Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-09-30

OF their civic virtues. How numerous
and magnific, mt the monuments 90
Washington ard Others, throughcut
our glorious country
THE PICTURES IN The HOME.
In how many homes hangs the pic
ture OF the most ilIustrious sou OF the
mother OF Presid ants? The Church,
too. has her battles. Religion has her
victories. Should they VINO battle for
her, who gained through grace the
victory for relig on. and came OF con-
auerors and more than cOnquerOre,
snould they be regarded ss less de-
serving of honor IL there greater
or iruer hero shan the Christian hero,
than he who gives up all for Jesus. and
never cessas TO do valiant battle
agar at all mis- enemies2 To such heroes
our Lord HIS promised a crown OF life,
l OF glory and honor immortal
lie il right, then, it is becoming to
honor relics and holy Pictures3 But.
we sometimes hear, the honor paid by
Catholics TO memorials Of Christ and
His saints is superstition or idolatry.
Is that true7 Let Us see. Idolatry il
the paying Of divine worship to what 10
\ not divine: superstition consists in
sc eking effects from inadequate
causes.
NOT GUILTY OF SUPERSTITION.
When l ask the saints to pray for me
l am not guilty of superstitution fo<.
as they can pray for me. 1 ask only
what they can do. But il I were TO
ask them to raise dead body to life,
or il 1 should believe that they can do
l, | sr1A oI L he -
gross superstition because only God
can raise dead body TO life. or the
saints We ask neither grace not par
don; we ask only the help Of their
pray ers, which is no more than we ell
ask daily OF our pastors, of our friends
of one another. And why may we not
|, ask this of a saint in heaven, as much
as Of q sinful mortal on earth7 Il q
saint less living, or less dear to God?
THE HOLY IMAGES.
When honor relics. crucifixss, holy
pictures and images, only as memori
ais of Christ aud His saints, and thus
refer the honor, not to the representa-.
tion, but to the original, l am neither
superstitious nor an idolator. / nc
more worship them than Americans
worship George Washington's Goa
and sword that are in the Smithsonian
| Institution at the National Capital, nS
more than q dutiful son worships the
portrait OF his mother. Little Catho
{ lie children learn from their elemen
tary catechism that relics. crucifixes
! and holy pictures have no life, or sens
to hear or help Us.
!. These pictures, therefore, thosl
I paintings aud those statues are here
not TO be adored for, as the Oatholi
Church teaches, only God may b
adored, only He may receive dIvin
: worship. Th ~ are here however, 70
many good reasons. They are here t
tell truth 30 man.
q SILENT LANGUAGE SPOKEN.
They speak silent, yet powerful
language. Why, my dear brethren, W
p learn truth not only by words, but ais
!, by signs and figures. by emblems an,
images, by types and representations
D | A description of q scene may be give
!. by words, but with greater effect b
). a sculpture or painting.
y Despite the efforts OF the OhurcN an
y of State in the cause of education.
great proportion of mankind will b
y found illiterRte. Paint ting and sculp
turs teach them u.uch that book
u make known to the learned. Tn
y irst OF the Pontiffs named Leo. Wa
3 once reproached for having decorate
one Of his churches with a variety {
paintings. They were scenes from tn
6ible. he replied: Those painting
" are the Bible of the poor" His answt
" was Apostle his refu tation, complet
10 In ye olden time, centuries ago. befoI
Of the invention OF printing, books weI
D scarce, and library was worth fol
D. tune. Religious emblems were use
J. by Francis Xavier IN India to brir
g. thousands of the heather to q know
lie ledge Of the one true God; they weI
y used. too. by De Smet aud other mis-
p sionaries Co make the Gospel known {
? the savages OF America.
- THE DEVOTION INTENSIFIED.
Why, the devotion even OF the edI
g. Gated Christian is promoted and intel
es sified by contemplating pictures ar
ls life OF Christ and OF His saints aud ma
I'd tyrs. Does q son forget his mother |
" contemplating her picture Is the p
TIA triot's knowledge OF George Washin
be ton obscured, or his love for his cou
81 try weakened. by looking at the co
b. and sword that the nation preserves
Moreover, pictures of the saiu
serve to incite Us to initiate their vi
tues; and this is q chief reason WI
t. the Church encourages the use OF sue
r. representations We are exhorted
us "look aud do according to the pate
lis shown US on the Mount" (Exod
tn XIV That is the object OF &
ut Church in ornamenting and beausif
al ing her churches, her sanctuaries. al
e- her affairs; to teach men by visib
he forms the truths OF religion; so spei
lis to mans soul through bis sense;
Ou raise mans heart to the Creator
ad heaven and earth.
re Now, that great multitude OF the I
ep deemed. who stand before the thrO
of heaven, who are forever chants
ng the praises of God. they are NOT devo
3i- Of charity, they are not now less cha
le, table than when on earth, they o
1t not unmindful Of as who are yet stru
nd Cling for she victory of sAlvatio
e. Those citizens of the heavenly Jerus