Page:Essays on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism.djvu/61

and faith to charity, in virtue of which man is renewed in God, and purified with an infinite love. With respect to the family, it shows that by Catholicism the three domestic persons have been definitively constituted, being united in one, and bound together by the happiest ties. It also proves, as regards rulers, that Catholicism has sanctified authority and obedience, and forever condemned tyranny and revolution. As relates to society, we likewise see the influence of Catholicism in putting a stop to the war of classes, in harmonizing the various social groups, and in introducing a spirit of union in place of that egotism and isolation which before existed, and in substituting charity for pride. With regard to the sciences, letters, and the arts, we find that mankind are indebted to Catholicism for the discovery of the true and the beautiful; of the true God and his divine splendor. And finally, we see that with Catholicism has appeared in the world a supernatural society, which is most excellent and perfect, and founded by God; a society preserved and assisted by God, and which is the perpetual depository of his eternal word, which nourishes the world with the bread of life, which can neither deceive nor be deceived, which teaches to all men the lessons of its divine Master, and is the perfect likeness of his divine excellence, the sublime exemplar and finished model of human societies.

In the following chapters we shall fully demonstrate that neither Christianity nor the Catholic Church (which is its positive expression) has been able to do such great things, to cause such marvelous changes, without the unceasing and supernatural action of God, who governs society supernaturally through his providence, and man through his grace.