The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-04-28
Is it right fer a Catholic to dance

Is it riqht for a Catholic to dance
on ST. Patrick's Day?
The festival of the patron saint OF
Ireland is not in this country a holy
day of obligation. Because this day,
the 18th OF March, falls within the
season OF Lent, a time Of penance, sell
denial and abstinence from worldly
amusements, the recreation of dane
ing is not consonant with the Catholic
spirit of the season. 1t is not, how
V positively forbidden by the
Church on this day or Oh other days.
Is not dancing as innocent a distrac-
ton as card-pIaying? If n is al
lowed at a church sociabIe why may
not the other?
Dancing may be abused and card
playing also. In which CASE the one
is forbidden as well as the other. No
one is free TO commit sin in one
amusement or the other. The law of
the Church, that is based on reasons
which appeared, we presume, good and
sufficient TO the authorities, forbids
priests TO give their sanction TO dane
ing, or to be present at it or to lend
church property for this purpose. 1t
is obedience TO this law that is in
question, not the morality Of the act
in itself. If the act is immoral it is
always sinful. Because Of the posi-
tive law OF the Church. dancing under
the auspices OF the Church is forbid
den.
Are Catholics in general free to read
the doctrines of socialism as exposed
by its adherents, even in those things
not relating to the Church? Kindly
give the names of some authors on
this subject.
The basic doctrines Of socialism
that eliminate God and the spiritual
from the world and the life Of man,
evidently, are opposed 10 the teach
ings Of Christianity. For this reason
Catholics are not free to read such
doctrines. Different theories of gov
eminent advanced by socialists may
not relate directly TO Church or re-
lision; bat these strictly speaking are
not soCialistic doctrines. They per
tain rather to social reforms which
everyone is free to advocate or con
denim according 10 his oWn best judg-
memt. Very often, persons are drawn
into socialism because Of their attTac-
ton for these elements of reform in
the government OF the country which
changes are presented 10 them as the
foundation and substance of socialism.
In this there is grave deception.
Whether it is advisable for the gov
cTnment to manage the telegraph and
railroad systems is vastly different
from the question if an individual has
any moral right to possess private
property. The former pertains TO so,
cial reform, the latter to socialism.
We commend the inquirer for ask.
ing for Catholic literature on the sub.
joct and we are happy to say that
their is an abundance Of it. Many OF
the works, however, are written in
the French or German language. We
mention here a few English produc.
tions published in the United States.
Cathrein, Socialism. It's Theoretical
Basis and Practical Application
IN. " Preus, The Fundamental Fal
lacy Of Socialism (St. LCuis). Ming
The characteristics and the Religion
OF Modern Socialism On. " Ming
The Morality of Modern Socialism
IN. V Stang, Socialism and Chris
tianity On. W Ryan, \ Living Wage
It's Ethical and Economic Aspects.
How may one make a "novena?"
A novena is a nine-day prayer, OF
otter works of piety. 1t is made b!
fulfilling this condition; i. e., saying
some prayer or doing some other WORT
of piety for nine consecutive days
The indulgenceS attached to the no
vena are generally based on the fur
tier condition Of receiving worthily
Ghe Sacramento of Penance and Hol,
Eucharist within the same time. l
is necessary, of course, to be in thu
state of grace before any indulgence
can be gained, but the novenas ap
pointed by the Church require also
as a rule, the worthy reception of thu
Sacramento.
Was Baptism by pouring water OF
the head OF the person to be baptized
used by the Apostles? What was tn,
reason for changing the form of Rap
tisr1?
There is no specific mention in tn,
Holy Scriptures that the Apostles ad
ministered baptism by pouring tn,
water on the head of the person
neither is there in the same SQUIRE
any mention of the fact that a lay pei
son has in case of necessity the RICH
TO administer this Sacrament. w
have the same authority for n as 70
the other; the authorized representa-
ton of Christ, commanded by him t
leach His gospel to all nations, tn
society that we call the CathOli
Church. From her living teaching
going back to Apostolic times we knoy
that baptism was administered b
pouring the water on the head of tn
person to be baptized. Furthermore
we have in the New Testament Gil