Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

WILFRID -THE CHAMPION
plices in obstinacj7, who, belonging to two islands at
the ends of the earth, and not possessing all even of
them, strive in vain against the whole world."
Column's argument wTas the sanctity of those who
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had founded and followed the Celtic usage, and in
this he has had many imitators.
" Would you venture to say that our most reverend
Father Columba and his successors, men dear to
God, liked or did what was contrary to the Scripture
" he asked. Then Wilfrid, as Roman spokesman,
showed the true bearing of the question. It
was not because saints had taken a certain line that,
therefore, it was the right one, yet he did not j deny
that they were servants of God and dear to God.
But no
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saint would
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wilfully persist in what he knew
to be less perfect, and he did not blame those Celtic
teachers for an observance which was prompted
gnorance. ut as for you and your companions,"
were his concluding words, " if, hearing the decrees
of the Apostolic See, or rather of the Universal
Church, you treat them, though ratified by Scripture,
with contempt, you are most certainly committing a
sin. For, even if your fathers were saints, is their
small number in a remote island to be preferred
to the Universal Church of Christ
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throughout the
world And if that Columba of yours, or rather of
ours, if he belonged to Christ, was holy, and strong
in virtues, could he be preferred to the most blessed
Prince of the Apostles to whom our Lord said :
" ' Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My