Disinterested Sentiments on the Retreat of the Pastors of France

Plan of this Work.

one cannot put these in parallel with the other; and it is shown, as much by the conduct of St. Athanasius as by several things he says himself in his Apology, that this Father would have in no way approved of a retreat In this context, "retreat" refers to the act of pastors leaving their congregations to escape persecution. such as the one in question here. Finally, we examine one after another the reasons of this holy Bishop reported by the Author of the Apology from page 185 to page 200; and we show that there is not one which could be drawn as a precedent in favor of the retreat of our Pastors, and that they have, consequently, been reported in vain.

Finally, regarding St. Augustine Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD), a foundational theologian whose letters often addressed the duties of bishops during times of crisis., we also first refute the general remarks that the Author of the Apology has made to weaken the force of this Father's arguments—which are an evident condemnation of the retreat of our Pastors; we show regarding the first remark that