The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-03-19

date notable number of people of
the palisll--provided, of course, u
second priest is not conveniently to he
had. Permission to duplicate. or say
two Masses on holy days of obliga lion
is granted at the discretion of the
Bishop. 1t is his to determine whether
or not the necessity is sufficiently
grave to Justify Il departure from the
common law of the Church.
Considered IN itself the Mass may
lie offered up for all men. last as
J Christ died for all. 1t has. however,
seemed good to .-.e Church to Law
down certain rules restricting in some
measure. the celebration of the sacred
mystery. she is justified in this, be-
cause the NiaSs is the greatest and
most formal act of Catholic Worship
He who offers it UP in public man
ner represents the Church and his
act is supposed to be sealed with the
stamp of her approval. AS her repre-
sentative. he is expected TO conform
+; himself to her will.
The Mass may be offered I'D for all
living members of the Churcll. wheth-
or ust or sinners. 1t may be said for
| the just in order that their virtue may
abound the more: for sinners. in order
that they may be converted from the
evil of their ways. Matters become
more complicated when we consider
| those without the pale. We may class
these under the head of the eXcommu-
| nicated and those who never belonged
to the Church.
ENcommunicated persons are of two
kinds-those who are tolerated and
those 'who are to be avoided. The
great majority of Catholic theoloaians
assert that it is allowable to offer the
holy sacrifice publicly, or in the name
of the Church, for those who labor
under the mlder form Oh eNcommuni-
cation. Pope Martin V, said that. as
we are not forbidden to communicate
with such persons even i'll things di-
vine. it is allowable to pray for them
publicly and publicly offer the holy
sacrifice in their behalf
| 1t is not permitted to offer the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass publicly and in
the name of the Church for those ex-
communicated persons who are to be
avoided by the faithful. When the
| Church solemnly cuts them off from
her communion, she intends by that
| very act to withhold from them the
benefits which come from the public
offices of the Church. She does not,
however, forbid the priest in his pri-
waite capacity to offer up the holy sac
rilice for their conversion. If his
charity prompts him to apply to such
| deluded persons the fruits of the morn
ing ObatiOn, the Church will not in
| terfere with his pfous intention.
! We may. of course, offer up the
l.oly Sacrifice of the Mass for the con-
version of those who were never of
'i'G iiouSclloii VI liill. 81. 1iUl
caned publicly upon his hearers to
pray for "all men-for kings and all
who are exalted" Now. among those
who rcigned and We're Seated in high
places in st. Paul's days were many
who were never in communion with
| the Church. At the Mass on Good
Friday the Church prays for nearly
everybody. SO much for the living.
| The Church recognizes three classes
among the dead; the saints. the
damned and the souls in purgatory.
The saints do not need the fruits of
the Mass. they have nothing to gain
no sins to eXpiatc. We may offer
Masses for them, hut not for their
help. The damned are beyond all
help. Their works follow them and
they cannot repent.
Masses for the dead are offered for
the souls in Purgatory. in order that
the period of their publication may be
shortened. We do not know the con-
dition of those that die, and for this
reason there is Il practical rule which
says that we must pray and offer the
Sacrifice of the Mass for all who are
legitmately granted Christian burial
When it is necessary to refuse funeral
hOnOrs, it is likewise necessary to
Withhold the public SURFACES of the
| Church.
Mass cannot he publicly onered up
for those who are solemnly eXcommu-
ncated and who die without having
been absolved either before orr after
death. The priest may. according to
most probable opinion. say private
Dlasses for dead lleretics and scis-
matics. Public Masses for them are
prohibited, since such Il practice would
make the weak and illogical conclude
that all forms of religion are equally.
I good. Don't get accommodated.
don't so into schism. don't be hereto.
and then you can count uDOn1the suf-