The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1875-05-23
Benefit Of Catholic Societies.
Portland Standard


Aside from the benefits which accrue to Ca
tholics who belong to societies allied to the
Church, from the natural boud of Christian
unity which springs up among Catholics
through such intercourse, there are spiritual
benefits received by every member that should
induce Catholics to swell the ranks of every
Catholic society in the land. BY unity the
good are better, the dilatory are encouraged,
ahd the example thus set within the sanctuary
of Faith has q wonderful influence on the
minds of those beyond the Catholic pale who
are seeking for that Faith of which the Catho-
lie Church alone is the custodian.
People calling themselves Catholics are
oftentimes the greatest barriers against the
propagation of the Faith, for the very cogent
forth good fruit. The world judges from ap
pearsnces it does not stop to cogitate on
causes, but dashes at once to conclusions and
sees in the irregular lives of inactive Catholics
the results of Catholic teaching. In this way
every Catholic whose life is a Islander on the
Faith he processes becomes q scandal to the
Church and is oftentimes q stumbling block in
the way of the conversion of Others.
Catholic Societies, therefore, are beneficial
from the fact that every member therein has q
shield thrown around him whereby he can re-
sist temptation and thereby cease from scan.
dalizing his faith. The Church, ever'mindfnl
of the wants of her children has fostered and
cherished organizations of every nature COM
mensurate with the temporal advancement
and spiritual benefit of man. Literature, tenn
perance, and piety, invite Catholics to join
the ranks with those already enrolled therein,
and the best safeguard of Faith than any Ca
tholic can secure is to belong to an organiza-
ton in communion with the Church. Innu.
merable instances of this fact exist in every
portion of the world, especially in larger cities
where men are more exposed to the wiles of
Satan than in the more sparsely settled rural
districts.
We have striking example of the beneficent
influence of Catholic Societies in the Arch
6lshopric of Dublin, Ireland, where nine hun
dred men are enrolled in one parish alone in the
Association of the Most Sacred Heart. Similar
organizations in other parishes swell the ag-
gregate to such vast proportions that it is COM
Puted that tully thirty Thousand men receive
the Holy Sscrsments monthly through the be-
nign influence of this and similar religious or
CARNATIONS.
In Oregon we have as yet but few Catholic
societies, and they are entirely confined to one
locality but judging from the immense
amount Of good they have done in this city,
tney could be introduced Into nearly every
parish With similar good fruits. Catholics are
not Hot different from other ordinary mortals so
!ar as association is concerned. If they are
t1solated from Catholic Influences they become
eSormant in faith, whilst, on the contrary, if
S Sney are enrolled in some approved Catholic
a.oolety having for its objects works of devo-
S,Gn or charity, they become imbued with the
obbr;. VI falth and the genial influence of holy
heart. Ne
D. another reason. why Catholic Societies
So4 ~ Dc more numerous may be found in the
tacI tneJ the natural inclination of man seems
~ ~ seek association with his fellow-man. 1t is
cra love for society that has built up the
all associations that have spread a net-w work
fore over yer the land. To keep Catholics, there
bd5a from entering the portals of Societies for
conSen; oy the Church give them associations
ting TO the tastes of each locality, and
tboiio' ue Danger is at once averted, as no Ca
the i 40 who is a member of any Society under
ioID;I pPro bationsOf his pastor, would think of
con5u the Changers OF other secret Societies
the StraeG by spiritual authority. 1t is only
biSsSay sheep that wander of into these for
point pastures, and does not st. Matthew
lays in his with chapter what thinE Won :
them w Ian have hundred sheep, and one of
ninetvsI should go astray; doth he not leave the
seeE 2fhuin nine in tho mountains, and goeth to
IT, mat I which is gone astray I"
and Snen, Catholic Societies be inaugurated
will iSostered in every parish, and the result
laitv oe an awakening of Faith among the
brn1, a unity of prayer and charity that will
people. VI "oo on pastor anu
neal old