The Washington herald., 1908-03-06

AT Gonzaga College Hall, l street
northwest. Father John Corbett. s. j..
professor of Sacred Scripture and Hebrew
at Woodstock College. Maryland, lectured
last night on the question: rs the Cath
oiic Church an enemy of the Bible?"
This was the first of a series of lee
lures under the auspices of the Aloysius
Club. of this city.
After a brief introduction ON the neces-
sity of being well informed on doctrinal
questions to-day, Father Corbett ex-
planned what the Catholic Church teaches
in regard to the Bible. He said, mo
Catholic can doubt the inspiration of Holy
Scripture. 1t is a defined dogma of the
church that the Bible is the word Of God;
that all the books in the Catholic Bible
have had God as their principal author
Hence she cannot be the enemy Of the
Bible, else she would proclaim herself the
enemy of Gods word-of God Himself"
He further appealed 10 history in proof
of his statement that the church has al
ways been the guardian and preserver OF
sacred Scripture.
Martyrs Save Manuscripts.
During the persecution under Dioce-
tian the Christians were ordered 10 de-
liver their sacred writings 10 be burned
The annals of the martyrs record how
they went TO death rather than betray
the sacred trust. The church saved the
Scriptures at the cost OF the life's blood
OF her children. The Oldest manuscripts
of the Bible now in existence have come
down to us from this period
Special reference was made to the de-
voted labors of the monks in the monas-
teries 10 whom the world owes the pres
ervation Of ancient literature during the
days when the barbarians from the North
overran the Roman empire, leaving ruin
in their path. Their days were spenl not
only in copying the sacred text, but in
adOrning the parchments with beautiful
illuminations and binding them IN covers
Of ivory or gold and silver plates. enrich
ed with precious stones. Such was the
love with which the church imbued her
children for the Bible
This zeal lasted all through the Mid
die Ages, said the speaker When the
art of printing was invented the first book
that issued from the press was the Bible.
and ninety-eigfrt editions Of the Bible in
Latin appeared during the first half CEN
tury.
In Language of People.
1T is believed by many that the church
was unwilling TO have the Bible in the
language Of the people. Nothing could be
more against the facts Of history. In the
days of the apostles the Old Testament
had been translated into Greek and the
New Testament was written in Greek the
language OF the people. IN the middle
of the second century the Bible was
translated into Latin and Syriac that IL
might be understood by the people"
Legislation Is Reviewed.
The legislation Of the church on Bible
reading was then reviewed. and it was
shown that for the last l50 years there
has been no restriction on the reading
in the vernacular of versions approved
by the holy see or the bishops. His emf
nence Cardinal Gibbons has often urged
the faithful to read the Bible. Pope Leo
XIII granted an indulgence 10 all who
would read the Gospels for fifteen min
utes and a plenary indulgence once a
month 10 all who make such reading a
daily practice.
The next lecture in this course will be
delivered on March 10. by Rev. DR.. E A.
Pace. of the Catholic University His
subject will be THE need Of religious
education"