Norwich bulletin., 1916-10-16
ABSOLUTELY AGAINST DIVORCE
Unconpromsng Teaching of Catholic Church Emphasized by Mission Father at St. Patricks-Women's Mission Closes-Mission for Men Begins

What God hath joined together let | no man put asunder," the words of l the Holy Bible. the words of Christ, emphasized the sermon which Father Matthew, the Franciscan missionary, delivered from St. Patrick's pulpit Saturday evening to the congregation of 1,600 or more women of the par ish who have been attending the mis- sion exercises during the week. The missionarys text was from the gospel of Saint Matthew. What does it prof it a man if he should gain the whole world yet lose his own soul?" The sermon was a warning to those young women, sometimes aided and abetted by ambitious mothers, who marry for wealth, or social advance
 ment, not taking into account the character of the man, above all, his religious opinions and practices.
 Three States Considered. Father Matthew consderied the three classes of women in the world, those called to a religious vocation, women married and women single. He re- ] buked those selfish parents who put obstacles in the way of their daugh- ters who hear the call of God to enter the religious state, that they may de- vote their lives to caring for the sick and suffering in hospitals, to the poor
 and aged in homes. to dependant or
 phans in asylums and to teaching the children in parish schools.
 The mission Father narrated a touching incident-it proved to be that of his own father-who after his wife's death, when he was left with six sons and an only daughter, refrained from opposing the girl when she felt her
 self called to become a nun. For 25 years she has labored zealously in her
 chosen vocation. winning more con- verts, the preacher declared than he had during his 21 years as a priest Unmarried Women. Women who remain unmarried miss
 many of the cares and responsibilities which fall to the lot of the married woman and to them much of the prog ress Of parish is due.
 Women Who Shirk Their Responsi- bilities.
 The preacher defined with exactness the duty of the married women and who def1es Gods laws, piling up of- fence after offence, until, in age, she l faces a mountain of sins. In this re- l gard, as in the matter of mixed mar 1 rtages, it is not so much the woman | herself whom the Catholic church 1 she keeps from the waters of regener- ation.
 I Clergymen Condemn Mixed Marriages The dangers of mixed marriages were pointed out and the reasons why the church opposes them. The preach 1 CT said he was glad to read sermons l of on-Ca+holic clergymen opposing ! the union of people of differisG creeds such ministers had the true happiness l of. their people at heart, in giving such advice.
 Marriage a Sacrament As to Catholics being married in any ! way except that prescribed-before a priest and in the presence of two wit nesses-the church holds such cere- 1 Catholic clergyman. or a justice of
 the peace, as of no account and con- siders a woman under such circum-
 stances no more married than is a
 poor prostitute in the streets of New
 York.
 Contract Binding Till Death. On the subject of divorce the preacher was equally emphatic. Mar riage is a sacrament, the Catholic l woman in marriage makes the prom ise till death do us part" So, too no Catholic woman can be joined to a divorced man, or, in case her non- Catholic husband has obtained a di- vorce from her, she cannot re-marry during his lifetime. She is still his wife in the eyes of the church. al though they may have been separated for years. What God hath joined to- gether. no man may put asundeN. In
 guarding the sacredness of marriage, it is not so much the woman as her
 children and childrens children with
 the safety of whose souls the church is concerned.
 Following the magnificent sermon,
 Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
 was given by Rev. Myles P. Calvin, assisted by Rev Peter J. Cuny. The Eighth Commandment.
 At 9 o'clock Saturday morning Fla =
 ther ChrysoStom preached on the