The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1898-09-08

| iuoihty Juot Us IL WOuiu uo IuOlhtEy
to give pivine honors to a stick or
stone.
The doctrine set forth In the
above answer is contained in every
Catechism of christian doctrine
authorized by the Bishops of the
Catholic church. In Catechism
published in 1470, thirteen years
before Luther's birth, and which
some of the Reformers must have
studied, we have the following. "All
sin against the first commandment
who place their faith, hope and
charity more In the saints than in
God. But we are obliged to hold
the saints in great reverence and
honor especially the Blessed
Mother of our dear Lord Jesus
Christ"
In Catechism!published in 1882
we have these admonitions. "Pray
to the dear saints|and invoke them,
not as IL they themselves could
help US and give us what we ask
for, but, because they beg of Al
mighty God in our behalf that God
may hear US and on account of
their prayers and friendship, give
us what we ask for.
In an instruction book published
in 1913 we have the same doctrine.
"We pray to God as our Creator
and Redeemer, that he may give us
His grace and eternal glory and
forgive our SINS" and such like.
But we pray to the saints that by
their prayers they may secure us
grace and glory they may secure it
for us by their prayers. Therefore
we say to Christ who is true God
and man in one person, "Lord have
mercy on me; forgive me my sins;
give me thy grace, give me eternal
life." But to the saints we say, 20,
Virgin Mary pray for me to God;
secure me mercy and grace; help
me by thy intercession to secure
eternal life.
There is not an authorized Cate.
chism of Catholic doctrine ever
published in any country, or any
book Of instruction on doctrinal
subjects in which this very clear
distinction between prayers ad-
dressed to God, and prayers invok-
ing the assistance of the saints is
not made. One of the standard
works of this kind, found in almost
every Catholic household bearing
the imprimatur of successive church
dignitaries for more than century,
is "Gother's Papfst Misrepresented
and represented" In page 18 of
this book it says: "The Papist truly
represented, believes it damnable
to think the Virgin Mary more
powerful in Heaven than Christ, or
that she can in any way command
Him. He houOrs her indeed as one
that was chosen to be the Mother
Of God and blessed amongst wo-
man, but owing her still, as a
creature, and that all she has of
excellency, is the gift of God, pro-
ceeding from His mere goodness"
The most popular and most gen.
orally studied Catechism in Eng
land and Ireland issued, like every
work of its kind with church ap-
proval, has the following questions
and answers.
@. What do you mean by the in
vocation of saints?
A. We mean no more than to beg
of them to intercede to God for us.
@. But is it not putting more
trust in them and lessening the
faith 1 ought to have in God.
A. No, it is true 1 put more trust
in them than In myself but all my |
hope and theirs also is in God alone.
l only beg they would join their in
tercession with my petition to Him,
the author of all blessings.
@. How do we know that the
saints and angels hear us?
A. Even as we know that they
rejoice at the conversion OF a sim
ner.
There are doubtless many here
present who have seen and perhaps
studied De Harbis Catechisms.
They are the official books of in
struction In the greater part of
Germany. take the following
from the smaller Catechism:
@. What does the Catholic church
teach respecting the veneration
and invocation of saints?
A. She teaches that 1t . is right
and available to salvation to honor
and invoke them.
@. But Ia not the honor we pay
to the saints against the 9Th, COM
d.. f<. Ia