Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-12-10
REFoREAT1oN IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

REFORMATION IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
When Leo x WIS proclaimed sovereign
pontlf IN the year 1913. seven years be-
fore Luther inaug his schism, the
nth general council of the L2teran was
holding its sessions in Rome. In the
ninth session, presided over by the new
pontlff, DEGREES were promulgated for ''the
reformation of the Roman court" "Ths
priest must net only abstain from doing
evil, bat be removed beyond the suspi-
clon OF being able to commit it. His life
must shine as lsmp before men shat God
may be honored by his works < x 4 II
They only should BIS raised to eeclesissti-
cal dignities who are of ripe years, exem-
plary conduct, and who hsve gone through
lcng oeurs7 of study x x x x The
abode of cardiL..l .ball be as h.rbor, !
home of hospitality to men O. virtue and
learning. He must be ever ready to L,ead
the cause Of the poor and the orphan"
In the year 1916 the lsgates of Paul III
opened in Trent the great ecumsn;e.l |
council of modern times, the ea-'.,.s. ,as.
sions Of which were occupir 8. sorm,lst-
ing DEGREES "ds refo- .,;sn ~ 81.
nation. 's@sions'
Re-
.--raatien is by no means q strange
+ ~sEd in the Catholic church.
A brief alIssion TO the origin and pur
pose OF the Christian charch will reveal TO
us In what sense reformation NAY DO
nssdsa in the church, and how IL has to DO
l / I'll
| DIVINE 11FoRMlR.
/ A divine reformsr visited the earth
Christ Jesus, His mission was to make
new creatures of men, although their
minds and hearts to the eternal princi-
pies of tcath and goodness Of which he
WAS in his Divine being the Supreme rule
| and standard, and in his human manifss-
tatioR the infallible messenger before u Q
word. He began the work by teaching
she was teaching them es one having
power" He put before men the prin-
ciples upon which their reformation was
10 be accomplished, and wi:*ch conse-
tquently, as the first act on their part, he
required them to accept"He that
belisveth not Shall be condemned"
Christ's work was not a mere awakening
of the emotional nature, quisksn,ng Of
the religious instincts in mar. Emotion
of itself is vague and indefinite; it ia as
likely to run into wrong as into right
channels. It is force for good, if pro
perly directed. The principles taught By
Christ gave the required direction; they
pointed cut ideals that men should strive
10 copy. In addition to the princi pies
taught, Christ offered his followers grace,
} invisible aid, to assist them in lifting
themselves upwards, and then, as he was
compelled to do in reverence to his own
most noble gift in us, free will, he left to
men through cooperation with his grace
) to complete within themselves the work
of reformation. Under the immediate
eyes of the Master, from want of cooper
alton on the part Of the subject, no refor-
} NATION was wrought in Judas; others, apos-
} ties and disciples, responded to the call,
} and were reformed.
} Christ's mission as reformer did not
close with his visible dwelling upon earth.
All time was marked out for him by the
Father-"Until the consumation Of ages"
His plan of reformation was, then, also to
be perpetuated, and provision must have
been made 80 that men coald always know
with certainty the principles which Christ
had taught, and receive the Qrasss which
he had promised. 4 knowledge of Chrisfs
teachings must ever be the primary csndi-
ton of all Christian reformation and of
all Christian life. 1. IL fatal error, and
yet an error which prevails to ne ANAL
extent In Protsstantism that the Christian
religion Ands its chief, if not its sole
province, in the emotions. This would e1-
olude from the reign Of religion mans
most sublime faoulty, the intellect, AID
wonld redaoe religion to q blind instinct
Religious emotion is strong in the Bud
dhist and the Mohammedan as well as in
| the Christian. But in the Buddhist and
the Aohammedan no we'll informed intel
lscs guides and controls it. Religion FIRST
| occupies the intellect in which it deposits
its precious trutbE, and thence radiases
| over the entire man, subjecting all other
faculties and powers to the ideals which
| the principles of faith exhibit. The alb
sence of intellectual faith, certain aad ua-
wavering, from the Christian i. the ab-
sence of the compass from the mariner
| who is tossed hither a1d thithsr by the
| oceans waves without kno wing whether or
not he is following the courss thet
would lead him to his destination.
ORIGIN AND PURPOSE OF TIE CHURCH.
The provision which Christ made shas
men in all ages might know his teachings
and receive his graces was the iaasitutio
of His church. Its charter are his words
to the apostles: ''As the father sent me.
so also send you" GAIL power is given
to, me in heaven and in earth. Go,
therefore teach ys all nations, baptizina
thsm in the name of the |
Father, and of the Son and of |
the Holy Ghost, teaching than to observe |
all things whatsoever I have commanded /
to you. He that bslieyeth not shalI be |
condemned. And behold am wiik you
all days even unto the contamination of |
the world.'
The church is the work Of his onnipo-
tence. Gall power is given TO Ne" She
will refeot in he- own life some,of the At
tributes of the Mos High. Her position
towards men will 0e Carist's position be-
fore them. She cJasinsss his mission.
AS the Fathef "a ssni ms 80 also 1 send
you" His truths and grsees are entrusted
to her. Teaching them to observe all
things, baptiziEg shem." During all ages
shall she rsmsia with her powers and nis-
sion, until the soHsumm alton Of ages"
For the sake of the sacred trust confded
to her, He will guard her as shs apple OF
His eye. "And behold ana with you"
The church in her constitutivs elements.
in the {rT,tl M |