The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-26
ABOUT THE HOLY ORDERS.


! 'It has been said that religious or
derS, of both sexes, are of no USE but
| the pope says they are Christian and
carry out the principles of the church,
as exemplified in the life Of Christ.
There was tendency in this country
to make light Of contemplative orders,
but the pope says they are sanctioned
by the church law and do good and are
not to be disturbed If there are souls
Who are rot content with a life of ac-
tive work, but prefer Standardization,
and prayer, why, they do good in their
way. There is room for all to work
IF the pope has been declared in
fallible it requires that he shall be
listened to with attention. for his ut
terance is a revealed dogma of the
church. Then if we follow his teach
lngS we are sure to be free from error
The private guidance of the Holy Ghost
would be open to too much danger in
illusions and self-deceptions, and it is
better to have the guidance of those
appointed by God to direct the souls of
men.
IF Americanism means an adapta-
ton of the church to circumstances
the pope says, then all right That has
always been his policy. This was illus
trated two years ago when he gave in
dult to bishops allowing relaxation in
their discretion, to. whole classes of
people regarding the observance of
lenten fasts.'
Father Oster said the letter of Arch
bishop. Ireland to the pope was an
excellent document and expressed ex-
actly his own sentiments and those of
his clergy.
THIS COMMENT ADVERSE.
Advices from Paris to the New York
journal say that the pope's letter to
Cardinal Gibbons on "Americanism"
causes CONSERVATION among thoughtful
Catholics there. They declare that it
is triumph for the Jesuits in Rome
and for Spanish revenge. because Mar
tin, the head of the JeSuits, is a Span
lard and has Striven without rest for
just such condemnation ever since
the war. Cardinal Richard says that
judging from the summary published
it seems the pope has admonshed the
United States to save the general
theses of the church. He does not fear
that the letter will cause a schism in
the church here, however
The Archbishop of Orleans says that
the tendencies Of American Catholics
are not against the doctrines of the
Catholic church, and calls attention to
the fact that the pope's letter says the
external authority of the church must
not be denied, though no Catholic in
America denies it. He says further
the American Catholics are active. and
clustered virtues, while their merits
are recognized. are less congenial to
the American mind than the militant
virtues which were dear to Father
Hecker. Prof. Klein, whose transla-
ton Of the life of Father Hecker. the
founder of the Paulist order, which has
called forth the letter Of the pope, says:
The tactics of enemies is to attribute
to us false teaching. We all know the
external authority of the church must
be respected, and that Individual in
spiration is not at variance with the
church. Father Hecher lays great
stress upon the superiority of the
Anglo-Saxon race and respect for the
human person. The Jesuits didn't like
this. The leading French clergy favor
the virile Catholicism of the United
States
Cardinal Vaughan, of London, In
commenting on the letter also says
I cannot conceive why any one
should be anxious or doubtful as to the
attitude of Catholics in the United
States toward he holy faher's ency-
ciical. The American Catholics arc
heart and soul with the pope. They
are and always have been faithful
children Of the church.
1 am convinced that there will not
be one hairs breadth of difference be-
tween the teachings of Leo XIII and
the convictions or professions of Catho-
lies in the states.
I know the Catholics of America well.
They are thoroughly sound and papal
In all church matters.