The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27
SOUTH AMERICAN COUNCIL,
BISHOPS AND VATICAN END THIIR
WORK OF REVISION.

Council has come to an end. The work 4,
fnished. The collaboration OF the bishops
OF Latin America with the Pope and tho
court OF Rome has borne plentiful and usc-
full fruit. A council is a school Of reform.
the starting point for higher and moro
intense era. Intellectually. the resolutions
got in motion deeper theological move
ment. Consider the fourth, sixteenth, and
seventeenth centuries; look at the scientific
evolution, after the Vatican Council. In
spite Of the Franco-Prussian war inter-
rupting the undertaking. and the stupid
"Kulturkampfs" distracting minds and
Wills. Practically. the councils adapt the
great Ecclesiastical discipline to new condi-
tlons. They bring about a renovation by
roofing out abuses and by the fresh, united
impulse given to endeavor.
From this point OF view we await the
publication Of the articles with the keen
est intellectual curiosity 1t seems that
there are LOO Of them. What a synthesisl
What concentration! Since the Council of
Trent. ecclesiastical discipline, the canon
law, the problems OF ecclesiastical policy
have taken on a new aspect what through
the breach In the unity of faith, the rapid
decay Of transitory things, or the transfor-
nations through which society has passed.
In South America the need OF reinsurance
was felt impsratively. The unfortunate IN
huence Of Spain. which treated these
churches as privileged fiefs and colonies. to
be exploited, the abuses OF the Bourbon
Concordats. the unfortunate manner in
which the clergy was recruited the decay
nj hn rail- OIL
sons for a dminution OF strength. Leo
Kill, at the beginning Of his reign, UNDER
took the reform Of these ancient commu-
mites. He made the first beginnings. as
Is well known. in Brazil, In the centre.
after the fall Of Dom Pedro. and In Mexico.
In the north; starting from these two CEN
tres unity Of views and concentration OF
Wills were brought about, and led to the
Council.
The first result of this work and this
Council is the unity Of the churches OF Latin
America. From the general American point
OF view, no less than the Catholic stand
point, the result is Of immense Significance.
1t Is, as It were, the birth Of a new church
10 detach these churches henceforth from
the Primate Of Spain; to attach them to a
new prfmate. who will probably be the Bra
lillian prtmate; to raise this prelate to the
rank Of Cardinal, which will mark another
step in the Observation-Disclosures" OF the
Sacred College. and of the central govern
ment OF the Church; to coordinate all willis
and all intellisences for continued, progress
siVe. irresistible reform; to reorEaniye and
rebuild all the cells OF the religious organ
Ism; such Is the object. 1t is ideal and
grand.
That Is why the Council is in the highest
degree interesting to the whole Catholic
world. What will be the new ecclesia st,c.,
discipline? What direction will the new
canon law point outf What form Will tho
new clerical education assume? What poll
law. monastic life; the public.
social life OF the Church2 We who. faith
rui to the desires Of Rome, follow with fer.
vor the new direction; who look, trembling
for the future moulds into which the comng
lie OF the Church shall be cast, IN barmonv
with the transformations already under.
gone; who await. not without impat,ence
lor the opportunity to adapt the external.
human organism Of Catholicism to oontem-
porary conditions: who turn with all our
hearts toward new and real ideal. founded
On the direction given by Leo XIII 70 tho
policy Of the Holy See; we shall find in tho
'chemdfd of the American Council n nova-,,,
ever an example, models. We shall see
~ WHAT shape the Holy See crystallizes re-
orh' 10 what shores It steers mems minds.
Notwithstanding the great difference he
"een these churches and European Cathou-
ism. especially in the great countr1es W.
mail md In the articles not merely nre-
'ious hints. but exchanges and borrowing .,
oeas. We shall get a glimpse at the com
ns oecumenical Council, which will give to
ne whole Church its external form. it's pub-
~ "ecnah'sm' In harmony with the new con-
''tons OF civilization. Two points are OF
pecial characterization in the seminar,sa
md public law
Old methods no longer suffice for IN. d.
hands OF our period. no matter how wa look
It them. They are the harouebpsea ., .ho
niudle ages when we need quick firing riaes
conquer Indifferent or hostile minds. A
yhpa'heuc' strong. enlightened clergy, i'm
ued Win higher knowledge; a common-lav
ohcy; steady. broad. vivifying social action.
nese are our needs. our desires, our real
'eais' Until Catholics enter upon this path
ne' VIII not nave the power to bring about
ne necessary re5uvenation Ideas must have
1nss; actions need favoring winds.
Inc south American Council is therefore
event OF Importance: 1t marks a date. II
Ill De one OF the fairest ornaments in Leo
Ill y immortal crown. His adversaries for.
ierly brought up against him his almost ak
Iusive taste for diplomacy. for politics, for
'ciai questions. and for the intellectual life:
though he had no care for ecclesiastical
lscipine or for the internal regeneration Of
atholicism. The national" encyclicals
Inch are. as 1t were, pastoral visitations to
'cn church. had given SUFFICIENT answer to
Is detractors. The American Council ami
Hates the false story. We can understand
lie intellectual and religious Joy felt by the
Id Man Of the Vatican, when from his mo-
est corner room in the Apostolic palace he
Nv the roof beam Of the South American
'minary erected. "Quidquid ex 90 como