-the frequenters of Versailles, who regard the episcopate as
a gift bestowed by the prince and not by the Pope, a lay favor reserved
for younger sons, a present made by the sovereign to those around his
person, on the understood condition that the partisan courtier who is
promoted shall remain a courtier of the master. Henceforth nearly
all his episcopal recruits are derived from "members of the old noble
stock." "Only these," says Napoleon, "know how to serve well."

IX. The Imperial Catechism

Political use of the episcopacy.--The imperial catechism.
--Pastoral letters.

From the first year the effect arrived at is better than could be
expected. "Look at the clergy,"[51107] said the First Consul to
Roederer; "every day shows that in spite of themselves their devotion to
the government is increasing, and much beyond their anticipation. Have
you seen the pastoral declaration of Boisgelin, archbishop of Tours?...
He says that the actual government is the legitimate government, that
God disposes of thrones and kings as he pleases and that he adopts the
chiefs whom the people prefer. Your yourself could not have said that
better." But notwithstanding that this is said in the pastoral letter,
it is again said in the catechism. No ecclesiastical publication is more
important: all Catholic children are to learn this by heart, for the
phrases they recite will be firmly fixed in their memories. Bossuet's
catechism is good enough, but it may be improved,--there is nothing
that time, reflection, emulation, and administrative zeal cannot render
perfect! Bossuet teaches children "to respect all superiors, pastors,
kings, magistrates, and the rest." "But these generalities," says
Portalis,[51108] "no longer suffice. They do not give the proper
tendency to the subject's submission. The object is to center the
popular conscience on the person of Your Majesty." Accordingly, let us
be precise, make appointments and secure support.

The imperial catechism, a great deal more explicit than the royal
catechism, adds significant development to the old one, along with extra
motives:

"We specially owe to our Emperor, Napoleon the First, love, respect,
obedience, fidelity, military service, and tributes ordained for the
preservation of the empire and his throne... For God has raised him up
for us in times of peril that he might restore public worship and the
holy religion of our fathers and be its protector."

Every boy