The Catholic Education question has been much discussed from many points of view. Religion, politics, common sense, all have contributed their share. Philosophy also has been by no means neglected. Still it appears to me that the purely psychological aspect has not yet received adequate treatment, and although I do not pretend to be able to provide such treatment myself, yet I think it only fair that we should never point out a defect without first doing our best to remedy it. Therefore, having criticised, I boldly subject myself to criticism in turn, by putting forward some considerations which may serve at least as an essay (in the original sense of the word) on this all-important subject.

We have made large sacrifices in various countries for our convictions. In Ireland, naturally one of the most intellectual countries of Europe, the tempting bait of Knowledge was resolutely put aside when Faithfulness was at stake. In America and the British Empire we are paying for our opponents’ schools as well as for our own. Moreover, we cheerfully deny ourselves many educational and social advantages which are open to those whose theories or consciences are easier than ours. For all these sacrifices we are bound to have solid reasons to give; to ourselves on account of our apparent loss; to our people, on account of the burden laid upon them; to our countrymen, on account of our apparent want of patriotism. Reasons, to be solid, must obviously go to the root of things;