The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-12-04

The ring used III the mdrFldSe CeIe
mony In symbolical OF fidelity and per-
petuity to the vows made at the nup-
tials. In the Catholic ceremony the
ring is blessed by the priest before it
is nut upon the finger Of the bride. In
some places, and the custom has an
antiquity OF more than thousand
years, the man and woman make
mutual exchange of rings. The
Church allows more latitude in the
ritual of the marriage ceremony than
in any other of the sacraments. This
in one instance in which the local Gus
tom may be followed. In a mixed
marriage the priest performs no relig-
ious ceremony. The Church allows
him to act only in his civil capacity.
Consequently, though one or two rings
he used, no blessing is given.
How can a person tell when he
makes a bad confession?
His conscience will accuse him if he
should fail to make due preparation,
or deliberately conceal sin of which
he is conscious.
Can person be guilty of sin when
he is not fully self-conscious?
He cannot be guilty of mortal sin.
He may be guilty of venial sin, and
the degree of his self-consciousness
would measure the guilt of the venial
sin. To commit mortal sin, three
things are necessary: We must do
what is seriously wrong; we must
know that it is wrong, and we must
give the fun consent of our will to the
act.
My rosary is broken; is the induI-
uence still attached to it?
The indulgence is attached to the
beads Of the rosary If some few of
those be lost they may be replaced
and the indulgence will not be impair
ed
Does charity cover a multitude of
sins; for example, the charity Of Car
negie2
Charity and alms-giving are two
distinct virtues. Charity is primarily
the love of God; almsgiving is love
of neighbor, or, perchance, love OF
self. Charity necessarily leads to love
of neighbor; because he is made after
the image and likeness of God. Aims
giving should lead to the love OF God.
1t may, however, be inspired by vain
motives, the desire for worldly fame,
or the natural satisfaction of relieving
distress which is unpleasant to look
upon. The inquirer seems to attribute
one of these less worthy motives to
the alms-giving of Mr.. Carnegie. In
doing so he shows a striking lack of
charity; for, God forbids us to pass
Judgment on our neighbor Besides,
who can know with certainty the mo-
tives that guide Mr.. Carnegie in his
works of philanthropy? No one, but
the man himself and the Searcher Of
the heart.
Is a priest supposed to say Mass
every day?
A priest, by virtue of his priesthood,
is no more obliged to say Mass every
day than a layman to receive Holy
Communion every day. Through his
relationship to the people, for their
convenience, the priest is obliged to
say Mass on Sundays and Holydays
OF obligation. He does not, however
consider the obligation; he values
the privilege of going to the Altar, as
nearly as he can at it's true worth
and therefore he is most happy il
every day he may be able to take
priestly part in the divine mysteries
the distinctive Office of his priesthood
May married woman wear wreath
and veil when receiving Confirmation
1t is not fitting. The veil is gener
ally accepted as the symbol of virgin
ity.
May a priest wear his cassock anc
blretta outside of the church grounds
These articles are the ordinar!
dress of the priest. 1t is by eXcep
ton that he wears different dress
on the street The reason of this
custom is that the priest does not wisf
to be even an innocent occasion of sir
TO his neighbor, who might mock Coo
and religion if he saw one clothed II
a priestly garh The black cassocl
reaching to the ground tells lis tha
the priest has detached himself from
the world and the vanities of tht
world.
have been told that great many
indulgences could be gained for th'
souls in purgatory by saying certaif
prayers which | am quoting below. l
has been suggested that write to yol
to inquire whether these are authen
tic. | copy the following from thu
Golden Book of the Confraternities, p
1871: "And let It be particularly made
known, that, besides many particuia
indulqences there are annexed to TIT
Scapular of the Immaculate Concep
ton, which is blessed by the Theatint
Fathers, all the induIgences which ar,
granted to any religious order, piou
place, or person. And particularly b.
reciting "our Father" "Hail Mary,
and "GIory be to the Father" 81,
times, in honor of the Most Holy Trir
lily and of the Immaculate Mary, ar
gained each time all the indulgence
of Rome, Portiuncula, Jerusalem, Gal
icia, which reach the number of fou
hundred and thirty-three, besides tn
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