Year: 1879

us understand thus that God is not only
deceive nor be deceived. From whence it
results to all evidence that human reason
reconciss faith and the fullest submission to the
Word of God. Reason also declares to us that
from it's origin evangelical doctrine was confirmed
by miracles-certain arguments of certain truth
and that consequently those who put faith in the


Gospel do rot act rashy ii they attached their be-


lief To specious fables but submit their
and Judgment to divine authority by an obedience
entirely conformable to reason. In fne and this is
not the least precious put before US in evil
dence how the Church instituted by Jesus Christ is


las the Council OF the Vatican esablishes by its ad
nlirabe growth. by its eminent holiness by its
exhaustible and universal fecundity. by its Catholic
unity and its unaterable stability, and per-
petual incentive to belief and undoniabe witness
Of the divinity of its mission.


These bases solidly lay down that philosophy is
still of multiplied and perpetual use for it Is from
it that sacred theology should and cover
self with the nature. the form and the character of
true science. 1t is. i'll fact, of paramount neces-
sity that in this last scene-the noblest OF aIl-the
divers and numerous portions OF the celestial doc
body in such manner that, disposed with order each
in its place, aud deduccd from principals which are
proper to them; they hnd themselves strongly In
torwoven together; and finally. it is ncedful that
all these portions. in their entirety and in their
detail. be, be confirmed BY apppropriato and
with silence and disdain this deeper and
fuller acquaintance with tho object OF our be-


lief and this clearer intelligence-clear as it
nade-of the mysteries of the faith itself which St.
Augustine and the other fathers have made the sub
ject Of their euloges and the matter of their study
and which the Council Of the Vatican in its turn,
has declared to be OF the greatest fruitfuness This
acquaintance and this intelligence are no doubt
integrity Of character aud zeal for the faith join
spirit enriched by the cultivation Of philosophic
science, and in fact. the Council of the Vatican
confirms this position when 1t teaches that the
knowledge of sacred dogmas should be derived
much from the analogy which things known to us
naturally have with those of religion in tho link
which binds the mysteries among themselves, and
with the latter end of man.


DUTY OF PHILOsOPHIC SCIENCE.


IT Ia the duty OF phtlOSODhic reliQiOua1v
sustain truths divinely revealed and boldly to re-
sist those who attack them. That assuredlv is
glorious title of honor for philosophy which
thus max of itself the bulwark of faith and the
firm stronghold Of religion. DOUBTLESS it is true"
the Saviour. being the strength and the wisdom of
God, His doctrine is perfect Of itself and needs the
sistance adds nothing to tho power Of the truth.
but as it shows the weakness of the arguments op-
posed to truth by the sophists, and exposes the
bushes laid for 1t, 1t may be ikened to the palng
with which the vine is safeguarded" Thus, while
the enemies OF the Catholic name their struggles
against religion, borrow from philosophy the most
OF the weapons they employ it is equally in the
arsenal OF philosophy that the champions of the
divine sciences obtain the means of vindicating
vealed dogmas.


1t is no slender triumph for the Christian faith
that hostile arms, borrowed for evil occasion by the
arrihces Of human reason, should be turned around
by that human reason itself aud welded with
much vigor and dexterity in tho of truth. st.
Snacias NJ combat was ,uaysd hv ~ tba anosta "s th
nations :--"The guide of the Christian army. Paul.
the nvncible orator. defending the Of Christ.
skilfuy utizes IN favor of faith inscription
countered by chance for he had learned of the true
David how olsnatch the sword from the hands Of the
enemy and cut OF the head Of the arrogant Goliath


The Church herself not only counsels but enjoins
Christian doctors to call philosophy to their aid.
The fifth Council of Lateran, after having estab-
lshed that every assertion contrary the of
revealed faith is false. seeing that the cannot
contradict the true insists that masters in philoso
ply should c:refully apply themselves to the solu-
ton OF insidious arguments. for according TO the
however. though it may be- which is brought against
the authority OF the Divine writings can ony de-
ceive by the appearance Of the truth for 1t is utterly
impossible that 1t could be really true"


But in order that philosophy should be in q state
to bear those precious fruits which are suggest
ing your minds above all things 1t never di-
verge from the straight line traced old by the Holy
fathers. and to which not long ago the Council Of
the Vatican gave the solemn approval Of its author
ity. Thus, with respect to these numerous truths
Of the supernatural order. which evidently much
surpass tho force OF all created intelligence, let
guard itself from pretensions beyond its power;
let 1t never dispute deny these same truths
or 'rSge . ardn snsm Oy ss own aaeas' or Inter Inter
let 1t receive them with IN humble and sim
faith. and hold itself highly honored at being
ences the functions of faithful and submissive
wants and at being able by the grace of God to ap
proach them in some fashion. As to these points
OF doctrine which human intelligence can grasp by
its natural strength it Is proper to leave to philoso
ply in those matters its method its principles and
It's arguments provided always chat 1t has the
audacty to sever itself from divine authority. More
than that what revelation teaches being certainly
true. and that which s contrary to the faith being
equally contrary to reason the Catholic philosopher
ought to know that he would violate the rights Of
reason well az those OF faith IL he admitted
clusion which he knew to be contrary to revealed
doctrine. m


COMBATING xnRons AND IGNORANCE.


There are some we know. who. exaggersting the
greatness OF human faculties, pretend that by SUBJ
mitting to divine authority the intelligence Of
deprived OF its native dignity and crushed under
the yoke of kind OF slavery. is notably weighed
down and retarded in its progress toward truth and
its own excellence But those assertions are full of
and falseness Their result il to lead men
to the height OF folly At the same time ingrattude
is causing them to repudste the greatest truths and
blessing Of the faith which is the source OF
all good for civil society itself. In fact. the
and restricted limits. is exposed to numerous
errors and the Ignorance OF great many things
On the other hand Christian faith resting does
the authority of God, 10 very certain mistress
of the truth. and whoever follows it escapes the
traps of and is free from the agitation of
who unite to the study OF philosophy submission
to tho Christian faith. for tho splendors OF divine
truth come to the aid Of the intelligence and far
penetration and pursuance Those philosophers Of
whom speak. in applying themselves to
demonstrate those which are contormable to
1t. worthily and very usefully exercise their
they cause. Of Snd OK
pose the deficiency OF argument on which these
opinions are based. while 10 carry out the work Of
proof they make thenNselves aware OF their
which furnish solid and efcacious motives Of per-
suasion. This art and its exercise necessarily aug
ment the Of the intellect and develop its
faculties. Whoever denies It takes upon himself
the ahsurdity OF assuming that to distinguish
the true from the false Is Of no earthly good
toward developing the intelligence II is with
Justice, therefore, that the Council OF the
Vatican appraises in those terms the advan-
tagcs which faith brings to reason-"Faith frees
from error and foroarms reason against It, while at
the same time It ondows 1t with varied knowledge"
Consequently the who 10 wise should not by
any faith OF being the enemy OF reason
and natural truths but rather render to God worthy
actions of grace, and congratulate himself much
that among 30 many sources OF ignorance and in the
midst OF this OF the sacred Of faith
shines before his eyes. and like bcnignant star,
clearly points out to him through rocks and shoals
the safe to the haven OF truth


THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE CHURCH FATHERS.


IF now, venerable brethren, you 20 over the his
tory of philosophy you will find there all that we
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