The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-01-09


know by t4ffs time, the enemies of the true
faith seem to be exercised beyond all former
precedent nj the meeting of the Council of the
Vatican, and the anticipated results. 1t is at
such times that the enemies of the Church of
God are most active and inventive in propa-
eating falsehoods against her. 1t is not to be
concealed that there are some faint-hcarted
people upon whom these things have certain
influence. The London Unircrse, with 4 view
of showing the impotence of our enemies, has
published articles few extracts from which
we append, which will demonstrate the ground
of our reliance, as evidenced from the history
of the past:
First. no Catholic should ever despair of his
religion. He is unworthy of the name from
the instant he does so, for he forgets ths-IaE4s-
mise of the Most High, solemnly recorded that
He should be with His Church all days, even
to the consummation of the world That
divine promise has been held for centuries,
ever until now. Who is impious enough to
pretend that it shall not be held for ever 7 But
there are people who hold light of heavenly
promises, who call them the inventions of
superstition" and, ntrenching themselves in
their pride of intellect, ask It's have no bet
ter argument to produce in favor of the stabiI-
ity of our Church. No better argument could
be produced, but since, like st. Thomas they
will believe nothing they cannot touch, we
will answer them from other authority than
God-from authority, they, miserable weak
1InpS, are TeaufeT TO hOnOr. history, the writ
ten chronicles of society, shall be our court of
appeal.
Christian era, to avoid the possible reproach
of going back beyond the twilight of time.
Even in that comparatively early period we
find Pope Symmachips (since canonized) wri-
ting to the Emperor Anastatius l., Think, o
prince, on the fate of all the emperors who
have prosecuted the Catholic faith Nearly
erery one, Ictthoat exception, persisted miscrabiy"
Such was the end OF those who ranged them
selves against the Church in the time of Pope
Symmachins. What has it been sucef Anas-
Tatius eXcOmmunicated He died struck
by legitimacy the very same year This is n
historical fact recorded in black and white
- In 526, Theodore the Great, King of the Ostro-
goths, his spirit being poisoned by the Aran
heresy, cast into prison in Ravenna Pope John
/. (since c6nOnized also), who died in his cell
of hunger and thirst. Three months after re-
morse of conscience brought Theodore him
self to the grave! In COB, Pope Martin l. was
arrested, imprisoned, dragged to EnnstaptinaFlIa
and afterwards eXtted to Chersou, where he
died of his privations, This martyrdom was
imposed on the man of God by the Emperor
Constantius ii. Thirteen years elapsed and
the imperial prosecutor of the Church is slain
in q bath by one of his officers after he had
been driven from his kingdom before the hatred
of his subjects SO trne is it that there is
Providence above which watches the actions
of the wicked, and though seeming to tolerate
them for n season, comes down with relentless
chastisement in the long run. When .Justinian
II. tried TO make a prlsnaer of Pope Sergus l.
in 692, this all-seeing Providence batfied him,
ana Gind'S punishment overlook him before
two years had rolled over; in 694, he wandered
n MANNED exile in the Crmea,--an- ambitions
rival, Leonce having deposed him, aud ordered
his nose to he cut of. ASr0lphe and DiCiier,
the Lom ard kings, who made war On the
Pope's power brought about the destruction
of their own; and Henry of Germany, the pee
secufor of the Church in the 18th century,
died miserahly at Lege, discrowned and
disappointed monarch; his own son being, so
to speak, his e&ecutioner. Henry W. who fol-
lowed tha evil tradition of his father, was eS-
ipated, and brpnttlpd his last. leaving
behind him not a'sngle descendant. Need We