The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-09-06

support GnS SdInoIlC 0ocgrlnS OF IN"
dulgences?
Indulgences are remissions of the
temporal punishment due to forgiven
sin, either here or in Purgatory, given
in consideration of corporal or spirit
ual good works done, by the person
who gains the indulgence. The pre-
else amount of penitential suffering
RENTED by any indulgence is I'M
known to anyone on earth; what is
known is the amount of canonical
penance which would be equivalent
for the suffering RENTED by the in
diligence, and to which the indulgence
is Immediately applied. Thus an in
diligence of 100 years RENTS 100 years
of canonical penance, together with
the unknown period of Purgatorial
suffering to which the 100 years pen
ance corresponds. No formal teach
ing of our Lord is recorded in Scrip
ture on the subject. But he gave in
dulgences Himself, not by way of re-
mission of canonical penance-which
was not yet instituted during His
earthly life-but by direct remission
of the penalties due to forgiven SIM
All His miracles of healing may be
said to be of this nature. In particu-
lar, He gave a plenary indulgence to
the penitent thief on the cross duke
xiii, 43), and an Indulgence, the
effect of which was an immediate cure,
to the palsied man whose sins had
been forgiven (Matt. tx, g.. His
formal teaching about indulgences
was most probably given to the Apos-
ties during the forty days between
His resurrection and ascension; it
was evidently familiar to st. Paul,
who not only granted an Indulgence
to an accommodated Corinthian, but
did not hesitate to declare that he did
so lin the person of Christ" e Cor.
ii. 100
Is it a sin to do hand embroidery
on Sunday?
While embroidery and other kinds
of fancy work do not belong to the
class of servile works forbidden on
Sunday, nevertheless, we do not be-
lieve that it would be lawful to spend
a great part of the Sunday doing such
work, especially if one depended upon
it for living. If one has no time to
do this kind of work during the week,
it may be done on Sunday, if there is
any necessity for it. Otherwise, it
would not be in keeping with the
sanctity of the day to engage in it for
any length of time.
When eating In a dininq-car or res
taurant, should Catholics stand and
say grace before and after meaIs7
cannot recall that have ever seen
anyone doing so.
A good Catholic has the courage OF
his convictions and is always ready
to profess his faith openly without,
however, obtruding it unnecessarily on
others, and especially on non-Catho-
lies. He will say grace before and
after meals in a public place-din-
ing-car or restaurant-just as he
would at his own table. The fact that
you have not seen Catholics say grace
in such places is no proof that they
omit it. Who does not know Catho-
lies who never say grace, even at
their own tables? Some Catholics
think it better not to make themselves
conspicuous by standing up and max
ing the sign of the cross before and
after meals in public places; but,
rather than omit it entirely, they do
so after they have taken their places
at the table, or before they are about
to leave. If one omits the sign of
the cross-which is a concession to
human respect-one can always say a
little prayer of blessing and thanks
giving before and after each meal.
Why is the AngeIus recited stand.
ing on Sunday and not on other days
Of the week?
This question is answered as fol
lows by Father Hull, S. j., in the
Bombay Examiner.
We have not found the question
treated in the books which lie close
at hand, but can venture on plaus
ible conjecture. In the Early Church
as among the Jews, standing with
arms outstretched was the ordinary
and proper attitude for prayer; kneel
ing was an attitude expressive of pen
ance.
Hence a decree in one of the early
councils forbids the faithful to knee
in church on Sundays. The medieva
practice of standing for the Angelus
on Sundays-and also for the Regina
Coeli in Easter-time- lis, we suggest
a relic of this ancient principle, anC
expressive of the idea that Sunday
and Paschal-time are festal times.
The standing begins on Saturday
evening as being the first vespers O.
the Sunday, and is continued to Sun
day evening as the second vespers
Is It mortal sin to cheat in school
and would person commit sacri
lege II he received Holy Communion
without confessing that he had cheated
In school, il he did not know Whethe
it was a mortal or VeniaI SIM
Every one knows that it is wron,
to cheat in school or elsewhere; blu
whether it will be mortal sin or onl.
a venial sin depends on circumstances
If the cheating was the cause of seri
Gus harm to fellow student, as i
might be, for instance, in competi
tive examination, it could easily be
mortal sin, and in such case tn,