04-29-2026, 07:23 AM
Mgr. Louis de Ségur: Short Answers to Common Objections Against Religion - 1908
SIXTEENTH OBJECTION. I BELIEVE ONLY WHAT I UNDERSTAND. CAN ANY REASONABLE MAN BELIEVE ALL THE MYSTERIES OF RELIGION?
Answer. Then don't believe any thing, nothing in the world, not even that you live, that you see, that you speak, that you hear, etc., etc., for I defy you to understand any of these phenomena.
What, in fact, is life? what is language? what is sound? what are noises, color, smell, etc.?
What is the wind? where does it begin? where and why and how does it stop? What is cold, or heat? what is electricity?
What is sleep? How comes it, that when I am asleep, my ears remaining open the same as when I am awake, I hear nothing? Why, and how do I awake from sleep? and what is the process?
What are fatigue, sorrow, pleasure? etc. etc.
What is matter, that indescribable something, which takes all forms, all colors, etc.?
Who understands what it is?
How is it, that with my eyes, which are merely two little balls, quite black in the inside, I can see all surrounding objects, even millions of miles off (the stars, for instance)?
How is it that my soul would separate from my body if I did not, regularly, cause to enter into that body, by my food, certain morsels of dead animals, of plants, of vegetables, etc.?
All is mystery* in me; even down to the most vulgar things, to the purely animal functions.
What learned man has ever comprehended the why and wherefore of the wonders of nature? Who has ever comprehended a single one of them?
What mysteries!
And I wish to comprehend Him who has made all these beings which I cannot comprehend! I do not comprehend the creature, and yet I want to comprehend the Creator! I do not comprehend the finite, and I would comprehend the infinite! I do not comprehend even an acorn, a fly, a pebble, and I want to comprehend God and all His precepts!
But it is absurd! There is nothing else to answer.
The mysteries of religion are like the sun. Impenetrable in themselves, they enlighten and vivify those who walk with simplicity in their radiance: they only blind the audacious eyes which would fathom their splendor.
Mysteries are above reason, and not contrary to reason; in which there is a great difference. Reason does not perceive, of her unaided strength, the truth which they express; neither does she perceive the impossibility of that truth.
No, faith is not opposed to reason. Far from that, she is her sister and her helper. It is a more brilliant light which comes to add itself to a light already shining.
Faith is to reason what the telescope is to the naked eye. The eye, with the aid of the telescope, sees what it could not perceive alone. It penetrates into regions which are inaccessible without that aid. Will you say that the telescope is opposed to the eyesight?
Such then is faith. It does but regulate and extend reason. Faith leaves to reason its free exercise in all that comes within its range; and when its natural powers have reached their limits, faith comes to its aid, raises it higher, and causes it to penetrate into new supernatural divine truths, even into the secrets of God.
I believe the mysteries of religion, then, as I believe the mysteries of nature, because I know that they exist.
I know that the mysteries of nature exist, because they are attested by the most unexceptionable witnesses; namely, all my senses and common sense.
I know that the mysteries of religion exist, because they also are attested by the most unexceptionable witnesses, Jesus Christ and His Church.* My reason serves me to examine and to weigh the value of their testimony. But when by the touch of philosophy, of criticism, and of good sense, I have examined the facts which prove to me the truth, divinity, and infallibility of these testimonies, my reason has finished its work; faith must take its place, reason has conducted me up to truth. Truth speaks, and I have only to listen, to open my heart, to believe, to adore.
My faith in the Christian mysteries is then supremely reasonable. It proves a solid and logical mind. My reason has said to me: "These witnesses can neither deceive you nor themselves. They bring you the truth from heaven!" I should not be true to my reason were I not to believe their word.
It is a pitiful weakness of mind to wish to believe only what one comprehends.
SIXTEENTH OBJECTION. I BELIEVE ONLY WHAT I UNDERSTAND. CAN ANY REASONABLE MAN BELIEVE ALL THE MYSTERIES OF RELIGION?
Answer. Then don't believe any thing, nothing in the world, not even that you live, that you see, that you speak, that you hear, etc., etc., for I defy you to understand any of these phenomena.
What, in fact, is life? what is language? what is sound? what are noises, color, smell, etc.?
What is the wind? where does it begin? where and why and how does it stop? What is cold, or heat? what is electricity?
What is sleep? How comes it, that when I am asleep, my ears remaining open the same as when I am awake, I hear nothing? Why, and how do I awake from sleep? and what is the process?
What are fatigue, sorrow, pleasure? etc. etc.
What is matter, that indescribable something, which takes all forms, all colors, etc.?
Who understands what it is?
How is it, that with my eyes, which are merely two little balls, quite black in the inside, I can see all surrounding objects, even millions of miles off (the stars, for instance)?
How is it that my soul would separate from my body if I did not, regularly, cause to enter into that body, by my food, certain morsels of dead animals, of plants, of vegetables, etc.?
All is mystery* in me; even down to the most vulgar things, to the purely animal functions.
What learned man has ever comprehended the why and wherefore of the wonders of nature? Who has ever comprehended a single one of them?
What mysteries!
And I wish to comprehend Him who has made all these beings which I cannot comprehend! I do not comprehend the creature, and yet I want to comprehend the Creator! I do not comprehend the finite, and I would comprehend the infinite! I do not comprehend even an acorn, a fly, a pebble, and I want to comprehend God and all His precepts!
But it is absurd! There is nothing else to answer.
The mysteries of religion are like the sun. Impenetrable in themselves, they enlighten and vivify those who walk with simplicity in their radiance: they only blind the audacious eyes which would fathom their splendor.
Mysteries are above reason, and not contrary to reason; in which there is a great difference. Reason does not perceive, of her unaided strength, the truth which they express; neither does she perceive the impossibility of that truth.
No, faith is not opposed to reason. Far from that, she is her sister and her helper. It is a more brilliant light which comes to add itself to a light already shining.
Faith is to reason what the telescope is to the naked eye. The eye, with the aid of the telescope, sees what it could not perceive alone. It penetrates into regions which are inaccessible without that aid. Will you say that the telescope is opposed to the eyesight?
Such then is faith. It does but regulate and extend reason. Faith leaves to reason its free exercise in all that comes within its range; and when its natural powers have reached their limits, faith comes to its aid, raises it higher, and causes it to penetrate into new supernatural divine truths, even into the secrets of God.
I believe the mysteries of religion, then, as I believe the mysteries of nature, because I know that they exist.
I know that the mysteries of nature exist, because they are attested by the most unexceptionable witnesses; namely, all my senses and common sense.
I know that the mysteries of religion exist, because they also are attested by the most unexceptionable witnesses, Jesus Christ and His Church.* My reason serves me to examine and to weigh the value of their testimony. But when by the touch of philosophy, of criticism, and of good sense, I have examined the facts which prove to me the truth, divinity, and infallibility of these testimonies, my reason has finished its work; faith must take its place, reason has conducted me up to truth. Truth speaks, and I have only to listen, to open my heart, to believe, to adore.
My faith in the Christian mysteries is then supremely reasonable. It proves a solid and logical mind. My reason has said to me: "These witnesses can neither deceive you nor themselves. They bring you the truth from heaven!" I should not be true to my reason were I not to believe their word.
It is a pitiful weakness of mind to wish to believe only what one comprehends.
"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