31 OCTOBER 1896, Page 15

THE RELIGION OF KINGS. pro TH1 EDITOR Or THY "Bezerwros."]

SIR,—A propos of your article, in the Spectator of October 3rd, on "The Religion of Kings," it may be of interest to your readers to know the terms of the abjuration required of the Princess Helen of Montenegroon her admission into the Roman Church :— " I, Helen Petrovicz, Princess of Montenegro, believe and pro- fess all that is taught by the Holy Mother Church Catholic Apostolic Roman. I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator and maker of heaven and earth. and in Jesus Christ his Son our Lord, who was born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, and the third day rose from the dead. I believe in the communion of saints, in the remission of sins, in the resurrection of the body, in the holy souls of purgatory. I acknowledge as the visible bead of the Holy Church and the inf illible vicar of Jesus Christ the supreme Roman Pontiff, the legitimate successor of Saint Peter the first bishop of Rome, and the prince of the apostles. I declare all other religions to be false, and that there is no salvation except in the Catholic Apostolic Roman. I believe in all the mysteries of the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, in tho holy sacrifice of the mass, in baptism, in confirmation, and in all the other sacraments. I accept as infallible truths all the dogmas declared by the Holy Church. I believe in the worship of God, of the immaculate Virgin Mary, and of the saints. I swear to profess always the doctrines of the Catholic Church and to educate my children in them, etc. If I shall not maintain what I have professed, declared, and sworn, I shall draw upon myself the wrath of God, of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and I shall be outside the bosom of Holy Mother Church and the communion of saints. So may God help me and these Holy Gospels."

This formula of abjuration was drawn up by Mons. Genneri, Bishop of Conversano, assessor of the Holy Office, was sworn

to with the right band laid on the Gospel, and was signed by the Princess in the crypt of the church of San Niccolb di Bari. —I am, Sir, &c.,