The Hand of God

There are some who desire to be thoroughly conversant with whatever subject concerns them. They want to be well informed for their own satisfaction and for the enlightenment of others. These make a study of the constitution by reading what leading jurists have written in regard to it, and by talking about it when opportunity offers. It is so with religion. The majority of mankind know the essential teaching of the Christian Religion. They understand all that is necessary in order to live as God directs. They are not concerned about a critical knowledge of Faith. Theirs is a practical knowledge, and it is enough for the generality of mankind. But there are some who desire to know their religion intimately. They wish to be its champion if need be. At least they desire to give to an enquirer a reason for their faith and practise. Theologians study religion as lawyers study the constitution. But we can not all be theologians as we can not all be lawyers. However as one may obtain a good notion of the constitution without being as conversant with it as a lawyer, so one may be well versed in religion without the long and laborious study of the theologian. The present volume is intended to present the Catholic religion to the ordinary reader in a way which will be simple but sufficient. I should say rather that it aims at presenting some subjects of the Catholic religion, for I have selected only a few topics. But they are such that if rightly understood will throw light on the entire matter. Moreover they are subjects which are not any too well understood by a great many people. Also they are the very things which those outside the Church persist in misunderstanding and misrepresenting. A Catholic should therefore have a good talking knowledge of these subjects. A non-Catholic will find in them, I trust, an explanation which will remove prejudice and misunderstanding. Christ was misunderstood and misrepresented. His Church shares His fate. This misunderstanding is a mystery in His case as well as in hers. But we are not called upon to explain God's ways. Our duty is to accept His dispensations and to do our part. I have named the volume" The Hand of God," as it is my purpose to show God's work in the world and His guidance of it by His Church. Theology means a word about God. Such this book attempts to be. In a plain and familiar way it aims at bringing God closer to us. It tries to show God and His work in a true light. On account of environment and association many people see the Catholic Church in a false light. They are color-blind in regard to her. This volume hopes to present God and His Church aright. To the Catholic it will recall the teaching of his Faith; to the non-Catholic it will present the Church as she is, the Bride of Christ. By her He rears children unto life everlasting. By her He fashions mortals into immortals. By her the Blood Divine is transmitted unto mankind making the children of men to be the children of God.