The herald., 1894-03-19
WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS,
Father Hickey Lectures at the
Cathedral.
Rev. A, q. Bane and the Christians
ArmOP.
Dr. q. r. Mohn Discusses Astral
Bodiss-Ths Aftsrnoon Meet
ing OF the Y. W. o. A.
Ohurch Notes.

ChurCh Notes.
The sminently interesting series OF
Lenten lectures delivered by the Very
Rev. ]. w. Hickey at the cathedral of
st. Vibians came to close last night.
There was an unusually large attend
ance, every available seat being occu-
pied. The lectures, which have at
tractsd not only Catholics. but also
PFotestants, have been devoted almost
entirely to an exposition of the dogmas
OF the Catholic church, and to the show
ing up OF the mistakes which have
grown up in the non-Catholic world re-
garding the creed on which the mother
church bases her authority. Father
Hickey's vigorous English, terse and
iorcible style and logical arguments
have boen greatly appreciated, and have
placed him in the front rank OF polemical
orators in Southern California. Last
night he spoke at length upon Catholic
and all that the term implies. Father
Hickey treated his subject in a most
convincing way. He said:
"Oatholic means general or universal.
Among Ohristians it received q special
or technical sense and was applied to
the true church, spread throughout the
world. to distinguish it from heretical
sects. Ignatius Of Antioch, one Of the
earliest Christian writers, says: Where
Christ 10, there is the Catholic church /;
where the bishop is, there must the
people be also.' Catholic consequently
became the recognised name of the
church. Heresy denotes separation,
since it means individual choice hence,
as Clement of Alexandria declares, The
words Catholic church imply unity,
Bubsisting among many members.' st.
Augustin, in his 'Epistle against the
Donatists, tslls us that the question at
Issue is: Where is the church? p He
appeals to the traditional name Oath
olic church. which is given to
one body. and to one body only; he
proves that the name has been given
rightly, Is is shown by the fact that the
Catholic church, unlike the Donatist
sect, is difused throughout the world !;
and he concludes that as the church Is
one-aB this one church is the Catholic
church-as the Catholic church ia the
body of Christ-therefore he who is
without its pale cannot obtain Chris
rian salvation Heretics Of all degrees
in the early ages of Christianity. as we'll
as in more modern times. have arrogat-
ed to themselves the title of Catholic,
but the old church, whose seat is &C
Rome, alone has successfully vindicated
its right to be designated Catholic.
1.-THE true church is necessarily Catho-
lie, for being founded by God ii must
teach and msintain all truth, instruct
all nations and subsist in all ages till
the end OF time. The term Catholic ie
broad as God himself. 1t is the persona
fication Of truth in all its grandeur and
dignity. 1t implies, moreover. all that
Is sweet, noble, elevated and refined in
human nature. The mere profession Of
Catholic is an honor, but when to the
profession we join the deeds and char
setter OF the Christ-life, then indeed is
our nature raised to the very pinnacle
OF sublime spiritual perfection. All
members OF the grand old Catholic
church may rightfully claim the title of
Catholic. Her record is our record, her
glcries we participate in, and in view Of
what she has achieved, our hearts ma
turally swell with legitimate pride. To
her, modern civilization, no matter how
advanced, owes all that it possesses of
value today. Her mission has been
ever upward and onward. Appearing
at o time when the nations were sunk
in ignorance, superstition. slavery and
the deepest moral degradation, she
alone held aloft the torch of truth, and
by persistsntly teaching the grand doct-
rine Of the fatherhood OF God and the
brotherhood of man, converted, re-
deemed and enlightened the blind forces
OF paganism. Literature too, and the
arts, science and civilization as she
found them, she nurtured, protected and
embellished, handing down to posterity
the rich heritage which We at present
enjoy.
"Our duties % Catholics are plain.
Prominent among them is fidelity to the
teachings Of our holy religion. Earnest
ness and zeal in all that concerns Gods 9
glory and the welfare of our fellow man
are distinctive traits of She true Catholic,
in fact serve as his badge OF nobility.
''Christ's life. which means charity,
meekness, humility, generosity, must be
reflected in our lives. Thus and thus
only are we Catholics in deed and not
merely in name. The cruel calumnies
OF our enemies must be met altogether
by the rectitude of our motives and the
God-spirited, practical outcome of our
actions. God and our country, man
and all that may help humanity must
be our watch word. Broad. liberal
views, the broader the better, so they be
consistant with the truth, must be
the beacon light that glides our steps.