The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-12-18
May non,catholics be allowed to

The Catholic is the true worship
and the one taking part in 1t is DO
ing a good work So far then, as the
act in itself is considered, the non
Catholic may be allowed to assist in
the choir. In point of fact, however,
it very often happens that the non
Catholic in his heart disapproves OF
the words that he sings and of the
worship that is being conducted. In
his conduct then such a one would
not be acting honestly, that is, accord
ing to the dictates of his own con-
science. Through charity such one
should not be admitted to the choir.
Besides, the Catholic services are, as
we have said, the highest act of man,
pertaining directly to God. Because
of this Catholics should be happy,
and we are very glad to say, generally
do rejoice in being allowed to assist
so directly in divine worship as to
take part in the choir. One very sub
stantial reward for any sacrifice that
they may make is that they share in
the fruit of the Mass Immediately
after those in the Sanctuary, more
abundantly than those in the body
of the Church. To secure this spirit
ual gain it is necessary Of course that
they sing AS to the Lord Further
more, it would seem uncomplimentary
to Catholics to have those not of the
Faith assist at the divine services.
Good will as we have said is not lack
ing on the part of Catholics to share
in this privilege, and their talent in
music is second to none. We cannot
indeed find any sufficient reason why
one should hesitate even in granting
to Catholics this honor that rightfully
belongs to them. 1t may be Of inter
est to know that it is not the wishes
of the Church authorities in this do
cese that non-Catholics be admitted to
church choirs, unless they are actu-
ated by religious or devotional inn
pulse and not merely by desire to
advertise themselves.
Why is our Catholic Bible often
spoken of as "The Douay Bible?"
Because the Douay Bible is the orig
inal version of the Bible on which
nearly all English Catholic versions
are based. 1t was prepared for con-
troversial purposes and for the use
of pious Catholics. Many Protestant
versions of the Scriptures had been is
sued which were used extensively
by the Reformers in controversy, and
some of their texts. were biased &C
cordingly. This rendered it necessary
for English Catholics to be provided
with a version of their own, which
could be depended upon for accuracy,
and appealed to in argument. The
preparation of such a translation was
begun by the English College at
Douay. The great part of the trans
lating was done by DR.. Gregory Mar
tin, formerly of Oxford. His text was
reviewed and revised by Thomas
Worthington, Richard Bristowe, John
Reynolds, and William Allen, all of
whom we're Oxford men. A series of
explanatory notes prepared by Allen
with the assistance of Bristowe and
Worthington, was added to this, as
of the Reformers. This version was
translated directly from the Latin
Vulgate of ST. Jerome, which the
Council of Trent declared authorize.
tive for Catholics and which was com.
monty admitted to have a purer text
than any of the manuscripts in the
original languages that were then ex
4 l.,
technical words and Latinisms and
many Latin words were retained in
anglicized form, which rendered it in
many places scarcely readable. 1t was
acknowledged, however, to be schol
arly and accurate. In 1878, because
of political disturbance, the college
was transferred from Douay tC
Rheims; and here, in 1922, the New
Testament was published, which con
sequently was known as the Rheims
Testament" The Old Testament was
not published until 1910, when the
college had returned to Douay The
New Testament appeared, therefore
nearly thirty years before the Angli
can Authorized Version and now is
commonly recognized to have eXerted
Il great influence on this. The Douay
Version has undergone several revi
sions, of which the Bibles now com
monty used by the English-speaking
Catholics are, for the most part, the
result.
The University of Douay dates from
July 81, 1859, when, through the eX
ertion of William Allen, Philip IL Of
Spain, who then had dominion of The
place, obtained from Pope Paul II {
brief authorizing its establishment fol
the purpose of preserving the purity
of the Catholic faith from the errors
of the Reformation. The first college
was founded here by Cardinal Aller
during the reign of Elizabeth; ant
the priests to whom the preservation
Of Catholicity in England was in {
great measure due were educated
here. The first purpose of Carolina
Allen was to prepare a learned clergy
which would return to England wheT
Catholicism was there Te-established
This he confidently believed would
soon take place. Later, when this re
establishment became hopeless
priests were sent from this college
to care for those in England who re
manned true to their religion and, i
possible, to recall those who were
wandering from it for worldly reasons
Before the end of the sixteenth cen