The New York herald., 1844-12-24

Is44.
imcg. like corruptbls and birds and four
footed beasts and creeping things "Romans lst chap 2ad
verse.
lfit were not well authenticated, it might seem
truly incredible that men could be SO completely
buried in idolatry were the ancient Romans,
according to the description given of them by the
inspired Apostle that it was not merely an obscure
and barbarous people that bent their knees to cor
rupt things, but that the most enlightened, the most
powerful of all nations Of that age have been guilty
of this incredible idolatry, is what strikes with
astonishment. They forgot not only the Creator
of man and beast-they forgot him by whose pow.
er all things were called into existence; they set
aside his providence, ,and attributed all their events,
whether Of prosperous or adverse nature, whether
in peace or in war, to mere chance blind fatali-
ty They set aside the infinite intelligence, and hav
ing thus sswerved from the very truth which nature
herself must have taught them, they bent before
material things they adored as their gods the stars
OF the armament, the beasts OF the field, the mon.
sters of the deep, and the worst passions persona
fled in their demi-gods, and even in the great del.
ties which they worshipped. The perfection of
their worship consisted in forming to themselves
images or beings-beautiful women-great vigo-
rous, powerful, we'll proportioned men-having the
faculties, sometimes, of developing themselves in
dense mists, sometimes in breaking upon the world
In glorious and dazzling light, and sometimes in
rapid unearthly chariots, darling like the vino
from space to space; and these imaginary deities
were personl6ed and rendered as it were, visible
in the marble that had been fashioned by the cum
ming of their artists; and these statues were con-
sidered by them as participating of the divine ma.
ture-no mere representations Of their deities but
that they dwe in them, and that they possessed d.
vine power, in the case Of the statue OF Miner
va, which, according to the testimony of Tuly
himself, when laundering in eloquence against the
nation for having removed that statue from the
Senate House, he declared it had fallen from the
heavens, and was worthy Of divine alteration The
great statue Of Jupiter Olympus, which had been
fashioned in the most noble proportions by
Phidlas, was said by Quintillian to be more
adorable than the deity which it represented.
Now this was idolatry. No wonder that the
Apostle to the nations should assert that God in
consequence of mis- most incredible idolatry, gave
over the most enlightened people of the world to
darkness and the mostdeceitful passions. "Where.
ore" he says, "God gave the people over to the
desires Of their hearts, and protesting to be wise
they became fools " But how different is the re.
spect which we, as Catholics, pay to our sacred
images, and ii you choose, our venerable saints
To US they are the mere representations OF great
and distinguished personages. They are the book
which all can read, which at once strikes upon the
eye, and upon the heart Of every individual. Take
any picture representing any portion or passage of
the sacred scriptures, of the life of Christ, and
what Impressions will it not raise in the contem.
pative mind. II / behold Christ depicted on
canvass, standing with his benign and amiabe fea-
lures, shedding smiles upon the modesty Of little
child, and calling TO his disciples, "suffer little
children to come unto me and forbid them not, for
of such is the kingdom Of heaven"-will not the
child when he casts his eyes upon such repre-
sentation, learn lesson which sinks deep into his
young and susceptible heart whilst its parents in
pointing its attention to the image, remembers that
unless they themselves become as little ones,
they cannot enter into the kingdom Of heaven" and
are thustaught lesson Of infinite charity. II
Magdalen is presented to the public eye, at once
the people there beholds the image Of the most sim
cere penitent that female with dishevelled hair,
her hands crossed and hanging upon her heaving
bosom, her eyes fixed intensely on the skies-is
she out Of whom the Saviour cast seven devils;
is she who anointed his sacred feet with precious
ointment bathed them with her penitentla tears; at
the sight Of thar image they hear Of her pentence
and at once melt with sympathy for hers and con-
triton for thier own sins Il picture of one of the
primitive martyrs be placed before the considera.
tion, the days OF suffering, persecution and trial
come to his memory when hunted to death,
driven from home and their families, even
into the caverns of the earth, rather than let
any single fragment OF their incense burn before
the gods Of Antiquity, they suffered themselves to
ha in nd Leaf We m for "a
posterity and all true Catholics, rather than
kneel in alteration OF any statue, either
OF Christ himself or the Saints, would suf
fsr death because .na' y would ps pc. doa.y'
/ promised to answer some objections which are
ra sed against the praolice of venerating sacred i'm
ages-aot by the intellectual classes, it is said, be-
cause there no danger of them falling into idola
iry, but on account OF the danger resulting to little
children and the uneducated Is there not every
danger that they may al least be led into super
stltious practice and idolatry OF these sacred
images7 In answer to that objection we
must refer to the completest elements Of our re-
glous creed; we must question the tenderest child
under our care in our Sunday schools We must
open In word-not for them in the first instance
the Council of Trent, or the writings of the an
cient fathers, but the little catechism; and if it
teaches them clearly, simply and intelliglbly to
their young minds their duty in regard to the use
OF images, then there is no danger of their falling
into idolatry. This is plain little caechism adapt
ed To the instruction of our children. The question is
asked---afier the first commandment is given.
"what are we commanded by the first command.
menl1" The answer is thisi "To believe in
adore, and serve one true and living God" The
second question is: "What is forbidden by this
commandment t. Answer. "To worship false
Gods or idols or to give TO anything else whatso-
ever, the honor whlsh belongs to God" Third
question" Does this commandment forbid the
making OF images - Answer 1t forbids maxi
ing them as to adore or serve them," that is
forbids making them our gods. "Does the command
ment forbid all veneration Of Saints or Angels r-
Answer; No; we are to honor them as gods,
friends and servants, but not with the honor which
belongs TO Cod" "Isit allowed to honor cruci-
fxes and holy pictures Z" Answer, "Yes, with
an inferior and relative honor az ii relates to Christ
and his Saints, and are mere memorials Of them"
or imagesp The answer is explicit: :" No, by no
means; for they have neither life nor sense to nep
u.s. These are the elements Of our Christian doc.
trne. which are taught every child in our Sunday