The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-13
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10 ii Is lfT0R eicAL.l


the Mass, speaking of this duty Of
gratitude, says: Gratitude to behe
factors is not only a great and sacred
obligation, but also an exceedingly
beautiful virtue. Sincere
thankfulness is the mark of a noble
soul, while ingratitude is peculiar to
a mean and proud spirit" And q lit.
tie further on he says: "There are
various circumstances that increase
the value of q benefit, and oblfge the
recipient to still further gratitude. A
tgift is to be particularly esteemed
| when, it is fa) in itself noble. and
precious, Oh useful to the receiver,
and (c) frequently and generously be.
slowed. With regard to the benefac.
tor, two things are to be observed:
whether he. is (a) of exalted dignity,
and tb) whether he imparts his gifts
with very great love. In regard to
the recipient, it is to be considered
whether (a) he is mean and abject,
and CD utterly undeserving of the
gift" Under all these respects it
must at once be manifest how I'M
speakably great are Gods benefits to
us, and how imperative is the duty
we are under of thanking Him to the
very utmost of our power. To neglect
this duty is not only wrong, but dan
gerous to our salvation. For we have
it on the authority of st. Bernard and
i st. Chrysostom that in consequence
of our ingratitude God withholds from
us His graces and blessing, firstly in
punishment, and secondly, in mercy,
/ lest He should have to chastise us for
FOUR fresh ingratitude. Many Of our
misfortunes in the way of sickness,
loss, and suffering in this world. are
j due TO our ingratitude; while a CRATE
full spirit opens UP the fountains of
His mercy.
Would to -God,Y says devout and
learned spiritual writer on the Mass,
already cited, chat we appreciated
Alright the immense treasure that we
possess in Holy Mass! How happy
we should then be! How attentively
we should hear Mass! In
Holy Mass we have the noblest burnt
offering, the sublimest sacrifice of
praise and thanksgiving. II is the be-
levers greatest treasure. and the de-
vout Christians dearest joy"
This section may be summoned up
and concluded in the eloquent and
touching words Of Father Segneri S.
j.: Consider, o Christian, how in
institution Of Holy Mass, for without
it we can never thank God rightly for
His benefits. 1t was the superabund-
ance of His love that induced Him
not only to load us with so many bene-
fits, but to place within our reach the
means of giving Him abundant thanks
for these same benefits. Would that
we appreciated our privileges and
turned them to good account! When
we hear Mass, Christ, who is immo-
Hated atesF is.Fatief. for sake, be-
comes our own, and with Him we be-
come possessed of all His infinite mer-
it's, and are able to offer them to God
the Father, thus to tighten the heavy
load OF our Indebtedness that we'll
nigh brushes us to, earth
To Obtain Remission of our Sins.
On this subject the Council of Trent
speaks as follows. '.The Holy Synod
teaches that this sacrifice is truly pro-
pitiatory, and if one draws nigh unto
God, contrite and penitent; He will be
appeased by the Offering thereof, and
granting the grace and gift of peni-
tence, will forgive even heinous crimes
and sins" (Sess. %, CHI. y. Again, in
the same Session it says: IF any
one saith that the Sacrifice of the
Mass is not a propitiatory sacrifice,
let him be anathema' (Sess. %, CHI. 81.
To the same purpose Marchantius
says: "The Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, offered to Almighty God, serves
to atone for mortal sins, but preem-
inently for secret sins, that is, those
which, after careful examination of our
conscience, we cannot call to mind. .
In what sense these words and those
of the Council of Trent are to be
taken he elsewhere points out: Holy
Mass" he. says, docs. not blot our
mortal sin, but it produces contrition,
or the desire of true contrition." The
Mass does not, in the case of mortal
| sin, sHpersede the necessity of going
to confession, but, owing to the eff
cacious grace it gives, it may become
the means of procuring perfect con-
triton, which, when united with the
! firm resolution of going to confession,
suffices to remit the guilt even of NOR
tai sin.
The action Of the priest at Mass
shows that it is a veritable sacrifice
of atonement. He begins by saying
the Conf1teor or General Confession,
which is then recited by the server in
i the name Of all, the congregation, after
which the priest 4pronounces the abso-
! luton: May the Almighty God have
mercy upon you, forgive your sins, and
bring you to life everlasting" Then
making the sign OF the Cross. he SAYS
| May the Almighty and Merciful Lord
grant us pardon. dissolution, and remis-
sion of our SINS Again and again
he invokes the Divine mercy in the
xyrie Eleison, and in other prayers
throughout the Mass, notably the
4 Agnus Del, in which he calls aloud for
mercy, saying, Lamb of God, Who talk
4 est away the sins of the world, have
mercy on us. -
/ THE special effect of the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass" says st.