The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-24

ing o. his own mind and the trend of his
own proper activty. They are of opinion
that such liberty has its counterpart in the
newly given civil freedom which is now the
right and the foundation of almost every
secular state. In the apostolic letters con-
corning the constitutions of states, adj
dressed by us to the bishops Of the whole
church, We discussed this point at length
and there set forth the difference existing
between the church, which is Il divine So
ciety. and all other social human organize
tons which depend simply on the free Will
and choice Of men.
FAULTY REASONING.
1T is well, then, TO particularly direct
attention to the opinion which serves as the
argument in behalf of this greater liberty
sought for and recommended to Catholics.
1t is alleged that now the Vatican decree
concerning the infalible teaching authority
Of the Roman pontif having been pro-
claimed. that nothing further on that score
can give any solicitude. and, accordingly,
since that has been ~safeguarded and put
beyond question, a wider and freer field, both
Tor thought and action, lies open 20 each
one. But such reasoning is evidently faulty,
since, II we are to come to any conclusion
from the infallible teaching authority Of
the church. 1t should rather be that no one
should wish to depart from II, and, more
over, that, the minds of all being leayened
and directed thereby, greater security from
private error would be enjoyed by all. And,
AuIblCIt AnOSE WHO AVIAN themselves u SuCu
a way of reasoning seem to depart seriously
from the overruling wisdom of the most
high-which wisdom, since 1t was pleased to
set forth by most solemn decision the au-
thority and supreme teaching rights Of this
apostolic see-Wflled that decision precisely
in order to safeguard the minds Of the
churchs children from the dangers OF these
present times.
These dangers. namely, the confounding
OF license with liberty, the passion for dis
cussing and pouring contempt upon any
possible subject, the assumed right to hold
whatever opinions one pleases upon any sub
Ject and TO set them forth in print to the
world, have SO wrapped minds in darkness
that there is now a greater need of the
church's teaching office than ever before,
lest people become unmindful both of con-
science and of duty.
I'VE, indeed, have no thought of rejecting
everything that modern industry and study
has produced; so far from it that we well
come to the patrimOny of truth and TO an
ever-wtdening scope Of public well-being
whatsoever helps toward the progress of
learning and virtue. Yet all this, TO be of
any solid benefit, nay, to have a real exist
ence and growth, can only be on the condi-
tion of recognizing the wisdom and author
1ty OF the church,
MERIT SUSPICION.
Coming now to speak of the conclusions
which have been deduced from the above
opinions and for them we readily believe
there was no thought Of wrong or guile, yet
the things themselves certainly merit some
degree of suspicion. First, all external
guidance is set aside for those souls who are
striving after Christian perfection as being
superffueus or, indeed, not useful in any
sense, the contention being that the Holy
Spirit pours richer and more abundant
graces than formerly upon the souls of the
faithful, so that without human interview
ton He teaches and guides them by some
hidden instinct of His own. Yet 1t is the
sign of no small overconfidence to desire to
measure and determine the mode of the
divine communication TO mankind, since it
Wholy depends upon His own good pleasure
and he IS n most generous dispenser of His
own gifts. The spirit breathes whereso He
listeth. John ill, 8. And to each one of us
grace is given according to the measure of
the giving of Christ.'-Eph. iV, Z.
And shall any one who recalls the history
OF the apostles, the faith Of the nascent
church. the trials and deaths of the martyrs.
and. above all. those olden times, so fruitful
IN saints, dare to measure our age with
these or affirm that they received less of the
divine outpouring from the spirit of holt
ness? Not to dwell upon this point, there
IS no one who calls in question the truth
mat the Holy Spirit does work by a secret
descent into the souls of the just, and that
He stirs them alike by warnings and i'm
pulses, since unless this were the case all
outward defense and authority would be I'M
availing. For II any persuades himself that
ne can give assent TO saving that is, to
gospel truth when proclaimed, without any
illumination of the Holy Spirit, who gives
unto all sweetness both to assent and to hold.
such an one is deceived by a h~eretical
spirit.'-From the second council of Orange,
Canon Z.
.%"Moreover, as experience shows, these
mpnitions and impulses of the Holy Spirit
are for the most part felt through the me-
dunn of the aid and, light of an external
teaching authority. To quote st. Augustine:
He (the Holy Spirit co-operates to the
fruit gathered from the good trees, since He
externally waters and cultiyates them by the
outward ministry of men, and yet of himself
Destows the inward increase. ID De Gratia
Christi, Chapter xix.
This, indeed. belongs to the ordinary law
of Gods loving providence, that as He has
1 dnopCnd fh0f man for tho ,ancf faopf chaT h
saved by the ministry also Of men, so has
He wished that those whom He calls to the
higher planes of holiness should be led there
to by men; hence St. Chrysostom declares
we are laugh of God through the instru-
mentality Of men. LHomily /. in Inscrib.
Atari OF this striking example is given us
in the very first days of the church. For,
though Saul. intent upon blood and slaugh-