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1904

Copy 1

A Practical Guide
for Catholics

Missionary Priest of the Diocese
of St. Joseph.

With the Permdssion of the Ecclesiastical
Authority,

Sixth Revised and Enlarged Edition.

ST. LOUIS, MO. 1904.

Published by B. HERDER,

17 South Broadway,

A Practical Guide
for Catholics

BY A

Missionary Priest of the Diocese
of St. Joseph.

With the Permission cf\iic Ecclssidstpcki
Authority,

Sixth Revised and Enlarged Edition.

ST. LOUIS, MO. 1904.

Published by B. HBRDBR,
17 South Broadway.

Liir^RAHY «T CONGRESS
Two Cepi«8 Received

APIT 1 1904

, Copyright Entry
CLASS OL XXcc No.
CO?*Y S

NIHIIv OBSTAT.

,^'2l-

,^aO^

F. G. H01.WKCK,
Censor Theologicus.
S. Ludovici, die 10. Jan. 1904.

IMPRIMATUR.
* « * • - t • «

*>J»>9ANNES J. G1.KNNON,

Archiepiscopus S. Ludovici.
:S%'^«i(Jbyfc,i;'(lie 11: J^ir, 1904.

Copyright 1904 by Joseph Gummersbach,

— DECKTOLD —

PRINTING AND BOOK MFG. CO.
ST. LOUIS, MO.

CONTENTS.

Page.

1. The Parish Church 5

2. Love for the Church 8

3. Your Pastor ., 11

4. Sick Calls . '. 13

5. What is required in the house of
every Catholic 16

6. Parish Schools 20

7. On Marriage 26

8. Mixed Marriages 30

9. Indissolubility of the Marriage Tie . 33

10. Impediments to Marriage .... 35

11. Baptism 38

12. Church Support 41

13. A Christian Rule of Life 47

14. Morning and Night Prayers ... 48

15. The Rosary 49

16. The Angelus 50

17. Spiritual Reading 51

Newspapers and Periodicals ... 52

18. Holy Water and other Religious
Articles 53

19. Confession and Communion ... 54

20. Societies 54

21. Unity and Peace ....... 56

22. Holidays of Obligation 58

Fasting Days of Obligation ... 59
Days of Abstinence ...... 60

23. Holy Maxims from Holy Scripture . 61

I. The Parish Church.

Since every parish has fixed limits,
it is the duty of Catholics to find out
to which parish they belong, and this
for many reasons.

In the first place, the pastor should
know all the people residing in his
district ; consequently people, and es-
pecially newcomers, should lose no
time in making themselves known to
the priest in charge.

Many persons, especially in country
missions where they settle a long
distance from the church, live for
months and months after their arrival
in a parish without informing the pas-
tor of the fact. This is not as it should
be. Let the priest know, by some
means or other, that you have moved
into his parish, and sooner or later he
will visit you and provide for your
spiritual wants.

Moreover, you should try to find
out all about the regulations of your

(5)

6 A PRACTlCAIv GUIDK

parish church, because it is to your
own interest; you are under certain
obligations towards it, since you receive
so many favors from it. A parish has
to be supported, and according to your
means you should give. Do not forget
that in all matters pertaining to relig-
ion, you are subject to the pastor of
your church. On many occasions you
need his services, especially where
there is question of sick calls, or the
administration of such sacraments as
none but your parish priest is entitled
by the laws of the Church to adminis-
ter. Children should be baptized in
their own parish church, and make
their first holy Communion therein.
The same holds good in regard to the
sacraments of confirmation and matri-
mony. It belongs to the pastor to
administer the last sacraments to the
dying. As a rule the funeral rites are
to be performed in the parish church
of the deceased. Exceptions to these
rules may be made only with the
express consent of the pastor or the
bishop of the diocese.

The Church, ever solicitous for the

FOR CAI^HOI^ICS. 7

Spiritual welfare of her children, is
most lenient with regard to their w^ants.
Thus, for instance, confession may be
made to any approved priest in the
diocese where the confession is made.
The administration of holy Commun-
ion to the sick who receive it out of de-
votion only, is not reserved to the pastor.
We hear many say in our day "I
believe that if one does what is right,
it makes very little difference what he
believes or to what church he goes,
he will be saved. " But the trouble is,
a person is not doing what is right,
unless he does what God wishes him to
do ; and God desires, yes, commands
him to be a member of His Church
and live obedient to its laws. ' 'He that
is not with Me is against Me.'' "He
that will not hear you," said our Lord
to his apostles, ''let him be to you as
the heathen and the publican. ' ' Obedi-
ence to the laws of God and the Church
is the only way to heaven for anyone
who knows where the true Church is.
This is the only way for a Catholic to
make sure of his election. We must
have the courage of our convictions

8 A PRACTICAI. GUIDK

and never be afraid to openly speak
the truth, no matter how unpopular it
may be. The truth is ever the same —
as eternal as God is — and sharper
than a two-edged sword.

2. Love for the Church.

If your only purpose on earth be, to
save your soul, if that be the one thing
necessary, then the dearest object to
you on earth should be that which
helps you to save your soul : and that
is the Church. God himself has ar-
ranged it so. His great work of human
sanctification is carried on by the
Church. Did you fully realize this, the
privilege of belonging to the Church
would be your greatest jo}^: you would
not exchange this boon for the wealth
of the millionaires of our country, no,
not for all the honors of the world's
rulers. The well instructed Catholic
knows the sure way to make certain
his election, and in the Church he
has so many God-given helps to make
easy the winning. Would that you
realized what your Church is to you.
Would that you realized, that as the

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 9

true faith is the greatest gift God has
bestowed upon you, so the loss of the
true faith would be the greatest mis-
fortune and punishment which God
could send you. If this were realized
by ,itll the children of the Church,
there would be no such thing as a
fallen-away Catholic. But how com-
mon are such apostates. People give
up the practice of their faith on the
least provocation, on the least pretext.
They have some trouble with the
priest, some of his rulings displease
them, they dislike some of his actions
a'nd they quit the Church. How foolish.
Granted that the priest is in the wrong:
they on the side of right : They must
understand that the priest is not the
Church but a frail weak mortal. Then
did not Christ foretell that scandal
would arise in the Church, yet he
warned the people to be steadfast in
spite of scandal. At any rate it is not
proper to mistake the Church for the
scaldal-givers and blame God's church
for the scandal. We must always re-
member, that no priest, no archbishop,
is the holy Roman Catholic Church.

lO A PRACTICAI, GUIDK

The Catholic Church is God's own
institution to continue Christ's work
on earth, to apply to you the fruits of
3^ our costly redemption, to take away
your sins, to instruct you in God's
truth, to assist 3^ou on to heaven ; and
in so far the Church is faultless
without a spot or wrinkle : as such she
is Christ's holy spouse, whom He loved
so tenderl}^, as to die for her. As such
the Church should be viewed ; and
when you quit the Church for any
reason, you part company with your
truest benefactor; you take a step that
will bring inevitable disaster upon
your soul. In her members, whether
rulers or subjects, the Church is hum-
an, very human, sinful. In fact her
great work is to deal with the sinner.
Her clergy are for the most part de-
voted, faithful, pious. Godfearing —
leaning on God as the only object
worthy of their love — but being human
they may occasionally make mistakes.
Didn't Christ prepare you suflSciently
for this, when he permitted two of his
first clergy who had been prepared for
the priesthood by Himself to make
serious mistakes?

FOR CAH^HOI^ICS. II

3. Your Pastor.

You should know your pastor ; try
to find out his name and residence,
for you know not how soon you may
need his services. Without priests
churches cannot be served, the Holy
Sacrifice cannot be offered, the sacra-
ments cannot be administered, the
spiritual wants of the sick cannot be
attended to, the negligent cannot be
reclaimed, the Word of God cannot
be preached. Without priests all the
works of mercy, both corporal and
spiritual, languish and pine away.
The priests are the instructors of
youth, the fathers of the people, the
comforters of the aflaicted, the helpers
of the distressed. They teach the
ignorant, protect the orphan, console
the aflBicted. Daily at the altar they
offer sacrifice, and daily they offer
prayers to God, as well as for them-
selves as for their people. The pastor
then is the real and true friend and
father of his people ; he loves them as
the Good Shepherd loved his flock.
If he at times should admonish and re-
prove, do not take offense at it; he will
never do so unless it be for your good^

12 A PRACTICAI, GUIDK

He will be obliged now and again
to speak to you about money and the
financial standing of your parish, and
this, too, in the church. It is any-
thing but a pleasant duty, but still it
often becomes a duty which cannot be
overlooked. Be sure of one thing,
your pastor does this only when neces-
sity compels him, or when the de-
mands of charity are urgent. You
should not consider your contribution
to the support of your pastor as an act
of charity on your part, for it is your
sacred duty to do so, for the Church
so commands. Never be offended,
then, when called upon to contribute
for this purpose, for as Christ says,
' 'The workman is worthy of his meat' '
(Mat. X. lo). See also I Tim. V. i8.

Practical Catholics hold their priest
in highest veneration. They love,
reverence and respect him, and in
doing this they honor Christ himself,
whose minister he is. Teach your
dear little ones to entertain the same
feelings towards him; be sure never
to find fault with him or speak of his
shortcomings in their presence. Be

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 1 3

kind and considerate towards him.
An encouragement from you will often
inspire him with fresh zeal, impart to
him new energy, and, what is more,
will give him consolation amid the
struggles and labors of his priestly
life. Do not forget this. Never im-
pose upon his generosity too much,
and this especially in the matter of
sick-calls. Do not put off a sick-call
till night, saying: "Father is a good-
natured priest, he will not mind com-
ing in the dead of night." But the
priest often does mind, although he
may be charitable enough not to tell
you so.

4. Sick-Calls.

Sick-calls there will always be, and
they must not be overlooked. Our
Catholics must not be suffered to die
without the last sacraments. It is
always hard to die, but more especi-
ally when deprived of the consoling
rites of Mother Church. Nothing
should be left undone to Secure to
those in danger of death the means of
preparing well for that terrible hour

14 A PRACTICAI. GUIDE

on whiciL their eternal welfare de-
pends.

When a person is so sick as to need
the services of a priest, lose no time in
sending for him. The messenger
should state the case clearly to the
priest, give him all the details con-
cerning the patient, telling him how
long the person has been ailing. This
knowledge will give him at once, and
before leaving, an insight into the
needs of the case, and may thus pre-
vent loss of time or a hurried return
to the church. In most of the large
parishes it is customary to hand in the
sick-calls early in the morning ; thus
the priest will visit the sick in going
the daily rounds of his district. If the
call be an urgent one, wait and ac-
company the pastor ; this often saves
considerable time, and relieves the
priest from the troublesome task of
seeking the house. If you send in
the night, it is always presumed that
it is a sudden and a most dangerous
case.

Let some of our good Catholics
pause here for a moment and reflect.

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 15

Is this always the case? Ask our
hard- worked priests about this, and
what will be their reply? Too often,
alas! yes, too often, the friends and
relatives put off sending for the priest
until it is almost too late. It is per-
haps a dark, cold, rainy night, or m
the early hours of the morning, all at
once the door-bell is violently pulled.
What is the matter? The first words
which greet the ears of the priest are
these : "O, Father, please make haste,
so and so is dying, there is not a
moment to lose." The good priest
says: ''Our Lord has died for that
soul; I must go." So with the
bearer of this message, he goes forth
into the darkness of the night, to visit
the dying person. He arrives at the
house, and what does he find? The
patient, as we say, is almost gone, he
is gasping for breath, speech has left
him, he has but a few moments to
live. Again at other times, when the
priest arrives, the last spark of live
has been extinguished. Poor soul,
too late, too late, you have gone be-
fore your God without the necessary

1 6 A PRACTICAI. GUIDK

preparation, The priest inquires:
*'How long has the deceased been
sick?'^ ^^Onlya few days, Father?"
''Did you call the doctor?" *'Yes,
Father." ''Then, why did you not
call me in sooner?" *'0, we were
afraid it might alarm him, or make
him worse. ' ' This is by no means an
imaginary case, but one that but too
often happens. May God forgive such
negligent Catholics, for indeed they
need it; there should be no dilly-
dallying when the salvation of an im-
mortal soul is at stake. In all cases
then send in good time for the priest ;
bear in mind that charity for the eter-
nal welfare of that soul demands this ;
put every human consideration aside ;
depart on your errand of mercy and
God will reward and bless you.

5. What is required in the house of
every Catholic.

You should always keep on hand
all that is needed at the administra-
tion of the last sacraments. You
know not the day nor the hour when
you may need them. When you ex-

FOR CATHOIvICS. l^

pect the priest, have everything in
readiness so as to occasion no delay.
How distressing it is for a priest to
arrive at a house, and to find every-
thing in disorder and upset, and no
preparations whatsoever made. So
little is required of you, that even the
poorest can barely offer an excuse to
be without them.

First of all cleanliness is required ;
even the direst poverty is no excuse
for uncleanliness. Place a small table,
covered with a clean white cloth, near
the bedside of the sick person. On
this table there should be the follow-
ing articles : a crucifix, that sacred
emblem of man's redemption ; if not
two, at least one blessed candle ; wax
candles for this purpose are blessed
on the Feast of the Purification, and
every Catholic should possess one ;
then have two small vessels, one con-
taining holy water, and the other pure
water, along with a clean towel, a
spoon and some bread and cotton.

The solemn moment has arrived,
the priest has come, bearing with him
your God. Meet him at the door and

1 8 A PRACTICAL GUIDK

profoundly adore 3^our Lord and
Master. Show the priest at once to
the sick chamber, light the candle and
retire until the confession be heard, if
such be necessary. At the given sig-
nal return and remain upon 3^ our
knees until the priest has finished.
You can do much to aid the poor suf-
ferer by 3^our piety and devotion, and
also add to the solemnity and impres-
siveness of these holy rites. Join in
the prayers and respond aloud, especi-
alh^ when the litany of the dying is
recited.

The priest has done his work. He
has strengthened that soul with the
body of Jesus Christ, he has adminis-
tered Extreme Unction, and given the
last Blessing. He has bid that soul to
go forth courageously from this world
in the name of the God that created,
sanctified and redeemed it. He has
spoken the last words of consolation,
and recommending that soul to Jesus,
Mary and Joseph ; he departs, rejoic-
ing inwardly that he has been the
means of smoothing its path to eter-
nit}^ After his withdrawal, avoid

FOR CATHOtlCS. 1 9

saying or doing anything calculated
to disturb the calm and peace of mind
enjoyed by the sick person. Do not
enter into vain and useless conversa-
tion, but on the contrary, do all you
can to keep his thoughts fixed on God
and eternity ; and when the last
struggle approaches, you can do much
to defeat the attacks of Satan, especi-
ally by reciting the rosary, suggesting
pious thoughts, repeating the act of
contrition, pronouncing frequently
those sweetest of names, Jesus, Mary,
Joseph. From time to time present
the crucifix to the lips of the sufferer,
place the lighted candle in his hands ;
all these little attentions will rob death
of its sting, and nerve that soul to
face death as a true soldier of Jesus
Christ. And when all is over, when
the soul has gone hence, let all the
friends and relatives offer up fervent
pra^^ers for the one just passed away.

If all these instructions were faith-
fully carried out, and wh}^ should they
not be, how many of the sad scenes
we witness on these occasions would
be spared us, and how many more
souls would thereby be saved !

20 A PRACTICAL GUIDE

6. Parish Schools.

This chapter is of the utmost impor-
tance, and especially to parents. Now
there are three centers of Christian
education : the home, the Church and
the school. The education of a child
must begin at home, for it belongs to
the father and mother to plant in the
souls of their offspring the first seeds
of the faith ; they must lay the foun-
dation of that spiritual edifice which
by degrees will be raised therein. As
the children grow up and begin to
understand a wider range of truths,
then the Church, in the person of the
priest, will do her part in the training
of the intellect and the heart of the
young. Weekly instructions will be
given to explain the truths of our holy
religion, and the superior knowledge
of the priest, together with his sacred
character, will add considerably to-
wards improving the good qualities of
the child.

However, this does not yet suffice.
Parents, especially in this country,
have to labor and to toil from early
morn till late at night, and con-

FOR CATHOLICS. 21

sequently, after their day's work is
ended, they have little or no inclina-
tion to sit down and instruct their
children. Again in many cases,
through no fault of their own, they do
not possess the necessary knowledge.
The pastor will supply this deficiency
to some extent ; but as we have said,
his duties are so numerous, and his
time so taken up, that the work is not
3^et complete. What then is the re-
medy? It is the parish school, or
better, it is the Catholic school.

Catholic parents have certain obliga-
tions with regard to the school. Not
only should they appreciate its exist-
ence, for where it does exist, it is one
of the greatest blessings of a parish ;
but they should show their apprecia-
tion of it by taking a lively interest in
its welfare. You ought to bear in
mind that the school has been built
often at the price of a very great sacri-
fice, and that it was built for the bene-
fit of your children. Public school
instruction, as furnished in this coun-
try, does not undertake to make 3^our
child a Christian, and nothing less

22 A PRACTICAI. GUIDE

than this should satisfy a Christian
parent. Your first duty is to send
your child to 3^our parish school, or to
a good Catholic school. Let no reason
induce you to act otherwise. Do not
argue as some lukewarm Catholics do;
never say the public school is just as
good and costs me less — this is not
true, because education without reli-
gion is no education. For unless the
will, the qualities of the heart, which
is the seat of virtue and of all that is
noble in man, be properly cultivated,
3'ou may have smart men and smart
women, but not good and virtuous
men and women. If there were no
Catholic schools in the land, the Cath-
olic faith w^ould soon entirely dis-
appear.

Send your children regularly and
punctually to school. This is essen-
tial not only for them, but also for the
welfare of the school. You wish your
children to learn all they can; but
how is this possible unless they go to
school every day. Some persons keep
their children at home for the most
trivial reasons, and yet are the very

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 23

first to complain that their children
make no headway in their vStudies.
You do an injustice to the teachers, if
you fail to send your children regular-
ly to school. • If they miss a day or
two a week, they will fail to make
any progress. But the teacher is not
to blame for this. And furthermore,
send your children in time. I^et them
be there when the school opens in the
morning as well as in the afternoon.
The coming late to school of children,
day after day, argues a want of care
on the part of the parents.

Lastly, the parents should care that
their little ones come neat and tidy to
school. Poverty does not exclude
cleanliness. A child that goes to
school neat and tidy, although it may
be only poorly clad, reflects the greatest
credit on its mother, and is an indica-
tion of the character of the home it
hails from. The untidiness of chil-
dren indicates negligence, and is a
sign that the home is not well regul-
ated. Follow out our advice strictly
on the school question, and you will
then be faithful to the sacred trust im-

24 A PRACTICAI. GUIDE

posed upon 3^ou by God, and later on
you will reap the reward, inasmuch as
your children will prove a source of
great comfort and consolation to you.
As to those parents who live so far
away from Catholic communities as to
have no opportunity of sending their
children regularly either to a Catholic
school, or to the instructions given by
the priest, they have a difficult task to
perform. We speak of those families
that live ten, twenty or more miles
away from the next Catholic settle-
ment. What are they to do? Evi-
dently it is the bounden duty of such
parents to make up at home, by their
own diligence, for the work of the
school and of the priest. How can
this be done? If parents are obliged
in conscience to work for the daily
bread of their children, and that under
pain of mortal sin, how much more
strictly are they bound to labor for the
eternal salvation of their children!
The soul is more noble than the body,
and eternity infinitely more important
than time. This is self-evident. Hence
parents should guard against settling

FOR CATHOIvICS. 25

in a district where there is but little or
no opportunity of practising their reli-
gion and of bringing up their children
in the faith. They thereby do the
greatest injustice to their children and
expose themselves, as well as their
children, to the loss of faith and the
consequent loss of their souls. There
are in our days so many Catholic
parishes throughout the length and
breadth of the land, that no Catholic
father can offer a reasonable excuse
for settling in the midst of a Protest-
ant or infidel population.

What have those parents to do that
actually live at so great a distance
from the church ? They must open in
the famil}' circle a kind of class of in-
struction, and continue this noble and
necessary work until their children
are sufiiciently grounded in the truths
of salvation. Besides, on Sundays
and holydays the prayers for mass
should be read in common, together
with an explanation of the epistle and
gospel of the day. We know of no
book better calculated to foster piety
and instruction in the home circle

26 A PRACTICAI. GUIDE

than Goffine's explanation of the
epistles and gospels. That book has
in the past preserved the faith in many
scattered Catholic families of the far
West.

7. On Marriage.

Matrimony is one of the seven sacra-
ments of the Church. Catholics ought
to know the conditions required to
enter worthily into this state. Mar-
riage is a serious matter ; it binds the
parties together for life. The con-
sequences being of such importance, it
should not be entered into hastily, but
only after mature deliberation. A
promise of marriage should be slowly
given, and the parties concerned
previously endeavor to become thor-
oughly acquainted with each other's
character and dispositions, for this
promise once seriously made cannot
legally be broken. A betrothal binds
in conscience, and in many cases can-
not be canceled without great detri-
ment to both parties. In teaching
this, the Church shows her wisdom,
for how often has a hasty marriage

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 27

not been the cause of a lifelong re-
pentance ! It has been truly said : As
is the first step in marriage, so also
will be the whole married life. There
are and have been at all times many
unhappy marriages ; in many of which
the parties are not suited to each
other ; in others one of them may
have had no calling to that state of
life.

We are all called by God to a cer-
tain state of life in this world, and the
marriage state, which is a vocation, at
least in a wide sense, comes from God.
The Apostle St. Paul says: ''As the
Lord hath distributed to every one, as
God hath called every one, so let him
walk." I Cor. VII, 17.

Parents should not forget this ; they
should not interfere, through worldly
motives, with their children when
there is question of choosing a certain
state of life, as an eternity frequently
depends upon this choice. They
should help their children to find out
their calling by means of prayer and
good advice, and induce them to seek
the counsel of their confessor before
making: a choice.

28 A PRACTICAI. GUIDK

Marriage then, as St. Paul says, is
a great sacrament. "This is a great
sacrament, but I speak in Christ and
in the Church." Eph. V, 31-37.
Such is the teaching of God's infal-
lible Church ; hence the exalted dig-
nity of marriage.

Young people should beware of
keeping company with and of engag-
ing themselves to persons whom they
are forbidden by God's law to marry,
or who are unfit to care for a famil}^
They should usually ask the advice
and consent of their parents, especially
before contracting an engagement to
marry, for in this the blessing of par-
ents counts for a great deal. Secret
engagements, as experience shows,
very often turn out badly. Good par-
ents do not, as a rule, oppose the suit-
able marriage of their children ; on
the contrary, they rather rejoice, in-
asmuch as they desire their welfare
and their happiness. It is then a very
serious blunder and a mistaken idea
on the part of young people to keep
their engagement secret from their
fathers and mothers.

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 29

Before contracting an engagement
to marry, tliey should make sure, that
there is no obstacle in the way, by
first consulting their pastor or confes-
sor. They should not engage them-
selves more than a few months before
marrying, for long engagements are
frequently dangerous.

Before deciding on the date of the
wedding, they should make sure that
it is not within the forbidden time ;
therefore they ought to pay a visit to
their pastor to make the necessary
arrangements at least three weeks be-
fore the date fixed for the marriage.
The reason of this is, that the bans
should be published on three succes-
sive Sundays in the parish church. It
often happens that the parties reside
in different parishes ; in this case both
pastors -should be seen, as the bans
must be called out in both parishes.
It is customary for the wedding to
take place in the church of the parish
in which the bride resides. Besides
the marriage should be celebrated at
Nuptial Mass.

30 A PRACTICAI. GUIDE

8. Mixed Marriages.

What are we to understand by a
mixed marriage ? It is the union be-
tween a Catholic and a non-Catholic.
The Church has at all times discour-
aged such marriages ; she looks upon
them as a very great misfortune, and
in forbidding them shows her wisdom.
The reason why the Church does not
sanction these unions is easy to under-
stand, and apt to convince any fair-
minded man. The chief end of mar-
riage is to beget Christian children for
God. To bring about this result the
co-operation of both father and mother
is necessary. God has intrusted to
the mother the first years of the child.
She is the first to reach the depths
where his reason lies hidden ; she can,
so to say, touch it and impress upon it
her own image. From her loving
heart and gentle smiles he grows in
the virtues of faith, hope and charity.
How great, he thinks, is the God, of
whom his mother speaks so reverent-
ly! But the father, likewise, has his
place in this great work. Without his
example and authority, the teachings

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 3 1

of the mother would frequently be
lost. If the mother explains to her
child the beauty of virtue, the father
must also convince him of his man-
liness. From this it will be seen that
both father and mother must work to-
gether harmoniously to attain this end,
and this requires that they both be of
the same mind and of the same faith.
If they differ, then, in that which is
most essential, the spiritual welfare of
the child is bound to suffer, and expe-
rience proves that such unions have
robbed the Church of thousands of
souls. It would fill volumes to relate
the wretchedness and misery of many
a home occasioned by a mixed mar-
riage. I^et our Catholics then pause
and think seriously before they bind
themselves irrevocably to one who,
perhaps, despises that which they hold
dearer than life itself, viz. : the Catho-
lic faith. We know there are excep-
tions— but those exceptions are few —
and only prove the general rule.

However, when there are good valid
reasons for such a marriage, a dispen-
sation may be obtained, but even then

32 A PRACTICAI. GUIDK

certain conditions are required. In
the first place, the non-Catholic party
must consent to have all the children
baptized and reared in the Catholic
faith ; 2. that the Catholic party shall
be allowed full freedom to practise his
or her religion, and no obstacles shall
be placed in the way. 3. The Catho-
lic party must promise to be faithful to
the true faith and to endeavor to lead
the non-Catholic later on to the Church
by good example. In this manner the
Catholic may be the means of winning
over the other party to the Church.
These conditions are indispensable,
and to secure a lawful dispensation,
they must be complied with.

Under no circumstances should a
Catholic marry before a magistrate or
squire, as marriage -is a sacrament,
and consequently more than a mere
civil contract. To marry before a
Protestant preacher is never allowed.
Not only is it a grievous sin, but it is
worse ; it places the Catholic under
the ban of the Church, excommuni-
cating him, than which no greater
evil could possibly befall him. In a

FOR CATHOIvICS. 33

word, then, mixed marriages are in-
deed a great evil, and generally give
rise to religious indifference, and in
many instances occasion the loss of
faith, the greatest of misfortunes in
this life.

9. Indissolubility of the Marriage
Tie, etc.

When the married couple do not
agree, that is to say, when they do
not live in peace and charity, the
Church and State may and do allow,
for sufficient reasons, a separation
from bed and board. Let it be under-
stood, however, that this does not
mean a divorce. In the Catholic
Church there is no such thing, and
this has always been the infallible
teaching of the Church. Death alone
can dissolve the union between man
and v/ife, for as Christ himself sa^'S :
"What God hath joined together, let
no man put asunder. ' ' The Catholic
Church never has yielded, nor will
she ever yield in this point, and in
this she carries out strictly the teach-
ing of her divine Founder, Jesus

34 A PRACTlCAIv GUIDK

Christ. One of the greatest curses to
society at the present day, and especi-
ally in this country, is the immense
number of civil divorces granted,
and this is appalling even to those
who teach their lawfulness. Divorce
destroys domestic peace and breaks up
thousands of homes every year. Yes,
good Catholic wife, your greatest
benefactor is the Catholic Church.

To the worthy reception of every
sacrament are attached special graces.
The sacrament of matrimony worthily
received imparts an increase of sancti-
fying grace. More than this, a special
actual grace is given to married per-
sons, which will enable them to love
and to be true to each other at all
times ; to bear up together with life's
trials ; to resist all temptations and to
bring up their children in the knowl-
edge, fear and love of God. In a
word, it imparts to them the graces
necessary to discharge faithfully the
obligations imposed upon them by
their state of life.

Inasmuch then as marriage is a
sacrament, parties should prepare

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 35

themselves to receive it worthily. It
must be received in a state of grace ;
consequently confession must precede.
True Catholics never forget this and
God's blessing is their reward. The
correct thing for Catholics is to marry
at Nuptial Mass and to receive holy
Communion at it, and not in the
evening, as some do contrary to the
spirit of the Church. By a- Nuptial
Mass is meant a Mass prescribed by
the Church for the special purpose of
invoking the divine blessing upon the
married couple, and most earnestly
does the Church exhort her children
to avail themselves of this privilege.
Of course the Nuptial Mass supposes
in every case that both parties are
Catholics. If all Catholics would fol-
low out this advice much evil would
be prevented, many scandals would be
avoided, and God's blessing would be
obtained.

10. Impediments to Marriage.

There are two kinds of impediments
recognized by the Church. The one
renders the marriage contract null and

36 A PRACTICAI. GUIDK

void, this is called an invalidating
impediment ; the other renders it un-
lawful and sinful, and is called a pro-
hibiting impediment.

The difference between the two
kinds of impediments is this : When
parties marry with an invalidating im-
pediment, and without dispensation,
it is not marriage at all. They are
living in a state of sin. What is to be
done in this case? The parties must
either obtain a dispensation from the
bishop, if it can be obtained, or if no
dispensation can be granted, they are
bound to separate under pain of eter-
nal damnation. On the other hand,
when parties enter upon the married
state with a prohibiting impediment
and without dispensation, they com-
mit a grievous sin, but still they are
man and wife. They are not allowed
to separate ; they are bound to confess
their sin and to perform the penance
that shall be imposed on them.

Some invalidating impediments, i.
The bond of a previous valid marriage.
No man can be married again whose
wife is still living, nor can any

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 37

woman, whose husband is still living,
be married to another, if in either case
the previous marriage was valid.
There can be no dispensation from
this impediment. 2. Consanguinity,
which means relationships by blood.
Hence no one can contract a real mar-
riage with a blood relative as far as
third cousin inclusive. 3. Affinity.
According to this impediment no
widower can contract a real marriage
with a blood relation of his wife as far
as third cousin inclusive. The same
as to a widow. When the widower or
widow had been living in an unlawful
marriage, then the impediment of affi-
nity exists also, but only to the second
degree. There is also a spiritual affi-
nity invalidating matrimony between
either of the sponsors with his or her
godchild, and also, between either of
the sponsors with the father or the
mother of the godchild. 4. Marriage
is also null and void between a Catho-
lic and a Jew, or a heathen, or a non-
baptized person. This case is different
from that in which a Catholic marries
a person who, though being baptized,

38 A PRACTICAI. GUIDK

does not belong to the true Church.
This latter case is only a prohibiting
impediment. It is a real marriage,
the parties must remain together, but
the Catholic husband or wife must do
penance for his or her sin.

In some cases the Church dispenses
from sope of the above named inval-
idating impediments, in others not.
Hence, when persons wish to marry,
knowing that one or the other of these
impediments exists, they should let
the pastor know in good time that he
may inquire and determine what ought
to be done.

The prohibiting impediments do not
make the marriage null and void, but
only sinful and unlawful, when there
is no dispensation. They are : i. For-
bidden times, that is during Lent and
Advent. 2. Certain religious vows.
3. Marriage between a Catholic and
a baptized non-Catholic. 4. A pre-
vious promise of marriage not can-
celed.

II. Baptism.

The Catholic Church has ever
taught that the sacrament of baptism

I^OR CATHOUCS. 39

is necessary for salvation, and the
practice of pious Christians from time
immemorial has confirmed this teach-
ing. We are born into this world as
sinners, or as St. Paul has it, as "chil-
dren of wrath. ' ' Original sin is the
heir-loom of every child of Adam.
Christ instituted this sacrament to
wash the stain of this sin from the
soul.

Parents should learn from this, how
necessary it is for them to see to the
baptism of their children without de-
lay. As soon after birth as the health
of the child will reasonably permit, it
should be taken to the parish church
to be baptized. The consequences of
a delay are sometimes very disastrous.
Bear in mind the many dangers to
which a child is exposed at this tender
and critical age. Sickness may carry
it off with slight or no warning, and
should it die without baptism, it will
never behold the face of God or enjoy
the happiness of heaven. Parents,
how can you be so cruel as to endan-
ger your child's salvation! If through
any negligence of your own, you

40 A PRACTICAI. GUIDE

allowed your child to die without bap-
tism, you would never forgive your-
selves, and in this you would be right,
as it would be an irreparable calamity.

Too long a delay is then sinful. It
is the teaching of many theologians
that to postpone baptism beyond two
week^, without a very serious reason,
is a mortal sin. Yet some parents do
not scruple to wait weeks and even
months before they see to this. They
will bring forward all kinds of flimsy
excuses. Sometimes it is no money,
and sometimes no clothes. Money is
frequently forthcoming for other pur-
poses, but for this — no. If 3^ou are
poor, do not fear, bring your child to
be baptized, every good priest will
deem it a happiness to make a Chris-
tian of your child.

To baptize belongs to the sacred
ofl&ce of the priesthood, and whenever
possible the priest should perform this
ceremony. In case of necessity, how-
ever, any man, woman, or child may
administer the sacrament of baptism.
People residing a long distance from
a church must not forget this, as at

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 4 1

any time they may be called upon to
give private baptism. Baptism is ad-
ministered by pouring water on the
head of the child, saying at the same
time, '*I baptize thee in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Ghost."

The name of a Saint should be
chosen for a child. The name of a
heathen, a nation, or what we call
pet-names, are to be studiously avoid-
ed. Only such as are known to be
practical Catholics should be invited
to act as sponsors ; under no circum-
stances should non-Catholics be asked
to stand as sponsors. When this is
done, great annoyance is frequently
caused to the priest, inasmuch as he is
bound to refuse them. The obliga-
tions of sponsors are, in case of the
parents' death, to see that the child is
brought up in the Catholic faith. It
is customary to make an offering at
the baptism of a child, and good Cath-
olics do this willingly.

12. Church Support.

The Church in her external make-
up is a society, an organization com-

42 A PRACTICAI, GUIDE

posed of rulers and subjects, just as
any other society or the civil govern-
ment. Now as the State should work,
the Church does work for the common
good of the people, and hence like the
State, she must be supported by the
people. The Church is so much more
deserving of support than the State, as
the Church is higher, more necessary
than the State, as the good she does is
greater, more far reaching than that
done by the State. Yet, Oh inconsis-
tency! (surely the devil is to blame for
it) people find no fault whatever when
the State asks for some of their earn-
ings, but let the Church ask for some!
and what fault finding do we hear!
The State levies taxes according to the
amount of one's possessions — so much
on every hundred dollars, and the
people pay it. But in the Church
each person wants to determine for
himself what he is to give, and ver}^
often he chooses to give very little or
nothing. In most countries the tax
for the Church is levied as the tax for
the State, and the people pay heavily
toward the Church, though you may

FOR CATHOLICS. 43

imagine they pay nothing. Some
people think, that because the Church
is not of earth, because her work is of
the spiritual, charitable order, she
ought to get along without money.
Would that she could. She is not of
earth, but she is on earth, and who or
what can get along on earth without
money. God Himself realizes this,
for He gave the first law regarding
taxation for the Church, and He levied
a heavy tax, one tenth of all one's
earnings. Listen to God's own words.
''I have given to the sons of Levi
(priests) all the tithes (one tenth) of
Israel for a possession, for the ministry
wherewith they serve Me in the taber-
nacle.'' Num. ^XVIII, 29. ^'All
things which you shall offer of the
tithes and shall separate, for the gifts
of the Lord shall be the best and
choicest things." Num. XVill, 29.
*' Every one shall offer according to
what he hath." Deut. XVI, 37.

''No one shall appear with his hands
empty before the Lord." Deut. XVI,
16. "Give unto the most High ac-
cording to what He hath given to

44 V PRACTICAI. GUIDE

thee. ' ' Eccles. XXXV. ' ' Honor the
lyord with thy substance and give
Him of the first of all thy fruits."
Consider well these texts and note
how general their application is : all
the tithes, every one shall offer. No
one shall refuse, even the widow's mite
is noticed. People who would be in-
sulted if others paid their grocer's or
butcher's bill, are perfectly willing to
let others pay for their place in church.
The Literary Digest, one of the fore-
most papers in the countr^^, in the
issue of January 17th, 1903, quotes
statistics showing that Catholics, con-
sidering their large number, contribute
less than Protestants toward Church
support. Hence complaint from Cath-
olics is unreasonable, when we reflect
how much more they get from their
Church than Protestant churches can
give. Then we must not forget what
St. Paul says : "God loveth the cheer-
ful giver. ' '

Religion demands sacrifice, and
people who are not willing to do much
for the Church certainly do not prize
very highly the benefits they derive

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 45

from the Church. To do good is all
that we are let live for, and surely one
can do no greater good and enjo}^ no
greater honor than to help build and
maintain temples wherein alone God
is properly honored. Do away with
the Church — and God would quickly
do away with the world. But to sift
things down to a finer point, how
much do you really give to your
church ? You who think church dues
are too high ? Thirty or forty dollars
a ^^ear? That seems to be a big
amount, but it is about ten cents a
day. Do you smoke? Do you eat
sweet meats, candy, cakes? The price
of one good cigar laid aside every day,
the price of a hand full of sweet meats
spared every day would pay your
church dues. Do you drink? The
price of one bottle of beer put aside
every day would square you before the
church. Do 3^ou go to a theatre once
in a while ? What 3^ou give thus for
pleasure, for pastime, would more
than pay your church dues. The
butter 3'OU put on your bread would
about pa}^ them, and yet you grumble

46 A PRACTICAL guide:

over the amount, though we have seen
that nothing on earth is so useful and
necessary to us as is the Church. M}^
dear friend, by 3^our little outlay you
make it possible for the truth of God
to be preached in your locality, for
Christ to dwell in your midst as truly
as He dwells in Heaven ; you draw
upon yourself God's blessings, receive
His graces, which are worth more
than all the world. You are assisted
on to Heaven. Do you get your
money's worth? You could never
give as much to the Church as you
get from her. God assures you He
will not allow Himself to be outdone
in generosity.

The principal means of church sup-
port in our country is derived from
collections taken up at the services,
and the rent of pews and seats. The
principle remains the same no matter
how the tax is collected. This method
may not be the best, but it is the one
now in general use, and our faithful
people must good-naturedly submit to
it until some better method is adopted.

Some people vainly imagine that

FOR CATHOUCS. 47

because they pay no pew rent they
are thereby excused from supporting
the church. And if they should
chance to rent a seat — they expect
their pastor to stand guard at it and
keep it for their exclusive use.

The non-pewrenters are just as much
obliged to support the Church ac-
cording to their means as are the pew-
renters. If the faithful of our time
and country had the charity of the
early Christians, and the love and zeal
for religion that characterized the con-
gregations of the first century of the
Christian era, the harmony and peace
— and unit3^ in parishes so much
desired would be realized — and the
unbelieving world would be attracted
to the Church — and God's kingdom
on earth would be enlarged — and
each parish would become as of old a
garden of sanctity and holiness in
which God would delight to dwell.

13. A Christian Rule of Life.

A rule of life is most earnestly re-
commended. In these days of luke-
warmness and tepidity, certain Chris-
tian practices at home and in common

48 A PRACI'ICAI. GUIDB

prove a great safeguard to Catholics.
Nothing is a source of greater edifica-
tion, or more calculated to foster devo-
tion than to see a family united in the
practice of these beautiful acts of Cath-
olic piety.

14. Morning and Night Prayers.

One of the most important duties of
a Christian is daily prayer. The wants
of the soul must be seen to as well as
those of the body. One of the Fathers
of the Church says: "As moisture is
necessary for the life of a plant, so
prayer is necessary for the life of the
soul. ' ' This important exercise should
be faithfully observed, and when pos-
sible let it be a family exercise, as this
is more pleasing to God. Our Lord
says that when several are gathered
together to pray in His name, He is
in their midst. No family deserves to
be called truly Catholic, unless the
prayers, or at least, the night prayers,
are said in common. In every house
where this is done the good results
are easily seen : Religion is respected,
peace and harmony reign in the house-
hold, and the precept of charity is ob-

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 49

served. In fact, the words ot the Holy
Ghost are fully realized : '*How good
and pleasant for brothers to dwell in
one. ' ' These home exercises of piety
your children will never forget.

15. The Rosary.

Every true Catholic loves to recite
the rosary, that beautiful devotion in
honor of Mary, the Immaculate Mother
of God. No devotion is more sancti-
fying than this. When properly said,
it brings before our minds all the great
mysteries of our faith. It teaches us
the part Mary played in the wonder-
ful mystery of the Incarnation, and
how by her co-operation she aided in
the great work of man's salvation. No
prayer is so suitable and so well
adapted to our times and to our wants
as the rosary. Our late Holy Father,
Pope Leo XIII., realized this. Not
only was he personally fond of this
devotion, but he labored by every
means to infuse the same spirit into
his spiritual children. The month of
October has become, so to say, a
second month of Mary, since during

50 A PRACTICAI, GUIDK

this month we honor her under the
new but beautiful title of "Queen of
the Holy Rosary. ' '

From this it will be easily seen that
the recitation of the rosary should
enter into the rule of life of every
devout Catholic. When this is done
in common in the family, it will never
fail to draw down God's blessing. A
household in which Mary is honored
and loVed, is a happy one. If it is not
possible to say the beads through
every day, time may be found to say
at least a decade or two. Give to
Mary this token of your filial love and
affection, and in return vShe will guard
you from the snares of the evil one
and the enemies of your salvation.

i6. The Angelus.

When possible the Angelus should
be said, at least in private. It is said
three times a day at the ringing of the
church bell, to remind us of the mys-
tery of the Incarnation. Many indul-
gences are attached to this devotion.
It is taught to the children in Catholic
schools, and parents should encourage

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 5 1

them by their example to keep up this
practice. This act of piety urged by
the Church and enriched by indul-
gences should enter into the life of
every devout Catholic.

17. Spiritual Reading.

A part of the evening after the day's
work cannot be more profitably spent
than in reading some good and pious
book. It is not only entertaining, but
it is at the same time most instructive.
If our young people would only read
good books, instead of the trashy
novels of the present day, how much
better it would be for them. They
would learn to know their religion
better, and this knowledge would
make them proud of the faith they
confess, and be a powerful inducement
to practice it faithfully. As to the
choice of books, for spiritual reading,
the Imitation of Christ, the Glories of
Mary and other works of St. Alphon-
sus, Goffine's Instructions, the life of
some saint are especially recommend-
ed. St. Ignatius, the founder of the
Society of Jesus, laid the foundation of

52 A PRACTICAI. GUIDK

his great holiness simply by reading
the lives of saints.

Newspapers and Periodicals.

Tell me what you read, and I will
tell you what you are. You intend to
introduce a Christian rule of life into
3^our household; well, then, keep out
of your home the daily newspaper.
These papers often contain the details
of more scandals and crimes than you
have time to read and will prove in-
jurious to the morals of the young.
Is the description of a seduction, of an
elopement, of a divorce, of a suicide or
murder, adapted to improve your
morals or those of your children? The
recital of murders, .suicides, impur-
ities, fill the pages of the secular press.
Then look at the advertisements.
What in olden times was punishable
with death, that is now-a-days brought
unblushingly to the knowledge of the
public. Is it possible that you or your
children can read this printed filth and
remain pure? Impossible. Therefore,
away with these papers from the Cath-
olic home. Keep a good Catholic

FOR CATH01.ICS. 53

paper on hand. The same may be said
about many of the secular periodicals.
Be sure to take some good Catholic
periodicals, now so numerous and so
useful and well written.

1 8. Holy Water and other Religious
Articles.

No home should be without a cruci-
fix, holy water and pious pictures.
When one enters a house and perceives
the crucifix, the holy water font or
pious pictures, it is a sure sign that
religion is there honored and respected.
These outward signs of Catholicity
both please and edify. Holy water
through the special blessing of the
Church becomes most efiicacious. It
has the property of purifying every-
thing it touches, and for this reason
the Church employs it in many of her
august ceremonies. It should be kept
in every sleeping apartment, and used
both morning and night. The Catho-
lic mother should teach her little ones
the meaning of the holy water, and in-
struct them to bless themselves with it
frequently. Never be without it; in

54 A PRACTICAL GUIDE

every church a supply is kept on hand
to supply the faithful with it.

19. Confession and Communiori.

The monthly confession and com-
munion should, if possible, be ob-
served. Nothing is more conducive
to a holy life than often to receive
these holy sacraments. The frequent
reception of holy communion is strong-
ly urged by the Church. Set aside
one day in the month for this purpose,
and do not let it go by. The first
Friday or Sunday in the month is the
best time for this, and the pastor gen-
erally attends the confessional earlier,
so as to give an opportunity to all to
go to confession. Wherever the golden
rule of monthly confession and com-
munion .is observed, the faith and
piety of the people are manifest in a
hundred different ways.

20. Societies.

Societies are of the utmost import-
ance. If our Catholics do not join
Catholic sodalities, or confraternities,
or benevolent, or temperance societies,

I^OR CATH01.ICS. 55

they will join societies that are outside
the Church or forbidden by the
Church. The danger from forbidden
societies is greater in the country
districts, where the Catholics are less
numerous, than in the large cities.
Our Catholics living in cities are suflS-
ciently organized among themselves.
There is no excuse nor shadow of a
reason for city Catholics to join a
secret or non-Catholic union In the
country it is different. As the faith-
ful are scattered and often limited in
number, it is more diflScult to start
societies and to keep them up. Hence
the Catholics there are more easily
allured into secret societies. Their
agents speak to them kindly, assuring
them that their society has nothing to
do with religion, absolutely nothing.
But wait ! From their fruit you shall
know the tree. I^et these Catholics
remain two or three 37^ears members of
those societies,' and they will cease to
go to church, or to frequent the sacra-
ments. The}^ are lost to the Church
and to the faith. Hence never join
any society without first consulting
your pastor.

56 A PRACl'ICAI, GUIDK

21. Unity and Peace.

If God is so interested in His Church
as He assures us He is, then there is
nothing grander on earth in His eyes,
and therefore in truth, than a parish
whose members work in unity and
harmony for His greater honor and
glor}^ On the other hand nothing is
more displeasing to Him than opposi-
tion between priest and people or a
want of harmony in the parish organ-
ization. St. Paul says, God is not the
God of dissension, but of peace, and
gives this warning : * ' Be careful to
keep the unity of spirit in the bond of
peace. ' '

Christ pronounces a blessing on the
peace maker and consequently a curse
on the peace breaker. "Blessed are
the peace makers for they shall be
called the children of God." Yet in
almost every congregation we find the
discontented parishioner : Some who
are chronic fault finders. This should
not be. We must give and take. We
must bear with one another, as we
hope to be borne with. We must
forgive one another.

»

FOR CATHOI.ICS. 57

If the priest means well, or if most
of the people are in favor of a measure,
let others suppress their objections and
join in to promote harmony and unity.
You must consider God's providence.
He often permits things to occur in a
parish which are not pleasant, but He
wishes to try the people's faith and
their love for Him, and the priest's
patience. We show our love for God
when we are willing to put up with
hard and disagreeable things for His
sake. We must never forget that
there are two sides to every question.
You may have lots of fault to find with
the priest or with other people in the
parish , but ' ' don ' t take it out on God , ' '
for He certainly finds more reason to
complain about 3^our behavior towards
Him. Remember, above all, that no
priest is the Catholic Church, and you
go to church, and support the church,
not for the priest's sake, but to give
worship to God and to do good for
your own souls.

The Church to-day is the same in
make-up as it was during the days of
the apostles ; so the words of St. Paul

58 A PRA'CTICAI, GUIDK

to the parishes he formed will apply to
the people of every parish. "Now I
beseech you, brethren, by the name of
our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all
speak the same thing and that there
be no schisms among 3^ou. "Fulfill
ye, my joy, that 3^ou be of one mind,
having the same charity; being of one
accord, agreeing in sentiment." Phil.
II, 2. "Stand fast in one spirit with
one mind laboring together for the faith
of the gospel." Phil. I, 27. His
prayer for a parish was: "Now the
God of patience and of comfort grant
you to be of one mind, one towards an-
other according to Jesus Christ, that
with one mind and one mouth, you
may glorify God." Rom. XV, 5.
Would that every parish could say :
"All the multitude of believers had
but 07ie heart and one souV^ Acts IV, 12.
On the other hand St. Paul says :
"Now I beseech you, brethren, to
mark them who make dissensions and
avoid them. " Rom XVI.

22. Holy Days of Obligation.

All Sundays in the year; the Cir-
cumcision of Our lyord (January i);

FOR CATHOIvICS. 59

the Ascension of Our Lord (40 days
after Easter); the Assumption of the
B. V. Mary, (August 15th); All
Saints (November ist); Immaculate
Conception (December 8th); Nativity
of Our Lord, or Christmas Day (Decem-
ber 25th).

On all these days of obligation every
Catholic who has arrived at the years
of understanding, that is, from seven
years upward, is obliged, under pain
of mortal sin, to hear Mass and rest
from unnecessary servile work.

Fasting Days of Obligation.

All the week days of Lent ; the
Ember Days for the four seasons of
the year, namely, the Wednesdays,
Fridays and Saturdays occurring, ist,
for the Winter Quarter, after the third
Sunday of Advent ; 2nd, for the Spring
Quarter, after the first Sunda}^ in Lent;
3rd, for the Summer Quarter, after
Whitsunday; and 4th, for the Autum-
nal Quarter, after the 14th of Septem-
ber ; also the Vigils of All Saints,
Christmas, Whitsunday and the As-
sumption,

6o A PRACTlCAIv GUIDK

Fast Days are binding on every
Catholic who has reached the age of
twenty-one und is under sixty, and is
not lawfully excused.

A Vigil is a day preceding a feast
day. If the feast should occur on
Monday, the Vigil is kept on the
Saturday before, as Sunday is never a
fast day.

Days of Abstinence.

All Fridays in the year except when
Christmas falls on Friday; and all fast-
ing days excepting those on which the
use of flesh-meat is expressly allowed
by the proper authorities. Soldiers
and sailors in the service of the United
States are exempted from the rule of
abstinence all through the year, ex-
cepting Ash-Wednesday, Friday and
Saturda}^ of Holy Week, and the
Vigils of the Assumption and Christ-
mas.

A day of abstinence is a day on
which we are not allowed to eat flesh-
meat.

Even children over seven years of
age are bound to observe this law.

I^OR CATHOLICS. 6 1

By special privilege laboring men
and their families may eat meat once a
day on all abstinence days except
Fridays, Ash- Wednesday, Wednesday
and Saturday in Holy Week and the
Vigil of Christmas.

23. Holy Maxims from Holy Scripture.

Be not faint-hearted in your mind.

Neglect not to pray and to give
alms.

Laugh no man to scorn in the bit-
terness of his soul, for there is one that
humbleth and exalteth, God, who
seeth all.

Devise not a lie against thy brother,
neither do the like against thy friend.

Hate not laborious work, nor hus-
bandry ordained by the Most High. . . .

Humble thy spirit very much, for
the vengeance on the flesh of the un-
godly is fire and worms. . . .

Hurt not the servant that worketh
faithfully, nor the hired man that
giveth thee his life. Let a wivSe ser-
vant be dear to thee as thy own soul ;
defraud him not of liberty, nor leave
him needy. . . ,

62 A PRACTICAI, GUIDES

Hast thou children ? Instruct them
and bow down their neck from their
childhood.

With thy whole heart honor thy
father and forget not the groanings of
thy mother. Remember that thou
hadst not been born but through them,
and make a return to them, as they
have done for thee.

Servants, obey in all lawful things
your masters according to the flesh,
not serving to the eye, as it were,
pleasing men, but in simplicity of heart,
fearing God. Whatever 3^ou do, do it
from the heart, as to the Lord and not
to men; knowing that you shall receive
of the Lord the reward of inheritance.

With all thy soul fear the Lord and
reverence His priests. With all thy
strength love Him that made thee, and
forsake not His ministers ; honor God
with all thy soul, and give honor to
the priests, .... give them their por-
tion as it is commanded thee.

Stretch out thy hand to the poor,
that thy expiation and thy blessing
may be perfected. Be not wanting in
comforting them that weep, and walk
with them that mourn.

^OR CATHOI.ICS. 63

You shall not hurt a widow or or-
phan ; if you hurt them, they will cry
out to Me, and I will hear their cry,
and My rage shall be enkindled, and
I shall strike you with the sword, and
your wives shall be widows and 3^our
children fatherless.

Be not slow in visiting the sick, for
by these things thou shalt be con-
firmed in love.

In all thy works remember thy last
end, and thou shalt .never sin.

Without faith it is impossible to
please God.

What doth it profit a man,- if he
gain the whole w^orld, and suffer the
loss of his soul ?

Thk End.

APR 1 1904

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

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