B
H Hie REV. A.L.HOPKINS





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PERISCOPE PEEKS AT

THE WORLD ABOVE

By

The Rev. A. L. Hopkins

Printed in U. S. A.

September 15, 1943

By

OUR SUNDAY VISITOR PRESS
Huntington, Indiana



Nihil Obstat:

REV. T. E. DILLON

Censor Librorum

Imprimatur:

JOHN FRANCIS NOLL, D. D.

Bishop of Fort Wayne

ONcfeltfed



Table Of Contents

Title Page

Subs and Alphabet Soup . 4

Of Rulers and Wrist-Watches , 1 5

Calling All Cars—And God , 6
Bald Heads and Radio Reception 7

Super-Broadcasts and Signatures ... 8

The Phone Book and Bible As History 9
By Parcel Post or Adams Express? 10
T.N.T. and Torpedoes 11

Major and Minor Leagues 12

Reporters Hound Wonder-Worker 13
Every Kingdom Has Ambassadors 14
Super-Secrets in Technicolor 15

Who Taught Gabriel to Blow? 16
Flash—Movie Star Gives Light! 17
The Everlasting Electric-Light Pole 18

Power House and High Tension Wires 19

Compasses and Other Guides 20

“Somewhere a Voice Is Calling” . 21

Do You Feed a Cold—Or Think? 22
Supreme Court Denies Reputed Right 23

Headlights For the Infantry 24

Is One Bank As Good As Another? 25
Trademark “1” Older Than “57” 26
Arius, Luther and Henry VIII Were Cards 27
“Only God Can Make a Tree” 28
Whose Yardstick Decides Who's Right? 29
Wait!—Blind Hate or Date? 30
All Elevators Are Limited 31
The Exception Proves—What? 32
Ashes and Push-Buttons 33

A Neighbor Invites You In 34
Lights Inc.—Stellar, Literary, Votive 35
Of Water Mains and Hydrants 36
“Three-In-One” and Other Oils 37

Pancakes, Flour and Phrases 38

Periscope and Heliotrope 39

Orders, Boulder Dam and Roman Rock 40
“Just Married”—Or For Keeps? 41
An Airplane Swoops to Conquer 42
Of Erasers and Pencil Sharpeners 43
Read the Bible Romantically 44
Odds and Ends 45

R. R. Fares
—

“All Tickets Please!” - 46

Railway Tracks and Wrecks 47
Subject Matter of Articles 48



Subs And Alphabet Soup

This is a series of re-edited sketches written

originally for a small-town newspaper. I imagined

the readers as submerged in the Sea of Life, con-

fined in the U-Boat of their daily job, with only an

occasional Periscope Glance' at the World Above,

the supernatural world of Religion—that ancient
binding force—as invisible yet as real to man as
the force of gravity which binds him to this Earth.

Since we must start somewhere, I assume you

admit the force of gravity. Nor is it assuming too

much that you can read what I write. Therefore we

are two jumps ahead of all other animals. We
believe something we can’t see; and we understand

man-made A B C’s in all sorts of combinations.
Hence we must admit we have what the so-called

“intelligentsia” call “intelligence,” For by common

consent we agree that four of our arbitrary capital

letters H, O, I, X, always mean the same in either

direction, whether the printer turns them upside

down, or gravity has us hanging by our heels—an
absurd position for “anyone who has the right to

think and choose for himself.” That, however, is

one definition of a PERSON. So already by your

own admissions, dear reader, I perceive that you

are quite a person.

The Author

(4 )



Of Rulers And Wrist-Watches

Every blue-print represents a design drawn to

a scale previously agreed-upon. It denotes the ex-

istence of an intelligent designer free to choose the

scale. But we must check all measurements by ruler.

You glance at your wrist-watch to see if we still

have time. The rule and the watch are the works of

other 'persons—intelligent, free agents. They rep-
resent law and order.

The watch is no result of chance. No one can

convince you that the inventor threw 17 jewels, 26

numbers, three hands, two springs, into a metal box

with some screws and wheels—and it just began to
tick. The inventor had intelligence. He knew how

to use many tools, to choose and put many things

in order. We call him the Watch-Maker.

Reason alone tells us, too, that the vast universe

we live in is no result of chance. Its beautiful de-

sign, fixed laws, marvelous order all required an in-

telligence above man’s, free to choose right combina-

tions—hence a personal Designer—Ruler—Maker.
We call him GOD.

Reason alone also tells us everything that be-

gins to be must have a cause. Go back if you will,

eventually you must come to something that did not

begin to be, the First Cause of all other things, the

source of intelligence, law, order—a personal Being,
Creator of the universe—God.

( 5 )



Caliing All Cars—And God
The intelligence we each possess is not a toy

imitation of our Maker's Intelligence. We know it

really works because we can communicate our

thoughts to each other. But the Greatest Intelli-

gence must have all the perfections of our own.

Therefore, God can communicate with us, and we

with Him, like the Chief of Police and his men in

their prowl-cars—very unusual models of prayer,
I'll admit, but suggested here for a practical pur-

pose.

Prayer is the most ordinary religious act of the

human mind—the original two-way radio gift of our
Divine Inventor. Better start using it ! In a strange

town, you ask a traffic cop to direct you. You take

for granted he knows and you don't argue.

In many ways this is a strange world. Whence

came you? Why are you here? Whither, after

death? As God is the Master Mind Who planned

and made all things, He alone knows all the an-

swers including man's origin, the purpose of life,

his final destiny. Ask Him to direct you, and don't

argue, even thou' His directions are often opposite

what you expect.

You can tune in on God any time. The line is

never busy. Prayer, like the telephone made for

man's daily use, is for talking and for listening .

So many of us forget to listen. We want to do all
the talking. Some even try to tell God what to do.

That's not prayer. It's anarchy

!

( 6 )



Bald Heads And Radio Reception

You can refuse to pray to prove you have free-

will. You can refuse to eat and drink and show

your independence of created things. But you can

never stop thinking to prove that you are independ-

ent of your Creator. You are like your home radio-

set, absolutely dependent on an invisible, external

influence. Both were made to receive “news.”

Every man knoivs he is only a part of a vast

creation. Realizing this dependence on a Creator,

he shows it by admitting it. But he also shows it by

responding to God’s directions. If our radio works

at all, it must respond.

Our intelligence, like a sensitive selector, is

attuned to an All-Knowing God. Static may develop

from “old tubes” or out-side interference. But

there are times when our reception is almost per-

fect.

For it is a fact of everyday experience that we

too, like our radio, have an amplifier commonly

called “conscience” through which God makes His

Will known to each. A man in good working order
always knows the good he should do, and the evil

to avoid. Proofs? The physical “blush” and the

mechanical “lie detectors.” We do not lose it with
our hair.

But unfortunately our free-will is too much like

the switch which turns our radio on or off. We can,
and often do, miss the Good, the True, the Beautiful

recordings. We do not choose to listen when God
whispers soft and low.

(7 )



Super-Broadcasts And Signatures

“Signature” once meant personal copyright on

a letter or official approval of a monarch. Radio ex-

tends it to theme song, trade name or station identi-

fication. But always there is the fundamental idea

of guaranteeing true representation.

As “Conscience” assures us of God’s private

communication, so history gives us public instances

of God “drawing aside the veil” to let men know

more about His intervention than they could by

reason alone. This is “Revelation.” When God

speaks, it must be truth, and no created intelligence

may question it. It is true whether we like it or

not, accept it or not, because God is Truth and can’t

deceive us.

But we may question whether God is really

“speaking.” Hence God has His “signatures” which

guarantee divine authorship and defy imitation.

They are “Miracles” and “Prophecies.”

Only the Supreme Law-Maker can suspend or

reverse laws of nature. Therefore when events con-

trary to, or beyond such laws are witnessed by men,

they are both historical facts and “Miracles.” As

such they are God’s visible Signature.

Prophecy means foretelling events which de-

pend on free agents like Congressmen rather than

on fixed laws or calculation like weather. Only God

can know beforehand eyents depending on His or

men’s free will. When they happen as foretold they

become historical facts. But the foretelling proves

that God Himself was speaking.

God’s Super Broadcasts of history are the He-

braic (or Old) Testament and the Christian (or

New) Testament. Both bear His Super Signatures.

(8 )



The Phone Book And Bible As History

The handy Telephone Directory is often used

to tell you where someone lives. This is not its pur-

pose, but it is usually right because it is up-to-date.

Compiled each year as an authentic list of ’phone

subscribers, its purpose is to give correct telephone

numbers.

The Bible’s purpose is to state religious truth.

It is a collection of very old hand-written stories of

men, sacred songs and messages. The original writ-

ings have all vanished. There are some copies in

Hebrew and Greek. Over 1500 years ago all were

translated into Latin; many times since into every-

day languages of all peoples.

The Bible, like your ’Phone book, tells where

and when certain persons lived. Tho’ not the main

purpose of either, we can use both as histories. The

Bible as mere history is the oldest account we have

of a group known as Christians, followers of a Man

called Jesus Christ, who named His organization

“MY CHURCH.”

This is why we are as sure that His Church

existed before the Bible, as we are that the Tele-

phone Co. came before the telephone-book. Both are

simple facts of history—their own history. As the
’Phone Co. gathers names by “Centrals” to list cor-

rect phone numbers, so Christ’s Own Church collect-

ed ancient writings of God’s dealings with men to

teach religious truth. (Please remember—we cite
the Bible as mere history until further notice.)

(9 )



By Parcel Post Or Adams Express?

From the Bible as mere history we learn of

Adam and Eve, our first parents, who had no par-

ents. God told them how He made them as He alone

was there. Simple facts : bodies material from

earth; souls spiritual like breath direct from God,

“to His image,” hence everlasting with great minds

and free wills. Such is “human nature.”

But God added super gifts: His friendship

(“Grace”) and freedom from pain and death. He

also gave them power over earthly creatures.

Adam and Eve had no right to special gifts.

God gave them a chance to earn them. Heaven is

not an express package. It doesn’t come by parcel

post, but is a prize to be won in the Game of Life.

Every game needs rules. In “hide-and-go-seek”

there is always one tree no one can hide behind.

So God reserved a single tree. Its fruit was desir-

able to see, good to eat, but forbidden to man. This

was the trial or contest
;
happiness the reward : hap-

piness on earth by abstaining
,
happiness forever by

winning.

But man lost. First Eve, then Adam ate “to

be as God,” independent, absolutely free—a sin of
will and intellect, as well as of bodily appetite—total
rebellion—a terrible sin, now called “Original” be-
cause it comes through our origin. We receive that
same human nature as a damaged express package.

It was all Adam had left to give us—T.N.T. (our
Total Nature Tainted.)

( 10 )



T.N.T. And Torpedoes

Man is more complicated than a torpedo. Both

are marvelous combinations, but when out of order

become quite unmanageable and frustrate the pur-

pose of their makers.

Our Total Nature Tainted (T.N.T. ), we have

been out of order since Adam sinned, thereby losing

for us all science, integrity, immortality—those
super-gifts to which we had no right.

The Fall is an immutable fact; its effects re-

main. The human nature we inherit from our first-

parents is defective, its parts working independent-

ly (instead of in coordination, as God intended) to

attain happiness. Each part seeks its own satisfac-

tion; the will self-worship (“the pride of life”)
;
the

intellect self-exaltation (“the lust of the eyes”)

;

and our five senses self-indulgence (“the lust of the

flesh”).

Thus our human nature is like the torpedo

whose motive-power, directional device and timer

all work perfectly,—but independently. The ex-
plosion occurs prematurely. The torpedo fails to

reach its mark.

We, too, can fail to reach the end for which God

made us. First we need to share God’s (i.e. super-

natural) life. Then we need to learn how to live

supernaturally.

God promised Adam and Eve that a model

member of their race would make it possible again

for all to live God’s life both here and hereafter.

He amplified this promise thru Prophets, whose

forecasts were later recorded. Read your Bible.

(ID



Major And Minor Leagues

Even tho’ Cain made a base hit, Abraham a sac-

rifice and Noah caught some fowls, the Bible is not

a history of baseball. If it were, the famous triple-

players would be Adam to Noah to Abraham. For

God’s promise of a “Messias” is as evident as a base-

ball, and is the topic batted around publicly later in

both Major and Minor league—of Prophets.
“Messias” is Hebrew for “Promised One”—to

be sent by God to free all men from sin, and reopen

Heaven Highway closed by Adam’s wreck—a super-
natural job.

This required one perfectly human, to atone

thru human nature for all its sins
;
and one humanly

perfect, because He had a divine mission to do God’s

will. Hence everything He said must be true, every-

thing He did perfect.

Such is the composite prophetic picture, drawn

hundreds of years in advance, highlights by Isaias,

shadows by Jeremias, and many exact details by

other Prophets.

Using the Bible as history, rating Matthew,

Mark, Luke and John as good reporters, we discover

that all they tell us about Jesus Christ (Whom they

knew personally) fits. Not only His teaching and

life, but all details of birth, infancy and death

(events beyond control of an actor) fulfill exactly

circumstances described by Prophets hundreds of

years before.

Therefore history proves Jesus Christ is the

Messias. That includes human perfection, divine

mission. Hence everything He taught must be

divinely true.

( 12 )



Reporters Hound Wonder-Worker

You smiled at reference to Matthew—John as
Reporters. Must men have two names to merit a by-

line? Then call them Matt Levy and Johnny Devine

if you will, but don’t deny their flair for news. They

covered the most colorful public figure of their time

for three years. No AP correspondents ever had such

tenacity. They were real “News Hounds.”

They wrote what they saw Jesus Christ do, what

they heard Him say. They got the “inside story”

from Him later. They interviewed the people He

cured.

Wherever He went, things really happened.

They drank His wine, then talked to the waiters.

Five minutes before it ivas only water! They saw

Him walk on the lake where Peter sank. They saw

the waves and felt the storm stop instantly at His

command. Headline: Nature obeys her Master’s

Voice!

It was the same with human nature. Sports

—

“Lepers become jumpers,”
—

“Withered Cripples

runners,”
—

“Blind man sees”; (they question his

parents. Born blind sure enuf!) Never before in

history! Comes Lazarus’ obit. They hear Jesus

pray: “That these here may know You, Father,

sent me”—and out walks Lazarus alive—a direct
proof of Jesus’ Divine Mission. News

!

Never anything like it, until Jesus Himself

arose from the dead—the only case in history. John
checked up carefully because it was the biggest

proof of the Divine Mission even in Jesus’ own opin-

ion. Only One sent by God can suspend or reverse

the laws of Nature.

( 13 )



Every Kingdom Has Ambassadors

An Ambassador is an official sent by one Nation

to represent all its subjects and interests in another

Nation. His mission is as real as his portfolio. He

lives away from home, follows the customs and

speaks both his mother-tongue and the language of

that other nation. Because he is not just “John Doe”

but officially “John Bull,” for example, he must do

always the things that please his fatherland.

This gives you an idea of the Divine Mission of

Jesus Christ. He was sent by God to represent the

Kingdom of Heaven, to ransom souls—God’s sub-
jects held captive by the world, to show them the

way, and provide transportation, back home. He

presented visible proofs that He was sent. “He

spoke as one having authority” from God, and all

nature obeyed.

He foretold events of politics, conquest, crime.

Therefore He was God’s Ambassador, for only God

knows future events which depend, not on fixed laws

and calculations, such as weather, but on man’s

free-will : the destruction of Jerusalem, Christ’s

own death and resurrection.

His teaching, too, is unusual, new, unworldly.

He spoke the language of the Kingdom of Heaven.

“No one ever spoke as this Man speaks.” His con-

duct, life, virtues also marked Him as God’s Am-

bassador. There is no doubt that He had a Divine

Mission. Therefore He taught nothing but the

truth. An Ambassador speaks and acts for His

King. God is absolute Truth.

( 14 )



Super-Secrets In Technicolor

Some years ago the rays of the setting sun

found a man praying in Our Lady’s Chapel at the

Oropa Shrine in Northern Italy. As he was descend-

ing to the city, he met a friend. “Guiseppe,” he

said, “up there at the Chapel a beautiful idea sud-

denly came to me. Later on you will see what I

mean!” An inscription there now reminds all visi-

tors : “From the Cloisters of Oropa, Guilielmo Mar-

coni drew inspiration for his great discovery.”

It seems so simple, why didn’t Moses think of

it? Because God didn’t want anyone to think of it

then. God controls our minds. We show our de-

pendence on an All-Knowing Creator by admitting

Mysteries—facts we can’t fully understand now.
Because there are mysteries in Nature, what is

more reasonable than that they exist concerning the

God of Nature! Under the title “Super-Broadcasts

and Signatures” we considered two revealed reli-

gions, the Hebraic Testament and the Christian.

The latter became like the prism thru which light

is revealed as really composed of three fundamental

colors. The Hebraic One Only God was shown thru

the Christian revelation to be really The Trinity

—

One God in three Divine Persons, The Father, The

Son and The Holy Spirit.

God let this Super-Secret out over His Signa-

ture thru His Ambassador Jesus Christ, whose Di-

vine Mission guarantees its truth. Now we see the
Triune God’s footprints everywhere on land—sea—
air; in matter, in dimensions, in time. (Look for

more) It seems so simple now, we ask : “Why didn’t

the Hebrews think of it, Marconi?”

( 15 )



Who Taught Gabriel To Blow?

Jesus Christ, Ambassador of the Kingdom of

Heaven, long heralded by God’s propagandists—the
Prophets, trailed by cleverest news hounds, thor-

ou’ly demonstrated His Divine Mission by words

and deeds, by prophecy and doctrine, by miracles

and mode of life. Therefore all—absolutely all His
official claims must be true. But He claimed to be

the real, substantial, only Son of God. As it is one

of His official (not private) pronouncements, it

must be true.

This is not an instance of a man “blowing his

own horn.” There is a mistaken notion about toot-

ing one’s own horn based on the fallacy “It may be

—therefore it is”—false. There is in fact more prob-
ability that it is true.

A stranger in a strange land knows something
no native knows. He knows who he is, whence he

came, and why. If he is travelling “incognito”

—

privately—he won’t talk about himself. But if he
has been sent officially on a definite mission, he must

talk about himself, make himself known, show his

credentials. He is essential to his mission. They

succeed or fail together. His self-identification is

“official business,” not private bragging or “horn

tooting.”

So we accept Jesus’ direct statements : Caiphas

said: “Swear. Are you the Christ the Son of God?”

Jesus answered: “lam.” Peter said: “You are the

Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus answer-

ed: “My Father in Heaven revealed that to you.”

It must be true. God can’t lie. His Ambassador

couldn’t lie. But He could die to prove it. And He

did.

( 16 )



Flash—Movie Star Gives Light!
In “My Favorite Blonde” Bob Hope as leading

man loses himself in a crowd of silent “extras” at a

truck drivers’ picnic. Nervously fumbling a cigar-

ette, he turns to the nearest one for a light. Without

a word the extra, Bing Crosby, (with no other part

in this picture) hands him a match. Bob appears

puzzled, looks again, and walks away saying only:

“It can’t be.” But your movie audience everywhere

knows it is—and always laughs.
Why? At Bob Hope’s prejudice. Bob has “pre-

viously judged” and subconsciously decided that

Bing Crosby is too big a Star to take a job as an

extra. It isn’t done in Their Elite Circle. There-

fore : “it can’t be” Crosby.—But IT IS. (A perfect
example of Prejudice)

.

If Jesus Christ is the Son of God, (you ask)

why didn’t Caiphas and the Jewish officials recog-

nize Him? Prejudice. They had a pre-conceived

idea that the Messias must be a Leading Man, not

just one of the crowd. They wished God to conform

to their idea, instead of reforming their minds to

God’s ideal. So they asked Christ: “Are you

greater than our Father Abraham?” implying, of

course, “You can’t be!” Their prejudice closed their

minds to all the evidence Jesus offered.

Examine the evidence in this series with good

will and an open mind. Do not prejudge! Prejudice

is a mental blind-spot. It can put you in the intellect-

ual position of the Jews. Like Bob, they said “It

can’t be.” But all who are not prejudiced know IT IS

the Son of God, eternal, yet as truly Man as Bing

Crosby.

(17 )



The Everlasting Electric-Light Pole

If by chance there is an electric-light pole

with its sturdy crossarm in your front yard, it

should be more welcome than a Christmas tree. Both

symbolize Christ. But suppose your electric bills

unpaid for months. The Company disconnects you.

Light, heat, power gone all at once. General dis-

order! First the bill must be paid in full; secondly

a man is sent to restore the broken contact. Then

only does the invisible power flow again.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, spent less than 24

hours of His 33 years of earthly existence atoning,

by the surrender of His human life, for the sins of

all mankind. We omit historical details of our Re-

demption as we might pass over daily papers’ ac-

counts of an execution. Except for the fact that they

fulfill accurately centuries’-old prophecies, thereby

confirming Christ’s Divine Mission, they are irre-

levant here.

In our parable above, the effects of the Re-

demption alone are important. The pole is the Cross.

Your account squared—the satisfaction of God’s jus-
tice by the infinite value of the God-Man’s Sacrifice.

The Man sent to repair the broken circuit—Jesus
Christ. Follow His orders and the invisible power

is on again for us—God’s grace, that supernatural
gift bestowed on us thru Christ’s merits for our

salvation. It will give us new life—a sharing of
God’s Life. It will make us temples of the Holy

Spirit, filled with the light of supernatural faith, the

power of hope to make our spiritual motors hum,

the warmth of divine love. All this—and Heaven too
becomes available, if we but heed directions of The

Man on the Pole.

(18 )



Power House And High Tension Wires

For hundreds of years the power of Niagara

Falls went to waste unheeded. Then George West-

inghouse, with barefoot memories “down by the old

mill stream,” built a power-house; and now that

mighty force transformed into invisible power,

Electricity, is sent in all directions thru high ten-

sion wires, helping millions of people daily.

In the spiritual darkness surrounding you, do

you ever wonder about the Power House? In shed-

ding His Blood for us all on Calvary, the Dynamic

Christ, the Son of God, generated enough invisible

power to save all men of all time. But like Niag-

ara’s power long unheeded, it can be going to waste

as far as you or I are concerned

!

It is not enough to be “saved.” We must be
connected with Christ, or we cannot get our share.

HE suffered; HE died. He alone has the right to
make the terms of the contract or contact.

And He did. He established a corporate organi-

zation as visible as the Light, Heat and Power Co.

He founded a “power-house” which He called His

Church. He built it on solid Rock. He guaranteed it

indestructible by even the floodgates of hell. And

He installed seven High Tension Wires called Sacra-

ments—channels of invisible power (Grace), as real
as the wires fanning from Niagara Falls.

These are the real, permanent, necessary means

which The Dynamic Christ provided to enable men

of all time to share in the fruits of the Redemption.

The rest is up to us.

( 19 )



Compasses And Other Guides

My pocket-compass always fascinates me.

“Don’t take the easiest way,” it says, “Head into the

storm. The North is always where I point. Act

—

don’t argue! For I am infallible.” How true! Its

needle moves by an invisible, directive power of

Nature’s God.

This same Divine Guide sent Jesus Christ, His

Son as a Teacher to show us safely Home. His doc-

trine, like the compass, is meant for men of all time.

He lived among men only 33 years, but He organized

a Teaching Faculty to which He entrusted all His

Treasures of Divine Truth.

The greatest Teacher in history, He trained

others for three years to carry on His teaching. They

were no longer “ignorant fishermen.” “He who

hears you, hears Me,” He said, as Crosby might say

to a juke-box.

“He who believes not (what you preach) shall

be condemned.” God can’t damn a man for another’s

mistake. But He can make a compass infallible—or
a messenger just as easily, or a whole group of men.

And He did. ‘‘Teach men of all nations, ALL, what-

ever I have commanded YOU.” How can we be
sure? His guarantee to supervise: “Behold I am
with you all days.” He saw His Faculty ever re-

newed as each member died, teaching only His doc-

trine “even to the end of the world.”

Jesus Christ established a visible Church with

infallible teaching authority. A mystery! So is
the Trinity. But we have the same assurance for

both. Size means nothing to the Son of God. An
infallible Church—or compass. Without both man
is lost ALL-WAYS.

(20 )



"Somewhere A Voice Is Calling"

“They do not answer.” Ironically a Mr. Bell had

to invent something that must ring to work. The

telephone, the Central, a standing army of service

men, millions of miles of wire, millions of dollars

in equipment—all available for three little words:
“Long Distance, please.” But all going to waste for

some who do not hear the bell.

Christ’s Own Church is a similar world-wide

organization. Time and space mean nothing to God.

You listen. Jesus speaks at the other end of the

line. The telephone system in between is His Uni-

versal Church. Its purpose is to transmit Christ’s

spoken message. He delivered it orally to His teach-

ing Church as to a cable. A cable cannot change a
message. It can add nothing. It can omit nothing.

If called upon to create a message, it would remain

silent forever. It is powerful only to transmit.

Christ emphasized that His Church is not mere-

ly for the few who can read, but for all men. “He

who has ears to hear, let him hear!” “Blessed are

they who hear the Word of God, and keep it.” “Who

hears you, hears Me.”
“
Preach the Gospel to every

creature.” “My sheep hear My Voice . . . and other
sheep I have . . . not of this fold. THEY SHALL
HEAR MY VOICE, and there shall be one fold and
One Shepherd.”

That is a promise of the Son of God. It cannot

fail. It requires that His official teaching Voice

still lives in this, world. Trace that call. Find it.

For somewhere that Voice is calling YOU. You will

hear it only in that Church where the unrecorded

overtones of a rich Tradition assure you of Christ’s

entire doctrine still “ringing true.”

(21 )



Do You Feed A Cold—Or Think?
Mental “bad habits” are worse than physical

ones. “Stop biting your nails, child,” you say. “See

what it did to Venus de Milo.” But it’s harder to

reform your own childish rules of life, e.g., “Feed

a cold, starve a fever.” Many do. Others say: “Old

quacks! It’s just the reverse.” But lovers of ancient

wisdom examine old prescriptions and find the

original: “If you feed a cold, you will starve'

a

fever.”

Now examine your childhood impressions on

the Bible as a rule of life. Here are some historical

facts to guide you. Jesus Christ read and frequently

quoted the Old Testament scriptures. “Beginning

with Moses and all of the Prophets, He showed them

the things that were there concerning Him.” But

He the greatest Teacher of all time never wrote a

single line. He founded a teaching hierarchy to

preach, not to write.

Two of His Apostles wrote short accounts of

Him. Others wrote official letters. These are now

found in the second part of the Bible called “the

New Testament.” But not a single word of this part

was written until long after Jesus had finished or-

ganizing His Church, delegating His infallible teach-

ing authority as “the rule of faith.” It was not

until 897 that this Sole Divinely Authorized Guide

for redeemed mankind, examined all ancient writ-

ings, decided which were authentic Sacred Scrip-

tures and assembled them into a little library now

called “The Bible.” Therefore the Bible cannot be

the “sole rule of faith.”

(22 )



Supreme Court Denies Reputed Right

Neither Columbus nor Vespucci knew our Con-

stitution. It was composed when the original States

were United. As no written document can inter-

pret itself, the Constitution provides for a Supreme

Court as official interpreter consisting of only 9

trained men from our millions of citizens. Neither

you, nor I, nor anyone else has the right of private

interpretation.

The Bible may be called the Constitution of

the Church. Neither Christ nor the Apostles had a

copy. The Church got along without it for over

300 years. When it became impossible for Chris-

tians to tell the sacred writings from the spurious

ones which had appeared, the authoritative teaching

Church decided which were the authentic manu-

scripts, on the basis of Inspiration.

Inspiration means that God is the real Author.

He prompted certain free agents to write, in their

own words and style, facts which they either knew

or which He revealed to them. Inspiration guaran-

tees religious truth only, not secular sciences. It

extends only to the original writing, not to copies

or translations.

From all these facts arises the danger of mis-

understanding the Divine Author’s meaning. Of-

ficial interpretation becomes necessary. No book

can interpret itself. God in founding His Church

delegated to it His infallible teaching authority.

“He who hears you hears Me” etc. This is His Rule

of Faith. The successors of the Apostles alone form

“The Supreme Court” of Christ’s Own Church; not
the millions of us ordinary members. There is no

such thing as the right of private interpretation of

the Bible.

(23 )



Headlights For The Infantry

Supernatural Faith is more than a rational

conviction. It is believing something on the au-

thority of God Who reveals it, because God is ab-

solutely true. This is not blind belief; it is based

on knowledge,—not our own, but God’s. Such
faith is indeed a favor from above, but a favor

granted to prayer and good-will.

So far we have used the Bible as authentic

ancient history only. From now on it is divinely

inspired Sacred Scripture assembled by Christ’s

Church which guarantees its inspiration. There-

fore we must accept its religious teaching to be

as infallible as God, the Author, Himself. It is

often called the written word of God.

The same Church gives us the “unwritten word

of God” i.e., Tradition—that complete system of
revealed truth taught by Christ to the Apostles,

or infused into their minds by the Holy Spirit,

but of which they themselves kept no written rec-

ord.

The Bible and Tradition have equal value, as

we accept both on the same authority—that in-
fallible teaching authority delegated by the Infallible

Son of God when He said: “As the Father has sent

Me, I also send you.” (John 20-22).

Forward, then, with the Church that leads as

a mighty tank with Christ in the turret above still

directing Peter’s successor in the driver’s seat below.

Its two powerful headlights, Tradition and Bible,

piercing the darkness of world-wide unbelief, throw

their gleaming rays of divine Faith undimmed on

the steep and narrow road ahead, inviting all who

would survive to follow the Light of the world to

journey’s end!

(24 )



Is One Bank As Good As Another?

“A run on the bank” may be a terrifying event

or everyday recreation. “Do you mean a Savings

Bank or a river’s bank?” you ask. Terms must be

defined. We must also avoid sentiment, in deal-

ing with an exact science. Think of a Bank with

all Tellers Blondes—(Ah !)—who agreed that 2 plus
2 equals 3. “Who cares?” you smirk. But if you

accept it regarding one, you admit it as to hun-

dreds, millions.

Religion like mathematics is an exact science.

Truth excludes even the slightest error. It is as

unchangeable as God. God sent His Son as our

Teacher. Jesus gave us a perpetual Teaching Fac-

ulty as visible as a Board of blond Directors. This

Faculty gave us The Bible guaranteed as God’s

inspired text-book. In this triple divine guidance

—the Son of God, the infallible teaching Church and
divine inspiration of Holy Writ—we have ever avail-
able a spiritual foundation as sure and stabilized as

the tripod—that perfect pedestal of surveyors.
But we must be certain to use this tripod. All

three legs assure our stability. It is not enough to be-

lieve in Christ. And if every bank is not a Bank,

and one Bank is not so good as another, is every

church Christ’s own Church? If not, how can one

be as good as another? And where did the book

you’ve been calling your Bible come from? Is it

complete, untampered with, truthfully translated?

Look for God’s trademark on your tripod.

(25 )



Trademark "1" Older Than "57"

Whether a banker or a blonde, you could be

like the new garage-hand asking the loan of a

wrench till payday: “I see the same guy’s name

on all these tools. Surely he can spare one. Tell

me, now, where can I find this Pat Pending?”

With Christ’s Name on so many churches today,

you may have trouble finding Him. Only one of these

can be His, because He founded one Church only.

It’s as simple as that! Look for Unity as Christ’s

first trademark. It still indicates the divine Orig-

inal from all human imitations.

He always visualizes Unity in describing the

“Kingdom of Heaven” which He came to establish.

He likens it to units such as a tree, a net, a particular

field, a special vineyard, a sheepfold. He gives us the

word “Church” used only twice in the Gospels:

“Thou art Rock (Peter), and upon this rock I will

build my Church (not Churches). And I will give

thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and what-

ever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in

heaven” etc. (Matt. 16-18, 19).

The Old Testament word “Church” meaning

the assembly of Israel is here used by Christ in

a similar sense of a visible society of men united to

serve God, with unity of government under one

man, first Peter who of all disciples present is to

receive “the keys”—symbol of authority.—There
is only one Church in the world today that fits

Christ’s promise above. Are you and I thinking

of the same thing—as Christ?

(26)



Arius, Luther And Henry VIII Were Cards

A business machine in your town sorts, “reads”

and computes millions of cards more accurately and

rapidly than any human agent can. For each dif-

ferent operation it depends on numerous electrical

contacts—and holes in cards previously measured
and punched by a micrometer. All cards even slight-

ly out of line are automatically rejected. They do not

stop the machine. Its inventor thus protected it

from all computing errors. It is mathematically in-

fallible.

Christ made His Church an “International

Business Machine” for saving souls. The Holy

Spirit supplies the invisible power for each exact

operation ... It is fed with souls. If they do not

measure up to the Divine Inventor’s requirements,

because of any deliberate deviation from His Doc-

trine, they eject themselves. Thus Christ protects

His Church from all religious errors. It cannot

make a doctrinal mistake.

“I will build my Church,” said Christ, “and the

gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt.

16-18). God always keeps His word. His One Church

is still one—because He made it indefectible against
all hostile, evil powers. His promise stands—they
shall never overcome or destroy His Church.

Since He made it a teaching Church, it would

be overcome if error prevailed. But it cannot be

overcome. Therefore it is also infallible. How? “If

he (thy brother) refuse to hear even the Church,”

said Christ, “let him be to thee as the heathen and

the publican (outcasts). Amen I say to you, what-
ever you bind on earth shall be bound also in

heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be

loosed also in Heaven.” (Matt. 18-18).

(27)



"Only God Can Make A Tree"
Thus Joyce Kilmer, Poet, found immortality

thru his new found faith. So in the poetic parables

of Christ this ideal He had of His Church as a

living organism is unmissable. That explains best

how it has remained one in spite of apparent “oper-

ations” by “tree doctors” and butchers from Nero

to Hitler.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of

mustard seed . . . which becomes a tree.” (Matt.

13-31). Christ foresaw the living branches of His

Church spreading unsevered from the one original

root.

“I am the vine and my Father is the vine-

dresser,” said Christ to His Apostles. “You are

the branches ... If anyone does not abide in me

he shall be cast outside and shall wither; and they

shall gather them up and cast them into the fire, and

they shall burn.” (John 15-1, 5, 6). Thus Christ

anticipated and disposed of “the branch theory”

of later “churches” and their apostate (instead of

Apostolic) founders.

“Abide in me, and I in you” (same). His Church

is not a dead organization but a living organism,

His Mystical Body, so that the great Convert St.

Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit exclaims most

truly: “I live, now not I, but Christ lives in me.”

“We are members of His Body, made from His flesh

and from His bones.” (Ephes. 5-30).

Christ still lives in and thru His Church on

earth. It is not an impersonal body but a living

Personality. Read St. Paul (I Cor. 12) ; Newman,

Chesterton, Benson—brilliant converts all to whom
this unique truth appealed so strongly. It may attract

you too.

(28 )



Whose Yardstick Decides Who's Right?

Argue with an architect, and he always proves

by pocket-rule that here—and here—the artisans
did not follow his blueprints. “Produce a mental

yardstick," you say, “of what Christ had in mind

when He planned His Church, which we can use

today to measure all churches claiming to be

Christian.”

You asked for it. Then scan the climax of St.

Matthew’s Gospel—Christ’s commission to the
eleven: “Go and make disciples of all nations" (1 ft.)

. . . “teaching them to observe all that I have com-

manded you” (2 ft.) “And behold I am with you

all days” (3 ft.). (Matt. 28-19, 20). A perfect 3 ft.
rule.

First, Christ’s Church must be universal geo-

graphically, or global; 2nd, universal doctrinally

—

all Christ’s teachings exactly
;
3rd, universal in time

from that hour thru now to the end of the world.

By this yardstick of Christ, there is only One

Church that measures up foot by foot : only one that

is actually found in every part of the globe; only

one that is teaching all that Christ taught just as He

taught it, including doctrine, worship, Church gov-

ernment, indissoluble marriage, forgiveness of sins,

hell : only one that has Christ for its Founder, dates

from the Apostles and gives every indication of per-

petuity.

That there is only one is not a coincidence. It

proves that we have discovered Christ’s own yard-

stick, because all Christ’s blueprints and composite

specifications from all the Gospels require One only.

The coincidence is that the Divine Yardstick’s unit

of measure is the idea “universal”—your own trans-
lation of the classic Greek word CATHOLIC.

(29)



Wait!—Blind Hate Or Date?
War teaches us to consider first the source of all

information. Who told you so? Is he trustworthy,

capable of judging, “on the inside,” friend or enemy?

Where did this broadcast originate?

What of your present ideas of Catholics and the

Catholic Church? Examine them carefully like coins.

Are they true or counterfeit? Where did you get

them? Do they contradict religious truths in this

book? You have never doubted before! Because the

books you have read, the people you know, are non-

Catholic or misinformed as to Catholic belief and

practice.

Our spiritual life on earth is a warfare. Judas

was not the last traitor. Christ lives on in His Cath-

olic Church. He is still on trial and false witnesses

contradict each other. Religious leaders like Annas

and Caiphas jealously misrepresent His cause to

new Pilates and Herods. The Scribes and Pharisees

are always active, still inciting the mob: “Not this

man, but Barabbas!” (Jno. 18-40). Lies and mis-

representations !

It is even worse. Christ unjustly condemned

said: “This is your hour, and the powers of dark-

ness.” There was, and is, more than meets the eye.

God still permits Satan’s legion to try us, just as

in the cases of Eve, Job and Christ Himself, on

which occasion the devil even quoted Holy Writ!

Lies and misrepresentations!

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated

Me before you,” said Christ. “If they have perse-

cuted Me, they will persecute you also.” (Jno. 15-18,

20). Here Christ gives us another MARK of His
Church. Hatred, persecution, propaganda. Whence

your ideas of Catholicism? Who said so?

(30)



All Elevators Are Limited

Governor Leonard Saltonstall, entering a self-

service elevator in Massachusetts State Capitol, was

joined by a stranger saying: “5th. floor.” Without

a word, the Governor pressed Button 5, winked at

his officials, and the uninvited passenger alighted

never realizing he had no right to such distinguished

services.

You who believe in life everlasting are prob-

ably treating Jesus Christ that way. You want to

go up, but on your own terms, in your own way.

You insist on giving orders to God, whereas you

have no rights whatsoever.

Thru His Atonement, Christ furnishes us sanct-

ifying grace as “the power to become sons of God.”

He provides the Holy Catholic Church as the only

elevator by which we can ascend to Heaven. But

of what use is the power to you, if you are not

on the elevator? Of what use is Life Everlasting

if it is to be lived apart from Jesus Christ?

Have you been saying The Apostles’ Creed all

your life without meaning it? So many believe the

first part, but only half of the second, and a quarter

of the third. Note the divine company—the Cre-
ator, the Redeemer, the Holy Ghost. Then we enter

the Creed thru “the Holy Catholic Church—the
Communion of Saints.” This article is as important

as the others—on the very same authority. It is the
only way to Life Everlasting.

Let us be careful not to give orders, or God,

like the Governor, will take us at our word, and we

may never reach the top.

(31)



The Exception Proves—What?
Anything else but the rule! The old adage

means, of course, “the act of excepting proves the

rule exists,” as an apple is evidence of a tree some-

where. Loose thinking is rampant. Worse—we
have a mean tendency to draw a general conclusion

from one or a few particular instances. When ap-

plied to free agents, like bad Catholics, instead of

rotten apples, this method often produces the wrong

answer.

The Catholic Church is like Christ Himself, part

divine and part human. It is Holy because its

Founder and invisible Head is the all-holy incar-

nate Son of God. It is Holy because it teaches only

His holy doctrine divinely guaranteed absolutely

free from error. It is Holy because He. established

it for man’s sanctification on earth, because mil-

lions of its members leading holy lives form “the

Communion of Saints” here below and already in

Heaven.

But the human element in the Church is weak

and vulnerable. In founding an indefectible, in-

fallible teaching Church for all men, Christ did

not guarantee impeccability to anyone. He estab-

lished it for sinners; not for saints but to make

saints. He foretold scandals, the bad fish with the

good in His net, the weeds among the wheat in His

field. “Suffer both to grow till the harvest,” He

orders, for the sake of the ivheat!

Bad Catholics, scandals, immoral defections

in every class and century of the Catholic Church

only prove that it must be a divine institution be-

cause it is the only corporate body of all societies

and nations of the first Century that still survives.

(32 )



Ashes And Push-Buttons

The electric-light switch is not a thing of magic.

Push the button and the light comes on. Why?

Simply because the switch is connected with the

Power-House. It makes contact and invisible power

flows. There is nothing magical or superstitious

about it.

The same is true of Ashes on Ash Wednesday,

of candles and palms, of beads and holy-water, of

medals and scapulars. By the solemn blessing of

the Catholic Church they become 'power-full because

Christ said to the men He ordered to keep His

works on earth going: “ALL POWER is given Me
... In like manner I send you.” “Whatever you ask

The Father in My Name, He will give you.”

The Church asks God to bless things, such as

ashes, and all who use these things. Thus every-

day articles become means through which, like elec-

tric-light switches, we share in the invisible help

guaranteed by Christ, the Divine Inventor.

So whoever you are, wherever you may be,

always remember that any blessed article (we call

them “sacramentals”) connects you with Christ’s

Power-House, His Church. Its power to bring you

spiritual help is as real as the electric button’s—and
there’s nothing magical or sentimental to that.

But sentiment does not nullify its spiritual

value. You may be wearing a “Miraculous Medal”

or St. Christopher’s emblem because your girl-friend

gave it to you. Those Saints love her more than

you do. They are perfectly human because they

were humanly perfect. So you are doubly insured.

(33 )



A Neighbor Invites You In

Once a young welfare investigator from a city

office called on a suburban Pastor whom she had

never met. She inquired for him of a gardener in

front of the Rectory. “Knock, and it shall be opened

unto you,” said the gardener disappearing through

the side door. Soon at the front door, in cassock

and Roman collar, appeared a priest who looked

enough like the gardener to be his twin brother—only
Father Purcell has no twin brother ! He was de-

lighted over her mistake because long ago Mary

Magdalen had made the same about his Risen Mas-

ter.

You need not wait till you go to New York

to visit a Catholic Church. You will find the Cath-

olic Church open for you all day, every day (as is

St. Patrick’s Cathedral) in your own home town.

And you will find the resident Pastor delighted to

answer all your questions and to explain the mean-

ing of the interesting externals of Catholic prac-

tice.

So don’t wait to visit all the great basilicas

of the world as John L. Stoddard did, only to enter

by the nearest door at seventy and write: “One

thinks of the familiar metaphor of a stained-glass

window in a vast Cathedral. Seen from without by

day, this seems to be an unintelligible mass of dusky

glass. Viewed from within, however, it reveals a

beautiful design where sacred story glows resplen-

dently in form and color. So it is with the Church

of Rome. One must enter it to understand its

sanctity and charm.” (Rebuilding A Lost Faith
p. 221) Christ’s conditions are easy

—
“ASK”

—

“SEEK”—“KNOCK.”

(34 )



Lights Inc.—Stellar, Literary, Votive
Farrow.

If you ever attended a Catholic Novena in

Hollywood (never an obligation) you saw many

familiar faces and came away thrilled. You sang

the old hymns with Bing Crosby and Irene Dunne,

heard Eugene Pallette and Spencer Tracy whooping

it up behind you and glanced across the aisle at

lovely Jennifer Jones. Maybe you noticed that

“awful gangster/’ Calleio, remaining behind to

Maureen O’Sullivan and her convert husband John

make the Stations as you left the church with

I get the same thrill in a literary way here in

the same Church with G. K. Chesterton and Hey-

wood Broun, journalists, Belloc-historian, Benson-

novelist, and John Henry Newman, the greatest

writer since Augustine, whose only peer was St.

Paul. Great thinkers all—and each of these chose the
Catholic Church after careful investigation, weigh-

ing the evidence and deciding for himself.

When I consider these Mental Giants against

my own misguided ancestors, knowing that Re-

ligion is an intellectual conviction arid not a senti-

mental fanaticism, it is not difficult to decide in

favor of Catholicism. For as dumb as I am, I am

forced to admit that it had to be right to win such

searching scientific approval down the ages.

And as you visit the nearest Catholic Church,

you too will get the same thrill—a combination of
the dramatic, artistic and mystic—when you find
yourself in the company of such as Francis of

Assisi, Anthony of Padua, Theresa of Lisieux, Jo-

seph of Nazareth and Mary the Mother of Jesus

—

Catholics all—recalled by pictures and statues for
your imitation, encouragement and spiritual uplift.

(35 )



Of Water Mains And Hydrants

A city’s water supply is a vital problem. Drink-

ing, bathing, sanitation, sewerage, laundries, Fire

Dept, and gold fish depend on it. But of what use

is a lake or reservoir unless channels are provided

to supply these seven needs? An intricate system

of pumps and pipes must maintain constant flow.

Strangely, many take all this for granted until

an earthquake interferes. But it is stranger still

how many take their salvation for granted, and

never ask how to get their share for soul-needs

more varied and vital than those of their bodies.

Christ’s Precious Blood shed for all mankind

formed the Reservoir; His Church is the Water

Works; His seven Sacraments the visible Channels

bringing the “living waters” of justification to each

soul.

A Sacrament is an outward sign (as real as a
hydrant) instituted by Christ to bring grace (as

invisible as the water flowing under our pavements)

to souls (more private than homes). As the faucet

produces the water which it signifies (hot or cold),

so each Sacrament bestows grace, both sanctifying

and s'acramental. Only God can give such power

to material things used thus with divinely inspired

words. So we have seven—no more, since Christ
gave only seven; no less since Christ does nothing

uselessly.

Owner of Angels and platinum, He chose rather

men and oil, bread and water—ordinary things al-
ways handy for everyone. So on our Highway to

Heaven, our two great Headlights, Tradition and

Bible, show us seven hydrants—Holy Orders for
His Officers; Matrimony for the great majority of

marchers; Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Pen-

nance, Extreme Unction for each and all.

(36 )



"Three- In-One" And Other Oils

Squeaks? Handy lubricating oil saves nerves as

well as hinges. It counteracts friction both in the

Vac. and with the “Wac.” A “three-in-one” Chap-

ter here may prevent spiritual jitters. The Church

gives three anointings to each member: first in sol-

emn Baptism, next in Confirmation, and last (as

named) in Extreme Unction.

The olive trees of Gethsemane beheld the agony

of the God-Man, witnessed the traitor’s kiss and

now in silent reparation yield the fruits of their

bloody-sweat stained roots to be crushed for each

soul’s growth, strength and healing. So twice each

year the Church mingles this holy oil with water

to remind each aspirant to choose, for choose you

must since Christianity does not mix with the doc-

trine of the world.

If you remain at the Font, you get your first

unction (cruciformed on breast and shoulders) to

assure you of growth to bear your cross with Christ.

Fear not! There is no public exhibition. A little
water poured on your forehead, your choice of a lone

witness, and lo! Christ works again a miracle like

Siloe’s. He Who unlocked the Gates with blood-

stained Cross can condition our entrance. How

very simple: “Unless a man be born again of water

and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of

God.” (Jno. 3-5).

As Baptism effectively makes us adopted sons

of God, so by second unction Confirmation (cf. Acts

8-14) strengthens us into soldiers of Christ. If hap-

pily we die with Him, Extreme Unction (cf. James

5-14) is the final anointing to heal our wounds for

—

death? No—Everlasting Life!

(37 )



Pancakes, Flour And Phrases

An American legend: One hungry man dis-

covered pancakes made from a special flour formula,

got an idea and expanded it into a fabulously rich

industry with two short words
—“BOX IT.”

But only God could think of the Eucharist.

“This is My Body,” said He Who had made water

wine, Whom the Apostles had helped feed thousands

with five loaves
;
Whom they had heard promise His

Flesh to eat. Others then had dared to ask “How?”

We have no right to ask God “How?” If He makes

a promise or states a fact it has to be possible.

Otherwise He would never say it.

The Catholic Church was there that night

when Christ first took bread and wine and said,

“This IS my Body . . . This IS my Blood ... Do

this in memory of Me.” By that divine command

Christ extended His Own Priesthood till wheat and

grapes no longer grow. For over 1500 years no one

dared ask “How?”—or tried to twist His meaning.
Fantastic explanations

!

The fact is not fantastic. His words indicate a

change of substance. “Is” means the essence, not

the appearances. Color, taste, smell, size and shape

are not of the essence. Ice and steam are still H20.
Your eye and nose, your tongue, your touch can

fool you, but never change any substance. Christ

does not change anything but the substance, be-

cause He wants us to believe, not the evidence of

our senses, but because He says so. That is super-

natural faith in “The Mystery Of Faith.”

(38)



Periscope And Heliotrope

“From the rising of the sun even to the going

down ... in every place there is sacrifice and there

is offered to my name a clean oblation; for my

Name is great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord

of Hosts.” (1-11) Malachias was right. Our per-

iscope assures us that, as source of light and heat,

our sun never sets on The Mass.

The Eucharist like the sun has a perpetual

double purpose. It is a Sacrament; it is also the

Sacrifice of the New Law. If Christ intended mere-

ly Communion, He would have used but bread. God

does nothing in vain. That He gave us also a

Sacrifice, St. Paul testifies: “This cup is the New

Covenant in my blood
;
do this as often as you drink

it, in remembrance of Me.” (I Cor. 11-25)

Briefly compare Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross

with the Last Supper [in brackets] and the Mass

(in parentheses). On the Cross the Victim offered

to God alone is Christ’s Body and Blood [same]

(same) by a Priest, Christ Himself [same] (same by

proxy) and the destruction of it [(by humiliating

helplessness)] to acknowledge God Lord of all

things.

The Mass is therefore the same Sacrifice as the

Last Supper and Calvary’s bloody Sacrifice. It is

the only way God wants to be worshipped today.

Those who wish to serve God in God’s way offer

Him Supreme Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving

and Supplication thru, with and in Christ by The

Mass. All human substitutes are as pitiable as fire-

flies in the splendor of the noonday sun

!

(39)



Orders, Boulder Dam And Roman Rock
One man who sat of necessity in Washington,

approved the plans, provided the means and built

Boulder Dam. He gave orders. When those who ac-

tually did the work were finished, our President

pressed a button starting the perpetual operation

of this new source of power, light and irrigation.

Christ likewise left the development of His

Church to others; to teach, legislate, and govern.

He sent the Holy Spirit upon His Apostles to pre-

serve forever the divine powers delegated to them

in Person; to forgive sins and to offer sacrifice.

Sacrifice presupposes a priesthood. Christ made

both, necessary when He said: “Do this in remem-

brance of Me.” (Luke 22-20) “Except you eat My

Flesh, you shall not have life in you,” is true for all

time.

So He gave them “Orders”—a special Sacra-

ment to perpetuate the priesthood of His Church,

as Matrimony perpetuates its membership. The

name indicates how the Church ordains “step by

step” men selected by the Bishops. “You have not

chosen Me, but I have chosen you.” (John 15-16)

We find the Apostles using this Sacrament to ordain
assistants, notably Paul who later writes, “For

Christ therefore we are ambassadors” (2 Cor. 5-20)

“dispensers of the mysteries of God.” (1 Cor. 4-1).

But “let women keep silence in the churches, for it

is not permitted them to speak.” (I Cor. 14-34).

Scripture and Tradition establish Christ’s in-

tention and plans. The Catholic priesthood alone

recognizes the successor of Peter as the Roman

Rock on which rests validity of Orders without a

break in action or by intention. This Sacrament

has always been as effective as the telegraph wire

connecting the President with Boulder Dam.

(40)



"Just Married"—Or For Keeps?
This is one chapter that needs no introduction,

tho’ believe it or not, I once unwittingly introduced

a man to his divorced wife—both guests at their
son’s wedding—which produced another civil di-
vorce, I’m told. “Like father, like son.” Mixed mar-

riages are so sadly mixed from the start!

Prudence is that virtue by which the intellect

recognizes the way and means to eternal happiness.

Justice similarly assists the will to choose the right

means to reach that goal. Most choose Matrimony

and assume responsibility for another soul and per-

haps souls of children since that is its primary pur-

pose. “Increase and multiply,” said God when He,

instituting marriage, united Adam and Eve—“two
in one flesh” specifies Holy Writ (not Hollywood).

The sex instinct often mars God’s plans. Any

increase outside the family has always produced

disorder. To govern passion, guarantee grace to

parents and guard the rights of children, Christ

made marriage a Sacrament, a sacred contract, and

declared its permanent nature: “What God has join-

ed together, let no man put asunder.” (Matt. 19-16)

The Church is God’s qualified witness of this sacra-

mental contract. St. Paul says : “This is a great sac-

rament, but I speak in Christ and in the Church.”

Today the Catholic Church alone regards mar-

riage as Christ and the Apostles did. All other

religions have made concessions. You cannot con-

tradict Christ and remain right. There can be no

mixture of error with truth in a divine organiza-

tion.

(41 )



An Airplane Swoops To Conquer

The P-47 Republic Thunderbolt can run as

slowly as an animal on the ground, travel like an

ordinary plane at low level, but its top speed is

achieved only in the stratosphere.

Mary, Virgin Mother of God has always been

like that, uniting earth to Heaven, so supernaturally

at home with Angels that Gabriel humbly bowed

when presenting God’s highest compliment,” Hail,

Full of Grace!” yet, so natural that other women

knew and loved her intimately in the ordinary af-

fairs of daily life; and even of the earth, since she

possessed, despite her Immaculate Conception, our

animal nature unexempted from hunger and heat,

fatigue and final separation from the soul.

To love Her as Christ did is beyond us. To love

Her as sweetheart, housewife, or human Mother is

a possibility and our privilege. She was and is all

these—so super-angelic that God Himself found in
Her all spiritual perfection. Absolutely sinless,

Mary gave God more glory than all the rest of His

creatures combined. She also gave Him human na-

ture thru’ which alone we all are redeemed. Of Her

purest flesh and blood came our “Bread of Angels.”

We are blood-relatives of Her also—by Holy Com-
munion.

The Catholic Church is the only Church that

has given us Mary totally. The Catholic Church

alone is the Mystical Body of Christ entrusted by

Christ Himself to His Virgin Mother when He left

Her behind Him on earth. We supervenerate Her
because the Triune God sets the example. Can you

think of a better one?

(42 )



Of Erasers And Pencil Sharpeners

Our U-Boat log nearly done, my pencil is worn

down at both ends: the eraser because of censor;

the point by its very purpose. The pencil-sharpener,

please! “Don’t put me in that thing, Bergen. It

hurts !” says the pencil. “Don’t you want to be

sharp?” “Yes, but not that way.”
—

“It is the only

way.”

Penance is like that. The eraser says, “We all

make mistakes.” When we grievously offend God’s

moral code, our speedometer
—

“conscience”—records
we have gone too far. It is too late for the eraser.

“Tell it to the judge.” There is no other way. “But

I’d rather tell my sins directly to God,” you say.

Sure, who wouldn’t! But who is the offender

?

Then

you have no right to forgiveness or to make terms.

If you’re sorry, God forgives. But He dictates the

terms.

If you break a State law, you offend the State.

But you don’t go to the State Capitol. The State

provides judges with power to decide. If condemned

to death, you plead pardon, not directly but thru

the Governor. If the Governor refuses you a hear-

ing, saying, “See my Secretary,” you’re still lucky.

So with sins. It is not the way you prefer, but

the way Christ has arranged. He gave the Sac-

rament* of Penance as the only ordinary way. He

dictated terms of forgiveness, Confession is neces-

sary because required by His only utterance dele-

gating this divine power to His Catholic priesthood

:

“Whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven;

whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” God’s

Guarantee—and He didn’t make men mind-readers

!

(43 )



Read The Bible Romantically

So many take for granted that the Magi were

led by a star all the way to Jerusalem. But they

say to Herod: “We have seen his star in the East.”

(Matt. 2-2) They saw the star; then it disappeared.

They recalled some prophecy and said. “Jerusalem!”

When the headlights (revelation) go out, use your

flashlight (reason). They inquired the way. St. Mat-

thew agrees. After they left Herod
—

“behold the

star that they had seen in the East went before them

until it came and stood over the place where the

Child was.” (2-9) It only accompanied them from

Jerusalem to Bethlehem, but it was enough.

Another random shot—you think Christ got
a great thrill over that Palm Sunday demonstration

with waving palm-leaves and loud Hosannas on the

descent from Olivet to Jerusalem. Yet “when He

drew near and saw the city He WEPT over it, say-
ing: “If thou hadst known, in this thy day, even

thou, the things that are for thy peace!” (Luke 19-

41, 42).

Those words are addressed directly to you, if

you are among the singing crowd who are always

trying to pull Christ down to your worldly idea of

what you want Him to he. He came to establish

a spiritual Kingdom, His Church, on earth. But

they had secularized the Messias in their minds. All

they wanted was national supremacy—a temporary
leader “to restore the Kingdom of Israel.” They were

cutting down not palms but Christ to their idea that

day! They would not see His Divine Mission. No

wonder Jesus wept. Don’t treat Him so—“EVEN
THOU”

!

(44 )



Odds And Ends

The man who lived thru a trip over Niagara

Falls in a barrel, slipped on a banana peel in Sidney,

Australia, and died of a broken neck. Recently a

hero of many air battles died on the ground when

his plane ran into a young kangaroo on an Austral-

ian airport runway.

A practical Catholic is any person who serves

God in God’s way. A protestant Catholic—one who
serves God in his own way. It is tough going to be

such a Catholic. It is easy to be a practicing Cath-

olic because, though the way is hard, you are using

all the means Christ provided,—His Church and
Sacraments. If they were not necessary He would

not have instituted them. God is all-wise, all know-

ing, all-just. He cannot make a mistake.

God has revealed the existence of Hell
—

“ever-

lasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels"

(Matt. 25-41)—not because He wants us to join a
“certain rich man" there (cf. Luke 16-24) but be-

cause He wants us to avoid the danger. We have
a much better chance to save ourselves from a

wreck if we know beforehand that the bridge is

out. When clever men can’t see banana peels and

baby kangaroos, how can you expect them to know

there’s a hell, unless somebody warns them?

The Catholic Church warns everybody about

hell only because Christ revealed it. If He thought

a thing worth teaching, it is still worth teaching.

The Catholic Church is the only Church in the

world today teaching Christ’s entire platform. St.

Paul says: “If an Angel should come to you and

teach another doctrine, let him be anathema.” (i.e„

politely “damned to hell.”)

(45)



R. R. Fares
—

"All Tickets Please!"

Every railway is a means to an end. If there

are several tracks you must choose the right one,

and have the “right of way.” In this business of

religion, you can’t be like the crossing tender who

thus described a wreck: “As I came out with me

lantern, I saw No. 7 coming in from the west on

Track 1 as usual. Then I looked east and saw

another train coming towards me on the same

track. So I went back to me shanty, set down me

lantern and sez to meself, sez I : “Tis a helluva way

to run a railroad.”

The Catholic Church, like the Railway, is a

means to an end. It is an organization of men, ac-

tivities and buildings which being material require

money to maintain. Each parish church is like a

railway station, only a part of a vast system. The

spiritual crews must be trained, “accident cases”

and pensions paid. There are salaries for divisional

superintendents and Dept, heads, the expenses of

“ticket offices,” headquarters and the “President

of the Road.”

When you travel by rail, you pay your fare

without arguing, an$ leave all the rest to the rail-

way. It should be the same with the Church. “How

do they do so much with the little I pay for my

ticket each year?” you should ask.

In many places you find the free use of equip-

ment and edifices, more permanent than the rail-

road, provided by the sacrifices and toil of past gen-

erations. But always, everywhere the Church pro-

claims with Christ, as another evidence of His Di-

vine Mission: “The poor have The Gospel preached

to them.”

(46 )



Railway Tracks And Wrecks

So ends our first global excursion. As our train

rushes us triumphantly from the port of landing

back to our humble home, it sways, but with majes-

tic balance, avoiding now an immovable mountain

and now a disastrous abyss, carrying us safely on-

ward, ever on the track.

Truth is as intolerant as a railroad track—the
slightest swerve to right or to left and there’s al-

ways a wreck. If you want to get where you’re

going, you must stay on the track. The Catholic

Church, like Christ, is tolerant toward all who err

or differ with it, but absolutely intolerant of error,

as Christ was. To preach truth and tolerate error

is to talk of a square circle. The Catholic Church

is right because it teaches the Complete Truth re-

vealed by Christ the Son of God as necessary to get

to Heaven; because it is the right way to worship

God; because it has the means of forgiveness and

eternal life.

Christianity today seems to be a wreck at the

crossroads. But you can’t sit idly by, indifferent,

helpless, hopeless as that crossing tender. You can’t,

because whether you like it or not, you are on one

of those trains moving inexorably towards your

destiny. On which train are you riding?

One train only is going in the right direction.

Those on it, fear not wrecks, or even death. For

Christ the Son of God has promised (and God always

keeps His Word) : “He that will lose his life for My
sake, shall find it.” “He that believes in Me, even

tho’ he be dead, shall live.” Because “I AM the Way
—the Truth—and The Life.”

(47 )



Subject Matter Of Articles

Title Page-

Reason and Free Will Make you a Person 4
Reason Recognizes Existence of God 5

Prayer Possible and Reasonable v 6

God Speaks to Each Person’s Conscience 7

Revelation proved by Prophecy and Miracles 8

Earliest Religious History in “the Bible.” 9

Creation and Fall of Man—Original Sin 10
Effects of This Sin.—Redeemer Promised 11
Prophets Establish Christ’s Divine Mission 12

Miracles of Christ Prove Divine Mission 13

His Prophecies and Teaching Prove Divine Mission 14

Mystery of Trinity the Core of Christ’s Teaching 15

Jesus Himself the Incarnate Son of God 16

Prejudice Closes Minds to Accepting This 17

Effects of Redemption—Sanctifying Grace 18
Grace Given Thru Church and Sacraments 19

Infallible Teaching Authority of Church 20

Oral Tradition of Infallible Church 21

Bible Not Christ’s “Sole Rule of Faith.” 22

Inspiration and Interpretation of Bible 23

Bible and Tradition Bhses of Supernatural Faith 24

Both Church and Bible Need God’s Approval 25

Unity of Church, Christ’s First Identification Tag 26
Unity Assured by Indefectibility, Infallibility 27

Mystical Body, Christ’s Own Idea of Unity 28
Catholicity of Church Most Distinctive Mark 29
Hatred of World Also Christ-given Mark 30
“Holy Catholic Church—the Communion of Saints.” 31
Holiness is Another Mark of Christ’s True Church 32
Sacramentals are not Superstitions 33

External Devotions Hide Nothing. “Come and See.” 34
Catholics Include Regular, Intelligent, Saintly Folks 35

Sacraments in General—Number, Use, Elements 36
Of Baptism, Confirmation and Extreme Unctions 37
Holy Eucharist, Transubstantiation, Communion 38
Mass—the Eucharistic Sacrifice Required by Christ 39
Sacrament of Orders Provides Essential Priesthood 40

Sacrament of Matrimony Preserved by Catholic Church 41
Mary, Virgin Mother, Supervenerated by Catholic Church 42
Sacrament of Penance—Confession Required by Christ 43
Read the Bible. Use Reason, Not Early Impressions 44
Catholic Church Teaches “Hell” Because Christ did 45
A Visible Church Requires Visible Support 46
Catholic Church Provides Right Way and Means

to Save You 47



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