The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"166 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.past. Ireland is under the immediate jurisdictionof a Lieutenant-Governor, who is responsible onlyto the home government, and who is never accused,among his other weaknesses, of having an excessivefondness for Ireland.Abandoned to itself, Rome became a tempting preyto those numerous hordes of barbarians from theThe city was sucKorth that then devastated Italy.cessively attacked by the Goths under Alaric, and bythe Vandals under Genseric, and was threatened bythe Huns under Attila. Unable to obtain assistancefrom the Emperor in the East, or the Governor atRavenna, the citizens of Home looked up to the Popesas their only Governors and protectors, and theironly salvation in the dangers which threatened them.The confidence which they reposed in the Pontiffswas not misplaced. The Popes were not only devoted spiritual Fathers, but firm and valiant civilGovernors.When Attila, who was surnamedtheScourge of God," approached the city with an armyof 500,000 men, Pope Leo the Great went out tomeet him without any troops at his back, but by hismild eloquence he disarmed the indomitable chieftain, and induced him to retrace his steps. Thushe saved the city from pillage and the people fromdestruction. The same Pope Leo also confrontedGenseric, the leader of the Vandals ;and althoughhe could not this time protect Home from the plunder of the soldiers, he saved the lives of the citizensfrom slaughter. Such acts as these were naturally