George Matulaitis Journal
APPENDIX III PASTORAL LETTER OF 1923 JURGIS MATULEVICIUS BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND OF THE HOLY SEE BISHOP OF VILNIUS My greetings and blessing to all the clergy of the Diocese and to all the faithful. Beloved in Christ, I have just come back from the Holy Father—from Rome, where, according to an old tradition and as required by the Church, I have been to honor the relics of Saints Peter and Paul and to report to the Holy Father on the state of our Diocese.* I have returned with a heart full of love for the Holy See and with a firm belief that it has been created and given to us by God. It is also my unshakeable conviction that the “gates of hell” will not prevail against it. I want to share these feelings and these convictions with all of you, my beloved in Christ; I hope to awaken and strengthen similar convictions in your souls as well. Christ said to St. Peter: “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it” (Mt 16:18). These words, it seems, have never been so clear and so understandable as at the present time. Do we not see with our own eyes how the gates of the underworld are attacking the Rock of Peter: by sowing perverse opinions, spreading corruption, promoting selfishness * This was his “ad limina” visit, which took place in June of 1923. The letter is dated Sept. 8, 1923.
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