Page:Essays on Catholicism, Liberalism, and Socialism.djvu/258
been revealed? Who has told you so? And if you can nowhere find an authority for your opinion, why do you make such an affirmation? Shakspeare has well described your theories, when he says: they are words, words, and nothing but words ... and I add, words which alike destroy those who utter and those who listen to them.
The dogmas of Catholicism have a potent virtue not to be found in the affirmations of rationalism, which have in them no efficacy. In the declarations of Catholicism rests the power to give life and to take it away, to destroy the living and resuscitate the dead. These words are never uttered in vain, nor do they ever fail to inspire terror, because none can tell whether they bring life or death, although all acknowledge their sovereign power. Once, at the decline of day, when the shades of evening began to spread a veil over the transparent and tranquil waters, the Saviour entered a frail bark, accompanied by his disciples; and, while our Lord slept, overcome with weariness, there arose a frightful tempest, and the vessel being in danger of sinking, the disciples began to pray; when the Saviour, awakening, uttered some words, which appeased the wind and the sea. Then, turning to his disciples, he addressed other words to them, and they were suddenly seized with great fear and trembling: et timuerunt timore magno. The tempest had inspired them with less awe and terror than the words of the Saviour. At another time, two men, who were tormented by demons, presented themselves to our Saviour, and implored his mercy. And the Lord said to the demons, Go. The devils, obeying his voice, departed from the men, and took possession of some unclean animals, when these ran violently into the sea and perished in its waters.