The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-05-29


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Has a priest the right to tax his
parishioners for an automobile, when
a horse and buggy will answer the pur-
pose?
One would have to know all the cir
eumstances of the case before giving
a definite answer to this question 1t
may be that those who object to doing
their share towards the purchase OF
an automobile for the pastor are poor
judges of the requirements of the
case. If horse and buggy will enable
the priest to do the work as we'll as
an automobile, he will not be in any
hurry to tax his people for one. In
many instances, however, where
priest has large parish which neces-
states a lot of travelling in order to
visit his people, an automobile is
much more serviceable than team
because he can cover more ground in
a given time If the use of an auto
mobile would make the life of the
priest more easy than it would other
wise be and serve to prolong his USE
fulness among the people to whom he
is devoting himself, few parishioners
will hesitate to meet his wishes in this
regard if they can afford it. 1t is a
matter of common prudence to take
the best care of pieces of machinery
or beasts of burden. Why not show
as much consideration at least for
the priest whose labors are so ardu-
Gus?
Should a blessed candle be lighted
when a priest brings the Blessed Sac
rament to the house but does not give
Holy Communion?
When the priest brings the Blessed
Sacrament to the house, the head of
the house, holding lighted candle,
should meet him at the door, genu-
fleet to the Blessed Sacrament, go be-
fore the priest to the sick room, set
the candle on the table already pre-
nared, kneel, say a prayer and then
retire while the priest hears the con-
fession of the sick person. If other
Sacramento than Penance are admin
istered all in the house should assem-
BILE in the sick room and assist the
one receiving the Sacramento by their
prayers. If the priest does not give
Holy Communion to the sick person
the head of the house, bearing the
lighted candle, should precede him to
the door. Indeed, when practicable,
persons carrying lighted candles
should accompany the priest from the
Church to the house. This is the Gus
tom in Catholic countries. 1t is only
in non-Catholic countries that the
priest is permitted to carry the Bless
ed Sacrament privately, that is, with
out any outward sign of the fact that
he is bearing our Lord with him.
1. What is meant by the Apostolic
induleences? 2. What by the Crosier
InduIgences?
1. The Apostolic Indulgences are
the indulgences which the, Supreme
Pontiff, as successor of the Prince
of Apostles, grants to certain articles
These indulgences may be plenary or
partial and are gained by those who
have possession of the articles and
perform certain good works. 1t is un
derstood that they must be in the state
of grace, that is, free from serious
sin. The indulgences are attached
to great variety of religious articles
including medals and statues and
crosses and rosaries, etc. An indul
genee of one hundred days may be
gained by person reciting a rosary
blessed with the Apostolic blessing. Il
recited on Sundays, or on certain
feasts of the Blessed Virgin, or every
day for a month, or for a year, greater
ihdulgences may be gained by those
properly disposed. 2. The Crosier in
diligence in the beginning was priv
lege of the Crosier Fathers, religious
order founded at the time of the Cru
sades. BY virtue of this blessing, al
indulgence of five hundred days may
he gained for the recitation of eacf
Our Father or Hail Mary of the Ros
airy.
A non-Catholic friend asked me
some time ago why we cannot con
fess our sins to God alone instead o
telling them to priest in the con
fessionaI? What should | have an
swered?
You might have asked him few
questions like the following: Why
cannot one be baptized by God di
rectly instead of by minister? Why
cannot one be confirmed by God in
stead of by bishop? Why cannot
one receive Communion from thu
hands of Christ Himself instead o.
from those of a priest? Why can
not one hear the gospel preached by
Christ Himself rather than by 6
preacher? Why cannot one learn the
truths of divine revelation from Goo
Himself without reading a Bible OF
accepting the teachings of a Church
Or, to apply the same rule to civil
life: Why cannot a citizen pay hi:
taxes to the governor? Why canno
the soldier receive his orders from the
king or president? Why cannot al
children be taught by the state super
intendent of schools? If such were
the manner of performing these
things, few of them would be per
formed at all; so, if you ask YOU
friend how often he has confessed hi:
sins to God alone, he will not need t.
be an expert in figures to tell you