The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

48 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.effected? Was it to be accomplished by a forceoperating inside the Church, or outside? 1 answer, that the proper way of carrying out this reformation, was by battling against iniquity withinthe Church ;for there was not a single weaponwhich men could use in waging war with viceoutside the Church, which they could not wieldwith more effective power when fighting under theauthority of the Church. The true weapons of anApostle, at all times, have been personal virtue,prayer, preaching, and the Sacraments. Every genuine reformer had those weapons at his disposalwithin the Church.She possesses, at all times, not only the principleof undying vitality, but, besides, all the elements ofreformation, and all the means of sanctification,With the weapons I have named, she purified morals in the first century, and ith the same wT weaponsshe went to work with a right good will, and effected a moral reformation in the sixteenth century.She was the only effectual spiritual reformer of thatageẆhat was theCouncil of Trent but a great reforming tribunal? Most of its decrees are directedto the reformation of abuses among the clergy andthe laity,and the salutary fruits of its legislationare reaped even to this day.St Charles Borromeo, the nephew of a reigningPope, was the greatest reformer of his time. Iliawhole Episcopal career was spent in elevating themorals of his clergy and people. Bartholomew,