The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-02-25

one always read book or pray in
some way? May one spend the time
in listening to and enjoying the music
and singing of the choir?
The time at High Mass or Vespers
may be passed in any manner that
brings good to our souls. Listening
to the music is by no means a for
hidden method of hearing Mass or
assisting at Vespers. Music as well
as vocal prayers or meditation can
bring our minds to dwell upon God.
Oftentimes when fatigued by vocal
prayers, it does us good to listen to the
sweetness and unmatched beauty of
sacred music. 1t occasionally hap
pens that a person is brought into the
church by means of the deep fervor
and heart-stirring devotion lodged in
her music However, there is an ex-
cess, and against it we must be on
our guard. The church is a "house
of prayer, not a house of opera.
Please tell me something about
General Confession.
A General Confession is one that
embraces ones whole lifetime and con-
sists in accusing oneself of all the
sins one has committed since the age
of discretion and of which one has
remembrance.
A General Confession may some
times be necessary, sometimes mere
ly useful and sometimes really hurt
full.
1t is absolutely necessary when
ones former confessions are certain
ly sacrilegious, because of lack of sin
cerity, of contritton or of purpose of
amendment, or neglect of proper ex-
animation of conscience.
1t is useful or beneficial (D when
one has never made general con-
fession; (2) when one is about to
enter into a new state of life; (3)
when one has been somewhat luke
warm or lax during a lengthy period
of life. In all such cases, General
Confession is an act of prudence, rea-
son and of piety.
It is hurtful for persons who are
scrupulous or troubled by doubts that
keep one in a constant state of worry;
for when one is scrupulous General
Confession usually augments the dis
ease. Doubts about whether one has
been sufficiently explicit in detailing
ones faults, or whether one had sin
cere sorrow for sin, do not constitute
sufficient reasons or motives for re-
peating or making over ones past
confessions, for doubts will always
bob up to trouble one So long as
one can prudently judge that he had
been sincere and truthful in COMES
sion, one can be easy in mind. An
indubitable evidence that one had
sincerity is the fact that one hates
sins and perserveres in virtuous liv
ing One should always be guided on
this matter by the decision of ones
confessor.
Is it conceivable in reason that God
should consign the great majority Of
the human race to eternal peridition
The Catholic Church never advanced
such doctrine. Some individual
writers-Catholic and Protestant
have done so, but it is the part oil
wisdom not to mistake the private
speculations of few concerning the
unfathomable secret of God for the
teachings of Christianity.
would like to know some Of the
Catholic seminaries, the age required
for entrance and the tuition.
Write to the Very Reverend Rector
st. Paul Seminary, st. Paul, Mimi, fol
a copy of the Register" which will
give the information you require
There is no definite age for entrance
1t depends on ones ability to do the
work required as prerequisite to en-
trance.
Are Catholics permitted to joir
those societies which, although no
expressly condemned by the church
have a religious form of worship diff
ferent from that of the CathoIi,
church,
Catholics are not permitted to joil
in any form of religious worship tina
L
cally denying their faith. Catholic
should not therefore join such socie
ties-they have Catholic societies
hence there is no excuse for thos,
who endanger their faith by joining
societies which, though not expressl.
condemned, may be condemned an.
time by the church of God.
Does one who washes his mout
and brushes his teeth before recei>
ing Holy Communion break the law Q
fasting?
The law of the Church requires
person who wishes to receive Hol
Communion to- fast, that is, to al
stain from taking anything as food Q
drink, after midnight To cleanse tn
mouth and teeth before receiving Hol
Communion does not break the fas
provided one is careful not to swa
low any of the water during the pr