The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-11-05
WORK OF HOLY NAME MEN
Real Reformers.


| by approaching the Sacraments regu-
larly, by strengthening religion in ev
cry parish through example, by being
model men in the homes, whether as
| fathers, brothers. or husbands, by pro-
Tossing belief in the Divinity of Christ
| through public demonstrations. This
work has all been very necessary
Without the personal sanctification of
the members of the Holy Name Soci-
ETY., and without habits of virtue there
| could be no permanency to the organ
| ization. This is the real method of
| reformation in the Catholic Church,
| and it is the only method which is last
ing. 1t is said that the Catholic Church
| is not interested in the reforms of to-
day. The Church does not accept the
modern methods by which one wishes
to reform his neighbor, but not him
self. The Church seeks the reforma-
tion of the multitude by inducing each
individual to apply voluntarily to him.
self the principles of right living. The
Holy Name Society with it's million
and half members living normal,
| clean. honest, and religious lives is
proof that the Church applies the only
true principles of reformation.
The work of organizing Holy Name
Societies has been for the most part
completed in the Eastern section of
the country. We may look forward
tc the same results in the Middle West
and Far West within a comparatively
short time. AS we are looking for
ward to every society of men in the
United States becoming affiliated with
the National Council of Catholic Men,
SO we may indeed hope that every in
dividual Catholic man in the United
States will be a member of the Holy
Name Society. This will assure
Eriests and bishops of the moral
standing of the men for whom they are
responsible before God 1t will relieve
them of all anxiety about men dis
charging their religious duties what
ever be their society affiliations.
Our Present Work.
That Holy Name men should con.
tinue as exemplary, sacramento Cath
y
condition for any apostolic work that
the Holy Name Society may under
take. But we have now arrived, it
seems to me, at the moment when we
should say: Let the Holy Name Socie-
| ty of America be active and thorough
| ly apostolic. There is not pastor who
cannot give his Holy Name Society
| of 1n re
ligion in his parish. There is not
diocese in which some diocesan work
| cannot be found for the Holy Name
| men.
Divinity of Christ.
| | will venture merely to indicate
some of the things which the society
might do. The Holy Name Society aims
in an organized way at protesting and
promoting belief in the Divinity of
Christ, and in combating the forces
that are met against Christ. The daily
press does not mean to offend the mil
Ions of devout Christians who ac-
knowledge Christ to be God, but still
its columns are open to every sensa-
t.onalist who would draw attention to
himself by attacking Christ. The press
would not offend thousands of it's ad-
vertising patrons, nor will it continue
TO offend thousands of it's readers who
resent and protest against every at
tack on the Divinity of Christ. Should
rot the Holy Name Society assume the
obligation of coming to the defense of
hrist? Why cannot the Holy Name
Society enlist the services of some of
the best newspaper men of the country
who are devout Catholics and who
would be proud to be constituted a
guard of honor to defend the Divinity
of Christ through the press? The Holy
:. Name Society should also consider it.
self privileged to purchase if neces.
sary space in our daily papers to give
information about the doctrines of the
Catholic Church, thus dispelling the
, darkness of ignorance and disarming
i. the enemy of prejudice. The press
must be at once the pulpit and the uni
versity chair from which we must
preach and teach multitudes that we
cannot reach otherwise at the present
, moment.
I There is another great work for us
:. to do which perhaps the Holy Name
Society can undertake. With the Ag
| nosticism, Naturalism, Atheism, Ma
terialism, that have been taught anc
are being taught in our universities
we must not make peace. We must no
fold our arms and say there is nothing
that we can do We must enter Inor
a long preparation to fit laymen WHIT
will become university professors
men who will unite in themselves botl
the latest modern science and th,
> greatest wisdom of Christian centuries
= past. In this age, and especially in ou
own country, we need today as univer
sity professors staunch Catholic lay
, men whose profound and sound schol
: arship is recognized. We must neve
be satisfied until the Catholic Churcl
is acknowledged as the inspiration o
. the highest learning. The Holy Nam
Il Society has great opportunity to pre-
L pare Catholic laymen who will fore
y the educated world to acknowledg
e the sublime teachings of Catholicity
IL Again, there is probably not a Hol
u Name Society in any city parish tina
e could not form a small group, of it
. younger members especially, VIII
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