George Matulaitis Journal

352 tranquillity, and peace.* He alone speaks to all, both to individuals and to nations, constantly reminding them that we are all children of one Father in heaven and brothers to one another. Among us there should be no freedmen or slaves, no conquerers or conquered, no Greek or Roman or Jew, but we are all brothers in Christ. And we will never have genuine and abiding peace and tranquillity unless it is supported by God’s truth and justice. It will not be good to live in this world unless we unite in true brotherly love of God within a harmonious community, working togeth- er like the real family of God. The Holy See, both in ancient times and at present, keeps everything in balance. As people draw away from God, they lose their balance and begin to fall toward perdition both in the sphere of morality and spirituality and in ordinary life as well. If only the whole world would return to the Catholic Church and be supported by the Rock of Peter! If only it would begin really to live according to the principles of faith, then, doubtless, there would be less sorrow in the world, less evil and fewer wars, and the peace and blessings of God would be upon it. The world would then become the paradise we all long for. We are blessed that as a Catholic nation we belong to the Catholic Church and stand upon the Rock of Peter. We are blessed that our head is Pope Pius XI, who has visited our country and celebrated Mass in our Cathedral, who knows our misfortunes, our weaknesses, and our concerns. Like no one else, he keeps us in his heart and, through my lips, his unworthy servant, sends his fatherly greeting and apostolic bless- ing to all the clergy and the faithful. And so, let us cast aside everything that is evil. Let drunkenness, immorality, exploitation, deceit, and every kind of injury disappear from our land. Let all discord and quarrels among us come to an end. Strengthened by the Pope’s blessing which is a sign of God’s * Probably a reference to Pope Pius XI’s first encyclical Ubi arcano Dei, proclaimed Dec. 23, 1922, which admonished the victors of World War I to seek reconciliation of all peoples and to maintain peace among nations.