Purgatory_SCHOUPPE - the Catholic Kingdom!

xii AUTHOR S PREFACE.not seen, and have believed. Be not faithless, but believing"(John xx. 27).The theologian who expounds dogmas of faithmust besevere in the choice of his proofs ;the historian must proceed with rigorous circumspection in the narration of facts,but the ascetic writer, who cites examples to illustrate truthsand edify the faithful, is not held to this strict rigour. Thebest authorised persons in the Church, such as St. Gregory,St. Bernard, St. Frances de Sales, St. Alphonsus Liguori,Bellarmine, and many others, as much distinguished fortheir learning as for their piety, when writing their excellent works knew nothing of the fastidiousrequirements ofthe present day requirements which in nowise constituteprogress.In fact, if the spirit of our fathers in the faith was moresimple, what is the cause of the disappearance of thatancient simplicity in the present time? Is it not the Protestant Rationalism with which, in our day, so many of ourCatholics are infected ? Is it not the spirit of reasoningand criticism that emanated from the Lutheran Reformation, propagated by French Philosophism, which, leadingthem to consider the things of God from a purely humanpoint of view, makes them cold, and alienates them fromthe Spirit of God ? The Venerable Louis of Blois, speak"This book"ing of the Revelations of St. Gertrude," says:contains treasures. Proud and carnal men,"he adds,understand nothing of the Spirit of God,"whotreat as reveriesthe writings of the holy virgin Gertrude, of St. Mechtilde,St. Hildegarde, and others ;it is because they are ignorantof the familiarity with which God communicates Himself toand how in these intimatehumble, simple, and loving souls,communications He ispleased to illumine these souls withthe pure light of truth, without any shadow of error."T1Louis of Blois, Epist. ad Florentium.Private Use Only