The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-23

than are material things
'But. Observation-Disclosures began.
"Ah! yes of course you ask that. Just as they all
do; but can only repeat what have already said
do not believe in any gross. material or chemical
Thomas of Aquinas, one of the arst roman
Catholic theologians believe that Christ is present
after the manner Of spirits: and can no more ex.
is constituted the gloriied body of the Saviour in
heaven II it could be explained it would cease to
be mystery and ut once lose its intrinsic character
Of sacrament. and believe all these quarrels OF
words this divine mystery are not only useless
but harmful"
THE QUESTION OF CONFESSION.
"And as to confessionY' asked.
"Ah. certainly. knew that would come next;
Catholic converted to Protestantism-a missionary
sent to Italy--who thought the most crying abuse
in the Roman Church was the wearing by priests
similarly regard the burning OF waxen tapcrs.
that beautiful souvenir of the Last Supper.
when Jesus and his followers forced to hide
themselves away from the persecuting Jews. and
which il also to-day souvenir of those dark.
terrible days when the faithful followers took refuge
in the Roman catacombs. Some. again. think that
incense is condemnation, II it was not sweet
to recall by its odor the precious gifts offered to the
newborn Saviour and to remember the beautiful
apocalyptical vision of the angel with the golden
censor offering much incense with the prayers of the
saints upon the golden altar 1t was meet to offer
frankinccnse to the infant Saviour see harm in
Offering it understanding souvenir now; but
tins not an article OF faith than the burn
ing of Candles and Catholics not obliged to
or believe in them. These things belong to the
aesthetics of religious services the same religious
music. poetry. statuary and pictures"
PICTURES IN CHURCHES.
''Then you admit OF the propriety Of having pic
lures i'll churchesY said.
well " he replied. 81 admit that all the faculties
of man should be cultivated and employed for the
glory of God andif Heaven has kindly given to some
genius they bound to use that gift for
heavenly purposesthat is to say to lead the minds
and hearts and actions of men toward spiritual
happness-toward holy things. Fine art should
be holy art and II Christians may have these in their
hn,, oxvith IN fhair min snu1a fhauT
good reason why they should be excluded from
the great home of Christians-the Church. And
danger of worshipping q picture or Q statue
of Christ any saint any moro than .
picture of sanity father or mother. And
we all know how precious these faces when
once we separated from them by long distances
death. Remember. do not think 1t necessary to
have pictures in churches. but if have them let
them be good. But this is long way from the
question Of confession"
II do not in the least regret this deviation" re-
piled, "as you have told me many things Of impor-
lance"
DENEEITs AND EVILS OF CONFESSION.
''Well to confession, he continued. 81
think that it may be and has been means
be means OF immense good to soul bur-
dened with doubt or sin to find worthy pastor who
can help him in his struggle with doubt and tempta-
ton. As much abhor the inquisiton of the
confessional the forced confession l should
tainly feel myself unworthy pastor OF the people
and minister Of God il any poor sinner should come
to me in the confidence of confession. asking to be
helped Of his sin. and refused him all the aid
in my power. No intelligent Catholic believes that
confession to man thing il it does not to
follow absolute repentance to God, and when
find such to be really and truly repentant
with full determination to abandon the sin. could
in I'LL conscience say-not in my own name. for am
but the servant OF the Great High Priest. who is
Christ, but in HIS and in the name of the
Church against which he has also sinned-I should
ay:-Your sins are forgiven by the grace Of
pentance and of Christs love; go in peace Con-
fessior should be entirely left to the option of the
individual. II he needs it then let him worthy
father in the faith and go to him. but IL repentance
before God suffice he must judge OF that in his own
conscience AS confession is practised more less
in every religious body and without comment In the
Protestant churches, it will be in the Catholic
as soon priests learn that they have right to
question and that their duty is to listen and partc
iilarly when we have a married clergy these abuses
THE QUESTION OF CKLIBAcY.
''You speak of married clergy. said. "and from
decidedly i opposed to the ceSsey Of the priest
''You arc mistaken" he replied. II am not opposed
to the celibacy OF the priest when it is voluntary
made TOR God for the good OF ones own soul and tor
the good or others. Such sacrifice only be
made by great and pure natures for holy cause
reward But am opposed to VOWS. for they are
useless in such cases ~ these We speak OF. and in
cases where celbacy Is not free and joyous it
should be vows become worse than useess-harm-
full and often chains of perdition. Then throughout
the Roman Church in the Orient the clergy are mar
'.But when VOWS are once nader asked
"well. the harm Is in the making and not in the
as in Youth ANY often dons hut t. Whch W:
find il not only mistake but fatal error.
and cause OF actual injustice wrong and sin
then God. who knows how to unoose all
bonds and set free all consciences, IL sufficient to
relieve any one from all imprudent and rash prom
ises Then the forced cebacy OF the priests makes Of
faithful from the family. from the State from
citizenship and from human society; and thus
cut of from human ties the priest becomes the in
strument. the machine. the valet of foreign Power.
Marriage for the Catholic priest" he continued lis
the most direct and sure way of shaking of the
Roman yoke Of spiritual despotism. and III it's i'm
mense consequences Is enough in itself to bring
about general and salutary reform in the Catholic
Church"
THE BIBLE AND THE MASS.
"And what other reforms do you propose?"
asked.
Bible into the hands OF all the people and that Of
having the and all the religious services cele-
brated in the language OF the people"
"And tho mass" asked, edo you expect to change
THAR
.You might as well ask me IL intended to change
the holy communion" he replied. for the mass II
only that, with certain FORMS We may modify
FORMS hut we shall certainly not attempt to change
principles or modify sacraments Then what can
be more beautiful when recited in o language under
stood by the people than those sublime psalms and
magnificent biblical prayers7 for the mass is com.
posed of them. There many superhuous forms
and genuheyions; and then we are preparing our
liturgy-that is our service for the mass and YES
pers--irom the old Gallican services before Rome
intcrfcred with II"
RELATIONS or THE PEnE WITH THE ENGLISH CHURCH
May / ask question concerning your relations
with the English Church. Tor l fear they are no,
entirely understood by the public7'
THAT Is not strange. he answered. 'for the case
IL entirely and will try and explain the matter
to you. Az we here in France who seek u religious
reform within the Church are Catholic and will re
main So and as our Legitimate Bishop here in Paris
land throughout France aud. alas. throughout tho
Roman Church has sbdicatcd into the hands OF
usurping foreign Bshopthe Pope of Romc-wc ars
Determined not only to stand by our Christian
faith that which was bequeatled MS by the ancient
Church OF France. but also BY our patriotic princi
pies. and will remain French Catholics instead o
Roman Catholics. And as episcopal Jurisdiction II
refused us by own French Episcopate We have
asked provisional episcopal aid. such ordination
and continuation until we become a thoroughly or
ganzed aud regularly constituted autonomous
Church. The Greek old Catholic churches o.
Switzerland Germany or Utrecht could have fur
nishcd us will this aid, but 1t moro convenien
for us to ask 1t of the English Church."
"But people call the English Church Protestant
/ remarked.
Of course. because she has protested against Rome
now doing but while she has reformed
herself she has retained Catholic faith and Catho