The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-09-27

Isn't it true that all countries in
which Catholicism holds sway are
away behind countries dominated by
Professionalism? Look at Spain, Mex
leo, Italy and especially South Amer
lea. Why, all Protestant countries are
far and away ahead of Catholic lands.
No, it isn't true that all Protestant
countries are away ahead of Catholic
countries. The person who asks this
question means, of course, that Cath
olic countries are behind Protestant
countries in material prosperity, prog
ress, and all that goes to make coun-
tries great in the eyes of men. But
is this true greatness? Are wealth
and power the only standards by which
a country is to be judged? When did
God make material prosperity the test
and measure of true greatness? When
did He constitute wealth and power
and worldly influence the sole evil
dences of national posterity? A large
number of non-thinking people regard
the present material prosperity of GER
tain Protestant nations as the most
conclusive argument against the truth
of Catholicity And yet, Christ did not
make wealth or material greatness a
mark of His Church. The people who
lived up to the requirements of His
gospel and put in practice the coun-
sells of perfection enunciated by Him,
the people who laid up treasures in
heaven, rather than in banks and safes
on earth, would be behind others in
the opinion of those who judge by
worldly standards. The Saviour de-
nounced wealth in the words of st.
Lukes gospel (VE2D: 'Wo to you
that are rich, for you have your con-
ISOLATION" He declares earthly pos
sessions secondary to spiritual gifts
in the gospel of st. Matthew (XVE26):
What doth it profit man if he gain
the whole world, and suffer the loss
of his own soul?" When instituting
a comparison between the relative
standing of Catholic and Protestant
nations, there are many things to be
taken into account We must take
into account the economic, social, po-
litical, moral and religious factors, as
well as the climatic and racial condi-
tions that favor or retard progress and
development We must take period
when Catholicity and Professionalism is
still living, vital force and know the
proportion of Catholics, Professionals
and infidels in the country. We must
be able to appreciate the fact that
nations, like individuals, have their
time of birth, growth and decay. Pre-
sumably, the person who asks this
question would consider the United
States Protestant country, and yet
if one takes into account the number
of church-going Christians, Catholics
easily constitute one-half the number
Why, then, attribute its prosperity to
Professionalism rather than to infdel-
ity? Spain, Mexico, Italy, South Amer
lea and other Catholic countries are
far ahead of Protestant lands in all
the things that make for lasting great
ness 1t would require more space
than we have at our disposal to insti-
tute a detailed comparison between a
given Catholic country and it's Protes-
tant neighbor We suggest that the
inquirer read Father Young's book on
Catholic and Protestant Countries
Compared" in which he adduces I'M
answerable testimony showing the CIV
ilization, popular happiness, general in
telligence and morality of Catholic
countries when compared with Prot
estant lands. This book can be OBJ
tanned at any Catholic book store
He cites facts and figures from Protes-
tant sources and arrives at a conclu-
sion the very opposite of that which
underlies the question under consid-
Grafton.
1. Why are green Vestments worn
so much more this year than before?
2. Please translate the inscription on
the new Cathedral: "Euntes, Ergo,
Docete omnes Gentes."
1. We have already, in these col
umns, given the reason why green
vestments are worn more frequently
this year than heretofore. 1t is be-
cause the number of special feasts
celebrated on Sundays is less, owing
to recent changes in the Divine Office.
Green is the color of the vestment
worn on Sundays when no special
feasts are commemorated. 2. "Going,
therefore, teach We all nations"
Why are candles kept lighted around
the corpse of dead Catholic?
Lighted candles symbolic the faith
which glowed in the soul of the Cath
olic This faith was as burning light
which showed the way to heaven.
Can Holy Communion be received
at a funeral Mass when the corpse is
present in the church?
1t is not customary. to receive Holy
Communion at funeral Mass, though,
as far as we know, there is no litur-
gical prohibition.
A young Catholic man who lived
with US for while seemed to like our
ways, but when he went to different
place he told lies about US so that
the people with whom he now stays
Just hate us. We have asked him to
stop, but he keeps right on. Not long
ago | spoke to him in friendly way
,J,a.,A &t,a v,oa%far ht1& he raFuead e.