Page 318 - 聖母軍團員手冊（英文版，2014年5月-2022年1月更新版）

Legion HANDBOOK D10944_1 26/02/2014 15:53 Page 313

CHAPTER 40 GO PREACH THE GOSPEL 313
arises from the fact that the problem of shepherding those
who are in the fold is thought so grievous that those outside
it are lost sight of as part of the problem. Need one be
surprised if in the end neither those inside are preserved nor
those outside brought in?
Make no mistake about it. The faith must be brought to the
notice of every person outside the Church. Timidity and
human respect and difficulties of one kind and another must
all be swallowed up in the supreme desire to share that gift of
faith with those who have it not. The Gospel must be brought
to every creature. The exertions to that end must be like those
of people beside themselves, thought St. Francis Xavier. But
others will counsel prudence. Yes, much depends on it in its
true sphere, which is that of safeguarding necessary action, not
crippling it. The rightful place of prudence in a system is that of
brake, whereas the error is almost invariably made of supposing
that it is to be the engine. And then there is surprise at the
inaction. Oh there is need for those people beside themselves,
who do not think in terms of selfish caution, who live above
base fear, not erring into what Pope Leo XIII branded as
criminal excesses: recklessness, and that so-called prudence. For
souls are being swept along in the rapid flowing river of time.
Delayed effort will gather in other souls — but not those souls
— the abyss of eternity will have enfolded them!
“By dint of repeating that people are not ready to receive
the Gospel, one would end up by not being ready to bring it
to them.” (Cardinal L. J. Suenens)
Persons outside the Church toss on a sea of doubt from
which their hearts crave rest, but they need to be persuaded
that in the Church there is really faith and calm. The first step
towards con vincing them must necessarily be the approaching
of them. How can they understand the truth unless some man
show them? (Acts 8:31) How can fantastic misunderstand ings
be dispelled if Catholics ever preserve a stately silence on the
subject? How can the opponents of the Church guess from the
outward chill of Catholics the warmth of faith that lies
beneath? And are they not to be excused for thinking that
Catholic belief, which seldom shows any enthusiasm, is little
or not at all removed from their own admitted unbelief?
There is a tendency to think that sufficient has been done
when the Catholic claims have been made known by the