The Vatican Council closed an epoch in the history of the Church.
The French Revolution had aroused a reaction throughout Europe. It tried to abolish the old temporal order to strike against Religion more effectively. This hostile action, in turn, laid the groundwork for the appearance of powerful Catholic movements across the continent soon after the fall of Napoleon in 1815.
Thereafter, the Revolution continued its work but employed much greater moderation and prudence. It thus introduced the seed of discord into the bosom of Catholicism. That seed germinated into an attempt by many Catholics to reconcile the Church with the radical ideas the Revolution tried to impose on humanity.
The emergence of Catholic liberalism-a fruit of this new tactic-created the need to distinguish between traditional Catholics and those carried along by the new liberal currents of opinion. The liberals opposed those who rejected their innovations, branding them Ultramontanes. As the nineteenth century progressed, the division grew ever deeper. Until 1870, the history of the Church in the nineteenth century hinged on the struggle between liberals and Uultramontanes.
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The Vatican Council represented a victory of the Ultramontane position. Liberal bishops displayed their natural brilliance during the sessions. However, their efforts to prevent the dogmatic definition of infallibility achieved nothing. Except for that small minority, the Church believed fully in papal infallibility and wished to see it proclaimed as dogma.
Ultramontanism succeeded in halting the outbreak of new errors. In France, where the most significant clashes occurred, the Ultramontanes reduced Catholic liberalism to insignificance. It was restricted to its leaders, accompanied by small groups of Gallican remnants and other Catholic intellectuals who were not resigned to being exclusively Catholic. Conversely, the great majority of the French clergy and laity and the mass of the faithful were distinctly Ultramontane. They successfully established themselves as one of the few living forces at the end of Napoleon III’s Second Empire.
Without neglecting the actions of Dom Prosper Guéranger, Bishop Louis Pie of Poitiers, Bishop Pierre-Louis Parisis of Langres, and many others, Louis Veuillot was undeniably the primary artisan of this splendid achievement. His popular newspaper, L’Univers, was combative and orthodox even in its most minor comments. It kept alive the genuine Catholic spirit of the French people. As the clash between French Ultramontanes and liberals resounded in other countries, Veuillot became the mainstay of the campaign against the new errors sweeping across the Catholic world.
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Accordingly, it was natural for the Holy See to recognize his services. When acknowledging financial contributions l’Univers collected to help pay the expenses of the Council, Pius IX took the opportunity to praise the work of this brave champion of Catholicism.
When sending the donations, Veuillot wrote:
“Most Holy Father,
“Prostrate at your feet, I send you a new offering obtained by the subscription l’Univers opened to help you with the Council’s expenses.
“This continuing subscription is fed by the oblation of the poor, especially the offerings from priests, who in France are poorer than the poorest but more generous than the most wealthy. These offerings are acts of faith and love addressed to the Vicar of Jesus Christ.
“They acknowledge your mission of authority and salvation. They thank Our Savior, who gave Peter to the world, and who, in our restless days, has placed you on this throne of light and justice to overthrow, confirm, and build up so that our minds may receive assurance, and our souls, peace through this infallible magisterium.
“As a happy intermediary, I humbly implore your apostolic blessing for the donors, my Univers collaborators, and myself.”
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Pius IX’s return letter to Veuillot overflows with expressions of gratitude and praise:
“Beloved son, greeting and the apostolic blessing.
“We were delighted by the proofs of dedication and love received from you in your name and that of your collaborators when offering Us the rich collection your newspaper has made among the faithful. The offering greatly pleased Us because it testifies to the filial piety of many, and it is the fruit of the struggle you have long waged for Religion and this Holy See.
“To Us, this gift seemed even more beautiful and noble as We knew it was raised chiefly from the secondary clergy of France, so destitute of resources. The number of contributors to this work is all the more remarkable as their offerings must have been small. It clearly follows that the ancient simplicity of the faith dwells in the majority and that this clergy works ardently to confirm and promote a close union of souls with this Chair of Truth. Nothing can be more pleasing to Us at this moment when We see, with hearts full of affliction, the danger posed to souls by errors multiplying everywhere and the earnestness with which the enemies of the Church and this Holy See are working to seduce Our children and separate them from Us.
“That is why We congratulate you and your collaborators on the happy outcome of your labors. We congratulate those who use them to strengthen their own piety. We congratulate the clergy who, united in joint action, support you by their example and zeal, and We ask that all may receive a reward worthy of their Religion and charity.
“As a pledge of divine favor and Our paternal affection, We lovingly impart the apostolfic blessing on you, dear son, your collaborators, your family, and the others who are the object of Our praise.
“Given in Rome, at St. Peter’s, May 19, 1870, the 24th year of Our pontificate.”
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