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Show The Galway Bog-slide. (Irish Catholic.) A letter of thanksgiving, of which the following is a translation, has been written to the Most Holy Father, Pope Pius X, on behalf of the bishop, priests and laty of the diocese of Elphln, in acknowledgment ac-knowledgment of his generous gift to the victims of the bog slide at Ballygar. County Galway: Most Holy Father We. the bishbp, priests and people of the diocese of El-phin, El-phin, in Ireland, beg to testify to your holiness our deep feelings of heartfelt gratitude for the truly royal beneficence with which you have relieved the por sufferers in the sad calamity that has lately afflicted one of the parishes of our diocese. Such a gift from our beloved holy father, fa-ther, the pope of Rome, would at any time be prised by us beyond all earthly treasures; but our gratitude is deepened deep-ened beyond expression, when we know that this most generous gift has been bestowed at a time when your paternal heart is wrung by the cruel sufferings of so many thousands of your own beloved be-loved Italians. The recollection of similar help given by the successors of St. Peter, in the past, increases our appreciation of the deep and practical sympathy of your holiness in the unmerited sufferings of the inhabitants of a part of our diocese. We recall today how your predecessors, the Roman pontiffs, have, in ages past, with singular solicitude and unfailing care, watched over our country so cruel- I ly persecuted for the faith, and con- I soled and assisted our fathers in their trials and siifVrincr tv 1 - . sympathy with the grief which has afflicted af-flicted your holiness on account of the persecution and oppression of the church, in our. times, descended as we are from those who have endured all things for the Catholic fafth. We are, holy father, with you in spirit in all your labors and solicitude; and we constantly pray God to save you from all your enemies, to grant you grace and strength to bear your griefs and trials, to bring peace and liberty to his church, and thus assuage your many sorrows. Prostrate at the feet of your holiness, we beg you to accept this expression of our deep gratitude, filial love and loval allegiance: and we ee.-nestly beg your apostolic benediction for ourselves and for all the Catholics of the diocese of Elphin. Signed on behalf of the bishop, priests and people of the diocese oi Elphin your holiness' most humble and devoted children. John Clancy, Bishop of Elphin James J. Kelly, D. D., V. G., Dean of Elphin. John O'Dowd, Chairman of the Sligo County Council. John Fitzgibbon, Chairman of the Roscommon County Council Joseph A. Glynn, Chairman of the Galway County Council. St. Mary's, Sligo, Feb. 20, 1909. |
