led the "new
dogma." Both sectarianism and the schools of sophistry descanted loudly,
although certainly not learnedly, on the ignorance and ineptitude of the
institution which so powerfully opposed them. All this was only idle
clamoring. It never hindered the Holy Pontiff from prosecuting calmly the
important work which heaven had inspired him to begin.

The Encyclical was warmly responded to by the Episcopate. Six hundred and
three replies were duly forwarded to the Holy Father. Five hundred and
forty-six urgently insisted on a doctrinal definition. A few only, and
among these was Mgr. Sibour, Archbishop of Paris, doubted whether the time
were opportune. But there was no doubt as to the sentiments of the
Catholic world. Only in our time, when the facilities of communication are
so much greater than in any former age, could the plan of consulting so
many bishops in all parts of the world have been successfully adopted.
Pius IX. was now at Rome, and invited around him all bishops who could
travel to the Holy City. No fewer than one hundred and ninety-two from
every country except Russia sought the presence of the Chief Pastor. The
absence of the Russian bishops was all the more surprising, as the
Russo-Greek church vies with Rome in the honor which it pays to the
Blessed Mary. The bishops, however, were not to blame. Their good purposes
were frustrated by the jealous policy of the Emperor Nicholas. The bishops
assembled at Rome, in obedience to the wishes of Pius IX., did not
constitute a formal council. They were, nevertheless, a very complete
representation of the universal church. There were of their number some
highly distinguished cardinals, archbishops and bishops, such as Cardinals
Wiseman and Patrizzi, Archbishops Fransoni of Turin, Reisach of Munich,
Sibour of Paris, Bedini of Thebes, Hughes of New York, Kenrick of
Baltimore, and Dixon of Armagh, together with Bishops Mazenod of
Marseilles, Bouvier of Mans, Malon of Bruges, Dupanloup of Orleans, and
Ketteler of Mayence. Who will say that the learning of the Catholic world
was not at hand to aid with sound counsel the commission of cardinals and
theologians whom the Holy Father had appointed to prepare the Bull of
definition? There had never been so many eminent bishops together at Rome,
since the OEcumenial Council of 1215. On so great an occasion Pius IX. had
requested the prayers of the faithful, and throughout the Catholic world
supplication was made to heave