The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-08

and get married? Can such a per-
son be saved?
"a priest once, a priest forever"
No one who is validity ordained to
the priesthood can ever lay aside
his priestly character. He can never
cease to be a priest. Since Holy
Orders is an impeachment which rem
ders it impossible for priest to con-
tract a valid marriage it follows that
no priest can lay aside his priesthood
and enter the married state. Such
a marriage, if attempted, would be
null and void. 1t would be a great
sin on the part of the priest but, as
in the case of other sins, he could
repent and there is no reason why, if
his repentance be sincere, that he
cannot be saved as any other one
who repents after having sinned.
Would you kindly explain the Mass
from beginning to end so that ! could
explain it to a non-Catholic, who
knows nothing about the Catholic
faith?
we have at our disposal to answer this
question in detail. Nor is it neces-
sary that we should do so. There are
many books written about the Mass.
In fact, in most of the prayer books
there is a brief explanation of the
principal parts of the Mass as well
as prayers to be said while the Mass
Sc hnSw I'm A hi of on
titled "The Mass Book" which can
be obtained very cheaply at any
Catholic bookstore gives simple ex-
PLANTATION of the Mass for non-Catho-
lies. A more detailed explanation can
be. found in "The Order and Ceremon-
ial of the Most Holy and Adorable
Sacrifice of the Mass by Canon
Oakeley, as well as in "The Christian
At Mass; or, The Mass Explained in
All It's Parts by Rev. J l.. Andres.
Any Catholic bookseller can obtain
these works for you. The former costs
about thirty-f1ve cents and the latter
can be procured for sixty cents.
How long after the death of his
son may father take part in amuse-
ments such as operas, shows, card
parties and dances; or daughter,
after the death of her father?
There is no definite length of time
set apart for mourning the death of a
member of ones family. 1t is Gus
tomery, however, for those who wear
external signs of mourning to refrain
from going into society for about a
year. Much depends on the customs
of the people and the taste of the
individual. We do not think that it
would be any great harm for the be-
reaved to attend some of those social
affairs if they wish to do so during
the period of mourning, especially
after the lapse of some months.
1. What books are condemned by
the Church? 2. In what year was
Christ born, and how is the time
reckoned? 8. Is it a historical fact
that Christ was born on December IS
or has the Church set that day aside
as the day of christ's BIRTH?
1. 1t would be impossible in the
space allowed us to give even a par
tial enumeration of the books con
demned by the Church. You will
find list of the more important ones
in the Roman Index of Forbidden
Books" by Rev. Francis J. Betten, S
j., which can be procured at any
Catholic book store for less than hall
a dollar. 1t gives a good explanation
of the index and the legislation con
nected with it. 2 and 3. 1t is custom
airy to say that Christ was born in the
first year of the Christian era. The
events which took place prior to the
coming of Christ are said to have oc
CURED before Christ, (B. c.. Those
which have taken place since His com
ing are date A. D., that is, in the yeal
of our Lord. The question of the day
and year on which our Lord was borr
is one that has never been definitely
settled. The Gospels give us no hell
in determining the date Of our Lord:
birth. Indeed, from the data con
tanned in them contradictory argu
ments have been drawn. ST. Matthew
says that Christ was born Gin thu
days of King Herod". Those whC
have made study of chronology sa!
that this was about the year 74S from
the foundation of Rome, or fou
thousand and four years after tn,
creation of the world The Feast o
the Nativity is not enumerated anon;
the early festivals of the Church. TIL,
present Christian era was fixed in tn,
sixth century by Dionysius Exiguus
who laid down that Christ was borl
December % of the year 753 after tn,
foundation of Rome, thus making tn,
Christian era open with the year 754
1t has been shown that this date il
incorrect and that Christ was bor1
probably about the year 748 or ESQ
The question is one which cannot b,
definitely settled owing to the fac
that the Bible does not give an exac
chronology of the events which i
records. The important question il
that Christ was born and of this Their
is, or can be, no doubt. At the pres
ent time the date of his birth is cele
brated December Is and this suit
the purpose of the Church as well a
any other date 1t is probably as cor
rect as any that might be selected
Indeed, it has more to recommend i
than many other dates that have beel
mentioned by students of Biblica