Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-24
Catholic Men in Holy Name Society.
i. + IT.

the society literature. all make for in
creased Catholic loyalty.
An innovation has been established OF
annual spiritual retreats for laymen
These have called men, especially those
engaged in business and professional lives
apart from their secular activities, for the
cultivation of the spiritual life. Such a
retreat" was recently successfully con.
Quoted for New York laymen at Fordham
In connection with the monthly meetings
of the society, religious instruction is
given by the director, who is a clergy.
man. The Pocket Manual Of the Holy
Name Society also provides daily prayers
for the men
The pope has given very cordial ap-
prevail. and his apostolic blessing to the
society. and members of the Roman
Catholic hierarchy throughout the coun-
try have been earnest supporters of this
movement. which bids fair to do more to
impress the strength and solidity of the
Catholic Church upon the community
than any other agency.
Shoe Leather and Enthusiasm.
''The very best means of making the
society flourish" said a jealous director
lis leather. Yes, sole leather, and plen-
ty of it." Upon that princip e the Holy
Name has proceeded. Moving bodies at
tract to themselves bodies at rest. The
demonstrations of the Holy Name So
ciety are usually followed by an acces-
sion Of new members. The example OF
the older men Is proving contagious to
the boys, and now Junior Holy Name So
cieties are coming into vogue. Indeed,
connection with its latest parade. that
no boys under eighteen should be admit
ted to the line. Considering the common
usage of padding political parades, this
is worthy of note.
In the primary mission of the society,
the suppression of profanity. the parades
have been of tremendous value. Boys.
and some not very mature men, have
thought 1t big and manly to swear; these
swinging lines of sturdy men have been
anti-profanity crowd are by no means
mollycoddles. Nobody may question the
masculinity of the society. 1t tremen-
dously sets forth the propriety of relig-
ious play In the laymans life.
1t is almost inevitable that these huge
professions of men wearing a badge on
which Is the head of the boy Jesus should
be succeeded by national demonstration,
probably at the nations capital. Already
this city of Washington has a Holy Name
Union with episcopal appreciation, and 1t
is but natural that these men should one
day be hosts to their fellow-members
throughout the nation.
The Society's Ancient Lineage.
The Holy Name Society was brought into
modern activity by layman, recently de-
ceased, who was not aware that it had
been erected centuries ago. He was COLI
cerned over the prevalence of the practice
of profanity, which dishonors the name OF
Jesus. So he quietly established socie-
ties, and In a sense he was the founder of
the present national organization, with
headquarters in New York
Actually, though, this is the oldest con-
fraternity in the Roman Catholic Church.
When the crusaders returned from the
Holy Land they brought back with them
various loose practices, including profan-
ity. So Pope Gregory x at the council
Of Lyons In 1874, issued bull calling for
special devotion to the holy name OF
Jesus. He commanded the Dominican
fathers everywhere to preach against pro-
family. Affairs We're erected to the holy
name.
But the actual organization of the So
ciety is traced to Partudal, where. in
1432. Bishop Diaz of1cially established
the confraternity. The official narrative
runs: AT this time plague was max
ing ravages in Lisbon. Bishop Diaz urged
the faithful to join the Holy Name Con.
fraternity. and assured them that Jesus
Compassionate could not turn a a deaf
ear to their prayers. He blessed water
in honor of the name of Jesus. and its
distribution among the plague-stricker
people was followed by miraculous effects
for in a short time Lisbon was freed
from the scourge."