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 of the  Center  and  some  members  of  other parties. The whole  of  the  press  which  is  hostile to the  Church  took  up  the  question  later  on, and did  its  best  to  fan  the  flame  of  irritation.

The anti-Christian  spirit  is  still  more  rampant and obnoxious  at  the  present  time  in  France. There a  godless  government  is  making  every effort to  destroy  the  Church — to  subvert  the Kingdom of  Christ. Faith in  the  divinity  of Christ  is  also  assailed  in  the  United  States  and other countries  by  tongue  and  pen,  and  from many a  pulpit  and  platform.

The contemptuous  cry  of  the  Jews  on  Good Friday: "We  will  not  have  this  man  to  reign over  us!" is to-day  the  battle-cry  of  His  enemies. Therefore is  Christianity  to  be  expelled  from  the school, from  the  family,  from  the  legislature. And for  the  selfsame reason  the  daily  press  becomes ever  more  and  more  unchristian;  ever more shamelessly  and  impudently  are  immoral novels disseminated,  a  truly  scandalous  kind  of literature.

3. Therefore  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance that the  generation  of  Catholics  who  are  now growing up,  I  mean  Catholic  young  men,  should fearlessly and  courageously  come  forward  and espouse the  cause  of  Christ. Even the  dread  of death  ought  to  induce  no  one  to  hold  back, much less  the  dread  of  temporal  loss. God will know how  to  protect  His  own  in  case  of  need. Think of  what  the  faithful  adherents  of  our  holy religion have  endured  since  the  so-called  Reformation in  England  and  Ireland. Remember that millions  of  the  early  Christians  shed  their blood for  Christ,  amid  the  most  cruel  tortures. Those who  confessed  themselves  to  be  adherents of the  Christian  religion  were  robbed  and  de-