Page:William John Sparrow-Simpson - Roman Catholic Opposition to Papal Infallibility (1909).djvu/174

 154 The influence of Napoleon promoted the very last thing he desired, "for a Church, pinched, policed, and bullied by the State, was inevitably thrown back upon the support of the Papacy."

From this despotic treatment at home the Church naturally turned its eyes towards Rome. Rome, with its troubles and misfortunes, grew more dear. A whole school of deeply religious and saintly men arose in France, filled with enthusiastic devotion to the See of Peter. Lacordaire—whether defending the cause of religious education, or submitting himself to an adverse decision from Rome when his master Lamennais broke away, or re-establishing the order of Dominicans in France, or advocating the papal authority in the Cathedral at Paris—produced an immense effect in enlisting the sympathies of men with Rome. The gifted Montalembert,—eloquent, imaginative, threw the weight of his power and high position into the papal cause, and became among laymen recognised leader of Roman interests. The great Bishop Dupanloup, warmest-hearted of men, impulsively gave the movement an indiscriminating blessing, and brought upon himself numerous expressions of papal gratitude.

None of these were far-sighted men; none of them realised in the least the ultimate drift of the authority they so powerfully advanced. Lacordaire died before the question of Infallibility came within the council chamber of the Church; but Montalembert and Dupanloup alike beheld the prospect with consternation, and expressed their vehement disapproval.

4. Another element which is said to have contributed to make the French priests as a body largely Ultramontane was the despotic power of the French Episcopate. Prob-