Page:TheYoungMansGuide.djvu/183

 something unnatural,  and  is,  fortunately,  but rarely to  be  met  with.

" Breathes  there  the  man  with  soul  so  dead Who  never  to  himself  hath  said,   This  is  my  own,  my  native  land!"

Moreover, true  patriotism  and  love  of  religion go  hand  in  hand. Remember the  Maccabees. Their sole  reason  for  having  recourse to arms  was  that  they  were  determined  not to see  their  altars  desecrated  by  profane hands.

2. But,  it  is  objected,  great  courage  and energy are  necessary  in  order  to  serve  one's country;  religion,  however,  inculcates  meekness and  resignation;  therefore  religion  makes men cowardly  and  weak.

This reproach  was  put  forward  even  by  the pagans in  the  days  of  Christ  and  His  apostles: but is  it  fair? is it  just? Most assuredly  not Do not  the  countless  martyrs  of  the  Catholic religion prove  that  it  does  not  produce  weaklings, but  that  the  holy  standard  of  the  Cross imparts greater  steadfastness  than  any  other standard can  possibly  do?

Was it  weakness  and  cowardice  which caused St.  Ambrose  to  forbid  the  Emperor Theodosius to  enter  the  sanctuary  of  God? Was it  cowardice  and  fear  which  made  St. Leo  the  Pope  advance  to  meet  the  savage  king of the  Huns  before  the  fortified  city  of  Rome and induce  him  to  retreat? Or again,  was it not  courage  of  the  highest  order  which  in-