The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"UNITY OF THE CHURCH. 29legitimate pastors, he ceases to be a member of theChurch, and is cut off like a withered branch. TheChurch had rather sever her right hand than allowany member to corrode her vitals. It was thus sheexcommunicated Henry VIII. because he persistedin violating the sacred law of marriage, althoughshe foresaw that the lustful monarch would involvea nation in his spiritual ruin. She anathematized,more recently, Dr. Dolliuger, though the prestige ofhis name threatened to engender a schism in Germany. She says to her children: "Youmay espouse any political party you choose; with this Ihave no concern." But as soon as they trench on"matters of faith, she cries out : Hitherto thou shaltcome, and shalt go no farther; and here thou shaltbreak thy swelling waves of discord. The ternlpie of faith is the asylum of peace, concord, andunity.How sublime and consoling is the thought, thatwhithersoever a Catholic goes over the broad world,whether he enters his Church in Pekin or in Melbourne, in London, or Dublin, or Paris, or Home, orNew York, or San Francisco, he is sure to hear theself-same doctrine preached, to assist at the same sacrifice, and to partake of the same sacraments.This is not all. Her Creed is now identical withwhat it was in past ages. The same Gospel of peacethat Jesus Christ preached on the Mount ; the samedoctrine that St. Peter preached at Antioch and3*xxxviii. 11.