CHAPTER II.

SECTION I.

The Doctrine of the Catholic Church on the Invocation of Saints, and on that of St. Joseph.

BEFORE we begin to explain sweet and unctuous devotion to our holy patron, St. Joseph, a clear and simple exposition of the teaching of the Catholic Church on the Invocation of Saints, cannot fail to edify all, and, perhaps, enlighten some, of our pious readers. "Thy testimonies," cries out the Royal Prophet, "are wonderful . . . The declaration of thy words giveth light, and giveth understanding to little ones." (Ps. cxiii.)

The stamp or seal of the Church upon any Devotion carries with it absolute certainty. The seal of the ruling prince upon the current ore certifies to his subjects that the glittering coin is not gilt, but genuine gold; in like manner, the seal or approbation of the Church upon any Devotion is an absolute

guarantee to the faithful that the Devotion is solid, in accordance with sound doctrine, and conducive to life everlasting. The intelligent Catholic ought to go farther; he ought to be able to give an account of the faith that is in him, and to refute and conquer, with the arms the Church puts into his hands, the impious heretic and unbeliever.

In this evil age, when bold and defiant infidelity stalks abroad, and attacks and scoffs at every sacred truth of our holy faith; when the most powerful governments of tho world, and men in the highest station, as well as men of talents and learning, have leagued with the powers of darkness to rob the people of their faith, and destroy the Church of Jesus Christ, every Catholic should not only glory in his holy religion, and defend it, even, if necessary, to the shedding of his heart's blood; but should also be instructed and prepared to defend the faith, practices, and devotions of his holy Church.

Nothing, even the most sacred, has escaped the lash and insults of wicked men. "The fool," says the sacred Text, "said in his heart: there is no God. They are corrupted, and become abominable in iniquities: There is none that doth good. God looked down from heaven on the children of men,

to see if there were any that did understand or did seek God. All have gone aside, they are become unprofitable together" (Ps. lii. 1-4). If there be wicked men-and they are a legion-who blaspheme God, as they do, no wonder that they should insult God's Saints. If impious men, in the pride of their intellect and heart, deny, as they do, the Divinity of Jesus, the Saviour of the world, what wonder, then, that they should ridicule the Mother and the reputed Father of the Redeemer, Mary and St. Joseph. And what is more to be deplored, these men calling themselves Christians, are so blinded by foul and damning heresy, that they think they honour God by insulting His Saints, and that they please Jesus by blaspheming His Blessed Mother and St. Joseph. May God open their eyes to see the truth, and move their hearts to embrace it.

One of the most sublime and noble occupation of the genius of man is to "vindicate the ways of God to man," and to defend the Doctrines of God's holy Church.

Though simple devotion, not controversy, is our aim, yet we deem it a great privilege, yea, a labour of love, to defend, feebly, indeed, yet as best we can, the prerogatives of God's great Servants, and especially to

trumpet the glories of Mary, the Mother of Jesus; and the sanctity and privileges of St. Joseph, the reputed Father of our Blessed Redeemer.

Before we touch on the arguments in favour of the Invocation of Saints, it is well to lay down clearly and distinctly the doctrine of the Catholic Church on this article of faith. For this we have only to refer to the Decrees of the Infallible Council of Trent.

"The holy Synod," declare the Fathers, "enjoins upon all bishops, and others who sustain the office and charge of teaching, that agreeably to the usage of the Catholic and Apostolic Church, received from the primitive times of the Christian religion; and agreeably to the consent of the holy Fathers, and to the Decrees of sacred Councils; they especially instruct the faithful diligently concerning the Intercession and Invocation of Saints . teaching them

that the Saints who reign with Christ offer up their own prayers to God for men; that it is good and useful, suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to their prayers, aid, and help, for obtaining benefits from God, through His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is our sole Redeemer and Saviour; but that they think impiously who deny that the

Saints, who enjoy eternal happiness in heaven, are to be invoked; or who assert either that they do not pray for men, or that the Invocation of them to pray for each of us in particular is idolatry, or that it is repugnant to the word of God, and is opposed to the honour of the one mediator of God and men, Christ Jesus; or that it is foolish to supplicate vocally or mentally those who reign in heaven" (Sess. XXV.).

From this Decree, the teaching of the Catholic Church is, first, that the invocation of the Saints is, not absolutely necessary for each one's salvation, but is "good" and "useful;" secondly, that the aids and helps come to us, not directly from the Saints themselves, but from God, through their intercession and prayers; thirdly, that Jesus Christ is the sole and only Mediator between God and men, and that the intercession and prayers of the Saints derive all their efficacy and power from Him alone; and hence that the Intercession of the Saints is not injurious to the merits of Christ. "It is good and useful," says the Council, as we have seen, suppliantly to invoke them, and to have recourse to their prayers, aid, and helps, for obtaining benefits from God, through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who is our sole

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