The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"HOLINESS OF THE CHTTKCH. 47nets in which are inclosed good and bad fish ;theark of Noah in which were clean and uncleananimals, and you will see that the Church fromnow until the judgment day contains not only sheepand oxen, that is, saintly laymen and holy ministers,but also the beasts of the field.. . . For the beastsof the field are men who take delight in carnalpleasures, the field being that broad way which leadslto perdition"The occasional scandals existing among membersof the Church do not invalidate or impair her claimto the title of sanctity. The spots on the sun do notmar his brightness. Neither do the moral stains ofsome members sully the brilliancy of her whocometh forth as the morning star, fair as the moon,bright as the 2sun." The cockle that grows amidstthe wheat does not destroy the beauty of the ripenedharvest. The sanctity of Jesus was not sullied bythe presence of Judas in the Apostolic College.Neither can the moral corruption of a few disciplestarnish the holiness of the Church. St. Paul callsthe Church of Corinth a congregation of saints,8though he reproves some scandalous members amongthem. 4It cannot be denied that corruption of morals prevailed in the sixteenth century to such an extent asto callfor a sweeping reformation, and that laxityof discipline invaded even the sanctuary.But how was this reformation of morals to be1lu Pa. viii., n. 13.* Cant. vi. 9. I. Cor. i.* I. Cor. *.