The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-20
Tho Dublin Review on Higher Education.

The October number of the Dublin Rerie'o
contains most interesting and able article on
THE New Scheme of Catholic Higher Educa-
tion," viewed chiefly in regard to the iutuence
which it may be expected to exercise on tue
infidelity of the day.
The-warfare between light and darkness,
betwe cen good and evil, is ever assuming new
aspects. The Church of God is ever ready TO
The battle that has now to ba fought is be-
tween infidelity aud the Catholic Faith.
Thoughtful minds both sides see that these
two extremes are the only logical resting place
for the human intellect.
Atheism is advancing it is spreading
throughout all classes in England. A phil
osophy which makes doubt the first principle
of its existence is gaining ground.
The evil is seen and dcplored by those OF our
Protestant fellow countrym men who have sun
preserved some portions of the FAITH Dot IL Is
little they can do to stem the advancing toe
of evil, for error must be met by truth Moth
ing short of the whole Truth of God can coun-
teract error SO radical as that which ~we nave
to encounter. .
In answer to the universal doubt of all
things, the Church asserts the claims of inn
plicit reason and of that knowledge OF God
pletes her work by bringing the certainty OF
faith before the mind, which, by its very
nature, Graves for truth, and cannot rest upon
donbt.
But there are difficulties. The progress of
science is attended with dangers. Truth IN
deed, is ever one, because 1t Is from COO !;
but at certain stages of scientific progress
there may be an apparent contradiction be-
tween the results Of the labor of the human
intellect and the doctrines OF Revelation.
There are difficulties, indeed. on the very face
of things. 1t is necessary that as tar as POSI-
BILE, questions which seem to touch the Faith
should be explained. The Catholic knows
that where an objection is made against his
Faith, it is his bounden duty to reject All
doubt regarding that Faith. He holds his
Faith on the authority of God aud where the
conclusions of fallible human reason seem to
contradict it, it is evident that they must give
| way. Yet an objection, plausibly put, may
distress and harrass his mind. He has right
to claim from the Church, which has ever been
the guardian of science, the best possible ex-
PLANTATION of his difficulty.
| all wilful doubt regarding any article OF Faith,
| the Protestant is in a very different position.
There is no definite authority to which he is
bound to submit. In cherishing doubt he is
probably in no way acting against bis con-
science. That very right of private Judgment
| which he is taught to value as his dearest
privilege naturally leads him to question
everything. The claims of God upon the in
tellect of man, and tho duty of the intellect to-
| wards God, are, we fear, almost ignored by
| those who are outside the pale OF the Catholic
Church.
Now the Catholic University College comes
| before the world as the clear expression OF
the homage of the intellect to God. 1t IS no
mere place of preparation for the duties of life.
Its object is not simply to send forth young
men fitted to adorn the different professions
they may select. 1t will, indeed, do oil this,
and it promises to do it etfectually; but, be-
You'd this, it will give scope to the hig chest
exercise of the intellect 1t will be school
where science may be pursued for its own sake,
but where the intellect will be sanctihed by
faith aud by the constant practice of piety,
where it will always be maintained in its true
| relation to its God and Creator.
| In the true relation of the intellect to God it
must necessarily find its highest perfection,
and in its highest perfection, its most power
full influence 1t is, therefore, that we may
look forward so hopefully to the action Of the
Catholic University College on the Rationalsm
and Intidelity of the age. And not only may
we look to the general and necessary effect OF
higher, scientific, aud intellectual culture
united with faith, but also the special prepare
ton which it will afford to those who are
called upon, as any educated man may be now
a-days, TO answer objections and difficulties.