The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-10-27

that the promise of our Lord to His
disciples had not been in vain, and
that apostasy and persecution but
serve to quicken the Church's inner
life of grace and holy living, and to
establish more firmly the divine truths
OF which she is the infallible guardian.
AS a sequel and complement of the
work of the Council, it had been enact
ed in the twentyrfourth session that
a catechism should be published ac
commodated to the needs of the peo-
pie and embodying summary of the
dogmas of faith and the principles of
Christian morality. In this way it was
intended to make practically effective
the definitions of the Council on faith
and morals and thus, in the midst of
ever-increasing immortality and relig-
lous dissension, the faithful were to
be afforded a safe guide in all matters
touching their eternal salvation. This
catechism, known as the Roman Cate
chism, or the Catechism of the Council
of Trent, was finally published in
Latin by command of Plus v, and at
his direction was translated forthwith
into the principal languages of Europe.
Our catechisms in use at the present
time are but abbreviated editions of
this classical work of which it has
been said: Undertaken by decree of
the Council of Trent, the result of the
aggregate labors of the most distin-
guished of the fathers who composed
that august assembly, revised by the
severe Judgment and polished by the
classic taste of the first scholars of
that classic age, the Catechism of the
Council of Trent is stamped with the
impress of superior worth and chal-
lenges the respect and veneration of
every reader
Counter Reformation.
The Council of Trent is only one of
the great events in that period of
Catholic revival, styled by some his
torians as the Counter Reformation.
The story of the sixteenth century, SO
full of important incidents, cannot be
told in a few pages. Luther is con-
sidered by some the dominating figure
Of the Reformation period, but this
is not owing to his personality or
achievements, but ON account of the
train of consequences that followed
his detection. There were many men
more learned, more brilliant than
'Luther-men of probity and character
and greater ability-playing a part
in that reformative period. There
were great men among the cardinals.
Three illustrious reforming popes-
Plus v, Gregory XIII, and Sixtus V
occupied the chair of Peter in close
succession. Religion received great
er impetus and missionaries went into
distant lands to- preach Christ cruel
fed, as well as anew the gospel of
Jesus Christ to the nations of Europe.
Several religious orders were reform
ed; and the Society of Jesus was or
ganized by that valiant soldier, Igna-
thus Loyola. Some of the most glor-
ious achievements of the Church have
their date in this period; some of the
most illustrious saints confessors
and martyrs-added the lustre of
their lives to the times. If the Ref
ormation may be called test of the
life. and vigor of the, Church, it was
also the proof of Christ's promise that
He would be with His Church until the
consummation of the world. The Ref
ormation aimed to destroy the Church
and nullify the promise of it's founder;
it succeeded only in making clearer
the meaning of His words: "And I
say to thee: That thou art Peter;
and upon this rock I will build my
church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it,