The circumstances of the Church Catholic, as represented in Leo’s letter in the fifth century, and the circumstances of the Church of Rome, as lamented by the present Pope in 1832[124], are in many respects very similar.  The end desired by Leo and Flavianus, his brother pastor and contemporary, Bishop of Constantinople, and by Gregory, now Bishop of Rome, is one and the same, namely, the suppression of heresy, the prevalence of the truth, and the unity of the Christian Church.  But how widely and how strikingly different are the foundations on which they respectively build their hopes for the attainment of that end!

    [Footnote 124:  “The encyclical letter of our most holy Father,
    Pope Gregory, by divine providence, the sixteenth of that name,
    to all patriarchs, primates, archbishops, and bishops.”]

The present Roman Pontiff’s hopes, and desires, and exhortations are thus expressed[125]:—­

[Footnote 125:  This is the translation circulated in the Roman Catholic Annual, p. 15, called, The Laity’s Directory for the year 1833; on the title page of which is this notice:  “The Directory for the Church Service, printed by Messrs. Keating and Brown, is the only one which is published with the authority of the Vicars Apostolic in England.—­London, Nov. 12, 1829.”  Signed “James, Bishop of Usula, Vic.  Ap.  Lond.”]

“That all may have a successful and happy issue, let us raise our eyes to the most blessed Virgin Mary, {326} WHO ALONE DESTROYS HERESIES, who is our GREATEST HOPE, yea, the ENTIRE GROUND OF OUR HOPE[126].  May she exert her patronage to draw down an efficacious blessing on our desires, our plans, and proceedings in the present straitened condition of the Lord’s flock.  We will also implore, in humble prayer, from Peter, the prince of the Apostles, and from his fellow-Apostle Paul, that you may all stand as a wall to prevent any other foundation than what hath been laid; and supported by this cheering hope, we have confidence that the author and finisher of faith, Jesus Christ, will at last console us all in the tribulations which have found us exceedingly.”

    [Footnote 126:  On this word there is a note of reference to S.
    Bern.  Serm. de Nat.  B.M.V. 7.]

“To you, venerable brethren, and the flocks committed to your care, we most lovingly impart, as auspicious of celestial help, the Apostolic Benediction.  Given at Rome from St. Mary Major’s, August 15th, the Festival of the Assumption of the same blessed Virgin Mary, the year of our Lord 1832, of our Pontificate the Second.”