The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-26

visitation OF God became the very occa-
sion of a revival in His Church. Men
were indignant at the so-called Refor-
nation invading the Church. laying
hands on tho altar, abolishing the holy
sacrifice. casting the blessed sacrament
out of It's tabernacles and profaning II
under mems feet.
Their eyes began to be opened. What
had in oldcn times been felt only
vaguely now impressed itself on all
good souls. They fully realized tho in
separablity OF Church and altar from
the holy eucharist. the centre and soul
of the Church. Then It was learned
cxperImentaly that there can DO no
Church without the holy eucharist and
no sacrifice without the Church.
From the period OF the so-called Ref
ormntion we may date public venera-
lion OF the blessed sacrament as a sign
OF fidelity to the Church. An increase
OF popular devotion to the eternal high
priest became one OF the great elements
In the revival Of the Church and in ce-
mentlng her bonds OF union with the
| faithful. a merciful dispensation of
Gods providence over His Church
raised up AZ this juncture st. Ignntius,
who by the eucharistic veneration he
U
| herosy We owe Il to all the great saints
ot those days that the imminent danger
threatening our holy faith was over
come oy increased devotion toward the
holy eucharist. This period OF eccle-
siastical history may rightly exclaim:
| 'Ad Dcum qui laetificat Juventutem
mean.
The spirit OF heresy had struck root
| too deep not to manifest itself here and
there. This was soon noticed even In
! tho very bosom Of the Church. Tlts
! lamenteble history OF those centuries OF
/ heresy had to great extent enerva.cd
| Christian life and fidelity TO the rock OF
! Peter. The germs OF this poisonous dis
! ease manifested themselves on all sides
( by aversion FOR the Church.
This lurking evil revealed It's real
spirit in Jansen's unhappy book on fire.
/ Quent communion. 1t proved ready
eapon for secret attacks on the Church.
/ hut in open combat IN the field OF
dogma II could avail nothing. Only after
: Il had succeeded, under the hypoc7itlcal
/ cover OF plety, In estranging the faithful
from the blessed sacrament, had BAN
| !shed 1t afar, had despoilcd both Church
/ and altar OF the holy eucharist and re-
duced them to so many heaps OF stone
/ with scarce "A breath OF Christian life N
! them, then only could Il be hoped 10
break successfully the Church's inhu-
cncc over her children.
/ "Thi, plan succeeded so we'll that tho
| longed for secularization became fall
IRE and once more an eye opener fo.
I the remnant OF the saved. They saw
/ the meaning OF the mighty struggle.
/ They recognized the truth that only life
regulated by tho will and spirit OF the
| Church IL able TO uphold the faith. and
that the life of the Church and the holy
/ eucharist always rise or fall together.
! "St Alphonsus LiEuori Is the teacher
whom God in His mercy raised up with
/ tho vocation to explain and combat the
! evil of those dark days His booklet.
! Visits TO tho Blessed Sacrament be-
| came the blessed instrument OF saliva
/ ton, the precursor of new sp!rlt ~
/ life in the Church. II was long time.
century, before the insidous poison
was erad!cated. Meantime every line Of
this precious little book suggested 70 It's
| happy readers, and they in turn 70
| others. tho divine invocation: 'Ad Deum
| qui laetfcat Juventutem mean