On the other hand, the Catholic man or woman knows that there are great
spiritual forces at work in the world, however unhappily its public
life may be developing from the view-point of Christian morality. There
are innumerable lives guided by the principles of Christian virtue,
some of them even culminating in the highest sanctity. Though not
all such are known to men, yet not a few become public examples and
incitements to virtue. Even outside of the Catholic faith there are
not a few who regulate their lives by the natural virtues and also by
inherited Christian virtues that work sometimes unconsciously, but
whose practice can only be pleasing to our common Father. Sweet Charity
is yet a queen in Christian lands; her services and utility are too
great to permit her dethronement. Great misfortunes of any kind still
touch the hearts of men that are Christian yet when their minds have
become clouded by indifference to, or dislike of, the supernatural
verities. Luxury and wealth, greater perhaps than the world has yet
seen, are still conscious of duties to the common weal. Educational
institutions of every character and philanthropical enterprises of
every variety have flourished on the means thus provided. But from our
point of view it is better that all such phenomena, to be lasting,
should have their root and origin in Christian purposes and belief. It
is yet true, as it was of old on the hill-sides of Judæa: “Except the
Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it. Except the Lord
keepeth the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it.” (Psalm 126.)