The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-07-06
What is the meaning Of a "toties


as" Applied to an indulgence the
meaning is: AS many times as you
Dqrform the works eniOined, so often
NAV YOU gain the Indulgence. Thus,
on certain days the Church will pre-
claim an indulgence that may be
gained several times during the same
dav. \ visit to the church may be
required. together with confession
and communion and prayers accord
inc to the intention Of the Pope; the
indu}acnce NAV be gained as many
times as the visit to the church is
repeated. In every case, however, 1t
is understood that one must be free
from mortal sin to gain any i'll
diligence.
Why does the Church refuse Chris
tan burial to those who commit
suicide? That is, why does she refuse
burial to sore and grant it to
others?
Christian burial is a privilege, a
favor, and fayors and privileges are
Granted only to those who are worthy
of them. 4 man who takes his own
life is guilty of a heinous sin and dies
in the act Of rebellion against God.
Such a man has no right to Christian
burial: he has forfeited the privilege.
However. the Church is a merciful
and compassionate Mother, and leans
to the side OF mercy. Most suicides
are due to some mental alteration
and an insane man is not responsible
for his acts. A man who takes his
life in a fit Of insanity may receive
Christian burial 1t is the policy Of
the Church to consider practically all
suicides as acts of insanity and not
to deny Christian burial. If the priest
cannot decide this matter through his
own judgment, he is obliged to refer
the question 10 the Bishop,
Is it possible for an angel and q
woman 70 marry?
1t is not, in the course Of nature.
Angels are pure spirits, whereas
women are composed of both bodies
and souls. There is a portion of the
Old Testament which led many in ages
gone by to believe that women had
married evil spirits. But that was at
time when some held the opinion
that angels were corporal. The texts
can be reasonably explained other
wise. Our Lord implied that marriage
between angels and men is not pos
sible.
Can a man become a Catholic with
out recognizing the authority of the
Pope?
He can not. You can not be an
American unless You recognize the
authority of the President of the
u. S. A., vested in Mr.. Wilson. To
pretend otherwise is to act the part
of a hypocrite or a simpleton. The
same holds true for the spiritual
authority of the Pope. The Son OF
God, Jesus Christ, established a
Church on earth. He determined the
authority in His Church. The su,
Peter; He fOretOld that He would
remain with His Church and that the
Holy Ghost would abide with the
authority of the Church to end OF
days. Peters authority did not cease
with his death; Peters office re
manned with the Church. History
proves beyond all shadow Of doubt
that st. Peters office and authority
were vested in the Bishop Of Rome
whom we call the Pope. The man
who is not willing to accept the
POpe's spiritual authority is not pre-
pared to enter the Catholic Church
On what is the doctrine of the Com
munion of the Saints based?
The doctrine of the Communion oil
the Saints is based on Scripture, or
history, and on common sense, thai
is, on the dictates of human reason
1t is evident from the New Testament
that all are to be considered spiritual
brothers in Christ Jesus, the Lord
The Kingdom of God embraces al
men in the bonds of charity, and does
not exclude the angels, who, we are
told, rejoice over the penance of sin
DerS" duke XV-1G). Christ taught
that His Church was to be an organic
whole, embracing not only those or
earth, but the just in heaven. st
Paul continually speaks Of the
Church as a body with Christ as the
head: He (Christ) is the head Of the
body, the Church" (Col. 1-1S); the
children of God are the members O.
that Body: Giving thanks to God the
Father who hath made us worthy t.
be partakerS of the lot of the saints
on high" (Col. 1-12); LAS in one body
we have many members, so we, beins
many, are one body in Christ, anC
every one members oneN of another
lRomans XII-4, 81. st. John speaks
of this same spiritual communion
when he writes: THAT which we have
seen and have heard, we declare unto
you, that you also may have fellow
ship with us, and our fellowship may
be with the Father and with His Son
Jesus Christ" Il John 1-3). The
whole OF the New Testament is proc
of the doctrine of the Communion O
the Saints, because it establishes the
fact that all those created in the
image of God are spiritual brother!
and members of the same mystic