The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-09-06


is in poor health, gray for complete
recovery?
All the saints have the power OF
intercession with Almighty God. 1t
would seem, however, that some
saints exercise this power OF lmpe
tration more abundantly than others
The Church presents to us a long list
of sainted men and women whose
nrayers and intercessiOn have proved
aficaciCUs. 1t is not for us to say
which saint is the most powerful
With God. At the same time. restora-
lion 10 health has come very frequent
" through prayers and deVouons 10
ST Anne. St. Rita, and to Soeurf me
reese known as the Little Flower.
Are Catholics permitted to dance on
ST. Patrick's night, or on Christmas
and New Years night?
STRICTLY spaaking. IN itself dancing
;s not a sin. On occasions, however
when the Church cOunsels a spirit OF
ponance, il is not considered proper to
indu1ge in such pleasures as dancing
On this subject it is always wen 70
hear in mind that the circumstances
on each occasion will determine the
gawfulness or otherwise OF dancing.
May a Catholic man marry the SIS
Tor If his deceased wife, or may a
Catholic woman marry the brother OF
her deceased husS and?
This question has been answered
several times in these columns. Such
a marriage is permitted By the Cath'
oIic Church. provided there are no
other impediments. 1t is necessary
however, to explain each case to your
Dastor who will make the required ar
engagements.
In saying the rosary, for example
the sorrowfuI mysteries, is it neces'
sary to mediate on the whole pas
sion?
The recite the rosary properly one
sbould endeavor to follow the subject
of each mystery 1t is sufficient, now
oyer if one keeps his attention ana
his thoughts fixed upon the general
subject of the different mysteries
Thus. for example. in recitlng the sof
rowful mysteries it will be sufficient
10 fix ones thoughts upon the prlnci
Dal phase of the Passion.
Nav two Catholics be married in
the Cathedral or some parish other
than their own without having the
banns published?
Ordinarily speaking, the Church re
ouires the publication Of the banns OF
marriage. 1t is useless to go to the
Cathedral or any other parish without
q sufficient reason for dispensatlon
The proper procedure for Catholics in
such a case is to consult their own
and not some other pastor in the mat
ter.
4 was a Protestant man and was
married to q Protestant woman; we
were both baptized in the Protestant
Church and married by Protestant
minister. Later we were divorced and
nv wife married again. Six months
auo / became Interested in the Cath
olic religion and have become Cath
oIic. | have been keeping company
with a Catholic girl. Can we be mar
ried in the Catholic Church?
You may not; the only thing that
will give you freedom to marry again
is the death of your wife. The Church
teaches that the marriage OF baptized
persons. whether baptized in the Cath
Ollie Church or in one of the sectS, is
a valid marriage, providing the bap'
tism was a valid one and no other inn
Dediment existed at the time OF the
marriage. The Church supposes that
these conditions were verified in
every such marriage unless the con
trary is legally established. 1t is per
haps unfortunate that these condl-
tons are verified in your own case;
hut YOU must remember that marriage
is not only an affair of the individual
person, but affects the common good
of the entire community. The indi
vidual must often suffer for the sake
of the common welfare. Moreover
you now have the graces of the Cath
Ollie religion to protect you and to give
YOU the courage to obey Gods law in
the matter Not only is this true OF
your impossibility to re-marry during
the lifetime of your wife, but you are
in honor and conscience bound to &C
quaint the Catholic girl with all the
facts of the case and to inform her
that as you are a married man, you
cannot hope to marry her; and you
should cease to keep company with
her with the intention of marrying
her.
Is it wrong to read anothers mai
providing it was opened?
Charity forbids us to pry into the
secrets of another without grave rea
sons. If circumstances would warrant
one in presuming> permission (withir
the family circle, for instance), i
might not be wrong to read the let
tiers of another perscn; otherwise it is
wrong to do SO.
Can any girl, past thirty-one years
of age, 60 to the convent?
The general law of the Church fixes
no maximum age limit for entrance
into the convent. Some of the com
munitfes have rules covering the mat
ter. In any case, the impedimen