THE ANATHEMA MARANATHA.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 141, 21 June 1871, Page 4

THE ANATHEMA MARANATHA.

To The Editor ob 1 the Nelson Evening Mail. Sik,-— JFatber Garin came down upon you somewhat Bharply tbe other evening, but withal he will not hood-wink your readers as to facts, for whether Victor Emmanuel has been excommunicated or

not, the facts as to the Anathema remain intact. I would ask, Sir, will Father Garin venture to deny that the dish, as he terms it, you preseuteil to us on the 16th in the shape of the article "Anathema" is all hut a verbatim copy of the same as found iv their own book ? As to its being as he terms it, a delicacy, tastes differ ; but surely there is sufficient iv this Anathema as printed in their owu standard writings to satisfy the most depraved taste eveu of those -who compiled it. Father Garin informs you that he has at your disposal formularies of excommunication, "black and white;" some we know are black enough, and there may be some white ones, where you will see "neither nonsense nor wish for damnation;" pity indeed if there were not in some of them some redeeming feature. Father Garin must bear in mind that mea in these days read much, nor are the standard works of the Roman Catholics beyond their reach ; I find that in the Church of tome there are three different kinds of excommunication, first, the Minor, secondly the Major, and thirdly the Anathema, which is properly that pronounced by the Pope against heretical Princes, and heretical countries, but leaving out the Minor, and also the Anathema, let us look at the Major, as we find it in their own book, I give you a few samples : — "By the authority of God Almighty, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, ami of the holy Canons, and of the undefiled Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and of the heavenly virtues, angels, archangels, thrones, dominions, powers, cherubirns, and seraphims," aud much more; "Wo excommunicate and anathematise him, and from the thresholds of the Holy Church of God Almighty, we sequester him, that he may be tormented, &c, aud as fire is quenched with water, so let the light of him be put out for ever more, Amen." * # * * * « May the Father who created maD, curse him; may the Son, who suffered for us, curse him, may the Holy Ghost, who was giveu for us, &c, curse him ; may the holy cross, &c, curse him." Next, the Holy Virgiu is called upon to curse him. St. Michael next, then all the angels and archangels, principalities and powers, aud all the heavenly armies are called upon to curse him; then follow, John the beloved, aud St. John the Baptist, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Audrew, aud the rest of the Apostles, each in sucession, is called upon to curse him; then the disciples of Christ and the four Evangelists, then the wonder--ful company of Martyrs^flnd a host of others, are called upou'lo curse him, then/ may the Heavens and earth aud all holy things contained therein, curse him, then follows : — " May he be cursed wherever he shall be, whether in house or field^. ia the way or in the path, in the wood of in the water, or in tha church, may be be cursed in living, dying, eating, drinking," &c, &c. Then follows, may he be cursed in all the faculties of his body, may he be cursed inwardly and outwardly, in his hair, bis brains, the crown of his head, his temples, his forehead, his ears, his eyebrows, his cheeks, his jawbones, his nostrils, his foreteeth, his grinders, his lips, his throat, his shoulders, his wrists, his arms, his fingers," and so on, down to his toe nails, "may he be cursed in them all; may' there be no soundness in him. may the Son of the living God, with all the glory of his Majesty curse him, and may Heaven, with all the powers which rejoice therein,, rise up against him to damn him, unless he repent and make satisfaction. Amen, so be it, so be it, so be it. Amen." Poor fellow ! Father Garin might well say he could show you them black and white. This is certainly not very white, but yet not so black as the Anathema. I am, &c. W. H. Nelson, June 20, 1871.