COMPITUM;

OR,

THE MEETING OF THE WAYS

AT THE

Catholic Church.

Kenelm Henry Digby,

THE FIRST BOOK.

LONDON:

C. DOLMAN, 61, NEW BOND STREET.

MDCCCXLVIII.

The whole receipts of this volume are respectfully offered towards defraying the expenses of a community of the R-MP-STS, wanting common necessaries.

282
D569

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Introduction, showing the advantage expected from the present work. Its plan

suggested by a French forest, in which all roads meet at a religious house, repre-

senting the Catholic Church, p. 6. The intellectual forest has its centre

there, 7. How many diverge and describe only circles round it, 12. The way

of truth being straight, and that of error circuitous, 15. Intended mode of

ceeding through this work, 16. The author's apology for producing it, 20.

CHAPTER II. p. 24.

THE ROAD OF CHILDREN.

pro-

The ways of right intention are first presented. Mysteries of childhood. The

pagan's sense of them, 25. Children's first views of the forest of life, 26. Their

mystic avenue opened by infantine manners, 27. Their natural avenue by

ignorance of evil and error; by instinctive aversion for heresy, 31. By consider-

ing the love of our Lord for children, 34. The services rendered by the Catholic

Church to children whom it saved from the evils of their state, 35. Its legisla-

tion in regard to them, 37. Avenue by the love of children for the Church, 40.

That of the love of the Church for children. All her great men love them, 42.

Children in monasteries, 44. In Church schools, 45. How children are drawn

to the Church by examples, 46. Children martyrs, crusaders, 48. Avenue to

truth by the sacraments in general, 50. Children of heretics, how guided, 50.

Led by their baptismal name, 51. Force of names-with Gentiles, 52; with

Christians, 53. The author's retrospect scene of his childhood, 57.

CHAPTER III. p. 60.

THE ROAD OF YOUTH.

Youth, how led by a mystic avenue, 61; by youthful manners; by hatred of sus-

picion, 62; by its need of a divine object, 64; by its love for holy men, 65; its

desire to serve, 67; by its general character, 70; by simplicity, 71; by generous

impulses, 72; by its tastes in recreation, 73; despised by the false wise, 76; by

its resemblance to David in regard to plainness of attire, 77; by its natural

temperance in regard to food, 83; by regard to beauty, 85; by true discipline, 86;

by its desire of holiness, 87; by its love of our Lord, 89; by gratitude to the

Catholic Church, which has proved itself youth's best friend, 91. The road of

youth soon ends, 94.

CHAPTER IV.-P. 95.

THE ROAD OF THE FAMILY.

Avenues from the paternal home: by parental instruction, 96; by the action of

women, 97; by the union of all members living together, 114; by the parental

love, 118; by the filial love, 130; by concord, 132; by the conjugal union, 133;

by fraternal union, 139; by the discipline of the family, 142.

CHAPTER V. p. 147.

THE ROAD OF SERVANTS.

Avenue by a consideration of the state of servants in ancient and modern times;

by the Catholic instructions, 149; by a contrast, 152; by the example of

masters, 153; by the rules for servants, 155; by their fidelity, 160; by the honours

they derived from the Church, 161; by their guidance of masters, 162; by a

contrast, 164; by the state and character of modern servants, 165; by their

guidance in the case of erring masters, 166.

CHAPTER VI. p. 168.

THE ROAD OF HOSPITALITY.

Avenue by the doctrine taught, 169; by the early Christian practice, 171; by a

consideration of the different classes of guests entertained, 170; the great, 172;