ON THE USE AND VENERA TION OF RELICS IN THE in so many cases, as when divers Churches pretend to possess the body of the same saint, for some of these must be false relics? A. You are too hasty in concluding that these must needs be false relics,-1st. Because it often happens, that some part of the body of a saint is in one place and some part in another; in which cases both places claim the body of such a saint, though they only really possess a part of it, and yet neither the one nor the other is therefore to be charged with honouring false relics; 2dly. Many of the saints and martyrs have borne the same name; and hence it easily happens, that relics which indeed belong to one saint, are attributed to another of the same name. 3dly. There have been many ancient martyrs whose names at present are not known, whose relics, nevertheless, have been all along honoured by the Church. Now it was easy that the ignorance of some, or the vanity of others, might attribute to them the names of other saints; so that all these may be true relics, notwithstanding they don't all belong to the saints to whom they are attributed. (58) Page 246. — Q. What is the meaning of making pilgrimages to the shrines, or other memorials of the saints? ON THE USE AND VENERATION OF RELICS IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. manity? Even allowing them all to be true relics, what is a dead body, when the spirit has departed? What can "the flesh profit?" the bones or dust of departed saints? If false relics, adoration may be paid to a notorious sinner! . Would not all this "veneration," this "honour," be better paid direct to the Supreme Being? for may it not be conceived of the glory that is to travel such a circuitous course and embrace so many different objects, but little will remain for him who claims, not a part of what he created but “our whole heart." Truly may it be said, "Ye know not what ye worship, we know what we worship, for salvation is (of whom?) of the Lord." St. Paul, who I should think was as eminent as any saint in the calendar, says, Rom. vii. 18, "For likewise, that in me, that is in my flesh dwelleth no good thing, for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not." "We also are men of like passions with you." Acts xiv. 5. Where then the authority for venerating relics? since Paul and Barnabas and also Peter and John, Acts iii. 12, disclaimed the sanctity imputed to them in their lifetime, even after the notable miracles performed by them, think you they would approve of such veneration or "relative honour" after their decease? And (58) How little real religion must there be in that heart which requires its devotion to be thus excited! And are you so sure that you are indeed honouring God, when his word testifies against ON THE USE AND VENERA TION OF RELICS IN THE A. To honour God in his saints, to excite devotion by the sight of those places sanctified by those heavenly pledges, to obtain graces and blessings of God by the prayers of his saints; for though God be everywhere, and his bounty and mercy be not confined to any particular place, yet the experience of all past ages convinces us that 'tis his holy will and pleasure to bestow his favours more plentifully and to show more frequent and miraculous effects of his power and goodness in some places than in others. See St. Augustine. ON THE USE AND VENERATION OF RELICS IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. those who pay honour or reverence, voluntary humility "to saints and angels?" Is it the way to obtain graces and blessings," to run counter to his holy will as expressed in the Scriptures? Our Saviour says, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst of them;" shall we then fly from Jesus! "the sole mediator of the new covenant," because "St. Augustine!" tells us more miraculous effects of God's power and goodness are in some places than in others?" If Christ be in the midst of us what more can we desire? Surely, it would appear you do acknowledge a virtue in "these heavenly pledges," do "put your trust and confidence in them?" 66 (59) OF THE USE OF PIC- (59) OF THE USE OF PICTURES AND TURES AND IMAGES IN Page 247.-Q. What is the doctrine of the Church, with regard to pictures or images of Christ, and his saints ? A. 1. That it is good to keep them and retain them, and to have them in Churches, not only for ornament and for the instruction of the ignorant, but for the honour and remembrance of Christ and his saints, and for to help to raise our thoughts and our hearts to heavenly things. 2. That there is a relative honour due to them by reason of the persons whom they represent. See the Second Council of Trent, Session xxv. IMAGES IN THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH. It is a well attested fact that a zealous image worshipper being converted to Christianity, and chancing afterwards to enter a Romish Church, travelled many hundred miles to enquire, "How, if images were forbidden in a Heathen temple they could be lawful in a Christian Church?" Does it not behove us then?"for the instruction of the ignorant,' "To abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thess. v. 22.) See Numbers xxxiii. 51, 52; also, Exodus xx. 4, 5, and 6. "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor serve them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and shewing mercy THERE are important eras in the life of most people when a change has taken place, either in their position in society, or in the train of their thoughts, so great, that their very being has seemed transformed. The death of Lady de Montmorency formed a similar era in the life of her son, as far at least as his thoughts and feelings were concerned ;-hitherto they had been little occupied by the subject of religion. Agreeably to his mother's wishes he had gone through all the forms of worship and external services required and most commended by his Church. He behaved also to all around him with kindness and attention, his friends and acquaintances were satisfied with him, he was satisfied with himself, and never entertained a doubt that the great Being who formed and upheld him was equally satisfied, and would not fail finally to bestow upon him the reward promised to the virtuous. This was Hubert's theory; a theory seldom indeed reverted to amidst the various occupations that engrossed his young and ardent mind, but the death of his mother naturally tended to draw his thoughts to the contemplation of that state into which he believed her spirit had entered; and need we tell our Protestant readers (believing as they do that the moment after the death of the righteous is the beginning of their eternal blessedness, need we tell them) how deeply pained must be the hearts of affectionate but misled Roman Catholics, as they follow in imagination the spirit of a beloved relative to that abode of gloom where they believe the soul must be purified by purgatorial fires from the sinful dross of earth, and be made meet by its own suffering for that bright inheritance which the word of unerring truth assures us, is freely purchased by the meritorious sufferings of the Son of God. Many an hour of deeply painful musing did Hubert pass in thinking of this dread abode, many perplexing thoughts filled his mind, as memory recalled the deathbed of his mother; where had been the peace, the solace, the sweet satisfaction she had told him would cheer the mind from re. flecting on a life of virtue? and if she, so virtuous, so devoted, so holy, had failed to obtain this peace, who, thought he, can find it? His mother's words, " Holy Mother of God, forgive me, unbeliever as I am," and the tone of agony in which she uttered them, still seemed to ring in his ears, with a sound at once most painful and perplexing. At the close of one of these seasons of musing, when his countenance too plainly spoke the agitation of his mind, Clara entered the room. The sight of her brother's grief revived her own, -she ran to him and wept in his arms. "Dear Hubert," said she at last, "such strange thoughts fill my mind; tell me, can you tell me, why must our dear departed parent go to that dreadful purgatory? How does Father Joachim know that she is there? If God, who made us, loves the good, why must my dear kind mamma, who loved and obeyed him, suffer thus ?" "Cease, cease, dear sister," replied Hubert, we must not repine, you know the very best of us at times have done what is wrong, and when the souls of the righteous have been perfected by the fires of purgatory, they will be for ever happy in heaven." 66 "Oh, but the thought is dreadful of what we must suffer first, how I fear to die, indeed I cannot love God, I can only fear Him." "Nay, that is wrong, God ought to be loved," Hubert was about to say, but a feeling of awe overpowered that of affection, as he now saw God only as an angry judge, inflicting punishment on a mother so dearly loved. Unwilling to dwell on the subject, he told his sister she was too young to understand such solemn things; they must believe what was taught them by their Church and priest, and that it was useless to embitter life by dreading futurity. Poor Clara derived little comfort from this kind of reasoning, and retired to rest more sad than ever. Early the next morning she rushed into Hubert's room, traces of tears were on her cheeks, yet her eyes beamed with pleasure, "Oh Hubert grieve no more, mamma is happy, I am sure she is, I have had such a sweet dream, in which she came and told me so." Hubert kissed the affectionate child and remained silent. "You do not believe me I see," said Clara, and her eyes again filled with tears, "you do not know how wretched I was till that sweet dream comforted me, and I do believe that Jesus sent it to me, for I prayed to Him, and not to the virgin. Indeed, Hubert, Jesus must love us best, for, as Annette often told me, He died to save us, which you know proves how much He loved us." Hubert looked at his sister and knew not what to say. Hitherto he had viewed her only as a playful child, and less disposed than most children to talk about religion. Though her dream chased not the gloom from his heart, it had made her so happy that it appeared cruel to dispel the illusion, yet the tone in which she spoke of the virgin appeared to him irreverent; and the name of Annette recalled painful feelings, for he well knew she had been once deeply valued by his mother as a devoted and affectionate nurse, but having embraced heretical principles, had been dismissed from her service, and never heard of more. Seeing her brother remain silent, Clara added with increased energy, I am afraid Hubert you will be angry with me, I am sure Father Joachim will, but my dream has made me so happy I do not fear his anger. Last night I could not 6 sleep, the thought of dear mamma in such dreadful sufferings quite prevented me. I counted my beads again and again, repeated all my prayers to the virgin, but my heart was more sad than ever. Then I remembered Annette told me the virgin was but a woman, she could not hear our prayers, and it was sinful to pray to her. I loved Annette, and grieved she should have said ought so wrong. I asked the virgin to teach her better, and again tried to sleep. My head ached much from crying, and I shut my eyes, when, all at once, I seemed to be in the pretty cottage where Annette lived, and Pierre was sitting with his arm round my neck, as he used to do when we played together, and much that Annette said then came to my mind, and what she read from the Bible about the Blessed Jesus (you never heard it Hubert), how He loved us; and a pretty verse I had quite forgotten came to my memory, in which Jesus says, 'Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not.' The longer I thought, the more I hoped He would hear me, so I started from my pillow, and, kneeling down, ventured to say Lord Jesus, deign to hear a little child, and make my dearest parent happy;' and never did I feel before so sure my prayer was heard. At last I fell asleep, and, in my dream, mamma appeared, clothed in white, and looking so happy; 'Clara,' said she, love your Saviour. Tell Hubert He brought me here.' I was going to speak to her, when I awoke and found it a dream." Father Joachim at this instant entered the room, at the door of which he had for some time been an attentive listener. Clara had hitherto been only the plaything of this Jesuit priest, who little feared heresy from a sportive child. Taking her hand with more than usual kindness, he told her he had heard her last few words, assured her that the Holy Mother was too kind and gracious to turn a deaf ear to her prayers. "Dear Father," replied Clara, "I am but a child, yet I did pray most earnestly for my dear mamma, and I do believe that Jesus heard me." "Doubt it not my child, He is very merciful, nor can He refuse the prayers of His mother. Did you not ask her to intercede for you?" "Yes, again and again, but I felt no comfort till I prayed to the Saviour, and I do believe He heard me, and sent that dream to comfort me." "You err on that point. You should thank our gracious Lady, to whom you are indebted for an answer to prayer.” "Dear Father, I love to think that Jesus heard me, may I not thank him too." "Doubtless, my child, the Holy Mother intercedes for us, and then the Son grants our prayers." "Does the virgin love us then more than Jesus, and does He hear our prayers only because she asks?" inquired Clara with a look of pain. "Annette told me that Jesus loved us most, and proved his love by dying for our sins." "Clara," said the Father in a sterner tone, "I forbid you to speak of that unhappy woman. She was an enemy of our holy faith, and if she planted error in your young mind, her condemnation will be the greater." Then, seeing the tears in the child's eyes, he softened his voice, gently adding, "Your departed parent talked not thus; she reverenced and prayed to the Holy Mother; with her dying breath she exhorted you to cleave to our holy faith. Have her children so soon forgotten her." "Oh Father," said both in one voice, 'think not we can forget her last command;" and, yielding to her |