I
9
-\
)
MORES
o
CATHOLICI;
OR,
AGES OF FAITH.
BY
H. KEN ELM DIGBY.
VOL U M ESE CON D.
COXT AINING
BOOKS V. AND VI.
NE\V YORK, CINCI
NATI, CHICAGO:
HENZIGER BROTHERS,
PRINTERS TO THE HOLY APOSTOLIC SEE.
]905
PRElENnt> to ST.
i
RYJS COLLE3E Ll.tu
ARY
BY REV. T. CALLAGHAN
SUMMARY.
BOOK V.
CIL1PTEU 1.
THE predominant passion of the ages of faith, a thirst for justice-The wants of man's
nature-The necessity for having a Divine object felt and shown-The language of the
ancient 'writer8 on this head. p. 19
CHAPTER II.
The voice of the Church was the voice of desire-The sacred offices expressed the tlurst
for justice, and originated in that desire-Sketch of their history-The observance of the
canonical hours-The divisions of time-The divisions of the office-The necessity for a
uniform liturgy-The mode of celebrating the Christian mysteries always essentially the
same-The ecclesiastical offices considered in relation to beauty, justice, and truth-Origin
and use of ceremony-The ceremonies of the Catholic Church-Objections against them
considered-The moral value and beauty of the institution of the canonical hours-The
opinion of the holy fathers respecting the night-The vigils-The night of the middle ages-
The offices of the morning and day-The holy mass-
ones-Vespers-Complin. p. 29
CHAPTER III.
General observations respecting the sacred offices-Origin and explanation of the uni_
versal adoption of the Latin tong-ue in the public offices of the 'V estern Church-Remarks
on the language of the Catholic liturgy-Its symbolic character-The Christian use of
symbolism, in relation to language and ceremonies-Admirable beauty of the offices-
Their historic character-The Litanies-Remarks on the objections brought against them-
Grandeur and decorum observed in all parts of the Divine office-Its sublime poetry-The
beauty and solemnity of what was also visible in the Church-)Iagnificence in that respect
of the middle ages-The use of incen
e traced and explained-The custom of having lights
-An occasion of great splendor-The procession-Its origin and importance-Its symbolic
character, described by 81. Bernard. p. 59
CHAPTER IV.
Importance of music in the estim
tion of the ancients, of the holy fathers, and of the
scholastic theologians-History of Church music-That of the middle ages: its excel-
lence and characteristics-Origin and use of organs-The aurea missa-Decline of Church
music. p. 89
CHAPTER Y.
Opinion of the middle ages respecting the music of the Dh-ine offices-Psalmody, the spirit
of the Psalms, became the spirit of the age-The people joined with the clergy in singing the
office-Provision e'"ery where to meet the love of the people for the Catholic offices- \Visdom
of this-The external behavior of men in the churche
regulated-"Thy importance \\as
ii
s U )! )1 ..\. R Y .
attached to it-\Vhat df'votion
recomnwnded-Bp.ws-Books-Tlu' puJog-i.
-'Xo one to
enter :u'med-Rever('nc(' due to the sacrt>d m
"stp,'ics, and th
rule
which it dict.."ltpd- \ ,'i
it
to a CathoJic church-The approach; the lwlls; the paradi
e and port.1-J: the nmltitmJp
within, and the variety of character which it com p,"ispd-f' harm of this hl)('dJ.CJe-Genl'r:LI
impressions vary with the hour-The su ppJian t crO\\ d- The ineffable I)rc
ence- Ex pt'riell '...
of the ages of faith in respect to it-The duu.dlPs art' onJ
' lUouumpnt
of it-Thp ..tft'('t,
described by St. Bonaventura, and verified in T:L"so p. 10'2
CIL\p'rEH '1.
The Jove of men for thl' sa(.red offices ('vincl'l} in a'1cient charo.ctt'rs and.foundafions-Ex.
press testimony by the histo1"Ïans of the middle agl--Exampl('s-InCf'renc' to be dnm D
from this fact: that men must have bepn tl10ughtful and intp]]f'('tuaJ, virtuou
and PUM', or
penitent; lovers of peace, and of
impJ(' ma.nn('t"!'l, conformabl(' to n.
turl'; familiar with
the dawn-Charm and importance of the first hours p. 131
CHAPTER YII.
Origin of the Christian festivals-Theil' histor
'-TlJl
poetic interp...t wIuch thpir COUro.f'
imparted to the year-Mode of their ceJcb....Üion-Tlu' vigil-Its U!o.e and rue..1ning-The dis-
cipJine of the ages of f.lith with respect to fasting-The mtention and pffl'd!o. of this-The
term" obJigation" as appJied to fpstiyals-The obsl'rvancl' of the Lord's day dUring- the
midlUe ages-FestivaJs of obJig-ation how observed-Od.LYf's, Origin and importancp of
them-The popular customs associated with the Christian Cl'stivaJs, distingubhed-\\Yhat
were good- \Vhat were abu
e
and condemnpd . p. 154
CHAPTER \rIll.
With what mind the festivals were observed-Th('
' w..re studied, pxplainpd, and r..lebrdted
as sb'icUy l'eJigious- They \\ ere d"'dlllatic- "9hat "a.. the t;tJ h', in conwq Uf'nCf', ohst'r\"pd in
the instruction!'; of the dergy-Sennons or
t. Bl'rnard-Corre
pond('nC4' of the popu1ar d('w)-
tion- Their symboJic cha"'dctf'r-SeI"ll1On of Riclldrd of
t. Yietor-Th 'f' th"al
of our L..1dy,
and their origin-Language of Ull' agt's of faith re"'pecting- df'votion to the mc
...ed Virg-in-
The meditations of S1. Bonaventura respecting- it-Objpction.. to thp Chri!-tian ff'..itval
con.
sidprpd- Their cpJeb,'ation conducpd to important ..nds, in all int..Jh,ctual and mor.\1 point of
view-The anniversat'ips of the saints con
idered in this rf....pe...t-Th, objection.. of lJf'retiQi
answered-The beneflciaJ poJiticaJ tendency of Ulf' fhtivals-Tlw bt'.luty of the Dh, ine oftj(',,
in relation to the changes l'equirpd by the :o-cason-Constanl'y and varif'ty unit,,'d in the Church
order- \Vhy the moderns aI'e in
('nsiùJ... to thp f'xcp]Jent"f' of tlJf' CathoJic rituaJ-Thf' festival
of the HesUI'rection considered in explanation of this-Instance of its effect on two Criends-
Their devout assistance at its solemnities f1"ülll Holy \Y' eek till tilt' ('nd of tilt' oct...Lvl.,,-}o'ervor
of the middle agf's on these fpsth'al'i-The indiffl'rence of lhe moderns p. l"'fI
('IL\PTER IX.
The thirst after justice w,tnt's
ed in the devotion of In"n g-...neraHy in ancient times-The
reJigious character of the middle ages-Their connection with the doctrine of the 'pR.::;,\,iou-
Devotion of the laity-Instruction oftllf' JaÜ,y-ExarupJes of the JaicaJ pif'ty-Tlw confrater-
nities and theirordel"!'ldiffused holine-.s throug-h society-The rules g-iwn to chivaJr) had the
same end in view-The Corms of benedictions hivcn to chiJdren rf'nIal'kablp-Zt'aJ and e>"l'l'.
tion of thp lai1y in )whaJf of rt'ligion-The dt'crel'
úf princr...; in it.. favor-Traditions of
s U l\f
1AR Y.
Hi
gOVf'rnment insured its rf'spect-The zcal oCthe middeagoes was nourished by de\.out practi-
ccs, and by obscn'ance of all essential duties-Holinc<;s of domestic Jife-A monastic spïrit
infused into it-StJ"lc of com-ersation, religious anù philosophical-Laics aspire to com'clot
infìdels-Thpir familiarity with the Holy Scriptures-Laics defend rpJig-ion with theirppns-
Influence of the lay society on the cJergy-Langua
e and conduct oï laics to the clergy-
Their lo,'e for the' clcrg-y-Grounds of that love-Examples po 230
CHAPTEH X.
Generalloeflections- 'Vhat object engrossed the love of men III ages of faith-The zeal of
those ages defended against the objections of the moderns-The system called" of the just
medium" examined and condemned-Catholic prudence conb'astell with the prudence of
the indifferent-ZeaJ insepmoabJe floom a thirst for justice-The zpal of the middle ages a
source as wen as a result of faith-The spil'ituality of those times gradually impaired by the
Machiavelian policy of governments-The effects which this has produced p. 271
SUMMARY.
BOOK VI.
fJHAPTER I.
Effects of the thirst after ju:;tice-Devotion included imitation as well as prayer-Thf'
view taken by modern historians-General character of the middle ages in relation to jus-
tice-Their peculiar merit-The satirists and censors-Tendency of the ancient works of
fiction-The number of the just not revealed by history p. 289
CHAPTER II.
Historic difficultif's opposed to its discovery- "That kind of evidence may be had-Inci-
dental testimonies-Tone of literature-Tendency of the confloaternities, and of chivalrous
orders-Legislation and government of the ancient Catholic state-Direct testimonies-
Justice of men in different ranks; general views taken by ancient writers p. 313
CHAPTER III.
Domestic manners-Filial and parental duties-Fidelity of dependents-Sanctity of
marriagc-Justice in reJation to property-Hospitality-Domestics-FeudaJ life and its
rural f'xercises-'VllOJe families composed of saints-The women of the ages of faith-,
Character of female piety in CatholIc countries-The conventual life of nuns, and its
influence on domestic manncl"s-The reduses-Origin of the cloistral life of women-The
convent of the middle ages-Learning of the nuns-:\Ioral anù social condition of women
in ages of faith contrasted with pagan times- 'V omen of the Catholic type a ncw creatio
-Judg-ment of the holy fathers-Influence of women in respect to justicp-The Catholic
lady, her justice and charity-Thf' emdition and poJiticaJ importance of some in the
middJe ages-Their heroic v il'Í lJ.e- The maternal character-)Iodesty and grace of
daughters; their employments and recloeations-The spil'it which presided over marriage
-The martial love of the middle ages-Heroic examples-The regard and respect evinced
for women p. 341
CHAPTER IV.
The loves of the middle ages sanctified and rendered a source of moral improvement :
aso.;ociated with the life of faith and the hopes of heaven-Examples of devotion in love-
The danger and evil incident to it-How atoned for - po 415
\Ï
s p 'r 'L \ R Y .
GIL\PT1
1{ v.
Institution and action of the clt'rg-y in relation to ju.;til."t'-DiM'iplin
-Cl'hha("y-TII('
hiemrchy-guploemacyof the Homan S"l'-Oloig-in 01 its t.'mpol'.ll powl'r-TIIl' council or
cardinals-Leg-atf'
-The episcopal "tate in gl'nl'ral-Tlw p.uoi
h pl'it'
t...-I.ife in community
-."ynods-..\ppt'al
to Rome-Support of thc derJ...'1 o in f('Jation to jlbti ,t'-Tithcs-.\n-
n:tts. exemptinn
RI'\"erence sho\\ n to the sacerdotal otlice-Gl'nt'ral CdU..,-!o; of promotion
-Xo national and Jocal prejudil,ps-Intf'lIf'ctual gT,'atnb" of tlu' t'pi
C()I),le
o in th,- middl..
ag-es-Pro\'isinns ab-rain..t simony--4u..tïce of thl' llwn in {'CcJ{'
i:L"til
J Ol'dl'l"-Thc popt'
-
TIlf' sacloed colleg',"'-The bi
hops-The parob.h pl'i '
Di"tl"Ïbution of th,> church n'H'nUC'i
in rehttion to justiCt..'-Charity and pnvf'rty of th.. clprg-y r<'tsonall
'-)Ianu.lll.lbor prM-
tisl'd by them: k{'pp aloof from tf'mporal atfairs-Orig-in of tlwir l'mplo
omf'nt in tlH' civil
govpmmf'nt-Their intf'g'rity in r"g-:u"tl to it-Thl' Iwnf'flcmJ rf'''ult of
()('it'tJ-Tlu>ir fru-
g-ality and modl'ration-Tlwy kl'cp aloof from prnfalH' anmsI-ml-nt..,-Their ho
pitality-
Tlll'ir direct intluence in loeg-alod to justie '-Their paloticular ami incidental aclion-TlH'ir
ordinary and universaJ action-Tilt> mi....iqn
rip!'; or the milldlf' n
-Thr pn.achf'1'S of the
middle ag-es-ltipas of the modl'rn
1"f'
pN.ting- thf'm-Thr
l'mlOn
of the mid,lll' .
g"> in
relation to justice-In rl'lation to elOllllenc.,' IUHI t.:L..te. ami cff.,ct-Tncidl'ntal evid.'nee
furnished by them to the t.pirit of thost' times . po :?4
l'IL\PTER "I.
The justice or the ages of hith, Ill'l'oic-Con-.et!uent interc::.t lD
pirl'd by Catholic hi
-
torips-Gmndeur and, irhll' of tht' mhhllf' a
-The loc....l historib-The lWl"Oic ju..tice of
canonized saint
The hig-h standal-d proposptl to all nwn-TIJl> nwrcantiJp charactl'r-Thf'
knightly character-TIlt' mor
l philo
ophJ of tllP middlt> oLg.'S opposl'd to till> utilital'ian-
The Cathohc doctrine rcspectinK moth.f' . po 54.,
CIL\PTEH YII.
The justice of the ages of faith, I'>Upl'rnatumJ; y,.t III harmony \\ ith natul"C-T,'stimony
of the Gentile!';-InsutUcÜ'ncy of naturp- TJlP morality of faith hig-her, and in som' points
ditfeloent-A supernatural standard propospd to alll1lf'n-Oppo!ooition to the srn!';ual idf'al-
Thoughts of the ancient... re
pecting it p. ,)Im
CIL\PTEH '''III.
The justi('e consequent on confe-..sion and pt'n
ne,--orig-in and history of tlu' institution
-Thoughts of the middle ag-e rf'specting- it-Zt'al for crfecting- CO'l\"l'I
ion
to ju
ticf'-The
confessional in relation to tllP feeJinJ,"'S of mpn-It.. int1uence and efT acts-ObJections of thp
moderns rpspeeting examination of conSClPnce, I)f'nance, and ahsolution-Indulgences-
Their origin-Doctrine of the church-Tht, pmcticaJ effecl.. po 5:;3
CHAPTER IX.
Contra.,t between the Catholic morality and that of the ancient and mOdl.'lon Yo orld-A
glance at the justice of the Gentiles, and at that of the modprns-Chang-e of manners con-
sequent on the change of faith-The proposition that morality is no" better understood,
considered-EssentiaJ character of the mod('l"ll s
-stems-Tf'stimony of their supporters-
Contrast of modern to CathoJic manners in relation to the love of truth, to the llt-lit'atp st'nse
of justice, to intcJ,'Tity in public Hfe, to the ah
ence of ambition, to n....tionaJ ju
tic... to Yo is-
dom of government, to the obedience of subjects. to purity of nlOl"als iu the people, to the
!';ense of spiritual combat, to thf' ideaJ and realization of a just man, to pmctical con!ti
tf'ncy
with the Christian doctrme, and to Jwroism in justice. 0 0 . p. li
l
U 1\1
1 A R Y .
vii
CIIAPTEU X.
Other features of the Catholic morality-Its precise and certain Jaw-Its practicaJ and
poetic chaloactelo-Its provisions against all extravagance-Its strictness respecting" con.mon
duties-Payment of creditors-Justice of municipaJ laws-Provisions against usury-It
included all virtues III one-Its influence even upon art-Effects seen in the edifices of the
middle age-GpneloaJ ideas of justice deri ved from the example of Christ-From the models
which is proposed, and from the obselovations of the visible world po 657
CHAPTER XI.
The subject resumpd-Doctrines were the foundation of duties, and the divine authority
their principle of force and ethcacy-)Iotives fUl'l1ished by the knowledge of a future
judgment-The Catholic morality was Spil"ituaJ and living-The charge again
t it of super-
stition refuted-Its efficacy in the determination of the will-Free agency of man and power
of the wiU, maintained, and the practicaJ consequences in the middle ag-es-The fatalism
of the moderns, and the custom of life resulting from it-Genuine and exalted merit of the
Catholic morality acknowledged by a late philosopher p. 674
CHAPTER XII.
Objection to the CathoJic morality on the supposed ground of its incompatibility with the
Christian doctrine of justification, refuted by the testimony of the holy fathers-Of the
scholastic and mystic authors-Of the church herse]f in her liturg)"-Of the laity, phil-
osophel"S, and poets, and of the tombs and other material monuments of the middle ages-
Condusion p. 688
MORES CATHOLIC!:
OR,
AGES OF FAITH.
BOOK V.
MORES <\ XTHOLICI;
OR,
AGES OF FAITH.
THE FIFTH BOOK.
CHAPTER I.
T the fourth connsel of the mystic song a sudden Jnstre, like the goJden
-&
beams which brighten up the horizon at the evening hour, illuminated
( BI
my heart. ::\Iethought a countless multitude of men, of every age, and
1't V order, and degree, passed before me. Emperors and princes were there,
J.t. and mitred fathers, and whole hosts wrapped up in sable weeds; nor
were wanting the ideal comrades of our youth, steel-clad knights, and
gentle poets of the bower and hall; grave magistrates too fonowed amidst a throng
of citizens and peasants, in which were some who toiled in trades laborbus
which seem base to the pride of mortals, and others who craved alms for sweet
charity, and#around each did shine an unimaginable light, encircling him as a lu-
minary of eternal vision, which clearer than with any voice proclaimed his everlast-
ing princedom. These were all they whose wishes tended to justice, for they shout-
ed forth "Blessed," and ended with "I thirst." 0 how after each pause the har-
mony sounds morp and more strange to ears of flesh and blood. We know, in-
deed that an spirits on this earth hunger and thirst, as all mourn. Who has not
observed, while wandering on the shore of brief life with wretched men, the care-
ful provision made to satisfy the thirst for riches, the thirst for singularity. the
thirst lor novelty, the thirst for change, the thirst for honors, the thirst for the
first seats, and for hearing Rabbi, the thirst for knowledge, perhaps, so praised
by that Chæronean sage, who says, "that letters and philosophy should imprint
in our soul a passion similar to thirst and hunger, which would evince its
power if we were deprived of them;" but unless when enjoying such visions from
reverting to the traditions and monuments of ages of faith, where, 0 where is
there any indication di8cernible among Adam's children of attention to the thirst
for justict:' ?
19
20
:MORES CATHOLICI; OU,
"'!\Iy soe.! thirsteth after thee," said holy hrael's king. "
Iark," adds ðt. Au..
gustin, "how he thirstell. There aro who thirst, but not after God. \rhooVel
feels the ardor of ùesire, that dl'sire is th<> thirst of his BOUI. And BOO how màny
desires are in the hearts of men! One desire
golli, another p
ionB, another
cattle, another houses, another honors.
ee how many desires, and how few men
there are who ever ;:jay, C my soul thirsteth after Thee,' for men thir
t ILftcr tho
world, and they know not t.hat they arc in the de:;ert ot Idumæu, where their
souls ought to thirst after God."1Ie
In submitting history to the investigations required hf're. there are m
ny :1nll
various points to be kept in yiew. 'Ye should, in the first pla.rl', r{'mark. how the
need of a divine object for the wants of tlw sonl was rl'cognizl.a, from \\ hich in
a great measure followed the OffiCl.g and fl'stivals of religion, whirh must, there-
fore be surveyed in ord{'r. This r
earch will demonstrate what a zeal for fl'-
ligion animated m{'11 in all classes of societJ. A
-:l thus far our attention will 8el'm
to have been confined to \ erify the existence of the thirst \\ hich ið bl
'f.l: but
from this point, its fulfilment will bo our theme; for I shall then proce 'ù to show in
how admirable a manner the religious sentiment was rl'ùuI'ed to action, whi<'h will
lead on to a particular investigation of the state of mor.Llity in the age8 which \\ l"
review; when I shall ha\.e illustrated this statement by tho evidence of cont<,'m-
poraneous authorities it will be neC('s;);'Lf)' through rega.rd for the mistakes and
errors of later times, to show on what principle that whole systpm of mor-
ality depended, and what was its peculiar tone. After which inquiIJ, I shan
bring the sixth book to an end.
All ages have ùeen characteriz('d by certain leading pa.ssions. which ha\"e im-
pelled men to pursue some particular object of apparent good. ðome, like the
epoch which is distinguish{'d by the risc of the Ill'W opinions in the fifteenth
century, have been ages of a\arice, of the reign of gold, when men thirsh.d after
riches as the supreme felicity for which they were reaùy to make the 8.'lcrifice of
their souls, pledging them to Satan, and of their bodi('
, literally offering them to
the Jews. Others, like those we rl'ad about in tinH's more remoh', have hl'cn
ages of what are vainly termed military glory; others, like tho
ciatell 011
every tongue with names illustrious, ages of nrt and literature, because though no
error of philosophy and no temporary delusion of the multitude coulù totally sup-
press the cry of nature, yet during those intervals, the possession of gold, military
glory, art and literature, were held up to the admiration of men who always as-
sent to a resolute affirmation, as being the proper object and the farthc
t ('nd of
their desires and activity. We judge thus of timc.
prior to Christianity from
what we find in the writings of their eminent men, and from what has been trans-
mitted to us respecting their customs and institutions, and by using the same
process of investigation in reference to the middl(' aged, we shall finù rca<;on to con-
clude, that during the long period which they comprise, tho object recognized as
· Tractat. in Ps. 62.
.A.GES Oli' FAITH.
21
being the legitimate end of all mortal desire, of all civil legislation, and of all in-
dividual exertion, was not gold, not military glory, not art or literature, but,
strange and wondrous as it may seem to many, the eternal happiness of the soul, or
the fulfilment of justice in accomplishing the will of God. The conclusion would
not be that these were ages of perfect justice or of social perfection, which can
only reign within the snpernal city of God triumphant. Kay, where souls are
imbruted in matter, the face of ext
rna.l things may often seem less disturbed than
where men of desire with heavenly thirst illspired, are struggling to set them right;
but that the ruling passion which can be always discerned in the history of these
times amidst the innumerable disorders to which as at all other periods of the
world men were subject, cannot be otherwise de::;ignated than as the thirst after
justice; and if the proof be demanded, we find it in the institutions, legislation,
and whole form of society whica distinguished them, for which no parallel can be
found in the annals of mankind, and which no ingenuity can trace to any other
orlglll. The blessed mom'nillg from which we ha,-e so lately turned seems to pre-
sent Itself to us again oin this place; for in the thirst after justice lies the secret of
the inexhaustible tears and profound genius of the middle ages. Precious tears,
which flowed in limpid legends, in admirable poems, in sublime imageryo Yes,
these complaints which they make of the course of things around tllPm, fl'Om
which modern writers attempt to deduce such calumnious inferences, pron' only
that they felt the eternilyof that mystel"Y which had its consummation on Cah-ary.
1'hey saw, as a living historian remarks. that Christ was still on the cross, anJ
not likely soon to descend from it-that the passion continues and will continue.
Behold, these old statues in the cathedraìs of the middle ages. See how they im-
plore with joined palms the long wished for and terrible moment when man
for judgment is to wake from clay, wake for that great sentence of universal
retribution which is to put an end to the ineffable sorrow which has so long
oppressed them. The present race of men are accustomed to look with indiffer-
ence at the great crimes of nations, r.eferring them either to the blind decrees of
inexorable fate, or only founding on them commercial speculations, with the hope
of enriching their own coffers. France, encouraged by some secret source of mean-
ness and profligacy in the administrators of greater power, is thus permitted to
run her career from Ancona to the Tagus, unstigmatized by common voice, as if
all sense of shame and honor were extinct in human breasts; but the cry of the
middle ages in view of the calamities and injustice of men, while waiting for
the hour of .Almighty vengeance, might remind us of those words from the summIt
of the mystical cross, "Tristis usque ad mortem."
The sages of antiquity were not wholly insensible to the necessity of ha, ing
in view amidst the perturbations and vicissitudes of life, a divine instead of a hu-
man end. "
ell had the Athenian in Plato maintained xpfj.'at rò pÈJI O'7rovðaioJl
tT7roJlðú
'uv, rù
È Ill, O'7rov
aioJl pl,,* and Plato
imse1f continually shows the
'" De Le 6 'ibus VII.
'>'>
_..J
)10 RES CAT n 0 L I (1 I; 0 U ,
importance of having one suprcme object, to which looking always, we may
ùirect all our words anù actions. lIe woulù have this quc
tion constantly aùdrcsscù
to his disciple
, U tJUIJf1éIlTLE (TV êÈ c,ì 7r0; m.mrEÌ!:; rí ."or' tt:t;'ó ÉfTTt ro f"j.
profound awl searching words, at which C\ en th ' children of Ii rrht 'night som('-
times tremble. Cicero in e't:plailling why philo:)ophy d
not produce equal ef-
fects upon all minds, adùuces the clispo
ition of the youth with whom he COD\"CrsCS
to feelunsati
fied with ('very thing human, as an e\ itlence of the l:iuperior nobl('ness
of his nature, and of its cap.Lbilities to profit by philosophy. II Te natun, cx('cl-
411
sum quemùam viùelicet. et altum, et hum:.um despicientcm genuil"t 'rIm>: \\ e
reall of Schiller, "his mind wad not of that sort for which rest is prO\ iùcd. in this
world." Faith impartl'ù tIll' privilege
of geniu
, so as to ma.ke applicahle to
every man the mystic nam(' of that foulllier of the religious lJlt'tropolis of the
Gaub, 7roBw.vç, the m:m of desire in who
e brC3,:)t was extinguishe,l the 'xI)Ccø
tation anù even the d('!'iro of happiness on ('arth. His could onl). bc a life of
wishes, of longing, of lahor, amI rl'SUC&;nes
: it mu:-:t be tn:Lch. up :LlI of 8igh
and
tears, it must be all made of Sl'rvi('(', all macle of f:mt.a,sy, all m:Llle of hopeb allcl
fears, all adoration, dutv, and obscn 9 ance. all humhlcl1cs.
. all p"ticncc, all purit),
all trial. Rut while the thir:-:t of the worM ßpp('ar
in that real hf'art-rl'm.ling- sa.d.-
ness, which no ima.gination can ellllobl('. the afl1iction of soul arising from the thir..t
for justice, is always sublime in its expressions, Rwl full of i,leal grandt'nr, as is
the piercing melodies of the choir. It w:
, howcn>r, in the schools of the true phi-
losophers, and in the ages illuminated by th(' light of faith, that the vag-ue n.nd im-
perfect speculations of the ancient sag '.. a<.;..:uml'11 the ch:Lr:Lcter of exact knowledge.
,. The reasonable spirit," Sa);3 Louis of lllois, I. is 80 noble, that no fl'ail good is
able to sati
fy it.'1 It :\Iundus propter te factus est," say.s ::5t. llernard, "ideo mun-
dum non ames, quia mundus non csr te dignu
, quum sis co long-e dig-nior." Fal-
lacious are the things which cannot always remain with ll
; thing
, adcls St. G rl'g-
ory, " which cannot expel the wants of our mind:-:." " Great is till' dignity of tho
rational cl'eature," exclaims lIugo St. Victor, .. to whom nothing l
than tho
supreme good suffices, and great is its liberty, since it cannot be compellcù to
accept it."
St.
\ugnstin ha.d said the same. "
othil1g temporal can satisf) the
soul, whose scat is etemity,"U
'propo
ition
,clmittcd by the moùern poet, though
with a senseless restriction.
"There is a fire
And motion of the sou] which wiJ] not dwell
In It.. own narrow being, but a...pir('
Beyond the fitting IDt'diulll or desire;
.\ml. but onCl' kind]('d, qupnch]('.." f'\.f'I'mo
,
Pre,ys upon high advl'ntUl.e, nor (,
ln tire
'" Dp Leg-ibu.. XII. t Tuscul. II. 4. 1 LudO\-ic. Blosii Instit. Spirit. cap. L
Hugo de St. Viet. Eruditiones Theolo,
icæ. tit. VII. UP Dodrin. C'hrist. Lib. I. ,5."1.
\. G E S 0 F F A I T II .
23
Of aught but rpst; a feyer at the core
Fatal to him who bears, to aU who ever bore."*
The feeding of this fire is nevertheless rcpresented by Plato, not as a fatal ex-
ercÜ:(', but as pl'cserving the sustenance necessary for the intellectual health. .. The
cntin' soul," ::;aith he, ,. in the best nahu'es, receives a more honorable condition
from pos
e..::áng- temperance and justice with wisdom. that the botly acquires
strl'ngth and beauty from health, in the same proportion a
the soul is more hon-
01'ab1e than the body; therefore, whoever has sen::ie. will li'l'. making all things
tenù to thi5 end; in the fir:-:t place honorin
instruction which gives him such a
soul, aud despising every thing else. .. t How brightly that heavenly fire dul burn
even in the hreath of wa.rlike men in the most chivalrous ages, may be witnessed
in Godfrey, when in a vision he is repI'esentcIl beholding the contrast of heaven
and earth.
-- _" He lwnded down
Hi-; looks to ground, and haIr in seol"/) he
lllird ;
He saw at once ea"th, sea, flood, castle, town,
Strangely di\'ided, strangely all compil\l,
And wonde,:d folly man so far should d,'own.
To set his heart on things sO base and vilde,
That servile empit'e searcheth, and dumb famp,
And scorns Hpav'n's bJi.,,,, yet p,'otrl'eth Heaven the same."!
In vain are all these public anl1 private conü'ivances, day by day, con tin-
mtIly throughout the year, to repel, as Thucyùides sa.ys, TÙ ÀU7r1]UÚJ"
,. Born,"
::;ays
t. Gregory, .. to the sorrows of this jOUl'ney. we may indeed have arri,-ed at
tha.t degree of fastidionsnl'ð3 as not even to know what we ought to desire. '11 But
what is naturally wished by the human wiII, is justice, a.s Duns Scotus profoundly
observe:::, for that is it
perfection; since, as tbe infel'ior inational nat ure has a
principle of telllling to that which naturally agrees with it, so the will has ne-
ce::sarilya principle of telll1ing to justicp, which is the end that agrees with its
nature. - Hugo of
t. Yictor makes a curious remark to show how clea.rly the
hUllliUl heart ùiscerns that this is made for higher than earthly joys. \Yhen
speaking of the words of Ecclesiastes, tha.t all things under the sun are T'a.nity
he adds. ,. I know not wherefore, but th
:::e worth when they are read sound
sweet in om' ears. "
e are glad to be told of our evils. and what we do not love
we nevertheleS3 love to hear. for _ we do not love our evils, and yet we love to
hear of them. The reason must be, that by hearing of the ('viI which we do not
love. we are reminded of the good which we love; and this remembrance of good,
even amidst evils. is sw('et to the minù, and so much the sweeter as his e,-ils arc-
more bitter. whIch when hearing or feeling we discern to be far removed from
the good to which we a.spire. So that when the sorrows of our exile are de:-:cribell
* ChiMe Harold III.
I
Hom. in. E\". a6.
t De Repub. Jib. IX. t Book XIV. ii. * Lib. II. :
H
CT Duns Scoti, Jib. II. Sentel\t. Dist. XXXIX. 9. 1.
2-1
IOHES C.\TIIOLICI; OR.
and till' e'\:tent of our mi:;crv lIl.clared, our mind tmaking as if from u. long slcep,
suddenly l"{'nwmbl'rs w here
it' once \\ as, anù from u. \ ie\, of thl' might)' ruins, it
calculates the height of tJlt' snmmit from which it fell. Thi. is what rcndcr
1:unenta.tion ':;0 sweet to the mist'mbll', ami which con, erts the bighs anù tears
into such delicious fooù. ...
The Ilt'eù. how(,Vl'r, of a divine ouject app('arl.d obvioui:'. not onl) from a consid-
cmtion of tllP dignity of onr na.turl'. but al:..o from ;L :-l'USC of what \\ u.i requisite to
procure it
o much of present happines..; as W;ati allowable In the" orld of wl
hc.s
Of innoí'ent amidst the pha.ntoms of :;in and v:mit}. Did anyone hope to sati..;f)'
hir: thirst from the broken cisÌl'rIls of tIll' worhrs joy? Pha'tlm, in her t;ickm.s....
was a symbol of tl1f' destiny which awaited him; for of him it would BOon be '. ill
W'ith truth. you take ple
urc in nothing; YOU changl' from one place to nnothcr;
Uw prl'ðl'nt is displeasing, the ahSI'nt is thought tlean'r.
The reil:;on of which calamity wa:-; rCIll:Lrh.t'tl b) Cil't'ro. \\ hen he
lY
thnt lust
can neYer find a.n end. t The amuitil)\I
. <I.'; l'a.rtlan fl'lI1arks, .1rt' all incon
tant.:
for no one who thif:5t:o; for visibll' thing
can e\ cr be
atis1ìl'tl ; since, 6J,;) Hugo of
t.
Victor
a}"s, .. the whole worM \\ ould not
ut1ice to man, who is the lord of the world.
ThE' eye cannot Ul' sati
fi('d with sel.ing nor tIll' l'ar with hcaring."
" Thp worM
Crit'd. I fail; the flesh cries, I rorrupt ; the demon ('rit..:" I tlc('(..i
('; Christ ('rief:.
I rl'ston' ; and .Yet... :lads St. BI'rn:Lrtl, .. :;neh is till' hlindnl'....
and m.s.dn('f;8 of our
minds. that leaving Christ who ill\'ites us \\ ith loving worth.. we follow the failing
world. the corrupting flesh, and the deceiving- deUlon. .. .. Tlw more OIll' drink..:'
l}"S Uicha.fll of S1. \Tictor. .. the more one thirst:!, for to 8ati:,f
' the apputitt' of
8Pwmality, the whol(' world would not
uffi('l'. "1
or i
it mon' aùl(' to sati
fy
:my of those vague dC8ir's which are 80 powt'rful in lI11'n of aClIÌl.l,y t;('nsitiH
mind
. and which attach them with such affection to thp fl'memhranec of tIlt'ir
youth, to the days that were embalml'd \\ ith frienclship and \\ ith poc'y. ., TIll're
was a time too, when I could WCl'}>," cril's 8l'hillcr: .. 0 ye d:!)'s of PP:!í'l', t hon
C<k:tle of my fathef, ye green lovely valleys
0 all ye EI,y:.:ian scenes of Ill) chil,l-
hood! will ye never come again, 1\l'Ver with )'our balmy sighing cool m) burning-
l)ooom?
lourn with me nature! t IH'Y \\ ill lll'\'cr conI(' again, never cool rn
'
Imrning bosom with their balmy sighill
-th(')' are gone! gone! nnù ma)' not
return. ., Hcturn, I)l'rhap
. Ill' would not that they should. as the profound thinker:.:
of the middle age would fl'In:ll'k. though hil'1 wordd express that wi:-h. II ugo of
t.
Victor felt this IIly
t('ry of our he;).1't. ., 0 :lncil.nt time, where art thou
.. he ('\.clnim
.
· _\.nnotatioll"s Elucidatoriæ in El'dt'sia"t. 110m. II.
t Tuscul. v. Î. 1 Dp ::;apientia. Lih
III.
Illstit.
Ionast. XXIX.
' De pr:t'p.u-ationc animi aù contl'lIlp]atiunt'm. c.Lp. VI.
AGE S 0 F I
" A 1 T II .
2,>
'f l"lllerly whiìe thou l'xisted I loved thee, and now when thou hast ceased to ex-
ist, I Ion' thee
ti1l; nor can thy departure e\Ter diminish my love for thee. "
hile
}WC:;L'llt I lon.a thee that thou might remain, and now that thou art no more I
10\"0 thel', anrl Jet I (10 not wish that thou shouldst return to me. )Iarvellous
de:,ire, illcomprelH'm.:ible affection. "?hat can I love in thee if T mn unwilling
that thon shonhl
t exist, unwilling that thou shouldst return? \\
hat is that
unheanl of affection when a thing is 1m-cd, and yet its presence is not loved?
,rho will explain to me this lo'\"e of my heart? The reason why I will not that
thou shonld8t return again i:; this, that I desire rather to be with thee where
thou art.now. Formerly I loved thee pen-ersely, when I wished thee to remain
with me whel'e I was in exile, aIHI now I love thee with more consideration, be-
cause I wi:;h to he with thee in om' country, where thou wilt subsist for eYer." *
The expel'ience of ages 1m:' demonstrated that without a view to the final con-
summation of all perfection in the reign of everlasting justice, men are sure to
:find nothing on their pilgrimage but disappointment, and without faith, despair.
,. Oùlidon on this earth," cries a poet of France in a passage of unminglecl
bitterne:,:':. composCl1 a fl'w days before his death, "Oblivion on this earth, and be-
yond it. Bchoh1. fl'icnd, my life and my eternity! Oblivion, for I have passed
without leaYillg a trace
Obliyion! for how little place demands my grave!
Poor. unkno,,"n, without a. destiny, lost in the crowd, atom cast upon the Hllgar
waye, like eyery other mortal that floats with us, I have gathered and borne
my cr.own of thorns, awl beyoml that nothing. "t Behold the end of man's dis-
tempered thirst.
---" 0 blind Just!
o foo1ish wrath! who so dost goad us on
In thl' brief ]if.., and in the eternal then
Thus miserably o\'l"whelm us." !
It is an elTor to S1lpp08P that these melancholy views of the natural life date
from a recent epoch. Cartlan, who never heard the modern strains, remarks
,. that in youth, when all things flouri811, strength, senses, beauty, and genius, not
unfrcquently we fef'llife w('ari
oml'. ..
All that is not God is nothing. lienee
the certain di:-:appoillLnwn t which awaits our vain hopes, vain aims, inordina.te de-
sirC'
: for "the hopeð of ml'll," a5 Pi1ll1al' say,::, .. are tossed up ana down upon a.
sea of error."1\ Not the highest, firme:;t seats of earthly grancluer can give them
rest.
Otho the third cmperOl', was openly joyous, hut on account of the warning of
blessed IIeribert, he 8e('rf'tly groaned and wept.' Excepting the thirst for justice
or the ardent tlesÜ'c of pleasing God, there is no movement of the soul which can
be trusted without lleliberation. "Soli inniti prudentiæ tuæ," says
olomon,
"fOl'," adds Richm'd of St. \Yictor, .C man knows not wha.t may comhwe to good in
* D.. Vanitate )[undi, Lib. II. t Bmgnot.
H)pl"On. C.u'da:1i <h, Consolatioll", Lib. II. II OlymÓ'. car. XII.
! Dante, Hell, XII.
tr Dl'exelii alll'ifodina.
:'!(j
)1 0 R F
CAT H 0 LTC I ; () It)
thi
life. in the number of tilt' tla)"s of his pen'grination. uncI III the timl' "hieh
p:l
S1'8 awa)" liS a shadow. ... Yes, it was \\l'll Ululcr
to,)ù in tIll" U 6 ('8 of faith that
we Ill'l.ll a. dh ine objl'ct; that all elsl' i:; mutahle in man. .. (;1)11 alOJll':' t-:l.\
0.
French hi
torian, .. can fl'joil'p ov('r his work. IUlIl :o:a)" that it is gOOtl. \\111'11 man
h:l
toill'd awl coruIlH'red. ho let.ð fall from hiI-Õ hawls the long tIt'sirell oLjt' ,to di
-
gustt'd with it and with hirn8Clf. Tlms .\ll'x:mJer ùil.d úf S:lIhll'
"', wlll'n he had
conquered .\.sia, and .\laric whl'1l Ill' h,lll takl'n I: 0 II1l'. C;olldro)' of Bouillon
had no ::ooner posst'
sion of the Hol
Lancl than It' NLt disconra
e(l on the eart h.
and languished for rl'8t within it..:; ùosom. .. (it'niu., has no pri,'ill'g" hert', for i
most adored crelition is sure to crumble into dust as boon as perfl'ctl'tl. St. .\ugu..-
tin cans the imë1gl' which Wl' rt'presl'nt to ollr
l'ln'
in conceiving nny objl'ct .. tho
son of our hl'art. ..t 'l'Ill':'c sons tIie hefore u:o:. '1'0 Iul' e thi
iIIn:-;tratl'tl. ) ou l1(,l'll
only hl'ar ;:,chiller .:.peaking of his non C:Lrlo
, an<<1 accounting for i18 irr('gularit.Y.
":-'ome time elal'
I'll," :5:.lY
Iw, ., bl'tween beginning ßml concluùing it; I comnll'1l . 'J
the fourth allll fifth aet
with quit<, an ultl,l"t.cl hl'art." Litth' t'tran
I' t;hoult} it
l'em that thl'
trn
gll'
of indiyillual una :,i..;tl'tl "'l'nin:, prO\t' ill
UmceJlt, wlll'n
en'u the
ublime:,t "OI'ks of rt'li.
iou:; art in Rgf'
of faith. illllicah' tlmt thl'J hall
not sati
fh'd their uuthor
. TIll'
l'ntle hrt'ath of that spirit which pa......t..'J ùefore
the f:lCl' of Daniel. can-yin); away king.lom'i :Lnll hrt';
king l'rnpin.)OÕ-tlmt .piri::'
which anim:Ltell the arti
ts of tilt' lIli(lIlll' agl'. which eHahll',1 them to rai:,f' thoi'p
mountaill
of vaults mul (O\H'r:; into thí' air h
g;\'in
tlll'1Il n (orCt. grl'ah'r than
th(' arm
of Titan:'\; that
pirit. let it \V )rk what it will, i
alwa
"::. ilJ at l'.l
l' in it
tlwl'1ling. It can l'Xtl'lHl. allli vary. a1llì allorn it. hut it c;.l1not. re:.:t in it. .. :-;('u
these admiraùh. cathl'llral
." contilluP-\
lidll'let. "howl'\"l'r hmutiful tlll')' lIIay hl'.
with their towprs anti their 8aint
in gloril'
' they cannot contain it. .\roun<l the
dlUrch Wl' must huilillittll' churches; it mu
t m.liate with chapt.ls. Bc)"ontl tho
altar \\
mu:-.:t raise an altar. :L s
LIlctuarv bl'hillll till sanduar). ,. Experit'Jl('p anll
reflection had con,"inccd philowplwr' of thiH impossiLility of 6.:Lti:,Cying tilt. thirst
of the sou! with any thing human, ILlltl heIU"(' it is, that, as Xovalis fl'mark..;.t.
"en.r)'
cil'nCl' hall its god. which was its ('n.1. Mechanic", lin'd upon the per-
petual motion, amI their higlll':,t aim W2L,.i the construction of 11 perpetuum moùill'.
:-'0 also ('hemistr
had its menstruum uni, er
l('. or its philosopher's stone. Phi-
Jo
oph
' sought It fir
t principle; mathematical. thc qustlraturc of the circle; medi-
cal, a life l'1i\:ir: political. a perfect fn'pdnm with gon'rnmcnl't. The philo:-:opher
of the mitlùlc age all sought the unlimited, though they found only what is limit-
ed. They sought infinity, though they found only things."
\rdcnt minds, endowed with the faC'ulty of extl'nding the fields of positin>
knowledge, would never in those spiritual agP!i ha.\í' tlcvot{.a tlH'm:.:eh-es to dry
studies if the imagination ha.lnot proposed a mysterious end 11.::1 the th':.-irct1 rt':;ult
of thpir la.bors. Raymond Lnll
'. &\lhert. Picus of 'Iirando1a. ('ardun, and others
· D__' statu int..,'ioris hominis. Lih. T. c. :!-t. t IJp Trinitat
, Lih. XI. 1 :j('hrifh'n, I!. :'?:J1.
AHER OP FAITH.
27
of that typP, had all a nobler though le88 practical object in view than what is
generally a:5cribed to them, ideal anù often fantastical it is true, but still the secret
firp which instigated them to such prodigious labors.
Rnt this di
appointlllent wa
the punishment of pride, me thinks I }war some one
reply. In the mere research or discovcry of natural truth, these men would have
found that rest and satisfaction which would have filled the vacuum of their
hearts. Yain pretensions of modern philosopher
, which the weakest can se('
through; for if he who should
ay that he had oppnerl certain great fountains
which had been concealed. wpre to :-:ay this. at the same time exhibiting every in-
dication of thir
t. wouM it not be ridiculou
? ...\nd is it not absurd when these
men who affirm that they an' not only the lords of fountains, but that they are
them
elves fountains, and able to irrigate the minds of an, while they promise
this to other
. arc themselves parched up with thirst?*
The great mastf'rs of the spiritual life discovered that it was the absencf' or pres-
ence of the thirst after justicp which causpd sallness or joy. H Si quis mundum
omnino odit." says
t. John Climacu::5, "hic h-istitiam effugit. Porro, si qui'3 quali-
bet visibiliulll rcrum affectione mordetur, tristitia. non dum liberatus e:;:t. .'t 'Ihey
saw that in fact men were constantly committing the double error of Karcissus
and it
opposite, concluding that a substance is a 8hadow, as often as they mi
-
took a shadow for a substance. To privation an men are doomed on this earth.
hut those are least wretched who are pitil'd most: for it is not an imaginary good
as many SUpp08C to have one's afl\,ctions centered upon a heavenly end, nor is it
a !':ub
tantinl felicity to have reaped the shadows of human kinclnes
which pa..;s
like tlw wind upon the rocks of the de
ert.
Goethe represents Tasso thirsting with all the ardor of a youthful and poetic
genius for the friendship of Antonio. and we think him deserving of pity, hecause
the latter meets hi
afh-ances with the formality, and coldness, and distrust of one
who makes the world his friend: but had 11(' found a heart of other mould, and
sought it
o, there would have only been a postponement of the bitter hour.
H'lPPY the man who Imrneth. not by pxperience, w}1Pn it is too late. the folly
of placing confidencf' in the stabilit,r of creatures, or in any thing but in thf' very
root and substance of justice. ...\.re you laboring for the glory which Pinrlar prom-
ises to the conqueror, sa.ying.
-- fLira Tì ICÀÉOÇ aÍfì
,; T[J1( (1ÒV ripaç E(17rET' úrÀaól" t
Do you e
pect happiness in tIlt' friendship of those who arc not as
ociateò in the
prh-ileges of eternal good ? You arc sowing the wind. you are embraC'ing a shallow.
,. quia pitins on1Ï\-iscentu1' tui homines, quam æRtima
." 'Yhat profound scars
docs mii'fortunc aml oftpn too that which is called by fool:; prospprit\"'. leave in
· Cicero ad Hel'f'nnium. Lih. IY. Ii. t Scala P:lI'adi
i (
I'a". 11. ! Olymp. YIII.
28
r() RES (L\TIIOLI C I; OU,
the bouI
lIow quickl)" it uproòts froUl U IIl'art that is not l'hri:O:lian. all hope.
allll all poe
)'
II 0\\
oon one arrin.s with tht' l'\ 11 gt'nil1
of Fr:l11L'c ,it
.ilw
in tlll' life of nations as in that of iIll1h"i,lnal:-:, a cold ph.asantrJ of fah'
.. B,.for.,
the fall, man wa:o: full, IJl'cau
,' notl wns his Cl'lltrl' ; hut," contilllit's Ib:uler. .. aftel'
it II(' Ù,'C:UUl' intl'TlULIly \"oi.l, Ood {'(\,j.
('tl to h., his ('('ntn', u1\II il1r'h.:\.l of fìJling
him inh'rnal1y, comprt,:o:::.-ptl him from \\ ithout. lmd hl'Ill,t' hl.ing unahlt. to bl1l"'-
tain him:-clf, he falls with a weight npon :0:0 III l' thin
t'dl'rnal. in of.l,,1' to hl'
U-.:-
taille!]. ., "hill' thus pla"l.tI h,' has but o Ill' u?ternati\l', to he \\ rt'tchl'.l,
el.king
ha ppil1t':'s in the Jon' of f'reaÌlut's, or to he' dt'..irin
Ul1t1 hoping, looking tow:mlt)
that prilmlI::-cat, ,. uhi pulchritt1tlo ('st ,.t satil'tas ....terna... allt1 pra) in u in word8
like thO
l' with which n:u1Ìt' ad.lrl''':''''''': tilt' hIe" ..1 spIrits :-
.. () Iw....nnia\ ntlWt'I
or g-Iatlnt':-;s t"'t'I'la..ting-, th.it f'"hal.'
In singh' brpath ,)'our ()tl()
manifold;
Brt'athe now; antllet t h., hun.,:-"I' he app...i....'],
That \\ ith g-rt'at era \"ing' lon
hat h helt] my
oul,
Finc1in
no food on partJl. .,.
It is w}l('n hrought to this stat(', that ue'f'or(ling- to tll(' writt'Ti'I of the middle
age, thè Fat1ll'r draws 1\ man to Chri:.:1: .. for:' s.'1y
tIlt' author of TIlt'ologia Ger-
maniC's, .. whl'1I finy thing of thi
pl'rfpct
00,1 is nn,'O\','r,.,l :Ll1tl manifc
te,l to th..
onI
\S if in :L moment th,'rt' :lori..t.:; in thut mun 1\ dl.sire of approaf'hin
tll this
perfl'ct goo(l, and of uniting' him:o:plf to it. TIlt' great('r i
thi
,1t':o:irf'. tilt' 11101'(' is
re\"eal('ò to him, t]}(' HHH'(' ht' thir
t
, th(' mOI'c' Ilt' is !-ati:-fipc1. allll tht' lIIort' thert' i..;
rl'ym}('rl to him, the morl' h.. .It':-:irt's and i
drawn. Thu
mall i
drawll to a ('Oll-
junction with the ptt'rnal p- o oc1, an.1 this is tht, drawing of tllC' Fathl'r, .. t This
was tIle' direction gin'll to t1lt' human intl'lligl'ncl' eluring- tlu' :o:tlpt'Tnaturnlll,
('.. of
which I am attempting the hi:o:tory. It y, a
ILCl'Uratelya"c'l'1'taint'rl that tht, thir
t
of men wa..; not for any F
'conÙar) strt'<1I1l. hut fl)r tlH' g-rt'ut orig-inal
ol1r('e of
jnstic... "At the banquet of nort;' NLYS JIngo of
t. ''ictor, .. then. IS hut one dish,
but tll'8pi
e it not. for it F:atiatt'
. '[an
' thing
urt' in th(' \\or1c1, an(lnonc of tlH'm
"an fill man's ht'art. hnt tht'n' is Ont' good with God. allll wh(,11 this i
fOl1ll11. all
is found. ' Ergo non in multitu,IÍJlP, sed in nnitat" satit'tc:o: ('st.' .. t Tht. t'ry of
tIll' middle agf's was that of tht' prop]}('t, " 'Iihi nuh'm :uth:l'fCre Deo. honum t
t."
iIJterpn.t('tl accor.tin
to t]I(' comTñ('nt of St. .\ ngustin, If ,rany w('n' the opinion
of phil(l;;;ophcrs rl'
peetin
the chief gootl; but he .1ol'
not b.'lV, for mt. to h3o\"I'
riches is good, or to have a crown and scpptre is good, or what som.., of tllt'm dill
not blush to
ay. for 111(' to have
!'nsnnl pl(':!sllrc is gooel, or what "'01111118 }wttl'r.
for me to have virtue is
ood, but for J11e to a(lhcrc to (;011. i
goo,l : thi:o:, tht-1't'-
fore, i8 tlll' ('hipf gootl of man."
* P.Lr:ul. XIX. t Car>. :;t. 1.\nnnt. in ('1t.1t.
t. Hil'..art'h.
HI' Ci\"itatt. Ol'i. Lilt. X. 1
.
_<\ G E S 0.[1' F .A. IT H .
29
CHAPTER II.
(1"""...-.c-<t H
\ T such was the thirst of men during ages of faith, will appear more
! I 00
clearly as we proceed to inquire in what manner it developed itself, and
, -1,-
what were its effects; for in truth. the whole life of man, the whole
,
.i constitution of society, notwithstanding all its defects aDd abuse
, wa
a
" u >1! continued display and evidence of its power. Who sees not that this
was the thirst which imparted that theocratic character to the nation:5 oC
Europe which induces philosophers like \'lco to de
ignate this perioll by the title
of a divine and heroic age? \\
ho does not discern that it was this thirst which
mm-ed men to cover the earth with so many noble monuments of piety, :50 many
institution
of mercy; which rendered the whole life of so many great artists
de\"otClI to the honor and service of the Catholic Church, a kind of continual
fever: which mad!' men legislate for heaven rather than for earth, for the celes-
tial rather than for the huma.n republic; which drew some from the arid dcært
of the world to seek the living waters in the paradise of cloistered sha(1es, and
others to devote their bodies as witnesses for justice amidst the profane city; that
this was the thirst which made the true devoted pilgrim pursue his way, so
wearisome and long. unllaunted, and firm, in his fixed resolve to measnre king-
(loms with his feeble steps? 'Vhat else was it but this thirst which drew a St.
Dorothea from nanzig to Agen, to venerate its holy relic::ì, and tn visit the her
mit in the dark wood adjacent, for who
e little chapel thrice she left her home, and
malle that long journey of desire in time of war, w hen robbers infested all the
W3}"S, from who
e barlmrous hands she RufÏerecl griefs unnumbered? 'Vhat other
cau
(' impelled her afterwards to traverse Germany awl Italy, to visit Rome for
the jubilee. with such ardor, that during the whole pilgrimage. it is i'ai<l, she
slept but one night. which was the second aftl'r êu'riving in the holy city? Was
it not also this thirst which
a\.e "ri:::e to the interminable toils of Christian knight-
hood, and to all tlw wondrous and acute provisions which were prescribed for
ministering to the wants of human society? But that our path through this
thick wooll may not seem retrogm(le or cnllles!o:. let us take some one object of
unquestioned interest as the 8('ope of our l'nterprise. that by the complete survey
of it we may have a swift, delightful. <to) well as an instructive way, in exposing
the admirable manifestation of this divine thirst.
In the school befor{' our la
t, we hall occ,l
ion tò nnfold the history of chllr('h{'
,
30
.MURES CATIIOJ..ICI; OR,
\, ith all that reJãteù to their origin, construction, awl at10rnment. ,r c 11&1\ l, ,een
with what truth the divino wonh Illay be applied to thl'lll. thl')' wcrc 111:111t'
by God. "8incc," i.li
t. .\ll'
ustiJl sa):;, "from him is c\"cry I'l'rfcet
ift. an,l
that to construct those hou:) '3 of pra)er, he vi:;itcd thc miud:3 of hi:3 faithful, ex-
cited their affections, supplied a:-:si
tancl', ill
pired thpir wills that they shoultl will,
assisted the efforts of their gooll will that they
hould at'l'umpli
h, 80 that it \\a'"
God who worketh in us hoth to \\ ill allli to do of his good pll'a:5ure. that he'
:\11
and l>l'rfcctcù iLB these thing8. ,.. Thl' préSL'ut .L3 app '.ucù the proper place for
rc
mniJlg, ..LS it were, that story, and for considering the h01,)" OfiìCl'S whi...>h were
celebratcd within the:-:e di\illely con:-;tructed \mIls, anti the \ariou::J fe,;ti\:l18 \\hich
pious devotion commemorated tlH're; for the ,oil" of the Church wa.; tlll'lan-
guage of desin', atHl the cxpre&5ion ,If that thirst which is a..:.suagcd only by justicl',
only b)" beholding the fnce of Him uncon'rl'l! who is St'l'1l n
ill'(1 upon the altar,
who is him::;elf in infinite perfection, ju:,ticL'. :LillI truth; :LntI if the' hi.,torian of
France can justly anirm that material morllmH'nt
, SUt"'h U:-ì the cathedral::! of l'a.i.:,
and Uheíms, âre great hi
torical facts which speak mOrt' than long narmtioús,
HIrely it will not be irrclt'\":mt to the cnt{'I'pri:;e of UIO":t' who ..:('ek information
rc
pecting the intimatc t'l'ntiment:l of the mitltllo figt', to infJl1ÍI'c \\ hat wa
th.'
purpo
e to which the::)c werc applie(l, what wa3 the
pirit within that man eilou
)"mbolism which a:;tonislu'g hy it5 ,"",.;tnc:53 Bnd soothcs by it.i Pl.erlc . l.Jf'aut).?
To minds thoroughly imbuetl with U st'n.:c of jnstiel', till' worll1 even in that n,;e
of Chri::;ti:m Institutions pn'sentl'd u. ch:Lo:oõ. Tho t'onl of JIlan fi'pirl'tI to ol"\l('r.
anù it hoped to fin(I it in thc 8)"mholic ct'remonips of !:Lith. In thl' ('hnrch a
on('
wa:-: thl' intelligpnrc of man, hi", tnI(' lifl', untl his rest. Thl' CI)n
tant lon' with
"hich the divine officI's wen' l'ell'1,r.Ltt'tl t1urill
t11(' mitltlle n,
('
. (':LI\ 1)(' r.-fl'rrcll
to Ilu othcr source hut the dispwÚtion which is proruHlnf'l'll 1,1(''':'';''11 fl'om thc moun-
tain. It IUltlonhtedly ori
ilmtec1 in a thirst fOI' jl1sticl'. :L thir:-:t for ortl('r, a thirs"
for the iu\"igihle sUl'n'mp goocl of which all parthly form
of Iwauty \\"pre convert-
(.d by it into
ymbol
. Ll't us pro('ppil, thl'rp(Of(', by fìr:,t e:L...;ting:L J!hult', at the
hi
tor
of their in4itution.
In the inf:ulP)" of till' Church, immet1iah'1y aft('T till' Tl'
urrl'ctiuu of our Lord,
Wl' find that his di:.;:cipl('s were :Llw:LJs iu th(' tpJ1lple prai!o\iug :\1\11 ble :illg' (;od. t
Philo .T ut1a>ns wrot\' :L hook, It Pe Yita Christianornm." in which h(' dpscriùe:i
how the C'hri:oõti:ms l):l.
:;pd their time in pnùlic p
1.hllOI1y aUlI h}"mu"l, kc 'ping
vi
ils during the night, nn.1 singing in pr:li
p of {1011. m:Lkin
stations at altars
anù joining in alternate chorus. t LucÏ:Ln. tllt' ath..i..;t. in ou(' of his tlialog11e:-.
hnghs at tlH' Christians for paS3in
wh01(' night..; in !'in.
in:: hyrnni anlI \"i("f'ils.
Pliny r('la,te8 to Trajan that they u.;;ed to a' .;r>mblp herorp light to F-ing hymns to
('ht'ist,1\ anti .\mmianu:i :\l:J.rcpllilluR, anot1wr l1('athen writl'r, records the custom
'* St. .\II
U
t.
f'rrn. :?26 tIt' Tt>mpore.
! Snub.. in Yit. Philo. I-:IN'b. Lih. H. I'. ti.
t:o;. l.u\.'. XXIY. :j.:.
In Philop.lÌl't>. 1 ih. X. e.
Ji.
\G ES OF FAITH.
31
of the Christians passing the llight in their churches. The offices of prime, tierce,
sext, nones, vespers, anù matins, are spoken of in the apostolic constitutions, and
hy
t. Dionysius, the Areopagite. * Tertullian, in the beginning of the thirù cen-
tury, dl'
l'ribes the early congregation of the faithful before light, and expressly
mentions the celebration of the third. sÍ\:th, ninth, and vesper hours. Origen in
his third book on Job, alludes to their matins ànd vespers, and Clemens Alexan-
drinus in the ninth of the
tromata, commemorates tierce, sext, and nones, as ùoes
a1:;;o
t. Cyprian in his book "De Oratione Dominica."
t. Zeno, in his first ser-
mon to the N eoplÚtes prai
es "the sweet vigils of the bright night," and Cæcilius
with :\Iinutius Felix, calumniates the nocturnal congregation of the Christians,
calling them, "latebrosos et lucifugaces. .. In the same age, St. Hippolytus the
)Iartyr, in a ùiscourse on the end of the world, says, that one effect of the coming
of antichrist will be the abolition of the psalmody and sacred rites of the Church.
"hen
t. Basil \Va" detained in prison, some clerks and deacons gm-e money to
the guards that they might gain entrance, in order to sing with him during tlH'
night the divine offil'es. This is related by John, the Priest, of "Xicomedia. In
the fourth century there are abundant testimonies, in Eusebius Uæsariensis, St.
Athanasius,
t. Basil, anJ St. Gregory X azianzen. From these it appears that
the psalm" Deus, Deus meu
."and ali'o that ,. Benedicite omnia opera," were then
sung at matutinal laud
. The duty and happiness of this early thanksgi,-ing are
feelingly enforced by these great saints, who describe the solemn beauty of tlH'
nocturnal chorus. Palladius, speaking of the mountain of Xitria. on which five
thousand monks Ji,-ed in the time of the great St. Anthony, says, "At the ninth
hour, you might hear in each monastery the hymns and psalms sung to Christ,
with prayers and buds, so that you might suppose yourself passed into a paradise
of joy...t St. Jerome and
t. Chrysostom, explain the particular object of each
11Our'8 JeyotioTl. At the rising of the sun, it was to return thank:, to God; at
tierce, to commemorate the descent of the Holy Ghost at this hour;
at sext, tlH' fastening of Christ to the cross; at none" his gidng up the
ghost: at the setting of the !'un to thank Goel for the mercies {If the past
day: and then they enumerate the nocturnal vigils and matutinal lauds at the
first crowing of the cock.
t. Augustin, in numerous places, mentions the same
offices, as does also Cassian in his Jescription of the ecclesiastical and monastic life.
Peter Chrysologns, Ryne
cius. Yjctor uticensis, and St. Cæsarins of _\rIes. are
equally clear in describing the nocturnal vigils. and the daily offices; am} holy
men in dying used to instruct youths. in the manner of oh
en.ing tlH'm.l :NiIu
the 1Ionk. relates that the holy fa.thers in Sina were killed by the barbarians at
break of da
., at the end of their matutinal h."mns. In the sixth century. the
mo,.t holy I3l.nedict furni:,hes in his Rnlp an ('yidence of the fen"or with which
',- Cardinal Bona, de divina Psa]modia cap. I. * 4. .
! 'Ietaph. Duty a[-lHl SUI'iuJU. 1:?
l'ptl'lllbn',
t IIi,.,t. LaUl'iaca. cap. ..
:J
1 U R E ::; C _\ T II U LIe I ; ù H ,
men ::c;tudil,tl the prait't' of l;od ; lmd in the folhm !ng ;t'Tl>, his lli. 'iple (;n>gory the
Great cIo:)':) the e,i,ll'nce produced bJ Carùinal Bona. in the history of the ùi-
vine psalmody. Thl'n followed ISHlort' of Spain. \lcuin of .England, \malarills
Fortuuatlls, Habanus )[auru
. 'ralfrillu
bimbo. Hupertuti .\bba:- lIugo Ill'
t.
Yidor. amlothl'rs, who culti\atl',l thl' oXl'rcÍbC of tIll" di\"illl' Ofiìl'" with tiJl' grl'a.t-
l.
t f('n or. Tlll1
\\(' tliscl>rn the gross orror of Poliùorut) \ïrgil, \\ 110 8U ppo
the institution of the &l
rl>d.hours to ha\cari
l'u in thc tinw of l'c1agius II.,
W}H'rl'aS Cardinal Bona ha
fully -:ho\\ It that tt.t')' comml'ncl.'d with the infant
Church. Pallmlius dec1are
that he beheld a stah> ill \\ hil'h tlll'ru \\t're 1110r(\
ulOuastcrics than profane hOll ''', that the Ji\"il1l' prniSl" "t'ro sung in every
pot,
and that till' whole city seemed to bc Ol1e churdl.. I n ß
.thinia ILrlJ:-
mo
tericB
(;XUl f lÍ/7WJ, in which thl> divlJ1P prai
P8 "l'fl' \Hlct'asiugly
un
night nnd day.
Xicephoru8 relates that Oul' of th('
wa.. built in lon..;tantinopll'. in which an as-
sOC'iation of monks, diçided into thrc. choir:-:, mnintainí'el an uncl'asing- psalmody.
:-\t. lolumhan, at Luxeuil, in
titntl'd a similar mOIULstcr.\', lLUt!
t. Gregory ùf
Tourr-: m('ntion
another at .\
l'n. The F:LHle rult' \\ a
oh8<:,r\ ell in till' abbey of
:-\t. I )enis. antI in thut of Toufs. and in mall
. hOU""5 of thl' f'lster"ian ortlt.'r. TIll'
miutl
of men ('\.cr restl',l upon that divine çcræ, ., Be'\ti qui habitant in domo
tna. Domine: in s:.l'cula
a'cnlorum laUClahllut tf'." Of the clergy of Paris, in the
time of i"'t. Germain. Fortunatu5
lY
.-
.. ('arrnine DivllJit,o eli" inli poëmat.L p,mgen.,
('ur
ihu...
idui.. dU]l'" rpvolvit opu.....
The Cistercian monk
always ct'h.hratt't! laude at 1m'ak of day, .md t}H'rl'Íore,
in the" intl'r Beason. uftt'f sin
ing 1l0dllfll::. tllP)" ahnl
.S l"\'tnrnl'el to thl.ir cell
to sppml the intC'rnll in study Of pmyef until tIlt' fir
t bn':dr of Jight; but in the
:.-nmml'r t hl'Y
ung laud
imJlll'diatel
' after matinf';. t St. \mbro:-' furnif.hes l'\ i-
11('n('l' that in hi
timt', people of uH f'orts (':une to matill; on :-;111111a
.. ml'n anti
"omen. youth an.l old people. only 011C' or two rl'mairlPel at hOIJll' to
nafd tho
hou
l'. t The 8acrcd
('riptnres (''\'"cry \\"lwrc rl'cor,l that ju
t nwn in nil agl't) 01,,-
sl'r\(\tl th\' brl'ak of ,lay to de\.otC' it to religion. ,. Dominus vi!òitat. homil1l'm
diluculo :.. and he ::;end::; his prophets rising l'ar}y.
.Jolt. tIlt' mirTo,' of ju
tict>,
ri::ing up C'arly "frert',l b.:lcrifice for himself and hi') .wn...,' wholl1 lw chargt's to rise
np carl)" to God. The holy 1 ):l\ ill meditates tJl(\
l'''rl't
of (:od in tht. murning
watch, anù l'arl)' in thl' morning offl'r:-: praise to (
0'1. 1'h(> ju
t af(' then aU uni-
ted in :.-acrifiec and prayer, and as IIu
o \Tictorinu:o: :'.il
'::. .. Tlwre is nothin
which
:Ltan
o much fpar
as the unity of charity." The morniJw it) S\ mholical or
. 0 _
piety. The ancient Etrn:O:l'an8 offered honey to
\UI'ora, \\ hich WI' conl-f'C'rate \\ Ith
the
weetnéSS of de\.otion. The poets n'pn'''cntt'd .\nrora :\-: mounh"tl upon Pt'-
·
N' Histor. Lauriaca.
t S. .\mbros. S"rlll. :
L Ill! Tf'mnore.
i Card. Bona. dt' l!h'ina P-:almotlia, 14:.!.
F, dp<o. :\'\':XI'\. It I.Joh. \"ii. l
.
.AGES OF F
-\ITII.
33
g.l:,.!:-:, becau
e the soul is thcnlight to fly upon the wings of contemplation. Some
thonght it was called .\.urora, from the golden colm' or the sky. Taking occa-
ion from this emblem, the writers of the middle age ub
l"\'e, that Wl' ought to
hinc ill the morning with the gold of charity, and that a..; the poet Xævius :-peaks
of hlu
hillg ...\.urom,
o
h()nl(l the 1ll0Je
t color repre:,cut tlae grace of cha:,te PII-
ri
)" in our :-;0111-.;. I lomeI' (".1IIs the morning divine, bccau
c it brings us light,
whieh i:-5 the =-,ymbol uf the divinity. Thel'efore with the ri:<ing 1ight, the chil-
drcn uf divine light emulating the huly angel:;, who are calleJ the morning star:"
sing prai::;cs to the .\..utbor uf light, and shine to him with joy.* P-t. _\mhro:-:e
aJs, that even the example of the birds should adrnoni:-:h men to prai
e their
Creator at the ri
e of morning, and to begin the day with the solemnity ufp:,al111
.t
Celebrated, :'ay the flthcr:" is the statue uf )lemnon, <.1cscribed by Philo--tratus awl
Callistratu:;, which of its own accor(l ,....hen fir;o;t illuminc<l 1,)" the gohlen rays of
morning, Ut'EJ to emit a sweet aml ravishing
oulHl, an emhlem which might re-
mind men to
I.llore the majesty uf their Creator, at the ri:-:ing ufthe SUllo Duran-
tus Tholo:--anus
a.rs, that the hour of tierce used to be called the golJell hour. III
the canonical law, it is styled sacred, because it i
at this hour that the !3aered
maSi; is celebrated with solemnity on (lays of high fe:-itival, as the ancient CU::;tOlll
of the Church }13-; ordaiucd ill order to COllllllClllumte the de::;cent of the IIoIy
Gho:-,t.
On the variousl)arb of the divine offic('s let u..; now briefly <lwclI.
Photius says, that a hymn is f'0 called, "qua:--i V7íÓjlY17Õl;," that i:-;, a commem-
oration of something l)a51. Eu:;ebil1s f:pf'aks at lcngth on the hymn'i which the
Chri
tian5 u
ed to sing in the ,"ery inf:Ulcy of the Church. The pr():-:e
, or H'qucn-
ccs, in "hich we trace the first heginning of the rl1yme which di
tinguishes the
modern from the ancient cIa:,:"ic poetry,t am
aid to have been invented by Xotker,
a monk of St. Gall, in the year 880, who
e ver
ion of the P..;alms in German i:j
still extant; but thi
monk affirms that he had seen the first nu:x:lcl of them in a
mis<..:al of the abbey of JUll1ièges, which was burned by the Xormans in the miJ-
dIe of t
lat century. The eell'brateJ sequence, "S'" eni, Sancte Spiritu
," i:3 attrih-
uted to lIermann, or to Pope Innocent III. That of Die::; rræ i
ascribeJ to
Thomas Celanu
, of the order of St. Frand:" in the thirteenth century. Of the
bameorder was Jacoponus, who in the fourteenth, composed theStabat l\later. Peter
uf Compostella is SUPP05t.Ù to ha1.e heen the author of the Sah-e Regina and the
Alma Redemptori:-:. The ullh"er:"al adoption of the TIornan Drcviary, which is
acknowledgel! to have been the slow and successive product of time, experiencc,
piety, aud the study of the Scripture
, was one of the happy effects, resulting in
the mid(lle ages, from the power uf the 11(1)" See, aided hy the zeal of the nation
,
and the Jcsire of devout kings. "".. e shoull! do all things that the Lorl! has
':: Card. Bona, de divina. Psalmod. 145.
:.: Pasquier Recherche de 130 :Fr3oncc. Lib. VII.
t E:;mm. Lib. IV. c. 1.
:34
:\10 J: E:::; (' \ THO L I (' I. () TI,
()l"Ibincd with on1cr," ..aY:i
t. ('1(,l11l'n:-., in hi
fir:-t Epi..tlp to tlip ('orinthiano:.
uIIe lla::; wishl'(l that we !'hould remIl'.' him ('('rt:,in dutin. at l'ertaiu hours j he
]Ia-; aI...!) (lctermim'(l ('('rtain pla('(...; :.lIltI ("I.'Main })('r.. o ".., wlH'rt, alul hr whom hi
\\ or-
hip :.:1 10 11M he ech.brale,,1 : lIP ha..; n....-.;igll('(l to tlrt'
')\"crl'it'n pontiff hi..; fUlH'tioll"', to
prip...;t:o' the pla('e wllt'rc thl')" :-.llOul(l offi'r tilt' "'
u'rifie'(', Ulul to the I ".ik..: all tl.p
llptail of t h('i I. mini..;t r)":' It \\;L-; )wt, hO\H'Ver, po
iblf', in tll(' fi r..t a
p.... to }))'p-
"pnt the introeluetioll of
()me (lin'r,...it
, of t'u...lOm... in the (.pII.bratiuu of tIlt' l>ì,"ille.
pm('p..; j hut this \\":1'" finally ohviatt..] h
' till' ('
}"'e''',,; awl po...iti,'e pnadJlll'lIt of tl.p
('lulI'dl. ,c('onfl)l'miIY awl unity ill tht, thing:; whi('h rl,late to tIlt' glor)' of (;0(1,
JIlII:,t alway...; 1.1' prp-t'n't.tl in thc' Catholic' ('Imr('h," :..ays thl' Bull of (').'II1('ut Y I II.,
I'uping finultl('(l limIer nlU' lu.:ul, C'hri:-t our Lonl, awl !'ubj('(,t to hi... ,"i('ar on t'urtla.
:E:,pt'eial1y )UI)
t that nniftmuit). be JIJ:1int:line'Cl Ct)r ('\"1'1' in tIll' praYtor.., :nul hy
mllll'ring to what i..; ('ontainl'.l in thl' Homan nl"t'\'iar
', that in thl.' Cll1Irc'h diffu..t,tI
throng-hout tIll' wlwle wOl"hI, Gotl JIlay he :.1 way.; l)l"ai:-t'{l nnel in\'oeah'll hy tIlt'
f:,ithfni of Cltri..:t, ill one> allll the :--:1I11f' t)flIpr of pr.1
't rs 811<1 ong."* 'Y:tlafricl
tI'ahü, who li".'el nmll'r Loui...-I.,-n(1)(H1nairf', uttl'...t..., that "in almnt::t oIl tlw
(,hur('hes of the Latin..;, the ('nst()III
, ritual, aUlI litur
)" of Homt' pn','aill'd, on
H('('()Unt of thl' pri ,'ilp
" of the J:oman
f'(', Hlul the wioò(lom of its l)J"adi("('
." lIe
wrote thus at a pt'rit)(l long bcfim
th ' (,hm'ph h
ul mad, a law to ('nfoJ"('f' thi"
uniformity j whi("h pron'" the ('atholic te'ml.'ney which, in all tilllt'
:mcl ill all
thin;;:o;, ohlig-p..; (','pry (,hur('h to gra\"itate towarcI... HOIIIP.
_\ny tlt'partlll'l', hmn'\'.'I' :-ölight, or<'
lpahle of tlerenee, (rom the gt'l1t'ral pr:l('ti(
uftlte Church, was felt a..; an injury hy hoI)' IIII'll,
t. nf'rn:ml
npplic'(l an in-
:-:tanre, on his fil'st arri\'al at Par-.wlt't, whieh he rroc1wJ as tlU'y wpre' !--ollluling thp
bl'll
H' \'t'''''pl'rs. II., \\'t'lIt, tlwrl'ftm.', stfai
ht into thl' l'1HIJ"('h; hut hI' wa
s('llIwk-
hI 011 hmring tIll'
npprior, wlH'n rf p('atillg aloud the p:ltt'l"Ilo...,tt'r, u
' tl)(> worel
pancm
npt'r4antial('ru, in:o'tmtl of 'iUOlicli:mnlll. Thii
()Ullfll'cl ill in hi
cars a...;
a no,'clty, ""h('ll]1t' C'.1Illf' to
p('ak to IIeloi:-.a l"('..;p('Cting it, she pr()(,f'<..>dcJ in-
(1('('(1, with the utl11()
t Jlu)(lt,:,ty awl graC(', to pro\'.', hy Gr('l'k 3n(1 JIf'1m'w, hy
Scripture amI the Fath
rs, that thi
wa.
the prop<'rre:Hling. ..\IX'illanl too, hearing
of what h:ul passed, "rote :1 ]earllf'cl lettcr to
l. BprnarJ, in "hich he !'ho\\!i;
that
t. :\fatLhew, who gin's the whull' prayer, alllI who h
ul hmrcl it frol11 .Tc:-u",
('hri-;t, \I,.;ps thi.... worcl; "hpr('as
t. LuI...p (111)" gi\'cs a part uf it, awl he ha.l nnI)'
h('anI it from
t. PauL )I01'('o\'l'r he ...howl.,1 that tllt' Gr.'c.k ('hun.1t follow
in
tItis point
t.
ratlhe\V, who "'I"cite in lIehrew, in preferellL'C to
t.l..uke, though
he" rotf' in nrt.('l.;:. :Xot\\ ith
t:mclin
thl'H' Or;;UI11(,lIt..:, :-'l. ßt'rnarcl 3(lherf'll tl)
his fil":-st opinion, that it wunItl have been hettf.r to have füJloWCtl tht' common
uni\'er
al u..age of the Chur('h.
Charlen13.gne lent his a
::::i
tan('f' to carry into drC'('t the great ()I
ect of the ec-
cIe
ia
ticai ruler:-, tu maintain one lIuiversalliturgy among tile nations of Chri......
it Bullurium, Clemens VIII Bulla. Cum in F.cc1c!-is.
AGES OF FAITH.
3.3
tendom:-"LTt non bset dispar or<.1o psallendi, quibus erat compar ardor credellJi :"
-that tho;:,e who were united by the sacred reading of one holy law, lllight be
unite<] also in the venemole tradition of intonation; and that the different cele-
orations of offiec
lllight not separate tho
e '" hOlll the pious devotion of one faith
had joined together.* 'Vhen therefore Spain, in the eleventh century, abandoned
its )lozaraoic ritual to embrace that of Rome, that grand system of universality,
which gave such an inspiring authority to the ritual of the Catholic Church, re-
ceived its full and final development. So early indeed a:-; in the ninth century,
"
a1afrid
trabo regarded this work as nearly terminated, and he demonstrated
it:; advantages and indispensable nece
sity hy the same arguments as tho:;e u:;ed by
theologians of modern time.... t The Couneil of Trent, in its twenty-fifth :;e:,sion,
referred to the care of the Roman Pontiff the great work of the correction anJ
definitive publication of the Breviary and )Ii:-,sal. Thanks to this master-piece of
religious wisdom, the Catholic was a stranger in 110 land. 'Yherever he travelled,
he heard the children of the Church sing the same IlOly chants of Rome-the
mother and mistress of Christian::5-and the sublime tone:; which rose around the
cro:;s of the desert, were the same as filled the domes of the metropolis of the
Chri
tian worlJ.
It m:ed harJI y be remarked, that although the final adoption of a uniform course
of p
alll1ody amI reaùing wa:; the gradual work of time, the more awful mysteries
whieh involved the tlivine fulfilmellt of the ancient prophecy, were ill an age
, amI
throughout the whole wurld, substantially the same. The worJ
Ii
a, or )la:-,:"
though, like the term Trillity, not in Scripture, is of great antiquit)Y, and, at lea:-,t
in the fourth century, it was used to de
igllate the unoloody sacrifice of the altar.
as appears from 5t. Amor()
e! and St. Augll:-,tin.s
The Greek word ÅElTOVPYÚv, whieh is derived from a word
ignifying public,
is never u:5t'd b\" St. Luke exce ! }tilw in the
en:;e of :-,acrifiee a
is l woved from his
" " ,
Go..;pel and the Act; of the Apostles. In the cla.::::-,ic poets it is use,1 to expre:,s any
public function ;1/ aud in bcripture it nowhere signifies prayer. The function, or
mi II i
tl'Y, whieh hy this term the A pO:5tles are said to ha \ye discharged, ,,-as there-
fore that of the eucharistic sacrifice.
The cmwn of the ma:,..; has recei\'ed indeed !;ome aherations since the times of
the _\postlf'
; for in the year 440, the great St. Lt'o acltled four words to it ; and
about the veal' 590 , Po p e St. GreQ'Or\' some few others. out llothinO" was chan g ed
" :0 ", . , 0
without the greatest precaution=--. Tillis, not one
int is named who wa;::, not
dea,l a long time before the year 400 ; after which, nothing allllo
t was added.
The Apo:-,tle
are named in an order different from the present, which datc:i from
the time of St. Jerome, who named them as they are now generally placed. which
is another remarkable evidence of the antiquity of the ritual. Indeed, the smaIl-
· Caruli
IagDi contra Synod. Græcor. de Imnginab. Lih. I. t De Rebus Ecclesiastic. c. 25.
* In Epis
. ad )larcelliu. 80f01.
St:rm. XCI. de Tempore. I Æsch)"l. Eumenid. 363.
:
G
M 0 n. Ese A T II 0 I. I (' I; 0 n. .
(.:"t ceremonií's })('rtaining to it 111:1)" he tmct'tl to t]w 1110...t r.-mot.. periotl, as in the
iB
tance recora('(1 by
t. Jprornt', who
ay-; that, "ill all the chur(']l('s throughout
the Ea...t, whell the go:--pt'>l i... 1"(':Hl, t}wre are li;ht.. hurning, thou
h the !-un lU3r
hine at the tilJ)('."* ,re know that, in tht' !-('('on(1 e(,lIt11r
'. in the timp of ....t.
.\ vari
,.;fu:-i, it was the custom to l..l'C'P hol
' watl". ('\"ell in prh'ate hou
f's ; in
which, during the n.r:,t ag
:.;, wcre pradi
L.J al1 tho
c devotional c..
erci', (If
Christian \\ orship, whieh had conncction "ith art :lIul symboli
m :t :mtl in ...hort,
a:o: a Jatí' writer ob"'l'r\'p,,;, "we (':111 trat.p, thro
h ('vpry part of the oflì('(., :--OIHP
(]oet,'illc or ob
en':lI)("l' of tht' primiti\"c tilllt'-" aut! mar atlrnire the \\att'hflll
fidelity with which tradition h:l..; handed d(J,
n every little ceremony COUlll'dl"]
\\ ith the fi
t age... of onr faith."
l.t'aviu
, t]ll'fl.f(Ift., t1H' hi
t.()ri('al (I'1
tion, Il.t 11" pro('('('(1 to ('on...itler t]1t' ('('d
-
:o'ia:-tit":JI offi('('s ill rplatiun to our thr('C.fc.lt) faculty of pt'rt't'ption, a.. ('un...t it IlÍl't1 for
(....;timatillg lwnuty,ju...tit'l', and trut.h-tlU' dt'\ t.lopnll'nt of which, c('rt:Iin philo,o-
pher:o' of latc havc attempted to p'\.pn....., h
' the term . ...thetih; JK'rhap.., iud('l.t),
without ha\'ing suffie'if'lltly l':\.amilled \\ Il(,lIl('r till' partieuIar ('omhillatiou of it]e3s
reaIly exi
tetl, fOI. which thl')" :,ought to di",('o\'l'l" a ..t.it'lltilh' '\(H"t1.
Ere \\c :uh"ance, 110\\P\"('r, it ,\ ill hl' \\('11 to (':\.amiIiP wh('ther thel"(' bt' any Trollntl
of ju:--tice ill the accu
atioil :,0 uOlllluonl)" brought a
aill:oot the middle aCTes, a., t.\:-
prí':--:o'ed hy
li1ton, who afiìrm..., t.hat "t]uriJ1
thl.ir ('our"'è the far gr('ate" p:ll t
of lI1en tll't'mt'(] in outward ritt'... al1l1 :--pl'f'iou.. 1òl"Il1" rt'li
ioll
ati...fit"Cl, an, I that
works offaith \\ere rarely 1'HIIII1." ..\ :--('lIt('ll(" (.\"itlt'lItl).l''(pn......in
tilt. (' H1\"i(.tiuJ1
of man
' whom we
ti1l bl
hold ('l1h'rin
0111' ('hurdJ(''':, aw) ,\ it I.
1oom l)('ho)diu
the rite
that
anctify the pile', dartill
at the altar allt) tll(' \"e..h..:1 prie..t )001....
of sueh
\I"'pie'ion, that olle mi
ht ('ollehuk t1l..)" WN'e iIl11Jll('t) "itla tht' opinion
of Cl'eiliu-; the phi]o...;oplll'l., Jl1entioJ1t't! hy
Iinlltills Ft.li'\., who ,...;ay..; that the
Chri
tiall:; in their a:.o:"'l'mhlics li('k the hJood of a ...Iain (.hilt! ('on"'l't) with flonr,
arHI t1i
trilmt(' its limb..;. For the rrl'
'llt it "ill he
l1ffi('iput to 11(',11" the nnprt'-
J1leditat('(1 t(',.;timon)' ofthl' ml'lI :w('n"Pf] : foriftlu.ir :u)n
r!-ari('=- refn...( :--1I(.ht,,'it1e'lt't'
mJ(1 continue to a:--l'riht' opini()JI.... to tlwlIl \\ hieh they di...o\\ lIe<1 with {'\'pry (''\.pre..;-
sion of ahhorI"(,l1e
, ignOl"3l1t'C \\ ill 1)(. llU cloak to maliep.
Lewi
of Gran:Ilb., tlwn, that doqw.ut :--'pani...h friar, ('xpr ......1)" :.o:ay:.:, that "an t]u'
::af"!"l't] ('pl"l'1l1oni(':o', aw] otlH'r l'xterl1al work
(If ,'irtul', whi('h are not the lea:--t part
of Chri
tian perfection, are comJl1pndt.tI daipfl,y on this a("('ollllt, that tl.(')" greatly
a...si
t 11:0' to attain tl) illtprnal h(.:mty anti c1('g:U1('C of mintl-tlaat i:o:, to a fnlI('r
kuowll'()ge of the Di\'inity, to hopp, to lo\"e, to fl'ar, and \"l'uemtioh oftht' Diville
)Iajl'sty."! Ce['emouy is deri"('tl fml11 the mH'icnt word ecru:"
igni(,"ing' holy,
which al
o gave rise to the Latin term fcJr men of an l'xaltl'(l fo:tation, a
if the
lwimal wi:.:ùom di:5cernible in the fc>rmatiull of lnngllage
, ha(1 choS(.'u in thi
man-
* Aùvers. Vigilant. t Rhcinwa1d dil' Ki:chlidw .\lchæologte. 39.').
t Ludovic. Oranatlusii de Omnibus S,mcti... Concio I l.
AGE
OF FAITH.
37
ner to indicatp that fo:uperior sanctity ought to be theil' characteristic. "In no
name of religion,"
aY:-i
t. Åugustin, "can men be collected, unless the bond of
certain sigu;" as if of visible :-;acramcnt:-<, should unite them together :"* from
which Duns &-ohIS would infer, that evcn under the law of nature there must
have been ceremonies divinely institutetl;t for though they are nothing in them-
selves, they are yet acts of exterior religion, by which the mind is excit.ed to the
veneration of holy things, and elevated to heavenly objects; and by them piety
is nouri"hed, charity enkindled, faith increa:-<ed, the worship of God adorned, amI
religion maintained. The
iJ-
lple are thus instructed, and the true faithful kept
di:;tinct from false Christian:-;.-Christ hilll:-,elf hardly ever performed a miracle
without u:-;ing some ceremony, as ".hen he made damp clay, and stretched out his
hand to touch, and wrote upon the ground. The body should pay its homage as
well as the soul. "Cor meum et caro mea exulta\'erunt in Dcum vivum."
l.Tn-
der the three elements of religion, we find doctrinal learning rather than knowl-
edge, the religion of the heart, as a thing of c1l40mary expre
sion, and the sym-
bolic religion of worship; which la..;,;;t remains the peculiarly positive religious ob-
ject, and as Fries obsef\"e
, "the most important in the formation of the popular
life; for certainly positi\'e religion i::; the most li\"ing and powerful master and in-
structor of the people, their perception and emotions arising from the view of the
world constituting their deepest and strongest idea."9
But the clergy were most careful, as Cardinal Bona shows, to teach the people
that piety did not con
jst in :my exterior obsen"ances, though these were wisely
and holily ordained b)' the Father
.11 The Catholic Church abhors that super
ti-
tious belief in thp theurgical power of ceremonie
, and in their meriting an eternal
recompen
e, which some late writers ascribe to her; but she knew, as the author
of Theologia Germanica says, that "by means of these rites and institutions many
men are enticed, and cOlwerted to truth, who otherwise could not be corrected: and
indeed, that few men come to truth who did not first receive the
e institution
and
rite:" and exercise thell1
eln
s in them, while they know nothing el
e. Therefore
laws, precepts, institutions, and rite
, in submi
sive f'pirituality or in
piritual
poverty, are never despised or condemned, any more than the men who use them,
who otherwise would become more inordinate, and worse than dogs or other
brute<;;..'"
The extraordinary, and to many, unaccountable stupidity of the peasants, in
countries from which the ceremonies of faith have been withdrawn, is only the
natural L'On
equence of their having heen deprived of the religions worship, and
the exercises of prayer and meditation connected with it. It is religion acting
through this medium which ci\.ilizes amI
piritualizes men. These poor creatures
grow up without any idea excepting what is suggested by mere natural and an-
· Cont. Faustum. Lib. XIX. c. 11.
Religios PbilO:5ophi
, 1 jj.
t In Lib. IY. S&nt. Dist. I. 9. 7.
I D," divilla P"al. -WHo.
t Psalm ]xxxiii.
.- Cap. 24.
38
)1 0 H E 8 CAT Il 0 L I () I; 0 R J
imal want".. "Exp(.riencc tcadlt's uc;;,"
aJ
La Hogue, t'that by far the gr('ah,
t
pOI.tion of men t..'.UI ha \"c Jlo ..Iudrine al)(1 prl'C('pb uf lll
lIU1l'r
, ullle...." Ly nil an..'!
uf the public wun..hip of religion:::Of) that whellcver the saered rih" \\ hieh u"f'(l
to be publicly and solemnly ft'lebrated are iutermitted or aLulishcJ, it follow
of
necessity, that the rustic I1lultitwlt, :uul the unl,,'aflJl'd P('opJt. !-ohoul..l r('lap:,,(\ into
the most foul barbari
lIl, and into tht" 1Ilf)
t !-npinc ignoranee of the duties of
nature nllt.! of
ociety." * ,rhat 0111' IUlll (.'all .\p
toli'
il11pli('it,)", i mor'
acutely noted down by uthers a' CalvihistiC"dl fully. In uur agl', that rrotbtal1t
simplicity of whicL :-ûffi\: writ{,I's f.pl'ah. in llflmiration, i!i only a philosophin
term for gl'tting rid of God "ithout fodt..iting app.'anm('t''i i fir more ..l..
igl1t'(1 for
excluding his image from 3ppt..aring illtelIcduaJJy in tIlt.' dt.tail of life, than f()r
banishing it in form and s)"Illbol froUl tho
' (.'(.hI templpo;; in which no halIow('<l
flame ascends, and where
uctity at ont: entrance is (luik :)hut out. The heart
of man kno\\s of no surh !-oimplieity. If it 10\'(-, Go(I, it mu
t love to rpft'r all
things to him, anti to wor..;.hip him with all tht' heauty of hf)lille
, in !-pirit anti
ill truth. The 1;ophi::-ts who now habble mu:--t. in pmi . of :-implieity iu public
worship, are men who !)Cern to think it a grt..at tJ.ing if the)" prof
a mete belit.t
in the exi
tel1<'e of a hod as a :",uhlimc ah:,tractioll: and as for th'I'-C who admire
it on religions g-mm)(l:-, if tlH'Y w,,'n- to
tu(l)' the \\ork of Cardinal Bona 011 the
Disc{,l"IIment of
pirits, 1m-thin}....; thl'Y wuuld fiml otlH'r maUl'r for tllt
ir thought..;
beside..; the (langer to which Catholic:; are l'}"pO
('tl uf lUi
takin r the opt.ration:", of
nature or of
at3n for tlm..c of grace.t In fact, as theologian
uh..;prw', "Exter-
nal i:-; the lIatllral awl J)('t.t:',
.lr'y appendix to intcrnal wor
hip ; for ,\(! arc f'O con-
titut('tl hy !latlln', that all the
(-lItill)eJ}1.. of our
oul hr('ak fi,rth to the (.xtl.rior,
anù Ot:comt: painted in the dell)t'auor of thl' whole body ; ill
omul'h, that it is :--carec-
Jy pt)
sible to love Gotl sim..'('rcly with nIl the h('art, ami not break forth in his
prai
, anti manifc:"t the intimate sCJ}::IC of di\'inc charit)" by external signc,. "
hy
do men love ceremony in f(.ligioll? It is becau"C they wi..h to <'II.1oy lif
in all the faclllti(" and di\'isiolls of their nature. To live i
to I.
happy: and the highest life i that whi('h i:-: ""piritual or ..livine. Therefore \\e
iesire that in that life all our prec<,ptions :-.houltl participate, anti ('OII
UJUCllt1y
we wish that our r;en:;l-:O:, a:; well as our r('a......11 :-ohould be excited bv a tli\.ine ob-
, .
ject. Even the di:;po
itioll of body ill ft.'latiolJ to things (.xtcrnal, rt'..;.uhing from
a habit of (lcvotion, instead of heillg a
':uulal to n proftlUl1tl think..'r, may only
remilUl him of what
Ialebranchë
a'ys, "that en'ry thing which IX .
rner.hani-
cally within us is worthy of the wi:'flom nf ol1l'
raker."t Bf' -id(,5. Ililln lx'ing
constituted of a hody and a !'oul, it i
ju
t that the hody, with it.", various abilitie-.,
which are 80 many gifts of God, should ('()lHe fiwward on tht" .-i(lc of rdigion.-
Further, it is the nature of man to nM external
i::,tallCC to enable him to ri::-e
.1'ractalu8de Re1igione. cap. II. prop. 2.
t Recherche de ]a Verilé, Lib. V.
t De Discretione Spirituum. cap. 12.
A <.; E:; 0 F F A I T II.
39
to the meditation of divine thing
: therefore internal piety requires to be excited
and nourished by ceremonies, awl (,l'rtain sel1
ible
ign
. )lOl'eover every man
ought to be religious and piou
, not only so as to ],e l"OI1
cious within himself tbat
he worships God, hut also that he shoulll prolUo(C the piety and instruction of
the men with whom he lives, and of tho:,e who are entrusted to his care; and thi!i
cannot be done unless we profess, by some external sign, the intimate sense of
religion with which we are animated.*
In the ceremonial and discipline of the Church, there was no part without its
use. That which might seem tbe mo
t trifling, had its pl'Oper object, 311(1 served,
in some way or other, to promote hahits of humility, order, patience, reC'oIlection,
and religion, so as to huild up the Catholic character. Hence, the }'athers of the
Council of Trent pronounce an anathema against all who should
ay, that the
received and appro\yed rites of the Catholic Church may be despised or omitted, "ad
libitum," by the prie
t:" or may be changed by any pastor of the dlltrches. t A
most important and incalcu]ab]y beneficial sentence-which delivers Catholic piety
from being at the merey of weak, ignorant, though perhaps well-meaning men,
who, in proportion to their weakness and ignorance, are generally vain of being
reformers or modifiers of ancient thing!":.
These apprO\'ed ceremonies of the church are called, hy Hugo de S1. vTiC'tor,
Sacraments of De\'otion. He di\'ides them into three dasses-the first consi::;t-
ing in things, such a.., the aspersion of water, the reception of ashe:" the henediction'
of palms and tapers; the second in actions, as the sign of the cross, the exsuf-
flat ions, the extension of hands, genuflexions ; and the third in words, as the invo-
cation of the blessed Trinity, and that of Deus in adjutoriulll-for words them
selve8 are sometimes sacraments.!
There would be no end of followillg theologians in remarking all the uses of
these external rites to imprint the mysteries of our faith on the understanòing.
They show that, from the exorcisms and insuffiations used in baptism, it was ea-
sier to understand than the unlearned would have fi>Ulld it from the Scriptures, that
children are born under the yoke of the demon, and infected with original sin:
that, in like manner, the ashes strewed on the heads of men at the beginning of
Lent, teach them, in a most forcible manner, the vanity of all earthly things, and
that, in holy week, the Eo]emu ceremonies of Church recall and imprint a knowl-
edge of the mysteries of human 1"
demption. Certain it is that the Catholic c('r-
emonies, be:-:ides answering these ends, conduce, in all ages, to the defence of the
faith against inno\'atol's, as when S1. Augustin òrew an invincible arg!lment from
the u
e of eXOl,,,,'isms in baptism against the error of the .Pelagians.
'Ve are told incessantly, with
houts of defiance, that the rites of the Catholic
* De ]a Hogue Tractat de Re1iginne, cap. 2. prop. 1. t Sess. VII. Can. 13-
t Hug-o de St. Victor, Eruditj"lws Tbpologicæ de Sacrsluclltis, Lib. II. pars ix. 1.
De Is Hogue dt: Saclsmeutis iu Genere, cap. 7, prop. 2.
40
)1 () It E
<. I A T II () L I ( . I; U H"
Church addressed them
dn's tn Ih(' imaginatioll ; a
if
ill th! l
tilllati()n of sound
philosophy, it Wl're all l'grl'giou:, otlenL"C to mldl'l....:- tlae imagiualiou, \\ hidl i:, one
of the pow
n; of the :-oul, given to \"ivifY and govern Ihe interior muu. But "ill
not rt'a....oll admit, that thlk'e 1H.'r:-oll:o; ought chiefly to he }>1'Oh'Ch..J whu arc chiefly
in dang-er? AmI whu arc :::;0 much l'X}\U:-l.J to thl' \, ilf>:O; (If th
aneif'nt f'Demy fk;
pel''S(lIl
10 who::,(
mind., the greut,.:-t \"ariet)' of imageM are (,oluinuallr pn'o..f'ut-
iug themselves? 'rho:,o liahle to !'undrJ" di
tral'tion
and tl'mptalion:o., again
t pu-
ritv :wain
t ('harit\" ailain,..t I:lith? ""ho
() likt'lv to Lt. tt'ITifit'fl al th(' appmaeh
.' r"'" .' ..... .' rill
of death, and reeallct.l to the world h)" lIuages of fll.
h mul blood, hy the wrl.tchl'(}
phantoms of ,'anity and
in?
\&;urt>òly it is a gl'('uter man'cl to a 1I13U of
ll111ch imagination hold fa.... IIi... filith, th:1I1 to
pp it kl'pt h)' one who is more under
tIlt' <,-'ontrol of Ull i m pa.....",iollt'(1 :lI1t1 a},:4 raet rt':t!-on.
As for the cha
è of l'aptivatill tp the undt'r:4:ultiillg h,y IIwall
of ceremonies, tlt.-
wen who produ.'f' it shuuhl learn from )[al('uranche, th.1t their "'1 a. e nut u
l"orrllptl'{l as they illlJgine, uut that it b the more inh'rior part of their soul, their
lib('rty, which is eort"uph'(l ; that it is lIot tllt'ir
'IJ:o.t'... whi("h (]('('(.in' tlll'lll, Lilt
that it is tlll.ir wi1I \\hieh e]t'('('in's tll('m b)' its ra
h jll(lglI)(,lIt
.* If IU)\\l'ver,
the church had urdailll't.l her ccrclllonil':' with u
olc vil'w to !!rati(r tIlt' imagina-
tioll, tll('r(' mi
ht he
()nJC ground", for ('('Il",ure, >Vt'n in ft..ferclIl't> to the bcauti
of
}locu')' al1(1 art: h('(':UI;o;t., a1tllOlI
h, ill ("'('I")" ('x('it('IUt'llt to spiritual activity; tht're is
Ï1ult'('(1 a kind of pl..a:-our.., :-.till clUotioll, a...
1H'h, i
not ht':mtiflll; hilt tlu...... rilt.s art'
adclrt:
"Cll not alolle to the imaginatioll ; the.y are 110 It.:"" :0.0 to tIlt.' ai1;'dion:i :Il111
to the tlJuJt..r:-otanding- of the illstructcd pt'Oph'. Call 011'>
upp :0 that no pt'rma-
1Il'lIt moml dmuge was ,\ mU1!ht in the miml by th. mere act of slowly amI dt'lib.
('ratply trae.iug the :-;igu (If tIlt.' {,I"')
..
011 till' fin"..iH':ul, Oil the lips, amI on the hmrt,
whpil the go"'pl'l i
aIl110uUl'(.J in tlw tliviuc lIly:o.tl'rit':-o "! Can one f-Uppo",,, that the
luall a('('ustollll'(l to this }u"J.Cti<.--e i:; U:i likl'ly to blu
h at the ('1"0:-'."; iu ."'t)('iety, anti
to :--how vile
uhmis!-'i()11 to worldly I't S})('(.t, a.... allother whu kllow
uf nu c;;uch
pl"al'ti('(' "!
\t thp pml of t'aeh 1":-'."\)11 in thp cllOral office, thf' reader turus to the
altai'
ayiug, Tu autem, j)omille, rui:oõt'n're lJohi..., hl'e':III-':", U'i holy wrih'I's
ay, ('\"(,11
that work of r..ac]in
<'"J.nnot he ,,:itlwllt
om(' f:llllt, ...ill(,(
, ifhe I"(':ul wdl, the mind
i
tempktl with dation, and ifill, wnfu:,ioll t(llIow
; thcrd(JI"e, he who reads, stant..l
a1\\a)"8 in need of the Jl1l'rey of God, Ip"t a work, in itself g<'IKI, ShOlIld be cithel' cor-
l"llptf'<1 by pride or rentlcrl'C) inetf('(.tual hy talsp :,h:uue.t C-.n it b!' tllOll
ht th:n to
one ill
trJl(.tc.d ill this mt>alling, tll(' IHt'f(' l'('I"t'IHOUY (Iot's not illdillt' him to hlllllil-
ity, and warn him to beware hoW' he hears a;) \n,1I a.., n'.I(I..; the divino wortl"?
And what, after all, are tJ}(, fil'4 imlH"t :.,...iOllS ('r(>ated by the whulc ritual"! "\r er
I to enter onc of their dlllrcl1l''i now," f'ays a \\Tiler of the la4 c('ntury, "it would
Lt. apt to put me in minù of what St. Jolll1 tells us 11l' :-aw onc'e in a \"i:o-iou. '..\11-
otll('r angel came and st()O() at the ahar havin
8 goldel1 ('l'n
er: amI thert' \\
De lit. Ht:'chcrche de la Veritê, 1.
t Bonn, dt'dÏ\;uu P..almodia, :
!I.
-
. ....ö'''
'Q
COLL}4
(;
"
.olliE::; OF FAITH.
LAtiD.
given unto him much incense, that he
hould offer it with the prayers of the saints
upon the golùen altar which was before the throne of God. And the smoke of the
incense with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the Angel's
lmnds.' The:;e lighted altars naturally made me think of what the good old
Simeon said of Christ, '...t light to enlighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy
people Israel.' " Similar are the sentiments expressed by the celebrated Lavater on
finding him
elf in a Catholic church. "He doth not know thee, 0 Jesus Christ,
who di
honoreth even thy shadow? I honor all things," continues this philoso-
pher, "where I find the intention of honoring thee. I will love them becau:-õe of
thee. I will love them provided I find the least thing which makes me remember
thee! 'Yhat then do I behold here? 'V hat do I hear in this place? Does noth-
ing nndei' these majestic vaults speak to me of thee? This cross, this golden
image, is it not made for thy honor? The censer which waves round the priest,
the gloria sung in choir
, the peaceful light of the perpetual lamp, these lighted
taper:'. all i8 done for thee! ''''hy is the Ho:-;t elevated, if it be not to honor thee,
o Je:,u:o- Christ, who art dead for 100'e of U:-:, bemuse it i:, no more, and thou art
it, the believing church bends the knee. It is in thy honor alone that these children,
early instructed, make the sign of the cro:,s, that their tongues sing thy prai:-;e, and
that they strike their breasts thrice with their little hands. It is for the love of
thee, 0 Jesus Christ, that one ki:o-ses the spot which hears thy adorahle blood; for
thee, the child who :-;.erves, sounds the little bell, and doe:-õ all that he does. The
riches collected fromdistantcountrie-;, the Illagnificence of chasuble
, all that has re-
lation to thee. 'Vhy are the walls and the high altar of marble clothed with ver-
dant tape
try on the day of the blessed sacrament? For whom do they make a road
of flowers? For whom are these banners embroidered? 'Vhen the  ve
Iaria
ound:" is it not for thee?
Iatins, vespers, prime, and nones, are they not con-
secrated to thee-? The:-;e bells within a thou
and tower
, purcha
ed with the gold
of whole cities, do they not bear thy image cast in the very mould? I!' it not for
thee that they :-õend forth their solemn tone? It is undei' thy protection. O.Je!'us
Christ, that every Illan places himself who lo\yes solitude, cha:-:tity, and poverty.
"Ïthout tlwe, the orders of St. Benedict and of 81. Bernard would not have been
founded. The cloi:-:ter, the tou:-;ure, the breviary, and the chaplet, render testimony
of thee. 0 delightful rapture, .J esus Chri:-;t, for thy dis('iple to trace the marks of
thy finger where the eyps of the wodd see them not! 0 joy ineffable for souls
devoted to thee, to behold in caves and on rocks in eve.'y crucifix placed upon hills
and on the high ways, thy
eal and that of thy love! "110 will not rejoice in the
honor:" of which thou art the object :1l111 the
01l1? 'Yho will not shed tears in
hearing the word:-;, '.Jesus Chri
t be prai
I!' 0 the hypocrite who knoweth that
name and answereth not with joy, amen. ,rho saith not with an intense tran
port,
Jesus be ble:s:;ed for eternity! for eternity !"*
* Empfindungen eines Prott'stantpn in ein
r K atho]i<;chen Kirche
42
MOUES V \TIIULICI; oH
Anothpr f:mwd ohjl'ction to the rites ana cercmouies of the Catholic church w' ·
grouud("(l on the suppo:--Ctl di:.CO\"cf)' that certain forms of ('
pn'
...ion adoph"(l in
them haù oc'Cn u
("(l by the tlnl'il'nt.. in tlwir fal
e religions; und this was proclaim-
ed with 1l vocifl'mtion of ('
ultilw triulU l )h b,. the,...n"bo l >hi4s who \\cre them' l\.cs
/::) " .
inclined to re\"i,.e the
pirit and dodrilU
oftll<' heathell philu
phy. Polydore Ylr-
gil Set'lllS to have heen so plt':L
.I'tl with what ht: had wriu 'n 011 this point, that, al-
though he had continm't.l to profess him..clf a C:lI hnliC', a.. to Imman (')"(', Ill'really
b('eame: one in hp:!rt at his d('ath, )"('t, he loo
("(1 ull \, ith till' greate4 upparent
indiffl'rell('(' \\ hile England wao; sepamtillg herself from the communion of the
faithful. Th('-)C Illen, so proudl)'lca.rncd, became fools, 10 ing hy pride what tlH'Y
gain{>{l hr cnriosit).. To the profimnd thinkers of the nbres of faith, there would
have hl'en nothing no\'f'! or z.;t:irtling in the prnpo
ition it:oòdf. Tf'rtuIJian h:ul
shown that the een>monit.s of tlw hl'atl}('n
, which re"l'mhlt't.l those ot t
ae Catholic
church, had heen tran
fl'rrl"(l from the divine bw to the worship of !"uperstition. *
and Gregory X}"
nsis, and Theodorct had atlìrmt....t1 that e\"en some may have
b('t'11 wisply horrowed from them hy the holy Father
, amI emplop.....1 to the wor-
hip of the true GOt1.t The u<h'antage (}f udopting :Iud Fanctifring
ome }>agan
cu
tom
, wa
tated 3('utely in the following wortIs b)" the venerahle Bt"le. "1'er-
tinaci PagauisU}o mutatione suhventuill est quum rei in tuturo sublatio potiw
irrit
t."
The conduct of the Church in adopting bl1ch Cf'remoni('S, wa.c;, in fact, only
conformable to that of the n('it
" him
df; fi>r in hi
fir:o:t cO\'t'nant with \ hrahalJJ
he establi
hed cil'('umci
ion as a IUO:-;t
olcnll1 ami r('ligioll
ritl', )"I't thi
was ill
use among the heathens us a religiou:-> rit ' long hpfore the time of . \Lraham, as is
}>roved hy
Iichaeli
. To m..c the t)1)f" or figures of a future )Ic
iah ill the
Chri:4iall Church, would no douht ha\"c lx'Cn deemed incon..istcnt aml mon
trou:-,
but it was impos.",ihle to inrer that there was no one law, no one ct'rt'lUony in the
Jewish ritual, that the Christian Church could adopt. You have horrowed )"our
ceremonies from the pagans, said the lIlodern heathen, hut one might ha\'e thought
that the answer imm('(liately sent forth would have left
Iiddlcton without may
disciple bold enough to repeat his ("31Ull1l1y.1 Granting all that he wOlll(1 IJa\'e
granted, where l-"(,mld he find a nrohihition in the law of C'hri
tians, from !'ancri-
fying ('vcry thing by prayer? ,rhile, on the otlH.'r la:uH1, \\ ith what victorious
power might lIot the foll()wer
of Christi all antiquity have tulvallct_'t.l on their !'ide,
and proved that the very men \\ ho tlHls a('('lI
("(1 them were themseh"C5 guilt)" of
Ilaving borrowed, not the ceremunies, which of thell1:-;elv
wcre nothing in the
world, but the very spirit, sentiments, and language of the p.lgans? Fur l('t l1S con-
sider how stood the two divisions of men opposed unùer these banners t Tbe
one were pos
es.
e<1 of doctrin('s amI manneN perfectly unlike thoc;e of the ancient
* De Præscript cap. 40.
t Greg. Nyss. in vita Thauffiat. Theodnret. Lib. VIII. de Cur. Græc .\ffcct.
f A Polish l-agan, the DCllon 01 a rtott:slallt Heuthen. London, 1':'43.
A(j
S OF FAITH.
43
world, though it is true, some of the early s
ges in availing themselves of the
great primiti ve traditiolls of the human race, had
aid many things that
eellled
to express the beauty and wisdom of the Catholic philosophy; but in the others no
eye could discern any opposition to the spirit and habits of the heathen lore.
'Ve can pass from the classic authors of antiq ui ty, and even from the profane poets,
to their great writers, without observing any
Lldden transition or change. Their
moralists rise no higher than the flight of Cicem or
neca. Their views of IlU-
man character differ in no respect from the representations given by Euripides,
Plautus or Terence. 'Ve find in none of their writers those sentiments and fea-
tures which were peculiar to the Gospe], which rendered it in the eyes of Pliny
and Tacitus, an execrable superstition. Cel.tainl)" theÎ1' adamantine authors, as
they
tyled each other, would have given no offence had they appealed to the
judgment of the forum or the Areopagus.
But now dismissing these unworthy objections as fitting only in the men who
cherish them, let us proceed to contemplate in quiet meditation the beauty and
wisdom of the solemn offices which were observed within the holy precincts of the
Catholic Church; and if Xenophon saith truly, that there is nothing among men
so useful and so beautiful as m'der, * well may admiration be awakened at the
memory of them: planetlike in their movement, constant in their duration, uni-
ver
al in their ob
ervance, bO that holy writers of the middle ages, like St. Colum-
ban, St. Boniface, and Sr. Gregory, of Tour
, could apply no other epithet to
them; but "that cour
e divine,"-univel':;;.al, I
ay, and like the great operations of
nature, extended over every part of the earth, for by means of the mona..;tic in-
stitution::;, these celestial sounds were as familiar to the de:-;ert as to the city; they
were heard in the solemn depth of forests, on the wildest mountain pass, and
they were horne by howling winds, from rock to rock, along with the shriek of
se..1.-Li nls ovel O the ocean wave.
Xature herself seems to point out the distinction of hours. The Pythagoreans
used to take morning walks alone in places of silence and repose, where were tem-
ples and groves, and othel. object::; propel' for acting upon the mind. They would
not
peak to anyone until they had compo
ed their minds rightly in solitude and
contemplation; for they esteemed it a turbulent thing to go among::;t the crowd
immediately after rising from sleep. Therefore, they always observed this
matutinal walk, especially in temples where they could be found, or if not, in
such places as mo
t neal'ly resemhled them. In the e\"ening they used to
re
UlllP their walk, not alone, but two or three togerhel', that they might repeat
what they had learned in the day, and recall what they had done, and so exercise
thei I' memory. t
Chrysippns with Seneca says, that the Hours are sisters of the Gr-aces, but elder
in birth. Homer, in his hymns, calls the Hours wise, and Orpheus styled them
* æconom. cap. 8.
t Jamtlich. de Pythagoric. Yita. CRP. 21.
44
l U l{ E ::; CAT II ( ) L I ( , 1; U H,
chaste, aud beautiful, aud inuoceut. Tht.
. t'xprt.,..;iou
ill tllt'i.. ,'pplil'atiou ure
ulliuwlligiule w vue who has uul)" ill miUlI a mode of cluplo)"iug the hULlr.., like
that of the degenerate tiw
ùbCriuL'Ù by llartial, \\hich roDSÍ.:5tb in devoting the
first fA,
lut
lliulb and complillil'nts, the widdle to litigation, to LU'-Ìnes.s of\"ariou..;
kind::" or to entl'rtaiIlWl'nt,
lIId the 1<1:--t to Lanqul'ting and }"l'po:--t' j* LIll in what
ju..;tice do they:.;cem 10ul1(1<'(1 to the Chri...tian ('ar whell rt.'ml'muram"t" :-u
..:--t.. tlwir
cmploynu,'nt by tl)(' Chur('h anù hJ Catholic meu ill ugt'"i of f:tith! Good men
:1nd holy might ..;oml'timcs be disrna)"{,"C.I ut olbcrviug that tlll'Y ()C("L..,iollall). felt
wearit'll internally even uy the opcf'.1tion of the wor
s of God, if th('y had Ilot l>L >n
accustoll}('d to r('('{'i\"e and remark \\ ith dC<'fJ uttention the ooul1!'Cl;-. :11\(1 ('I1COuragl'-
mcnt.-.; of dIP Chnrl'h, to whose of1ìC't..:-- Wl' arc in genl'ral fitr from :-;nt}j(.it.ntlJ apply-
ing for a sol ution to d1fnl'ultil's in the :-;tudy of philo:--ophy. The lovt. of \.ariet,y J
arising from a srn-;c of ollr own infinity, whidl implies constant n>no\.ution, and de-
velopment, is not a \.ain or criminal propensity, f'in 'e it is part of our nnture wlli('h
Go(1 hath made; :md the] Inly Gho..t forl'...('('in
that the t-pl'Cta('le amI ('our..l' of
thl' external world might ()(,(';t:-oiolla1Jy prove wPari:--oml' to human nlll1<1:--, prompt-
ed the Church to add in gratefnl pmi:-- of the ewrnal Founder of thing who
ruleth night and day, th
remarkahle lim" :
to EL temporum das tempora,
Ut alleves fS!!lidium."
St. Ath:masius obsef\yes, that from the rrrotion of the world until Chri
t, the
day preceded the night a-; we rt':1<1 in
'riptllre; but from the (''()millg of rhri:--t, tht
night prec(.de'S the <1.'1)' ; anti thus we Ùt1!in to et'll.hmte tIlt' day !o-olt'mt.Iy fmm th
vespers of tile pret'etling day. This W:t.") t).pit.":ll to ...how how from li
ht men
\\Cl'C to c1l'Clille to darkm :-.."', from GOfI to t;:rror:; and idolatry; hut fmln the time
that the f;un of ju:-;ti('e, Chri
t, ro,e upon U", we are brnn
ht out of darknt.... into
the light of divine faith.t The monks of
Iollnt Atho... I"OIJ
i(h>r tIlt' day to ht'gin
from midnight, bt..>cause it W3..., then that tire l"e:--IIIT('(,tioll of our J onl took pla('(' ;
and in allu
ion to this the Church t.'xclaim:-, "U V(>J.e lx'at:l nn\. qme
lIla IIwrnit
scil"C tt>lJ)lm
I't horam, in qua (,hri
tlls ah illfi.t'i
I"l'..nr're'\.ir," a... if (:\.1'11 tilt' very
tim{' itself wc,'c
nclt)\\'f'(l with iuwllilrt'llI't' anll mOl'l' th.m in I )odic fi.run' 1.1......1'(1.
,
The hoJ,y Fatl)('
are full of pl"ai
..; of the ni
ht gpl1crally. The night, :-:'y thl')",
is inlllwellt, thou!!h it i..; tl". tlllle of committilw crinw... for the miml Olwht to he
",
'b
accll..;p(l, not tht' til))('.
t. .h>mme
1YS, "it is good to meditate durill
the .Jay,
bllt nocturnal 11ll>flitatinl1 i
:-;tiJIl)('ttl'r; for in tl1(' tlay v:lrious IH\(,.
..;itil'
illr..\"po..{>,
and ea\"p,"; all(1 O<'C'upations di
tml't th(> mind, hut thl' nig-ht i
thl' timp of 1)(':lce
alld qlli('tn
, mo..t fa\'orahle for prayp,. al)(l watdlin
."! l'Iwl"t'fcm" b1. Chr}-
-'O:5tom says, "the night is Dot ma(Ie for us to pa:--
the whole of it in
(ceping- and
*Lil>. IV. Epig. 8. t Atban. in !19.
nc.
crip. 54. Gen. i. S.
t Ep" :W, D(, Oh!=erv" VigiHarum, Tom. IV.
_\. G E
() F F
\ I T 11 .
4.3
r('po
e. "ïtne:,
tlte:,c worknll'n, the:-:e sailor:o', aIlll mereltant:,. The ChUl'ch of
God ri
es at midnight. Hi:o'l' thou, al:-;o, amI observe the chuir of thc
tars, the
profoulld
ilcllee, tilc great {flliet, which of it::;elf can clmrm the pa:o'
ions of a
troubled hean. TIe amazed at the wonderful di:-;pen:-;ation of thy God. Then
the mind is purer, lighter, lIIore subtle. This darknl':-;s and silence are enough
to ill:-opire it \\ ith eompunction; hut if you behold the heavens studded, at:; it
were, with innumerable eye..., you will take delight in admiring the wi!'dom of the
Creator. God is moved hy nocturnal pmyer:" if yon make the time of repose
that of penitence."*
Speaking of the constant prayer and p:-:almody of the perfect Christian, Clemens
_\.lpxaJl(lrilius add
, "àÀÀà h"al VVJ.;TúJP n;xa1 7l"t;ÀlV." tiThe day,"
l
"S Tertul-
liun, "dies in the night, :nul is buried in darknes!:5. The honor of the world is shroud-
ed, and all fmbstance is enveloped in hlackneí-
. All thillg
are silPllt amI amaz-
('(1. Every wlH're are ju!'tice and rest. Thus nature 1l}01ll'ns fin. the departed
light."t S1. C'11I"Y:o'o40m, who had not fore:o:een what we ]lOW hehold, in enumer-
atillg the beneficent work!:5 of God, take:-; l):-;pecialnotice of the merciful Ol.dina-
tion of night to ohlige men to sll:o'peml their labors who lIIight otherwi:-:e be ill-
duced hy a
..arice to deprive themseh"es uf neee
:-;ary repose. It is night, when
the woods and the wild seas re:o'1. "Behold," he exclaims, "what tranquil1ity,
what profound silence. En'l"Y thing in nature j
hushed, every thing is in re-
pose, even beasts and mon
te1":-; pO:-::o'e:-;s quiet in :-:leep's calm blis:3: there is an elld
also of complaint, and of tho
e groans which proceed from the mi
eries of human
1ife. The Hight is like a favorable POl't in which all men forget the
torms with
which they were agihltec1 during the day.',! There is an end of the combats
of ambition, The friendly night, as .AE:o'('hylu
sings, wide over heaven':; star-
spangled fields, holdeth hel. awful reign,
and even the intemperate passions of the
heroic world professed submission to it
way.
YÙ
ð'
Ô1J UÀiAfL" åyafJòv lcaì YVILTÌ 1t'zÐi60ar.1
"Fatigued hy the labOl's of the day, i
it not," asks St. Cyrill of Alexandria,
"thmugh L'1.VOr of the night that we recover the vigor which we had lost? "Yhat
is more favorahle than the Hight to pmlllote OUl' advance in wi
dom? It i:-: the
time of tho
(' holy thought,; which rai:o'e our souls tow
u'ds the _-\.uthor of aU good;
it i:-; thl'Jl that we can devotp om;:o'e1ves more freely to reading aIHI to the medita-
tions of the divine oracl(':-;. Is it not during the night that we find ill Ollr f-oul
a greater ardor fOl' prayer, and in OUl' voice more religious
()und8 to chant the
sacred canticles? ..\.t what time dne:-; the I'enwmbrance of our sin:-; pre
ent itself
to us with the greate:o't furce? Is it 1I0t dl1rin
tllP night ?"
In the last book we remarked how familiar 'n're men with death, and here we
* Hom. 26, in &\ct.
\rost.
+ On Compunction, Lill. H. cap. ...
t Tl'TtUl1:clt. Re
ur. (';lillis, cap. 12.
.\!::amcm. I lIorn. I I. \"11. 28.-
4t}
'l u H Ese A T II 0 L I (' I; 0 H
SCl' in tlll'il' Ian
lIu
(, ahollwling in "o]I'mll i Il\'ocat ion=--, how they
)'II1IJ.lthizcJ
"Iso \\ idl black niglar, the mothl'r, not of the furil
, but of lX':lo..ful ami hilly
th()tI
ht
. "It :--l'{'m:-; to ml
,"
l).
(,Il'ml'n
of AIl'xamlria, "that till' night W:1,.,
ruJll"] (Ei)(PP(
Yl'" hl't.
lU:--e at the tiull' the
oul is .It 1"1.':4 from the st.II....', ami
partake..; more of wi:)(lolU. Un that :l1'('OUlit thl' 1I1)'stcrie:s ure dlidly cclc1H'atl'\l at
night, ami thl')" :-ignity the &'IJ..'1ration of the :5uul from the bot.l}"."* E
talhiu:i
writing 011 the Iliad, cite.'3 the dncient pru\'crb which a.'l'ril
:; <.'O\1I1!',d tl) tlte night,
to whieh ..E
chJltls :--t,<,ms to
uh"crihl',
l)"in_ that tlurinh tilt' ,by mortal:, are
hliul1. t In the llrr:.lI1gl'melit of the l'('(.ll':--ia....tieal Omet' tl",..l' (oll..idl'l":ltiulI-; haw'
not been o\'erlook('ll, ft'r in tll(' 0l1ìl'l' of tilt! night \\(' may Ut,
l'n.e, that tIlt' ]1'-;-
SOli::, read are IUlIgl'r than tho:>c n
ul in the tJay ; lx'('UU"I', :l.i Car,linal BOlla
say=--, the ni
ht is fi)r contemplation, th' day for action.! It ilppt.4rs from Tl'r-
tullian,
\tll('l1aJor:.t:-;, Amobiu
, .J tI
till, :1Iul
Iimltius Felix, that the Chri,tian:')
were ea.lumlliah'(l hy the hmt]ll'lIs Oil al'('Ount of tlwir no<,turnal p..allJlolly allli
vigils. The)" \\"Pre c:lllt.'t.l a pl'oplc lo\.ilw darkm.:-;,." allli :ultlietl'\l to impiuu-; ..itl'''.
The Christians might, indt.'ClI, have refcrf('l1 tlu'lJl to their own poet...;, who
peak
of the :'3ered ni
ht,
to Urpheu:-, who ccleLmtl'C.l the night in nohle h)'mn.., tu
Cicem, who lH"ai="l's the nightly \'igill'On
'('I"Uh.J to the g'f)CI"',1I to Plato, \\ ho 1"('-
cOlllnlf'lIlls the <'lIIplo)'ing part of tIll' nig-ht ill trall..;al'tin
pnhlic Im..;in
..;, ami tilt'
affairs of dou)('stic ('('OIJOIlJ)", ft'r the rl'a
on that nHU'h ,..ll,('P i:i il1juriou
to the
concerns uf both bod)" and
()ul." But till' ('xampll's uf till' 01d Tl'
tallJent :,up-
pI i('(1 th(,111 with a !'uffil'ient authority, for thcre tlll'Y r('ad that ..\.hmhum r():)C 11 p
by ni
ht \\ ith his
on to 3."l'('ud tlw mountain anJ obey the voice of GoJ i that it
wa'i by Ili(rllt \\ IIl'Il .Jaeou de...irl'tl to see the my:4eriulls ladder, amI
tl'll;!glill
with the 3ngf'1 till morning, I"('('l'in'tl a hl'Ill'tlietioll ; that by night th(" Lllr.1 11'11
the ehildn'll uf hmel out of 1-:
ypt ; that SanHid the prophet pmYl'll aIllli
ht tit
the Lon1 ; that .J udith Wl'llt out b
' night and pll1
'('C1 i that the royal I b\"i(1 ru'iC
at midnight to confi.:-;
to till' Lord, and in\"itro others to lift up their h:uJll... hy
Dight ami to bll':-'s the Lord.
"' fl 1 . t ." . 1 " ,,
.. ( I I I k I .
It> ( ,'\'otlOlI 0 Vigi S,
ays..., 1('('tlUS, ')a
a ways )C('n -nowu to t H'
:lInts.
I:-õaia "I'il'cl, 'De III)('t.. \"i
!Ìlat
piritus 111('11::) all te, Dl'US.' David
ys, 'Ull'lUOI" flli
Docte nomiuis tui, Domine.' Ann.l, the \\ idow, ùepart('ll not from the tcmple d:I
"
and night, the hol)' !oòlll'plll'rds too \\'pre k{'('pin
watdl whcn the)" Lchelcl the \"i..io))
of angds in the sky; and the ba\"iour hirnst..Jf rpl)(':Hl'tlJy remillll
liS of the 1Il'(...1
of watching by night, and Ulughf us hy his exam pI.., :nul al1moni,hecl pptel' in thl'
time of the pas,ion, 'non potui:-;ti
nna hora \'igilarf' Illl'('UIll '! Yigilat 'd oratl' ;'
words suffieient to awakpl1 Illpn from thl' slec.'p of death. The bles::, '(1 apo..tJt"
kppt
vigils.
t. Peter in pri:-;on, amI the di,,;('iplps who were ag
l'mbled in the hou..e of
l\lary, and Paul, and Silas. .As for the utilit)" of \"igil
, I Ilm...t now "pl.uk," l'on-
· Stromat. Lib. IV. c. 22.
Ellrip. IOD. 85.
t Eumpnid. 10;:).
I Dc ] .l'1!ihus, Lib. U.
t De div. PSR1.
-; lb. Lih. VII.
&\ U E:; () F F \ I T II.
47
tinucs this holy bishop, "although this can he more easily felt by the exercise than
de:,cribed by the words of a narmtor; for it is by tasting that we see how sweet
is the Lord. A good thing, indeed, is meditation by day; a good thing is prayer;
bnt much more grateful and \:ffil'aciol1s is noctl1rnalmeditatioll ; because in the day
v
ll'iou
necp
:o.ities dishub 11
, p('cl1parioll deadem; the mind, multiplie/l ('ares dis-
tract the sen:-;e ; bl1t the night is Sf>ct'et ; the night is quiet and opportune fi.lr prayer,
awl fitting tllO
e that watch; know, therefure, that vigils are agrpeable to God."*
"The hOUt' of midnight," r..:ays 81. Basil, "the hour of repost' atHI silelu'l', i:-: the mo..t
favorable to the pure operations of the soul. The sight and the hearing recpive
then nu impression from external thing
, the soul is then alone; it is disengaged
from all earthly things; it is wholly occupied with God. During these preciolls
moments of the night, the memory of sin:-; pre:-,ents ibelf most forcibly to her."f
It i
then that she di:-;cerns the rapid flight of life; while every thing else is at
rest, the strides of death are more distinctly beard. The whole world seems ab-
hre,'iated before her, as it did to St. Benedict in the night, and she may almost
ble'hoM l1Pr
elf already entering upon the eternal world. Ah, well may the night
eelll solemn!
Th('
(' ,'it'w
may appear ungl"Ounded and paradoxical to the pre
pnt race of
men; fllr alas! who now is perluittp(l to taste the sanctified night of Christian
,
or ('yen the Amhrosian night of Homer? Dead both to grace alHll1atul'e, if men
do 1I0t, like some of the ancients, devote the uight to the I'itf"ï; of Bacchll
,! it
i
m
Hle the tilllP of all uther:-; in which, as if they f'tu<1ied purposely to contradict
all that thc holy Fathers hm'e en't' written, they ]('a:,t tllink ofwi
dom or of God,
anel tlllts the gloom of moral darkness is a(l<1e(l to diP oh
cllrity of nature. To
Adam after his f..'111, the natural night seemt.d filII of II(HTor
:
---"'Vith black air
Accompanied, witli d,unps and dreadful gloom,
Wbich to bis t:vil conscicnce represented
An things with dlJul>lc terror."
But during the middle age!', the nightcontinl1{'d to appear as it did to the primiti,'e
(,hl'i
tian;..;. "The night time i..; often fa,.orable to de,'otion," :-ay:-; Thomas à
Kempis, "awl of no small assistance to sacred ll1editations."
If we rf'flect 011 the
oh:o'ervatioll of Quinctilian, who remarked that when !'lepp was intermitted, thought
wa'i a:;;:-;i
t('d hy the ,'pry darkne
of the night.1I we ;:;hall ha,'e reason to expect
that the people of the mid(lle ages who
o 10\"e(1 vigils, wonld be fonnd UpOIl inves-
tig:.ltion tu have been eminently that thinking people. which the modern
are so
fond of being considered. "The ni
ht:; are dearer anll more useful to me than
the day
,"
ays the Abbot Peter, of8t, Remi, in a letter to Berneredus, Abbot of St.
*
icetius Episcop de Vigiliis Servorum Dei. apt1l1 Da.cher, Spicileg. Tom. III.
t
i('etius Episcop. df' Yigiliis Servorum Dei. 'lpllli Da
her. Spicileg. Tom. III.
Oppian de Venat, Lib. T. 2:5.
Sermonum III. II. I Lib. X. 6.
4
!\I () It E
{'. \ r If () L I (' I; () HI
C'ri:'pin. '"
[y ()('cupatJon:-; hy day hurry me :1\\ay violf'ntly ami fr3l1l1ulently
frum JIIy,.;t'lf, hut the" inter llight..., h)' their length, ('onfi'r on rut' a (Iou hIe h"lwfit;
for tl}('y gi,.e rf><:t to my hotly, ami tlH'Y relH'W my t'pirit.... TIH')"
ive lih(.rty to
revi:,it cele
tial thin
:" ami to ilJ<{uire into tlll.ir
t'rets, ami al
to be remindful
of my friend
."* LUC3:-:, ..\rchbishop of Co....enza, in the thirteenth century, u_ oJ
al::;o to pa
:o, the night in writing, "yet," :--ays tlw wrift'r ofhi:-: life, who li\'('(1 with
him, "to the conn'ntnal vigils ill tIlt' Church he woul(1 alwa
.s h:L4en, hUlllhl)
sin g inO' and wakhirw with the brcthJ'f'n."t "artlinal P)f.tllIl olberv..., that thf'
b b
hea,'y and ('ontinuL'(,1 f;1('('p of worlJly people i:; 3S mu('h oppo.....'() to lwalth of
1:><)(1)' as to philosophy, a('(.'ording to the jn(l
nwnt of .Ari....totl(.,! of Hippo('r:ut'1'I,S
and of .A v ieell lIa. Theil in alltuling to tlu> 1I0('tul"l1al vigil:--, he p}.claim:--, UO
i
!-'C'ireut homines quam
.;and:', (!'ram gl".1t
-. r
.o, <l'lam l'\alutaJ't.:, ('('('l('si
tid,
('(1
et fidelC5 singllli, bimul in unum <Ii", . d paul >r, nnctl'ID vprtcn'nt in diplIl Ih)('-
turnis precibus summa
ttulio in:,i
tt'nt{'''''.''11
t. flpmanl !o-I.ow... }ut\\' tJ.(' night is
JWclIliarly f:l\"omhll' for pmY<'I'. ""YIIt'II :-;lp4'p ill\'ol\"(...; tlU' worlcl in prnfcHlIHI
ileIH,(', then," t;ait1. he, '"praJl'r will he JHlI"t'r amI fn'PI'. 1 [ow
'('ur('l
' dol."s it
then a
ecnd to G(Kl, the "0](' nrhitpr, and to the holy :11I:!pl wh() i
!"f'a(1,y to prl'
'nt
it on the supernal altar! II ow gmtl'ful i
Udlltl1l).f'I. ! How 1'Itrene! :nul unin-
terrupted hy any Fouml! How dl'ar from all <lu:--t of tPrt"('IU'
olicitu(lt' ; expmpt
from all praise or HaUl'r)" of mortal heholdpl"s I '0 iu:-:iglwm no('turni tf'IUI)()ris
prærogath'arll! 0 S<lcrns noctf" 0111 n i ) lice "'pl('n( 1 i( lior"s l' ,"w.
ot llOW c1c\'otccl
tù ThbSalian arts, but cousciou... of angelic light:
"0 nox purpureo sp)endidior die,
o DOl: delitiis omnibus affiuens. ....
The heretics, Leginllin
with Ylgilantiu..;, whom f-,t. .Tprome, on that 8mmnt,
C'dlls the 8leeper, ('OlH.lemlU...1 the u()(,turlml yigil:-; and p
almn(ly. })o1idnre VIr-
gil, gl>l1erally a 1'".1....h and vain wl'it('r, affirm.. that tlH')' W4're always 11l'l<l in
n:o.-
picion 011 account of the danger of immorality; hilt b\l<'h :111 error, t-ays C3I,dinal
Bona, d(){'s not dl''''erye to he confuted. T II the thir() ('('ntury, Ulu1<'r )larællu:o-, it
was, indl'{'<l, fc)rbid(ll'n to kt'(.p vigils in the ('('m('h'ri
, ill tllO
f' ]ow J't' rions wh<,re
sad uight hangs around thp drowsy vaults, and wlll're moist vapoN titff'p the
duB hl'OW8 of thl)-.(' W'ho
limb are laid to )"p..t, hut )}C) wher
is it written that
the vigil:-; in churches were con<1pmu('(1 by tlae au('ipnÌð.
St. Philip Xeri was en'l1 3æu'Í()f1}(>41 to pa
the l1iJ!ht fn-qllpntly in the ('('ffi-
etery of S1. C'allistus on the .A ppian way. tt ;,t. Horu uald had
u('h a horror of
sleep after vigils, that if any' one cunfp:--...
l to him that he had imIulgt'() in it he
would not allow him that day to celebrate ma<:,
.:! Crodega.nd, Bishop of )[etz,.
* Pptri Ce}]ens. Epist. Lih. Y. 1. t Italia
ICCr:\, Tom. I X.
()fì. t In (Economiclø.
2 .\ptb. 3 I Dc dh in.l P
a]l1Ioc1ia, 122. .. Sc.t IU. nIt. in Cant.
.. Card. BODa, p. 12R HP. AriD
hi TIOIua
nhll'ITlUll'a, 1'.239.
:fPetr. Damiall iD Vit.8. HOU1l1nlcll.
AGE S 0 F F.A I T II.
49
forbids the can011S on pain of excommunication to :,le('p during the intel'val be-
tween nocturns and the early sacrifice, unle:,,,on al'('ount of sickness or with leave.
The holy ALLot ...:Elredu
, eall:-; that a hl(,:-:,:,c<1 interval which intervenes after the
nocturnal psalmody, until the rising of the Sllll; f()r then he says, the heart is most
refreshed with the sweetness of dpvotion. It i..; at thi
hour' that celestial visions
have been generally imparted to holy men. The rock:-; and woods of Al-
vernia were still involved in the solemn grey which precedes the first rosy streaks
on the ea:-;tern sky, when the winged seraph in living flames descended upon Fran-
ci
, giving the la:-:.t signets to his
aintly fle
h by the fervor which it kindled.-
Gilbertu:-;, praising the same inten'al, exc1aims.-" neus bonc! hora iHa n(wtis
qllàm sine nocte est, quàm nox ilIa il1uminatiu in deliciis! Oratioue
iUre privatim
fiunt, sed privata non petullt." Thus St. Anthony, after passing the night in pray-
er, when the sun rose in the morning, used to 8ay, that it came to interrupt his
peaceful ecstasy. St. Benedict u:-;ed to pass the night in the upper cham her of a
tower which rose above the mona
tery; amI it was there, when all the other hreth-
ren were taking rl':,t, that the holy man, while ::;tan(ling at a window on the :.;outh
side, looking towards Capua, had that vi:-,iull of the whole world, abbreviated
ami(lst a
lHldpn !'plellllor which exceeJed the ligllt of the brightest day. * Pope
St. Leo, when at nome, u..;ed three times e\'ery week to walk by night barefooted
from the Latel'an Palace to St. Peter'
Church, pl'inltely, attended hy two or three
clerk.., praying and chanting p
alms. t "Yhen St. Odo was a monk at St. :\Iartins'
of Tours, he used in the night to go alone to pray at the sPIHllehrc of the baint,
which was at a distance of two miles from the college, awl the wokes u
ed to terrify
him as he walked thither.! St. Gregory ofTuurs relates, that Trojanus, Bishop of
Saintes, used to go, in thedarknt::
s of the night, to visit all the holy pI act's \vhich were
within the circuit of that city, and attended only by one
ubdeacon.
Thu
Neemias
rose up by night, and a few men with him, and indicated to 110 one what God
had put into his heart that he shoul(l cIo in Jerusalem. Thus did he go out hy
the gate of the valley by night, aIul before the fountain of the dragon, and tlm:o: cIid
he contemplate the walls of J eru&llem broken down, and its gates consume(l wi th
fire. "For," says IIugo of St. Y'ictor, "it is the duty of spiritual doctors to rise
up often hy night, and while other men sleep, to go ahout investigating the state
of the Church, that they may discover how they Illay correct and raise up the
things which have been defiled. by sins, aud overthrown bv the tempests of
war."II
These nightly exercises of devotion werE" practised also by the laity with great
assiduity, during the middle ages. One of the most remarkable confraternities
of the Chur"ch of Pari
, was that bearing the date of the year 1205, and entitled
"Confraternitas Beatæ )Iariæ Pari
iensis surgentium ad )Iatutinas," which was
:. Chl'onica Casinensis, S. B. cap. 35. t Cbron. S. :Monast. Casinensis, Lib. II. 87.
t Bibliothec, Cluniac.
Dc Gloria C o nfeSSOr\lffi, ;;'^ . . I ' I] L b VIII II
_ .,H _
egor. in i. .,
60
MOILES CATHOLICI; OR,
composro of pious pef:'ion:-. of the ("ity, who u....'ti to ri:'l' :nul l"t'pair to the dllln.h
at midnigllt.* It is nu'ntioul'ti in the litè of
Iadall1e lI,
rai
.m..,t that
h., u
to l"i
e eOJ1
talltl)" at that hom', anli repair to the elmreh nfSt. Eustach
, Jwr p.ui...h,
when thl')" chanted lllatin
.
This lIight of the lJJilllll.. agb lUU!-'t he <1(':11' to P()pt
. 0 how -:ol('mn
Olllllls
the ('hOl'all"ollg while the Ilocturnal willtl
WI't'p:o; rOil 111 I tIlt' :,ulitary pil '! AlJIrpls
then Illay be thollght to kat their \\ iugs again:,t tilt' wimlO\\:) of the ehurdlf";
aIlll bouletimf::) has death
'Clut.'tl to beckon with its fiuger through thl'm, to give
.....a.lut:lry w:lrnilJ
to a f'UmmOlR't} !"()u1.
The ('('cle
ia.4i("al cleert'ps dt':-,irl't.l that an the pt'ople f'houltl ('orne to nocturnal
vigils.! It was, in fad, the pra('tÌ<.'(' of the Jairy, in tho 1l1ilhllc ag('
, as in primi-
tiye times, to ...pel1l1 the vigils of tì.'
tivals in the dlllrehcs, :nul Drexl'lius lament:)
its di...use in the wretched tinlf
in whieh he \\ rote. ".\.l:L'i!"
ith he, "what a
progrl':--.
! "P e inc1('('(1 kt't'p 1113ny nocturual \"igil
; but it i'i over ('nlh, ami(1:.,t
darU'iug, :m(l pJa).ing nt tahle
."9 )labillou, in hi..; ltilll'rary of Germany, IlL....
scrihes certain Ian tt'rns at the gn'at g-.lÍl's (If the ch n reh of t he moua
tery uf Lu '\.cn,
and at that of nonvau
l1l'ar Chartre
, to gui,lc persons who came in the lliJ;ht
to tho:,(' chnrt'lU's.1I "I rt.'I11('mLer," :-ays all aueieut monk, "that during eight t.la)S
bt.'fì)re the f('"",tl\'al of
t. Panlinus the llriton, Hil"hop ofC'apua, whl1(li('(1 in H."jI,
the bells u:-Ot.'t.l to !"olllld at Ye""'l)er""" HIllI that, 011 the vigil of the fm...t, lights u
l'd
to burn on the top uf thc tOWCI'.""
m{'tim('s persons kept vigils in churche'i throughout the whole night, with-
out au)"lightl") burnillg.** The pious Em pe 1'01' Irenr)", a.'i oftt.'n a.... he visitcù Rome,
u
l'(l to
pend the first night in the llasiliCl. of "'t. )Iaria 'lajora. tt Drt'xeliu:i
a]
o mentions the (lcvotion of )[ary (I" (Eni('
, who, with one attl'mlant, u""l'(l
every year, Rlul in the (lepth of wintl'l', to rt'main (luring a wholf> night in the
church of our Lady. Thus tuo, ou thc f(':-tival of the hlt.:-'....'tlmartyr of tht' nri-
vatl'nsian cllllr{'h, 81. Gregory of Tours b.l::l occasion to relate, that a Jl'-
vout poor man ('ume there to eclehrate it, who having fi,!-'tt.'nf't.1 hi!o; hor
e out<.:itle,
entered the clmfl'h, awl there
pent the night motionlt........, praying with the other
people <lm.jug thl'. whole night, till break of day.!t "P e l"t'ad in the lIt.'Cl"('CÞ of
I '"es Je Chartrt s, that when 3 bi
hop wus to hold hi
synod in a church, "all the
}>l'r:-,ons were to be ejcctcù at the fir
t hour of the dar, before the rising of the
sun."
To this discipline there wa
a remarkahle ('xecption in the f'arr("(l <':.I.Vl' or (.hur('h
in the rocks of }.Iount G:H.
UlUI1l, celebratl.'t.l throughout the whole world on ac-
count of the apparition of St. l\licL.lel. }"'or, from the first light till evening
· Lebeuf, Rist. du Diocese de Paris. Tom. I. 1.
I vonis Carnot. Decret. Pars vi. c. 2.')9,
liter GermanicuUl in V d. ADalecta.
.... S. Greg. Turon,
lilacul. Lib. 1. 5.
H S. Greg. Turon.
liracu1. Lib. 11. 21.
tIn 4to. 1657.
De Jejunio, Lib. II. cap. 6.
-; Italia Sacra, Tom. VI. .H3.
tt Jo. NaucJ. Gen. 34.
Dccrct. Pars. iv. 246.
AGES OF FAITH.
- 'V,
CO LLE G.
LÅ
D." (>
.1
psalmody, !'3Cl'ed mysterie:-, and prn,yers were offered there daily by clergy and
people, durin
whit'h time the doors were nevel' closed; but through fear and
re'"erence for the angelic choir, which was said to be present there during the
night, no one was permitted to remain after the la
t office, when diligent
a1"(
h
u!"ed to be made in order to expel all per
on.... In the year 1015, St Henr)" the Em-
pel"Or was recei,"ed there to ho
pitality by Ur
u
, Archbi:oöhop of SipOllto, when
he came for the sake of de\"otioll to visit this church of St. l\Iichael. Passing the
brazen gates. which were the gift of princes, amI descending into that va
t
cavern obscure, distilling drops thl"Ough the !":olid rock, he joined in the offices
which were then solemnly sung before the great altar at the end of the choir, ill
which is a fountain of most bweet and tran
parent water. 'Vhen the office was
concluded, and every person commanded to withdraw, the saint indeed begged, and
obtained permission, to remain in the church during that night; but this was an es-
pecial indulgence, which no one
lse ever enjo)"ed: and the subsequent lameness
of the holy emperor was attributed, by contemporary writers, to the effects of the
vision which was then vouchsafed to him, wben like another Jacob, he endured
an anger s touch. *
The procesRions of penitents at Rheims, in the year 1575, took place in the night.
The Archhishop, Louis de Guise, assisted, walking barefoot along with a nu-
merOllS confraternity. The litanies, sung with a mournful tone, were often inter-
rupted by the sobs and pl3intive cries of the penitents, which pl"Oduced a most
overpowering effect in the silence and horror of the darkness. These pilgrims an-
ticipated, (rom the aspect of public affairs, the destruction of the Catholic religion in
France, and hence their penitential vigil.f The night's dead silence did well
become such sweet complaining sorrow.
It is still a de,'otion at Rome to go by night to the ancient Basilicas without the
walls. One morning, leaving Rome while it was still dark, being three hours
hefore !":unri
e, as I approached the gate of St. Lorenzo, I saw an extraordinary
1ight moving tow3rds me, which soon assumed the form of crosses of light.
Presently I heard the murmur of prayers, and the f:olemn chant of the pilgrim's
litany; a vast crowd of persons became half di!'cernible, the men going first and
the women f()IIowing, and the light proceeded from two cro;;:;;;es borne along, to
which lamps were attached. It is impo!":sible to de
cribe the awful impression
})rodllced by 8uch a spectacle at that hour, and on such ground! At first I !'up-
})osed it to be a funeral train, but on inquiry I was told that they were perSOlIS
returning to Rome, after hearing mass in the basilica of St. Lorenzo, without the
wall. It struck me forcibly that here was a faith and thirst worthy of the days
of the apo!'t1E:=s. The fir4 Chri4ians could not ha,'e E'viuf'pd g-reater fervor than
these poor people, who filled the 101l
ly precinct!' of the ptel'l131 city, at the bitter
hour of damp exhalations, with prayers for merc)", with the prai!'e
of Chri!'t, and
* ItaJia Sacra, Tom. VII. 821
t Anquetil, Hist. de RLeims, Litl. IV. 147.
52
'IOHES C
\TH()T.I('I; OH,
of his blpssed mother. At IÆC<'J, tl1<'re is :1 hol)" hrotherhood wh();:)C IUcmher...ara
nppoin
J in turn to sOllml a hdl b('fore thwn, at thp doors of :-;\1('" of the citi7t'n
as are accustomed to a:,:--i:4 at the fir
t ma:-:o:, in ordpr to appri..t' tlH'f1l of thc hour,
and light the torch which i:'\ to guide 111<'111 to the Churd.. In the lUolJa:--tcr)" of
St. . \ pollonia, at Flort'nCt', t ht're is a }>:a rt grantt'(1 to a (,ollfrah'rnity of pioll:"' }>('ople,
who asscmhled there 011h- c.lurilw the ui,rht. ThroUtrh the foul womL of niO'ht
J ð
the hum of hasty p
ngers, who murmur prayers Ii:, the). repair to churcl1E
,
8tilJy sounds. C"Tlat're is no rl.:-t," :-;ay:o. ;-\t. Pal\Jinll", ((for the multitude wlao r('-
pair to the festival of the Llc
:-;ed COllfe:--:--or Ft'lix, at :x ola."
-"Properant in ]UCl'm A Docie, 'diemque
Expto'crllre I'igct, voris avid is mora DOClib
Hurnpitur, et noclem flamm.s funaUa vincunt....
Even without the interest of a mOl"(" than ordinary oc':(':Lo;ion the watch('TS who
guard the cit)" find them going about it, through the strl't.'t.., and N}lIarl':i, .').ocking
IIim whom their souls lo\'e. It wa:4
o rommoll a practk,'C to go to tll ,clmreh at
matin
, that the Frcnch h:lll an :meit'llt pnwcrh,-"as c.Iangl'roll
a.., rc.'tllrn from
matin:5,"--to l'Xpl'
the liahility to filII imo mi..ehief in till' dark from l'lIl'mit,
01' woh"
.t-l)ctrareh writl':Õ: as follc)\\s :-"1 Ii ' al\\n)"' at miòni rlat, to :-ilw
thE' pmi,..,og of God. The silenL'e of thc night i... h(':-t ..uit(>(l to thi.; l'mplu)"llll'nt.
It is the part of my life when I amll1o
t m
.!--elf, aJltlmo..t (lplightfulJ)' {'lI)plo)"('(1.
It i
a clI:o:tom I have oh:,cl'w'il, whie-h h:.... 1H'\'l'r 1)('('11 illh"ITlIl'h'(I Lilt hy :--icknt..:--,
ami \\ hid. I shall e"er udhcre to." \f e find him (latin
olle of hi=-, leUt'1' from
lethe mo:,t rctir\XI corner of thc Ambrosian hOUðC at )Iil:m," under that light, ami
at the :-:ame hom', in whieh fi'I'Illt.'rly the living Lilrht arp
upon the earth to t'l1-
lighteu men. -
ichoJa
'Yon dt'r FJup, wheu father of a f:.mil.\" at. ba
l'ln, u....,,1
to retire to rest Wilh hi... hml:-l'holtl; Ililt a'" !--()on a.... tlH'Y wt.'re :1
lt't,p, lac would
ri:,e from his 001, lm\'c his chamber, amI 1-})4'I1(1 in pra)"l'r to Go(1 alJ the rCIII:.iu-
ing time till (lay hrt'ak. His :-011, John,
a)"s of him, '"my f
Hlacr ll:-('(I alwa)".. to
retire to re:-:t \\ ith his.<.hil(ht'lI, Imt:.all uight Jong, tin mornin"', r ha\'(' heard him
pray in another r..>olU. The lU'an.uly !ooWt'(,tlJl:"", with whic'h he u--t'(1 tn he rcfn...h-
cd served him instead of
Jt'('p, so that in the morning, 110 Ollt' en'r ro..t' from IX'll
80 fre.-;h and cheerful as he u
frolll pr-.l)'PI"." t It is t'urions to
remm'k, that while priv3tt:' devotion instigatt"ll ru
n to thi::; clt"lIication of the
tragic melancholy night, the Yl'i'Y 1:1\\:0. of the :-tate I
nt their
,i
tance to
Bl'Cnre it from profanation. By the Fn.nl'h Jaw"", all 1 ahorer:o. were for-
bidden to work after ve:opers. Carp 'nu'r:; alone were pcrmitt('ll to work during
the night, when coffins were to be made for the dead, or works f(,r flllJl'ral cere-
monies erected. It wa.-; not eveu lawful for tmde,men to sell goods till the ap-
· lla1ia R:wra, VI. t Pa"lquit't Hl'cherche dp ]8 FraDce, Lib. YII 1.
:L
Lebell und Geschichte des Xikol vou FIrle, hy W' ei":.eu h.u:'h.
AG
S OF FAITH.
.")3
poillh.<1 IlIItH. hacl :-:trnck, ",hiell wa
gf>lwral1y tierce or nin('.* The Roman laws
pwhibitcd judgments from being pas.-;etl, at night, notwithstanding that )Iinerva
had been made to sanction the contrary discipline of her own favored tribunal.t
To the night of the middle age:, belonged many solemn and poetic things, of
which the trace only remains, as in som\' towns of England, where, at particular
seasons of the year, during the night, one hears a small bell tolled a certain num-
.ber of times, amI then, in a mournful tone,
ome rude ven-es chanted, which had
been substituted, no doubt, for "he ancient invitation to pray for the dead at that
hour, adevotion to which indulgences were attached. In Italy during the octave
at all souls, the bell for thc dead tolls the whole night long, or at least for a consid-
erable i'pace about midnight. In the history of the church of Durham, we read,
the "three bells of the lantern were rung ever at midnight, at twelve of the clock;
for the monks went evermore to mattins at that hour of the night."! On arriv-
ing in Italy the traveller is
oon reminded of the beautiful similitude which
Dante draws from the tones that sanctify a Catholic night.
"As clock, tbat calleth up tbe spouse of God
To win her Bridegroom's love at matin's hour.
Each part of otber fitly drawn and urg'ù,
Sends out a tinkJing sound, of note so sweet
Affection springs in wcll- disposed breast."
0, how does a youthful imagination then sympathize with all that the holy
fathers have written rp:-;ppcting' the night! how does it love that holy silence which
reign
on all nature! The river has still its silver flood, but no more its murmur;
the Ijighways are de.;;ert, the cabins, voice-lt
s ; no leaf trembles under.. the \'aults
of the wood, and the sea it:o:elf, expiring on the
trall(I, !-carcely rolls again
t it a
}>lainth"e wave.1I How far is every thing here from the frown of
able-vested
night, the consort of chaos! How holy is the Catholic night, the night of the
middle ages! the time in which saint
, all oyer the earth, are a
sembled to chant
the f'ame :;acred hymn
, and to commemorate the same great deliverance. Some
seasons, indeed, there were, a
tho
e of Christmas aud Easter, in which it was in
an e:o:pecial degree the privileged and ble
:5ed time; nights in which things celestial
were joined to earthly, and divine to human; in qua terrenis cælestia, human is
di\.in:l jnnguntur ; for as the church of G<xl
ay:" it wa
, "while all things were
,in quiet silence, and the night was -in the midst of her course, that the Almighty
word came from heaven, from the royal throne. t;even times in the year, mass
lI:o:ecl to be !'aicl :It midnight. At Chri
tllla
, in eon:o:eqllenc>e of the ordinance of
Pope St. Tde
phorus, in the st"coIHlet'ntllry, on Holy t;arurday, on the festi\'al
of 81. John the Baptist, and on the collation of holy orders, on the fOllr Satur-
day:; of the Ember weeks.'.
For:l long time after S1. Leo, ordinations used to
*
Ionteil Hist. des Français, Tom. IlL 261. t
Esch}
]us Eumcnid. 692. t 1. 3.3.
Parad. X. I Dc 1:1 )[artine. · Benedict XIV. de Saclificio )[i:,sæ, II Appenll. 388.
:.4
I 0 ICE S C \ T II 0 J.. I ( , I; 0 H,
t ,ke pbce on the 8aturllay uight of XII. Je
I1", towarcI
lIIu1a)' morning, attf'r
the 1"('coIHI nocturn of matins, us appear", from all :mcit'ut Roman urdt", whi{'h was
in the abbe)" of Y" enJoruc. *
But while the Church of G{)(l is t11ll
ri!'Cll at the 80lemn miùnight hour, where
sit the world's chill1rt'n? .Alas! for thl>m, th(' night has 110 h'rrol'S, ('xcepting
when there isa qup
tion of going to the 3
:--l'll1hlit.'s of the faithful : wo,.shippf'r
of plc3:,ure--dailc.ln'n of night, pursul'rs of private foòillS, a" hot on the beent, a..; if
like their elder sisters, bung hy .Al
...ch)'lus, th ')" were ùivÏtlt.'ly (leputl'(l to f()1l0\V
the trace of blood that criuJ to lle3\.en; who are in con
tant hahits of hraving the
()b
cure air at the hour \\"II<,'n re:-t is pro\.itlt'(l f,)r :.11 fh....h, are imm l "tliatt'ly con
vinC('(] that thl'Y would contract 80llle fatal illllt.'
if the \\a)" were to the dmrd.
instead of the festal hall. They might, it i
aic], IIlft>t rt'v('lIc
in the t-tr('Ct...,
and religion might incur di
gra('c if Iwr tt'mplu; "t..oc to he Opt'n :1t thu..c hour:--,
which the m()(lerns, by common c
n:-'l'llt, think mu...t 1I(.('(ls l)t, c(ln.,i
'H'lJ O\'I'r
either to sle<'p or to Babylonian rite:,. To them we may :ult1re:--:"'\ tlw \\(ml
off't.
Clemens ...\.Iexandrinus to the I)3h"3I1S, who Wl're initiatt.'t] in the orgit..:"'\ ofHa<'l.hll',
or,8S he 83YS, "in the mJ"sterics of the .Atheist...;," "forrot.'rly the bilent night ":1,,\
to virtuou..; men a veil of S'\.('('tlH'
, hut nnw, to you, the t-:1c-rt..l ni
ht i!o\ fiIkcl
with the Iloi
e of di:5:oõolutc
peedl."t If ("ompcllt'(J tl) :lh:--l'lIl tlU'm
'I\"l's 011 !o\Ut.h
OCC3:5iolls from the a!'semhlies of the faithful, nwn \'''('re not JH'ard in the middle
agps to dL'Claim agaiw;t thi
devout an,} m
t au(.i 'ut ('xcrci
, or tf) (,lIndenm 3')
imprudl'nt those who maiutainl.'(l its utilit)., n... if almo,t it \\ pre un ('viI :1!o' g'-f'at
3"'Ï heres)", to lovc till' poetilM.l1 :-öille of:l religiulI'" liff'. "Ht'e:lII
f' )'''11 aJ'e infirm,"
said Xicetius the Lisjanp, "'do not ('omlemu the vigih; of othl'r:'\. It \\,olllt] he
foolish antI sufficit.'ntlJ foreign from religion to (h'pre('iate thu
who nm \\ell,
Ix'cause we are unable our:5Ch"cs to run; though '\e have not the pO\\er, \\e ought
not to envy but to congmtubte tho..:c who have; rc)r U:-ò he who ("tH1st.'llt..; to rnaliee
is a partaker oftIU' puni:.;llIuent,
o, a participation in glor)" may 1)(' hoped for from
a consent to goodncs::3."!
nut now the apprúach of ru"y-fingered 1II0ril is witne
sed in the
'\Stcrn
k.r,
and the mel()(ly of choir8 id re"ulllcd to hail the hour of \miver
)llml<]:i to the
eternal Founder of thing
, who f1l1eth day aw1 night. Domillus regJlHyit, 110\\
is heard, and the rc:,t which follows of that p
alm in \\ hieh, sa}"s Hugo (1c St.
Victor, "Chri!'t, with admirable hrevity is multifarion:-öly pmi:--ed."9 The Church
seems to come forth refrcshpd am} more than ever JOJous. She de"(,(,lId:o; to
peak
of all the various dutiæ of men, 11m} sings the dawn with tran:.;port; for then the
army of errors de"erts the hurtful way; the f':ailor eoll('cts his <<)n'l'S ; !o'traib allt]
seas grow calm; at the crowing of thcco('k, hop\' returns; health i:i imparted to
the infirm; the robber's sword is !-'hcathcJ ; faith is rc:)toreù to the fallen: Jc
us
· Chardon IIi
t. des Sa.crnmcns, Tom. V. c. 6.
* Dc vigìliis 8crvorum Dei. Dachcr. :;:'plciJcg. III.
t Clcm. .\u'x. Prot n plicus, c. 2.
De 01llciis Ecdcsi
ticls. cap. 10.
AGES OF FAITH.
65
she invokes that he would look upon the wavering, for, at his look, sins would
cease and crime be washed away with wEeping; that he would enlighten the senses,
and dispel the sleep of minds. At the rising of the star of light,-she prays to
be protected from all hurtful things during that. day,-that the tongue may be
tempered so as to serve no horrid contcntion, that the sight may be directed so as
to draw no vanity, that the heart's recc:;ses may be pure and the pride of the flesh
humbled: so that when the day
hall depart, her chilùren may be enabled, through
abstinence, to sing glory to the coequal and eternal Three.
After the offices of lauds and p1"Ïme succeeJeù the sac-red mass, though in times
of persecution, when the as:-,emblies of the faithful were neces:;arily less frequent,
the Eucharistic sacrifice was not daily offereù. In the great chureh of Constanti-
nople, down to the Xlth century, ma;:,S u5ed to be celebrated only on Sundays and
Sabbath days and festival:;, which was a yestige of the ancient necessity. 'V here-
as, in all churches of It::;s an
iquity, the divine mysteries were daily celebrated ac-
cording to pions usage, * sanctioned by the constitution., termed apostolical. t 1\T:1;O:"
used to be said daily in the time of St. Ambrose and St. Basil, after the example
of the apostles; a usage which is acknowledged to have existed in the first ages,
even by Protestant writers.! St. Cyprien shows that mass should be said daily,
and that all should communicate daily. To the like effect speaks St. Hilary.
'Vith the Greeks, they who passed three Sundays without communion were sai({
to be excommunicated.
From the sixth century, the daily celebration of mas::,
was a common discipline, hut it appears that in the seventh it became still ruore
general for pious men to as
ist every day at mass. St. Goal' celebrated mass every
day, and the same is recorded of St. Geremaru:;;, Abbot; and Bede affirms the
same of Ceolfrid, the abbot of his monastery. The bishop, Licinus, is also related
to have daily sung mass with great compunction of heart, but 1\labillon interprets
the word to mean only having simply recited it.
In the eighth century,thisdiscipline was enjoined by the decrees of the synods,!!
and since the Council of Trent, it continued to be the univeI:'al practice of devout
Chri
tian":. ""
hen you ha \"e risen from your bed," says Louis of Blois, "after
makin
the
ign of the cro::;s and recommending your soul and body to the 1\lost
IIigh, ha4en to the church as to the place of your refuge and a garden of spi-
ritual delights."
Hence we may remark, that on occasions of public danger or
calal}1ity, there wa
no neces;;,ity, as we read in the Pagan times of Rome, for the
state to appoint a day of general prayer, for which a form of words was to be
prepared, for the church had already her appointed course, and there was always
a sacrifice ready amI a sublime invocation for those who sought to propiliate the
mercy of Heaven. "
hat the venerable Bede said of priests, who, without a Ie-
* Thomassinus de vcteri ct nova Ecclc:"iæ disciplin. Pats 111. Lih. I. c. i2.
t Const. Apost.. II. 39. VIII. 3':; -39.
Rheiuwald Die Kirchliche Archæologie. p. 332.
Walafrid Straho de rcbus ecclesiastici..;, cap. 20. I "rabill. Præfat la II SæcuL Bened
Guide Spirit. cap. 2.
56
MO RES C.A TIIOLIVI; OR,
gitimate hinùrance, f:.lil to present the divine host to God every tlay, may well ac-
count for the zeal of holy men to offer up mass daily. "Tell me," cries the Li:-hop
10na, in hi::) "In::,titute of Laics," "tcll IUC, YOll who l."Ome tu the church uul)' un
feast days, are not the other days also fe
t ùa}'
? .Are tht>y not (lays of thc
Lon1, for on what ùay ùoe; not the church eclebmtc the victory of N.>nle martyr
or confcs..;or?"* Pope nenl'tlid XIV. consider:-, the argurnenb of those who main-
tain that ma:o':i r-houlJ not be daily celebrated, 011 tl)(" pie.! that "H'mpcr uLuruIautia
contumc1iosa ill se e:;t, " and that, "quil'quid 1'".11'0 fit, pretio
ius fit, cum fit," ami
that the pricst who !-'e1c.1om celebmtcs
usually IUm'e<1 tu Ìt'1In" whieh he "oulcl
not be if he daily offered. IIavin
rcfutl'C.l th(':-c ol
t'('tion:-, he ('olleIudcs tlll1'9:-
"In this la:-t c)!
f'Ctioll their lit's nn ambiguity, fi)r, a... 81. .Antonillu... !-'ay:-., '1 f :my
one should ('
tilUatc that di
position in him..eIf, fl'om the t- 'Il:-ibll' ('()mpullc.'tioll of
hcart, profusion of tt,-ar:" fervor of mind, arul Rimilar' . f
ntiment'i, 80 that \\ hen he
feels thcs
, hc belie\.(
him"clf to or tJi:-po:-.t...l, anù when he tI ... nut fLoel Ùlem,
he suppo:-'('g him<.:C'lf incli:o'po:'CtI, he walks n'ry '111(";.lIItiou...l)., amI is most Oft('11
dcccivCt1. Fn'quently tho:-;e \\ ho have no Hlt'h thin
are in a ...t
lte of grac'f',
and they who have thl'm are altogether without gmt'e, though thc)" 1I0 what is
gracious.' "
Admirahle was th(' diligencc cnvince<l hy the church to ('uable the faithful peo-
})Ie to perform their devotion
without inrC'rl'llption to tlwir l-ooeial dutie--.. \\ïth-
in the chur('hc.-; the divillt' 11I).!.;tpriN Wf're :-u(,('f
:-in'ly ("f'h.Ll"atl'tl from tilt' break of
day till noon, to suit the early travt.llcl", the lahorer, tllP (loIIH_,
ti(., the
llUl('nt, the
dmritable matron, the pion..; father of a f:.mlily. "" e have I'-t't'll that in almo...t cvery
strf'Ct there was a dlUr('h or dmpf.l, that no time might be lo...t in p.t5Sing from the
study, or the work!-hop, or tlw pal
u'('. The nnmher of altar':; in (.hurdlf's wa:"t lMrtlJ
desit,'11ed for this 01
t.'Ct. III tire dmreh of the Iioly
'puldll,(", 3t ,Jf'l'II
all m, Luilt
by Constantine, then.> were three altar
, hut when vi
ih'd hy thc hi:-.hop Arculfu;o;, in
the seventh century, it contained five altars. There were foUl. in the Basilica of
St. :l.fary, in tl)(' ''''ale of ,Josaphat. III the si
th ccntun", it app{'..tr
from St. Gn.'-
gory of Tours,t therl' were two alta
in the ha.<;;.iI it'a of
t. Peter at Bourdf'aux. bt.
Ambroc;e also mentions man)" altars heing in one l'hur('h.t In the IIt'W church
of the monastery of Cluny, "hich was t1et1it-at('(l in flu' }'P,u' 1131, tlwre were
twenty-fonr attars. The altar of Bt. Gabriel, the A\r('hangel, W:l:) in the tower
of th<> bells; that of
t. )Iidmel, the Arch3ng('l, was over the portal. The anci{'nt
chronicles ofStrasbourg atw:-.t that there were formerly in that catlH'dral filly altars.
In
ome churches a m
s u:o'('(1 to be said exprN..;ly for t-('n"anb.
P0I1ahie altars
were in u::;e long before the eleventh century. St. \Yilfram, hi
hop of &n
, pa
sing the sea in a ship, is said to bave celebrated the sacred l1l}"steri
upon a por-
* Ionæ Anre1iRnensi
Episcop. de lnstitutione LalcaU, Lib. I. cap. 2. apud Bacher. Spicilc!!'.
Tom. I.
t De Gluria Mlirt. 34. f Jnfln. J}f'vnti Jn
tit. Canonic. Lib. 1(. lit. ri1.
1.
i Lebeuf, llist. du Dioc
se de PuJi" chap. Corbell.
-\ (.;. E:::; 0 F F A IT ll.
57
table altar. Bede* relates tlaat tllt' two Ewaldes offered sacrifice daily, having with
them ve:-õ:-õels aud the table of an altar dedic-.iled. Hincmar pre
cribed tl.at no
one should celebrate ma
:-; npon an altar which was not consecrated. AU this
discipline pre\'ailed at lea:::;t a5 early as ill the fifth century.
The Eucharistic sacrifice terminate(I, the church resnmE'(I ht'r holy !'ongs, and
celebrated tierce and sext, after which foUowed an interval of repose while the
day reigned in its fulne
s. But nothing is constant with men. Every thing' re-
voh"es anù perishe
. " Alas," exclaims Bona, "we proposed to perfcn'm great things
when the snll wa
mounted to the meridian, anù 10 ! in a short time, it descemh
to evening. The church is about to sing nones. "It is the ninth homo in which
Christ died for man, in which man had been expelled from paradise; t the day
is become old, the night is approaching; such is the frailty of this mortal life.
How soon the day declines, the heat cools, the light "inks and is buried in the
shade of evening, but we must run our course until we shall behold the Lord of
lords in Sion." Nones having been sung, the church prepares to celebrate a
more august office.
It is the vesper hom'. "Ah, what a symbol is here," cries Bona. "Let us
say, therefore, with the di5cipJes, whose hearts burned within them by the way,
,
Iane nobiscum, Domine, mane nobisculU, quoniam advesperascit.' Now even-
ing, the mother of night, will bl'ing forth darknes;o;; now sadness oppresses us,
and despail' ::;inks ns down. The waters have come, even unto our soul: now a
horrible tempe:;t afflicts om' spirit:5 : the cold of iniquity freezes us, and a wounded
conscience dreads the terrible sentence of the Judge. Remain with us, 0 most
clement Lord, since without thee we can do nothing; we are nothing! Thou art
om' con
olation, thou art Ollr refuge amI strength; thou art a tower of might
gainst
the face of our enemie:-õ. The night of wickedne.:5s co\"ers all things; the lightof
truth failed.; depravity abounds; charity grows cold ; our eyes are turned to thee,
that we may 110t perish. Remain with us, that the darkness may not cOllie down
upon us and that the shining light, which shineth to us in that dark place, may
not be extinguished in the night. The end of life is near; the evening of om' day:
deliver us from the power of darkness, and turn not in anger from thy sen'ants ;
because if thou art with us, we shall fear no evil in the miòst of the shadow of
death. but with the bri g htness of tll'" g race we shall be enliO'htened in that reO'ion
.00
of the dead. It is good to be withthee, 0 sweet Je:;u:5. Remain with us, and
turn not a way from us. The;o;e are the shades of e\Oening ; the (Jarkest night draws
on, in which no man can work. Remain with us, and close the door upon us, un-
til the darkne:'Js !'hall pass over, and light again rise to \"i:.it liS."!
0, who can appreciate the charm of these short, pathetic, affectionate addresses
from the altar, after vefo'perfo', when 80 many a youth is grateful to the darkneS3
for concealing his falling tears!
* Lib. V. cap. 11. t Durandus Rationale, Lib. V, 8.
t Card. Bona de Divina Psalmod. ccxxi.i.
fiB
)( 0 H. E S f'
\ T II 0 T. I C I j (I H,
tt i.; till' \"('...p<'r hour, when tlH' poor
oU I tJlir:-t..; and hungers more int{'n
]y,
in:1sIHlU,'h as tlu' trials of the tla,\. havc worn IH'r down. It is now that
he
(,(,h.'
the :-ilell<",'e of an('ipnt gr()vt'
, mill tlu' pp:l('t.flll walks of mo
grown h:lttlt'm{'tlt.
.
TLcvery })oet of the !o\('<,ular
oeit'ty is not ill
'IÞ,iblt' to it:, influence :-
If 8\\ eet hour uf h\ iJigùt !-ill the bu1itUlh
Of \11l
pillc f(lre
t. nncl the.'
ilcllt b
lorc
"Ybich },uUlHl.. Ri\('IIIUi'S imnu.mnrin] wood,
Uuotul wllt'rc one-l' lbt' .\clri ib \\9\"C tl.)w'd o'er
To wht'l"c the 1:1,t ('.c.>,ar('an (orlr
d
tooc.l.
Ever
re('n (urc...t ! which B')CC.1Cciu's lore
Ami Drph'u I> Iny 1n!ule haunted ground to me ;
no" }Jll\C I ]oud tbc lwili!!ht hour Rnd thee I"
Pythagoras prp..;erib('(1 that iu the ('\"('nill
, 1Ic.'jiu'l' the hour of fest, after th.
perturbations of the day antI the tumult uf
lcliun, the minù, whieh is tl1('n 1110\"('(1
likp a flood,
h()llltl bf' appe
l'\l anel ('omp'J:"'t.,l by the sount) of gentle lIIu:",ie'. *
'\"e ]"('
Hl of our Di\.illc Lore). that havin!! di..;mi:",
(,(l tIt(' ('r()\\"tl, he a:-c.t'lltlt'el a
moulltain alolle to pi'ay ; and when it wa.. ('\'('nin
. h ' wa:i there alol1<<.>.t In till'
}H'
lrt of ('itie
. ami ('\'('11 wherC\"l'" thc tuwer:) of a Ieuc.ial ca...Uc C35t their hroael
shae)o\\ uv"r tlat' up<,n lallel..;, tht'r" \\
aiway... åm'ing' tlH' middlp age:-, a
aeretl
portal, !,UJ'p to he opcn tCll"l'('(.in' tllp piJ
rim at the ('\', n:lIg hour, to a templt',
in which hp mi
ht t'ompo:-t' hi
turhiel tlwudlb by holy n1<.'llitatioll:', joined
with tho..;e J Iypodoriau :-.(raiu
, whieJ.
the the im:l(1'iuation and trnnouillize the
heart.
V' e:-;pcr
were alway
('(.ldU'atC'el \\ ith morp !'olemllity than allY other of the ]ps...;er
hOllr
. St. Bl'lIceliet prC':-eril)('S that tlw)" !-lumlel he fnll
" ancl !->wet'tly SIlI1 lr .
But now l>t'
in-; night, with her :-;ullt
1I \\ ill
:-:. to doublc-..:haùc the ù('..;ert.-
"Good things {If day begin to droop arul drowse,
Wbite nigbt's bll\
k a
ents to their prey do r()u
c."
Fowl:-: in their cby ne:-ts are ('0 \I('hf'CI, anel wild h{'3o::.t... come fin.th, th(' wood..; to
roam. Five, :-i:x, .scn'n-th(' doe}.. ha!' eea!'ed, ancl now we' :-;hall I)('.lf the toll of the
cloi4er hell for the hem'diction. f'omplin:-: may 1'1'prt'..cnt the ('ml of ] f(', as it
i..: the 1a
toffice of the (by j-for, a<; Pinclar ba)":-, ")[en.ire hut
,f one d.1)', amI the
I'h
Hl()ws of a dream." I low (lcli
ht{n] that (.alling to mpmory of the ('omplin
hymn, whcn Dante markpel, fr()m among the !-pirit
that
at apart in ]imbo,
"One riscn from ib scat, \\ hich with its ]l3.ml
.\uelicuce implor"c.J. Botb pll.lnl'> it join'c1 and rais'd,
11'ixin
ils ste!\cl(a,t gaze to"aJ(ls the Ea..t-
'Tu luds Rnte.'.' SI) ell" olJtl
then
Came from its hl\'1, :\IIcl in so soft a strain.
That all my 8CDRe in Tavh,hmcnt was Jo-.t,
And the rest after, softly I\nd 11cvon:.
* Jamhlich. de Pythn
orip. Vita. {,:ip. 1)),
t )[att. XIV. 23
AGES OF FAITH.
59
FoHow'd through all the hymn, with upward
aze,
Directed to the bright supernal wheels.".
Complin sung, ::;ilence was ohserved till after ma
s the following morning.
This was prescribed hy St. BellE'dict ; and we find the oh:,en'ance recommended
by all the great
piritual writers of the middle age.t Suw :-;ucceeded the solemn
matin bell, tolling at lhè hour of nature's silence and repo
e, which seems like a
suspension of this Illortallife! "0 awful sound!" cries Bona. "One's course
then seems finishec.1. Then we may say with the holy Columban, '0 tu vita quan-
tos decepi:,ti ! quæ dUlll fugis, nihil es; dum videris, umbra es : quæ quotidie fugis,
et quotidie veni.s, yeniendo fugis, quæ fugiendo venis: dissimilis luxu, similis
fluxu. Te ostendis tanquam veram, te reduci:-'> qua:-ii fallacem. Ergo nihil es, 0
mortal is vita, nisi viæ inwgo, fugitiva ut avis, ut nubes incerta, fragilis ut
umbra.' "!
CIIAPTER III.
HE divisions of the s3cre<1 hours marked, let us proceed to oLsern' the
I.æ-J general character belonging to all the
e office:; of grace: for there is
,,-I-
much in them intelligential and ab:'tru
e, that dc
erves deep attention,
r' # much to excite a rea
onable amI pious curiosity, and somewhat, perhaps,
!"y.e. to explain and defend, in consideration of the ignorance and wants of an
age which has endeavored to render every thing pcrspicuou
but what
relates to heaven, and which tllil
uncea
ingly to make vain l}rovisioll for the
gratification of e\Oery thir:oòt but that of ju
tice.
To ha\"e seen the importance of an uniform Iiturgy, one mu
t have felt the
nece
.;;ity for its being unchangeable, and that for the rea:,on 3-;signed by St.
Augu:,tin: "Lex oramIi, lex credendi ;" for the prayers which the Church U::,c.; in
the administration of her holy rite
, are so many proofs of the respective dodrinæ
on which they depend; and the::;e vrayers could only be preserved from altera-
tion throu!!'h a lon g series of a(TCS , h\T retainino- the ancient lanO'uag:e in which they
'-..l
." 0 0 '-"
were originally composed.
Stephen Pa
quier has well said, "II ne faut rien e:.;changer de ce que une longue
· Purg. VIII. t D'.\ vila, Epis!- LXVII.
t S. Columh:m. Homil. de Fallacia Vitæ Hlln1fillæ.
Viùe Digressio Historic. II. in Chron. S. )Innast. Casinens. cap. 32.
60
M 0 It E::; CAT II 0 J., I C I; 0 R,
I ' . .. I ,,* D
ancipl1nett'; a approll\"
('II nne re IglOlI; V(llr(' JIIN} Ut'
:lUX pam PS mesme..,. i.
vine Pmvidt'nee had (.':111..;("(1 the 1allguage or ltmw to t
l'ome, ill :l ct'l'(ain :,en
"
11 n i vcr:,al, ili ortlt'I' to 1:l<'ili tale tilt' pxtt'lI!':ioll of t lit' Go
l'cl Ii IIlI tlu,' mai rH('IIUlU'('
of Pl'dt.:,ia:--til'al unity, n
in ('.II.lief" agt's he had prc:O;Cl"n'\l the
mitil' lallguag' in
a ...tate ()tïll1mohilit
., in 01'.1<.'1', :Ii 'Y:thou SUPPtN'S, to rCluler IIItU'C ('as," tlw mi
ra-
tions al\(l t',Xtt'I'nal r(.lations of the patriarchs; or, a., tlw Count tJ(. Hohiano
lJg-
ge
t:o:, to prc:'t'rve 1110re unchangeahle, t.le:1r, antll'cl"tain, tlw n'atJing of tll(' :-:1-
cl"p(1 text. t
Thc G"l"m:l n"', FI":lII 1.::0:, Pol..:--, and all lIort Ilt'l"n nation,;;, \\ h('n ('OlwPI'(ed tn the
faith, I'PCl'in..1 tlU' Jitlll'
Y ill tlw Latin tongup. The
[ortwiaus, indced, fi)rl11 an
ex('eption, to whom, in 8ôï, _\driau II.
:I\"C p..rmi:o:...ion to h:1\"(, l11a:o:... (.('I(.brah'(l
in t!Je&'byoniC', hut lit' him:o:(,Jfn'c:dJpcl thi.. f:H'l)h
", whi('h w:l..a
,
in gi\'cn to tll(,'m
hy hi:, "111'('(':0::0:01', and a
ain r('('a)l('(1 in thpelt'\"('lIth ('t'lItnr)" by All'x:uuler II. The
only alhwer that the Pukt' of Boht'mia ('ouJd ()htain on thi... head from Gr('gory
YII. who hatl a d('{'p <"myiC'tion of the J1tCt.......ity of the :m('ipnt di
ipJin(', ,,:IS
thi...-' ""eia.. 110" hnit' petitioni tUR' nl (1'1:ul":lm
:tti..f:u't'r(' po:o:......" In f:1.('t, J.:ul thi"
mo:o:t important Jaw of tli:-o('iplillf' I)('ell :lhro
:th"'c), a wielp field would J.a\'(' 1.('('1)
oppIH.'f1 to innovatnr
in matt('l'
of f:l.ith-f
'r tile }i\"inJ! langmw('..;, in ('oll
('(lnPI)(,c
of the natural di"po:--ition of nWIl to he t....tcpuwel
reat al1el di:'tingni
hed, are liable
to ('on
t:lnt mutation...-anel thpfC'fllrp, it would ha\'e hPl'lIl1 ('f.:--....tI.
. to tran..Jate tÌle
litnr
y a... oftt'll a
l:J.I)
tla
(':o: ehallf!H1. flu,"'" wOlilel hp :IS many \'cr
ion.. as
tonf!lIc:-; :nul d ial('(.t:o: ; :0'0 that t Iwre wOllllll)(. no ('I)( I 01' 111:&1.. i III" J itu f" i{'.., ami th(' do('.
trille
of faith, at the IUPI'C.'Y ofhnman \'anity, ('olllclno Jong-l'r' hf> prt'..;er\'("(l, as in a
!'acrC'el a:o:)"Jum, nnd('r tilt' faithfnll\.t')" of th(' :tlH'ipnt hlllgllåg't'.
Bp
ith'
thi
we mn:o:t l'C.'mark that, in till' a
t'''; of f:l.ith, 11)('11 were not C'hiltlrt'u in
philo
{)ph
' : they had dmwn fi,r tlwm...eln's the' prop..r infi'f"('IJ('(' from the f:H't r('.
1l131'kp(1 hy CJenH'l\s _\ It.x:UUh-il1l1:O:, \\ JI('II
pf'akill
of "the fir:o't ami gt'lwratin:
lan
lIag('
, which,"
aith hp, "are harh:unll<':, hut slipplied with l1amc
froll1l1alure ;"
he oh
crvt
, " and nwn ('ol1ft,.."; that pmyPI':' elpJin'I.(.d in a h.l.rhafOlb-that i..;, in a
ongll(, tlifll,rt.'nt fl'ol)) tlwil' own-an' more iltlpl't,
..i\"(,; Nfr; Tl
; El
X{f; Ó}lo\oyo-
'l(jlV oi ä V(jpCiJ7COl ÔI1VaTCiJT{pa; Etyal Tel; ßexpßápf:J tpúJVI; ÀEyo.u{va;."t
Certainly therc wa:-i no r('a..ot) why tl)t'()I()
iall", in f('fpfence to thp u..t' of thill
';
divine, shonltl not 1'0";:0'(''';-; tlH'
alUc :uh-alHa
"
:IS wa.; provcd to be '-\0 ('OIuluf'ive
to the good of }>Ot't.. with the Grt"ek
awl Latin..;, wlm 11:1<1 a ,li...tinct lal1
l1age hy
whi('h the" ('0I1Iel ('01)VP\" the mo,t fiuHiJiar thilw
in term!; intcllic"ibl' to all and
." :"" e.'
yet wholly (Iiffi'\'l'nt froll) tho:o'(' IIm)f1I' wllieh tllt'Y might he :1:--...ociat('() with vulgar
Of unworthy id(':!S. fmm being in ('ommon U
. Thi:o' lI
agt' dj(1 not ('olltrac1ÎC't the
maxim, that it was thp f'implp and ignorant who wefe t'.lpahJ(' of tIlt' high('
t pra,)"pr;
for, a., St. Thomas and St. nOlla\"('utlll'a di!'tingui'-hed the three modes ofattenlion
* Rl'chl'tches de ]s Frnnc<,. Lih YIII, 12.
t 811 omnt. Lib, I. c 21.
t Etudes sur'] Ecriturc de l'E
ypt.c.
AGES OF FAITH.
.. .A.."......
.....{'"
"Ç ,.. -- 0)
èÙLL
-r- -
A
to the diville offices, the first cou..isting in the material pronunciation of the word:-o--
the secolld ill their literal :sense--the third in their mystic sense, whieh is Goo : the
first, whi('h relates to the words, belonging not to the simpler sort, who are ignor-
ant of Latin; the !"econd, which relates to the sense, regarding tlieologian:o: ami
learned men; the third, which relates to the affe<'tions, belonging to monks and
men of devout life, although they may be voi(l of letters: it foHows that incoru-
peten(')" with regard to the first which is called the material, and eyen a less d
gree of knowledge re:-pecting the :-ccond, "'!Jieh is termed the formal, diminishes
not the perfection of those who po::;;::,ess the third, wh ich is the final attention, ('on-
tituting the piety of the religious and tile pOO1'.* Pure prayer, as Hugo of St.
'Tic-tor' (Jefines it, is when the mind, fr'om the abundance of devotion, is so inflam-
ed with 10\"(:', that when it ,.;uppl icates God, it forgets tIle precise object of its de-
ire.t
Unction, again, no less incommunicable than authority, is the distinctive char-
adeI' of tile prayers of the Catholic Church. This impressive qu:tlit.r can be felt;
it can never be denned. It is the ravi
hing expression of a filial confil1ence ; it is
the wol'l,: of the spirit of love, which prays in the Church by ineffaLle groans. It
is the result of order and peace; it is the echo of a soul, of which all the facul-
ties are held in accPl'dance hy obedience. The words of the Roman liturgy,
be
idt's that they are the e.xpre
sion of the vows of the Church, which is holy, are
also the word
of
aint
, of men capahle of finishing the hymn begun by angel
.
These texts c1lO:,en in Scripture to ed ify piety, have been selected by humble, aml
innocent, arul fervid soul:-:, at'('ustomed to find in them the sweptest nourishment.
These my:-:terious word
, which they have gi,'en us from their own fund, breathe
till the faith and the candor of past ages. In general, the deeper we search,
the more we shall be convinced that there is a profound reason for every institu-
tion of the ecclesiastical order. True, the Church officer;;, in the solemn antiquity
and symholism of theil' langnage, may have pre
entp<l difficulties; but these are
greatly exaggerated by the model'll
. They were slldl a
might ea:o:ily be o,'er-
come where òesire was felt; and of them we may say, in the words of 81. Augus-
tin, speaking of the many and multiplex ob:-:cllrities in the holy Scriptures-that
all this was purpo:-:ely provided in order to subdue pride by lahor, and to prevent
the under:-;tanding from becoming fastidious, which genemlly contract" a ('on-
tempt for things of ea
y in"esti
atinn: for, a
Pellico justly obsen'e!", " Exqni!-'ite
sentiments, whethpl' of art or of mOl'als, are only acquired by a diligent will, and
by as;;.idnol1s efforts:'!
1\lell Ilal,hle now of the necessity of having prayer composed in language more re-
fined; but as De
lai!'tre remarks, "the beauty of prayer has nothing in common
with that of expres:-ion, for prayer is like the mysterious daughter of the gr"eat
* S. Thorn. 2. 2. 9. 85. art. 13. S. Bonav. Lib. VII. de Pròcess. ReJig. c. 3.
t Dc )1000 Orandi Libellus, cap. 2. t Dei Doveri Degli Uornini, cap. 12.
62
M 0 H Ese A T II 0 LIe I; 0 n,
king, 'omnis gloria fiIiæ rcgis nù intn....' It i::;
\)fnethiug' without n name, hut
which i
Jwrfi.etly })('J"{'pptih]<" alu) whie}. I!l('l'e t:I]'>lIt :llolJ(' <'aU Iwn'r imitah'.'
Perhap..: one mi\rlat am I'm \\ ith justi('(', tll:lt :1
tlJtlic'tl c'xln'.' ...ion would di..,tru
t
and mi!'dil'ect th(' ath-ntion ; at It'a..t, there are man
' "ho might cite the "anI" of
the ancient critic in reference to thc :::t)'le of Cato :lIul tll(' G'a..('hi, al\(] !"a'. in a
.
]u:-ion to tllprn..p]n's, C( \.ptereIU ilIum hOl'rort'1H di(,t'luli ma]im qllalll i
tam nOV8m
lic('nti3ltl."* But ,yet 011 theowcl' hand, whcr
hall \\c tiud, iu the tl'l1 '
U' 'of the
tf'rm,
ra(-e of l'ompo
itinn, if it he not (li
('('I.
hle in t}u
'\"nie'e of tllC' Chure'h !
,rhat I'kills it to 4udy Ilarmonr of wore].. if lu're he nut the ä(HII
tirring lIli;;ht
uf puc:-'J ?
, .\11, that l)icC'c of Bon;.
That oId amI untique song, mcthou!::'ht it did rl'1ic\c n1).
Heart much morc than light t\irs, nnd r('collc'ctcd tenus
or thcse most bri
k and giddy-paced times."
That frN}l1ent r('}wtition of uniform :-\).lJah}
and tlae :-OOllllel of thpse terrihh.
fiJ)al
in the :lllciPllt pie'('('
, wh('n
n:4aillt'(} hy the JH:lj(...tic gravity of the Grp-
g'Orian ('haut, po....t...:-'l'cl a gn.at ('Illpil'c over lHilul
. Ci('"f"O n'mark
the gralUl.
t'ur of many munoltHlOU" finals in a \"er:-o'
, and ad(J:." "Pnecbrum Carliit'll: p
t
c'nim et rehu... et '"('rLi
et modis lugnbrE'." The line's whieh he tlm<; ('ulugize.,
might ùe p:!
oo un a modern re3(]('r for a monki..h eOlH})():-,ition.
.. Hu'c omnia vÍt1i inflammori,
PIÍ:uno vi ,irnm e,itari.
,J()vi
uram sanguine turpt\ri."f
-_'ho
e archaisms too 01' antiepratft} form... of ('}.prc
c;ion abouudil1
in the '....ul-
gate, whi(.h are elc;ewhere only met in writ<'r3 3ntl-rior to the \u
u:"tin ag<', were
rather a h('auty than a (]('fi'd in the c1i\'inE' nffi('t:". ThE'illtroduction (If wora
,
dso new to the I.Jatin tOIl
tl(', hut T{'{{llirl'{} hy the doctrinl's of faith, wa:-. another
f
3tur(' calculated to awakcn nohle awl c1pvout thought:-'. Y'ivifi(.o is a word not
1I
1 by profane wl"it(,I":O-.
t. .Jerome \\:LS c]ri\.t'li to the J1
..ity (If (Iftcn adopt-
ing it, a... the idea of gi\'ing or r(':-,toring life i:i
o (,.,.(.ntia])). Christian, tllat no
heathen could ha\'e been fiHlnd to <,}.pr<,:,,:i it. The da
i ' :mtluH";.; \\ouhl thcm-
f;('h.p... dcdi.:n(l this u
agc on priu('iples of common
(-næ, for n.., (Ie"{'ro :-oa
.
, "Iogi-
('iall
, plty:-,ieiaus, geomet('r:o-, musician
, and gramID3riall
,
peak afte'r their 0\\ n
manllt>I', :nul u:-,c p<,('uliar worels..
ot t'vt'n ('ommon worknwn ('an rt't3in their
arts without using won!..:. unknown to u:" hut in U:--P \\ itlt lhel1l:'t'h.c..,. 'Quo
magi
ho(' phi1o,"opho faciendum
t. Ar
e4 enim philo
()phia vitæ ; (le qua dis-
sercu:o; arripere verLa de foro non potest.' "t Zel10 him
t'}f W3
:111 ill\"pntor
rather of new words than of nt'\\" thing
. If this wa
Iwrmitt('(} to Zt'IJO, \\ h)' not
to bt. .Jerome? ('Sunt ('nim rehu:-. nuvis nova 1'00)(.ne1:1 nomina," I-ay:) CiC'Cro,
· QninC'till. Lih. VIII. 5.
+ Tu
("ul. II I. !t.
t Dc Finihus, Lib. HI.
RY S COLLLGE
y
· ] - , T. CALLAGHAN
AGES OF FAITH.
63
citing the examples of Epicnru:oi himself, who called 7CpOÅl'l'ÞZY what before him
no one had evel" lIameù by that word. * The celebrated If'xieogl'apher, GeslIer,
used to say, that he cOll.;idered the Vulgate as a cla
sical work, since it enabled
him to survey the Latin language in it
full extent. But even if no ::5uch titles
were available, men
hould leaJ'l), as St. Augu:,tin
ay
, that " it is not the voice
but the affection of mind which reaches to the ears of God. Therefore, th('}"
ought not be disposed to laugh if they should hear God invoked with
barbari:;lll
or soleci:'l1ls, for though it is by a toue in the forulll, it is by a vow in
the Church that they are ble:-::;:ed. 'Itaql1e forensis ilia nonnumquam forte bona
dictio, nurnquam tamen benedictio di('i potest.' Of the sacrament which they are
about to recei\"e, it is sufficient to the more prudent to hear the meaning, but with
minch of 510wel. apprehen
ion, it is nece
sary to employ more words and simili-
tudes, lest they should de
pise what they behold."
The high antiquity of the Roman offices may be seen also in these responses and
anthems composed of words fl"om the ancient Y" ulgate, whose religious and apos-
tolic simplicity is long anteriOl' to the age of St. Jerome, in that division of the
Psalms traced by this great doctor at the de
ire of Pope St. Damasus, after the
ancient usage which recalls the vigils of the first Christian;o;, -in the m)'i4eriou::;,
profound, and inimitable
tyle of the l'ollects, and othel' depl'ecatory fornmlæ, in
those hymns composed by a gn a' hi:,hop in theA.mbrosiau Ba:,ilica to occupy"a faith-
ful people while besieged hya flll'iou:; princes::" in those hymns of Prlldentiu:" Sedu-
lius, Gre
oI'Y, and Hilary, of an Innocent amI a Thomas Aquinas. In truth, I
should never fini:-:h were I to trace, in refp.rence to antiquarian lore, all the grandeur
and intere
t of the Roman Liturgy. Shall I speak of the !"ublime chants which
ha\'e come down to us aloug with these admirable prayers? I might call to witness
even Protestant authors in whose ears they ha\'e never sounded without l'3using to
vibrate the Catholic chord. "Tho ha
not felt the charm of these :,uhlime pa:,sages
imprinted with the geniu:, of ages that are no mOl'e, and that ha'"e left no other
vestige behind them? "'110 has not shuddered at the simple plain chant of the
office of the dead when the tendel" and the terrible are so admirahly blended?
\Yhat Chri:;tian has e\"er heard the pa
chal chant of" Hæc dies," without a sen-
timent of infinity, 01" the" 0 filii et filiæ," without feeling his heart inflamed with
a more tendel" Jove fin' the chil(lren of men? ',"'ho has eyer heard on the fe
ti-
\'aJ
of the A
:-lImptitln and of All Saint:;, a whole people making the holy val1lt
resottl1(I wi(h the in:-:pired accents of the Gaudeamus without feeiing him
elf car-
ried back, thruugh tlu' lap:,e of age:;, to the time when the echob of suhterraneúu
Rome repf'ated this triumphant ('hant, while the empire was hastening to its end,
and the Church commen('ing its eternal de:,tinies ?t
But not onh- was Latin t.he lancruacre of the C hurch ,,"'mbolical too III the hiO'h-
w ð 0 ,
J 0
est sense was the expression of her desires, so that in proposing her liturgy as an
* De Nat. Deorum, Lib. I.
t Le
Ièmorial Catholique, I. 2.
64
)loI
E:S C..\TIlOLICI; OR,
Qbjl'd of litl'rary amI pllil(l
ophic stud)", OJJe might
:l.\" (',I('h mom('nt in the "or.
f VaUle,
". Y c uf iutcUcct
::;uul1d aDd Cl1lÍ1c, 1U..ui.. \HUthc lore cOJlccard
ruder duse It:xturc of the m
:otic strub:'.
The origin of tltis "hole discipliuc IUU
L be :-uugltt fur in thl
n'ry uature of
thing
, fur,
:1 G l'l"m:1U III. ilu...ophl'l' oh.,ervl''', "all t huu
11 t t'UUlUlllllica[ ion of
llll'n upon religion:; truth lUu
t ill its afiirmaliv ' t.'
IH,-,
:'!iull be figuraÚvc amI t.'x-
hibitl'ti in
YlUhol:;:' t AII,,.d'Ï hehuM
pil'itual thiug." b)" Jllp:&ns of divine
illuminatiun, Lut to mortal "'Y"'''; tl)l'Y c
l1 unly be prl'
'nh...J through th 'lUl....liulll uf
bcn:,iLle
YlliLob. The lal1gua
c uf the Church in thi'i r 'pl'ct Jl1L'C
us óLill jn
ever)" (ll'partlllcnt of tllC art:' "ll('re it i'i often not ('()Juprl'llt'lIIlr'CI; fOI' it "a
in
t.'OIIÍtll'mi[y "itll it th:11 l'ainh'rð and :-t'ulpturs ('mplo)"l'd lho
e liIil...., IM'lieall:', :-lag:-,
:Illli othel' Ol
lds of vi:;iLle nature to t-ignif)" :-piritual :l1ld invi...ihlc tlling:-. Thc
creaturc as \\ell a.,
('riptllrc bcing, &b Hugo of
t. 'Yictor Mith, the Look of God
to recall man to the U'ue amI jnul)ut
,ble gOlM1.: J low naturally amI ullavoi(lahly
thc Chul"t..h inclilu'(l to thi..; u:--age will he llbyiuus at om"t', if we h(..u. in mind
till' practice of thc Holy N'ripturp, ami aLovc
lll the (',ample of our lord, the
l
ICt uf \\ ho
'" l'rofuuml parablC:3 :-Iwuld put to
ill'llcc the ra:-h ol
l-dor:i "ho
\VQuld blame the Chureh, without cùn...idl'riug that the bymhol is the
am<.!
w:lcther it con
i:--t in "orll=-- or invi
iblc ol'jl'd.... \\110 Jl(,'t.d he tol(l that the
j \HI
I})(.l1t of till' "i
c in all agt.''''' laa
:--anl'l iOIll'(1 thc lI
e of
)"mhol:,,>? Clt'ml'l1i
\ll'Àalldrillu:-o
rdatt.-s that llippan.hu..., the p
.tllagl'rt...m, \\a:-. ("l'l.ll(.d from the
school, ht..'\.'au:::-e lit' had openly "rittell t.lo\\ II the PI"I'("('pt..; t.lf thc )r.t
kl";
Ultl
that t11(')" 1'1al'\.'l1 a ('olumu tu him a:oi to a p('r:--oll that wa.. t.leu1. Thc" i
t'
_nl'iel1b :-aw tilc lIlt.'(.:-:-ity of u
ilJg all('gory amI figure in the ('
pr('
...iol1 of
,mblime truth. (ireg-ory
a7ia1l7l n "a)"
, tlaat lhe
ll'n'lllll)":-teril'
arc 1I0t to he
CXplailll.d beforc thc ba..
l', aL't.ording tu the l'riueipll' ("prc"- 'li hy
allu...t, the
nhilll:;üpll"l', thac to hid(. truth ill f:lble:--, prevcnts the foolibh from t.1l':--l'i...illg', ami
compeL::; the :-tudiuu:; tù l'hil(l
lIphi (',II fOI" whieh r
L"Oll it "as that the E;;YJ'ti:m:')
)lael..J
ph)"J)xes at the entrancc uf their telllpl('
.
_3ut let u:s l'elU:HI
tllc ditll.-rellCC Let\\ccn tIlc fi
nl'e'i of the ancient &1.ncmarics
..1J tho"'
of the Cathulic temple. III thc furmcr, the :-ymhol ""hieh con\"c)"(,"(l
it'uth <'nly to a lc\V of the iuitiatl'd, gave Lirth to the gro:-':-t.:-t i(]u]atry with tho
rest uf men; whereas tlae Cllllrdl,.on tlac eOlltrary, eOIJJII1('uc('''i with :t. verLal aud
authl)l'itatin
pl"Umulgation, 3ml only aftel. that clotlH':S tlae 1Il
.
tt.'I'i4':S which it h
I'nnuunl.'eJ in
cnsiLle forms a::; an cardl])" l'efmctiun of the 11l'
vcnlr light, ac-
cOlUmo(!at(:'ù to the l1ect,
:,itie,.; ufher c1lihlr('lI. The ('hri!ootinJllJ
tlf mystic word
d<>tcs from the very cradle of the Church. "The \1"<' of :-ymholic language,"
a}:)
CLemclIs Alexandrinu:;, "is 1ll0
t u:-eful for mau)" thing:'! ; it is comlucivc to right
. [ntt'T. c. u. t }'ries Rc1igio!' Philosoph if' IInfl Phil()
op1Iischcn Æsthetik.
Slll\ll. .'tllna
tlcæ
CTml) V 111.
:'trom. Lib. Y. I Li:J. de Dais et )lulldo, calJ J.
AGE S () F F
\ I TIT.
(jj
theology, to piety, to the exerci
e of understanding, to brevity of 'peech. anll it
is an argument of wi::,t1om.* lIe rem:uks that the style of the 0111 Greek a:-;
well a" of the IIebrew philo
ophy was enigmatical, for that brevity of t'xpre:-:
iol1
was studied a:-; mo:,t 11:-:eful and pprsua
i\"e. lIe
hows that the prophet,.: mad..
u
c of (.nigllla:" amI tllat tbe m)"slerie:-; were not
hown clearly to all men alike,
but ollly after certain IHlrifications and previous instructiollS. "In a word," he
says, "
Il theologians, both harbarians and GreekF:, concealed the principle'i of
thing.;;, and delivered truth through enigmas and F:ymhols, in allegori{'s and
metaphOl's, and such tropes. Xay, e\'en the wise men of the Greeks ('onveycll
their le:-:sons in
hort words and apophtheglll
, !'uch as yvc0fh õavTòvand the like.
The }>oet:-; al:-:o teaching the theology of the prophets, philosophize hy means of
allegory, as did Orphel1
, and l..inl1s, )Il1
æl1:', llomer, llesiod, and other wise
men of that cb
s, more obscurely conveying truths ill dreams and symbols, not
through envy, but that by means of searching out the sense of the enigma, men
might be more enticed to the di
('overy of truth. III the !"ame manner;' he re-
marks, " we are instructed in the P:-:alms and in the prophets, where the Lord
open:o; his mouth in parables;t amI by the apostles who
peak wi
dom to the in-
itiated, the wisdom of God in a mystery which the princes cf this world knew
not." "Sapientes ab:.:condllut :-;cientiam," says Solomon, in order that the mocker
may seck wisdom and not finù it;+ for the first es
ential qualification for under-
standing symbolic language is a revering spirit. All ancient wistlom certainly
recognizc(} the importance of s
'mbolic instruction. The Pythagorean
ymbols
were celebrated ill the philo:-;ophy of the barbarians, !o'uch as" keep no swallows in
your hou:-:e," that i
, 11a\"e lIO talker or busy botly, awl smooth down your boo
when yon risc from it, 11.at i:-:, extirpate e\'ery vestige of pa:,:-:ion. In fact, the
ymbolic mode of teaching by enigmas was characteristic of the whole Phythagoric
in5titution.
I.1antI1l1ra.::, the Sc).thian king-, as Phercydes the Syrian relates,
replied to Darius bY:1
ymhol in:-:te:,nl of by word..;,11 Androcyde:-:, the Pythagorean,
de:o:cribes the letters caBe(} Ephe:'iian, as cOllsi!'ting of
ymbol:-: and ob:,cnre expre
sions, a..:. for ill:-:tance, darkne:-::, is called ãõ/.;zo'V, from having no shadow and
ligl.t KaTåõ/.;zov, !o'illce it involves a shadow; TETfJà;, is the year, from its ha,'-
ing four 8eaO;OIl:-., awl ßiôv was the air, a!-' being ßzóôúJpov. -; The stoics say
that Zcno in ordt'r to prove the \'ocation of his disciples, wrote his fir:-:t in
truc-
tion:o: ill
ll('h an ohsellre manner that it wa", hard to nnderstand them. In like
manner, the writing... of Ari
totle were twofold, Tà iÕúJTEpZlLå for hi=-, initiated,
and Tà i&úJTE(JZlLa for the yulgar without, and the formel' were unintelligible
to ('ommon nwn.
'Vhat is my
tici..;m ? what mu:-,t he my:;:tically viewed? Religion, love, nature,
and state. The Church offices were composed of symbols, and as an ascetic writer
remarks, "nisi omnia referantur ad laudem Creatoris, inanis est omnis vi
io vi-
* Stromal. V. S. e. t ISà. !xv. 3. * Parah. X.
Jnmbiich. 34. I Strom. V. 7. ,. Id. V. 8
66
)1 0 H E
C..A T II 0 LIe I; 0 It,
<lLntium."* "Ew'r}" t)ling jll t)lcChurl'll i
full of(Ii\'inc!--ignifìmtion and nlYd-
tcry,"'
ay:-, Duraudu
" c. En'..y thing in it aWUllll:, in ecle:-tial s\\ld.., when ono
knows how to look at it, \\ hen une klll)\\ s how to (Ira \\ the honey from the
(Oll(', anc.I
the oil from the hard cst flint. ,rho ('an cnabh, Ib to (10 this? LorJ, the wen
is deep, aUtI I have no \"e...
f'l wlll'rewith to (h
m the \\ atel" ! II is fi)r the l)ric
t....,
ÙIC (1 i
p(,J1:-t'rs uf the 111,y:,tl'ril:-, to ('tJlll preh('nd amI I"l'\"('a) them to other...." To
cOIulel1ln the u..e of :-,ymholic in
t\"tl("tiou a-; ullworthy of:1I1 age of the higlu,..t iu-
td)igclI('t
, would illtlit'ate a total ibllorallL"C or
hc g"lIl'ral 1:.1\\ and t'on
truclion of
human l11ind
,
illl'C whatever be the 111l'tlllxI ofin:-õtructiol1 a.luptl'(l, the 1act which
Dante remarks is iIlCOIHrO\'crtihlC', that
"Frnm thi,,
s f;t'n
ib]e alone yc learn
That" hich. dig('stt,tl riJ:hlly. after turns'
To iotdl,-"Ctllül. ,.t
It :--houltl he oh
ervl'tI, l11oreo\'l'I', that the
pirit of the mi(ldle ages was peculiarly
f
\\"orahle to this mP1luxl,
o that the :-)"rnho];o, a(loptt,cl in tl1(' ritual of the Chul't'h,
mu:-:.t have thl'u P' ",.1 ('xu
lonlinary ('harlll
in the (,
til1latiou of all rank:, (If
society.
o OUjL'Ct or OCt':LSion bl
mcd too tril1illg to furni:.;h matter for the l'X-
erci:;e of their di:--po",ition to Vil'W thint.:" ill the light (If
ymbol:\. I n
, oC Char-
tre..;, I"l'('('i\'ing a ('olllh :I
a pr(':-'t'nt from his dpar fril'mI ({('ranI, in I'{'ply to him,
illtel1>rcts it as an ('mhlell1 whic.h (':III tl'a('11 him the duti....; of his ('pi:...('opal ofli..'t,_!
The laity eviuec the .-ame illeliualiou : nH'n that "pre not aU tOI1g-IIP, hut (1 <'t'tls :11)(]
truth, woul(I thus in the common intl'r('our 'of Jift', ill dllmh :--ignitie:mLi pl"l)('1aim
thl.il' tbought.., amI, :J.S ::\hakC:::l'l'aa-e "itnc....:--f'th ill the Temple garden, f!in., in the
plucking of a 1'(...II"O
e 01. a white, an an
Wf'r to thl" !-ummons of l)bntagem't.
Dom Claude de '-crt, a l('arl1l'(l ßt'I)('(lietil1e, in his work upon the ('('r('moni(
of
the CllUreh, offl'l'l.'C1 :\ !"implf' :uul llatll1":11 ('X planation of mo
t of tlH'm. L:mg'll't,
...\.rehbi::::hop of &'11;0;, pllhli,,}u'fl a J"('ply, alltl a
...i.rn(...l to tb(,111 a wholly
ymLol-
ie:ll (wil!in. Buth nf th....e vic"
}10 dOllht \H'rC just. ...\., Dun.; ::;"otu
remarks of
tlJP :-;u(,fl'(1 beripturl'::::, the di,'ille ofn('('..; of the Catholic Chureh had a liteml and a
F'piritna] or m)":-'tic
('n
p, whieh b:-:.t, in thl'('('(')I<1 di\'i..iclI1, was ('itJlC'r aU(1!oriC:ll,
tropologiC:II, 01" alla
ogil'al, n.fl'rring either to \\ hat W:l..; to he belie'-"tl, peri'ormcd,
or hnJX'd, amI !'umetilllc
one !-'ign <n' \\"(ml, like that of the l'ro
..;, or the nanH' .Ie
I'u;o;alem com l ')fi
ctl all-a liter.!} H'J1..('
i,rnif\.ilJ(Y' nn en'llt or a l'ih' a tro } )ol()lTil"al ,
,
. ð ,'
d('llOtillg: ta'u:.;(aIHI
al}(,tit\- , an :ll]e(J'oriml (ll'notintY' the ('hul'<'h milit..1nt , and aD
\. .
, 0
anagogical,
igllifyillg tht' triumphant C'}mrl'h.
Xo one who ]()\'\
to
tucly the
doctrine of percept;ou, in refl'r('llpc to the h('autil's of p(}('try anll art, ('an he ill-
sen
ible to the care e,-ill(,(,(] hy the C'hur('h, to pre:"..; into her scrviel' (','cry thing
which can bring unity into a vi
ible f.)I'm; aud, Ïtu]l.'t..'(I, the great charm and
· Thorn. à Kemp. IIortu1us HI,,..:1rnm.
t lvoois Caruotcus. Epi:ot. YI.
t ParmI. IY. 41.
DtHh
C('ti )1 scd1:m_ I
_ 6.
AGE S 0 F F A I T H.
67
I!li
ht of poetry over human life, io;; never more fully felt than when it employs
consecrated figures and symho]:-: to l'xpre:,s the my:,tery of our exi
tence in the
world of wishes, ntul the ideas of anticipation which cono;ole it. That the sym-
bolic sense was intended in the ceremonies of filitll, i:-; proved from the ancient
fathers. TIllis St. Ambrose says to the Xeophite:-:, who have been just initiated
hy baptism into the Christian mysterie:" "Recollect what you have done, what
you have
('ell. You have seen the Levite, yun ha\'e seen the priest, you have
een the high-prie:,t. Consider not the figure of bodies, but the grace of myster-
Ies. You ha\"e spoken in the presence of angel:-:, for he is an angel who announ-
ces the kingtlom of Christ and eternal life. Esteem him not by the appearance,
but by the gift. Consider the ancient mystery of the holy rites. Do not believe
only your bodily eyes, for what is seen is temporal, but what is percei\"ed only by
the mind is eternal; and do not regard the merit of the person
, hut the office of
the priests. Believe that Je:,us our Lord was present, by rea
on of de\"out prayer,
3Iul the celebration of his mysteries. In the washing of the feet recognize that
the mystery itself consists in the ministration of humility; in the white robe, and
the unction, and the cutting off of the hair, and in all the rites, observe how
beautiful is the Church, and how she desires to arrive at the interior mystery, and
to consecrate all the sense to Christ. You have
een the mo:,t holy altar compo
ed,
and the people approaching to it. Rememhel" that the
aCl'3lllents of the Church
are more ancient than those ,)fthe synagogue, and 1ll00'e excellent tÌlan the manna;
fin' there is the offering of a prie
t fOl' ever, and that whidl you have received is
the bread of the ange]
, the very bOl)y of Christ. For here there is no order of
nature, where there i:-; excellenC'e of grace. Yon have seen, thel"efore, the mystet"-
ies of the Church, which is
aid to he an enclo
ed garden, a
ealed fountain, to
signify that the my
tel"y ought to remain sealed with you, that it may not be
hroken by the deed:-; of an evil life, 01' divulged to improper persons, or disclo:,ed
to the perfidious Ly garrulous loquacity, hut that it should be placed under the
nrotection of faith, and of a holy life and silence."*
St. Thoma;:, sa)"s, that it is on account of the war which the ancient enemy a]-
ways makes again:,t tho
e who are at prayer, that the ChurC'h directed by the Huly
Ghost, begins all the canonical hours with" Dpu:-:, in adjutorium meum intende,"
a custom ofimmemorialu
age. At matin
, this i:; preceded with the verse, " Dom-
ine, labia mea aperies," hecause after complins the preceding evening the lips had
be(>11 closed, and therefore in beginning the nocturnal office, this prayer was added,
that God \Voul() vouchsafe to open the lip;:; of his servant to praise his name.
A.malariu:-: show:-: the origin of the antiphons and. the d.onblechorus of the Church
offices. The antiphon, which refers to love, is alternately sung by the two sides
of the choir, bccause charity cannot exist where there are not at least two to re-
spond. That charity. therefore. may be perfect. it was necessary that there should
* Dc iis que mysteriis initiantnr. Lih.
(b
'I 0 H. E
C 6\ T II 0 L [C I; 0 H.,
be olle to "110m the utllt'r might ('"hihit it", affection. Therdì.m', the p:-alms 31'('
sling with alternate 1Il0l1ubtion to C\'illee lll11tuallove. In vain he pl"('paI"Ci to
sing the p
alm who dO(.. not juin to it the antiphon of love. On thc
more solemn fcsti\"al:-. till' antiphon is douhle, to I"how that lon' o\l:;ht tlu,'n to b('
more lX'rf(><'t. In otht'r!'-, tlH' ht.'ginning of tIlt' p..all11 i:ot impt..rft'('rI)"
1Il1l0un('('(),
alltl at the end it is compl('l('t.I, bt't.'au
e, as II ugo of t;t. Yidol" :::3Y', "Charit), l>f'"
gUll ill this lifè is to lx' l'(\IÞ.Ulumatul in the cud. The chanter alonc }wgins thf'
antiphon, \\ hich i.. thcn tilli
hed by 311, l)(,c'.lU
e haritr from one Chri:"Í is diffll:,('(l
into all the lUl'ml)t>r:-:. ..\ftt'I' the p
:llm
all in common joy
ill
the antiphon,
bt.('au:-;e common joy "prillg:ot from ('olllHlon charity." On th · II
' of the Allcllljah,
Hugo of St. Yictor Ni)"s, " IIt.'re IlI'ilhel. \\ol"(ls nor nnùcl":':It31uIir.g :0.11 Oi(.e, amI yet
lo\'e will not admit of :-ilencc Tilen'tore, tilt' CllIlft'h hy tlm... utteriug 1'1(111)(1-
plieumati
illg-il)(licatPs a(llllirahly, \\ ith 1II00'e ('
prt.:-..ion, aUtl in a hl.'tl('" manlier
without word:-:, than it could hy mean
of worel.., wlaat is the joy of GI)(I \\ hert'
word
81mB (
a:'l'. For h
. thi...
ouIH1, though we do nol dc..eril)C \\ hat it iE to
ft'el pternaI joy, at lea..t, we !-allow that it is i[1(h
crihahl('. 6\ Iltl sine.> till' prai
e:J
ofeternallifp will not I"e
dund inhuman wortl... tlae
('(I'It'll('t.
art' :o:olllt.'tinlt.'s 1Il)'S-
ticaIJy ::i(HlI1d('t1 fcnth without wortl
; fc'r IiO
i(1'nifi('.ltioll of \\ onl
i
11('('" "':L"Y
wl)('rp. the heart..; of all will he laid open
() all beholding the book of lilt.. ,,* The
Rubrics pr '-.rrib('(l that the nUIllLt.'r of the (-'oll('('ts shoultl be always uneven, for
the Church desire... unity awl coujlll)('tion, whi(.1t i'i (''\.prp
..;('(1 hy 31lIlue\"1.'1l111l1ll1K'1',
whieh, a-; it (".umot be cut into ('qual parts. prl'''-Cl'\"t.':O; it... int('(rl'it.\o. t Tlte credu
is repeated in :301111' of the officp..;, partly in . 'crC't, :uul p:\rtly aloll.1, to
how, as
Cardinalllona
:lYS, that "Corde cl"l'(litl1r ad ju...titiam, ore :mtl'm eonf( ....<..jo fit 3d
sa]lltem," t't. Edmul1ù, the Cistercian monk, Ar('hhi
hop of ('anter-lJllry, in his
'Mirror of the Chllreh, :O-l'enlt'd to l"('I)fehe,ul all pl"aYf'r:-ò hut th(' (livil}{-, fc)rm taught
h
' our Lord, whidl was in fact tlae Ilnin'r..al prayer of the middlc n Tes, as DiollY-
sius the Curthu::;ian oh"'t'rn's.l nllt Cardinal BOlla t.òho\\ the 1lC(-'('
"iitv of attend-
ill
to hi-; 1"pal meaning', l<
t we should conclude that he actually did int
nd to
condemn all other form
al'('onlin
to the herp:-:y of na..il.
II Ilgo of 81. Victor,
indeed, :o-hows that the . '\"f'ral petitions cnntailwd in thi
divine prayer, ('orl"e-
spond to thf' graC'e
which qualifY I1wn for beatitude, .,ince tht.ir fulfilmput would
render mcn poor in !'pirit to h
ùlow the name of Goo, mpck, to iuh
rit his king-
dom, m()urner
, from the repentane,e att:tc1wd to that kn()wlp(l
e produ('('(l h) BuI).
mi:':l:':lion to his will, hungl y and thir:-:ty after j\l
ti('(', !->e('kin{p from Iwavcn t}wir
daily bread, merciful, from a consideratiun of their 0\\ n trc
pas'(':', cleJ.n of he
u1,
being frCe11 from temptation to the vices which oL.."Cure the intelligence, and
.Hugo de Banct. Victor, Speculum de )Iysteriis EccJesiæ, cap. 7.
t Bened. XV. de Sacrificiu :\1i
5Iæ. 1. 110. t [)e Judic. ..\.nim. XXXVIII.
Yet 8 late writer in tbe Quarter]y Reñew accul:lc
him of a superstitious fondness for for-
mulæ of prayer. I
AGE S 0 F F A I T II.
uo
children of peace, in con
equelJce of being delivered from evil. * The Church
also u
es a certain language of impassioned piety borrow
d from the mysLic
Scriptur('s, which Richard of St. 'T"ictor tlllls proceeds to eXplain. "Reason and
affection," snith he, "have hoth their hand-rnaidt-'ns, imagination and sensuality. So
much is each necessary to its own mistre:-:!", th:1t without them the whole world itself
could eonrer nothing upon them, for without imagination rea":Oll would know noth-
ing, and without sen
uality, affeetiou would ta
t(' Ilothing."t O:,cul('tur me o:-:culo
orIS SLll. Fulcite me floribus, 8tipate me ruali
, quia amore laugueo. Favus J.is-
tillans labia tua, met et lac sub lingua tua." ,. "That, I pray," a
ks this devout
contemplatist, "can be sweeter than the
e word
? "-hat can be more agreeable?
""'l1at language woulJ. be heard more willingly, more greedily? These words
seem to sound N)mething carnal, and yet there are
piritual thing
, which are de-
scribed h)" them. ThusXeplltalim knows how to mix carnal with
piritual thing:"
and to describe incurpo:'(.al by bodily things; so that the twofold nature of Illall
finds in his discour:::e whence he can admirably l'efre
h hilll
elf, con
i
ting as lie does
of a bodily and of an ineorporealnature, lIenee it is that the:::e things sound so
sweet here to man. "'! TIut in order to under
tand this point mOl"e fully, let us again
hear Richard. "After the human race," saith he, "had been expelled from joys of
P3radi
e, entering on the journey of the present life, it had a hlind heart, to which
if it had been said by a human ,"oiee, follow God, or love God, as is said in the
law, once :;cnt out and cold wiLh the torpor of infidelity, it would not under-
stanJ. what it heard. Therefore, by ('('J"Íain enigma:;;, the divine word speaks to the
torpid and frigid soul, and by the thiil6'=' which it knoweth secretly, doth it iu
inu-
ate into it the love which it knoweth not. For allegol')" to a soul placed f.'1r
from Gü<l, is, as it were, a certain machine by which it may be rai::;etl to God, by
means of interspersed enigmas, while something which it knows in words of its
own, it understands in the sense of words which is not of its own, and by earthly
wor(ls it is :-:eparated from the earth, for knowing exterior words it comes to un-
der:-tand interior. Hence ill the book of the song of songs, words of corporeal
love are employed, that from the body the soul may be warmed, and led to the
love which is spiritual: in which word the holy Scripture is not to he ridiculed, but
rather the greater mercy of God is to be con:o;idered. For it is to be remarked,
how wondrously and mercifully it deals with us in this condescension. 'Ve ought,
therefore, in these corporeal words to seek what is interior, and as if to leave the
body. "T e ought to thi
maniage of the spollse to come with the understanding
of intimate charity, that i:-:, with the nuptial ,'e:"t with whi(>h if we are Dot cloth-
ed we shall he driven away to f'ternal darkness and the blindness of ignorance.
'Ve ought hy these words of pa:-:sion to pass to the virtue of impa:-;sibility, for the
holy Scripture in its words is like a picture in its colors, and he is foolish indeed,
* In Speculum de Mysteriis Ecclesire: cap. 7.
t De Præp:Jrntinne Animi ad Contemp]atiooem, cap. 15.
7(1
M U HE:::; l' \ T II 0 L I l.' I; 0 H,
who so adheres to the color:, a<; to be ignomnt of the thin
whi('h is paillt('(1. "*
But it wa
not in .....ords alollc that thecnigrnatical cxpre...
ion of the Church W
conveyed. Her cèremonil
al..;o '\l
n' hi
h symbols, d('mon
tr:,ting things ofwhieh
the m)'stic
en
e all<l invi
ible truth are known by divine illumination to the angpl-
ic !'pirit:,. Philo..ophcl's and poct,.; will fiJl{I no works mol" rich in profc.HlIHl and
beautiful thought.; than th
which ar(' Jt.
ignc:x1 to dc\'elop 31111 explain th(' C('-
cle:o:;i3.:)tical :,ymb()l
t \\"I'IUI'II (11lI'ing the milMle 3t,res by
uch men a.; nu
o 3UlI
H.iehanl of "t, Vietor, Dllrall<lu:o:, t ()ul"'..1IIti t .. It >my of Au
crre,
IIOIh,ré
t.
_\utuntll St, Bruno of &\4i,"
Iarh>nc,*" 311<11llau)" others. The t')"lllboli(' sl'n:o:p or
the holy ve
tments \\"OI'U by her pri
t.::; \\
h scen in th' :mbIim.. pl"'.lyer.. "hich
th('y repeated as they clothl>cl thcmselvc-; to mil1i8ter at the altar.tt .\. long
ermon
of I V(S de Chal.tn..s i
devoted to ('xplaiuing, fm' the l'tli fi('ation of manner:o:, the
my
tic beauty of th pl'ie:-;t"s \"e:o'tlllcnt, in which e"cry part ha,l a di\"iJ)p Jl1l'alling.
" \\ïtllCS.";/' .:ay:; ""abfried 51mbo, " that alb denoting purity, that belt :--ignif)'ing
continent' , that stole ubedienæ, and that flowing cha...uble which i:-; placed oyer an
to denotc eharit
", the grmt >
t of all virttws."!! The g]o\"
" of the hi:-:hop were
put on to :,i
n:fy t!aat hi"" good work.. Wl're t;ometinu..... to be in
crt't allli lJot 1)(,-
fore mell ; and they werc laid a....ide t to remind him that hi
light \\a... to :-hine
before men.
The mystic sen...' of the pallium, B)'mIx)] of unanimit)., a.. Pope
Symmachus
tylC5 it, writing to a bishop of '\.u'-tria, in thc yt'ar' 504 1111 and which
31)ci('ut authOl'
mention as being t:,ken from the hody of :0;1. Pcter, tllat i... to
y,
from the altai' o\"cr hi!i rcli('
, amI to whieh they a...cr'ibe the p]cnitmle of the pon-
tific,al officc,.... i., expJail1l'c) by J .idpru,;; I\,lll
iota, in his ('pi:)tle to Count IIcrmin-
ius. "The bishop," he b..1)
t '
" rars upon hi... Fhoulders a band, 110t oflinen but
of wool, to signify that he i
an imitator of Chri
tt tire
reat
}U'phcrd who carri{'{l
on hi
hul1lders the :o:heep which he hall lo:,t amI
lUnd." In tire Nunc manner
Simeon Grct-; 'rus interprets the omophorillm,*** The PI"( '.
i{)n i:-. the way to the
celestial country. "lIe who mini:-.tcl':' to others the light of good work:-- i') spiritually
311 acolyte," sa}'s IIlIgo of t;t. \"ïctor. ttt )Ian: usa
es ami in..titution..;. 'viII he un-
intelli
iblp if we do not beal' in mind their
piritl1al intprpr(-'tatiou. '''hy, for
example, was a church to be ('OII:--('('rated afr(-'..h if the :thar had beCll 1110\"(>(1, hut
ollly its wall
washed with
alt if 111(> otllE'r part..; of the building ha(1 been repair-
ed aftpr having I:.,]].-"n? I ,"('q dp Ch:lTtr'
explain
thi
, hy showin
t that as the
altar signifi('cl f:,ith, it... removal Fignifi(-'(l a }v:-
of faith, whieh could only }
re-
paired by a fre:;h rt.'cl'ption of :-;acre(} my
tcries; but the re
t of the edifie
when
* RiC'h;LI' I VictolÏn. in ('antic!\ Cantlcorum PIO]og.
t Rltionale Divin. om/'. f De Hitihu.: Ecdc's. Calb
Tr:lrtlLl. de Dc.dic. Eccles.
I Gemma Animæ. .. n. S.lcrRnH'lI,i
Ecclt''', 'Iy"t. Rtque Eccles. Hitihu'l
** Df' .\ntiq. Ecc1e
. nïtihuc;. tt n,>ne(]icL XI\Y. de S,Lcriticin
Ii"<:æ, sed. 1. M-G2.
H De EccJe
iastjcis Officii",. Lib. I.
Id. rnp. 5,1. II OClmnuia t-ucra, I. 7.
... !'id]Jn Sacrn., I. 41. *** In Codinum. Lill. J, c. ).
Ht Speculum de
I)"
tel its El'clc:>læ cup. I.
AGES OF FAITH.
71
injured and repairc(l, was only to he wa
hed with
a1t, to !'how that by tears and
penance other !'ins were to be purged away. Thus, as he fiay
, "whatever wa"
done in the temple made with hands
ignified what ought to be done spil'itually
within U:', that hy the ob
ervance of visible
acran1f'nt
we might be led to the
knowledgc atHl lùve of the in,-i
ible building." * It may he remarked generally,
that the Chureh 11:1<1 nothing for mere ornament, hilt, likc nature, all her rites had
regard to 11.5 a:; well a..; heauty. SlIP loved
ymbol:; that were heautiful, hut no
unmeaning decoration:,. It is ohservable al:-;o, that a ,-ast nllmhel' of loving har.
ruonit.s and
weet incident
, fruitful in :-òuhlime poetical, and religious emotions,
were produced by keeping this in milHl, and doing thing
in con::;:equence simply
and
piritualIy, without attending to the part whi('h was material, without any
regard to formality, or fancied decorum, hut jll:4 a
the hare need of the OCcn
ioll
rel} uired.
As yet we ha,-e taken but a ,-ery cllr:-òory glance at the divine office
, and already
we can pereei,"e with ,,-hat
olemn m:
e:,ty they were clothed, and how well they
corresponded to that sentiment of beauty, umlel' the religious feeling, which, in
the unity of our life of perception, dÍ\-ide
it::-elf into the epic of in
piration, the
dramatic pf resignation, and the lyric of devotion. 0 how the
()nl is moved at
that solemn harmony of holy
Oll
, at t.hat anthem chanted I-
' a 11I11l<lre<1 voice!',
recurring with
uch irresistible precision and with ao; much certainty as if ordained
by !'=ome law of nature, at that instant l'i
ing ofthe taillight::;, when the still sweet
tone of the saintly orison solit:uily a
c{'lH15. t;.. have I f(HlIld it under the noble
dome of Florence, where, on one sidp, stood the portmit of Dante, and in the cen-
tre, the In::;:t work of l\Iichael Angelo, the dead Christ in the arms of hi:, mother,
-sublime master-piece! which death Iwe,'ented bim from fini!'hing. " Omnes
sitientei', ,'enite ad aqua
." The Church had many seCI'ets to minister refresh-
ment to the parched anti fainting soul. Hel' silence had \\"or<1:;-for, a:-ò St. Am.
brose say
, "Kon solos Dominus audit loquente:5 qui aw1iehat )Io)"5en tacentem.
PIns alldi tacitas cogitationes morlllH qnam vuce oll111inm:'t 'Yhat rapture in
that lofty, that def'p, that sweet, that divine silt'nee in which all injuries are for-
otten-that admirable silence, as much !'llperilll. to all harmony as the Di\-ine
darkness is more 111minou=-, than the sun anel pvpry (11)(,(' light in hea,'en,!-)"ield-
ing at length only to that mnje!'tic voice which ('omp
to om. ears, after the lap:-:e
of ages, through l\Ioses, the rapt prophet
, the Psalms amI Gospels, :lnd which, like
the voice of God him
f'lf, "hreaks the proud cpdar
. :md make'S the deserts trpm-
ble."
The divine office was 110t a mere ri:,e amI fitll of organ Round swelling and
dying away under the Gothic arche
, and cau:,ing
oh'mn reverberations like those
mountain echoes, which produce
l1ch a pleasing a
tonishment in the admirel's of
nature, who make journeys to hf'a1' waterfalls, or cannon fi rf'd under hangin
rocks.
,. Ivonis Carnot. Epist. LXXX.
t Tarro, Dia]oghi ovvero dellll Pace.
t Lib. Offic. 1. 41.
PsaJ III xxiii.
72
2\[ 0 H E
(' AT) I 0 L I ( I I; Ù R,
In thc Catholic Clmr{'h the clivilH' oflice \\as a proyi
ion, I1I)t for the vaguc rap-
turc:o; of a warul('rillg minc1, hut for the want=-, of the url(ler:--t
ulCling mill, through
the intdligcnc'c., for the 1Ie.'Ct.....itit'..; of till' IIC'art. ...\t the farthl':--t l'xtremity of her
\"a
t tl'Ulplt>..:, through the IOllg :llIllloft). ai:oolcs th ' words of the p
llU, of the ...n-
tiphon, or the hymn, cam(' to th(' car loucl awl t1i...tind : - aUlI ('crtainl)", 110 har-
morley of ill!'U'UIHl'lIls coulcllllual tIll' dT\'d pruc1uc"(>(1 br that ulIl':1rthly light of
"cml
" hidl i:'
IIf'(1 from tlat' :--:uU'tuary.-I1o\\ :--olt'llln, (In elltl'rillg Ll'lIeath Ogy
gmu vault:-õ, to hear tile lowl :--olitary \'oil'e' Atoning from the choir, the fir:--t VCI":"C
0; n p:;alm-"Xi
i Dumillu .1.'(lifießvt.'rit <lomnm" - \\ hich is then
ught up 1)
"
8. multitude, in whieh laymcn'
vni('('s mingle with the pril':"t..:'. eager to complete
that
uhlillle anllO:UIl't.'m('lIt.
8 HHctinU's the Church, in Ilt'r :llnic'lioll, appc'ar:- like' a pl'r
on I)(,'('om
ill
('nsible
through l'.M..'l"" of bOrroW, and n.c1uc't.'(1 to:l t
lt' in whi{'h the 60ul "i:,hcsto for-
get eyer)" tiling but the coun...ds of etel'nal 'n isÙom -
where she biugi the tCII-
ebr-æ, :Iud "'uclcll'nl
' intl'rrupt... tlw ..hallt of llt'r partie-ubr :ooorrO\\', to bJ"{':l1,. f()rth
in that l'x..1amatiort. l'
IH"l,:":,,jIJg :1
t'lJl'ra) thuughl-" Blt'
:"c'(l i.. the Ulan \\ ho halh
Lome the) okc ii-om hi:) youth." \\lrat tt.'ITible hacln.'. in thus,' ton'
lIld \\ ord;;
of the matin:, on )laul1llay I1lur:o-c.la) _u
Ieliu"\ illi enit, :)1 natu
110n fui. ,t1"-
How awful and impn.....;;j\.c arc thn
t' t 'arful or joyful fm
mcnh which I:!he is con-
tinually f.ingill
-the ht':llIt)" of \\ hich wa..; :-0 kl'\'lIly ft' It by D.lllt(', 8.'"' :Ippt-'ars
from hi::i ioO often introdul"ill
a :-imilar u
we into hi:-- divine vi:,ioll, like that
prophct who Ix"gin... \\ ith a ('cmjllncr ion, tCl whom wel"(' pr . ...nt tho' · thilws \\ hich
'em abscnt to our i
IJIJr:lIu'e, :mtl in \\ IH e mincl interior anJ extcrior thing...
""l're so l'OI
oiHec.l, :10; if lIP lx.lwlcl both ut the
arne time, bO that his wonl'l "(,I'"
unl)" a ('ontinuan('t' of hi... irl\\ anI tlwng-ht. .A tOut' time'
'ou hmr a \"uil'l' :--ayin
,
..
rartinus adhuc (':ltt'('hullll'lHl... hac IIIc' \"(':"t.' ("ontl'
it j" :It another, f.b:.lllcti II1ci,
(plÌ in rorne })():)iti c('rtaml'n hahui:)ti
;" at another, ")Iedia nocte clamor factus
(':4 j" at
mothl'r, :\1 f.1 nox ()h
urum nOli habet, 'Ù omnia in lure claræcunt:"
and all the while there i
011 eYel'
. :ooicle a cryiuA',
"messed Mary! pra) for u!\.
)lichacl and Peter! aU
c
aintly hO!lt.".
How oollformable to the InO"it intimate emotioll:" of the human hmrt, i:i that
fn'(!llent r('petitiou of f:)olemn and
lIppliallt word.., rmuill which the mind 't'ms
61l'sirou'" of lingf'ring, :I
if it ('oulc) lIot 1)(' torn away from thl'w. "ïthout !"p('ur-
ring to the repdiriolJs whil'h c)('('ur in tilt' 1'=--:11111:-, unci in othl'r parr:i of holy
Scripture, of ",hieh Ht. Hilary gi\"t''i
t) profìmnc) an ('xplanation, we.' (':Ill \\ itm'"
how true to naturt' i
thi
if'ature of the litm'g-y, by referring to the anci('ut g'mve
tragl'dians, where the ('horu!-, in the \t,'1UlWmnOn of ...'E--rhylu...., d<."'il"('S (,1
"tPm
I1ffitra to rcpæt what she has ju
t 8.nnOUI1Cl...J re
pl'l'ting thl' fall ()fTroy-
)(ltl iug,
* Th nff', PllrJ!'. Xl1L
AGES OF. F AITII
73
" I
ho111d wi!'h to hear tho-.e word
continualIy, and to be filled with admiration
while you rep('at them again and again."* In the high lyric pathetic
auty of
the hymns, we feel the true power of poe
y; while that syllabic composition of
song in Pindar's Rtyle imparts a tone of the utmost nlë.
esty to the triumphs of the
poor. Some of the antiphons contain the last words of martyrs in their agony;
others the memorable exclamations of confe
sor;:; before kings; other;5 tIle !3cntences
of holy doctor
, and repl ics of saints, on occnsiOllS that are transmitted in the archi \.es
of lâ..tory to e\-erlasting renown. Such are those words, sung on the festival of
81. Laurcnce-"Quo progredcris sine filio, Pater? Quo, sacerdos sancte, sine
ministro properas?" ".ill you hear how the vile:,t instrument of torture can be
made sublimp by the confi,.;:
ion of a martyr? Hear that fearful cry of the Church
on the
ame great òay-" In craticula te Deum non negavi, et ad ignem applicatus
te Chrisrnm cOl1fe
'ms sum." How impres!'i\"e are those anthems, sung on the
festival of the great adw)cate of Ganl-"Dixernnt discipuli ad beatum
Iartinum,
cur nos, Pater, de:,eri-;?" and that-"Domine, si adhuc populo ;"-those sung
on St. Andrew's day, "0 bona crux, qnæ decorem et pulchritudinem de membris
Domini suscppi.sti ;" those on the feast of St. Clement, "Omnes una voce dixerunt:
om pro n()bi
, Rancte Clemens :" those on St. Agatha's day, "Quis es tu qui venisti
ad me curare vulnera mea? Ego sum Apostolus Christi," and those on 8t.
Cecilia's day, which relate the vi
it of ,..,.. aleriallus to the catacombs on the Appian
way, in !'cnrch of S1. r"'rban, who wa') there concealed?
The anti phOI1S on the festh'al of St. Lucia, at vespers, and in the office of the
night and at lnua
, bring us in presence of scenes so pathetic, so ineff:.\bly sweet
and sad, that a youthful mind can make no comment upon them, unle
s by weep-
ing. "In tua paticntia po
sedi
ti animam tuam, Lucia sponsa Christi: odisti quæ
in Dlundo sHnt, et corUSCa5 cum angeIis: sanguine proprio inimicum vicisti."
Can you hear what is
Ullg without fceling the fountain of tears flow over? "Ro-
gad Dorninum meum Je
mu Chri
tum, ut ignis iste non dominetllr mei." Can
YOU lu:'ar what follows without experiencing that chill which attends the sublime
mysteriou:5 con
oIation? "Soror mea Lucia, virgo Deo devota, quid à me petii',
quod ip
a poteris præ
tare continuo matri tuæ? Xam et fides tua illi sub\"enit
et ecce sah"ata e::;.1." Can you Ileal', Jfu;t1y, the song of triumph without hilling
upon your knees? "Bene(Iico te, Patel' domini mei Jesu Christi. Quia per filium
tuum ignis extinctus est à latere men?"
A lUodel"n pod, in his de
cription of the first Christian society, when he in-
troduces the evening }H"ayer, can finå no words more harmonious or noble, amid:5t
his gracious and 1:mblime picture, than those which the Church actually u
e8 ill her
complin office-",risita, quæ:,ullln
, Domine, habitationem istam:" and he ob-
erves, that through familiarity many are in
ensible to the heauty of this prayer.
In fact, when any of these collccb, or the words of some litany, which have a cry
... 387.
7-1
'I (J H E S ('.A T II 0 L I . I. 0 H.
for every feeling of the heart, arc pJacf...(1 hy a pod in th
mid:.:t of the m
st hril-
liant pa
:;aget there i
no trall.,ition perceptihle, no inh'rruption to th ht'auty .lUd
m
e:,ty of the style; hut the wortl:, of the ehun'h :--('('m the gl'nuillt" d1'u:--ion ot
the poet, ill his happiest mOlllent of iu"'piration. \\llat maJe.:,t)" in tho...e anriquf'
'er
('-; lIlUl'IllUl.C(I hy the priest-the foree of which hob Ucen
() oftell tdt hy hell :
'ritlle!--
tho:,e word::; in the offi('C 01 the (Iedi(
\tion, pronolllH'('(I by the pont iti on
fir
t cntt'ring the Chur('h, while" ith hi
('ro...i('r he tr..ll'('S the ,'iclorioLJs
ign upon
the thre
h()ltl: '-I.:cce :-;ignulll crul'i
, fngiant )hanta...mata cnnda !"
""hile lUany nlU
t have felt how the prayers of the Church are comp "(I with
attention to the s"e\:ts of harmonious catlenee, there al"C perhap
fe\\ at prcc..t"nt
who remark sul1ìcipntly with what at'CUI'.lte IH'('ei
ion they invariably a
..ee with
the most profoUlltl truth:i of philo:-,ophy, as \\-ell a
with the mysteril''i of faith.
Political E-t.iell<'C Illight he I('arned from hl'r pra)'cr
for print
' :1I1d fiJr all the
faithful-..t:; when, amiJ:-,t the joy of the pa..,chal 'olemniti ,she pnl)'
that OoJ
may enable his people to attain to perft.'Ct liberty *-antl pla)'
iologi('al re...;carch-
l':-' might he furthen'tl hy a ('I()
(' nttention to tilt" word... of her \.ariou!' !'-uppiim-
titm:,_ X or (':111 \\ e o\'t'rlook t}l(' lJIllIeviat i ng eon:--i:oõtency Dlul tl& ' at riet atlll"rence
tn definite prineiple:o;, which c!.:lIaderize all expr" i()l1
in the divine ofti('c. Ot
thi..:, lIu
o of
t. Yï..tor may
upply an in<.:tance. "fhc:--pil'it of it...;elf," he say!",
" i... tt'rll1('I1
pirit-.1HlI in cUllucetion \\ ith the bod)' it is eallt.,<1 :,-.'ml. T}1t' human
:;onl, 1)('(':1u:--c it ('an ('xi:--t hoth in the body and out of it, i!' called, in tilt' e(>('k:--i-
a...;tic offi('t':-', f'tlul and :Ol,irit. Thereforc," he
ay:-" cc tit(> holy Chnn-h, whi('h believes
mo:-,t filithfullr ill the resurrection of the fl....h, pr-..lr
not nnly tor the f:l)irit, but
al:,o ft)r the
ouls of the faithful."t
\\\'Il, int1"f..'tl, Oil e\.ery ('on..it1eration, lI1ay th(''''l' Ix> :,tyled angelic ()ftiC('
_ In
tIlt' grand painting in the Church of
t. Dominick at Bologna, St. 1'1IOma:,-him-
:-:(']f rather an anbel than n man, one of tht....l., of whom the whole ctlnr
of the
worltl's hi...;tory ean hardly pro(luce t\\O or tlirt., ('xampl
i
rf'pr' 'ntOO" rit-
ing the Landa Siol1 from th(' ,lidatiol) of all
(.l<.:, whose beaming connh'nan('('s
are n>ficctC(1 ill hi
look8, Of the hymn, "(;I01-ia in l'
c('}
i:-:," the writer:; (If the
midtlle agf'> ..imply say, " This wa:i lx'gllli hy the angd
antI finished by doctors
of the Chureh."-"Prima hujus hymni ,'erha e cælo dJ n03 angcIorum voce
derivata :'tmt," says Cardinal ßoua.-'lCætcra qui;;; adJiùerit incertum ec,t."t
The origin of the hymn 011 Palm bunday, "g-loria, lau!o:, d honor tihi sit, rex
Christe retlcmptor," is thus relatl'<l. "Theodulph, Bishop of Orleall:--, being f:ll!-'p-
Iy accused and impri::,onf..'I1 by the Empcror Tpwis, 81JU of Charlemagne, in a
tower at Anger." on Palm
unday the prOCC$ioll p
t...J b)' the pri...on, when he
opening his casement and making silence, en toned thl':
e verses of hi!" own com-
position. The Emperor, who was present, wa
so nlea...etl that he ordercù him to
· Easter
ronday.
Benedict. XlV. Her. Liturg. Lib. II. cap. 4.
t AJ1egor. in 'Iarcum, Lib. III.
AGE::5 0 F F A I T H.
7ð
be relea
cd, and restored to his see, and f!.'om that day these verses were sung in
the proce..:
ion."*
Time and words would both f.'lil me if I attempted to point out all the beauty
amI beatific influence of the various forms of devotion practised in the Church.
Only let the litanies of our Blessed Lady, of Je
us, and of the fo:aints, which are
sung in e,-err region of the earth, be recalled to memory,-only let it be consider-
ed how ther express the fcelings with which hastening shepherds anò adoring
kings in Bethany must have beheld the virgin mother of the Di,-ine infant,-
that the
ymholical titles given to hel' in accordance with the usages of sacred Script-
ure, can inspire the loftiest a11<1 purest conceptions of grace almighty,-that a soul
which is enlightened hy the Divine intelligence, discovers and feels within her-
self things which can never be expressed, except in symbolie language,-that thp.
10\'e for Jesus can only dictate short seraphic praises, and ardent desires to sup-
plicate his power,-that those adopted in reference to 1\lary, besides their intrin-
ic beauty, are sanctified by the innumerable holy persons who have used them
from age to age, in life and death,-how the litany of the saints transports us
into the presence of all the great and good that have adorned the Church in past
time-the apostles, e,-angelists, martyrs, confessors, monks, hermits, virgins, wid-
ow:o:, amI an the Faints of Gml-how it raises up their image before the mind's
eye,-how it carrie
us into the colosseum of Pagan Rome, into the catacombs,
into the deserts of Thebaid, into the ca,-es of the mountains and forests, into the
cell:; aud monasteries of the middle age, and finally, into the confines of the inef-
f.'lblc pre
ence of the elect in glory !-how, returning to ourselves, it reminds lBof
eyery e,-il to be shunned in the passage of mortal life, and of e,"cry good to be
desired,-how it instructs) elevates, and ra,'ishes the soul,-only let this be con-
sidered, and I think, in a mind mo
t prejudiced with a prejudicating humor, these
will all he found in excellency fruitful.
The corrections which some men, in modern hmes, have proposed in the offices,
only furnish an additional evidence that they had no profound sentiment of re-
ligionc;: truth, and that e,-cn those few mysterics of ['lith which they profess out-
wardly, haye ne"cr been, as with Catholic
, transfused into their vcry souls.
Such i
the necessary inference to be drawn from that suhstitution which ,,'as
iuyeutE'cl of the term Redemptor for TIcgina in the hymn, "Sah-e TIegina ;" for,
to no Catholic would such wOl'd
ever occur in addre::::5ing hi::; Redeemer as to say
that to him he had recourse in the sorrows ofhi
pilgrimage, since he knows at
least, hy fhith, that hi:; life should be Christ, and that he should li,'e ill Christ ;
hut to hi:; ble
sed mother he turns in siO'hin g and sorrowinO' in this vale of tear:'.
0
Sooth, when one hC:H'
the moderns pmpose tl) modify or alter what the Church
has ordained, one midú think it enouO'h to ans'\rer them in the words of Beatrice
0
to Dante) wheu the beheld him terrified at the shou
of :'pirits in Paradise--
- Durand. Rationale, Lib. VI. c. 67.
;t.>
)1 () I
E
CAT II 0 l. I C I; 0 It,
-"Kno,", ....t n"t tlwll thou art in he.l\'n 1
.\ntl knowe..t Iwt thou. "l1ateVt'r is in lu-sv'n
13 holy, nntl that nothing there Is done
But is done 7cnlou..l)" and" rll ,".
011(' wlw:-,c lore has h.-en h)" gcniu:-,
llÎ(I((1 lIlay }", warm>tl "itlt
tlmcwhat of
)Iereutio's 7('al wlH'U he }wars ('('rt:lÎu ]i"pin
, ant'ding l:mta..ti,"(1(". lIew tmu r
of
a('el'ut
, fa..hioll-mollger:-:, :--p('akill
on :--tH..h :-ubj('(.r.., a., if allY f1U('lIt phra..(' man
"ere ('ompptcllt to ('orn.(ot tl.c )itu,'
y ofth. C:
tholil' Chnn'h; awl ow' who i..; of
illtelligt'lU'c pl"ofollUù may imluIgc a smile at their C
I){'U"(,; t'i.)r th.....(' pr(.tend('d
dear amI c,ad !'p(.akt'r.., likt' Ellripitlu., arc ...ure to be (,(ÞU\'it'tl'tl of ah..olutc ('rror
wh('n tht y have an ..T:--{.h)"ln
fur tlH'ir jlHlg(' i but the milll('r alill gentlt.r a..<..'(.tÎc,
to whum pict)" impart.. till' privilege of geuilli witl1t)ut its t1:uwl'r:--, willi. contellt
with uL:--cn"ing that pr.l)'Cr, hy its vcry naturC', 1Il11..t be my:--tf'rioll";, amI that t11l')"
who approach GOtl, with :u"(l('ut (ll'votion, mu..t havc ,.cry tlifferellt uotion, of what
is fitting languagC', from otht'r..;, \\ h ll , \\ ith llnIllO\.('(l affi'Ction.., would (Iraw to-
ward., him
il'ntifh':lll
' \\ ilh tllf'i,'lip..; :llone ; con...t'<Pll'ntI)', that it is \\ r(mg TOcriti-
('i:,c pic<..-es of this hintI, :-iue(' oneonght rathl'r to }"'''I)('(.t tlu'lIl a... my!-I ic words whid,
mlllpri:,c a !'piritllal H'n:-I
, awl which nrc :'1) many tt':--tinlOnit.s of the i"ouhlimity or
thc :-tatc to whi{'h tlH'ir ant hoJ":o; were rai...('(L
The lllUl.lcrn..; pri(l.- th('IU:-'t.ln',; Olll"Crtaill
hlllit.d ('ompositioll'; whi('h thf')' :-'''('111 to
con
idel' pcrf('(.t Ill()(Ie1s of !H"a):l.r. r('rtainl)" no one c:ln 01
(.et to the ..,'\ form... on
thcgrouml of their not h(.ing :-uf1i('il.ntly dc.,r, a
fin n.; the w(>rtl.. th('II)"I'1\"('" arl
cOlll.'CrnC\l, whieh are Vl'ry prt'('i
i (Ir of th(.ir olllmi:-o..ion:-l, for ('\'t'I)' want tilat em
be cuncein'l.l is :--p('Cifil'tl ; hut it may be doubh'll whetlll'r th(.)" \\ouI(l hayc
ouIJII-
ul religious, or cYell \\ i:--c, to onr an
tor", who wer . Yl'ry :l\"Cn:,c tu the u:-c (If long
word)" narrations in adc1rt.',..ing (;od, aru) who ('yen con...id(,l"l.'fl it all iwli":ltion of
the (li\.ine
pirit w}wn nothing nominally wa..; !-ought in prayer.t "That I"illll of
:-oupplieation," :,ays I lug\) of
t. Victor', "whidl COIl:o.i--t.., in llll'n.l)" accull1ulating
('pithets, :-ouch a ' mi
.-ri('ol"llia mea, rcfugilllll ml.'UII1,
u..:cf'ptor men.., liberator 1I1('U",
and :-:0 on, i:;
o 1ll11('h the Illore full of illt('rnal <Il.light U'i it i:o. imperfect iu (.'tl'mal
C'xpr(.:-,:-:ion; for af1("Ction ha.. thi:-, propt'rt)", that the morc fi'n.put it i:, within, till' I('..;:
('an it l,c dt'vc1opC\1 (.
tf'l"IIan
' hy the Yoi('t', .\lltl \\ hate\'p1" Iw the \,'(m]., We u..e,
the nearer de\"otion appr(1a('hc..; to humility, the IUorea('('('ptabJ ' is it to (1t)l1. In
no wa)' is God mure cffeetuall
' hent to hmr u.. than \\ Ill'u the miwl of th(' :-llp-
plirunt is wholly conn.rtl'tl to him with affi'Cti,m.
\IlIl, therl'f(>n
, \\ l1atc'""1" he
the word::; of
uppli('Ütioll, they are nevI'" ah"u1"tl ii the)" a1"e only c:lI<:n
at('tl to
excite tile :lffl'ction of the !'lJpplieant to lovc Go(l, 01', what i:i I:)till hetb'r, if tl)l>Y
JelUOll:5trate that he is alre:llly kilH1l(>1! with his love."! Xor i"" thi:; an, the
Doetol's of the mitltlIr, ag-e h:1(11I'al'11(..1 with the :ll1thor of the .\llgelic Hil'rar('},,',
that as negatiulls iu t1ivinity are oftcn true aflirmatiull:5,
o to the ob:,cnrity uf lIly::r
· Panul. XXII, t Card. non:L. t1e Discretione 5J1irituuUl, cap. s. t De !lotio ûmlllH ìibellus"
\ G E S 0 F F A I T II .
77
tcries, a manife:ö:tatioll by means uf dissimilal' forms is more adapted,* and that
divine awl ccJc:--tial things ;Ire often beautifully expressed hy dis::;imilar sym-
uoJs.
llc.lce, as lIugo of St. '
ict()r thinks, oxen, lions, eagle:ö:, hor:,c=--, wheel.., char-
iot
, thrones, rose..., tower:" gate
, star
, awl ::;imilar figures are introouced, which,
in the e
tilllation of those who only regard external thing
, are riùiculou=--, uut to
those who think piously
md lu'ofoundiy, they are fm" otherwise; for be:-;ides that
from all material and bodily forms, figures may be taken to represent the incor-
poreal
plendors of a
piritualnatl1re, it is certain that the very di:,similit11l1e of the
s
'mh()1 conduces to t'xpre
=-- the excellence of the
(Jpernal ohject; for di:-sirnilar
1ìgl1re
, more than :,imibr elllhlem
, lead the milHI from material anù bodily things,
and })1'e\"ent it from re:,ting in them. E\'ery figl1re, therefore, so much more ev-
idently demonstrate=-- trmh in proportion a:o' hy its di
similitude it is clearly a fig-
ure amI not the truth, and the more unlike i
the figure,
\J much the more does it
leall the milHI to truth, IH'e\"ellting it fmlll resting in the :-õimilitUtle" Therefore the
wi:ö:dolU of holy theologians wOllllerfully de5cends to the u:,e uf illliecorou
imil-
itudes, not permitting our material c.3rnal sense, 80 in lo\"e with matter, to rest in
material images, but compelling it to pa..;s on in !'earch of other things more f::.ir
and true, anù hy the yery ba:'l'ne:,s of the ima
e, purging the intellectual power
of thc soul from all a(lmixture with image:;, in Ol.L1er that purely amI
imply it
may be led to contemplate :,piritual uml invi
iblc thing
.t
Ioreover, to anyone
who reflect..., it i", e\'ident that a praycr of any length whieh is to be often repeat-
e<1, mu
t not be a :-tndied, smooth composition, like a narrativc m'rang-ell accord-
ing to the rules ofrhdoric, for be:o'i<1es that mere rhetorieal effL
t, however ..;nblime
may he the emotion re:,ulting from it, ean lleVel' sati:.;fy the religions ideal, sucll
an attempt wonl(l argue an ignorance uf thc inc\"itable impotcnce of IlUman lan-
guagc to approñeh what i:; clue to the pel"fections ofGml, aUf] the wiser heart. wouhl
tli:,dain tlte pre";Uluptuous effi)rt of the ulldel':,tamlillg. After the fir
t dfer\"e:,cence,
all thi:05 froth of doquencl', allll thi::; inflated wi:.;dom, woulll be con\Terted into
dre
s, :-ouch as wuuld excite rather loathing than kindle devotion; hut a:-ò a phi-
Jo:,opher remad:
, when we ha\"c employed the Juftiest hyperbole
, and exhausted
all the fi
ures of :-yrubulic Iangu...gl', when we have dres::.ed met3physical ab-
tracti()n", in poetic rapture
, when we have ran
ackcd whatever things are most
ex('(.lIent among the ef('ature
, and having defecated them anù piled them up to-
gether, ha\"e made that heap but a ri:,e to take uur
oaring flight from, when in-
strncte<l as well a
inflamed and tran:,portl'd by that inal'ce:,:o:.ible light which is
inhabited by what we adore, we
eem rai
ed amI elevated ahove all that is
mortal, and
a'" thinD's that sur p a.;;s the intelli,rence of men we can for en'r O ! )en
, ð ð'
our lips in
lIch
trains of prayel", bec:1lJ
e, although, these expre:o:.:o'ions otherwi:-õc
applie(] woulel be hyperbol('
, and though they lln not expre:-:s the object, they yet
* Dionp.. Hierarch. ('ap. 2.
t I1ugo Yict.)rb. .\nnotat. iu Cæ]est. Hierarch.
78
)1 0 HE" ('
\ T 11 () T. I (' I; () H,
proclaim the fen'or of OUf ,1l','olion, amI (h.clare not, iwlC<'t:I, \\ hat God is, hut hu\\'
HllIeh we houOI' him.
:Xo, the prayers of the Church were ('ompo
('d hy
ainb, ali<I what is mort', \\pre
u...cd by ,:,aint'i and men of the inh.rior lifl', of iutuiti,-c it.":--thetic iam..., 3';; :0-0111 ·
philo
opher.-; wouh! :--ay, allli tIH')" klll'w \\ hat tlu-y Wl're nbout; 01', ratIH'I', tlJ(')"
wrote from tl... in"'piration of Him" ho mad,. awl kill'\\" \\ Iwt W:I
in m:UI. Till'
JUlIuan Ill'art dm'illg mallY gelu-ratiolls ha:-. re"'pOlull'(l to th ' dllmI "hieh tlH'Y :11(1)('
kill'\\" how to tOlll'h. :Xot from a tri\'ial popuwr l.ruditioll, 1101' from tIlt' ...('11001 of
grammariall::5, 1101' fl'OIll the tr'ihulle (If dU,'lorici:lII"', hilt from a
I'n:",(' and contt'mpt
of human thing:--, from a profo(IIl,1 ('al',' lUul iu\'<'Stigation of wi...dom, from a d,.,.p
('oll:,i,lerat iOIl of thei 1" 0\\ II llIi:,el")", aut! of tllc di ,.i nc JUl'r..y, (Ii(l tlH'Y de:-l.'t'1U1 tl)
('omp \:)to the:,. ::)aered oflì..(.:,.
The Church, it i
tru(', ha.. cucl"3,'ort>t1 to prot('Ct the faitllflll ill the pû
. .,;;,.;:ioll
(lflwr pl'a)"('r
, unllli\.l'tl "ilh 0111( I' iu,'pntinn..., h)' prohihiting all nl'\\" litani..... in
the puLlie \\or:-hip, ,.:\'("t'ptillg "ith "'11"1. rt....tI.ietinn
a..; unl' might hop" \\(Hll,l he
gl.neralI.r I"ufii..il'nt to di
('(Jllra
e ull attt'lIIpt... uf this kiwI; hut it is, lwrhap:--,
till ratlwl" to be \\i
h,'(l than l':\'I
'Ctl'(l, that th,,:--. m,ltlt'rn "rit(,I":--.\\IlO lll'\"er
qlll,:,tion but that th..y .ue in the "all of "hat b teru1l'ti tilt' mareh of int('lliJ!cllce,
h()nld ('t
a
l' fro II I t'
('r('i...ing tladl' t:llt.nt... in thi
way; for, g('nt'I":III)', in propor-
tiun to thc puverry
ulfl ig-uor:uwc of tll(' mind, tlll'l"l' "ill he a pa:--:--ion for ('hang-
ing 3ml mtKli(ring alwient thin
:-o. Tlllpl.'l1,',1 hy a dl'...irt' to ,10 ...onu.thilw, a
:-haIlow, ('Ollt't'i t('(I, 1.,....tI'....... intd I igl'IH"t. \\ i 11 :--,,
k tn d i"'Ìt i ngni
h it...plf hy r('formillg,
a..; it IH'et(-'n,l
, tll(' n.)i('... of a )('''':-0 l'II1ig-htl'lII d
I
('; :Ind, int1('f'(I, it \\oul,1 almh...t
S('cm, a... if in a ('('rtain 1'1:t
t' of
o('i('t)", tatft.ta phra...l'''', I"ilken t..rlll
pl't'(.i...,., la:ul
3 g'1"(':ltl'r dlarm f01' the ('u1ti \"att.."t.I ('Ia:-... than tilt' nohlt....t :,Cntl'IIl'l'" of a Cia 1')'I'U:--tolll,
l'r tlmn tlu' Jl)o..;l JI):ljl'...til' !-oyml>oI of the ("
,tllOlic litur!!
'.
But tn return. ".on,lrOl("'Ì i, tilt' :--kill with whidl till' ('hurch in IlI'f ofik
blend... tO
l.thl'I' tll(' an('i('nt h....tanH'nt :\1 It 1 tilt" n('\\", tl((' liglll'(':-- :11)(1 t!1(' ("(.ahy, tllc
pmmi...e :In,I the a("('ompli:--hnH'nt, and ...how... in tl((' infillitt. \"al'i(.ty of h('1" form...,
the profound unity of the <'hri:--tian faith.
hc :--p('ak:." :--hc :o-ill
:-- h,'I':--elf. A\ II
th
. \"oi('es of prophf't..., p\":\ll1-."l'Ii...h, father:--, d'H"tor
, laymllograpIH'r
, fiu'm a ma
-
lIifie('nt cone('I.t in \\ hi,.h no ,li:--...onalu'(' "oUlul... the (':11', hut ull i... OIH' I"pirit :11\(1
OIl(' in"'piration, awl amid:,t a warmth, UUl'nthll...ia";lII, a h.wl"I.IIt.....;. all n4olli.....ill
l'omprl'l\('n..ioll of tlU' grt'at dml'".u.tl'r:-- of th(> rhri
ti:lll m)":--tcric:'"', amI above all,
a firm. prllfoulHl, :lIHI \\"011111'011...1) ('ofllmlllli,'ati,'c f:lith.
.\t1mirahly ha
the Clum.h t."ilwt'll J.I'I' j,"lgmellt with rf',
ar,1 to that great('...t
of tliflieulti(.... \\ hich u
.,1 to )". tre,ltf.t! of by tht' :1IJ('i..nl philo"'opIll'r
, th . oh...pry-
ill
of what the Greeks termed 1(pi
f)J, the (}('('Orlllli of the Latill
. Thi:oõ is
('yi(l('(',l ill ('\"l'ry part of the di\'ine offi,.,.... .111(1 ritual, in whit'h th(' 01\1<'1' of wonls
i....
lIitt'd t'\, the authol'it," , the :llrp th.. e()lHlition the l )b<'t., amI the time whieh
,
, , ,
arl' ill\'oln'{l. Up:ult-'.., I d:m
not :!in.' the r('in..; to my di",('o\ll':--t':\';: WC approach
certai 11 ('onfill(,';. 1'1'111 y, "i th ..I....pl'('t t t) them, it woul,{ he \\t'li to return to the
....\ G E S 0 F F A I T II.
79
ancient discipline of secrecy and the use of doubtful words, which was observed
during so many ages, even after the liberty of the church had been accOlupli:-:hed.
It is well, like Orestes, to Im\'e learned frol11 the purifications with which one has
sought to remeùy his evil:;, to know when to
p(-'ak amI when to be silent.* I
would walk lightly here. The very ground seem
to bleed and suffer.
\.. great
mystery is taking place. I see death aud pa.::;
ion, and one is more inclined to weep
than to admire; but tilth much I may ob:;erve, as one who to a single eal' imparts
his thought, that the sublime poetry of the opening dialogue of the holy ::\Iass has
been remarked by so many great authors. Thi<; tl ialogue,
ays one, " is a true lyric
pocm between the prie
t and the catechumen. The former, full of days and ex-
perieuce, groans over the miseries of man, for whom he is about to offer f'acrifice.
The latter, full of youth aud hope, sings the victim hy whom he is to be redeem-
ed." "
hen the vaults of our churches resound with the joyful melody of 0 filii
et filiæ, what heart òoes uot burn at hearing" the IGng of glory rises from the
tomb! who is thi::; angel clothed in white
eate(l at the entrance of the sepulchre?
Apostles hasten! happy are those who have believed and have not seeu !" "
ould
not this simple chant of th(' church bear a comparison with the grandest creation
ofpoetry? Does it not verify the saying of tile ancients, that men are winged by
mean::, of words, for by these sublime 'W0rds is not the soul lifted liP, and is not
the man raised?
"
itness again the prose of Easter, Victimæ Paschali laudes. Behold how this
ong of triumph is Ih'ely, rapid, how it carries one with it, how in a few lines it
iuvites to joy, relates the great combat, npostrophizes l\Iary l\Iagdalen as a witness,
anù makes an act of faith and of prayer, to the victorious Christ. "If that be 110t
the genius of lyric poetry," says a French critic, alluding to it. " I know not what
i:-:."
But where should one finish if one were to speak of the "lauda Sion," the "adoro
te su pplex," the "8tabat mater," the "dies iræ "? If one were to describe the office
of the dead, with its mournfulles
ons, its awful rememÌJrances, its solemn am]
heart-piercing tones? "Then to this majestic poetry and sound, is added the aspect
of one of our o-othic ,..hurches by night, lighted up, notwithstanding its va
tnes
,
1"0 that e\'ery Illullion of the highest windows of the choir can be traced with all
its beauteous tracery against the darkness of the exterior sky, while only the distant
vaults of the nave and tran
epts flyaway and hury themselves in mysterious
ob::;curity, as I have seen the sublime Cathedral of Amiens on the night of AlI-
hallow
, when the yigils of the (le
\(1 were
UII;- there, at which an immense mul-
titude assisted till a late hour in profound devotion,--a..:suredly the impression from
the whole on all mind:, of ordinary f;usceptibility, must be such as no languagp can
adequately describe; it Illust be like that resulting from some great event of which
the memory is indelible. .: Let one only represent to himself," says
Iichelet,
* Eumenitl. 276.
80
)10RES CATIlOLI<JIj OR,
"the efft'ct of the lights on tho
t' prodigiou:o; monuments when the cJcrgy mo\'ed
in procc.-;:;ÏoJl through thu:-:e fore:-t!-; of eolumn:-" animating the dark ma.s.:;c..., pa.;:-ing
nUll rep
ing through the long ai
I ", under till' . l'omplicJ.tetl arches) with its
rieh ve::;tlllen
, its tapers, and its chants, when li
ht ami
'>UI1lI ofun
rthl}. har-
mony i:-::-,ued fmm the choir, whi]c the
m of pt'tIP]e r
pondcJ from tit\.. ..hade
he]ow i-there wa:-ò the trlI<' drama, the true my
tcry, the rl'pre:o;entation of the
journey of humanity through the thrl ' worJd
, that :'l1hlim 'vi
ion which Dante
has immortali7CtI in the 'Di\'illa ComrncJia.'''.
.. \ IllI on all ()cca
i()n:) too \\ hat a be
luty of If'mn form c;urronml
one in the
Chureh? Thos. sltrilU's \\ ith f:3el"ftl hurnill
lamp
in on}f'r long; tho:- altars
hright with 1\ tall fOfe"t o( hl1rningtap('r:"ca...ting:-tn':ull
oftrelJ1ulou..lu:,tre like
the matin :-ot:lr; those hanner
that Illm'c on in hri,rht pru('(' '-iolJ; tho:>c arwel forms
bearing the lights; th ... lofty thin..., whit.h come so blowl}" moving toward.j U",
that the bride would have out...tript them on her hridal day*-ho\V dues a11 this
}mrify and exalt the imagination? Can we "onder that it
h(Jul,1 have R>(,lI1b.l to
our fcding al1ce:-:to
like the 1101)" ('ity, the IIl'W .T(,nl:-all'm, d,':,('
n,ling from Ill'av-
t'n, pn'pal"l'\1 as a :-;pou:,e
ulorllf,t1 fcJr hcr hll
hana, that du.)" :-,hollid have c
pectl'(1
to hear th
t gre.lt voice from the throllí', b:l)"illg, BellOl(I, the tabernacle of God
with lllcn, aUlI he will (hn.1l with them, an(1 thc)' l"haJI he his r<'Ople, amI he will
he their God ?
e th --e bt.'autifd little ('hapc1s of our Lady or of the Patron
aint on ('3('1. si(}e of the nave, \\ hcr(' en'"y ohj('et i!-'
o :ulmirahle aw) (}eli('ate
that th()
' \\ ho :b.;i:-t within may imaginc th('m:-c1w':i to he in :1 l'arat}i
e. There
amid:.ol t}wo)C hri
ht
ymho1..;, from thi..: ('I01ul of frarrrant inlocn:--", swct'tly ri:,cs the
day to Catholic youth, amI no marvcl that the rl'mainin
hour
shoilld flow on in
innocence an,ljoy. Xo man'eI, I say, that the Church, as
he ,h....ircs in })('r l)rayer,
Fhould l"l>('ein
piritliaI :lllgnll'ntation from what :-ohe J!ains in material :-Ol'a("c, amI
that an cternal habitation f,)r the maj(':,ty of Goel, o( living and ('ho:-('n ...tonc:-:,
ðhoul,1 he prcpared out of thc
upplic
UJt p(.op]e. Look again, ami let yonr eyes
rc.st upon tho:;e childn.n, who stand or kneel da,1 in \\ hite roh(.:-:, .1Iul with li
hts in
their h3l)(1
, 1"0 like thiugscnsk)"et.I and Nlint('(l, "'0 {>"pr(',..;
i '"C of purity, of oh{'(li('u('(',
awl ]0\"(', that if angds w{'re to d(,
,(,llfl vi:-oihly, one ('onelllel!'>; that :l:-:-urc(lIy it
won]t) hl' ill :-oll('h a form. Fi'"( tlH'm :-'tillupoll that altaI" allt) mark what i:-ò pa . '-
iug before it. How beautiful i:o; cverything! how :,l'renc! a;o, if tllP harmonious
\\ i:-ùUIIl of lhe CIlUl'eh h:u} a(.tuaJly moulded the {''I\:tel"ll:11 form of matter to it, 0\\ n
Iwrfection. Is not here that Lt'allty Illanife
tl'tl whieJa Plato !-'ai(1 wa:-: nothiug hut
the :--plen<lor of truth ? Catholici
m ha- product't} all the lo\"ely furms which
order ('an a:-:.;lImc within the narrow limit, of :-I':I"{,' amI tillt('. :\Iark the cclt.::,tial
habits and thc ren'l'ence of the grave We
lrl'r:-. 0 thc :,acrificc! how cere-
monious, rolemn, al1<l unearthly it is in the offt.ring ! It fil1:-- Ou(":-, bn':l:-.t \\ ith
tile emotiuns ()(':,eribt.d by Dante, whcn, after tel]ing of the ::;wed :-traiu:-, of Para-
dise, he add:-o,-
· Dantp, Purl!" XXIX"
AGES UF FAITH.
, or .A'UO-""'...{'"
"Q
--
'OLL1"",f)
o -
81
LA.rn
"'-\nd 'What I saw was equal ecstasy;
One Ul1Ï\crsal smile it
ccl1ÚI of all thing
;
Joy pa:.t compare j gladuc;"s unuttcmulc ;
Imperishable lifc of peace and love j
Exhau8tle8
riches amI uUlllcasur'ù ùliss."*
These impressions are not only thu
profollll<] amI ill::;piring, but they are also
durable, for to the mind that has once experienced them, al1l'xternal beauty ever
afterwards f;eems to be only a homage tl) the mystery of di\'inp 10\"e. Every ol
ect
in nature
eems to merit the appellation which th(' Chl1r<.h applif's to the element
in the henediction of her font
, "hæc
U1cta et innocens creatura;" awl, in
ome
way or other,
erve
to hring the mind in pre"ence of tho"e my:'terie.; which are
the fountain of all joy. The separation between spirit and matter is tlm,.; removed,
and all seems resolved into the unity of an harmonious l'reation, of which every
part is good,
o passing lovely, mind cannot follow it, nor words express its in-
finite sweetne
.....
But lC't ns investigate the
e things with unmoved bo
orn, as one who only
chronic1e
the past. The altar erected by _\..ngelbert,
\r('hbi"hop of )Iilan, in the
)"ear 830, in the Ambrosian Ba!":ilica, wai; valued at thirty thol1:-::1nd pieces of golt1.
Thewhole front was composed of :,;olid gold, studded with innumerable jewf'ls, and
over it stood twelve irnage
flf sih"er gilt, rp!we.;;enting the _\..po..:tlc::;.t That in
the Basilica of St.
\[ark, at \
enice, was compo:-:ed of alabaster amI porphyry, alld
tablets studded with precious :-::tone!":.t Y f'Ì e"ery church pos:-:e
scd what UgheIli
mentions in describing the Cathedral of :Kaple:-:, f(':-:ti\"e cO\"erings for :::iolemn
<lay..; which coula add beaut}" e\"en to these altars of gold and jewels.s
"That must ha\"e been the splendor on extraordiuary occa:-:iol1s when more than
usual magnificence was required ?Thewriters of the middle ages, to describe a
per
on struck nll1te and made forgetful of everything by one object, say that they
felt an irnpre"sion like that cau
ed by the sight of a high altar at Ea
ter or Chri:-:t-
mas; for on the:-:e occa.
ion:-" the Church di
pbyed all her treasures in honor of God,
and the people used to offer ehoice flow<,'r:-; and co
tly va
es for recei\'ing them.
Then were u
ed tho
e choral elephantine Looks of such magnitude and "\Veight that
it exceed cd t.he Mrength of a man to
upport one of them, amI of s
ICh rich adorn-
ment, that ther u:-:ed to be pre
erved in trea!":urie.;;, wonderful specimens of art and
indl1
try, whether we con
ider the-exqni:,ite 100?eline;-.:-, of the paillting, the admi-
rable beauty of the writing, or the l'o:-,tly amI
uperh decoration of the exterior.
In that va:o;t alld well fillcd choir, of the dome at Florence, a light darkene(l on
all siùes but one, streams upon the hng-c \"olume O\"C1' which it is f:u:,pended, which
seems thcn from the distant part:o; of the 113\'e, like one great flame in that :-::olenm a:-:-
sembly, as if it were Iiteral1y il1nminatC'd by that mig-hty hook. The ancient
sac('l"(lota I \?e"tmf'nt
, heside..; the general <1 i!'tinctions of color, freq nen t1 r Lore in rieh
Qmbroidery, either a representation of the Illy!":ter
'" of the p:uticular fC':-:ti\'al on
· Parad.'XXVIl. t Ita1ia Sacra, Tom. IV.
'3. tIlL Y. 11';7.
Italia Sacla, Tom. YI. Gm
so)
'-.J
I 0 ]
E S ('. \ T ]I 0 1. I C I; 0 It,
which tlH'Y WP["e u..;('(1, 0[":1:' tllO"e ill the mOlla..til' (,hurdl of tlap E";('lIrial, an irnaCJ'('
of bOWl'
aim or of the ilt
truu1(.'lIt of his lIIart
'nlom, iu onle.. to rumnlcfilor.ltl' a
patron or 10<....11 foulldel'. (rcllcrall.\' from tlIO"(' whil(' \"{':4111('lIt.. d('Jwting the
Ulhullil,d In:--t["c of a IUJ:-,ti(' 31ul immortal joy, to t Jau..e \\ hit'h are red from the
mt'lJ}ory of human ('vil:.-, \\l' ('au h'.wl' tlu'
alllc genill
, the :-allll' dl'li(':1t.y of eon-
('('ption whidl dl':-,i b llèl1 the oruaJlll'ut
in the
touc of the lrothit' portal. .\ ('ha
-
uLle \\"3"; Jikp the rich
plt'n<1o)" (If a ro"c or tlJJip Ip:1f. TIlt' ('r('ator f-aw mall in
making the fiu'm('I' ollly imitating hi" 0\\ U ur. Yd tlU'..p ga\'e of1
'IH'<' tl) the
nuxh'l"f).. ; :IS if GIIII ,\ JI() 1m:" painh'tl tlU' flowl'r... of the 6t'J(1, anlI elotlu'll tIll' JIt'.I..t..
mid fowls of the earth, \\ ith f-1J('Ja ('111 iOIJ:' :Ullll'
f}lIi:--itt, ('111m'", (.'mltl L. otfc"I1III,,1
at the he:mtcouo:. \"t':....lIJl.nt
of thp pril'
t "hit tulof't>
him, ,\ hn a:...uuw' th..m \\ itla
}lr.lye.., and trembling, allll "hu wt'ar
t}WIIl only out ufhllmhlt' n'\'l'I"(>II('t.'. )fan)'
detail:-- arc t'xtant l"f'
p('Ctillg tht' 1'111111' of \\or:o-hip in tht' rnÎ(Mlc agt':--. It ,\onltl
H,(,IH f!"(lm :111 ('xpn...;..iol1 (If 1\"(" tIe (,harrl"{'';;, that out of r.'verellCC for 0111. Lord,
tlae l'hali('l' allll paten we("<' gt'IIl'l"ally of
IÎtl goM, fi)r hc rt'<}uircs th:1t, at Il'a.::,t,
tlH',r ...houlJ Le uf :-iln
... *
III the ('hurch of '[outt' Ca.....il1o thrM' were N'\"1'1l g-rC:\t(\r, :nul fin' l
,...)r cl1aJ-
i('(':o:ofpllregol(l;thnt :"\aha, illhj
T('..tan1('nt, :--p..aks of ,..ih-t'r..halicp... gilt whidl
hp 11:1<1 hrought \\ith him from (;1"('('('(', fctr the dlllr(.h of
t.
a\"iano at )rl':--
ana,
to whieh he al..o gay(' tluy'(' 1IIo")t Lt'.1utiful thurihle"') "hieh It... 11:111 pm'('laa...(.tl
from ('(.rtain nrl'<,k...t III a (lO('Ul11l'l1t (If tile dl'\y('nth ('('ntury w(\ re-.u]
of hook.. 1>0111111 in
lIltl, :ultl of J:old chali('t'S :I,loI"IH'tl "itIa :ulmil'a}'le g-em.., with
an ahulu1au('c of \':lrion.. iw.:--timahly l'rl'('io".. Ol"ll:mwnti fi)r (livilll' wor
hip
which h:1(1 be,'n tfl'a
un.d up frolll :1II('it'nt timl8 in the gn':lt (:IIIII"<.h of
alzlmr;;.
On two ('xpu:--itors :1IH1 a l'ihoriulll \If purl' gul(l, there \\ pr(>
n'el-om.(1 up" al"(l
of thM.t' thou..aml of the mo
t pr('('ion
I'hHU'''; of rm'l' ma
lIitu(lc':
one oft\14' I'
po..itor:'\ wr"lI
ht wirh ima'f'I''''' wa
mo"I(!t'11 hy \I'('hhj
hop Ehprlmr(1
(Ie Xeunha"
I', awl
l
t, ac'cor,liu'" to }'opu1ar ["('port, from a tre:L.,ure fOlJlltl
iu Iuh.rg.1I III the ('athl'llra1 of Xaplc.-;, in th(' eighth ('('ntur)", the hol)"
\"l.:'......I
of the altai' w(','c of :-;01 ill gol cl. The.... i n
r. )Iarl,,'.. H...,i) ic-a, at '
euic(',
\\"('1'(' :l1
0 of gol(ll'ov('rec1 with gC'I1I
. 1"
}lC'lli
:lY:':, that tl) (Il'"c'rihe the !'ac,["(,(l orua-
ml'nt:" '\"t'
tll1cnt..;, awl otl((,I" ric'lu',,; in till' (']111("('1. of
t. .Tu..:tina at Padua, would
)"<'quirc a \"01l1lIlC>,<<; 'rc 1'<':111 of th(' an('i('nt (.Imrc'h at Durham, that in the pro-
('(':o',..ion..:, thl' prior h:ul a man'C'l1ons ri(.1a eope of ('10th of golll, which he w:t.. not
ahle to walk upl'ight with, for the- wl'i3htinl'''
tht'l"l'of, hut Olle 11l'],1 it up on e\'er
'
:,illc. On one Ye
tmellt only of Loretto th..y coullt..(1 Jo't'ven thon..an,l jCWl')
. Tn
the ('('('l(,:o:ia
ti('al :umals of Si('ih. we rl':1<1 of \"p..tuwnt., in thl' chnrchC:) of Paler-
" ,
mo cl)\."<:red with illllUlUerahll' pcarl
. ** Tn an :mcient manu"-C'ript, which dt ..;('rih('..
· Dccret. Pars I!. c. 181. t Cbron. ('a",in('n"i
, Lih. I II. (,R.p. 7'4. t 81ciJia Sacra, Il.l00ð.
Gcrmania Sacra, Torn.II. 18t. I hI.. luu';.
Itlilia, Sacra, Y. 4.22; VI. 65.
..
iu.;.
;Lcra, 1.
AGE S 0 F }1' A I T H.
83
the destruction of Catana, by the eruption of 'fount ...
tna, in the year 1169, in
which fifteen thousanù persons, including the bishop, and a number of the mona.c;-
tic flock perished, the loss of the ecclesiastical ornaments was deemed a part of the
calamity not unworthy of commemoration.
"Unde superbit homo? Dens una diruit hora
Turres, ornatus, vestes, cunctosque paratus.".
Florence could send forth nothing in costliness or beauty superior to those
which were procured from her for the Abbey of 'Vestminster, some of which still
clothe on solemn days the worthy successors in the priesthood of England. Fre-
quently it happens in this island, that ancient tombs of !)ontiffs and abbots are
broken open, and invariably we find the vestments of the richest texture and of
the most beauteous design. Forty persons worked continually during three years
under the conduct of Lermino, a celebrated embroiderer, making vestments for the
Cathedral of Strasbourg. This was in a later age, but an enumeration of the gifts
of Desiderius, Abbot of
fonte Casino, to the church of that monastery, will con-
veyan idea of the prodigious splendor of public worship in the tenth century.t
In con!'equence of that profusion of jewels which adorned the altars as we re-
marked in a former hook, and which is found again here in surveying the ve
tments
and other ornaments employed in the solemn worship, mineralogical studies were
then much cuIti\'ated. Thus Petrus Diaconus wrote a book, " De Generibus Lap-
idUIl1 Pretio::,orul11," which he dedicated to the Emperor Conrad, amI he tmnslated
from Greek into Latin, the book of Heva, I
ing of .\.rabia, on preciol1:-; ::;tones ad-
dres
ed to the Emperor Xero, and which the Emperor Constantine had remO\-e<.]
from Rome to Constantinople.! )fention has been made of the fragrant odor which
filled the holy place on which men need not disdain to philosophize; for who has
not experienced the associations connected with it? To how many minds does
it recall the sweetest years of mortal existence, the recollection:5 of youth, and the
thousand circumstances of early life, which derive such secret charm from the
solemn and beautiful ceremonies of the Facred choir? ":\lore good may be <Ira wn
from odors than is drawn," says l\fontaign, "for I have often perceiveJ that
they change me, and act upon my spirits, which makes me apprO\ye oÎ what is
said respecting the use of incen!'e and pprfumes in churches, which is to gladden,
excite, and purify the sen
e, to render us more fit for contemplation." An affect-
ing allui'ion to this usage of the Church is often met with in the great a
ceticaI
writers. "0 most benign Lord Jesus Christ," cries one of them, " my consolation
and refuge in all my trials and tribulation! 0 that thou wouldst deign, with
celestial light and attending angels, to enter the house of my mind, and from a gol( 1-
en thurible filled with aromatics, to incense all my interior, and to consecrate my
heart as a temple of the Holy Ghost, to sign it with the holy cross, to anoint it
· SiciJia Sacra. Tom. I. 531.
* Chwuic. Ca
iueus, Lib. IV. cap. 6G.
t Chronic. S. )Ionast. Casinens. Lib. Ill. c. 20.
84
:M () HE=' C.\ T II U LIe I; 0 R
with the oil of gmcc, to place there the golden urn with manna, and to attach to
illY
idc fixedl)" the Look of thy lau, that in that llllay !'tmly (,"(.Icstialthinb
, and
thy divine colllmanthucllt..: lby and night,
long a.; 1 ::,hal1 he an c>..ilc 011 the
carth."*
Illccnc:e, which W:l'3 u-.cd ill the ..T 'wjojh, is of great antiquity in the Chri-.;ti:m
Church, :md it i
mention('(1 with honor in th(' :--cripture..., whcre it is comp.JTl'(1 to
pra)"cr, of \\ hil'h it is
till a
Yl11bo1.- Light \\ as always n\l.
ardcJ :Ii a Jll}"
h'ri()u:i
(.'l11l>lcl11. Clelll(,'ns
\ll'x:ul<lrinu.. thinks that I '111 was (':111('(1 hy th ' ancients q w;,
from the Nunc word si
nif'yin
light.t fhe lamp" and l\1I1Jdahra..., of cur.iollõJ
workman:-:hip, which wcre fuunJ in the b.!C'I'l1.1 (:cmderics of HonH', nU('...t tbe
uo:age "hich pn'\'ail{'(l in the {'arli(,:--t timp., at the ("(.leLration of the Chri:.-tiall I11Y:---
t('ri(':-:.! In the mitltlle age..., thc lights in churt'lH's \\ cre an oc,,(
l...ion of \\"oll<lcrful
magnifit'clll'C. ".. e r('ad that, in the til11e of Charlem:wlll', in the ehun'h of the
mona"tcl'Y of ..\.nia, there was a IDultitude of lamp of pure sih'er, in the form of
a croWIl, which lli.J to be lightetl \\ ilh oil on the fe:,tivaL;, which 60 illumillatt...l
the dlOir, that in the uight the whole dmrch \\:l:i as light 3'5 in the day; aUtI he-
fore the altar there \\ CI'C ",u:--pt'lHled :--('\'cu l:uH p" of the 1110:0'1 hc:mtiful aUtI :l:--toni:--h-
iug wOl'km:lIl:--hip.
l)ope \tlriau r. in the :-:amc :l
e, gave to the ehllrch of
t.
Peter a C3nùelaLra, which heltl, without coufu...ioll, thirtl'(lll hundred anù "\'enty
tapers or lam!':,. The c1'o" Ib nnd ('hailJ:) from \\ hich lights were su...pendl'tl, werc
oftt'n of 1>1II'C gold or
ih-cr.1I The great crown.;; of !-ih'er, f!"Om which \\ CI'C
Hl:--pt'lHll'tl thirtJ-:-:ix lamp
, hung without the choir ht'(ol'e thc crtl:--:., ilJ tll(' dmn.h
of )10nte Ca:-:ino. Thl.'re \\elC tJwre hH.h.c to\\"(,I":, of light <'311('(1 Phari. a
if to
shine o\'er the ()('('an. !1'ortuuatu..:, Pau'i:m'h of Grao, in the ...cvcnth centnr
',
gave two crown
of light to the church of that i...land, which had ht. 'U (1(':"cl.t till
thl' yeal" 5G.3, \\ hen Chri:--tÍ:1l1s fir:o-t sou
ht nIl a,,
'lum there from the LOl1gob..ll"tl
.
J u each of these bUnJl'(l an hlllJtlred ealulld.**
Xor was it only during the celebration of the R1cr{'(1 offk'Cs that ",ymholic
lights burned; they "ere waintaincd p('rpetualIy, night and day, Lef()re the bl
-
cd sacrament, before the image:'!, nntI Lt.forc the shrin' of the
aints j- and a rt.'f-
('rcnre to will:", and oth('r dO('uIHPllh of the mi<ldle a
,
hoWs \\ ith what 7.eal
devout }wrsons eontrilmtl'(l to tlae l'
lH'IJ"'(' iu('urn'(l hy them, lpaving oftPI) tlwir
lands to the church for thi... exprc.. purpo:o-c. "Pale lamp of the ...aneluary," l'
-
elaim
a Fn'n('h popt, "why, in the ob...curity of the holy place, unpcrceived aud
!'olital'Y, ('OU
UIllt'
t thou thy...plf ltef(n"e God? It is !lot h> dircct the "iug of
prn)'er or of 10\'(', to give light, f('ehlc spark! to the eye of IIilll who m
ule the
day. It is llut to di,:,pel dal.kuC;:).-; from the
teps of his adorers. The vast nave
· Thomas à Kl'mpis, ::;ermnnun PtlrS Ill. 2. t Prell, Lio. L c. G.
t P. Aringùi nomn Suhterrnnen, p,
2.
Vila S. Benedicli Abu. )It\hiHon, Acta S. Ord. Bence]. IV. I.
I C'hronic. S. :\Ionnst. C'a..inensb, in cap, :!6. nolte. -':Chronic. Cac.inen!oi". Lih. IIl.c. 33
..ltalia Sdcr",. ToUl. Y. 1101.
AGE S 0 F F
\ I T II.
83
is only more obscure befure thy distant glimmering. AmI yet, symbolic lamp,
thou gUal"de;:;t thy imIllortal fire, and unùer the brce.æ ofba::;ilicas, thou dost flic1",-
el' befOl'e every altar, aud mine eye.; love to rc::;t sllspended on this ærial hearth,
and I say to thUll, whom I eomprl'hemlllot, Je pious flames, ye do well. Per-
haps, bright particles of t1.e immen:-ie creation, they imitate before his throne the
eternal adoration. I;:; it thus, I::iay I to my soul, that, froIll the shade of this lower
place, thou burnest, a flame invisible in presence of thy God? In the night of
the sensible world, I feel that there is a point inaccessible to the obscurity of
earth, a dawn on the hills, which will watch all the night long-a star which never
s('t5-a fire which remains unextinguishetl, unconsUllled, in which incense can be
at all times enkindlcll, to ascend in fragrance to heaven."
The procession with litanies wno; a solellln symbol, employed in the ecclesiasti-
cal offices from remote
Hltiquity, as may be proyeù from Tertullian. In the first
ages, churches wcre const ructeù wi th ai::;les for the processions, as expressly and con-
stantly as with a sanctuary for the celebration of the eucharist.-
"Densa triumphaìi video ]Jl"l\cul agmina. pompa,
Atque l.Iilares placiùosque choros.
Plurima parsllivt:is, variis pars altera fu]get
Vcstibus nuratisque stolis.
Jam sinuosa lcves rapuerullt stemmata venti,
Jamque mic:mt pia signa crucis.
Tartareas ClllÜti prope1lit imago phalanges,
Et superi properant cives.
Ordo sacerdotum vencrundaque turba can oris
C'arminibus passim exultant.
Jam dcvota sacris operitnr sccna viretis.
Jam sanctæ resonant voces.
Alternis precibu'! pueri, innnptæque puellæ,
Atque senes, jllvencsqne cannnt.".
Dante is reminded of such thing:;; on beholding a tribe of spirits in the other
world :-
-"::;llcl1 their step as walk
Qllin.s, chantiug solemn 1itanics on earth."
Behold that solemn proee
sioll thruugh the ai
les of the .Abbey Church of St.
Germain! The huly virgius ill pure white robes, like very S3IJctity, and bearing
bright tapers in their hands; crO\\"ds of holy laymen, the noble and the mechanic,
side by sille, alike humble. alike de\"out; the ::;aintly stull eilts, the \'ellerable clergy,
slowly moving along, singing their pensive melody through the dusk)" space, shed-
ding radiance as they pa
.. along, while all around them lies in deep darkness.
'Vhat an emblem is hel'e of the path of the ju..:t through earth's short pilgrimage.
0, it is an impl'e';sive thing to mark the cotlnteoance of each one who glides be-
fore you. There are ::;ume who walk, rapt like men in sleep, unconscious of all
* Carù. Bou:l. de Di\ ina P
alm()d. :!
.
86
:\[ () H E
('..\ T II Ù LIe I; t> H.
around tbem, cont"er..-ant c..oleIy" ith tIlt' internal vi..ion, in a rapture of an
elic
thought. Xicola
Flamel, whom \\ e ha,'c :--0 oft('n h:lll ()('Ca..ion to mention :t' ('OJJ-
tantly t'mplo
'ing paillh.rs amI can'crs to :1I1"l"n p1:)('l'" in Paris with dc\'ont fig-
ure..; .ulll in:o:cription:o;, e:ln"l.d tn he fl'IH'('''enh'd, on thp cemetery of the Iloly
Innocents, a l)roc
ion in !'culpturt', nnder which \\ as writtcn,
")bult plni
11l Dlt'\) procession,
'ellc e
t ("ire en llévotioD.'
.
During the n
('S of f.'lit h, the pro(l't'",:--ion wa
C'on..uIered an lß!Otitution of no !Omall
import:U1ec, in an intl'llt:'('tual ami
piritual point of ,.jcw. H('fore tho
e m)...tjc
rlame
, which tsf'elll to [)(' lllinglt'(l with tlw :-upt.rnal luminarie ,--ømhll'ms of that
!'tar which never é .
it \\ as thou!!ht that till' delu..Ï\'e mdeorb of f'orrllpt }J.1,,-..ion
, wonl(1 t1ie nway, anI 1 he no more :--l'('l1. That pion
('rowd, !ootill illcrca
ing ßi it
pmct'e..h'll, which pa"
ul on, \\ alking in ..ueh humhle glli...e nfff'l" the hll':--:--l'tl
acl'a-
ment, \\"a"i in k'ooth a !-uLlimc I"pel'ladc, as exhibiting tn the "yc of the \\orld a
multitude uf mt'n who
ught to follo\\ their c
lC:)tial King, hungering amI thir
t-
in
after him. "I:4i !Ount viri !-:111Cti, facti nmici Dei," i
the in\.o]untal'Y h'sti-
munt'
. of all who 1)I.hold t 11t'1II.
1I('11 \n'rl' tll(, ("()nq ucwr:o; :nltl fri('ml, (If (;od. who,
ùe
pi
iug the onl('rs of triumpha/lt priuCt..., de..t'rn.d (.tcmal rC<'OIll})(,Il't'.
,rhetlwr thi:, ghostly triumph- () \'em'rable, from the a.... iatioll
CIIIHl('('tec:J
with it,
o in
piring, from the :--ùlemn truth:; which it "ymLo}jrnlJy ",}mc1ow..<l forth
-('omlu('t.(l to
:m('tiry ß/ul illuminate the he01l"t, no OI1t', who worthily joiu('(1 ill it,
ww.; en'I' fOHml ,1i:--po:O:l'il to (plt'
tion. It was while tllll:i 'lowly lIloving alon
,
:o;tep hy
tl'p, with the 1U1iltinHIe of bdien>rs. ha\'ing the eYe::! Lent upon th
ground,
antI the cars charmed with an une.uthly rnclot1y, that mt'll felt tlwir minds im-
pre..;'<'tl with a new !"t'n..e of the mY:o'tt'rioll": and
npt'rnatural side oflife. ThclI it
was that tlu>y 1Il('(litah'd on the (.ternal )"('ar:--, ('ontra..(('(1 with tll(' liltl > !-P:U'P that
remained to them of that mortal (':\.:
tence, the 'lpproaching ('1)(1 of whieh !,cl'llll'tl
to be proclaimed by the \'ery stolle:, Lencath their feet. The earth on which they
trod seemed tn utter the IImucric 1.....on,
0'" 7CJ.p tpv'\'\CûY rlVE
J TOI
ðE lCal tiJ1'ðpwy..
Procl'ððions he:o'idt.s the..(', uuivcr!"ally oh....rve(1 h
' the Church, tJ,,('d to he cele-
brated in particular places, in con
('q ueIlec of r he fOIil/dation:-- made by pri vat · clpvo-
tiOll. .At Caen it being the custom for cvery h-allt'r in the market to give a peuny
to God, or more, aecording to his devotion, each trade
lected one member eVf>I'Y
year, who was to re<-eive this money, Rnl) on the da
' of Pente('o..t tht're wa-; made
a solemn proce
siol1 of all thc tra(l(.
, from the chuf('h ..f 51. l>ett'r to the church
of St. Xicholas, and each hore a grt'at taper, to which wag ßttached a' many
('rown') as had been recei\9ed from that trade in the course nÍ the year, in order,
by this public display, to {'xeite the people to mercy and charity to the poor j and
· lJ. V _I 14".
\ (; E
U F F..\ I T If.
87
after making the circuit of the church and cemetery ofDt. Sicholas, the pr
1U11
was to return in the same order, and thc tapers were then to be given up to the
Hõtel Dieu."*-In the year 1412, at the gf'neml procession of the IIoly Innocenh.;,
there were a hundred thousand Parisiall:-; who walked barefooled.-So .lear to m
'1J
in the middle ages were these affectillg solemnities that we find thl'm oh
ervecl
even in camps, between the conten<ling ho
t
. The de
criptioll which Ta
so gives
of the procession before the walls of J eru
alem, is taken from h i
to:'ical fact".
Hpre first the clergy are seen leading the vall, followf'd by the mighty duke, walk.
ing alone, after the manner of princf's ; then come the barons and knights, two
by two, all chanting the litany, ill\'oking the hle
setl Trinity, and Chri!'t's deal'
mother and St. John, the holy angels with the elected twe]w', the martyrs, con...
fessors, and those whose writings teach the certain path that lead
to heavenly bliss,
and hermits also, with cloistered nuns, who pray UpOll their beads. Singing thus
with easy pace, thus ordered they pass along-while the deep caves and hollow
mounts give round about them a thousand echoes.-
"It seem'd some choir, that sung with art and skill.
Dwelt in those savage dens and shady ground j
For, oft resounded from the hanks, they hear
The name of ChristslJd of his motlu'r dear,
Lpon the waUs, the Pagans, old and )'O\mg,
Stood bush'd anð stin, amalell and amazed
At their g-rave order and their humble song;
At tbeir strange pomp sud customs new they gazed :
And wben the sbow they had beholden long,
An hideous yell tbe wicked miscreants raised,
That with vile blasphemies the mountains boar.
The woods, the waters, and the vaUeys roar.
But yet with sacrerl notes the hosts proceed
Though blasphemies th(>)' hear and cursed tbings:
80 with Apollo's barp Pan tunes Lis reed.
80 adders hiss where Phi10mcla sings.
Nor fl)'ing darts nor stones the Christians dread.
Nor arrows shot, nor quarries cast from sJings j
But with assured faith, as dreaòing naught.
Tbe holy work begun to enrl they brought."t
With respect to the matcI.ial gl'anùeur of these spectacles, some jdea may bP
formed by those who ha\'e \'isited Catholic countries c\'cn in our times. At tile
procession in ::\Iilan on St. Charles's day, several \'ast antique crucinxes, of solid
silver covered with gola and jewels, and va
t c3wllcsticks, of gothic and most
exquisite workmanship, are borne along. In the ,-ear' 11 Ðl, took place the cons{,'-
cration of the Church of St. )1ary de Flumine, at Ferentinum, which is a town in
old Latium, upon a hill near the Latin way. In the procession were borne
numerou
lighted torches. twentv silver thurihles, twelve silver crosses, and four
· De Bourgueville Recherches et Antiquitez de Normandfe, J iv, II. 40.
T ]X. 11.
t\
I 0 I
E
C. \ T II () I I C I; 0 It,
rf'1 iqll:tJ"if'
. * To ol>'f'r\'p what a :-:f'1l
(, wag
'IH'rall)" ('utf'rtaiuf'<} of t It(' :-o}"mbol ic
J1U':tning of the pn)('(':",:",ion, \H' :oohonld p,'ru:' the :uwit'ut \\ ritin r:", awl the di:---
('oUl'S('
whidl \\ pre on :-:IWI& ()('('a...ions :ult1rt.."t'tl t n the })("t.lp1e, many of whieh
('ontain þa-.....a
('. vf t''\.u-aordillary heant.r. "I nlt'rio,' J".u('l.....ion
Wf' :oohould ah\ ay
m:lkl'," !o>.:l)'S Hit'hard of :::;t. Y'iNor, "hllt ('hit'tty in thi:-- :ooo1l'lUnit), which b pr
-
,S('nt!-,1 ht'fc'l"e u:--.,.t N. Bpl'nartl
P(':l
a
fc,llo\\.. :-
.'The PI"It,\':":ooion \\ hidl \\ta 31'(' :tbollt to ('(.Ichratl' ""pplit
II
with many
llbj('"t-
for r('mar
. "
e are this tlaY ahout tn t'Cld)l'ate a } )f\)(' it Ill , allli short Iv aft'
1" it
.. .
\\ e :--hallllt'3r tllf' pa'...ion. ,rhat mcau
thi
..tr..mg ' \ UJujllnction, or what \\ ere
0111" J'atllt'l"s' thou
hts in :u1tlin
tIlt' pa:o\..ion to tl... PNX'(.......ion? }"'or the pfOC('..-
bion 1"t'lu"':O\f'nH \\ hat wa
dOl)(' tlti
day, lam1 why j... the p.......ion :u1t1t"(l whieh .Iitl
Ilot f(,llow till tit, :-öixth feria '/ \\ï.....y is the I':L:-ö:,ion :u1<<l."(1 to tlU' pro' ' ..:ion,
that we may It':lrn to place uo t
H1fi(lel1l'C in any joy of this \\orl,), :ooill ''''Orro\\ i::l
tilt' l'lId of
1a,llle-..., ntHI that our pro--p.'rity may not :-öIaJ' us ]i
c fc)(,l
, hut that
in pro:-;Iwrou... W(' llIay 1M' milu)ful of ,,\'iI (by:-., a.. a1..u ('ou\'('r:--t'ly. For the
pr(.:-;t'lit S('('IIt' i
llIi
.'t1 "ith hoth. not ollly to
t"('ular nwn, hut al...o to :oopil"itual.
Therefun', \\e have to imitate' uur L')f'(I':, humility ill the proc. . ..:ion, awl his
l'atit'n ,ill the pa.....:-;ion. But \\hyditl our Lor,) \\i...h to ha,'ctl...pr ....:,iun, "hen
ht'
1lt'W th:It Iii.. pa..:o:ion \\ouM:o-o !-o'þ(1Il follow 'I P.-rhap:-., that the pa....ioll mh
ht he
mOl't' biUt.r \\ hi('h hatllH't'li prt'('t'tJt.tI hy till' Iu'()("(.:oò..ion. O! \\ hat :I. f'olltra4 1)(,-
hH't'n 'tollt', tolI(', f'1'u('ifigl' ('Ulll ;' ami '1
'IU"li"tu, (lui \"('\lit ill 110m ill ' Domilli,
)a 0:-.;11 111:1. in t'x('t,I
i;o:.' ,\ hat a ("ontra...t hd\\ 'II 'Kin
of I...r:1l'I,' and'" 'huvp no
h.i\l
hut C:c..ar.' 'fhat a coutra..t LetW("('1l tlu'
n'f'n hral)('Ilt'
and the f'ro:oo.., he-
t\\"l"('11 t II(' flowt'r:-; awl till' thorn..' hf't \\ ("('n
tn'wi n
t Ill'i I' own v,.:-t m(,lIt.. fOl' hi Ill, :lIHI
t-tr'ippillg him ofhi
own amI ("a...tin
lot.. fi'r tlwlIl ! ..\IHI now in thi:-- pr
':-ö
iol1 to-
day tht."re:Ire dUN' who go hd"n', tho:,c \\ Iw folio" Clur Lord, amI tho' who wal1...
hy hi
si,I(', 1"I.t' fil't art' tlwy who pr('pm'(' the way fur th.' Lord to your lll'a11",wh,)
lIide )"Ou :nul (Iin'('t )"ollr :--kp
jn tlw way of 1'(':1('('. Tilt"
.,(,,(HI(I art' tho:-(' wh",
ht'in
(,olls('iuu:, oftll(.il" oWIi \\t'akllf''''
, fi,lIow (I.-\"outly :111(1 trt':ul ill tlU' f,þ()t..tPp,.. of
tlw':)Û that "alk l)f.fc'n'. TII(' thil"), who :ullU'I"f' to hi
:o.itl(', :Ire tlu . who dIu
the 1.....;( part, who Ii\.e flnl
. to G,,(), awl ("J!I..idt'1" hi'i pl'-&l.--un'. But l)f'h,,1tI all are
in tlu' 1""J("":oo
iol) of our T Iml, :Hit) no Ollt' I'-f"'
hi., f:u't'; fc'r tho..;.. who hpf
m' are
('u
a
f't1 ill prf'parill
tit.. way,
olieitou,,; uhollt tl1t' tlaug('I':'Ò of otllt'l":--, a",1 tlu-y
who fèJIlow ('anllot Ity UIIY IIlt'an:; :-oPt' hi
fa,.t'. Tho
who :(1"(' at his
itle can
!-hllwtillw:-;
(.... him, hilt only hy g131lt'('s awl uot ron.;tantly or funy, :-0 IOI1
a
tll('
'
an' (1) tht' miY. Thu
it mu..t 1)(', fc)r 110 man shall N,-t> me aIH1Ii\"l'. I shall not
he :o.l't'n, ht'
")':', in this lift- ; no Ollt' shall !oòt't' lilY fa(',' in thi:, way, in this pn)("(':-,-
f,lon. Ther('fi)re, may Ilc o( hi., goodm.:oo... ('lIahl<, II,.;
o to p('r:-ö('\'..r(' in hi.. procc:;-
sion while we liv(', that in that grr'at pn > o..;ion wlwn II(' will ht' I'p('t.iv('tl with all
that an' l)i
hr God tlJe Fatlwr we lIIay tlc"'l'n'e to l'nh'.. tlU' 1\t)1
' ('it
. \\ ith him,
· Itaha
aCI"1\. y, 6j!).
t N,'rmn in nil' P:Lqrll:l.
A (-;.
S 0 F F A I T II .
89
who liveth and reigneth for ever amI ever. Amen."* Again, on the festi\9al of
the Purification, he
peak
of tl.lC l'l"OCe
SiOll thu
. "In the procession of thi
day"
we fo:hal1 walk two by two as a sign of fraternal charity and :-iociallife. A solitary
person intrudiug him:-;elf would disturh the proce
:5iou, and trouble both himself
amI others, symbolical of tho
e who separate them
elves, caring nut to oh;erve the
uuity of the spirit in the bond of peace. 'Ve shall all carry lighted tapers in our
hands, lighted from the holy fire of the altar, and these represent good works;
mul that humility mar be practised, the last are first, and the first last in the 1'ro-
cl't'sion, f(>r the boys and tho:o:e of lea!-'t huuOl- are to ",-alk hefore. Àud in the
proce
ion no one can stand still, hut all must continue to move forwards as in
the way of life, where nothing can remain in the same state."t Thus speaks
Bel'nard, and thus through hi
lips speak the ages of blessed thirst, so that this
solemn walk of choirs was grateful alike to understanding and to sense.
CHAPTER rv.
FTER considering the divine symbolism of the sacred offices, we are nat-
:\
orally leù to lJhilOôophize respectillg the ecclesiastical music which was
r B
found such sweet mediciue to moderate the thirst of human soul:,:, amI
W- prepare them for the refreshing streams of ju;;.tice. l\Iusic, like paint-
+ ! + ing, as a fine art, is a new art, for as we owe per
pecti ve painting and
the infinite exaltation of the modern over the ancient art to the paint-
tings of the Catholic Church, so we are indebted to the ecclesiasticallllusicians for
harmony. Approach we now to contemplate altars bright with amaranth and gold,
and vaults that breathE' ambrosial fragranæ, and holy words that in the blessed
spirits elect, Few
e of new joy ineffable diffuse, and bacred song that wakens rap-
tUI"<' high; no voice exempt, no voice but well can join melodious part, such COll-
conl is in faith. In all ages men ha\'e been convinced that music was a thing
divine and belonging- to the wor:-;hip of God. ::\[aximus of Tyre enforces this
<.lo('h-ine.! Strabo båY
, that music is the work of God.
Pythagorag, that he
might keep his mind always imbued with the divinity, used always to sing and
play on the harp before going to rest, and in the morning. He also ascribed im-
purtance to it in respect of education.1I Socrate!', when of venerable age, did not
disdain to learn the principles of nlUsic with boy:,. Plutarch" who calls it. the uni-
· Dominic. in Ramis Pa1. Serm. II.
Lih. X. Geograph.
t Id. in Puritlcat. Serm. II.
I .J ambJicl1. 13.
f XXI.
9u
)[ 0 It I<
:-' (" \ T II () I. I ( . 1
4) H,
\"cr
l tWil'I)('f', * :-o.IY", that tlac L'\('('(1pI1HHli:U1
pai(l 11)01"<> rf'g':trfl to mu
ic th311 to
their fc.Jlxl. rill' J1III:--it' (If th.. ancil'l1t
, whidl l,.,.'
all ill tl'llIplt.:oo, '\;1:-- J"(,
:11'l1''41 ß'"
tllc E-OU)"('C of l"i\"ili7.cuioll. Platu arlll a\ri:--todt' lIIaintailll'tl thut lIIu:ooi.. u.... :111 l'''-
H'mial p.ut of tIll' l"(lueatiull of youth.t PlotillU" thought thut Ly mn..i,. nll'n Wl'r
Ie(l to (jOlt (
lIilwtilian
.:.ly", that mu:--U' i,.; ('()\)joil1t' c l "itl, tl... knowlf'tIJ!'f' of di-
vine thin
, tllat tilt. \\ i
( ...t nH'1l \\"('1"" !ootutlioll'" (If IIII1..i(', ancl tlsat ir filrrllf'41 part
of thc t'(11H'atioll of yoarh from tIll' ,by
of ('hit"oll and a\,.hille- to that tilllc. t
(,iecm (lh",.,'"t'''; tIlt' brcn(,I':11 opinioll of th' r: ek.., that tlu' hi rlU'
t enulitioll wa
ill 1lH1<.:i(",
o that Epalll i lIontlaCi tli ' prim"t., lIP :--:lY", uf c; t"(.('t"t., \\ a..
k i1]('(1 in play ing
upon tlw IIItP alltl in :ooilll!in
, :ifill Tllf'mi..tu(.lc'-4 \\ IWII III' (l,,('lillt'd to pIa)' at a Ilan-
qtlt't was l"on..itl(.t.,..] on that :u't'o1lnt I(...
1t":1I'1II"1. \\luM,,','r wa
ignorant ofJ1lu..if'
was regarc.lt"(1 as ,I,.ticit.nt in l('arni n
.
Tilt' l'arl y f:lt ht'l
rt'lIla rk('tl tilt' ,'''(', IIt'I1{'4'
of Illu!'ic in it
adaptation to the IlIlman !o-oul. "The :--('i('IH'C t,f 111\1:--1(","' :0>:1)'.. t;l.
_\ugu..tin, hi
prohably thcF("lclu...> tlfUlo,'ill;: \\"pIl tl... milllL"ïl "To :--illg:uul ft)
"hallt p
:11m..,"' &'lit It ht', "i
t IH' lm:--i IH..... of lll"("
:" "X ot h i II
;' :OO:l
'
:'t. ("I: r)':--o:---
1'0111, '":-on P":llt:i the milHl ami gin
it a.. it \\t'r,' \\"ill
:-:,
c) (Iplin'r... it f..nUl the
e:lrth, mill looM'II" it from thl' bond:i tlf tilt' hotly,..o ill
pil"f.'
it with th ,Io,'c ufwi..;-
(10m, alltl tìll:oo it with :--u,.11 di:-,(bin fcll" tilt' thiug-4 (,fthii Jife a
mp]()(1y "fill(' n'r..,.o;
allll the I'\\"P(.tllt":--"; ofJlol
' :-oollg.".. TIlt' \"ngu(\ illdpH'rmiIU'(1111).
ft'rioll" (.h:II":It'h'r
of lIIu..;ic tlt.tìf':"\ a)) (.x:u.t iIlH'llU"t,.tatiun, hilt f..." that ,'pry r"a"oll it :lfllllirahl
l'f'P-
r(' ' 'llts the ill t(',.iol' lIIan. 'fh...t Iwr it tit row,. tilt' ,..oul i lito a l"f.'v,.ry flill of nol,ll'
IUt.bnchol), or illto all ,.mlm..ia:--tic rapt un', no urt hannuni.l"'" :--'J man dlou..ly with
the !'l'ntilllt'llt and i(I'a of illtillit
" :lnll with tl... r<'lations of God amI man. c"Iu-
!"it', likc po('try, i
a JOIJ
i n;: tI(,..:i "(' whit.1t ('lIarme; :11111 CV('II
f'i.lf
UpOIl tIlt' ""Oil J
\\ ith a lIIagit'al PII\\ f'I', I 11 mll
i(';" (.olltiIlW.... }'J"I'(Jt'ri('k bchl('tr,'l, "a... in (}Ilwr
arb, the high,'r ami the t'artltl
', like t-oul a 1111 ho(ly, m'" hound to onc anotlH'r.
The he<l\"{.nly Ion
ing ,) . ire a lit I tit 'C'J.rthly ar 'oftcn in..pparahly hll'ml("(1 to!!ptJlt'r
in Olll' tOlIt', a
i8 tllP C"a..c al
tJ \\ ith tIlt' fir.--t :-t'ntinu'nt... of)"o1Jth."tt Ho\\" 1,..:lUti-
full
' <Ioes Shakt'
pt'art'
'pn'''..nt tl11' (,m'd tlf ("'f-II the liJ!ht('Jo't II III" it' upon milul...
('lIutcmplati\'e, in the
'nf' ()(.t\\"t'l'11 .\micn:-- :L1lI1.T:lcqU 'oj, Whl'll the former l"('!H.'3t .
that
ollg which begin' with
"Undf'r th
reenwood tree
Who I()v
s to lif> with me,
.\n<1 tune bis merT) noh',
t:nto th
to" 'ct hird's throat:'
_\ntl .TaNJ.ul'
!"ay
, immediatply, "
Iore, I pr"ytlu'I' mo
'." "It will make> ).ou mcl-
an('holy, )ron!'ipur J3('que..:," rq)lit" .Amit.us. "I th:mk it," ('rit:-- hi:-- frit'Ut1.
"){o"", 1 Pl",ytllt.'c lllor..:' I t-:m ma1-.e auy
onl!
'i('hll11f'l:lI)('hol)'. ..
(on'" J p..'y-
thee more."
till the other i:, loath. c. '[
" '"(lice i... rllg"g"f'tl, [ know it t".annot pl(.a:--,'
· Lib. (h' )[I1",ic.
I Lilt.!. tit. )[u::.ico.
t Conviv. 111" I t'!,dhll", \ïI. Politi,'.
...
('r"l. a:;. .. 110m. in P... oft.
1 Lilt. I. 10.
Tu!'C'ul. 1. 2.
t+ })}lIhNlphit. cler
pr,if'h
.l:?L
AGE
U F F A I T II.
91
you. The answer is the
ame. "I do not desire you to please me; I do desire
JOU to :;illg; come more; another stanza." The philu
uphers of the middle age
think it 110t too much to affirm that a love ofmu..ic has a counection with a love of
justice; for tilt:' plmsure of mu
ic 3l'i
es frplIl fillding that ('vpry thing moves ac-
cording to order, amI that tht're is no di:-õarrangellient 01' di:,cor<l. In fact, as X 0-
valis says, "...\.11 enjoyment is Illu:,ical,"* awl for the
ame reason, sinee the original
thir
t of man is for justice. Great were observed to be the effects of IIHl
ic. S1.
Albertus, a mOlJk, while he was a secular in the world, being present at a certain
play with its mnsic respecting the life and conver
ation of St. Thpohald, was sud-
denly by di\"ine grace foiO filled with compunction, that he began from that honr to
lead a life of great
allctity.t St. Ansbertus, a monk, ana Bi
hop of Roucn, while
as yet a layman, and living in the court of the king, hearing some instruments
of music said within hilll
(.lf, "() glorious Creator, what will it be to hear that
song of the angels who 100'e thee, which is to sound for ever in the celestial courts!
IIow sweet amI admirahle will be that chorus of saints when you ordain that
the
ounds of a mortal voice, and the skill of human instruments, :-;hould be
able to excite the minds of the hearprs to prai:-;e thee <levoutly, their God and
Creator." "
hen I was at I
(lme, I heard a young and noble Englishman, a man
of ble
sed life, and now of saintly ordpr, expre::;s the same feeling
on hearing
music in the street. Gerard says of St. _\dalhard, Abbot of Corby, that he
wu:; con
tantly of such a sweet intention to\\"ar<1:-; God, that if while a:,
isti\}g at
the royal ('ollllcil he lward melody, he had it not in his POW<'1' to refrain from tear:-; ;
for all sweet mu:-;ic seemed to remind him oftl)(' sweetness of his celestial country.!
St. Dunstan, while a youth, withdrew from the world to devote himself to music,
and to the meditation of celp
tial harmony.
"They who Ion' God," says St. John Climacus, "are excited by secular and
spiritual Bongs and melody to joy, and divine love, and to tears, although they who
an" addicted to pleasure may collect from them matter of perdition for them-
seh'es.1I O
bert, in his life of St. Dun!'tan, relatps that the holy archbishop had
recalled many from the turhulent affairs of the worM by means of his musical
science. Brother Pacifi(., one 0..' the first disciples of St. FraucÏs, had been cele-
brated while ill the world fur his musical science, amI the holy Fathel' employed
him to in
truct the other l>rethren in !"inging the hymn of the Sun, which he had
composed in honor of Goò.; for he wished that they should always ::;ing it after
theil' :,prIllOn!ôl, and that they should teU the people tl,('y were Goel's mu:,i('ian
,
amI that they wished no otlwr paympnt for their mu:-õic but to beh01<l them doing
penan('e for tlwir
in:-i. Grie\"ous enmity exi:4ed hetwePll the Li:,hop and the
governor of _\
isil!ll1. :--\1. Francis deputp(l two of his friars to present them-
selves before the governor, aull.invite him on his part to repair, with as many
* Schriften, II. t Surius" 7 .å.prllis.
t Yita S. Aòalhnrdi. :MabiUon Acta S. Orò. Bened. Sæc. IV. p. 1.
O!>bcrt, )Ionachus Cantuar. in ejus vita. I Graù. XV.
n2
'1 () H E
('. \. T U () 1. 1 ( I; () H,
I't'1""'OIl:O; a:-; he ('oultl ('o]]t"(.t 1 to tIlt' hi..hop'.. hou""1 wh itJlt'r lit' h:Hl .It'}mtt'li t\\"o
u:hers to appri:"t' the hi
hop. "llt'n all \\"t're a..--t'mhh.d, the friar:o. :--ai.I, "Loftis
ul(l hrt'th1"('n, ht..lo\'l"(l in J t.'
I1:) Chri
t,- Fatl,,'r Fr:lllt"i..; l)t'in
pf(',"('ntptl hy sil'kIH_-."s
from ('oming IlI'rp in pt'r
.m, Ila:i
t'llt II"; here to I'oill
a f':lIIticJe whi('h II<' hib ('om-
po....t1, :ultlllt' implol"t... you to li..tt'li to it .1t'Yollt1
..,. Then tIH'Y ('OlI1mc'lu"('t.l thi
;Ollg, to whi..h t\t. FraJwi:-; hall Utl.l.'tl U Hrophl' appropriatt' to tilt' ()('('a...iou.
The I!'()\'prnor 114':11..1 tlll'lI1 \\ ith h:,I1t1., joillt't.1, Ulltl .'Y.'" rai"I't1 to IU'll\"('II, w("('pin. r .
""hen tilt')" 11
1l1 fini..;hl't.l' Ill' pr.}fc.....t'tl hi
d' ire tn be rl'(,'ullcik...l with tIll' hi..h-
op, \, hu on his I'oille only ]:UlH'lIt('t1 tllat }u' h:ull1ot ht'('1) thr fir--t to "how an '.x
:Imple (lfhlllnilit
.. '1'11C'1I tI....,. ('mhr:u't'tl alHI ki.....'tl (.a..h otht'r, mutually (Ie-
mawIin1; for
iYt.IU''''', :lIul fillil1g- tl. ,IM.llOl.I('I' with wun.],'r a 111 1 joy . *
,.
[u
il'," !-ay.. ('a..:o;i( Ion..., "t1i:,pds :-:orro" , !--ooth. Ullt!'l'r, ...oft{'ns ('rlwlt
., t'x('ite'
to a('tivity, !-:UI('tifi.
tIlt' quit.t (If ,.igi]..., r.'(':})),,; !U1'11 from !-hal1H'fullo"C' tt) <'l1a...ti-
ty, hy tIlt' :--\\('t't(...t raptllrt' ('
p..l..; tIlt, (li
t':I.....", uftlw mincl, :u..l
.otlw.., thron
h
tllP IIH'tlium of th.. ("orp"rt'al N.'II
'
, tilt, iU('twpon'al :-;onl."t Tlwy "lao \\"onM
,hwll 011 this
ul
t't,t, may ('ou:-onlt(,lemt'II" .\1t.\.:t1HIriun..;! ,JII..tin )[arr
T.
nf't1c';11
.Tohn of
:J.li:-ohury, wh.. pay..; :J. trihntt' to tI... lIohl(' lIatnrp m..l 3(lmirahll' p"opt'r-
tit'S of mn..iC'; "'il1iam (If Pari,.. ;** nlUl .\.thana....in.. Kir('hpr Fn1cI,'n
i
.tt 'fany
:\11(1 intert.:,ting arc the rdl.'(.tiulI... (If tlat.' nn('it'llt
with r('''}wct to tilt' prillt'ip]l'
alltl tlpplil':J.tiul1 of JllII:-oit'. P]ntar(.h ('xplailh a !-oa
.illg- of :111 ( i(l',ity, "Lo\"c' t:llwht
mu
it',"tr 011 th.. grouu.1 :uloph'tl by thc Platoni..t.., who tan ,ht that ]0\"(' \\":1.. :hc
111a
tl'r of all nrts antI :o-eicllt....:--. Th('()phra...tu:o, !>o:IY
that mu..j(' ha...; tht"f.c prin-
..i ple:-o-"grief, I']
nl'l', :Hul tIlt' (Ii\' il1(' j lI..pj rat ion." If om.
p.l('C \\"('r(' not too
limitc"(I, one wOlll(1 he tc'mptc'tl to ('o11('(.t
on1C' illtl'r(....tillt!' cl..t:1il
1"t'''I.c'(.tin
the
.]it1ì'rl'lIt },illtl..; ofal...it'lIt lIIu..i.., amI tIlt' u:--C tt) whi('h mt.h was d''t,U!('.I :Ipp]imblc'o
It apl){':J.rs that the Doria II, "hit' It ('orrt'''pomI('C] with our ('hun'h mu..i(. g'(,I)('raIly,
W:1S t)N'IIU'(1 prop..'r fO(. thc' (>(lucatiol1 of yout It; that tIlt' ] r
'pc"lorian, whi..h :--('('II1S
to anl'\\"t'r mort' parti('uJarly to ollr Y(':-opt'r t-train.., \\":1'" r:ltht'r:"oothill
; alii 1 tlar"('-
f.u'c the Pythagort'an.. '1:01('(1 it in tlH' t'vt'nill!; to appt'&l:--t' till' (-:trc'.. of tht' milUl,
though
\ristotl('
t
.Il''': it magllifil"('nt, ('oll:-ot:1nt, awl gra\'('.
1t W.L..; (
l]]t'tl II
-
\)odori:m :1:0; heill
not gr('atly nOl'ian. TIll' Plar
'g-ian IDu..;i(' W:t..: marlial; I :twl,
wl.at i.. '.(,I'
' rc.mal'kahlt', hot II Plato 3ml .\I'i..rotl(' int..r(Iic.t.'t1 it..: 'N' to yond..
Tilt' JI.'î,ophrygiau wa.. :ItIn1atory awl attra('ti,"C', :11111 :"lIilt'tl to nn
ral,I.. miIlCI...
\.ri4otll' sa)"s that ito.; dfl'('r.. arC' like intoxi('atiou.-II" '1'1.(' L
.tliml W.IS tIlt' lIlu...ip
ofpll'a..m'p; mul )"..t Hwh i
tlU' in}If'f"('nt dignity oflUan'
:"41nl, frolll whi..1t notJ.in
(-:111 tllta1J
' hani..1t tI.e rl'lIlt'mhr:uIC't' of it... f:lll, that, n
Plato :t,,
'rt('tl, it wa.. :-:,,1
ulIllp1aiutivp.*** It wa
this whit.h wa:-, t-aid to rt'sc,uutl in the }:I
':"i:lII ficlù:o-.ttt
· Les (,hroniquf'
fi.... Frert.. Jlinf'urt( Lh.I. c. 11ft
t Strnmat. YI.
Qu 107. I 1..11. el(. 'Iu..ica
.11 D,. rninrt(o. Par... IT. (':Ip. 20. tt Lih. III. .\rtis Jlnl!nt'licß.
:-"'C If1th ProbleJII. II Clem('n
.\],.
.
trf)m. YI. -.-
.... Ill. de Rcpuh. ttt Prn}\l'rt. LiL. 1 V. Elt,:,;. Y I L
t Lih. J I. \' fir. Fl'. 40.
-, Lih. I c. 6. Polier.H.
U :", mpo!' 1 ih.1.
:-'t'e 19th Problem.
AGE S O}1'
., Al T H .' I
93
So 3:,..;o('iatpd i
mdaneholy with the highest joy, that the Hypolydian was decided..
ly tearful, and haiù to ari:;e from devotion and gladne
s; the 1!ixolyùian produced a
tlo11ble effect, for it excitp(] men to joy, but immediately recalled them to <.:mlness.
It was this which the ancient
u:oioed in tragedy. The::e seven tone
were all rec-
ognized by the Pythagoreans.* In accordance with St. Augustin anù the early
Fathers, St. Thomas, and all the noble geniuses of the midùle age, are the faith-
ful echo of the ancients, and agree with their opinion respecting the divine origin
of m u:-iic.
The importance attached to it in the middle ages, may be collected from va..
riou8 contemporary author
, such as Habanus l\Iaurus;t Isidore;t Rupertus
Abbas;9 an author mif'taken for Bede; and Richard of St. 'VIctor. II '"'lncent of
Beauv:lis says that music is joined not only to speculation, but also to morality,
for that there is llothing so proper to humanity as to be affected by it, and that
no age is exempt from its influence; '1i and John of Ful<1a says, that all the Ro-
mall Pontiffs were either musicians 01' men who delighted in music. Raban goes
so far as to say, "This discipline is
o noble and
o u
eful, that he who is without
it cannot properly fulfil the ecdc:,ia4ieal offiee.-'Qllicquid enim, (he adds,) in le<.'-
tionibus decenter pronunciatur ac quiequid de psalmis suaviter in ecc1esia modu-
latur, hujus disciplinæ scientia ita tpmperatur, et non solum per hanc legimus et
psallimus in ecclesia, immo omue servitium Dei rite implemus.' For musical dis...
cipline," he continues, "is <1ifi'used through all the arts of our life in this manner.
First, if we keep the commandments of our Creator, and with pure minds observe
his law; for it is proved that whate\"er we f'peak, or with whatever sentiment we are
internally moved by-the pulsation of veins, is associated by musical rythm with the
virtues of harmony. Ifwe observe a good conversation, we prove ourselves as
oci..
ated with this discipline; but when we act sinfully, we have no music."**-" Sine
lllusic.a," says I..,idore, "nulla disciplina pote8t es:,e perfecta: nihil enim est sine
illla."tt In the miò<1le ages, kings had their musician
, great nobles their mu-
sicians, towns their musicians. J\Iusic was deemed part of liberal erudition. It
was treated upon by Bo
thins, Sp\'erinus, Bprno, Otho, 8t Gregory tbe Great,
Thcogerus, Cosmas, 81. John Da:oiomascenus, Guido of Arezzo, and many others.*
In the f(mrth century, the ecclesiastical music became more artificial than it had
been in the infant church ;
hut it was 81. Gregory the Great who was thechieC
author and promoter of the choral song, called fl'Om him Gregorian or Romall 1
which was propagated throughout the whole western Chun.h. This, which was
richer and more \yariegated than the ancient Gal1ican psalmody, was a prccious
remnant of the ancient Greek music, which had l'etained much of its origillal
· Card. Bon:
. de Divina Psalmodia.. 431. t De Inst. Clerical. HI. 2-1.
!n Lih. Rpg. v. 17. I Dt' Contemplate. v. 17.
Cj :::'pcclllulll Doctriuale J Lill. X\ïlI. cap.
.
**De I nstitlltinnt' Clericorllm, Lih. JI T. cap. 2-1.
H Gerbert, de Caniu et )11I,ica Sacra Præf It.
t Origin. Lib. II__
. tt Etymolog. Lib. III.
Id. rom. I p. 240.
!J 1
lUUE:S C \ J'I1ULI('I; oIt,
beauty.
t. Gn'gol"J foulllll'tl a ;o;duoll'Åpl"l.:....:ly to tp.l('h it, ami ('ompil. tl boo).....
'" ith 1I0tt.... to pl'rpt'tuate it. \r e iilhI nlU...il'al t-kill, j u il1l'tl with (,'xad jllll
III,,"t
in divine fU)"stcriC:o', rl'('koUl't1 :HUO))'" thc fIualities of TÁ'O I I., Bi
hop of Pall'r-
111,1, in th
M,'n>nth <'CnÍllry. * ])lIrin
t. nl"\'
()r)"8 time th\.' dillm) :Ollng wa:,
intro<lu<X..J into Eng-Iarlll Ly
to
\ n
u:-,t i Il, a." J ulm the dP:U.'tHl relah...... 1 k.dc is a
witfU,...., that, in tll(' lIIon:l:->tl'ri('s of Brit:tin tll(' divine offi('c wa'l ..ung a:-. in
t.
I)('tcr's at UUlIlt'. t ðt. Tlwodorc of Canterbury mul St. "ïlfrid of York \\ ere
gl"('at patron..; of thi.. nr
or'ian !'()J)g. Tn th('
'('".lr 7-17', in thc Council ofCI{)\..
110<-, . heft' "ert-' clet,f('(" fur ir
.....
"t..ial ('ulti vationo C'harlpmagnc, who 10\"l>t)l,\oC'I)'
J...ind of l'Å('dll'n('(', ('n(),'av()ft'tl al:o'O to promotl' it throu
hollt the ('mpir<>, hein
fUl
iou:.:. a..; he :-ai() that tll(' L:ltins :o-hollill )'il'hl in nothing to tlu a (;I"l'(.k.... II(.
wa:-, pas.....iollatel y fond of till' l't'Cle...ia....t il'al l'hant, anti u:4('tl to
in1! hi m.."l f in the
duu'dl, murning, noon, and ni
ht, hut only in au Ulu.1t'r tOile, a.... Eginhal"ll relatC"'.
The .:.dlool of
I(>ntz, for cccl "ias
i
1 :-Oil!!. hall íiouri:o-Ill'tl muJ...r Pepin. Charle-
JUagne f'l'nt two derks to U..mt", Ihat nn thl'ir I""tllrn to 'Il'
z tlll'
' mi
ht he nhlc
to tl':.t.eh tlu' Homan ...;.))I
. From
[l';Z it W;t..; prnp;t
ah'(l O\'er all 1-'..:1I1("t...
The naUll'S of
()rne ('l'Il'hl'att'tI III Il:-,il'iaus of t h i:-, t i mc have ("om' down to U
.
And ffio<ll>rn \\Titt'r":-', like
ir John llawkiu-I, tholl
h Pl"Otp..t:lu':-" pay prufimud
Iwrrl3g'C to the gt'niu,:;; of tho..... atlt'ient l1loul...s amI hi:oõlmps who were the ('01l"'l'1"\'-
Bto
ofmll....ic tlm'iug- :-.,) lon
an intcl"v:tI.t
X"twitll...tandill
::Ii.. ('=,tr:101"l1i1l:1I'
' zp:t.ì fill' tlU' ('uhi\"ation (If IJIII..il', tlU' rd-
øt i \'(. i m pO I't:l 11("(' of \" i rt u\.... wa..; nqt on.rl'M ,k,., l. Cila rll'III:1' 'If' ('C III< Il'mll.. :-01111'
",1m pr"t'ft.'I' a ('It'rk or monk that ""ill!!'" wdl to olle that livu! ju:)tly :md holily.
}1'OI. thou
h, h(' a,M..., nm..il'al dj:o-('iplil1c i:3 làot t" 1 . tll':-,pi:,('(), )"..t if 1.oth merit.:'"
calillot 1)(' ohtainl'\.\, it N'ell.... mor
tolernhlt' to 11... to hear imp(.rJ(.ction in ...ingin
.han Împ,'rft.'t'rioll in )i\'in
.
In tht.. h'llth l't'lltllry. nHl..il' \\a.. ill Ihc lti
II(....t re-
PUIt'. 11U'
n'
h.:o-t m:1:->Il'l"s,
ul'h :L"; It..'mi of .\Ilxl'rn.>, I [uhald of ::;1. _\mand,
Gpl'hf'rt, nilli .\1>1.01'. taught it with a:-: lllu('h care fu; the hi
hc..;t "if'ure. "E,t
11(,('11" hllmanæ naÌlllw nHl.:.iC"
nlllmnlU, (l'lalU qui
,;rc npgut, ipSlIIll !-(' ;'l'in'
11,,!,!ahit," :-.a
'
a IIHlIlll:oil'l"ipt pOt'lll in tilt' \"'ulil":l1l, writtt'll in tht' time ofOtl,() the
GI't'at. In Eng-Iund, ("t..lt..br'all'ti f.,r mu..i('al :o-('i,.u<'C \\ere St. A(Ic1m, ill tla
l.ightla,
BIIII
t. ])Iln...tan in the t('nth
'nhlr
.. Ea,lull'r a daant(.r of thc chllrrh uf f'alll<'r-
bury, in the time of
t. _\n::sclm, :::;iml.'ull at Durham, Joanub Thannah'lI:-i..., a
r('at matllPmatirian, at Cantl'..hur
', \,,"'ol..;tol1 ot \\ïIWhp....tf'I., Thom:t!ol \\.al..in
-
harn at St.
\Iban's \\"illiam SHIll'l"-l'l, in tlu' mUII
l...terJ of )lalmt.....bury, and
"
illiam of E\'('rl'ux, trea:-;llft'r of HClII')" I. In }f'ran('t', the rnu.:'i(
l
i('n(".. ,\
('(.Jt.bratl.t.! of t;eofl'rey of Tours, "'it. Ütlo of Cluny, Peter, chanter allli (Illf.'tol' of
tlll' llniv(.r....ity uf Pari:" nnd Adillphns, r.t.i
from I)(>in
n chantt'r' to tht> t>pi:oil.'''-
pal
L'C of ..\utlln, an l'xample not uufn>qnent in hi:.;.(ury. Pope Cru:Ul IV. in
.
i('ilh
ler:t.. norit. I. :17. t Lih. IV. de Gf"t\t. Angl. c. tA.
f (;,'ncmllli4. of tbe Scicnce ILiltl Pra"ti('c flf 'lll"ic.
f'ltpihtl. 11. An. 811. Buhl1.T..m.I.
AGE
OF FAITH.
95
the thirteenth century, had been cducatL'd among the children of the dlOir of a
cathedral; and Lpb('uf mentions a certain cardinal who had risen frolll the
aJUf'
condition in the church of Lyon!'. Onleric '....italis Fays tl.at tI.e Ahbot Durandu:-;,
having a gl'eat knowk"<.lge of mllsie, enriehcd the divine office with new pieces, and
with new amI very melodiou
airs. III Ireland there l;eelliS to have been no regular
eeclei'iastical dlant introduced till the twelfth century. St. Bernard
ayS that St.
)Ialachy was the first to e:;tabJi:;h it tlH:
re, "according to the custom of the whole
world." John the
Ionk, of Fulda, a disciple of Raban ðlallr, was a poet and
musician, who first composed with varied modulation, artificial song in the church
in Germany-a ('()UlJtI")' in which it took such deep root, than in no other part of
Europe wa:; it more as:-;iduously cultivate<l." )Iabillon, ill his Itinerary, speak:;
of the grmt impol'tanec which the Germans attached to music ill the church;
wht'l'pas, he says, tllC }--reneh ill his time regard figured music as an impediment
to devotion. But it was an obscure and devout reclu
e who prepared a liew epoch
in the history of music. This was Guido of Arezzo, a Benedictine monk of the
Abhey of Pomposa, in the Duehy of Ferrara, who in the eleventh century, was
the author of the present Hystem of musical not(.:;, for which he was so greatly
honol'cd,.that Pope John XX.
ent three l1Ie
senger:; to invite him to eome to him.
ITt' Pllhlishe<l his
Iicrologus about the year 1028. In a coutemporary work he
i.. entitled "
Iusieu8 et monaehu:" nee nun eremita beandu:,."-In the prologue
to hi.; work, and in his letter to )Iiehael, he speaks of the success of his iuvention
with gr<,at humility. '.
inee my uatural ('ouditiou, and the imitation of the good,
made me diligeut, I bpgan, among other :--tudies to instruct boys in mu:;ic. At
Ipuglh tht' divine grace wa:-ì with me, aUll
oll1e of them, by the use of our notes,
karw:>d, within the space of a month, to
illg at
ight new and most ùifficult pieces,
!'() that it furni
hed a :,pPl't:l<'le tu many.-Sillce po:;terity will be able, with the
gl'('atp:,t ea:-;e, to learn the eeclesiastical ehant, which cost nil' and all before me
o
II)\1("h pains, I tl"u:-;t that I a])(l you, and the others who assi=5ted me, ruay obtain
(.tprnal
alvation, all<1, hy the merey of God, remission of our sins, or at lea
t
some praY('l"s fl'om thf' ('harity of 1'0 many. For if th<')' used to intel"cede
with God so (levoutly for their ma:,ter:-;, from whom ther could scarcely
in t('n years, ohtain an imperf(.ct knowledge of
inging, how will they not pray
ÍI)r us and Íln' our fisRi:-;tants, who in the space ofa year, or at the mo:-;t, within two
years, mn make thf'm pprfe<'t [.;ingers."
"''ith re:;peet to the merits of the music of the middle ages, it is <'f'rfain that it had
arri\.ed at a very high degree of perfection. The love of God ("'.1n
upply and
f'urpass all things. The most sublime de\.atilln to whi{'h the soul can attain,
hpeomes also, in rp!ation to art, an illPxhaustihle source of ('ele
tial iu
piration;
for that which is mo
t admirable in ll1u:-;ic, i:; derived from the Fentiment of re-
ligion. In eompal"isou, therefore, with the productiolls of the old Catholic 8('hool,
mo<lf'rn !ò'{'ieuæ must f"tand mute. ,rhat, in fact, can any secular :leademy do to
(,)1f" o nragl' musil', ('omparahll' to a ("11Ul'('h, where the yoicl's of three tltou...aml faidl'
I(j
:\{ () H E :-\ (' _ \ T II () l. I ( I; () H,
ful an' to )))ingl., in tIlt. h)"mn oCIon)" prai
e'
, "hi..h i
to IH' IIt':LI..l with ra,.i
IJttwl1t
h)" tlac glorifil'tl dlOir:-ò (If h('a'"('I1? 011 thi:- grouJH1, tIll' importanc.(. of tIlt' IIIIt...i,'al
('hlÞ4Il... wllid. ,\t.rt' il1 ,'athl.Jml::!, ,,1lt'I"C chilJlcn \\ere illiltrucl(.,'(I, ha") lK."t.'Jll'oill1t't.I
out h\' J"("('('l1t author
.*
TrnI)", it '\tHlltl rc'cl',ir":1 (lifft'I"('llt tongut' from mim' to :--pmk ofull the mu..;il".al
J....ami..... in th.> :-ac'rl"tl omc','=--. TIll' plain ('hant in tlw Holy ".c't..k, irTC'...i..tibly
afll'Ct..; tlU' :-.oul \\ ith a
uInl':')."j unuttl'rahh.. That of the "
taLat," }I I aCt'" the l,I
:')-
l"tl
Iary Iwfore uur ('."(':0; as if" ill. the IM'lleil )f R3ph
tt.1 i that of th > "'Ii......r('J"(',"
1110"('''; tlat' 1-oul to it.; ('t..ntr(' i that or the flltlt'ral ollie..', is t('rrifie like the "oi('C ,f
cIt'ath. :,uhlillU' likc tIlt' an
l'l's .tHlloUtu't.tIll'nt 'If n..,nrrt"(.tion. The udmirer;o, uf
tlac \\ ond...l"s of art flo('k to the
'AtilJ' 'Impel,
It nO)))e, to hellOl.I thc Ia.....t J u.Ig-
tIll'ut of )liehal'1 Angt'lo, but ill {'very country of tit' \\ orl.l, oUt. may turn pale
with f('ar awl adminuion hc.fi)re a. t:till J!n.':d('r \\"01'1.., a ('oml)f)...itiol1 of
till more
rnal"\"l'IJol1s l'1H'rg-.r, })('f
lrt, thc "(1if'i il":t,," whit'h i..;
ltllg o\",'r tlu..l.';,ulmt.m\ hit'r.
.. I f a lI11bi..ian \\ l're a
I.i:t't1 to ("om post. a pic't,(, wit hout a.'('t.)111 pani ult'nt, \\ i rlwut
l'itlJl'r rythm ur 1Il0d111at ion,
uul to ,'onficIc' the c'
c't.'llti()n tn tlU' rucl
, \"oÍl-c of ...om '
pari..h
ing('r, m1(1 on tl&.... 'l't.Jltdiriuu.. to ('r,.
tte the :,llhlinU', wlU'rc'," :-:1)'.., a nltxl-
l'rn Fn'Jwh ('riti<" "i:o. thc'rp an arti
t that \\ oulcl a('('('pt tht' W3
l'r?
(',:crth
I
..,
thi... i:o, \\ hat ha:, 1H'en r('a1i7t'tl 1,)'
on)(' poor monk..;, \\ ho
e natllc
ha\"c 1I0t {'\"en
('ol11e clown to us, hilt in whom faith awl pit.t.,. II:I\"t'})('(,'11 :lhlc to :u't.otllpli:o.h \\ hat
gl'uills wunl.l 1I0t lta\"t' hacl CUUl"Utrl' to atklllpt."
The' rdigiou... hou
'i havc alway.. pro\" 'tl thc'm...cln'" th.' a.,,
'llims or the :\1uc;c.
oTonl<'lli, GlueI.., and )[o7"art, I'ou
ht 3(h"irP in 1I1t1:o.i(. from tIlt' Fr:lt)('i
ean friar,
)brtini, of Bologna, who formf'tl a lIlu!'oi
II lihrary of :,p\"pnh'('n Il\uulrL'tl ,'olullle::-,
ancI who is .slid alllid
t modprn ('orruptiun") to Ita\'p Prt'M.'r\"c'fl in his ('ompo
ition-
all the dignity uf the aucient f't}"Ie. Th. mu:o-ic :t..'i well :L.; th 'l)()f'try uf thp Catlt-
olil" Churt'h . ,,
m like a faint (.,"(.ho of that primiti," · language in which lUan =--!)f)k,.
to GocI in the !--hlte of inno('t'Jtr't', thc' ...ouIlt1.. of \\ hi..It ",an rt..,.i\Oc ill :o-ome matllU'r
tho.: > powers of
lItiUH'ut awl \"irtllt', "hi('h tlie ('rt':ltor pJaf'f'tI in his }wart. I II
the mi(1ùlc agc=--, IIwn Wl'J"(' !'('rupulou..; in :u1hering' to tIU' great traclirioJls of urt ill
the compo:--itinn of Illu..i{'. TIm..; I .talclu-i b:.l)'S of hitll!'of'lf, 011 ('C)mpo=--in
ß1u...ic
for the fl'a:-;t ofN. .Julian, that "he wa... unwil1ing to cJc'part from the
imilitu<le
(}f the alll'i('nt song, 11'4 he
Itoul(l procluc'c l.itlll'r a harharou... or :l 110,,(.1 melu(ly.
}'or tI)P )Joyelty of tho:-.c IltU..;ic-iall:o; (lfH'
uot. 1'1..ase 111(', he :uIcI:o.)" :,})('aking like
Plato, "who make u...p of t'llch <li
..illli1irrulc',,; that tl)(')" R't'm to .li:-ò(lain to fillIuw
tlw uM auth()r
." Tn tilt' !'3UW ..ffi'(.t
pt'aks HII!;o of St. Yï('tor, "Xon ('nim decct r
lIt l'antus ct usus l'l"Cle:-ia
ti<'lts fi(.n dd)(.at H'(.ltrHlmn arhitril1lu div('rsorllm, ...t"(l
flrmiter. serY:lmlus {'..t
f'('lmdnm jo:('J'ipta ..t instilllta nl:ljll'"11I1I .,
The psalms uf David were tUlWc.l to that Durian harmuny "hich ::ìoulHlcd forth
* Sur l'Originr ,Ic 1a )la1trise d
8 J-:nfau!oJ de C'hu'ur:- tho ]a U;L,ili'IIU' )Ielrop" Ilc r.,ri
)lag.
1.r.cyeJIlP To III. Y
A<.;ES OF F
\ITII.
97
jn the hymn of Terpnndpr, the antiquity uf whieh mu
ic is remarkPd by Clemens
\..lcxalll1rillu::; joii- allJ a::;
luller ub::icr\"c:-', a. manly character was always at-
tributed even to the Dorian dialect. St. Dernanl, in his letter to the Ahbut Ær-
remacens, describes what ought tu be the style uf Church mu:-,ic, "full of gravity,
being npither lascivious, nor rl1
tic. Sweet without being frivolous, soothing tu
the ear, but so as alsu to wuve the heart. It shuuld appease sadness, mitigate
anger, and not diminish but fecundate the sense of the words." There was no
affectation or lcvity in the ecclesiastical music of the middle ages. "'Vith the
canticles and hymns of the Church," 1'a)':-; Cardinal Dona, "we console this
I-'olitllùe of our exile until we come to our celc:-,tial country, when we Rhall sing
that new immortal song, without any mixture of gripf."' :For at present as there
are no joys withuut some misery, so, as the .Abbot Paschasius Raùbertus !Oays,
"there is no song found without lamentatiun : for songs of pure juy belung tu the
hea\'enly Sion, but lamentations to this our pilgrimage." The Church was:-'o illl-
pre=-sed with a sense of the importance of music being adapted to the Catholic pl1i-
lu:o'o}>h)', tl1at all music comp()
e<l hy heretics wa:-:ì prohibited from being u:o'ed in the
Church by a synod in the year 1567. In filet, Catholic music is the sister of Cath-
olic manners. It i.s the expref'siun of faith, hope, all<1 charity: it is the ,"uice of pen-
ance, of simplicity, and Im"e. I{owever rich, huwe\'er ravishing, this was ih es;:;cn-
tial character. ".hat musicians were those who composeù the sublime ma,:,,:,es
which raiscd souls to heaven, in which the music consisted entirely in a simple
phrase of the chant ill an artless and even popular air, but which, òirected by all
puwerful harmony to !Ouit the different parts of the ma:,
, could express so many
various passions! At the "kyrie," tho:,e of
ubmission awl pity; at the "gloria
in excdsi:-,," tho:se of admiration; at the "passus," suffering; at the "re:,urrexit,"
joy; at the "agnu:oi Dpi," gratituòe and peace. These were the illspirations of men
in the thirteenth and fourteenth cpntlll'ies, a Dufai de Chimai, a Binchois de Paris,
an Ockeghem of Bavaria, a Leteinturier of Xi velIe, a Josquin of Carubray.
These great musicians of the
chool of Cambray, instructed all the north ofFranee.
Artificial skill is not art.
The modprns, as a German philu:;opher remark!", "have cultivated more and
more the luxury of harmonic accompaniments and instrumental concord, but unly
to PI'Ul1l0te the pltantastic intere:-,t of a confused entertainment. The best judges
sigh after the simple elevation ofthé an('ient !'tyle, and recognize their chief ma:,ters
in the first compo
ers uf the old simple harmoll ies of the Church. "t Undpr the
in
piration of faith, art was a great and holy thing. It was the reflection of
God. It was the invi!"ible world, the tioul worltl. Palestrina and )Iozart coru-
pilied figured Illu:"ic equal in sol<>mnity and feeling to the noblest tones of the
Gregorian chant. They creatt.d melodies whieh should ne\'er be snng excepting on
onf>'s knees: the beautiful simplicity of the ancient .Church chant:, so struck Pur-
... Stromal. VI. 11.
t Fric!". 241.
Hð
)[ () I: E;" C _\ T 1[ () J. (( I ; 0 n.,
l.pH wlwn lac lx'
Ul to stud
,..t'Ul, that he ('xclaimed, tc..urdy this mn4 have bt.'t.'n
<,'ompo:'L'(1 at tho gates of hean'u, "lal'n' i:3
u('h nlt'lo(l
, ;t-i hut tu Ill'al', fc,r higll-
c...t merit "cre au ample 1Ut.'t.'l1."* rliller the iutlul'ut'" ufCathulil"i:-m, po 'tr
' al,l
lIlu:,ie :,('ut fordl :-ouud... :oul'1l :b tlae l'4U' of mau h:1Il np"cr L,'t
H" Jll'ar,l.
)Olla no
tougut.' ("au he :ulcquale to give Ull it.1('a of tit. iIllPrt.......ion l'rotluel'(II,y tlw pJain
'-ung- llf the choir, It i::, full of p(W'tl")', full of J,i..;tory, full of
aj}('(il
. ,rhile
the l;rcgorian chant ri
f''', you :0('('111 to Jlt'ar the" 111/10 Catholic Clalll.dl h('hillli
you Tt ;o;polH1iug. It l"\.hak.., "'a.'"
r;,'ul'roult,4 })(,'rfuUlt.' of Chri...tiani,
, aLII (I(l"r
of }H'lIih'nl'l', and of ('umpuuctiOlI, "hil'h O\"l'n'olllt.' Ytlu. XI) Oil.' l'ril'
how :ul-
lIlirablc! but by (ll'br
the l'cturu (If tho...c I11lJllut0l101l'" ludo..li .' }t"lIclrat... one,
and d'" it \n're illlprt'gnah:i the :-lUll; amI if to tllt'''''t' he a(l(k,llw.....oual rp('olll'l'-
tion
a little :--ad, one fC('l:i 0110'S :,df \\l'l'P, without e\"l'r (In..,,uing ofjllllgin
, 01' tlf
appn'l'iatiug, or of learning thc nir:o: whil'h onl' hear:-. In ft,':O-Ik.'l.t to art
one may
pronOIlUl ' "ithout h(' 'itatiou, that men 1I..h a.... ..l-:-ocll)-Iu tIt.'"cl'ihcs, \\ ho II ".('(' in
tllt'ir hand:- bear the oJi,'c br.uh'h, haviug Io:.t the f.J.('ulty of pray 'r, the thrillin
('motion iu pr(':-('uC'e (If tIlt' Father alltl CI"l'ator of the world, who, in ..hort t.).. p,'ri-
('1It't' Jlothing bllt (lrdiuar)" ,"
'n"'atioJl
wh('JI tl)(')" lH'ar thl' dl:l1lt:i tlf thc (,IItH'('h,
mll..t 1)(" dt"rr:uI('(1 ht..in'T", in:--('JI..ible to the mag-uifi('t'IH'l' of natllrt', tkaf to th.
nightil1
alc 01' to the lIlunuur of the w()()(,l
, dead to PO(....y dud to lIlu..ic, !-u"('('p-
tihle of uo cnthu:-iasm (man wu
t dc::;irc .....uucthiug \\ ith an.lm'), hut for Ol
('('h
(Ii"'
n...tiug alld ah:--nnl.
Organ
J wht.'ther h).t.lrauli(.or pllt'umatie, wert' l1('arl)" the only iu...trumeut.., ,.....'(1
in the ('hurell". ill th. twelfth mid thirh'l'uth l'l.uturit'.... all othe..... beilJlr nj,'dt'll
in con...t'll'lon<'C of :tLm:o:c and the (('ar of tllt'atri
LI ('t1:'Ct.t "ome \\ rit('I':oö, amtlug
whom wa... 0111' {Elml of Hie,.auh, t (.'oillplaillf'd of f'A in the 11:--(' of or
all
,
thou!!h in the
allle :Igt', P(>h'r the Y('llt'rahl." of('llIu.,., wa... dt'ti'wliu,l; Ihe 11"(' of
them n!,!':.liu
t tht' P('trohrll:--iaus. Thc Joo:l('I't'd P...almi...t h:ul t'xprl':--
l," d(':--in'tl 1Ilt'1i
to take up the harp and th. (')"mhal, ",hid. jlHl rnll'U \\ as more than !ooufficif'lIt
to countcrbalauC'C the opinion of i"'olah'(l phil():--oph('r
. '-'t. _\ugtl
till had lamen-
ted the bliudul':':o. of the 'I:mielul'an:ot in n.:il'ctil1
!-a('J'{.d mu
ic, "'a
'ing, "that
th('y knew 1I0t th('
IlI('(licint':.;, and that tht)" rag't' again",t the anti.lotl' hy whil"Ja
they might be Ill'alt'(1." Th(' fin;t organ ,\ hieh app('ar('(1 in Europe wa... Sl'nt u:-, a
pn....t'nt h
' Constantinc CopronynlU!'Ò, to P('pin, King uf Franc', in the) par ;.");.
Thi:-- wa... pla('l'd Ly him in tIll dmrl'h uf
t. Corneille, at C'ornpif\glH'. The
f>('ret of thc cOlI:-otructioll (If the;o;c :-otl'am org-an..; i.. 110\\ ('lJfirely ]o
t. Thl' fir:o-t
org-an on th(' pn....f.llt priw'iple \\ hiel. wa-i
'n ill till' ,\(.:-t, wa:oi that which Loui::,-
.le-D('honnail'e })la('cd in the dlllrph uf .\ix-la-Chapelle. It is an or
n of this
kinù whidl i:oò nWlltiOIl('l1 in the mll1al
of Ful(1a, in tlae )"t'ar t;2
. At the do.;e
of the ninth ccntury Illany I"kilful urgan Imilùer:i \\ ('rt.' dr:.m n tu Home Ly Puptt
... Dante, Par. XIV.
t
pccuL Charita'i
, Lill. 11. cap_ t:3.
t Oerben c1e CRntu
a.('ra, Tom. II. 99.
AG:E:S of FAITH.
9i
John 'YIII. In the tenth century, an organ of this t.1pscriptio:l was placc.l in the
AbLey of 'rc
tmiustc... \\
alafried Stt'abo, tle..;cribing the church of Aix-la-Cha-
pelle, mentiou
a ::;urpri
ing instance of the effcer of thc wonderful organ which
was in it; f()r he says, that a woman expired through rapture and Emrprise at the
sweetness of it:; sound.
· 'Duke melos tantum vanas deludere mentes
CæpÏl, lIt una sui.; decetlens sensibus. ipsam
Femiua perdiderÏt vocum duJcedine vitam."
This organ wa
maòe hy George, a prie
t of ,..,. enice and by a Count Baldric. So
delicious and :.stolli
hing Wfu; the mu
ic of organs and flutes, at the consecration of
the mon
tic church of Cava, near Salerno, which wa.;; conducted with the utmost
pomp, that what between the harmony and the sweet odors which were contin-
ually burning', the
prene Duke Roger, and all the people present, thought them-
selves on the very borders of heaven, as is attested by the chronicle in the archives
of that house.* In the tenth century, organs used to be supplied from Italy, as
appears from the epistles ofGerbert, afterwards Pope Sylvester II. The organ
in the church of Brunswick was made by .Arnold, a priest ùf the order of St.
Francis, an<l that in the monastery of TrudLert, in the Black Forest, was made
by Conrad Sittinger, a Benedictine monk of S1. Blai
e. As these instruments
were made by religious men, so were they chastely touched by their pion
and master
hallùs.
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, it was the custom to place the organ in
the choir; but in the fifteenth century it was deemed preferable to remove them
to the western extremity of the nave. The expression of golden mass, "aurea
mis:-:a," which occurs in th(' hooks of the middle ages, implied a mass which was
celehrated with
xtraordinary magnificen<'e. This used to la5t three or four hour
,
in con
equencc of the music. t Of these solemnities, Dante is reminded when borne
along by Beatrice over the waters of Lethe, and led to the symbol of our
Saviour:
.. The blessed sbore approaching. there was heard
80 sweet by, 'T1
asperges me,' tbat I
}[ay Dot remember, much less teJl the sound,"t
alluding to the prelude of I'cattering the holy watel', which u
age has been always
in the Church from apostolic traditioll,
fòllowing the example of Elijah the proph-
et, who is recorded to have mingled salt with water, that with this infusion the
bitter fountains might he converted into sweet.1I Admirable was the adaptation of
the different strains to the buccessive stages of the sacred mystery. Rupertus
says, that the gradual u:-òed to he sung in lugubrious tones by mell
and that this wa
· Italia Sacra. VII. 868. t Gf'rbert òe çantu Sacra. Tom. I. 8M.
t Purg-. À.XXI. S Joan. Devot. Lib. II. tit. VIII.
1.
I Hugo de t,t. Victor de Sacramentis, Lib. II. P.1X. c. 2.
100
'[ u R E:-\ ('. \ T II (JI I ( I; {) H.
folloWl1.1 by childrt'u hinging in a S\H'ct amI jo
'ou
malluel' the .\.lIt'lujah lit a (.'on-
tillUl'(1 strain, protmctiug n
hort word, as it i
not :"trall
" that tilt' hum:III \'oi('('
hollJ<l f.til in
pmking. \\ here the mind dOl':i not
uffi(,t' ft'r thillkill
. TI.i... W:l"i
so onlaill('tl, he :-,ay
, to t'xprt..s:-; tilt' cOllsolation whi('h a\\aitt"(1 mollrut'r.. IU, 'ordill
to theSCIlIt'nC'p."Bl'üti (I'li lu
"ntquoniam ip
i ('1t1l:)()l.tbuntu.. ;" for Ihisjo)"ful \Il('
Jujah c.3.rri. a\\a
the a...tolli..llt"d mimI, all(1 (Iin'(1.. it to that pla('(' wllt'l"t> will be
always life \\ ithout <It'alh. awl day without nig-),t. nit'
'qUt'I1<'t' wa.. that Im'ath
il1g or protmctillg (If bh""1 wonl... to (1I'IIott> njoy whi(.h W:L-i t:1"f'ah'l' tllan 0Ilt" could
exp'" '... Ill'nCt'ili the Uilcit'lit "<{III'II(,(''', \\t' fiwl unknown words, 1)C"au:"f', as
Cardinal II IIg'U l"ë1Y:-', the mtll1llt'l' (If prai:,ill
lio..! in our ('oulltry i
unknown tn
11"'. Bllt tilt' prn
I'ung- bt.ti)l"t. tilt' (;o
pd, whit'h dah' from tilt' {('rHh ('('IlIUI")',
were also ('all('(1 "t'<Jut'nCt'..., 1)(,(":lII:"(' tlU' Go...pt.1 tè,lIo\\('(1 tlH'm, fllf' lI1u....i(. at tht'
oflertory ('outirlUl'tl while thc oLlation.; Wt.... n'('t.ivt'(I, &1111 ulltil thc "Pcr omnia
æ
cula,"w-as chantt.'(1 h
' tlU' p..i t. TIlt' 'Ii
()I
'(lian
olll'" uf the' p,'cfaet', whit'h !'Òhall
be :-.ung long a.. timE' t.IHlun...., i.. the 1"an1t':b what i
fcultul ill th(' 1110'-t ancit'llt mon
UnIt'nt:,. .\ftl'r tltl' "
alll.tu...," tIlt' dlOir. or a..; it W:t.. :-'lIlllt'til1ll'-; C':.dh'tl, "tilt' :,,(.hool;'
wa..;
ilt'nt, Thi.... Clhlon' prcv:lih'd in tllc tinlt' ofS1. (,hr
'!o-o...tom, 'fir hp
.,ay:-., almt
at the l'on"'l'('f:ttion all wa.,silellt..." 1fO\Ål; ,í(J(Jxur, "OÅ \1; ðly'ì. This il'Ò tllP momt'nt
Whl'll thl' Iwi(,:"t i:o' I('ft almlt' at the altar, the dl.acun and uh-dc4con fa1lin
hal'k,
to ....i
nif
., :1,... I>uramJus N.1Y:-, how the (I i:"t.i ph " fc,rs()ok C'hri
t ancl flcd.* ., flU'
:"i 1l'lu'f' wit it'h follow... the '
.lI)('t 11=--.'" :-\ay.... :"Il'ph:um..; . \ ugu ..tod lIIH'n...i
, hi rulie.ltl'''\
the romml'l11uration uf tit. P
').:)ion ;" aJUI Rupt'rtu.. "'a)"!o' "Aftt'r tilt' joyflll ae-
cJam:uion of tlte pl,ople theN' follows the history of ,,'ret grief, \\ hi(.h i:oò a cau:o. ·
for pro(olllltl :-,ilt'I)('{'. .\t tlu' fraction of the Lord's body, the AJ!nl'" Pc'i, ancl tilt'
dona nohi.. P:\{'t'lJ1 werc .."It'mnl)' 1"11111;' hy the choir, and at tlte commllnion thp
6\\eetc:st strain:'\ of h)'polydi:lll harmony \\cre protr:ld(.d, in ortlt'r. :1:0. flU' wrilcr:oi
of the mid(lI(' a
l's st
', that tht., tIlind
of th > peopl p who wer'ahout to rt,,'('ivcthe
Lor(I's hody l11i
ht ht' t'xahp(1 arHI tranquiJIiZl.,<I: or a 'corcling- to the w(ml:-ò of a
manuscript of till' tenth l'f'ntllry, "tll:lt tllf
faithlul ahollt to ('onlllHmie:ltt' lUay in-
hale, in harmony, him whom tlH'Y rt'Ct'in' \\ ithill tllt'i.. lip,.;, that t)H')" may I"t
mem-
her, that I If> whom tlu.y fi'('d IIpon :1'" ('orporal food, W:l:õ ('nl<'ifi'-'il (1<':111 aUII)",r;t.(1."
For thi... c
m:,,
the mu..ic> continut'''', that ";0 long:l:' tilt' IJl"ople an' r('(' ,i\'illg the
{'ele:o:tial helll'(liClion, tl..,i.. ruirul"" hy tht' l'harm of me1o(ly, ma
' hf' I"l'tain('(1 in :1
state of ....wept irnpri...onnwnt. Finall
', tlu'tlt'aeon wa... to ("hant tIll' 1ft> mi"':O::l ('.,t,
in a wOlldl"oUS antI a nwlodiou..;. l)(ttC. in ()I'(ll'r. as it W(.rt., with thc la:o.t hawl to
irnpl"('Co.,.. on the hearts of thp p('oplf' th' JIIf'mor
. nf\\ hat tlU'y hdll
'n amI hcan1.t
\\That a profcHll1fI !õ:pn!'f" (10(':' all thi, indi(".lte of the n>\'t'r('rt('e (Iue to HI(' (,'(.)t'-
hration of t ho:..;p trpl1H'ndon.... my..tt'rit
in whiC'h (;"cI ha:-ò pla('PII the fountain of all
holi ne
, ?
Sll('h then was the eccle,ja.:,tiC31 ml1...ic durin
thc middle a
e
, ti1l tilt' <,ommenl'e-
* Ratiunale. Lill. 1\". cap. ;:t,
t Rupt.'rtui rlJiticen
i
.1. J)iv. t )fT. ]ih" II.
AGE S 0 F F..\ I T l[
" ' .,..,........ A.4 ..("
'Q ,. --
COLLE
o -
10
LA.t,
I
ment of its dedine, wllich, :wco)"clilìg- to tlle natural order of thing
was contem-
poralWOlh Wilh tll(' c!t'c.Jillc of Ülith awl tile illlrocluetioll of the new opillioll:-; j fOl'
a c.hange of lII:lllllerS ne('p:-;sarily
ll perincl ucec! a challge in the style of lIIu:-iie. In
the fifteenth eentul"Y a profane tlleatrical llIu:;ic beg"<Ul to be introducpd into
cllUre11t':-', wl.lieh was censurecl by Pope llenediet X TV. in his ellcydical letter in
tile year ,-)f tllP juhilee, and again in II is \"OI'k:-:, in which he called upon all bish-
ops to COlTeet this abu::5p.
rartin Gerbert, a nelH'dictine monk of the monas-
tery of St Blai"'t" in the Black Forest, compo:-'l'(l his great work on :-:acred music,
expre...;slr with a view to stem, it pos:-;iLle, this deplorable evil, which he lament:-i
in language of pidy and goud :;en:;e. Thi:-: abu
p of church music gave great
scandal at its cOlllmencement, as may be been in the writing:; of Cornelius Agri pp3,
Era
lmlR, and others. It atTived at
uch a height, that the fathers of thc Council
of Trent ddibt-'r3tf'd whether they ought 1Iot to abolish all music in the churche,.;
exeepti1lg thc GregOl'ian. Satan seemed to have again crept into the paradise
of man on earth, the honðe of GO\1. The chants were left to profane untonsurecl
artist
, who sub:;:.titutecl a hypo phrygian style, consisting of fanciful digre...sions and
exaggerated bomba:;tic flourishes for the aneient simplicity, the dignity of the priest-
hood, and the reverence of God. .Anthems were fò:acrifil'I
(l to exhibit the fantastic
powers of vain men, who klww nothing of devotion, and who very often werl'
persons who, hy the ("3non:-" :--tood exclwled from so lUuch as entering the a:-
f'm
bly of the faithful. Fal:-:e eharactel', fitl
e expre:-,sion, and frivolity, under the
titlt' of brilliant t'xecution, hecallle the Pl'evailing vices of Illusic. Thi:-i Phrygian,
or hypllphrygian music, full of in:;olent grandeur, noisy, tediou::;, and abounding
in i'bipid repetition:-:, adulatory and suited to unstaLle mind:;, indicated clearly
enou:;h tIlt' influence of the new spil'it which had
uperseded the reign off3ith and
Catholic devotion, awl might llave made men de
ire ev{'u the Lrdian strain
of the
ancient:-" which, though their mu:-:ic of ple3:-,ure had
till, as we have before remark-
ed, the chamctcr of sorrow and compas:-:ion.
The ahu:-:e of organs "as strictly prohibited, though in more recent time:;:. it
has out
tript all hOllIlÙS.
t. Charlf-'s RIIlTomco Pl'escribed that althoug-h the
organ ma
' he u...pd in hymn
, yet e\'f'ry Yf-'r:-:c i:-: to be distinctly pronmmcf'd in the
choil' j* that in like mannPI' the cl'eclo wa:-: not to he l)f)rformf'fl altpl'mltply hy the
choir :nul hy the organ, hut that all of it was to he sung. At the
'ynQ(l ofTreve
,
it was rl'cJllirp(l 4-hat the organ
houlcl be :o'ilcnt at tlw f'1evati('11 j and accm'ding to
the Sy"ocl of Cologlll', one of tIll' cfllestion::; to be proposed hy the yi:-:itOl'S of
churches was,""?hether the organ was silent at the elevation." GenerallJ it wa"
elÜoillPcl that no "t-'rse:-; should 1.>e i merl'ept{'c1 :1111 1 110 h)"m ns m utilatec 1 hy the org-an.
The puntifical cbapd at Rome, to the present day, has cUllstalltly I'ejected the u",e
of organs as Il3ve some ancient churches, such as that of Lyons, amI some J"(.li!!'-
ious orders, such as that of the Carthusians.
* ('oneil. )[ec1iol. I. p. 2. N. .51.
t ConcH. Rhemense, an 1,ì64
102
:uoHFS CATHoLICIj OK,
\\"(,E't an(1 inh.JI('('tllaJ W:lS tlU' harru"IJ
' of
'nlllhflll :11)(1 :1
f'cl \"oiN'
joinin,.,' in
:-aintlydwr-u"', \\orthy tu he (If aUbr('l... iu'.u..t hut
1Ic1d('n Iltrr;..(:o. uf d(oaftoning
noi..;
., large fl
of l"t1un,l, m.-e.hani.':lIl
"'('lIt r.,..th ill irupdUlm
("('3ln!o\,
would æcm J(;
..; in nl.'ConJ:UJl.
witJ. tilt' :-tiJl ...mall l
iL'toful voi(,
of he-.wen.
('11.\ PTER '9".
. '. E have
e<'n thE' imporuIH.'(' u:-.<'rit)('(1 tu mn ir g('n 'r.llly h.y the gre.it phi-
"" W -Tt
"'\r
(J
opllt'r-: ofille mi(Mlf' :I
(': but]d n.. now aUcnl1 to" hat th(')" df'li\"f'r
!_'
ill it... pmi...(', wh('n tli"('t'f("tl in partil'ubr to f'nh:IIH"(a tIll'
.)hOrnllit" of tile
CJr, 7' ('('l'k,..ia...t i('al Um('t.
.
î ,1 .. h i
bou(I," :-':IY.,
t. B"I1I:ml," to glori,"y (;()(l with hJIllU"', :11111
! psallD
, and
piritnal t'o4)I}tr
. The .clnrrdi chant rejoices the mind., uf
Illt'n, r('fr('!":h('
tIlt' w('ary, ilwih'", t-iml(.r:-, tu l:UlU'lIt:ltiflll; f.1J"
lllhollgh tllC
heart (If f'("CuJar JIlen lIlay )1(' h:lI"Il, J(.t inunt'(liat('l
' \\ 111'11 diP)" II<'ar tht'
W(.(.trll""
of p"'3Jm::, thl')" ur(
L'unv('rh'tl to a lovc (If pi<'t)":' I)ant. o "Pll.... to ('xpr' thi:,
Whl'll he (1f'
'ribt.s his ll('"irin
in pllr
at(ll-r tIlt" !-trnins of flul 'et .,ympllOlI)":
. Tucn the ice
Conge.lIed ILhout 111)" bflROIn, hlme] i.f'elf
To
pirit ßIHI \\ ILter. luul \\ ilh an;uh.h f..rth
Gusb'(l, thrfllJ
1 1" IC Jip'! amI e}'elid
from the hunt....
t. I...idOl'(aof
pain
p..aks to 11.., ,..all)(' ('ffi.('t 1",'(-omm('J)(lill
lI1u....ic, that th(}
('
who are nut mov('ll to ('Oll1plllid iOIl hy wonl... may h,' ",('itt..) hy the ",w<.'Clu' (If
ruelody; for, he
ul(I"" lluotillgth · \\ 1m):; (If St. A\lIgll:-lill, "all uur affL'(.tioll"; ha,'e
I know not what certain OL'CIJlt(,OIIU -tion with (lin
r...ity 01' lIoVClt). of. t)lIIu1...;"aml
t. Thomas proves the advantage' of mu
ic Oil the :-amp grotlllC1.t Of
t. .\(It'1:ml,
abhot of Corl>y, it i:o: relah-eJ in BolJa'ICIII"I! that whPIU.,...r he 11.,...<1 to h('al' 11
sweeter music ill the (Ji\.inp of!ì('f'. lw ('oIlJ(1 not n,fl'ain from h'ar:-. St. He....ar..]
relatH that
t. :\[alachy used often to
a)" Itow
r "itly he \\a.. dl'light(ocl hy th.
dlant whieh he hl'".lrd in the monastery of ('lair\':Ul
. For ("'('11 ill tlh":"l. aU:-h're
!..IU"lS of renitence the J!'J":1(,(,S ufrnll
i(. werf' l'lIlti\.atf'tl :11\(1 appr('('iat('(1. In tlw
chronicle of the mona-:tpr). 01 St. Trudo. it is relatlocl how UUlltrulII, wlwlI lir:oöt wJ-
mitted as a youth illto the ("llOil".oll tile lIight of the C'ol1 ypr:..i 011 oföt. Panl, tilled
the whole community wit11 a4ol1i..hnwnt. nnrnix('(l with l'nvy, at the
\\'eeLne:-:"J amI
· xxx.
.. 2 2 9. 91. Art.
.
t r, I. .JIIII. ,Jlf'rn
I.
AGES OF FAITH.
103
})ower of his voice; and with what humility he stood <<)rtl1, at the command of the
abbot, to sing thc re::ipon
e which belonged to the office of another, who was of
high dignity, which he executed with such power that the aLbot, immediately after
the office, appointcd him to the second place in the choir.* "The rcading and
meditati
n of the Scripture:;, and the devout chant of p:,almody," says Richanl of
St. 'Tictor, "strengthen the mind and render the weak finn."t Vain is the cen-
sure amI most shallow the judgment of the modern:o;, w]l('n tlH'Y say that the poor
cannot uudcrstand the regular offices. ,,"Then mcn hear :-;acreù song," says St.
Thoma:;, "although they may not understand the word:; which are sung, yet they
understand for what purpose they are sung, namely, to praise God, and this is
sufficient to excite devotion."! That ignorance of the poor can hardly be so great
an evil, since Dante describes his having experienced it in paradise:
"Unearthly was the hymn which then arose:
I understood it not. nor to the end
Endured tbe harmony. "
And in fact, who has not marked the profoun(l impression which the solemn
tones of the Gregorian chant make upon the multitude in Catholic lands? -the
mystic joy with which it is sung hy children, like holy inuocents, and by old men,
,vho have in their looks an expression which seems to tell that they know what
takes place in paradise? It is not by learning that mcn can qualify their souls
for the reception of that heavenly pf'ace which this holy song yisibly inspires.
Truly the words of David, thus loudly ana articulately annonnced in the majestic
Latin of the vulgate, seem an unearthly ,'oice, teaching the wi!":dom of the eternal
ages. Each word makes every heart \"ibrate as it unfo1<ls the thousand mysteries
of human thought, and the secrets of the conscience of man. How this divine
voice enables us to see from on high and without fear,
Il the shocks which make
,,'eak mortals tremble, and which drag so often to the abyss, indiviùuals and na-
tions! Oh, who is not moved by the oracular sentence ofthep
almist? Amidst
the regrets, the agonies, the discouragements of life, who has not felt the power
of that great voice which !":peaks in the depth of night, which touches and which
consoles? These Latin p:,alms add hymns, so sweetly and solemnly sung in the
daily offices of the church, in which all classes, joined, diffused a complete tone
and spirit through society in the miùd]e ages; so that the spil'it of the psalms, and
the spirit of the Gregorian song, hecame the spirit of the times. It is one thing,
as the character of modern ages
n testify, to read these things in a library, and
it is quite another to hear them announced in m
e:,tic strains under the holy vaults
of those churches which no one that has a heart can ever enter without veneration
and trembling.
* Apud Dacber. Spicileg. Tom. II. 661. t In Cantica Cantic. c. II. * Berm. 2.2.9. 91. Art. 2.
104
1\1 u R F S C. \ T I I 0 LIe I; 0 H,
The mo
t [,miliar ()ffiec w:t- ahva)' new, ft}r th. (".ent
of the worM ana tl1
vici
itudt..s of each mall'h fortulJ(
, cY('ry day throw a fn'..h light npon the \\ ords
uf this ct('rnal wisdom,
O that theil' profimml !-cnse
('('n)('cl ncver (.
hall:o.t('<1" hut
'\a..: continualJy rt\cciving further illu!'-tratioll h
thecrim'" amI folli"::;, hy the ('al-
mniti(\:; and b)" the virtu
of 111('n ; fOI. in thc p
hns C\'<'ry thing is foreseen am] het
at re
t on its true foundation, c\'('n dl)\\ II to tI)(' "':i lami tit. s mull"(Jph ism..; of tllf' t imp
,\
Ii\rc in. 110lller
1)"S ofhi!'\ hero, "He \\'U"i 1-uOt.ring(.rud \\oul1lls from uòi1--
('used lH'art, hut lit.' fuUlH) a r(,I11('\ly, f()r !-i(till
(10\\ II 1)('II\.ath a lofty rock, lo()kin
(lown upon the :-;{\'.1, he "'ang u:-, fol1ows."*-Tf th \ :l."l)('t..t of rocks ruul the !'òf)UlHI ()f
tht'''a\'
could ill
pire cOlbolatol")' thoughts uuJ 1)I"UU1pt a cheering
IJg, "hat
would hc have fuund in our ("hurdI(':' 1.:ul tlll.ir rpvi\'ing ora...]('..; l)('('n hp:ml ?
"'hen Frall('i
I. wa.... lJ1ad
pri:,oner in the park of tl1{' Carthu.;iani :.t Pavia
be dpsin'tl to be ('(mJul't('(1 intn th4' church, wh(,11 the monks at that rnollU'nt 1-ing-
iug TicrL"t', "l're chanting the \'cr
', Coa b u1atuw
t, sicut lac, cor C0rum ; cgl) vero
]rgeJl) tualU nlt.'tlitatu
SUIll. Th(' kill
, (]j"po"l'cI to a !--.)lemn fi.('ling h)' }.is mis-
furhlllP
, joill('(l thelll ill rplx.
,ting the 11t.':
.t \"('r
. c. Bonum mihi cluia hllmiliac.;ti
lIle, ut òi
('amju:-tifil'3tiolll';:' tll:1...." 0 genuinc glitt('rofEh'rnal Dc'am" with what
sudden force d t thou enlightcn thE' darl"nt..
"hieh restM,h upon the uuærtaill
and intricate ways of mortal life, pr(,
l1ant "itlt cl('lu
ive phantoms I
\rhat coun
('I, \\ hat rolJ
OJatioll lor laum:1uit)" :uuiel..t it
1lI11HlIl1IK'rN1 W
, in
the l'on..tant ret'urrel1l'p of tho
holy p..alm:-" Hlllg hy tlH' dmrt"la, (]a)" :lIId ui,rht !
Fur \\ hat 1">0 of wisc.lom ami patjen
, mill Iwroip \"irtllt', did they not tt.'ad. ?
Did the)" not inculcate, 3.';
t. Ba...il ::::1)"", "th(' In3("11ifi 'II(" of fortitude, the ex.L.t
e'"erity of jll'4i('(', that tell1lx'r:lIJf'C, :-;4) vt'lwrahlc ('V('II ill it
ac.;IW'Ct, the p('rf('('tion
of prwll'næ, the form (If })(,lJaIH"C', the nH':1...ure of pati('I)("(' awl en.ry kind of
good '?t To oh:.;crve \\ ith what ('are tlu. pn)fimnd !'('n:-lc of the t.litlèr'l1t part... of
the l'ccICbiaðtical offit. · W:l.::t ('''pbimocl h)" tlH' elodor-- uf the mi(IJl,... 3g(", v.e m.(..}
oilly rt'fer to the remarks of Hugo of f't.Victor, (In the sling of the magnificat,
where he
hows that it i'i not \\ ithuut great n-a:,Ull that it is sung with
uch !WCll-
liar \"encmtion hy the ("hun'h.t
"In the Look of Psalm:-,,"
a)'s St. \mhro:-t, "then.. i!' a ßl<,<1icine of salvation
for the human race: the p
lm is tilt' H"'Il('(lidion of the p('opl{l, the prni.. of (,oeI,
the voice of the Church, the conf(.......ioll of faith; the full dcvution of authority, the
jO)" offr
'(l()m, the cry of rapture; it lIIitignt<
ln
('r,it hani:-llt
mr<',itaIJe,"iat(.
:-m"row, it hail.. the hirth of <1:1)', it att..wls al"o it9 el('('lilJ<', it sUl('tifiC's th... :-.tiIJn' "
of night. The ap()
tle t."ommantl.. womcn to keep
iJ('u<'C in the {.hurch. hut thpy
may chant tll(' p
alm with prai"-C. Thi
j
..w('<,t to ev('ry a
and \x,("OlIIillg to
Loth sexes; thi!i oJd men :-.ing awl ft)ròret th('ir infirmities; thi.. )"olln
mpn
ing
awl ('ommit no intpmperancc; youths Ring the p..;alm without danger to their imw-
ceIlCC, and maideni without (li"parag('III('llt to their mOt.h..
tr. ChihIren Io\'e it,
· II. VI.
t Præ!. in Pø.
t Annot.. 1:1ucit1. Alleg. in )Inrcnm, Lib. Ill.
AGES OF FAITH.
lOj
and it even fills infants with admiration. Kings and èmperors sing with their
people, because the psalm is profitable to all." *
Hugo St. Victor, in a golden little book on the mode of prayer, refutes the ob-
jection of those who would deny the fitness of the divine offices, on the ground of
their not being composed exclusively in the deprecatory form. "Some," he
says, "are accustomed to ask why, when we wish to pray God for ourselves or
others, we sing certain psalms, which neither contain words of petition nor have
any relation apparently to our wants,-and moreover, use other parts of Scrip-
ture as a prayer, though they have no form of supplication or connection with our
state; what advantage arises then from using words which express nothing of
what we ought to ask from God? what skills it to sing, 'Quare fremuerunt
gentes; or 'Attendite, popule meus?' Is it not ridiculous to fancy that we pray
when we sing such things ?-This is what they say: but whoever diligently
considers the nature of prayer, will easily discern how such words avail. This
kind of prayer is often found more efficacious than that in which we manifestly
and explicitly declare our wants. For there is this difference between supplicating
man and God-that man cannot know our necessity unless he be informed of it;
whereas God knows it before we ask. :nIan, therefore, must be informed by one
narration; but in prayer to God, naration is unnecessary. Therefore, to speak
briefly, when we prni:-:c God, whate\"er he the words used, however prolix, what
el:-:f' (10 they expn':-:
Imt this onc thing-that adoring we love him, and that 10v-
jng we adore him? Simi1arly, when we treat of our mi:'5ery beforc him, whateveJ'
be thl' word:..:, amI however prolix, what do tlH'Y expre::;s but that from our heart,
we seck his merey, amI place all our confidence in it? :No parts of the Scripture
are to be counted alien from the office of prayer, since, whether br insinuation,
or infel'(,l1ce, or entreaty, or announcement, all parts can infuse the affections of
vil'Íue, hy means of which we !'-halllway lUore effectually than by the mere word:-;
of prayer. ....lnd who can enumerate all the virtues of the Psalms? 'Yho can
number those ignited compunctions of holy affections with which the mind that
u:-.cs them is kindled in prayel', when the most grateful sacrifice to God is offered
upon the altar of the heart ?"t
"-e lm\'e already had incidental proof that in the early as in the middle ages,
the multitude joined in the dlOral song of the chureh.-
"Illtouc.t olllnis homo cantica sacra Deo."
is the line of Co:-;mas
Iaterien:,i:-:, in hi:'5 Poem entitled "The Passion of the Holy
)rartyr
," dedicated to Gregory, the monk of XouantuIa, and after seven humlred
years, discovered among the ancient manuscripts of that abbey.! The people
joined in the P:-:almudy of the clergy in primitin
times.
St. Cæsarius of Aries.
· S. .Amhros. Præf. in Psalm.
t ltu.1ia. Sacra, TODl. I. 3.
t De Modo Oranrli LibeJIus.
Gerùert, de Cantu Sacra, Tom. I. 138.
lOü
)10 RES CAT II 0 LIe I; U 1:',
compelled th..laity to juin with the religious in singing in the church the divine
office, the p
alU1s amI hymn...;, the pro::t.s and antiphon..: amI in the H't'OJul Coun-
cil of Ya
l'n:-" he entl"eatl.J the p('oplc to a
:-,eIJ)LI
in the ('hurch at matutinal vigiL.:,
tierl"c, :-e
t, aIJ(IlJonl'
. In hi .
'rlUons he lAhort'i the faithful, that, ,.tlp'pi:-ing
the hith-'I'nC'i of the \\ orltl, they ,,"ouM repair to the church, where they !Day
reeeive the
weetul;;
of Chrh,t." Fortunatu3 !-a) 1:1 of
t. Germain, ni...lwp of
Pari
,-
"}'ontirki" mnnitis clem". plebe; I""n]lit et infan"t. .'.
")[y Lrethl'
n," ...a)'""t. Ephrl'lII, "he ....:-iduoUi in l"t.'pairiug to the plac(..; of
our asciCmblie...;, wht.ther durin
the night (lr at :-1I1l-ri
, or tlurjlJ
th . day; \\ lao-
e\'er you be, of \\ hatcn
r rank, of \\ hah'Vl'r :;ex, of whatever condition, ha...tt'n to
a.o;.sist at the eelebration uf tlïe di\'in
w)":-tl'ril:-."t Sot only clerh.s, but al:-:o lay-
l11('n, u
('d to meet daily to a' 'i:)t at the divilll' oflit't.',: unpl'evl'utl..l hy the hour:i
of the bt...'Cular life. St. GI'egory X)'
"o{'n rebtc::s in the life of hi . ,-i:-t('r, St. )faerina,
t hat after :-11 pper and :1 1!uuiliar eon\"er.-.ltion with his si
tl'r, he \\ put to the dlUrch
to return thanh:-, to God at the Vl"l){,l. 8t,'r\'i('t
fi)r e\"t'I'Y olle 1I!"('(1 to go to the
('hurd. at that hOllr, \\ hil'h the Gn.t'ks (".;1l1l'(l i 'Tlll
XJ.'zn;. 'II... Ellgli:-I. Father
uf th
Coullcil of ( 'lon.:-hot" in the pig-hth l
ntnr
., r('(plirt'(l th' faithful bity to
: ".i:,t at the di\"il1l' p:-a1u)()(I.\. in Ùl
church. They C'illl it a Illpòil'ine for the soul;
alH1 tlll'Y :1<1.1, ".\11hou1;h :-on1(' ulle may l
igUOI":UIt ()f the I..nill \\or.l.., ).e1 he
:,llOUJ.l supplil':.Ultly n.fl.r the Ìnt('utioll of his hl'art to tho:-e thillgs \\ hidl :U.
tu I>t'
a:-ht..l (If Got1. .\u(1 :lftl'r the Offi('l....;,
u('h a p('r:-oll olwht to pray
"('rl'tly, ill
axon, for merey amI rellli
"i(Jn of hi::; ,..ill
, ,.111(1 fi)r the n"pO:"7e uf the dea.1."
The ('arl)" ('.moll., l"pquirNI the Ùithful to a..,i..t :It \"(':-:per
:h \\"(.11 a') at ma
. In
one dmreh :It 1.IIgano J oh:oöt.rn'tl it \\ a.; a l'lI..tOI11 fc,r laYUll'1l to go into the dlOir,
and
ing the eanonieal hours like monk:"'>. In V" crolla there were five oratorio:"
where many }.ollths tN.J to
'mLle on fl.:-tival
to recite the hours of the nl
)I:u'
', after which the Go:-pd would he ('xpbiuctl to them by a prie.;t.1I
ìroun!! wonH'l), in the ('a:-tl
uf our al1<.....tor,., 11,('(1 to fi)llo\\" the a.l\"iee uf
t.
Jemnw, when he rl'quir'(':-: that a t1aughh'r :"hol1l.1 re('ite the hours ofmatins, ti('fl'P,
sext, nont's, and that with light(.d tapers :-hc !'Ihou1d ofièr the ve:-per
crilk'('.
Inde('d the intt'ntioll of the Church is :-uffieiently :-
n in the indulf.,rcnæi whi('h
f'he bestuws un all the f:.lithful \\ ho æ.;
i:-t at matin
amlland:-" and at the fir:"t amI
SCCOilll \"l'
per
, as al:-o at the le:,:-,el. hours of Chri:--tma..:, awl Corp....;; Christi.**
_\1 the COlJ:-,ecratiun of the Church ofSt. )I
u'). at }'erentinul11, in the year llÐl,
the office began in the evcuing, at whieh
i!"t '(1 a grc.lt multitude of laie
as w('l1
a.; clergy from Cam}Mgna and tl.e 'britime I)ro\"in('l'
. The people remaiu('(l
"itllOUt the ehurch òur
l1g the night, \\atchiug the relics which were under iIlumi-
· In Lih. II. Car. 101. t f'crm. IV.
Can. 27. 11tllli.L
ficra, V. (j.t(i.
tt L'rban V. 1264, Martin Y. 14
9.
t Joan. DevC\t. Instil. Canon. Lih. III. tit. Iv. ).
-; Episl. LVII. .. bixt. V. BreI. 1586.
AGE
0 F F A I T II.
107
llated tents, and singing "Hæc est vera fraternitas." On all sides a song, and a
julJilation of laymen and of women, never ceased throughout the whole night.*
In one of the. Capitularies which Dacherius brought to light after lying ill dust
tor more than eight hundred years, we read as follows :-" It is to he intimated,
that the appropriate responses should be said to the sacerdotal
alutations ; for not
only clerks and priests, dedicated to God, should offer the response, but all the
devout people ought to answer with consonant voice." t By several councils in
the time of Charlemagne it was decreed that "a laic ill the church should repeat
the psalms and responsf'S, but not the alIehDah."! The people, as we see in
Catholic countries at present, knew the p
alms hy heart. "Facile psalmi mem-
oria retillentur,"
ays Kicetiu
, "si freq nenter psallantur. In psalmis Christi
sacramenta cantantur." S An affecting instance of this knowledge is presented
in the hi
tory of Spain. 'Yhen the Catholic army under Ferdinand and Isabella
entered )Ioclin in solemn state, with the standard of the cross borne in the advance,
they were accompanied by a band of priests and friars, with the choir of the roy-
al chapel, chanting the hymn "Te Deum Laudamus." As they were moving
through the streets in this solemn manner, every sound hushed excepting the an-
them of the choir, they suddenly heard,
uing as it were from under ground, a
chorus of voices, chanting the words, "B
nedictum qui venit in nomine Domini."
The procession paused in wonder. The voices were those of Christian captives,
who were confined in subterraneous dungeons. The heart of Isabella was great-
ly touched: she ordered the captives to be drawn forth from theil' cells; and thell
these poor creatures came forth, wasted by hunger, half naked, and in chain:".
l\Iany of them were brave knights who had been wounded and made prisoners in
the (lefeat of the Count of Cabra.
It must be acknowledged that this familiarity of the people with ecclesiastical
offices, is a fact in the history of the middle ages of which many modern readers
may not have been prepared to hear: for undoubtedly, in latter times, after sa
long a period has elapsed since the removal of the blessed source of light and
warmth, when the public mind and manners have been so estranged from the í'uper-
natural tone of faith, when the only thirst recognized is fOl' tlelllsive streams, when
the only pr()vi
ion made is for mere material intercst:::,-lllen lo
e all per
onal ac-
quaintance with the sublime and heautifulliturgy of the church; and in compli-
ance with theiL" weaknes
, the solemn .proses, Ole venerable hymns, are eithel' omit-
ted altogether, or else pa
sed over in haste, as something frivolous or oh
olete, in
which there is no interest taken. There remain but a few men, lo\'ers of antiq-
uitYJ in who:o:e minJs the idea of the divine office is mingled with a certain .Vir-
* Ita1ia Sacra, I. 67;).
t Capitulare Ahytonis Episcop. BnsiJiensis III. Spicileg. Tom. VI.
Concil. )Iogunt. c. 9. C:lpitu1. 49, 1. .). Capitll1. 136. I1era]di Turon. 10. c.l05, p. 7. Bur-
chard, c. 87. 1. 8.
Nicctius Episcop. de Psa]mmliæ Dono apud Dacher. f:3picileg. Tom. III.
108
)1 0 1:. Ese A T II 0 LIe I; 0 It I
gilian saùne;
, :l!t if it WPI'(" a thing that had lw>cn; amI who rannot hut fi.el in
=--olUe ùf>grcc the aflliction of tllt' prophet" hCll ht' erit'Ù, "IIo\\' is the gtJId ob 'ur-
ed, tlw ht...;t culor chang('(l ! " "])i"pt.
i =--unt bpitlt." . :lIIl'Íuarii ill C'apite umni-
UIll p!atmrmu." nut
omp l'..timatt> ilia)" he fc'rmt'41of what C'xi..t("(l in :1).,....'" of
f:lith, from" hat \\t' find in countries whoI1) C.ltlwlic at IU'(''-f'lIt, wlH'I"(' i
...tilI
fulfìlk'C.I the Pl'ayer of tllP dJUrt'h in thC' bencdiction of the p.t-,cllal ('aIHll ---thaL
in whi('h
he (It.
irl's that lI(>r ('(lurto ma
' r('",0Ilm1 \\ ith thC' J!1'('.lt voic e of the
p('oplt'. )f:thillon !-}w':.11"", (If m:my !--l.'('UIaI' If ('II, l"in
:-. :II1t1 J)obh.:-:, \\ ho u
L'C.l, like
\Ifr(.a awl
t. Loni
, to Tl'('ite the lln.'viary ('very tlay.*
The )"tmng .lIltI old, the pOOl' mil] rich, }"'r:--ol1 of I>oth b('xes awl of 1111 comli-
tion..., u";l.d to kl1o\\ tlu'" ('OlUpo
iti(lns hy IW.lrt, am] would In\"e to return tu tht'm
with tlIP ('our
(' of the ('C(.I{"oi3...tical )"('ar, :nul to !-ing th('JH \\ ith the lltnHH fi'rvor,
lItt('rin
...0 rt'.uly alld !-o cortlial an " \uwn " 3.
plainly
pole a p.-r:--emal awl pro-
fiJund conviction tlf their ju.,tit-c. In fiaet, for many uatllrt.."', till' MUll h(.in" im-
hued \\ ith the melody of th... different C'atho1i' 11)'ml1"', p..alm..., untl pro!o>('.., \'as
thought to he :In (:--..,'nti3.1 part of pclllcatioD, and almo:-t '" important fu! a knowI-
('(lgt' of the C':.lh.('hi:--m; for, :a... tlat' am.i..uh hl"ld that it \\:1i Jlf'('(......ary to he a mu..i-
('iall to 1lI}(lc
t:u1tl tlw Tima',... of Plato, !-o it Mo'('u)('(1 that, without a kl1t.)\\ I('(]b"e
of nm::ti(', the philo...oph)' uf the Catlaoli . Churdl could not he Ul1tJer
t()Ot1. The
truth is, that" ith our father.- dum -ti . or patriarchal had Dot suI....r... '(100 l'atholic
amI Chri
tian mannc'r.-.; the tlh"it1iug' and nppropriatir.g
pirit had lIot (]t-troyc,t!
th:1t of tliffu...ion ; Jtlt'll hatlnut ht>('oll1e 1'0 fc)rmc.d to hahit
of :",a\"a
t' f('rinl'
t'('lu-
iun as to male their hearth thl'ir altar; the l'llt(.rtainment..., tht> l' n\"l'n
atioll!t of
their dOIDf-'h1ic circle, were nut (I.-arc!" to them than th ' puhlic ofJì . of re1igioll ;
the fi'4iyal had not yit.ldf:'d to the L.lIlquet, nor the benediction to the amm-unents
of ('\'('ning !o;Ot'Íl.ty. Tht churdu
heing t11l
a.c.;....mLlies Ino..t
t'lll'rall.r and dear-
ly loVt'(I, caTt.'ful antI C'uriun... pro\'i
ion \\a:-; made for the edification of tl1. lait)"
by maintaining the <.;o1t'mn om 's unmainwtl, find hy L'lehrating them a..; the
church prp!-crilwd. In tlH
e
ra\.e time:i, "hen men (lCC'ply felt the utter inMm-
patiLilit)" of rt'\"prenC'C with levity, office.., hOWl'\'t.'r rapicl1)' rl>(.'itc(], \\""I'f' 1I0t IllU-
tiJatc"(l 01" pa
t'(I O\'cr in fin inartieulate and ('(Hlfu",(.>(l manner. For no JU:lII,
YCbtl't.I in f:3cl"('t.l or any public di,rnity, ('ouM thl'u ha\" been al"cu.,oo of forming
an C''{(.pptiun to tl1(\ g('l1(:ral charac.tC'r of the human race, as \\e finù it dcsig-nat('(l
Ly HOllier, wllPl1 1)(' Jò:p{'ak
of j.lEPÓ1tú]Y 1.!y()pG,rrUJY. The won1... rC'3cl hy the
p..it':-õt for nIl Wt'I"(" 21., 'faLi1lo11 t)b
t'f\'c
, to 1)(' pronottn('("() alolle], th.1t tho..;.. who
3. ..i"t('(1 could lwal' th('m.t In plaQ'" the farthc
t rl'moved from æntrc' of faith
and :fi'r\"or, the ûffi('(.., "pre btill C(.lebratecl a{'('Orcling to the uni\.f>r
al cn40m of
the ('hun.It-fOl. it W:I:i the d.....il"e of the holy 3.nel fi.rn.nt, not that of thC'
('()rllfnl
and imliffercnt, which wa
cOII...ultet1 tInring the midtIlt' ages; on ac p mnt of" hich
judgment, let no one attach hlame to former guides, since it was an evid
lJ('e of
.. 'Pr.dat in YI. :-:æcul. ßcncd. 6.
t Dc Stuc1ii.. 'I()nn
t,
AGE S 0 F F A I T II.
109
their wisdom to n
ect the policy that would require things to be roouced to the
10\\"e:;t stam.Iar<l, in order to plca.:;e the weakest. To prove this, we need only ob-
serve how the Creator himself deals with men; for the beauty anù magnificence
of the natural world, which are also a sacreJ scripture, or a kind of holy office, are
not proportioned to the capacities of children, but it is only as men approach to
highe
t cultivation of which their intelligence is susceptible, that they can fully
appreciate them. By adhering uniformly to the Roman offices, the strong were
Rupplied with the nourishment appropriate to the wan!::; of their intelligence, with-
out ncglecting the interests of the weak; for he:-:ides that their particular want
.
could easily be supplied, it was well known that they are always attracted anù
pleased by meeting with what contains more than they can fully master, in the
same manner as children are ravished at the words anù vo
ce of nature. It is not
merely the expert swimmel' who loves to behold the ocean stream; children too are
delightC'd when they look down upon its profouuù abys:i, and listen to its foaming
tide. So do the humble and illiterate contemplate with awe the my
tic. solem-
nities of the t'hurch, and in an ecstacy of the lliost sweet imprisonment, listen to her
lofty song.
In conformity with these principles, the divine offices were not merely celebrated
in cathedrals an(l monasteries, but also in aU churches, from the sixth century.
The eanOllS of the Council of Lyons, ic the year 475, commanded clerks who should
he in village:; to a:;:;ist at matin:;. It was decreed in the ye
r 787, in England,
by a council, that every chun.h
hould discharge its course of canonical hours with
reverence; and I
ing Edgar, in the tenth centnry, decreed that the bells should be
tolled at the regular hours to give notice to the people. The same customs pre-
vailed in France,-"so far," adds
Iabillon, "were the laity of those ages from
considering it a proof of great religion to lwar a ma!ò:s on days of obligation."* In
fact, so habituated were the laity to filHI com:olatioll and assistance in the regular
offices of the ('!lurch, that when, to meet the exigcncies of evil days, a new Ol'der
aro
e, illu:o:tril'u;o; for the sanctity and learning for its members, but so instituted
as to be oLliged to abandon their public celebration f(Jr active combat, till' fact of
its h:n'ing churdl(,s without choirs was aùdl1ce(l as serious charge against it; and
that, not by the religious of the ancient orders who aùhereù to them, but by sec-
ular Illagi
trates anù lawyers, 8peaking in the name of the lay society.t
81. Cæsarius, of Aries, on account of the number of laymen who used to come
to matins and to complin, u
ed to recite homilies and passages from the sacred
Scriptures and from the passions of the martyrs. From the l1inth century we
find, ill the books of every age, that the ficts of St. Stephen, which according to
the Roman ritual, were alone read at lliass, are given in the vulgar tongue; for,
after having hecn n'ad in Latin, they u!'ed to be F'ung- in the vulgar language to
the p(,OPle.t It is a filvorite opinion with tho:,p who fed no regret for the aban-
* Di
quhit. de Cursu Ga1licano.
Gcrhert, ùe Cuutu, Sacra., I. 390.
t Pasqllipr neche;cl1es lÌe ]a France, Lib. III. 44.
110
:M 0 R E b CAT II 0 LIe I ; u R,
llonmeut of 3.ueiput disrip1in
, that the (]p\.otional abidllity of men in the chur-
dl('s in the Illi(hlle age:', wai nut combined \\ ith
piritllal pil'ty, or the habit of
mental praycr'. On Tl.fcrring, ho\\c\"cr, to the hook:-õ of that tinll', we find thi8
opinion hai no otllt'r foundation hut the abll:::;e to which the be
in
titutiCln... an:
always liable. Constant allusion is made to the maxim of St. \n
ll..tin, "Nolt
cIamans sed aman!3 L'3ntat in mlrc Dei." It '\as lhe l't.lict of the blcs:,t..J Hem.'-
did, ttSic stem liS ad p..;allem1um ut JUl'US l1ætn\ {'oncon.lt"t \"()('i nn!"tm'_ 'ion
in clamo=,'1 vocP,"saith laP," Of1 in puriUite CQrJi
et compundioue lal'rYJIlarulll
nns exaudiri sci3.111 11:-.. " *_hPr:.I)"cr is of tbe heart, not of the lip:-.," Sly
lIugo
of bt. 'Tictor;t who, on the other haw], glaO\\;:, elsewhere that the psalmooy aud
long offices of the choir are not on that Rl'Cmmt tn he hlam('(l, hut to he animah.d
with the f('rvor ofinh'rnallo\.c.t fhe remembram-e of having pronounml 011('
verse without a firm atteution c.1m'ing the office of matin
, upon \\ hich he "-as then
meditating in the church, according to his cnstom, after inging it with the
dergy, wa:; :,ufficient to iuduæ Itlynaldu:" Arehbi
hop of TIavpnna, to J"('COm-
Illeucc it from the be< 6 inniug; which (levout l'.:\.ercise detained him till the brUlk
of llay. This wa..:. in thc l)f.'ginning of the fourtl'enth ('('utnry.
" III the eæl
iastical h()lJg, \\e <10 110t regulate nur juògmcnt by the rules of
the theatre," S3.
Cardinal llolJ3., following qt. Jerome; ,,
() that if there he 3.11)"
child with an inòiffi'rent voice, )Pl't if he h:l
Kond work..:, he i..: a SWl'(>t
in
r 1)('-
f<<)rc God." uAb:o; !" cries bt.
\UgU:-tiIl, "(I1ram multi bV1lalll vocc, ct corJe mu-
ti
unt ! Call tat Dee, qui vi\.it Dl'O."
Thl"' celestial music C'Qn"i::sL3 in the contf'mplation of God, in exultation of mind,
:mc1 in immortality of ho(ly. "r\eithcr hwect music," '-3
.S the wi
e \:-eetil-, "nor
hymn:--, nor holy bouk..:, nor heautiful tn..His(',,:, nor the pn
pn('p nf good llH'n,
nOlO uf devout hrcthren, can profit much ,\ ll<'u "e ar(' (Ie.... 'rtl'lI l)y gr:u...."', antlleft
to our 0\\ n poverty." "The pr:1ypr of t1& I mouth," :-a
- Louis of llloi
, "is
like tlw
traw; amI th3.t oCthe heart is tlw (rrain. TIlt's two J "f)iuCfI to(rpther are
ð 0
:fiworabl) hc:ml hy God."11
\ notlwr :-pi ritual writf'r, (.
hortjng the l1ovi("(.:-, wl1('11
US::)j
tillg at the divim. Om(
, to cll<'ri...h tlH' 1110..t fCI'vpnt (le','otion, in imitation
of the angelic hiemrcll)', aclc1s;;, ((For all art
, if viewl'(l of them:-,e1vp
, lò;pparatetl
froUl elevation of mind, are like dead bodies lying on the ground; hut if t llat
f-pirit of life, whie'h thp mind can TC<'('iv(' (rom GOI.l, L{'
inq to hi ow, then in:o;t:mt-
]y thc)" l'be, a))(l ..ll'clarc the glory of God:-' "
e r(':1<l in the ('anol1
of f'roc.lo-
gan
, that "the
ingers 111U:-t he humble aud dl'vout nll'n," "quorum meloc1i:1 ani-
IllOS populi circum:ootantis ael memoriam amoremque ("({'lc...;;tiuffi non
oIum
uLli-
mitate ,'p..borum,
,--'(1 l'tiam sl1avitate sonoru1U, quæ (licantur f'ri
"3.t."**
The mo
t ('
pre':,-; 3mI minute rule:i wcre givcn to r('gulatc the l'Jt,.ternal Lchav-
* III R('gu1. C. 20, 52. t nt' Anima, Lib. III. cap. 29-
t .\nnot. EluC'ill.
\l1e!:!or. in )IatthænID, Lih. H. 2.
IlaJin
:lcra. 1. 3'\J.
I Instil.
pit-it. c. A.
P. Joan. 8_J('"U MaTh Instruct. ).melwrum. Ill. 1.
** Crodugsngi nl'guJa C.1Douic. rap. :;0, apud I>acber.
picill'g. Tom. I.
AGES OF FAITH.
111
ior in the churches. The canons of the Synod of Risbach, in the diocese ot
Rati::;pon l held in the year 799 1 commence with these words, '.In æde sacra ne
strepunto; ne ambulanto ; ante finem rei divinæ ne excoounto."* The decrees of
Crodogang descend to such particular det
i1s as to direct their censure against
those loathsome guttural feats which the Easterns hold in horror, though at pres-
ent in the most civilized nations of the "Test they are practised every where with
effrontery. In this prohibition one discovers the gentle courtesy of the middle
ages, for the words of the canon are, "ut infirmis mentibus non vertatur in nau-
seam."t Spe.aking unnecessarily in the Church subjected offenders to heavy eccle-
siastical censures in the middle ages as wel1 as in primitive times.!
"To external reverence in the Church," says Cardinal Bona, "belong the keep-
ing a watch upon the senses, the composition of the outward man, the tone of
voice, gravity of manner, decency of habit, al l d the ob::;ervance of 3011 ceremony
and prescribed rite; that the knees be bent, that we stand, sit, rise again, and in-
cline as the occasion requires, that nothing may appear which can offend the be-
holders."s Cassian,1I and St. Benedict' sanction the custom of sitting humhly and
modestly in the church, when the occasion permits. In the decr(:es collected by
I vres de Chartres, we read that the clergy are to teach the people to kneel at mass
during Lent; but that on Sundays and festivals no knee should be bent from eve
to eve, but that all were to pray standing, according to ancient discipline attest-
ed by Tertullian,** and St. Irenæus,tt and enforced by the Council of Kice,tt
which had never been interrupted in monasteries; Paul, the deacon, speaking of
the monks of )Ionte Cas
ino, expressly mentions that they never bent the knee at
the public office on Sundays, nor on any day between Easter
mcl Pentecost.
9
The custom of restiug one knee only on the earth is denounced in this collection,
as having an indecorous resemblance with the act of the Jews who mocked our
Lord. III! In the tenth century, during the canon of the mass, man lay prostrate
on the earth; but towards the period of the great outbreak of heresy in the fif-
teenth century, piety of men became so cold, that one bishop published ten days of
indulgence to those who should remain at ma::;s until the end, and his successor
continued it to al1 truly penitent and confessed, provided they remained on their
knees, from the elevation of the holy Eucharist to the elevation of the chalice:
so languid wa') the piety of that time.
' Koone instructed in the philosophy of
the ages of faith, was disposed to consider such injunctions as friyolous.
"Harmony in the body," says Plato, "appears always to be adjusted for the sake
of sympathy ill the soul." *** "They wllO pray," I'ays St. Augustin, "fashion their
limbs in accordance with the act of supplication whcn thc)" bend their knees, or
* Germania Sacra, Tom. II. 110. t Reg. Can. cap. 1.'), apurl Dacl1er Spicileg. Tom. I.
t Concil. Gradens.
Dc Div. Psal. 4!)1. I Lih. II. c. 12. -r Cap. 9. ** De Orat. c. 2:3-
tt Fragm. H C. 20.
% Chronic. S.
Ionast. Casinens. Epist. ad Carolum Regem.
II Ivonis Carnot. Decret. Pars IV. c. 36. -Ü"' JIabillon:Præfat, in. V. Sæcul. Bened.
G.
*** Dc TIpr",h. Lib. X.
112
:\1 un. E
C..\ T II 0 LIe I; ù H,
l'Åt
llJ their h.uul..., or pro
trate thC'IU...l'1vN on the ground, ahhough their in-
vi
ible win and intention of heart be h.UO\\ 11 to God, mill he llocs not waut thc:,8
signs that the human mind may be rev wed to Ilim, yet b)" them, man exci
him...
f more to proy and groau bmllLly :lmI fervently, aud I klWW not how,
while the
e movelllcnt8 of the hOl.ly JUlI"t haye l)t.'('n I'rt'('I.>th'tl hy a I1IO\"l'l11l'Ut of
the mind, lleverthelcs-.; by ml'.lIl
of the l.
ternal ami \"i
iLle net, the iutt'rual :lInl
iuvi...ible is increa....l.ll, and thu:3 what prccN(''i.I, is augmcnt("(] hy \\ hat fonow
."* It
was but natural that before the ill\ cntion of rriq,ting, the 1b . ofbools by the lx-'Ople
in the {"hurchcs l"houhI JlOt IJ:lye bt.'t'll g'('ueral. In the fift('('nth C('ntury, a prayer-
hook .f(>r the lN
uf the l){'()ple in En;.daml, entilll...1 tIll' J,\,'8tiya], n..,clllhl i ng t ho.,e :It
prc....;,eut in U
e, was printl'l.l Ly "")'nkynlle "
ord(.. The P="lltcr, the GUl5pc6, tlJe
Acts, as abo all the Collect..;, }:pistl "', anti G "pels, iì.,r the whule )"e&lr, were tnlll:r
bted into Engli:;h by Uichard, a rl'1igiow Ll'rmit in the reign uf King Jlcnry II.
The :Irehives of the dlUrdles uf
t.
'Yerin, :at Bont...-:ltIÅ' of bt.'nIi
, LaOIl, and
Itheilll:i, make Jllention uf lI1i
";;'lIs which \\ ere l'lIdo:-o('(] in nn iroll ('ab"t.' attadll...l to a
pillar in the naYe, w that the hand couM entl'r throu,,.h the hal'S to turn OYer the
}Y.lges. l\Ian)" of the Jait.r "liO f('pcaÍL't1 t]n
OßìL'e, lnew DJo..t of it by heart; others
imd lUanu
eript Jean-:; to a....:-.i
t their Illl'l1Il1ry. ,rhl'u the Emperur ofGermanr took
leave of King Charle-; ,.... of l.'mlll'e, at Pari
1 Chrit-tiue de Pi
m NlY
, that he beg-
ged that he wouM give him 011(' ofhi
hook:i of hour-., ..;ayin(", that ho would pray to
Goo for him. Thc king pl"('
utet.l him" ith mo, Ull .liu}.. thc other grmt.t The
praYl'r-hook of Ch3rll"
-Il'- Chauyf', "hidl with hi:-- nibIl', is ill the king's library,
at })ari..;, is bO\lI1l1 ri('hI)', <'o\"er(.....1 "itl. pn't'iuus t-tUIJ("=" amI \\ itll } .l:;-rl'li('f
in ivory
of the mo
t curious workm:m...hil'. In the ('hap.'] of thl' Ca
tle of ht. Ouen, be-
longing to the knights of th · ONer of the :-;ta1", fouml(...1 hy King John, there
was a bouk li)r their \L'-C in French pr( which is noticed in the catalogue of the
libr-.lry uf Ch:I1'k... ,
.t In the IiLmry of PI:lSautia, may be &.>CD the P,a1tcr of
the Empr
}:ngclLcrg, \\ ifè of Loui
11., writtelJ with hl'r 0\\]) hand in the )"l"&lr
8-17.
Jlow early the use of dCYI)tional man
ript'i ])I"Cvaill'tI in !-('('ular life ma)' be
fOUlHI at h,.
tl'tl ('\,('n on thc an('icnt
'pulcln't-:" a
un that a11t'diug' tomh "hich
:fil(,(,
the mOUlUlU'ut of Dagohl..rt, in the .\l,bey of :"It. Df'ni,;;, \\ 11t're a young prin-
c... i
reprc:;('uktl in the uuiuJ(le of (1(':lth, with her poor little hook of hours
p..c......,.d ni,rainst her
ru. The rO:iar)", lll)\\ever, wa
thc 1lU>:oòt ordinary devotion
of the people in a devout 3mlmcditati\'e ag(', w]len men had leisure for contf'lll-
platiun. This \\ a
not ill...t i (Utl"(l hy the Y' ('nerahlc B('(le, as the Eng]i
h worù
Leaùs has It..J some to
uppO
l., for in the Engli...ta eouncils the Latin wonl1)('It('(lus is
lI
('d, whieh DUC3nge JerivC:) from the Sa
un wonI, Ix.It. There is
omethill
\\ hif'h
remarkably evinccs the spirit of the midJIe uges in thf' .J.dvice which We find given
· De Cum pro
lort\1l.ø. t Livre ,Ic }<'Iiiz, &c. Lib. III. c. 4.h
* Lebeuf, Hist. du Diocese ùe Purb, Torn III.
AGES OF FAITH.
113
JO assist men at their devotion and to nourish the fervor of their piety. The
Church her8elf prays that what we cannot celebrate with worthy minds we may, at
least, attend with humble service. * ,. 'Vhen cold in prayer," says one writer, "con-
sider how many servants of God are then at their prayers, shedding tears of devo-
tion in forest cells and monasteries, and in the basilica of the martyrs, and do you
now in spirit join yourself to them. "t To this refers also what
t. Ignatius calls
the prelude of composition of place, as when men were told to imagine themselves
actually present at the different scenes recorded in the Gospel. In the history of
Leopold, Archduke of Austria, son of the Emperor Ferdinand II., there is given
an account of his private papers, in which he drew up certain rules for his de-
votions. In the manner of assisting at mass, he says, "At the GOEpel, I willlisteu
to the words as if they proceeded from the mouth of Jesus Christ and were ad-
dressed to me alone." Thee, too, Leopold, of Tuscany, among the worthies of
antique days, let this humble page commemorate, whom in tìle church of the
Annunciata, at Florence, I beheld on the festival of the Nativity of the Blessed
Virgin: for when at solemn mass the book of the Gospels was ùrought to thee
after the deacon had reacl therefrom,
owly sinking on thy bended knees thou
ditIst kiss it devoutly, and then with palms inverted hide thy face, at which
moment I remarked some cheeks clown wnich stole a tear. That going up to the
offering at mass, was a solemn and impressive thing which the peo
le in manj
places have been unwilling to aùandoll. St. Emanuel, Bishop of Cremona, in the
year 1170, celebrating mass, and refusing to receive the oblations of those who
came up to the offering wearing long hair like women, the men who were rejected,
retired to the door, and cut off their ha:- with their knives or swords, rather
than suffer such a privation for its sake. I Similarly it was the basilica of St.
Peter, at Spoleto, which was made to attest the solemn act of the citizens, who on
giving themselves to the pontiff, cut off their hair and beards, being the first of
the Longobards to renounce that ancient distinction of their race.
The distribution of blessed bread among all who assisted at high mass, which
each house in the parish used to offer in turn, was another ancient rite, originating
in the eulogia, which was the surplus of bread offered by the faithful for the altar,
that was blessed by the priest, and distributed to all who did not communicate,
and to children. II 'rhe names of the offerers were inserted in dyptychs and recited
from the altar.
Thus Dagobert. is relatCll to have given many things to the
churches in order that on
undays and festivals bis name might be inscribed in
the book of life. ** \Ve find the names of Otho the Great, and of his wife Adel.
heid. of Bruno, Archbishop of Cologne, and of Ot 1 1O'S brother 'V iUi <l,m, .Archbishop
')f )la.yence. of UlP sons of Otho, and of forty- four other persons, nobles and
· Prayer of :::). S. Perpetua and Felicitas. 1 Thom. à Kemp. Epist.
t Italia :::)acra, Tom. IV. 60.3.
lb. I.
II Thomassinus de Vet. et Nov. Eccle-;iæ Disciplin. Pa:,rs III. Lib. I. 14.
'[ Saga de Diptychis Vetel"Um, cap. 4 .. Duchesn{>, Tom. I. Scripta Fra nor
114
MOUES C.\TIIOLICI; OH.
rc1igious in the ancicnt ùiptJch of the monastery of St.
[aximin at Treve
. In
Italy \\ here the young are so t'xquisiÌl'ly forlnt,a and clHlowed with ðueh a rdìm.d
mlll spiritua.llook, h:1\ ing lines so Ll'autifully lwncill.a that their countenanct's rt'-
semblc those of angels in the painting;:, of Guido the Bologm':-:", one Illllst he ortell
struck with the tcnller piety C\ incetl by poor children in the churches: antI 111'-
thinks it cxplains
"mewhat of the mitlille .'
es to })('holù these innocent.'!, with
garnll'nt
o rough, anll fi(yun'H so soft allli delicatt'. pm
ing by thern
t'ln's \\ ith
the lltmo..t fl'n or and recollection. It appe:Lrs ,t}mt grt'ut caro W:l.i pm plo)"l'11 in
c.1.cluding from thL' churche whate'cr might di:5tract the minlI" of th. people; for
whit'h purph:,e tht'rc W:li a multihttlo of minor clerh
cmployeù who had not strict-
I) order
. In early daY8, the da.ngt.r of intt'rruption from till' pagans. mUlle the
porb'rs of great consequence.
'\11cn Pope
t. Cornelius \\ as (.lectcd in "!j.j" the Roman Church had forty-four
pric
t8 and one huntln'ti untI cight ministl'r
. The proportion of the latter in-
crea<.;t.d since tho tirnc of Const:mtine, amI for five hundn'ù )"pars till' churchc
were magnificently served. By many ùecr ''i, &8 tJmt of tho Council of
<Llzhurg,
in the year 13bG, the l
nalty of suspension ""3.::1 to be incurreù b,r such of the clergy
as faile!I in pa} ing due nttention to the condition of the yestmpnts, ornaments, anù
acreù vessels of the altar. * To pre":'l'rH' tht' CaLhpdral of Pil'ntina in its original
b('.mt
., Pius II. i
founder puhlÜ,heù a tll'cre' in the Yl'ar 13G"!, pronouncing the
bCvcrest censurcs on anyone who shoult1 \"iolatc the whiteI1c.\,S of the walls and col-
umns. t Fleury amI Chardon rcmark that th(' saints of the early a
ps, in attend-
ing "ith such care to e\.lernal thing
, wt're not occupied nbout trit1t,s. They un-
tlerstootl tho importance of prf': 'n-iug tho boauty of tho place, the silf'ncl'. dCCOfl1m,
order of the discipline, and the maj' ty of ceremonies.
eniccs of this nature \\ ero
not then delcgatell to vulgar hirelings of ferocious manners, but to spiritual persons
in whom mel'klH',,
sWl'etenc(] duty. 'Vomen wpre tll','er to a.ppro:,ch the altar to
discJmrge nny ministrJ. t By tlln Council of Ch:îlons in 6:>0, a.8 by many others, no
one wearing arms was to prc..,ume to enter the church. "\Ve who are always sur-
roundeù with the arms of ll'gitimate empire," says Theoùosius the youl1gpr, II anù
who
houlù be constantly aUcllllt.t1 by nn arml'd comp:m
' neverthplcss w}){'n about
to enter the tl'mplt. of God. l('a\ e our \H'apons outsitlt\." The CounC'il of Slcugastall,
howevcr, admitteù of one exception in f:l\'or of the king. At the time when tho
Xormans Wert' in military piJ
L:o;
ion of tIll' couutr)', Count Rodulf, one of their
chieftains, came to t111' Abbey of '1
)Iltt, Ccl.Sino \\ ith the intl.ntion of taking the ab-
Lot pri:;oner,
et on (>ntering the chnrC'h ht' ll'ft hi
l'rm... as usual, says the chronicle,
outside, of which the servants of the abbey proceeded to take an advantag p that
could only be ('xcuscd by the danger of their Tosition.
In like manner, when
· Gprman Sacra, Tom. JI. 4fi"!. t Italia Sacra., L 11\}1.
t Ivonis Carnot. Deeret. Pars 11. c. 1:J:).
Chronic. S. )Iouast, Casinen..,is, Lib. II. c. 71.
AGE S 0 Ii' F
-\. I T H .
115
Desiùerius, a young prince of Beneventum, came there with his company, we l'ead
that the servants were left outside the door, ostensibly for thtj sake of guarding the
swords and horses, though in reality it was to provide for the escape of the prince,
through a postern in the church, in orùer to accomplish his desire of embracing
the monastic habit. * When in the year of 1406, at Paris, some serjeants had seized
during the divine office in the Church of St. Jacques de la Boucherie, a criminal
who had retired there, the divine service instantly ceased, and interdicts were ful-
minated which were not loosened until the sentence of reparation had been passed.
In the book before the last, we had occasion to revert to the law and custom of
asylums, for in the middle ages, we read of men taking sanctuary where now they
take vengeance. Who is not moved at hearing that in times of the greatest disorder
and misery, there was always one city of refuge, which never beheld the horrid
images of war, where no gentle loving spirit was constrained to recoil in terror:
rat;ß
(1at; xa"-lCóv r', ý}òÈ. Mtþov ;7T7TLOxaír1Jv
ÒHVÒV á7T'álCporúrllt;lCópVOoç Vf.vovra vO
(1aç,t
where no one, however daring, was ever seen even to enter "l"opvfJPfJlOÇ aifJo7TL
xaÀ"
; for the act of Philippe-Ie-Bel, who entered the Church of Nôtre Dame on
horseback, on returning to Paris after his victory in Flanders, was like a sinister
omen of future impiety, and only in character with the tyrant, who had pushed
his sails into the temple and spared not even Christ's vicar in his wrath. The
reverence due to the sacred mysteries was accurately stated and strictly maintain-
ed. It was reserveù for the faithful of later times to behold in their
:tllctuaries
the boasting of those who hate God in the miùst of his solemllity-" Et gloriati
sunt qui oderunt te in medio solemnitatis tuæ. "! "Consider, my beloved," says
St. Ephrem of Edess.<t, "with what fear those stand before the throne, who wait
on a mortal king. How much more does it behove GS to appear before the heu,-en-
Iy King with fear and trembling, and with awful g.r;,avity."
"Here were," as
St. Chrysostom says, "greater symhols than the holy of holies contained, for here
was not the cherubim-here were not the urn and the manna,
mù the tables of
stone, and the rod of
\aron, but the body and blooù of our Lord."11 "Truly
tremendous," he criC's, "are the mysteries of the church-truly tremendous are our
altars. ,.
The custom of standing during the di,.ine offices is indicateù in the name given
to the wooden recesses in the choir of collegiate churches, though at the lessons all
were permitted to be seated, after the example of Christ among the doctors; and
holy men speaking of this practice, remark the saying of ...\.ristot1e, that by sitting
anù resting the mind becomes wise. ** A very ancient inscription which was for-
merly on the steps of the pontifical chair in the Church of the Vatican, proves that
· Id Lib. III. c. 2.
Hom. 46.
t ll. '\,. 469.
.. Physic. 7.
t Ps. xiii.
Faræn. XIX.
II In Ps. cxxxiii.
116
)1 () R E
C AT II () LIe I; () H ,
it was the custom at nome, in rl'llloto times, 11:1 it otill continue
to Lc in many
countrit's, for the meu to bf' pbced on one siùe of tho church ILIld thl
\\ omen on
the other.. En'ry emerg('ncy is provided for by canonista respecting tho cde-
brntion of the Chri::,tùm my:,terics. If n priest in 8aJing m sboulJ drop dead
or be taken ill, bn as to he nnahlo to procl'l'd unù if thi
I-ihoul<l h.'ppl'Jl bt'fore the
cons('cratiou, thl' m:k18 "a
not to bo continued bJ anotllt'r priest; but if it he nrt
r
the cons(,cf"d.tion, the IDa.:;,3 was to be tìlli:1hed by another priest, though he shouhl
not be fusting. in order that the mJsteries mi ht not be left imperfect; for the
ecc1e
i:1c.:ti(,:l1 precept which enjoin
tho fa...t W,iS to gin. \\":'1 to tho n
ity of
completing the -=acrificl'. \
the canon "ay
. .. Sinco \\e are all one in Chrit-:t. thl
diversity of persons forms no contr.iriety. .. If th. church shoul<l b(> violated or
polluted, before the canon, till' ma
w .. tl) \.)(' interrupted, if after it, to be com-
pleted. If the ILIh-ance of an ('nemy, or thl' hr akin
in of 11 flood, or nny ruin
houltl occ:L--inn imminent danger. hl'forl' th(' ('anon, the m:LS...; wa
to be
u
peuded,
if after tho consecration. the priest W:I.:) h.1.StiJ.r to receive the body a!Hl blood. [f
an ('tlemy of the Christian reli
ion should thr('atel1 the pri 'st "ith death, unless
he hreak ofT the mac;s, tIll' c.mollistB aid that the prie4 W:H bonntl to continuc,
though at tho ri:,k of hi.; lif... \\ hctlll'r it b 1Jl'fore or after tIll' con&..
ration. Pope
(Irf'
ory \FII. being wound('d on the 111':,a by IUl assa:;...;in, who f."OI'l'tl King
IIenrJ, as he said mass on the night of Christmas. did not descf'nd from the ultar
until he had fini
hetl the nu,..s which he hat! hl'
un. But tlll'ro were BOnk, 0 '(':1-
sionR whl'n it W:L..
lll'ld 1}('('("
:Lry to hreak oft the mlh. ('\'en after the cOIlt;ncratioll.
ßI;J wllPJ1 11 elying chiM wa.i to hI' hapti7l'd, or finy one W.L":' to be confp.:,gcll :11111
administerf'd 1 w ing at the point of death, who otherwi::!lc might hu,"c died without
till'
'lcrameuts. t
On tho fe<;ti\al of 8t )ficha..l. a.
the' Christians Wl're a......;prnhll'd in the I...hIlll
of )IoTe, antI St. Franci:J ""\a\"Í('r W:L.'I ut th ' altar sUJillg JU.\ð.'. a violl'nt c;Lrthql1akl'
came on in till' middlr of the sacrifice. The peopl(. in tit(' ntmo..t terror fl.-II out
of th(' church, hut th(>
aint rmnainell 8t thp altar .LIHI finÏ!::IH'd th('
:.\creelm)",tpri('s.
The barbarians were lost in a
toni..;hn}('nt on heholding .L man \\ 110 rprnail1l'Il im-
movable, v. hile the rock
awl th' mountain..; tfl'mhl('tl, 81111 tlll'Y jUdgl'll him to
he di\"inp.t The
\rchl]llkp r,polloll] of
\u8tria. son of HI(' Emperor Ferùinand II..
hein
at hi" Ilf',"ntion
in a ('hurph at
:\lgfelll, and the artillery of the (\nemy 11(\-
ginning to rarTt'. ancI thp b
ls to fly on all t-:i,ll'::. Ill' WHS warm'd of his ,langer. but
ho replied, "that no one coulc1 injurp him "'hilt' he wa.d so n "Lr hi.. (;011." In the
Fran:;;isc1.n convent. at Clonml'l, in the mitlst of th' choir \\
the stately monument
of Edmond Rutler, Baron of Cahir,
Ln of marble. with very cnriou
fignre
and
bas relievos. That haron heing at high mass in tilt' mona.-;tl'ry. nl'Wd wa'i brOll(rht
him that the Earls of Ormonll and the Barons of Dunhoirw, hi rcI3tiolJ
. were then
· Pauli Aring-hi Roma Suhtf'rranea, p. 117.
t Bpnel.l. XIV. tll' S:L<,,'if. )fj......:('.
1'1't. :? 10:Þ-t 1
.
t Rouho1\r'-1, J.
I/:J.
....\.n ES 0 F F AITR.
117
raxaging his lanù3. lIe was no way discomposed, but staid till the mass was fin-
i::;hed, and then marching against the inva.ùers, defeated them. * Louis XII. on
entering a church to hear mass, received a letter, which was known to contain news
of great importance respecting the success of his arms. Nevertheless he would not
open it until the sacrifice wa
finished. In these ages, men otherwise steeled
against conscience were found impressed with such a reverence for the churches,
that they shrunk from the thought of making them the scene of their crimes.
'Vhen Verinna, one of the conspirators in league with Fiesquo, proposed to as-
sassinate Andrew and Jannetin, Doria and Allam Centurione, while they were
tL::;sisting at mass, the count instantly rejected the plan with horror, declaring that
he would never consent, for the sake of any advantage, to commit such an outrage
to the most holy mystery of religion. This fact is mentioned by the Cardinal de
TIetz. Who has not heard the su.rprising history relating how the Christian
churches wero respected even by the barbarous invaders of Rome, to which St.
Augustin, with such eloquence allUlles, in comparing them with the heathen temples,
saying, Ibi amissa, hic servata libertn,s: ibi clausa, hie interdicta captivitas. The
basilicas of Christ inspired ferocious barbarians with humility and piety, who then
gave a new spectacle to the world?t
Having now taken a general view of the sacred offices in relation to history, in
order to completo what we have begun, let us conceive ourselves present, and pene-
trating as it were into the crowd, let us cast a contemplative look upon the won-
drous and the tender scene. Lo, what an assembly is here. This is the bles:;:ed
vision of peace. It is here that the race of men seems amiable. It is here that
we feel how near they are to God who thus showers down his mercy upon them
in the midst of his temple. Yes, sweet is the air of temples to those who have
endured the thirst of tho Babylonian exile, to those who have wandered sufficient-
IJ long in the land of malerlictions as to discover how tasteles
are its fruits, anrl
how void of perfume its most gorgeous flowers. At the first step on entering this
garden of God, it is as if ono emerged from a withering atmosphere to feel the
hm1thflll and delicious breeze of mountains. What a glow of charity suddenly
transports the heart and revives the fancy, though joy and hope had before seemed
dead. K 0 distrustful, or malignant, or inquisitive looks cause you to feel yourself
a stranger, for it seems to be here as it is in Pararlise, where the blessed hail each
new arrival, crying,-
"Lo one at'rived
To multiply our loves." t
Unnumbered are the wretched men possessing lofty souls tortured by the feel-
ing of isolation, and afflicted with unutterable anguish at the thought of remain-
ing forever unknown. They thirst after society,-after communion with congenial
intelligences. What society thf>n can be found so a
iable, so inspiring, so full of
... :\Ionast. Biber. 277.
iDe Civitatf' Dei, Lib. I. c. 4. 6.
! Dante, Par. V.
118
'IURE
t'_\TIIOLICI; OR.
all consolation. and of uIl remedies for human lIlisery 8.8 that of the faithful in tho
UOUse of ((où ? They wish to be entreated, and that their presellce m.lY be sought
fur, but what 11101"0 noble ill, itations or moru worthy of ull a('ceptation call they
receho than th():)ß which arc malIc to all the faithful in a Catholic city when they
arc cntreated tu come, rich ml'n and hf'g
aTh, in such composed amI secmly
fellowship .LS would bccol11l' the fair l'qualitJT of the gohll'J1 world, to honor the
memory of Bome friend of GOII in tho church \\ hieh hus invokell him? The
feasts of .secular luxury last but for lL short '1-'011. III th.. ,].Ï\iIlC temples thl'ra
is un eternal festi\ it)", for nothing there is celebrated that passes away, or that
had n shadow of chang-c. Eh'rllal is the festi'"al in \\ hich, ns St. Gregory says,
we escape from our 0\\011 mutabilit)" hy heho1din u ' him \\ ho is immutable-'" )1\1-
tabili
Ltl'm no.stram tml1.scl'nùcmus \ illl'n<lo immutabilem.... U From that festivi-
ty;' says a hrreat nuthor, "there is heard I know not what cert:.un sweet song in
the ears of the hl'art, provided the world ,,10th not disturb it. This unearthly
80UllÙ sOOthl'S the ear of him \\ 110 \\ alk:-; in tho courts of GOII, who considers the won-
ders of God in the redemption of the faithful; alllI it le
,Jl'th the t:;tac r to the fountaill
of waters.
evcrthclbS bincc as long as we are in the booJ we arc journeying at
a ùistance from the Lorù, and that the corruptible body wcighs clown the mind,
anù tl'rrl'nC cares oppre-:J it, if hy desire:! 'oml,timp, we corne to that soulllI, yl't
aftl'r l' while by the \wight of our infirm it)" we f:,1l1m(.k to our u('e1l40mt'd sor-
row
. But there we sha)) alwaY8 fin,I that in "hich \\ e can rejoicl', although here
there is never \,anting tlmt which caus's us to mourn. ..\.1111 now transporting
ollrsd\cs to the neighborhood of some church in the middle age
beho1t1 what n
multitude re
ort8 thitlll'r. TIll' beU .sOllllll('cI within tho loft) to\Vl'r like the Di-
Tine Toice, cans m
my. 8000n you so' tlU' humble crowd winding it
way along
thp pious path. It is the poor orphan who spins 38 she \\alh.s; it is the blind
Hum who fecl
his w:'y with his stich.; it is thl' timid heggar whose hand hol<1s ßo
rosar)' ; it is the child \, ho carCSSl'd e.,ch flower as hI' pa......
'., b)"; it is till' old man
who hastens with feeble st{'ps ;-youth and age .ue 111(' friends of noù. ..t
But ere we proceeù furthpr, let us listen to th,.. solemn murmur of thO
l' bells
which invite the faithful :-for though, in a form('r Book, we hall occa.sioll to
s!wak of them, still ono cannot refuso to return, and ,stand awhile. mu
ing at their
sonnd
In the life of St. Loup, BIShop of Sens, \\t" rend, that whcn King Clothairo
heard the bell of St. Stephen, he wag 80 c1elight..,tl with its tone, that he ordered
it to be removed to Paris, whero he might always hear it: ancI thl' bells of :::)t.
Saviour at Blois sent forth such ha.rmony, that when everything" eb
seemed to
fail, they \\ere founel to soothe that profound melancholy to which Henry III.
was subject.! In the chronicles of It..<dy, we ha.\"e another example of attention
· HOIll. II. Lib. I. sUlwr Ezedl.
top 1a )Iartinp Hal"ll1oni,'s POf'ti'lUPs, n. 102.
t Hprnipr, IT 1St. dp mOts, a.).
...-\. G E SOP F _-\. I T II .
119
to the music of bens. The Countess
fatilùa Euril1a. while remaining at Ferrara,
went to take the diversion of hunting, with spears and nets, in the woods near
the Benedictine ..:\.bbey of St. Bartholomew. Imperceptibly the time passed, till
the meridian hour found her exhausted with hunger anù fatigue. The monks then
callle out. and with aU benignity invited her to take refreshment, which she did
not refus..,. -So sooner had she sat down to table than tho ben from the tower
emitted a dead and abrupt sound, upon which :5he a
kl'd how it came to be split,
a.nd why it ha.d not been cast afresh, in order that it might give a clearer sound.
The monks beginning to speak of the poverty of their hou
e, she immeùiately
took off her jewels and her gold spurs, which slH' presented to the abbot. The
bells were afterwards caned by the I talia.ns the spur-bens, and a spur was engraven
on the brass, with yerses commemorating her pious liberality. * The office of the
bell used to be described in these lines :-
" Lam10 Deum verUlU, plebem voco, congrego clerum.
Defunctos plo1"o, pestem fuga, festa decoro."
Inscribed on the bell were generally variou
olemn Jines. Thus on one bell of
the Cathedral of Strasbourg, you read-
"
uncio festa, metum, nova quællam, flebile lethum,"
on another-" 0 Rex gloræ Christe, veni cnm pace." on another-
" Vox ego sum vitæ, voco vas; orate, venite."
Each tone had often a distinct object to indicate. Thus there was the great and
solemn bell exclusively for the high festivals of the Church. Of less magnitude
was the bell of the ..\.ngelus; the bell to announce the opening and termination of
the fair; the ben for the retreat; the bell to announce the divine offices on ordi-
u.u')" occasions. That certain bells of the towers were soumleù at the elevation,
as well as other parts of the divine office, in order that the people without the
church might be e
cited to prayer, can he collected from a. letter of Ives of Char-
tres. to :\lntilcla, Queen of Englanù. thanking her for the present of bells to that
church. t X eyer can I lose the memory of what I experienced under the dome of
Florence, when one heard as if on all sides the in(listinct moa.ning of that solemn
bell. Dugdale relates that A.thelwold, Abbot of Abingdon, in the tenth century,
made a wheel, which was filled with .belJs, which being sounded on the greater
festivals, used to excite the devotion of the people. In mallY churclu's, as at
tras-
bourg, there was a differeut musical air executed by the bells three or four times
each day, besides a peculiar harmony of joy for each of the festivals of Christmas,
Easter, and Pentecost. Celebrated were the bells of Freyburg in Brisgau; of St.
tephen at 'Tienna, which tower was erected by Conrad Zaringgen in the twelfth
century.-of balzbnrg, Erfort. Hamburg, Holm, Houl'n, Lyons. Tours, Pari
, and
* Italia Sacl'a, I. :130,
t Epist. (,XLII,
l:!O
\ll)RE
C \TIIOLI(,I; VB.
of many other plact.s. It rcquin'J the force of Si'ttecIl men to bound thc great bell
of
tra
bourg. which mCc.1:)urct) h\eut
-t\\O feet ill circumfcrcIlce. In Italy tht're
wert. Lclls weighing twpntJ-two thou
ulll pounds.
nut wc an' at the portal; till'
pace Ldon' \\ hich is entitled tho Pam()isc, either
from its intrinsir beauty or from it..s proximity to thecour
of hc..lvcn,. or from the
Loàies of the faithful rt'po
ing tht'fl', fuI before the church of \malphi. t Thc
\\ hol(' ground too, a
L(.fon' the c:Lthl'tlml of Cefalu ill Sicily, by tIll' piet)r of Count
Hoger,t find in front of tho nohlt. church
Llt'rn(). built hy Hobert Guiscnrd,
was oftcn del-ply co\'prl'd with holy earth, which had been brought from Jl'ru
-
lem: and in many p1art..
, n.s at 'ola, the \\hole b&iliccl "ag surrounùeù '\\ith
scpulc!m's, urn
, mHI in:'.'riptions. J'l'()olt'llt of \"l'nemhlt, antiquity. At the gatt' of
the latter) ou reat) thcst' linCð-
.. Si
tc f.,rradum. qu.uun... prllpf'
, ..n ..i..te, vid.tor;
Tt' co,..,rat plf.t.
.., I"('lig'J()(IUI' loci.
Qw'mque \ug-u..tinu.., I'aulinu.., Bf.daque labri..
Conc('1t'b...1I1t, ft..xo tu ,".-npr.u..' g-pnu.
In
df'N', at mundo ('onlt'. pt ..unnl P'Ccute plantas,
Hanctorum (IUanllo corpora l11i11.> prf'mns. "
This inscription at thl' cntrance of the c.1thedml of [hri in Apulia, admonished
tIll' :-:trangcr to imitate tl1(' humility of tlu' holy 11ll'1l, ll:l.lia.
and Eu:::t..'1chius, who
ha.d built awl ul)orrlPll that churl'h. concluding thul;j :-
.. IIi.. g-r.uhbu.. tUlllll.1i.. a-.cl"n..u.. ad alt., J1t'
atur.
I [ik g'J'at.libu.. blamh.. lIu.CI'f'n' cpl..a datur.
Ergo Dt' tUI11c..L", flui
ur.-.uI11 !>camh'
lju.cris,
Hi.. humili.., supplpx, planus, .'t nltu.. f'ris.'"
('l' thf'::(, smiling chihlrcn on the stcp-.t, tht,8C playful inno('cnt.., who 8ervo in the
tpmple. S....e too thc
c devout widow
. the. CI (' humblp men. who ha..tcn to ascend!
Ah! Iu>rc must bc tho cntrant" to joy; hert' we shall havp rl'ne\\ l'J the l)paceful
beauteous drCàlIlB of youth, here wc shall be remindl'(l of the thoughts of our
goldpn yc.ars. For we may remark that thc Church, unlik(' all that b('longs to
tIll' world, IS J}f'TCr renr}t>rcd by nge dif!t'fcnt from what it \\n
foun(l to be at first.
It it) like a treasury. in which all the pa.st joy:; of mpll ILr(' pre..ern'd. Th' ÌJmo-
('cnCl' and d.elights of youth, the intcllel.'tual riche:! of matnrit), are laid up in stùre
Ill're.
afe and uninjured. ,,) Olll a.s he grows oM, IH'comp#; w('ary of it, but on
till' contrary. the human 11l'art 100PS awl H'I\Cratl's it. if po')Sible, e:II'h llay, mort'
and more, for whilp it fl'ßtor
to tht' milHI of m:m all th' bloom anti fragrance
of his fir8t ;}'f'ars, all that gaTc joy to h18 ) outh, it pr
('nts to it in pro:spl'ct th('
fuhll'
of joy and pleasure for ('H'f mOft'. .\t the <Ii\ ine u1tar, the Catholic Ll'-
holds and pOS8C
whate\'er ha.s rejoicl'(l hi
oul in lift : he
t'(':of till' btar hy whieh
· In Chronic. S. 'Iona.st. Casincns. Lib. II. c. 9. notæ.
! SiciJia Sacrd., IT. Rt3.
t ltali.L Sacra, YII. :.?:!6.
Itali.
S.lcm. "11. fiI:!.
AGE
0 F P
\. I T II .
l
l
he has steered through all the gusts and tides of the world's mutability.-But let
us enter, passing with timid steps oyer thl' threshold; for underneath it often lies
buried some humble pontiff, Iike Bartholomew Castelli, who causeù his body t<,
be placed before the greater door of his cathetlra.l of )lazara, in order, a
an in-
scription testified, that it might be trod upon by the feet of all, * an instance similar
to which we find at the church of St. .Tam('s of the Spaniards, in Home, where,
through tlH
same humble choice and de:-:irc of mercy, the body of Bartholomew
de 1a. Guera. Duke of Albuquerque. amI
\rchhishop of SiPOlltO, lies buried under
the threshold. t Lo, what a crowd fiUs the holy place
This is the house of the
Lord, founded on the tops of the mountains, and exalted above aU hills; and all
nations come to it. and sa.y, .. Glory be to thee, U Lord."
\r e have many records attcsting the fulfilment of these worels from the history
of the ages of faith. Apo11inaris Sidonius de
cribes the solemn vigil on the feast
o[ St. Justus. "The processIOn was' before light; a vast multitude was there of
both sexe::. whiph that capacious basilica could not contain." St. Hugo \TI. abbot
of Cluny, was obliged to enlarge the church of the monastery, as it was not able
to contain the crmnls that resOl"Ìed to it. t Great was the multitude which the
fcsti,-al of the martyrs, in the first a;-es. drew from all parts. to the churches which
cuntained their relics, when, a::; Theodoret says. our Lord haù brought his dead
into the I'oom and place of the heathen gods, anù instead of the fensts of Jupiter and
Bacchus. were celebrateù the festi,-als of Peter and Paul. 8t, Paulinus enumerates
more than twenty cities and prm-inces of Italy, of which the inhabitants came every
Yl'ar with their wi,-es and children. in the depth of winter, to honor the memory of
01U' confcs,or, St. Fc1h,. in the city of Kola. \Ve may judge what \Va::; the con-
course at Rome on the festivals of
t. Hippolytus, <;:t. Lawrence, and the Apos-
tIes; or at Tours, on that of :::;1. )fartin. "At X ola," says St. Paulinus, "it is
delightful to behold one city encloi;ing many cities, amI such multitudes united by
one vow. Thither came the people of Lucani:t and the Appulian youth, the Cal-
a 1 )rians too, and they from joyful C'amp:mia. whom rich Capua and beauteous
Kaples encircle with ample walls,-they who cultivate the happy lands of (;a]e8.
whom powerful ..\tisia and mother
\ricia send. Home even rejoices to see her
sacred precincts deserted for the honor of Goa, while far and wide the issuing
multitude pur::;ues the Appian way. X'or are the rough tops of the Latin monn-
tains less thronged, a-.: they whom lofty Præne::;te, whom festive
-\.quinum nouris!...,
antI whom ancient Arùea sends from its borders, repair to the festival. Thither
ha
tell crowds also from Olive bearing Yenafro; and the hard Samnites le&.ve the
mountain tower
-
.. \ïcit iter durum pietas, amor omnia Christi
Vincit, et alma fidt..,..;, animisque ]ocisque rigentes
Suadet acerba pati, simu] aSpet'.L ponct'e corda.
* Skilia Sacra, n.
t Ita1ia ciacra, YII. b60.
! Btuliolhec. CIull. 1;'jj,
t. N
)1 0 It E
l1..\ T II 0 LIe I
0 R,
Una dips l"m)('to
\ocat, una pt Sola l'l'Ct'ptat,
V ota(luP ph'n:
sui'i Sp.Ltio::>.Lque limina ('undis,
Crcda.... innuml'rb ut mcenia cJilata\.it
1I0
pitibu.., !o.ic
ola a......ul'g'it im:Lg-iut' Hom:l'." ·
t. (trl'CTon" of 'rours relates, th:1t on the fc,ti\"al of till> Llcsspd mart\"r of the
:-..
..
church of Brcst, u clerk of the abbey of Limo
e'
, coming- to t1ll' ft'sti\"it), sUi'll
was the multitude of pt>oph'. tll:Lt lU' eouhl not upprl)a,'h to the' holy tomb, nor
even l'nter \\ ithin tht' church. tIn till' 'yl'ar l
OJ, one of thc articlc::; of th 'J uhill'l'
at. Hum'H, rl'quiring :LiSistanc' at :L solemn m.w in it..
('atl1cIIral, that immell ."
church ('ouid not contain th(' mu1titlllll', so that ("ro\\\I:; in dccp dl'\otiorl knelt out-
side', and fiUed the adjoining
trl't'ts.t
t., ,,10 8:'J
that tllP chureh of 81. :\lartin
at 'rour
, though of imnH'n.;e 8i.lc. W:L..; t')I) t-m:Ln for thc ('ro\\ .Is that ..;ought to
l'nter, insomuch th.,t th,' mils of tilt' chOIr ILIltl the gate po
t.s u
I>.1 to g-ive way
hdore them: and hc ad 11:;: , '" (In:un 11('\'otam ,iol('ntiam ('rl'IIo, g-ratam halU't dom-
nu
ipso 'fartinu:;. u,ll'\l'rnplllm \"i,Il'licl>t I )omini Imi qUl'lll tllrha> ('nmprinH'h:ult. ,.
This jlll1gnll.nt of tIll' mi(Ic])t' ;&,ycs, a"l'()f(\illg tn whil'h an importunatl' cro\\'II
W:l
a Bnhlinll'
pl'('t&,\'II'. :L
hl'ing 11 practicnll'\ idt'nct'. :
well us a killil of relwti-
tÍon of the fa ,t:
of till' ('hri..ti:m hi"tor)", has nothin
to fl':Lr from a ('ornpari
on
with th(' gcnl'ml
l'ntilll
'nt of tIlt' mOlh'rn
on th,'
:UJ)("
Ilhjl'l.t: ILt }.':l,t wh('r(' afTl'c-
tionat(' awl phito
ophi(' miwl."! an' to (It>h'rmilU' tIlt' flue"tioll. TIll' ha...-tp of the
:-:h"pIH'rtl
allli till' air of till'
tahlt' Wl're not forg'otton un thl'
(' oCl':
ion
in Catho-
lip tinw
; nor llid an
' onl' di,,(h,in to .hul him.....}f in ('Ollbwt with the ù('\'out mul-
rihllh'. whi('h woultlu......urt.llly. "ith tlU' I-anw impol.tllllit). ha'l' prl',..I
l'\Iupon Chri
t.
I
'in
ut Lon'Un. on till' fl'
ti\'al of tlH' Bati\;ty of tIll' Ble' 't'll Yirgin. I l'ouhI
,lOt pt'l1l'tmtt' within till' ;:,:mta ('a:;a until lat(. in tIll' ',cuing of th 'cOIuI Ja)".
whcn bcing remarkl'(l by onc of tile'
mmI
. I \\:LS with eharihbIC' 'Çiolel1('e PUIJl-d
hrol1gh t11(' mOrt' fl'rn'nt thron
" SOIll(' II1PII c'onw IH're to inquire' nntI
l)(,clllatl'
!thout tllP ori
in of :L1Wil'lIt tratlition
. but to mI'. who ('ouM not rt'main in!-l'n
ibl('
to the illt.'ntion of thi:-: \a.
t ll111ltittllh'.
o \ i
ihly impr p' d with th(' same tender
(Lwl devout atTcction>t, marvcllously foolish bl't'm such p:Jin
It was enongh for
lIll' to mt'<<1itat{" on what I felt nnd
aw.
.. TIlt' ail' or Parm1i
1' did Can t I... hO\I...... ,md an
l'ls officf'd a))."
Ld us remark lu>rc what tL charm mu
t hn\ p hcen f01l11l1 in tho \aril't.y of char-
'lcters which pompo:'t'd thil'l multitudp. In mo\lern tinw8. u.tter Buch a snc('(" 'i\c
ùiminution of truth8 affccting both the
piritll:\1 amI thc material hierar('h
of Sl)-
cicty, uothing can be more monotonous than an ,"!5Scmbly of tlw p(>ople. There art"
till' rich, cnira..
<:1eù in (':!oti
m, iuitiat('d in no ot1H'r rite'8 hut those of Bapl'hn
. hrpd
up with the fo:.lmp f(>cling of di
l1ain for t'\ l'ry out\nml nmnife
tation of pipty u.n,1
· Italia Ha
I'.l. Tom. \ï. 2t
. t GI<,g-. Turon.
(inlA'uL Lill. II. :!"/.
! TaiUl'pil'd. Rl'clicil tll'S AntÏtlllitt'z th' nUllt'n. 2:10.
D., C,'mhll..t. Ba...i1. 11.\,lIotl1l'('. ('\uniac. Uti.
.AGE
OF FAITH.
12
fen or: there arc the poor, parked in from all observation or contact with
the rich, thoroughly subducd and moulded into one form of servilely scrvill' re-
spect. But in agcs of faith it was a very di:ffere
t picture. The boundles
variety
of graces was seen indicated in the members of the faithful fold. In fact. what
do we still find in Catholic countries amidst the pious throng? "r e find the sim-
ple hermit come from hi;õ: wooas. the shepherd from the mountains. the young and
thoughtful clerk, the solemn religious man, the laboring youth, with joy and tri-
umph in their looks,-all persons dissimilar in habits, in disposition of mind, in
the culti,"ation and direction of tlwir intelligence, and yet who have one centre
and bond of union. the Church; and one model, .Jesus Christ.-" Xon intrabit in
earn aliquod, nisi qui scripti sunt in libro vitæ agni..' These words sepm accom-
plishell here, for before this altar, all who are present may be supposed, from their
exterior ïJ.ppearance, to be either saints who have pre5erved their white baptismal
robe unsullied, according to the solemn admonitions of the Church, their mother,
or else penitf,nts who have atoned, or who are atoning for having stained its purity.
At times, indeed. may be di
covered some awful figure, who seems mm"ed, and yet
unable to call on Heaven for mercy-one like those we read. about in legendary
tales, from whose eye no tear can ffll1, and at whose heart there seems to lie an icy
coldnes3, unrelieved, though fiTe thous<'l.nd voices join to raise the holy hymn, and
hearts are thrilled and eyes are filled by that fun harmony. But remark well. no
person seems to have come here merely to be observe r 1. or to comply with a me-
chanical habit. Thus there is a common office, but there are particular wants: and
therefore. while the priests chants aloud at the altar. the internal desire of innu-
merable hearts are sent up to heaven. As Pope BefIedict XIY'. remarks, the object
of the secret prayers is heautifully expressed by the Church in the secret of the
mass on the fifth Sumlay after Pentecost c. Ut quod 8inguli ohtulerunt aa honorem
nominis tui, cunctis proficiat ad salutem." How deeply interesting is it in the
assembly of a church in :::onH' vast metropolis, to detect the man of interior life,
the devout contemplatist. the llPrmit. who on these occasions, comes abroad to mix
in the throng of men.-to
ee in theehnrch the devout sh:.dent, whom nothing but
the offiee could tear from his books, the holy recluse, who ma.y be looked for el
e-
where in vain
there he kneels. with hands crossed upon his breast, and eyes raised
to the altar, as the spirit of "Sino appeared to Dante.-
-" Both palms joined and raised,
Fixing ib steadfast gaze toward the East.
As teHing God, I C:U'f' for nal1g-ht bt'si<1e." *
" here he comes from, no Olle knows: awl whl'n the office is &.t an end, he will be
lost in the retiring crowd, and be Sl'en no more!
'Vhat a solemn a.mI moving spectacle is that of the devout female sex in the
chu("(
h('s
]):mtl' had in hi
mind's e,"e man\" a livin<T imaO"e. familiar to tho,p
.. .... .
l""I
't: Pl1l"
. YIII.
124
)[OltE
(".\THULICI; UH,
who visit them, whl'n Iw tIrl',," that touehing portrnit in tIll' ,i:;ion of ParadisE.':-
.. Lo! "I\('I"(' .\nna
it!", !"o W(']] cont4'nt to look
On h"I' lov'd daughter', that \\ ith lIIovcI.. ... t'Yt'
::;ht' dmnb till' loud hO':ÞSand." *-
It is likt':L t1l'mon
trntioll of the tlh-inity which prt':-i,lt,s O\l'r all tJw (',ltho1ic
otJiC'l'
. to mark tIlt' uniH'r:-:llit
. of that inh,'llLc attl't'tioll with whid1 thpy nre Im'ed
hv womt'll-tho:-:t, fairC'!'t awl hl'
t of l'rl'atun'
. to \\ hom (;otl hath giwl1 intt>lli-
,
gt'llCl' on l'arth. who turn tlll'ir stt'p
. or ut Il':l.at their }u'art
. to thl' Catholie nltur,
\\hetJwr in jo.yor .sorrow. in sicknCSö or in lll'alth, like till' innoccnt child, who
always run
thitht'r for succor" hert' he tru
tt'th 1I10...t.
If to bt'hold tilt' di, iue h.':mty of the human eonntl'nUJll'l' he at an tinw
SWl'et
to miruls C'ontempJatin'. wlll'rt, can this pll'a..,urt' be enjo)'l'11 1'0 fully IL
in the
church? There raptnres of lo\e mixl'tl '" ith sorrow, at th' solemn moment of
í'oIDmunion, g-i,'e a l5uhlinw expru..., ion to the ('011 n tl'IUlnCl'. Tluü of joy, 88 hus
b.'l'n acutl'ly rt'umrked by (il'rhl'rt. i
ddol11 r:uhlilllt,,: for joy i
hO fu
iti\l' and
false a thin
, that it :'l'ems to ('ommnnieatl' to tilt' hnmlm faco bOllll'whut of tlw a.ir
of inlSanity: grief. OIl the c(mtn\r). I1lmost ahH\Ys l'l1nohleH th 'countenancE.'. The
instinct, ho\\pver, of onr primiti\e tlc-.tiny. '\\ounùE.'d by this contrast. bl'els Iln-
other dignity bl'sitlt's that of porro". TIlt' true condition of man i
the reparation
of his mis('ry: :&1111 hi
form lIe\l'r npp.'al'lI clot1Il't1 in it..: mo:-t IJt'autiful terrt':,trial
chamctl'r exc.'pting wl1l'n it t:\kCð the e\.pr
ion of this 1II
t('r)' of :,orro\\ atHI
grn<:e, when it recei\es th.> imprint of a (lh inl> jo)", pl'1Jl'trating to the nu)'& of
our sutTl'ring
.
Let no one t':-h'PIIl it IHlt'rill'. if. ,\ hl'll treating 011 thn tl(',ont a
--<,mulil's oì tIll'
faithful, I r;peak of the plc.L...:nr" and cOllsol;\tioll ill
pirl'tl by tIlt'
ight of the ""
holy coulltellanceR; for doubtless isOllrC I
istance was rl'nderetl to' irtnc by the
lIIere fact of Illl'U hl't'll gl'llt'mHy accn
tollll'ti to })choM t}wrn. It \Va..; no small
Ulhanta
.. that in tilt' chnrt"h OIll' ('ouM ahwJs fl'ckoll upon I11l'etin!!. from timo
to tinH'. "ith persons who borE.' the mystií' sign that EZt'ki..1 saw UPOIl tIll' fnrt>-
heath
. Ii ,"in:! monuments of infinitl> almig-ht\' gruCl' anll power di, ine. :\Ioreo\ t>r,
in th('s(' ,usi h.Lsilicad, throllgctl with innull1l'mh}e I)('ople, upon 1\ ft.'
t
,1 tla)",
aLlniùst the lìplendor of till' r;aint::. l,:,,'h ont' might :L\ oitl an notie('. f{'cl hil1l!,plf
olitury and unobscrv.'d by any ('}"e t;:L\ l' that of hid guardian angl'l who watched
oy('r him. Thcre, before thl' sacmmental pre
('nl'e. the poor strangcr-forgotten
alltl forsah..'n. in 1\ foreign lantI, alone in the C'rmnl-}..>ho}ds his one, nnei(>nt.
and only con8tallt friend, the frielul of his childhood, the fril'nd of his }"outh. his
friend for eternity. There too, you will ôometimcs renmrk the timid maiùell, or
some child that recalls the image of n .1ivine protot}l)l', "ho stealing from obsèr-
vation, drops a
mall picce of money u pOll till' platt' aft-er kissing tIll' cro
g of
l'hri
t: for in the churl"ht.s, t'\"t'u chilllrpl1 ('lljOY till' privilege of irl"e amI volunturv
* Ie\. XXXII.
-\. G E SOP F
\. I T II .
125
sacrifice. 0 how mysterious and
olcmn a thing is it thus to be alone in the saint-
ly crowd: to pass as it were a disembodied spirit through such a host of ghostly
combatants. thirsting after justice anù the streams of a happier wor1d
The
hm(l of malediction ends here. No more of its restrictions, of its con velltiona.l
han'ier5, of its miscaUed social forms. The ceremonies of the secular courts would
be profanation in the church. X 0 one marshals you; no one heeùs you. There
are pi11ar
. behind which you may kneel and weep in secret; there are retired
chapels. in which
TOU may lie prostrate hefore the blessed sacrament. The poor
walk here free and favored. as in presence of nature: they can approach to th
altars a'S near as kings. alIlI can enjoy, equally with the pomp and glory of nobil-
ity, the splendor and loveliness of the house of God: for the Church, as St. Chry-
sostom &'1.ith, is the common house of an men, in which the priest offers peace in
common to aU imme{liatelyon their entering it; and if concord were perfectly
preserved, he adds. we should hm"e no ot1ll'r honse but this. Being however, far
relllO\-ed from the virtue of those who had but one heart and one soul. and being
separated from each other by houses at least, when we meet here, it is requisite
to haY'e this intention; for, although, in other things we may be poor and rich,
yet at least when here assembled, it is necessary that all in common should receive
the priesh; of God with charity, and not with the lips alone, but with the mind
al
o. should answer when they give us the salutation of peace. *
"'ThercY'er the dignity or orlier of the sacred a
sembly required separation. it
was not even kings who enjoyed the privilege. Since the first overthrow .of order
in the (
a1lic land, the mayor of eY'ery little town desires to have his seat apart
within the I:-anctuary, which like the
acred ark, still from unbidden office awes
nUl!lkind: but until that epoch, the di
cipline of the first ages prevailed as estab-
ìÏshed by many councils: t and howcver displeased )Iilton may have been, we
know that St. Ambrose would not permit pven the emperor to remain in the
choir after making his offering. In the morning, how bright and splendid is this
beauteous temple! Every altar beholds the ineffable mystery accomplished. At
night-fan. how solemn is the voice of the preacher. echoing along the dusky aisles,
while the deep groan of the hours resounds, murmuring through the stillness of
the upper ,auIts !-Remark too what a bright yet mclancholy gleam. the last of
the c"{piring day, plays upon the upper shafts of the lofty columns! How
silent and how awful 8eem those .distant regions above! At one time aU is
llU;5hed, and you fear almost to breathe. You behold like Dante in the other
world,
" A crowd of spirits, silent and devout;"
speechless, like (Eàipus in the Colonæan forcst, anowing nothing to escape from
their heart but the thought of praycr--
* HtHn. XXXIII. in 1) :\Iatt.
t ConcH. Laod. c. 19; ConcH. Trull. c. 69.
l:.?ö
:MORES C \TIIOLICI; OR,
å
...Ct/!:, å
u}'Ct/' rò rù,
W,ÍlPOI' (1T(jpa 'pOvrl
OC
in.,."
At another, a little way before Jon, there arc perhaps somo who sing tho )(iberere
in re<:ponsive stl"ain!-. L
. how m:UlJ c..:aintB stretch their closetl hands in further-
ance of their suit! On this sido COI1108 the bright lu'ocl'Sðion of tapcr-b(':Lring
\\ hite-vei]ed penitcnt.'I. K ow they ma.h.t" their solemn halt; aJulllow the tears stt-al
dm\u your cheek::!, at the thrilling-
n'C(.tlll
of that voico which joins the inl''t-
pfl'8
i\e 8ong. 0 Christ, hm\ impre"k;i\e, how Lll'S8l-d a mOIlll'nt is this! .. Bl'ati
qui habitant in domo hm, in .;æcu]um 'I'culi luutlahunt tl.... .. Tllf' Church."
says St. Germain, .. is the hon-' of prayer, and a terrestrial hca\"'en in which (;oJ
dwells. .,
.. 0 t4'rnptulU! 0 t '/Ilp]U/Il! 0 r 'tida ]j/lli'1
L cæti !
SolaqUt. dig-J1.l Uf'(J cæ1icoJi..que dolUU'i !
Hie dulcf'S I"t'son.mt nl.'li('i
C'onef'ntihu.. h) mr.i,
ILic colimu.. l"a.....ta I"t'li
ione D,'um.
o ,'os Celicl'!'t, divinol UIlUll1t' c.lIMCPS,
y (>... 'Iuihu'i a,....trorum SI)lpDllida. rt.'gn..L pat.'nt,
Y os fjllibll'i .\rri..it cæ]nm, ju ..itquc tuen,
..\ng-plil.O" \'Ultll!', ILug'{'lico:<qup choru"l."
" Hut why," continue8 Carl1inal Bona. ., (10 I propos.. thl angels to e'tcite rp\"t'r.
"!lee in thow wh" enter till' divilll' temples? The King of ullgd;;, our Lord and
.\\ iour Jcsuc;; Christ, is him"..}f corpor('ally pI" . 'nt in the 3tlorable sncr.lment of
t)1<' altar. lIow tprrible thpl1 is this p]aeC', :LI111 how worthy of all re\l'fl'1Wl'
..
Wouhl yon Ill'ar till' language of the mitMJt, age'9 ill rpft'rence to th('
t' illl'fTahlo
mysteri
? rhiltlrl'n or lI11'n, i).'1.)' they, )'ou open th' Look of th' di\-ine
crip-
Lurl'
, and you rpad how Christ tho
(,> iah walkt'd in .J lIth'a.-how h' pa!'
l'(l
+hrough t11f' multituùl.-bo\V they who S1Lt 1)\9 the way-si,le, ('ried out, .. JC8U
,
;,on of GO(1. 1I:1\'l' JJwrcyon us. "-how tht' p('ople thronged ronm1. h('.lrd, antI
adorell-and yon "ay, .c 110\\ happy the (')e
whi('h saw him, anlI tJlf
ears which
heard his divine words
" J)('('ei, e not yoursclve
; say rather. "Beati qui 110n vide.
runt, ('t firmitcr ('rediderullt." .\ppro'1.ch---cntcr the church
. the world of
pir-
1t
. amI ('wrci
I' that faith whil"h has the promisn of life etprllal; for wlH'1l tho
mystic train mo\ os throuO'h the pro:o:trall' mnltituth' of tho:,e who strike thpir
hreasts, while tilt' hymn which ri' >
is
"ed a.'; from blp
t voi("'i;I nttl'ring joy, )on
have morl' encouragemcut-\\ hat .òo we sa
?
'OU lu1.\ e grcab'r evidencl'-to force
)Olt to adore him, in s:L('mmelltal prpspllcP, than tho
e m..n pO"'
l":::ed \, ho
aw the
infant of B .thll'h('m anll .Jl'
US of Xa7ar('th in the ...orrOWi) an,llmmi1iation antI
pa
ion of his humanity. Fall down, then, and aùore the 'fe..siah. tlw cel('
tial
King. tlw King of- glory; and ac('ording to )"0111" hith, II(' will have mercy on you.
_\n' YOU tempted with unholy thought
? you .....ilI be {repel from them. _\n> Jon
a child of aoTTO", woundl.d by the stern strok('
of a calmnitou8 lifp? yon will Le
romfortpd. Ar(' you discourn
('d at the> c1impultip
of your {losition--do you hun.
AGES OF F
\ITH.
127
gC'r and thirst after justice? JOu will be strengthened and refresher]. ::\lark and
oùey the prophetic invitation-" Omnes sitientes, venite ad aquas: et qui non
habetis argentum, properaÜ', emite et comedite. "* Trust the experience of men,
who long, like you, have trod the common ways of life, and who assure you that
it wi11 be :::0, that you wi11 be filled with benediction, fiUed with joy; that from
the martyrdom of a sanguinary world, you will come to this peace. Yes, it is so;
we may well say it who have received the mercy of the Lord in the midst of his
temple. "Sicut audivimus, ita et vidimus in civitate Dei nostri, in monte sancto
ejus. Alleluja."
" Whosoever desires to come happily after death to the joys of the celestial king-
dom, ought," says an ascetic writer of the middle ages, "while in health and life,
frequently to visit the house of nod, willingly to hear preaching, often to repair
to confession, and seek to gain indulgences. Happy the people, and greatly laud-
able, who leaving vain exhibition, hasten to the house of prayer, and to the an-
nouncement of the divine word. Beautiful spectacle! to behold the temple of
God every where filled with the faithful. and the markpt places quiet, undisturbed
by the business of the world...t "No place on the earth," says Louis of Blois,
"is more grateful to Christians than the house of prayer, where the sacrifice of the
mass is daily celebrated. in presence of assisting angels-so that from the holy tem-
ple these men ('an scarcely be torn away: and if they behold them at a distance
and are prevented from entering them, they at least salute them with a devout
heart, and religiously adore the Lord of eternal ::\[ajesty."t
III the mere remembrance of the divine mysteries, men found an assistance in
the great combat of life. "Alas! If I could go into a church," we hear one cry,
"if I could be where our Lord is lifted up, and appears to the congregation in
sacramental presence-then in that blessed moment, I should die of rapture !., In
this mystic Jerm
alem the prophecy is already in a great measure fulfiUed-God
wipes away all tears from the eyes of men, and there is no more death, nor any
more grief, nor lamentation, nor sorrow, for the former things have passed away;
and he who sitteth upon the throne has accomplished his word, and hath made all
things new. The heart-rpnding regrets of humanity in its humblest state, and the
mighty 'Woes of genius, which the vulgar cannot conceive, are alike here forgotten.
"Fe1i"t hom, quando Jesus vocat de lacrymis ad gaudium spiritus !" Can any
thing be more affecting than this la.nguage of the middle ages in expressing the
abundance of their joy? Hugo de f't. Victor speaks of the mystic sweetness
of the ecclesiastical mysteries.
"0 what grace hath our Lord granted to me !"
cries a poor recluse, to one who was compassionating her condition: "I might be
sick, and I am well; I might be living far away in Pagan lands, and I am born
here a C'hri
tian, in the neighborhood of beautiful churches and of holy priest::: I
* Isa. Iv. t.
! Ellclll1'Ìd Paul Liù. I. in fit).
t Tom. à Kenlpis, Sermonum III. Palos.
I.
pel'lllulll de )Iyst. Ecc1esiæ, PI'o]og.
1:!8
I 0 It E
ft. \ T II 0 f.J I C I ; (>> It ,
might bl' blind nUll lll'af, but I he
n the toll of bells, hl'ar the dumt. of th(' choir,
umll'\'cry morning the image of my
:hviour on the eros.s s('cms to bp('ah to my heart
in worùs of 10'\"'e. T am dead :lI1l1 I live only for gral'l'. for the chants of the
church. aud for the holy maÑ!. ...\h, my c.1 n ar fri{'nd
when I l'nu'r the hou
e of
the Lord, and the cathell!,:LI high and majestic encomp ..,
m 'with so mu<>h gr:w6
nUll magnificence, ('\ cry doubt, c\ ery carthly <lisquietlltle 'ani:
hcs immediately.
The
mok(' of the inct'n
t', t11(' voice.' of thl' prir
t. \\ hieh ri!- . from the nltar when
I prOt;trate m)'
dr. aWahl'IlS in my lll'art nn 'mpus.-;i0111'd f('rvor. Thl' burning
tapl'r8 remind nu', by their &'cret fl.\me, of the 'cret of the \\ or1<1 and of creation,
:Uld 8 thrilling emotion
pr('ads O\rr my ,,"holL hody \\ hell I think of the mys-
tcril'.
of which thrse art> till'
ign-:. J lI11'ditate nnd I pr.L)". The Cr('atorüm1 :--av-
iour 1I10\e n1l' \\ith intL'rior and ineffablo \\onI:-:. \\ hi('h firo IlP.mI ut thl' bottom of
my 8Ou1. I feel within ml' :1. 10\0 abo\" all-a. h(,ßtitmIe-n felicity-a ct'l('
tial
breath-and then the bell tolls. and the mystery is ac('ompli
h('>d: thpn a shudd('r-
ing runs through my vein
nnd through t}w marrow of my hone
. anrl I feel that
I am a Chri
tian: that the Incarnato ":1.\ iour is m'ar nw, anll that he loohs upon me
with IoYl'. ..
Some will recognize here th(' maöter's hand, \\ hich IS 'mployPd in moulding an
hIml world: but t}wrt' is nothing in thi:o; of fiction. of the intcnsit
of the
feel-
ing:; \\(' }uI.n' lIlonUJl1l'nts still p\.i.,ting in tIt(' ",tu}}('ndou
c.,tht'dral
of the middle
agl':O:. In t}J(' yt.'ar 1'!71). on the fCðtÏ\:I.l of the 1'11rifkation. \\hl'u ni
hop ConraIl,
aftl'r celpbrnting mn.". had markel} the spot on which the firgt stone W8..i to he
placl'cl of the catlll'llral tower of
tf:l....bollrg'. RuC'h was thl' t.'arnestncss of two úf
the labon'
. conh.mling who
houlll hC' the fin;t to pnt his hand to t}l(' holy work
that one of t11l'1U in the Ftru:.r,rll' r('c.(.i\ed a mortal wounci fmm a Fhon'}; anI} in
COhSf\que11CP of this nccillent. it wa:, not until ninl' da)'s hUI}
lnpscd. and the pla,ce
\Imi bPNl n
ain ble
l. that thf\ bishop woulcl }wrmit them to resume' the work
of laying tlu' fonnc1ation. '''hell J)l'sil]('riu::, tIll' a\,hot of )Ionte f'n,ino. was
about to rebuild the church of that mona..4ery. hlL\"in
('oI1Y('}"('tI mnrhll>q thitlH'r
from Home'.
o gre:Lt W:I..., tIll' fen'or of the faithful that th' first column W:to) horne
from till' ùa':f\ of tl1(' mountain to the summit upon thl'
houlders of thl' m111tituc1e'..
In the dp\"enth cf'lltnry. Barth.L, the mot1lPr of :--t. EIJl'rharc1, .\rl'hhi,hop' of
alz-
burg, carri('11
tonl':O; on }wr
honlllpr
. wnlking barpfoot for the <';l'aC'P of half a
If'.lgUl', to
t'n l' in tIlt> construction of the church of St. )Iary, which \\"a.') tlll'n l)('ing
built in 11Pr own vilIagl' of ....\l1er:::torf. t We read of churches, as thut of Burgo
St. Rl'pulchro. l)('ing built by m('1l who, liht' Hw tu.o 110hll' pilgrim..:. .\..('anU8 amI
....Egidiu
. 1"etunlin
from tho holy sepnlchr,'. hall been vi..it..ù with IH'a\"l'nly
drmms, a
they slept on the margin of limpid fountainR:1 we real} of saints. like
Iallr. who suc('('e<lec1 7l'110 in Yerona's dlnir, retirin
to mountain
and huilllin
· Chronic. S. )[ona..o;;t. Ca...inrnc;Îo;;, Lih. III. c, 2
.
1 Italia.
a('ra, III. HI-t.
t f;"rmania. Sacra, Tom. II. 24.3.
1J
..U
..:\ HE::; 0 F F _\ I Tn.
1:!
churches at a fountain: * and wen might the presence of such sweet refreshment
awaken the rem('mbrance of those nev('r failing \Vater
which spring up unto
('t('rnal lif('. The churches of the middle ages are all standing memorials of the
fervor with which men thirsted after justice, worshipping God day and night with
sacred mysteries and holy song.
(C Devout per
on5, saJ8 St. Bonayentura, "experience
ometim('
sl1rh a charm of
ensil>le pll'asurt>:;, in the assemhlies of the faithful, that they seem as if embalmed
in the agreeable perfume which surrounds them. and ùi:5
oIYed in the sweetness
of c('lestial harmony. Perchance this is the grace of God to encourage the im-
pefect in their commencement of a holy life, or it is the fulness of spiritual per-
fection, which by reason of the union of the soul with the body, is commullicate
to the sen
es; or perhaps even it is a favor bestowed upon the body, that a.:; it hao
heen partaker of sorrow, and mortification with the soul, it ma.y now also partieipate
in its joy, for as the body labors with the soul, and both have their sufferings.
there may be justice in imparting even to the body some consolation in the present
a
well as in the future life." t The Catholic discipline rested upon this
com"iction. expressed by Lombez, that C'
an mu
t have plea:mre. That if he find
it not in the service of God, he will look for it in the false joys of the world; for
he feels that he i8 made to po
:)e
s happine.:ili, and he endeavors to attain his
destiny. ., )f he had found barred aga.inst him tIlt' portals of the house of God,
he would havc sought admittance to the a
emblies of vain pleasurt'. though :;:hame
anù ruin were sure to be his end. f-\howing the benefit derived from frequenting
the assemblies of tho faithful. the seraphic doctor ohSl'rves that Saul on joining a
company of prophets became himself a prophet, and being separated from them,
fell into reprobation. St. Thomas being absent from the assembly of the apostles
'Was deprived of the sight of our Saviour lately risen, and on his return to them
he received this honor: and it was when an the disciples were assembled to-
gether that they all received the Holy Ghost. t In fact, it wa.s in the churches
that the most signal conversions in the middle ages were known to have beell
made.
Iany who entered like that old man ::ieen by Abbot Paul, black and
cloudy, drawn contrarywise by demons, while their good angel followed at a
distance, returned from it like him. shining with a sudden whitene
, having their
good angel c1o
e at their side, while the demons followed afar off.
., St.
Ia.ry of Egypt," say the old writcr
, cc may proceed with the dcvout mul-
titude of pilgrim
to the holy city, to celebrate the festival of the exhaltation of the
cross. Ip!o-:- to adorp him who died on it, than to render it the witm.:,s of her tlis-
order
. and yet then perhaps will be 1 he moment when the dCi:igns of the mercy
of God may can her to rise from the deal!. The Church prays that our viccs may be
cured by the
ered mysterie
, and that we may receive everlasting remedies:""
· Id. Y. t19'2. + Df' Reformat. Hominis E'\.h'l'. cap. 80. tSpf'cu]um Novitiorum, cap. 23.
Ivonis Carnot. Decrf't. PaN. XVII. .38. n Post Com. Exub. Sab.
1:
(}
'[OH.E
c'.\TIIOLICI; OR,
that her solcmnitic
ó. ma)' hoth cOllfl'r upon us thl' rt'lIwllil's of th(' pr
l'l1t lif(', and
grant us the r<,\\ :mls of l'ternit). ... II i:-:to,'.\ is Hot \\ ithout mention of II1l'morab!e
t:'\:unpll's to ('\hibit thc fultilllll'ut of
mch pra)crs. W'ill you hl'nr tIll'
rl'at pOl't
who
llng- tilt' n'co\"ery of Jl'ru:.:
Lll'rn, rt.=count to )OU hIs o\\n l'
pl'rienl't.? "_\ time
ther(' was," b:'YS Ta.-,:-o. "when I, \\ ith clou(18 of '..l'nsunlity darkt.ning m) mint!,
coultl onl)' rl'Cogni7(, th('l'. () Lorl1. a:i I' (,l'rtain r('a.;on of tIll' uniYt.f)o:l': for J (louht-
l'<<l \\ hl'tllt'r thou h:\tl
t cn..),tl'd the world. or l'1llIow('I) mall \\ ith un immortal ..:oul.
:Lnd I doubtNI of Jlumy things which flowed. from that 'Ùurel': for how ('ould I
firmly b('lil'\ (' in tlU'
,crament", or in the ftuthority of th(' pontiff. or in hdl, or
purgator)., or in till' hH'21.rnation of th) Son. if 1 dOl1htl'(lof tIlt' immortal it). of tIll'
soul? Willingly J \\ ould ha\"(' kl'pt do\\ 11 m)' un()pr:,t.:mding. of itself curious
:md wn.nJering. 8ud belil'\N whaten'r tIll' hol
" Catholic Homan Chur(.h beli(',es
ant! t('3ch(':o.; hut this J ùpsirl'I), 0 L l ml, not
o mm'h through lon' of th)' infinitc
goo,lm'ss, as thrO\lO'h a cl'rtain f'er\ ile fpar "hich I hall or thl' pain:-: of Iwll : ror
oftell there u..:('d to I'ouncl horribl)" to m) ima
in:Ltion the 81Yt'clic trump('t of thc
grcat day of rewards anll puni:;hm<,nt...; nnd I saw thl-Of' Bitting 11pon the douds. nnd
I heard th('(' utter \\ orll... full of tl'rror, depart
'l' cU1":'l'cl into (',"('rl.
ting- firf'. \nd
thig thought W:h so .-trung in nit'. that 80nl('tirnt'q I 1HPli to be ohli ('II to impart it
to
omc friend or al'(Jl1aintancl'. an.l in ('onl'pqupnf'e of thi:; ft'ur I "":PII to go to
confc
ion anll to f'ommunion in tIlt' timp:, anI) m:mnpr pr('..:crihpd by thy Homan
(,hurch; ana if at any timp I thong-ht I 1mll omitted nll'ntion of all) fo:in throng-h nf'g-
ligl.ncl" or shnll1l', though it wa... ('\t'r
o litth' nwl \ ile. I rl'}w:Üpd m)" confl'So."ion. awl
often m3.l.1c a g'l'l11'ral eonfp..:.;ion of nil my error,... Y pt thou knowl':o:t that 81\\"a)"8 I
dl'sirl,tI the exaltation of thy faith with an iacrt,(lihl(' affection 21wl that I alw.
ys
\\ i
I\l.tl, though pl'rhap... with n r('r\ or more munllane tluLll
pirjtllaJ, tlmt tl)('
('at of
th
" faith :mtI pontificatt' in Honlt' might hl' prp
('rn'd for ev('r. .\1H) thou kno\\est
that thc name of Lntlll'ru.n or h('rl'tic. "Il.'i ahhorrPll nntI ahominlLtt,tl by IIll'
L:S n,
pl'stifcrou" thing, nnll th:,t my <<loubts wcre ml.rely an intt'rior ntl1iction, until thou
dilh:t b
gjn to warm :mcl rpjoi,'" my hpdrt \\ ith tilt' flam(... of th)'lo\ (': and t})(,11 hy
degrees, by mean
of frequt'nting ortplwr thl' sacr('d otfic('-! .mtI praying (',"pry day.
my faith grew a:;trong('r from clay to d:\)", I"HI r bt'I':uu' '
'nsihlc from ('\'}>t'riPlu'('
that It is thy gift, and r lparncll to J'e my }la.st foIl)' in h:1\ ing presume.l to ima b -
ine that T could cli"'f'o\l.'r h
" m
intel1ig-('n('('\ tilt' BI'f'r('t things of thy ('. ...('nc('. nnd
(.:-:timatl' hy thl' nwa!o:nre of human rm..:on. thy gooJ1H'
' thy justice. th\" omnipo-
tencc. .. t
This nffef'ting Illi."
'lg(' only \"f'rifi('>: whut thl' \\ ,'iters of the middle ng-t's aflìrm
with regar,l to the effect of w;sisting and communicating at th
u('r('(1 m)"stl'ri(':'!.
"EfTectn
Eucharisti:\'," say thcy. ., Runt, pra ,,('>f\'are :ì I)('CC:Lti
. augert' gr..Ltiam,
terrenorum odium infundf're. a<<1 :\:'u'rnurnm amorpm nH'ntcm de\ :Ln'. ilIuminarc
· !d.
t Torql1ato T.........o, Di...cOl
() sopm \"ari u.cci.lenti d..lla
ua \ it.
M.,.jtto:L ::-'cipion Gon7.ag-.
.
_-\ U E S 0 F F A IT H .
131
intellectum, succeIlllere affectum, conferre animæ et corpori puritatem, conscientiæ
pacem et lætitiarn, atque inseparabilem cum Deo unionem." To the::;e adorable
mysteries of the altar the faithful came, pressed by various wants. "Some," as St.
Bonaventura says, "hastened thither, moved by the force of calamity to lay their
sorrows at the feet of Jesus. Others came to desire some grace and especial mer-
cy, knowing that the heavenly Father can refnsr nothing to his Son. Others
were constrained to fly thither to proclaim their gratitude, and to pour forth tho
love of a thankful heart, knowing that there is nothing so worthy of being pre-
sented to God as the sacred body and blood of the eternal victim. Others pressed
forward to give glory tc G-od and to honor his
aints, for it is in the celebration of
these mysteries of love that we can pay worthy homage to his adorable majesty,
and testify reverence for those who served him. Lastly, others hastened on the
wings of charity and compassion, for it was there that they could hope to obtain
salvation for the living and rest for the dead."* Thus to the thirsty pilgrims
through the rocks of the desert did the fountains of water appear. Thus did the
generation of those who :-;ought justice receive benediction from the Lord, and
mercy from God their Saviour.
CH_\PTER VI.
HE monuments a
well as the history of the middle ages in almost e,ery
! m page furnish some proof or indication of the 100'e which men of all
-If.- cla
ses entertained for the sacred offices of the Catholic Church. _\1-
<
though high mas
used to be celebrated every day in many monaster-
tCr
\)! it's. t and the canonical office regularly sung in every cathc(1ral and e\ en
parish church, still the affection of the laity prompted them to make many
foundations for the multiplications of offices which are monuments not a little curious
of the spirit which then animated society. The seventy-one parish churches in
Venice, "ere equal to cathedrals in structure, and in respect to the riches of the
sacred vestments, and other ecclesiastical ornaments not inferior. t With such
fervor did the inhabitants of that city attend to the celebration of the Catholic
ceremonies, that more than 200,000 pieces of gold wcre annually givcn for pious
works, both men and women contributing. It wa.s a custom for pious la}'men to
agree together to found prebends in different churches, as in those at Paris men-
· De Reformat. Hominis Exter. cap. 82.
't Italia Sacra, Tom. Y. 11;6.
t Bibliothpc. Cluniac. in 1';07
1:3
l()RES CATHOLICl; OR,
tioucd by Lebeuf, of St. Thomas du LOl1\ rl', and of St. I1onor{'. In the church
of the
agdalen, thl' e.LIlollicßl hours \\ ith high III:!"'S Wl'rl! ('ph.hrah"d l'vCr)' da)'
according to the fOUlllIllotioll mUlll' by tho \\ ill of :-;tcphcn
y' crt, a merchant of
thc street of
t. I )euis:* and X lColas FilIon, 0. citizNl of Paris, foundl'Ù a chapel
in the church of Autt'uil, on cOlldition thnt the chaplain prit,
t should kl"'P II, sehool
for the bOJB of that plae,' ,\1111 of Pa,,'y, ntHI
houhl conlhll't them l" pry l,\t'lling
to the church for th,. bl'lll't.lictioll; .md lit' foullIl"ll al
U 'chool for girls, whom
the mistress was to condul't in the s..mw manl
'r. + I Ii the s .ig'll('urnl chap,'1 of the
church of )1('r) -
ur-ois,' th,'n' was :L fOUlllbtlOIl l1la,lo h)' .\llthony d('
aint l'ru:.-
maUlL' Sl.i
tll'ur Ih. 'ft'r)'. for n prit'-;t to
L) fonr 11l1L&St.S t':1(,h Wt'l'h. awl to illstruet
thl' chihln'll, \\ ho wefe to h,' concillctt',l t',cry cVl'uing to th.. church to ðin(r therl'
the anthem... ill honor of the blc', .J \Tirgin amI of St. Antholl), and to prl'Y for tIlt'
king- :lUll the \rchbishop of Pari:.. t
In the dmrch of E
"olll'. in tilt'
nnlO tlioce
", Hll'r" is nn in...cription iu (,othi('
"har:u'tt'}ð to fl'I'orti till' r0l11llh
tioll of a ht'nt'\liction to h,' giH'1l hl'Ì\H>cn /"Ì'\: awl
::;"\,"('11 ill the e\'cning of East'r ,1a)": the fOUlUil'Td are Xicolc BO-'" rt, A\ o('at in Par-
liament, Neigllt,UI' of Ch:ull peucil, ß1ltl .T aIIt' Fl'r'roll, his wife. . \not lH'r in
C'ri ptiull
records that their ,bughtt'r', willow of nuibt'rt. .hocat. has fOUl1l1('(] in It;O}, ., .\n
() filii ('t filliæ. ..
Clalllie It. Pclletit'r. Conh'oUer Gplll'ral allii
ll1listt.'r of Stat('.
after qUItting the court and rt'tirillg to fl'si,\t, ir) hi., Ca..;tle of \ïllelll'un..ll'-Hoy.
founded a bplletliction and complin ('\ t'r
en'nin
in tlH' parish chuTC'h, ut which
he u<;:p(I him
"'lf eon:-t:mtI,y to n
i...t.1 TIll're "a..: a f0111H1ation al:-o in the churC'h of
:Xl'ufmontil'r, of ß
('rI1l01l on .\ll-:-)ainb' <1a\". afb'r tilt' \t'
pt'r:-l o( ILlll'aint... to }",
a comml'J1wmtion of
\ll Soul
, to Im'par' the It('opll' for tIll' clt'votioll of till' fol-
10\\ ing da
. -. l;uillaume Foucault, fountlctl in the ('atht'llml rf E, n'u
. thl'
ol('ml1
OtliCl' of
t. Agatha, \\ ith a gel1l'rnl procl'
...ion l'H'r}' y,'ar to COmml'IIlOl'atc thl ell'.
\i\t'ranct' of that eit
, from tlw army of the' IIu
ul'not:l. which tooh p1aI'e nn that
du). ** In the ancil'nt mOIlUoðtic c'harters 11.180 WC' finll many fout1l1atioll8 h
' piou
nobles \\ ho desired that certain p
lms should bt' recited puhlicl)' nt particular
hour
, U
in that which "
l.3 at th,' 'Iona
tery of
t.
hrtinJ ut TOl1r
, whidl pre-
scribcs th:Lt after pr'inll'
hould lit' Hung till' p
alm, h Ad tf' Il'v:" i oculo..: 11l"O
. '.tt
But without mll1tipl)'in
tht',,, inðt:LIlI'('
unl&t'I"I" "Lrily, let us now takt' a fe'"o par-
til'ular e:mmpll's from tlH' history of th,' ug-c'
of faith uf the 10\c ",hie'h the lait
,
t.'\ incc(l for' tIll' (1i\"ine ()mCl'
: allli who will not h(> t-tru('k with ullmiration at th('
majt'stil' portr:Li
"hich tlwy fu..ni
h of tilt' gr'l'at ani] gool1 m,'n of Cntholil' tiu1t'so
Truly in their love for the 8af'rt'tl oflicc
w(' }J('hohl the power of that rl'ligion. whil'h
in llays of (,'1.rly pt.rsccution couhl con::;train the "ift' of n. noman Emperor'
sl'cretly to quit the imp,'riILI 1,"11 likf' an adult,'rons woman, in orapr to ha:-:tl'l1 to
thl'
mbly of till' pOOl" to Jo-t'l'k ,Jt'SUB Chri
t at till' altar of an Oh
Cltrl' martyr,
· Hist. du Dioc. ...(' df' Paris, I. 11. t Lf'hf'uf, lIi..t. du Dioc .s.. (Ie Pari.., Tom. Ill. 10.
t Lf'bf'uf. I1ist. du DiocC'-.:f' de Pari
, Tom. IV. 197.
Id. Tom. XI. 14-"\. D It!. XII. t&;.
Itl. XIV. 2:S
. "Hi
t. d'F\.r"\1:\.. p. :
:!-t. ttBrrnif'I.lli..t. cff' BIoi... PI...II'.....; II.
.AnES OF FAITH.
133
among the tombs. and among men who were proscribed and despised; for so we
read of the .Empress Prisca and her daughter Y aleric)" who used to repair secretly
by night to pray in the catacombs, not daring to incur the fury of Galerius.
It was a maxim of the Pythagoreans never to turn from the road in order to
visit a temple, because the worship of God should not be conducted by the way
as a matter of secondary importance;* and this dictate of natural reason was
obeyed in the middle ages with a consistency that admitted of no obstacle from
the conventional forms of ciyillife, and with a fen"or that indicated the presence
of those rites which according to the voice of ancient prophecy were to afford dc-
, light to kmgs. Alfred, that model of heroes and of wise kings, used to observe
hours of devotion both night and day, like a monk, reciting prayers and psalms.
He never let a day pac;:
without assisting at the dh-ine offices. lIe used to VIsit
churche.sat the first crowing of the cock, and to pro.5trate himself at the foot of the al-
tar, beseeching God to grant him purity, and deli,-erallce from temptation. It is re-
corded of Clodoald. son of King Clodomir, that he "preferred being present in the
choir singing the divine prai,e to hearing the v
in words of men,"t King Robert
of France, besieging
lelun. on the festival of St. Hippoiytus. contrived to enter
the town in disguise to as
ist at the office. This is the king who i
said to have com-
posed a prose and some responses which were adopted by the Church. t The high
tower of the Castle of Amboise was built by the governor, in order that he might
see from the top of it the tower of St.
lartin, of Tours, for whom he had sin-
gular devotion.
The love for the di, ine offices induced many kings and nobles to convert their
palaces and castles into churches. Thus Pepin changed his palace at A\.ngely into
a church and abbey under the invocation of St. John, which gave rise to the
town of 81. .Jean d'..\.nge1y. Clovis, in like manner, gave up his palace to form
the church of St. (.eneviè,"e, and Hughes Capet converted his hou.5e into the church
of St. Bartholomew: Robert gave up his to form the church of bt.
Xichola,;:. and Henry 1. abandoned his to erect the priory of St.
lar-
tin des Champ::;.
King St. Louis assisted e'"ery night at the nocturns
m the holy chapel. The bells used to toll every where to summon
all the faithful to church at that hour, which custom prevailed till the time of
King Charll'
Y. Philippe-de-Long made an ordinance concerning the discipline
of his palace. in which he declares. that he will attend to no business until he has
a:;:sisted every day at the holy sacrifice of the mass. This was the custom in Eng-
land in the time of Lydgat(', as we learn from his advice. "And than every daye
whan ye s
1an go to do ony thynge asJre this question of yourself, wheder art thou
goyne. whyder ye be in the way of virtue or wyckedlless, folowYllge Cr}'st or the
* Jamblich. de Pythagoric. Vita, cap. lR t
fabillon, I. 1. Act. O. S. Bened. U6.
! Chl'onic. K BCl.tini, c. 3:3 apud )Iartini The-mur. Anecdot. Tom. III.
Duchesne, _\.ntiquitez des Yille.;; de France. I. 49f1.
I' Lydg-ate. thf' d
.cta...y of goü...tly hl'lthe.
1:34
\10 }{ E::; () _\. T II 0 L I U I; 0 It,
Dl'ryll, in the w.\\" to hl''f'en or to h,'l1. If it Ina)' b,', here In.a.&5e c\er)" llay, fUl
by that ye be nmlle the morl' abll' to elo .
l gooll workes in the (by folow.plge, awl
pro:;per the ùettl'r in "very thing. .,. (,harlerna
ne. unll'" prm un tell by indi
posi-
tion u:)ct! to ri:)u rl'gularly in tIll' night for matins. t .md u'&iistcll at th' otli('\"
wearing :\ long p
Lllium. t I lis chapl'}, with its rl'1ic" ornaments, anù llumerou"
clergy, served "ith ,\!i muc'h
pll'n,lor n'l any catl\( tlr.
l, followed him on all his
journeys, an ('\.amplo whil'h wad imitatl',l by his SlIce'SSOr8 and men by petty
seigneurs. By mcans of a dipti
cJll' whi('h cl\<aincJ p
,intings or carVl'd irnwrery
in a foltling tabll,t, t:'.l'ry OlW could arnmgc his little omtoryon a journey, and
h
L\c it alwaJs with him; for th nUlIlh"r was l'olllp.Lratin'ly smaH of tho
e b"rons,
who as was said, .t \\ l'rt.' more ,1I'Ji,.,.hte,} with tho harkin(f' of hountls than with the
melody of ('elc
tial h)'mn
. ..
King Loui "II. on the co.L.it of ..\siz,
Iillor, ("l'ry
ùay fighting again
t the Turks in pelöon, u "Ion his retllrn each evening to de-
sire that '-('
I>Crs uncI complin r::houM be SUUg' bdore him. The king-s of Frnnce
u
ell :5011'l11l1ly to prt.'
l'rVt.' in their orator)'. IUlll ('\ en to hpar "ith them to war
tIll' cap of
t.
Iartin, thinkilw that it would bl' 1\ prot ,ction to I)ho\\ honor to
the relic of snch a friend of f : <.xl ; from which cap Du
nngl'. follO\\ ing th' monk
of St. Hall, lll'ri,e
the word hc.lpell:I." 1'hnt no ('lass of men mig-ht b' CXI'mpt
from tho con
olstion of the eli, inl' 111) 4l'rit..s, ma..;
u:ool'II ah\ 1\):; to be said in
prisong on bUlHla.y
awl fl,=.;t'iYal
, and 0' 'nl'rally by monks of an alljacent 111011-
a,stery. In our agl'. indef'<l.
ih io Pellico Illl'ntions that it '\\ a . not till nftl'r a long
time hael elapsl'cI, that by the rl'mOnstraIU't.' of Father :-jtephen Paulowich, the un-
happy pri
ont.'rs in the :-\pilll)('rg hacI pl'rmil--"ion to lwar 1113.:00". ,. \r e u
etlJ" fa)"s
he. H to be ('onductc(l stronfrly guarelp,l. awl placed so that WI' shoultl not dmw the
attention.
\ Capuchin friar uS\'t1 to ...ay m: ". This good man U
'd nhnt) s to
finish with an or<'mu.;;, and to implore our ù"lh erance from bonds. \Vhen he came
to the altar Ill' uSl'l1 to ca."t a piteous look on l':\ch of the thn'l' group
, 1\1111 then r....-
main lL long timl' "ith his 11l':LII
toopl'd in pm
'er.
Io:oot
WC('t anti pleasant it was
to us to hear the chant IUlll tho org-:m which accompanied it.'1 Cardinal Pacc:L,
howl'Yer, sa
, that while he was confin >ù in the fortr
ss of Ft.'nestrelll', there U l.i
to bc mor(' ma:-:s(:, ...aiel in its chapd than in any cathl'llr:ll of ItalJ, in ('on
(\-
qUl'l1C'e of thu number of t'aptive pril'
tH. But to return to tho chuJ"('ht'!o1. Time
would fail me were I to tell of all the emperors. kings, high nobles. and magi:--
trates of frLe cities, who used to plscp their chi 'f delight in hearing the sacre,l of-
fice.
raximilian 1., Charles V., Ferdina.nd III" Philip IV'., Louis XIII., nn,l
man)' illu8trious counts of the ('ml'in>. are remarkable t.'xamples. .From rf'R,ling
the diplomag and obscr,"ing the deeds of tlw Xorman princcg in Sicily, it would
appear that their chief joy on having expelled th.
racens was derived from b('ing
· Id. II. 11'1:!. t Eg'lllhard. in K.lr. )r. c. :?fi. t )Ion. B.,mg-aìi. I. 83.
Ionæ Episcop. tie Institut. Laic.LJi, Liv. II. c. 23. apud Dd.Chpr :;picil
,
. Tom. I.
n Le mie Prig-ioni, cap.
O.
\(
ES OF F..\ITII.
1:J"
able to restore and perpetuate the
olelllll celebration of the ::;<wrl'd mysterie
. Hoger,
duke of Calabria, in his grant::; to the church of Agrigelltum, appeals to his having
ordained episcopal churches throughout SicilJ. * This illustrious prince built and
endowed innumeraùlc churches. Gaufridus relatcs that to that of Troinensi
hø
gave vessels of the altar. and more vestmellt
than sufficed to the clergy, ùes;l1es
candelabras, crosses, texts, and bells of melodious sound. "To whom;' cries he,
"unless to this great prince, arc we indebted for the sweet melody of
chants, for the words of the sacred law, and for the celebration of divine
worship? "
In general, the ancient diplomas to churches are all characterized by the spirit ex-
pressed in that granted to the church of Palermo, in the eleventh century, which
begins by observing that all men whom God had made partakers of earthly
government should attend to the ecclesiastical and divine mysteries much more
than to the pleasures of the world. t In fact, the celebration of the divine worship-
seems to ha.ve Leen ever uppermost in the mind of these Xorman deliverers of Si-
cily. Count Hoger. in the fin,t year of his kingdom, having sailed from Naples
with three ships for Sicily, was assailed by a furious tempest off Salerno, which
during two days exposed him to the most imminent danger of perishing. In
this situation he made a vow to God, that on the first shore at which he should
arrive safely, he would erect a church in honor of the
aviour, where the divine
mysteries might ùe offered up for ever. Shortly after, on the feast of the trans-
figuration, the wind becoming favorable, he reached in safety the port of Cefalu,-
which was then an ob
cure town, the name having been derived from its former
position on the summit of a steep rock which projected into the sea. At the foot
of this rock, which is washed with the sea waves, he built a church to St. George,
and at the corner of thp rock he erected the votive temple to the holy Saviour;
adorned it with antique columns. and curious mosaics, and conferred upon it the..
dignity of an episcopal see. t
The admiration of king Conrad, on arriving at Salzbourg, when returning fron
the Holy Land, was elicited by the extraordinary splendor of the sacred vestments,
and the venerable aspect of the devout wearers in that cathedral: and on his de-
})U,rture, wishing to testify the satisfaction which he had derived from his visit,
he esteemed it thp most honorable testimony to dec1are that he had never seen a
city in which the' worship of God, day- and night, was celebrated with such solem-
nity and magnificence.
Henry the Liberal, count of Troyes, who was born in 1127, had been called so
on account of his munificence to the churches. In 1157 he founded and built the
canonical church of
t. Rtephen at Troyes, adjoining his castle, for seventy-two
canons, who were to perform the divine office
in plain chant and good music to
glorify God forever. Besides this he founded and built the eanonical churches.
* Sicilia Sacra, 1. fi93. t Sci]a Sacra, I. 74. ! Ibid. II. 79
.
Gel"lllania Sac.-a, Tom. II.
;;2.
l:W
[U RES C...\ T II 0 L I U I: () It.
of ::;CZ
Ull' and of
t. lluiria<'l' at Provin8. :Lwl also t('n oth(,1" <,hur('}ll's of canons,
hp
idl'
1L l1lunu('r of hospit:...I:o!. Ill'
o 10H'cl t1ll' <,ll'I'g
'. thn he 1I:.;l'c1 to call thf'
canons. tHios nll'
, ('apelJanw nll'O
. prchl'IH1u"i nwO:ò. Thid lI1u ,r nificcnt church
of St. I'tl'phcn b'rn,,) us the ('halX'l of tl1(' <,ount., of Tro}'l':;' Count Hcnry 10\ .,1
it us rnuph n., ht, rlid hi
own flesh. 1'hl'I'(' \\ z
i IL trihulll whieh looked upon th..,
high altar, to \\ hich tht'rl' was un nsct'llt by stt'ps from the intL'rior of hil:J palac('.
Bnd h. u:,('cl to CI)IIlC thcn'
metim
. with his familv tu hear th' divine o fliCl' ,
but genl'rally he lL\)ed to d('scl\11l1 nnllsit b('lO\\." ith th(\ e.,mOIlB, ehallt:n
\\ ith them,
ßwl \\paring hi
hahit of 1"('(1 \"(.I\t.t, uml a c'olh'giutl' pa}> of the
ILmu nmtl'rial,
co\crl.d with prt'('iou
tl)Jll'o,\. which was prl'Sl'f\l'\1 in t1ll' trl':
"iur)' of that ehur 'h till
the re\'olution.. So, also. adjoining till' church of th - ubb ':J of ::;1.
Jartin, at :;,[,'('z,
there \\ as a building in whi('h the (lukl:; of \Icn<<.:ou uscù to Lt- lodged when they
rault' to :-3l'(.k edifieation with tilt' Tllonk.... Bl'Ilt'ath this huilding therl' waR I' par-
ticular ('hapel into \\ hich t }ll'St' lor(]:., uSt"I to (It'seen(l in ol"tl('r to a"':-iist ut tilt' ottit'P of
th' night. 'fhcr' wa.3 to bt. bCl'll the tomb of Duke John I., slain in thc batt)." of
Agincourt. 'I'h,. e duk4's had gi"f'n the monks a bou'). at \l('nçon. t
In th... t'hapt'l of HI(> Bnk... of Bur
un(l'y tht'I"l' USl,(I to be hi
h 1I1:l
ung t'\'pr}
day and also \'l'
lwrs. \\ïthin tilt' f'a",tlo of Bloi8 till' di \ iUl' orJÌt.
l'S nspcl to bp cl'lehrat-
pel in two l'Impl'ls of tLncicllt f()unclation
. Ercn" ithill till' walls of ea:,tll':-:, which
w('rp ratlll'r pla<:'\':-3 of lh'fpncp than "f ('ourtl) lifl', th' divine OftiC'8 U"4t.d to bc daily
cel('brat("1. Thus \\ ithin I>>o\t
r Castll' th(' ruin! of n \('ry Zln('i('nt cJllIr(.h nrt
still I'l'('n. in whiph it WIL"4 e
pl"t':-;.
IJ ordain('C1. that n loug pt.a] \\.
... to unnoun(,l' the
singing of IJmtiw
. tLnd that thr4.'l' III. .. ':I tihonlll ht' . ,id \Iailv. for th' gon'rnor. the
marshulnU'n. and thp soldll'T:' ; umi thp }Jr' "nee of the three chaph\ins was rCl}uirptl
at th{' c{'lebrntion of high lIla
, beforc whidl llO pric t \\.a
pprmittcd to h>:" p tht'
(':u.:th'.
Falco I I. count of .Anjotl. uJlth'r Loni:l] \. uSl'cl to 8ing in St.
lartin't; church
with th ' cI('rg). sitting iu thl' choir as 110norar) ('.anon. The bl,mc id relat'II of
Uichurù II. of England. Bnd of Fcrdinand of
paill. "'t. llelwigp, ducht::,:; of
Poland, amI Sf;. EliJ::lb('th, claughh'r of tIll' king of Hungary, arc.' also rl'corded
a
having tJ,kt'n cll'light in lll'nrillg t1ll' (livilU' omc'pl) t'olclllnly I-lIl1g. \\ïtichl'lId
fl'la.t,
of
Iathilcla, the mother of Otho the G r('.,t. that" '\"'C'ry night she tilled her
chamL \r with m('loùy and with üll kinds of divint' ong. for shc ha.tl it. ('('II Ill'xt
to the chllr(,h in which 1'111' ugl'd to rppo
(' n litth'. alltl frolll which. rising up ('n
rJ
night. sIll' USt"l to t'lItt'r the ('hurch, althou
h sIll' hall
illger:; anll chantcr
within
her ('ell u'nd hefon' th' door. who pmi .
l thc tli,-illt' ell'Juenc)". King Dagob('rCg
fondw'ss for assisting at \l,spers is h'ßrlll'cl from thl' romantic circllmst
mcl' COII-
m'ell,,) with t11(' I5W(.('t voice of ,alltil(!a; :11111 tIll' gl'lll'ral dispo..,ition of thl' ]aity
in thi
rp
l)f'('t may bl' l('arl1l'd from n r(.ferl'ncc to thl'ir 1ihl'mlity to t1w choirs of
* D\'
U{,ITOis lIi!o.t. ùu Dioce,," de Tl'OYt'S. 293.
f RC'('IIt',.du.... lIi..toriques sur la Yillt. ,.t It' Dio...,...,. \1., S
{,7, par If Or"ill t'. .i:!.
AüES OF FAITH.
187
churches, as the instance recorded of rlric Engelbrecht, to whom the cathedral of
f'trasbourg was indebted for the first organ plaC'ed in it, in the year 1260.
X or are later ages without examplcd of the sam#' dispo
ition. Louis XIII.
composed motets which were performed in his chapel. During the siege of La
Rochelle, in the absence of chanters and musicians, he worked night and day to
note the first and second vespers of Pentecost, that all might be ready for the fes-
tival ; and in his last illne
s, he composed a De Profundis which was sung in his
chamber at the moment of his death. *
Christine de Pisan, whose language is always so picturesque, speaks at great
length on the love which the French princes of her time evinced for the sacred
offices. Of Louis, duke of Orleans, son of Charles V., he says, "II a trés bien
continué en d(.vocions, oroisons, 11 l'esglise estre longuement, et â oyr et dire grant
service; bonnes gens et d(.votz aime et voulentiers ot leur enseignemens, comme il
appert par la fr{'quentacion qu'il fait chascun jour pa.r long espace en l'eglise des
C{.lestins, où a couvent de sains preudeshomes servant Dieu, et U ot Ie service;
de laquelle fr{'quentacion est impossible que son ame et ses meurs n'en vaillent
mieulx, et que Dieu en
es fais ne lui snit plus propice." E,-ery day. with his
own hand he gave large alms, e:specially during tlll' time of the pa
sion of our
Lord, when he u:sed to visit the Hostel Dieu anù the poor sick people. t Of the
emperor Henry also she relates an anecdote that shows what attention he paid to
having the office celebrated with all possible grandeur. "The emperor." she says,
"who grC'atly Im"eel the offices of the church, and had pleasure in hearing them
celebrated with solemnity, desired on one occasion, that a certain deacon who had
a remarkably melodious voice, should sing the gospel. The deacon excused him-
self from complying, and when the emperor then commanded him to obey. he re-
fused point blanc. The emperor to whom it was intimated that the deacon had
possibly rendered himself unworthy, by some secret act, desiring to try his con-
tancy. ordered him to be threatened with imprisonment unless he complied, but
in vain. It was then announced to him that he should be sent into banishment.
The clerk immediately arranged his few necessary objects and departf'fl. The
emperor having sent after him, received him on his return with these words. " You
who have feared more to offend God than to incur my anger. are worthy of being re-
puted according to your merit. I wish that you may have the first bishopric vacant,
but from henceforth beware how you- involve yourself in such a dilemma."1
The wise and heroic grand ma.ster of the Teutonic order. Luther of Brunswick,
in the fourteenth centur), had such a love and rC'gard for church music that he
used to be often found singing in the choir in the midst of the monk:,; : and in found-
ing the school of Kænigsberg he requirC'fl that on all festival
, and when it should be
necessary. twenty-six of the scholars should be sent to the church of the oIel city
* Castil-Blaze, Chapelle-)Iusiques des Rois de France.
t Line des Fais, &c. Liv. II. chap. 16. t Id. Liv. I. chap. 35.
138
)IUHE::; C_\.TllULICI; on.
to a.ssist at th(' ""!len'tl song, nllll at the procP&S:OI1,. antl n simiJnr rpguJntion \\a
e
tahlish('d in tht' Hchool of Elbin
Ullllt'r the s;.Lml' order. t
The minstr('l of tIlt' "bcs of ehi'll1r)" has Oftl'l1 oc ion to allude to this 10\ e of
holy otnccs. Thus the Lord of th(' lRlt,
, l-'PH 1i
ht Eilwani fo:n)"R to Bruct', tha.t
while pOlldl'ring in un'\.iol1s milul to find I' proper JIlt-:' anger to bt'ar hi!; writtl'n
mandate to Cllthb('rt on tIlt' Carrick
hoff- :
.. I chan/".d, at e...u-I)' da \\ n. to pa."
Th
chaJWl gah' to !-natch n ma.........'
And bow beautiful is that sudden mt'morv of sacr('d rites '\\ hich comes upon tht'
passenger in the hasty b'1rk :
.. Thl'Y pau
f'd not a.t Columlua's i!-lt..
Thoug-h pCdol'd the b -ll
(rom th.-' ho]
' pile
Wïtb lollg' nnd IUt
"l1l"l-'(l toll;
:\0 tin}c for matm or for m.L
",
\1ll1 the sounll... of th(' holy summons pIL"!I
A \\.LY in tht' bilJo\\'s ron."
Whoevcr h8.'1 lÏ\ed in a Latholic country, will readily understand th"e feelings,
and be ahle to t'upply other unnumhert'd iUz:!tallCt'S. \t Frt'yhllrg, pa
..ing at :,lln-
:-:et by the churcllt':t \\ ht'll tilt' doors ,\('ro c1o:-:t'd, I 11:,ell to find . -\"l-ra.l pt-r ons
kneeling without in I'\ill'nt pra.
.t'r, with their fac. turneù towards the sanctuary.
St. Casscmir, the royal youth of Poland, used pTi\'atcly to 18)" pro
tratt" on the
(':uth hefore tbl' doors of chllreh(,8. during the mO:oit inclt'lIwnt ni
ht
, imploring
tllt' l!Ï\illl' m('rc)". V(-mmtius Fortunatu8 e'\.horts his rl'i'th-r to pn-
") with his lips
the threshold of tll' blc
..d Apo11inari
, allUtling to th. basilica of f'l . . :1 and
in fact, I ha\e frequently in Itnly "n persons approach softly fintl ki&! the portal
of churches-affecting ßet of n natuml I)ipt)! Ul)",",s('s OJ) fiwling him
-lf in
Ithaca, ki8SCd tlll' ground; arul the:;l
poor thirst)" t'
ill-s rccocTJ)iwd in till' gate8 of
the sanctuary the entrance to their cf'lestial country.
Afwr what We ha\"'c seen, olle can understand ho\\. during the middle ng'l.:", the
most dreadful culmnity that could befall a JX'ople wa'- an interdict, which tlf'prin.d
them for a time of till' con
o]ution:J of IHlhlic wor:,hip, IUlIl ('iUlsl'd a ceö8ution of
all the ccremoniCð and pomp." of devotion. It would h' diflicult perlULps fit pr('S('nt
to eoncei,"e adequately the grlCf of men on such an occ....sion ; for in such t::!piritual
ages, no matt'riiLl interests were deemed comparable to tho:,(' of tht" intellectual
nature. \\
hen an en'nt of thi!; occurred in France, in the r<>ign of Philip .\n-
gnstus, numbers of devout pl'rsons left their countr
', amI pasl3l'd into Xormant1v
and Britta,ny, where. ad fiefs of England. th. ceremonies of th(' church Wl're not
interrupted. The most destructive visitations of Provid('nce cau
t'a no interruption
to the divine course of the ecclesia3tical Yf'ar. On FritJay the !'Ith of .lamIar)",
the first concussions of the dren.dfull'arthqnake of the Jear 1(;93 were felt at Ca-
., Yoi.
t ne..chicht.. Pr
u!-sl'ns IV. 519.
t Y. :
-t.
t It:Llia
aC.I..l. I. :-J27.
. ,\ ..w. .0.
.A.GE
OB' FAITH.
( I...
) L U' r'
-
L-'
Q.,:-
tana. On the 11th, the whole city was suddenly overthrown: temples, mon-
asteries, palaces, and other edifices, buried under a mighty ruin eighteen thousand
citizens. The few canons of the cathedral who survived, immediately elV"cted a
wooden church, and there recited the ecclesiastical offices; Pl'ter :\Ioncada, one of
the senators who had escaped, having with his new :1..'5
ciatcs, spared no pains to
as.-;ist them, in orùer that nothing might be wanting to the solemnity of the sacred
functions. * One hundred and fifty years before, when the Syracusans believed
that their whole Peninsula was about to be overwhelmed, while the citizens were
fled to the rocks and caverns, on the sacred night of the nativity, the bishop and
the clergy celebrated mass, and discharged all the holy offices, in a ship which wa.'ii
stationed near the shore. t
The establishment by law of the modern heresies, operating like a peq:etual in-
terdict, caused numbers of devout persons, of every condition, to go into voluntary
exile, leaving England and Germany for countries where they coultl enjoy the
solemnities of religion, in the same manner as many of the inhabitants of the south
of France, in an earlier age, had fled into Spain to avoid the Albigenses. St.
Joseph and the Blessed Mary used to go every year up to Jerusalem at the feast
of the Passover; and if they made this long and painful journey to obey the law
of )Ioses, it was no man el that devout Christians should engage in the distant jour-
neys to find a Catholic sanctuary. Those O'N eils, those Douglases, und others,
whose tombs we find in the abbeys on the continent-exiles from their country,
through love of the divine temples, and for their faith-might 13'"e said with the
heroic defender of the Heraclidæ, 7r'(}Àl{; fLÈJ' OiXlTat,
lJx'ì ð'ftTw81].! In all
ages, there have been unnumbereù instances of that love and constancy so beau-
tifully described by the French poet, when he represents one whose pleaöure con-
sisted in presenting the incense or the lights of the altar, in hearing them chant the
infinite grandeur of God, and in beholding the pompous order of his ceremonies;
and who prefered being an exile, rather than to remove to the palace of kings,
where he would behold those who followell other rites, and invoked another God.
If the hill from which Boabdil took his last yiew of Granada be known among
the Spaniards by the name of the Last Sigh of the
Ioor, that from which a Cath-
olic beholds, for the last time, the land where, like the magi of the East, he is lea\"-
ing Jesus and )Iary, and returning to his own country, which has rejected the light
of faith, may well receive a mournful appellation. No trial was greater, than when
sicknt-'ss prevented persons from joining the assembly of the faithful.
Ia.dame
Elizabeth du CheITeul, in bel' last i1lnes.
" being unable, through weakness. to lea, e
her chamber on Palm Sunday, though sbe ardently desired to n"sist in the church,
said with great humility, "It is true, I am not worthy to bear the pa.lm: this
honor belongs only to those who are conquerors oyer sin."
* Sicilia Sacra, I. ';66. t Id. I. 640. t Eurip. Herne. 14.
Vie d'Elizabeth Rauquet, Dame du Chevreul d"Esturville. Paris, 1660.
140
'I U H. E
C ...\. T II 0 Lie I ; U It.
It is curious to remark how
ornl' moeh')"n pol't
tumblo with n"'urd to tIll' l'on.
soh&tion which atta.ched devout Catholics to the divÏJlf' office' 8B wl1l're ;'\ir 'Valt 'r
&ott Ill'S 'riLl'" thc dcj
cted Clar,,' on ha\ ing ac. -sa to tbe holJ altars to &l)8ist at
ma
: and adds. that it wa., nt'v('rthl'lt
tll'...rl'st to Ill'r wouneh'lllH'art to) ðpend
}H'r hour
nIOtll'.. From !"l':Lllin(J' which few \\OrdR \\0 onl) inCl'r with l"l'rta.int}",
that. he tlid not know in wha.t mantlcr the religion of th' mie1dlo ages &(.t..<<1 upon
the heart of man.
But if e\en orùinary kin
tmd W,L[ iors chcri.:lll'd this atfection, in common
"ith the lowest of the pt'oph'. for the divine oflicl's of religion. how do \\l'
up-
pO:'t\ tl)('y wprt' lo\t'd hy Illt'n of tho hig}ll't intclll,<'tmù cu lti\ ation ILlul of pl'ace-
ful hahit...-Ly poets. philosophers, and tho..,' cndO\H
l witb the noble8t conceptions
of art ?
no Wp not reuuuk 110\\ tIll' I)afl' mt'ntion of thl' ofJic
of the C.1tholic Church in.
tantly rn,i
.
up. in t'\ery mind enri<'hed \\ithaJlti(lUl.lort'
the imlLO'l'i of a Oant.t
, a
Tu:-:so. 8 'rhom.L.i )IOTl', a Óucrcini
)Iichad .\ngl'lo? and r ,vi", the memory of
the great scholarg amI philo8ophers of Italy, buch as 'Iarsilius Ficinus nntl _\n.
elus Politian who:,,' t.li
po
itions in this rt':;})t'ct aro nth.'stt,a by history; on all of
whoSt' tombs might han' ht't.n iusc'ribt'll. four times, the 1('Ht'r D. \\ hich i
SO
placl'tl upon the .;('pulchr' of tJ ohn 'rIH'opol&1. in tho basilica of Ht.
lark nt
\
t'nicl'. to cxprc the 'nu-nc' t'VeT on hiB tongut-'--" Domine, dil('xi decor'm do.
mus tuæ." t At the time wllt'n Urbino, re..ortl'tl to by such a multitntlc of Jt'arneC\
<Llulnohl(' men. PÚ:;N ",..t'<l such nttmctions that no one \\2
l'oll!'illprt'tl
ufficipntlJ
It'arllPel. or to have nttl'ntlf'tl tmflìcient1y to hiK intdloctual cultivation. who hael
jo:pent some time there, it \Vas not forgotten that in that church th,. Ilivine worship
',"ß.8 celebrated with more splendor and
rf('ction of sacred music than t&lmost in
any other. t
\\ ould you Ipanl how tlwse iHu,..trious lIlf'n Ji\'ptl nnel ðh'id..el timo? OL
rvo
that admirable }),linter Guercini. U., u
l'd to rise earl
., find pray ßnd mcditate for
an hour. Then he \\ou1<1 go to mass ; after which he used to work till dinner.
At 8un.
l't hl' \Vent ng...in to "orne church and tl)('n rt'tnnled home to f!ketch till
811 PIX' r. Such wa.g his lifl,.-Petrarch in rt'ply to the Cardinal el<' C'aba.",:,olt,. b.LJ:l,
" Your letter found me in a languishing htah'. 80 weakl'nt't! b
fc'.cr. that I am
obliged to Le carried to th(' church, though it joins my hous('. ..
h,think8 I need not multiply tht
in
tanf'l'
. to
how in Wh.Lt 1i
ht tJu> divint'
offices of the Homan rit(' Wl're rp(1"ardC'cl by IIWIl of '-\"l'ry cJ:w; and country, during
tht: ngb of faith. lIt'fl' is 2\bnnùant proof, that the Cl)mmon voice of mankind
woulll lmye applied to the CatholiC' Church, th' words of the prophet, "Ilæccini
cst urhs l'crfecti deeO!'is, gandium unÏ\"er8::I' tl'rm>.
'
On a former occasion it wa.s rt'markf'el. that familiarity with t}w l:iacred
offices of the church tended to diffu8C a poctiC' inthll'ncc through RQCiety; ami after
· )Iarm. \ Ï.
t Italin. SILer a. Y. 1:J42.
l1rl. 11.
\ G E::; 0 F F _\ I T H .
141
what we haV'e seen in tIll' progre
s of our inquiry, methinks no om' can he in-
cline,] to doubt the ju::-tice of that pOl'5ition. He::;erving, however, further remarks
on this heaå tm we have &'en the whole grandeur an,l beauty of the ecdcl'5iastical
COlUbe, let us panse at present to observe the many bcautiful points of view-vis-
tas as it were-through the obscure wooel of antique history, which opens upon us
from the spot on which we now stand. For in the fir::;t place, from the singh' fact
of the church offices being thus loved aml cultivated, remark what an important
conclusion must be drawn with re:;pect to the intellectual character of the middle
ages and with what an answer it supplies us to one of the most insidious objec-
tions of the modern sophists. They ten us, that in the Ca.tholie Churches thero
was too much ceremony for an inteneetual people. 'Ve' are now enahlel1 to see at
first sight how proeligiollsly and profoundly falsc is thi::; famous objection. Cer-
tainly, if " \Visdom," as the ancient text affirms, had ever literany h built for her-
self a house," here, in the Catholic temple, that mystic edifice is found. These
men either understand not or care ,110t what they say. For an intellectual peo..
pIe! Let them say rather for a sell::;ual people,-
"In undct"Standmg, hat'den'd into stone,
.And to that hat'dness, spotted too and stain'd." ·
'Vhat ! is it an injury to the understanding when the sight is employed as a
medium of instruction? the sight, so essentiany an organ of inteUigence, that
in every language of the ,,
orld the expression for understanding is derived from the
term which
ignifies its degrees? No, certainly; but where habits of sensuality ex-
ist, an ceremony in religion win seem not only hateful, but in a philosophic scn:o:e,
ridiculous. To enjoy the ceremonies of faith, and funy to feel their tender mys-
tery, the heart must be inflamed with desires of invisible good, the rea8on. for the
time at least, unclouded, the imagination struggling to be free from en.rything
that defiles aud debases-the whole man thirsting after justice, either in the pu...
rityof innocent or in the sincerity of penitential sorrow. Th
world, therefore,
rejects the symbol as it rejected lIim whom it represents. It cannot recehe them;
for the love of the world hath not invisible eye
, by which spiritual things can bl,
discerned. It neither sees them nor knows them. Hence the Uhurch
feeling this
nect'&ity, constantly pra}í
, that ,. what her chilùren celebrate with a solemn office,
they may attain by the intelligence of a pure mind ;.'t and that .. ever fixing their
thoughts on rea
onable things, .they may perform the things tha.t are pleasing to
him. "t
Dear to an, excepting to the worshippers of matter, who must inùeeù esteem
them frivolous and empty things. the
acred rites of the Catholic Church are, in
an especial ùegree, calcula.ted to charm an eminently intellectual anù l('arned p..'opll' i
because, to mention only one of many reasons, .. the more thoughtful and genuim..'"'
· Dantp. Purg-. XXXIll. t Po
t ('om. 1...t S\tnl1. aftf'r Fpiph.
t Col1('d, mh
\Ind aftt'r Epiplt.
1 t'">
)1 0 H E:-; C.\ T 11 U Lie 1; 0 H,
I)' pO<'tic> a mind is.
o mudl the more form('ù untl hi..torical will he it.3 religion:'
nt;;;
oYali
, with profound ju
tie('. rClIlarh
.. .\re l1H'n historiun
, philo
opher:"
mu
i('il.llls? "lult a milw of treasure do they P()
t.
,,\ in the Catholic ritual? In
rclntion to the former, how many curiou
thillg
ore observable in the liturg:.,
which recaIl int('f(':.:ting cÏrculll:,tancetl am] t'wnt.. of n?cient timt
? 'f'hy are
tilt' titles und nnmes of the authors omittf'd in tlH' le
ow read by the church on
hol) Saturda
? \n hi..tnrian "ill h.1I you that it \\ as so ordcfl'd lest the catech-
llm('n
, coming from nmollg' thp (
('Iltilpq. Illi
ht gcorn "lwll tlwy Iwurl} the names
of H('hrew nuthor
. such ('umity p
i:-h'd )('t\\('t'n tIlt' f:('ntilcs and .Tew
.t
Thus to the lcarned, not onl
' \\ a... there.' all ()rigillall.,ullttit
and grnndeur. and
an inherent churIn in th(' Jitllrg-.\. hut man., thing':-- thut wprf' at fir:.:t onl) common
nnd ncriùpntnl. wprp hnlI()\\"(.tI hy timl'. unll J"t'ndl'fl'cl douhly attracti,"(' hy the pO\'er
of hi
tori('al unù philo
ophic u....,)(.intion.... Ht'
ll}t'
. did not the sm.lll(':,t thing ac-
quire a dignity from tht, lIl('rc fud of it-: cnt)wlidty und lInin'r:--,d u:.:ug(' by thp
church? '1'lH.':'c' C..;tIllC'llt
ure> not only hol)' from re>li
inug mnti, ps: .I,,,,ufl'tlly thl'Y
are majr5:tir and \"rnrrahl(' from tit(' hi
torirn} nntl pO('tieul illl'a c()nnedcd with
th('m; but when Lord Chutham callp(} upon ('('rtnin mpmh('r
l'ntitlt'c]
piritual of
thr Ilou:.:e of Lorll.... to intl.'rpo.:p ..the' 1111...ullipd
anl'tity of their In\\ n:' th(' Allu-
sion might as
Urt'llly ha"t' hPl.'n Iwnrd pit1ll'r "ith u
tarc or 3
milp. Xor let any
011(' imagin(' that tl1(' IcarDr(I \\ ould r('gartl th '
e thin
"ith different ('.,"('e:: whpn
tlaP.'" found t}lPm,,;pl\"(.
in plaef'
of ru...tic
implicity. n
if thl'rp wprc' n po:-:.:ihility
of thl'ir finding- t1H' C'nthoIil' Churl'h lli
nrmpd. Ilnd di...gloritied \1IllI('r nny circum-
stances of humiliation. Xot to :-p<'ak of tl1f' tIi, inity which ('\('r gunrds it. the
majc'
ty \\ ith whi('h it i:-:
urrounlh'd nt all tinh
--("'l.'n that m'ljl':,t.'., in r('
p('Ct to
thl" prl':-:l'nt "orlli. "laich it IHl
u(,ll'lirt'd hy the trihute of ...0 Illany :.:uh1imc und
kingl)" Illinll
, f;0 mun
'
aintlJ anti heroic dcf('mIl'r -+crn" it in...tc.nd of th('
tonguf' of an \u
u
tin or thl' f.(('ptN' of n C'}13rlpmagnc>. The :-:pirit:o of .\ui'tin.
.\mhro
l'. Gre
ory, Ht.tI(,. ulIll Ft'lH'lon, ure' "ithin thl"--r hllmhle wall
.
J f
ou entpr thl'm.
"()U will imagin(' thnt
(m b('ho1cl there nn }
atiu:-o or an
\lfrl'll. th(' p"'ilhn
of mart
.
. and the off('rin;! of king
. Fear not tIll' ('ont<l
ion
of \"ul;!ar milld
from hl.'in;! n
:,ori.ltt'd "ith tlH' \"ul1rnr ill the...p Catholic rite,.;.
Although the nll
ar. as Sih'or I\'llieo rl.'marh
, PUll nnd ought to 10\ e them. it i
not tru('. thnt in com:rrpll'nce th('
' h(,('CHllt a \ ulgarity.:t: The imnwn
l' 1)('Il('fit
of thp Divine goolhH'ss. ha\e. in fad, to 11:--(' thp \\orll:, of ::::it. Thoma:-:. ('onfC'frprl
upon thp (,hri
tinn people an inc:o'timahI(' di:!t1Íty. Think not that t}lt' per:-on of
that rUllp ilIiteruÍl' pril'
t cnn in.an
mann('r dimini..h the forcf' of
u('h imprl':,.;ion.;.
X ot to oL
er\"(' hO\, fa}:--e ma.' he Jour estimate in :,uppo
ing him
u('h, oh';(,f\"(,
that the Catholic ritual is not dependin
for it
pff('('ts upon men. 1 t i:.: not at
the mercy of <lny person, or capable of being counteracted b
the roll
. or demerit
·
chrfften. II.
05. t Hugo de 81. Yfetor. de F.('('lp
ku
t Irlq Officiis Lib. II I. c. 4
.
t Del Dnn'I'j degli {' n11\ml.
AG-E
OF FA:::TH.
l..1:t
of its ministers. In nIl ('ssential parts, the qualities of Û1e pr
('st ad a!l indi\"itlual
pass('tl for nothing. rrhe chasuble literally, lik(' the charity of which it is the
sJmbol, covers all. Per
ons of highly cultivd.red minds, and interiorly philo:;o-
phic, were not in the position in which Apollodorus stood, who besides one man
(Socrates), considered all teachers as wretched and despicable persons, agaiu::ìt
whom he felt inclined to rail as often as he heard them. * They never felt a.3
if they suffered indignity by repairing to the Catholic Church on the wildest and
farthest shore of Christcndom ; for they knew that in the meanest chapel in the
most desolate region of the earth, they would meet with the same mystery a.s if
they were to enter the basilica of the Vatican. Before the altar anù the vested
priest, they recognize not the man, but the prophet; while in regard to things sub-
ordinatc, the wisdom and the exquisite fitneSð of the divine offices wpre e\"ery
where the same. To obviate, however, the po
ibility of error, the ecclesiastical
canons required that ., scholastics should be carefully admonished, as Christians
clothed with humility, not to despise those who they know avoid vice of manners
rather than of words; that they should not presume to compare an exercised
tongue with a chaste heart, or to laugh at any priest or minister of the Church
who should be guilty of a so
ecism or barbarism in offering up prayer to God. ..
Here then one may remark what an unfounded assertion is that of the mocl
rns
who suppo
e that in the Catholic Church men of learning and genius constituted
a
mall initiated class like the philosophers of heathen times, who in secret nour-
ished a profound contempt for the public discipline, and that the clergy did not
permit all men to be instructed in the
ame mysteries, but followed the example
of Pythagoras, who suited his lessons to his hearers, calling some Pythagoreans
and others Pythagorists, in the same manner as men used to say attic
and atticists,
to express the genuine disciples
md those less perfect who bhould imitate tlH'm.l
Whether or not they conceived this idea from feeling consciou::; of what takes
place in their own communities, in which rationalism frù:!! the very first n.ally
constituted a similar cla
, is a question that may be left to th3ir own consideration;
but to suppose that a learned Catholic is in relation to the crowd of the faithful
what the philosopher was to the heathen multitude. is an error that nothing cm:.
excus<,. .A mere knowlpdge of hi
tory is sufficient to C'OInincc an
' one a.cce::ì8ib
..
to conviction, that the Catholic religion was not a. sect of philosoph\". The
ag
of the middle age invl'rtetl the definition of the
tagyrite, believing with the multi-
tude, while in point of grace and eloquence of dpvelopment they spoke as the few.
A Roger Bacon, an Anselm, a Richard of
t. Y'ictor, a Thomas Aquinas, saw in
the sacred rites precisely the same thing as was seen in them by any simple pea-
sant or pagp of a baronial castle, who recited his chaplet, without being abl(' to
folloW' tll(' prayers of the priest. But more than this is true; for sagpg and men
of deep philosophic minds. there is a peculiar want unknown to the common race
· Plato. Conn\'. :.
t Ivonic:; ('amot. Df'cret. Par
VI. ;;.
:t
! Jamhlich. cap. 18.
144
J () H E
C.\ T II U L I ( , I; U H ,
of mt.'ll, w"tich the ritual of tIll' Church was l.milll'ntl) ealculntl'd to t;UPII)". The
human ðvul, in proportion u.
' it attu('lll':I itsclf to God, .u1I1 a('(luirl'8 a thir!'-t for
justice hecome:" morf' :L\ers' to every thing Jik' chanO'c or uncl'rtcLÏnty. If not
Impportl'd by its immurtal hOped, intolerable would b. itd anh'11Ì8h on account of
the altl':oatiolls which arc continu.Llly taking placo in ,.isiblo ohjects :nul in every
thing with which it is in immediate contaet. Tho Catholic æhgion in an admi-
raùle mallner :L4.hnini:.:tered consoh\tioll to it in this statl', through tho medium of
material and in themSt,.I\"cs mutable th41g:;; for it taught th curious and illebti-
mable art of symbolizing nature, and it furni...hcd it with an altar, which was ono
spot in tho visible \\orlù, e
l'mpted lik(\ the faith of which it 'H\."; thu l'mblcm,
from this lll'cC8öity of e}umgl'. \riuw Ull'Sl' oM hl'rmi1ð in thl.ir can'" luning
nothing but an imag., of our LLl1y and an altar with a huok. \\11:Lt iL p":LCcful
symbol is h..re of an immutable and supremcly blibBful stat.?
"'t.ll not only wouM many a king likt' Richart!, ha\(' gin'n t111'ir gorgeous
pahL(,c for such u. lll'rmitu
l" tlll.'ir firrurt.d goblcÌð for thi:.: dish of \\ood, thcir sub_
jects for thi.s pair of canetll:i<&Ïnts, amI thl.'ir lurgf' kingdom for this Jiulc gravc,
but in imagination all the
ter minds of the middle agl's, all the grt'ut intellcct-
ual guid('s, within the domain of art, nspiretl to this condition attained to it in-
ternally ("en ßlnid
t till' ,ici
itual's I1UlI di'iordcrd of a troubled life. Thl'
' gavo
this direction to their intclligl'llc,', not through a reckl ':i.'J disdain of the Creator's
bounty, or an unworthY80ftn
of 8Oul, but from a reasonablc and just conviction,
that by BO doing thcy confinl'd, concentrated their dCl:ìires for the present within
the sph('re of symbol
, amI 80 (,Bcaped the shocks nlHI fluctuations of the \\ o;'Id's
destin)'. 'Vith eyes fixl'd upon tho crOäa their ,'iew.: 'Illl'd to oppn into eternity.
Posscssing thhi one point of rest they no longer bOught too look abroad over the
wide and universal theatrc ; for they would hß\"c only fl'lt oppreR.'5l'd by the 8pectacle
of that immcnse nature : but viewed :u 1;) mholr; of thu irnmutablu and invi8iblo
good, neither upon the lW:Lutiful prospl'Cts of an l.
tended horizon, nor upon any
flower which embahlll'd tlll'ir path, did tlll'Y fcar to indulg o too fhed a gaze, Art,
literature, science, disIDlSS 'J them to tm\"crs', not to rest in the material world.
But to renew tlwse blo
ms which c1ecke(1 tilt' aHar,-to
'l' fl" iH>f1 thc:-!(' f'Jmbol-
ic lights which sparklu ovpr it.-to pcrfuJl1l' it with the odor of incenSl--to behold
it gilded with the gladsome beams of morning, or shaded with the sombre lh'ery
of thl' departing day,-thcse were the thing8 which kept their souls a.. it wero
111 presence of the ineffable nna immutahlt, felil'ity of thl' }:tl'rnal Exi
tence, It
b tnle the revolving seasons ('lLU8l'd ('ven Ill'ru a :.:how of change; for the huo
of holy vestments varied with the object of each da) 's commemoration; but these
were only tones which bl'longed to onc lIlli,"crsn.1 harmony, and ,'aric<<1 t;ymbols of
a constant joy.
Against the terrors of death too, tnat grl'atl':.:t uf changc:l to which our flesh is
hl'ir, this lovc for the ceTemOllil'S of faith prO\ ide,l Ilwn : for though uU till' porn p
of worldly magnific('Jl('p mu:.:t fail, the nfT"dions :1. ,-{)(.i:H(',1 with th(' holy:o:oll'lllni-
AGE
0 F F A I T H.
145
ties of the militant Church, with her proces
ions, her stoles, an(1 palm:;, would en-
dure for ever in the Iwavenly Jerusalem. Let no one imagin
that J am explain-
ing the hi
tory of the middle ages by referring to principlcs which were not in
reality then received and understood. Subtle and ahstract as they may appear,
they are nevertheless professed in those very documents of all
ient times which one
might have supposed would have been exclusi\'ely occupied with considerations of
a practical nature. 'Vitness the words of the diploma granted to the church of St.
Sa\.iour, at ::\Ies...ina, by Count Roger, the pion:; and brave kin
, the protector of
Christians, as he is styled in the title. "Because," saith he, "the thingð of the
present life are corruptible and mortal, and like titles are changed frolll one to an-
other, the lovers of religion meditated a certain wondrous mutation of these things
by the right hand oCthe l\Iost High according to the p
alm ; and employing all their
study in order that they might remain firm and eternal. they found no other meth-
od excepting by erecting divine temples, a.nd by dedicatin
to them and so return-
ing to God their posse"sions. For thus it comes to pass that by the unceasing hymns
ami laud:; which are offered np in them, God is worshipped and glorific<1 without
intermission, and they gain fOl' them:"elves a memory of eternal lx>atitmle and
constant prayer. Therd()re, our tranquillity, following this example as a ('crtain
l>rimitive rule, hath made thi:-: divine and !'acred foundation, and hath built this
temple on the promontory of the port ofl\Ie1"sina to the glory and prai:--e of the
great Goù, and our Saviour Jesus Chri
t."* \Ye find the same :-;t-'ntiment
ex-
pres...ed along with the donation,;; to the church of Anglona, in the year 1231. "
\.l-
though things of men prove fl-ail and decay with length of years, there are ne\'er-
thele
s some things to which men can impart a perpetual stahility, namdr, those
which are ùedicated to the divine worship, aud attached to the heritage of God
with men."t
The love for the sacred offices not only indicated a thoughtful and an intellectual
people, but also men of pure amI virtuou:-i or penitentiallivc1". Th(1:-, the histo-
rian f"ays of Otilo, Duke of Bavaria, in the eighth century, "that being mon.d to
compunction by divine love, he hegan to build and enlarge churche", and to love
the servants of God who ben.ed them."! It may be observed, that it wao.; the
general character of all the chants and anthems of the Church to be a repetition o
tho
e high les1"ons and awful menaees which we read on the very stones, and mar-
ble, and windows of her temple
, which reminded the unjust in language
tin mortt
awful than that of Æschylns, that there was a :--pirit which followed him to what-
eyer land he jonrneyed,-that even by dying he could not be liberal, that he
would not be too free in death.
OaYIDY 8'
ov" åyay tÀEv(ìEpOS',
* Sicilia Sacra, n. 9î2.
A:sch.yl. Eumenid.
t lta.lia. Sacra, Tom, YII:
1.
t Germania. Sacra, Tom.I I.
146
MuRE::; CA.1'llüLIClj UR,
3.1111 whidl in (','pry fi)rl1l of majt....tic S) wool 'wetl to pro('lairn that gr('.lt truth,
I . . I ., " ' I ' I I t I
"n,'IIIIII"II:o. l':-t ('11m g Orla Jilt 1l'3r' \"1\'0:; et nwrtuos. I'U y Coln "1'C grt'.l al-
vantage resulting to the riti pn.., from tl&o:-e terrible :o.ollncl:i uf the dlUil' as \\ elllliJ
from the majl':-:tic l'Ountpn
uU't.."'I of
LI1lrl'l:i uml prophet
, ami e\'pn from the
horribly gay dl'llloniacal ima,rl'r)' \\ hich hurrOluu.lcd it i tor tht: tlUlemn uclam -
tion,
"QUI m putronum rogatUnI8,
Cuw ,ix jWLWllit leCurUb."
-
i... not 11':':-1 impr('
:"ive than that pcrilou
pa.
'TC rrpf"i> nt 1 on the tomb ofDago-
hert in the Abbey of St. D 'ui , \\ here the poor king, nakl>Ù amitl:-t an inf('rnal
cr .w, :-t3lul... with suppli('3ting arllls mi
Ptl, while 'L .1('lI1on :-
't'm.. altc'rnat.-Iy to
lift and return th' cro\\ n IIpon hi:o. IH'
HI, a., if h)' th.Lt !-o<..'C.)rnful play to mal"p him
ft'el more al'uIPI)' tl.e vanity of his fi)rmer alllhition. Piu., the S'coml :..:.I)":', that the
:-I'ulptur... in tIlt' Catlll'tl.-al of On'it.to, by arti h of Sienna, l"t'pr' .uting thc r ....ur-
I"t.'(.tioll of tIll' ch-:.ul, tlll'juc1gnll'ut of the
a\"ioI1l", th,' punL,hmcnt of Ù1C damul'tl, and
the rewards of thc elc...d, wru:, worthy (,f !)hiùhs lIr Praxitel..s.* The <.'hallt., ami
IE
..\)lb of the Churdl IllU!--t. not he t1).ll11tc..1 from thi:-. \'i
iblt' dl"\"c'loplllent of
tilt' :-,lml' truths \\ hi..h tlU'y annolllH't't.l, allli u......un'(lI). th" lIlell who l.'()uru'Cl the
inflw'n('t' of :o.lIeh Ol
t'('h allli :-ountls ('0111<1 not he dh.lllllonc't.J to imp<'nit<,n "t: or im1if-
ferelll'l'.
[orl'o\' 'r, independent of high intcllC<'tllal ruu ''i, there is on JlU'rc- moral
ground., n ('I()::)C l.'Onn('ction Let" .t.'n affi'(.tioll fino the ccremoni
of faith and purity
of ht";.lrt, 110t to :llM ('\'l'n :Lu..t..rity of lift.: for till' ('t)Jl"-t'il'Ill't' of nll'l1 of :--en..:uul or
lu\.urious habits \\ou1<l1x> oppres......"t.1 with :--0 intoll'rahl.. :L bl'n..e uf the ineonsi:--t-
('ne)' of their interior, with nil t1mt wa., :--ulunittc'tl to thl.ir ....n..c.:;, that thc')" "ouid
instinctively turn nwa)" from them. \\'hat an'r l:ontrihllt
tù 10\\ pr llll'1l in their
id('a'i of the dignity lIf human n:du
, h.l<, n I1rt.. :-...ary tplulptJ(,y to ..ut off ('..r(,1I10-
Ilial from religiou:o. \\"o
hip. "'ht'n in the mimls of lIlen genl"rall)' the tYPt' or
animal is
uh:4itutlll for that of !'-piritu:L11x'
mt)', the fi)umlatiol1 of the \\ hole ritual
is undcrminl'C.I, and the :-nperstru<,ture ßlu.,t in'vitahly fall. Theil, imlt'l"t.I, nrc
cowL.., IHXXI..., amI cha:-.uLI ,rcli ,\x"Ltb, iaulul
enC\::j, but trulllp('ry, only tit-
ting l'mhr)'lJs allll idiob, ami P"olx'r ol
('Ch to he th
=-port of '[ilton's "'l'ornful
\\ iml:"l. 'Yil'l', no.; the arch Ipn.lIer, i:-1 the tru(' ...Ll1
" of th.. liturgy heing dl':--pi
..l.
"-ho will invoke the !'ain...., wh'-11 he :--('()rn:o; their ('
ample? \\Yho will pray for
tllP dead, when he fecI::) him:,elf ill mort
11 ...in
ulli in..apablc of performing nn)"
llU'ritoriou:i work to helwfì him, ,If'.' ,rho \\ ill bclic\'e in the real pre:-elll'e ill
the l'ul'hari:o,t on earth, wllt'll he wi
llt's that thpre
h()uld not he a ,;()(I reigning in
hcavt.'n? ,rho will vcnerat 'rdil
when hl' ha.... no faith in th' virtue of the
,
mart)'rs? anù when he belic\'C::i that the ...pirit with the lxxly di oJ \\110" ill
join the pr()('(,:,sioll, when he :o-L .ks olll
' the 'I'l.'('tal'l
of ,'anity? fhe ma.....; of
waulind, iudet-d, are Lut little aware of the :-d'fct Illoti\'c whether goocl or cvil
· IJb IV. Comment.
AGE.s 0 ,})' ,F A I T II.
147
which actuate::, them; hut unless the hunger and thh:;:t for justiæ had been at lea!oot
in the COllllllencellleut experienced in somc d('gree or other, we may Le sure that
the (livine ofli('e
wuuM never have bc('n peI1)('tl1at('(1 ur frequcnted. The reason
why .JuT
eelUed insipid to SO manyper:--ons IUU:,t be
()ughtforin thealmnelau('e
of external ('onsolatiun
whiA. prC\'entð them froUl feeliug the waut of iuterior. It
is in the ch urch that the words of the evening ð(mg are continually verificù, that
while the hungry are filled with gooel things the rich are :o('nt f'lIlptyaway. 6\C-
conlingly, without any prenwclitated iutention of verifYing
uch remarks, but
merely from an a('('uratc ob
ervation of filcts, we find the writers of the middle
agl':3 ascribing generally in a continuou::; sentence, a de
ire of j u:-;t ice to those who
e\'inced affection for the diviue offices. 'Vitness the words of Gaufriòu
, when
"peaking of Hoger, Duke of Calabria, SOIl of Robert Guiscard, who says, that he he-
gan to lon' ju:,t jlHlg:ments, and to follow justice, and to frequent the church, 3,5-
si
ting with de\'otiun at the f'acred hymns.*
"Yon 10\Ters of justice," !"ays Gregory the Xinth to the cizi7Rns of Paòua,
"magnanimously defend the churches, and nomTi:,h them in the
weetne;.;.'5 uf libl.r-
ty."t
Iany parts of the solemn ritual had also a close connection with the spirit
and peculiar manners required by the Catholic religion, as innumerable instances
might
how. \rhere the love of comfort and corporal indulgence had supcr:-òeded
the love of sacrifice, men would not be inclined to stand during the long interval oc-
cupied by the chanting of the pa
:--ioll ; we should see them on that occasion foUow-
ug the Jews, "Et sedentes servaLaut eum." \rhere men were taught to forget the
sacred humanity of our Lord, anù the graces of his blessed mother, and not to feel
that at each yearly commemoration of the passion, the scene was in a manner actu-
ally pas!'ing, in vain might the church demand "quis est homo qui Don flet'et ?" Xo
tear would r-;tand in any eye, but every ont;
\'ould be seen turning over mechanically
the pages of his book in search of f'ome new food for the iu!'atiate craving of au
empty mind. Certainly to a loaded conscience the rites would give no pleasure;
for en'r)' beauty in the Catholic Church is only beautiful from an analogy with
the heauty of the soul: and without the remembrance of having traded with the
talent entru:,ted to him, man would not be willingly reminded, though in strains of
e\Ter such sweet harmony, of righteou:-iness and ofjudgnwnt to come. "Our Lord,"
E-ays Father ...\.vila "is acclistomed to reward at his altars what has been doue at a
. ,
di
tan('e from them. Therefore, without a holy life in the world, you must not ex-
pect graces in the church."! "Te decet hymuns, Deus,":--ays the Psalm. "Bul
where?" a:-òks Cardina
Bona. In Sion : in Bahylonc : "non decet." Our hope is
founded in that city uf ,Jeru:-;alem. He \\ ho sings with this hope, though his body
may be in Hab)'lon, in heart he may sing in Sinn, sayillg, with the Apostle, "our con-
\'ersation i:-: ill heaven," but he who is devoted to earthly de..;ire:--, being an alien to !"a-
red harmony, cannot sing hymns from the songs ofSion.
But what 6kiIls it to
ek
C Sicilia Sacra, notit. I. :>:>. t ltalia Sacra, V. 4-tJ.
Epist. XL.
De di vina Psa]mod. 36
1-18
uUE
CATHol.ICI; UR,
proof" here th<> adv<>rsary IX"'ars te:4illlony a,r:.linst him-;elf? Th<> lIa('lllbt'N of the
l'arthly republic acknowIE'<1ge that tilt,') find 110 pl(" "Ul"C iu the um
of the Church.
'"hat is ÙJc I1nalliruou... eOlllplaint of the IlllXl('rn.., but that of th
collùcnuwd
pirit
in )1 iJrOl! :-
_II This ßlWtt be our luk
In beaT'n, thl!! our cll'1ibbt ; ho'\\ wearisome
L
II.ut.) 110 6pt:DL iD '" orship paid 1"
.
The Catholio Chu1'('h had not the Jfp1'('ul('.an f ....ti\.al of the Syracu:>3n
, thf' CE"1('-
brat ion of which ,,
to be rCIl(lcl'l"Cl ('umpatihle "ith th .ir plan
uf 8.lugni..ary
,.CJJgr--Alnce hh'1lÏnst the .Athcnialb, \\ 1H'11 tllt'
pr()p..
'''tt :o-t.l1diug a perfiùious fill
in-
tt>Iligt'IH"(', to the lIuh:JpPY Xieia..;, \, h.. \\ a.... to It.. :ul\"i"l"tl to po:.t pone his dl'par-
ture till the ne
t (lay b)' Ct.'rtain ('olJlpaUiOUi of ] Iprllloc.r-.ttl""', will) \H're to \"i
it
hi:-- camp a.. fric'lld.., and J.!i\' , tlwir ('OIlIl"C.I, that OJl th . clay fulIo\\ ing thc')" might
all be cut on: It would be illl\' to ()I
("C.t. an unpreml.Jitat''l1 and acciùcntal {'oir1<'i-
c.I1'1U'C {'(.I('hrah'tl in tilt' nnuals of rC'trilmtion : all hi..tory attl':,t-; that the CathoJio
fc
ti\"al W
b the harhingtar of }"'ac't' :11111 c.harity, of fc.I'!.!Ï\"('nC'
s ancl :l1l1(.I1tIIl1t'lIt of
life. "TIU' oil of lucrc').," :-";I)'S
t. .AmhrO"C' '.
hilH" in the bOlemnitic-s of the
C'lulI'cJl."* I II fiu.t, hl' wlw \\a... in 1Il0rt
II :-ill, allIl "ho :-houlct appl'
u. at the {',de-
hmtioll of md:-"", \\ irlwllt ha\'il1g tht' l'3rlll"t J "ire to ."'l:3pe from that ..tate was
dC,('IU('(l guilt)" of a :-.:u'rjl('
T(> :UHI of :ulclillg' :-in to :-ill.
That part whic'h i.. l'lItitlf'cl tlat' ",('('r'c-t, i...
() c.llll'(l, not hl."c,tII
('
aifl
f'('rdl)", hilt
bc.'t':;,UI.... it u":("tl not to 1)1' slid until tho"'l' h:ul I"etir .cl who had IlO ri.rht to :i
i
t
at thp
al'ritì<'t..
't'reta a :"4,(,,'mo. X:I)", ('\'('11 in thc fifteenth ccntlU')", pcrsons
who:,,>' m3nllf'r.- \\('1"(\ at up"n \'arian a with the h.mctit) of the Chri:::,tiau law, u..:{..J
to provi , l.. ft.r tlwir I)('ill
a1>:-.4'nt frolll hom.. on
unc1a)"S, tur they ùaret!lIot appcar
at ma...'. +
,. Ld 110 .J uch... a.......ist," ...:I.'",
:")t. .Joh n Chry..;o:o;rom, ce no
imC)n, no nvari('ion... man.
If anyone be a di
'ipJt. I(.t him ('oml
, fiJl' he '''.:Iith, <,UIII di.scipulis J1lei::, f:wio Pas-
cha." L..t no inhulIlau pc'r
on approad., no crucl man, no unforgiving mall, no
impure person: this i
the mystc'r)' of p.'3Cf'." In the:lJ-,"t... ,)f flith, IIwn hlll'W noth-
ing uf a religion whidl Jl1l'rC'ly l'on
isu"tl in bc'in
corporally pr('s('lIt in thc ('hu....11
(luring half an hour 011 ft...tival.. of ohligntion. "I 1)(
"t'Ch )"C)ll," say.. Sr. (,hr)"-
o
tom, "cln not })ay :lttl'utiou ouly to thi", in what manncr you com(' to the ('hurch,
hilt Jo.C'C r..rth('r in what 1J13ßß('r returning thpucc to )"our hOl1:">\.., you car-IT away
till' rucdicille which iJo' pro})I'r for your infirm it iN; if not all at the
al1l{> time, at
Iea...;t let it he peut to-(laf anti p.n.t tn-morrow, so that at Icuglh 1 JOu may Sf'Cure
it all.'':
Of thC' ('atholic nation
in agf'
of faith we might n....;qlr('(lI
r
a
., in a high phi-
losophic SCIl
C, anti with far grrott'r jll..tice than wa::) af'firlllNI of till \thpnian...,
· In PI>. 119.
t )Ionleil IIi...t. clc'" Fr.mçoi'l, Tom. IY. ;;-;.,.
ITom. :!
I. in Act
AGES OF FAITH.
14
that they "knew no other feast hesides that of doing what was right." Kal pr,rl
Éopniv äÀÀo TL líyEl:ð(}aL, Ii rò rå öiovra 1fpài;aL.*
Clemens
\lexan<hinns remarks that the aJwient c;ages r('(}uin><1 men to pray
aloud, not from bllPpu:,ing that the Deity cuuld nut hear a silent prayer, but le:,t
men !'òhould aòdress prayers to heaven which they would be ashamed that other
men :-,hould }1('ar. t \rhen men went ont of Egypt they a{'COrdingly heard a lan-
guage which tht:>)' kn('w lIot. They (':true to the Catholic Church to beg temporal
ble:o;sing
. Pe:-:tilencl' is spreading terror iIHO the ranks of the impioUd and bruti:-:h
crew. For once they would cry for mercy to heaven. La the priest invites them:
they begin to repeat the word:, of supplication, Deus qui non mortem-but why
do they
ud(lenlr cea!'òe, why turn pale? Alas in what a dilemma do they find
themselves! They had forgotten that the Church in demanding temporal ble!'òs-
iugs, always impJi('s that those who offer it are of the number either of the just
or of the penitent, or of tho:o:e who wi
h to have the grace of penitence, and nO\\.
they feel themselve:, already reje('ted. Ah, well may their tongues falter and
refu:,e to pronounce the words "
ed pællitentiam desideras peccatorum." They ha\'e
no part in what follows, "populum tuum ad te revertentem propitius re
pice, "
hut the deprecation of that !'òcourge of Gml's wrath mu
t sound in their ear
like
the direful hymn of the avenging minister::;, which enchains the soul anù drie,:; up
the life in the veins:
t'iióJlZO; q>PEy6jy, åq>óp-
Jll/i,rO
, CCVCiiJY ßporov
.
Abrain, the number of men who 10\'00 the sacred offices of the choir, is an index
to determine the number of tho
t' who 10\.00 peace; for who could 10\'e the a...
el1l
blies of the faithful, and at the same time be glad that they should with each other
war-
"And iI:. fit:rce hosting meet, who wont to meet
So oft in festivals of joy anÜ Jove
Unanimous r'
That love argued too, that they rultivated habits of meditation, and that they
gave themsely
leisure,-that they knew well, though they had not heard Bacon,
that although men
hould refrain tllPm
eh'es from il
ury and evil acts, yet the in
c
sallt alllI !'abbathleðS pursuit of a man'
fortune, leaveth not that tribute which
we owe to God of our time.9 They sufièred 110t mercantile industry to impoverish
their souls, f.)r they haù learned to hf11ip\'p of th('ir Creator, that not to irksome
toil but to (lelight he made u..;, and delight to rea
on joined. The immoderate ap-
plication of the moderns to material ol
ects, is incompatible with the lo\'e of the...r;;c
offices, for, a
till' :l:'<'etic justly
a)":.;, "insipida fiunt omnia devota Christi ruys-
teria convertenti
e ad exteriora et inania :"U and, as he ouserves, "too much oc-
* Thucyd. Lib. 1. 71.
Advancement (If Learning.
t Stromat. Ill.
tì. f Æ<:.chyJ. Eumenid, 3
.
. rholll. à Kemp. Epist.
1:>0
)[ () 1: E:-: (".. \ T II U I.. I <.: I; 0 R,
cnpJ.tion in ut 'rual things i'i a great impt'C.lil11ent to int.'rna:, nn(1 ('001.. n1('n (;,r
thin!,f":; of hea\'l'Il." """hat &lvails it," :-a)":- Rt. Bona\"cntllra, "III tlb
,'I've a
Rlbbath of one day, if we dl) not make our life a
abbath by n'po
illg ill God,
and by tit..'Cking our peace in the love of hi:, perfections? I f our Itl'art
arc ut
the mercy of every worldly interc::.t,'" may Sll
p 'ud our manual lahol:. au the
c: 'venth day, but we violat
no Il:--"; the great C't('rnal (,'O\'cnant which hinds our ...oul
to God."* "The very idl':! of pr:.t)".'r =--uppO
l':i ll'io.;ul"t.., for tit(' part:-, of pra)".'r, "
1":l.p' a \Hitt'r of the mi(1dI(' a1-.'1''', "art prep:tmtion, r(':u1ing, JI1("(lilation, thank-.;-
giving, oblation, petition. Prepamtion i.. twofol(l, rl'lllotp and prllxilm!t.
R.,-
mote, is the avoiding thp ()f't...'1Sion of cl i:--tr:\C't ion an(1 the entrance of car ..., or rather,
it i.. the avoiding
inc: awl a worl(lI)" hahit of thought withont the s:uH'tuar).. Tlu
p..o
il1latl' con
i
b ill thl' (,oll:o'i(ll'r:.ttion of the (1i\'ine 'rajl'
t)" in..pirillg rt'Vl'ref1('('
amI JoV('."t
La..t1y, the> love Ii.}r th' (1ivine OffiN':"t wa
an e\"Ïden I)f thc f\:mple and nohlp
manner., whieh belong ton COli. . of life inharm()n)" "itlt nature's laws; am], in
1:1(.t, durin
the mid(l1e ngt-:o-, the number Wa5 immcns<' of tllO"-C mell of (It...;ire who
H"('I11("(l to (.
l)('riC'net', at the hottolll of th(.i r lwal't..;, a r:ti III i Il
and a mortal (1i
!ru..t,
whi('h nothing couM rclic\"c but the m
.:--tl'J"il':) ami ('(.rt'lllo11it.:, of faith
iatl"d
with the :-pl_'(..tade, and 1lll'.litatioll ofllaturc. In th' p,'imiti\'c ('hnrch, Ill
u.:,ed
to Lc saiJ. before day, in ord('r to a\'oid the violellcc of the Pag-J.IlS; amI ('\"('n
wh(,11 t!Jpre wus no (bngl'r of int('rruption, WC' filHI the 11(1)' I:lt!1l'r... ill\"itill
flU-It
to ha..t! 1\ to the dl1lr('h at the fir:,t light.! Similarly, in the foundation
of l11a:-
'.
made hy (Icnmt lay pC'r
,ons (Iurilw the milhl1e :W(''', it is eOll1l11on to find the
chartcN
pl'('ifyillg that they arc to be baid ut brl.a},,: of (lay.
I)hilipI' _\ugUto;-
tu", in li.Hln(1in
a dail
' ma...'i for the
onl of hi. fiuhC'r, Lou' V'll. t-pt'Cifits that
it :--hall be 1"3id ror])' in the morning. "..ingnlj
<liebus manl':" a(ltlillg-, "in order
that uo ()('('upation.; uf th(" hal"\"('..t timc Illar interfere with the a
:--i
tanb." \
in-
('ellt de Feore, of a nohle al1l1 alu.ient f:.unily at Lilla.., fOl1llll('(1 a ma.";i cvery Sun-
day, to he !-3id in the ('lnm.1i there uft
r the f.t':C01ll1 toll of the hell for Illatill
, for
the ('onv('niel}ce of t....l\"dl('r.,.11 A t four o'clock Ill
u..: il to he Faid in the dlllr-
e1ll'" ofLorulon. '" e 1"('3(1 that 'f:u1an1l' de (,halltal, in the r('gl
latioll of her lol"t.1'8
castle of nourbilly, prnvi(I('\1 that the ma.... of fOl1lulation in their dlapd should
he !'aid at such an carly hour c\'('ry morning that th · lahorC'rs, as wl'1I ßo) the bef-
\"allts of the hou.....hold, might u..sist 11t it hefc))'c going to tJ1l'ir ",ol'b.. It \\a' at
!-ix o'dock, at ma
" on
t. Ign.ltins (lay, that, fi}r the fil.:,t time, I :--aw the ilIu
-
t..iOI1
author of the )[artyrs and the n(,lliu
ofChri..;tianity. Pa..qllier n1l'ntion..
in pmise of the 6r:-;t pre...;ident 1> . Thou, that wh('rt':!"; hi:, predl'(V". N 11.. "(1 to l'u:-t-
pone pr:.tyer:-; till the m
at ten o'(,}()('k, he, on the ('ontrar
", u:-'l"\l alway
to I)('ar
ma'-s the fir:-;t thing on arriving at the IMbl.'e of jll..ti('e, \\ h('re he wa
the fir:-,t to
· De Reformat. IIomlnis ('xlt"r. ('ap. L.t
t Hheinwa].l Die Kirchliche .\n'hæologic, 1'4';.
Lebcuf IIist. du Diocu.e de Paris, YII. 36.
t I Il..t rIIctin 'Xo\'itioTUIIl. Pllr
III. c. 2.
, Id :\. 191.
)IuT::.oJlicr. I. 47
.\ G E S U F F
\ I T II.
1,")1
arrive anù the la-t to leave. * Tlie very title of the altare pigrornm, 8m.h a... that
in the eatlK'(lral of Paris where tna:-;s u::;C(l to be
id on
ul)(lays at 80 late au hour
as eleven, t is a sufficient illc.I icatÍoll of what was the general practice of the middle
agb : and when to provide against unavoidable delays, there was gralltec.l a priv-
ilege to have mas
aill after theuU'riJian, the complaints of alm:,1' wpre all grou1Hl-
(.d Ull the &true just view:; rp:'Pl.cting the ùÍ\'if..ion of time. "It is impo
ible,"
f\:.l)"S Sotu!-:, "that s11<.'h a regulation shoulc.lnot merit blame, which scr\'cs the pur-
1'"",e of those who convert the night into day,
pending it over cups and dice, and
l'iimilarly, the day into uight, ('on:-ilJming it in
]e('p."t
Christianity had renewed the face of the earth al)(l had reconciled men to nature.
The Sybarites of olll, woulc.lnot allow a cock to be in their city, lesL it
houlll
di:,turb their matutinal slumbers; but when SyLaris became an epi
copal see, the
fiYlllhol of vigilance ru:::!e oyer' their highest towers, and there was no retreat with-
in its walls so thickly screened as not to he a('ees:3ible to the solemn echoes of the
matin bell.
Tlu-- laity, in the middle age
, would have wondered to hear of him de
cribed in
Athenæus, who for twenty years had never seen the sun rise or set; not because,
like IIestineas, Ill' had been lcaning oyer hi:') hook
, but through his luxury. \Ye
have no
lIch portrait,;; in chh'alrous history or fahle.
The twilight hour, awl that beauteou..; vi
ion of the setting sun, when its goId-
('n radiance illuminates the emhrowned foliage, an (1 fir('..; the mountain':; we
tern
ide, were lll'ce
arily familiar to men whoso loved the e\yening mellXly of the choir:
anù if the poet of the middle ages doe" not show his hero like 'Tirgil's ...Ellf'a
,
whell night aud !-:leep leave him, ri:,ing up, and under the ro
y light of the J.
tern
l.:)', repairing to the margin of rhoers to invoke the nymph:" alllI pour water f("Om
his inverted palm:" in honor of the naia,1:.;, he conducts him at tllP fir
t dawn
through laureI
groves, and rucks fl"a!!rant with flowers, to the hermit's chapel,
where ðleeps the
ymbolic wave of f-piritnal}mrification.-Gyron Ie Courtois and
hi:o; companion riding through a fore
t, stop fOI' the night at a hermitage. Xext
morning, at the homo of joyous prime, Gyron wa:; a..;ll'ep a:-: if he h
Hl not slept
a]) the night, so his companion awoke him; and when Gyron o:>ened his e)'
,
:n1l1 :--aw that the
un \\"a:-: aJr'ea,ly risen, he felt shame anll said, "Sire, non:,; avon..;
trop (lm'my." Then tllPY mounted and rode away.
The rule in Du Guesc1in'..;
time wa..; to ri:,e and
up at
ix, tQ dine and r('tire to r
t at ten; and the old ver:,'
Hlt1l'(l a proll1i
e of life bl'in
exteIHlc.'(1 to tl'n time.. ten, a" the con
cquence of
it:o; 01l;';'(l1"\'anc('. TIll1.... the rnlUeydi(]a>an expre..;sion, 7CEpl 7Cpwrov ü7CvoJl-the
hour of fir4
leep-might have bepn thpn u..;ed in it... original :--en"('.
"'hat lov('ly in:-pimtion..; c.lo the poct:-: amI painter
of the middle ag('..; df,,'ive
from their fluuiliarity \\ ith the morning! Enter thi.; pavilion on the terracP T
· Lettrt's de Pasquier, Lih. YII. 10. t .\ntiquitië... de Paris p.lr DII Breu], Liv. L
* Cited by TIeucdict XIV. Dc ::3aclificio )[i,.,æ,
l'ct. II. :>4.
F. XXVI.
1:;::
'10 J: Ese A T II 0 L I (J I; () It,
which limits the garden (If tIlt' no
pigIi()
i Pa1.u'(' at Horn,'. TIlt' fmgrant air i..
cooled h)" a fountain which pb,'s amitl..t tlac orange.' tn....
. ndaoM tlU' c.-t.ilillg,
on \\ hid) i:i pai ntec.1 that
loriol1
.. \urora of Gnitlo ! ".h:1t golllcJl moruiugs thi
great ma:-.tcr IUU::;t ha\"c enjo
"('(I1x'fore h' rouhlllavc forml'(l
l1ch a ('onrt'pt ion of
that jo)"on..: nnt} r....plcnòcllt ri:-illg of thl' C'hariot of the !--nn O\'cr the Cl"'.1gg)' muuJl-
tain:- awl thc th'(.p hlut"
L.t! The.' 1Il00It'rn
:m' in hP'l'lwral of
\t1c1i...m':o. ,.pinion, in
prt.ft'rrillg mt'n (If tlU' ruil1tl1c hour... (If tIll' tla,", whom 11t' l
illi tIll' wortlai('r part
ot mankiml-llH'n in wlao.. ,'oullh'na.4J"
you
t ,that they :U'C at )1011)(', :wd in
tl'lid po
. '..ion of the pn"
l'nt iU:o.14mt :1'; it }J:' . j but in tIlt' ",,'holå,:)tic romantic
:a
('.., men of Ò 'c;;iru
, IUl'n of {11r1y hour..., wcrt.! r:&tl1('r c.1,'('mt...1 t....t irnahh,. Lf'arn-
ill!!, amI rt'liJ!ion hnth ('bim,'(l tlwrn :as mOl'(' (...))t'(.ially tlu'ir oWl). Tho-l who Wt'rl'
:-tl1<liou
citllt'r of piety or of learning, yit'ltlt'tl prumptob,'C.li{'nc"t.! to thc ill\"it=ation
of Divint' "ï
lom, {
Ialle :-Ul',r
unn.. :ul vinl':
! y'j(lt-41l1111'o, Jo.i nornit \ ilH'a, :-.i
flol'{'s fMlt"tus p.lrturiulltj ...i flonlt'I'unt mala Pllnil
i! ,,* aUtl \"('rifif'C.I tht' fide.'1ity
of it::, promi...t', "Qui 111311' vigilant ud mc, invenit'nt nw."t
[cn who tlid 1I0t
ri..e with thf' n1Ornil1
to ..tauly \\91:-(10111, ('OUltlllot havc hopt'cl to JU':.lr a jlulgn1t'llt
in tlu.ir fa,"or "II( II philo...oph)' :lI)cl rcli,rion h
ul a voi<'t,. ]-:\'l'l1 the po('l uf olcl
would have rl.'pro\"ctl t hcm-
--"LL Iii
POSC"es ante diem Jihnlm ('urn lumine. Iii Don
Inteo.les ßuÎmmn
luùiÎ'I et rehu'I honutis.
I In idia \ d nll1nre vigil Inrqllt.'1t('rl'."
Ð{\lr to ml'n of (ll':,ir('
, to 1I)('n ,,1m thir....I('(1 afLl'r ju..tjw W:L
that hour wlH'H
tLcy
in r, ""Jam Incis orto :-illcrl' :" the joyou- prim.. -as pods of tlU' mill(1l(' ugC:i
call it-that pure matutillallaour \\ hit'h bu('('{'('(I..; the (]arkllt......;, and whiC'h is fol-
lnwl'(l by ti,e dav-!--wl t to th(\ f'
'l' from hoth rt'g".lnl..:, fnull the :-plt'I1(lor of it
li
ht:-;ol1lc 1,(>:u11"', al1tl from the :-till lil1
r(>rin
m)"!--t('riolls :lir of night. '1'1.(' for-
lUet' al'e only as )"{.t ,.. 'CII npon the hi.r}H.,..t point..; ; thc Jo.('('UI' 1)t
1ow is
lill oh
urc.
Th 're
lJ1I11l1 thc haloot y fl'<'t of t h ' pious hU ppl il
lIlh, "hn repai r to the duu.dlt.....
Thf'Y !-t'('tll to havc kllo\\ n hy' in::ltinct that it i..; their )umr: at "hl)"o nl)proach, n.i
Shakl':-;pe.1re
a)"sJ
"r.ho
t!õl, wanc!erin't hcre an.] tlJl'rf',
Troop borne tl) ehurch.
nrel..: thLffintocI flpirit
all.
That in ern8&-\\ a} saud t\CUK!s tun e huriIL].
AlleR'},}" to their worm}" beds nfC gOUt.;
For flar tesL lb
. shoutd look their sharuf's IlpOO. ..
Full of religion is thc delight \\ hich coml'S upon the
ml with the Lalm). breath
uf hopeful morning! so IwauÌl'Ous (nun thc :o.,)ll'um grey in whirh all thin
s are
still clad, and from thc cnrions and orient ('olor wlll'rl'with the ri
in
nn (.rnl)('l-
light'S th(\ r:l:-.tcrn part of thc sky. I f we wouM not d"
l'lIl'ratc helm," our
p(."t.'ie..;,
* Cantie, \ 11. 12.
t Prnv. viii. 17.
t lIor. Epist, I. 2.
_\ (} E::; U F F.A I T lI.
153
awl é\'en unbirdly prove, we shouId rise to salute the ùawn. Y cs, there is a sweet
llelight in feeling one's !'elf alone with ]Jaturc, screened yet from dars garish eye.
"110 ùoes not love the early morning walk, befOl'e that tribe of saunterers appear,
men incapable of doing aught, yct ill at case, with naught to do? The hour is
all too soon for fashion's train.-
"
\rtistg ar
her's, who scorn to trace
Their rules from nature's boundless grace."
Little joy to them
"To hefir the lark begin hi;i flight,
.\.nd singing, startle the dull night
From his wfitch-tower in t11e skies,
Tilll11e dappled dawn doth rise."
But the tend('r sentim('nts uf Catholic piety lo\"c thc morning's prime, when,
on his war aloft, the sun n
cendeth with those stars that with him rose, when
love divine first moved tho:-:c it
fair works; for then, with joyous hope, all t
ing:)
conspire to fill the soul. * 'Yhen the sun is in the heaven, and the proud day,
attended with the pleasure.
of the world, is all too wanton,
mcl too full of gauds, to
give it audience, there is something that checks and repels dc\'otional feeling.
nut when 'We have watched through the darksome canopy of forest paths the
"fairest of stars, last in the tr-ain of night, if better it belong not to the dawn j"
when we have observed the earth giving signs of gratulation, and each hill, and
heard the joyous birds singing in their leafy homes, ana felt the fre:-;h gales and
gentle airs, which w
ft odors through the woo(l.;,-then it i
that the choral song
sounds so truly ravishing, that we forget the reign of the hody-world, of the pro-
saic world, which is, in fact, during these golden Jl]oment
, at an end: all is spi 4
rit anlI intelli b ence-all is peace-tIle divine poe::;r of a sanctified and Lli
sful
existence.
Thus begins each day; and at noon one looks back to these fir
t hour:; a'j if one
had walked through Eden, and breathed the air of Paradise. One lament:; that
it should not be always the dawn, and that Babylon should ever awake torecom-
menee its wonted re\'el
. It was so sweet to feel one's self exi:-;ting without the p
_
enee of anything to distract or interrupt the peaceful tran
ports, the bright visions,
of the solital'Y soul. Then was removed the contagious spectacle of human \"anity;
the only glitter was from the golden cro
ses on the domes of tcmplf's, and from the
lustrous beams which I )Javed U ! )oU the IalwhinO' wave. Then were hushed all
. 0 0
the murmurs and discords of self-tormenting wretched men: one heard as it werp
the grateful SOl)O' of } 'outh the In'mn of nature in I H'imal innoc('nce. How
o " ,
fl-equently ha" there been a di\"orce between nature and me; a moment.'1ry <<1ivoree !
for I never felt that a reconciliation would Ix> difficult. _\.little morning wind, a
.. Dante, Infer. I.
lú-!
)( 0 It E
C \ T 11 () J.. I (' I; 0 H,
so]itnry wandf>ring, a mf>:ulow or a v. 0(J<1, by c.unri " :mJ lwt\çren II'- all would
be forgotten. It i::í tllt...c mal1nt'l
, I)('lt)n
ing to tl)(' "'pirit of the Catholio rl'lig-
iou, which cnab](' ml'1l to rt'p('at, \\ith the eonvic..tion of ('xI)('l"icll(,(>, tho....' ('11-
('uuruging "ords--" Ht'pldi "'umu
mane Illi .ricordia tlla : et t..xaltavimu:;, et (]c-
ledati
lllllllS omnibus dicbus no
triJ'."*
So far we have ('oIl
idemI the chur('h uffiCC:3 in general. It J'('main
{or u...,
8ft (,I' thc mamwr of the
dloolo.;, to ('"amine them in df'tail n
cOllnl'Ct('t1 \\ itlt tll('
t'a!;;ons and fi.:o;tivals ufthe {'('t.lt....ia:o;[it.?1 yc.'.ir ; \\ hi('h i... an in\'l':'-tigation fnml whil'h
no writer l'an he di
pcnst.'(I, who undertakt:'S to f-lipply n hi:,tory of Catholi,' man-
ners during ages uf faith, or tu phila:wphize rc....IK..'Cting the men of dc:;ir
, ,\ hu ell-
dure(I thc long, but not UIlI)lcasant thir..t.
CIL\.PTEU YII.
. HE origin of the Chri:-.tian fcstivaI:3 can be traced to the Yf'r.r crndlc of
, m j Dlc Churdl, although th Lxact amI minut... arran
('mcnt of the ('CiC]e-
.. -I-! :,i:L'-ti('.al Yt.'"lr, :I
"e now filu) it, wa-.; tll(' grat1ual work of f-UC(,(..,..,ivt.' ngl'
; {whidl l'an 11('\"('1. lk' :--aid to be C'omp1ch', inasmut'h a'"' the nUlllberofthe
! l
'" .'mincnt saint'i uf <';0(1, who ure the ol
l'd
of c.'OlUmt'l11oration, willllot
· be l.."OU1plctc until the cnd uf this btc mi1it:mt on earth. "Thc ù "-
vOllt ('hri:,tian illtlt't.-'tl," us :-'t. Clcmen
.\.Ie.xalldriml:O; :-':1)'''; ofthc GnostiC', "oonfilll'i
his at]omtioll of GO() to llO tlch'rmilu'<l place, or fC!'-ti\'al, or (Ia)" j hut throngh all
his lift', in cver)" p]:u
, whethel' alone or \\ itlt othef:ol, hc \\or:-1Iip
him."t Yet
the C}lIm.h has alwa)s hc1ic\"{'t) that thl' .\po
tl., ill..titl1tcJ the f..tival.., of\\hich
tlU' my:-tl'ries had pa.";";L.J befurc their ere.:, ; in whiC'h mllnhcr St. Augu...tin pIaC't:oJ
tho Pa.....ion, Hl':-IlITC.'ctiol1, A...ccn"ion, awl t}u' D ..ænt uf the I I(1)" Gho
t ",ro
au not incur the ('rimc of tllO
c who oh:- 'f\'cd (lays aliI] m()nth
," :O;:1)'S S1. .Il'romc,
"h)' observing- tilt' f("'lival... of uur L(1f(1 awl of the dim'rent martYN,
}('('()rc.}ing
to the tradition!;; of p.u-ticular l'ollntri. s ; but, }. t a conf!reg-ation of people with-
out order
I)()uld cau..c a diminution of f:.1Ïth in Chri:o.t, ('('rtaill c.lays art' ('oIJstitut-
(.(1 fOl' uur ru:;.<;;('lllhlin
in l'OlllIllOll. Sot that one (by i
more worthy, hut that,
hy the 8pectadt, of a llIu1tituc.1t' 011 nn appointL'tl th)', a
rl'.Ltc.'I' joy may arise,"!
}i'OI' a long time })(.fim"> the :wtual t..-tahli
hnH'llt of the f ....tival \\ hiph C'ommcnwrntf'i
tht' my:-tcrinu:- fiat, tll<' holy fath('
had ta1J
ht, am} the })ÎC't)" of thl' ('Pop1.. 11:1l1
· P, 11m h't ,. t.
t
trom'\t. I ih. \ II. 7
t Comnu'nt. in rp. II (; I., 1.4
..\UE8 OF P..\ITII.
l!'ifi
:--ugge
te<1, that tl1<' happy 1110l1Wnt of the incarnation of the ".onl was the
our('("
of all the gracf's of our Redeemer, and the beginning of all the mysteries of our
redemption. The annunciation was celebrated in the fifth centur)', on the bamc
day a.. at pre
ent. The !-acramentary of POpl' Gela..;iu'i I I. proves its e
tahli:-h-
ment at }{on1l' bl.fore tllP )"e:u' 496. In England, frolll thf' introdu('tion of
Chri:-tianity till the Pontificate of Pius YIIl. it was c.leyoutly (Jb
erYed a<.; a holy-
day of obligation.
The first trace (If a<1\,('l1t c..li
covered in history i
the ordinance of St. Perpet,
Hi:-:hop of Tour:-:, at the eml of the fifth <''PnttIl.y, in which he enjoins in his
church a fa...;t of three c.lays each week from the fea
t ofSt. :\Iartin tl) that ofChri...;t-
l11a;o;, whieh rule became gel1eral in France in the
eventh c('ntury after it hall been
prescrib..c.l by the {'iouncil of)[âcon, for the )Ionc.1a
', \Yednc.",{lay, and Friday,
adding that the offices
houlc.l be celebrated as in Lent. III the ninth century,
advent wa,...; of forty tlays in Franæ, as appears from the capitularie!-; of the kings,
though it wa
not of absolute precept, since the canonical law only sanctioned what
W3:-, ob:.;erveJ Ly the piety of the people, who had made it a law to them
('h'es. This
continued to be observed hy pious persons in the thirteenth C('ntury ; for it is ex-
l)rc5sly related of St. Louis, that he pas
eJ the forty days before Christmas in
prayer and fa
ting : but the time of 3<h'ent had then been limited to four week...
In the time of S1. Bernard, the order of Cluny wa,-; content with requiring a more
rigid ab
tillence c.luring advent, but without a filSt.* St. Chryso:-:tom, towarùs the
enc.l of the fou
.th century,
ays that the nativity of our Lord had been celebrated
on the twenty-fifth of December in the "\'8t for a long time, by an anciE:'nt tra-
c.lition;t :mc.1 the Greeks and Ea
terns were the more anxious to conform to the
('\1:40111 of Home, becau
(' that church lllU:-;t ha\'e known the d3Y, since the act.8
of the f.1.ffiOU..; capitation of Augustus were carefuIly preserved there.
The fe
ti \'arof the circumci:;ion became solemn in the
ixth century. The Council
of Tours, in 566, ordains, that the chant of litanies should, on the fir
t of .January,
be oppo:-:,...;p(l to the superstition of the Pagan
, and that tl1(' ma...;s of the circumcision
hould he celebrated.
The f
:-:ti\'al of the purification i:-ò generally suppo
ed to date from the time of
.TI1::-tinian; but Pope Gela:-ius had certainly celcbratec.l it in Rome thirty yearq
hefore the a('ce..:-:ion of that Emperor. The pro("(.:,sion of thi
day with light('(l
taper
, i
one of the mo
t ancient of tho
e ohserved by the Church. The taper,
thus solpIImly l,lc.'
('d, as an emblem of the light offaith, was afterwarc.ls carried to
the hou
' of the pcr
on who hore it in the pl"Oce:-::-:ion, that in the e\'ent of his be-
ing taken uut of the worM in the course of the year, it might
èrve him for that
purpo:-:e at lli
ùeath.
" Dumu:, <lei pæniteu(lo pra>pam.tur." The in:-;titution of Lent has always heen
con
idcre<l l,y the holy Fathcr
t as (]erived from apo:-:tolical tradition, though it
· lIist. dc,> Fc
tes òe rE
1i:-(', t:-.
t Horn. XXXIII.
t S. IIieronymi Epist. XXVII.
)
(j
I () n E:-\ <. i . \ T II 0 J
I (' I; () n,
\,a... not till the mic.ltl1c of the third ("cntury that it \\"ao; I"l-<Plircd hy ala\\". On the
Ii I.
t 6unùay ùf L,>lIt, a..; of ad V('lIt, the aJH'i('lIt me)llk s of tIll' c.]l':"t'rt, :\I1e 1 the f:lt I}('r
of t he Carmel ik ordt'1" in latc.'r t i II)(,
, u"'l'cI to a..:o-t'lllhll' all<l I W.lf':111
'xllUrt
tt ion
from thp
up('riol., artpr whi(.h tllt.y wouM rdirt' illto the :-t'paratl'Cllll'rlllitagc.-;, in
the dl'pth:" of tlu' wilt]l'rllc
. ,. For;' :-ay tl1(' Fatlll'l:-, "while the :-oIieitlHlc uf
thi
Ii fl' i
cx('rej...,'(! ill ,'arious aetioll"';, al1l1 !-t'vcrilY of cli
iplill(, rcla
l'\l, the he:ut"i
CW'1l uf tilt' rdi
i()n-; Il1W,t ht,('olll(' t]dìlc.'Ci \, ith the.' (lu...t of the \\orl<1 ; amI th('I"(";)I'e
thi..; in:"ritntiull of my...ti<' (lays is c.li\"i'H'ly prm'itlc.'(] to rqmir tIll' pm'it)" of f:oul:o-,
and h) 411'('11 to tllt'lll tht' gatt.-; of l'arac.li
'. I lellt....',
.) (.arl)" as in thc
i
th Cl'lI-
fury, it \\:1'" a
('I)("ral 'lI
tolll (luring lÁ'llt to make.' a spiritual rdreat."* TI1l1.; the
author of the Life.' of tIll'
\."hClt ur
t. :\[ar
' H('(hllH'll:"i:.;, ....ay:--, "nut when, :tc.'eonlillg'
to tilt' ("u...tOIl1 of IllOlIk..., the man of (;otl, (lurill
l
'llt u";t'Cl to live.' in his ('('11
more !-('('luclt'(l aUtllllon' I'-l'arin
ly than u:-u:lI, Lucl"ctius 11:-,'(1 to vi:,.it him." So
in the I.,if( of
t. (Emi!i:m \\e n.a,l, "It wa.., the (""
tOIll, e.luring I I'lIt, to he con-
tent with a !-olitar)' ('(.11, an,luut to
'C any une, 11111,. .. !-ümc per:-un familiar, who
11 'cd to hring thc nC'{'('oo:-.IIT foo()." \\r e r(':l(l of :"t. Fram'i:oo
Iwlltling L('nt in all
J:o-Iaml in thl' Lake ofTra
illll'IH'. ""t. '--t'nodt 11...(.(1 to hI'
('('lm1c.'(1 frolll th{' {(...rival
of
t. )fartin tu th,. hil.th of ('hri:o-t, alltl dllring thp \\hole ofL,'nt. St. l\lareulf,
ahLot of Xantp..., ""'l'tll'\"(,I"Y Yl'ar to "f'tin' illto a cl.rtaill i:,lanc.1, \\ laer(l lit' remained
:,e..dmlt"l (luring I ('nt. Bi
l}(Ip" u:'t'(l to mak(' th .... . retreat....
am:"on antI Palhuliu-;
arf' l'x:lInpll
. The httl'r u...,,,l durin
the llOIJ' :OOla'-On of ["l'lIt, to retire into:1I1
i:o-l:lIl1l oftlae :-,'.1 f
ll.ti/('
ak{' ofpl":l)"l'r, aJUl to relllrn to his })('op1t', "ho\\ere(''\.-
p('(.ting him in th(' dlUr('h un :\IaUlIIl:t
' Thur-c.1ay j and
t. n!"f'g-or.r of Tours re-
)ah's of tIlt' pl'date Be'f('undu.., that hl' 11...;('.1 to sl"'I)() Lcnt ill divine cont('mplatiCiIl
ill a 1'1.(.t"ct rC'mule I)la,
. D..(le s.t
':-- of Eadl)('rt, Hi:o-llOp of Lindi...f:lrn, that III'
u...;('(1 oftt'n to rt'main !-oiitary, in a phH't' n'moll' from tIlt' ('hm'('II, \\ lIe("(', on all :-oitl( ..,
the roaring ,\av('.., of tIlt' !-t'a. ('1J('olUp:\:"":-I'(l him j (;,r he u..,'(l to pa.... L('nt in great
penitenl"e and pmyet. alii 1 wc'('pill!!. The rull's of Chro(Io!!an
, Bi:-hop of 'ldZ, pre-
f'ril
l to the ('anon.., that during T f'l1t tIlf'Y !-huulc.l nevpr Jc':t\"C th(' c1oi4t'I', P:\'-
('('pt hy JU'('(':,:o-ity.
t. .John of Bc.\"e.'rly, wlwn a hi...hop, 11"';1'1.1 during lÁ'nt to r<,tire
"ith :-ome few religion..; IlWIl to ,1,'\"ot(, him...(.lf to pra)"t'l" ami r":Hlillg, in a "t'Crt't
P()t in a gl'm'e, whieh was
f'par:&tt'c.1 from hi.. ..hur(.h hy the river 1')'111'.
'flit :0-\' :,o1PUln praeticl''i "ere !lo Ip ..; in u..." "ith the laity, <luring the early :(1)(1
middle ag('
. It \\ a...: to the p('ople at largf' that :'t.
\mhro;o:.' :ul.1rp
,'Cl the:-e wor,ls
at the hl'
illnillg of Ll'lIt:-" Li\"ill
ill eiti(.... I,t onr min,l:-- he in thc ,It'sert, that \\ e
may he refrc..':,}Il'c1 with tlrc cdc..tiallllanlla."t uOf \\ hat avail is your f
t ofullt,"
a
ks "'t.
\mbro..e, "if at the
:Ullt' timc yon ill,lulgf' ill the 111'\:lIrJ' of }lIIntin
?
It is a vain fa...:t whieh deLi1itatf's tlH' limh.., :IIul c.10l-S not fr('c the
olll from l)('r-
,lit ion. Do yon !-'nppo:,p that he' i:I:o-t:oò, who at tIll' fi !":-t t la \\ II cl(l('s not '\\":It('h ill
the ('hllr('lI, and \'i!'it the holy p1:l("f'" of tb. h!,......e'(l m:u1yr:oò. hut ri
in.r np, g.lflH'....
* Mnbilloll, Prærat. iu 1 :'Il'cul. Bt'lIc,]rcl.
9.
t
,'rll\ XXlll. ,1(' QII...1.
A (
E S 0 F F A I T II.
1,)7
hi,.; little :'l'rvanf:.;, who were })erhaps hastclIing to the church, arranges his Iwt..,
allll speeds to the woods and mountailJ
, spends the entire day in hunting, and
IHlr:;m's the game with sueh ar(lor, as if the fa<.;t was urdained in order tbat he
might hunt? ,,- e pre:,eribc aL:4incnce to the body, in order that the
uul may
refrain from vices; but what room is left to such a man for devotion and prayer?
Is he not angry or elated according as he succeeds ill the cha:o:e ? Is he not severe
allll cruel to his
crvants, furgetting that they are Christians and his brethren
-men who Il3ve put on Chri:--t, atHl participate<I ill the ::iame sacraml'nts ?"*
During the middle age:o::, the bity of all ranks devoted this
ea.<.;on of the year'
to retirement and prayer. TIllis Jid _\.1fre(l atHl Robel,t, and lUany other king..; of
EnglamI amI France. "These are da)'s which we ought to observe," ::iays St. TIer-
narJ, "days full of piety and grace, on which the mi1ll1s even uf wicked mf'n are
moved to penitem'e: for such is the power of the sacraments admini
tered on
t he
e da)'
, that they can rend even hearts of
tone, amI soften iron brea:;f:.;:' t
];y the statutes of the holy
\.bbot .Aaalar
l, in the year 822, aillong the &l)"S 011
which all per:-:ons belonging to the service of the mona..tery of Corby were to be
exempted frum labor, wa:; the fir
t day of Lent, in onler that they might ha,"e
time for renewing their eonfes
ions:! and the very title of
hr()\,etille in En
-
land indicates that this practice was general among the people. "During L('llt,
we llllbt meditate day and night," :-3YS St. Cæ:,arius of _\.rle
, "and. fill Ollr hearts
with the sweetm::,:, of the (livine law. If any one
hould be so lUnch occupied as
to be unable to attend to the divine &riptures before his repast, let it nut shame
him to hear
OIm\thing read from them while he i,.; at table."9
S1. TIa!'il, in the fourth ccntury,
peaks of Lpnt as fi)llows :-"There i..; no churc.-h,
no continent, 110 city, no nation, no corner of the earth e,'er FO l"l'lllote, in whi('h
this f..'lst is not proclaimed. _\.rlllie
, trayellers, :,ailor:-:, merchant:-:, though f
u' from
home, e'"ery \"here lwar the
olenll1 promulgation and receive it withjuy. Let
no one pxehHle him:iclf from the number of tho:-e who fast, in which all mell I)f
every age, ofwhatt'vpr rank and dignity, are compri
ed.
\.Ilgels draw up the
list of them that f:.lst. Take care thcn that yom' angcl put down your 1131lle :
d
ert not the standard of your religion." ,reread in the Saxon chronicle that
in 640, Erkenbert, I{ing ofI
ellt, who overturned all the itlols in the kin
rc.lOlll,
the fir!'t of Engli:,h king.;;:, appointctl a fa4 before Ea,.;ter.1I In the time of Claro-
(logallg, ni:,hop of )[et7, tht're \\:ere threelænt..; regularly ob:o:ern
(l by the faithful
people, llamel)", before the Pa:o:chal feast, before the llativity of St. John the
napti!'t, and before Chri:-;tma::;
at which times the laity wpnt to confc::):)ioll and
comlllunion, and as the bi
hop adds, "qui plu,.; fccerit, meliu,; f:.lcit."-U- In fact,
during th(' mid.d.le ages there was more dangl'l' of gi,'illg
candal hy rCt!uiring tllO
little than hy imposing too hur(lcnsoll1e an obligation.
· s. .\mùrosii
erm. XXXIII t
. Bernardi ni Cænn Domini ::;crUl.
* f:.tatut:l .\ntiqulL .-\hhal:æ S. Petri CorùcÏensis spud Ua('ber. Spici1eg. Tom. IY.
.\ugust. .\ppenJ. S. 140. I ö7. ... )laùilJon, Præfat. in III.
æcu1. Beueù. 6.
1:;8
)1 0 HE:' (' \ T II () L I ( , I; 0 It,
Pdr:m'h, \\"ho
(' urelin:lry .lipt \\a.. fruit :lIltl herb..:. after tla(' Glrti('th
.('.\r of hi..
:I
el, u:-l'tI tu (;l:-t c.
\.c.'ry Frida)" 011 hn'ael ;lull "alcl".
t. EelmulIll,
\rl'l.hi:--hop (If
('allter'bury, u::w(l to ('at notlaing on FI.jllay hut dry or.'.rd :Hu.! \\alel'; und in tla.
.'}II'ollidps (If rJJi":lh')", tlu' :--aIHe pral.tic.'t' i
a...('rihc.'Cl to !'p\"PI'al rC'nO\\ IIL.J. knight....
In the t\\"dftlll'l'lItury, the laity of all ranki Jc."(l n.. uh...temiou
u ]ife.':'... mauy re-
ligious c.'olwr('gatioll:--. l\'kr th.. '"l'Ill'mhle .Alloot ofCJuIIY, l'ropo:'tCs t}wir .'x:lIl1l'll'
in this r....!)t'('t ("."11 to the mouki of hi... onl('r. "TJw...(' IIIl'U," ..aith hp, "ah
taill
from ft,.:oõh rclr the :-.lke of God ('\"('r)'
aumla)'. The Jlwjorir)" of tile lait
. aL:,bin
:-.imilarly ('\"l'ry "\'tlll('...lay, ullll ;"oIHl! of tll(,111 ('\"Pll ('\"pry
rl)l1tJa
"; wher"as thr
rJlonl,
of Cluny, in mall)" I'I:u'('"" oo..C'n.("(l only tIll' ah...tillc.'IlI"e of FI'illay :.
So
:-trictly \\ a.. I ('ut ul):)I'r\"('l1 in (.al'ly tiUll...., that \\"C' fillli 't. \mlm...,. :'ktyillg, that
if we
llOulcl omit :lh:-.tiIlCUce 1(11' :1 ..ill
le da
', \\C f-laoulel Villlat," the ciltire Lent.t
During thc micldll! ngl:>;, we Ie.rro how ri
it1),\' it wa
nh"l'I'\'l"), from \\ hat "'t.
nl'l'nar,l t-ays, "I h....('("('"
'ou, .1l'arIy h(.lon,,) f(.("t.in' with all .11','otion thi... I
'nh'n
f:t..t, which Hot ou]y thc ah...tiIH'ne-e ('IIIUIHl'IHI, hut much mol'C the 1':1<'I":1I11C.'ut.
I [II\V .'an that be Lmrd('n:,oIHf' to U' \\ hil'h the univl'l'..a1 CllUrch Lt'ar:oi nlon
with
II':>> IIithpl.to we \1... ocl to fi...t on),'" till nnnr... ; rum, likc our. .h'I'i aIlI"iug!i nnc.l
priuc..', dprJrY and people', nohl('.. owl p]pLt.iau.., I.i..h :1IIel poor, nil tO
l'thl'r fit
t un-
lil \"(....pc.T:--. I do not u...l" what monk, hut what C'hri..tian wi11 not ol.:-l'n"l
tltis r:r
t
d
\'olltly ?"t TiJJ the twelrdl .'..ntllry, th ' fa:-t lIf 1,1('ut wa'i nC\"l'r Lrok('n Ix.f()r'
thc c\"l'nin
, tlJ(m
h at othl'r tinU'., it \\"a.; u
ual to tak.' tll(' meal afler nOlll':-. Xot
(',.('n water ('oulel be dranl
(,xN'pting at th.' :-"lmc tirn. of the )"f'pa...t. "'hat wa:'l
:--:1,,(..1 hy fit:-òting wa.; to he g-i\.l'n to thl' poor. \h..tiul'llC"(l from nil u..u:tl plf'a!ooll)"('
wa.. al
o n'cl'lir('(I, hut ou the
ulHla
' r .ll'tart' thelc "ai U cerlain wtl'rJlli
..i()n of
thi:o, an..tc.rity. In th.. baronial, as well n
in the ('pi:-õCopal hall, there wa... uh,ny
a
CaIl.'udar
u"'I)f'lJ(led, in whid. wa
mal.kf'tl in grt'ât Icttrr:-, th.' f.'l...ls of Iß'ut, oml
..\ll\"l'lIt, anel the vigils an(1 .:mlx-r da
'''', with till' ah!"tiuPII('(':-I of oth,'r tirnc':--. In
the Limou..in it W:li l1'lIal nn .\..h "'.'tll1..
1ay, to pla.'.'I.I"l'r' thp (>himlH'Y a tahh'f,
('omIH'I-.'t) of a.. many II.lt.'r... a, thc're arc .1a
':- in 1...'lIt, :111(1 c\"..ry eveuillg one
)l'tt('r u..c..d tll he dla('('( 1. The i u.....ri pt ion wa., h
[Ol'
i IH p.'I'at r('
i1m" maximi:-,
rni IIi III i.., tll'niquc ollmiìlll:--." Tim..; :It Ea..ter, tIll' \\ hole was (.ffiu'('ll.
Iout(,il givl':o. a
.'uriou, tlo.'IIIIIt'nl whidl pro,'.'" that 1I1(".r
r(' .1iulll'l"s in th.. mi.ltlle age'" ",..r . )"l'ally
I-uch, The a('('onnt-hoo1,;. of )fa..tl'r ,TaIlU''; I
'rllarel, of the ('
IWU..t':i of thc hoh')
oftlu" I"ill
, in thc )"l'ar l,):
I), IIWllli(III:oi ha\'ilw pail) \\ïlliaill tIu
Il)n
:-:l)", tile
king's ('utler, fin' two knife ,(.':1 . 0.;, l'
lch holc.Iin
fo-ix knin..., all pointl..), to
cr\"('
at tabll' 011 IBf'a'rrt> .la,'" }(ilw CharJc', Y'. awl Charlp... Y II I. ha,ll(':",,, to take
. ð
milk nUll c.bc..cS(! in Ll'lIt, on till' grolllHl of tJH'ir hall hmlth, hut tl) makc ameutl:i
the)" w('re to Iwrfm'm :--OIllC piou.. \\ ork.... TIH' Xl'ropha.rie, 01' fi)O(l') cOIl,i"ting of
(lry fruirs IIl1cl.lokell, whirl. i..; lion r(':-ervl-..l for the la...t \\'l'PI.:, was of ('om11101l
* S. Perri Yell. .\hh. Clun. }
pist. Lih. VI. 15.
t Dc Qu:ulr.I';;"
l'rl11. :XXIII.
Yd.
('rm. III.
AGES OF FAITH.
1
9
ll:,agt', ami is thc most ancicnt of all m()(lf'-; of fil'iting ; but it wa;; ncvcI' prc:--eribetl
tll the '" ('..tel'l1 Chur('h, t.xceptillg on Goud Friclay and IIoly Satm'òay. The
('u:-tum of 
