The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-06-22

miracles and that the saints of the
Church performed them. But what
do they prove, and how can we prove
them?
Miracles have this place in rellg-
ion: the religion in favor of which
they are wrought must be true, must
come from God. must be GODS re-
ligion, because God is the worker OF
miracles. A miracle is an unusual,
an extraordinary effect produced in
the world, above the powers of ma
turc. or contrary to the ordinary
course of nature, performed by God,
or at His command and with His
permission. The place of miracles in
religion follows from the fact that
God could not perform a miracle in
favor of error, nor would He permit
a creature to work 4 miracle to pat
ronize falsehood, nor in such man
ner as to deceive His children and
lead them astray. In every real
miracle. therefore, we have the finger
of God and an evidence OF the true
religion. The greatest difficulty in
this matter consists in our relative
ignorance of the powers of nature;
but this ignorance is relative only.
We may not know all that nature
can do. but we do know many things
that nature cannot do. Nature can
heal: but nature cannot heal organic
diseases in an instantaneous manner,
nor with instruments altogether I'M
suitable to the task The Church pro-
Ceeds very slowly in the judgment of
alleged miracles and requires an
amount and a variety of evidence
that seems exaggerated. The fact of
a miracle is Judged on evidence, just
as any other fact Testimony must
be submitted and cOrrObOrated, wit
nosscs must be heard and croSs-eX-
amined. the circumstances, time,
place and manner of the alleged
phenomenon must he considered.
When it is evident, beyond all doubt,
that a cure. let us say, has taken
DlaCe-a cure that cannot be eX-
planned by the powers of nature-we
can advance but one explanation, and
that is the interpOsitiOn Of God. Thus,
when st. Peter cured the lame man
at the gate of the Temple acts I'D,
we have a miracle: no natural eX-
PLANTATION will suffice for the manner
through the Apostle; therefore God
is with the religion that the Apostle
preached. and the Christian religion
is Gods religion. Numerous miracles
have marked the progress of the
Catholic religion: the shrine at
Lourdes is an instance Of what
mean. God must be with that re-
ligion. it is His own religion. That
is the place miracles occupy in re-
ligion. They are extraordinary; but
they are real and true.
In order to gain indulgences is it
necessary for a person who is a fire.
quent or daily communicate to 60 to
confession (when free from mortal
SIM on the day of gaining the induI-
gence, or would it suffice to communi-
cate and fill the other requirements?
Do make the nine first Fridays if
! 90 to communion on those days, but
do not go to confession?
The ordinary conditions for gain
ing an indulgence are confession,
communion, and other prescribed
works, such as visits to a certain
church, the giving of aims, praying
for the Pope, etc. Your query re-
CARDS the confession. The first Fri
day indulgences may be gained with
out previous confession. The new
Code Of Canon, or Church, Law an
swers your query in the following
words: ITO gain any indulgence, the
required confession may be made
within eight days of the day to which
the indulgence is affixed; communion
may be received within two days of
the indulgence-day; and both may be
made within the octave following the
feast, or indulgence day" The faith
full who usually go to confession at
least twice a month, and to COM
munion every day although once or
twice a week they may abstain from
COmmunion) can gain all indulgences
without actual confession which
otherwise is prescribed; an exception
is made for jubilee indulgences."
(Canon 93D. The reason for these
concessions is, of course, patent 1t
is to reward those who respond to
the invitation of the Church and the
call of God for frequent communion
and who might not always find it
possible or convenient to go to con-
fession on the day preceding the day
of the indulgence. In few words,
the rule is this: All who are accus-
toned to go to confession about
twice a month, and to communion
practically every day, may gain all
the indulgences during that period,
except the indulgence of the jubilee.
How can the water of baptism take
away sin?
BY the power of God If some
man, of his own authority, proclaim
ed the doctrine of baptism, we would
refuse to hear him; but when God
teaches that doctrine, we must accept
it, or reject God. The real crux of
the question is not the water of bap-
tism, but the power of God. No one
doubts that if God had desired to es-
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