The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-09-21

must be confessed
How can we say that God meant
this or that, when it is stated in
Scripture, how incompreheasbIe are
His judgments?
This expression in Holy Scripture
does not mean that all of the actions
of God are beyond our comprehension.
As a matter of fact, He makes clear
30 us His will in many ways. In
other cases, the nature of Gods deal
ing with us is frequently beyond our
present understanding, and hence His
judgments at times are said to be in
comprehensive.
Are some mortal sins more grieVous
than others?
Sin is an offense against God. 1t
may be either mortal, that is grievous,
or venial. that is, relatively light. In
reality all sin is in itself enormous,
although not every sin is sufficiently
grievous to separate us from God.
Mortal sin makes the soul an enemy
of God. But even here there are de-
grees which cause the sin to be more
grievOuS or less grievous. Hence it
is a greater mortal sin to murder ten
persons than it is to murder one per-
son.
How can some persons continue to
receive the sacraments while they Go
not pay their honest debts?
For the same reason that some
persons continue to receive the sacra-
ments while they regularly get drunk,
beat their wives, curse and blaspheme,
and commit many other sins which we
do not care to mention. In other
words, person may receive the
sacraments regularly. although he
at times falls, through frailty, into
the same sin. The nature of confeS-
sion requires that person use every
endeavOr to avoid the repetition of
sin. A person, however, who CON
tinually relapseS into the same sin
shows either that he has no intention
of avoiding that sin. or that he is lax
If a person who can pay his honest
debts refuse to do so, and at the same
time continues to approach the sacra.
ments, there is little doubt but that
such a one is in a state OF sin. In
this case this person would simply be
adding sin upon sin. 1t should be
noted, however, that it is not our
place or duty ordinarily to judge such
persons, for frequently we are mis-
taken in our conclusions through
either prejudice or insufficient knowl-
edge of the facts.
Is it forbidden for a Catholic to be
sponsor for a child baptized in the
Episcopal Church?
Catholics are forbidden to take &C.
tive part in the acts of worship of
any other church. Hence, for a Cath
Ole to act as sponsor in the case men
toned would be equivalent to taking
an active part in heretical worship,
and this is forbidden.
If we have Masses said for the re.
pose of the soul of ore who actually
is IN hell, would these Masses benefit
any one?
The Mass is the greatest act of
worship which man can offer to God.
In this august sacrifice Almighty God
is most highly honorcd. Another eff
tect Of this act of worship is that it
accrues to the benefit of both the
priest and Of the person at whose
request the Mass was offered. If the
person for whose benefit the Holy
Sacrifice was applied is incapable of
receiving that benefit, there is no
doubt but that Almighty God will ap-
ply that good work were He sees fit,
Further than this the Church does not
teach us anything more on the sub
ject
Do our prayers and good works
benefit a person who is already in
heaven?
The essential happiness of the
souls in heaven consists in the bea-
t1ttc vision of God. Prayers and good
works offered up in this life in honor
OF the souls in heaven constitute what
Is called their secondary happiness.
In other words, their glory is acciden-
tally enhanced by the prayers. etc.
directed to them
IT one wishes to obtain a favor is
1t better to have Mass said for the
souls in Pureatory, or rather for a
special intention?
The Mass itself is the chief thing
which matters. To have a Mass Of
Tered for the souls in purgatory, ac-
companying this good work with a
request for the special intention, is
to help the suffering souls, and at the
same time to enlist their aid in our
favor. 1t must be understood that the
souls in purgatory can assist us by
their prayers, although they are
poWerless to help themselves. Hence,
as matter of mere gratitude, there
is little doubt but that a Mass or good
works offered in suffrage Of the suf-
fering souls will bring down upon us
their grateful intercession with Al
mighty God for our intention. When
in need of helm If ic cucfop,or1y for