Page:Anecdotescatechi00spiruoft.djvu/47

 inspired.” “ There,”  retorted  the  Catholic,  with  a smile,  ‘‘  after  all,  you  are  obliged  to  appeal  to  tradition, though  at  first  you  rejected  its  authority! ” St. Augustine  remarks  very  justly,  ‘‘I  should  not  recognize  the  authenticity  of  Holy  Scripture  if  respect  for the Church’s  authority  did  not  require  me  to  do  so.’'

''Q. Say  the  Apostles'  Creed. ''

A. I believe  in God,  etc. 

No one  gives  what  he  has  not. A certain man, who, as  a boy,  had  devoted  more  time  to  mischief than to  the  catechism,  was  asked  to  stand  godfather for a neighbor’s  child. He gladly  consented,  and  on the  appointed  evening  arrayed  himself  in  his  best attire and  brought  along  a rich  present  for  the  baby and a generous  offering  for  the  priest. The godmother was  a little  girl  as  bright  as  she  was  good, who but  a short  time  before  had  received  her  first communion and  confirmation. When the  priest arrived at  that  part  of  the  ceremony  where,  addressing the  sponsors,  he  says: “ Please  recite  the  Apostles’ Creed,”  the  man  began,  stammered,  hesitated, and broke  down,  while  the  little  girl  went  through to the  end. As many  friends  had  accompanied  them to the  church,  the  would-be  godfather  was  overwhelmed with  shame,  nor  was  his  confusion  lessened when the  priest,  turning  to  him,  said: “ My  friend, in the  early  ages  of  the  Church  a knowledge  of  the Creed was  the  test  of  Christianity,  and  according  to that  test  you  are  still  a heathen. As no  one  can