The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-02-12
TEXT OF PoPE's DECREE ON vlR-
TUES OF LEARNED JESUIT
QUALITIES OF SAlNTED PREL-
ATE ARE URGENTLY NEEDED
AT PRESENT TIME.
(By n. c. w. c. News service)

at the reading or the decree proclaim
ing the heroic virtues of Venerable
Cardinal Bellarmine, reiterated his
previous appeals and sanctions for the
propagation of Catholic principles
teachings and ideals, and proposes the
sanity Jesuit theologian as a model
for both secular and ecclesiastical pro-
moters of that work
Reference was made by the Holy
Father to the fact that Pope Benedict
XIV, in 1883, had decided that he
would not publish the decree of the
virtues of the Venerable Bellarmine
until times were changed" and would
base it not only ION the pure tenor
of life and the continuous practice of
theological and cardinal virtues but
also ION the work done for convincing
heretics." The Holy Father then de-
clared that, after having consulted
members of the Sacred Congregation
of Rites, and authoritative counselors,
he received the unanimous opinion
that the present was the proper time
for the publication of the decree.
Need of Catholic Activity.
In taking advantage of the oppor-
tunity of proposing Cardinal Bellar-
mine for imitation by secular as well
as religious persons, the Holy Father
said, he had as his chief object one
of the most pressing needs of the
times.
In view of the spreading of per
verse doctrines, in view OF the snares
which the enemies of the Church set
particularly for inexperienced youth
to snatch from their hearts the ancient
and sublime heritage of faith, today,
more than ever, it is necessary that
the defenders of the Catholic faith
grow in number" said His Holiness
"Oh, as often as we hear of the
present need of promoting Catholic
action we think that in order to
meet this pr, ssing need it is indis-
,,ensable that sei1rtrS oe aat army of
propagators of Catholic truth
Let us consider the activity of Sec
tartan masters in the large towns,
and we shall easily understand the
necessity of opposing school to school,
newspapers and reviews to reviews
and newspapers, conferences to con.
ferences, in order to prevent the seed
of evil from bearing fruit among the
educated people. But alas, we are
terrified at the thought that even the
tillers Of the soil, the inhabitants OF
the most inaccessible mountains, are
exposed to the danger of losing their
faith, because the apostles of error do
not fear to go into the farthest and
most secluded regions to offer their
poison, and perhaps in golden cups
They rely on the ingenuousness OF
country and mountain people, and of
ten they try to wiring applause for the
new doctrines, not by means of the
cloquence OF a logical and we'll ar
ranged discourse, but by the fallacious
promises of gains and other materia
advantages. 1t is therefore indispens
able to act against these emissaries
of evil; it is necessary that phalan1
of Catholic propagandists set them
selves against the enormous evil thai
in towns and country is caused by the
propagandists of error and impiety.
Ven. BeIIarmine as Model.
But to Catholic propagandists I;
model was to be proposed; and wha
example more perfect and efficaciou
than Roberto Bellarnine, could be OF
fered to them? And this explains TIL
character of opportunity which W
see in the decree, that, while declarin
heroic the virtues of Venerabl
Bellarmine, proposes this Prince G
controversalists to the imitation 9
seculars also.
"Seculars must not set themselve
up as propagandists of Catholic faitl
especially when it is question {
refuting opposite errors, if they ar
not perfectly acquainted with the full
dament, the extension, the application
R dogma. But from whom, bette
than from Bellarmine, can Catholi
propagandists learn the certainty
doctrine? Seculars, no less than e.
eiesiatics, to the defense of truth mu:
add the practice of good, so that
may not be said of them: They sa
one thing and they do another an
thus the efficacy of their teaching
diminished But as already mentio
ed, in Roberto Bellarmine, doctrir
was strictly united to piety; If he ws
a learned master, he was also pio'
religious; if he attended to studie
he cared also for the progress of VI
tue, not only in others but still mo
in himself; so that to himself can
applied the words that in the Acts
Apostles are spoken of the Divine Ma
ser: Jesus began to do and to teacl
(Acts. ID
"ssu the servant of God, whose "
tues are today proclaimed heroic,
is easy to perceive all the charactt
istics Of a good propagandist. Al
are we net right in saying that t
promulgatioff< of the present deer
has caused us to rejoice, because
this means God proposes to eccle
astics as we'll as TO lay people a me
a OF virtue, whose imitation Is ps
tieularly necessary in these times?