The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-02-24
What should the Sunday collection

Inc DlulG tOIlGCJlO1 tiltlI 10 'etiNN II
up on Sunday formerly supplied the
daily wants of the priest. In these
DAYS of the II. C. Of l.. it is very
fortunate that the priest does not nave
to rely exclusively upon the nickels
and occasional dimes that are given
at the offertory on the ordinary Sun
days of the year. The amount re-
ceived. however small, is one OF the
regular revenues of the parish and
may be applied to any legitimate par
ish expense, the priests own living
being one of these. Those who worry
most over what the priest does with
all the money very rarely give the
priest little difficulty in deciding how
he will spend what they give. The
shirt of Catholic faith and Christian
charity should move us to give to the
support of religion without counting
the pennies. The Lord loyeth cheer
full giver.
Is a priest obliged to read the gospel
in the language of the people at an
early Mass when there is only one
Mass in the church?
The Mass is complete in itself.
Those who assist at it properly fulfill
the obligation resting upon them by
the law of the church. The reading
of the gospel in the vernacular, preach
ing a sermon, making announcements
apply to the parish in general and
so are done at the regular parish Mass
The earlier Mass is one of conVen-
fence for those who cannot be pres
ent at the parish Mass. Very general
ly, however, if it is at all possible the
priest for the convenience of the peo-
pie, will read to the people in their
own tongue the gospel OF the Sunday
even though there be no obligation
upon him to do so. Very often also
he breaches a sermon, though the time
allowed must make it brief.
Is it a sin to take part in a public
dance on Christmas night?
The festival of Christmas is to be
observed, according to the law of the
Church, and according to all Christian
sentiment as a Sunday. The rules OF
conduct that hold in one case, apply
with equal force in the other. Dane
ing in itself may be innocent at any
time; but, the present mode OF dane
ing, or what is called dancing, and
the general opinion in regard to dane
ing, both make il most probable that
scandal will be given by dancing on
Sunday. If for no other reason, then
one should avoid it, for conscience
sake, not thy own, but thy neighbors.
Is marriage before Greek Catho-
lie priest valid in the eyes of the Ro-
man Catholic Church?
The Greek Catholic priest referred
to in the above question is, we pre-
sumo, one who is united to the Roman
Catholic Church, that is, subject to
directly or through some Roman Cath
Ollie Bishop In such a case his acts
have the same validity as those of a
Roman Catholic priest. If the Greek
priest belongs to the Church that is
cut off from the Catholic Church, his
dCIS W III nave liO IlAl IllSl NSSiNo1tt"'N
sanction than that of an ordinary lay
man. If Catholics should attempt to
get married before such a priest they
would be guilty of sacrilege and the
marriage would be void.
Is there any age limit for women
who wish to enter the life of religion?
There is no fixed age after which
appicantS to a religious community
will be rejected. 1t is more desirable,
of course, that the candidate be in
early life; for, then, the character
habits, mode of life, etc, are more cas-
lily fitted to the life and rules of the
community 1t is possible, however
that an individuals private life would
have we'll fitted her for life in religion
Her regular confessor could assist
much in deciding the question. With
or without his guidance she would be
free to consult the Mother Superior OF
any religious community; st. Joseph S
and the Visitation in st. Paul, and
others, elsewhere, and, thus learn
something of the rules that would
have to be followed during life. This
information would help considerably
towards reaching n conclusion for OF
against entering the religious state.
Which gains for us the greater in
diligence to follow the Mass with {
prayer book, or by reciting the
Rosary?
The Mass is infinitely better than
any indulgence The one is the
sacrifice of the body and blood OF
Christ, the other is favor granted
by the Church. The more intimately
we enter into the divine sacrifice, the
more fully the merits of Christ's
death are applied to us. The prayer
book is gotten up by learned and
pious men with the sanction of the
Church professedly to assist us in fol
lowing the sacrifice. Until one shall
have discovered a better Mass book
than that which is put into our hands
by the best talent of the Church il
behooves one to follow the plan that is
commonly adopted and which carries
with it the authoritative sanction O
the Church. The Rosary is an eX
cellent devotion strongly recommend
ed by the Church, but it is at best {