Catholicism in Italy by Dudley Marvin Canright

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, Cal. · Jul 1, 1875

Catholicism in Italy.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

A CORRESPONDENT of a religious paper, writing from Florence, says: "Among the Florentines, the religious indifference prevalent all over Italy is most marked. The answer with which they put aside serious thought, when directly appealed to, is, Yes, very good and very true, no doubt, ma cosa mi fa? but what is it to me? The streets are full of shrines that were once the objects of popular devotion; but the glass or wire screen is generally broken, the pictures are weather-stained, the gaudy paper flowers have grown drab and limp, in all but a very few the votive flame has long since gone out, and often the disused lamp has fallen away from its rusted chain."

"During Lent, which has just ended, there was little evidence of general devoutness. Courses of sermons were given in several of the churches, few of which seemed to arouse much interest."

"Apropos of the deification of St. Joseph, who is likely, it is said, to supplant St. Peter, I am reminded of a story told for the purpose of stimulating devotion at his shrines, in an authorized Roman Catholic publication. Its mere repetition is an irreverence from which I almost shrink."

"A devotee of St. Joseph arrived at the gates of Heaven, and on account of the wickedness of his life was refused admittance by St. Peter. He appealed to his patron. St. Joseph promised to set it all right, and presenting himself before the throne of God, threatened to withdraw from heaven, with his wife and son, unless his worshipper were allowed to enter. To avert the dismemberment of his realm, God made an exception in favor of his formidable rival’s protegé. Blasphemy like this explains that fervent adoration of the saints which in Italy, continually stirs ones deepest pity as well as horror."

In idolatry and superstition, Catholicism outdoes Paganism in its worst days.

D. M. CANRIGHT.