The San Francisco call., 1896-02-15

Christ, in which and through whi6h the
truths of Scripture receive their significance
az and application. This is the power which
the knowledge of the Christian law, which
has regenerated the world morally and porit-
really ano has made civilization coterminous
WIN GnrIstlanlty. mot the dead words of the
gospel placed in the hands of the people, but
thelr meaning and spirit acting through the
church, manifesting themselves in her sacra-
ments, IN ner liturgy. breathing in her prayers
ana speaking through those who in the name
ana authority of the divine founder of the
Christian religion were commissioned to carry
the truths OF salvation to every creature, even
to the end of time. 1t may be said, in certain
sense, 70 hold the same place in a religious
society that constitution does in civil So
ciety. In the civil order the Government and
The one gives life, the other applies it to the
various requirements of those who live beneath
its protection. OF what avail would our con-
sI,snsion be with vi all the precious liberties it
without some body poliitic to apply them and
protect them? 1t would have no more practi-
ca ca lnhuence on the destlnies OF mankind than
II 1t never existed. In the same way the Bible
and the church support each other.
THE CHURCH AND THE BIBLE.
The church always looked on the Scriptures,
the mind OF God revealed in human LANGUAGE,
for the spiritual guidance and comfort of his
children, and was anxious in every age that
they should find in them instruction and con-
ISOLATION, ever mindful of the words of ST. Paul
'What things were written, were written for
our learning; that through patience and the
comfort of the Scriptures we might have
hope"
In one form or another she speaks to her
children in every age. as st. Gregory the Great
wrote in his day: .sBe very carefui,I beseech
you, my dear brethren, to mediate on the
word of God. Do not neglect the divine writ
lngs which are as letters sent to US from our
Creator
II beseech you, therefore, to apply yourself
TO them hereafter with particular affection,
and mediate every day on the words of your
The great Pontiff Plus VI in I77s writes to
Marteni, Archbishop of Florence, congra tula-
ting him on his new Italian translation of the
church the reading of the inspired volume.
"At time," he writes, ,'sthat vast number of
BAD books, which most grossly attack the
Catholic religion, are circulated among the nn-
judge exceedingly well that the faithful should
De excited to the reading of the Holy Scrip
lures sao. For these are the most abundant
one to draw from them purity of morals and of
doctrine"
CHERISHED THE SCRIPTURES
tn. The Third Council OF Baltimore, in Its pas
toral letter 20 the Catholics of the United
States, repeats the admonition.
ut can hardly be necessary for us to remind
you, beloved brethren, that the most highly
the most frequently and lovingly made use of
should be the Holy Scriptures We hope that
no family can be found among us without q
correct version of the Holy Scriptures
Thus the church that carries down the ages
the doctrines and graces of her Divine Founder
has always cherished the sacred writings Of
the old and the new dispensation and under
the guidance of the Holy Spirit draws out of
them those sacred truths of which they are the
depositary and applies them to the needs OF
souls.
Her history, from Peter to Gregory, from
Gregory to Plus vi, from Plus to Leo XIII, is q
record of unfailing loyalty to the revealed
Word of God, and of constant effort to bring its
children.