Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-05-25

"@sok sss o1u uA8Ae IL t0 spring.
and give seed 20 the sower and
bread 10 the eater; Sc shall NV
word be which shall 60 forth from
my mouth; it shall not return to me
void, but shall do whatsoever /
please. aud shall prosper In the
things for which | sent Il. !" The
same, We think, Is 70 be said az
those priests who compose laborious
books 10 illustrate the truths of re-.
ligion. They are worthy OF great
commendation for their activity.
But bow many read these volumes
and derive fruit in proportion 20 the
hoil and the wishes of those who wrote
themI Whereas the teaching of the
Catechism. when properly done.
never fails TO be OF profit 90 those
who lisetn 70 it.
For Eve must repeat this truth In
order TO stimulate the zeal OF the
ministers OF the sanctuary there
are today vast numbers, and they ere
constantly increasing who are utter
ly ignorant Of the truths of religion.
or who have at most so little knowl-
edge Of God and Of the Christian
faith that they can live as idolators
in the very midst of the light of
Christianity. How many there are.
not only among the young, but
amonga adultsand even those totterinR
with age who know nothing of the
principal mysteries OF faith, who on
hearing the name of Christ can only
ask: who is he !. +. that / NAV
believe in Him" John tx. 36 And
in consequence Of this ignorance
they make no crime of exciting
and cherishing hatred against their
neighbour, OF entering into most un-
just contracts, giving themselves
up 70 dishonest speculations, Dos
sessing themselves OF the property
OF others by enormous usury, and
committing similar iniquities. They
are actually ignorant that the law OF
Christ not only forbids immoral ac-
tions, but condemns deliberate i'm
moral thoughts and immoral desires,
so that even when they are restrain
ed by some motive or other from
abandoning themselves 70 sensual
pleasures, they feed without any
knid Of scPuple on evil thoughts,
multiplying sins beyond the hairs
OF their heads. Nor, let 10 be re-
peated, are such 10 be found only
among the poorer classes of people
or in country places, but in the
highest walks Of life, and among
those who. inflated with knowledge.
rely upon u vain erudition aud think
themselves at liberty 70 turn reli-
gion into ridicule and 10 "blaspheme
that which they know not (Jud. .IO}.
Now II 10 IS vain to expect O bar
vest where no seed has been sowa,
how can we hope TO have better-lIv-
ing generations IL they be not 10.
structed IN time in the doctrine OF
Jesus Christ? IL follows, too, that
if faith languishes in our days, ifit
has almost vanished throughout a
large proportion of the people, the
reason is that the duty OF catecheti-
cal teaching is either fulfilled very
superficially or altogether neglected.
Nor will 1t do TO say, ia excuse, that
faith Is free gift bestowed on each
one at baptism. Yes, all who are
baptised in Christ have had infused
into them the habit Of faith; but this
most divine germ does not develop,
or put forth great branches" mark
iv. b. when lett to itself, and as IL
by its own virtue. Man at his birth
has within him the faculty of under
standing, but he has need also OF
the mothers s word to awaken il as
10 were, ana TO bring IL into action.
So too the Christian. born again OF
water and the Holy Ghost, has faith
within him but he requires the word
OF the Church 70 fecundase il and
develop IL, and make it fruitful.
Hence the Apostle wrote: Faith
comes from hearing. and hearing by
the word os God" (Romans x. I7l.
and TO show the necessity OF teach
ing he adds: How shall they hear
without preacher" ubid).
Now IL all that has been said serves
70 show the supreme importance Of
religious teaching, supreme also
Eaust be Our solicitude in maintain
ing always in vigour, and in re-es-
tablishing where Ii may happen TO
have become neglected, the teaching
of the catechism which Benedict XIV
described as the most useful of in
stitutious for the glory of God and
the salvation Of souls" ICONS. ''Etsi
minime, 49,. DESTROYS, therefore,
Venerable Brethen, OF fulfilling this
most important duty, imposed upon
Us by the Supreme Apostolate. and
Of introducing uniformity every
where in this most weighty matter,
We do by Our Supreme authority,
enact aud strictly ordain that in all
dioceses the following precepts be
observed:
L-All parish priests and, Ia gen.
eral, all those who have the care OF
souls. on every Sunday and feast day
throughout the year. without excep-
tion, shall with the text Of the cate
chism instruct for the space OF an
hour the young of both sexes IN what
everyone must believe aud do to be
saved.
H.-They shall, at stated times
during the year, prepare boys and
girls by continued instruction, last
ing several days. 70 receive the sac
raments Of Penance and Confirma-
ton.
III. They shall likewise, and with
special care. on all fcrial days OF
Lent, and If necessary on other days
after the feast Of Easter, by suitable
instruction and reflections. prepare
boys and girls TO make their first
Communion in holy manner.
4 IV.-In each and every parish the
COnfraternity OF Christian Doctrine