Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1869-03-23
Letter to David Durivage of Lowell

continually to your learned questions. No,
sir. tits not so. only would have liked tosee
how far my applications tickled your learn
ing, and | awaited reply which is yet to
come In spite of your eloquent silence, L
review my work and take up your fifth
proposition.
V. Prove me any commandmentofCh Christ
or his disciples, that orders to deprire the
people of the cup Of the Holy Sacrament.
Sir, do you think that the Catholics are
damned because they are not admitted to
the cup of the sacrament? Do you know
that they believe they receive with the holy
wafer, the body, the blood, the soul, the
divinity of Jesus Christ? Do you know
the Protestants believe they swallow with
the bread and the wine, only the appear
ance of Jesus Christ, that is to say, little
bit, for example? You whose heart is
grieved so much over the unfortunate fate
of the Catholics, ought you not to tremble
for your own fate and that of your friends,
when you read in St. John, chapter VI,
verse 50, Except we eat the flesh of the
Son of man, and drink his blood, we have
no life in yOu?" No, your conscience has
fear only for the poor Catholics However
let me come more directly to the object
and reply to your challenge. There is in
the gospel no commandment which orders
to deprive the people of the cup, and none
which orders them to partake of it; also to
about the eighth century was the commu-
Mon under the two kinds permitted; also
about that time did the church prohibit
it, on account of the danger of spilling and
profaning the precious blood. There Is no
commandment which orders the participa-
ton of the cup; find proof Of it. First,
in several passages Of the Holy Scripture,
which in making mention of the consecra-
ted bread, given in the communion, make
no mention of the cup. Luke XIV; 80,
81. Acts II; ~. ICOr. X;17. Secondly,
in other passages of the same scripture
which equally promise eternal life tothose
who receive only under one form. John
VI; 81, 50, 90, So Third in the history
of the church which attests That in the
first centuries they often gave the loly
communion only under one form. See
Tertullian, st. Cyprian, life otSt. Ambrose.
These different proofs are so strong that sew
eral noted Protestants have been obliged
to understand as we do, that the participa-
ton Of the cup of the precious blood was
in no wise necessary to the sacrament
Among others, Luther in his letter to the
Bohemians, Bishop Forbes, second book of
the Eucharist, chapters l, ,. Bishop White,
Treatise upon the sabbath, page 80 Bishop
Montague, Origines, page 10. May we not
soon add to these names that OF David Du-
rivage? Besides, sir, the Catholics see in
the consecrated wafer, living body, tor
St Paul teaches them that Jesus Christ
once raised, dies no more; consequently
they receive with it, the body and the blood
of God. Thus, dear sir | see no longer
any reason for you to grieve so much con
corning their fate.
VI. Prove me any commandment Of
Christ or his disciples that .torbjds the mar
riage Of clergymea.
New proof! extraordinary sensibiiity
These poor priests cannot marry How sad
it is Sir, the Catholics have never said
that such a commandment existed, and in
this question as in the others, you prove to
me that you know absolutely nothing OF
the Catholic church or its doctrines. See
how it is the church knows that cell.
bate priest will be Il thousand times more
proper to fill his office than one who /,
not; then she says to him who aspires t.
the sacramento order, " | wish much thai
thou be my minister, but cannot accept
thee unless thou make a vow Of perpetual
chastity" Has it not a right to act thus
Has not all society a right to choose it
officers as it pleases? to take for presiden
and vice president and secretary, MAJ
who has such or such qualifications rattle
than another? You say yes without doubt
if you have no suspicion that | speak t
you of the Catholic church. But if YOU
suspect it, you certainly say no. Such al
example Oflogic! As have justeXplain
ed to you, you ought to know that tn
Catholic priests are persons who have re
nounced marriage, consequently have n
desire to marry. But how long will tn
people make them marry in spite OF them
selves?
VII. Prove me any commandment o
Christ or his disciples that teaches the be
lief in purgatOry.
Sir, if there be no purgatory, we ma
nearly all pack away for hell without an
hesitation. Jesus Christ or his disciple
have not commanded to believe in heaven
hell or purgatOry. But they have taught
one way and another, the existence OF he'll
Of heaven and of purgatory As you d
not appear to doubt the existence of tn
first two places, Notwithstanding the ali
, sence of a commandment. | will be con
tent to prove that they have taught, direct
ly and indirectly, the existence of tn
: third namely purgatOry. Without the eN
l istence of purgatOry, prayers for the dea
are useless, for in heaven or in hell the
have no need of them. Now among tn
Jews, $50 years before Christ, prayers wei
n offered for the dead You have the proc
= of it in the III Book of Mackabees. chaptt
y. [ know that in your profound studio
you have found that this book is not il
: spired. This.is Of but little Importance
s me, for it is entirely very ancient histO
ical book, which attests the thing in que
ton. Now the Saviour who came to cart
taught us all truth, and he never spOI
Y against belief so important; first proc
that it is correct Matt XVI, 81, says tn
n Jesus Christ renders to each according
his works. And the idea that we have
just God, agrees with this hypothesis
: Now will Jesus Christ damn us for havir
d stolen hundredth part Of franc? 1t
# written that nothing which defles sha
" enter the kingdom of heaven. And if yC
:. say that there is no purgatory, you a
obliged to admit this consequence. Tai
care of yourself. Weshall be damned eve
70 ran idle word. Letus all beware. In Mat
10 XII, 81, the Saviour said that he who shou
A speak against the Holy Spirit, should n
receive pardon either in this world or Il