the truth; that the Established Church of this land and her ministers may, collectively and individually, take the lead in "whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, and whatsoever things are of good report; then shall we not hesitate in acknowledging and regretting all past unseemly conduct to our brethren of

other churches; then shall we be ready, in future, to hold out the right hand of Christian fellowship and good will to all the Israel of God. So shall we form a goodly band of wrestling Jacobs with Him who will hear and answer our united supplications, either in defeating all the stratagems of Satan, or in preparing us for them, and overruling them all to his own glory, and to our everlasting good.

[THE following authentic account of the progress of Romanism in Paris, and of the new and unheard-of forms of Jesuitism, springing up in the very heart of the French metropolis, is so astounding, that we think no space too large in placing it before that portion of our readers who compassionate the deluded victims of "the man of sin." Surely such details, from an eye and ear witness, will rouse the sympathies of British Christians on behalf of millions perishing at our very door. We have printed the affecting narrative in our large type, for the benefit of the aged readers of the Magazine.-EDITOR.] Archie-confrérie du tres Saint d'Immaculé cœur de Marie, established at Paris.

The parish of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires is situated in the centre of Paris ; the Exchange, the Bank, several of the Theatres, and the Palais-Royal, are grouped around the church, which has long since lost the name of Our Lady, and is only known as the church of the Petits-Pères. The moral and religious state of this parish was, till lately, according to the avowals of the Catholics, the most degraded that can be imagined; it contained a population almost entirely absorbed by the arts of cupidity, the pursuits of gamblers, and the indulgence of the most criminal and voluptuous passions. The church was

VOL. XXI.

deserted, even during the most solemn festivals; the sacraments and religious services were entirely neglected; the edifice itself had once been used as the Exchange, and even since the present curé has entered on its functions, it was a place of prostitution. He was obliged to have recourse to the civil power to drive from the sanctuary the dissolute persons by whom it was frequented. The priest could obtain no access to the sick or the dying; or only on condition of his waiting till the patient had lost all consciousness, and of his appearing in the garb of a layman. He ascended the pulpit in vain for only a small number of persons, and these afraid to show themselves, constituted his flock. The numerous masses celebrated by him were so little valued, that after three years' toil and trouble, and though a slight amelioration was perceptible in his parish, con taining at least 27,000 souls, only 720 hosties, or consecrated wafers, were consumed in the year, from the 1st of January to the 31st of December.

It was when weighed down and disgusted by this awful state of the district of which he is the spiritual director, that one evening, at the close of the year 1836, when celebrating mass before the altar of Mary, an idea was suddenly suggested to his mind-it was nothing less than the consecration of his parish to the Most Holy and Imma

G

culate Heart of the Divine Mary, for the conversion of sinners. He repelled the thought as an idle distraction; though his judgment disavowed it, it pursued him during the ceremony, till at length, terrified at such an invasion, when his contemplations should have been absorbed by his mysterious duty, he implored the Almighty to deliver him from the power of this new idea; and he was delivered ; it was only, how. ever, for a moment. After the thanks

giving, the thought returned with new force, and took complete possession of his mind. He discussed the project with himself-he found it vague, mystical, neither capable of satisfying the understanding or the heart. Worn out at length by this internal combat, he ceded not willingly; his consent was without confidence, and only obtained from mental fatigue. He returned to his home, and immediately took pen to write down a few rules, and to give body and shape to the unformed conception. Instantly, the subject became clear; thought succeeded thought in an orderly and suitable manner, and the statutes of a parochial association or confraternity were framed, as by inspiration. Thus, according to the curé, the Divine wisdom acted, as it does generally act, when it designs to employ second causes to accomplish a great work; it chooses the most feeble, the most incapable and unworthy instruments, that, according to the apostle, no flesh may glory, and that all may acknowledge the infinite power, and the sovereign wisdom of the supreme Workman. “I am not the founder," says he, "but only the instrument and the servant." But at least the instrument will justify the selection : he will be a man of talents, possessing the confidence of the public, environed by general respect, a man powerful in word and deed, capable of attracting the heart, and commanding the intelligence. No, he is an obscure priest, unknown, discouraged, sad, and borne down by sorrow. Among the clergy, from whom he was destined to experience opposition, he is without in

fluence. But then his mind and heart are fully and ardently engaged to prosecute the work to which he is called. On the contrary, it was presented to him, and he rejected it with disdain, and he must first be conquered and subdued. It is at the altar of Mary that this victory was gained over the pride of his prejudices. The confraternity is destined to sanctify the world; all generations must call the immaculate and august Mary blessed. The director then will have extensive relations, in order to propagate his work. No, he lives solitary, having intercourse with only a small number of friends, simple and humble as himself. Thus all is of God. The finger of God is visible; it is the Lord that has wrought the wonder." At the close of 1836, the Confrérie du Saint et immaculé Cœur de Marie knelt for the first time before her altar in the long deserted and desecrated church, to implore her to convert heretics and the profane. During a year, from forty to sixty persons continued to assemble at vespers, unnoticed, almost unknown, and not yet exposed to the raillery and mockery with which they were afterwards assailed. Prostrate before the altar, the curé raised his eyes, filled with tears, to the image of the

august queen of heaven and earth," and exclaimed : “O my good mother, you will hear the cries of love and confidence-you will save the poor sinners who call thee their refuge. O Mary, adopt this pious association; give me, as a token, the conversion of M-. To-morrow I will go to him in your name." M was rather more than eighty years of age, blind, and in bad health, but possessing all his mental energies. He was one of the last ministers of Louis XVI., a philosophical unbeliever, and from his youth had dispised all religious ceremonies. Often he had refused to see his pastor, indeed as often as he had called on him. The visit projected before the altar was made; this time the priest was received with courtesy, and at once his blessing was demanded. "I cannot see you," said the old infidel, "but I feel your pre

sence. Since you have been near me, I feel a calmness, a peace, an inward joy, such as I have never experienced." The confession was then commenced, and he was completely converted. He lived some months full of faith in the Divine mercy and submission to the Divine will. "Let Mary have the glory," said the curé; "she is never invoked in vain; and as a proof of her adoption of our godly Association, she has suddenly converted the sinner pointed out to her, with a just confidence in her protection."

The Confrérie was thus inaugurated, and the Archbishop of Paris approved the project and the rules accepted by its members. Its progress became more rapid each month, and the curé was induced to attempt its extension as an archiconfrérie for the whole of France. He presented a request to his archbishop, that he would approve the plan, and recommend it to His Holiness for his sanction. The most severe refusal was returned, and almost a command to desist from all ulterior measures for the attainment of the end proposed. The curé was in a painful position. As an obedient priest, he knew not how to put his will in array against that of his diocesan; but on the other hand, an inward and inspired impulse urged him to follow out his plan. The resistance of the archbishop he considered as fulfilling the Divine designs. The work so small and feeble, and yet destined to be so grand, must be abandoned by men, that it might be more evidently the work of God. From the first moment, the voice of heavenly goodness had said to him: "My grace is sufficient for thee, and my strength shall be made manifest by your weakness." He resolved to address his memorials to Rome itself. A pious friend in that city undertook to present them to two princes of the church, and they promised to obtain, in fifteen days, the pope's authority in his favour. Alas! after waiting several weeks, he was informed, that on reflection the personages in question had returned the papers, with an assurance that all

efforts would be useless, as His Holiness would never grant such a favour, even to the Archbishop of Paris himself. This affair had been left to slumber for a year in the sacred city, and nobody was willing to give it fresh activity. But the curé of Notre-Damedes-Victoires was not to be discouraged or diverted. In the month of March, 1838, he resolved to demand, by the special prayers of the Association, the aid of Mary, in order to succeed, and he fixed on the communions of the next month for this united effort. Their prayers, it would seem, were soon and completely answered. In that month, a Roman Catholic lady, of rank and piety, happened, by apparent accident, to hear of the wonderful conversions and the prodigies of grace obtained of. the Virgin in the church of NotreDame-des-Victoires, and, at the request of the curé, promised to present herself his petition to the pope. She demanded an audience to that effect, and no sooner had the sovereign pontiff read the request, than he ordered a bull to be prepared, by which he might establish for ever, in the church of Notre-Dame-des-Victoires, at Pairs, an archiconfrérie of the most holy and immaculate heart of Mary, for the conversion of sinners, The curé had requested this favour for France; His Holiness extended it to the whole world! and to the end of time, the curé of that once deserted church is to be the director of this immense Roman Catholic Institution. Here, again, the curé, founder of the Association, sees the finger of the Almighty. When men of rank and ecclesiastical princes refused their co-operation, a female, who only heard by accident of the affair, and who could not embrace or appreciate its magnitude, arranges with the sovereign pontiff the vast and important interests of the Romish church, and of the universe, and the vicar of Christ, so chary of grants of such a nature, gives immensely more than had been asked.

Armed and honoured with the papal bull, the humble curé could now awe

his adversaries, and rally and encourage his friends; the church lately so shamefully desecrated, soon became the resort of the most elevated of the clergy, the most influential of the laity, and of crowds of the faithful—its walls were adorned, its altars beautified, its ceremonies solemnly celebrated, and its worshippers too numerous. In the year 1835, only 720 communicants were to be found in the parish. In 1838, not less than 12,000 hosties were consumed. The Archbishop of Paris himself did not hesitate to officiate, and sometimes several bishops were present at the same office, in honour of the " queen of heaven and earth, the only intermediary of our reconciliation, the throne of grace, the golden link, which re-unites and allies humanity with Divinity." The representative of His Holiness, the nuncio, has several times mingled his adoration and his supplications with those of the people, and has encouraged and blessed them; while the prelates of distant parts of the world have made pilgrimages to the altar, before which was founded the archiconfrérie of the most Holy and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

On the list of prelates who have thus identified themselves and their dioceses with the archiconfrérie, by personally and publicly honouring the

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almighty queen, besides archbishops and bishops in France, are the archbishops or bishops of Chalcedon, Joppa, Babylon, Algiers, Mellos (vicar-apostolics of Siam), Pegu and Ava, or Birman empire; Sydney, or Australia; Nicopolis, or Ecianica (Gambian isles, Marquesas, Tahiti, Sandwich islands); Heliopolis (vicarapostolic of Gibraltar); Limeria (coadjutor of Edinburgh and Montreal).

The last on this list has recounted the prodigious results produced in his newly created diocese by the allpowerful aid and the tenderness of the maternal heart of Mary. Conversions, according to him, are without number: whole parishes desire missionaries, that they may be regenerated, and become worthy to honour the holy and imma

culate heart of Mary by a blameless life. Twelve large parishes have been awakened, so that scarcely an individual has failed to commune ; sermons six times a day, in the open air, to crowds that the churches could not contain; a succession of prodigies; distinguished Protestants gained over; more than twenty at one period received into the bosom of the true Mother; the priests obliged to hear confessions in the gardens, or in the presbyteries; twelve or fifteen confessors being distributed with groups of penitents around them; and the sick brought from far to experience at once spiritual and physical deliverance.

The next to miraculous benefits obtained by the sick and the infirm have been exhibited at Paris itself, and in the person of the Archbishop of Bordeaux. This prelate had engaged to celebrate mass in the church of NotreDame-des-Victoires on a certain day. His presence was anticipated with great enthusiasm. Alas! before the day arrived he was attacked by violent pains, inflammation, and swelling of the foot; he was not allowed to move, and his surgeon ordered absolute quiet. There appeared no possibility of his being able to keep his engagement. The surgeon had uttered an oracular and terrible sentence-"You have the same malady as that from which Father Geramb suffered last year; and, by a slight imprudence on his part, we feared being obliged to take off his leg." Grief and disappointment for the confrérie !—the eve of the day fixed, no amelioration-the curé was in despair. The day dawned; the archbishop inquired of his pious and skilful surgeon, if he might venture. "To any other patient I should say, No," he replied; "for there would be the greatest danger. But your Lordship wishes to go to Notre-Dame-desVictoires. The holy Virgin performs miracles in that church, you believe; go-the holy Virgin will cure you." To the surprise of the faithful, at halfpast nine the archbishop entered the church, leaning on his crosier; his leg

was horribly swollen, but he celebrated mass, and descended the steps of the altar with ease he spoke for half an hour-he was better-he was cured! He dined with the curé, and without any difficulty ascended to his apartment, ninety steps, and walked down afterwards without any pain. In the afternoon, he preached for an hour in the church of St. Thomas d'Aquin; from thence he went to the church of Foreign Missions, and gave an exhortation; and finally returned to NotreDame-des-Victoires, and celebrated the service for the conversion of sinnerslistened to a sermon from the abbé Lacordaire, of the order of St. Dominic -and concluded, himself, the ceremonies of the day at ten o'clock at night! This fact was publicly announced by the celebrated abbé Beautain the Sunday following, to an immense auditory, in the presence of his lordship. Sudden and certain cure! contrary to all human provision! the holy Virgin performed it!

It is not

Multitudes of such marvellous interpositions are announced from Sunday to Sunday, and published from the records of the church; and still more abundant are the spiritual and miraculous conversions of persons of all ages, ranks, and conditions. astonishing, then, that the archiconfrérie should extend its influence with an elasticity almost unprecedented, and embrace an ever increasing mass. Prayer to Mary for the conversion of sinners is the assumed bond of union, and the accredited means of success. The plenary indulgence of His Holiness, and the pardon of their sins, are also assured by his bull of institution, to all brethren and sisters of the confraternity, who offer the appointed prayers to the queen of heaven and earth, and receive the sacraments in honour of her goodness. The progress of this idolatrous institution has been and is, however, almost astounding.

In June, 1838, only one register of members existed, and only 3058 names were inscribed at Notre-Dame-des-Victoires -only one association had been found

ed. The pope, "the vicar of Christ, who alone exercises in all the earth the plenitude of the apostolic power, blessed it: Grow and multiply,' said he; and immediately the children of the heart of Mary established their tents at the ends of the world." In three years, 1950 confréries or associations were established. The number of members in such a city as Paris has augmented in a still more astonishing proportion. In June, 1838, there were only 3058; but in January, 1840, there were 53,000, of whom 20,000 were males. In January, 1841, the number of associates was augmented to 131,807, of whom 53,200 were males. In April, 1842, the number had risen to 231,960, of whom 97,063 were males; and at that period more than two millions of persons in different parts of the world were enrolled under the banner of the Most Holy and Immaculate Heart. In the six months between the 1st of April, 1842, and the 1st of October, the register of Paris received 60,956 additional names, making the total of associates 292,856, of whom 127,763 are men. The increase was above 10,000 per month. The progression has been rapid in proportion as it extended. In four years, 127,763, and in six months nearly 30,000 men, in Paris, have humbly sought a priest and solicited the favour of having their names inscribed among those of women and children, as a public testimony of their devotedness to Mary, the Good Virgin. The associations have multiplied as wonderfully. In April, 1840, there were 153; in March, 1842, 1845; in October last, 2382-an increase of 537 in seven months!

Among the new aggregations are noticed, with triumph and special delight, seven towns, besides parishes and religious communities, in England -" a kingdom which, during three hundred years, has resounded with blasphemies against the glory and the power of the holy and immaculate Mary."

"*

We give hereafter some views of the progress of the archiconfrérie in Great Britain.