The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-11-10

pray less W lIlG I1Oly 1llOoI' " AASSPN
it is true that actually less prayers
are said to Him, and this may be due
to the fact that the operation of the
Holy Spirit is less perceptible than the
work of the Creating Father and the
Redeeming Son.
Can a Catholic couple be married in
another Catholic parish without get
ting their pastors (who only holds
services there once month"; permits
sion.
The fact of having service only once
a month does not affect the question.
A real Catholic will not question the
disciplinary measures considered nee
essary by the Church. Permission OF
the parish priest is necessary" in
fact, no other Catholic priest, know
ing the circumstances, would officiate.
What is the meaning of putting salt
on the tongue of an infant during the
ceremony of baptism?
Salt is a symbol of wisdom, and
while the priest gives it to the child
he prays that it may so wisely live
that future happiness may be its re-
ward. Salt has, furthermore, preserV-
ing qualities. Hence it signifies that
the faith there infused be preserved to
the end of life. Christ told His apos-
ties, you are the salt of the earth;
thus the Christian by his life and eX-
ample shall season the world that sur
rounds him.
What is chrism?
A mixture of olive oil and balsam
blessed by the bishop on Holy Thurs
day with a special blessing.
What is the work of the Holy Ghost?
The Holy Ghost is the third Person
of the Blessed Trinity, equal to the
Father and the Son, proceeding from
them, distinct from them. Going
therefore teach We all nations, bap-
tizing them in the name OF the Faith
err and of the Son and of the Holy
Ghost" Matt. XVIII, 49, The Holy
Ghost is frequently mentioned in the
New Testament. unless man be
born of water and the Holy Ghost, he
cannot enter into the Kingdom OF
Heaven, John III, 81; you shall re-
ceive the power of the Holy Ghost
coming upon you" acts |, 81; land
they were all filled with the Holy
Ghost, and they began to speak with
divers tongues according as the Holy
Ghost gave them to speak (Acts IL,
3, a.. 1t is the Holy Ghost who con-
fers spiritual gifts and fruits upon
the soul, who imparts sanctifying
grace which is the supernatural life
of the soul; who suggests holy
thoughts and encourages pious inten-
tions: who leads chosen souls to en-
brace the way of perfection and de-
vote themselves entirely to God. The
Holy Ghost also watches over the
Church, maintains it's identity, guar
antees it's infallibility in teaching mat
ters of faith and morals. 1t was the
Holy Ghost who wrought the signs
and wonders that accompanied the
preaching of the apostles and that
have never ceased to adorn the Church
of God; the Holy Ghost guarded the
Church in the age of persecution,
tanned the fury of the barbaric hordes
which threatened to overrun Christian
Europe, effected the downfall of here,
sy and schism, offset the pernlclous
influence of bad priests and bishops
and popes. guided the Church through
a thousand difficulties, and will abide
with the Church till the end of time
This is the work of the Holy Ghost
in the individual soul and in the
Church of Christ.
How is it possible for a person to
avoid all sin?
Catholics make the distinction be-
tween mortal sin and venial sin. The
first involves a matter of grave con
sequence, entails sufficient reflection
to the action or thought involved
and requires absolute freedom of the
will; venial sin results when one OF
these three conditions is lacking
Thus, it may be that the matter is OF
very minor import, or it was done
hastily, carelessly with little or nc
deliberation, on the impulse of the
moment, under the stress of almost
unavoidable anger Mortal sin in
wolves a grave offense against God
done with sufficient knowledge and
deliberation. 1t is, no doubt, asking
too much of weakened human nature
that it should be guiltless of all venial
offenses; but any and every man
can avoid mortal sins. You can
not commit mortal sin without try.
ing to do so and without intending
and realizing an offense against God
A man, in passing fit of anger loses
his temper, swears, strikes an i'm
pertinent child; he may not be guilty
of mortal sin. But when he places an
action or a series of actions of body
and mind, of hand and foot, all tend
ing to what he knows to be wrong
with conscience upbraiding him-to
say that such man could not have
avoided doing what he did, is to say
he is bereft of free will, is no man al
all. Man can avoid the occasions Of
serious sin; he can profit by his falls
in the past; he can listen to the faint
but steady voice of conscience; he
can guard his eyes; he can learn 3