The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-26
EXPLAINS PURPOSES OF
EUCHARISTIC LEAGUE
Prof. Weiss Points Out the Importance of Work Of
the international Eucharstic Congress Now
Drawing a Close at Lourdes France

made by Prof. Weiss, who calls atten-
ton to the fact that during the first
christian centuries. the age OF the
Fathers. Catholic literature seldom re-
fers to the eucharist
What the Fathers Of tho church do
say on this subject. however" he con-
tinucd, rs quite sufficient to convince
us that they thought and taught not
differently from he Church then and
now. and that the rich development OF
theological lore since the beginning Of
the Middle Ages contains nothing not
already embodied In the teaching OF the
primitive Church.
1.-THE spirit of the Church Is not
wan.only to question holy things but
90 honor them by alteration. as II they
we're matters OF course. self-evident As
soon az we see the Church countenln-
cling theological investigation II IL al
ways n sign that, in consequence OF err
ror and unbelief her enemies are try
ing to attack her dearest treasures. II
was so with tho doctrine OF the Blessed
Trinity. the divinity of Christ. divine
grace. and after a lapse OF time with
the holy eucharist also.
I'm those days, best known to MS as
liturgiCal times. the Church was so
penetrated. so animated by faith in the
holy eucharist that she knew no other
life than that which flows from II. No
one ever dreamed of lnstl,uting thoo-
logical investigation. Chris
tianity never realizes y, tier the great
ness and worth Of her possessions than
when robbcr hands try To deprive her of
part OF her wealth. Then IL born not
only new creed. but the old creed be-
comes. so 20 say, conscious OF ns'lt
Hence the excitement when her heredi-
tary faith is questioned.
Relative to the holy eucharist. this
struggle OF the Christian spirit TO de-
fend appears first at the time OF the
controversy started by Berengarius, at
I the beginning Of the Middle Ages. It
I became evident that the mission OF the
! greatest of scholastic theologians. st.
! Thomas Aquinas, was to settle the dis
( pute in such manner as should for
/ all time n" susceptible OF no improve
ment so far ne doctrinal substance Is
! concerned It is true the main stress
/ Of the teaching OF those days IL laid
! on the doctrine OF the real presence OF
our Lord in the blessed sacrament.
/ "But the renewal OF the old faith con-
seoucnt on the struggle became the cap
/ ltal means whereby the Church arose t.
that powor which historians so much
! admire, but which she owed not 70 po-
/ litiCal sCheming but solely to the revival
7 OF her primitive, fervcnt, youthful life.
, vt the head of the history of the church
IN the Middle Ages we may then rightly
and h;tingly inscribe: 'Ad Deum qui
laetifCat iuvcntutem mean
AT the end OF this period the re-
iuvenated fervor OF the faith grew cold
IN the Church. Granted that faith.
properly so called. In the real presence
did not shrink. stll practical faith. the
reception OF tho blessed sacrament left
much to be desired. With this failing
OF practical faith respect for the
Church and even belief ia her Original
organization also became weak,
1T Is no wonder then that the apos-
tasy Of those days succeeded in max
/ ing so large breach in her walls. This