The Irish standard., 1920-01-24
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although the world looks down with
half-veiled contempt on the professors
of the religion of that church, never.
theless, it is the only church that de-
fies the ravages Of time, that thrives
in the haunts Of men, to which men
look when they want assistance in ad.
versity or advice in uncertainty.
Whether one be convinced Of its d.
vine origin or is certain of its hum.
an institution, the unity of that
church is the first great characteristic
that attracts attention. Indeed, in is-
suing its claims as the only true
church, it's theologians mention as the
first of its notes, unity.
Unity Necessary to Victory.
The cause that means to triumph
over the wiles and the Vaccinations
of its enemies, to Withstand the
treachery of it's unfaithful sons, the
cause that means to see the attain.
ment of the end that it has proposed
to itself must have as it's prominent
note, or characteristic, unity. The
cause that embraces discordant ele.
ments, or admits properties that Of
their nature are repugnant to one
another, is already condemned to fail
ure, has already it's death warrant
written on its charter, no matter how
high or holy its purpose may be, no
matter how ardent its supporters are,
no matter how brilliant it's followers,
no matter how learned it's exponents
Unity does not imply a slavish one
ness, neither does it expel pleasing
variety, much less does it destroy in
dividual initiative. Those who spend
a few weeks in Rome at this season of
the year experience how delightfully."-
varied this unity of the church can be
and how each nation can take up this
unity and represent it in it's own ma
tional aspect. In the church Of San
Andrea dele Vale, one can see the
ritual of the church exemplified in the
various national aspects. During the
Octave of the Epiphany one can assist
at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in
the rituals of the East and the West
and of the North and the South.
No one doubts of the value of the
Sacrifice expressed in the various
forms of the different peoples. When
one walks in the streets of Rome, the
centAr Of the real unity, the only re-
ligious unity of the world or of his
tory, he sees the brown habit of the
franciscan, the black mantle of the
Dominican, the white cloak of the Car
melite, the sombre dark of the Angus
tinian, nevertheless one never thinks
Of placing them in different religions,
for the one true church is big enough,
Notwithstanding it's oneness, to admit
all of them.
It might scandalize the ignorant to
know that some of these orders pro-
fess principles of Philosophy and
Theology Of different and hostile
schools. But what matters a variety
of opinions and tenets so long as any
member of these orders would give
his life for the unity of the church or
for one Of the dogmas of the church.
Here, in Rome, we have the variety
that accompanies true unity.
A false unity could not admit the
variety we speak of, for there is no
tyranny so absolute as that of false
unity, because it tries to make up for
inward weakness by show of
strength that has no reality. A cause
that is really one, that is endowed with
true unity, nay more, must have this
variety which at least prevents mon.
otony.