The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-03-20

absolution to a corpse? 2. Can a
mortal sin be forgiven after death? 8.
Is it sin to dance the grapevine or
rag?
l. The word absolution, as used in
this connection must not be confound-
ed with the dissolution given to a
penitent in confession. Sacramento
dissolution is the remission of sin
given by priest by the authority
received from Christ. 1t is given only
in the sacrament of penance. 1t is
not a mere declaration that God will
pardon the sins of those who repent
but judicial act by which the priest
as judge passes sentence on the peni-
tent. 1t conveys sacramento grace
and when received with the proper
disposition frees the penitent from the
eternal guilt and punishment due to
sin. Absolution for the dead has no
sacramento efficacy. 1t is a short
form of prayer imploring eternal rest
for the deceased and, as an indirect
consequence, the remission of the
penalties due to sin. 1t is said after
a funeral Mass over the body of the
deceased before it is removed from
the church. 2. No, mortal sin
cannot be forgiven after death. No
sins are forgiven after the sinner has
passed away from earth. If one dies
with the guilt of mortal sin on his soul,
there is no hope of salvation. After
death the temporal punishment due to
sins already forgiven in this life but
not entirely eXpiated can he satisfied
for in purgatory. 3. 1t is sin to
dance any kind of an immodest dance,
no matter what name it may bear or
how fashionable it may be.
Why do Catholics strike their
breasts in Church during the Consecra-
ton and Communion and at the Offer
tory and while saying such prayers as
the SaIve Regina? know the mean
ing, but am interested to know if it
is proper to do so at all at the above
mentioned times and do you not think
it looks ridiculous to those outside the
Church to see SO many Catholics strike
away so often in manner that leads
one to think that they do not know
what they are doing it for. And
would it not be better to strike ones
breast only before receiving Holy Com
munion or at Communion?
The striking of the breast is an out
ward sign of penance and is entirely
proper at any time whether in church
or out of it. 1t may look ridiculous
to those who do not understand it's
meaning but that is no reason why
Catholics should discontinue it, though
some, no doubt, make this concession
their prayers when with Protestant
friends and the sign of the cross in
public. Since, as you say, you under
stand the meaning of this custom, why
worry about what the ignorant and
those outside the church may think
about it? Why should this outward
sign of a penitential spirit be reserved
only for time of Holy Communion?
1t is a profession of unworthiness, an
indication of ones consciousness that
he owes much to Almighty God for
all the spiritual favors received from
Him.
Why do the people in some places
have to buy tickets and pay fifteen
cents for them to get in at Mass?
Is it not true that our late Pope
passed a rule that there should not
be any more collecting at the doors?
! know people who do not 60 to Mass
as they have not the fifteen cents and
the ushers will not let them pass un-
less they have the money.
Under date of September 30, 1911,
the Most Reverend Archbishop Fail
COMO, at that time Apostolic Delegate
to the United States, issued a letter
to the Archbishops and Bishops of
this country calling their attention to
this particular abuse and asking them
to see to it that, within their respec-
tive dioceses, no Catholic was refused
admittance to church because he or
she could not pay for seat. This
letter prohibited strictly the taking of
money at the doors of the church UNI
der any and every preteXt, whether
as a condition of entrance or in pay
ment for sitting in a pew. Entrance
to church must be absolutely free and
persons who desire to attend Mass
without occupying seats must be al
lowed to do so and no demand for
money must be made upon them. |
The case is altered, however, if they
wish to occupy a seat during Mass. |
The payment of money for seats in
church is entirely legitimate and is
one of the chief sources of revenue
for the maintenance of public worship.
1t is but right that those who wish
to occupy seats in church should pay
for them and hence the Apostolic
Delegates letter did not prohibit the
taking of seat money, provided it was
not collected at the church door as a
prerequisite for entrance into the
church. The collecting of seat money
is allowed, If it be taken up at some
distance from the door, for instance.
at a desk or table behind the last row
of pews or in the aisle. In most
churches, and it should be in all, pro-
vision is made for those who are un-
able to pay seat money. Usually
pews are set apart for them in the
body of the church or the galleries
are at their disposal without the pay
ment of any money. However, we
would not hazard the denial that
there are churches in this country