New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-11-12
MoNsIGYoR CApEL ON MARTIN LUTHER.

CORRUPTION IN THE CHURCH IN THE FIFTEENTH
CENTURY-NO EVIDENCE AGAINST IT'S HOLINESS
CINCINNATI, Nov. 11.-MOnsignOr Capel, who
arrived here yesterday ia tho guest of Archbishopeec
Elder at the Cathedral residence although the latter Is
compelled to be at Chillcothe to fill previous engage
ment.
At the Cathedral to-day Monsignor Capel, in two dis
which supplemented each other treated Of Martin
Luther from the Roman Catholic point Of view. In the
morning the preacher showed that the Church
was m organized body, corporation both human and
divine. Human inasmuch 1t Is made up of teachers
in herarchical order and divine because inhabi-
ted by the Holy Spirit This human-divine
creature born on Pentecost Sunday grew according TO
the law OF its existence, Increasing but not creating
every organ just is done by the human frame In as
simatiug food Therefore, the Church in the fifteenth
century was the babe born Penteoost now grown TO
manhood The Church is holy in its origin in It's object
in It's means Of sanotidcatiOn. in It's interior
life. which to Christ and the Holy Ghost
and lastly in its producing saints
The Church at all times and, consequently In the SIX
teenth century had this holiness. The DEGREES Of the
Council of Trent bear too painful testimony to the
rupon existing among the clergy and people but this Is
no proof against the truth and holiness Of the Church.
than the conduct Of Judas would prove the Apos
toc College corrupt our evil deeds prove the fall
sty of the Commandments the crimes narrated In the
daily press show tnat inc Anne can Constitution toocnes
than ever at the time OF the Reformation,
Christ" Tie Spiritual Combat" the works OF st.
Teresa and Others living Immediately before during
the Luther PERIOD literary evidence 20 the ab0rs or
st. Francis Xavier In tho old world and OF st. Louis
Bertrand In the now, as missionary evidenoe TO the
Orders OF the Jesut the OratOran the Fathers or the
PiOus Schools, the Fathers OF st. Jerome Kman, the
Theanes and others evidence Of the creative power OF
association; to Saints Ignatius, AlOysus Stanslaus,
Kostka Theresa Caetan, Philip Neri and dozen Others
as evidence Of the Churchs power to make heroes OF
holiness Mt the time her enemies would fam make
believe she was corrupt.
LUTHER AS A REFoRMER.
This evening Monsgnor Capel continued his subject
lie said that The were In London to-day and should ask
what the state of intelligence in Europe when Luther
lived niney-nine out Of one hundred would say II
state OF gross darkness, and would add that Lthers
spark hndled the whole world into blazo OF light Ho
would show that nothing further from the truth than
this modern view Of Luthers period aud OF his influence
He asserted that TO Roman Catholicism, and not TO
Professionalism the world indebted for tho light that
followed the fifteenth century Printing aud those
powerful agents In tho dnuslOn or knowledge were IN
vented before Luther was born The discovery OF this
New World the result OF the energy, learning and
liberay Of Catholic SPAIN AT that time sixtyOur uni
yerstes OF learning existed In different parts OF Europe
under Catholic auspices gave the lilo the charge that the
Catholic Church was the enemy OF energy learning and
liberty.
without speaking In any detail of the life OF Luther he
would mention one or two points that sufficient To
deprive him OF the to Of refOner. Whom he twenty
years OF age he took solemn VOWS In the Catholic
Church. This was voluntary act, but most solemn
obligation; yet no voluntarily broke his This was
reluctance that he wrote and left TO the world letters
OF such coarse CONSEQUENCES that any pure would
suffer his right hand 10 be cut OF rather than write them
Reformers were not made OF such material.
Lnthor's heresy was special In that &c q revolt
against the principal OF authority and the assertion OF the
right OF private Judgment Instead yet with singular In