The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-12-28

OF The DOCTRINE BY DIX. NC
GlNNIs OF THE COLLEGE OF ST.
THOMAS, ST. PAUL.
A Comprehensive Treatment of the
Subject in All Its Phases-The The
illogical Basis and Practical Appica-
tion of the Doctrine@-Introductio
by Archbishop IreIand-A Valuable
Work for the Clergy and Laity.
One of the most valuable contribu-
tions to English theological literature
made during the year is work en-
titled, THE Communion OF Saints, "
written by the Reverend Charles F.
McGinnis, Phi. D., S. T. L., Professor
of English and History, and Director
of Studies in the College of St.
Thomas, st. Paul. 1t has just been
published by B. Herder of St. Louis;
and is introduced to the reading pub
lie by the Most Reverend Arch bishop
Ireland
DR.. McGinnis's book is the only COM
prehensive treatise on the "Commun-
ion of Saints" in the English language,
and one of the comparatively few writ
ten on that subject in any modern
language Even a cursory reading of
it gives evidence of the fact that it
is the result of deep thought and schol-
arly research on the part of the author.
He tells us in the preface that the idea
suggested itself to him more than ten
years ago." Some idea of the amount
of labor involved in it's preparation
can be obtained from the fact that the
three thousand references which it
contains we're, with the exception of
"a very few minor quotations from
standard authors" traced to their
original sources and verified by him.
The task which DR.. McGinnis set be-
fore himself in writing this volume
was to give an exhaustive and schol-
arly exposition of the Communion of
Saints in all it's phases. To do this it
was necessary to establish the dog
matie basis ofathe doctrine as prere-
quisite to showing it's practical appli-
cation as now understood and utilized
by the faithful. He proves that the
Communion of Saints is part of the
deposit of faith inculcated by the
Apostles and their successors and
cherished by the Church from the
earliest ages as an integral part of the
divine economy of salvation.
Its DoctrnaI Content.
The belief of the faithful in Com
munion of Saints is set forth in the
Apostles Creed: Il believe. ..... in the
Communion of Saints" This profes-
sion of faith was made by the primi-
tive Christians with full consciousness
of all that it implied, as shown in the
inscriptions and writings found in the
Catacombs which plead for the inter-
cession and help of the Saints and in
woke Gods mercy upon the souls of the
departed.
This belief of the early Christian
Church continued to be the accepted
creed of Christendom until the time
of the Reformation, when the new
doctrinal shibboleth of justification
by faith alone" separted the individ-
ual from his fellowman and set him
apart as all-suff1cient unto himself to
draw from the divine fountain of
mercy whatever graces were neces-
sary to insure his salvation. The Re-
formers believed that Christians
should appeal directly to God. To
ask the help of others was to confess
a want of faith either in the plenary
mediatorship of the Redeemer Himself
or in ones personal ability to appro-
pirate unto himself sufficiency of the
grace proffered by the Saviour. This
century rendered unnecessary any in
tercessory function on the part of the
Saints. AS a consequence, the invo-
cation of their help and the veneration
to their relic and images were looked
upon as evidences of superstition, and
the belief in the efficacy of prayers
for the departed was placed in the
same category as other discredited
traditions of the early days of faith.
A Most consoIing Dogma.
Since the days of the Reformation
the Catholic Church alone has upheld
and cherished this doctrine as one of
the most consoling of Christian truths.
AS understood and taught by her the
Communion of Saints postulates "the
fellowship of mutual love and help
among the sons of Christ, the mem
bers of his mystic body, the Church,
whether still battling for salvation
on earth, reigning in bliss in heaven,
or enduring for time the cleasing
fires of Purgatory." The Saints
in heaven, the faithful on earth, and
the souls in Purgatory, are members
of great tripartite Christian family
bound together by the bond of a char.
ity that has it's origin in God Himself
to whom it unites this great family
as with it's Author and Father. By