The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-24
tholomew 50 as 10 SHOW ,ha. shs was in no way re.


ond the divne right OF kings according 10 the pra-
cpcs OF the Protestant King James stuart Of ngland
third, the maxms of the line. Two things had
marked the Ponilacate OF sixus y.-Roman congrega-
lions and the visit OF bishops ad hDsind apostolic
rum Although ms last Is Inserted IN the cersmo,
the tombs of the apostles IN Rome and render an
account OF his diocese TO the Pope everybody knows
that the oath Is imperectly kept In tue seven
teenth century find lew bishops outside OF Italy
accomplishing their visit dd tinaina dposoloram. But
in our day bishops 20 TO Rome. rne usefulness
OF decree sanclioning sucn institution as this is
apparent Roman congregations arc supreme courts,
ke oufs O. Of he hc al sna
deemed an idle task 10 tell the Church in general
council assembled the attributes OF these congrcca-
lions and that quality Of authority given them by the
Popcf How many hophisms ana sublletes theoogians
ana canonlsts would have been sparedl
The Council OF Trent had merely touched the ques-
reform OF the religious orders Clement WILL
had published the famous of 1892 and OF sub
failure. In other places the admirable rules Of
Clement VIII were little known and worse observed
In vain did Paul ", Gregory XIV, Urban VIII, limo
cent X Innocent XII. endeaver to stem the tide
the evil only increased until the revolutionary
cataclysm swept everything away. The Council OF
Trent closed IN haste and had no lime to discuss the
DEGREES OF tho twenty fifth session de reguiaribus;
might have been well bad some other ecumcncal
synod compIsted the work. About 1908 regalism
lifted its head, relying tor its strength upon the
poitco mystic maxims o! James Stuart, and tried TO
centre in Itself the the Church
we'll aimed protest by general council might have
prevented the course OF events. The DEGREES Of the
Council OF Trent de reformdhone p'cipam had failed
body had made II impossible 10 provide agains: all
obstacles. but he bull Of Gregory XIV aftorward laid
the foundation for the Concordai. We cannot for q
momont suppose that the solemn decree OF an ecu
menical council ight prevented, or 10 some
standing that took place between the Republic OF
Venice and Pope Paul V. Toward the close OF the
sixteenth century casuists began to multiply
cases OF conscience, to the great disadvantage Of
sound morals How many improbable and loose
opinions they invented under the name OF prob
abilism An ecumenica. council might have stopped
the evil its fountain head The popes condemned cer-
tain most scandaious maxims; the Index condemned
certain books, but only after eighty the real
ana Alexander ViIl., who pointed any quantity OF
casustic foiie The INDIGESTION in the matter Of the
controversy DE- au1its unfortunately opened door 10
Jansensim. Paul v. wisely forbade the stirring up
OF this controversy. but was the command needed
even by those who were orthodox History says
otherwise Jansenism waxed strong, owing TO the dis.
turbanoe. At the commencement, Urban WILL, war
ranted by the decree oil Paul ", placed on the Index
the books hinc indie Aas why did not the enlight-
enmcnt that dictated tho buli auctorem Gdei and m-
mortalizsd Plus VI. and Cardinal Gerdil then pre-
difficult perceiv2 that an ecumenical council
convoked IN the year 1908 would have had serious
work 10 perform in the interest Of faith and dis
cplne
SUPPOSE A COUNCIL 1923.
An ecumenical council about the Of the Thirty
Years. ar might have prevented the split that took
place Christendom and the evils that ensued Would
R,chelieu. churchman, have wthstood the docrinal
remonstrance addressed to HIM by general counclf
Anyhow make the suppositi0n and II We are
right then all might have been we'll. The assembly
tide, was all in vain. Mark Anthony, Do Dominis,
Richer and others taught seditous maxms d.
Did not the conflict OF Venice deserve we'll stated
verdicf Paul " had published the ritual In zoos and
the monastc breviary in 1912 We do not mean to say
council might have done better. Such work as this
belongs to the soiicitude OF popes Tue decision OF
general council, however. would not have boon too
much. The question should have been settled In the
beginning.
Reform of the Conclave the foundation OF the
Propaganda, the comp!emcnal rules Ia regard to the
rAi "
Plus Nv. was not above having the Council OF Trent
raufy the bull concerning reform Of the Conclave; We
the Emperor Ferdinand The election OF the head OF
the Church interests the whole Church represented In
10 leg isate on the matter or pontGca election he
convoked the third Council Of I.aternx. Gregory x,
in the second Council OF Lyons and Clement V. In the
Council OF Vienna followed his example II Ia not
therefore, thing unheard of that the conditions OF
papal election may be submitted to general council;
II IS unnecessary TO appeal 70 the council OF Constance
TO find prccedonts. The foundation OF the Propa-
ganda eminently Catholic institution, assuredly
deserved reclamation by general council; perhaps
the question OF missions a century earlier In
regard TO religious orders Gregory XIV. followed In
the way opened up by the Council OF front ana
Clement VIII When thinks Of all the obstacles
raised against the bull Inscuta1i, especially In Ger
ject or regret that moro strength and brancy were
not displayed Our remarks on the monastic brcviary
70 H. r.. P.a Saa
ritual contains the ancient rites OF the Catholic
Church which the Council OF Trent iorbids to change,
Jansenism could never have wcdgcd It's way into tho
practical rules concerning administration OF the
sacraments. When tho Jsnsenists mad cast up TO
them the apostolic decree placing the Index add
lions made to tho ritual, after the time OF Paul,
their was, the ritual not received. Would
they treat as lightly tho decision Of general counciy
Rgorsm SO fatal In Its consequences would have been
arrested at once.
SUPPOSE A COUNCIL IN 1642
The Thirty Years War NJ It's close ana the
Minister Conference about to begin. Was this q
proper time 10 protest about the rights OF the Church
pnalia, but Intervention by general council would
have had moro influence. About this time also,
Jansenism was cropping out "Augustnus," and the
book Frequent Comm union" mad both been pub
lshcd the Abpe ofS Cyran had just emerged from the
Bastile. Tho Jansenists were attacked whole
world became an audience to tho controversy about
grace. Urban VIII. put both parties on tho Index.
In such pass perhaps an scumcnical council might
have stamped out the afcbrand OF dscord ana saved
the Church from trouble during century and hail.
In regard to discipline. Church festivals were to be
regulated The bull Of Urban Viii Is OF course. per-
and obeyedl The question OF fcasts being Inn
portans for religion, " 1t had been looked to IN
grant all the induIts we know Of Thus We see how
general councils are most powerful aids ts the
pontincal power The history Of these three Gen.
turtles, Of course shows that the ordinary govern
ment Of the Church is strictly speaking. sufficient for
the exercise Of her mission, but We cannot help ex.
PRESSING regret Tor the Church and for the world that
the Church has not always enjoyed entire freedom In
the matter OF governments.
EVENTS FROM THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY TO OUR DAY
From the end Of the sixteenth century down TO our
day number OF popes-venerahie Tor their talents,
their virtues ana their apostolic zeal-have occupied
the chair Of Peter. These popes have courageousy
upheld and preserved the deposit Of faith they have
widened the limits OF the empire OF Christ and yet,
notwithstanding the great examples Astounding and
the great things done by and by tho clergy dur
ing this period. we may still regret the absence Of
the General Council. IT. Tor example, under Louis
XIV. seven general councils had been held,
would not the teaching and authority Of these coun
ellis have exerted wonderful influence on all the re.
ligous events OF this great century, Jansenism
would have mad less preIsxts less chance TO win ad
nerents Parliament would have been held In cheek,
and even the declaration OF 1852 would have been m
possible, for u would have had no ground for OK
istepcc. The wise that councils would have
ADOPTED would have preserved sternncss OF manners
among the clergy, would have Inspired love Tor
science and that truly ecccsiastce spirit, all OF
which distinguished tho seventeenth century. The
clergy would have been preserved from falling into
secular habits, worldly maxius. which SO easily
led down 10 philosophsm ana evil revolution. In
these short reflections, which tend TO show
fortunate u has been that obstacles have stood in the
way, hindcrng the free exercise OF the divine
government OF the Church, cast sur
popes or bishops nor even on Catholic
governments which, during the three last centuries,
have not procured the regular holding Of general