Victories of the Martyrs_LIGUORI - the Catholic Kingdom!

the heroic acts of some of the most remarkable of them.No one should be astonished that at times I do notrelate all the circumstances that are found in otherbooks; I have only taken care to mention most authenticatedfacts, drawn from trustworthy authors, omittinga few particulars which I do not reject as being false,but which appear to me to be doubtful, as they aretaken from uncertain and suspected acts. According toCardinal Baronius,' " it is better to relate a few facts ofundoubted certainty, than to risk the introduction ofany dubious cil.cumstances, by indulging in lengthydetails, because the few facts given upon respectableauthority will always be received with satisfaction bythe reader, while the detection of any dubious matterwould make him suspect even that which is in realitytrue."In con~pliance with this excellent advice, we shall endeavorto select the best authenticated facts, while weintend to avoid, on the other hand, the extreme of scepticism.For such it would be to reject tile testimony ofan author whose authority is generally received, or whohas the characters of antiquity, probity, learning, andexactness.I say this because there are certain writers who seemto take merit to themselves by doubting everything.An accurate discrimination in the selection of facts andauthorities is a homage due to truth; but even this maybe carried to an excess bordering on scepticism ; for asit is a weakness to put faith in everything we find recorded,without the concurrent testimony of competentauthority, so, on the other hand, it is rashness to receiveeverything with doubt. We should not refuse belief tothe wonderful acts of the martyrs; but on the contrary,we should be persuaded that God can work in his saintsAnn. 307.Private Use Only