The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-11-03
THE ABSOLUTE LEVEL.

Rational life presents two great
contrasts: Identity and variety.
Identity of origin and Of destiny,
variety of Intervening activities ::
these are the phenomena Of human
life. Creation and generation
mark the beginning Of every ra-
tlonal being; death forms the alb
solute level for all. Both be-
tglnning and end are above and
beyond individual control. Free
will comes into play with the
dawn OF the exercise of reason.
From that moment the human
creature enters the field Of ra-
tlonal desires and aims, of strug-
gle against adversely, of ambition
for the acquisition Of some
tawdry toy.
The game of life is played in a
multitude Of ways. Rules there
are, fixed and clearly defined
regulations known to all. Few,
however, play the game according
to standard. The light of reason
points the way Enthusiastically
Christianity adds strength of pur-
pose, together with reward or
punishment as the inevitable
guerdon, the unacceptable crown Of
individual effort.
The wiser and saner portion of
Humanity looks ever toward the
absolute level upon which all men
one day will meet. These human
beings harken to the voice, the in
ward monitor, of conscience. They
behold affair off that vast plain
across whose marshy reaches they
must travel until they pass
through the dark portal of Death.
The thought of the futility of
earthly baubles stimulates them to
high endeavor and to noble
achievement, each in his own
sphere. The nobility of purpose,
the purity of intention, the single
ness of aim it is which gives worth
to their struggles towards the
ultimate goal. Success for them
is not measured by human stand
ards alone; it is based upon the
thorough fulflment of the Law.
The Great Day will disclose their
victories despite the sneers of the
inflated majority.
The farce Of life is presented
by those all-knowing wiseacres-
Christian and pagan-who place
their ambitions and their hopes in
things that pass. They are much
excited and bestirred by the
frivolities of life as they know it..
Pleasure, wealth, honor, power,
position loom up before their
jaundiced gaze as the reckoning
siren that destroys while she
allures. They may not wade
through seas of blood to a throne !;
they do often Chamber over
broken hearts, over blasted lives,
the rights of others to some
coveted position. Self-centered
and oozing selfshness at every
step, they strive to attain their
object at the cost of battered faith
and shattered charity. Dishon-
esty, prevarication and jealousy
are their ordinary trench tools !;
the cave-in that smothers them
and snaps out the light ON their
worthless lives is of their own
making. Diminutive, puppet-like
Attilas, they are the scourge OF
God as far as their hypocritical
pretenses will carry them.
The portal of Death will yawn
wide and joyous to receive those
whom the gods have made mad
with unhallowed nectar. Death
will smile in CHASTITY fashion to
welcome those whe have PLACED
lself before their God. Scarcely
has their little act come to close,
when the curtain will be rung
down, and they will step into the
outer darkness of earthly oblivion
and final retributi0n. Happy they
who have ever held fast to the
vision of eternity. Fortunate
those who have not only kept the
faith, but chung close to the Law.
The absolute level will show them
at their true stature, towering
lmightlly above the shrlvelled
Ipigmies dwarfed and scared by
THE enervating forces of earthly