The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1871-06-18
Duties of Catholics in the Present Posi-
tion of the Church.
SECOND ARTICLE.

But before we hear his words,-let us wit
ness his action; for actions are more potent
and more eloquent than words. He has
fallen-they say. He has fallen-on his
knees and he prays;-prays for us his
children,-prays for his enemies,-prays for
all. He summons us all to join his prayer.
This is our first duty. The Catholic world,
like it's leader, must fall on its knees. 1t
is not an attitude of weakness nor of cow
ardice. One man on his knees sending
swift strong prayers up to the throne OF
justice is stronger than an army in battle
array. Three hundred millions of Catho-
lies forming battle-line of Prayer that
reaches round the world they cannot be
conquered. Prayer is the pledge of vic
tory,-the shield that always saves,-the
power that guards the weak and overcomes
the strong. We must form Sacred Guard
of Prayer around the Leader.
But prayer leads to action. What ac-
tion7 Our Leader has spoken the word
the watchword-"A Association"
Without association there can be neither
discipline nor concert of action in the
Catholic army of Jesus Christ.
True, we are united in the same faith,
under the same government, in the partici-
patton of the same sacraments and in the
eternal oblation of the same Holy Sacrifice.
We are united as NO other men ever were
or ever will be, by bonds dearer than life,
stronger than death, and enduring as
eternity. Out of this union the strongest,
the closest, the most intimate, should
and faithful, who would be to the Church
what our army is to its Government. Now,
if ever, the Church stands in need of such
an army.
Out of the world there has sprung an
association of men whose avowed aim is
the destruction of Catholicity. Out of
Catholicity should there not arise an asso-
citation of defence.
In this his time of gloom should we not
rally around our chief'-Say you the Ca
tholic world has done 40 f-Tell me how !!
BY thousand protests from thousand
landsf What is q protestf An expression
of sentiment say you. I tell you that
worded, is too weak. Sentiment may bat
tie with sentiment words may war with
words but it is not mere sentiment-it is
not mere words now attacking the authority
of our Church in it's chief and the princi-
| pies of our Church in every spot of earth.
The enemies of the Church are acting.
Must we be content with writing mere pro-
tests and sending contributionsIto Rome.
Only the weak protest only the con-
auered protest. Are we weak-too weak
to actf Are we conqueredf And have we
| fulfilled our duty as soldiers in the battle
of Truth, when witnessing our Leader
stricken down, we look on with genuine
sorrow and merely express our regret ans
indignation a-Regret on a piece of pape
is trifing thing, in such q crisis.
Mark-we do not say that protests ar
useless. They are good-they are calle
for, but their value is of small moment
if they lead to nothing else.
Again we repeat that we demand NOR
than sentiment,-more than passive pro
i, test-more than expressions of indignation
}, We demand action,-AcTloN,-ACTl
Action must be met by action ;-activit
IL by activity. The Pope is a prisoner-ro|
- bed, reviled. Three hundred millions loo
- on-and protest. The Pope, our chieftai
70 is in the hands of his enemies. Thr
g. hundred millions look on-and protest. T
OF very Holy of Holes of our Faith is invad
he and violated. Three hundred millions 10
I'd on and protest. The solemnity of this ho
rs. of Church history,-the outrages infiict
'e- on the head of the Church,-the perils
70 which the faith of thousands is expose
- demand something more than mere isolat
protests, no matter what their number
ne, how strong their language. 1t is not
m brave method of defence. The battle n
- is not battle against words and sen
D ments. 1t is a conflict with the combir
y action of terribly active foe.
o Can we not then meet action by actio
y We have protested it was we'll 3
% cannot we do something else9 We C
o Howl By worldwide association VIII
70 motto will be "watch-pray-act."