The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-10-26


University, Washington, DC.
In mixed marriage, performed by
priest, is there any promise made
to bring up the children in the Cath
oIc religion?
These promises should always be
made. In fact, the Church requires
that the promises be in writing and
signed by the contracting parties.
What do you mean by superstition
and when is a pe"son superatitious?
The dictionary defines superstition
as an excessive reverence for or fear
of that which is unknown and mystic
rious--a religious belief regarded as
irrational and misleading. The great
saint and theologian, ST. Thomas, de-
fines it as "a vice opposed to religion
by way Of excess: not because in the
worship OF God it does more than true
religion, but because it offers divine
worship to beings other than God, or
offers worship to God in an improper
manner" We are obliged to worship
scribed. 1t is wrong to attempt the
worship Of God in an improper man
ner to make religion ridiculous, to
practice vain observance, to attribute
TO things or persons powers which
they do not of themselves possess.
Persons who practice such false, in
cOngru0us forms Of worship and devo-
ton are said to be superstitiOus. SUI
peTstitiOn is always a sin and is quite
frequently a grieyous sin. 1t is super
stiti0n, for instance, to believe in or
binary dreams and act upon them: TO
consult hands for the purpose CT know
ing the fortune tellCTs; to cut cards Or
inspect future; divinations Of various
kinds through the use of animals or
the elements Of the earth; witchcraft
and magic are forms Of superstition;
the use OF omens, amulets, pOtions, the
belief in charms and spells. The fault
with all these is that they tend to
make religion absurd and ridiculous,
they take the mind away from God,
and they attribute TO mere creatures
powers that belong TO God. Creatures
can be used to lead us to God, and il
that use there is no superstition, for
the power and the homage are referred
to God. Catholics make constant use
Of holy pictures, and medals, and q
great variety of religious articles.
That is no superstition, for no virtue is
attributed to these inanimate things in
their own name or by their own pow
er; they are blessed in the name of
God and are dedicated to Gods serv-
ice: God is asked to use those articles
and the faithful are led to God through
their use Thus soldier wears a med
al; it is not the material that assists,
but the wearing Of the medal, as an
object of religion, serves to remind the
soldier Of God.
If ST. Peter was infaIIibIe, why did
he deny the Saviour?
Infallibility is in nowise connected
with the personal errors, Weaknesses
or sins Of individual Popes, but is linn
tied only to OK cathedra utterances in
tended for the whole Church. At any
rate, the objection falls to the ground
for at the time of the denial ST. Peter
was not Pope, for he had not yet re-
ceived the gift of Pentecost, which
was necessary for the fullness of his
powers.
What must person do when he has
deliberately contracted greater debts
than he can pay with ease?
He must repent, deny himself and
pay the debts. He is responsible fol
them before God. If they cannot be
paid with ease, they must be paid
without it, Thou shalt not steal
commands God. 1t does not matter
whether one steals directly or by q
more refined method, the command
ment remains the same.
Should a prayer book be blessed?
A prayer book may be blessed lust
as every article that we use, but the
blessing adds nothing to the efficiency
Of the prayers. The book is used tC
help us pray. The prayer that Cod
hears comes from our hearts and not
from the book, which is only help
have read the expression, "once q
Catholic, always a Catholic" Does
that mean that Catholic can never
become Protestant?
The expression is another way oil
stating that the Catholic religion is
the true religion of God. One may
abandon the truth for error; but thai
does not change the truth and does
not lessen his responsibility toward
the truth. 1t is evident, one may
abandon the outward practice of the
Catholic religion; he may join one OF
the many denominations; he may even
lose his Catholic faith altogether. But
his is the responsibility for all this
and he will be judged as Catholic
One could say, once a Christian, al
ways a Christian Yet men have
abandoned Christianity for Moslem
ism, for Christian Science, for Spirit
ism. They sinned by FORGETTING the
true Christian faith, and in the judg
ment of God they remain Christians
and retain the obligations and the re
sponsibilities of Christians. The same
is true of Catholics: Catholicity ant