,reasonableness of ,catholic ,ceremonies and ,practices ,,by ,,rev4 ,,john ,j4 ,,burke --- ,,new ,,york1 ,,cincinnati1 ,,chicago ,,benziger ,,brothers ,,printers ,,to ,,the ,,holy ,,apostolic ,,see ,,publishers ,,of ,,benzinger',s ,,magazine ,imprimi ,permittitur4 ,,fr4 ,,chrysostomus ,,theobald1 ,o4,f4,m41 ,minister ,provincialis4 ,cincinnati1 ,ohio1 die #cj1 ,martii1 #aijh4 ,nihil ,obstat4 ,,remy ,,laport1 ,s4,t4,l41 ,censor ,librorum4 ,imprimatur4 ,,john ,m4 ,,farley1 ,archbishop of ,new ,york4 ,,new ,,york1 ,march #d1 #aiji4 ,,copyright1 #aiji1 ,,by ,,benziger ,,brothers4 ,contents ,reasonableness of ,catholic ,ceremonies and ,practices ,,the ,,ceremonies ,,of ,,the ,,catholic ,,church ,i4--,ceremonies ,necessary to ,divine ,worship ,,ii4--,vestments ,used by the ,priest at ,mass ,,iii4--,ceremonies of the ,mass ,,the ,,practices ,,of ,,the ,,catholic ,,church ,i4--,vespers and ,benediction ,,ii4--,devotion to the ,blessed ,sacrament ,,iii4--,holy ,communion ,,iv4--,confirmation ,v4--,honoring the ,blessed ,virgin ,,vi4--,confession of ,sin ,,vii4--,granting ,indulgences ,,viii4--,the ,last ,sacraments ,,ix4--,praying for the ,dead ,x4--,praying to the ,saints ,,xi4--,crucifixes1 ,relics1 and ,images ,,xii4--,some ,sacramentals--,the ,books ,used by the ,priest1 the ,sign of the ,cross1 ,holy ,water1 ,blessed ,candles1 ,palm and ,ashes1 ,holy ,oils1 ,scapulars1 ,medals1 ,agnus ,dei1 ,prayers1 ,litanies1 ,rosary1 ,angelus1 ,stations1 ,funeral ,service1 and ,various ,blessings ,,xiii4--,the ,celebration of ,feasts ,,xiv4--,infant ,baptism ,,xv4--,the ,marriage ,tie--,one and ,indissoluble ,,xvi4--,respect ,shown to ,ecclesiastical ,superiors ,,xvii4--,celibacy ,,xviii4--,conclusion ,reasonableness of ,catholic ,ceremonies and ,practices ,let the children of ,israel make the ,phase in due time 4 4 4 according to all the ceremonies thereof 7,num4 ix #b1 #c74 ,reasonableness of ,catholic ,ceremonies and ,practices ,the priest shall be vested with the tunic 7,lev4 vi4 #aj74 ,and he made1 of violet and purple1 scarlet and fine linen1 the vestments for ,aaron to wear when he ministered in the holy places1 as the ,lord commanded ,moses 7,ex4 xxxix4 #a74 ,in every place there is sacrifice and there is offered to ,my name a clean offering 7,malach4 i4 #aa74 ,and another ,angel came and stood before the altar1 having a golden censer3 and there was given to him much incense1 that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar1 which is before the throne of ,god 7,apoc4 viii4 #c74 ,the ,ceremonies of the ,catholic ,church ,,the ,catholic ,church in the celebration of ,mass and in the administration of the sacraments employs certain forms and rites4 ,these are called ceremonies4 ,by these ceremonies the ,church wishes to appeal to the heart as well as to the intellect1 and to impress the faithful with sentiments of faith and piety4 ,what is more capable of raising the heart and mind of man to ,god than a priest celebrating ,mass8 ,what more inspiring than some of our sacred music8 ,how beneficial and how lasting the impression formed by the ceremonies of the ,church1 the following incident will show3 ,one of our missionaries once went to visit a tribe of ,indians who had been deprived of a priest for nearly half a century4 ,after traveling through the forest for some days he came near their village4 ',twas ,sunday morning4 ,suddenly the silence was broken by a number of voices singing in unison4 ,he stopped to listen4 ,to his great astonishment he distinguished the music of a ,mass1 and of ,catholic hymns well known to him4 ,what could be more touching than this simple1 savage people endeavoring to celebrate the ,lord's ,day as they had been taught by the priest fifty years before8 ,what more elevating than those sacred songs--the ,stabat ,mater1 the ,o ,salutaris1 or the ,te ,deum--uttered by pious lips and resounding through the forest primeval8 ,what better evidence could we have of the beneficial effects of our ceremonies in raising the heart to ,god8 ,and yet few things connected with our holy religion have been more frequently subjected to ridicule than her ceremonies4 ,people scoff at them1 laugh at them1 call them foolish and unreasonable4 ,those people do not stop to consider that by doing so they1 themselves1 are acting most unreasonably4 ,for no reasonable person1 no judge1 will condemn another without hearing both sides of the question4 ,these wiseacres1 however1 flatter themselves that they know all about the ,catholic ,church and her ceremonies without hearing her side of the case4 ,hence the misunderstandings and misrepresentations regarding her that exist among well-meaning people4 ,if people would but learn to speak about that which they knew and understood2 if they would accord to the ,catholic ,church the same treatment as to other institutions2 if they would examine both sides of the question before criticising and ridiculing her teachings and her ceremonies2 if they would but treat her with that openness1 that fairness1 that candor1 that honesty characteristic of the ,american citizen when dealing with other questions--what a vast amount of ignorance1 of prejudice1 of sin would be avoided6 ,we claim that ceremonies used in the worship of ,god are reasonable1 because they were sanctioned by ,god in the ,old ,testament and by ,jesus ,christ and ,his apostles in the ,new ,law4 ,i4 ,ceremonies ,necessary to ,divine ,worship ,,the angels are pure spirits4 ,they have no body4 ,consequently the worship they render ,god is spiritual1 interior4 ,the heavenly bodies are not spiritual1 but entirely material substances4 ,they render ,god a sort of external worship according to the words of the prophet ,daniel1 ,sun and moon bless the ,lord1 4 4 4 stars of heaven bless the ,lord4 ,praise and exalt ,him forever4 ,man has a soul1 a spiritual substance similar to the heavenly bodies4 ,he should1 therefore1 honor ,god by the twofold form of worship1 interior and exterior4 ,god is a spirit2 and they that adore ,him must adore ,him in spirit and in truth 7,john iv4 #bd74 ,from these words of the beloved disciple we are not to conclude that interior worship is prescribed as the only essential1 and exterior worship condemned4 ,true piety must manifest itself externally4 ,man naturally manifests his feelings by outward signs and ceremonies4 ,the ,catholic ,church recognizes that man has a heart to be moved as well as an intellect to be enlightened4 ,she enlightens the intellect by her good books1 sermons1 etc42 and she moves the heart by the grandeur of her ceremonies4 ,if any one doubts that ,god considers ceremonies necessary to divine worship1 let him read the books of ,leviticus and ,exodus4 ,almost the whole of these books treats of the rites and ceremonies used by the then chosen people of ,god in their public worship4 ,the #bfth1 #bgth1 and #bhth chapters of ,exodus prescribe the form of the tabernacle and its appurtenances1 the size of the altar and the oil for the lamps1 and the holy vestments which ,aaron and his sons were to wear during the performance of the public ceremonies4 ,the book of ,leviticus treats more particularly of the sacrifices1 rites1 and ceremonies of the priests and ,levites4 ,and the ,lord called ,moses1 and spoke to him from the tabernacle of the testimony1 saying3 ,speak to the children of ,israel1 and thou shalt say to them3 ,the man among you that shall offer to the ,lord a sacrifice of the cattle1 that is1 offering victims of oxen and sheep1 if his offering be a holocaust and of the herd1 he shall offer a male1 without blemish1 at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony1 to make the ,lord favorable to him4 ,and he shall put his hand upon the head of the victim1 and it shall be acceptable and help to his expiation 7,lev4 i4 #a et seq474 ,after enumerating all the sacrifices and ceremonies1 the sacred writer closes the book of ,leviticus with the words1 ,these are the precepts which the ,lord commanded ,moses for the children of ,israel in ,mount ,sinai1 thus showing that ,he considers ceremonies necessary to divine worship4 ,the religion instituted by ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ is more spiritual than that of the ,old ,law4 ,nevertheless ,he did not discard ceremonies4 ,in the ,garden of ,gethsemani ,he fell upon ,his knees in humble supplication4 ,he went in procession to ,jerusalem preceded by a great multitude strewing palm-branches on the road and singing1 ,hosanna to the ,son of ,david4 ,before ,he cured the deaf and dumb man1 ,he put ,his fingers into his ears and touched his tongue with spittle1 and looking up to heaven ,he groaned and said1 ,ephpheta1 which is1 ,be thou opened4 ,at the ,last ,supper ,he invoked a blessing on the bread and wine1 and after the supper ,he chanted a hymn with ,his disciples--ceremonies similar to those used in the ,mass4 ,when ,he imparted the ,holy ,ghost to ,his apostles1 ,he breathed upon them4 ,in a similar way they and their successors communicated the ,holy ,ghost upon others by breathing upon them1 laying their hands upon them and praying over them1 when conferring the sacrament of ,holy ,orders4 ,st4 ,james directs that if any man is sick he shall call in a priest of the ,church1 who shall anoint him with oil1 as is done in the sacrament of ,extreme ,unction4 ,we must1 therefore1 admit that ceremonies used in the worship of ,god are reasonable1 since they are sanctioned by ,god in the ,old ,law and by ,jesus ,christ and ,his apostles in the ,new ,testament4 ,all these acts of ,our ,saviour--the prostration in the ,garden1 the procession to ,jerusalem1 the touching of the deaf man's ears1 the chanting of the hymn1 the laying on of hands1 the anointing of the sick--are but so many ceremonies serving as models of the ceremonies used by the ,catholic ,church in her public worship and in the administration of her sacraments4 ,,ii4 ,vestments ,used by the ,priest at ,mass ,,before entering upon an explanation of the ceremonies of the ,mass1 which is our principal act of public worship1 let us examine the meaning of the vestments worn by the priest during the celebration of that august sacrifice4 ,first1 it is well to remember that these vestments come down to us from the time of the apostles1 and have the weight of antiquity hanging upon them4 ,hence1 if they did not demand our respect as memorials of ,christ1 they are at least deserving of attention on account of their antiquity4 ,the #bhth chapter of ,exodus tells us the sacred vestments ,god wished the priests of the ,old ,law to wear during the public worship4 ,and these shall be the vestments which they shall make3 a rational and an ephod1 a tunic and a straight linen garment1 a mitre and a girdle4 ,they shall make the holy vestments for thy brother ,aaron and his sons1 that they may do the office of priesthood unto ,me4 ,as ,god in the ,old ,law prescribed vestments for the priests1 so the ,church1 guided by ,god1 prescribes sacred vestments to be worn by the priest of the ,new ,law while engaged in the sacred mysteries4 ,the long black garment which the priest wears around the church in all the sacred functions is called a cassock4 ,kings and officers of the army wear a special uniform when performing their public duties2 priests wear cassocks and other special garments when performing their public duties4 ,these vestments are used to excite the minds of the faithful to the contemplation of heavenly things4 ,who1 for example1 can behold the cross on the chasuble the priest wears without thinking of all ,christ suffered for us on the cross8 ,as the priest in celebrating ,mass represents the person of ,christ1 and the ,mass represents ,his passion1 the vestments he wears represent those with which ,christ was clothed at the time of the passion4 ,the first vestment the priest puts on over the cassock is called an amice4 ,it is made of linen1 and reminds us of the veil that covered the face of ,jesus when ,his persecutors struck ,him4 7,luke xxii4 #fd47 ,when the priest puts on the amice he first places it on his head1 thus recalling to mind the crown of thorns that pierced the head of ,jesus4 ,the alb 7from albus1 white7 represents the white garment with which ,christ was vested by ,herod when sent back to ,pilate dressed as a fool4 7,luke xxii4 #aa47 ,white is emblematic of purity4 ,hence the wearer is reminded of that purity of mind and body which he should have who serves the altar of the ,most ,high4 ,the cincture1 or girdle1 as well as the maniple and stole1 represent the cords and bands with which ,christ was bound in the different stages of ,his passion4 ,st4 ,matthew says in the #bb;d verse of the #bgth chapter1 ,they brought ,him bound and delivered ,him to ,pontius ,pilate1 the governor4 ,the chasuble1 or outer vestment the priest wears1 represents the purple garment with which ,christ was clothed as a mock king4 ,and they clothed ,him with purple 7,mark xv4 #ag74 ,upon the back of the chasuble you see a cross4 ,this represents the cross ,christ bore on ,his sacred shoulders to ,calvary1 and upon which ,he was crucified4 ,in these vestments1 that is1 in the chasuble1 stole1 and maniple1 the ,church uses five colors--white1 red1 purple1 green1 and black4 ,white1 which is symbolic of purity and innocence1 is used on the feasts of ,our ,lord1 of the ,blessed ,virgin1 of the angels1 and of the saints that were not martyrs4 ,red1 the symbol of fortitude1 is used on the feast of ,pentecost1 of the ,exaltation of the ,cross1 of the apostles and martyrs4 ,purple1 or violet 7the color of penance71 is used in ,advent and ,lent4 ,green 7the color of hope7 is used on all ,sundays when no special feast is celebrated1 except the ,sundays of ,lent and ,advent4 ,black 7the color of mourning7 is used on ,good ,friday and during the celebration of ,mass for the dead4 ,thus we see that each vestment and color used has a special significance4 ,all are calculated to attract our attention1 elevate our minds to ,god1 and fill us with a desire to do something for ,him ,who has done so much for us--to at least keep ,his commandments4 ,one word about the use of ,latin in the celebration of ,mass will perhaps be appropriate here4 ,history tells us that when ,christianity was established the ,roman ,empire had control of nearly all of ,europe1 ,asia1 and ,africa4 ,wherever the ,roman flag floated to the breeze the ,latin language was spoken1 just as ,english is spoken where the sovereign of ,great ,britain or the ,president of the ,united ,states holds sway4 ,the ,church naturally adopted in her liturgy the language spoken by the people4 ,in the beginning of the fifth century vast hordes of barbarians began to come from the north of ,europe and spread desolation over the fairest portions of the ,roman ,empire4 ,soon the ,empire was broken up4 ,new kingdoms began to be formed1 new languages to be developed4 ,the ,latin finally ceased to be a living language4 ,the ,church retained it in her liturgy1 #ast1 because1 as her doctrine and liturgy are unchangeable1 she wishes the language of her doctrine and liturgy to be unchangeable2 #b;d1 because1 as the ,church is spread over the whole world1 embracing in her fold children of all climes1 nations1 and languages--as she is universal--she must have a universal language2 #c;d1 because the ,catholic clergy are in constant communication with the ,holy ,see1 and this requires a uniform language4 ,besides1 when a priest says ,mass the people1 by their ,english ,missals or other prayer-books1 are able to follow him from beginning to end4 ,the ,mass is a sacrifice4 ,the prayers of the ,mass are offered to ,god4 ,hence when the priest says ,mass he is speaking not to the people1 but to ,god1 to whom all languages are equally intelligible4 ,are not these sufficient reasons for the use of the ,latin language8 ,are not good ,catholics more attentive1 more devout at ,mass than others at their prayer-meetings8 ,the good ,catholic knows that the ,mass represents the passion and death of ,christ2 that the passion and death of ,christ are the sinner's only refuge1 the just man's only hope2 that it can not but be good and wholesome to turn our minds and our hearts toward this subject2 that frequent meditation on ,christ's passion will move us to avoid sin1 which caused it2 and that nothing can more efficaciously cause us to think of ,christ's passion and death than the holy sacrifice of the ,mass4 ,,iii4 ,ceremonies of the ,mass ,,the ,mass is the great sacrifice of the ,new ,law4 ,it was foreshadowed by all the sacrifices ordained by ,god in the ,old ,law4 ,they were shadows2 it is the substance4 ,we learn from ,genesis of the fall of man4 ,universal tradition1 as well as ,scripture1 informs us that the creature formerly became guilty in the eyes of the ,creator4 ,all nations1 all peoples1 endeavored to appease the anger of ,heaven and believed that a victim was necessary for this purpose4 ,hence sacrifices have been offered from the beginning of the human race4 ,cain and ,abel offered victims2 the one the first fruits of the earth1 the other the firstlings of the flock4 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 and ,melchisedech worshiped this way1 and their worship was acceptable to ,god4 ,everywhere1 even among the heathen1 you find the altar1 the priest1 and the sacrifice4 ,as we learn from ,leviticus and other portions of the ,old ,testament1 ,god ,himself carefully prescribed the quality1 manner1 number1 and place of the various sacrifices which ,he was pleased to accept from the hands of ,his chosen people4 ,from this fact that sacrifice has ever formed a prominent feature in the worship of all people1 we conclude that it belongs to the essentials of religion1 and that ,christians to-day should have an altar of which1 as ,st4 ,paul says1 they can not eat who serve the tabernacle4 ,the sacrifices of the ,old ,law were provisional and prefigured the great sacrifice of the ,new ,law foretold by the prophet ,malachy4 ,this glorious prophecy of ,malachy1 ,from the rising of the sun even to the going down ,my name is great among the ,gentiles2 in every place there is sacrifice1 and there is offered to ,my name a clean offering2 for ,my name is great among the ,gentiles1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts--this glorious prophecy is fulfilled only by the great sacrifice of the ,catholic ,church4 ,we alone can say with ,st4 ,paul1 ,habemus altare ,we have an altar and a true sacrifice4 ,of all the blessings bequeathed by ,jesus ,christ to ,his ,church1 there is none better1 none greater1 none holier than the holy sacrifice of the ,mass4 ,it is the sacrifice of ,his own body and blood offered to the heavenly ,father under the appearances of bread and wine4 ,it was instituted by ,our ,lord at the ,last ,supper1 when ,he took bread and wine in ,his sacred hands and blessed them1 saying1 ,this is ,my body4 4 4 4 ,this is ,my blood4 4 4 4 ,do this for a remembrance of ,me4 ,he instituted the holy ,mass in order to represent and continue the sacrifice of ,calvary4 ,st ,paul says1 in his first epistle to the ,corinthians1 xi4 #bf1 that it was instituted to show the death of the ,lord until ,his second coming4 ,after the consecration1 which the priest effects by saying over the bread and wine the same words which ,jesus ,christ said at the ,last ,supper1 there is no longer bread and wine1 but the true and living ,jesus ,christ1 ,god and man1 hidden under the appearances of bread and wine1 just as in the manger ,he was hidden under the appearance of an infant4 ,the priest offers ,him up to ,his heavenly ,father in the name of the ,catholic ,church1 or rather ,he offers ,himself up1 and we can confidently hope that we will obtain more through prayers at the holy ,mass than through our own unaided prayers4 ,in order to have part in the holy sacrifice of the ,mass a person should follow the actions and prayers of the priest1 especially at the offertory1 consecration1 and communion2 meditate on the passion of ,christ2 say the rosary or the prayers in the prayer-books1 at the same time uniting his intention with the intention of the sacrificing priest4 ,the sacrifice of the ,mass is a true sacrifice1 because it is the oblation of a victim to ,god to represent by its destruction or change ,his supreme dominion over life and death4 ,it is offered to satisfy our four great debts and wants in adoration to ,god on account of ,his omnipotence1 in thanksgiving for ,his benefits1 in atonement for our sins1 and to obtain ,his assistance in difficulties and temptations4 ,the holy ,mass obtains for us all graces and blessings1 temporal and spiritual4 ,since the ,mass is the highest act of public worship1 it is proper that it should be celebrated with fitting sacred ceremonies4 ,every ceremony which the ,church prescribes has its deep significance4 ,all tend to bring before our minds the mystery of the passion4 ,the altar1 which is reached by means of steps1 represents ,mount ,calvary1 upon which ,christ died with ,his arms extended as if to enfold all men as brothers4 ,the crucifix recalls ,jesus dying on the cross4 ,the lighted candles are symbols of the faith and devotion which ought to burn in the hearts of the faithful when present at ,mass4 ,the sacred vestments1 embroidered with the sign of the cross1 indicate that the priest is the minister and visible representative of ,jesus ,christ1 the invisible priest4 ,the sign of the cross made many times by the priest over the host and chalice reminds us that we offer to ,god the divine ,victim of the cross1 and that we ought to unite ourselves to ,him by loving the cross1 by patience and ,christian penance4 ,we genuflect because ,our ,lord is really present4 ,if we know ,he is not present on the altar we bow in honor of the place where ,he sometimes reposes4 ,holy water is used to signify that our souls must be pure if we wish ,god to answer our prayers4 ,incense is used at solemn ,high ,mass and at ,vespers4 ,it is symbolic of prayer1 agreeably to the words of the #adjth psalm3 ,let my prayer1 ,o ,lord1 be directed as incense in ,thy sight4 ,and ,st4 ,john1 describing the heavenly ,jerusalem in the #hth chapter of the ,apocalypse1 says3 ,another angel came1 and stood before the altar1 having a golden censer2 and there was given him much incense1 that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne of ,god4 ,the sacrifice of the ,mass1 then1 is the sacrifice of ,calvary1 since the same ,victim is offered up and by the same ,high ,priest1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,emanuel1 the ,god with us1 the thought of whom made the prophets tremble centuries before ,he came1 that divine ,teacher who loves to dwell with the children of men1 the ,catholic ,church beholds dwelling in the midst of us on our altars4 ,if you have visited some of our ancient cathedrals1 or any of our magnificent modern churches1 and admired the varied ornaments or artistic wonders therein2 if you have ever been present at our religious solemnities and witnessed the gravity of our ceremonies1 the beauty of the chants1 the piety of the adorers2 if you have reflected upon the spirit of sacrifice and self-forgetfulness so common to ,catholicism and so unknown elsewhere--that spirit which moves thousands of the young of both sexes to forsake the world and devote themselves to the care of the sick1 the education of the young1 and to other works of charity--if you have witnessed these things and reflected upon them1 you can not but have asked yourself why are such gorgeous temples built2 why such magnificent works of art as displayed on the altar1 the sacred vessels1 paintings1 and other things in the church8 ,what prompts such sacrifices8 ,and the answer will be1 because the church is the edifice where ,god in the holy ,mass daily renews the prodigies of ,his mercy1 and it can never be worthy of ,his love2 because ,god1 who sacrificed ,himself for us1 is ever with us in the ,blessed ,sacrament of the altar1 to soothe our cares and answer our prayers4 ,yes1 the grand feature of the ,catholic ,church is the holy altar4 ,on the altar is the tabernacle for the residence of the ,lord of ,hosts4 ,there our hidden ,god1 ,jesus in the ,eucharist1 dwells night and day in the midst of ,his people1 saying to them with words of love1 ,come to me all you that are burdened and heavy laden1 and ,i will refresh you4 ,the ,mass1 independent of its sacrificial aspect1 consists of the best prayers ever uttered4 ,the priest begins by making the sign of the cross1 ,in the name of the ,father1 and of the ,son1 and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,this sign is an epitome of the ,christian's belief in the unity and trinity of ,god and in the incarnation and death of ,jesus ,christ4 ,after making the sign of the cross he repeats the #db;d psalm1 ,judge me1 ,o ,god1 and then makes an humble confession of his sins to ,god4 ,he ascends the altar and nine times asks ,god to have mercy on him1 ,kyrie ,eleison2 then follows the beautiful hymn the shepherds heard the angels singing at the birth of the ,saviour1 ,gloria in ,excelsis ,deo4 ,the prayer of the feast1 the epistle and gospel follow1 and then the sermon in the vernacular is usually preached4 ,after the ,nicene ,creed1 ,credo in ,unum ,deum1 the priest makes the offering of bread and wine4 ,he then washes the tips of his fingers1 saying3 ,i will wash my hands among the innocent1 by which he is reminded to be free from stain to offer worthily the ,holy ,sacrifice4 ,the preface1 canon1 and solemn words of consecration follow1 during which the bread and wine are changed by the power of ,jesus ,christ into ,his body and blood4 ,in a short time he comes to the best of all prayers1 the prayer taught us by ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ1 the ,our ,father1 ,pater ,noster4 ,the ,agnus ,dei follows1 then the communion1 when he partakes of the consecrated bread and wine1 and afterward gives holy communion to the faithful4 ,he then continues the ,mass1 gives his blessing1 and finishes the ,mass with the beginning of the ,gospel of ,st4 ,john4 ,hence you see that1 besides the great sacrifice which makes it an act worthy of ,god1 the ,mass consists of the best of all prayers4 ,from what has been said it is evident that ceremonies in the worship of ,god are reasonable1 being sanctioned by ,god in the ,old and ,new ,testaments2 that the holy sacrifice of the ,mass is the greatest of all acts of worship2 and that the ,catholic ,church in using ceremonies is but following the example of ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ and ,his apostles4 ,st4 ,john in the ,book of ,revelations tells us that before the throne of ,god angels stand with golden censers1 multitudes from all nations follow and adore the ,lamb1 while virgins sing the new song which they alone can utter4 ,so1 too1 before the throne of ,god on earth we swing our censers1 multitudes from all nations prostrate themselves in adoration1 the sweet incense of their praise and prayer ascends to the throne of grace1 their minds are enlightened by ,god's word1 while their hearts are raised to ,god by the grandeur of our ceremonies4 ,the ,son of ,god1 after having taught us by ,his word1 shown us by ,his example1 and merited for us by ,his grace the virtues necessary for salvation1 wished to institute the holy sacrifice of the ,mass1 that ,he might come ,himself in the ,holy ,sacrament and imprint them upon us4 ,of these virtues1 the most important are humility1 purity1 obedience1 patience1 and charity4 ,let us always ask ,god when present at the holy ,mass for a lively faith in ,his ,real ,presence1 an ardent love for ,him in the ,blessed ,sacrament of the altar1 and the grace to imitate ,his humility1 ,his purity1 ,his meekness1 obedience1 patience1 and charity here1 and enjoy ,his presence forever hereafter4 ,the following beautiful words of ,cardinal ,newman show that the ,mass is something more than a mere form of words1 and that ceremonies are reasonable as well as necessary in its celebration3 ,to me nothing is so consoling1 so piercing1 so thrilling1 so overcoming1 as the ,mass said as it is among us4 ,i could attend ,masses forever and not be tired4 ,it is not a mere form of words--it is a great action1 the greatest action that can be on earth4 ,it is not the invocation merely1 but1 if ,i dare use the word1 the evocation of the ,eternal4 ,he becomes present on the altar in flesh and blood1 before ,whom angels bow and devils tremble4 ,this is that awful event which is the scope and the interpretation of every part of the solemnity4 ,words are necessary1 but as means1 not as ends2 they are not mere addresses to the throne of grace1 they are instruments of what is far higher1 of consecration1 of sacrifice4 ,they hurry on as if impatient to fulfil their mission4 ,quickly they go1 for they are awful words of sacrifice2 they are a work too great to delay upon1 as when it was said in the beginning1 ',what thou doest1 do quickly4' ,quickly they pass1 for the ,lord ,jesus goes with them1 as ,he passed along the lake in the days of ,his flesh1 quickly calling first one and then another2 quickly they pass1 because as the lightning which shineth from one part of the heaven unto the other1 so is the coming of the ,son of ,man4 ,quickly they pass1 for they are as the words of ,moses1 when the ,lord came down in the cloud1 calling on the name of the ,lord as ,he passed by1 ',the ,lord1 the ,lord ,god1 merciful and generous1 long suffering1 and abundant in goodness and truth4' ,and as ,moses on the mountain1 so we1 too1 make haste and bow our heads to the earth and adore4 ,so we1 all around1 each in his place1 look for the great ,advent 'waiting for the moving of the water1' each in his place1 with his own heart1 with his own wants1 with his own prayers1 separate but concordant1 watching what is going on1 watching its progress1 uniting in its consummation2 not painfully1 and hopelessly following a hard form of prayer from beginning to end1 but like a concert of musical instruments each different1 but concurring in sweet harmony1 we take our post with ,god's priest1 supporting him1 yet guided by him4 ,there are little children there1 and old men1 and simple laborers1 and students in seminaries1 priests preparing for ,mass1 priests making their thanksgiving1 there are innocent maidens1 and there are penitent sinners2 but out of these many minds rises one ,eucharistic hymn1 and the great action is the measure and the scope of it4 ,the ,practices of the ,catholic ,church ,i4 ,vespers and ,benediction ,remember that thou keep holy the ,sabbath day 7,ex4 xx4 #h74 ,,this commandment teaches us that ,god wills the whole ,sunday to be spent in ,his honor4 ,we should sanctify it by good works1 and by assisting at divine service4 ,on that day servile works and improper amusements are forbidden4 ,a salutary rest and moderate recreation are allowed1 but never at the expense of duties of obligation4 ,after hearing ,mass on ,sunday morning1 which is obligatory on all ,catholics1 there is no better way of sanctifying the remainder of the day than by attending ,vespers and ,benediction4 ,the ,vesper service is a small portion of the divine office1 which priests must recite daily1 for ,god's honor and glory4 ,it consists of five of the psalms of ,david 7,dixit ,dominus1 ,ps4 #aji2 ,confitebor tibi1 ,ps4 #aaj2 ,beatus vir1 ,ps4 #aaa2 ,laudate pueri1 ,ps4 #aab2 ,in exitu ,israel1 ,ps4 #aac1 or ,laudate ,dominum1 ,ps4 #aaf71 a hymn1 the ,magnificat1 or canticle of the ,virgin ,mary1 from the first chapter of ,st4 ,luke1 and some prayers4 ,is it not reasonable thus to praise ,god in psalms and hymns and spiritual canticles8 ,benediction of the ,blessed ,sacrament usually follows ,vespers4 ,the ,catholic ,church teaches that ,jesus ,christ is really present in the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,the reasonableness of this teaching will be seen in the following article4 ,since ,jesus ,christ is present1 ,he ought to be adored by the faithful4 ,faithful adorers frequently visit ,him in the ,blessed ,sacrament and worship ,him in spirit and in truth4 ,hence1 the ,blessed ,sacrament is kept in the ,tabernacle on our altars to soothe our cares1 answer our prayers1 and be ready at any time to be administered to the sick and dying4 ,besides our private devotion to the ,blessed ,sacrament1 the ,church has appointed solemn rites to show publicly our faith and devotion toward the ,real ,presence of ,jesus ,christ4 ,these rites are processions on ,corpus ,christi1 the ,forty ,hours' devotion1 and1 especially1 the rite called ,benediction4 ,when it is time for ,benediction many candles are lighted on the altar4 ,this is done to show our faith in the ,real ,presence of ,jesus ,christ4 ,if ,he were not present1 this display would be unreasonable1 unnecessary1 and meaningless4 ,but the candles we light1 the incense we burn1 the flowers and other ornaments we use to decorate the altar1 and all that we do for ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ can not be too much4 ,everything being prepared1 the priest takes the ,blessed ,sacrament out of the tabernacle1 and1 placing it in the ostensorium1 exposes it on an elevated throne1 while the choir sings in honor of the ,blessed ,sacrament the hymn ,o ,salutaris ,hostia1 ,o ,saving ,host4 ,the priest incenses ,our ,lord in the ,blessed ,sacrament1 as1 according to the ,apocalypse1 angels do in heaven4 ,another hymn or a litany follows2 after which is sung the ,tantum ,ergo1 ,down in adoration falling1 followed by a prayer by the priest4 ,then in the midst of a solemn silence 7except that a small bell is tinkled7 the priest takes the monstrance1 or ostensorium1 containing the ,blessed ,sacrament1 and1 turning toward the people1 makes with it the sign of the cross over them1 thus blessing the faithful with the ,most ,holy ,one4 ,this is certainly a most touching and impressive rite even to those who do not believe in it4 ,cardinal ,newman calls it one of the most beautiful1 natural1 and soothing practices of the ,church4 ,no one will deny that this practice1 or rite of the ,church1 is reasonable1 if ,jesus ,christ is really present in the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,that ,he is really present is our belief4 ,this being our belief1 is it not reasonable to light candles as a sign of spiritual joy1 and thus to show our faith in ,him who is the light of the world8 ,he gave us all that we have4 ,he gave us the beautiful world we dwell upon with its variety of scenery--with its snow-capped mountains1 its green-carpeted hills1 and its blooming valleys4 ,he has no need of our gifts2 for the earth is ,his and the fulness thereof4 ,yet as ,he was pleased to receive the gifts of the ,magi and the precious ointment of ,mary1 so1 too1 is ,he pleased to receive our offerings4 ,and is anything too good1 too beautiful1 too precious1 for ,him8 ,can the altar on which ,he dwells be too richly adorned8 ,are the pure candles we light1 the sweet incense we burn1 the choice flowers and costly ornaments with which we decorate the altar1 too much to use in honor of ,our ,lord and our ,god8 ,yes1 the ,catholic practice or rite of ,benediction is dictated by right reason4 ,everything connected with ,benediction is reasonable1 beautiful1 and suggestive of the noblest sentiments of the heart of man4 ,,ii4 ,devotion to the ,blessed ,sacrament ,and whilst they were at supper1 ,jesus took bread1 and blessed1 and broke1 and gave to ,his disciples1 and said3 take ye and eat4 ,this is ,my body 7,matt4 xxvi4 #bf74 ,,perhaps no mystery of revelation has been so universally attacked as the ,real ,presence of ,jesus ,christ in the ,blessed ,sacrament of the ,altar4 ,by the ,real ,presence is meant that ,jesus ,christ is really and truly1 body and blood1 soul and divinity1 present in the ,blessed ,sacrament1 under the form and appearance of bread and wine4 ,this teaching of the ,church is in perfect agreement with ,scripture1 tradition1 and reason4 ,if the reader will take up his ,bible and read carefully the #fth chapter of the ,gospel according to ,st4 ,john2 the #bfth chapter1 #bfth1 #bgth1 and #bhth verses of ,st4 ,matthew2 the #adth chapter1 #bb;d verse of ,st4 ,mark2 the ,first ,epistle of ,st4 ,paul to the ,corinthians1 #ajth chapter1 #afth verse1 as well as other portions of the ,new ,testament1 he will certainly see that the ,catholic teaching and practice concerning the ,real ,presence of ,jesus ,christ in the ,blessed ,sacrament are founded on ,scripture4 ,in this #fth chapter of ,st4 ,john1 we learn that before instituting the ,blessed ,sacrament ,our ,saviour wished to announce or promise it to ,his disciples in order to prepare them for it4 ,he first gave them a figure of the ,blessed ,sacrament in the multiplication of the five loaves of bread by which ,he fed five thousand persons4 ,after this miracle ,he told them that ,he would give them bread superior to that which they had eaten1 and that this bread was ,his own flesh and blood4 ,the bread that ,i will give is ,my flesh1 for the life of the world4 ,it is almost impossible to understand these words of ,our ,lord in any other than a literal sense4 ,he was so understood by those who heard ,him4 ,how can this man give us his flesh to eat8 they said1 and many withdrew from ,him4 ,it is but reasonable to believe that if ,he did not wish to be understood in a literal sense ,he would have told ,his hearers so1 rather than have them leave ,him4 ,this promise of a doctrine so difficult to understand was fulfilled at the ,last ,supper4 ,then ,jesus took bread1 and blessed1 and broke1 and gave to ,his disciples1 and said3 ,take ye and eat4 ,this is ,my body4 ,and taking the chalice ,he gave thanks2 and gave to them1 saying3 ,drink ye all of this4 ,for this is ,my blood of the new testament which shall be shed for many for the remission of sins4 ,do this for a commemoration of ,me4 ,these are substantially the words of ,,ss4 ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke1 and of the apostle ,paul4 ,in the #ajth chapter of the ,first ,epistle to the ,corinthians1 ,st4 ,paul says3 ,the chalice of benediction which we bless1 is it not the communion of the blood of ,christ8 ,and the bread which we break1 is it not the partaking of the body of the ,lord8 ,any one of these texts abundantly proves the ,catholic doctrine of the ,real ,presence1 and shows the reasonableness of the ,catholic practice regarding the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,reflect upon them4 ,reflect especially upon the words of ,christ1 ,this is ,my body4 ,think what an insult it is to the divinity and veracity of ,christ to doubt ,his word1 because you can not understand how what appears to be bread is in reality ,his own body and blood4 ,if you remember that ,jesus ,christ is ,god1 that ,he had the power to make this change1 that ,he could confer this power on others1 as the apostles and their successors1 that ,he did so when ,he said3 ,do this in commemoration of ,me1 and that this change at the present time as at the time of the apostles is made by ,his almighty power1 you will have no difficulty in believing it4 ,the belief and practice of the ,catholic ,church of to-day regarding the ,blessed ,sacrament is the same as it was in every age since the time of ,christ4 ,the history of every century tells us this4 ,the ,fathers1 ,doctors1 and ,church writers of every age say the same4 ,if it were not so1 some one ought to be able to find the time when the doctrine was invented1 and the person who invented it4 ,but1 since no one has been able to find the inventor of this doctrine and practice1 the time or place of the invention1 we rightly conclude that they came down to us from the time of ,christ1 and had ,christ for an author4 7,berengarius1 in the eleventh century1 was the first who denied this doctrine47 ,if1 then1 ,christ is the author1 is not the ,catholic practice reasonable8 ,but ,i don't understand the ,catholic doctrine regarding the ,blessed ,sacrament1 some one may say2 therefore it is contrary to reason4 ,dear reader1 did the consummate puerility1 silliness1 foolishness of such an objection ever present itself to you8 ,do you understand the ,blessed ,trinity8 ,and is it contrary to reason8 ,no4 ,although above reason1 it is not against it4 ,do you understand how ,jesus ,christ is both ,god and man8 ,do you understand any mystery8 ,no4 ,if you did it would no longer be a mystery4 ,for a mystery is something above human intelligence4 ,it is something incomprehensible to us1 for it pertains to the divine intelligence4 ,and as well might you attempt to pour the mighty ocean into a small hole on the shore1 as attempt to hold with your limited capacity the illimitable ocean of divinity4 ,the proper office of reason is to examine the evidences of revelation1 and see if ,god has spoken4 ,but it constitutes no part of its office to dispute the word of ,god4 ,that ,god has spoken is evident from the fulfilment of many prophecies and the authority of many miracles4 ,that these prophecies have been fulfilled1 and these miracles performed1 is as certain as is any historical fact4 ,reason teaches us this4 ,it teaches us1 too1 that no one but ,god 7or by the power of ,god7 can prophesy2 no one but ,god can derogate from the order of nature1 by the performance of a miracle4 ,reason teaches us1 then1 that ,god has spoken4 ,when we know ,god speaks1 genuine reason will dictate that we humbly believe ,his holy word4 ,thus will true reason ever act4 ,and when ,god says1 ,this is ,my body1 it will not hesitate to believe4 ,we all believe that at the baptism of ,our ,saviour by ,st4 ,john ,baptist1 the ,holy ,ghost appeared in the form of a dove4 ,now1 is it not as reasonable for ,jesus ,christ1 the second person of the ,blessed ,trinity1 to appear in the form of bread as it was for the ,holy ,ghost1 the third person of the ,trinity1 to appear in the form of a dove8 ,we must therefore admit that the ,catholic doctrine of the ,real ,presence of ,jesus ,christ in the ,blessed ,sacrament is reasonable2 that it has been believed by the ,christian ,church of every age from the time of ,christ until the present time2 and that it is taught by ,,ss4 ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke1 and ,john1 and by ,st4 ,paul in clear and unmistakable terms4 ,now1 dear reader1 since ,jesus ,christ is really present1 is not the ,catholic practice regarding the ,blessed ,sacrament reasonable8 ,should we not honor ,our ,lord and ,our ,god8 ,should we not adore ,him as really present in the ,blessed ,sacrament8 ,should we not frequently receive ,him with pure and contrite hearts8 ,should we not1 when we enter the church1 genuflect1 bend the knee in ,his honor8 ,should we not show ,him every mark of respect and devotion8 ,can we do too much in ,his honor8 ,let us1 then1 adore ,our ,lord and ,our ,god1 for we are ,his people and the sheep of ,his pasture4 ,let us return love for love to the great ,king of suffering1 who was born for love of us1 who died for love of us1 and who1 for love of us1 remains ever with us in the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,let us ask that our faith and love may persevere to the end2 that loving and adoring ,him here in the ,blessed ,sacrament of ,his love1 we may be united with ,him forever hereafter4 ,,iii4 ,holy ,communion ,he that eateth this bread shall live forever 7,john vi4 #ei7 ,,holy communion is receiving the body and blood of ,christ in the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,the clergy when saying ,mass1 except on ,good ,friday1 receive under both forms4 ,when not celebrating ,mass1 they receive only the one kind1 the consecrated bread4 ,in the early ages of the ,church communion was given to the people under both forms4 ,the faithful1 however1 could1 if they wished1 dispense with one form and receive under the form of bread4 ,this shows that the ,church always taught that ,christ is entire both under the form of bread and under the form of wine4 ,at one time the faithful received under both forms2 now they receive under one form1 the form of bread4 ,it is merely a matter of discipline1 which the ,church could change1 if circumstances demanded it4 ,whether you receive under one form or both1 you receive whole and entire the body and blood of ,christ4 ,this is clearly taught by ,st4 ,paul in the #aath chapter of the ,first ,epistle to the ,corinthians1 where he says3 ,whosoever shall eat this bread1 or drink the chalice of the ,lord unworthily1 shall be guilty of the body and blood of the ,lord4 ,how could a person eating that bread unworthily be guilty of the body and blood of the ,lord1 unless the body and blood of the ,lord were there under the form of bread8 ,since ,jesus ,christ is whole and entire under the form of bread1 as well as under the form of wine1 the practice of the ,catholic ,church of giving holy communion under one form is reasonable4 ,good ,christians frequently receive their ,lord and their ,god in holy communion4 ,he inspires them with feelings of love1 gratitude1 and adoration4 ,he reminds them to think frequently of their ,creator--to give ,him their first thoughts in the morning and their last in the evening4 ,he gives them strength to restrain their guilty passions4 ,holy ,communion is the seed of immortality4 ,he that eateth this bread shall live forever4 ,,iv4 ,confirmation ,then they laid their hands upon them1 and they received the ,holy ,ghost 7,acts viii4 #ag74 ,,before the coming of the ,holy ,ghost on ,pentecost1 the apostles were weak and vacillating4 ,one of them betrayed his ,master for thirty pieces of silver2 another--the ,prince of the ,apostles1 he whom ,christ afterward made head of ,his ,church--thrice denied his ,lord and his ,god4 ,after the descent of the ,holy ,ghost1 what a change6 ,what a wonderful transformation6 ,they who before had been as timid as the lamb1 as changeable as the chameleon's hue1 became now as bold as the lion1 as firm as ,gibraltar's rock4 ,in a similar way does ,confirmation act on the receiver4 ,confirmation is that sacrament in which1 by the imposition of the bishop's hands1 we receive the ,holy ,ghost to make us strong and perfect ,christians and soldiers of ,jesus ,christ4 ,it is the second in the order of the sacraments1 because the early ,christians were accustomed to receive it immediately after ,baptism4 ,in the #hth chapter of the ,acts of the ,apostles we find the first recorded instance of the administering of ,confirmation by the apostles4 ,here we are told that ,st4 ,peter and ,st4 ,john confirmed the ,samaritans who had been baptized by ,philip4 ,they prayed for them that they might receive the ,holy ,ghost4 4 4 4 ,then they laid their hands upon them1 and they received the ,holy ,ghost4 ,in a similar way does the bishop1 the successor of the apostles1 administer ,confirmation at the present day4 ,first1 he turns toward those to be confirmed and says3 ,may the ,holy ,ghost come down upon you and the power of the ,most ,high keep you from sin4 ,then extending his hands over them he prays that they may receive the ,holy ,ghost4 ,in the #fth verse of the #aith chapter of the ,acts the sacred writer1 after telling about the baptism of the disciples at ,ephesus1 adds3 ,and when ,paul had laid his hands upon them the ,holy ,ghost came on them4 ,in the #fth chapter of the ,epistle to the ,hebrews ,st4 ,paul mentions ,confirmation1 the laying on of hands1 with ,baptism and ,penance1 as among the principal practices of ,christianity4 ,the sacrament of ,confirmation has been administered to the faithful of every age from the time of ,christ until the present4 ,we learn this from the ,fathers and writers of the various ages4 ,among them ,st4 ,clement says3 ,all must make haste to be confirmed by a bishop1 and receive the sevenfold grace of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the practice of administering ,confirmation is founded on tradition1 then1 as well as on ,scripture4 ,is it not reasonable to believe and practise that which the ,christian ,church of every age believed and practised8 ,the apostles of ,christ administered ,confirmation by praying that the faithful may receive the ,holy ,ghost and laying their hands upon them4 ,the successors of the apostles do likewise4 ,who will say that this practice is not reasonable8 ,baptism gives spiritual life2 ,confirmation increases it4 ,baptism makes persons children of ,god2 ,confirmation strengthens them1 causes them to grow1 and makes them strong men and soldiers of ,jesus ,christ4 ,all the morality of life is implied in the sacrament of ,confirmation4 ,it strengthens man1 it gives him courage to confess ,god2 and as sin is the denial of ,god1 whoever has courage to confess ,god will practise virtue4 ,v4 ,honoring the ,blessed ,virgin ,the angel ,gabriel was sent from ,god 4 4 4 to a ,virgin 4 4 4 and the ,virgin's name was ,mary4 ,and the angel being come in said to her3 ,hail1 full of grace1 the ,lord is with thee2 blessed art thou among women 7,luke i4 #bf1 #bh74 ,from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed 7,luke i4 #dh74 ,,these words from ,st4 ,luke show that the ,catholic practice of honoring ,mary is scriptural4 ,we alone fulfil the prophecy1 ,from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed4 ,if ,mary was so pure that the archangel ,gabriel could salute her as full of grace2 if she was so perfect as to be honored1 respected1 and loved by her divine ,son1 ,jesus ,christ1 is it not reasonable that we1 too1 should honor1 respect1 and love her8 ,how we honor the sword of ,washington6 ,what a cluster of tender recollections clings to the staff of ,franklin6 ,is there a loyal ,american citizen who does not think with feelings of love and respect of the mother of our ,revolutionary hero1 or who would not doff his hat at the unveiling of a statue of the sage of ,monticello8 ,and why8 ,is it on account of their intrinsic merit8 ,no4 ,we honor them principally on account of the relation they bear to those three brightest stars in the ,american firmament4 ,so it is with the honor we show to ,mary1 the ,mother of ,god4 ,although she was an example of all virtues1 we honor her principally because it was through her instrumentality ,he was born by whom we achieved not civil liberty1 but the liberty of the children of ,god4 ,she did not draw lightning from heaven1 nor the scepter from kings2 but she brought forth ,him who is the ,lord of heaven and ,king of kings4 ,the principal reason1 then1 why we honor ,mary is because she is the ,mother of ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,this honor consists of love1 respect1 and veneration4 ,we love her with an interior love1 a love proceeding from the heart2 nor should we fear to let this love appear outwardly4 ,when others revile her1 speak disrespectfully of her1 we should shrink from the very idea of acting similarly toward her4 ,we should then remember that she is the ,mother of ,our ,saviour1 and should ask ourselves how we would have acted toward her had we lived in her day and been witnesses of the honor shown her by her divine ,son4 ,by so doing we will show her that love which is her due4 ,our respect1 our veneration for her1 should be affectionate and deep4 ,when we remember that it was her hand that first lifted from the ground and received in maternal embrace the sacred body of ,jesus1 just born and just dead2 when we think how respectfully ,elizabeth greeted her2 when we recall to mind the reverent salutation of the archangel2 when we consider the honor shown her by the apostles and by her own divine ,son1 can we help feeling a deep love1 respect1 and veneration for her8 ,you see1 dear reader1 honoring ,mary is scriptural and reasonable4 ,but if we should honor her principally because she is the ,mother of ,god1 we should also honor her because she is the peerless glory1 the matchless jewel of her sex4 ,she constitutes a sole exception to a general law4 ,sin never contaminated1 never touched her fair soul4 ,this is what we mean by the ,immaculate ,conception4 ,god created the first man free from sin4 ,but he transgressed the law of ,god1 and1 by his transgression1 all his posterity are born in sin and conceived in iniquity4 ,for ,st4 ,paul says3 ,by one man sin entered into this world1 and by sin death2 and so death passed upon all men1 in whom all have sinned 7,rom4 v4 #ab74 ,but ,god promised that the woman1 ,mary1 should crush the head of the serpent4 ,now if she was to crush the head of the serpent1 it was fit that she should never be under his power1 that she should be pure1 free from sin of every kind4 ,there have been exceptions to all general laws4 ,at the time of the deluge ,noe was saved4 ,lot was saved from the destruction of ,sodom4 ,in like manner1 the ,blessed ,virgin is an exception to the general law that all sinned in ,adam4 ,isaias and ,st4 ,john ,baptist were sanctified in their mother's womb4 ,was it any more difficult for ,god to sanctify ,mary at the moment of her conception1 at the moment of the union of her soul with her body8 ,god chose ,his own ,mother4 ,if ,he had the power to choose her did ,he not also have the power to preserve her from original sin8 ,and does it not appear to you most fitting that ,god1 the ,holy ,ghost1 should preserve ,his spouse1 and ,god1 the ,son1 ,his ,mother1 from sin of every kind8 ,hail1 full of grace1 the angel said to her4 ,if she was full of grace1 no vacancy was left for sin4 ,grace denotes the absence of sin1 as light denotes the absence of darkness4 ,hence if ,mary was full of grace1 she was never subject to sin2 she was always pure and her conception immaculate4 ,it is but natural1 then1 that we arrive at the belief in the ,immaculate ,conception1 at the belief in the sinlessness1 the spotlessness of the ,blessed ,virgin from the very beginning of her existence4 ,if we honor ,mary principally because the angel honored her1 because ,god honored her1 we honor her1 also1 because of her immaculate conception and total freedom from sin4 ,she was a model of all virtues4 ,is it not reasonable1 then1 to honor ,mary1 to love her1 and to believe that she loves us8 ,if we honor the good and virtuous1 where can we find a nobler example of virtue than ,mary8 ,what a beautiful model ,mary is for ,christians1 and especially for ,christian women6 ,good ,catholic mothers are continually urging upon their daughters the necessity of choosing as a model ,mary1 the true type of female excellence4 ,in ,mary you find all that is tender1 loving1 constant1 and true4 ,in her you find all virtues4 ,in her humility she refused the highest honors2 while in patience she endured more anguish and agony than any other creature on earth4 ,mary is a creature of ,god4 ,as the praise we bestow on a beautiful picture redounds to the glory of the artist1 so the honor we give ,mary redounds to ,god1 since we honor her for ,his sake4 ,let us honor her4 ,that person who honors the ,blessed ,virgin2 who loves1 respects1 and venerates her as the ,mother of ,god2 who takes her as a model and imitates her virtues2 who prays to her in trials and afflictions and asks her intercession with her divine ,son1 does not only act in a reasonable manner1 but such action is certain to make the path through this world smooth and easy and at the same time safe to a life of eternal happiness4 ,,vi4 ,confession of ,sin ,whom when ,he saw ,he said3 ,go1 show yourselves to the priests 7,luke xvii4 #ad74 ,receive ye the ,holy ,ghost2 whose sins ye shall forgive1 they are forgiven them1 and whose sins ye shall retain1 they are retained 7,john xx4 #bc74 ,,the whole of the life of ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ may be summed up in these words of the ,acts3 ,he went about doing good4 ,he healed the sick1 gave sight to the blind1 hearing to the deaf1 and raised the dead to life4 ,the healing of the body1 however1 was to ,him a secondary object4 ,the healing of the soul was ,his mission on earth4 ,he frequently called the attention of ,his followers to this4 ,for example1 ,he cured the man of the palsy to prove that as man ,he had the power to forgive sins4 ,another example is when ,he gives us in the cure of the lepers a figure of sin and its cure4 ,leprosy has always been considered a figure of sin4 ,as leprosy covers the body and makes it disgusting and frightful to behold1 so sin covers the soul and makes it hideous in the sight of ,god4 ,the ,old ,law required lepers to separate themselves from society until their cure was certified to by the priests who were appointed for this purpose4 ,our ,lord has been pleased1 in the ,new ,law1 to institute a similar method for the cure of the more fatal leprosy of sin4 ,the spiritual leper1 the sinner1 is to show himself to the priest1 make known the diseased state of his soul1 and submit to the inspection and treatment of the priest1 who is the divinely appointed physician of the soul4 ,but should we not go directly to ,god1 since ,god alone has power to justify us8 ,it is true1 ,god alone can effect our justification2 but ,he has appointed the priest to judge in ,his place and pass sentence in ,his name4 ,to the priests ,he has said3 ,whatsoever you shall bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven1 and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed also in heaven 7,matt4 xviii4 #ah72 and again3 ,whose sins you shall forgive1 they are forgiven1 and whose sins you shall retain1 they are retained 7,john xx4 #bc74 ,these two texts clearly show that auricular confession as practised in the ,catholic ,church was taught by ,christ4 ,for how could the apostles and their successors1 the pastors of the ,church1 know what sins to bind and retain and what sins to loose and forgive unless the sins were confessed to them and they were allowed to judge8 ,no matter how numerous or how great these are1 provided they are confessed with a sincere repentance1 they will be forgiven4 ,and they will be forgiven by the power of the priest4 ,properly speaking1 ,god alone has power to forgive sins4 ,but no one will deny that ,he has power to confer this power on others4 ,he communicated this power to ,his apostles and commanded them1 in turn1 to communicate it to others by means of the ,sacrament of ,holy ,orders4 ,that ,our ,saviour communicated this power to ,his apostles is evident from the words of ,st4 ,john3 ,as the ,father hath sent ,me ,i also send you4 ,receive ye the ,holy ,ghost2 whose sins you shall forgive1 they are forgiven4 ,but sin was to continue till the end of the world4 ,hence the necessity of the means of forgiving sin being coextensive with sin4 ,as the people receive from the priests the ,word of ,god and the cleansing from sin in ,baptism1 so also do they receive from them the cleansing from sin in confession4 ,it is certain that the apostles conferred the power of forgiving sins upon others1 if we find that those whom the apostles ordained this power4 ,but we find this to be the case4 ,from the time of ,christ until the present the writers of every age tell us that confession of sins was practised4 ,st4 ,john1 who lived until the beginning of the second century1 says in the #ast chapter of his ,first ,epistle3 ,if we confess our sins1 ,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity4 ,st4 ,cyprian1 who wrote in the third century1 says3 ,let each of you confess his faults1 and the pardon imparted by the priest is acceptable before ,god4 ,st4 ,ambrose1 in the fourth century1 wrote3 ,the poison is sin2 the remedy1 the accusation of one's crime4 ,the poison is iniquity3 confession is the remedy4 ,st4 ,augustine1 who lived in the fifth century1 seems to be talking to some people of the present day1 who say they confess in private to ,god1 when he says3 ,let no one say to himself1 ,i do penance to ,god in private1 ,i do it before ,god4 ,is it then in vain that ,christ hath said3 ',whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven'8 ,is it in vain that the keys have been given to the ,church8 ,do we make void the ,gospel8 void the words of ,christ8 ,these first five centuries were the golden age of ,christianity4 ,all admit that the doctrines and practices of those early centuries were pure and undefiled1 as they came from ,christ4 ,but among the practices of the time we find confession4 ,hence it is a reasonable practice1 because conformable to ,christ's teaching4 ,we might continue quotations from writers of every century from the sixth to the nineteenth1 showing that the teaching and practice of confession did not vary through the lapse of ages from the time of ,christ until the present day4 ,but this is unnecessary4 ,the quotations from the first five centuries show that the power of forgiving sin was not only communicated by ,christ to ,his apostles1 but by them to their successors by means of the sacrament of ,holy ,orders4 ,what would be the necessity of this power if they could not exercise it in confession8 ,if1 as some say1 priests invented confession1 some one ought to find out and tell us when and where it was invented1 and why they did not exempt themselves from such a humiliating practice4 ,confession alone1 however1 will be of no avail without contrition4 ,contrition is a sincere sorrow and detestation for sin with a firm determination to sin no more4 ,to the truly humble and sorrowful sinner confession is not a punishment1 but a remedy for a tortured conscience4 ,the most painful secret to be kept by a heart not yet corrupted by disease is the secret of sin and crime4 ,the soul that loves ,god hates sin and desires to separate herself from it4 ,to this desire is associated the desire of expiating it4 ,all1 from the mother who questions her child about wrongdoing to the judge who interrogates the criminal1 recognize in spontaneous confession an expiatory power4 ,confession1 it is true1 is necessarily accompanied by shame and humiliation4 ,this humiliation is diminished by the knowledge that it is of divine origin and that eternal silence is divinely imposed upon him who receives it4 ,priests never divulge what they know from the confessional4 ,they have been ill-treated1 as was ,father ,kohlmann in this country2 have even been tortured and cruelly put to death1 as was ,st4 ,john ,nepomucene1 in order to extort from them knowledge they gained in the confessional1 but without avail4 ,for what they knew through the tribunal of penance1 they knew as ministers of ,god4 ,and as it is better to obey ,god than man1 no minister of state could force them to divulge that which the laws of ,god forbid4 ,only sinners1 who after a thorough preparation1 a sincere sorrow1 and a good confession1 can realize the soothing and beneficial effects of confession1 and feel with ,david1 ,blessed are they whose sins are forgiven4 ,if you have ever noticed such after leaving the confessional you could see joy beaming on their countenances1 as if a heavy burden had been removed4 ,confession quiets the conscience4 ,but this is only one of the benefits it confers upon those who practise going to confession4 ,it has also a salutary influence upon their morals2 for one of its necessary conditions is promise of amendment4 ,the pagans of the first centuries were aware of the guiding and reforming power of the confessional4 ,voltaire1 the leading infidel of the last century1 one who made sport of everything ,christian1 says that there is1 perhaps1 no wiser institution1 and that confession is an excellent thing1 a restraint upon inveterate crime1 a very good practice to prevent the guilty from falling into despair and relapsing into sin1 to influence hearts full of hate to forgive and robbers to make restitution--that the enemies of the ,romish ,church who have opposed so beneficial an institution have taken from man the greatest restraint that can be put upon crime4 ,while his everyday experience forced these words of praise from the arch-infidel1 his hatred of the ,church creeps out in the word ,romish4 ,confession of sin1 as we have seen1 is a reasonable practice1 because it was taught by ,jesus ,christ1 and by ,his apostles and their successors from ,christ's time until the present2 but especially because it has the power of soothing and pacifying the conscience by freeing it from the torture of sin1 the poison of crime4 ,it is not strange1 then1 that it is so dear to virtuous souls4 ,it is offensive only to those whose hearts are so hardened as to blunt the sting of remorse4 ,confession is ,christianity using its moral power to correct and perfect the individual4 ,in the confessional the minister of ,god is continually coming in contact with hearts in which reigns an idol that he overthrows1 a bad practice that he causes to cease1 or some injustice that he has repaired4 ,confession is one of the gates by which ,christianity penetrates the interior man1 wipes away stains1 heals diseases1 and sows therein the seeds of virtue4 ,the lives and experience of millions are witness of the truth of this4 ,is it not1 then1 a reasonable1 a beneficial practice8 ,it is only the malicious or the ignorant who calumniate the practice and the consecrated minister who sits in judgment in the sacred tribunal4 ,those who lay aside their prejudice and study the question soon become convinced of its divine origin4 ,a little study and reflection will show them that confession of sin benefits society by preventing crimes that would destroy government1 cause riots1 and fill prisons2 that it promotes human justice1 makes men better1 nobler1 purer1 higher1 and more ,godlike2 that it soothes the sorrowful heart whose crime might make the despairing suicide2 and that individuals and families who frequently1 intelligently1 and properly approach this fountain of ,god's grace will receive ,his blessing here and a pledge of ,his union hereafter4 ,,vii4 ,granting ,indulgences ,whatsoever you shall bind upon earth shall be bound in heaven1 and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed also in heaven 7,matt xviii4 #ah74 ,,of ,,the many practices of the ,church1 few have been the cause of more controversy than that of granting indulgences4 ,though not the cause1 the granting of an indulgence furnished a pretext for ,luther's apostasy4 ,leo ,x1 who was ,pope at that time1 desiring to complete ,st4 ,peter's at ,rome1 appealed to all ,catholics for financial aid4 ,there was certainly nothing wrong in this4 ,with these alms it was intended that the most magnificent ,christian temple in the world would be completed4 ,majesty1 ,power1 ,glory1 ,strength1 and ,beauty1 all are aisled ,in this eternal ark of worship undefiled4 ,all who contributed toward the completion of ,st4 ,peter's and complied with the necessary conditions were granted an indulgence4 ,the alms were not one of the indispensable conditions4 ,those conditions were a sincere repentance and confession4 ,hence1 those who did not contribute could gain the indulgence4 ,perhaps the ,dominican ,tetzel1 who was chosen to announce the indulgence1 exceeded his powers and made them serve his own ends4 ,his action in the affair was not approved by ,rome4 ,if it is certain that the ,pope did nothing wrong in asking for aid to build that beautiful monument to religion1 it is equally certain that he did nothing wrong1 that he did not exceed the limits of his powers when he granted the indulgence4 ,in order to understand this1 we must have a clear idea of what is meant by an indulgence4 ,you frequently hear it said that it is the forgiveness of sin1 or that it is a permission given to commit sin4 ,it is neither the one nor the other4 ,an indulgence is not the forgiveness of sin4 ,in fact1 an indulgence can not be gained until sin has been forgiven4 ,one of the necessary conditions for gaining an indulgence is confession4 ,neither is an indulgence a license1 a permission to commit sin4 ,no one1 not even ,god ,himself1 could give permission to commit sin4 ,for ,god is all good1 and although all powerful ,he can not sanction that which is evil in itself4 ,it would be contrary to ,his very nature4 ,an indulgence1 then1 is not what it has been painted4 ,having seen what an indulgence is not1 let us see what it is4 ,it is a remission of the whole or a part of the debt of temporal punishment due to sin after the guilt and eternal punishment have been forgiven in the sacrament of ,penance4 ,in the early ages of the ,church notorious sinners1 after being absolved1 were sentenced to long public penances4 ,by sincere sorrow1 an indulgence or remission of some of the time was granted them4 ,public confession and public penances have passed away4 ,these public penances are replaced by pious devotions4 ,upon the performance of certain pious devotions the ,church at times grants an indulgence2 that is1 a remission of such temporal punishment as is equivalent to the canonical penances corresponding to the sins committed4 ,attached to every mortal sin1 besides the guilt1 is the punishment incurred4 ,this punishment is eternal and temporal4 ,that there is this twofold punishment we learn from various places in the ,bible4 ,we have an example in the sin of ,david4 ,god sent the prophet ,nathan to warn him of his guilt4 ,when ,nathan rebuked the king1 he confessed his sin with signs of true contrition4 ,then ,nathan told him that ,god had forgiven his sin1 but that many temporal punishments would follow4 ,when ,god forgave the sin1 the guilt and eternal punishment were taken away2 but temporal punishment remained4 ,other examples could be cited1 but this is sufficient to show that there is a twofold kind of punishment--eternal and temporal4 ,in confession the guilt and eternal punishment are taken away1 but not always the temporal punishment4 ,this temporal punishment is what is taken away in whole by a plenary and in part by a partial indulgence4 ,in a similar manner we have a twofold punishment attached to crime in this world4 ,a man commits a crime4 ,he is sentenced to a term in the penitentiary4 ,after spending his time of punishment he comes back to society1 but finds he has another punishment to undergo in being avoided by his friends and others4 ,the practice of granting indulgences was founded on many passages of ,scripture1 both of the ,old and ,new ,testament4 ,in the #abth chapter of the book of ,numbers we learn that ,mary1 the sister of ,moses1 was forgiven a sin which she had committed4 ,but ,god inflicted upon her the penalty of leprosy4 ,this was a temporal punishment4 ,by the prayer of ,moses an indulgence was granted2 for ,god took away the temporal punishment4 ,our divine ,lord left with ,his ,church the power of granting indulgences1 as we learn from ,his words taken from ,st4 ,matthew3 ,whatsoever you shall loose upon earth shall be loosed also in heaven4 ,this promise implies the power of loosing not only from sin and its eternal punishment1 but also the power of releasing the bond of temporal punishment1 of freeing from everything that would prevent the soul from entering the kingdom of heaven4 ,st4 ,paul granted an indulgence to the incestuous ,corinthian1 as we learn from the #b;d chapter of his ,second ,epistle to the ,corinthians4 ,by the power and authority which he received from ,christ1 he granted the ,corinthian pardon from performing a certain penance4 ,this penance was a temporal punishment4 ,the apostle took away the temporal punishment4 ,that is an indulgence4 ,non-,catholics grant a kind of plenary indulgence to every one by saying that works of penance are unnecessary4 ,the practice of the ,catholic ,church of granting an indulgence only to the deserving is certainly more conformable to ,scripture as well as more reasonable4 ,experience teaches us the utility of indulgences4 ,they encourage the faithful to frequent the sacraments1 to repent1 to do acts of penance1 and perform works of piety1 charity1 and devotion4 ,a practice productive of such beneficial results is reasonable2 it is also reasonable because it is sanctioned by ,scripture and the ,church of every age4 ,for ,god would not sanction it nor could the ,church practise it if it were not conformable to reason4 ,,viii4 ,the ,last ,sacraments ,is any man sick among you8 ,let him bring in the priests of the ,church1 and let them pray over him1 anointing him with oil in the name of the ,lord3 ,and the prayer of faith shall save the sick man1 and the ,lord shall raise him up1 and if he be in sins they shall be forgiven him 7,james v4 #ad1 #ae74 ,,by ,,these words ,st4 ,james admonishes ,christians when sick to do that which ,our ,saviour had previously directed to be done4 ,this you will learn from the #fth chapter of ,st4 ,mark3 ,and the apostles anointed with oil many that were sick4 ,the historians of the first centuries tell us that the early ,christians were as anxious to receive the last sacraments as are the ,catholics of our own day4 ,st4 ,cesarius1 in the fifth century1 writes3 ,as soon as a person falls dangerously sick1 he receives the body and blood of ,jesus ,christ4 ,then his body is anointed1 and thus is fulfilled what stands written3 ',is any man sick among you8 ,let him call in the priests of the ,church1 and let them pray over him1 anointing him with oil4' ,what the ,christians of the first centuries did1 we do2 and we do it by the direction of ,jesus ,christ and of ,st4 ,james4 ,penance1 ,holy ,eucharist1 and ,extreme ,unction are administered to the sick and are known as the last sacraments4 ,the priest first hears the sick person's confession1 then he administers holy communion4 ,afterward he administers the sacrament of ,extreme ,unction--last anointing4 ,this sacrament aids the sick to bear their sufferings with patience4 ,it wipes away sin1 even mortal sin if the person is unable to confess2 and it purifies the soul for its entrance into heaven4 ,the other sacraments assist us in making our lives holy like the life of our divine ,model4 ,this sacrament assists in making our death holy1 like the death of ,jesus4 ,the sacrament of ,baptism met us at our entrance into this world2 the sacrament of ,extreme ,unction will be our guide at our departure to the other world4 ,religion1 which rocked us in the cradle of life1 will lull us to sleep in the cradle of death4 ,go to the bedside of the dying ,catholic and you will see the reasonableness of the practice of calling the priest to administer the last sacraments4 ,after the sacraments have been administered1 peace and joy and contentment are visible on the countenance of the sick person4 ,he clings no more to the things of earth4 ,his thoughts are centered in heaven4 ,the minister of ,god consoles him with the thought of immortality and the resurrection of the body4 ,he soon hears the singing of the angelic choir2 and breathing the sweet names of ,jesus1 ,mary1 and ,joseph1 his soul takes its flight to the regions of eternal bliss4 ,,ix4 ,praying for the ,dead ,it is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead1 that they may be loosed from their sins 7#b ,mach4 xii4 #df74 ,,no ,,one will deny that the practice of praying for the dead is reasonable1 if the dead are benefited by our prayers4 ,that our prayers are beneficial to the departed we will endeavor to show4 ,we are taught by revelation that besides heaven and hell1 a state of everlasting pleasure and a state of eternal pain1 there also exists a middle state of punishment for those who die in venial sin1 or who have not sufficiently satisfied the justice of ,god for mortal sins already forgiven4 ,the people of ,god in the ,old ,law believed1 and ,jesus ,christ and ,his apostles in the ,new ,law taught1 the existence of this middle state4 ,in the ,second ,book of ,machabees1 quoted above1 we read that the pious general ,judas ,machabeus having made a collection1 sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to ,jerusalem for sacrifices to be offered for the dead soldiers1 thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection for if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again1 it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead1 and because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness had great grace laid up for them4 ,it is1 therefore1 a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins4 ,if prayers were not beneficial to the dead1 ,god would not have sanctioned them4 ,this is exactly the practice of the ,catholic ,church4 ,we pray and offer sacrifices for the souls in purgatory1 just as ,judas ,machabeus did4 ,even if the ,books of ,machabees were not inspired1 it is historically true that the ,jews and almost all nations of antiquity believed in the existence of purgatory and the utility of prayers for the souls detained there4 ,this universal consent is the voice of nature and of ,god4 ,hence we see that the practice of praying for the dead is reasonable4 ,this practice is in accordance with the teaching of ,christ4 ,in the #abth chapter1 #cb;d verse1 of ,st4 ,matthew1 ,he says3 ,he that shall speak against the ,holy ,ghost1 it shall not be forgiven him1 neither in this world nor in the world to come4 ,these words teach us that some sins will be pardoned in the life to come4 ,they can not be pardoned in heaven1 since nothing defiled can enter heaven2 nor can they be pardoned in hell1 out of which there is no redemption1 for their worm shall not die1 and their fire shall not be quenched4 ,therefore1 there must be a state in the next world where sins will be forgiven1 and we call that place or state purgatory4 ,and the existence of purgatory implies the necessity of praying for those detained there4 ,the belief in the existence of purgatory and the practice of praying for the faithful departed have existed in the ,church from the time of its foundation4 ,tertullian1 who lived in the second century1 considered it a solemn duty1 whose obligation came down from the apostles1 to offer sacrifices and prayers for the faithful departed4 ,st4 ,augustine says3 ,the whole ,church received from the tradition of the ,fathers to pray for those who died in the communion of the body and blood of ,christ4 ,the dying request of ,st4 ,monica1 the mother of ,st4 ,augustine1 is well known4 ,i request you1 she said1 that wherever you may be1 you will remember me at the altar of the ,lord4 ,and he assures us that he frequently and fervently prayed for her soul4 ,the teaching of the ,church of every age confirms the teaching of the ,old and ,new ,testament regarding purgatory and praying for the dead4 ,to one who believes in heaven and hell1 a place of eternal pleasure and of eternal punishment1 the doctrine of purgatory must appear as a necessity1 and the practice of praying for the dead reasonable4 ,for it is certain that nothing defiled can enter heaven4 ,but it is possible that many die guilty of but slight sins4 ,therefore1 it must be said that these are damned1 which is impious and absurd2 that what is defiled can enter heaven1 which is unscriptural2 or that there is a purgatory1 a state in which such souls are made pure as the driven snow1 so that they can enter into the presence of their ,maker4 ,for an infinitely just ,god can not condemn to the same eternal punishment the child who dies guilty of a slight fault and the hardened murderer4 ,no4 ,he will render to every one according to his works4 ,the doctrine of purgatory1 then1 is reasonable as well as scriptural and traditional4 ,reasonable1 too1 is the practice of praying for the dead1 for they are still members of the ,church4 ,all the members of the ,church1 consisting of the church militant on earth1 the church triumphant in heaven1 and the church suffering in purgatory1 are one family bound together by the bond of charity4 ,the members of the ,church on earth pray to those in heaven1 who love us and pray for us2 and we pray for those in purgatory4 ,they are ,god's friends deprived of heaven for a time4 ,as those in heaven rejoice when one sinner does penance1 so those in purgatory hear us1 see us1 love us1 and are helped by our prayers4 ,we love them and never cease to pray for them and offer the ,holy ,sacrifice for them4 ,even the unbeliever will stand or kneel by the remains of his departed friend and offer a prayer for him1 thus showing that praying for the dead is reasonable and the natural dictate of the human heart4 ,x4 ,praying to the ,saints ,and may the angel that delivereth me from all evils bless these boys 7,gen4 xlviii4 #af74 ,so ,i say to you there shall be joy before the angels of ,god upon one sinner doing penance 7,luke xv4 #aj74 ,for in the resurrection they the saints shall be as the angels of ,god in heaven 7,matt4 xxii4 #aj74 ,,the saints are friends of ,god4 ,they are like the angels in heaven4 ,we honor them1 not as we honor ,god1 but on account of the relation they bear to ,god4 ,they are creatures of ,god1 the work of ,his hands4 ,when we honor them1 we honor ,god2 as when we praise a beautiful painting1 we praise the artist4 ,we do not believe that the saints can help us of themselves4 ,but we ask them to pray for us4 ,we believe that everything comes to us through ,our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,with these words all our prayers end4 ,it is useful1 salutary1 and reasonable to pray to the saints and ask them to pray for us4 ,no doubt all will admit the reasonableness of this practice if the saints can hear and help us4 ,that they hear and help us is evident from many passages of ,scripture4 ,the patriarch ,jacob would not have prayed to the angel to bless his grandchildren ,manasses and ,ephraim 7as we learn he did from ,gen4 xlviii471 unless he knew the angel could do so4 ,we are informed 7,luke xv47 that the angels rejoice when one sinner does penance4 ,we are also informed 7,matt xxii47 that the saints are like the angels--i4e41 have the same happiness and knowledge4 ,hence the saints1 as well as the angels1 can hear us1 can help us1 and are acquainted with our actions1 words1 and thoughts4 ,it is generally conceded that it is reasonable to ask pious persons on earth to pray for us4 ,st4 ,paul1 in his epistles1 frequently asks the ,christians to pray for him4 ,brethren1 he says1 pray for us4 ,it is well known that ,god was pleased to answer the prayer of ,abraham in favor of ,abimelech4 ,more things are wrought by prayer than this world knows of4 ,now1 if we poor sinners here on earth do not pray in vain for one another1 will the saints in heaven1 the friends of ,god1 who rejoice when a sinner does penance1 pray in vain for us8 ,no4 ,we have hosts of friends in heaven to speak a good word for us4 ,and as a child who has disobeyed his parents wisely asks a better brother or sister to intercede with his parents for mercy1 so1 too1 having disobeyed our heavenly ,father by sin1 we have recourse to others better than ourselves1 to our better brothers and sisters1 the ,blessed ,virgin and saints1 to intercede with ,god for us4 ,is not this a reasonable practice8 ,if your mother or sister crosses the sea she will continue to pray for you4 ,and if she crosses the sea of death will she forget you8 ,no4 ,the love she bore you here will continue in heaven4 ,she will pray for you1 and the ,lord will hear the prayers of the just4 ,ask the saints to pray to your ,god and their ,god for you4 ,honor ,god by honoring ,his friends and asking their intercession4 ,and all your friends in heaven will unite in praying to the ,father of us all that one day all who love ,god and ,his friends1 the saints1 may be admitted with them into the company of the ,saint of saints1 ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,,xi4 ,crucifixes1 ,relics1 and ,images ,thou shalt not make to thyself a graven thing1 nor the likeness of anything that is in the heaven above1 or in the earth beneath1 nor of those things that are in the waters under the earth4 ,thou shalt not adore them nor serve them 7,ex4 xx4 #d1 #e74 ,,this first commandment teaches us to adore ,god alone4 ,it does not forbid the making of images1 but it forbids the adoring of them1 worshiping them as gods4 ,this would be idolatry4 ,if the making of images were forbidden1 it would be improper to have images or pictures of our friends4 ,it has frequently been said that ,catholics ate idolaters1 because they have in their churches crucifixes1 relics1 and images of the saints1 which they honor4 ,perhaps many of those who accuse us of idolatry1 if asked1 could not tell what idolatry is4 ,idolatry is giving to a creature 7whether a crucifix1 an image1 or any created thing7 that honor which belongs to ,god4 ,the honor we give those sacred things is a relative honor4 ,we honor them on account of the relation they bear to ,god and ,his friends1 the saints4 ,every ,catholic1 even the child1 is taught the difference between the idol of the pagan and a ,catholic image4 ,pagans looked upon their idols as gods4 ,they thought these senseless objects had power1 intelligence1 and other attributes of the ,deity4 ,they worshiped them as gods and thought they could assist them4 ,hence they were image-worshipers or idolaters4 ,catholics know full well that images have no intelligence to understand1 no power to assist them4 ,they do not adore nor serve them4 ,that would be idolatry4 ,it would be breaking the first commandment4 ,they do not say when praying before the crucifix or image of a saint1 ,i adore thee1 ,o ,crucifix2 nor ,help me1 ,o ,image1 ,but they say1 ,i adore thee1 ,o ,god1 whose cruel death is represented by this crucifix1 or ,pray for me1 ,o saint represented by this image4 ,we have images1 pictures1 and relics of ,our ,lord1 ,his ,blessed ,mother1 and the saints1 for the same reason that we have relics and portraits of ,george ,washington1 ,abraham ,lincoln1 or of our relatives and friends4 ,they remind us of the original4 ,who can look upon the crucifix or upon a picture of the ,crucifixion without being reminded of all the sufferings of ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ8 ,and who can seriously contemplate those sufferings1 borne for us so patiently1 without being moved to pity and to repentance8 ,such a person will be moved to say with the heart if not with the lips3 ,oh1 my ,god1 ,i am sorry for having offended ,thee and caused ,thee such suffering4 ,grant that ,i may love ,thee with my whole heart and never more offend ,thee4 ,catholics1 as we have seen1 adore ,god alone4 ,they honor the ,blessed ,virgin and saints represented by images4 ,they use these holy pictures and statues to beautify the house of ,god4 ,these pictures are also a source of instruction4 ,they are a profession of our faith4 ,if you enter a house and see on one side of the room a picture of the ,blessed ,virgin1 ,cardinal ,gibbons1 or of ,pope ,leo ,,xiii1 and on the other a picture of ,lincoln1 ,cleveland1 or ,washington1 you will at once know the religious faith as well as the political belief or patriotism of the occupant4 ,by the aid of the relics of the martyrs we are reminded of all they suffered for the faith4 ,by the use of religious pictures1 our devotion is increased and we are stimulated to imitate the virtues of the saints represented4 ,if it is reasonable to have pictures of our martyred ,president and relics of our ,revolutionary heroes that we may be reminded of their patriotism1 it is none the less reasonable to have pictures and relics of ,our ,lord1 the ,blessed ,virgin1 and the saints1 that we may be reminded of their virtues4 ,by imitating their virtues here1 we may be happy with them hereafter4 ,,xii4 ,some ,sacramentals ,pray without ceasing 7#b ,thess4 v4 #ag74 ,every creature is sanctified by the word of ,god and prayer 7#a ,tim4 #d1 #e74 ,,by ,,sacramentals we mean the various prayers1 blessings1 ceremonies and pious practices of the ,church4 ,here mention will be made of some of the most common of the sacramentals that have not already been treated4 ,sacramentals1 like sacraments1 have an outward sign2 the latter1 however1 were instituted by ,christ1 the former by the ,church1 and while the latter always give grace if we place no obstacle in the way1 the former do not give grace1 but excite good thoughts1 increase devotion1 and raise the mind to ,god4 ,the chief sacramentals that have not been mentioned are the books used by the priest in the performance of his sacred duties1 the sign of the cross1 holy water1 blessed candles1 blessed palm and ashes1 holy oils1 scapulars1 medals1 ,agnus ,dei1 prayers1 litanies1 rosary1 the ,angelus1 stations1 the funeral service1 and various blessings4 ,the books used by the priest in the performance of his sacred duties are the ,missal1 which contains the ,masses for the various feasts of the ecclesiastical year2 the ,breviary1 in which is the office recited by the priest every day2 and the ,ritual1 where is to be found the form of administering the different sacraments1 the funeral service1 and the various benedictions4 ,the sacramental of most frequent use in the ,church is the sign of the cross4 ,it is used to remind us of the ,passion and ,death of ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ on the cross4 ,the cross is the emblem of the ,christian1 the sign of the ,son of ,man4 ,it is an act of faith in the principal truths of ,christianity4 ,when we say the words1 ,in the name1 we profess our faith in the unity of ,god1 which means that there is but one ,god2 of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost1 are a profession of faith in the ,trinity--i4e41 that there are three divine persons in one ,god4 ,the form of the cross which we trace with our right hand from our forehead to our breast1 and then from the left to the right shoulder1 is a profession of faith in the ,incarnation of the ,son of ,god1 who became man and died on the cross for our redemption4 ,tertullian and other writers of the early ages of the ,church tell us that before every action1 before rising or retiring1 before meals1 at every step1 we impress on our forehead the sign of the cross4 ,the ,catholic ,church of to-day1 in accordance with the teachings of ,christ1 ,his apostles1 and their successors of all time1 teaches her children to put their trust in the merits of ,jesus ,christ's sufferings on the cross1 and to do everything in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,holy water is water blessed by a priest4 ,during the blessing beautiful prayers are recited4 ,these prayers express the spiritual blessings the ,church wishes to follow all who use it4 ,the ,church uses holy water in all the benedictions and some of her sacraments4 ,it is placed at the doors of her churches1 that all who enter may use it and be reminded of that purity of heart which it symbolizes4 ,holy water is also kept in the houses of ,catholics1 to be used in times of trial and when the priest comes to administer the sacraments4 ,the blessed candles used in the service of the ,church receive their special blessing on ,candlemas ,day4 ,we use these lighted candles at different times to remind us of ,jesus1 who is the ,light of the world4 ,catholics always keep a blessed candle in the house4 ,the ,church puts a lighted candle in our hand at our baptism1 and wishes us to die with one in our hand1 to remind us to hope in ,him who is our ,light and the light of the world4 ,on ,ash ,wednesday ashes are blessed and put on the forehead of the faithful in the form of a cross1 with the words1 ,remember1 man1 that thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return1 to remind them that they are only dust and ashes4 ,these are the ashes of burnt palms blessed the ,palm ,sunday of the previous year4 ,these palms are blessed in memory of the triumphal entry of ,jesus into ,jerusalem1 when the people spread palm branches along the way4 ,this palm should remind us to perform faithfully our duty if we wish to enjoy the palm of victory4 ,the holy oils are blessed by the bishop on ,holy ,thursday of each year4 ,they are of three kinds3 oil of the sick1 used in the sacrament of ,extreme ,unction2 oil of the ,catechumens1 used in blessing baptismal water and in the sacrament of ,baptism2 and ,holy ,chrism1 used in the preparation of baptismal water in the ceremonies of ,baptism1 ,confirmation1 and at the consecration of a bishop1 of churches1 altars1 bells and chalices4 ,the olive oil used should remind us of ,our ,saviour's passion in the ,garden of ,olives4 ,agnus ,deis 7blessed by the ,pope71 scapulars1 and medals are small articles worn by ,catholics to remind them of ,our ,lord 7the ,lamb of ,god71 of the ,blessed ,virgin1 and of the saints4 ,they are emblems of the ,christian1 as the starry banner is the emblem of the ,american2 and as the flag of our country shows that we are under the protection of the ,government of the ,united ,states1 so the ,agnus ,dei1 scapulars1 and medals show that we are under the protection of ,jesus ,christ1 ,his ,blessed ,mother1 and ,his saints4 ,prayer is the elevation of our mind and heart to ,god to ask ,him for all blessings1 temporal and spiritual4 ,prayer is necessary to salvation4 ,we are taught in ,st4 ,luke 7xviii47 to pray always and faint not4 ,we should pray with attention and devotion1 with confidence and humility4 ,we are told in the ,lord's ,prayer to pray for others as well as for ourselves1 and ,god's choicest blessings will be granted us through ,jesus ,christ ,our ,lord4 ,the best of all prayers is the one ,god taught us--the ,lord's ,prayer4 ,other prayers common in the ,church are ,litanies1 ,rosaries1 the ,angelus1 ,stations1 and the ,funeral ,service for the dead4 ,the ,litanies most in use in the ,church are the ,litany of ,all ,saints1 of the ,blessed ,virgin1 of the ,holy ,name of ,jesus4 ,in these ,litanies we ask ,god to have mercy on us and the saints to pray for us2 but we ask everything through ,jesus ,christ ,our ,lord4 ,few practices of the ,church are more widespread than the ,rosary of the ,blessed ,virgin4 ,it consists of the best of all prayers--the ,apostles' ,creed1 the ,our ,father1 three ,hail ,marys1 and the ,glory be to the ,father2 then the ,our ,father and ten ,hail ,marys repeated five times4 ,this constitutes the beads1 or one-third part of the ,rosary4 ,during the recitation of these prayers the mind should be occupied meditating on the principal mysteries of the life of ,our ,lord4 ,these mysteries are divided into the five joyful mysteries3 the ,annunciation by the angel ,gabriel1 the ,visitation of the ,blessed ,virgin to ,st4 ,elizabeth1 the ,birth of ,our ,lord1 the ,presentation1 and the ,finding in the ,temple2 the five sorrowful mysteries3 the ,agony in the ,garden1 the ,scourging1 the ,crowning with ,thorns1 the ,carrying of the ,cross1 and the ,crucifixion2 and the five glorious mysteries3 the ,resurrection1 the ,ascension1 the ,descent of the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,assumption of the ,blessed ,virgin1 and the ,crowning of the ,blessed ,virgin in heaven4 ,any one of these mysteries furnishes sufficient material to occupy the mind of man for hours4 ,these mysteries contain the whole history of the ,redemption4 ,the prayers and meditations of the ,rosary satisfy the minds of the humblest1 while they are sufficient to occupy the attention of the most exalted and most cultivated4 ,the ,angelus is a beautiful prayer1 said morning1 noon1 and night4 ,in ,catholic countries the bell is rung1 when all cease their occupations1 kneel1 and recite3 ,the angel of the ,lord declared unto ,mary1 and she conceived by the ,holy ,ghost--a ,hail ,mary4 ,behold the handmaid of the ,lord--be it done unto me according to ,thy ,word--a ,hail ,mary4 ,and the ,word was made flesh1 and dwelt amongst us--a ,hail ,mary4 ,the prayer3 ,pour forth1 we beseech ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 ,thy grace into our hearts1 that we1 to whom the ,incarnation of ,christ1 ,thy ,son1 was made known by the message of an angel1 may by ,his passion and cross be brought to the glory of ,his resurrection1 through the same ,christ ,our ,lord4 ,amen4 ,by this beautiful practice we show in a special manner our faith in the ,incarnation of ,our ,lord and ,saviour ,jesus ,christ4 ,the ,stations of the ,cross are fourteen paintings representing the various stages of the passion and death of ,our ,redeemer4 ,the faithful pass from station to station and meditate upon that feature of the passion represented by each station4 ,tradition tells us that from the beginning pious pilgrims were accustomed to tread the path and bedew with their tears the way sanctified by our ,saviour on that sorrowful journey from ,pilate's tribunal to ,calvary's heights4 ,but ,jerusalem falling into the hands of infidels1 and many being unable to visit those holy places1 permission was obtained to erect in churches fourteen crosses and pictures commemorating these sorrowful acts4 ,from these stations all can meditate upon the sufferings of our ,saviour1 and learn from ,him submission to ,god's holy will1 patience1 charity1 and forgiveness of injuries4 ,the funeral service of the ,catholic ,church is beautiful1 touching1 and instructive4 ,after blessing1 strengthening1 and encouraging us through life with her sacraments2 after fortifying our souls for the last great struggle1 she follows us beyond the grave with her blessings1 her prayers1 and her sacrifices4 ,eternal rest give unto them1 ,o ,lord1 she prays2 and let perpetual light shine upon them4 ,may they rest in peace4 ,there are various other prayers and blessings used by the ,church on special occasions4 ,in fact1 the ,church blesses everything she uses4 ,this blessing of the priest is not such an absurd thing as some imagine it to be2 it is rather a most reasonable practice4 ,it is simply a prayer said by the priest1 asking ,god to send ,his blessing upon the person or thing indicated4 ,people of all denominations say grace before meals1 asking ,god to bless the food they are about to use4 ,this is precisely what the priest does when blessing anything4 ,he uses different forms of prayer ordained by the ,church to implore ,god's blessing upon the water1 candles1 and other things before using them4 ,this blessing of churches1 water1 candles1 and other things has its foundation on ,scripture4 ,we read in the ,old ,testament of the solemn blessing of the ,temple of ,solomon4 ,st4 ,paul tells us that every creature is sanctified by the word of ,god and prayer4 ,churches1 water1 candles1 bells1 books1 persons1 and other things blessed by the ,church are creatures4 ,therefore we are following ,st4 ,paul in blessing them1 for every creature is sanctified by the word of ,god and prayer4 ,we do not claim that those articles that are blessed have any efficacy in themselves2 but we hope and pray that ,god in ,his infinite goodness and mercy may render those blessed articles beneficial to those using them1 may protect them and lead them to ,his blessed abode above1 where all is peace and light and love4 ,,xiii4 ,the ,celebration of ,feasts ,seven days shalt thou celebrate feasts to the ,lord thy ,god1 in the place which the ,lord shalt choose 7,deut4 xvi4 #ae74 ,if he will not hear the ,church1 let him be to thee as the heathen and the publican 7,matt4 xviii4 #ag74 ,,from these texts we learn that besides the ,sunday ,god wishes certain other days to be observed religiously1 and that the ,church has the power of designating these days4 ,as the ,state sets aside certain national holidays in commemoration of its founder or of the ,declaration of ,independence1 so the ,church sets aside these holidays in honor of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,blessed ,virgin1 and the saints4 ,besides the feasts celebrated on ,sundays1 there are in this country but six holidays of obligation4 ,three of these are commemorative of events in the life of ,our ,lord3 ,christmas1 the ,circumcision1 and the ,ascension2 two1 the ,immaculate ,conception and the ,assumption1 in honor of the ,blessed ,virgin2 and one in honor of ,god's saints--the ,feast of ,all ,saints4 ,the ecclesiastical year begins in ,advent4 ,advent is a period of about four weeks of penance and prayer preparatory to the great feast of ,christmas and corresponding to the penitential season of ,lent before ,easter4 ,during the ecclesiastical year1 the first of the feasts of obligation in the order of time is the feast of the ,immaculate ,conception4 ,it is celebrated on the #hth of ,december4 ,on this day we commemorate the fact that ,mary was immaculate when she first came into being in her mother's womb2 that she was always pure2 that sin never touched her fair soul4 ,immaculate ,conception1 as you will see in the article on the ,blessed ,virgin1 means that she was always free from sin4 ,the great feast of ,christmas1 in honor of the birth of ,jesus ,christ1 is celebrated on ,december #beth4 ,this feast is a time of joy and peace to all mankind1 and is celebrated by the ,church with much pomp and ceremony4 ,the festival of the ,circumcision is kept on the first day of the new year4 ,it is commemorative of ,our ,lord's strict observance of the law by submitting to the ,jewish ceremony of circumcision4 ,we solemnly celebrate the day in honor of our merciful ,lord1 who is our model in all things4 ,next in the order of time is the feast of the ,ascension4 ,it is kept forty days after the grand feast of ,easter1 and is in honor of ,our ,lord's glorious ascension into heaven4 ,the ,assumption of the ,blessed ,virgin1 celebrated the #aeth of ,august1 is commemorative of the glorious taking up to heaven of ,mary1 soul and body4 7,this is a pious tradition47 ,all ,saints' ,day is ,november #ast4 ,every day is a saint's day4 ,there is not a day that the ,catholic ,church does not celebrate a feast in honor of some special mystery or saint4 ,but as there are more saints in heaven than could be thus specially honored1 she sets aside this one day every year in honor of all the saints in heaven4 ,there are various other important feasts1 some of which fall on ,sunday2 but these we have mentioned being feasts of obligation to be observed as ,sunday1 it was thought that it would not be uninteresting to give a short explanation of them4 ,on them we honor ,god and ,his special friends4 ,let us always1 by faith1 hope1 and love1 bear ,jesus in our minds and hearts4 ,,xiv4 ,infant ,baptism ,amen1 amen1 ,i say to thee1 unless a man be born again of water and the ,holy ,ghost1 he can not enter into the kingdom of ,god 7,john iii #e74 ,,while most ,christians admit the necessity of ,baptism for adults1 the ,catholic ,church is alone in insisting upon the practice of infant ,baptism4 ,this practice is in accordance with the teaching of ,st4 ,john1 quoted above4 ,it is also in accordance with apostolic teaching and practice4 ,we read in the #afth chapter of the ,acts of the ,apostles that ,st4 ,paul baptized ,lydia and her household1 and that the keeper of the prison was converted and was baptized and presently all his family4 ,among these families it is but reasonable to suppose that there were some infants4 ,infant ,baptism was the practice of the apostles2 it was the practice of the ,christians of the early ,church1 as ,origen tells us4 ,the ,church received the tradition from the apostles to give ,baptism to infants1 and it has been the practice of the ,church from the time of ,christ until the present4 ,st4 ,paul tells us that ,adam's sin was transmitted to all his posterity4 ,wherefore as by one man sin entered into this world1 and by sin death1 and so death passed unto all men in whom all have sinned 7,rom4 v4 #ab74 ,every infant1 according to ,st4 ,paul1 is born to sin--original sin4 ,but as ,baptism takes away original sin1 and as nothing defiled can enter heaven 7,apoc4 xxi471 ,baptism of infants is necessary to open for them the gates of heaven4 ,baptism may be validly administered by dipping1 sprinkling1 or pouring4 ,the method practised in this part of ,christendom is pouring the water on the head of the person to be baptized1 saying at the same time3 ,i baptize thee in the name of the ,father and of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the reasonableness of the practice of baptizing infants will be evident if we remember that ,christ taught the necessity of baptism for all when ,he said3 ,unless a man be born again of water and the ,holy ,ghost1 he can not enter into the kingdom of ,god2 and that ,he declared little children capable of entering into the kingdom of ,god when ,he said3 ,suffer little children to come unto ,me and forbid them not1 for of such is the kingdom of heaven4 ,now1 if infants are capable of entering heaven 7and ,christ so declares71 they must be capable of receiving ,baptism1 without which ,christ says no one can enter the kingdom of ,god4 ,while in adults faith and sorrow for sin are required before receiving ,baptism1 no disposition is required in infants4 ,they contracted original sin without their knowledge2 without their knowledge they are freed from it4 ,by ,baptism they are made heirs of the kingdom of heaven4 ,they can be made heirs of property1 of a kingdom on earth without their consent2 why not also of the kingdom of heaven8 ,baptism is the first of the seven sacraments which the ,church confers upon man4 ,it cleanses us from original sin 7actual sin also if the recipient be guilty of any71 makes us ,christians1 children of ,god1 and heirs of heaven4 ,it prepares us for the reception of the other sacraments4 ,by ,baptism we all contracted the obligation of believing and practising the doctrines of ,jesus ,christ as taught us by the true ,church4 ,we fulfil this obligation by leading a truly ,christian life4 ,,xv4 ,the ,marriage ,tie--,one and ,indissoluble ,but ,i say to you that whosoever shall put away his wife1 excepting for the cause of fornication1 maketh her to commit adultery2 and he that shall marry her that is put away committeth adultery 7,matt4 v4 #cc74 ,what1 therefore1 ,god hath joined together1 let no man put asunder 7,matt4 xix4 #e1 #f74 ,,few practices of the ,church have been productive of more good to society than that concerning ,christian marriage4 ,the ,christian family is the foundation of ,christian society1 and ,christian marriage is the basis of the ,christian family4 ,without marriage neither the family nor society could exist4 ,marriage was instituted by ,god before society existed1 and1 as a natural consequence1 it is subject not to the laws of society1 but to the laws of ,god and ,his ,church4 ,the principal law and necessary condition of ,christian marriage is its unity and indissolubility4 ,it is the union of one man with one woman for the purposes intended by the ,creator1 which union is to last as long as both survive4 ,such was marriage in the beginning2 to such it was restored by our ,saviour when ,he made it a sacrament of ,his law and a type of ,his union with ,his ,church4 ,the practice of the ,catholic ,church in not permitting a divorce that will allow either party to marry during the life of the other1 is clearly taught by ,jesus ,christ in the #eth chapter of ,matthew3 ,he who puts away his wife maketh her to commit adultery1 and he that marrieth her committeth adultery4 ,no human power can break the bond of marriage4 ,what ,god hath joined together1 let no man put asunder4 ,it is the work of ,god4 ,let no man dare meddle with it4 ,st4 ,paul teaches the same when he says in the #cith verse of the #gth chapter of the ,first ,epistle to the ,corinthians3 ,a woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth2 but if her husband die1 she is at liberty1 let her marry whom she will4 ,the practice of the ,catholic ,church is conformable to this teaching of ,christ1 ,st4 ,paul1 the apostles1 and their successors4 ,in defence of this practice of forbidding divorce1 since marriage is one and indissoluble1 the ,catholic ,church has had many a severe conflict4 ,and had she not fought this battle bravely for the sanctity1 the unity1 and the indissolubility of the marriage tie1 ,europe and ,america would today be in as degraded a condition as are the ,mahometan and other nations where the laws of marriage are disregarded4 ,for divorces are not only contrary to ,christ's teaching concerning the sanctity1 unity1 and indissolubility of the marriage tie1 but are also subversive of society4 ,they sever the marriage tie inasmuch as the law of man can do it4 ,if the marriage tie is loosened1 the family is dissolved2 and if the family is dissolved1 society1 the state1 falls to ruin4 ,divorce destroys conjugal love1 causes unhappiness1 renders the proper education of children impossible1 and often leads to terrible crimes4 ,is it not reasonable as well as scriptural to forbid it8 ,the ,christian husband and wife1 knowing the sanctity1 the unity1 and the indissolubility of the marriage tie1 live in love and peace and honor together2 together they rear the issue of their union1 teaching them to be good children1 good citizens1 and good ,christians2 together1 after a long1 a prosperous1 and a happy union1 they return to dust2 and together they will meet again beyond the confines of the tomb--yes1 they will meet to part no more4 ,,xvi4 ,respect ,shown to ,ecclesiastical ,superiors ,we are ambassadors for ,christ2 ,god1 as it were1 exhorting by us 7#b ,cor4 v4 #bj74 ,as the ,father sent me1 ,i also send you 7,john xx4 #ba74 ,go ye into the whole world and preach the ,gospel to every creature 7,mark xvi4 #ae74 ,,the respect ,catholics have for the bishops and priests of the ,church is often a matter of surprise to those not of the ,faith4 ,they do not understand1 as ,catholics do1 that the priests are ambassadors for ,christ sent to preach the ,gospel to every creature4 ,for ,christ instituted the priesthood to carry on divine worship1 to govern the ,church1 to preach ,his doctrine1 and to administer the sacraments4 ,as in the ,old ,law ,god chose ,his priests from among the family of ,aaron1 so in the ,new ,law ,he chooses them from among those whom ,his apostles and their successors see fit to ordain4 ,priests and other ministers of the ,church receive in the sacrament of ,holy ,orders the power and grace to perform their sacred duties4 ,if we would but consider seriously for a moment the importance of these duties and the great dignity of the minister of ,god1 we would have no difficulty in understanding the reasonableness of the ,catholic practice of showing profound respect to ,god's priesthood4 ,the priest is the minister of ,jesus ,christ1 who chose him that he might obtain for himself the greatest good and in return bestow this good upon his fellow-man4 ,jesus ,christ chose him that he might aid ,him in the work for which ,he came on earth4 ,what a noble mission6 ,what important duties6 ,what a great dignity6 ,to aid ,jesus ,christ in saving souls1 to teach them the truths of salvation1 to loose them from their sins1 to offer the eucharistic sacrifice for them1 to pray for them1 to minister unto them1 and to fill them with ,heaven's choice blessings2 for such a high mission1 for such important duties did ,jesus ,christ choose the priest4 ,if his duties are so important1 his dignity must be correspondingly great4 ,on the banks of the ,lake of ,genesareth the ,great ,teacher chose ,peter as ,his vicar and head of ,his ,church4 ,as the pontiff could not be everywhere1 ,peter and the other apostles imposed hands on others as the needs of the growing ,church demanded4 ,they understood that it was by a living1 teaching ministry this work of salvation was to be carried on4 ,for we find it recorded in the #adth chapter of the ,acts that ,paul and ,barnabas ordained priests in ,lystra and ,iconium4 ,paul also consecrated ,titus ,bishop of ,crete1 for the express purpose of ordaining others4 ,thus we see that as ,christ was sent by the ,father1 the apostles by ,christ1 so1 too1 is the priest invested with the same power for the perfecting of the saints1 for the work of the ministry and for the edification of the body of ,christ 7,eph4 iv4 #ab71 and that no one but a priest divinely called1 rightly ordained1 and legitimately sent has power from ,god to teach ,god's words to the faithful4 ,he is the ambassador of ,god1 commissioned to do ,his work with ,his authority2 the vicar of ,christ continuing the work ,he commenced2 and the organ of the ,holy ,ghost for the sanctification of souls4 ,he is ever imitating his model1 going about doing good4 ,he devotes his life to alleviate the sufferings of men4 ,to spend one's life instructing man is but second in importance to alleviating his sufferings4 ,this the priest is ever doing4 ,he rescued us from barbarism2 saved for us at the risk of his life the ,holy ,scriptures1 the classics of ,greece and ,rome1 and the writings of the ,fathers2 founded the great universities of ,europe2 and is to-day1 as in the past1 the greatest educator in the world4 ,he does all this for love of ,god4 ,do you wonder1 then1 that ,catholics love and revere their priests8 ,nowhere can there be found a body of men or a series of rulers so venerable1 so renowned for wisdom1 justice1 charity1 and holiness1 as the ,popes1 bishops1 and priests of the ,catholic ,church in every age1 from the time of ,christ until the present4 ,,xvii4 ,celibacy ,he who is unmarried careth about the things of the ,lord1 how he may please ,god 7i ,cor4 vii4 #cb74 ,,the ,catholic ,church recognizes matrimony as a holy state4 ,she recommends celibacy to those desiring greater perfection1 and enjoins it on her priests because1 as ,st4 ,paul says1 ,he who is unmarried careth about the things of the ,lord4 ,it is said that the life of the priest is a hard1 lonely one1 and that it is unscriptural4 ,let us see4 ,that his life is one of hardships is certain4 ,his path is by no means one of roses2 it is rather one covered with thorns4 ,the young man knows this well before he enters it4 ,with a full knowledge of its duties and responsibilities1 he willingly enters the priesthood4 ,he knows well that it is a life full of trials and crosses4 ,he knows1 too1 that the whole life of ,jesus ,christ1 from the stable of ,bethlehem to the cross on ,calvary's heights1 was one continuous trial1 cross1 mortification2 and that the life of every follower1 especially every minister1 of ,jesus ,christ should be fashioned after that of his divine model4 ,if any man will come after ,me1 ,he says in the #afth chapter of ,st4 ,matthew1 let him deny himself1 take up his cross and follow ,me4 ,the disciple1 the minister of ,christ1 is not above his ,master2 and it is not becoming that the path of the disciple or minister should be covered with flowers while that of the ,master was strewn with thorns and sprinkled with ,his own precious blood4 ,yes1 the priest's life is one of trials1 crosses1 and hardships4 ,but the more trials he has to bear1 the more crosses he has to carry1 the more hardships he has to endure1 the greater is his resemblance to his model1 ,jesus ,christ2 and if he bears those trials1 crosses1 and hardships1 which he shares with his ,master here1 with a proper spirit1 the more certain he is of sharing with ,him a happy eternity hereafter4 ,but is the life of celibacy unscriptural8 ,no4 ,in fact1 few questions are more clearly defined in ,holy ,scripture than that of religious celibacy4 ,st4 ,paul1 in the #gth chapter of the ,first ,epistle to the ,corinthians1 says3 ,i would have you without solicitude4 ,he who is unmarried careth for the things of the ,lord1 how he may please ,god2 but he who is married careth about the things of the world1 how he may please his wife1 and is divided4 ,and the unmarried woman and virgin thinketh about the things of the ,lord1 how she may be holy in body and spirit4 ,but she that is married thinketh about the things of the world1 how she may please her husband4 ,therefore1 he concludes1 he that giveth his virgin in marriage doth well2 and he who giveth her not doth better4 ,could language be clearer8 ,marriage is good2 celibacy is better4 ,he that is unmarried careth about the things of the ,lord1 how he may please ,god4 ,this teaching of ,st4 ,paul is the teaching of the ,church-- that marriage is honorable1 is good1 but that there is a better1 a holier state for those who are called by the grace of ,god to embrace it4 ,religious celibacy is one of the principal reasons why the ,catholic priest and missionary will risk all dangers1 overcome all obstacles1 face all terrors1 and in time of plague expose himself to death in its most disgusting forms for the good of his fellow-man4 ,all are acquainted with the noble examples of numbers of priests and ,sisters of ,charity who1 at the risk of their own lives1 voluntarily nursed the sick and dying during the yellow-fever scourge in the ,south a few years ago4 ,do you think they would have done so had they families depending upon them8 ,no2 they would have cared for the things of this world4 ,jesus ,christ has said3 ,greater love than this no man hath1 that a man give up his life for his fellow-man4 ,this the good priest is ever doing1 ever ready to do4 ,although death stares him in the face1 he never shrinks from his post of duty1 never abandons his flock while there is a wound to heal1 a soul to save4 ,when his duty calls him1 he is not afraid of death1 because ,st4 ,paul says3 ,he who is without a wife is solicitous about the things of the ,lord4 ,,xviii4 ,conclusion ,if thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments 7,matt4 xix4 #ag74 ,,when ,jesus ,christ died on the cross for us1 ,he did so in order to lead us into life1 to open heaven for all mankind4 ,how important our salvation must be1 then1 for which ,christ shed ,his precious blood4 ,if it is important1 ,he must have taught us how to attain it4 ,this1 too1 ,he did by the words1 keep the commandments4 ,to assist us in keeping the commandments ,he left a representative on earth4 ,his ,church1 whose ministers were to teach all nations1 is this representative4 ,to her ,he said3 ,he that hears you1 hears ,me4 ,the night before ,he died ,he instituted the adorable sacrifice of the ,mass1 saying3 ,this is ,my body 4 4 4 ,this is ,my blood which shall be shed for you4 ,he then gave the apostles and their successors power to do what ,he had just done3 ,do this in commemoration of ,me4 ,he also gave them power to baptize1 to forgive sins1 to bless1 to be dispensers of the mysteries of ,god4 ,he gave them power to confer these powers on others4 ,as the ,father sent ,me i4e41 with the same power ,i also send you4 ,to these apostles and their successors ,he spoke when ,he said that ,he would remain with them until the consummation of the world4 ,to them and the ,church ,he said3 ,he that hears you hears ,me4 ,what the ,church teaches1 then1 ,christ teaches4 ,as1 in the natural order1 man is born1 grows to manhood1 is nourished1 and if sick needs proper food and remedies3 so1 in the supernatural order1 there is a birth1 it is ,baptism2 there is a manly growth1 it is ,confirmation2 there is a nourishing food1 it is the ,holy ,eucharist1 the ,bread of ,life2 there is a medicinal remedy against death1 it is ,penance2 and there is a balm to heal the wounds1 the scars of sin1 it is ,extreme ,unction4 ,these are some of the channels through which ,god's grace flows into our souls to assist us to keep the commandments4 ,the practices of the ,church naturally flow from her teachings4 ,she teaches that there is but one ,god1 the creator and ,lord of heaven and earth and all things2 that man by his reason alone can find out this truth2 that the order1 beauty1 and harmony of the works of nature show ,god's work2 but that there are some truths which the deepest intellect of man can never fathom4 ,hence she teaches that ,god has revealed certain truths2 such as the mysteries of the ,holy ,trinity1 the ,incarnation1 and the ,blessed ,sacrament4 ,when we know that ,god has revealed these truths we are acting reasonably not only in believing them1 but also in showing our belief by practices of respect1 adoration1 and love4 ,the ,church teaches that we must not only believe1 but practise our religion4 ,for faith alone will not save us4 ,faith without works is dead4 ,to have these works we must keep the commandments4 ,we must love ,god above all things and our neighbor as ourselves4 ,all the commandments are comprised in this4 ,in fact1 the essence of ,christianity is charity4 ,where will you find charity practised in reality except in the ,catholic ,church8 ,if you wish to see the truth of this1 visit our larger towns and cities1 and you will find hundreds of hospitals1 asylums1 schools1 and other charitable institutions in which are thousands of the children of the ,catholic ,church1 who have left everything to alleviate every ill that flesh is heir to1 and follow the meek and humble ,jesus in ,his mission of love4 ,the ,catholic ,church alone teaches1 as ,jesus taught while on earth1 the duty of penance4 ,if any man will come after ,me1 let him deny himself1 take up his cross and follow ,me4 ,according to ,christ's teaching1 the ,church sets aside the penitential season of ,lent and other times of mortification4 ,the ,church also teaches that we must not only be faithful in the observance of the practices of religion1 but that we must also live in peace and justice and charity with all mankind1 and die with a hope beyond the grave4 ,if we love ,god we will faithfully observe the practices of the ,church2 these practices will assist us in keeping the commandments1 by which we will enter into life4 ,we have seen that the various ceremonies and practices of the ,catholic ,church are dictated by right reason2 that they are the rational deduction from ,christ's teaching2 that they obtain for us divine grace1 excite pious thoughts1 and elevate our minds to ,god2 and that a true ,christian is one who not only believes but also practises the teachings of ,christ and ,his ,church4 ,the observance of these pious practices of the ,church makes us ,christians in fact as well as in name4 ,they assist us to keep the commandment and to live in accordance with our faith4 ,by faithfully observing them1 we show that we are not ashamed to be ,christ's followers4 ,and if we follow ,him1 who is the way1 the truth1 and the life1 we will not walk in darkness2 but will enter by the narrow way into the presence of truth itself1 in the regions of eternal light4 ,,printed ,,by ,,benzinger ,,brothers1 ,,new ,,york