The Irish standard., 1896-02-22
PURG4T0RY A BLESSING
. = ..
So Father CIsary Pronouaosd In Res
cant Lso,vre Before Largo
Audience.
not a SAD NOR DoLEFuL DOCTRINE


! NOT A SAD NOR DOLEFUL DOCTRINE
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Reya; j. M. Cleary, astoF OF the st.
Charles Ronan Catholic Church, spoke
last Tuesday ewen;np At tho church Of the
:, r,,ao,,.
iseuse1nei upon 'ne uoo'i ine - : ~
as understood by the Cathoic chufcH. iha
a.Iaress is one OF serles gwen ns Tue
I leading liberal congregations of Minneap-
cl!s, extending over VIDE range ~ o. llaet-
4 esf!ng topics. Inc audience Wilieh assem- :
bled to near Fathes GEAR! was al 'hat
the large lec1'lzs room OF TIRE ens1G1l
would seat anu standlng room "too, ~
fact many went Rome because uDable 10 10
tlsd room. The various bellsis were WEI. +.
represented, and over tnree-1ouilns ot
set forth. The congregation Was hoil-
Catholic. At least one preacher was pres
en1 in the audience, ,hef. William VIII
kmson. - =
Andrews Episcopal Church. "1
Rev. Marion, u. SHUTTER, pastor OF the
1 Church of the Redeemer, lntroduceh the
speaker, saying that th1s was not the hfst
/ time that Fathef laeary ifau Ionoteu the
| church with his presence, and tha~ nno.n
! this occasion, as upon an otners. tte
greatest freedom was impi.ed IN the INV
| tat.oIE, He des!fed rather Cleafy ,o siVe
the audience an lnexpurgated edltloil OF
his views upon the doctrine OF purgaor!,
speaking with the same ifeeaolh tnat A'
"9ould 1a.hls own pupil
Father Cleary prepaoea hlsstalk ny stal :
I ing thah ne "ouia not at'enpt atStHNis
Ike polemlcai or eheologlcal u ui5!.'slotl'
put Wo'ild connie hllnse,i "iu!N 70 ~: :
J ing an explanation OF the Calnoic uoc-
ons: which influenced tf1efcnfrch 10 hoio
and teach the consoling dogma OF Pul>ga-
tory. In part he said:
| The doctrine OF purgatory+ is often sup
posed to be doieful and so1nbre doctrine,
calculated to I'LL the IMAGINATION Win Qls-
tnrb1ng phantomm OF human stHer1hg,
agony and pain. On me contrary, now
! ever: the behef IN cns Mlna'e stale VI
! souls in future life, Ia the most comfort
fng and consoEng element Ill our retlglous
creed. 1t gives bouyant courage 10 tne
fa1nt-hearted fhat :feaVen is not Deyohu
their. reach, and cheers the qe5pondent
who dread the awful fate Of eternal pan
ishment from God, as punlsnment 1or
sin.
The Catholic Church teaches put TWO
propositions as binding upon the falth OF
its members concerning purgatory.7 These
two propositions are known as articles OF
faith. Only these two are we bound to
accept as loyal and devoted Catholics.
These two the church, in virtue OF It's
divinely appointed authority to teach: all
nations. and to decide all matters OF re-,
ligious belief, has defined as articles OF
faith. These two are simply, that there
is purgatory-the name by which we
may designate; the middle state of souls
IS not impo1tant-or a middle state OF
souls after death, and secondly, that the
souls detained in this middle state can
be aided in their progress to heaven by
the prayers of their brethren and friends
here on earth. Everything else. that may
be- written of believed by Catholics
theory and idle speculation, for which the
church, as a teaching authority, Is in no
; way responsible.
This doctrine of the church is based up
on the two sources from which we are en-
riched in all our religious convictions:
namely. right, reason, common sense, and
Gods clear revelation to man. The ira
:dition Of the Jewish and Christian Church
is also considered as friendly beacon
light, guiding the searchers after the safe
harbor of truth. But as tradition tixes Its
foundations upon human reason and d.
vine revelation, I will not claim it as an
undertaking foundation Of our lasting
faith. ..
Right reason abhors the thought that
an infinitely just God will treat all offend
ers alike in the world to come. As heaven
is the abode Of purity ard sinlessness into
which nothing defiled can enter, the hui
man soul tainted with the smallest blight
of sin is barred at heavens gates, II there
be no resting place, no opportunity tor pu-
rifying and cleansing that soul after 1t mas
left its house of clay: An Infinitely just
Cod, cannot consign human soul to eter-
nal misery for single offense. committed,
not through malice, or obstinate d1sobedl-
ence, but through human weakness, or
frailty Men may have been guilty Of
most enormous offenses@ against Cod,
for which they repent at the dying hour.
God cannot reject the sinners sincere re-
pentamce, no matter how grieyous his sin.
But although Christ has washed away our
sins, and obtained for us eternal redemp-
tion, something must be done ON our part
we must undergo. some temporal. punish