.
Authority requires faith in order to prepare man for reason." But "authority," said St.Columban, in the sixth century, "proceeds from right reason, not at all reason from authority.

Every authority whereof the decrees are not approved of by right reason appears mighty weak." Minds so liberal in the face of authority, and at the same time attached to revealed and traditional faith, could not but be sometimes painfully perplexed.

"My wounded spirit," said Adam of the Premontre-order (le premontre), in the twelfth century, "calls to her aid that which is the source of all grace and all life.

But where is it?
What is it?
In her trouble the spirit hath love abiding; but she knows no longer what it is she loves, what she ought to love.

She addresseth herself to the stones and to the rocks, and saith to them, 'What are ye ?' And the stones and the rocks make answer, 'We are creatures of the same even as thou art.' To the like question the sun, the moon, and the stars make the like answer.