The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-04-22

What spiritual good is obtained
from burning candles on votiVe stands
BEFORE statues?
The candle is an Offering made to
God or the Saint represented by the
statue, either to acknowledge some
favor obtained, or to plead for the
mercy of God or the intercession OF
the saint. The custom of making Vo-
tive offerings is very common and par
ticularly noticeable at religious
shrines where miraculous faVors are
frequently received. Rich treasures
in gold, silver or precious stones have
been given to churches and shrines in
gratitude for prayers that were an
swered. Henry III of England, for
instance, on the occasion of his mar
riage had golden statue Of his queen
made and placed on the tomb of st.
Edward. The candle that is burned
on the vOtiye stand has a similar pur-
pose. The prayer of the faithful con-
tinues while the candle is being con-
sumed: and the individual sacrifice
,'''''0 .! '', -, .,i - 49,, ;to
- p''''"'iis W w" ''l" WIN
""o '"'''"
Is a Catholic free to attach himself
to any parish he pIeases?
Every Cathohc Should Deloh@ 10
some particular parish and make him
self known to the priest i'll charge.
AS matter OF convenience ana ordeF'
both for priest and people, the PARISH
church nearest 10 Cathollc nome
anu wherein he understands the IAN
&uage spoken Is ordinarily MS parish
church. Other circumstances may
justify a change from thlS oruer' but
any change should be maze only with
the consent and approval OF the proper
authorities.
Why does the Catholic Church nap-
tize as it does? Does not the Bible
state that the first baptism was per-
formed by immersion?
The Bible does not state how the
first Christian baptism was performed.
The RihIical word employed nv the
sacred writer's SIGNIFIES a washing. q
m1rifca.ilo Inv water. and the word il.
self gives rs no information Whatso-
ever as to the mode or manner of this
publication. whether by immersion,
mourning or shrinking. The best Prot
estant commentators on the Bible and
the most reliable non-Catholic Greek
scholars admit this. The word ito
baptize" EMPLOYED by the inspired
writer's means to wash. to lave. and
saws nothing about the way this was
performed, It is undoubtedly true
that the form of baptism ordinarily
turies afterwards was immersion. The
Catholic Church has never denied this
fact. on the contrary, it has always
admitted that baptism by immersion
is valid. But TO contend, as many Bap'
fists do, that immersion is the only
valid form Of baptism is to run coHn.
ter to biblical history and the prac,
tice of the first Christian ages. There
are instances in the Scriptural nara
tive that can hardly be explained by
baptism by immersion. 1t is difficult
to admit that the three thousand con
verts of ST. Peters first sermon were
baptized by immersion; when st. Pau
baptized his jailer in the prison al
Philippi (Acts XVII, it is doubtful tC
say the least, whether this took place
by immersion. The first Christians
had ceremony called baptism of the
sick" and this was not practiced by
immersion, but by infusion. The EARL
est Christian writer's speak of the
three kinds of baptism by immersion
infusion and aspersion.
When was the Seventh Day AID
Ventist religion started? Who was
the author?
Tho eeot known &c tho Seventh Da1
Advontiote oroen about tho wear 1921
ond William Miller NAV no called the
o,,tbor IRON, c+udv of tho nronb
ocins of tho Rible be came IN the con
Cbrict wos near Of hand after
which the Millennium. or reign O
Thousand wears would begin
Unfortunately, Miller essayed the
role of prophet himself, and pre-
dicted the coming of Christ and the
end of the world for A. D. 1913. The
failure of this prophecy was blow tC
the sect and it was soon divided-intC
1ror;o,,c fo ctioDC oOd Gu If remains