Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-02-07
Requirements For the Enjoy.
ments of Its Numerous Spirit
uaI Advantages.
Very Rev. Charles II. McKenna
Known Here as It's
Apostle.
INDULGENCES MAY BE GAINED

For some time past in New York
Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia
Pittsburgh, Chicago, Cincinnati, St
Louis, New Orleans, in fact all the
principal cities of the country, much
attention has been attracted to the
society In the Catholic church known
as the Holy Name Society, which has
received the appreciation of Pope
Plus x. and the American Cardinals,
Archbishops, Bishops and clergy. It
was first founded in Louisville at
st. Louis Bertrand's church, and
since has been organized in other
congregations.
The Holy Name Society is the
same as the Holy Name Contra
ternity, and in order that it's mem
bers may enjoy all the spiritual ad-
vantages of the confraternity certain
things are required. First is the
consent of the Ordinary of the dio-
cese. Where this consent is given
| II is the earnest desire that the
Holy Name Society be established In
that all members become active Holy
Name men-active in the sense OF
practical Catholicity.
The second requirement is a
diploma authorizing the canonical
establishment of the society must
come from the Master General of
the Dominicans. And as the Manual
of the Holy Name Society says, "No
society is really, that is validly,
erected without said diploma" The
Master General of the Dominican
order has noted with greatest pleas
ure the rapid growth of the Holy
Name Society in the United States
he realized the inconvenience OF
every pastor sending to Rome for
1.-THE diploma, and therefore instruct
ed-the rPfoyineials-- Of the order in.
this country to issue the diplomas
for him. The third requisite is
register of names. The directors of
the Holy Name Society must keep
this register. The projects of the
society may have their own lists of
names, but there must be regular
Holy Name Register" The director
may inscribe the name himself. But
anyone can do this provided the di-
rector affix his name to each page.
This may seem to some a useless
proceeding. but nevertheless it is to
be done. Our own opinions in the
matter should always take second
place when it means the spiritual
advancement of the faithful. 1t Is
well, II is most comforting, most
edifying that our men go to the
sacraments regularly and frequently;
but we should make every effor.
possible to further the spiritual life
of our men and boys.
One of the great means for the
advancement of souls is the gaining
of indulgences. On this matter of
indulgences let us take a paragraph
from "The Treasures of the Rosary"
by the Very Rev. Charles II. Nc
Kenna. o. p. P. c., known in this
country as "The Apostle of the
Holy Name" II gives us one of the
greatest reasons why we should gain
as many indulgences as possible. He
says: "ln the tribunal of confess
sion, after the penitent makes his
self-accusation, the priest imposes
on him what is called a penance-
certain prayers to be said or certain
good acts to be performed. This
penance is intended to satisfy in some
measure the justice of God offended
by the sins confessed. But we have
reason to fear that these slight PEN
ances are far from being adequate
to satisfy God for the many
blasphemies and other sins which
have. been confessed. When the
nrfaof hao 10 a,
penances he gives are not adequate,
why, II may be asked, does he not
impose heavier penances-long fasts
on bread and water, such as were
imposed by the church in early
ages, and known as canonical PEN
ances? The answer is, that no priest
can give adequate penance. since
only God knows the malice and
enormity of sin. Again we fear
that many would be unwilling TO
perform today those rigorous PEN
ances that were In early days inn
posed by the church. Yet while she
changes her discipline. her doctrine
does not change. AS a loving mother
she now opens TO us the infinite
treasure of her indulgences, begging
No tht0tbh thtm W odlloiy tue JUS
tice of God for our trangressions.
Would to God that all poor sinners
realized the tender solicitude of the
church and the necessity and advan-
tages OF the spiritual riches she
offers for our acceptancel" A glance
az the list OF indulgences. plenary
and partial. given In the Manual OF
the Holy Name Society,"" will en-
courage any man who has the in
terest of his own soul at heart. On
November 4. 1903, His Holiness Plus
X. granted certain Indulgences TO
the Holy Name men OF the United
States; A plenary indulgence to all
who have confessed and received
holy communion and take part In
the Holy Name rallies. wearing the
ofiieial button or badge; an In
dulgence OF 500 days may be gained