ld certainly not be an easy
matter to find a more worthy cause to touch their hearts and to
inflame their zeal. The event, in effect, is such in itself that no
other epoch has seen a grander and more beautiful one accomplished
by man.

As to who accomplished it, there are few who can be compared to him
in greatness of soul and genius. By his work a new world flashed
forth from the unexplored ocean, thousands upon thousands of
mortals were returned to the common society of the human race, led
from their barbarous life to peacefulness and civilization, and,
which is of much more importance, recalled from perdition to
eternal life by the bestowal of the gifts which Jesus Christ
brought to the world.

Europe, astonished alike by the novelty and the prodigiousness of
this unexpected event, understood little by little, in due course
of time, what she owed to Columbus, when, by sending colonies to
America, by frequent communications, by exchange of services, by
the resources confided to the sea and received in return, there was
discovered an accession of the most favorable nature possible to
the knowledge of nature, to the reciprocal abundance of riches,
with the result that the prestige of Europe increased enormously.

Therefore, it would not be fitting, amid these numerous
testimonials on honor, and in these concerts of felicitations, that
the Church should maintain complete silence, since, in accordance
with her character and her institution, she willingly approves and
endeavors to favor all that appears, wherever it is, to be worthy
of honor and praise. Undoubtedly she receives particular and
supreme honors to the virtues pre-eminent in regard to morality,
inasmuch as they are united to the eternal salvation of souls;
nevertheless, she does not despise the rest, neither does she
abstain from esteeming them as they deserve; it is even her habit
to favor with all her power and to always have in honor those who
have well merited of human society and who have passed to
posterity.

Certainly, God is admirable in His saints, but the vestiges of His
divine virtues appear as imprinted in those in whom shines a
superior force of soul and mind, for this elevation of heart and
this spark of genius could only come from God, their author and
pr