than such a feeble and useless compromise as this, I would, in the interest of the Bible itself, not have it read at all." And then he adds: "I am a great believer in the old-fashioned Church-Catechism. I wonder whether those that sneer at it, have always read it. I fancy not. It is, rightly interpreted, a most practical document, but without interpretation, not worth teaching or learning."[1]
As is to be expected, religious instruction in the widest and fullest sense received a prominent place in the educational system of the Society of Jesus. The first rule of the Ratio calls it one of the most important obligations of the Society "to teach all branches of learning in such a manner that men should be led to the knowledge and love of their Creator and Redeemer;"[2] and in the rules of the Rector, the Prefect of Studies, and the teachers, the same duty is inculcated. As regards the reading of the Bible, the old prejudice that the Church ever set her face against it is unfortunately still alive among vast numbers of non-Catholics. For our purpose it suffices to remind the reader of what was said in a former chapter, namely, that in Jesuit colleges the Gospels were read, in the higher classes the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles in the original Greek.[3]
But above all, the Jesuits were always "great believers in the catechism." Catechetical instruction was prescribed in all classes once a week. This may seem rather little; however, it should be remembered
