// / / \e\^, lOv^^rfdi ' AOSa ) Loh ^*-5^ [ ? • /•I 'V 4 -. , • • \ ,4 j! \ I GOD AND HIS WORLD By WILFRED S. HURLEY. C.S.P. New York THE PAULIST PRESS 401 West 59th Street Nihil Ohstat: Arthur J. Scanlan, S.T.D., Censor Lihrorum, Imprimatur: ^ Patrick Cardinal Hayes, Archbishop of New York, New York, January 22, 1937. PRINTED AND PUBLISHED IN THE U. S. A. BY THE PAUUST PRESS, NEW YORK, N. Y. “This is our one supreme mission—To live the truth of Jesus Christ! To show it forth to others!” Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States. Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016 https://archive.org/details/godhisworldOOhurl GOD AND HIS WORLD GOD'S WARRIORS Opportunity to be great comes but to few men. That is, to be great in the eyes of the world. But what does that matter ? It is a good thing to look at the world through the eyes of St. John. He did not rave, or rant, or wax violently about it. He simply dismissed it, in common sense and reason, when he said : “The things of the world pass away.” And, Christian that he was, strove only for the things of Heaven. Where fame is not temporal, but eternal. Where greatness is real, not apparent. And the opportunity for this comes to every man. Not once, but a thousand times a year. To do and dare, for the glory of God and the King- dom of Heaven. But this striving is done. Not by bruising force, but by gentleness. Not by pushing and elbowing, but by patience and kindness. Not by lung power, but by silence and meditation. Not by a swaggering presence, but by “Christ liv- ing in you.” To such warriors of God, opportunity is never lacking. Page Five CHRIST CALLS YOU! The Religion of Christ is a Religion of effort. “The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence.” We are followers of One Who not only taught this fact, but taught by the best of teachings, His own example. We were redeemed by His personal effort. And, “The servant is not above the Master.” Hence the mere fact of being enrolled in the army of Christ is no guarantee of salvation. We must be active, aggressive, in the service of Christ. And never was the call more imperative than today. Never more peremptory the summons which calls you to the “firing line.” Against indifferentism, positive unbelief, and the countless forces of sin. There are men against Christ working with cease- less activity. From daybreak to set of sun. “Why stand ye all the day idle?” His cause is the most sacred men can know. The noblest men can desire. Put your hand to the plow. And no looking back. Use effort every day to be more pure. More kind. More self-sacrificing. Constant effort in prayer. Constant effort to form your character into a more perfect image of Him. Constant effort to bring others to know, to love and to serve Him. Be real followers of Jesus Christ. Be true Christ-ians. “Work while it is yet day.” Page Six THINK IT OVER Criticism is easy. Faultfinding is easier still. Anyone can pick flaws in anything or anybody. This I suppose is the reason why we have so much sorrow and suffering in this world. This sorrow and suffering caused by the caustic tongues speaking with thoughtlessness of ill-humor. Yet St. Paul says: “If we have not charity we have nothing.” And courtesy is but a mundane word for charity. It should be a distinguishing mark of all Chris- tians. Especially Catholics. It is real religion: “If you cannot say anything good about anyone, keep silent.” Keeping silent, being patient, having habitual good nature, gentle tact, and a forgiving spirit should be second nature with Catholics. Page Seven "IL DUCE" Whatever may be your opinion about Mussolini, all men agree on this: His words are well worth weighing. His mes- sages carry weight. Unlike so many statesmen, he is not afraid to use the name of God. “While God protects me.” This is the finest sen- tence he has spoken. It is better than a book. When he talks about religion, he does not do it “piously.” He views it as an essential part of life. Without it man has no balance. Its absence makes a man wobbly. “Religion is for man’s great guide and a strong support. The believer has in his soul elements which keep his conscience from becoming cowed and his courage from failing.” They call Mussolini, II Duce. Which means in English — “The Leader.” All men could—and should—follow him in this. Regardless of your opinion concerning the man, a useful lesson can be learned from the one-time school- master. Page Eight 660 CALIFORNIA STREET San Francisco, California CHRIST IN US When the great Leonardo da Vinci had finished his painting of the Last Supper, he called a friend into his studio to inspect it. “Give me your candid criticism,” said the painter. “It is marvelous,” exclaimed the friend. “That cup stands out from the table as if it were real. I cannot keep my eyes off it.” Then da Vinci took a brush and drew it across the sparkling cup. “If it affects you thus, it shall not re- main,” he said. “Nothing shall attract attention from the figure of Our Lord.” Whether you like it or not, those outside the Faith are watching you. Trying to see in the Church and in our lives — Christ. And because of this fact it is your duty to watch: Lest some discourtesy, unkindness, thoughtless- ness of yours may Attract attention from the Figure of Christ living in His Church. P«9« Nine READING “We ought to read devout and simple books as willingly as those that are high and profound. If thou wilt derive profit, read with humility, with sim- plicity, and with faith; and seek not at any time the fame of being learned. Be fond of inquiring and listen in silence to the words of the Saints.” Americans as a rule do not know what quietness really means. Life for us has become one great rush and hustle. May I submit that in this we are losing much? A little quiet and meditation is greatly needed in our modern world. Many evils occur because we do not think. If we were to sit quietly and read, meditate, and think, we would avoid these evils. And where evil is absent, peace is present. This was the secret of the Saints. This is why they are Saints. This is what they tried to teach while they were here on earth,, by their words and by their lives. This is the legacy which they left in writing to the future ages, of which we are a part. Never was this lesson so needed before. And unfortunately never has a lesson been less heeded. Occasionally cease your mad rush to “Listen in si- lence to the words of the Saints.” Paradoxically, in these quiet moments of peace, you will make your greatest advance. Page Ten "MEN OF GOD" When Colonel Crockett, the old pioneer and fron- tiersman, was in the public eye fine stories were told of him. His great courage, determination and absolute de- pendence on himself were well known. Finally he was elected to Congress. As he entered into the crowded chamber to take his place, the doorman cried out : "Make room for Colonel Crockett!" The old soldier became indignant. He drew him- self up to his full height and cried out : "Colonel Crockett makes room for himself." Then he plowed his way through the crowd. And the admiring world cheered him to the echo. WTien a man is conscious of his power the world is conscious, too. When a man knows his abilities and talents the world quickly becomes aware of them. WTien a man has resources and assets above other men his infiuence and accomplishments depend only on himself. The greatest asset and resource in the world is your Catholic Faith. No other power in the world can compare to the power of the man who lives up to his Faith. "With Me," said Christ,; "you can do all things." Your lasting infiuence and accomplishments in this world are in direct proportion to your consciousness of your Faith. Living in Christ, with Christ, for Christ. Thus go through life with your head held high. Be proud of your Faith. And those with whom you come in contact will only too quickly discern the power which is yours. And your reward? There is none greater. "Whosoever shall confess Me before men," said Christ, "him shall the Son of Man also confess before the Angels of God." Page Eleven CONVERTS Have you ever made a convert? If not, why not? May I suggest that perhaps it is because you are slothful. The obstacles, the difficulties, dismay your feeble energy. Hence you do not even try. And yet if you knew, it might be the very making of you. It is an old saying : “He that wrestles no obstacles, struggles against no difficulties, dies but half a man.” Without trial you do not know your own strength. Trials and experience are hard teachers, but always remember rugged schoolmasters make rugged pupils. The very saints of God were made so by work, trials, difficulties, and obstacles. And the more voluntary these are, the greater the reward. An eagle loves to fight the storm wind, because it makes him king of the air. It lifts him to the highest heavens. Now the conversion of one non-Catholic calls for zeal and fortitude little less than heroic. There is nothing mysterious about a conversion. It is as any other formula for success. One-tenth may indeed be inspiration, but the other nine-tenths are inevitably patience, sympathy, kind- ness, tactfulness, thoughtfulness. Self-control, determination, and self-discipline. And not for a brief moment. It may mean for a course of years. Talk to a convert maker and before long you will realize the truth of this. But try it ! And by the very attempt, perhaps, you shall save your soul from death, and shall cover a multitude of sins. Anyway you will make yourself a better Catholic. Page Twelve "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR" More and more, it would seem, those outside the Faith are becoming aware of the fact that the foolish fears, vicious untruths, and terrifying bigotry have deprived them of the truth of God. Far-seeing minds among them recognize this. And when brave and courageous enough, speak out. Thus Soderblom, the distinguished philosopher of Upsala in Sweden, recently declared to his listeners ; "Roman Christianity is essentially something other than lust of power and saint-worship. In its deepest essence it connotes piety . . . more perfect than our own piety.” But the rank and file still seem far away. Inherited prejudices and indifference flamed by in- tolerance and ignorance, continually intensify the cleavage between Catholics and their neighbors. But the fact that a beginning has been made is en- couraging. It is our duty now to see that the start is continued. But we must make no mistake. Our non-Catholic neighbor will go over the barriers of his prejudice and ignorance concerning the Faith, when, and only when, he sees his Catholic neighbor living a life of Faith and Truth. A life of uprighteousness, honesty, and purity. Then, the instinct for truth implanted in every hu- man breast may conquer. And the secret of eternal life be theirs. Page Thirteen LIVING THE FAITH When Plato heard it reported that he was a very bad man, he said: “I shall take care so to live that none will believe it.” There is a lesson for us—^we who are Catholics. In the face of false accusation—and false accusa- tions against Catholics are always rife—there is no bet- ter recourse. Regardless of what a non-Catholic may hear re- garding the Catholic Church and Catholics; when he sees his Catholic neighbor living an honest, upright, sincere. Catholic life, he is inevitably drawn to consider the Catholic Church and its teachings. The “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp” of Catholic feet at six o’clock on a Sunday morning as they go on their way to worship God at early Mass drowns out all the “Hymns of hate” that have ever been raised. The avoiding of uncharitable remarks. The keeping of lips free from profaning God’s name. The living a clean, pure life. With these weapons—and these alone—we must go forward in spreading the Kingdom of God on earth. Page Fourteen MONEY At first sight Christ seems an alarmist. For in- stance, read His parable of the rich farmer who laid up great wealth. “Thou fool, this night do they require thy soul of thee; and whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?” Or again, where He states that it is harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven than for a camel to pass through a needle’s eye. Then the actions of Christ were suited to His words. Papini tells us in his startling “Life of Christ” that Jesus was never willing to touch a coin with His hands. “Those hands which touched the contaminated flesh of the leper and the dead, those hands which clasped the body of Judas, so much more contaminated than clay, those white, pure, healing hands, which nothing could sully, never suifered themselves to touch one of those metal disks.” And yet what Christ really meant was this : Riches are indeed dangerous, but they are not wrong. The danger of the sin of money is that it be accumu- lated selfishly, wickedly, and used for wrongful pur- poses. Hence, it is not in money that the sin lies, but in its use. In its effects upon the heart and soul of men. Washington was the richest man in the country in his day. Few know it. Few remember it. It makes no difference. So, too, in the spiritual life. Some of the holiest people I have met were wealthy. Extremely so. And yet were very close to God. One of our greatest saints on the calendar of the Church was Louis of France. He was not only very wealthy, he was a king. Page Fifteen SANCTITY Page Sixteen TRUE SPIRITUALITY A good man is inspiring—^his goodness infectious —^because he loves goodness. He makes us love it, too, because we cannot help loving him. And this is the greatest service that a man can do in this world. But one who does good with the deliberate inten- tions of impressing us is repellent to us. And in this I submit we are right, by the standard of Christ. The only people who moved Christ to intense disgust were such men of His time. He could not even bear to have them around Him. “Whitened Sepulchres,” He called them. Outwardly beautiful, but inwardly full of rotten- ness. The publicans and sinners were bad enough, but He detested that group of men who made virtue detest- able by self-consciously “setting a good example.” “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father VlTio is in Heaven.” But such people, themselves in love with goodness, are filled with that grace and loveliness and power that they attract us like a magnet. And we desire it for ourselves. We realize that with them religion is not a dull, pre- cise, negative affair. It is not a matter of not drinking, not smoking, and so on, but it is an active thing of the deepest and most adventurous reality. Thus these people’s “light so shines” that we glori- fy God and worship Him. For they make us love goodness. And Goodness IS God. To make others love God you must be in love with God yourself. And a love of God, a spiritual depth, and a sense of eternal things, comes only from intensive, personal, spiritual life. Page Seventeen SERVICE A good word is often overworked. For instance take the words, propaganda, liberty, freedom. It is the same thing with a good idea. Certainly the idea of Service has been carried to extremes. For Americans, it has been irresistable. But it was inevitable that this should be so. We are, generally speaking, a lively, militant, and intensely practical people. In this fact, however, joyful and good though we may find it, may I very respectfully suggest there is an ele- ment of weakness. ' This weakness lies in the relation of service to re- ligion. Service is a servant to religion, not its master. We are apt to become so exceedingly busy about service that we easily form the habit of trying “short cuts.” Preaching to others, we ourselves become castaways. So busy saving others, we neglect ourselves. The result is inevitably fatal to all concerned. It is futile to try to save the world without saving one’s self first. The truth is that until we do that we are not fit to save anybody, and hardly fit even to serve them. This is not selfishness, but rather the height of un- selfishness. Incidentally it is good philosophy. Splendid psy- chology. Speaking from a religious standpoint, did not Christ say : “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God” ? And St. John plainly tells us : “The Kingdom of God is within you.” Page Eighteen CAN WE BE SAINTS? What a list of never-to-be-forgotten men and women have become famous in spite of some overwhelming handicap. Even in the things of the world. Helen Keller, deaf, dumb and blind from infancy, grew up to be an accomplished and educated woman. A graduate of Radcliffe College and an inspiration to everyone who has heard her name! The sculptor Gonnelli became blind at the age of twenty. Yet he executed excellent portraits in terra cotta. It being sufficient for him to merely pass his hand over a person’s face to produce an exact likeness. Dr. Nicholas Sanderson lost his sight before he was twelve months old. Yet he became professor of mathe- matics and optics at the University of Cambridge. Literature lost nothing through the blindness of Dante, Milton, or Homer. Rather would it seem to have gained to the extent by which these men were afflicted. Robert Louis Stevenson, Lawrence Sterne, and the poet Keats were members of that numerous company whose diseased lungs made other occupations than writ- ing impossible. Certainly Byron’s handicap did nothing to detract from his excellence as a poet. The same law holds in the spiritual world. “Be ye perfect,’’ says God, “As I am perfect.” Impossible! What about our handicaps? The tedi- ousness of prayer? The pride of life? The lust of the flesh? They should be but added incentives. These obstacles, and any others, can be overcome, trampled under—^with God’s help. “With Me,” says Christ, “you can do all things.” And this help is yours for the asking. “Ask and ye shall receive.” Page Nineteen CHARACTER An artist stood before his finished picture. He saw the face of a stern, cruel man. The expres- sion made him shudder. This would never do. He was displeased. It must be changed. And so he studied the canvas. A few strokes of his brush and the harsh unyielding lines were transformed into those of kindness and gen- tleness. Only a little while and another soul was seen through the face. Would it not be wonderful if our own characters could be transformed so quickly? What happiness—if in a day we could rub out all the harsh and selfish lines and replace them with kindness, and patience! Experience has taught us that the picture on the canvas of our souls cannot be transformed or corrected so quickly. It can be made perfect. It can be changed. Not by a few bold strokes. Not by a few moments of concentration and study. Not by resolutions — broken. But rather, by daily meditation and prayer, together with long and continued daily effort. Page Twenty YOU AND YOURS “America is a great Christian nation,” says Cardi- nal Gibbons, “but too many people are living on the re- ligion of their parents.” There is a great deal of disagreeable truth in these words. But, if today we live on the religion of our parents, what about tomorrow? What about the generation that is to come? If we are careless and indifferent the fires of Faith will not burn in the hearts of the generation to come. Faith is the most priceless possession in life. Guard and kindle the spark of Faith that it may become a flaming torch to guide the lives of those you love. It is the duty and the privilege of everyone to do this. And God will hold us accountable. This is not fulfilled by wishing, hoping, and trusting to luck. But rather by living a true and practical Catholic Christian life today. P«ge Twenty-pn# THE LENTEN SEASON EVERY LENT you are taken in spirit to tread the holy places and mingle with those who followed our Savior on His journey to Calvary. You know the end of that journey. And the Church has given you many pious meditations in order that your devotions might bear fruit. The world is a mystery of life and death, doubt and belief, good and evil. Its interpretation is found only in the crucifixion of the Son of God, and the death of the “Eternal Word made Flesh.” Through the Cross you learn to live. What to ex- pect, to desire, and to hope for. The Cross has many lessons for you if you will but learn them. It teaches you to bear your burdens cheer- fully. It rebukes you for your pride, selfishness, and impatience. To be a Christian means more than belief in Christ. It implies the imitation of Christ and requires self- sacrifice. For He Who died upon the Cross said: “Unless you take up your cross and follow Me, you are not worthy of Me.” Page Twenfy-two FEELINGS “What are thoughts but pale dead feelings?” It is true. Life, to a great extent, is feeling. If you deny this, your denial is, in itself, just a feel- ing. It is feeling that drags us down to destruction. It is also feeling that raises us up to success. Then is it not thoughtless to say : “Oh, that is mere feeling.” “Mere feeling!” When the crime of a murderer is caused by mere feeling. When a riot that overthrows a government and kills its emperor is mere feeling. When marriage and divorce, temptation and virtue, kindness and cruelty, the flame of Hell and the white rapture of Heaven, are only feelings. The treasure of life is, after all, only its store of feeling ! The love of a mother. The praise of teachers. The good will of companions. The courtesy of equals. The gratitude of those whom we have aided. The gracious- ness of those above us. These, the golden jewels in the strong box of memory are but mere feelings. What are we then, but compounds of contentment and discontent? We eat, drink, sleep, run, weep, laugh, shout, and whisper, flame into anger and gently forgive. And it is all feeling! Thus we are told that some one has a feeling against God’s Church. Such a one refuses to examine its claims. To con- sider its proof. Their feeling against the Church is all-powerful. What are we to do? Simply this—change their feelings ! By patience, kindness, courtesy, helpfulness and charity. To show forth the Church’s teachings in our lives. And if we can, bring them to a “feeling FOR the Church.” Then, God’s grace will quickly do the rest. Page Twenfy-three SEEK YE FIRST The entire world is watching with unabated inter- est the various expeditions of science at the South Pole, in the Gobi Desert and elsewhere. They are seeking scientific truths. The Rockefeller Institute has sent another expedi- tion into the interior of Panama, for the combating of yellow fever. They are seeking to help humanity. Recently a group of young priests left San Francisco for their mission in China. They are seeking to spread the Kingdom of God. You—what are you seeking? What is Life all about? Surely not just to work for a span of years—^to raise others to a life just as futile. Old age with its mockery, illnesses, dread of poverty, and sufferings. Horrible death only as those who dread annihilation dread it. Now it is useless to rave against the things of the world. It is much better in the wisdom of St. John to remember they “pass away." What he meant was, of course, that the years con- stantly go by. Look back a year. You are a year older. Little changes have come. You may not witness them but others have. You have acquired more and more the characteristics which make you, give you, the name “old.” People may lie to you about it. They do not care to be unkind. But you are reasoning men and women. You know facts are facts. That these things are true. Time passes! Yes! And you are passing with time. What are you seeking? Page Twenty-four THE REAL IMMORTALS Oftentimes it is not the most capable men who ac- complish the most noteworthy deeds. And thus sends their names down through the cen- turies. Any aviator will tell you that Chamberlin was a far more capable flyer than Lindbergh. Any military man will tell you that General Lee was a genius. And General Grant was not. Whatever it is, something interferes, and the capa- ble men must stand aside to see others less talented, less capable, take the laurels which might have been theirs. Some call it fate. Destiny—^but perhaps it is neither. Perhaps it is just a sort of recklessness. A spirit of devotion to their work. Not even thinking of them- selves. Lindbergh well knew he might easily become another “Lost Aviator.” Grant knew, fully, the fate of the generals who preceded him. But the spirit was there. Come what may. Go through with it. So, too, with the great spiritual leaders. St. Paul thrown from his horse. God speaking to him. Greatness or disgrace, he did not care. Note his first words : “Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?” Such men are dear to the heart of God. Do not worry about your ability. Your talents. Your capabilities. God can supply for them. But look to the spirit of doing. The spirit of dar- ing. To the heights or to the depths. Come what may. For such must be essentially your own. A reproach among men? What of it? A stumbling block? A fool? To be scorned by men ? To be laughed at? What do you care? “Lord, what wilt Thou me to do?” For — “Whomsoever loses his life shall find it.” Page Twenty-five WHITHER EDUCATION? In a recent college article, it spoke of a certain man graduating from college. “He left college in 1905, having completed his edu- cation.” “Completed his education.” What exquisite humor in that journalistic phrase! I Avas reminded of a beautiful tribute a recent poet gave to his “Alma Mater” : “She taught us that all was naught. Though we bore off every prize ; Unless the Self that wrought Found acceptance in her eyes.” May I suggest that this poet has sensed the real value of education. That education is never completed. Such an idea is obviously insane. But that education is simply a preparation of Self, in that it develops character. And a development along the lines of Christlike living. You will find that life becomes to you a spiritual reality to lure you on. That you would attempt the farthest shores of thought. The loftiest summits of spiritual development. For life is good all the way along. And it is better the farther you go and the higher you climb. For while you are troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. To make yourself pleasing to Him Who created you. And education is worth while, only in so far as it aids you in this. Page Twenty-six "WE ARE HERE TO KNOW GOD!" Oftentimes more foolish things are spoken at a con- vention of scientists than would be said at a conclave of fools. It is always an easy matter for some geologist, for instance, to shove back the world’s age a billion of years. It is not a problem of mathematics. It is just a matter of opinion, usually based upon little, except his own idea. But after all, does it matter much how old the world is? Does it matter much whether our first ancestors camped on the Gobi Desert, or in the great Mojave? It is all in hypothesis. Anyway, it doesn’t add much to man’s knowledge — for what is knowledge today may be ignorance tomor- row. There are volumes of scientific guesses, but there is nothing surer or more up to date than the Catechism. Scientists may be men of esteem, authorities in their sphere, but only the Catechism has ever really answered the riddle of the universe. The riddle of Life. In the beginning God created the Heaven and Earth. The knowledge of God is the beginning and the end of all true knowledge. That God created you! That He redeemed you I That He would sanctify you ! "I count all else as Folly,’’ said one of the wisest of men. Page Twenty-seven "MY PEACE I LEAVE YOU" Over sixty years have passed away, since from that little courthouse at Appomattox, came those words that stirred the heart of the nation. The words were : "Let us have peace." The man who said them was General U. S. Grant. Over sixty years have passed and today Grant lies in his magnificent tomb on Riverside Drive. Yet his words will live as long as this country survives. Henry Adams in his soul-searching work, “The Autobiography,” says that Grant said these words for want of knowing anything else to say. That when the General was faced by uncomfortable situations, he al- ways responded with some commonplace remark. Adams quotes these words as an example. Wherein we see the manner of greatness. These words are famous and justly so. And the secret of their greatness lies in the fact that they are commonplace. "Let us have peace.” It is half an exclamation and half a prayer. It expresses the yearning in the inner- most heart of all of us. It was so, then. It is so now. But what is this peace? Is it to feel no struggle, no difficulty, no faults, no humiliating weaknesses and imperfections? Is it to feel very good, humble and perfect? God forbid! Such a peace would give no quietude of heart. No real pleasure. We would soon despise ourselves. What is real peace then? It is the peace of the Cross. The peace of one who has done his duty. The peace that we experience at the end of a hard day’s labor when done well. It is the peace of doing the will of God. It is the Peace of Christ! The peace of which He said : “My peace I leave unto you.” The doing of what we can, in the best way we can. For the glory of God and the salvation of our souls. For Peace is Love—And Love is God ! Page Twenty-eight "TRUE EDUCATION" Each age has its own values. Its own beacon lights set upon a hill. Its own dreams and aspirations. And so the ideas of our day lead us to wish to ad- vance as the past generations have advanced. This is to be done by education. Teaching us to profit by the mistakes of the past. Leaving out the centuries of Europe in our natural life, we seem to have passed through three stages. The first is that of the pioneer whom we have glori- fied. He opened the West to build towns and make safe the way of commerce from coast to coast. The second stage is that of the captains of industry. Vast industrial enterprises, yielding tremendous wealth and enriching the lives of all people everywhere. The third stage we are in now. An age in which we are slowly turning from rank materialism to the things of the Spirit. The glamour of the pioneer is nearly gone. The captains of industry are less commanding. We are demanding now that wealth and power give way to human happiness and strength of character. But only when religion is brought into our lives, can we hope for this progress. For religion, and it alone, can inculcate into our lives those qualities so essential for real happiness, and fine character. Self-control. Unselfishness. Self-denial. Obedi- ence. Character. Chastity. To seek for this is to really live your life. To make the world a better place because you have lived among men. Page Twenty-nine A DOUBTER AND THE FAITH Not so long ago, America was privileged to have as its Ambassador from France, a really great man, Paul Claudel. An intellectual convert to the Faith, an amazing poet, a splendid writer. Claudel had a friend in Paris, a young man, a Jacques Riviere. Riviere was a rather strange youth. Seemingly in love with his own misery and trying to find his way to an intellectual and sincere acceptance of Christ and Christianity. Yet, at the same time trying to hold on to the blindness and unhappiness of Atheism. For a year while Claudel was the French Ambassa- dor to Japan, the two exchanged letters. These letters have been gathered together and pub- lished under the title, “Letters to a Doubter.” The book is well worth reading. In these “Letters” the soul of Claudel shines forth, magnificent and human. For instance: in one of them. Riviere, probably in one of his pessimistic moments, seems to be guilty of a cheap sneer towards Christ and His teachings. Claudel did not answer for a few months. Then he wrote, apologizing for taking it so hard, pointing out that Riviere was still young, while old age was creeping upon himself, and with age some things become tre- mendously serious. And he continued, “You may probably never know what it is to love Christ, and then see Him attacked, ridiculed, and above all, PATRONIZED by the modern world. It is a book that makes one sorrow for the blind- ness of a generation which will not see Christ. Because they do not wish to see Him. One saying alone should make Claudel immortal. It is his fearless profession of Faith: “I am a thousand times more sure that my Redeemer liveth and I shall see Him face to face, than I am sure that the sun will rise tomorrow morning.” Page Thirty THE PAULIST PRESS 401 WEST 59th STREET NEW YORK, N. Y.