The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-06-14
Wat is the difference between the
olofJy and faith?

FdlIH is the dCCeptduCS vi lIutlS Oll
che authority of another and in the
present instance, means the accept
anee of religious truths on the word
of God or the. authority OF Gods
Church; theology means the science
of God, or things appertaining to God
that is, religion. But in the popular
mind, and in an accepted sense, the
ology embraces the opinions and
speculations of theologians. The creed
of the Church is well known and very
specifically defined, and it embraces
the things of faith, but religion is
wide field and has been the occasion
of the deepest thought on the part of
men whom we call theolOgians. Their
science, after all, is merely human;
faith is the revealed word of God. We
know by faith that Jesus Christ is
really and truly present in the Euchar-
list, that He is there present body and
soul, humanity and divinity, flesh and
blood. Theologians have written vol
umes about the Eucharist offering
arguments and explanations and cast
ing light, as far as it is possible, on
the mystery. We have the command
mcnts of God and the precepts of the
Church: they are determined in num-
Der and the Church has pronounced
"a certain number of decisions in OK
PLANTATION of them; theologians have
composed entire volumes and works of
many volumes in calculation of those
laws. The question of canon law will
furnish a comparison. The law OF the
Church is contained in a number of
Canons. Within a few years we shall
have many volumes written in eXplana-
tion of those laws by the canoni6ts.
Ut is readily seen that the authority of
these canonists is not that of the can
OnS themselves. So, too. with faith and
theology. We do not claim for the
opinions and spcCulations of theology
the same weight and authority that
we Give the revealed word of God
Tfaith). What we believe of the Trim
ity may be expressed in a very few
words; theologianS have written many
pages harmonizing this mystery with
other truths of faith and of nature,
offering scientific exposition, showing
by analogics its appropriateness,
showing that it is not repugnant to
reason, etc. These constitute theo-
lOgy in the popular sense and rest on
the authority of human reason.
How could there be two or three
claimants for the Sec of Peter at ono
tire?
This question evidently refers to
what is known in Church history as
the Western Schism. Briefly the facts
are these: After the exile of the
Popes in AvignOn, France, Pope Gre
CORY XI returned to Italy and estab-
lished his Sec in Rome. He died
there on March u, 1878. At once the
question arose as to his successor.
should reside in Rome. On April II
the sixteen Cardinals present in Rome
held a conclave, and on the following
day they chose Archbishop Prignano
who took the name of Urban VI He
was at once recognized by the six
September 20 thirteen Cardinals, dis
satisfied with the first choice, chose
Cardinal Robert of Geneva, who took
the name of Clement VII. Shortly
afterwards on account of political
troubles he took up his residence at
Avignon. The question of the lawful
Pope divided all classes of Christians
from great saints like Catherine Of
Sienna and Vincent Ferrer down to
the ordinary layman. In the mean
time, both the elected heads died
and were succeeded by others. In
1909 a council assembled at Pisa.
Italy, and elected what they claimed
to be the lawful head of the Church
The Council of Constance in 1414 de-
posed John the NXITI, received the
abdication of Gregory XII, and dis
missed the obstinate Benedict Kill
On November II, 1417, the Council
elected Odo Colonna, who took the
name of Martin V. Thus ended the
schism of the West.
This affair was more misunder-
standing than a schism, since there
was no revolt against Papal author
ity in general. The opinion of theo-
logians and of canonists is that the
Roman Popes, Urban VI, Boniface TX,
Innocent VII and Gregory XII, were
the lawful Popes. Practically speak
ing there was no difficulty. because
loyalty to the Church, which was
shown towards one or another of the
contenders, was always conditional On
the fact of their lawful authority.
Are there more fallen angels than
good angels or more than all good
angels and men together?
in this column several times. Briefly,
we know little or nothing about the
comparative number OF angels who
fell and those who remained faithful.
The Church has taught us nothing on
the subject, though tradition founded
on pious belief says that one-thrd or
one-fourth of all the angels fell into
sin.
A rich man dies, leaving one thou
sand dollars for Masses. Has a poor
man as much chance of eternal happi-
ness as that rich man?
God does not judge a man accord
T7u fn &c inc n