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XX. Protestantism in Catholic Countries.*
— France is Catholic to the core. She has too much good sense and logic to be capable of any other religion. She may become infidel, but Protestant — never.
Whenever Protestantism met with encouragement in France, it was with the revolutionary party that had revolted against the lawful authority. If its standard ever covered Frenchmen, those Frenchmen were traitors who conspired with the foreigner and fomented civil war. If, outside of such followers, it ever rallied around its folds friends and supporters, it was because of its revolutionary idea, and such partisans do not add much to its glory.
There is nothing in Protestantism but what is repulsive to the French spirit. Protestantism contradicts itself and can stand no examination. It is stiff and unnatural: its formal authority only enacts the cold presumption of the Pharisee: it has no resources from which either reason, or the imagination, or the heart can draw.
On the other hand Protestantism does not feel at home in France. What the French love, Protestantism loathes; and what the latter loves, France does not love at all. It is in England, the genuine centre of Protestantism in the world, where its fondest hopes are cherished, and may be realized, that the propagandism of France is nurtured, fed chiefly by foreign aid, probably more political in its nature than religious.
France would never countenance king or queen that were not Catholics. Henry IV., a prince so beloved by the sires of the French people, was held aloof as long as he remained a Huguenot. Never did a Protestant male or female sit on the throne of France. An attempt of this kind was made within our memory,† but God, who holds France in his keeping, manifested his judgment with terrible and summary punishment.
France shall cease to be herself when she will cease to be The Oldest Daughter of the Church!
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**Conclusion.**
And now, farewell, my reader. My dear friend, pray for me, if this little work has done any good to you. Pray, also, for those who may read it.
I have addressed myself to your good sense, and to your loyalty, and I have hopes that I have made you lay your finger on the deep misery of what is called Protestantism!
Should you ever have any occasion to have a discussion with a Protestant, be cautious and charitable. Never allow yourself to be thrown out of the track of the straightforward path, clear and practical, of good sense. Enter not into fruitless questions, which are only fit, as Paul puts it, to trouble and estrange souls. Refer cavillers, quibblers, and inventors of new religions, to your parish priest.
As for yourselves, keep the faith: be docile and faithful children of the holy Catholic Church, which is the teacher of true piety, and the infallible depositary of Christian truths. Practise your faith with fervor and love: pray much and receive communion often: love with a deep-hearted love Jesus Christ your Saviour, the Blessed Virgin his Mother, the Pope the visible representative of your Redeemer. In a word, live so that you may, when the days of your pilgrimage on earth will be over, reach God and live with him forever!
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* This last article is headed, "Le Protestantisme n'est pas Français." What the learned author says about France can as properly be applied to Spain and Italy, and all Catholic countries.
† The author alludes to the Duke of Orleans, son of Louis Philippe — the renegade son of a perjured father.
— France is Catholic to the core. She has too much good sense and logic to be capable of any other religion. She may become infidel, but Protestant — never.
Whenever Protestantism met with encouragement in France, it was with the revolutionary party that had revolted against the lawful authority. If its standard ever covered Frenchmen, those Frenchmen were traitors who conspired with the foreigner and fomented civil war. If, outside of such followers, it ever rallied around its folds friends and supporters, it was because of its revolutionary idea, and such partisans do not add much to its glory.
There is nothing in Protestantism but what is repulsive to the French spirit. Protestantism contradicts itself and can stand no examination. It is stiff and unnatural: its formal authority only enacts the cold presumption of the Pharisee: it has no resources from which either reason, or the imagination, or the heart can draw.
On the other hand Protestantism does not feel at home in France. What the French love, Protestantism loathes; and what the latter loves, France does not love at all. It is in England, the genuine centre of Protestantism in the world, where its fondest hopes are cherished, and may be realized, that the propagandism of France is nurtured, fed chiefly by foreign aid, probably more political in its nature than religious.
France would never countenance king or queen that were not Catholics. Henry IV., a prince so beloved by the sires of the French people, was held aloof as long as he remained a Huguenot. Never did a Protestant male or female sit on the throne of France. An attempt of this kind was made within our memory,† but God, who holds France in his keeping, manifested his judgment with terrible and summary punishment.
France shall cease to be herself when she will cease to be The Oldest Daughter of the Church!
---
**Conclusion.**
And now, farewell, my reader. My dear friend, pray for me, if this little work has done any good to you. Pray, also, for those who may read it.
I have addressed myself to your good sense, and to your loyalty, and I have hopes that I have made you lay your finger on the deep misery of what is called Protestantism!
Should you ever have any occasion to have a discussion with a Protestant, be cautious and charitable. Never allow yourself to be thrown out of the track of the straightforward path, clear and practical, of good sense. Enter not into fruitless questions, which are only fit, as Paul puts it, to trouble and estrange souls. Refer cavillers, quibblers, and inventors of new religions, to your parish priest.
As for yourselves, keep the faith: be docile and faithful children of the holy Catholic Church, which is the teacher of true piety, and the infallible depositary of Christian truths. Practise your faith with fervor and love: pray much and receive communion often: love with a deep-hearted love Jesus Christ your Saviour, the Blessed Virgin his Mother, the Pope the visible representative of your Redeemer. In a word, live so that you may, when the days of your pilgrimage on earth will be over, reach God and live with him forever!
---
* This last article is headed, "Le Protestantisme n'est pas Français." What the learned author says about France can as properly be applied to Spain and Italy, and all Catholic countries.
† The author alludes to the Duke of Orleans, son of Louis Philippe — the renegade son of a perjured father.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre