Women as Seen by the Present Age

The Gospel adequately portrayed the weaker sex, but the theories of George Sand are adapted to a thousand or so women citizens who have abandoned their natural female role, plunging themselves into the dreams and illusions of the Romanticist life. Michelet admits this, and yet, sad to say, has not recognized the efficacy of the Gospel counterposition.

Napoleon I and II

There are geniuses sent to guide human destiny who in a few years accomplish the work of many centuries. Perhaps banishing Napoleon I has postponed for yet many years the achievement of many reforms (Nap. III, Giob., Cav.). A nice book could be written showing the parallel between the near omnipotence of limited genius of the natural order, and the omnipotence of faith in the supernatural order. Oh the faith. Oh the model of which was J. Christ.

The Insane in France

France: 1835 – 10,539; 1851– 44,960; 1864 – 60,000.

Births in Italy

In 1858 the proportion of legitimate to illegitimate was as follows:

out of 1,000 - 969 legit., 31 illegit.

In 1863 - 935 legit., 65 illegit.

Urban municipalities, per hundred: legit. 89.91; illegit. 1.31; found. 8.78

Rural municipalities, per hundred: legit. 97.50; illegit. 1.03; foundlings 1.47.

State of the Societies in Italy

Excessive in number–powerless–isolated–exclusivity–fractionalization of forces–evidence so many religious societies that exist–and in the same religious journalism.

Meditation

Meditation both sacred and secular is indispensable. Oh if instead of writing for expediency, opportunity, vanity, reprisal, contempt, etc. as we note [in] Macchi and perhaps Guerrazzi, authors would write with the clean mind and peaceful heart of Ces. Balbo (not Gioberti)–Oh if everyone would meditate a year or so before publishing–there would not be so much superficiality in the books that are coming out these days.

Literary Polemics

Oh that there could truly cease for once not only the political but also the literary polemics. How many virginal intellects and how many noble temperments have been wasted by such polemics and have adhered to pernicious doctrinaire skepticism. Their warlike spirit gradually distanced them from all those virtues that are incompatible with selfishness, ambition, intollerance, and presumption. Oh Gioberti.

Synthesizing Intellects

There are many intellects whose achievements in specialized applied sciences are of great benefit to humanity. Yet these same intellects are most inept at comprehending syntheses of the sciences, and when tested they come out with godforsaken nutty replies. [There are] other opposite intellects [who] would not fare well if tested in any specialized science since they lack analytical insight, and yet they are giants in synthesizing concepts and combining the basic principles of the sciences. These latter avail themselves of the most recent scientific discoveries for the furthering of universal science, in the same way the former employ first axioms to construct their particular sciences. The personal authority of a person with a synthesizing intellect depends on his being able to avail himself of the various technical specializations.

Public Education

Too many programs, too many employees, too much educational monopoly, too few results. Freedom of education is indispensable. It goes together with freedom of the press.

Journalism

How many nuisances–even their number itself is a nuisance! How many programmed frivolities! In England there exist only two humorous newspapers.

Superstition

It isn’t true that superstition breeds crime. Witness the open-mindedness of those imprisoned in our jails. The greatest offences hide behind religion. This is so because greater evil results from abusing the greatest goods.

The Gospel and Civilization

The civilizing action of the Gospel is still in its beginnings. How well Gioberti develops this theme, and how well, the correctness of this judgement is manifested in the economy of contemporary events! Doctrinarianism has destroyed so many wonderful proofs, just as the discrediting and stagnation of the experimental sciences has rendered the speculative sciences powerless, that is usurpers. Now the sciences begin an age of progress which in a few years will carry them to heights unattained throughout so many centuries. Will this be so for the social economy?!

Division of Labor

The division of labor is permitted and practiced in the material order, and perhaps also in the exact sciences, but it is totally unwanted in matters political, philosophical, literary, etc. Behold the great damage that civilization finds in it, all bunglers, and all the truly gifted either keep silent or do not make themselves heard.

The Jesuits–C.Balbo’s Storia d’Italia, p.282

Sint ut sunt aut non sint . So spoke the Jesuits when Clement XIV tried to reform them in order to save them. Balbo’s use of that maxim is perhaps irreligiously proud, non-Ignation, and certainly unwise; irreligiously proud because the only unchangeable society down here is the Church instituted by God... See 284.

Foolishness–June 30 preaching

A certain fellow reading Dante, or rather looking at that mess of big and little letters, first one way and then another, said that it would be better to put them all in order according to shape and size = he didn’t know how to read.

Catholic Morality

Oh, if one tried to take an exam on Catholic morality, how inexhaustible it would be! How great, hoe relevant, how harmonious in every case are its laws and obligations! Only the atheist’s quibbling or the impious person’s superficiality could fail to acknowledge this.

La Saint Barthelelmy–Madame de Staël, Considerat. Sur la Révolut. Française

La Saint-Barthelmy n’a pas fait proscrire le Catholicisme.

Balbo

Nothing absolute for human beings: necessity of pious popular beliefs.

Rationalism adapted to no one.

Material interests, the way to conquer Christians and thereby Christianity.

I believe... that I am deceiving myself if I speculate contrary to that truth that I have seen more clearly than any other.

English missionaries will indeed be Catholics... Catholic missionaries will be English...

Manzoni

There does not exist a person able to close the series of ideas in one single subject.

Sometimes a candidate who drops out is praised for being modest; with praise as with reproof it is the passions that play the principle role.

Though of the learned, feeling of the foolish.

Annual vows in monastic orders such as the Sisters of Charity.

Pascal

We are base as worms and similar to God. One thought balances the other and removes the dangers of pride and self-degradation.

Humans had two affections ab antiquo –When infinite affection for God was obscured, human affection filled our heads, whence arose self-love.

Grain of sand that killed Cromwell.

There is only one vantage point for viewing a painting–so it is in truth.

A deer chased by dogs defers pain.

Justice and truth are points too fine for our blunt instruments.

Everyone out of order, no one is watching, one stops... then[...].

Dupanloup–Con. Of Malines

They (our enemies) fight to destroy, we fight to save. They fight to win, we to convince.

Falloux–Congr. of Mal.

Great causes are like Galatea. There is no need to serve them halfheartedly: one needs to arm oneself with a courage that is able to enter the battle expecting no rest other than death.

J. Marello

There are some sayings, some expressions, some witticisms, etc. in language and in dialects which reveal many of the traditional ideas of the region. In Piedmont, for example, we have so many negative little words for monks, used even in high society, and so many witty comparisons...

News

In Sicily twenty-six municipal councils were dissolved for having failed in their duty during the colera (Off. Gaz. September 14, 67). Among Garibaldi’s eleven proposal to the Peace Congress were these two: let the papacy be declared suppressed; the priesthood of divinity and intelligence.

Impressions Experienced in Reading the Life of St. M. Alacoque:

What stands out in this biography is the idea of sacrifice and abnegation, hope and love. Human beings have a heart for loving and a body for suffering. This idea predominates in all the writings of the Saints. Though expressed in a thousand different forms, it always ends up the same: reparation, sacrifice; aut pati aut mori , David, Jeremiah, St. Paul; the 19^th century missionary.

The sacrifice of the God-man on the cross is a great, coefficient to our sufferings. The Church has determined that our every act of adoration of the Father be supported by the sorrows of His Divine Son. We will not be good priests if we do not become victims of atonement next to the Immaculate Lamb. The flesh rebels and the spirit must tame it: constant vigilance, no better method than mental prayer and spiritual mortification, elevation of the mind and heart, need to detach the mind and heart from things of earth. This is one aspiration worth of human nature: suppress useless thoughts, earthly affections. A thousand affections, a thousand thoughts for creatures... and for God...?! How shameful–to God should belong the firstfruits! Omne verbum quod locuti... But take heart. At any moment salvation can come to us. Let us not underestimate the present moment! Oh the value of a moment! In one moment sin is consumated and grace is reacquired. In a moment the judgement of our eternal destiny is pronounced. God, grant me that this moment be the first link in that chain that is to lead me to You. Ah You could grant this at this very instant in which I’m writing. Loquere Domine: What must I do? Avoid all curiosity? I accept the sacrifice. Avoid every thought related to my ego? I’ll try with all my heart. Avoid every inordinate affection? Yes, from now on I want to love only You, oh source of all Love, only You in your Saints, in Mary, in Jos., in my Guardian Angels, only You in your Church. Unite [myself] to You in mental prayer. Oh my mind will always be turned to You even when immersed in the depths of human studies. Nunc coepi , my God, my Jesus, my Mother, my protector Joseph, my Angel. Nunc coepi, I’ll listen to You always. Nunc coepi, I’ll renounce my habit of dishonesty. Nunc coepi, I’ll set myself walking along the path to Heaven following the inspirations which You will send down to illumine me. Laus Deo.