The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-24

Chapter IV.) But in regard to ways
of living she has been accustomed to so
yield that the divine principle of NOR
ais being kept intact, she has never
neglected to accommodate herself to
the character and genius of the nations
which she embraces.
who can doubt that she will act in
this same spirit again if the salvation of
souls require it? In this matter the
church must be the judge, not private
men, who are often deceived by the APP
pearance of right. In this, all who
wish to escape the blame of our pre-
decessor, Plus the Sixth, must concur.
He condemned as injurious to the
church and the spirit of God, who
guides her. the doctrine contained in
the position LXXVIII. of the Synod of
Pistol, that the discipline made and
approved by the church should 10
mitted to examination, as if the church
could frame a code of laws useless or
heavier than human liberty can bear.
But, beloved son, in this present
matter of which we are speaking, there
is even a greater danger, and a more
manifest opposition to Catholic doc
trine and discipline in that opinion of
the lovers of novelty. according to
which they hold such liberty should be
allowed in the church that her super
vision and watchfulness being in some
sense lessened, allowance granted the
faithful, each one to 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 lib
art hoe o,< IN, lo ~
given civil freedom which is now the
right and the foundation of almost
every secular state.
I'm the Apostolic letters concerning
the Constitution of States addressed by
US to the Bishops of the whole church,
we discussed this point at length, and
there set forth the difference existing
between the church. which Is a divine
society, and all other social human or
CARNATIONS which depend simply upon
the free will and choice of men. It
is well, then, to pay direct attention to
the opinion which serves as the argu-
ment in behalf of this greater liberty
sought for and recommended to Cath
olics.
ut is alleged that now the Vatican
can decree concerning the infallible
teaching, authority of the Roman pom
tiff having been proclaimed that Moth
ing further on that score can give any
solicitude, and, accordingly, since that
has been safeguarded and put beyond
question. a wider and freer field both
for thought and action lee open to each
one. But such reasoning is evidently
faulty, since, if we are to come to any
Cnn61I1cinn from, "a inf
of the church. it should rather be that
no one should wish to depart from it,
and, moreover, that the minds of all be-
ing 1eavened and directed, thereby
greater security from private error
would be enjoyed by all. And furth-
er. those who avail themselves of such
a way of reasoning seem to depart Sc
riously from the overruling wisdom of
the most high, which wisdom, since it
was pleased to set forth by solemn de-
cision the authority and supreme teach
ing rights of this apostolic See-willed
that decision precisely in order to safe
guard the minds of the church's chill
dren from the dangers Of these present
times. These dangers, viz: the con-
founding of license with liberty, the
passion for discussing and pouring con-
tempt upon any possible subject, the
assumed right to hold whatever opin-
ions one pleases upon any subject. and
to set them forth in print to the world,
have so wrapped minds in darkness
that there is now a greater need of the
church's teaching office than ever be-
fore, lest people become unmindful both
of conscience and duty
I'VE, indeed, have no thought of re-
jecting everything that modern indus
try and study has produced, so far from
1t that we welcome to the patrimony of
truth and to an ever widening scope of
public well being Whatsoever helps
toward the progress of learning and
virtue. Yet all this, to be of any solid
benefit nay, to have a real existence
and growth, can only be in the condi-
ton of recognizing the wisdom and au-
thority of the church
Coming now to speak of the conclu-
sions which have been deduced from the
above opinions, and for them, we read
lily believe there was no thought of
wrong or guide, yet the things them
selves certainly merit some degree Of
suspicion. First, all external guidance
is set aside for those souls who are
striving after Christian perfection as
being superfiuous, or indeed. not useful
in any sense-the contention 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 over-confidence to desire to meas
ure and determine the mode of Divine
communication to mankind. since it
wholly depends upon his own good
pleasure and He is most generous
dispenser of His own gifts
THE spirit breatheth whereso He
listeth. John iii., 50
And to each one of us grace is given
according to the measure of the giving
of Christ CEph. iv. -
And shall anyone who recalls the
history of the Apostles, the faith of the
Nascent Church, the trials and deaths
of the martyrs. and above ALL those
olden times, so fruitful in saints, dare to
measure our age with these, or affirm
that they receives less of the Divine
outpouring from the spirit of holiness ?
Not to dwell upon this point, there is
no one who calls in question the truth
that the Holy Spirit does work by a se-
cret descent into the souls of the just
and that He stirs them alike by warn
ings and impulses, since unless this were
the case all outward defense and au-
thority would be unavailing For if
any persuades himself that he can give
assent to saving that is to gospel truth
when proclaiming. without any illumi-
nation of the Holy Spirit. who gives
unto all sweetness both to assent and
TO hold, such an one is deceived by
hprafioa1 crairit lIcro,,, H. $1,000,