The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-05-09

Please give me your opinion on the
following case: A Catholic young
woman was married by a priest to a
man who had no religion at all, but
received a few instructions and was
baptized. After a few months he de-
serted her and is now married again.
tized and married him to take his
name from the church book. Now, it
seems an established fact that he had
no intention of being a Catholic and
his baptism was merely a matter of
form, so he could marry the girl, as
she would not marry him any other
way. Now, could she, by going to the
proper authorities, have the marriage
declared null and void? | know ofNa
similar case where 1t was done, with
the exception that the woman was the
convert and the mar a Catholic, and
the man was married again by the
priest.
Since the marriage was performed
by a priest we take it for granted that
it is valid and, therefore, neither
party can enter into a second valid
marriage while the other is living.
Therefore, unless it can be clearly
proven that the first marriage was
null and void (Which seems unlikely
under the circumstances) the woman
cannot lawfully marry again while her
husband lives. In regard to the sim
liar case" in which the Catholic party
is said to have been married by a
priest, you may be sure that the cases
are not similar" If the latter be a
true case then it follows that there
must have been good and sufficient
reasons for declaring the previous
marriage null and void, otherwise
such a marriage could not take place
with the approval of the Church. In
order to set at rest all doubt about the
matter in the case under considera-
ton, we suggest that you consult your
pastor and abide by his decision. If
he thinks there is any way out of the
difficulty he will lay the ase before
the proper authorities who will weigh
the evidence for and against and rem
der a decision in accordance with the
facts.
1. Is there any rule by which a
priest must be clean shaVen? If so,
when may he wear a beard? 2. Are
there any countries in which a priest
may marry?
l. Prior to the sixth century there
was no definite legislation requiring
priests to be clean shaven. Our Lord
Himself wore a beard and the con-
ventional pictures of the Apostles
show that some of them, at least,
were bearded. The first legislation of
the Church in regard to this matter
was directed against boards of exces-
sive length, and, later, against boards
of any kind. During the Middle Ages
the general rule was that the priest
was clean shaver. After that, short
boards were tolerated, although con-
tinual efforts were made to enforce
the legislation requiring priests to be
clean shaver. Since the eighteenth
century the wearing Of boards has
been prohibited except in cases of in
dividual priests who, for medical or
other reasons, car secure permission
from their bishops to wear boards.
The clergy of the Oriental churches
are generally bearded because in East
ern lands a smooth face is regarded
as a sign of effeminacy. In mission
airy countries priests generally wear
boards and there are certain Orders
in the Church whose rules prescribe
the wearing of a beard. 2. No, a
priest is never allowed to marry. In
the Eastern Church, however, many
of the diocesan clergy are married but
the ceremony must take place before
they are ordained to the priesthood.
This is a disciplinary regulation in
which the Eastern Church differs from
the Western Church.
1. Why are missionaries allowed to
tell funny stories in church to make
the congregation laugh and make re-
marks that seem to be out of place on
such an occasion? 2. At the begin
ming of the reign of Pope Plus X. ]
understand that His Holiness advo-
Gated congregational singing. Why is
It that we hear an English hymn only
once in two or three months? In nine
out of ten Protestant homes hymn
books are see on the piano but you
very seldom see one in a Catholic
home. Nothing is more impressive in
hymns than 30 Lord, am not
worthy" and yet ! hear It only once
q year at our church and that is on
First Communion day. 8. Why is
the "cathoIic Youths Hymn Book"
published when we never have any
use for It?
]. Occasionally missionaries may
say things to make the congregation
laugh but it is not at all general
among them. Perhaps, at times, it is
the best way of intoxicating the truth
by showing how ridiculous is the
custom or usage against which the
missionary is inveighing. Sometimes,
too, it is necessary to use very en-
phatic and plain language in the pull
pit to arouse the congregation to a
realization of its duty. 2. In his in
%struction on sacred music, commonly
referred to as the Motu Proprio, is
sued on November %, 1903, our Holy
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