The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-03-11

plEQgG OF tOldt abstinence IfOnl lH-
toxcating liquor? If the pledge is
broken, does it still bind in conscience,
and under what penalty?
az Drink is Intoxicating because
of the alcohol that it contains. Wines
contain ordinarily from ten to fifteen
per cent alcohol and consequently are
intoxicating. TO drink them is to
break pledge of total abstinence.
b. The promise or pledge that
was made is binding in conscience
until its conditions are fulfilled; or
until the individual is dispensed from
the obligation. 1t continues i'll force,
for instance, until the time specified
expires. During this period of time
the promise is broken anew each time
Intoxicating drink is taken.
9 Each violation of the pledge
means the commission of another
sin; for the promise is binding under
the penalty of sin. Very often those
who take the pledge are under the
impression that the obligation is bind
ing under pain of mortal sin. If one
makes the promise in such state
of conscience, one of course is bound
under the same penalty; and such a
one commits a mortal sin each time
that he breaks his promise, and in his
confession he must tell the number of
such sins. Ordinarily, the promise
or pledge is binding under penalty of
venial sin. If the promise should
To 1,n ne CT,
than an encouragement to virtue, it
would be prudent to propose the case
TO ones ConfGSSOr, who will dispense
from the obligation, or commute it
into some suitable penance; or, limit
the term of the pledge to shorter
time, when it may again be renewed.
What prayers are suitable (a) MORN
ing and evening, ~ during the Con-
secration in the Mass?
az Any set form of words is not
required in our prayers. 1t is the
thought of the heart that God sees.
The simple prayers that we learned
i'll our early childhood are most suit
able for a morning and evening
prayer, i. e., the Our Father, the Hail
Mary, the Apostles Greed, the, Con-
fiteor, the Acts of Faith, Hope,
Charity and Contrition To these we
may attach any others that are APP
proved by the Church and found in
every prayCr-book,
h) During the Conservation in the
A1urc ,f.I nr 1iynl,r' T1i in,
Lords personal presence before us;
and of supreme alteration of Him
should be uppermOSt i'll our hearts.
Indeed, Pope Plus X granted a special
Indulgence to all who during the Gle
walton of the Host will look upon 1t
and make that act Of faith and adora-
tion that st. Thomas made when Our
Lord appeared to him after the
Resurrection; namely, My Lord and
My Cod"
Es& tzSs y NJ 4 = q ? ''s;''f
In opposing Socialism, how far does
the Church disapprove of government
ownership? b.. Can government
monepolize whatever industries it
chooses?
az Socialism very frequently is
confounded with social or government
al reform. In this sense so long as it
does not conflict with the truths of
religion or the free exercise thereof,
or the natural rights Of the individual
the family or society, the Church
makes no opposition. She has mark,
ed for it no specific limits. In this
sphere the State is supreme. She op.
poses it because it attacks these fun
damental rights of man. For in,
stance, it would deny to the parents
any right over the child and take the
child from them make it entirely a
creature of the state Thus it would
disrupt society as established by
Almighty God, by destroying the
home, the primary element of society
Very many of the Socialistic theories
rest on the false assumption that the
individual has no right to acquire
private property. The Church con
slders this to be natural right, in.
separately connected with mans
nature.
b. Government is ordained by the
Almighty for the good Of the govern
ed; or, for the people" 1t could
not justly attack the natural right
that the people have to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness. Nor
could it justly monopolize all indus
tries, for this would be to assume
that the individual has no right to
acquire or possess property as his
own. On the other hand the rights
of the individual are subject to the
common good. The state can take
possession of the goods of the indi-
vidual and even OF his life when such
are necessary to the Well-beng of the
state. But how far, in ordinary cir.
cumstances, the state may 20 in
momopolzing the industries of the
country, the Church has not defined,
nor do we pretend to set the limits.
Is it lawful for person to enlist
IN an army other than that of his
own country merely for the excite.
nent of war; or because of hatred
nc bears toward the opposing country?
The individual is not obliged in
conscience to decide for himself the
just merits of the war He is free to
accept and follow the judgment of his
supcrlorS He takes for granted that
those in command are situated better
than he TO form just judgments and he
relies upon their integrity. If he car