Evening star., 1926-02-14

'ilS NJ.
mystery of faith or some great bless
ing of the divine goodness.
Thus it was from the first ages
of our redemption when Christians
We're most cruelty prosecuted they
began to commemorate the martyrs
with sacred rites. so that Augustine
:sav>: The solemnities Of the mar
tvTS We're eXhorfatioUs to martyr
dom tSermon AZ on Saints. The
Iiturg!cal honors paid later on 10
holy cuutossurs. virgins and widows
had 4 wonderful effect in enCourag
ing among the faithful the pursuit
OF virtues which We're needed in
Times ol peace Most Of all. the Cele-
bration of the feaStS which We're in
Stituted in honor OF the Most Blessed
Virgin brought about that Christians
NOT only cultivated her as the Mother
o. God and as a most intimate pa
trouess. but also loved her more
ardently as a mother left to them
by the Redeemer. as by Will and
testament.
1t is in this connection We admire
the design of the most provident God
Who. as He il wont to draw good
ont of evil itself. permits at times
either that popular faith and piety
may grow remisS or that false doc
trineS may undermine Catholic truth.
with the result. however. that these
latter Will stand out with certain
new Spleudur. and the former. reused
from their SIuggiSEueSS. viii aim at
something higher and holier.
OF a fact, the SolennitieS Which in
less remote days We're Introduced into
the annual calendar OF the liturgy
We're not otherwise in their origins
nor different in their fruits. as. for
instance, when reverence and devo-
tion To the August Sacrament was
growing cold the Feast of Corpus
Christi was instituted, so that special
professions and SUpplcationS. eN-
tended 10 eight days. might restore
among the people the public adora-
tion Of our Lord: and as. again. the
celebration in honor of the Sacred
Heart Of Jesus was introduced when
the minds OF men. debilitated and dis
couraged by the sadness and morose
severity II the JanSeniStS. had utterly
cooled and been frightened away from
the love of God and confidence in sal
Nation.
Disease of Laicism.
In ordering that Christ should be
wUrshipped as King by the universal
Catholic body. we are at one and the
same time providing for the necessi-
ties of these times and applying the
principal remedy for the disease which
is affecting human society. We are
speaking of the disease of our age,
laiciSm. as it is called. with its errors
and nefariouS movements, and inn
piety. which. as you know, venerable
brethren, has matured not overnight,
since it has already long infected the
very organism of states. beginning
with denial of the empire of Christ
over all nations: denying what exists
| by the very right of Christ. the right
of the church to teach the human
| race. to make laws, to rule it's people
and to bring them to eternal happi-
ness.
Gradually, in the most unSeemly
way, it has put the religion of Christ
on footing with false religions, and
then permitted 1t to he subject to civil
power and to the will of princes ana
magistrates. Going further, some be-
| lieve it proper to substitute sort OF
natural religion and of natural emo
tion for the divine. Nor are there
wanting states which believe they can
do without God and which put their
religion and impiety in neglect OF
God.
The very bitter fruits which such
detection from Christ on the part of
individual citizens and states has
brought so permanently, we complain
of in our Encyclical Letters Ubi Ar
cani, and we complain of them again
today; namely, the sowing everywhere
of the seeds of discord; the kindling
of the flames of envy, and Of dissen-
sionS among the peoples which cause
such delays Of reconciliation and
peace; excessive cupidity, which is so
often concealed under the pretext of
the public good and love of country;
the consequent strife among citizens
, and a blind and immoderate selfish
ness which, seeking nothing except Its
own advantage and emolument, meas
! ures all things by these; the profound
disturbances of domestic peace, owing
to oversight and negligence of duty;
| the impairing of the union and sta.
| bility of the family; the shattering 6
| human society to the verge of ruin.
Duty of Faithful.
! 1t is this annual observance hence
! forth of Christ as King which moves
us to the highest hope that human
society may auspiciously hasten to
return to the most loving Savior. 1t
! should be the part of Catholics to
! mature and hasten this return by &C
! tive effort, though many of them dc
not seem to have social position OF
| to possess the authority which those
| should have who bear the torch OF
truth. This disadvantage may be
due to the inactivity or the timidity
| Of good men, who either avoid op
| position or face it weakly. with the
result that the enemies of the church
( grow in rashness and audacity.
| If, however. the faithful commonly
understand that they are to struggle
| bravely and continuously under the
| standards as Christ as King, they
will, with the zeal of the apostleship
be jealous in bringing back to their
Lord souls that are astray or unin
structed, and they will strive to safe
| guard His rights.
Besides, will not the celebration Of