August 25, 2009 - Year of the Priest

Moving right along and continuing still with kernels from the recently completed bio of Vianney, I wanted to cite a quote that is good for meditation.

Voltaire was educated a Catholic but became terribly tainted by the immorality of the French Revolution. He bitterly attacked the Church, the Sacraments and her Dogma.
Voltaire is said to have been watching a procession with the Blessed Sacrament. As the Divine Presence went by him he tipped his hat. Challenged by another with regard to this gesture he replied, " It is what one gentleman does to another." Voltaire declined the Sacrament on his deathbed only because he would not contaminate God's blood with his own.

As far as he drifted from the Church, something of the old remained within.
It seems to me that he chose not to complicate his grave spiritual condition any further. Receiving the Sacraments in mortal sin is sacrilege. His conscience was at least formed well that much. Is ours???

Pax st Bonum.