Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-31

! Der. His vicar. who should represent lis
Divine authority when He should with
| draw his visible presence from them and
| return to His heavenly Kingdom, that
one was Peter 1t was to him Christ
| said: Thou art Peer and. upon this
| rock | shall build my church. and the
| gates of hell shall not prevail against
it. To thee will give the keys of the
| kingdom of Heaven and whatsoever thou
| shall bind on earth, shall be bound in
| Heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose
| on EARTH shall be loosed also in Heaven
Thus was st. Peter made the corner
| stone in Chiist's spiritual edicc on
| earth. It was to Peter also that He said:
! Feed my lambs, feed my sheep" Here
/ he is commissioned to be the supreme
| pastor over all the flock, lay well as
| cleric.
Finally. it was to Peter He said: .'Sa-
| San hath desired TO have thee and to
| sift thee as chaff. but. ! have prayed for
| thee That thy faith fail thee not when
! thou art converted confirm thy breth-
| rem" Here he is clothed with the gift
| of infalliblity. so that, in defining dog
| mas Of faith and morals, he, by virtue
| OF tlis prerosative. w.ll be preserved
| from error
| That prerogative was to be transmitted
to lis successor as vicar of our Lord on
earth iii! the end of time. BY thus Civ
ing 10 His church a visible head. here in
,, this world. how easy has not Christ
| made il for all to distinguish and en-
brace 1t. In Leo Kill now gloriously
rGgning. the church has the 262 successor
cif ST. Peter. and when Leo goes TO his
reward, another will be elected to re-
place him, as supreme pastor over the
universal flock, and SO i. like manner
until zine shall be no more.
While the Christian world remained
united. the sovereign pontif's author
ty as universal pastor respected,
harmony prevailed and unity of doctrine
preserved.
Now. unhappily, since His authority
has in measure been restricted, the
Christian world has been made to resem-
ole Il hostile camp whose forces are ar
Iayed against each other whereas they
should be united, and present unbro-
ken front to the common enemy-pa gan
ism. intdelity error and vice, under
whatever form 1t may present itself
He VINO is united to The center of Chris
tian unity. may be likened to a weary
traveller VINO is ever refreshing himself
from the pure stream of heavenly doc
trines that flows from a Divine source; or
IKE the stranded sailor who has found
a solid footing upon the immovable rock
that lies buried in the bosom of the ocean
and against which the angry waves may
dash themselves in vain.
This all important question Of Christian
unity has of hate years become vital
and absorbing one. May it soon be hap
PLY adjusted. and thus forever put an
end 10 one of the greatest evils that for
three centuries has afflicted the tender
nC3ft oil inc spouse OF christ. WnlCh Is
now. and ever must be without spot or
wrinkle"
Here. if time permitted might be com
pared the unity that exists in the Cath
Ollie church with that of the United
States of America. Have you ever re-
flected my brethren, how the conStitu-
ton of the Catholic church is mirrowed
forth in our State and national govern
mcnt:
Instead of dwelling on this thought in
detail allow tn recall an jnGi1gDf in
the history of this grand republic, which
will serve an Illustration of all that
| might say, and which none can better
appreciate than the Union soldier.
When the great dark war cloud that
had long 9een gathering over lthis fair
land had at length suddenly burst asun-
der Bringing almost .ssdisnlay to "A lib |
erty-ldNine people, you remember how |
the pulse of the nation had been touched !
And.s when. after the deadly strife |
which that war cloud had foreshadowed |
had ceased. and the ensign that had in |
spred 1T was lowered. furled and forever |
withdrawn from the gentle breezes Of |
Heaven. while that act thrilled with joy |
every patriotic heart throughout the |
country; did il mean dlshonor for the |
vanqushed?f
or on the contrary, did it not simply |
imply that the national flag should again |
be restored and float in triumph, in It's |
accustomed place, guaranteeing to all |
who respected its supremacy and the |
unity Of government which 1t SEmbOllZed, |
protection in every constitutional right.
Had the ensign of this Union i'm that |
dark period of its history suffered |
a rert could it ever again be the same |
to the eye of the patriot? Or had the
sentiment that then stirred .Ghe heart of |
the South prevailed. would her brave
sons be. now more less free happy and |
prosperous? Let the millions from whose
limbs the filters of slavery have fallen
answer!
Under our national constitution, every
citizen owes allegiance to the Union.
Does this eurtail any just liberty. as q
citizen of the State2 No.
Neither. my brethren. does the spir-
itual allegiance which any member of |
the Catholic church owes to the vicar of |
Chris. in the chair of Peter deprive him
Of any liberty or conflict with his duties
as citizen of any country upon which
the sun shines.
Having had incucated into his mind |
and heart from infancy the sacred prin-
c.ple Of loyalty to authority. and fidel-
ity to duty. will he not in effect, become |
tower Of strength. i'm the hour Of trial |
TO whatever country he belongs?
Believing in Gods existence and in |
Gods word and performing every duty to
family. State and church for Gods sake |
ANA for Gods love will he not in so far as
human frailty permit become an ideal |
man. citizen and Christian.