The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-09-12
POWER OF The PRESS
Good Advice From a Missionary Priest
Great Need of a Catholic Paper.


st. Paul advises all to be thoroughly versed III
the faith they profess so as be able to account
for its reasonabeness. To do this it is necessary
to be able to the new objections that CON
stantly coming to light. Old objections are effete.
Those raised by the reformers in the sixteenth cen
tury are dead issues The enlightened man of the
twentieth century does not take time to think of old
objections. 1T Is simply question OF the truth OF
religion a Supreme Being, and immortality. Our
age is progressive and eager to read The press
spares nothing to pander to the taste and reading
proclivties of the young and old. What is read
has tendency to shape and model the future man.
To neutralize the evil effects of rreligous press
parents should be the alert, and guard faith
fully the precious gift of faith for their offspring
To do this and counteract the evil influence Of
what their children may hear and read nothing IS
more needed than good Catholic literature and
Catholic paper in the home.
So Catholics want a Catholic paperI Some
times doubt it. And it is not without reason we
look around and see the welcome accorded the
secular press. Passing over the matter contained
therein, cannot help but notice how eagerly some
Catholic people purchase it. But when it comes to
subscribing for Catholic paper how slow those
erstWhile eager hands 1t is for the most part
dry reading; it has none of the exaggerated fla
vor; it does not fatter with silly praise pander to
sef-lOve, foolially dismiss all responsibility and
open the door to lust to pleasure, wilfulness TO
sin. 1t tells of things sweet and pure; 1t teaches
beauty Of sef-repressiOn; speaks of holy doctrines
with becoming gravity 1t dares tell the truth; it
protests against wild opinions and false principles
that men eagerly drink in, because they excuse or
palliate human wickedness. But under present con-
ditiOns In country, is it not simply duty for
Catholic to have in MS home a Catholic paper!
a Catholic paper is a Whit Of the pure, fresh air
Of heaven. 1t brings with it life and health. What
t144 lol1 +l,~lTo
spread Catholic papers. They are the most prac-
tical antidote TO the poison Of the present day.
The danger to Cathc faith and morals is not
from sectarian pupits. That day Is past The
biggest pulpit OF time is the press; the danger
Is from the press
Ii has been said that were St Paul living in
our day he would be newspaper man. This IS
tribute to the power Of the press. Indeed,
Of the modern apostolates is the printing press.
For good and evil for moral elevation and deera-
daon it works with all the zeal Of spirits and all
the success of giants. Nothing IS 50 much at our
free choice reading, and this spplies~particu-
larly to the newspaper. In days everyone reads
great many persons spend their lives III read
ing. If there be one luxury which rich and poor
alike enjoy it Is the luxury Of reading. Now, if
this were mere amusement, which pleased for the
moment but left no serious effects behind, one
might pass 1t By lightly without comment. But
it Is not an amusement but q seriOns work and
il is only luxury but necessity for the moral
and intellectual formation OF mems souls. 1t can
not be denied that the press has most powerful
influence upon character for good or evil. Nothing
builds up a character so easily and yet 50 perma-
nently as a course OF reading. If the world Of
today IS full OF frivolous men and women, II Is
because their minds have been fed upon>vain and
frivolous reading and if the world Is full OF
and men who are forever miscOnceiving nisinter-
preting. misunderstanding the eternal truths Of
God ii Is because they have been trained into that
obiouity OF intellect by those booknakers pamph-
letters and newspapers who conceal falsehOOd and
error under pleasing style a show Of sincerity
On the other hand If we find among ourselves those
who eridently realize that they the brethren Of
the saints Of God IN heaven, those who are srriy-
ing however imperfectly, 70 live up their v0ca-
tons as Christians who in childish simplicity and
obedience are trying TO follow the precepts Of Him
who left the world little children a. models Of Him
self II IS because they have found these sublime
principles IN pous books they have read. and have
had from heaven the grace 70 practice them. Il 4
not difficult 10 understand this. God has given u
minds 70 know Him; are bound. therefore. 10
educate our minds into such q knowledge OF God
a. His wisdom allows and our faculties can reach.
This i duty. but duty inspired By God in such
q way that call il natural aspiration. We hope
the day l. not far distant when shall find good
Catholic newspaper IN every Christian home. Then
shall re look for increased ferv0r in faith and
increased love in devotion more perfect 'kuO1l-
edge OF God. and. therefore, perfect love Of
J God Who can doubt the absolute necessity Of the
/ Catholic pres=5 What home Is secure without q
+ Catholic paper1 We must meet pulpit with pull
Dit-paper with paper We must sow truth with
out casing for the missions of error are IOveIes
4 MISSIONER