CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE

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Q. What happened about the close of the fourth century?
A. About the close of the fourth century schism and heresy caused a number of disorders. Great saints retired into the desert, there to do penance for the sins of the world, and obtain a victory for the church; of this number was St. Hilarion.

Q. Who was St. Hilarion?
A. St. Hilarion was born in Palestine, of idolatrous and rich parents. At the age of fifteen he retired into the desert, where he lived to the age of eighty-four, practising the most incredible austerities. Perceiving that his death was near, he said : " What dost thou fear, my soul ; it is now seventy years that thou servest Jesus Christ, why shouldst thou fear ?"

Q. What new heresy arose at this time?
A. At this time arose the heresy of Macedonius, who denied the divinity of the Holy Ghost. Our Lord came to the aid of his church, by means of the council of Constantinople, which condemned the heretic, and added some words to the symbol of Nice, the better to explain the faith touching the Holy Ghost. This is the symbol sung at Mass.

Q. Was the church in peace after the condemnation of Macedonius?
A. She was not. The followers of this heretic, as well as the Arians, troubled the church by spreading their errors. But God raised up, to oppose them, a great doctor named St. Ambrose. St. Ambrose was the son of the prefect of Gaul, and was made bishop of Milan, notwithstanding his tears and his opposition. He extinguished the heresy of the Arians in his diocess, and showed himself always firm in defending the cause of God.

Q. On what occasion did his firmness show itself in a special manner?
A. His firmness was specially shown in his conduct towards Theodosius the Great. This emperor, having massacred seven thousand in habitants of the city of Thessalonica, dared immediately after to enter the church. St. Ambrose stopped him at the door, and made him do penance. The emperor submitted with humility.

Q. Who was St. Augustin?
A. St. Augustin was born at Tagaste, in Africa. His mother was St. Monica, and his father Patrick, a pagan, but he was converted by the prayers and patience of his virtuous wife. In his youth, St Augustin fell into every disorder, from which he was withdrawn by St. Ambrose, and St. Monica his mother.

Q. What did he do after his conversion?
A. After his conversion, he retired into the country ; became the bishop of Hippo, and confounded the heretics, schismatics, and pagans, who united their attacks against the church. Like St. Ambrose, he sold the sacred vessels to redeem captives, and died so poor as to render it unnecessary for him to make a will.

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CATECHISM OF PERSEVERANCE - COURSE THIRD - CHAPTER 23 - Christianity preserved and propagated - St. Hilarion, St. Ambrose, St. Augustin -2nd General Council - 4th and 5th Centuries - AN HISTORICAL, DOCTRINAL,MORAL, AND LITURGICAL EXPOSITION OF THE CATHOLIC RELIGION Translated from the French of Mgr Gaume by REV. F. B. JAMISON