This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 edition. Excerpt: ... PREFACE. The Oblates of St. Charles in the Diocese of Westminster have long had the intention of publishing an English version of Giussano's Life of their Founder. Now at last this purpose, so many years delayed, is happily accomplished. The time of its fulfilment ia opportune, for on the 4th of next November will fall the third centenary of St. Charles's death, at the early age of forty-six years. He was born in 1538 when the Lutheran heresy was in its full sway. The schism of England was then complete; and the first meeting of the Council of Trent had been held at Vicenza. He died in 1584, when the north of Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark were lost to the faith. The blood of many martyrs had been shed in England, and the decrees of the Council of Trent Lad already aroused the profound reaction which has raised the Catholic Church to its present spiritual purity and power. In the brief space of forty-six, or rather of four and twenty years, St. Charles accomplished a work which has made him the patron of the Pastoral Office of the Church, as St. Thomas of Canterbury is the patron of its liberties. No one can form an adequate conception either of the work accomplished by the Council of Trent, or of the wise and effective execution of its decrees by St . Charles, unless he shall have already acquired a knowledge of the state of the Church in Europe, and above all in Italy, at that date. The great Western Schism, as it is called, when the kingdoms of Europe for many years subtracted their obedience from the Popes of doubtful election, had greatly weakened both the instinct of unity, and the recognition of authority. National churches began to assert their self-sufficiency, and Metropolitans openly claimed the power to confirm the...