The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-11-23

Must two Catholic people be married
in their parish and by their w
Pastor, or could they be married from
any Catholic Church in another town,
and 10 it necessary to have three pub
locations?
The general rule in regard to the
marriage of Catholics is that the cere-
mony be performed by the pastor OF
the parish to which the bride belongs.
Under certain circumstances it may
there be a reason why the ceremony
should be performed by any other
priest and in any other parish, it must
be made known to the pastor of the
brides parish, who alone a give an
other priest the necessary permission
to enable him to assist lawfully at
the marriage. All arrangements in
regard to the wedding should be made
with the pastor of the parish in which
the bride lives in order that there
may be no misunderstanding. The
law of the Church requires the publ
cation of the banns of marriage on
three Sundays preceding the date on
which the ceremony is to take place.
If there be good and sufficient reasons
for dispensing from n or more OF
these publications, the dispensation
must be obtained through the pastor
of the parish who will make known
these reasons to the Bishop of the
diocese who alone can grant the dis
pensation.
Some Masons maintain that there is
no more reason for the Church to for
bid Catholics to join their lodge thar
to forbid them to join the Elks which
is also a secret organization. Are they
correct in this?
The Church forbids Catholics to
join non-Catholic organizations, not
precisely because they are secret Cfor
in that case they would have to forbid
them to join many Catholic societies)
but because of the dangerous teaching
inculcated under the badge of secrecy,
and because of the fact that the atmos-
phere, so to speak, of such organiza-
lions, if not openly irreligious, is detri-
mental to the spiritual welfare of Cath
olics. The Masons make a religion Of
their teaching, and a church of their
lodge. The Church condemned them
long ago and they are known for their
hostility towards her. In European
countries this hostility is more open
and manifest; but we nave yet to
learn that the Masonic fraternity of
the United States have repudiated in
any way the pernicious activity of
their European brethren against, not
only the Catholic Church, but Chris
tianity in general. No Catholic can
become a member of the Masonic Or
der and remain a Catholic. The
Church has not absolutely forbidden
Catholics to join the Elks but she does
all that she can to discourage them
from doing SO, and loyal Catholics,
who see the wisdom of the Church's
attitude towards such organizations,
comply with her wishes in this re-
gard.
What is meant by a vocation, and
how does IL manifest itself in the indi-
viduaI? Is anything special required
for a vocation to the priesthood?
The word vocation" in ordinary
language, is applied to any mode OF
life in which a man happens to be
fxedly engaged. But in its theological
sense it means something more posi-.
tive, namely, a call from God to enter
into a particular state Of life, for in
stance, the priesthood or a religious
order.
We must avoid imagining that a
vocation necessarily means anything
like a miraculous speaking of God to
the soul. Such instances do occur.
but they are to be regarded as extra
ordinary. Putting these aside, a voca'
ton may take the form of a special
movement of the feelings, or the haunt
ing of a thought which seems to be
the work of grace, especially when the
ignoring of such inspirations brings
with it a sense of spiritual uneasiness
as if it were decidedly mot the right
thing" But there can be vocations in
which these subjective feelings are
not very strong and definite, and in
that case we have to take a wider view
of the question, and turn to other con
siderations.
Some of these considerations are
extremely prosaic. In the case OF the
priesthood, the first question is wheth
er the aspirant has the necessary quail
~fications of health and strength, intel
lect and moral character, and even q
certain presentability of person and
manners. If these are notably want
ing, no bishop would deem it wise tt
accept such a one as a candidate fol
Holy Orders. Secondly, is the aspir
ant tied to the world in any specia
way, as, for instance, by duties to his
family, or the need of supporting them
by pecuniary obligations. ETC.? Third