Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-09-06
DECLARATION

OCCIAhh ION
of the Catholic Bishops, the Vicor apostolic ana
their Coadjutors IN Great Britain.
Concluded from No. $40.
SEcTroN.-IV.-On liberation and Worship.
The Catholic Church teaches that idolatry is
one of the greatest crimes that can be commit
ted against the majesty of God and every true
member of this church shoulders at the idea OF
such crime, and feels grievously injured by so
horrid an itnputation.
But it is said that Catholics adore the ele-
ments of bread and wine in the mass that they
adore the Virgin Mary; that they adore the
Cross; and that they adore the saints and ina
ces of Christ and ofthe Saints. Before we re-
bel these horrid imputations, In the sense in
which they are made, we must explain the dill
ferent meanings Of the words alteration, honor
and porship, that the calumnious charge, and its
denial, may be understood in the same explain
ed sense.
We find that in the language of the Sacred
Scriptures, in Hebrew, Greek and Latin,* as
we'll as IN the language of the ancient liturgies
of the Christian Church, these words alteration,
honour, and worship, are ambiguous terms, *
are used in different senses, according to the
nature of the object to which the act, implied
by the term, is directed, and according TO the
intention Of him, who performs the act. Hence
we find them used as relating, sometimes TO
God. and sometimes 10 creatures. Although,
in modern times, the exclusive idea OF that SUI
preme homage, which is due only TO God, is at
tached by some TO the words alteration and tCor-
ship-yet these words may still be retained by
others, in different meaning, without afording
the remotest cause for the imputation of ldola-
try. In this different meaning they are still re-
tanned, in the unchanged language of the an
cient liturgies used in the Catholic Church.
The words adoratioa and s0orShip are equally
referred, sometimes TO creatures, as in the word
honour Now because we are commanded In
scripture TO honoar God, and to honour the king
and children to honour their parents-it does
not follow that the honour due to the king; or
TO parents, is the same as that which we owe to
God. To God we owe supreme and sovereign
honour. such as il would be crime to pay TO
any creature. To the king, we owe the highest
civil honour. To parents, children owe the
honour Of flial respect and obedience. How
unjust would it be TO say, that because a sub
ject honours his king, he pays him that supreme
and sovereign honour which is due only to
God! The same is to be said OF the terms ad-
grafton and aUorship, as used In former times, &
sometimes used at present in the language OF
the Catholic Church. To adore, even accord
ing TO modern usage, often means no more than
70 express extreme affection or respect. To
uorship, Gin the translation OF the Bible, publish
ed at Oxford,) is therein used 10 signify ihferi-
or as we'll as supreme worship. In the hrst
book of Chronicles, xiv 20. we read in that e.
diion, that the assembly 6ooced dozen their heads
and woRsHIppED the Lord, Jehovah and the king.
Did they worship the king with the same SUI
preme worship which they paid TO God? Ger
tainly not. When man says to the woman
he takes to wife, "with my body thee ,oorship"
can this be called idolatry! Surely nothing
can be more unfair than arguments drawn from
ambiguous terms, construed in sense disa-
vowed by those, against whom the arguments
are employed.
We answer therefore, that ifby the terms adj
grafton, honour, and eoorship, be understood that
supreme alteration, honour and worship which
is due only to God; Catholics do not adore, nor
honour, nor worship any other, than one, only,
true, and living God, the Creator and Sover-
eign Lord of the universe: they do not, in this
sense, adore, nor honour, nor worship the Vlr-
gin Mary, nor any OF the saints, nor the cross,
nor images, nor any other creature whatsoever.
In the Mass, Catholics do offer supreme adj
Grafton, not TO the elements OF bread and VINE,
which they hold not tobe present after the con-
secration, but to Jesus Christ, the son OF God,
whom theysbelieve to be truly, really, and sub
stantially present, under the appearance only OF
bread and wine, after the conservation, and
change thereby Of the elements of his body and
blood. To adore Christ by an act of supreme
alteration, is no idoatry; because he is truly
God. and consequently a legitimate object Of
supreme worship.
But if the Catholics, using the ancient Ian
ruape Of the Christian church, are said,
lst. To porship the saints: the worship must
be understood to be only an inferior worship,
honour. and respect, paid to them only proper
tionate 10 the limited projections and excellen-
oies which God has bestowed upon them, but
this worship is infinitely below that supreme
worship which they pay to God. Catholics ac-
knowledge no perfection or excellence in any
Saint. not even in the Blessed Virgin Mary,
which they do not profess to be the work and
gift of God in them. So that in honouring the
Saints, they celebrate the works OF God, and
consequently give glory to him. Whatever act
sSeein Hebrew (Proy ILL., g. and Exod. Xxx, ~
(Deut XVIII AZ and 48) Cps. xcvi, 9, and /, alias Sd
Kings l, Zo) In Greek; Gen. XIV 20, and Cen. XIX,
g. Iulaun Adorare. xviii. g and Gen. z,