The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1961-09-15

ian University. He was speak
ing on Are there saints
among our separated brothers
of the West?" at the 10Th
Christian Studies Course at
Assists Christian Citadel.
Three cardinals and the pri-
vate secretary to His Holiness
Pope John XIII were at the
course which was attended by
more than a thousand pers-
ons.
Theme of this years week
long meeting (Aug. 24-30) was
taken as in the past from the
Greed. This years article
was: 81 believe in the
Holy Church" Gregorio Pietro
XIV Cardinal Agagianian and
others spoke on holiness as a
mark of the Church.
FATHER CRASSo Ex-
PLAINED holiness among
those outside the Catholic
Church a. follows: THE uni
verSslHy Of the Redemption
achieved by Jesus Christ inn
plies that Grace comes from
God and is given to every In
diyidual who tries his best
TO live according to the die
tates of his own conscience,
enlightened or less-enlighten-
ed by Revelation"
After stating this principle,
the Jesuit theologian describ-
ed its limits. He said: 1.-The
normal place for the distribu-
ton of Grace is the Catholic
Church. This means that Grace
cannot be diffused with the
same intensity and abundance
inside and outside the
7 Church"
He emphasized that Holt
ness is a characteristic - one
of the classic four marks
of the Church. Without this
Characteristic, he said, there
would be wanting one of the
fundamental criteria for dis
tinguiShing between the true
and the untrue church.
BUT HERE he MADE IT
CLEAR that the reference
was to heroic and charisnla-
tic Holiness which, accom-
panied by extraordinary gifts,
can be easily interpreted as
q proof of the truth OF the
church in which il is found
The word ''chsrism" comes
from a Greek word for "gift."
In the strict theological sense
a charism is an extraordinary
grace granted to individual
Christians for the benefit of
others.
IN A SECOND PART or
HIS LECTURE, Father Grasso
spoke Of means OF achieving
holiness in modern Protestan-
ism. He noted a definite trend
away from the spirit Of pro-
test and denial characteristic
of the founders of Protestant.
ism, and q movement toward
recovering the means of sanct-
ity which were once aban-
doned.
He said this recovery is
taking place particularly in
the areas Of the sacramentS
and Of ascetics.
Father GraSso said Protest
antism now shows "a nostal.
gia for the sacramentS, espe-
cially for the Sacrament of
the Eucharist, for the ven.
Grafton on the Blessed Virgin
Mary and especially for
the ascetical life which has
led TO the foundation of relig.
ious congregations
IN THE THIRD PART Oh
his talk, Father Grasso breach.
ed the practical question OF
the existence OF sanctity in
Professionalism He followed a
distinction generally accept
ed by Catholic theologians
among &C on. select
heroic and charismatic sanct
ty.'
lie said he thought il could
be said OF m sanctity
that II is fairly widespread in
Professionalism
He cited proof OF this In
the many honest and truly
religious souls one meet.
easily both in Europe and In
countries elsewhere"
He added. Select sanctity
r. also plentiful. and this il
shown by the diffusion of re
ligious life, OF the spiritua
exercises practiced by ~
many, and of the mission
aries
The rub comes at highe
levels Of holiness and i
miracles, he noted.
"THE QUESTION become
more difficult where charisms
tie sanctity Is concerned. I
this respect the Protestant