doctrine which affirms that the Blessed Virgin Mary
was preserved and exempt from all stain of original sin from the first
moment of her conception, in consideration of the merits of Jesus Christ,
the Saviour of mankind, is a doctrine revealed by God, and which, for this
cause, the faithful must firmly and constantly believe. Wherefore, if any
one should be so presumptuous, which, God forbid! as to admit a belief
contrary to our definition, let him know that he has suffered shipwreck of
his faith, and that he is separated from the unity of the church." As the
Pontiff concluded, a glad responsive "Amen" resounded through the crowded
temple.

The Cardinal-dean once more reverently approached, and petitioned that
order be given for the publication of the apostolic letters containing the
definition; the promoter of the Faith, accompanied by the Apostolic
Protonotaries, also came to ask that a formal record of the great act
should be drawn up. At the same time the cannon of the castle of Saint
Angelo, and all the bells of Rome, proclaimed to the world that the
ever-blessed Mary was gloriously declared immaculate. Throughout the
evening the holy city echoed and re-echoed to the sounds of joyous music,
was ablaze with fire-works, and decorated with innumerable inscriptions
and emblematic transparencies.

The example of Rome was immediately followed by thousands of towns and
villages over the whole surface of the globe. It would require libraries
rather than volumes to reproduce the expressions of pious concurrence
which everywhere took place. The replies of the bishops to the Pope before
the definition, were printed in nine volumes; the Bull itself, translated
into all the tongues and dialects of the universe, by the labors of a
learned French sulpician, the Abbe Sire, appeared in ten volumes; the
pastoral instructions, publishing and explaining the Bull, together with
the articles of religious journals, would certainly make several hundred
volumes, especially if to these were added the many books by the most
learned men, and the singularly beautiful hymns and poems which flowed
from the pens of Catholic poets, no less than the eloquent discourses of
the most gifted orators. Descriptions of monuments and celebrations would
also immensely swell the list. Sanctuaries, altars, statues, monuments of
every kind, as well as pious associations rose everywhere in honor of the
Immaculate Conception. The ever-increasing devotion to Mary