The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-05-03

Ga9anlSm, however unnatural II
may seem, is deeply rooted in our
fallen human nature. Not only have
nineteen centuries Of Christianity been
unable 10 eliminate paganism, which
dred million men, but even within the
pale Of Christianity the hidden living
germs Of idolatry have survived.
In q wider sense of the term, idol
airy is practiced when a creature is
given a place ahead of the Creator
and instead Of worshipping the Creator
we worship the creature.
In penetrating to the farthermost re-
cesses of our hearts we will frequent
ly find there, besides our love and
reverence for Coo, an inclination to
give preference to a creature, so that,
even though we do not worship the
creature in Gods stead, We neverthe-
less tend to crowd God out of our soul
in order TO give the seat of honor be-
longing to God to some one or another
creature
We are not here speaking of the
grosser forms Of idolatry, but Of those
small, inconspicuous, idolatries to
which even Christians are committed
and that more so than they believe.
In the first place idolatry is prac
ticed with ones own person and with
| matters pertaining to it.
What is often the chief concern OF
many an otherwise splendid woman
even Of such q one as is conspicuous
for her piety? Her toilette; the con
slant striving to adOrn and embellist
] her own person, of the beauty O.
which she holds so much: the burn
ing desire to have this secret idol @
| her heart shine in all its refulgence
| She may have very fine qualities anC
may be punctilious in the perform
ance Of the duties of her station il
life, nevertheless her hearts chief de
sire is to acquire the reputation OF {
woman Of fashion, a beauty. If yol
discuss with her interesting subject!
concerning art and science, concerning
great prose writer's and poets, con
corning distant travels and beautiful
REGIONS. concerning noted portrait
and works Of art, yea even of publ
matters indirectly affecting her owl
family-all of this will not attrac
her attention. But as soon as the tai
turns to silks and satins, to jewelr
and ornaments, to dresses and hats
all the powers Of her mind and III
aginatiGn are brought to bear on tn
subject. From the vivacity Of he
: speech, the glitter of her eyes, one
, able to observe that the proper key
note has been struck and that the al
: important object has been foun
| which will captivate her.
! What sacrifices are not made fC
, the goddess of fashion? If it is a que
; passing as such, modern women {
, fashion shun no sacrifice, a sacrific
, which they would be unwilling t
: make for a'more serious and worth
: cause. For personal adornment n
: expenses are too great, and thus tn
door is opened to extravaganza.
, 1t is to be borne in mind that re
: erence is here made to personal car
: that is carried to excess. If this car
: remains within proper bounds,
: keeping with ones station in life, n
I reasonable man will have any obje
+ tons A woman should dress attra
! lively, and be neat and tidy. Neglet
. and sloyenliness, on the contrar
! would have to be reprimanded as a
: imperfection.
{ This folly of the idolatry of pc
! son is by no means confined to wor
en-; large number of young and Of
q er men are also addicted to it. TIL
imperfection borders on the ludicrol
! when it is found in men whom we Ca
: dudes" and "fashion-plates." Your
o business men, students and the nee
+ do-well sons of rich parents supp
:. horrible examples galore. Is the1
y anything more nOnsensical than
f sacrifice everything for the body ar
q TO strain every effort to adorn IL
n subordinate portion of our being, TIL
r which was derived from the dust
o the earth and will one day be give
|. to the grave to- again dissolve itse
:. into dust and to decay? Does n
: such conduct deserve the name
@ idolatry, wretched idolatry?
0 IdoIatry of person is one of the il
:, of modern times. If you compare Il
+ sturdy races of a century ago wi
! the softened and enervated people
r cur own day, you can not but see
/. our enlightenment the cause of Il
S decay Of our times AS result, Il
II men of olden days were more cou
o ageous and high-spirited. Today V
n shun all effort and physical strail
u we have used our advanced stage
s knowledge to eliminate all strenuo
# effort If conscience and duty d
5? mand sacrifices from us, we recc
Y from things which would not ha7
o caused our ancestors one moment
k hesitation.
} Father PeSch