The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-09-07

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90 there.
Most wonderful statements are put
into the mouths of priests by persons
who consult them, not for the pur-
pose of being advised, but to be con
firmed in their erroneous preconcep-
ton. The most fundamental moral
principles, the most basic doctrinal
teachings have been misconstrued, or
totally ignored and denied by priests,
if we are to believe the statements of
certain persons. Your query furnishes
typical instance. No priest could
say it was not a sin to take part in
spiritualistic seances. Spiritism is a
religion-a false religion, and no Cath
olic may take part in false worship.
God has established one true religion,
one true form of worship, and we may
not encourage or abet false religions,
false forms of divine worship. There
fore, Catholics may not attend spir-
itistic meetings. Spiritualism contains
very subtle danger. 1t is so appar-
emily harmless, it appeals to the I'M
known, to the dim existence beyond
the grave; and thus infiames human
curiosity. Its spirits are malignant
ones, when they are not frauds, and
Christian instinct tells us to have as
little as possible to do with the devil.
All faith, and often all morality, is fire.
quently lost by those who become
addicted to this heresy, and usually
the beginning was visit out OF
curiosity. The Church is so persuaded
of this that Pope Benedict has spe-
cially forbidden to Catholics attend
ance at spiritistic conferences. That
settles the matter for the children of
the Church.
How long must man wait otter the
death of his wife before marrying
again?
There is no ecclesiastical or civil
regulation in this matter; but COM
mon decency and a due regard for
public sentiment dictate reasonable
delay before the subsequent marriage
is attempted.
If a mother allows her child to grow
up without religion is she responsible
for its soul?
There is no doubt that a mother is
responsible for the religious education
of her children. If through her fault
they grow up without religion she is
guilty of grievous sin. The only thing
for her to do us to return to God
through sincere ContritiOn and by good
example and fervent prayer endeaVor
to influence her children to practice
their religion and thus repair as far as
possible the damage she has done to
them.
Are the hosts used at Mass always
round in form?
The Rubrics order that the altar
bread used at Mass shall be round
The practical and symbolic reasons
for this are explained in the Catholic
Encyclopedias: From the earliest
days the hosts in the Latin Church
''SAS VI III NulCl LOlll L HIS 1O1il was
adopted because the hosts could be
more easily handled, and because the
circle, being the most perfect figure.
and symbolic of infnity, most suitably
represents the Presence of Him, Who
by His eternity, immensely, love and
the merits of His Sacrifice, is In
finite"
Is it fact that Catholic sovereiqns
prosecuted men for their religious
opinions?
There is no record of a Catholic
government prosecuting a man for his
private religious opinions. They did
punish men for preaching heresy
which was destructive of society.
Every government in the world claims
the right to punish men for certain
crimes. If the plea Of private opin-
iOn were always to stand, an anarch-
list could plead conscientious motives
Tor murder, the Socialist might Justify
stealing by his theory of the injustice
OF private ownership a bigamist
might plead that he was a Mormon.
Ii the law would recognize such pleas,
society would be powerless to protect
Itself against any form of vice.
When Catholic rulers punished the
hereto, it was not for his private
opinion but because heresy was de-
structiVe of the social order and
against the common law of Christen-
dom, which made it political crime. |
When we denOunce these monarchs |
who endeayored to force religion on
unbelleVers at the point of a sword, |
as did Charlemagne, Louis " and |
Philip III, it is because they were act |
ing contrary to the principles of con-
version in the Catholic Church. We
cannot blame them for furnishing
those heretics who were enemies of |
the state. A little study of the i'm
irreligious and anti-social |
teachings of many heresies, such as /
the Albigenses, the Hussites and /
will make us appreciate |
the reasons these monarchs had to /
punish the hereto
Can you suggest few good books
for my library?
There are four books that should be |
inv every household-the Bible, THE |
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