Father Smith Instructs Jackson (Noll Library). Archbishop John Francis Noll, D.D., LL.D.

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СКАЧАТЬ has brought forth one valid proof that there is no God.

      3. It is much easier to believe in God than to try to account for the universe without God.

      4. Another most convincing proof of the existence of God is that voice within us which tells that certain things are wrong, and which disturbs our peace when we do certain evil things. If there were no God, to Whom we are accountable, there would be no reason to be thus disturbed.⁴

      Mr. J. May I ask you how you would answer the believers in evolution?

      Father S. If they ever actually proved the theory that everything material in the universe, including plants and animals, evolved by slow processes from original atoms or gases, the Church would not oppose them. But even that original element must have been created. Every effect must have a cause; the first thing must have been produced from nothing, which only a God could accomplish.

      Mr. J. You imply that the human soul could not be accounted for by evolution.

      Father S. Certainly it could not. Since every effect must also have an adequate cause, the soul of man, whose nature is altogether spiritual, could not evolve from an animal or anything material. A spirit could be produced only by the Supreme Spirit, God.⁵

      Mr. J. An unbeliever of my acquaintance calls himself an agnostic. What is meant by that?

      Father S. One who does not deny God’s existence, but contends that he does not know whether there is a God or not. Usually he is not anxious to know, because he is not in the mood to keep the Commandments of God.

      A German writer (Dennert) published a book in Berlin some years ago, in which he shows that of three hundred of the greatest scientists of the last three centuries, two hundred and forty-three were firm believers in God, and saw harmony between science and their faith. Herbert Spencer says: “The existence of this inscrutable power (God) is the most certain of all truths.” Weismann, who does declare himself an atheist, says: “Creation cannot be disproved, but it must be rejected to escape the supernatural.” What they do not like to accept, some people reject, but that does not do away with the truth or fact. The greatest physical scientists of today, such as Millikan, Jeans, Eddington, LeMaitre, are all firm believers in an all-powerful and wise God.⁶

      But the question of God’s existence is not a question for physical sciences to answer at all. The scientist’s work is to study things as he finds them and the laws which govern their operation. He is not concerned about their ultimate origin.⁷

      Mr. J. That question is answered as far as I am concerned, but my difficulty is that I don’t know much about God.

      Father S. We can best know God by knowing some of His perfections.⁸ First of all, He is an infinitely perfect spirit. This means that He has perfect understanding and free will, but there is nothing material about Him. He hasn’t a body, and He will never die, for He is immortal. He possesses every perfection without limit and to the utmost degree. He does not owe His existence to another, but is in every way self-sufficient. This is true of no other being, for all other beings owe their existence to Him,⁹ hence they are dependent and limited in the perfections that they possess. Moreover, God never changes and He is eternal — which means that He always was and always will be. He is all-good; He is infinitely lovable and showers His blessings upon us. There is nothing that He cannot do, because He is almighty.¹⁰ He knows all things perfectly: the present and the future; even our most secret thoughts, words and actions. Although He cannot be seen by our bodily eyes, He is everywhere, for it is His power that keeps everything in existence. Thus, as a loving Father He cares especially for His human children and provides for them. This loving care is called Divine Providence.¹¹ Do not these facts about God give you some idea of how far above His creatures He is, yet how close He is to every one of us?¹²

      Mr. J. I’ll say they do.

      Father S. Now, although our reason demands the existence of a Supreme Being, to Whom we owe our life, on Whom we are dependent for all things, and Whom we must serve, as things stand it cannot know enough about the nature of God, nor about the precise service He wants from us. These latter things depend wholly on His will, which it was necessary for Him to make known to us. We call this Divine Revelation. God has revealed much about Himself and what we must believe and do in order to reach our eternal destiny.¹³

      Religion is a form of elementary justice which obliges us to give God the recognition and honor which is His right and which we owe Him as private individuals and as members of human society. All people are obliged to recognize their Creator by religious practice. It should be clear also, I think, that the Almighty should want to be known alike and served alike by the whole human family.

      Mr. J. Yes, Father, it seems that He should.

      Father S. Then He would have to tell enough about Himself for the purpose, and define in pretty clear terms what He wants of us. He revealed Himself to the first human creatures, and frequently thereafter to their descendants, and 1,900 years ago, when the world was in sore need of a dependable teacher, He appeared on earth in human form, and founded a kingdom, or Church in which His revelation would be authoritatively and universally taught until the end of the world. Now, in the course of our instructions, you will become acquainted with the nature of this Church, with her teachings, with God’s laws, and the God-given helps which she possesses for the purpose of leading men to eternal happiness. But before proceeding to this, we shall see what Revelation (most of which is contained in the Bible) says about God’s creation of, and His dealings with, the first intelligent creatures He made. While fashioning this visible world, the temporary home of man, He made a multitude of angels to share His happiness in heaven.¹⁴ You have often heard of angels, have you not, Mr. Jackson?

      Mr. J. Yes, Father; and I have often seen them pictured as beautiful figures with wings.

      Father S. But they have no wings; they have not even a body which could support wings. They are pure spirits resembling God much more closely than a human soul, which is also a spirit.

      Mr. J. But why are angels pictured with a body and with wings?

      Father S. Well, they could not be represented at all without a body; we cannot picture an invisible spirit. Then, angels have frequently been sent as messengers of God to men, at which times they appeared in a human form. They are represented with wings to convey better the idea of how they pass from heaven to earth and of the swiftness with which they carry out God’s wishes.

      Mr. J. If the devils are fallen angels, they have no bodies either?

      Father S. No; though they are often represented as hideous figures, with horns, cloven feet, etc. Of course, the devils have become as hideous and deformed by their fall as the angels have become beautiful and god-like by their loyalty to God. Hence devils cannot be pictured too ugly.

      Mr. J. When you say angels are pure spirits, that doesn’t give me a very definite idea of them.

      Father S. Well I’ll try to be more definite. Angels are persons, made in such a way by their Creator that they do not need and do not have bodies. They are persons because they are individuals highly endowed with intellectual powers and free will; and since there is nothing material in their make-up, they are purely spiritual persons.

      Persons of this kind reflect the perfection of their Author more clearly than do any other creatures and are capable of sharing His happiness through knowledge and love.

      The fact is that some of the angels СКАЧАТЬ