PREFACE
TO THE CATECHISM
OF
THE COUNCIL OF TRENT.
INTENTION OF THE COUNCIL—OBJECT AND AUTHORITY OF THE WORK—ITS USE AND DIVISION.
Insufficiency of human reason.Such is the nature of the human mind, so limited are its intellectual powers, that, although by means of diligent and laborious inquiry it has been enabled of itself to investigate and discover many divine truths; yet guided solely by its own lights it could never know or comprehend most of those things by which eternal salvation, the principal end of man's creation and formation to the image and likeness of God, is attained. Necessity of revelation "The invisible things of God, from the creation of the world, are," as the Apostle teaches, "clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made: his eternal power also and divinity."[1] But "the mystery which had been hidden from ages and generations" so far transcends the reach of man's understanding, that were it not "manifested to his saints to whom God," by the gift of faith, "would make known the riches of the glory of this mystery, amongst the Gentiles, which is Christ,"[2] it had never been given to human research to aspire to such wisdom.
And of authorized teachers.But, as "faith cometh by hearing,"[3] the necessity of the assiduous labour and faithful ministry of a legitimate teacher, at all times, towards the attainment of eternal salvation is manifest, for it is written, "how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be sent?"[4] And, indeed, never, from the very creation of the world, has God most merciful and benignant been wanting to his own; but "at sundry times and in divers manners spoke, in times past, to the Fathers by the
