The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-09-14

IL TdS every Qdy OF the week some
special religious significance? If SO,
what is it? 2. What is each month of
the year specially devoted to as, for
example, June is the month of the
Sacred Heart? 8. Which is the older
prayer, the Rosary or the Litany of the
Blessed Virgin Mary? To. which de-
votion 10 attached the greater merit?
q. In the litany of the Blessed Virgin
Mary what is the meaning of the
saIutations, "Tower of Ivory" and
blouse Of GoId" 5. Does the priest
read his office in Latin or in his native
tongue? Is the breviary printed in
English and on sale in Catholic book
stores?
1. If we except Saturday which was
formerly set apart in honor of the
Blessed Virgin Mary we are not aware
hat the days of the week have any
special religious significance. Of
course, one might say that Friday, a
day of fast and abstinence, recalls to
mind the passion and death of our
Blessed Lord, and in 81 far may be
considered as possessing a religious
significance which the other days have
not. 2. This question was answered
very fully in these columns about a
year ago. We cannot reproduce the
whole article again but it may be
stated briefly that January is the
month of the Holy Name of Jesus;
March, the month of st. Joseph; May,
the month of the Blessed Virgin;
June, the month of the Sacred Heart;
July, the month of the Precious
Blood; October, the month of the Holy
Rosary; November, the month of the
Holy Souls. In addition, popular devo-
ton consecrates the month of January
to the Holy Childhood; the month of
March to the Holy Family; the month
of August to the Maternal Heart of
Mary; the month of September to the
Seven Dolors; the month of December
to the Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Apart from
these special devotions there are par
ticular virtues intended by the Church
to be practised in a special tanner
during each month of the year.. Thus
for instance, January is the month of
renewal; February, of prayer; March,
of ~intercession; April, of sacrifice;
May, of confidence; June, of ~fervor;
July, of thanksgiving; August, of
obedience; September, of humility;
October, of mercy; November, of com
passion; December, of perseverance.
8. The rosary in it's present form does
not date further back than the time
of st. Dominic who lived in the
thirteenth century. According to some
authorities the litany goes back to the
early ages of christianity. 1t is not
improbable that some form of a litany
like that now said in honor of the
Blessed Virgin Mary did exist from
very early times; but the best au-
thorities declare that the Litany of
Loreto, or of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
was composed about the sixteenth
century. The most ancient printed
copy, according to these authorities,
dates from 1858. The indulgences at
tached to the recitation of the rosary
are very numerous and very great
and there is little doubt that it is a
more meritorious form of prayer than
the recitation of the litany. However,
the latter is enriched with the follow
ing indulgences: two hundred days,
once a day, granted by Sixtus V and
Benedict XIII; three hundred days
granted as often as it is said, by Plus
VII; and to all who recite it once d
day a plenary Indulgence on the
feasts of the Immaculate Conception,
the Nativity, the Annunciation, the
Publication and the Assumption on
the usual conditions. 4. The signifi-
cance of the salutation "Tower of
Ivory" when applied to the Blessed
Virgin Mary is thus explained by st.
Peter Damien: Ivory is especially
adapted for fine artistic ornamental
ton, and is therefore highly priced; it
is susceptible of a most wonderful
polish and is distinguished for it's
strength. But what can equal the
lustre of hat virginity which the in
habitants of the heavenly kingdom
long to behold? What can exceed the
strength of that virgin whom God
CuOSO 10 Oil 11SIA uL1CAI ~ ONOA
the power of hell The title blouse
of Gold is taken from the Old
Testament in which we are told that
the interior of the temple of Jerusa-
lem was almost wholly covered with
virgin gold. In as much al gold is
the most precious of metals it serves
in this instance as a type of the divine
"a -lsI a. nH--~~l VTs,,~s~
was clothed by God Himself Who
adorned more brilliantly than with
gold the temple into which He deigned
to descend and dwell. 5. The priests
breviary is in Latin. 1t has been
translated into English and copies of
it can be obtained from or through
Catholic book sellers.
What Is your opinion of the follow
ing chain prayer: 20 Lord Jesus