The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-05-26

hlIn rare SACCpllOHS, 1AAt AeAt
Mass on Sunday is the principal. or
parish Mass. The other Masses are
celebrated earlier in the day 10 &C
commodate either the overflow OF the
congregation when the church is too
small 10 provide room for all al the
late Mass, or for those who cannot
attend the parish Mass. To the lat
ter belong those who receive Holy
Communion or who are charged with
household or other necessary duties
that demand attention. The paro-
chial Mass is intended for all the peo-
PIE OF the parish who can make it
convenient to be present. 1t is said
for the spiritual and temporal needs
of all the parishioners and, conse-
quently, it is but right that very fam
lily be present. or, al least, repre-
scented by one or more of its mem
bers in the family pew. In this con-
nectiOn il may be remarked that il is
unfortunate that the family pew" is
rapidly becoming but q tradition in
many parishes, especially in the
cities. 1t did more than anything
else 10 give the family q sense OF
religious solidarity and proprietorship
in the parish church and was a silent
witness TO the presence or absence Of
the household al the late Mass
Many who go 10 an earlier Mass TO
receive Holy Communion could with a
little sacrifice. il may be. Of their per
ff-1T q nd
with no inc0rsiderable amount OF
spiritual profit. return 10 the parish
Mass at least occasionally. Persons
who never attend parish Mass are
scarcely doing their full duty to the
Church or 10 themselves. If they be
II all prominent in the community
their example is likely 10 prove con-
tagi0us and thus lead 10 q neglect OF
the parish Mass. This Mass is usually
High Mass where the ceremonies
are carried out with greater detail
and solemnity. where an instruction
in Christian Doctrine-often very
much needed by the very ones who
neglect to hear it's given. where the
banns Of marriage are published, and
important announcements made. and
where the sacred chant Of the Church
renders homage TO God and tends to
elevate the minds and hearts OF the
woTshippers to the contemplation of
the things that are above In
word, the parish Mass is the Mass OF
the Sunday and should be so regarded
by the members of the parish who
should deem it their duty to be present
at it as often as possible.
Why do the Catholics keep candles
Tx at the wake Of departed relative
or friend?
TO indicate the needs Of prayers
for the dead. the candle forming 4 con-
stanu reminder of the duty OF sending
our prayers after the deceased that
perpetual light may shine upon him,
that the sorrows OF purgatory may.
under our prayers, be ended and the
soul take up its residence in the joys
OF Heaven.
Why has not the average Cath
Ollie parish a club for the young men
and the young women? We are told
again and again that we should marry
persons belong to cur own faith. But
how are we going to meet those CT our
own kind unless through club?
Some parish clubs have been a
success and a large portion OF their
success has been found in their ability
10 bring about the wedding Of Catholic
10 Catholic. In other parishes the rec
tors have put forth The best OF efforts,
and failure in rounding up the young
men and the young women has met
their endeavors Certainly it cannot
be laid to the door OF the priests that
such failures have come. This sad
condition of the fate Of parish clubs
even when conducted by active
priests has kept other pastors from
venturing. 1t has been found by
others that an informal parish club
life, made up OF Winter socials, the
baseball team in the Summer, various
outings and theatre parties has taken
over the best points out OF the parish
club idea and left behind its discour-
aging features. Perhaps the Y. NJ.
c. A. was prominent in the mind OF
the writer at the time of forming her
letter The fault with the Catholic
parish club idea has been diagnosed
by the informed as springing from
the manner of conducting the club. Ii
is not run on strictly business basis
as is the Y. NJ. c. A. Too much is
offered for nothing under the plea OF
winning the young folk over TO the
practice of their religion. The Y. NJ.
c. A. has been recognized as the back
bone of Professionalism, and yet it has
brought its influence TO bear in the
face of the strictest discipline and a
money requirement which really
causes full payment to be made for
every enjoyment afforded. The time
may come when this point will receive
renewed consideration and then the
Catholic clubs win be run on the basis
of the Y. NJ. C. A. and perhaps with
the same results to the religion OF
the Catholic younger generation as the
Protestant Y. NJ. C. A. has harvested
for its religion.