New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-24

and Impulses Of the Holy Spirit are iQI tnc m,y s
part felt through the medium OF the ana am hkn'
of m external teaching authority 10 quote 81. ~" ~.
gustine lie Uhe Holy SpiriD co-operates 10 In, tl'
nay waters and culivates them by the outward r.,
ministry of men ana yet 2i d LITE, Chapyer TX
This indeed, belongs TO the ordinary Jaw oi O 49,,
loving providence that ai b d' saved nv the m ais
try also Of men, has He wished ina those m
He calls to the higher panss o. ,noso declares
we are taught OF God through the instrunenttaa'g
Of men Homiy l. in InscriD. AltsI. 81 Ss, 'd a "
striking example Is given IA IN the very "''' "''
of Inc Church ,., .,..,oh,.r
For though Saul intent upon hioqa ana anS had
had heard the voice Of our ord fiHS'5i. az t
asked "Vhat dost thou wish mo TO Do YET was
Mas Acts tx: Enter the city and it shall oe there
told 10 thee what thou must 40. 49,, 10 ,r,,,b
that those who are striving after porfecti0n suce
bv that fact they walk In no beaten or |eH-KnoWn
path arc the most liable TO stray ana none mn
greater need than others of teacher and GUIDE
such guidance has ever obtained IN the huI'n -,
D1g he ages have been eminen, wisdom
and sanctity-and. hence. 20 REJECT II "ouiu ~ Ia
commit ones self to belief AZ once rash anu ""''
thorough consideration Of this point in the sup,
souls will make tho difficulty or locdl,ht ~
determining the direction ana 3ppnCnitom groatv
extolled by innovators TO practise virtue tneIe
absolute need OF the assistance OF the n2iy alRirC
vet we find those who arc fond NJ noV"lty SI'i, LIZ
an unwaTanted importance to me haturn ous
tues though they better respon1ed 70 w n.inc
these as his outft man becomes both more ready 10
act and more strenuous in acton II y not sn7 Wis
dom can either prefer natural to superha u,ai va va
or Tan II be that nature onjoned with
grace is weaker than when left to herself
VIRTUE NATURE AND GRACE.
Can II be that those men illustrious for sanctity'
whom the Church distinguishes and openly pays
homage to. were deficient, came short IN the order
Of nature and It's endowments because they cxcelled
IL a.fgn he
at times to wonder at acts worthy OF adTira,o ZION
which are the outcome Of natural virtue IS dners
any one at all endowed simply with an o Itlt or
mental ANXIETY. and this in no light degree? Yet
ever to master such. as also 10 presernt ,t an as
sistance from high. These single noIuIe 80 I ~
Investigation oe found TO eNhoit Ine IN II s
rather than the reality OF virtue Grant lndl - ~
mindfi,l Of that eternal bliss which good God in
His mercy has destined for us, OF what ,tNali az
vine grace? Hence St. Augustine well says: W on
derfu is the strength ana swtt inc ~ man
owing to the primal fault. Is inclined 70 eVll ana
dishonor. yet by the help Of grace Is raised up IS
So too virtue which is not the PrG,dtgct OF nature l
alone, but OF grace also Is made IIul1Lu uo tidi
lasting life, and takes on a more strong dHu dplui"s
RMS ovcresteen Of natural virtue finds method
massive Virtues found better place in past times.
our age is to be characterized by the active That
such n division and distinction cannot be main
tanned Is patent-for there is not can there be,
Aquinas "designates the perfection OF some faculty
but the end of such faculty IS act and an act Of
virtue is naught else than the good use Of free
Will" acting. that Is TO say. under the grace OF
God II the act be Of supernatural virtue.
lie alone could wish that some Christian virtues
ne adapted to certain times and different ones Tor
other times who IS unmindful OF the Apostles
words: THAT those whom he foreknew. he predes-
tnued TO be made conformahle 70 the image OF ms
Son Romans viii &o. Christ Is the teacher ana ana
the examplar of all sanctity. and to HIS STANDARD
must all those conform who wish Tor eterna NE
Nor does Christ know any change as the ages pass
FOR he is yesterday and to-day and the same for
& ,b ,recont oI,en "1 carr Of me because am
meek and humble Of heart" Matt. xi. 29.
To every age has He been made manifest TO US as
dictum has It's force Those who are Christs have
crt.sned their flesh with its vices and concupis-
cences" Would 10 God that more nowadays pracc
tsed these virtues in the degree OF the saints OF
stralnt were powerful "in word and in deed'-to the
great advantage, not only or religion Dut or the
state and the public welfare.
CONTEMPT OF RELIGIOUS LIFE.
From this disregard OF the evangelical virtues
enormously styled passive. the step was a short
one TO a contempt OF the religious life which has in
some degree taken hold Of minds. That such
value IS generally held by the upholders OF new
views we infer from certain statements concern
ing the vows which religious orders take Ihey
that they limit the bounds of human liberty; that
they are more suitable to weak man 10 strong dr
fection and the good of human organization they
are hurtfu TO both: but that TINS Is as tase "a, as
Church IL clear since she has always given the
very highest approval to the religious method OF
life. nor without good cause for those who under
iTF IA NOT nontent themselves with the observ-
ance of prccepts. but. going forward to the evan
valiant soldiers of Christ. Shall we Judge this to
he "A characteristic OF weak minds or shall we say
that 1t is useless or hurtful TO more perfect state
of life?
Those who so bind themselves by the vows Of
ligon. far from having suffered loss Of liberty.
ly by which Christ hath made free And this
further view OF theirs. namely. that the religious
the Church besides being injurious to the religious
read the annals OF the church. Did not your coun-
try. the United States derive the beginnings both
religious families to one or whom but very lately;
thing greatly TO Your praise you have decreed
that statue be publicly erected? And even at the
present time Wherever the religious FAMILIES are
found. how speedy and yet how fruitful harvest
many leave home and seek strange lands to impart
tho truth OF the Gospel and to widen the bounds OF
checrfulness amid manifold dangers, out of their
number not less. indeed than from the rest OF the
Gods word the directors Of conscences the
teachers # youth and the Church itself the exam
pies of all sanctity.
no DIFFERENCE OF PRAISE
Nor should any difference OF praise be made be-
tween those who follow the active state OF life
and those others who. charmed with solitude
give themselves to prayer and bodily modification
And how much indeed OF good report these have
mcritod and do merit is known surely 20 all who
do not forget that the continual prayer OF tho Just
man" avails 10 placate and to bring down the
blessings of heaven when To such prayers bodily
modification Is added.
But If there be those who prefer to form one
body without the obligation OF the VOWS let them
pursue such a course. II Is not new I'm the Church
nor IN any wise censUrable. Let them be careful.
however. not to set forth such a state above that
OF religious orders. But rather since mankind are
tha ina ;t,.I
Ives I'm pleasures. let those be held greater
esteem who having left all things have followed
Christ"
the way and method hitherto I'm use among Cath
olcs for bringing back those who have fallen away
from the Church should be- left aside and another
chosen. I'm which matter will suffice 10 nota