The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-04-10
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The MISSION or CHRISTIANITY

fraternal zeal is one of the most pre-
cious features of civilization. But the
truth is that never was human fra
ternity SO little practiced as it is to-
day. Race hatred is most bitter. Ma
tons are divided more by rancor than
by natural boundaries. go. And
amongst individuals everything is
governed by selfishness as by a SUI
preme law"
The remedy is near at hand. If
men and nations praeticed the Chris
tlan religion as they ought; il they
allowed its spirit and ideals to exert
full sway over their conduct; if they
yielded complete obedience to it's
teaching of self-conquest, brotherly
love, justice, peace, patience, humility,
forgiveness, instead of encouraging
pride, selfishness, racial antipathies,
hatred, commercial jealousies, greed
for power and lust of territory, earth's
miseries would soon be reduced to a
minimum and in many instances they
would cease to be.
Christianity is not responsible for
the sins of men and nations. 1t is not
at fault because Christian peoples
fail to realize it's ideals completely. 1t
is not to blame if Christians in prac-
tice fall short of their principles.
The Character of War.
Dreadful and hateful as war is there
are conditions in which the dictate of
reason and the voice Of revelation
justify it. That God sanctioned it in
the past proves that it is not intrin-
sically evil and that given certain cir
cumstances it may be just and neces-
sary.
While we deplore the necessity for
it and while we pray that it may dis
appear from the face of the earth
yet we know that the salvation of
souls is not impossible even amid the
horrors of the battlefield as it is not
impossible amid the sufferings and
losses that follow in the wake of other
catastrophies. n
While we shudder at the thought of
it's ravages we realize that there are
worse things than the destruction of
health and life and property even
though it be carried on in a most
brutal manner and on a most gigantic
scale. An age permeated with ma
terialism views with cynical indiffer-
ence the spiritual havoc constantly
wrought in human souls by the agen-
cies of evil, but it abhors every harm
done to bodily health and comfort
or to material prosperity. Sin is
the evil-the greatest evil. in the
world. The other things which
we are accustomed to call evils such
as sicknesses, reverses, sufferings, be-
reavements, and the like may be
turned to our spiritual benefit. Every
thing except sin may become source
of good to us-a means of salvation.
An all-Wise Providence possesses the
divine art of drawing good out of evil.
Who will claim that God may not
make this mighty conflict of the ma
tiOns serve good purpose? There
is comfort in the thought that many
a soul may take its, fight from the
trenches to it's heavenly Fathers man
sions. 1t is beyond question that in
multitudes of cold, Indifferent hearts
the religious spirit long dormant has
been awakened by the call to arms.
Under the stress of war and of other
scourges nations are brought to their
senses, experience spiritual revival,
and turn to God for help and con-
ISOLATION.
Peace, the Christian Ideal.
the Christian ideal for the realization
of which the Church has prayed and
labored necessarily throughout the
centuries.
When people thoughtlessly ask
whether Christianity has not failed
because men and nations choose to
put obstacles in it's way, as well might
they ask whether God has not failed
because human beings continue to
break His laws. Why cannot God
restrain the animal in man? AS well
might they ask whether the sun in
the armament has not failed because
it does not warm and witty objects
from which it's rays are excluded.
Though God the Father of all wishes
His children to live in peace, practice
virtue and save their souls, yet He
is unwilling to deprive them of the
gift of free will which He gave them
and which they can and often do abuse
in disobeying His commandments.
Christianity Can and Does Restrain
the Animal in Man.
1t has the supernatural power to do
SO and it has always done SO. 1t is
inherently capable of producing the
highest personal sanctity and of ele-
waiting the social standard whether
individuals and nations accept or re-
ject it's uplifting, refining, restraining,
purifying influences. They are in the
wrong who would have Christianity
unlike that of Christ Christ never
promised that his religion would put
an end to all the miseries which af-
flict the earth, yet it has been pro-
foundry said that Christianity which
was established to consult mans hap
piness in the life to come has con-
tributed more than any other institu-
tfon toward his happiness In the life
that is.
Christ never said that Els religion
would abolish all sin. Saints and
sinners will walk side by side under
the banner of the cross forever; and
vet Christianity has been tie lever