The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-05-22
FAITH, GOOD WORKS AND WoR-
SHIP. Is

and point out some sin that we must
avoid, says THE Catholic Universe.
We may, therefore, say that the conn
mandments have positive and neg
alive side The general command is
that "We must avoid evil and do
good
If we must do good, faith alone will
not suffice. ST. James tells us that,
Faith without good works is dead"
Good works have a wider significa-
ton than the mere giving of aims,
They include the keeping of Gods
commandments. More is required
than to be charitable, or merely to
avoid swearing or to be honest in our
dealings through natural goodness of
heart We must do the works of our
Father Who is in heaven. This is the
condition upon which life everlasting
depends. God is no respecter of per-
sons-all are subject to His law.
/ Peace on earth to men of good
| will.' Entering the service of God
with good will on our part we will
find His yoke sweet and His burden
light. A burden take up cheerfully
loses half it's weight. But the load is
made heavier if it be taken up in an
obstinate or rebellious spirit. The
work should be taken up SO as to give
rest and comfort to our souls. The
self-sacrificing missionaries tramped
the forests and bore privations cheer
fully because they never forgot the
Master Who rewards with exceeding
generosity all that is done gladly for
Him. Take up your cross and follow
Me" is the command given to all His
children.
The Psalmist said: ooh, how have
| loved thy law, o Lord 1t is my
meditation all the day. | have re-
strained my feet from every evil way
that / may keep Thy words. How
sweet are Thy words to my palate,
more than honey to my mouth" Ps
| XCVIII:27.
King David was "a man according
to Gods own heart" In an eminent
degree this royal parsonage fulfilled
the duties imposed on us by the first
commandment. His faith was so live
ly that it made him always walk in
the presence of. God. He deemed him
self happy when able to contribute to
the dignity and splendor of divine
worship. He said: "The Lord is my
protector and have hoped and l will
not fear what man can do to me. :"
Ps. LV:11.
: In his youth he manifested his abso-
lutte confidence in God in his COM
, bat with Goliath: "ThOu contest
J against me with sword, and with a
/ spear, and with shield, but Iscome
to thee in the name. of the Lord OF
J Hosts | Kings XVIII:45.
How perfect was the love he had
: for God. "As the heart panteth after
the fountains of water, so my soul
panteth after Thee, o God" Though
he was an earthly and powerful king
: he exclaimed: What have l in
: heaven, and besides Thee what do
desire ION earth? For Thee my flesh
: and my heart hath tainted away:
) Thou are the God of my heart, and
! my portion forever" Ps. LXXII: 1926
r His zeal for the beauty of Gods tenn
| pie was manifest by his gathering OF
5 treasures to build the magnificent
t structure which Solomon afterwards
4 erected 20 Lord said he, 81 have
, loved the beauty of Thy house, and
S the place where Thy glory dwelleth.'
Ps. XXV:8 How faithful he was tC
the duty of prayer. Seven times in
Y the day | have given praise to Thee
meditated on Thy commandments
n which l love. In the night l have re
+ membered Thy name. l rose at mid
q night to give praise to Thee. I pre-
+ vented the dawning of the day thai
;. l might mediate on Thy words" Ps
: CXVIII.
l. Where can we find more perfec
l. model of prayer, or one who better ex
n emplified the true love for God? Ye
IL he lived and died before our Savior
r came, and before the temples were il
S lumined and sanctified by the Rea
J, Presence.
s There are, too, many of our people
e who fail to recognize the positive side
h of the first commandment-to truly
o adore and to really serve and to open
ly praise God. Do we think of Coo
d as we ought, do we serve and praise
r Him as He requires? If we fail t.
d give Him our heart, fail to love Hin
r or do not observe His ordinances VIZ
h are derelict in our duty to Him. WI
il were created for the express purpose
v of worshipping, of honoring and O.
e serving Him. If watch will not keel
n time of what use is it? 1t was no
q made merely to look pretty, but for (;
d specific purpose. The barren fig tret
IS was fair to the eye, but since it Dor,
II no fruit our Lord ordered it cut dowl
II and cast into the fire because it wal
n only numbering the ground.
e God is our Lord and Master. "Shaf
r the thing formed say to him tina
g formed it, why hast thou made MI
'e thus? or hath not the potter powe
lie over the clay? Rom. IX:27. Man.
lr do not recognize that they are merel.
g creatures, nor do they recognize tn
1T time of their visitation We mus
lie acknowledge Gods supreme dominion
le over us, our total dependence upo1
Him, and the service and alteration
ls which are due from us to Him VIII
= created us.
: SATISFACTION FOR SIN.