The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-05-03

I. What 10 the true story of the
Gunpowder Plot? 2. What is meant
by making friends of the mammon of
lniquity?
1. The Gunpowder Plot was con-
spiracy to blow up the English House
of Parliament on November 5, 1905.
1t was formed by few men, under
the leadership of Guy Fawkes, who
were maddened by the persecution
that deprived them of their rights.
This plot has very often been laid at
the door of English Catholics though,
in reality, the Catholics as body
had nothing at all to do with it nor
can they be held responsible for it.
Indeed, it was Catholic, Lord Mont
eagle, who discovered the plot and
exposed it to the King and thus avert
ed the great crime which it's per-
petrators contemplated. Notwith-
standing these facts, many non-Cath-
Ole writer's persist in attributing the
Gunpowder Plot to Catholics. 2. The
mammon of iniquity is a poetic name
for money or riches. The unrighteous
steward, mentioned in the Parable, by
an act of injustice, made friends for
himself of his Lords debtors that
they might, in the time of his need,
receive him into their houses. His
injustice was condemned by our Lord; ;
but his prudent provision for the
future is employed by the Saviour
to illustrate an appeal to men to make
to themselves friends of the poor
through the distribution of their
riches. In other words they are ex-
horted to be charitable. The steward
is not to be initiated in his act of
dishonesty; but the object of his act
was prudent provision for the future
and this is recommended to all by the
Son of God.
What is the difference between
Easter water and Holy water?
Easter Water is a special kind OF
Holy Water which is blessed on Easter
Saturday morning and used in the lit
urgical services of that day and on
Easter Sunday. A portion of it is
taken by the faithful to their homes
and the congregations present at Mass
on Holy Saturday morning and on
Easter Sunday are also sprinkled with
it. There is no further mention OF
Easter Water in the liturgy of the
Church, nor can it be used as a sub
stitute for Holy Water which is bless
ed by the priest with solemn prayers
for the use of the faithful in warding
off dangers and in obtaining for them
selves graces and blessings. Holy
Water is one of the Sacramentals OF
the Church which, if used according
to the spirit of the Church, will ex
cite pious affections and desires and
by that means wipe away the stain
of venial sin.
I. Do priests object to people max
ing a general confession at any time
2. Why does the Church celebrate the
resurrection of our Lord on Saturday
Instead Of Sunday?
1. BY general confession is meant
a repetition of the sins told In pre-
ceding confessions. Sometimes this il
necessary; sometimes it is useful. II
all other cases it is likely to beget
scruples and lead the penitent tc
think about the past when he should
be thinking about the present and the
future When this is the case tits mo-
advisable to make a general comics
sion. A priest always advises a gen
eral confession when, for one reason
or another, the penitent's former con
LESSONS were invalid or sacrilegious
He permits it at certain times wher
notable spiritual good is expected tt
result therefrom. A person usual!
makes a general confession wheI
about to enter upon new state O
life, when making spiritual retreat
and whenever it is deemed advisable
to allay doubts and scruples of con
science with regard to past sins. 2
The Church does not celebrate tn,
Resurrection of our Lord on Saturda!
but on Sunday-Easter Sunday, The
day of the Resurrection.
f..
1. Is dancing and other kinds o
amusements allowed on ST. Patrick''
Day? 2. Are Catholics forbidden Il
dance round dances? 8. Is dancing
permitted Immediately after Easte
Sunday? 4. Are Catholics permitted
to attend a funeral in a Protestan
church If they do not take any part IL
the servlces7
1-3. We have answered questions
in regard to dancing in all its phases
so frequently in these columns tina
we are firing of the continual repeti
ton. While we have laid down tn,
teaching of the Church on this poin
we cannot undertake to answer al
questions that may be asked in regart
to dances in particular cases withou
knowing the specific circumstances
Even though dancing is, in itself,
harmless amusement it may becom,
the occasion of sin to the participants
and the same dances may be an occa
sion of sin to one and not to another
All dances which are suggestive o.
corrupting in their influence upon tn,
morals of the participants are forbid
den. The Church has not set asidt
any part of the year or any particula
days on which it is lawful or unlaw
full to indulge in harmless dances; blu
there are certain seasons when gooC
Catholics in a Snirit of npuanco al