The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1890-01-04

For the world weary It's clOlsIefeu Clues
Of refuge. To the low down races and
the weaker classes Of mankind and to
all imaginative and benevolent spirits,
Catholicity, it is admitted. is a great
boon. But put that thought into the
rough speech Of plain men, and it is
this: Caiholicity is garden for the but
terfiies of humanity. and it is a refuge
for timid natures who had rather, be
ruled by majestic authority than face
the terrible problems of the soul-a
sanatarium for the victims of doubt.
Strong and independent natures have
no use for Cathollclty, because it is es-
sentialIy rituallstic and autocratic le-
ligion; they dislike to he dazzled by
gorgeous symbolism, and they resent
human authority in the domain OF con"
science. such is the affirmation Of many
intelligent non Catholics. Furthermore,
there is often lurking suspicion that
this organization. whose conspicuous
trait, they say, is the blind obedience
of it's mbers, is threat to free civil
institutions. Catholicity, they affirm,
is always the power Of religious estate,
it will soon be the power of money, 1t is
always the power of discipline; and
when it has become the power Of num-
bers it will devour this land and it's lib :,
critics and it's government. This senti-
ment is the main obstacle to Catholicity
in America. To remove it is the fore
most duty of the hour. The men who
are to-day made Catholic bishops have
distinguished themselves as removers
of obstacles to the truth and grace OF
God. They have been the enemies of
ignorance and vice, builders of Chris
tian schools and churches, apostles of
temperance. Nothing has better helped
to make the Catholic religion under
stood in their cities BY non-Catholics
than their career as priests. But there
remains the stumbling block of the de-
lusion about ritual and autocracy. To
them the words of Isais applied "And
will say: Make a wav; give free pas
sage ~. take the stumbling blocks
out Of the way Of the people. :" 90, The
|public life OF an American bishop should
be the exposition of authority serving
1.-The ends Of freedom. He should show
that the rituals the casket and liberty
of spirit is the jewel; that the very
meat of religion is union Of the lndivi-
dual soul with Gods spirit, and that
ritual is its symbol and authority its
| afeguard; that the use of noble and
expressive symbolism helps to explain
| doctrine, chastens and yet stimulates
devotional sentiment; is model OF
public fraternity; and as a historical
fact is in all its essentials chosen and
instituted by the divine founder OF the
Christian religion Himself. Religion is
both common and personal. 1t is the
main business Of the church to so use
the common external order of worship
as to contribute to the personal in re-
llgion. 10 participate heartily in the
outward sacramental life of the church
is to be made more manly as we'll as
more religious; to conform to the leglti-
mate authority Of the church in reli-
gious matters is making freedom more
enlightened; it contributes to that in
dependence of character. essential to
good citizenship.
Authority and ritual in religion are
means to an end; the end of religion is
not the show Of ceremonial. nor the
outward conformity OF the multitude
The end Of religion is the elevation of
the individual soul to union with God
The founder of Christianitv has made
it a sacramental religion and in vested it
with external order because the gene
rality Of men need these things to help
their inferior life towards divine
union. Tne relative Importance of the
outer and inner lite elements Of Catho-
Ellclty is shown by this decree of the
Council of Trent: : III any one shall
say that a man can believe, or hope, or
love, or repent, 50 that the grace Of
justif fication may be given to him, with
out the inspiration of the Holy Ghost
going beforehand, let him be anathe
ma The mission of the church is
to guide the Christian people, under
standing that God is always guiding
them interiorly. The best that the
church can do for any man IS to quicken
his sense Of fidelity to God in Speaking
in an enlightened conscience. All the
9sacraments Of the church; her authority,
prayer, both mental and vocal; her pub.
lie worship and her authority have for
their end and purpose to lead the soul.
TO the guidance Of the Holy Spirit Him
self. It is never forgotten in the Catho-@
lie religion that one man can never be.
sa guide to another, except u leading
him 70 his only divine Guide. The guide
sof the soul Is the Holy Spirit Himself.
and the criterion or testSof possessing
that guide is the divine authorfty of thel
church. The interior life is moro me-
a1cessary ia the externaI order than the
80, u f1,s m FI,n OroskI