The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-07-27

Corinthians, IN, 6, says: he VINO
soweth sparingly shall also reap spar
inglv: and he who soweth in blessings,
shall also reap of blessings" There
are a number of other texts also. The
Little Flower of Jesus was told why
il is that the blessed are in different
grades in heaven. Each person in
heaven is perfectly happy, but some
are much higher than others. Christ
explained to the Little Flower that
the various grades were like the flow
ers of the earth. Each is satisfying
in itself, but some are much more
beautiful than others. Heaven is God S
flower garden. This explains why Sis
fer Theresa. who had the humility of
saint, called herself the Little Flow
eT Of Jesus.
How is one to know whether he has
a religious vocation?
God prompts those called to the
priesthood or religious life by interior
urgings. You have not chosen me,
but have chosen you" John XIV, 16).
When the vocation is recognized, it
must not be treated lightly. If it be
IGNORED. salvation may be difficult and
may be lost in some other calling.
Sometimes the vocation is neglected
through Indifference for a time, then
is lost forever. Scarcely anybody eyer
has a religious vocation without hav-
ing a struggle over it, for the devil is
not eager to see anybody enter the
priesthood or a convent. The indi-
yidual must cultivate the vocation and
should speak to his confessor as soon
as he realizes its presence.
What good does it do to have an
article blessed?
The blessing dedicates the article
in some way to the service of God,
draws down the benediction of God
and serves to remind us that in the
use of that article, as in the use Of
everything, we must serve God. All
things belong to God; He is the Gre
atOr and Preserver of all things. The
Church gives evidence Of belief in this
by blessing all things and practical
Catholics manifest their faith by ask
ing the blessing of the Church on any
and every object. All may be used
for the greater honor and glory Of
God: "A glass Of cold water will not
pass without it's reward" "all what
sOever you do in word or in work. do
We in the name Of the Lord Jesus
Christ, giving thanks to God and the
Father by Him." (Colossians III, 10 :;
Therefore, whether We eat or drink,
or whatsoever else you do, do all to
the glory of God" Il Cor X, 81. Since
we may and should perform every ac-
ton for Gods honor, we may ask Gods
blessing on the articles that we use in
daily life. Gods blessing is given
officially by the Church.
Is there st. Matilda? Kindly give
me brief sketch of her life; also of
the life of St. Rita.
st. Matilda was the wife of King
Henry of Germany. She was born in
the year 895 and died in 968; her
feast is celebrated on March IA. She
was the mother of King Otto of Ger
many and of st. Bruno, Bishop of Co.
Iogne. AS queen she practiced Chris.
tian virtues in an heroic degree and
exercised a beneficent influence over
her husband On his death she was
the subject of persecution from he1
sons on the plea that she had impov
erished the kingdom by her lavish
charities; she then renowned the
great possessions that the king had
bestowed upon her, retired to her villa
and gave herself up to the practices OF
religion. Her sons met with misfor
tune and afterwards implored and re
ceived the pardon of their mother. St
Matilda built many churches and es
tablished numerous converts and mon
asteries. She was revered as a saint
almost Immediately from the day OF
her death, March IA, 968.
st. Rita was born in the Diocese OF
SpOletO, Italy, in the year 1886, and
died at Cascia, Italy, in the year 1856
her feast is celebrated on May %. ST.
Rita had desired to become nun, but
in obedience to the will of her parents
was married to a man noted for his
cruelty and bad temper. She lived
with him for eighteen years, a model
of patience and all womanly and moth.
erly virtues. On his death she again
was fired with the desire to enter the
convent, but difficulty after difficulty
was placed in her path. Indeed, il
was only through a miracle that she
was finally able to accomplish her
purpose. AS religious, she contin.
ned the practice of all Christian vir.
tues, and after her death many and
remarkable wonders were attributed
to her intercession with God. This
fact became so notable that in Spain
she was acclaimed the saint of the
impossible" and that title is still &C
corded her by the faithful Of many
lands. She was solemnly canonized
in the year 1900, on May "a.
A non-CathoIic girl marries Catho.
lie, going to different state, with
the consent of the pastor and bishop;
the girl was taking instructions to
become a Catholic, but was married
before she was baptized Catholic
Did they receive the sacrament of
marriage, or was 1t mixed marriage?