The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-07-01
THE WELL-TO-DO CATHOLIC
Perils and Responsibilities.

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In America the well-to-do Cath
Ollie is rapidly coming into evil
dence. Time was when for one
reason or another Catholics, with
few exceptions, were poor in this
worlds possessions, and took low
rank within the circles Of finance
and Of social life. The reasons of
their poverty were plain to the
eye, and threw no discredit upon
their intelligence or their industry.
Charlottesville great majority at
least-were newcomers in the
country, uniformed Of opportuni-
ties, unskilled in methods that
lead to success. And, however
difficult of belief this may be to-
day, not so very long ago religious
prejudice ruled hard; the Catholic
was jolted aside and was refused
the reward of talent and Of energy,
simply because of his loyalty to
his Church. But the causes Of
industrial and social inferiority
for Catholics were not to last. As
Catholics were better known, pre-
JUDGE was on the wane; and as
they owned the brain and the
Drawn that win success, where
success is at all possible, they were
sure quickly to move forward and
upward. To-day Catholics are
numerous in the front ranks along
the pathways Of prosperity and
Of social distinction; and, as ap-
pearances indicate, are likely in
the future to be there still more
numerous.
With all this we cannot but be
pleased. It is well for Catholics
themselves that they have their
share of worldly prosperity; and
well also it is for the Church and
the many interests, which lie in
it's charge. The gifts Of earth, the
material comfort they provide,
the joyousness and the indie
pendence their use begets, the
diffusiveness of benevolence they
allow, are in origin the gifts of the
mighty Creator, intended as tok-
ems of His love to men, as contri-
buttons Of His bounty to their
happiness, as means to their
growth in being and power. The
Church, while not Of the world, is
in the world, and, in the fulfill
ment of it's mission, needs the help
which it's children may lend wheth.
er from their temporal posses
sions, Or. their social influence
The Church is a living visible
body, having it's human as well as
it's divine parts, dependent upon
the rules and conditions OF
humanity in general, and de.
pendent, consequently, upon its
membership, for what is human in
it's strength and power of work
It is to it's benefit that Catholics
be prosperous and influential
and for it's own sake, as for theirs
it rejoices when prosperity ano
influence fall to their lot.
| But here enters the question oil
peril and responsibility. The peri
is that taking the prominent place
in the affairs Of the world tt
which prosperity and influence
lead, Catholics grow SO much into
the ambitions and habits of the
world, as to make of it the chic.
object of their thoughts and affec
tons, and to look upon religion a.
a secondary matter, to be forgot
ten among the clamors of pelf OF
fashion, or, at least, to be cur
tailed in its practices and precepts
; whenever these fail to harmonic
with suggestions of pride anc
!, covetousness begotten of the cir
cumstances attending their new
station in life. The Gospel O.
Christ is" Seek first the King
dom of Cod" the Gospel Of tn,
world Seek first the Kingdom o.
earth; and here is the temptation
of the Well-to-do Catholic which
Kingdom must / first seek?
II Worldly prosperity and worldly
influence are albright under
j proper conditions albright, Will.
i held in absolute subserviency Ii
the claims of God and His Churcl