The Irish standard., 1917-11-17

| ton of Christian morality. The influ-
ence of such fundamentally immoral
doctrine could only be Offset by SIM
pie and complete declaration of the
gospel teaching regarding justifca-
ton; and this is to be found in the
decree on justification above referred
to. In unmistakable terms the Coun-
Gil declares that faith alone cannot
suffice for salvation; but that besides
faith other acts are necessary to dis
pose the sinner for the grace of God
whence justification comes. These are
fear, hope, love, repentance, the de-
sire of baptism where this has not
already been received, and the deter
mination to lead a new life in con-
formity to the divine law. It is only
by these means that that internal
change is brought about which makes
man an heir to heaven, an adopted
son of God and brother of Jesus
Christ. This is Catholic moral good
ness as opposed to Luther's: "Sin
boldly; but believe more boldly STILL"
The events that preceded and &C.
companied the seventh session of the
Council give us an idea of the embar-
RAISING conditions and great difficult
ties under which the work of Catholic
Reformation proceeded; and serve to
emphasize the fact that had it not
been Gods work, it could never have
been accomplished. The Schmalkal-
den war had broken out in Germany;
the strained relations already existing
between the Emperor, Charles V, and
the Pope had become aggravated; and
at Trent itself an epidemic of conta-
gious disease had brought death to
several members of the Council.
Luther, whose opposition to the Prot
estants taking any part in the Coun-
Gil, had been manifested in his tract
Against the Romish Papacy, founded
by the devil" died at Eisleben, in
1916, and in the following year, during
the eighth session, it was decided to
transfer the Council to Bologna. 1t
was at this place that the ninth and
tenth sessions were held.
Council ReassembIes.
! Paul III died in November, 1549,
and his successor julius III, who as
! Cardinal Giovanni del Monte had
opened the Council in 1915, issued a
Bull (Nov. ID, $500, reassembling the
Council at Trent But it was not I'M
til the 18th session that the compre-
hensive decree defining the teaching
OF the Church in regard to the Sacra-
ment Of the Eucharist was promul-
gated, which was followed by DEGREES
on the Sacrament of Penance and Ex-
IRENE Unction.
At the conclusion of the sixteenth
session in 1852, decree was issued
suspending the Council for two years.
But difficulties arose and ten years
elapsed before the next session con-
vened under Plus w, the third sue
cessor OF julius III. Meanwhile the
Emperor, Charles V, disillusioned of
his hope of restoring unity of faith,
and weary of the strife and unhappi-
ness with which he was surrounded.
retired to monastery in Estreama-
dura, and there in the peace of the
cloister, passed the remaining days of
his life in prayer and contemplation,
thus preparing himself to meet his
Lord whose Vicar on earth he had so
often and so grievously affronted.
With the exception of a decree on for
hidden books, nothing of moment was
transacted in the Council until the
twenty-first sessions dogmatic DEGREES
were promulgated on Holy Commu-
Mon, the Sacrifice of the Mass the
Sacramento of Holy Orders and Matri-
mony, the Invocation of the Saints
and 1ndulgences.
Thus was the great worth of the
10Th oecumenial Council brought to a
successful termination and the world
received proof again 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 sequel and complement of the
work of the Council it had been enact.
ed in the oath session that a cate
chism should be published accommo.
dated to the needs of the people 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 def
nitions of the Council on faith and
morals and thus, in the midst of ever
increasing immortality and religious
d1ssension, the faithful were to be af-
forded a safe guide in all matters
touching their eternal salvation. This
catechism, known as the Roman Cate
ch1sm, or the Catechism of the Coun-
Gil of Trent, was finally published in
Latin by command of Plus v and at
his direction was translated forthwith
into the principal languages of Eu-
rope. Our catechisms in use at the
present time are but abbreviated edi-
t1ons of this classical work of which
it has been said: Undertaken, by
decree of the Council of Trent, the re.
sniff If tho 1ob1-o