The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-11-13
THE CHILDREN'S HOUR.
CATHOLIC TRADITION AND THE
FAMILY ROSARY.


should rather say there are several
things, that distinguish the represent
alive Catholic from the Methodist, the
Lutheran, the Episcopalian. His out
look on life is different. His views on
such things as self-denial, fasting,
Utility of the Church and the Divine
institution thereof differentiate him
from the non Catholic Christian His
is a totally different frame of mind.
He follows practices that are unknown
to Christians outside the Catholic
Church. In a word, he is different.
He approximates to St. Vincent de
Paul, to st. Francis de Sales rather
than to John Wesley and John Bunyan,
writes, Rev. p. O'Riordan, of Duluth.
Whence is this? The answer is that
the Catholic who wishes to rise above
the ordinary level follows a strong and
well-defined tradition. Catholics who
tread the path of holiness follow GER
tain traditional practices handed down
from age to age, with the stamp of
approval and success on them. They
are not of obligation, but they are
highly recommended. There are diff
ferent types of holiness in the Church,
but there is something common to
them all. THAT universal heritage is
Catholic tradition.
The confraternity of the Sacred
Heart and the Most Precious Blood,
the devotion of the Five Sacred
Wounds, the mysteries of the Rosary
and the Crucifix, all are the Gospel
in its fullness." So wrote Cardinal
Manning July 10, 1890. These are
strong words, but are they true? Yes,
even of the Rosary, which alone is the
subject of this article. The Rosary in
substance is coeyal with Christianity
To st. Dominic we owe merely it's
precise form. The Rosary is COM
bination of mental and vocal prayer.
and here we may remark there is no
Rosary without mental prayer, or at
least without some thought on or at,
tention to the mysteries. The Joyful
mysteries place before us the Incarna-
l.tion, which we may consider the
preparation for the Redemption of
man. The Sorrowful mysteries deal
with the Redemption from the Agony
in the Garden till the actual Redemp-
ton by the death of Jesus Christ on
the Cross. The Glorious mysteries
though formally treating of Jesus and
His Blessed Mother, the end of their
sojourn here on earth, their entrance
into heaven, inevitably suggest to us
our own end, our own reward. The
Apostles Greed was drawn up by the
Apostles themselves, a short and suit
able profession Of faith, before they
scattered on their divinely appointed
task of preaching the Gospel through.
out the world. The Our Father is the
composition of Jesus Christ Himself,
the Hail Mary the joint composition of
the Archangel Gabriel and st. Eliza
beth, the Holy Mary is purely the work
of the Church. Truly "the Gospel in
its fullness."
Recently the Pastoral Letter Of the
Bishops of the United States has been
put in our hands. I'VE heartily com
mend the beautiful practice Of family
prayer" it says. Where there are
two or three gathered in MY name,
there am in the midst Of them
Matt. xviii, 20). If this is true of
the faithful in general, 1t applies with
particular meaning to those who are
members of the same household The
presence of Jesus will surely be a
source Of blessing to the home where
parents and children unite to offer. up
prayer in common. The spirit Of piety
which their custom develops, will
sanctify the bonds Of family love and
ward of the dangers which so often
bring sorrow and shame. We appeal
in this matter with special earnest
ness to young fathers and mothers.
who have it in their power to mould
the hearts of their children and train
them betimes in the habit Of prayer
Ia these words the American Bish-
ops, give their testimony to q fixed
tradition OF the Church, the habit Of
family. prayer Bishop afterwards
Cardinal, Wiseman may also be quot