The Three Ages of Progress

peals to the facts of history and in several encyclicals shows that the Church is the most potent agency of civilization that ever came into this world. Indeed its era is the very era of progress, and its domains form the paradise of the world. Its history is the history of the City of God set up over against the City of Satan, and relates the most momentous struggles ever waged for the weal or woe of mankind. The wars for the political empire of the world were only of national or temporary interest, whilst the perennial struggles of the Church of God against the wicked world vitally concern the interests of the whole race. II. RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND LIBERAL PROGRESS. In the course of centuries Christianity has met in turn the evil powers of Paganism, Barbarism and Liberalism. It attacked and fought each of them for centuries, and it is replacing the last-named, as it replaced the two earlier forms of Satanic aggression, by the Heavenly blessings of true religion, civilization and liberty. The great question has never been which people would rule the world; but whether Christ could conquer, improve and guide it. Could He convince the Pagans, civilize the Barbarians, and control the Liberals? Was He a God adorable, beneficent and almighty ? The Pagan world denied His Divinity, the Barbarian world challenged His power, and the Liberal world rejected His authority. But they have all been compelled to recognize these attributes, not only by the force of argum...