Compitum, Or, The Meeting of the Ways at the Catholic Church

Jove 3-7

C4228.48.12.5

HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY
GIFT OF

MRS. THOMAS WENTWORTH HIGGINSON
MRS. MARCARET HIGGINGON BARNEY

OCT 9 1940

CONTENTS.

Entrance on the ways which answer to those of the clear contem-
plation of eternal things. Avenue to the Catholic Church pre-
sented by the book of nature. The visible world points to it.
Testimony of philosophers and poets, p. 5. Like faith, the book
of nature inspires joy, peace, admiration, mourning, and so-
lemnity, 8. Direction to the Church supplied by the symbolism
of the visible world, 19; by its historical associations, 31; by
rural occupations-agriculture, 36; by the general character and
lessons of that life-by its connexion with Catholic memories and
images-by the examples of the saints, 42; and their agricul
tural relations.

CHAPTER II.—p. 49.

THE ROAD OF HUNTERS.

The scenery of the chase presents an avenue to the Catholic Church

in consequence of its historical associations—of its recalling peni-

tents and saints. Direction supplied by contrasts-by repugnance

to cruelty-by the sympathy with creatures which faith inspires,

55; by the habits and circumstances of hunting, 61.

CHAPTER III.—p. 68.

THE ROAD OF POETS.

Danger of this road acknowledged by those who follow it, 70. Di-

rections to the Catholic Church supplied by the ennobling influ-

ence of poetry, 72; by its natural affinity with the historical

glories of Catholicism, 76; by its love of antiquity-by its songs

of war, 80; by its Homeric or Virgilian inclination to view the

departed, by its representations of human life, and by its religious

chants.

CHAPTER IV.-p. 83.

THE ROAD OF ROMANCE.

Direction to the Church on the road of romantic fiction supplied by

the old Catholic chivalrous romances, 85; by the Anti-Catholic

tales of rationalists, 89; by the tales of neutral authors, 90.

Geographic direction of the latter, with historical and religious
allusions combined, facilitate the issue to truth.

CHAPTER V.—p. 92.

THE ROAD OF SPECTRES.

Narratives attesting the impressions on this road. Direction to the

Church supplied by the power of Catholicism, in allaying super-

stitious fears arising from them, by its wisdom in regard to them-

by ancient histories, traditions, and legends, 98; by the moral

lessons to which these are subservient, 104.

CHAPTER VI. p. 114.

THE ROAD OF SORCERERS.

Impressions on this road described. Narratives, 117. Direction to

truth by the way of superstition. In what sense these two are

of it, 121; by the deliverance from it, which the Church secures.

Belief in the occult powers of nature, 126. Superstition the

result of doubts and heresy, 129. Direction to the Church by

observing her hostility to superstition in every form, 130.

CHAPTER VII. p. 132.

THE ROAD OF MIRACLES.

Evidence of true miracles meets the traveller and directs him to the

Catholic Church.

CHAPTER VIII. p. 143.

THE ROAD OF JOY.

The desire of joy directs to the Church; the absence of joy in the
world directs him to it, 144; Catholicity offers joy, 147; her

doctrine, prayers, and saints teach joy, 148; joy of the Catholic

mind shown by examples, 151; by observation of the popular

character where faith prevails, 154; contrast presented by Pro-

testantism, 155; joy of a Catholic population points to its posses-

sion of truth, 160; of charity, 161; of moral virtue, 162; of

humility, 163; joy of the Catholic multitude surveyed; religious

festivals, 164; popular plays, amusements, 168; London in the

old time, 169; objection founded on the existence of bull-fights in

Spain answered, 175; the gloom of infidels and Protestants when

truth of Catholicity, 182.

CHAPTER IX.-P. 184.

THE ROAD OF POPULAR DEVOTION.

An observation of the religious practices of the people directs to the

Catholic Church; popular salutations, 185; making the sign of

the Cross; using holy water, 186; antiquity of their pious prac-

tices; suspicious character of Protestantism, 189; direction arising

from a consideration of the folly and danger of mocking popular

devout usages, 191; their pious foundation, 193; their connexion

with the moral virtue of a population, 194; importance of little

things in the spiritual life, 196; importance of habit, 198; the

the people points, 205; their love of Catholic usages, 206; po-

pular devotion to the Cross, 210; to the saints, 214; travellers

remark the pilgrimages, 218; the festivals, 221; the fasts, 222;

curiosity excited leads to inquiries which prove the truth of Ca-

tholicism, 226; the usages connected with Sunday, 232; direction

to the Church supplied by the popular devotion to the angels,

234; by that to the blessed Virgin, 237; signal of the rosary,

239; in fine, by the general religious character of a population

influenced by faith, 259; uniting all classes in the observance of

true religion, 262.

CHAPTER X.-p. 266.

THE ROAD OF CHURCHES.

Signals pointing to truth furnished by churches; first impressions,

267; what can be learned from the external structure and its

symbolism, 268; from the open portals, 271; from the general

aspect of the interior, 272; from the paintings, 275; inscriptions,

285; epitaphs, 286; holy sepulchres, 288; crosses, 289; shrines

and holy relics, 291; jewels, 295; what can be learned from the

sanctuary and altar, 298; the mystery of faith, 299; direction

supplied by the kneeling suppliants, 300; by the presence of in-

fidels, 303; by the contrast of Catholic worshippers, 305; by the

315;

bells, 309; by the chants, 310; by the celebration of mass,

by the love of church offices, 325; by the titles of churches, 327;

by their historical associations, 329; by a reference to the founders

and constructors, 330; by the Protestant view published in later

times, 333.

CHAPTER XI.—p. 337.

THE ROAD OF ARTISTS.

Direction afforded by a consideration of the nature of art, 338; by

beauty in relation to it, 339; by discovering the source of art,

341; direction supplied by art in regard to history, 342; to

archæology, 344; to portraits, 346; to general lessons of virtue

and Catholic manners, 354; to theology, 363; to the traditions of

art, 365; to religious themes, 370; to martyrdom, 376; to mystic

doctrines, 378; direction furnished by the lives of ancient artists,

379; by the material interests of art, 387; by the contrast of art

when not under the influence of Catholicism, 388; by the desire

of material encouragement, 394; by the destructive conseqnences

in regard to it of infidelity in every form, 400.

CHAPTER XII.-p. 403.

THE ROAD OF LOVERS.

Direction supplied on the road of love by its exemption from obsta-
cles to the reception of truth, 405; by the removal of egotism,
ambition, and avarice. Love leads to the love of love, and con-
sequently to God, 407; finding a second home, the traveller has
to prepare for traversing the sterner roads of more mature life.

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Compitum, Or, The Meeting of the Ways at the Catholic Church, Book 2