments and join
their prayers with his in order to obtain light from on high.

As the cross itself was folly in the estimation of the early unbelieving
world, so were such theological occupations, at a time when the Sovereign
Pontiff had not an inch of ground whereon he could freely tread, a subject
for jesting and sarcasm to the worldly-wise of the nineteenth century. It
was some time before they came to understand that a Pope is a theologian
more than a king, that, as such, he is sure of the future, and that the
solemn proceeding in regard to the Immaculate Conception was a triumphant
reply to all the errors of modern thought. This dogma brings to naught all
the rationalist systems which refuse to acknowledge in human nature either
fall or supernatural redemption. The means, besides, which were adopted in
order to prepare its promulgation, tended to bring the various churches
throughout the world into closer relation with their common Head and
Centre. They who had hitherto laughed, now raged when they saw this great
result, and attacked with the utmost fury what they cal