The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-10-21

need be deprived of the Sacramento,
nor in the case of death, need poor
person be without a Mass. Some
times people imagine that the money
is necessary, that the priest will do
nothing without it. And this is very
unjust to the priests. They expect
that those who can shall make the
recognized offering, but they expect,
too, to make allowances for those in
need. And no one should ever hest
tate to ask for the benefits of religion,
no matter in how destitute circum-
stances he may be. That abuses have
crept into even sacred matters is true,
but these abuses have never had the
sanction Of the Church. Rather. it. has
been her constant endeavor to seek
the highest and the best in human ma
ture.
Every one who can do so pays for
his pew or seat in the church. How
else could the church be maintained,
or who would meet it's expenses? And
so every one who has a Mass said, or
comes to the priest for baptism or
a marriage takes the occasion to con-
tribute a little to the support of the
church and priest. And as no one is
deprived of the right to hear Mass,
even in want Though many refuse to
believe the priest when he insists on
this), so no one is deprived of grace
and blessing under the conditions al
ready mentioned.
On the principle established in the
Holy Scripture that the laborer is
worthy of his hire, Luke, X, Z, the
priest who works for the people must
look to the people for support. These
ways enumerated are among the ways
in which the people provide that sup
port. Nor can the priest well look
elsewhere: they who serve the altar
partake with the altar Cor, tx, 49,
Nor would it be to the advantage of
the people that the priest should feel
it necessary to devote to his own live
lihood the time and energy which
should be given to the people and
their welfare, temporal and spiritual.
Finally, how much money does the
priest receive as an offering for Mass
One dollar is the usual stipend for a
low Mass. And if he says a Mass
each day of the year, and even re-
ceives stipend, how much will it all
amount to? And he can say only one
Mass each day for which he may re-
ceive the offering. The offering is of
no great consequence, and in any con-
gregation the number who request
Masses is quite small if the whole con.
gregation is considered.
No doubt the matter is all settled on
the basis that it is according to Gods
law that the priests shall receive their
necessary support from the people. 1t
surely is according to our notion in
this country the best way. We look
at those places where the priest re-
ceives help or salary from the Gov
ernment and We do not envy their
condition. We have alluded to the
Scripture and have given few texts.
Let these be added: THE priests and
Levites and all that are of the same
tribe, shall have no part nor inherit
ance with the rest of Israel, because
they shall eat the sacrifices of the
Lord, and His oblations, and they shall
receive nothing else of the possession
of their brethren: for the. Lord Him
self is their inheritance, as He hath
said to them. This shall be the
priests due from the people, and from
them that offer victims: whether they
sacrifice an OK, or sheep, they shall
give to the priest the shoulder and
the breast; the first fruits also of
corn, of wine, and of oil, and a part
of the wool from the shearing of their
sheep" Deuteronomy xviii, IA.
They (the sons of LeyD shall not
possess any other. thing, but be con-
tent with the oblation or tithes, which
| have separated for their uses and
necessities" Numbers xviii, %, o..
So God Himself made provision for
His priests in the Old Law, and Christ
proclaimed in the New Law that the
workman is worthy Of his meat" Matt
= 10l.
- 81 ssEssss5s 81