Man and religion
Media
Part of The Carolinian
- Title
- Man and religion
- Creator
- Cavada, Patrick N.
- Language
- English
- Year
- 1953
- Rights
-
- Fulltext
- No wishful thinking, this analysis of the relationship between... CkFCi l>y Patrick N. Cavada ~r—rS ONE man said: ... "A kV L man who puts aside his re ligion because he is going into society, is like one putting off his shoes because he is about to walk upon thorns." True religion, as many wise men have said, is the foundation of so ciety, the basis on which true civil government rests, and from which power derives its authority, laws their efficacy, and both their sanc tion. It is equally the basis of pri vate virtue and public faith; of the happiness of the individual and the prosperity of the nation. Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political, social or financial pro sperity, religion and morality are indispensable supports. How vain would one claim the tribute of pat riotism, who should labor to sub vert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of men and citizens. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles. Civilization, law, order, morality, the family, all that elev ates woman, or blesses society, or gives peace to the nations, all these are the fruits of Christianity! If we make our religion- our busi ness, I believe God will make it our blessedness. To love God is to make Him dwell with you and to obey God is to make Him reveal to you the truth of His deepest teachings. A pious man loves re ligion while the atheist fears it. We can have no trust in a man who has no religious principles as an atheist. Religion's home is in the conscience and its highest joy is in doing God's will. We need the assurance of being a good Catholic to be completely happy with God and to turn to Him for spiritual satisfaction, for none but God alone can satisfy the longings of the im mortal soul; as the heart was made for Him, He only can fill it. The teachings of Christ reach and change the heart, which no other religion does. Religion is the fear and love of God; its demonstration is good works; and faith is the root of both, for without faith we can not please God; nor can we fear and love what we do not believe. Religion is the answer to that cry of reason which nothing - can si lence; that aspiration of the soul which no created things can meet; of that want of the heart which all creation cannot supply. It is only religion, that great bond of love and duty to God, which makes any valuable or even tolerable. It was religion, which, by teaching men their near relation to God, awakened in them the consciousness of their importance as individuals. It was the struggle for religious rights, which opened their eyes to all their rights. It was resistance to religious usurpation which led men to withstand political oppres sion. It was religious discussion which roused the minds of all class es to free and vigorous thought. It steeled the great Christian mar tyrs and patriots of old. True religion teaches us to re vere what is under us, to recognize humility, poverty, wretchedness, suffering and death, as things di vine. Where true religion has pre vented one crime, false religions have afforded a pretext for a thou sand. "The high and the low, the rich and the poor, the wise and the ig norant, when the Soul hath shaken off the cumbrous shackles of this mortal life, shall quickly receive from the Great Law of God, a just and everlasting compensation, ac cording to their works. "Then shall the wicked learn and make compensation in course of time; but the heart of the righteous shall rejoice in His rewards. "Let us respect God, therefore, all the days of our life, and walk in the paths which He hath opened before us. Let prudence admonish us, let temperance restrain, let jus tice guide our hand, benevolence warn our hearts and gratitude to heaven aspire us with devotion. These shall give us happiness in our present state and future one and take us to the mansions of eternal felicity in the paradise of God." OCTOBER, 1953 Page 11