The Irish standard., 1915-01-02

sd SIANOANO, SATURDAY, /
cause those in the highest places to
incline towards the humblest and to
treat them, not only according to just
ice. as is necessary, but kindly, with
affability and tolerance; and will cause
the humblest to regard the highest
with sympathy for their prosperity and
with confidence in their support, in the
same way as in one family the younger
brothers rely on the help and defence
Of the elder ones.
The Root Of Al Evils.
But, venerable brethren, the evils
We have been deploring have deep
er root, and, unless all the strength
of the well.disposed is used to extir-
pate it, it is vain to hope for the
attainment Of the object of our desires.
that is to say, stable and enduring
peace in human relations. What this
root is the Apostle teaches: For
the desirde of money is the root of all
evils" Il Timothy vi, 1O. And, in
fact, If we duly consider tho matter,
we find that from this root spring all
the evils from which society suffers
at present. When, by means of per-
verse schools. in which the heart of
the young is fashioned like wax, and
also by means Of writings which daily
or at intervals mould the minds of the
inexperienced masses, and by other
means by which public opinion is d.
rected-when, We say, the destructive
error Is thus made to penetrate into
peoples minds that man should not
hope for state of eternal happiness;
that here and here alone one can be
happy In the possession of the riches,
Of the honors, and of the pleasures
of this life, 1t is not surprising that
human beings, naturally made for hap.
piness, cast aside with the same VIC
lence with which they are attracted
to the acquisition of these enjoyments
every obstacle which restraints or
binders them. Since, however, these
enjoyments are not equally divided
amongst US all, and it is the duty of So
cial authority to prevent individual
liberty from exceeding bounds and ex-
tending to what belongs to others,
there arises hatred against the public
powers and jealousy on the part of the
unfortunate against those whom for
tune favors; hence, in fine, the strug-
gle between the various classes of citi.
zens, some seeking to obtain at any
cost and snatch to themselves what
they are in need of, and others striv.
ing to preserve and increase what
they have.
The Sermon on the Mount.
Christ, Our Lord, foreseeing this
state of things, carefully explained in
His most divine Sermon on the Mount,
the beatitudes of man on earth and,
SO to speak, laid the foundations of a
Christian philosophy. These maxims
have appeared even to adversaries of
the Faith as conveying singular wis.
dom and the most perfect doctrine on
religion and F.nrals: and all certainly
agree that before Christ, Who is Truth
itself, no one ever taught anything
similar in this matter, or anything OF
such weight and importance or so per.
meated by sentiments of charity.
Now the whole secret of this philos.
ophy consists in this, that the so.called
good things Of mortal life, though
they have the appearance of being
such, are not really so, and therefore
it is not through their enjoyment that
man can live happily. For on Gods
authority we know, so far are wealth.
glory, pleasure from bringing happi
ness to man that II he wishes to be
truly happy he must avoid them all
for the love Of God; blessed are ye
weep now. Blessed shall you
be when men shall hate you, when
they shall separate you, and shall re
proach you and cast out your name
as evil" (St. Luke vi, 2O-22). That
is to say, through the sorrows, cares
and miseries of this life, If we support
them patiently, as we ought to do
we obtain access for ourselves to those
perfect and everlasting good things
which God hath prepared for them
that love Him" Il Cor. ii, 81. But
this important doctrine of the Faith IL
neglected by great number and il
altogether forgotten by many. 1t is
necessary, venerable brethren, ,to, re-
vive it amongst men; in no other
way will men. and human society have
peace. We therefore exhort those who
are afflicted by cares of any kind NOT
to fix their gaze on the earth, on which
they are pilgrims, but to lift it up tc
Heaven, whittier we. are going: "Fol
we have not here lasting city; but
we seek one that is to come" (He
brews xiii, 14). And amidst the ad
versities by which God tries their con
stancy In His service let them often
reflect what q reward is reserved fol
them If they come victorious out Of
the conflict: "F0r that which is al