The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-08-22
sunday Aspusesnsnts.


Of one of the most lesaiasns okshs Ameri-
can clergy--a mas not more distin geished
| by his position than by the ability and
| piety with which he fils is
To the Editors of Morning Star. kss
/ do not wish to interfere directly with what
does not directly concern me. But; indirectly,
have strongly recommended II both privately
and publicly, even in the pulpit, both as con-
tanning an interesting summary of Catholic
newa and as being n reliable exponent of Ca
tholic spirit and approved usages of Catholics,
as also being safe paper, in which nothing
Objectionable would be found not oven in its
| feel, therefore ia some degree responsible
to all under my charge. who know of my re-
lcommendaton, mediately or immediately.
Consequently, while it is not my place to die
tate to others what they should think or do, I
hope you will not refuse to let me record my
dissent from the admiration expressed in your
columns for those public festivities held Sun
day afternoons, for the purpose of raising
money=to build church.
am strong friend of innocent enjoyment
ON the Sunday, when it does not interfere with
| Gods command to keep the day holy. 1 know it
| is not easy to define how much time should be
given to religious exercises and how much may
be given to recreation; nor, again, to draw
clear line between the rcereations that are
suitable and those that are unsuitable TO the
day.
in this case, I wish to express my opinion,
founded on several years experience in the
sacred ministry, that it is not conducive to
Catholic morals, but very injurious to them, to
encourage the people, old and young, to par
take in gatherings of that kind, occupying
large part of the Sunday afternoon, and caus-
ing or giving q fair excuse for absence from
Vespers and all other deyotions OF the latter
part of the day. PASTOR.
We heartily give our adhesion to every
sentiment expressed in the above with
reference to Sunday afternoon amusements.
There. is certainly a difficulty in saying
precisely how much of the day must be
given to worship and how much may be
devoted to amusement. 1t is evident,
however, that the Church has instituted
tue vesper services for the attendance of
the faithful as we'll as Mass, though not
under the same penalty. 1t is not mortal
sin to miss Vespers, but it certainly is
wrong to do so without sufficient reason,
and the mere pursuit of amusement can.
notbe a sufficient one, for the wisdom of
| the Church has provided an abundance of
free time for that purpose exclusive Of the
hours dedicated to-devotion.
1t is true that on special occasions one
may be justified in missing Vespers for
purpose of recreation and amusement. An
opportunity may present itself which would
afford peculiar reasons of exemption for
| one or several members of q congregation,
but a general movement of this sort, which
might draw off the whole congregation,
would imply the shutting up of the church
or the performance, of services for empty
pews.
l--a--l----...4. a.i-.-...
,,oI, rkoi,,
picnics of which we have heard as recently
occurring in this city, where merely low
Mass was attended, and from that moment
the whole of the day was dedicated to
amusement, and that amusement of q poisy
and rather questionable character.
Such Catholics justify themselves by call
| ing Protestants Pharisees. They say that
Professionalism is the PhaEiseeism of Chris
| tianity; that it strains at a gnat and swal-
lows camel; that it makes clean the out
side of the dish, but within it is full of
rapine and uncleanliness; that it has
| thrown off all necessity for good works
and all subsection to Legitimate authority,
and then to affect an air of, sanctity it
seizes upon some outward form of piety,
such as hallowing the Lords Day, and
/ carries it to an extravagant strictness, be-
yond both the letter and spirit of the law.
This is true, to a certain extent, of Pro-
testantism in the abstract, 'thodgb mot APP
pIicable to many Professionals personally,
who do a great many good works and look
upon outward piety with liberal eye. 1t
is true, also, that the Almighty looks with
far more favor on-a Publican than on a
! Pharisee, from whom, indeed, he turns
away with foatlihg and disgust Buta it
must be remembered that there is q me-
dunn between the Pharisee and the. Publ
4 can. Because Catholics are not to seize
upon certain chosen item in the law and
carry it to 8 fanatieaf excess of rigor, they
) are not thereby excused for treating it with
contempt. 81 saa. ..~.o3-s
We therefore heartily concur in every
sentiment expressed by our esteemed cor