The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-03-04

according to the measure to giving c
Christ. "-Eph. iv, 2.
And shall any one realize the story @
the apostles, the faith OF ancient church
the trials and deaths OF the martyrs
and, above all, those olden times, so fruit
iul in saints-dare to measure our ag
with those, or affirmed that they receive,
less OF the divine outpouring OF the Spiri
OF holiness? Not to dwell on this point
there is no one who calls in question tn.
truth that the Holy Spirit does worl
by secret manner into the souls and HI
stlrs them alike by warnings and I'M
pulses, since unless this were the case al
outward defense and authority would BIZ
unavailing.
For if anyone persuades himself thai
he can give assent to saving-that is tc
gospel truth when so claimed, withou,
any illuminations Of the Holy Spirit, who
gives to all sweetness both to assent ant
to hold. such an one is deceived by hcrct
ical spirit. From the second council
OF Orange, Canon 7.
| Moreover, as experience shows. these
monitions and impulses OF the Holy Spir.
it are for the most part felt through the
medium OF the, and Fight OF an external
teaching authority. To quote St. Agus-
: : tine. "Hc (the Holy Spirit co-opcratcs
to the fruit gathered from the good trees
since he externally waters and cultivatcs
them by the outward ministry OF men,
and yet OF Himself bcstows the inward in
crease. DE Grata Christi chapter. xix
This, indeed. belongs to the ordinary
law OF Gods loving providence, that as
He has decrced that men, for the mos,
part, shall be saved by the ministry also
OF men, so has He wished those whom
He calls to the higher planes of holiness
should be led thereto by men, hence St
Chrysostem declares we are taught OF
God through the instrumentality OF men
-Homily |. Inscrib-Altar.
OF this striking example is given us
i'll the first days of the church. For
though Saul, intent upon blood and
slaughter, had heard the voice of our
Lord Himself, and had asked, What
docst Thou wish me to do?" Yet was he
hidden to enter Damascus and search for
Ananias. Acts ": Enter the CITY and
it shall be there told to thee what thou
must do"
FAITHFUL NEED SUPPORT.
Nor can we leave out of consideration
the truth that those who are striving
alter perfection. since by that fact they
walk i'll no beaten or wcl-known path
are the most liable to stray. and hence
have greater need than others of teach
cr and guide. Such guidance has ever
obtained in the church: it has been the
universal teaching of those who through
out the ages have been eminent for wis
dom and sanctity-and hence to reject it
would be to commit ones self to patl,
at once rash and dangerous:
Although consideration of this point.
IN the supposition that no exterior guide
is granted such souls. will make us sec
the difficulty OF locating or determining
the direction and application of that more
abundant influx of the Holy Spirit SO
greatly cxtolled by innovators. To prac-
ticc virtue there is absolute need OF the
assistance OF the Holy Spirit: yet we find
those who are fond OF novelty giving all
unwarranted importance to the natural
virtues, as though they bette. responded
to the customs and necessities of the
times. and that having those as his out
fit, man becomes both more ready to
act and more strenuous in action.
1T is not easy to understand how per-
sons possessed OF Christian wisdom can
either prefer natural to supernatural viz
tues or attribute to them greater efficacy
and fruitfulness. Can it be that nature.
conjoined with grace, is weaker than
when lett to herself? Can it be that those
men illustrious for sanctty, whom the
church distinguishes and openly paws
homage to. were deficient came short in
the order OF nature and its cndownents,
because they exccllcd in Christian
strength? And although it be allowed at
times to wonder at acts worthy of adj.
mlration which are the outcome of nat
ural virtue, is there any one at all en-
dowed simply with an outfit OF natural
virtue? Is there anyone not tried by
mental anxiety. and this in no light de-
gree? Yet to master such. as also to pre-
serve i'll its entirety the law OF the natural
order. requires an assistance from on
high
These single notable acts to which we
have alluded will frequently. upon a
closer investigation be found to exhibit
the appearance rather than the reality of
virtue. Grant that it is virtue, unless we
would run in vain" and be unmindful
OF that eternal bliss which, good God
in His mercy has destined for us, OF what
avail are natural virtues unless seconded
by the gift OF divine grace? Hence ST.
Augustine we'll says: "Wonderful is the
strength and swift the course, but out
side the true patl for as the nature of
man. owing to the primal fault, is in
clined to evil and dishonor. yet by the
help OF grace is raised up. is borne along
with new greatness and strength, so,
&>.> T.. ~.