The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-12
The Modern Apostle

| fore it yields its belief. Former ages
have been metaphysical, and have pa
tiently explored the depths of logical
analysis. The profound theologian OF
philosopher could lead them through the
arduous paths of inexorable logic to cor
rect conclusion, which they were willing
to embrace, bnt our present age has grown
impatient of close and tedious reasoning,
it distrusts q reason which pride has SO
often led into grievous errors and it de-
mands to judge of the tree by its fruit.
There are still many amateur controver-
sialists, it is true, who are fond of splitting
hairs and of showing their mental acumen
by all kinds of ingenious evasions of truth,
but the bulk of society has grown weary of
this fashion. There are thousands of can
did men who consider truth of more inn
portance than mere game at dialectics !;
they recognize it to be the basis of the
social edifice, and feel that their fortunes
and their temporal we'll being are depend
ent on the correct appreciation of moral
principles among the people at large. They
are willing to lay aside the prejudices of
education and their inherited bigotry, and
welcome the religion which shall properly
define and fix these moral laws, if they
can ascertain which it is. They are fright
ened at the abyss of material ruin into
which the Generalization of society is
plungihg it.
But how is the truth to be brought home
to them 7 They distrnst all argument and
fly from controversy, but they are watch
fully alive to the workings of principles as
shown forth in the active existence of men
protesting them. They are satisfied that a
good tree will bring forth good fruit, and
they look with eagerness to find those
fruits. -ls b
1t is in this way that the Catholic Church
is making it's most valuable converts in
England and America To-day. Men, who
having eyes are willing to see, look around
and find themselves encompassed with
works of charity. The orphan asylum, the
hospital, the parochial school, the homes
for youth, age and infirmity, the associa-
lions for the relief of poverty, are thickfy
planted wherever Catholic community of
any size exists. They see numbers of de-
voted men and women, without earthly
reward or inducement, spending their lives
in assiduous, cheerful attention to the
wants of heiplessRess in every class. They
see Catholic populations, whose poverty
contrasts forcibly with the wealth of those
communities in which they live,
erecting spacious and splendid edifices,
both of worship and charity, sasfar surpass-
ing siTnilas' 7afFasrfs nf THAR .sshflnrs "a the
wealth of the latter exceeds their own.
The convictions of candid men gradually
give way before tangible arguments of this
kind. Here is love of God and your neigh
Dor in a practical form. Here is a religion
which takes care of the poor and chefishes
characteristic that that they have always
attributed to the true religion of Christ in
its dealings with men. ....-,.-
1t is by multiplying these evidences of
its faith that the true progress of the
Church will be forwarded. Let it rise up
before men in the full beauty of its love.
Let it extend its hand of counsel and
strength to the great and the rich while
the unfortunate under the wings
of its charity, and gradually the truth-must
force itself upon those who witness these
marvels. Charity works its silent miracles
of to=dtuy not less potent over the heart !
than those mighty deeds of the early apos-
ties which convinced the mnltft,ltles that
the hand of God was with them
Now it is evident that this must be done.
not by the clergy alone, but to great ex-
tent by the laity. They must give freely
They may not be able TO preach or even
ak learnedly on-deep questions of con-
roversy, but they can labor and build !
churches wherein the worship of C cd can /
&c exemplified better than by the most
Eloquent description. 1t may not be their
location to put on the garments of reli-
,ious order and nurse the sick or educate
he poor, but. they can supply literally the
means necessary to sustain the good works
4 those who are called to such sacrifices.
1t is in this way that all can be apostles.
let their good works as Catholics be seen,
hat the world may be edited. Let it be
lain TO all men that the Catholic Church