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PART FIRST.
I. Why this little Book? — My Plain Talk on Protestantism is with Catholics, rather than with Protestants. It is not an attack, nor a controversy either; it is intended as a work of preservation and self-defence.
The question is often put, — what use to talk of Protestantism in these our times? Protestantism, we are told, has melted away into rationalism and infidelity, so that it has lost all its individuality as a religious sect. On the other hand, people have too much good sense, are too logical, to let it make an impression on them.
Protestantism is not genial; of its religious nature it shows naught but the ruins. But the mere existence of these ruins is a source of annoyance, for, however dismal they appear, they still afford a refuge to the wicked who dare not show themselves on the highways. Such is the dilapidated close of Protestantism within which the enemies of the Church gather every day more and more; they are joined by revolutionists and unbelievers. It covers, with an easy protection, their anarchical and impious plottings. All revolts against church and society are there fostered; and thus those ruins are transformed into citadels, and expiring Protestantism thus becomes a great power of destruction.
Revived and reanimated by impious spirits, which nestle in its bosom, it casts off piece after piece the cumbrous weight of theological armor, with which it was covered in the sixteenth century, and reveals in its nakedness its essential principle of rebelliousness. Retaining, for its particular purposes, a biblical cant and some religious forms, Protestantism stalks before us in the attitude of an aggressive power. It aims at nothing less than the total destruction of the Church of Jesus Christ; and to attain this end it multiplies churches, chapels, and establishments of all kinds in the midst of Catholic populations. Its colporteurs or carriers glut our towns and country with tracts. Here it endeavors to pervert the intelligence of the educated with periodicals, philosophical or literary publications. There an avenue is opened through the working classes, by entrapping their children. Schools, asylums, and homes are opened for them: therein the unfortunate little ones are not taught the way to become Christians, but how to blaspheme the Church. Numberless associations are formed, — they wage a war against the Catholic religion. We learn from the annual reports of biblical, evangelical, and other societies, the working and progress of their propagandism; they parade before us, with an air of triumph, the millions contributed by their party spirit, in all countries, to feed their zeal and reward their success.
Hence it cannot be an idle thing to occupy ourselves about Protestantism. Timid souls will object that there is no good in raising annoying disputes; we reply that not only we have a right, but it becomes our duty to defend the religion which is assailed, and to protect that which is to us dearer than life, the Faith we have received from God, and from our fathers. This small book will contribute its small efforts to this great work. I cannot but think that many souls will greatly profit by being shown, in a series of conversations in very plain talk, what Protestantism is; how false and hollow its system, how opprobrious its origin, its inefficiency as a religious worship, its affinity with rebellion and anarchy; and, lastly, how it must, without fail, lead people to an abyss of self-destruction.
These pages will not contain elaborate disquisition, nor metaphysical researches. I address myself to Catholics: they know their religion, and, hence, I do not insist on those points of doctrine which are well known, and which I would explain more at length, were I to address Protestants.
The question of the Reformation led me through a vast number of works, edited by Lutherans, Calvinists, Methodists, etc. I have met with extraordinary avowals on the part of Protestant pastors and writers, and have quoted those among them who are the most honored by their co-religionists.
This book may perhaps provoke recrimination on the part of Protestants. I cannot therefore insist enough on the fact that I stand here only to defend the Faith against attacks, the violence whereof surpasses all belief. There exist men who loudly proclaim to have received the mission of destroying our holy religion: one of their acknowledged leaders, Agenor de Gasparin, uttered the following language in regard to the Catholic Church: "It is not allowed before God, to hate her only half way." (Les Ecoles du doute et l'ecole de la foi, p. 26.)
I. Why this little Book? — My Plain Talk on Protestantism is with Catholics, rather than with Protestants. It is not an attack, nor a controversy either; it is intended as a work of preservation and self-defence.
The question is often put, — what use to talk of Protestantism in these our times? Protestantism, we are told, has melted away into rationalism and infidelity, so that it has lost all its individuality as a religious sect. On the other hand, people have too much good sense, are too logical, to let it make an impression on them.
Protestantism is not genial; of its religious nature it shows naught but the ruins. But the mere existence of these ruins is a source of annoyance, for, however dismal they appear, they still afford a refuge to the wicked who dare not show themselves on the highways. Such is the dilapidated close of Protestantism within which the enemies of the Church gather every day more and more; they are joined by revolutionists and unbelievers. It covers, with an easy protection, their anarchical and impious plottings. All revolts against church and society are there fostered; and thus those ruins are transformed into citadels, and expiring Protestantism thus becomes a great power of destruction.
Revived and reanimated by impious spirits, which nestle in its bosom, it casts off piece after piece the cumbrous weight of theological armor, with which it was covered in the sixteenth century, and reveals in its nakedness its essential principle of rebelliousness. Retaining, for its particular purposes, a biblical cant and some religious forms, Protestantism stalks before us in the attitude of an aggressive power. It aims at nothing less than the total destruction of the Church of Jesus Christ; and to attain this end it multiplies churches, chapels, and establishments of all kinds in the midst of Catholic populations. Its colporteurs or carriers glut our towns and country with tracts. Here it endeavors to pervert the intelligence of the educated with periodicals, philosophical or literary publications. There an avenue is opened through the working classes, by entrapping their children. Schools, asylums, and homes are opened for them: therein the unfortunate little ones are not taught the way to become Christians, but how to blaspheme the Church. Numberless associations are formed, — they wage a war against the Catholic religion. We learn from the annual reports of biblical, evangelical, and other societies, the working and progress of their propagandism; they parade before us, with an air of triumph, the millions contributed by their party spirit, in all countries, to feed their zeal and reward their success.
Hence it cannot be an idle thing to occupy ourselves about Protestantism. Timid souls will object that there is no good in raising annoying disputes; we reply that not only we have a right, but it becomes our duty to defend the religion which is assailed, and to protect that which is to us dearer than life, the Faith we have received from God, and from our fathers. This small book will contribute its small efforts to this great work. I cannot but think that many souls will greatly profit by being shown, in a series of conversations in very plain talk, what Protestantism is; how false and hollow its system, how opprobrious its origin, its inefficiency as a religious worship, its affinity with rebellion and anarchy; and, lastly, how it must, without fail, lead people to an abyss of self-destruction.
These pages will not contain elaborate disquisition, nor metaphysical researches. I address myself to Catholics: they know their religion, and, hence, I do not insist on those points of doctrine which are well known, and which I would explain more at length, were I to address Protestants.
The question of the Reformation led me through a vast number of works, edited by Lutherans, Calvinists, Methodists, etc. I have met with extraordinary avowals on the part of Protestant pastors and writers, and have quoted those among them who are the most honored by their co-religionists.
This book may perhaps provoke recrimination on the part of Protestants. I cannot therefore insist enough on the fact that I stand here only to defend the Faith against attacks, the violence whereof surpasses all belief. There exist men who loudly proclaim to have received the mission of destroying our holy religion: one of their acknowledged leaders, Agenor de Gasparin, uttered the following language in regard to the Catholic Church: "It is not allowed before God, to hate her only half way." (Les Ecoles du doute et l'ecole de la foi, p. 26.)
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre