Page:The Roman index of forbidden books.djvu/57

Rh surely incurred little personal risk by reading forbidden books.

About 1698, a book by Archbishop Fénelon was under investigation at Rome. Fénelon was a great scholar and one of the greatest preachers of all centuries, but he was also a loyal son of the Church. He knew a condemnation of his book would mean his own condemnation in the eyes of Catholic France. His friends as well as his antagonists were eagerly awaiting Rome's decision. At last the verdict was pronounced in the most solemn way by the Pope himself, and it was a condemnation. The great archbishop was just ascending his pulpit, March 25, 1699, when his brother broke the news to him. Without a moment's hesitation he proceeded to read to his own flock the papal document and preached an eloquent sermon on the obedience every Christian owes to his superiors. We can imagine what a profound impression his words must have made. His was a truly heroic example of self-abnegation.

In 1861 there died in Munich Ernest von Lasaulx  ,