The New York herald., 1879-09-01

i, lSlS.-IklFl
path traced out by that great man. without speak
ing OF the Dominicans, who claim that illustrious
master as one who belongs to themselves more es-
pecally the Benedictines the Carmelites the Angus
tines the Jesuits and many other religious orders
have submitted to that law is shown by their
spective statutes
HONOR.
And mere 1t Is with real pleasure that the heart
flies to those celebrated and whiiom fourisbing
schools and academies of Paris, Salamanca, Alcala
Douai, Toulouse Louvain, Padua, Bologna. Naples,
Coimbra and others in great number. Every ono
knows that the glory OF these academies grew in
some measure with their age. and that in the
situations asked of them In the most important
anairs AM; they were universally regarded as possess,
known that in these noble asylums OF human wis
dom Thomas reiened like q prince in his own
pre-, ana that all minds. masters AZ well audi
tors, entirely harmonized in admirable concord
with the teaching and authority Of the Angelic
Doctor. But there is still more. The Roman
Pontfs. predecessors, have honored the wis
dom OF st. Thomas Aquinas with the most special
euloginms and the most ample attestations Clement
W., Nicholas ". Benedict KILL. and Others bear
testimony to the renown which his admirable doc
trine gave to the Universal Church. st. Plus v.
acknowledged that this same doctrine dissipated
heresies after having confounded and refuted them,
and that each day 1t freed the entire world from
pestential errors others, with Clement XI., affirm
that abundant advantages have arisen from his writ
ings on the Universal Church. and that to his per-
son were due the honors and the homage which the
Church renders to its greatest doctors. Gregory,
Ambrose. Augustine and Jerome, and finally, others
have not hesitated to propose st. Thomas to the
academies and to the great schools q model and q
master whom they could follow with assured tread.
In to this the words of the blessed Urban
" to the University of Toulouse deserve to bo re-
called here 1--WE desire. and by these presents
enjoln, that you should follow the doctrine of the
blessed Thomas as being genuine and Catholic. and
to develop it,. Following the example OF Urban ".
Innocent XII. imposed the same prescriptions the
University Of Louvsin and Benedict XIV on 1.-THE the
praises of the Sovereign Pontifs on the merits Of
st. Thomas Aquinas.owe will add the Testimony of
Innocent vi. 1.-THE doctrine OF st. Thomas has,
above all Others the canonical doctrine excepted.
purity OF terms, proprety OF expression and verify
OF proportions in such manner that those who
follow it are never surprised outside the path OF
truth and whoever attacks it has always been sus-
pected OF error"
THE EcUMENIcAL COUNCILS.
In their turn the Ecumenical Councils. in which
blossoms the flower OF wisdom gathered through
deriug special homage to st. Thomas Aquinas. In the
Councils of Lyons. Florence Vienna and the Vatican
1t would have been believed that st. Thomas had
taken part-even presided in o manner-in the deb-
erations and DEGREES of the Fathers and combatted
with the most indomitable vigor and the happiest
and the rationalists. But the greatest honor rem
dered to st. Thomas. reserved to him alone. and
shared .d IN by none Of the Catholic doctors:
the Council Of Trent, When they desired
that in the midst of the holy assembly. with
the Supreme Pontifs. the altar itself the Sum
mum" of Thomas Aquinas should be placed open,
SO tnat they could derive from IT counsel, reason
and oracles Finally, last praise seems to have
been reserved for this Incompatible man. He was
able to draw from the very enemies OF the Catholic
name the tribute Of their homage their praise and
their admiration. We kaow In fact that among the
chiefs Of the herettce parties there many who
loudly declared that once the doctrine Of st.
Thomas Aquinas suppressed they would be
strong in entering victorious fight with all the
Catholic doctors. and would annihilate the Church.
The hope was vain, but the testimony remains.
AND NEW SCHOOLS.
Such being the fact. venerable brethren. whenever
the undeniabe utility of that philosophic science
much admired by our fathers. feel that 1t
would be mere temerity not to continue in all
times and in all places to render 1t the honor which
1t merits, especially when scholastic philosophy had
in its favor both long and the approval OF emf
the commendstion Of the Church Instead Of the
old doctrine a new method OF philosophy
has been introduced here and there. which
has not borne the fruits desirable and
salutary which the Church and civil society itself
would have desired. Under the impulsion Of the
school of the sixteenth century, mon set them
selves to philosophize without amy regard for the
faith and with full license their thoughts accord
ing to their bent and caprice The result naturally
was that the systems OF philosophy were multiplied
beyond measure, and that different and contradic-
tory opinions were entertained the most import
ant subjects OF human knowledge. From the null
tiplcity Of these opinions hesitations and doubts
easily sprang up; and from doubt to error. as can
easy Men readily allow themselves to be carried
away by example,; and this passion for novelty
appears to have invaded in certain countries the
conten,ning their patrimony of wisdom. prefer to
build q now edifice rather than add to and make
rar from prudent. and which could not be accom-
plished except to the detriment OF knowledge.
These various systems based solely on the arbitrary
authority of each special teacher. have only nova
BILE foundation. and consequently, instead Of =
tam. lasting, and robust knowledge. OF old. they
can only produce q tottering and inconsistent
philosophy. II. then, il happens occasionally that
person Of this sort Is scarcely able to resist the at
tacks Of the enemy. he can only blame him
saying this we do not wish to reprove these
ingenious savants who apply to the culture of phi
veal h OF new inventions. We perfectly understand
that these elements join in the progress OF science;
but we must guard with the greatest care against
making of this industry and that erudion the sole
even the principal object OF philosophic study.
We must pass the same judgment on theology. 1t
is well bring the aid and the light of varied
learning 1t is absolutely necessary to treat 1t in
the serious manner Of the scholastics. so that
joyng the united forces of revelation and of reason
1t win not cease to be the impregnable bulwark Of
the faith.
TO REINsrATE ST. THOMAS AQurNAs.
It Is consequently by happy inspiration that
number of friends OF the phiiosophic sciences, who
have desired within the last few years to undertake.
their restoration In an eectua manner have applied
themselves to vigorously the doctrine of
St. Thomas Aquinas and Ia renstate 1t with all Its
ancient lustre. Animated by the same spirit. many
members of your order. venerable brethren, have
entered on the same course with ardor. We have
ceived the intelligence with the most profound joy
in our soul. While praising them with effuson. we
for the others, we inform them all that there is
nothing dearcr to heart. there is nothing
desire more fervently than to them supply.
largely and abundantly. the studious youth with
the pure waters of wisdom such as the Angelical
Doctor offers them in an unpolluted stream. There
are many motives which impel us to this ardent de-
SIRE In the first place, time the Christian
faith is daily made the object of the manGuvres and
theruses OF certain false science. our youth artc
ulary those who educated for the service OF the
Church, should be fed with the vivifying and
sirens ngthening nourishment Of doctrine, so that,
full OF strength and girt with complete
NOR. they will early be habituated to defend
according to the warning of the Apostle.
always to ''satisfy everyone that asketh reason
of that hope which is In them;" that ''they may
be able exhort in sound doctrine and to convince
the gainsayers." There great number OF those
who, separated from the fath hate Catholic institu
tions and pretend to recognize no other leader or
guide than their reason. To heal and to bring
them back into grace with the Catholic faith by the