FirstofallletustakeDevoutness。Whenunbalanced，oneofitsvicesiscalledFanaticism。Fanaticism(whennotamereexpressionofecclesiasticalambition)isonlyloyaltycarriedtoaconvulsiveextreme。Whenanintenselyloyalandnarrowmindisoncegraspedbythefeelingthatacertainsuperhumanpersonisworthyofitsexclusivedevotion，oneofthefirstthingsthathappensisthatitidealizesthedevotionitself。Toadequatelyrealizethemeritsoftheidolgetstobeconsideredtheonegreatmeritoftheworshiper；andthesacrificesandservilitiesbywhichsavagetribesmenhavefromtimeimmemorialexhibitedtheirfaithfulnesstochieftainsarenowoutbidinfavorofthedeity。Vocabulariesareexhaustedandlanguagesalteredintheattempttopraisehimenough；deathislookedonasgainifitattracthisgratefulnotice；andthepersonalattitudeofbeinghisdevoteebecomeswhatonemightalmostcallanewandexaltedkindofprofessionalspecialtywithinthetribe。[199]Thelegendsthatgatherroundthelivesofholypersonsarefruitsofthisimpulsetocelebrateandglorify。TheBuddha[200]andMohammed[201]andtheircompanionsandmanyChristiansaintsareincrustedwithaheavyjewelryofanecdoteswhicharemeanttobehonorific，butaresimplyabgeschmacktandsilly，andformatouchingexpressionofman’smisguidedpropensitytopraise。
[199]Christiansaintshavehadtheirspecialtiesofdevotion，SaintFrancistoChrist’swounds；SaintAnthonyofPaduatoChrist’schildhood；SaintBernardtohishumanity；SaintTeresatoSaintJoseph，etc。TheShi-iteMohammedansvenerateAli，theProphet’sson-in-law，insteadofAbu-bekr，hisbrother-in-law。
VamberydescribesadervishwhomhemetinPersia，“whohadsolemnlyvowed，thirtyyearsbefore，thathewouldneveremployhisorgansofspeechotherwisebutinuttering，everlastingly，thenameofhisfavorite，Ali，Ali。HethuswishedtosignifytotheworldthathewasthemostdevotedpartisanofthatAliwhohadbeendeadathousandyears。Inhisownhome，speakingwithhiswife，children，andfriends，nootherwordbut’Ali！’everpassedhislips。Ifhewantedfoodordrinkoranythingelse，heexpressedhiswantsstillbyrepeating’Ali！’Beggingorbuyingatthebazaar，itwasalways’Ali！’Treatedillorgenerously，hewouldstillharponhismonotonous’Ali！’Latterlyhiszealassumedsuchtremendousproportionsthat，likeamadman，hewouldrace，thewholeday，upanddownthestreetsofthetown，throwinghisstickhighupintotheair，andshriekour，allthewhile，atthetopofhisvoice，’Ali！’Thisdervishwasveneratedbyeverybodyasasaint，andreceivedeverywherewiththegreatestdistinction。”ArminiusVambery，hisLifeandAdventures，writtenbyHimself，London，1889，p。69。OntheanniversaryofthedeathofHussein，Ali’sson，theShi-iteMoslemsstillmaketheairresoundwithcriesofhisnameandAli’s。
[200]CompareH。C。Warren：BuddhisminTranslation，Cambridge，U。S。，1898，passim。
[201]CompareJ。L。Merrick：TheLifeandReligionofMohammed，ascontainedintheSheeahtraditionsoftheHyat-ul-Kuloob，Boston。1850，passim。
Animmediateconsequenceofthisconditionofmindisjealousyforthedeity’shonor。Howcanthedevoteeshowhisloyaltybetterthanbysensitivenessinthisregard？Theslightestaffrontorneglectmustberesented，thedeity’senemiesmustbeputtoshame。Inexceedinglynarrowmindsandactivewills，suchacaremaybecomeanengrossingpreoccupation；andcrusadeshavebeenpreachedandmassacresinstigatedfornootherreasonthantoremoveafanciedslightupontheGod。Theologiesrepresentingthegodsasmindfuloftheirglory，andchurcheswithimperialisticpolicies，haveconspiredtofanthistempertoaglow，sothatintoleranceandpersecutionhavecometobevicesassociatedbysomeofusinseparablywiththesaintlymind。Theyareunquestionablyitsbesettingsins。Thesaintlytemperisamoraltemper，andamoraltemperhasoftentobecruel。Itisapartisantemper，andthatiscruel。BetweenhisownandJehovah’senemiesaDavidknowsnodifference；aCatherineofSiena，pantingtostopthewarfareamongChristianswhichwasthescandalofherepoch，canthinkofnobettermethodofunionamongthemthanacrusadetomassacretheTurks；LutherfindsnowordofprotestorregretovertheatrocioustortureswithwhichtheAnabaptistleaderswereputtodeath；andaCromwellpraisestheLordfordeliveringhisenemiesintohishandsfor“execution。”Politicscomeininallsuchcases；butpietyfindsthepartnershipnotquiteunnatural。So，when“freethinkers“
tellusthatreligionandfanaticismaretwins，wecannotmakeanunqualifieddenialofthecharge。
Fanaticismmustthenbeinscribedonthewrongsideofreligion’saccount，solongasthereligiousperson’sintellectisonthestagewhichthedespotickindofGodsatisfies。ButassoonastheGodisrepresentedaslessintentonhisownhonorandglory，itceasestobeadanger。
Fanaticismisfoundonlywherethecharacterismasterfulandaggressive。Ingentlecharacters，wheredevoutnessisintenseandtheintellectfeeble，wehaveanimaginativeabsorptionintheloveofGodtotheexclusionofallpracticalhumaninterests，which，thoughinnocentenough，istooone-sidedtobeadmirable。Amindtoonarrowhasroombutforonekindofaffection。WhentheloveofGodtakespossessionofsuchamind，itexpelsallhumanlovesandhumanuses。ThereisnoEnglishnameforsuchasweetexcessofdevotion，soIwillrefertoitasatheopathiccondition。
TheblessedMargaretMaryAlacoquemayserveasanexample。
“Tobelovedhereupontheearth。”herrecentbiographerexclaims：“tobelovedbyanoble，elevated，distinguishedbeing；tobelovedwithfidelity，withdevotion——whatenchantment！ButtobelovedbyGod！andlovedbyhimtodistraction[aimejusqu’alafolie]！——Margaretmeltedawaywithloveatthethoughtofsuchathing。LikeSaintPhilipofNeriinformertimes，orlikeSaintFrancisXavier，shesaidtoGod：
’Holdback，OmyGod，thesetorrentswhichoverwhelmme，orelseenlargemycapacityfortheirreception。”[202]
[202]Bougaud：Hist。delabienheureuseMargueriteMarie，Paris，1894，p。145。
ThemostsignalproofsofGod’slovewhichMargaretMaryreceivedwereherhallucinationsofsight，touch，andhearing，andthemostsignalinturnoftheseweretherevelationsofChrist’ssacredheart，“surroundedwithraysmorebrilliantthantheSun，andtransparentlikeacrystal。Thewoundwhichhereceivedonthecrossvisiblyappeareduponit。TherewasacrownofthornsroundaboutthisdivineHeart，andacrossaboveit。”AtthesametimeChrist’svoicetoldherthat，unablelongertocontaintheflamesofhisloveformankind，hehadchosenherbyamiracletospreadtheknowledgeofthem。Hethereupontookouthermortalheart，placeditinsideofhisownandinflamedit，andthenreplaceditinherbreast，adding：“Hithertothouhasttakenthenameofmyslave，hereafterthoushaltbecalledthewell-beloveddiscipleofmySacredHeart。”
InalatervisiontheSaviourrevealedtoherindetailthe“greatdesign“whichhewishedtoestablishthroughherinstrumentality。“IaskoftheetobringitaboutthateveryfirstFridayaftertheweekofholySacramentshallbemadeintoaspecialholydayforhonoringmyHeartbyageneralcommunionandbyservicesintendedtomakehonorableamendsfortheindignitieswhichithasreceived。AndIpromisetheethatmyHeartwilldilatetoshedwithabundancetheinfluencesofitsloveuponallthosewhopaytoitthesehonors，orwhobringitaboutthatothersdothesame。”
“Thisrevelation。”saysMgr。Bougaud，“isunquestionablythemostimportantofalltherevelationswhichhaveilluminedtheChurchsincethatoftheIncarnationandoftheLord’sSupper……
AftertheEucharist，thesupremeeffortoftheSacredHeart。”[203]Well，whatwereitsgoodfruitsforMargaretMary’slife？Apparentlylittleelsebutsufferingsandprayersandabsencesofmindandswoonsandecstasies。Shebecameincreasinglyuselessabouttheconvent，herabsorptioninChrist’slove——
“whichgrewuponherdaily，renderinghermoreandmoreincapableofattendingtoexternalduties。Theytriedherintheinfirmary，butwithoutmuchsuccess，althoughherkindness，zeal，anddevotionwerewithoutbounds，andhercharityrosetoactsofsuchaheroismthatourreaderswouldnotbeartherecitalofthem。Theytriedherinthekitchen，butwereforcedtogiveitupashopeless——everythingdroppedoutofherhands。Theadmirablehumilitywithwhichshemadeamendsforherclumsinesscouldnotpreventthisfrombeingprejudicialtotheorderandregularitywhichmustalwaysreigninacommunity。Theyputherintheschool，wherethelittlegirlscherishedher，andcutpiecesoutofherclothes[forrelics]asifshewerealreadyasaint，butwhereshewastooabsorbedinwardlytopaythenecessaryattention。Poordearsister，evenlessafterhervisionsthanbeforethemwassheadenizenofearth，andtheyhadtoleaveherinherheaven。”[204]
[203]Bougaud：Hist。delabienheureuseMargueriteMarie，Paris，1894，pp。365，241。
[204]Bougaud：Op。cit。，p。267。
Poordearsister，indeed！Amiableandgood，butsofeebleofintellectualoutlookthatitwouldbetoomuchtoaskofus，withourProtestantandmoderneducation，tofeelanythingbutindulgentpityforthekindofsaintshipwhichsheembodies。A
lowerexamplestilloftheopathicsaintlinessisthatofSaintGertrude，aBenedictinenunofthethirteenthcentury，whose“Revelations。”awell-knownmysticalauthority，consistmainlyofproofsofChrist’spartialityforherundeservingperson。
Assurancesofhislove，intimaciesandcaressesandcomplimentsofthemostabsurdandpuerilesort，addressedbyChristtoGertrudeasanindividual，formthetissueofthispaltry-mindedrecital。[205]Inreadingsuchanarrative，werealizethegapbetweenthethirteenthandthetwentiethcentury，andwefeelthatsaintlinessofcharactermayyieldalmostabsolutelyworthlessfruitsifitbeassociatedwithsuchinferiorintellectualsympathies。Whatwithscience，idealism，anddemocracy，ourownimaginationhasgrowntoneedaGodofanentirelydifferenttemperamentfromthatBeinginterestedexclusivelyindealingoutpersonalfavors，withwhomourancestorsweresocontented。Smittenaswearewiththevisionofsocialrighteousness，aGodindifferenttoeverythingbutadulation，andfullofpartialityforhisindividualfavorites，lacksanessentialelementoflargeness；andeventhebestprofessionalsainthoodofformercenturies，pentinasitistosuchaconception，seemstouscuriouslyshallowandunedifying。
[205]Examples：“Sufferingfromaheadache，shesought，forthegloryofGod，torelieveherselfbyholdingcertainodoriferoussubstancesinhermouth，whentheLordappearedtohertoleanovertowardsherlovingly，andtofindcomfortHimselfintheseodors。Afterhavinggentlybreathedthemin，Hearose，andsaidwithagratifiedairtotheSaints，asifcontentedwithwhatHehaddone：’seethenewpresentwhichmybetrothedhasgivenMe！’
“Oneday，atchapel，sheheardsupernaturallysungthewords’Sanctus，Sanctus，Sanctus。’ThesonofGodleaningtowardsherlikeasweetlover，andgivingtohersoulthesoftestkiss，saidtoheratthesecondSanctus：’InthisSanctusaddressedtomyperson，receivewiththiskissallthesanctityofmydivinityandofmyhumanity，andletitbetotheeasufficientpreparationforapproachingthecommuniontable。’AndthenextfollowingSunday，whileshewasthankingGodforthisfavor，beholdtheSonofGod，morebeauteousthanthousandsofangels，takesherinHisarmsasifHewereproudofherandpresentshertoGodtheFather，inthatperfectionofsanctitywithwhichHehaddoweredher。AndtheFathertooksuchdelightinthissoulthuspresentedbyHisonlyson，that，asifunablelongertorestrainHimself，Hegaveher，andtheHolyGhostgaveheralso，thesanctityattributedtoeachbyHisownSanctus——andthussheremainedendowedwiththeplenaryfullnessoftheblessingofSanctity，bestowedonherbyOmnipotence，byWisdom，andbyLove。”RevelationsdeSainteGertrude，Paris，1898，i。44，186。
TakeSaintTeresa，forexample，oneoftheablestwomen，inmanyrespects，ofwhoselifewehavetherecord。Shehadapowerfulintellectofthepracticalorder。Shewroteadmirabledescriptivepsychology，possessedawillequaltoanyemergency，greattalentforpoliticsandbusiness，abuoyantdisposition，andafirst-rateliterarystyle。Shewastenaciouslyaspiring，andputherwholelifeattheserviceofherreligiousideals。
Yetsopaltrywerethese，accordingtoourpresentwayofthinking，that(althoughIknowthatothershavebeenmoveddifferently)Iconfessthatmyonlyfeelinginreadingherhasbeenpitythatsomuchvitalityofsoulshouldhavefoundsuchpooremployment。
Inspiteofthesufferingswhichsheendured，thereisacuriousflavorofsuperficialityabouthergenius。ABirminghamanthropologist，Dr。Jordan，hasdividedthehumanraceintotwotypes，whomhecalls“shrews“and“nonshrews“respectively。[206]
Theshrew-typeisdefinedaspossessingan“activeunimpassionedtemperament。”Inotherwords，shrewsarethe“motors。”ratherthanthe“sensories。”[207]andtheirexpressionsareasarulemoreenergeticthanthefeelingswhichappeartopromptthem。
SaintTeresa，paradoxicalassuchajudgmentmaysound，wasatypicalshrew，inthissenseoftheterm。Thebustleofherstyle，aswellasofherlife，provesit。Notonlymustshereceiveunheard-ofpersonalfavorsandspiritualgracesfromherSaviour，butshemustimmediatelywriteaboutthemandexploiterthemprofessionally，anduseherexpertnesstogiveinstructiontothoselessprivileged。Hervolubleegotism；hersense，notofradicalbadbeing，asthereallycontritehaveit，butofher“faults“and“imperfections“intheplural；herstereotypedhumilityandreturnuponherself，ascoveredwith“confusion“ateachnewmanifestationofGod’ssingularpartialityforapersonsounworthy，aretypicalofshrewdom：aparamountlyfeelingnaturewouldbeobjectivelylostingratitude，andsilent。Shehadsomepublicinstincts，itistrue；shehatedtheLutherans，andlongedforthechurch’striumphoverthem；butinthemainherideaofreligionseemstohavebeenthatofanendlessamatoryflirtation——ifonemaysaysowithoutirreverence——
betweenthedevoteeandthedeity；andapartfromhelpingyoungernunstogointhisdirectionbytheinspirationofherexampleandinstruction，thereisabsolutelynohumanuseinher，orsignofanygeneralhumaninterest。Yetthespiritofherage，farfromrebukingher，exaltedherassuperhuman。
[206]FurneauxJordan：CharacterinBirthandParentage，firstedition。Latereditionschangethenomenclature。
