The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-08-18


dress OF some other persons. This is
very serious matter, and may lead
to unpleasant results if repeated.
Can a man who was married before
"a justice of the peace get divorce
and marry Catholic woman and be-
long to the Catholic Church?
The question is not very clear. Was
the man baptized in the Catholic faith
before his marriage; or, does he pro-
pose to become Catholic after his di-
vorce? If the man had been baptized
a Catholic and went through the form
of marriage within the last ten years,
his marriage in the~eyes of the Church
and the eyes of God was not valid.
This, however, does not mean that he
is free to put away the woman who
has been in the eyes of the world his
wife. On the contrary, he is bound to
validate the marriage without delay,
by repeating the marriage ceremony
before a priest and two witnesses. If
the man and his wife had not been
baptized Catholics, but as members of
some Protestant church, the marriage
before God and the Church as we'll as
before the world is valid and binding
until death parts them.
If the man has never been baptized,
and it is to such a case most probably
that the question applies, his mar
riage, as a natural contract, even
though no sacrament of matrimony be
received, is valid and binding in con-
science until the two are separated by
death. 1t was of such a character that
God made marriage in the beginning
Male and female God created them
and blessed them saying, increase and
:1nitiply." What God has joined to-
cether, let not man put asunder."
Jesus Christ made this natural con-
tract the means or outward sign,
whereby He confers divine grace upon
the two making the contract, or, as it
is commonly said, he made marriage
a sacrament.
How much does it cost a month to
keep three girls in convent?
This question can best be answered
by applying directly to the convent
school. Nearly all such schools make
special rates in favor of such cases.
BY writing to the Holy Angels Acad-
envy, Minneapolis, st. Joseph's Acad-
envy, st. Paul, or the Visitation Con-
vent, st. Paul, full information will be
obtained.
IF child, when he is making his
First Communion, promises to obstan
from intoxicating drink until he is
a"enty-one years of age, is this prom
Isc binding under pain of sin?
The child that is admitted to his
First Communion evidently knows the
meaning of an obligation If he will
Ingly takes the pledge, he assumes an
obligation that is binding in con-
science under pain of sin. Should he
drink Intoxicating liquor without hav-
ing obtained due dispensation from
has promise, he would be guilty of sin.
Each time that he would. take any
such drink another sin would be COM
mitted, unless he was dispensed by
proper authority, until the period of
time for which the pledge was taken
is expired. Every time that the prom
lse is broken sin is committed. The
nature of this sin will depend upon
the conscience Of him who makes the
promise, and upon the wish and au,
thority OF the one giving the pledge
The Church considers such an obliga
ton to be venial and it's violation con
SCquently, so far as the mind of the
Church is concerned, would be venial
sin. Should the individual, however
be persuaded that the pledge will bind
in conscience under pain of mortal
sin and with this mind he willingly
assumes the obligation, he will be
guilty of mortal sin, as often as he
breaks the promise, unless he should
receive from legitimate authority a
dispensation from this graver penalty
This explanation does not apply at all
to the abuse of Intoxicating drink
The sin Of drunkenness is, of course
mortal sin; and is altogether dis
tinct from the sin of breaking the
pledge.
is daughter who receives salary
of upwards of one hundred dollars q
month contributing just share to the
expenses of the household by paying
fifteen dollars a month?
A young woman drawing such a
salary would rightly be considered as
self-supporting. She could not justly
claim to be dependent upon her par
ents. She should then be willing tc
pay the full cost of her board and
lodging, besides meeting her other ex
penses. We doubt very much if she
could find any place where she would
be given desirable board and lodging
for fifteen dollars a month. In fact
it would cost almost fifteen dollars a
month to heat a room in cold weather
1t would be simply matter of strict
justice for the daughter to contribute
her full share of the household ex
penses. This might be estimated
somewhat fairly by the prevailing
prices charged for similar accommo
dations in equally desirable surround
ings.
We reach this conclusion on the