attached to it-What devotions recommended-Beads-Books-The eulogia-No one to enter armed-Reverence due to the sacred mysteries, and the rules which it dictated—A visit to a Catholic church-The approach; the bells; the paradise and portal; the multitude within, and the variety of character wnich it comprised-Charm of this spectacle—General impressions vary with the hour-The suppliant crowd-The ineffable presence-Experience of the ages of faith in respect to it-The churches are only monuments of it-The effects described by St. Bonaventura, and verified in Tasso .. P. 102 CHAPTER VI. The love of men for the sacred offices evinced in ancient characters and foundations-Express testimony by the historians of the middle age--Examples-Inferences to be drawn from this fact: that men must have been thoughtful and intellectual, virtuous and pure, or penitent; lovers of peace, and of simple manners, conformable to nature; familiar with the dawn-Charm and importance of the first hours CHAPTER VII. p. 131 Origin of the Christian festivals-Their history-The poetic interest which their course imparted to the year-Mode of their celebration-The vigil-Its use and meaning-The discipline of the ages of faith with respect to fasting-The intention and effects of this-The term "obligation" as applied to festivals-The observance of the Lord's day during the middle agesFestivals of obligation how observed-Octaves, Origin and importance of them—The popular customs associated with the Christian festivals, distinguished-What were good-What were abuses and condemned p. 154 CHAPTER VIII. With what mind the festivals were observed-They were studied, explained, and celebrated as strictly religious-They were dramatic—What was the style, in consequence, observed in the instructions of the clergy-Sermons of St. Bernard-Correspondence of the popular devotion-Their symbolic character-Sermon of Richard of St. Victor-The festivals of our Lady, and their origin-Language of the ages of faith respecting devotion to the Blessed VirginThe meditations of St. Bonaventura respecting it-Objections to the Christian festivals considered-Their celebration conduced to important ends, in an intellectual and moral point of view-The anniversaries of the saints considered in this respect-The objections of heretics answered―The beneficial political tendency of the festivals-The beauty of the Divine offices in relation to the changes required by the season-Constancy and variety united in the Church order-Why the moderns are insensible to the excellence of the Catholic ritual-The festival of the Resurrection considered in explanation of this-Instance of its effect on two friends— Their devout assistance at its solemnities from Holy Week till the end of the octave-Fervor of the middle ages on these festivals-The indifference of the moderns CHAPTER IX. p. 189 The thirst after justice witnessed in the devotion of men generally in ancient times-The religious character of the middle ages-Their connection with the doctrine of the Passion-Devotion of the laity-Instruction of the laity-Examples of laical piety-The confraternities and their orders diffused holiness through society-The rules given to chivalry had the same end in view-The forms of benedictions given to children remarkable-Zeal and exertion of the laity in behalf of religion—The decrees of princes in its favor-Traditions of government insured its respect-The zeal of the middle ages was nourished by devout practices, and by observance of all essential duties-Holiness of domestic life-A monastic spirit infused into it— Style of conversation, religious and philosophical-Laics aspire to convert infidels-Their familiarity with the Holy Scriptures-Laics defend religion with their pens-Influence of the lay society on the clergy-Language and conduct of laics to the clergy-Their love for the clergy-Grounds of that love-Examples p. 230 CHAPTER X. General reflections-What object engrossed the love of men in ages of faith-The zeal of those ages defended against the objections of the moderns-The system called " of the just medium" examined and condemned-Catholic prudence contrasted with the prudence of the indifferentZeal inseparable from a thirst for justice-The zeal of the middle ages a source as well as a result of faith-The spirituality of those times gradually impaired by the Machiavelian policy of governments-The effects which this has produced. p. 271 SUMMARY. BOOK VI. CHAPTER I. Effects of the thirst after justice-Devotion included imitation as well as prayer-The view taken by modern historians-General character of the middle ages in relation to justice—Their peculiar merit-The satirists and censors-Tendency of the ancient works of fiction-The number of the just not revealed by history CHAPTER II p. 289 Historic difficulties opposed to its discovery-What kind of evidence may be had-Incidental testimonies-Tone of literature-Tendency of the confraternities, and of chivalrous orders— Legislation and government of the ancient Catholic state-Direct testimonies-Justice of men in different ranks; general views taken by ancient writers CHAPTER III. . p. 313 Domestic manners-Filial and parental duties-Fidelity of dependents-Sanctity of marriage Justice in relation to property-Hospitality-Domestics-Feudal life and its rural exercises-Whole families composed of saints-The women of the ages of faith-Character of female piety in Catholic countries-The conventual life of nuns, and its influence on domestic manners-The recluses-Origin of the cloistral life of women-The convent of the middle ages-Learning of the nuns-Moral and social condition of women in ages of faith contrasted with pagan times-Women of the Catholic type a new creation-Judgment of the holy fathers-Influence of women in respect to justice-The Catholic lady, her justice and charity— The erudition and political importance of some in the middle ages-Their heroic virtue-The maternal character-Modesty and grace of daughters; their employments and recreations— The spirit which presided over marriage-The marital love of the middle ages-Heroic examples-The regard and respect evinced for women CHAPTER IV. p. 341 The loves of the middle ages sanctified and rendered a source of moral improvement: associated with the life of faith and the hopes of heaven-Examples of devotion in love-The danger and evil incident to it-How atoned for p. 415 CHAPTER V. Institution and action of the clergy in relation to justice-Discipline-Celibacy-The hierarchy The justice of the ages of faith, heroic-Consequent interest inspired by Catholic histories -Grandeur and virtue of the middle ages-The local histories-The heroic justice of canoniz. ed saints-The high standard proposed to all men-The mercantile character-The knightly character-The moral philosophy of the middle ages opposed to the utilitarian-The Catholic The justice of the ages of faith, supernatural; yet in harmony with nature-Testimony of the Gentiles-Insufficiency of nature-The morality of faith higher, and in some points differ ent-A supernatural standard proposed to all men-Opposition to the sensual ideal-Thoughts The justice consequent on confession and penance-Origin and history of the institution- Thoughts of the middle age respecting it-Zeal for effecting conversions to justice-The confessional in relation to the feelings of men-Its influence and effects-Objections of the moderns respecting examination of conscience, penance, and absolution-Indulgences—Their Contrast between the Catholic morality and that of the ancient and modern world-A glance at the justice of the Gentiles, and at that of the moderns-Change of manners consequent on the change of faith-The proposition that morality is now better understood, considered— Essential character of the modern systems-Testimony of their supporters-Contrast of modern to Catholic manners in relation to the love of truth, to the delicate sense of justice, to integrity in public life, to the absence of ambition, to national justice, to wisdom of government, to the obedience of subjects, to purity of morals in the people, to the sense of a spiritual com- bat, to the ideal and realization of a just man, to practical consistency with the Christian |