[Footnote 23: See the Manuel de Charité under the chapter headed Les Bibliothèques.]
This kind of ministration has not been adequately or generally appreciated hitherto. The ministry of the word, which is proclaimed in our churches, is recognized; but that of the word which, in the guise of a good book, goes and sits down at the domestic hearth, is not understood as it should be.
We are, however, making some progress in this respect; and I trust that the magnitude of existing evils may stir us up to greater activity, and that after being thoroughly beaten we shall rise up again as becomes Christians.
The Christian of the present day is not constitutionally brave; he is rather timid, is subject to a number of little infirmities, and does all he can to reconcile duty with interest. But when he perceives that he has been wronged, when he is driven to extremes, he falls back upon himself, recovers his strength, and stands up for the faith. Then he is grand and bold; then he defends himself, resists, assails, and triumphs even in death.
The time has come for us to avail ourselves of that tremendous engine which Providence has introduced into the world for good and for evil. Has not the Press injured us enough already? Has it not already thrown blood and scum enough at humanity and religion? Are not the two hundred millions of pernicious books scattered throughout France enough? Is not the world sufficiently estranged from the Church already? What do we wait for?
A powerful means of doing good is here placed within our reach. Don't be deceived; almost every body reads nowadays. Mistakes, however, are frequently made on that score.
A preacher gives a retreat [Footnote 24] in a country district, and is told by the curé that his people do not read. As the exercises progress, heaps of books are forth coming of so abominable a description that the like are not to be found in the purlieus of Paris—books the very titles of which are an outrage on public morality.
[Footnote 24: A series of special religious services. ED.]