the very God of the martyrs, that we as indeed it may be presumed of every raise our altars. To God alone, who communion, that all sins are not equal crowns the martyrs, is the sacrifice of-in malice and guilt; that a passing fered. (Cont. Faust. xx. 18.) It And here be it observed, that to God it is said, "Have mercy upon us; to the saints it is said, "Pray for us.' is surely not difficult to discriminate between these two forms of address: the difference is immense. ON GOOD WORKS. Good works are twofold: religious works, which have for their immediate object the honour and worship of God; of our neighbour, spiritual or corporal. angry feeling is not so great a crime as duration. This belief is surely not un We reasonable. In human laws there are with the gradations of crime. gradations of punishment, corresponding should call the law unjust, that punished equally with death the child who pilfered an apple, or the wretch who had murdered his father. Are the laws of God alone unjust? Has he alone the privilege of punishing without discrimination? The Scripture expressly declares, that before the Divine tribunal men shall give an account of every idle make a supposition. A child arrived word. (Matt. xii. 36.) Let us, then, at the full use of reason, and knowing that every lie is a sin, to escape punish Nor will the smallest act of charity go unrequited: "Whoever shall give to drink to one of those little ones, a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward," (Matt. x. 42.) Respecting the merit of these goodment, tells an untruth in a matter of trivial moment. There is not a doubt works, the Catholic believes, that eternal that a sin has been committed. Before life is proposed to the children of God, the child has time to repent, an accident both as a grace, which is mercifully deprives him of life. What reception promised to them, and as a recompense, shall he meet with at the bar of eternal which, in virtue of this promise, is justice? Will he be sentenced with the faithfully bestowed upon their good I need works. Lest, however, the weakness parricide to eternal flames? Reason revolts of the human heart should be flattered not give the answer. at the idea. He must then be punished with the idea of any presumptuous for a time, and when he has atoned for merit: it is at the same time carefully his fault, be admitted to reconciliation. inculcated, that the price and value of Christian actions proceed wholly from the efficacy of sanctifying grace, a grace gratuitously bestowed upon us, in the the word is not in Scripture, it may be answered, name of Jesus Christ. THE INTERMEDIATE STATE, OR PUR GATORY.* It is the belief of the Catholic Church, * This term is from a Latin root, which signifies to cleanse or purify. To the objection that Such is the belief of the Catholic that, like the word "Trinity," (which also has no place in Scripture), the term "Purgatory" was introduced and adopted to express more conveniently by one word, what was previously expressed by metaphor or circumlocution. In this manner many new terms have been admitted into Christian theology; thus men believed in three divine persons, long before they adopted the word "Trinity.' But if a temporary state of punish- | sacrifice under the New Law, as well as ment be admitted, prayer for the dead under the Old, has always been conmust follow of course; as, on the other sidered the most powerful means of hand, if heaven and hell are believed to moving God to mercy. Hence, if any be the only alternatives in the moment one, in addition to his own private of death, prayer for the dead is vain: prayers, wish to have sacrifice offered for in heaven relief is not wanted, and for the souls of his departed friends, "from hell there is no redemption." there is no doubt he must apply to the Hence, when our friends are taken from ministry of the priests; and if "They us by death, and we have reason to that serve the altar partake with the hope (and when will not affection altar," (1 Cor. ix. 13,) no one, I prehope?) that these offences may not de- sume, will deny, that the priest is as serve the extremity of eternal punish- much entitled to a remuneration for the ment we entreat the divine Goodness labour he performs, as those who reto shorten or alleviate their sufferings.ceive fees for the burial service performed Is this unreasonable? Is this supersti- over the dead; nay, even for the adtious? Is this unscriptural? Certain ministration of baptism, and for preachit is, that it is not uncharitable, and ing the Gospel. Would a Catholic be charity is the first of virtues. justified in saying, on this account, that, for a sum of money, these clergymen claim a power of remitting sin, and opening to their followers the gates of life? PICTURES AND IMAGES. Catholics use paintings and images "But the Scripture does not command us to pray for the dead." Neither does it forbid us. Why, then, may not the voice of nature, the dictates of reason, and the belief and usages of antiquity, be allowed to govern our conduct? At all events, if the Catholic as the most fitting ornaments for does not think the practice repugnant to Scripture, why should he be condemned? Surely he has as much right as others to judge of the meaning of Scripture? And if his interpretation be confirmed by the constant belief of the Catholic Church, by the practice of his forefathers, by the dictates of nature, and the best feelings of the human heart is he not abundantly justified in preferring his own firm conviction to the fluctuating opinion of his neighbours? churches, oratories, &c., and at the same time, as objects calculated to excite and keep alive feelings of devotion. As the principal among them the crucifix may be mentioned. It is not possible to gaze upon the figure of the Redeemer, nailed to the cross, with a vacant eye. It brings before the mind, in the liveliest manner, his goodness, who for us, and ́ for our salvation, was pleased "to submit himself to death, even to the death of the cross;" and reminds us how criminal those sins must be which caused him to undergo such sufferings, and how sincere our sorrow should be in having participated in the commission But there are those who say, that An assertion is often made, "That the ministers of the church claim the power of relieving souls from purgatory." This strange misrepresenta- of them. tion, though a thousand times proved to be groundless, is as often repeated." Catholics worship images, as did the The Catholic priest claims no authority Pagans of old, and that, like them, they or jurisdiction over the dead. All he give to the works of man's hands the can do is to apply to the mercy of God glory due to the one eternal God." The in their behalf; but, like other men, he accusation is a comman one; and were must ever remain uncertain respecting it not that it proceeds from otherwise the efficacy of his prayers. He has, respectable sources, it might appear like indeed, one advantage peculiar to the insulting the understanding of the priesthood. He can offer sacrifice; and i reader, to suppose him capable of believ ing them. For surely it is not possible, | various and appropriate import; they that, in an age, and a country which instruct the ignorant and keep alive claims, and not unjustly too, to be one attention; they give the ministers of of the most liberal and enlightened upon earth, men should be found capable of believing, that the majority of the Christian world, the great, the good, the learned of almost every civilized nation under heaven, should be so ignorant, so debased, so stupid, so wicked, as to give divine honours to a lifeless and senseless image! It is difficult to bring the mind to conceive it. religion a respect for themselves, and for the awful rites in which they officiate; but neither the ceremonies nor the vestments belong to the essence of religion. The Church established them in the first ages She could, if she deemed it advisable, set them aside any day, and the sacrifice would be equally holy, though not equally impressive, if offered by the priest in a plain white surplice, or the ordinary costume of the Among other texts of Scripture which bear upon this subject, the follow-day. ing are offered for consideration :Numb. xxi. 8, 9; John iii. 14, 15; Exod. xxv. 18, 22. THE SERVICES IN THE LATIN LAN- The reasons why, in the celebration of the mass, and of other services of the church, the Latin language is used, are simply these: First, the Latin and Greek were the languages most gener Like the invocation of the saints, the early use and veneration of their images are acknowledged. The centuriators allow that they were common in the third age of the church. "Eusebius," ally used, and almost the only written they say, "writes that he saw, in Asia, Christians who preserved the images of St. Peter, St. Paul, and of Christ himself,” (Cent. iii..) The same writers add:-"Tertullian seems to declare, that the Christians kept the image of the cross, both in their public assemblies, and private houses; and it was thence that the Pagans called them worshippers of the cross," (Cent. iii.) CEREMONIES AND VESTMENTS. languages in the principal countries where the Christian religion was first promulgated. In these languages, therefore, the liturgy of the church was originally composed, nearly in its present form. When, several centuries afterwards, the languages of modern Europe began to be formed, the church did not think proper to alter the languages she had ever used in the celebration of the holy sacrifice. For if, on the one hand, these languages, by becoming With respect to ceremonies and vest-dead, ceased to be understood by the unments, they should be viewed with the eye of antiquity. They are venerable relics of primitive times, and, though ill adapted to the youthful religions of modern times, well become that hoary religion, which bears the weight of so many ages. The ceremonies employed in the Christian sacrifice, as well as the sacerdotal vestments, have their model in the book of Leviticus, and, as nearly as the difference of the Old and New Law permits, closely resemble those instituted by God himself. The Catholic Church deems them useful. They give a peculiar dignity to the sacred mysteries of religion; they raise the mind of the beholder to heavenly things by their learned, on the other, they became like a body raised from death immortal, unchangeable, and on this account the better adapted for preserving unaltered the awful doctrines and mysteries committed to their care. Would prudence have justified the setting aside the pure, the dignified, the immutable languages of the Primitive Church-languages which, though no longer spoken by the unlettered, were still, as they are to this day, the universal languages of the learned in every country, and the adoption in their stead of the numberless barbarous, half- formed, and daily changing languages of modern Europe? Would it have been respectful-would it have been secure-would it have (John i. 42.) Now, why did our been practicable to commit to these blessed Lord give to Simon, at first rude and uncertain vehicles, the sacred sight, before he had said or done any deposit of the faith and hope of Chris- thing to elicit it, this name of Cephas, tians? For the use of the people, which signifies rock? In due season, translations have been made, and the mystery was disclosed, when, in abound in every Catholic country; but consequence of Peter's confession, Christ at the altar the priest continues to com- said to him, "Thou art Peter, and upon mune with God in the original lan- this rock I will build my church, and guages, reciting the more sacred parts the gates of hell shall not prevail against of the sacrifical rite in a low voice, it," (Matt. xvi. 18); words, in Hebrew, which breaks not the awful silence, nor equivalent to the following:-" Thou disturbs the deep recollections of the art Rock, the rock on which I will build surrounding adorers. And yet this has my church." He then proceeded thus: been termed "praying in an unknown “I will give to thee the keys of the tongue," and for the purpose "of keep- kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever ing the people in ignorance." Had the thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be latter been the unwise policy of the bound also in heaven; and whatsoever Catholic Church, she should have com-thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be manded the clergy to give instructions loosed also in heaven," (Ibid. 19.) and to preach in unknown languages; The power of binding and loosing was whereas these portions of the church afterwards conferred on the other ordinances are always in the vernacular language. THE POPE. * Apostles, but not the keys, the badge of the chief officer in the household. They were granted to Peter alone. Other Catholics, while they hold that the circumstances will be noted by those Church is the congregation of all the who are desirous to ascertain the bearfaithful under their invisible head, Jesus ing and signification of the Saviour's Christ, also believe that the Church has actions. For instance, in the miraculous a visible head, in the Bishop of Rome, draught of fishes, which was figurative the successor of St. Peter, and commonly of the gathering of the nations into the called the Pope. That Jesus Christ, in church, when Peter, with his associates quality of our Lord, is the head of the James and John, forsook all, and Church, will not be disputed; for God followed our Saviour, it will be reappointed him head over all the Church. marked that it was the bark of Peter (Eph. i. 22.) But, since his ascent into into which Jesus entered in preference; heaven, he is invisible to us; and the it was Peter whom he ordered to let question is, whether he did not, before down the net for a draught, and to he left the earth, appoint a vicar, or Peter that he said, "Fear not; from deputy, to be the visible head in his henceforth thou shalt catch men;" that place. From Scripture it is manifest is, shalt be a fisher of men, (Luke v. that he did, and that St. Peter was the 10.) From that period, we always find person on whom he conferred this high Peter spoken of as the first, and the dignity. The following circumstances leader of the others; to him is given are worthy of attention. The name of the charge that he confirm his brethren, this Apostle was originally Simon. (Luke xxii. 32,) and the office of feedThe moment he appeared before our ing both the lambs and the sheep, Saviour, he received from him a new (John xxi. 15, 16,) which is interpreted name:"Thou art Simon, the son of by the fathers as the simple faithful, Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas,' ," and their spiritual guides. After the *At present Pope Pius IX. (Mastai Feretti) ascension of our Lord, we find him actoccupies the chair of Peter. June 17th, 1846, and his coronation took place the election of Matthias, (Acts i.); in He was elected ing as the head of the whole body, at four days after his election.-Ed. preaching the gospel to the Jews, (Acts lished in their time; but not one of ii. 3;) in rebuking Ananias and them fully describes that form, nor Sapphira, (Acts v.); in the calling of alludes to the form that was to prevail the Gentiles, (Acts x.); and in the in time to come. For such matters we council at Jerusalem, (Acts xv.) All must have recourse to tradition; and these passages and proceedings demon-tradition bears ample testimony to the strate in Peter a pre-eminence in rank superior authority of the successors and authority above the other apostles. of St. Peter. St. Irenæus says (anno Should it be supposed that the office 177.) "It is necessary that all might be personal to Peter, and there- the Church-that is, the faithful, fore might not pass to his successors, it wherever they are,—should conform to❞ is not unreasonable to ask on what (be in communion with) "the Church of ground such a supposition rests? If Rome, on account of her superior chiefChrist, when he established his church, dom."—Adv. Hær. iii. 3. Tertullian gave to it a visible head, who could says (anno 194), "If thou think that have authority to change that form of heaven is still closed, recollect that the government afterwards? Whatever Lord left the keys thereof to Peter, reason there might be why Peter should and through him to the Church."be invested with authority over his Scorpiaci, c. x. brethren, the other Apostles, the same With respect to certain questions reason will require that the successor of agitated in the schools, relative to the Peter should be invested with authority spiritual power of the Pope, as exercised over his brethren, the successors of in conjunction with the temporal, nothing those Apostles. To seek for proof from need be said in this place; although we Scripture on points like these, would be see such questions continually revived, labour lost, because the Scripture does in order to draw down odium upon the not treat of them. We may glean from Catholics. Suffice it to state, that the inspired writers a few detached these questions are not included in the and imperfect notices of the form of articles of Catholic faith, nor have any church government which was estab-influence upon Catholic practice. STATISTICS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN GREAT BRITAIN. From the Roman Catholic Directory for 1852. CATHOLIC HIERARCHY IN ENGLAND. Archdiocess of Westminster-His Eminence the Most Rev. Nicholas Wiseman, Cardinal Priest of the Holy Roman Church, by the title of St. Pudentiana, Archbishop, 25 Golden Square, London. Diocess of Southwark-Right Rev. Dr. Thomas Grant, Bishop. Diocess of Hexham-Right Rev. Dr. William Hogarth, Bishop. Diocess of Beverly-Right Rev. Dr John Briggs, Bishop. Diocess of Liverpool-Right Rev. Dr. George Brown, Bishop. Diocess of Salford-Right Rev. Dr. William Turner, Bishop. Rev. Dr. Thomas Joseph Brown, O.S.B., Diocess of Clifton-Right Rev. Dr. Diocess of Plymouth-Right Rev. Dr. George Errington, Bishop. Diocess of Birmingham-Right Rev. Dr. William B. Ullathorne, Bishop. Diocess of Nottingham-Right Rev. Dr. CATHOLIC DIOCESSES IN IRELAND. In this Province there are nine Diocesses; Armagh-the_Archdiocess, Derry, Clogher, Raphoe, Down and Connor, Kilmore, Diocess of Minevia and Newport-Right | Ardagh, Meath, Dromore. Diocess of Shrewsbury-Right Rev. Dr. James Brown, Bishop. |