The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-06-17


Is there anything known reliably
about the features of Our Lord and
His mother2
There is no reliable, authentic por-
trait either of Our Lord or OF His
mother. The early Christians made
use of symbolical representations OF
religious truths and the person OF
Christ. In the catacombs OF Doml-
tilla there is a head and bust OF
Christ, which served as the model OF
the conventional features OF Our Lord
to the great Roman artists. But this
picture is certainly not more ancient
than the fifth century. Several
Byzantine paintings of Our Blessed
Lady have been attributed to st. Luke,
but not one of them can prove its
claim. There must have been tradi-
tions in the early Church of the per-
son and the features of Our Lord
and these traditions have inspired the
earliest portrayals of Our Lord. Very
probably, therefore, our modern pic
lures of Christ correspond to a type
which is very nearly correct. The
pictures of Our Lady represent the
ideal type of the highest embodiment
of virginity and divine motherhood as
each artist conceives it. Therefore
the Madonnas of the different artists
differ as much from each other as the
temperament, nationality and genius
of the artists differ.
How is a Catholic to reconcile his
faith with the errors that the Church
made In the sixteenth century and
with the scandals seen today In in
diVidual priests?
The charge implied in the first part
of this question will have to be stated
more specifically before we can be
expected to give an answer to it. We
do not admit that any error can be
Justly attributed to the Catholic
Church during the sixteenth century
nor during any other century To
verify this charge, it would be neces-
sary to show that the Catholic Church
during the sixteenth century taught
something opposed to the faith and
morals revealed to the world by
Jesus Christ. During her existence
of nineteen centuries her most bitter
enemies have thus far been unable to
prove any such calumny. We have
divine assurances also that the past
glory of the Catholic Church will re-
main unsullied to the end. Il am
with you all days even to the con
summation of the world Matt
XVIII, 20)
The fact that scandals occur today
and did occur during the sixteenth cen
fury through the lives of individual
priests, is no more a just imputatiOT
against the Catholic Church, than the
failure of a few school children in theil
examination would be a just criticism
against the merits of their teacher
If all of the pupils, or a very great
many of them had failed; or, if those
who had failed had been taught the
errors that they made, censure might
justly be passed upon the teacher
So it is also with the Church and hel
intelligent farmer who gathered the
rotten apples that had fallen on the
ground and put them on exhibit at hi!
county fair to show the merit of hi:
orchard? Judge the tree by it's fruit
but not by the worm-eaten fruit tina
could not stay on the tree. 1t would
be a very great miracle indeed i
among the thousands of Catholi,
priests in the world there should no
be any who would fail to live up t
the high standard held before then
by the Catholic Church; a create
miracle than the Lord performed whel
He chose His Apostles; Have not
chosen you twelve and one of you i
a devil?"
What is the teaching of the cathoIi
Church on masquerade dances?
The Catholic Church does not cor
slider in her legislation all the fad
and follies of the passing seasons. No
does she enact any law bearin
directly on dances with or withou
Mosques. The principles that sh
lays down, when rightly interpreted
will guide everyone in the straight an
narrow path. She has her authorize
interpreters of these principles in he
priests. Any of these when consul
ed will be able to judge whether dane
ing for particular individual is siI
full or not. OF course, if any abuse
should be connected with dances
either the abuses must be eliminated
or the dancing be entirely prohibiteC
If the immediate authority shoul
refuse to act, in a case that evidentl
demands reform, superior authorit
will be quite ready to supersede tn
judgment of the lower court.
Is Catholic free to contribute I
the erection of Protestant Church,
The Protestant religion is of cours
form of heresy To assist knowin
~ in the spread of error against til
faith is grave sin. Since til
Protestant Church is directly inten
ed for this purpose, Catholic ma
not with good conscience ASST!
directly in its construction. It
possible that this course might plaC
one, for example, Catholic merchan
in a rather embarrassing situation
He wants the good will, as far {
possible, of all the community. H