07-27-2026, 06:24 AM
PART SECOND.
III. Have the Apostles of Protestantism any Credentials to show.
— By two infallible marks we can ascertain whether a man who presents himself as a reformer of the Church is in reality sent by God. These two marks are holiness and the gift of miracles.
We need not speak of the sanctity of Luther and Calvin. The world knows what to think of their sanctity. The mention of such disgraceful recollections brings shame to the cheeks of candid and honest Protestants.
As for miracles, they would have liked to perform some. But it is not so easy a task as that of forming a sect. Erasmus remarks, with a sneer, "that none of them could yet heal a lame horse."
Calvin took into his head once to perform a little miracle. Unfortunately he failed. He hired a man to play the dead, that he might resuscitate him. When he came to the spot, followed by a curious crowd to whom he had innocently promised this proof of his mission, God's justice had smitten the partner of his imposture, and poor Calvin was well-nigh to die of fright, finding the wretch stiff in death. This is a fact well authenticated in history.
But Luther got out of the difficulty in another fashion. Should any one dare to ask him for some miraculous sign by which to prove that he spoke in the name of God, he replied with a torrent of abuse, and the unlucky interloper was dismissed with the qualifications of being an ass, a Turk, a dog, a bedevilled hog.
The fathers of the Reformation had neither sanctity nor the power of performing miracles. They were not the envoys of God.
What spirit has, then, inspired them with its powerful breath? The spirit of vain-glory, the spirit of impurity, the spirit of rebellion, which has never ceased to wage war against the Christ and his work: an infernal spirit which has begotten heresies, and is the veritable spirit of Protestant anarchy. You are of your father, the devil (St. John viii. 44).
III. Have the Apostles of Protestantism any Credentials to show.
— By two infallible marks we can ascertain whether a man who presents himself as a reformer of the Church is in reality sent by God. These two marks are holiness and the gift of miracles.
We need not speak of the sanctity of Luther and Calvin. The world knows what to think of their sanctity. The mention of such disgraceful recollections brings shame to the cheeks of candid and honest Protestants.
As for miracles, they would have liked to perform some. But it is not so easy a task as that of forming a sect. Erasmus remarks, with a sneer, "that none of them could yet heal a lame horse."
Calvin took into his head once to perform a little miracle. Unfortunately he failed. He hired a man to play the dead, that he might resuscitate him. When he came to the spot, followed by a curious crowd to whom he had innocently promised this proof of his mission, God's justice had smitten the partner of his imposture, and poor Calvin was well-nigh to die of fright, finding the wretch stiff in death. This is a fact well authenticated in history.
But Luther got out of the difficulty in another fashion. Should any one dare to ask him for some miraculous sign by which to prove that he spoke in the name of God, he replied with a torrent of abuse, and the unlucky interloper was dismissed with the qualifications of being an ass, a Turk, a dog, a bedevilled hog.
The fathers of the Reformation had neither sanctity nor the power of performing miracles. They were not the envoys of God.
What spirit has, then, inspired them with its powerful breath? The spirit of vain-glory, the spirit of impurity, the spirit of rebellion, which has never ceased to wage war against the Christ and his work: an infernal spirit which has begotten heresies, and is the veritable spirit of Protestant anarchy. You are of your father, the devil (St. John viii. 44).
"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