The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1899-10-14
ABOUT GOING TO MASS.

ABOUT GOING TO MASS.
In last weeks providence Visitor"
the following excellent editorial APP
Fears, and, as many readers OF The
Irish Standard may be benefited by a
careful perusal OF it, we give it in these
columns:
No, Father, l don't go to mass, but
I'm just as good as those who do
his bit Of barciaced sophistry is fire.
quenlly alleged by unworthy Catholics
to cNculpate themselves for their disre-
gard OF one OF the greatest precepts of
the Church.
a detective idea OF religion is the
basis OF this contemplate argument. /"
Now, religion is moral virtue which
nclines lis to worship God-to fulfill
toward Him those duties OF honor and
obedience by which man proclaims the
Divine excellence and his own subjec-
ton to the Most High. OF the acts
prompted by this virtue OF religion
some are internal and some are exter-
nal, The former are done in the sane
tuary OF the soul and are known to the
searcher of hearts alone. The latter
consists in certain sensible actions
which are the manifestation OF interior
sentiments. 1t is the interior worship
that gives life to all our acts of exte-
rior worship, but we must not conclude
from this that exterior worship is Use
less, as some enemies of religion pre-
tend. Man is composed OF soul and
body. He depends entirely upon God
for both, and he should therefore pay
to God the homage OF both. 1t is only
by uniting interior and exterior worship
that we can testify Our total dependence
on God. Moreover, human nature is
such that it is impossible for man to
be truly and sincerely religious without
evidencing the TACT by exterior acts .oi
alteration, supplication, gratitude or re-
pentance. The Church of God, follow
ing the Divine injunctions, tells us just
how the duty OF exterior worship is to
be satisfied. viz, by alteration, oblation
and sacrifice. Faith, hope and charity
must reign in our souls, otherwise
these exterior acts avail little unto sal
walton. On the other hand, though we
persuade ourselves that we are upright,
pure, blamclcss in all human relations
that we worship in spirit and in truth
that we are constantly making melody
i'll Our hearts TO the Lord, still, unless
we comply with the precept OF exterior
worship, we arc not giving God the full
measure OF service He demands.
Other things being equal, nobody can
honestly hold that a Catholic who don't
go to church is as good as one who
does go. lie is living in state OF
damnaton. His neglect OF Mass is not,
to be sure, as shameful and hateful in
the sight OF his neighbors as are willful
murder and those other crimes which
should not be mentioned among Chris
tians. Nevertheless, ii the Command
ments OF God and OF the Church mean
anything, that neglect brings upon him
peril OF hell fire We said other things
being equal But, as has been limited
already, it is impossible to imagine how
man can cherish faith in God and love
Tor God and at the same time refuse to
give God that service which our nature
dictates and which His law requires
Show INC man who keeps not the
Lords day and I will show you one
who has not God in his heart.
But" our negligent friend may re-
join, you don't understand what 1
mean. I chccriully allow that l am
doing wrong. but insist that many
who so to church regularly do worse.
Look at them with their genuilections
and beads and prayer books. Six days
OF the week they are cheats. extortion-
crs, dctractors, liars, and on the seventh,
they pretend to serve God. Ii that is
religion, l don't want it. I'm just as
good as they are, and, perhaps, great
deal better"
Now, it may be perfectly true that
a good many people who go to mass
are sinners. But it is no justification
Tor our own sins to point to the short.
comings OF Our neighbors. The kettle
does not improve its own status by call.
ing the pot black. Two wrongs neve,
made one right In spiritual matters
as in temporal matters, it is an excel,
lent thing to mind ones own business
Obey Gods whole law whether your
neighbor does so or not. And if yor
note his transgressions, do so not in {
Pharisaical spirit, but rather to pra,