The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-05-11
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ment given to Adam, and that to his
disobedience are primarily due all the
ills which have afflicted the human
race. We know that all through the
Old Testament the precepts of fasting
and abstinence were numerous and
strict. We know that from the very
dawn of Christianity, Friday has been
observed and commemorated as day
of abstinence in order to do homage
to the memory of Jesus Christ suffer
ing and dying on that day of the
week.
1t is, therefore, most appropriate as
| a weekly recurring act of meditation,
recognition and partial imitation that
every true follower of Christ should be
willing to undergo this little act of
self-denial
1t is hard to understand how the
name Catholic or Christian can be
justly applied to those who through
| cowardice or through contempt refuse
to abstain from meat on Friday.
Scarcely any other offense is regarded
with more adherence by the faithful.
In moments of passion or as a conse-
quence of continuous or powerful temp
tation men may may commit sins of
human frailty, but most of these lack
the cool malice which characterizes
the sin of unlawful use of meat on
Friday. Condemnation is not so much
for the material act as for the mind
and disposition behind it.
We have some hope that true faith
may exist in spite of sins of passion,
but it is the general opinion of good
Catholics that genuine faith has de-
parted from the man who despises and
rejects the precept which forbids him
and all others to eat meat on Friday.
He is regarded with suspicion and as
one who has shown his faithlessness
to God, and the deduction is drawn
that he will not be true to his fellow
man.
In individual cases of severe all
ments, and for good and sufficient rea-
| sons this obligation may be relaxed.
But in spite of this fact there are
multitudes of Catholics who would
never eat meat on Friday even il the
law were abrogated; and added to
these are thousands of Protestants
who observe this act of self-denial
with far greater respect than do some
of our pseudo Catholic business men
and politicians.
st. Augustine says: Abstinence
purifies the soul, elevates the mind,
subordinates the flesh to the spirit,
begets an humble and contrite heart,
scatters the clouds of concupiscence,
extinguishes the fires of lust, and en-.
kindles the light of true chastity" We
are bold enough to think that most of
these results would not be injurious
! to those who do not practice abstin-
ence on Friday.
There are multitudes who use little
or no meat on any day of the week
and somehow, they seem quite as
vigorous in mind and body as do the
recreant Catholics who feel that they
must eat meat on Friday. Some OF
the greatest athletes, distinguished
particularly for endurance, never use
meat. They do not wish to make theil
stomachs cemetery for dead ami
mails.
In these days of plenty, when sc
many kinds of food are available, it IL
absurd that any one not seriously i'll
should attempt to stifle his own con
science, scandalize his fellow-man
whether Protestant or Catholic, des
pise the preeept of his Church ant
sell his birthright as a Christian fol
the mess of food which he consume:
on Friday as an act of servility tt
; heretical ignorance or of oblation tt
his own conceit.