Besides, Humanity must have something human to
love and to revere. The infinite gradations of the Mind of God
through Matter, appeal to none but those of the very highest
intellectual capability."
Aubrey was silent a moment, then he said,
"But even the most ignorant can understand Christ,--Christ as He
revealed Himself to the world in perfect beauty and simplicity as 'a
Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.' There needs no Vatican,
no idolatry of the Pope, no superstitious images, no shrines of
healing and reliquaries to explain His sublime intention!"
"I am afraid, Mr. Leigh, you entertain a very optimistic view of
mankind," said Gherardi, "Unfortunately Christ is not enough for
many people. Christ was an Incarnation of God, and though He became
Man he 'knew not sin.' He therefore stands apart; an Example, but
not a Companion. There are a certain class of sinners who like to
think of Saints;--human beings constituted like themselves, who have
committed errors, even crimes, and repented of them. This is a
similar spirit to that of the child who catches hold of any
convenient support he can find to guide his first tottering steps
across the floor to his mother,-the Saint helps the feeble-footed
folk to totter their way towards Christ.
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