The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-01-06
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: THE 7ARAL SYLLABUS
Translated from the italian of LFaIconi.
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prOpheSied the destruction of the tenn
pie and the dispersion of the deicidal
people-a prediction to whose fulfill
ment the whole world bears witness.
Julian, the apOstate, sought to restore
the temple and to reassemble the Jews
within the limits Of their former coun-
try. but all his power and wealth. Of
men and materials were unequal to
the task His impiOus attempt to re-
build the temple served but to COM
plete its destruction. A whirlwind Of
flame consumed the workmen and de-
stroyed the vast amount of materials
which had been collected. The very
foundations of the temple We're uproot4
ed and there was not left stone upon
d stone. The facts are attested not
only by Christian writer's, but even by
Arlmianus Marcellinus, JuIians his
torian and apologist.
1t is further advanced by our OPP
ponents that the mysteries of the
Christian religion are the mere result
of philosophical Investigations
In the early ages of Rationalism the
adversaries of Christianity opposed
| it ON the ground that it's mysteries We're
contrary to reason. They were ably
refuted by the apologists of the church.
who proved cOnclusively that the mvs-
I teries, though superior. were not and
could not be contrary to reason. it be-
/ ing impossible that mutually contra
| dictory and repugnant gifts Should
proceed from an infinitely perfect God.
Driven from this position. Rationalists
now resort to other expedfents i'm or
/ der to defend their doctrines Chris,
tianity. they say. has drawn it's prin-
| ciples, it's dogmas it's rites and its
mysteries from the books of pbiIos-
ophers and from the customs of diff
ferent nations. Thus, from the people
of India it has taken the mysteries of
Z the Trinity, of the Incarnation. of the
fall of man, OF the rebellion of the
angels, of baptism, etc; from the
| Chinese the precepts of Christian bu-
niiity, of the forgiveness of injuries. of
charity towards enemies, and MANY
others from the Egyptians and Per-
SLAMS
The answer to this objection. so
greatly relied upon by RationaIists is
that these mysteries are as different
from those taught by the Christian re
ligion as the light of day is from the
darkness OF night. They can at best
only be considered as fragments Of
ancient traditions preserved in a con-
fused and disfgured condition by those
nations
Christ did not study either the Greek
or the Roman philosophers, none of
whom ever originated a system of re-
ligion and morals having the character
istics of unity and conference. Their
principles were disjointed and utterly
incapable of Cohering in any organized
and harmonious whole. On the other
hand the Christian religion is q unit
in its doctrine, thoroughly consistent
with itself and so closely connected in
all its parts that the removal of a. sin
gle one would mar the beauty of the
system and render inexplicabIe all that
remained intact.
Rationalists affirm that the Old and
New Testaments are replete with
mythical inventions.
1t is very surprising that men. skilled
in all these various branches Of learn
ing, like Petavius Huetius, Bossuet and
countless others. were unable to find
any evidence Of these mysteries and
fablous beings in the Holy Scriptures.
these myths are found alike in the
Jewish and the Christian religion. and
that this cann-t be denied bv anyone
who has kept pace with the progress Of
rhetorical, pathological and philosophi-
cal science.
BY a myth they understand one Of
those trifiing tales which simple and
good-natured grandames are accussom-
ed to while away the dreary hours Of
the winter evening, or to amuse the
little children entrusted to their charge.
They say that fabulous narratives are
found in the ancient monuments OF all
religious institutions; the design Of
these narratives is to bring the different
religions within the capacity of IN
tutored minds, the writer's have intro
duced in them certain mysterious be-
ngs superior to humanity and capable
Of producing effects beyond, or against
the known laws Of nature. and they
assure Us with the utmost gravity that
It was reserved for the inventive genius
Of the Rationalists to make this dis
eovery.
We have seen above that the Jewish
religion was confirmed by the most as
-onisihing miracles. which were record
I'd, not as having happened in remote
ages or as having been performed in
,irl,7
20 have been wrought in the presence
If the people who have transmitted an
account of them to posterity. This very
people assembled at the foot of Mount
Sinai, heard, amid the rumblings Of
hunder and the sound of trumpets the
'oice of Cod debating His law; and
hey were eyewitness of the wonders
which Moses performed in Egypt and at
he Red Sea. The marvels CeIated in
with this people are not
abulous stories; they are absolute
ealities, proven to be such by the tes-
imony which they have given concern
ng them, untinterruptedIy from gen
ration to generation for upwards Of
600 years.
The temporary residence of the IS
aelites in Egypt, their sojOurn in the
esert, their arrival in Palestine. their
ttachment to the laws and customs of
heir country are facts attested by an
lent writer's and more especially by
ne historian Tacitus. The testimony Of
rofane authors, who are naturally
verse to the Jewish religion, proves,
therefore,, the reality of it's existence,