The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-02-22

A priest is called Father because
he is, in reality, the spiritual father
of the Christian people entrusted to
his care. He begets them in the
spiritual order through baptism and
supports and nourishes them in their
spiritual life by means of the Sacra-
ments of the Church. In word, the
priest occupies in relation to Catho-
lies a position similar to that which
the father of family does in relation
to his children This relationship is
sanctioned by Holy Scripture. st.
Paul says: For if you have ten
thousand instructors in Christ, yet
not many Fathers. For in Christ
Jesus, by the Gospel, have begotten
you" q Cor. ". 15). st. Paul calls
Timothy his beloved son" Il Tim.
1: p, and st. John calls the early
Christians his little children" q
John II: 49,. The title of Father
is therefore given by Catholics to
their priests as a recognition of the
spiritual relationship that exists be-
tween them.
Can a person who tells a sin in
confession, which he did not tell in
his other confessions receive Holy
Communion without going to confes-
sion again?
The meaning of this question is
not at all clear. If it implies that
a person wilfully concealed a sin in
his past confessions, and told it and
the circumstances connected with it
in his last confession, there is no rea-
son why he cannot receive Holy Com
munion.
Is it wrong for Catholics belonging
to an orchestra, to play for dances in
Lent or Advent If they do not take
part in the dances?
There is no reason why Catholics
who are members of an orchestra
should be censured for playing for
dances in Lent or Advent.
1. Can a Catholic priest give Bene-
diction of the Blessed Sacrament
any time he wishes? 2. Can he
ever give 5enediction twice day?
was always told it could only be
given on Sundays and holydays OF
obligation and on any other days he
. must have permission from his 5ish'
op to do so and that it could never be
qiven more than once a day in the
same Church.
/ and 2. These questions have al
ready been substantially answered in
this department. There are stated
times when priests may give Bene
diction of the Blessed Sacrament tC
their people if there be sufficient
number present to secure becoming
devotion and reverence. For this they
have permission from the Bishop Of
the Diocese. Priests can also give
Benediction of the Blessed Sacra
ment at other than these stated
times if the Bishop of the Diocese
believes there is sufficient reason
for granting the permission. You are
mistaken in saying that BenedictioI
of the Blessed Sacrament cannot b.
given twice on the same day in the
same church. If there is suffcien
number of people present to justif!
the giving of Benediction and thu
Bishop of the Diocese deems it pru
dent to permit it, Benediction can b.
given twice day in the same church
These are matters of discipline il
which the Bishop of the Diocese ma!
use his own discretion. The rubric'
do not prescribe any definite numbe
who must be present in the churcl
before Benediction can be given. Al
that is necessary is that becomin:
reverence and devotion be secured.
What is your opinion of the Maya
zine called "Jim Jam Jems" pub
Iished at Bismarck, NJ. D.
We think it is very poor substi
tute for the wholesome kind of litera
ture which not only Catholics, blu
all intelligent people should read. 1
has nothing to recommend it to an.
one who values his time and desires
to improve his mind.
Kindly inform me who the fathe
and mother of William Marconi, tn,
wireless inventor, were, their nation
ality, occupation, religion, station il
life, ETC.?
AS far as we can learn from tn,
rather scant family history furnishes
by biographies of William Marconi
he was born near Bologna, Italy, il
1874. His father was an Italian ant
his mother an Irish Protestant. The,
belonged to the middle class, hi
father being an engineer by profes
sion.- In 1905 William Marconi mar
ried the Honorable Beatrice O'Brien
daughter of the thirteenth BaroI
Inchiquin.
I. Give me an idea of the Catho
lie Church on the equalization of tn,
sexes7 Most good, educated Catholic,
believe q woman to be equal to
man. 2. Has any human being
without divine nature, ever beef
given the place in Heaven that tn
Blessed Virgin has? Not that womaI
desires such an exalted place but som,
men feed their pride thinking tn,
Catholic Church upholds them.
1. The Catholic Church recognize
no distinction between men and WON
en- except in the matter of physica
and physiological conditions. Men
tally, morally and spiritually they ar
alba RnNNrvne %a~s H0uv FFre.Se