The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-12-14

the Blessed Virgin conceived without
sin had to suffer death?
Three things are certain: death is
the penalty of original sin; the Blessed
Virgin was conceived free from the
guilt of original sin; and she did die.
The first fact is contained in Scrip
ture: LAS by sin death entered into
the world; the second is the solemn
dOgmatic teaching OF the Church con-
corning the Immaculate Conception;
and the third comes from accepted
tradition. These are facts, and no ap-
parent difficulty can destroy fact.
The Blessed Virgin was conceived free
from original sin; and yet she suf-
fered death. Various explanations are
offered. While she died, she did not
suffer the corruption of death. Al
most Immediately her body was taken
into Heaven, and yet we call this her
Assumption. 1t was by a miracle, by
special intervention of God that
Mary was born free of original sin;
although this privilege was most be-
coming to her divine maternity, it was
not absolutely necessary. We are in
the presence of the miraculous, the
exceptional, and ordinary rules do not
hold. God, by miracle, freed Mary
from the stain of Adams sin; there
was no necessity to extend that
miracle. Even Christ, the Son of God,
died The lesson of deaths uniVer-
salty is strengthened by its extension
TO the Mother of God. Mary's dignity
is preserved by the fact that deaths
victory was but passing and partial;
she suffered no corruption from death
and was assumed by Gods power i'm
mediately into life.
Does a pastor of church represent
the law in any case, and, if not, why
does the U. S. A. recognize as legal
the marriage performed by priests of
the Church?
The laws of the various states
constitute any minister Of religion as
the minister of the contract OF mar
riage.s. This regulation naturally EN-
braces the priests of the Catholic
Church; it also includes civil magis-
trates justices of the peace, etc. That
is the only official capacity the priest
has in the sight Of the law, unless he
is elected to some political position,
in which case he is considered not
as a minister of religion, but as civil
ofFice-hoIder. This position of the
priest regarding the contract of mar
riage does not come from the L. S. A.,
which does not legislate for marriage,
but from the enactments of the sew
him TO draw up and witness the civil
contract of marriage; the canon law,
the law OF the Church appoints him
the official witness of the sacrament
OF marriage. Hence, in assisting at
the marriage Of a Catholic, the priest
represents both the State and the
Church. In the estimation of the
Church. there is no distinction, for
Christians, between the contract Of
marriage and the sacrament of mar
riage.
What is the real meaning of "by the
Grace of God" as used by kings and
emperors.
The expression is used by st. Paul
in the New Testament, and means
nothing else than to express the de-
pendence upon God, upon His grace,
in the fulfllment of the important
duties.
What was the size of the Ark in
modern measurements?
The length Of the Ark, figuring a
cubit at 81 inches, was 525 feet, its
breadth 81 feet inches, and it's depth
80 feet 6 inches. Its length is thus
seen to be about six times its width,
which is the proportion of the average
type of vessel of today 1t had three
decks, but had neither masts, sails nor
rudder, being constructed merely to
float.
We often hear the Apostles spoken
of as Disciples. What is the differ
ence between the two?
The term Apostle applies to the
twelve men whom our Divine Saviour
chose and educated to carry on the
work of preaching His divine doctrine
10 men. They were SIS. Peter, An
drew, James, John, Philip, Bartho-
Iomew, Thomas, Matthew, James the
Less, Jude, Simon and Judas Iscariot
There were other seventy-two whom
the Divine Master sent forth to
preach III His Name. They were sent
two by two and given special instruc-
tions together with special powers in
winning souls to God. In the strict
sense the term Disciple refers to these
seventy-two. Broadly speaking, the
term Disciple would include not only
the Apostles and the seventy-two Dis
ciples, but also those who believe in
the teachings of the Master and who
through love of Him, keep His Com
mandments.
Is it mortal sin not to say the
penGnce given US in Confession?
If the penitent deliberately and con
sciously omits the penance he is guilty
of sin. The gravity of the sin would
depend on the gravity of the penance
If through forgetfulness one omits the
penance, he is not guilty of sin, but
should perform it as soon as he be-
comes aware of the omission. In