The Irish standard., 1890-11-08

| end OF the, second century, the Chris
| tlans were found lin every direction.
Whence came they2 We're they not the
same people that for ages were plunged
I in idolatry aud debauoha What had
! changed them thus suddenly! Who
had caused them to despise the GUS
toms of their fathers, and to leave
religions that favored all their pas
| sions to EN- brace a serious and pain full
/ life2 Unjust have been that they were
| struck by the miracles and virtues of
/ those who announced this new re-
ligion.
But what did this new religion really
promise Only future life, and in
this world persecution and continual
peril. It is well known how the
Christians were treated during three
entire centuries; how many thousand
means were employed by the prosecu-
tors to tempt the disciples Of Jesus,
The Greeks and Romans knew how to
| die for their country, but not for their
religion. It is true there were few
| martyrs among the Jews; but they
| were in possession Of the true religion,
and the Church honors them as
Saints.
That, which was so common anon 6
the Christians, was regarded by philo-
sophers. and with truth, as the height
of virtue t'The just" said Plato, lis
he who seeks not to appear good, but to
be So"
Morality was their only study. They
listened with docility to their instruc-
tions many of them knew not how to
read. They concealed themselves as
much as possible from men, and sought
only to please God. 1t was only by
their miracles that they were known.
Of the lives Of multitudes OF these
solitariestwe would be entirely ignor-
ant, if God had not excited the curiosity
of some, who went in search of them,
and caused them to speak.
They were reduced to extr eme
poverty they gained by labor the
little that they required for sustenance,
and the remainder was given in charity.
Some owned small farms, which they
cultivated themselves but the most
perfect preferred simple occupations,
by which they gained sufficient to live
from day to day.
Each religious remained attached to
his community, and each anchorite to
his cell. Their greatest care was to
render their souls tranquil they
avoided fine situations and agreeable
dwellings, and remained mostly in
their cells. They esteemed labor nee
essary, not only that they mig not be
burden to others, but that they might
preserve humility and avoid ennui.
Such were the monasteries, SO often
praised by St. Chrysostom, St.
Aug ustin, and by all She Fathers.
Still more perfect models Of Chris
tians were found in the Bishops, priests
etc, who, after the example of she
Apostles, practiced the interior life in
tio III idst of the world, without being
sustained, like the religious, by the
practice Of silence, and flying all dam
gerouB O CO.'S ons. ''We are Christians
FOR ourselves, said St.~Angpstin, "and
Bishops for you" In general, each gov
eminent had for it's end the good of the
governed, and not Of him who gov
erned; as the physician proposes, not
No cure himself, but the sick. They
possessed that spirit of abnegation and
sacrifice that characterizes the disciples
OF Jesus: they renowned all temporal
interest in becoming Christians; they
were neither ambitious nor avaricious,
and saw no advantage accrue to them
from governing others. On the con-
trary it exposed them to great peril,
such az commanding and being obeyed.'
On the other hand, the resistance Of
those whom they might have to correct,
if they were refused their just de-
mands, the pain OF menacing or pun
ishing-~and in the end, persecution
and mnrtyrdom-for the Bishops and
Priests were mosts exposed. They had
Or submission to the will of God,
which could oblige them to prefer the
pain Of serving others, to the conven-
ience Of being served.
For the election OF such Bishops, the
greatest precausions were taken. 1t
was ordinarily to the eldest and most
experienced men that such government
was confded.
From what has already been said, we
feel called upon to prove that the
Catholic Church is the only society
that properly provides for the wants
of men.
All men have need of an authority to
which they can refer without engaging
in discussions which are beyond their
capacity.
How could a village girl or an arti-
san examine the original texts,
editions or versions Of the Bible?
God would be wanting in his care OF
men if he had not given them an
infallible authority to spare them from
this impossible research and proven
their being deceived.
II s'All the new sects exclaim: Read,
read and decided
The ancient Church says: Reason
not, decide not; be humble and docile.
God has promised to preserve us from
error"
+ Picture to yourselves paralytic,
who wishes to leave his bed because
his house is on FIRE. He addresses