chapter XX.

[990] “Es darf doch hier auf Grund einer reichen Erfahrung nicht unerwähnt bleiben, dass namentlich die Bibel in ihrer ursprünglichen Gestalt eine grosse Gefahr für die Sittenreinheit der Jugend ist. Es ist mehrfach konstatiert worden, dass die Onanie (self-abuse) in männlichen und weiblichen Schulen durchaus zunächst sich an die Lesung von Bibelstellen angelehnt hat, deren Auswahl und Kenntnis sich traditionell unter der Jugend fortpflanzten. Man kann dieser Gefahr insofern leicht entgegentreten, als die Herstellung von Schulbibeln schon so erfolgreich geschehen ist, dass man nicht begreift, wie man noch immer die ungekürzte Bibel den Schülern in die Hände geben kann.” Schiller, _Handbuch der praktischen Pädagogik_ (Leipzig, 1894, 3. ed.), pp. 171-172.

[991] _Reminiscences_, quoted in the _Fortnightly Review_, May 1896, p. 814.

[992] _Reg. Prov._ 1.

[993] See above pp. 121-124.

[994] “_Instructio catechistica, praecipue in Humanitate et Rhetorica, sit ad praeservandam contra modernos errores juventutem accommodata._” Pachtler, IV, p. 360.

[995] 1 _Peter_ 3, 15.

[996] _Paraenesis_, art. 13.

[997] _Spirago’s Method of Christian Doctrine._ Edited by the Rt. Rev. S. G. Messmer, Bishop of Green Bay, Wis. (Benziger, N. Y., 1901.)

[998] _Kirchenlexikon_, vol. VII, p. 310 (2nd ed.).

[999] Pope Leo XIII., when still Cardinal Archbishop of Perugia, published a revised and enlarged edition of Bellarmine’s Catechism. At the Vatican Council (1869-70), it was the wish of Pius IX. that a catechism, which should be essentially that of Bellarmine, should be adopted as the uniform and official catechism for the whole Catholic world. Messmer, _l. c._, p. 536.

[1000] Janssen, _History of the German People_, vol. I. (17th ed., p. 48 foll.--English ed., vol. I, p. 45.)

[1001] See _Kirchenlexikon_, vol. VII, p. 302.--Braunsberger, S. J., _Die Catechismen des Petrus Canisius_. Herder, St. Louis, Mo., 1893.--_Spirago’s Method_, pp. 532-534.--Janssen, _Geschichte des deutschen Volkes_, vol. IV (15th ed.), pp. 436 foll.--It is to be regretted that there exists no English biography of this great Catholic reformer and educator. A sketch of his labors was published recently in the _Dublin Review_, January 1903, pp. 137-158.

[1002] Janssen, vol. IV, p. 445.

[1003] Also Chemnitz, one of the leading Reformers and a violent antagonist of Canisius, acknowledges that “the catechisms of this Jesuit are written with the greatest mildness and moderation.” See his words in Braunsberger, _Canisii Epistulae et Acta_, vol. III, (Herder 1901) p. 811.--In many places of his numerous writings Canisius lays down his principles about controversies with the Protestants. “The Protestants heap the most frightful calumnies upon me. Would that we loved them the better, the more they persecute us. They deserve to be loved, although they hate us, because most of them err from ignorance. I would gladly shed my blood for them if I could thereby save their souls.” He exhorts his brethren and Catholics in general to avoid all bitterness in controversies; they should argue with gravity and modesty and suffer all attacks with holy patience for the love of Christ. (See Janssen, _l. c._, vol. IV, pp. 408-411.)--This moderation is all the more remarkable if contrasted with the shocking insults and contumelious appellations with which Canisius was loaded by his Protestant adversaries. Melanchthon calls him a “cynic.” Others styled his catechism “devil’s dirt,” the “cursed sacrilegious book of the dog Canisius,” a “heathenish work, and a product of hell.” The Jesuits are styled by Chemnitz and others “scoundrels, perjurers, beasts, hell-frogs spit up by the infernal dragon, a brood of vipers born of the Babylonian ...,” epithets which do not bear translation here. See Janssen, _l. c._, pp. 411-413, 441-445.

[1004] _Mon. Paed._, p. 113. Pachtler III, 470 (no. 12), 474 (no. 6). Several other documents inculcate the same moderation and spirit of Christian charity. See Janssen, _l. c._, p. 411, note 1.

[1005] _History of Education_, p. 172; see above p. 252.

[1006] _Canisii Epistulae et Acta_, vol. III, p. 777.

[1007] _Canisii Epistulae et Acta_, vol. III, pp. 623-627.

[1008] Janssen, vol. IV, p. 437.

[1009] See _Spirago’s Method_, page 530 foll., where also the shortcomings of this catechism are pointed out.

[1010] Duhr, _Studienordnung_, p. 104.

[1011] _Ratio Docendi_, chapt. I, art. 2.

[1012] _Handbuch der praktischen Pädagogik_, pp. 237-238.

[1013] _Lehrpläne_, etc., p. 11.

[1014] See the words of Professor Paulsen above, p. 100.

[1015] _L. c._, p. 238.

[1016] Fitch, _Thomas and Matthew Arnold_, pp. 95-96.

[1017] _The Biblical World_, November 1902, p. 324.

[1018] _The Literary Digest_, December 27, 1902.

[1019] _Dublin Review_, Jan. 1847, p. 383.--In this connection we would beg the reader to see the beautiful exposition of the same principle in Cardinal Newman’s _Idea of a University_ (pp. 372-380): “General Religious Knowledge.”

[1020] Quoted in _The Review_, June 19, 1902, p. 384.