The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-04-02
EASTER THOUGHTS.
Nov. 20, 1899.

1he Feast of the Resurrection, which is cele-
brated on Sunday, commentaries twofold victory
Through his resurrection Christ conquered sin and
death. Upon it rests the faith of Christians. "Tf
Christ be not risen then is our faith vain" wrote
st. Paul. The faith founded upon the Resurrao-
uon IS but continuation of the faith which is
coeval with the history of the human race. Chris
tianity the primitive religion. It was also tho
universal religion, and was based on Catholic prin
clples- 1t has been always and everywhere held
though not by all individuals or even nations Nor
has 1t been always free from error orsuperstition
Yet all heather religions when reduced to their
hrst principles, with their differences eliminated
and viewed only In their positive permanent teach
ing, contain Christian principles first revealed nv
the pstriarchal religion, afterwards held Inv tba
synagogue and still taught by the Catholic church
The Savior came in fulfllment of the promise made
to Adam. he was sent by his Heavenly Father 70
bring man to the knowledge of the truth. He died
TO inspire hope, and draw all to his loving heart
this being the fire he desired to see enkinded But
ne arose from the grave by giving life to his dead
body Destroy this body and in three DAYS I will
build it up again"
The trend of modern thought, as we'll as tho
tendency of novel religious views during the last
century were to place Jesus on the same level with
the rest of humanity by denying his divinitz,
Avowed enemies of the Christian religion have. #
IS true, beeen loud IN their praises of its founder
F" hatever may be the unexpected phenomena of
tn future" wrote Renan, "Jesus cannot be sur
passed. that IS, surpassed in wisdom. piety. sim
eere love and genuine sympathy for humanity. But
kenan, following in the footsteps of Voltaire
though less hostile and not so profane. denied the
divinity of Christ
No less fatal to religion and revealed truths are
the religious views which would deny him to be. in
the stretest sence, man of Providence sent from
heaven to be the Savior and Redeemer of the world
God so loved the world that he gave His only be-
gotten Son TO die, that whatsoever should believe
IN him might not perish, but have everlasting life
Many claiming the Christian name compromise
Nith nhdehty by denying, not only the divinity of
CHRIST, but the inspiration of the Bible and its au
thorlty on matters of faith which transcend human
experience. They treat it as a good book, replete
with striking passages, containing some genuine
poetry and touching narratives yet in many of its
narratives mythical. This tendency, so prevalent
N the last century, and still continued, led to the
of ereeds some Of which did not
utive their founders, whilst Others collapsed under
he whitening influence of skepticism and agnosti-
ism In Calvary, beneath the shadow of the Cross.
he true Christian finds consolation in all his sor
ows and weaknesses, beside the empty tomb on
Easter Sunday his faith so strengthened that if
AN Withstand all opposition. The Cross points ont
lans redemption. The need of redemption has been
he universal tradition of the human family in all
ges- 1t is recorded in Genesis, and ST. Paul pro-
tanned 1t when be wrote that through Adam sin
inferred into the world, and by sin the corruption Of
uman nature" Experience confirms this truth.
he patriarchs sighed and prayed for the advent
the Messiah; the prophets foretold the time of
Is coming All prophecies were verefed in Christ