The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-06-12

Mass, (3) Private Requiem Mass?
Q) A Votive Mass is one that is
said for some special intention, the
word votlve meaning literally a prom
Use, the idea being that a gift is Of
fered to God in hope of securing some
favor. The Mass includes special
PRAYERS for the particular intention for
which it is offered. The Nuptial Mass,
for instance, is votive Mass and con-
tains prayers for the newly married
couple, in addition to the nuptial bless
ing which is part of this Mass. On
certain days the church prescribes a
yotive Mass to be said: for example,
on Saturdays on which no special
festival is observed, the Church or
ders the Votive Mass of the Blessed
Virgin to be the Mass of the day.
(2) A private Votive Mass is
VOtive Mass selected by the will OF
the priest, or at the request of the
faithful. This may be done on days
on which a festival of some consider
able dignity does not occur, such as
semi-doubles When some grave occa-
sion arises, however, the Pope or Bish-
op of the Diocese may order a votiVe
Mass to be said even on greater festi-
walls.
(3) Private Requiem Mass is vo-
tive Mass for the repose of the souls
for whom the Mass is offered. The
Church shows her love for her suffer
ing members by allowing greater lati-
tude in the celebration of this Mass
than of the ordinary votive Mass
Priests in this country have the prlvi-
lege of SAYING a Requiem Mass on
Monday of each week; except on the
vigils of Christmas and Epiphany, in
Holy Week, during the octaves OF
Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Pente-
cost, and Corpus Christi, on holy days
Of obligation, and on greater doubles
and doubles of the first and second
class. If any of these exceptions
apply, the privilege may be used
on Tuesday, under the same condi-
lions, but after that day the privilege
does not obtain.
is it a sin to work in the garden,
or to do fancy work for pastime
after Mass on Sundays or holydays of
obligation?
All unnecessary servile work on
Sundays or holydays of obligation is
sinful. Both classes of work mention
ed in the question are considered
servile work, fancy sewing being a
lighter form of servile labor, and so
more readily excusable, especially
when done for pastime. Pastime
could not ordinarily be judged suffi-
cient reason to make either class Of
work necessary. The divine command
day is to be given to God, such as
the Mass time, but the whole day.
If the Church imposes grave com
mand upon us to assist at Mass on
Sundays and holydays of obligation,
she does not thereby exempt us from
the divine precept of keeping the
whole day holy. Besides mans body
needs a rest God made the Sabbath
for man; for his body, as well as for
his soul BY reading attentively The
Catholic Bulletin on Sunday after
Mass you will have an excellent pas
time that will be very much to your
advantage The reading of the Scrip
lures with attention and piety is one
OF the best means to give to God the
part Of the Sunday that we do not
spend before His Altar
Can a Catholic who has been mar
ried and divorced be married in the
Church, or by a priest, providing he
marries an unbaptized person?
A Catholic who has been married
once with the approval of the Church
cannot be married again so long as
his or her consort is living, even
though the two have been divorced.
Divorce does not break the marriage
bond This tie is broken only by
Him Who made them man and woman.
Before a man could marry again he
must be free from the first marriage
contract. That the second woman is
not baptized would not affect at all
the obligation he has already assumed
in his first marriage.
Why does the priest allow the peo-
Pile to stand outside the Church for
a half hour or more in country par
ishes?
In this practice we fail to see any
conflict with faith and good morals.
1t would be more edifying, we admit,
if the people would spend the time
in the Church in preparing better to
assist at Mass, but, to insist on this
would mean that many would grow ex-
hausted before the Mass itself was
ended Is it not better that the peo-
pie, who see one another only on Sun
day, spend a half hour or longer in
friendly visiting than to come to the
Church just when the Mass begins or
even after the Mass has started?
This custom shows the reverence that
Catholics have for the Church, that
they will not talk to anyone but God
when they are in Gods house.
Why is 1t that scandal is given to
the great offence of the Church?
The best answer is the word of our
Divine Lord: 1T must needs be that
scandals come; nevertheless, woe to
that man by whom the scandal COM
eth" For our part, is it not more
charitable to pray for such an one
than to condemn him? We do not
know how soon we may be in need