The Pope
himself next came to be considered as intolerably dilatory in preparing
measures of reform. Nor did he escape the accusation, at the same time, of
sacrificing to his zeal, as a temporal ruler, the higher duties which he
owed to religion and the Church. According to one set of revilers, he was
breaking with inviolable tradition. Others insisted that so enthusiastic a
reformer of the State must be a revolutionist in the Church. Such attacks
were met by anticipation in the Encyclical of 9th November, 1846. This
well-known document was received with applause by the civilized world. It
leaves no ground for the charges in question. It would only destroy the
Church to pretend to reform its dogma and revolutionize its discipline and
government. Such an idea could proceed from no other source than the
stratagems of unbelief, or from the snares of the wolf, who, in sheep's
clothing, seeks to insinuate himself into the fold. It is nothing short of
sacrilege to hold that religion is susceptible of progress or improvement,
as if it were a philosophical discovery, which could advance with the
march of science. The Holy Father enumerates also in this Encyclical the
principal grounds of faith, and exhorts all bishops to oppose with all
their zeal and learning those who, alleging progress as their motive,
perversely endeavor to destroy religion by subjecting it to every man's
individual judgment. He condemns indifference as regards religion,
eloquently defends ecclesiastical celibacy, and, mindful that the Church
is the teacher of the great as well as of the humble, he enforces the
obligations of sovereigns towards their subjects, not forgetting the
fulfilment of all the duties which the people owe to their rulers. In a
former Encyclical, Pius IX. had expressed his predilection for the
religious orders. This expression was now renewed. Time may have
interfered, more or less, with their discipline. Anxious to preserve them
and promote their prosperity, he was ever willing to correct such abuses
as may have existed. To some communities he offered the most admirable
suggestions. Others he honored with personal visits, evincing always a
truly pastoral zeal for the well-being of institutions so precious to
religion.

Pius IX., although deeply occupied with affairs of State that would have
commanded all the attention and energy of any ordinary mind, found time,
nevertheless, for the discharge of duties of a still higher order. He
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