The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-06

since POPE PluS \ so drQently desired
the reception of the Holy Eucharist
daily by the faithful?
AS q matter of fact priests do eX-
hort their people, from time to time. at
least, to receive Holy Communion fire.
quently and even daily when possible
and in most parishes there are many
who receive Holy Communion every
morning. You would not have the
priests make daily Communion the
subject of every sermon? True, it is
the wish of the Church, as expressed
by the late Holy Father, Pope Plus X,
but it is matter Of counsel and not
Of precept. There is no obligation TO
receive Holy Communion every day
or frequently. The law of the Church
requires the faithful to receive Holy
Communion once a year. That is the
minimum, Of course, and good Catho-
lies receive more frequently than
that. The priests never discourage
frequent Communion, but, on the con-
trary, urge it on the faithful as often
as they think it necessary or advisa-
bic, both in the confessional and from
the pulpit.
If father refuses to meet his obi
cations to the Church, contrary to the
wishes of his family, has priest the
right to eliminate the balance of the
family from Church and decline to give
them the last rites of the Church, if
- al cE1 IN ~
her children as good practical Cath
olics?
No pastor will visit the sins and
shortcomings Of the father on his chill
dren in the manner suggested in this
question. No priest will refuse the
rites Of the Church and the consola-
tons of religion to any member OF a
family no matter how negligent the
father may be in the fulfilment of his
obligations toward the Church. On
the contrary, he usually shows himself
more solicitous in their regard and
more anxious to go out Of his way to
accommodate them lest they might
think, however falsely, that, i'll his at
titude towards them, he was mindful OF
the negligence of the head of the
household Especially is this true,
when the members of the family are
good Catholics and anxious to do their
full duty toward the Church.
1. Is it not very improper for a
lady to approach Holy Communion
wearing gloves? 2. While the priest
is saying the Stations Of the Cross
during Lent, should not the people
turn and mediate on the station be-
fore which he is reading? If not, what
are the pictures for?
1. 1t is unbecoming for Catholic
women to wear gloves when receiving
Holy Communion and well-instructed
Catholics do not offend in this way.
2. When the Stations Of the Cross
are said publicly during Lent, or at
any other time, the priest and the
acolytes who go from station to sta
ton represent the people and it is not
necessary for those present to turn to-
wards each station and remain in that
attitude while the prayers are being
for them to do so when they are in
their pews. In some places they turn
towards the station as far as possible
or in the general direction of the sta
ton when the priest is standing be-
fore it and then face the altar when
the times comes TO lneel.
If a person has been enrolled in the
scapuIar and wishes to use the soap
ular medal instead, is it necessary to
have the medal blessed to gain the
indulgence?
Yes; the scapular medal which one
substitutes for the ordinary scapular
must be blessed by priest before it
can be used for that purpose.
1. When did the Catholic Church de.
clare the Pope infalIibIe in matters OF
faith? 2. Did the Bishops from the
United States in the council that de.
cIared the Pope infalIible vote againct
it? 8. When did matrimony become
a sacrament in the Catholic Church?
/. The infallibility of the Pope was
formally defined as dogma of faith
at the Vatican Council held in Rome
in 1870. The Vatican Council teaches
chat when the Roman Pontiff speaks
eX cathedra-that is, when he, using
his office as pastor and doctor of all
Christians, in virtue of his Apostolic
office, defines doctrine of faith and
morals to be held by the whole
Church, he by the divine assistance
promised to him in the blessed Peter
possesses that infallibility with which
the Divine Redeemer was pleased to
invest his Church in the definition OF
doctrine on faith or morals, and that
therefore, such definitions of the Rom
an Pontiff are irreformable in theil
own nature and not because of the
consent of the Church" The Vatican
definition did not promulgate a new
doctrine, but merely put into briei
dogmatic form for the explicit accept
ance of all the faithful, truth which
had been a matter of Catholic teach
ing from the earliest times. The
Church had always believed ant
taught that the Pope was infallible ii
matters pertaining to faith and morals
Since the faith of Peter and his sue
cessors was the foundation upor
which the infallible Church was built
it followed, as matter of course, tha
they must be endowed with infallibil