The Irish standard., 1899-05-06
bert, the famous controversialist:

bert, the famous controversialist:
In reply to a question the New York
Sun, in its Question and Answer col
umn, says: "Calixtus Ill, pope from
lass to 145S, issued bull against the
Turks, infdels and the comet" 1t is a
pity that the Sun, which shines for all,
should lend itself to the continued float
ing OF so stupid fable
DIR. Parsons, in his Studies in Church
History, vol. iii, page ISL, says:
Among all the lies of history-and
their name is legior-we have encoun-
tered none so absurd as the one claim
ing consideration. We are asked to be-
lieve that in the year 1856 Roman
| Pontiff hurled the thunderbolts of the
| Vatican against comet. Very little
education is required for knowledge
that accommodation is a depriving
one OF the right OF communion or asso-
citation with the body to which he has
been hitherto aggregated; and we have
never understood that comets belong to
any human corporation. We would ask
certain American lecturers what would
be their course if rumor should sud
denly proclaim that OUR chief magistrate
had declared blockade of all the ap-
breaches, mental or physical, to the fifth
satellite OF Jupiter. Would they not
search, or cause to be searched, the
archives OF the secretary Of state in the
capital i'll order to determine whether
our president had really attained to such
height of enterprise. Let them search
the Bullarium Ronlanun, and then in
form the world whether they have found
any trace OF the Popcs bull against the
comet"
The Christian army under Scarampo,
Capistran and Hunyad was about to
meet i'll battle at Belgrade the hosts of
Islam, and determine the fate of Chris
tan Europe; to determine whether the
ferocious Turks would be allowed to full
fill their leaders vow to crush the Chris
tan religion under the hoofs OF his vic
torious cavalry, and Danish the Chris
tian's God from the face OF the earth.
That was the situation that confronted
the Pope i'll 1850 and, continues DR..
Parsons: ut was in order to secure
the protection OF the God of Armies
that CaliStus III. commanded that ev-
crywherc, thrice daily, the bells of every
parish church and Of every religious
institution should be rung to summon
the faithful to the recitation of the
Angclus. and not III order to scare away
the comet, which had not yet appeared.
When that dread visitant did appear,
the people OF Europe were filled with
CONSERVATION; and other portcnts sinful
tancously contributed to a fear that God
was about to empty the walls OF His
Judgment over His hayward children.
In the Terra di Lavoro the Abruzzi and
the Puglia, according to the contempo-
rary Florcntinc historian, St. Antonine.
10000 persons were destroyed by an
earthquake; and another contemporary,
Acneas Sylvius states that 10000 others
were cngulfed i'll its assures in the city
OF Naples alone. These and many other
fearful phenomena greatly terrified the
people; and we would like to believe
that ii certain American astronomers
were to witness such fearful manifesto
tons they also would feel like saving
their prayers. AT any rate, Pope Calix-
tus awaited himself OF the opportunity
afforded by the not unreasonable appre
tensions OF men to dctach them more
from the perishablc things of earth and
to induce them to use their energies for
the greater glory OF God. Upon this
fact and upon it alone, has been based
the tale OF the Popc's bull against the
comet"
BY all means let the query editor of
the Sun produce the bull of the Pope
against the comet, since he has in a way
made himself responsible for it.