The Catholic bulletin., 1918-11-16

the CiTCuftlSldllICo VI OSi' S'a''
When those circumstances change
the nature of the sin, or when they
should be known to the confessor so
that he may give the proper counsel
and direction. A boy might confess
that he struck another, and neglect to
state that that other was his own
mother: it changes the nature OF theft
if sacred vessels of the Church are
stolen. for those vessels really belong
10 God: it is one thing to tell lie,
and it is quite another thing to tell a
lie that seriously Injuries the nei9hbor
and perhaps costs him his means Of
livelihood. Examples could be multi
piled showing the necessity of men
tioning the circumstances Of sin. Sins
should be confessed without the
establishment Of unnecessary details;
in case of doubt, the most practicable
thing to do is to leave the decision to
the confessor.
Chldren's Catholic Weekly: In an
swer as to where Children's Catholic
Weekly may be obtained, reader
sends in the following, in addition to
the paper mentioned last week: Sun
day COMPANION. 256 Broadway, n. Y,
81 per year. The Young Catholic
Messenger, Geo. A. Ifamm, Dayton,
Ohio. 30 cents year.
What should do with chain pray
cr that promises and threatens GER
tain things?
Consign it to the fire as quickly as
possible.
Could you publish list of the great
men interested in the war, both army
and navy, who are Catholics?
Beginning with the rulers on the
Allied side. King Albert of Belgium,
the president of Portugal, the presi-
dents of nearly all the Latin republics,
the King of Italy. the leaders OF the
CZechoSlavs. Polish and Lithuanians
tail OF whom have armies or intend to
send them to fight with the AllieS),
arc Catholics. All the Irish leaders
with the exception of the Orange
mem are Catholics. In France. nearly
all the soldiers and also great num-
bers of their leaders are Catholics.
Marshal Foch, in supreme command
of the forces of liberty, is an excellent
Catholic. So are Generals Mangin and
Petain. The chief generals OF the
Italian armies are Catholics. At least
eighteen of the United States generals
are Catholics. Admiral Benson head
of the American navy, is Catholic
Oand a weekly CommunicanD.
Charles NJ Schwab, director of the
American fleet corporation; John D.
Ryan, head of aircraft production; Ed
ward Stettinius, assistant secretary
OF war: L. S. Treasurer Burke, Secre-
tary to the President Joseph P.
Tumulty and a number of congress-
men and senators are Catholics. On
the side of our enemies. Emperor Karl
Of Ausuo-Hungary, Prince Boris of
Bulgaria and the King of Bavaria are
Catholics. Most of the Austrian gen
erals are Catholics, but the chief gen
erals Of Germany are not.
What should a Catholic DO who is
eating in a public place? Should he
say grace?
OF course; why not? To say grace
means to ask Gods blessing on the
food about to be taken and to offer
thanks to Him for the food eaten.
This can be done privately as we'll as
publicly; while man is taking his
seat or unfolding his napkin, or rising
from his place, he may say grace and
thank God. 1t is not a sin to omit the
grace: it is an act Of merit to say it,
and it is a most cOmmendable Catho.
lie practice, especially in the family
What an edifying sight to see the
boys and girls gathered around the
family table, and the father at the
head say the grace in the name of the
whole family? In public eating places
one might fear an undesirable kind
OF admiration, or nOtoriety, and many
would prefer to say grace privately
1t is not a sin to neglect the grace be-
fore and after meals; but he is a
sorry. specimen of a Christian who
regulates his omission and actions en-.
tirely by what is sinful and what is
not sinful.
is it possible to be married with.
out a baptismaI ce5ificate? This
party was born in Europe, has been
in the States for the last twenty
eight years, ard it seems impossible
to obtain the certificate at the pres
ent time on account of the war.
This is subject for your pastor
10 decide, or for the Bishop of the
diocese. The Church requires assur-
ance of baptism before marriage may
be celebrated The reason is very
evident. Baptism is the door to the
valid reception of the sacTaments; an
unbaptized person cannot receive the
sacraments. Usually this assurance
consists in the certificate of baptism
that is, a copy Of the baptismal rec.
ord. Where it is impossible to OBJ
tain such certificate it is sufficient
to have the testimony of one reliable
witness, or even Of the baptized per-
son himself, if baptism were admin
istered when the person was an adult
The war has created a number of un.
usual conditions that call for special
legislation and decision. Your case