The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-02-09


son. They are known in the vicinity |
in which they reside as Catholics and
they wish to earn in some wise this
title. That they would commit NOR
tai sin if they missed Mass without a |
good and sufficient reason might, too, |
have some influence in making them
more or less faithful to their church
going.
If we would take the time to study
the activities Of this class on Sun
day morning, we might in some wise
profit by the contemplation. On Sun
day morning they generally busy
| themselves with everything except
| the one thing that should occupy
them. They will wait until the last
bell rings for Mass. Then there is
hurry and hustle TO get ready They
| will make their way to the church
and will find that the priest has al
ready reached the gospel and is about
to begin his remarks. After their ar
rival their first aim is personal com
fort, by which time they will discover
that the priest has reached the
|
must make a survey Of the congrega-
ton to see and be seen. Their minds
are filled with thoughts of this one or
| that one Perhaps they will be think
| ing of some gossip they have heard
! during the past week about some
member of the congregation. Millin-
cry and dress will come in for consid-
L
topic of conversation for the home
ward journey from the church. 1t is
wonderful the things that people can
see and note while the holy sacrifice
of the Mass is going on. How many
things have we not heard about what
some people noticed in church last
Sunday. And of course, this attention
was about those attending the Mass
and not the Mass itself.
And then comes the most solemn
moment Of the Mass-the conSecra-
ton. There is a hush and quiet
throughout the church and these "au-
tomato Catholics must perforce
strike an attitude of reverence. And
what are their thoughts at this sol
emn moment? They will tell you that
they could hardly recoIlect them
selves owing to the distractions which
come to their minds. Could one eX-
pect to be recollected with little or
no preparation? One cannot help feel
impressed at the moment of consecra-
ton, when the Son Of God again be-
comes flesh and blood on the altar
And yet to the devout soul that mo-
ment is one of indescribable joy and
happiness, one in which every thought
of the world is shut out, one in which
the soul stands in the presence of it's
Maker.
Then comes the canon Of the Mass,
with it's intenseness and secrecy and
sClemnity. And all those things are
lost on the automatic Catholic" AS
the Messenger remarks, only one
whose soul is anchored at the chaIice
appreciates the ebb and flow of that
sacrificial sea. There is so little to
feed the senses--tO satisfy the eye
and lull the ear in the mystic progress
of the sreat sacrifice Pity it's true
that the eye and, the ear of some is
not the eye and ear of faith, teaching
! them of the great things that are oc-
], curing in their midst. Distractions
crowd in and the lessons of the Mass
are lost, the graces which would have
| been given are withheld.
The Domino, non sum dignus.'
, The cry that won pardon for the pub
lican in the temple. The cry that
made him go down to his house iusti
: fed" The cry that should well III
Y from the heart Of every creature to
! God, Who has loved us so much and
7 so well. The priest, in the name OF
| the people, with the Sacred Host in
his hand, cries out thrice, 20 Lord,
| am not worthy" And then comes the
. time when the Bread of Angels be
5 comes the Bread of Men" The Com
. munion, when the Son Of God comes
S into hearts and souls of men and be
l comes their Food and Drink" What
Y a loss is there to those souls which
: do not appreciate the dignity and
sublimity Of this part of the Mass
f How many are there who at this mo
: ment are thinking about the duties
S that await them at home. They are
Y thinking about how to spend the Sun
t day, they are thinking about the mo
Y ment when Mass will be out" Aye
s pity, It's true, some even leave the
o church at this time.
e Soon the blessing is given and the
J. priest begins the reading Of the gospe
of st. John. In nearly every church
o this seems to be a signal for quite {
O number to make their exit. Others
f take it as a signal to dust theil
e clothes and take a last look arounC
e the church to see if there is any tina
/ they have missed in their previou:
d surveys. Maybe a few words will bt
S spoken to those beside them, nod t.
S some one across the aisle-and Mas:
: is over
e HomeWard the automatic Catho
r lies" wend their way, perfectly salts
t fed with themselves. Again have the,
J, indicated their right to be known a!
i Catholics. They have done their duty
so they think No more bother I'm
Y til next Sunday. And then the same
:, old story is repeated. Pity tbs true
-.