The Irish standard., 1915-01-02

different from persistence in dealing
with questions from the discussion of
which no advantage is derived; she
demands that they should most ear
nestly endeavor to preserve the Faith
whole and free from every breath Of
error, following especially the guild.
ance of him whom Christ has consti-
tuted the guardian and interpreter of
the truth. Even at the present day
there are those-and they are not a
few-who, as the Apostle says, "do
not endure sound doctrine, but, &C.
cording to their own desires, heap to
themselves teachers, having itching
ears, and turn away their hearing from
the truth, but are turned unto fables"
For, inflated and carried away by the
great opinion they have formed of the
human mind, which, thank God, has
made astonishing progress in the
study of nature, some, trusting in
their own judgment, have spurned the
authority of the Church and in their
temerity have gone so far as not to
hesitate to measure with their intelli-
gence and to adapt to the mode of
thinking Of these times the very mys.
teries of God, and Gods whole revela-
ton to men. Therefore there have
arisen the monstrous errors of Mod.
ernism which Our predecessor rightly
termed 1.-The synthesis of all heresies"
and solemnly condemned. This con-
demnation, venerable brethren, We
here renew in its full extent; and since
the contagion, which is so pestifer.
GUS, has not been entirely removed,
and even yet creeps about here and
there secretly, We exhort all to guard
with great care against the danger of
being infected by it. To it may ft-
tingly be applied the words Job used
of another matter: 1T is fire that
devoureth even to destruction and
rooteth up all things that spring"
COB xxi, 12). And We desire that
Catholics should not only keep clear
of the errors but also of the tendency
and what is called the spirit of the
Modernists. Whoever is affected by
this spirit rejects disdainfully what.
ever savours of antiquity, but eagerly
searches for novelties everywhere-in
the manner of speaking of divine
things, in the celebration of divine
worship, in the Catholic institutions
and in the private exercise of piety
Therefore we desire that that law of
our ancestors should be held sacred:
"Nihil innoventur nisi quod traditum
est" ("Let there be no innovation but
in the sense of tradition"), which law,
whilst, on the one hand, it is to be OF.
served inviolably in matters of faith,
should, on the other hand, serve as a
standard in all things that are subject
to change, although in these this rule
also generally holds: Mon nova sed
noviter" Ono novelties, but in a new
manner").
Catholic Associations.
But since, venerable brethren, men
are greatly stimulated to an open pro-
fession of the Catholic Faith and to
lead life in harmony with it by fra:
ternal exhortations and mutual good
example, We rejoice exceedingly that
new Catholic associations are continu-
ally being formed. We wish not only
that the number should increase but
that they should continue to flourish
under Our protection and favor; they
will unquestionably flourish if they
constantly and faithfully obey the di.
rections which have been or will be
given to them by this Apostolic See.
Let all the members of these societies
who work for God and the Church
never forget the saying of Wisdom:
IAN obedient man shall speak of vic.
tory" prov, xxi, 2S): for il they do
not obey God by being obedient to the
head of the Church they will not OBJ.
tain the divine assistance and will la.
Dor in vain.
The Lives Of the Clergy.
But that all these things may have
the desired result you know, venerable
brethren, that the prudent and assidu-
GUS work of those whom Christ Our
Lord sent as workmen into His har-
vest, that is, of the clergy, is neces-
sary. You, therefore, understand that
your principal care ought to be to pro.
mote amongst the clergy you already
have, sanctity BETTING their sacred vo.
cation and to train your ecclesiastical
students worthily for so holy an office
by the best education and discipline.
We exhort and beseech you-although
We know you diligence does not need
stimulus-to do this most zealously.
Nothing could be of greater impor-
lance to the welfare of the Church than
this matter, but Our predecessors, Leo
XIII and Plus x, of happy memory,