Course 3, Chapter 50

Christianity preserved and propagated. — Founding of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and of the Order of the Holy Redeemer. — Missions in China and America. — Eighteenth Century.

1. How was the church attacked in the eighteenth century?

The church was attacked in the eighteenth century by libertinism, Jansenism and the philosophers.

2. How did God come to the succor of the faith?

God came to the succor of the faith by raising up learned doctors who refuted the apostles of error, and by giving birth to many religious Congregations for the instruction of youth, especially that of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

3. Who was the founder?

The founder was the Abbe La Salle, canon of ilheims, who drew up for the brothers rules far superior to those given by men of tbe world for the instruction of youth. The order of th" brothers contributed much to the preservation of the fn ith among the people during the last century, which witnessed the establishment in Italy of another order f or 1 he defence and propagation of the truth.

4. What order was that?

It was the order o': the l\fnt Holy Redeemer, destined to evangelize tVe poor inhabitants of the country. It was founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop of St. Agatha, in th j kingdom of Naples, whom God had raised up to defend the truth against the impious, and present a barrier to Jansenism, which was sapping the principles of n>.orality and drying up the fountains of piety by alienating the faithful from the sacraments.*

5. . Did impiety make any conquests?

336 CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE.

A. Impiety made conquests, especially in France. To compensate the church, missionaries converted a great many persons in China; among whom was a branch of the imperial family, which, during the persecution, displayed the courage of the first Christians.

6. What were the other conquests of the faith?

The other conquests of the faith were the conversion and civilization of many savage nations in America, and particularly of the Illinois.

7. What was the character of the savages before their conversion?

The character of these savages before their conversion was of the most revolting barbarity. They ate their prisoners, whom they roasted at a slow fire, after having pulled off their nails and cut off their fingers and ears. After their conversion they became gentle, hospitable and very pious.