The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-02
..rms IMITATION or CHRIST"
CasseiissV EdNssa Was Plscea Cpsa me
IudeA In 1S90.

TO rms EprroA or THE svN--sir. The
statement made recently that the "lmita-
ton Of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis was
placed on the index was indeed surpris'
ins. Professor Harnack calls the "imita'
ton" zone Of the chief spiritual forces IN
Catholicism" Can II be if~asined tina,
the Church ever prescribed such q work!
THE SUN OF February "a. In an editorial
note, inquiries whether, perhaps. some
sophisticated or heretIcal translation
was placed on the Index OF Forbidden
Books. This conjecture In quite correct,
There 10 at least one edition OF the u.
nous book on the Index. Thomas .
kempis. on the Imitation Of Christ AMI IN.
ontempt OF the vanites Of the world
Interpreted by Sebastian Castellio'
,"Thomas Kempisius de iinitando Chrsto,
.tc., intetprete Sebastiano Castel.ione.
Decretum 6 Apr. 1882 Therefore. not
he limitation was forbidden, but a par
ocular edition as interpreted by Cas-
ieliio. Although this edition Is not al
,And. some data concerning the lie ana
works Of the Interpreter may furnish
See chiefly "Herder's klrchenlex.con,
H., 1850, and Michaud's Geographic Uni
,erseile," VII. g. Y. Castalion).
Sebastian CASTILLO, or Castalio, was
,orn in Dauphine. 1915. After having
,tudied In Lyons he Joined CALVIN AT
.eneva ti5&0) and was appointed pro
essor In n school, But soon his DIS.
curses dispeased the absolute ruler OF
;eneva CASTILLO was accused OF heresy'
opposed and banished. In Basic ne sup
orted his large family by reading proof
or a publisher and later Uy teaching
ireek. In several works he attacked
.slvin's doctrine OF predestination ana
everely censured the execution OF Ser
etus These attacks were met by violent
rAty ~
che Geneva reformers urged the author''
les OF Basic to punish the daring critic.
The bitterness aroused developed Into .
ifelong enmity" ENC. Brit. II ed, w..
-. In the midst OF financial dimcultles
md adversi,ies Castellio died, 1853. lie
,nioyed the reputation OF belrg Q man OF
onesty. industry and great learning.
Among Cas,elilo's works are two trans
atoms OF the Bible. one into Latin. the
,,her Into French The former. an at
emit TO render the sacred scriptures
nto Classical Latin. contains many arbi'
rary renderings. Bezs accused Castel,'o
" having falsihed the Word OF God
CASTILLO affected a classic and elegant
,tyIe In order 10 make the Bible conform
20 the language OF Cicero he made absurd
,hanse.. e.g.. instead OF "angelus' tangell
e used genius" instead OF "baptismus
,e said Lotto" for "ecclesia" tchurch)
re substituted "rNpublica." &c. Accord.
ne to Tabaraud. his French translat on
vas not less ridiculous. From this II may
We concluded that In his interpretation
Il the limitation" he took similar liberties.
ie changed the simple, devout AMI ven
.rabls Latin Of the mediRval mystic into
, classic style. This alone would not
ave brought on his work the censure OF
he Church: for Catholics too had rem
cred Thomas into classic Latin. perhaps
OF wisely. but without meeting with any
lI.approval on the part OF ecclesia'tica
uthoritise II In more than Likely that his
Interpretations we're not In acco dance
With the spirit OF the Catholic mystic.
Ne have the explicit assertion that he
HANGED the text and omitted the whole
'ourth book. "On the Blessed Sacrament.
Ience Il can easily be understood why
his edition was condemned ~ misleading
nd erroneous.
Many devout Protestants have used
We Limitation" several TRANSACTIONS.
,daptations or limitations of the work OF
Thomas were published by Protestants
according to Abbot Butler. In the Ency.
-iopsdia Britannica tith edition NV.
,ap. 'of English TRANSACTIONS the most
interesting Is that by John Wesley under
Ne title The CHRISTIANS Pattern
N735)." ! cannot md that any OF these
dit,ons vas ever placed on the Index.
ror what special reasons the edition OF
"a stelIlo was singled out for censu's !
I'm unable to say. But II Is needless to
-oIn, out that the prohibition OF Cas-
silIos work does not mean conde'nna-
ION Of the Limitation" OF Thomas =
xempIs On TIE contrary. the limitation"
va always held In highest repute In the
-hurch and recommended to the faithful.
atty a. we'll as clergy.
RoprHr SwicHERATH. s, ].
Holy Cnoss CoLLE1E, Worcester. Mass.
February "a.