The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-27

"Being instructed in charity, and
into all the riches of the fulIness OF
understanding, unto the knowledge OF
the mystery of God the Father and OF
Christ Jesus: in Whom are hid all
the treasures of wisdom and knoWl.
edge. Beware lest any man
cheat you by philosophy and vain de-
ceit, according to the traditions OF
men, according to the@element of the
world and not according to Christ"
{col. II, 1-2-8.)
The great men of history may suit
ably be compared to lofty mountain
peaks that swell from the vale and
lift their majectic forms above the
adjacent lowlands. AS these noble
eminences catch the first rays of the
morning and by their reflected light
illumine the darkness of the inferior
regions; as they intercept the rolling
clouds and draw therefrom the mois
ture which, diffused as dews and rains
over the fertile plains, encourages
vegetation and enriches the soil; as
they by their conspicuous prominence
invite the fury of the enraged ele
ments and by their sheltering strength
protect the valley against the biting
blast of the destructive tempest; sc
are the heroes of our race, the meI
of genius, perennial source of life
inspiration and fortitude to the less
favored children of mankind. Al
Aristotle or an Augustine serves as 6
beacon light whence radiates a wis
ldom, human or divine, that enlighten:
all subsequent generations; Homer
Tor a Dante explores unknown regions
and creates for the imagination un
ldreamed of worlds, and portrays ii
vivid colors the elemental truths tha
: will charm the soul and awaken emo
ttfen as long as love of the beautiful
survives upon earth; while Socrates
Tor a Paul supplies an example o
righteous enthusiasm and selfsacrific
ing zeal that can never fail to stimu
: late to deeds of daring, and rails,
: mems souls to higher planes of viz
tue. Without such ennobling exam
/ pies of real greatness history would b,
t as devoid of interest as an expansiv,
e prairie whose unbroken monoton,
d fades away beyond the distant horizon
The Saint whose feast we celebrat,
i today must certainly be classeC
!, among those towering eminences
!. whose highest reach caught up tn
6 light of knowledge that streamet
q forth from the luminous sources o
] the distant past, and as a polishet
q mirror which at once clarifies and re
!. fleets, will send it forward to the ut
q termost bourne of future time. With
out fear of exaggeration we may as
sert that st. Thomas was one of tn
greatest minds of history-the God
:, man alone excepted. Search tn
q annals of the past, pass in review th
thinkers and philosophers of paga1
and christian times and consider j
the work accomplished by st. Thoma
of Aquin will not challenge compari
. son for the beneficial and far-reachin
influence it has exercised over tn
9 minds of men, and for the unintel
rupted sway it is likely to hold owe
e the civilized race as long as Chris
n tianity is held in honor, and definit
n dogmatic beliefs and clear philosophi
= concepts are esteemed at their tru
II and golden worth. Wise then with
wisdom compatible with the Who'll
80 tenor OF his official career was tn
late illustrious Pontiff Leo XIII, VIII
n strove to reanimate the Catholi
= world with a new enthusiasm for th
study of that Scholastic Philosophy
which st. Thomas, following on th
N footsteps of the most eminent of Gree
~ philosophers, was to a large exteI
n the creator, and certainly the unriya
n led exponent.
10 Science and Religion.
~ On the celebration of the Feast
~ of the Schools-it may not be amiI
"a to endeavor to bring home to yol
" minds, however inadequate1y, son
~ appreciation of the inestimable woI
M achieved by st. Thomas in the inte
M est of human thought and christie
M belief-in behalf of truth and scien,
both human and divine. Were |
m 6ApFSS6 III one DTleI sentence u
M unique feat which should commar
M the admiration Of grateful posteri
~ would say, that he determined II
m relations that exist between reast
and revelation, between natural 81
m enee and supernatural faith, with su,
m "a precision that six centuries lat
his brows were decorated with
m laurel-wreath of victory, when h
doctrine in this respect received t
M infallible endorsement Of Chris
m Church in solemn council assembl
M within the hallowed precincts of t
M Vatican Palace at Rome,
Man may attain to the knowIed
m of truth in two ways-by the natur
IN light of reason, and by the sup,
natural light of revelation. In t
"a former case he applies his bod
90 senses and his powers of mind to re
"a the book of nature which the
mighty Creator has spread out |
90 fore him. In this manner he nj