The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-24
LEO XIII, Pope.

follow out more freely the leading of his
own mind and the trend of his own
proper activity. They are of the opinion
that such liberty has its counterpart in
the newly given civil freedom which is
now the right and the foundation of al
most every secular state.
In the apostolic letters concerning the
constitution of states addressed by us tC
the bishops of the whole church we dis
cussed this point at length and there sci
forth the difference existing between the
church, which is a divine society, and
all other social human organizations
which depend simply on the free will and
choice of men.
It is WELL then, to pay direct attention
to the opinion which serves as the argu-
sought for and recommended to Catho-
lies.
1t is alleged now that the Vatican can
decree concerning the infaliible teaching
authority of the Roman Pontiff having
been proclaimed that nothing further on
that score can give, any solicitude, and.
guarded and put beyond question, wider
and freer field, both for thought and ac-
ton, lies open to each one. But such rea-
soning is evidently faulty, since, if we
infallible teaching of, the church, il
should rather be that no one should wish
to depart from it, and. moreover that the
minds of all being leavened and direct
ed thereby, greater security from private
error would be enjoyed by all. And fur
ther, those who avail themselves of s11ch
a way OF reasoning seem to depart seri-
ouSiy from. the oVerruing wisdom of the
Most High, which wisdom, since it was
pleased to set forth by solemn decision
the authority and supreme teaching rights
OF TINS Apostolic See, willed that decision
precisely in order to safeguard the minds
of the church's children from the dan
gers of these present times.
IheSe dangers, viz: The confoundins OF
license with liberty, the passion for dis
cussing and pouring contempt upon any
possible subject, the assumed right to
hold whatever opinions one pleases upon
any subject and to set them forth in nrint
to the world, have so wrapped minds in
darkness that there is now greater need
of the church's teaching Office than ever
before, lest people become unmindful both
of conscience and duty.
We, indeed, have no thought of reject
ing everything that modern industry and
study has produced; SO far from it that
we welcome to the patrimony of truth
and to an overwhelming scope of public
well-being which also ever helps toward
the progress of learning and virtue. Yet
to have q real existence and growth. car
only be on the condition of recognizing
the wisdom and authority of the church
Coming now to speak of the conclusions
which have been deduced from the above
opinions, and for them, we readily be-
lieve there was no thought of wrong or
guile vet the things themselves certain
iy merit some degree of suspicion. First.
all external guidance is set aside for
those souls who are striving after Chris
tian perfection as being superfiuous, or,
indeed not useful in any senSe-the con-
tention being that the holy spirit pours
richer and more abundant graces than
formerly upon the souls of the faithful.
so that without human Intervention He
teaches and guides them by some hidden
instinct of his own. Yet it is the sign of
no small overconfidence to desire to meas
ure and determine the mode of the divine
communication to mankind, since it who'll
ly depends upon his own good pleasure
and he is most generous dispenser of
"rThe Spirit breatheth whereso he list
eth."-John, iii:sS.
And to each one of US grace is given