The sun., 1900-12-16
RELIGION AID MORALS.
- Nor ,Ii,y. fin.sd op Ernsnr, H"b' Nan ~
~. Inghs.t ~ anit' God T. ttfc ana
christ q. the u,' ~ hof"i ani so''si
Uns.tlons .r,t"l b. tho thn-t'nn tsiih.

~. IUghs.t ~ anit Tod T. tifc ana
,h,Ia .. tnr w. ~ h"f"i and so'iai
Questions settle, b. ~" 'hds'inn tshh.
p,o-- por, L,o vI,I ., to'c Fr,p i.ai t1r'r
ap "J,.t. ,rf.i O.r R,i'omrr.
God alone b. ulo ~ other things rattako
= Ifc. hut are not Ne Chftst, from all
eternity and > 81 Nla worry ra'ut", l. tho life."
.lst ~ ne - lur Ir.'h. because II" IL cod
4 God From Nm, a- from its rho-t snotod
source. 1lI ilr pctvHi's aud ever Will per
,ade creation Whatever is. Is hy Him
,.Lrt,,,r lives. lives hy Him Tor by the
word "nI trings votc made and without
Him WI, made nothing Wat was made
Tho whole object oi thri. tiun doctrir" and
morality D., that We being dead 10 sin, should
I've 10 Justice I Peter u .uJ that IL, to
virtue and holiness H. thII consists the
lcrgi NE, with the certain hopc of n -
eternity This Justice. In order 10 he aivau-
'rcrous 10 salvation. i u"uri-h"d hv christian
FAITH The iu4t man llN"th hy flith Gala
ilana it 10. Without f.i'h T. l- uuposs!h.'
tu plrgse God" lHrhr,N. Nj. O. t'r-"-
queut.y Jc,u, Christ tie creator aud ire
server of faith. $50 pr"-cr'cs and r"uri>hc$
our moral life This be does "ai"'y by tho
minratry Of liza Church. 10 'cr, In HIS
wi. and rnerciful counsel. He has entrusted
cer .u agencies which engendcr the super
natural me- Ii"'e'' ana 'cN''c !" u ~ ''''"'u
fail
This cruerntive and conservative power
of the virtues that make for salvation IA
therefore lost. whenever morality is dissoci-
a'ed from divine faith. A system Of morality
based exclusively on human reason robs u
man of his highest dignity and lowers him
from the supernatural to the merely natural
lisa Not but that man Il able by the right
use OF reason to know and 10 obey certain
principles Of the natural law. But though
he should know them all and keep them
inviolatc through lfe-and even this is i'm
possible without the aid II the grace of our
Eedeemer-still It is vain for any one without
faith TO promise himself eternal salvation.
If any one abide not In Me. he shall be cast
forth as a branch, and shall wither. and they
shall gather him up and cast him Into the
fire, and he burneth" John xv., 81. He
that liveth shall not be condemned MARX
xvi. 100
We have but too much evidence OF the
value and result Of a morality divorced from
divine faith How is il that. in spite Of all the
zeal for the welfare II the masses, nations are
in such straits and even distress. and that
The evil Is daily on the inCrease7 We are
told that society Is quite able TO help itself;
that II can flourish without the assistance Of
Christianity, and attain Its end by la own
unaided efforts Public administrator, PIE
fer a purely secular -y-tem Of government.
All traces Of the reli gion Of our for-flthers
IRE daily disappearing from political life
and administration. What blindness! Ouce
the Idea Of the authority Of God as the Judge
- right and wrong Is forgotten. law must
necessarily lose its primary authority and
Justice must perish: ard these are the two
most powerful and most necessary bonds
Of society Similarly, once the hope and
expectation Of eternal happiness IS taken
away. temporal goods viii be sreedily sought
after. Every man will strive 20 secure the
largest share for himself. Hence arise envy.
Jealousy. hatred TIE consequences are con-
sp,racy. anarchy. nihil.<n. There is neither
peace abroad nor security at home. Public
life Ia staiEed with crime.
SO great IA this struggle OF the passions
and so serious the dangers involved that
we must either anticipate ultimate ruin or seek
for an efficient remedy. II IL of course both
right and necessary 10 punish malefactors
to educate the masses. and by Legislation n
to prevent crime in every possible way. but
all this ia bv no means sufficient. The sal
walton Of the nations must be looked for
higher A power greater than human must
be called in to teach MEMS hearts, awaken
IN them the sense Of duty. and make them
better. This Il the power which once be-
fore saved the world from destruction when
groaning under much more terrible evils.
Once remove all impedlments and allow the
Christian spirit to revive and grow strong
In a nation, and that nation will be healed
The strife between the classes and the masses
will die away: mutual right. will be respe cted.
II christ be listened to. both rich and poor
will DO their duty. The former will realize
that they must observe justice and charity.
the latter self-restraint and moderation. IL
both are to be saved. Domestic life will
be fruly established by the salut ry fear
= God a. the lawgiver.
In the same way the precopt8 ofthe natural
Ilw which dictates respect for lawful su-
troritr and obedience 70 the laws, will exer-
so their Influence over the people. Seditions
aud conspiracies will cease. Wherever
Christianity rules over all without let or
hindranca, there the order established by
Divine Providence Is preserved. and both
security and prosperity are the happy re-
-llt. The common welfare. then urgently
demands return to Him from whom we
should never have gone astray. to Him who
i, the Way. the Truth. and the Life-an
this on the part not only of individuals but
of society as a whole. We must restore
christ to this HIa own rightful possession.
All clements of the national life must be
ado to drink In the ife which proceedeth
from Hlm-legislaton, political institutions,
education. marriage and family life. capital
and labor, Every one must SEQ that the
very growth of civilization which Is so ar
IDENTIFY desired depends greatly upon this.
since IL IL fed and grows not so much by
m msterial wealth and prosperity. a. by the |
spiritual qualities of morality and virtue.
Given at 1T. Peters in Rome. the lst day
OF November. 1900 in tho twenty-thirdsyear
of our Pontltlcats. LEO ALL. Pope.