QUEER CHARACTERS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 16, 7 August 1885, Page 9

QUEER CHARACTERS.

The baptized Catholic who persistently fails to observe the regulations of the Church, is generally indifferent because of ignorance, or one who by a life of sin really abandons his religion ; but there is another class, intelligent, honest and respectpd ; versed in the doctrine and history of the Church, which they profess to believe and revere, will defend and support, and yet live without its pale. They will never deny their Catholicity, nor allow the slightest reproach to be cast upon it ; they may even insist upon their children attending punctually to every observance, and urge others to do so ; they may go to Mass regularly, participate actively and generously m church work ; they believe, proclaim aad are able to prove the truth and divinity of the Chtirch, and that only by faithfully complying with her tenets can man be saved ; that only by her sacraments can man obtain the gracs of salvation — but they never receive tne sacraments. They freely acknowledge the necessity of their duty to do so ; the evil of their example in scandalizing their children and others ; that their failure to do so places them without the pale of the Church, and death without repentance would condemn them to hell. They know, apprecia-e, and when urged or remonstrated with... frankly acknowledge it— yet, jear after year tney continue their queer course of life. Professionally and apparently to the outside obs rver they are Catholics, but wilfully and deliberately they disobey the Church law. They believe and will defend precepts they will not Dractice ; they uphold an authority they will not obey ; they will fight for a Church they scandalize ; they advise and perhaps enforce religious practices they persistently neglect ; they answer that ouisHe the Church tbere is no salvation, and deliberaielv place themselves out of it, and keep out : they coniend tbat there is but one road to heaven, and Btuboornly refuse to follow it. Aud they have been pursuing this life for year.-, despite pleadings of their pastors, uiging of fiidnda, and the promptings of their own s -uses and conscience, and seem disposed to continue Thpy are a soit of unsolvable problem. It is useless to explain to them the law of the Chuich and their duty : they know it. To remind them of their neglect, they admit it. To upbraid them, they submit humbly. To warn them of the daugers of eternal damnation should they die in their slate, they fully realize it ! To persuade them, they promise— that is all. Ana so ihey go on year after year without repentance, without grace, with the sins of years upon their souls, trifling with God's mercy, tempting His justice, inviting His wrath, and courting eternal damnation.

But they do not intend to be lost. They hope to repent and be saved. How ? When 1 0, some time. Will they live to see another lent, another month, another day 1 @f course they are not certain about that. They may die before the next sun, without an opportunity to repent and make amends for the sins of years and years — but though they see hell open before them they will risk it anyhow. They are queer characters, and may God be merciful to them. — Central Catholic.