The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-12-08

l1y GCuO Ills IodCnlu5S. FOT ne VIII
| be to them model and an inspiration
| in the manner of rightly handling
the words of God" Like the Apostle
of the Gentiles, he will come before
the people, mot in loftiness of speech
nor in the persuasive words of human
wisdom, but in the showing forth OF
the spirit and power" Like the Mas.
ter, he will speak "as one having au.
thority.'
Standard bearer Of religious author
ity, the Bishop comes in close con-
tact with the authority of the state.
For his subjects are also the subjects
of the state. What is his attitude
towards that authority? None other
than that OF Christ Himself Who bids
His followers 'to render to Caesar
the things that are Caesars, and to
God the things that are Gods" None
other than that of st. Paul who said:
LET every soul be subject to the high
er powers: for there is no power but
from God; and those that are, are
ordained of God. Therefore he that
resisteth the power, resisteth the Or
dinance of God. And they that re-
sist, purchase to themselves damna-
tion -. Wherefore, be subject of
necessity, not only for wrath, but also
for conscience sake" The new Bishop
therefore, Will teach that as the
Church is supreme in things spiritual,
SO is the state supreme in things tenn
poral; that each power is independent
in its own sphere; that while the peo-
pie may choose their form Of govern
ment and elect their rulers, still, once
elected these latter derive their pow
er, not from the people, but from God,
and, therefore, rule by right divine.
Hence obedience to the civil authori-
ties is as sacred a duty as obedience to
the ecclesiastical authorities, and it is
great sin to disobey the former. Just
as it is a great sin to disobey the lat
ter. For they that resist the civil
power, purchase to themselves dam
nation This teaching of the Catho-
lie Church handed down by her
Bishops from Christ and His Apostles.
has transformed patriotism into re-
ligious virtue and placed the love of
country next to love of God.
For American Catholics obedience
to the civil authorities is not only re-
ligious obligation; it is an obligation
imposed by common gratitude. In
America these is no legal union of
Church and state, but there is a union
of mutual understanding and friendly
cooperation. Congress makes no es-
tablishment of religion, neither does it
prevent the free exercise thereof.
Nay, more, it guarantees each citizen
protection in the practice of the re-
ligion of his choice. 1t is to this free
dom and protection that the Church
owes in a large. measure the giant
strides she has made in America. Be-
cause of this freedom and protection,
our prosecuted forefathers in the faith
left the lands of religious tyranny, and
with generous hearts and generous
hands built up here a church which
has become the very bulwark of the
republic. No wonder Catholics love
America. No wonder they fought her
battles from 1776 to 1898. No wonder
they are today sending their sons, in
numbers far beyond their proportion
of the population, to defend the honor
of Americas proud banner and to
make the whole world safe for dem
ocrary To teach the Catholics of Col
orado their obligation of gratitude to
America, your new Bishops first act
as citizen of Denver was a substan
tial contribution to our country S
great loan for liberty. Colorado may
rest assured that patriotism as well
as religion will here be safe in the
keeping of John Henry Then.
In conclusion, l beg of you to pray
with me for your new Bishop and fo1
the success of his administration. In
the language of the Church let us ask
for him the gift of fortitude, that he
may measure up to the high standard
of episcopal perfection, being made
pattern of his flock from the heart
-fortitude, that he may rule the
priests and people this day committed
to his care in the spirit Of the Coco
Shepherd, tempering justice with
|mercy-fortitude that he may fee(
his flock with the Holy Sacramento
and the food of sound doctrine, influ
enced neither by fear nor favor. Ma.
he be lifted up above the sordid con
siderations of earthly renown and ma
terial gain, that, solicitous only TO
the extension of Christ's Kingdom, h
may cause the Holy Name of Jesus t.
be glorified throughout the length AM
breadth Of his new jurisdiction.