The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-24
PAPER READ BY HIS EMINENcE
CARDINAL BOURNE AT THE
EUcHARIsTIc CONGRESS AT
MALTA.

EUcHARIsTIc CONGRESS AT
MALTA.
The family is the foundation of
human society. Where family life
exists in all it's purity we may rest
assured that the nation which is built
up thereon will, whether it be great or
small, widespread or confined within
narrow limits, rich or poor, enjoy all
the essential conditions of happiness
and contentment But the attainment
of such perfect family life is no easy
matter. The history of the world,
civilized and uncivilized alike, is be-
fore us to bear witness that the
strongest forces are always at work
to destroy and break up the ideal of
one father, one mother, and the chill
dren grouped around them, the picture
of marriage that Christianity at least,
has made familiar to us. The older
Divine dispensation, with it's tolera-
tion of polygamy and permission of
divorce, did not venture to set be-
fore them perfection which was
beyond their strength.
The Marriage State.
And it stands to reason that the
marriage state makes a great demand
upon those who embrace it if they are
to pass long span of years in mutual
harmony and to bring up the children
whom God may be pleased to bestow
upon them in His knowledge and
loyal service. Two human individu-
alities are placed in closest union for
the term of their natural lives, for
better, for worse, for richer, for
poorer, to face all the changes and
vicissitudes of mortal existence. Those
two individualities remain distinct
and separate, but they have to lead a
life in the most intimate respects
identified. And, as time goes on, their
individual characteristics, merged in
apparent sympathy during the days of
courtship or at the outset of their
union, will tend inevitably to assert
themselves, and the old self-love or
selfshness, so strong feature in the
nature of us all, will, if not checked,
rise up to produce discord where per-
feet harmony should prevail. Can we
wonder, then, if those to whom the
Christian Faith has through heresy
or unbelief lost it's full meaning, call
out aloud that the unity and indis-
solubility of marriage are beyond the
power of many, both men and women,
to bear, that their true life is crushed
out thereby, and that freedom must
be given to them to break the ties
that have become CALLING, and to seek
the new afinities, as they term them,
that are to complete their own
existence?
The Family Life.
Then day will come to those whom
God has joined together when other
individual natures spring from their
own, and the children thus born, while
they will bring joy and gladness in
many ways to their parents hearts,
will none the less be an occasion of
many a sorrow and anxiety, and
again possible source of misunder-
standing and division where father
and mother are unable to regard their
future interests from the same point
of view. The children themselves as
they grow up will unfold their own
distinctive characters, not in all points
in sympathy with those from whom
they sprung. For a time the parents
will may prevail, but gradually as the
limit of parental control is reached,
opportunities of untold suffering may
arise, and turn the memory of the
| joyous obedient days of childhood into
bitter regret, on account of the law
less and seemingly ungrateful period
that has succeeded to them. Who, as
they gaze upon a youth and maiden
entering on their united life can tell
the future that lies before them OF
sum up the trials which will need all
their virtue to sutain?
The Holy Eucharist Sanctifies the
Home.
/ Our Divine Master has foreseen il
all, and His Apostle has forewarned us
of the tribulation that awaits those
who enter upon this marriage state
So there is no need for scandal OF
surprise. But, as God never places a
burden upon His creatures without
providing them with the special means
Of grace that they need to bear them
He has left in His Church source OF
help which is open to all who desire
to avail themselves thereof: "Come
to me all ye that are weary and
heavy laden, and will refresh you. .
He has not been satisfied with com
ing among us merely for time OF
with giving to us His Divine teaching
as our guide. But i'm the Blessed Sa-
crament He remains for ever in our
midst, and He gives Himself In closest
union to our souls AS Holy Com.
munion is the great source Of mutual
charity among men of most different
character, tastes, and education, by
making them all grow into the like
ness OF their Master, SO may it be
come the bond of union and the
strength Of mutual forbearance and
support to those whom God has united
by a great Sacrament for the propaga-
tion of the human race; for between
them link of charity of SURPRISING
strength has to be built up, not on
mere liking or human love, however
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