The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1909-11-20
RESPONSIBILITIES OF WOMEN.

Archbishop O'Connell of Boston, ADDRESSING =
meeting of Children of Mary lately dwelt on the
responsibility of the Catholic women in the world
and the Importance of right standards of conduct
Whom shall she follow? Not the frivolous woman
who from morning until night thinks only of pleas
ing her own shallow self Even the pagan world
looks down such one and demands of the wo-
man who would stand for some intellectual inter
ests and philanthropy There is little fear that
Catholic women will be influenced by the mere but
terfly of fashion. There is more danger that they
take color from the social leader who manages to
combine with her pleasures a certain devotion to
things of the mind and works of charity. Her life
locks not only agreeable, but, in measure, meri-
torious Intellectual and charitable works, how
ever draw their merit from the supernatural mo-
tive behind them If Catholic women mingle too
much with world in which the supernatural is ig
nored if they find their standards there it is not
well with them. The dust of wordliness will spoil
their days.
How shall the Catholic lady whose position Sc
cures for her certain leisure, guard herself against
the blight of worldliness? By deepening her spir
itual life; by frequenting sacraments by daily
this is practicable for many who do not avail
themselves of the supreme privilege-by visits to
the Blessed Sacrament by spiritual reading. With
out this last cannot have the necessary strong
hold on the truths of our religion
The Archbishop would not deny to the devout
Catholic the accessories of her position not rea-
sonable recreatons. But the moral stadards of the
Catholic, especially in literature and the DRAMA are
different from those of the pagan world and must
be remembered even in amusements. Why are
Catholic women ever seen at evil plays They are
too good and pure to enjoy them, of this the arch
bishop was confident. Is it because the play has
been praised by Society" and number of recog-
nized leaders have been heralded as its patronesses
This is no justification for wrong doing WHY
can't Catholic women of strength of mind and char
acter set their own fashions? They do in the Cath
Ole and even in the non-Catholic countries of Eu-
rope Why not in America Why not in Boston2
And Catholic standards are the most refined and
beautiful; in every sense the best. Bear this in
mind Not only is religion the best-you have
never doubt of that-but our social ideals are the
best.
On Catholic women of means and position the
rests of believing this truth and liv
ing up to it. Every one of his hearers, said the
archbishop. exercised a strong influence over at
least dozen of other women of their faith Then
the influence of their immediate family You are
faithful Catholics he continued because of the long
tradition handed down for the most part through
irish ancestors faithful unto persecution and death
Your good mothers faith is still force in your
lives Are you as prayerful as those mothers, who
with less leisure gave much time to God? Are
Won in other ways equal to them in their sterling
CathoIicty? IF not, what is the spiritual outlook
for your daughters? In conclusion the archbishop
urged seriously self-study on all his hearers that
they might find wherein they were lacking. and
make of themselves the holy and uplifting inf1u-
ences which they should be in the life of their city