The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1916-02-26

notEQay OF 0pll9aIlony (aJ III LHe SaIn-
Ollie Church, (b) in the United States?
In the earliest ages of Christianity
New Years Day was observed as the
Octave of Christmas, rather than as
an independent festival. Because
the pagans this time of the year in
dulged in licentious pleasures i'll honor
of one of their gods, the early Chris
tians kept the day as fast day. Lat
er in history the Christian festival
was observed more and more general
~ in its proper spirit, until in the
sixth century we find the day pre-
scribed to be kept as HOLIDAY. In
the seventeenth century the number
of holydays had multiplied to such an
extent that they were considered an
injustice to the poor, so Pope Urban
VIII reduced the number to thirty-four,
besides the Sundays. New Years Day
was, of course, one of the days pre-
served.
CD The third council Of Baltimore
(1SS4, limited the number of holy
days of obligation for the United
States to six, including New Years
Day, or the festival of the Circum-
cision of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This
enactment of the national council was
approved by Rome.
Why are the papaI coIors white and
yellow?
White, the color Of light, symbolizes
,c e.;
Church spreads ever the world as the
divinely constituted teacher of men.
Yellow, the color of gold, represents
the royalty of Christ, the King of
Kings, exercised in this world by His
Church, the legitimate heir to His SOW
ereignty. The colors, then, represent
the Church as the King and Teacher
of men.
Is there a shrine in Quebec, Canada,
where there is number of miraculous
cures performed every year? What is
the best time of the year to visit this
shrine? What prayers are recon-
mended to be said as novena? Name
some of the cures performed.
The shrine referred to is that of
st. Anne de Beaupre, % miles north of
Quebec city. The Church, originally
built in honor of ST. Anne, in later
years was enriched with a relic of the
saint and since then it has become the
scene of numerous miracles. On each
side of the main entrance two great
wooden racks that rise as pyramids
from the floor to the ceiling of the
great basilica, filled with all manner
of artificial supports to the manned in
body or limb, such as crutches, walk
ing sticks, bandages, iron braces, tes-
tify to many of the miracles that have
been wrought through the interces-
sion of st, Anne. Pilgrimages are
made to this shrine every year, partic-
ularly on the festival day of the saint,
July rs. In 1905 the pilgrims num-
bered 10000. There are no particu-
lar prayers specified 1t is the Chris
tian faith of the individual and the
spirit of prayer that secures the inter-
ceSSion of the saint.
When does the season of Advent
close? Ifwith Christmas, why may not
Catholics be married at a Nuptial Mass
before the festival of the Epiphany?
Advent is time of preparation for
Christmas, telling us of the coming of
Christ, aud ends, of course, with His
birth During this time the Church
wishes us to mourn for our sins and to
do penance for them. Marriage is in
dicative of joy and gladness, and con-
Sequently would be an intrusion dur
ing the season of Advent. During the
week of Christmas the Church wishes
us to occupy our minds with the great
mystery that is commemorated, the
birth of the Son of God Hence, the
law prohibiting marriage until the fes-
tival of the Epiphany, which marks
the close of the holy season.
Does a person commit mortal sin
II, through neglect, he refrains from re-
ceiVina Holy Communion, after he has
been to confession?
The fact Of having received the sac
rament of Penance imposes no obi
cation to receive the Holy Eucharist.
Each of the sacraments is complete in
itself, If the neglect implied irrever-
ence, or impiety towards the Holy Eu-