The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-03-02


SO, to whom is it paid and what is
the money used for?
There is a fee exacted for the grant
ing of a dispensatiOn in case of a
mixed marriage if the person in whose
favor the dispensation is granted is
able to pay. The fee is not large and
it is not required of those who, by
reason Of their poverty, are unable to
pay it. AS matter of fact great
many dispensations are issued free of
charge. The fee is paid to the priest
who makes the application to the
Bishop of the Diocese through the
Diocesan Chancery for the dispense
tion and he forwards the money to the
Chancellor. This money is used to
defray the cost of printing the forms
used in granting the dispensation and
for the clerical work incidental there
to, and the balance, if any, is used to
carry on the charitable work of the
Church. No portion of these fees ever
reaches the pocket of the priest or of
the diocesan authorities. 1t is not I'M
reasonable to exact fee from those
who, because they do not wish to
comply with the general laws which
govern the faithful, put the authorities
to additional expense and inconven-
fence in making special provision for
them.
If person does not 90 to confess
sion or communion for nearly two
years what must he do to get back to
the Catholic Church?
All that is necessary for such a
person to do is to make good, sincere
confession of his sins since his last
worthy confession and then receive
Holy Communion.
What is the attitude of the Church
on masquerade balls and is it wrong to
mask and attend?
Masquerades, or masked balls, have
generally been condemned because
they offer the vicious so many oppor-
tunities of doing wrong without fear
of detection. Things are said and
done much more freely when people
are able to hide their identity. Of
course, if every safeguard against
Wrong-doing were assured there would
be no more harm in masquerade ball
than in any other innocent amuse.
ment; but there are so many oppor.
tunities for those who are inclined to
evil to follow their bent that self-re
specting persons should take nc
chances in matter where occasion
may be given for improper conduct OF
any kind.
I. How is it that some years ago il
was considered absolutely necessary
for a child to be eleven or twelve
years old before receiving First Com
munion and now it is seven or eight
years? 2. Is it as great a sin to eat
soup prepared from meat as the meat
itself? 8. Is 1t sin to administer
drugs to very sick or dying person
which render them unconscious? q
If the Catholic is the only true re
Iigion should it not manifest itself in
their lives? In other words do you
think Catholics live better lives thar
Protestants?
/. Some years ago it was the gen
eraI rule not to admit children tt
First Communion under the age O.
eleven or twelve. This, however, wa:
not an absolute rule as some children
received their first Holy Communion
before they attained this age and some
did not receive it until they were
older. It was not deemed advisable
to admit child to First Communion
until he or she was quite familiar
with the whole catechism and unit
they were of an age to understand
thoroughly what was expected of on
who was to receive the Body ant
Blood of Christ. The Holy Father
however, by a recent decree, ha!
changed all this. He insists that chill
dren be permitted to receive Hol,
Communion privately as soon as the.
have attained the age of about sever
years, or in other words, as soon al
they have come to years of discretion
which varies somewhat with differen
children. But before receiving Hol.
Communion they must be instructe,
in regard to it's nature and effects
They are not expected to be familia
with the whole catechism. It is stuff
cient that they understand enough
about Confession and Holy Communiol
to be able to appreciate the value o
these sacraments and to love our Lor
and obey Him. BY being admitted t
Communion at this early age tn
foundation for holy life is laid befor
they have been in any way contain
mated by contact with the world
Their thoughts are drawn toward
God from their earliest years and the
are strengthened by the Bread G
Angels to do Gods will. This earl
reception of Holy Communion doe
not make it unnecessary for them t
apply themselves to the study of til