368. Речь Благочестивейшему Государю Императору Александру Николаевичу, пред вступлением, с Государынею Императрицею Мариею Александровною, с Великим Князем Алексеем Александровичем и Великою Княжною Мариею Александровною, в Успенский Собор

(Said on May 18th; printed in the Works of the Holy Father, in the Moscow Vedas and in the collection of 1861) Most pious Sovereign! We greet You in the seventh year of Your reign. Among the ancient people of God, the seventh summer was the summer of legal liberation from slavery (Ex. 21:2). We did not have slavery, in the full meaning of this word: there was, however, a strong hereditary dependence of part of the people on private owners. With the advent of Your seventh year, You pronounced absolution. Typically, the Powerful Lands love to seek pleasure and glory in conquering and imposing a yoke. Your desire and consolation is to ease the ancient burdens of Your people, and to increase the measure of freedom protected by law. The Class of noble owners sympathized with You; and as a voluntary sacrifice to this sympathy she sacrificed a significant part of her rights. And now more than twenty million souls owe You gratitude for new rights, for a new share of freedom. We pray to God that the good gift will be used wisely; so that zeal for the common good, justice and goodwill are ready everywhere to resolve difficulties that are sometimes inevitable with the news of a case; so that those who received new rights, out of gratitude, would give back to those who ceded ancient rights, so that the pleasant thought of free labor would make work more diligent and productive, to increase private and general prosperity; May Your love for Your people be crowned with unfading joy under the shadow of Providence, graciously extended, together with You, over Your spouse and Your blessed Children. You might be interested in: