The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-10-29


AMPLE OF SIMPLICITY AND
CONFIDENCE THE GREAT
NEED OF THE AGE.
The Holy Fathers beautiful allocu-
tion on the life and virtues of the
Little Flower Of Jesus, Therese of
Lisieux," speaks most eloquently of
the desire of His Holiness to recall
to his spiritual children the model
proposed by this young nun, namely. a
state of spiritual childhood whereby
the soul rests in perfect simplicity and
trust in the arms of God.
Pope 5enedict's AIIocution.
His Holiness said:
THE echo of the words which pro-
claimed the heroism of the virtues of
the Venerable Fournet have not yet
died away when in the same room we
have proclaimed that France aspired
to a new name, to the enviable title
of Mother of Saints
To-day we distinguish the perfume
of another flower opened on French
soil, whose heroic virtues we must
equally recognize, Therese of the
Child Jesus, professed religious of the
Carmel of LisieuX.
I'VE rejoice because of the honor
which has come to Catholic France,
and in the just satisfaction which the
diocese feels when it admires the
garden in which this charming flower
was formed and grew to it's complete
development.
ITO these causes of joy, suggested
by the goodwill which We feel toward
the nation of Clovis and of st. Louis,
is added a particular complaisance in
spired by the character of the virtue
dominant in Sister Therese. For
there is no one who is familiar with
her holy life who does not unite his
voice to the admiring chorus proclaim
ing this entire life characterized by
the merits of spiritual infancy.
Here, then, is the secret of sancti-
ty, not alone for France, but for the
faithful of the entire world. We have
reason to hope that the example OF
this new French heroine will increase
the nuiiber of perfect Christians, not
only among those of her own nation,
but likewise among all the children of
the Catholic Church ''-~- "'" 1850
Spiritual Infancy.
THE decree of today which exalts
a pious disciple of Carmel. arrives at
a heroism of perfection practiced
through the virtues derived from
spiritual childhood. Each view of this
character shows how the faithful of
all ages, sexes and conditions ought
to enter generously into this way
whereby Sister Therese attained the
heroism of virtue.
''The harmony which reigns be-
tween the order of the senses and that
of the spirit, permits us to observe
the first characteristics of this virtue.
We see an infant whose step is un-
certain and who has not as yet the
power of speech. If another of it's
own age pursues it, if another strong
er menaces it, or if the apparition of
some beast affrights it-where does
it seek refuge? In it's mothers arms
breast, it loses all fear, and allowing
itself to forget the sighs of which the
little lungs do not seem further capa-
BILE, it looks with courage on the OBJ
ject of it's fright, even provoking il
to combat, as if it said: y am hence
forth confined in sure defence In
the arms of my mother abandon my.
cole P,,11 oil
of being protected against the as
saults of the enemy, but likewise OF
being the channel which best con
duces to my development In this
manner spiritual infancy is formed
by confidence in God and blind aban
donment in His hands"
On SeIf-suffciency.
"This spiritual infancy excludes the
proud esteem of ones self, the pre-
sumption of attaining by human mean:
a supernatural end, and the fallaciou.
theory of sufficing for ones self in the
hour of peril and temptation. On the
other hand, it pre-supposes a livel!
faith in the existence of Cod prac
tical homage to His power and mercy
a confident recourse to the Providence
which gives us the grace to overcome
all evil and to attain all good. Thu!
the qualities of this spiritual infanc!
are admirable, and it can be readil.
seen that Our Lord Jesus Christ ha
indicated it as the condition necessar.
in order to acquire eternal life.
"One day the Saviour drew from
the crowd little child, and showing
him to His disciples, pronounced
these words: Amen say to you; un
less YOU become as one of these littl
ones, you shall not enter into tn
Kingdom of Heaven.
20 eloquent lesson, which destroy
the error and ambition of those who
considering the reward to come as al
earthly Kingdom, desire to occupy tn
first places or demand that they ma
he made greater in authority!
at is important to mark the fore
of the Divine language. 1t does no
suffice that the Son of God affirms il
nositiye accents that the Kingdom O
Heaven is for children, but He teache
in an explicit manner that those VIII
will not become so will be exclude
therefrom."
Example for the Age.