The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1904-05-21

Heaven lies about us in our infancy,
Shades of the prison house begin to close.
Upon the growing boy
But he beholds the light and whence it flows
The youth, Who daily further from the East
Must travel. still is natures priest
And by the vision splendid
Is his way attended"
An extract bearing directly on this point was
given from an article by Rev. Timothy Brosnihan,
s. j. 1t reads:
"If at an age when this intellectual quality is
active and keen in all healthy children, Its exercise
is eliminated completely from what they taught
10 consider their principal formation, and if it is
declared egitimate as an element of their largest
mental activity two results will naturally follow
First children will unconsciousiy infer-and who
will pronounce the inference invalid-that religion
is relatively unimportant absolutely out of place
in their ordinary daily life Secondly, the religious
instinct becomes inactive, gradually sleeps; IN
some cases. to awake no more to efficient activity,
in others to manifest itself later IN misdirected
ways
Every normal human being has an instructive
thirst for knowledge regarding the ultimate source
of It's nature and the purpose of its existence and
a craving to satisfy it. In the case of child
whose mind when unfolding, is kept in an environ
ment of religious darkness, this intellectual curl
osity may become extinct; but it viii more gener-
ally become deranged and finds expression IN after
life in uncouth supersttions, and becomes an IN
strument with which religious healers and profit
seeking prophets may form fantastic cults. Wit
ness the religious vagaries which really disgrace us
as an intelligent people and yet are accepted by
men and women amongst us possessing at times
notable degree of merely intellectual culture"
Child Rights.
There is another important consideration show
ing the imperative demand for religious instruc
ton according TO the Catholic viewpoint, namely,
that the child has right to know the teaching of
Christ Through the merits of His redemption the
child acquires the right to heaven This is the
celestial inheritance not dependent worldly
rank: and if called away from earth before attain
ing the use of reason such child is admitted at
once into everlasting So
This doctrine, when explained to children, in
spires hope and confidence and elevates the I'M
agination The memory of the little baby brother
or sister in the graveyard is coupled with bright
and beautiful picture, and so DEATH while a mys-
terry. is robbed of It's horror.
When the child is brought for baptism the par
euts must be prepared to enter into an agreement
with the church represented by the priest The
father is required to be present with sponsors of
his own choice and TO guarantee that the child
shall be taught the Christian religion and how to
live according to Gods commandments. Without
satisfactory evidence of such an intention the
priest would not be authorized to perform the cere-
moBy.
When of proper age to receive religious in
struction the child should be sent to Sunday school,
or if that is impossible, he should be instructed
from the catechism at home The average child is
supposed to be able to at the age of Z, al
though the power develops less rapidly in some
children than in others.
A study of the Catechism of Christian Doctrine
shows that the truths contained arc presented N
manner calculated TO win the approval OF the keen
pedagogical critic 1t starts with the visible world,
the first question being: "Who made the world"
A. God made the world.
@. Who is God!
A. God is the creator of heaven and earth and
all things.
Q. What is man?
A. Man is creature composed of body and
soul and made to the image and likeness of God.
@. Is this likeness in the soul or in the body!
A. This likeness is chiefly in the soul.
O. How is the soul like to God
A. The soul is like God because it Is spirit
that will never die and has understanding and free
will.
As Father McMillan's Sunday school at St
Pau's on Columbus avenue New York City, en-
joys national reputation, it may be of interest to
know that the catechsm in use there is that pre-
pared and enjoined by order of the Third Plenary
Council of Baltimore, published by NJ ID. Wiltzlus
Company of Milwaukee.
Its further chapters tell of the fall of our first
parents and the nature and kinds of sin and the |
redemption of the world through Christ's passion
and death.
The eleventh chapter treats of the church as one
of the means instituted by our Lord to enable |
men to share in the fruits of the redemption.
Throughout the catechism scriptural texts are
given with accompanying explanations and COM
ments.
1t is not deemed advisable TO place the Bible !
directly in the hands of the young. Instead they |
will later take up the study of Bible history when
references for scriptural reading will be given.
book which Father Mcmillan specially recommend |
ed for such students is called "Four Thousand |
Questions and Answers" prepared by Rev. John
J. Nash d. D.. of Buffalo devoted to the practical
explanation and application of Bible history.
School Instruction.
In the parish schools half hour each day is
given to religious instruction with review work on
Sunday. Most of our Sunday schools provide some |
extra week day classes after school hours in addi
ton to the regular sessions lasting from one to two
hours on Sundays.
The question of attendance at Sunday school is |
q somewhat difficult one to settle. By holding it in
the morning after children's mass the attendance
may be perceptiby increased, as it may be also by
accenting the social side and making the weekly |
meeting source of pleasure to pupils and teach |
ers.
But, unfortunately, these measures sometimes |
fail, and the compulsory school law does not
include the Sunday school. the Jealous advocate of
religious instruction for the young must make ex-
cursions to the submerged tenth" of population.
Here he VIII find wide field for the study of hu-