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Show r . f)tsrcb ilntoersa! : , . CHURCH CALENDAR. 29. T. SI. Francis de Sale. 5S9,30c for temporal favors. 30- AV. .St. Miiriina.-V6T.200 for sps-cial, sps-cial, various. 21. Th. St. Peter Kolas. For Mesen-, Mesen-, eer readers. THE CONVERSION OF JAPAN. The General Intention Recommended by His Holiness, Pius X. The recent evenis in the far East liave drawn the eyes of the whole civilized civ-ilized worid on Japan. In material j things this people has made rapid prog ress during- the course of the last few year.: but unhappily. Christian 'c ivill- I zation advances very slowly in the land of the Rising Sun! The reason for this is not far to seek. "We need not mention the ImmnraH'y ' prevailinz in the country: in this vice iihe Japanese hardly differ from other pagan nations. But a certain rrid Jc prevalent among the people, which I prevents it.-; "Literati'' from opening their eye? to the light 'eliglous trutli. Resides, the number of Catiio-Hc Catiio-Hc missionaries and catechists Is r-x-trmely small, an.; the zefl and the labor of these few are rendered more ir less useless by the missionary endeavors en-deavors or he ' Protestant evan-reilsts Mild the . 'in popes. Add to this that Jap - ken from the west not only its -.. institutions and us . scientific li'nc. . - ries, but 1 its fvec- thoaght 3im i - system of se rot soct-lies, soct-lies, both ? v. jch find an extremely fertile soil iv tins depraved people. And wha'. is 'be the future of Japan? Ja-pan? Mpr V?. de Vapa has studied' the question ou its native soil. "This poopl"."' he write. "13 now :n its ado-1. ado-1. Ifseence. Later on, yo doubt very soon. its problems ?,nd crises rsvijl .tirjse; at ihat juncture. It will come to kno th3t i the. plory ..f nations is in the hand of Jod Almighty, and it will recognize the absolute need of seeking- the eternal truths. " Is It now incumbent on the Apotle-" Apotle-" V, ship of Prayer to hasten' this 'fia'poy fe time? lis members should-, not only ' I make their Mornms Offering: for this I 1 intention: they should also frequently I vcite the prayer for St. Francis Xav- ier. which begrins: "Eternal God. Cre- II a tor of all things, remember that the H souls of infidels were drawn by yju out j rf nothing, and that you have made ihem after your image and likeness.-Hehold. likeness.-Hehold. O Lord, how to your dishonor, i hell Is-fihVd with these pOoY soulc. " 1:0- jnember that Jesus, your Son. has sur-lrcd sur-lrcd a. ?nos t cruel death for th'.-ir sal-J sal-J vation. 1 t I The Doctrine of the Church' on I Drunkenness. I U'ic is the doc..-ine of the Catholic IVJ ' hur. h on the subject of drunkenness, jl It is s clar. in such accord with com- a mn seiise. that it requires no explana- f !io,i. A simple statement will suffice: I 1. "Whosoever 'dinks deliberately to 1 urh sin extent as. to lose his reason i I n-i!iiis a mort.-il sin."' s 2. "Whosoever knows, by past ex- i. j crience. -that when drunk he is accus- ' : torifd 10 blaspheme or utter other im- 1 1 vr ' proper language, or to injure others it ..about him. besides the sin of drunken- ' necs. is cuilty of those other crimes j' j j j i-omiiiiitee during- the state of intoxica- j! J ' "Whosover does not adopt the J l I j)'i-.per means for the correction of his J, (J v icious habit-of drunkenness remains JJ Tin a continual state of sin.,r '.'"' 4 '4. "Whosoever entices or urges an- J other to excess in drinking, whom he j foresees will be intoxicated, commits : ' U a mortal sin.' J .. "Any seller of liquor who con- I ; ' tinu?s to supply to any individual that f I . be knows will become intoxicated, I rt therewith commits a mortal sin. be- cause he deliberately co-operates in the f- tj f grievous sin of another." t G. "Whosoever is 'guilty of excess. in drinking, though not to intoxication, in I such a waj- as to cause distress to his f I family by squandering that which is 1- needed for 'he'r support, commits a mortal sin against charity and justice. In like manner, whosoever thus renders himself unable to pay his lawful debts, I ' although he may not drink to intoxica- Y lion, commits a mortal sin." ki4f Another Protestant Impression of Pope Pius X. dn ..f the readers of the Lamp (Protestant Episcopal) writes to that publication the following description .f a rteent audience with the Pope: "The Hody Father was very kind to me. personally His goodness j -impresses one and his earnest pastoral Jove of his people. For example, afur (iny audience I hadthe privilege of ;go"ing with him into a largs room where he received some ooor children, who ' liad -jhat day made their First Com-munion Com-munion in one or two of the smaller - pashep of Rome. Here he was at once in his element. He loves the ooor and he loves the children, ind as he wae enuring the "room he turned to one cf his secret aa-rios and raid earnestly, V.-u haven't forgotton the medals for in dear children. I hope.' He beameJ v. ith kindliness and pleasure, ns h" l.vked at and spoke to them. He wert about saying a few kind words to each individually, giving eah his tless'ng and a medal by which to remember the occasion. Then he made- a short but verv earnest and touching: address- t them on the subject of the great event .f the day their First Communion. So the Pope impressed me net only -with his personal goodness and holiness, holi-ness, but by his characu-r of a true shepherd of Chist's flock, one who loves the seuls which God has commit'ed to his care." A Good Life. If vou would" lead n. good life and he at peace with God and your co'.i-s co'.i-s ience. it is well to observe these I ' Ties: ' 1 As much as possible avoid an dangerous occasion of sin. such as drinking, bad company, sinful amusements amuse-ments -bad or dangerous readings, t 0 If possible, go every month to i sacrammts. Remember that with out the strength of the sacraments, vou cannot resist your temptations ' l.nd inclinations to sin. for we all j! hnv( -within us a wonderful power ot , s.rning. M , v0ver remain away from mass 1 ..n Sundays or holy days of obliga- ;1 lion, when" you are able to attend. ( I 4 xever netlcct your daily prayers. I I , 1 'raver is the key to heaven. 1 -. " Every dav read a chepter of good religious book, such as the '"Pinner's Guide." the "Following of -hrist" or "Memorial of a Christian iW.-'or'onT of "Challoner's Mtdita- 1i6,SFvery dav offer to the Blessec Mother at lea'st n third part of her holy rosary, or live rnystcnps of tthe l.eads- and may our dear Lord an. Mis blessed mother watch over you faring life, and at the hour of dealh. U finally' bring you to a happy cter-liiti cter-liiti ' . :. - - i ." ITS ; - "- ....'". ii ' "" ' Made His Confession Under Tons of Debris. Imprisoned under tons of thai-red timbers and water-soaked paper in the ruins in a warehouse. Fireman John J. C. Senfert of engine comoany of New York City, made his confession and received absolution .-'Jt the hands of a heroic priest on Monday last. This was the most dramatic incident of a torturing ideal through which Senfert passed comparatively unscathed. He w.ms thought to have been killed on Sunday night with his two fellow-fire-! men, Thomas Lcnnou and Daniel J. Campbell, of the same comparv, hi the I collapse of the burning warehouse f George F. Hill, at .".4 Roosevelt street. It was nearly twenty hours afler the three men had disappeared with the sinking roof and uppers ffoors when a fiinit tapping told the searchers after bodies that one of th" men was prob ably alive. Tremendous activity by the firemen followed. Ten tons oT paper alone were in the pile under which the man was buried. A single beam prevented pre-vented the mass from crushing his life out. The work of removing the stuff had to be carried on with the utmost ut-most caution. First the rescuers made a maM hole, through which :v rubber tube was run. establishing communication communica-tion with the prisoner. " "How do you feel. Jack?" was asked, j "All right." he answered- "I'm a lit-j lie cold, that's all. How's my wife?" i Assurance was given 0.1 this point and stimulants seni through the mb-. When Senfert got the heatoinjj stuff inside of him Father W. St. Elmo Smith, one of the chaplains of the fire department, put his mouth to the hole. "Jack, how are you feeling?" asked the priest, adding. "1 am Father Smith." "Better, thank you. father." said S.I.fert. "Ale ymi ready to make your confession?" con-fession?" asked Father Smith. "1 am," said Senfert: "quite ready." There wasn't a sound after that. Hats were removed. and Father Smith asked the usual questions. "Say the act of contrition," said Father Smith. The prisoner's prayers came up through the floor, and Father Smith prayed with him. "You are nw ready for absolution?" absolu-tion?" asked Father Smith. "Yes. father." said S-mfeit.- "Xo. cheer un and trust in God." said Father Smith, after he had granted grant-ed absolution, "and you'll be all right. God bless you. my son:" ' "Very well, father." replied Senfert as Father Smith left the mouth of the 11:1 to. At about 2 o'clock Tuesday morning1 Senfert was released. His injuries "'ore superficial, and he will return to duty in a few 'davs. 1 A Disregarded Commandment. If There is one Commandemont of the lecalogue which, in the. estimation and the practice of many Christians, has become altogether too circumscribed in iui tiooiHj, it in the fourtht "Honor thy j father and thy mother." The third chapter of Ecclesiasticus contains so excellent a series of corollaries to that commandment, and so emphasizes the comprehensiveness of its legitimate application, ap-plication, that no apology is needed for reproducing it here, in the form of a consecutive paragraph: "He that honoreth his mother is as one that layeth up a treasure. He that honoreth his father shall have joy in his own children, and In the day of his prayer he shall be heard. He that honoreth hon-oreth his father shall enjoy a long life; and he that obeyeth the father shall be a comfort to his mother. He that fear-eth fear-eth the Lord honoreth his parents, and will serve them as his masters that brought him into the world. Honor thy father In work and word and all patience, that a blessing may come upon thee from him, and his blessing may remain in the latter end. The father's fa-ther's blessing established, the houses of the children, but the mother's curse rooteth up the ' foundation. Glory not in thedishonor of thy father; for his shame is no glory to thee. For the. glory glo-ry of a man is from the honor of his father, and a father without honor is the disgrace of the son. Son. support the old age of thy father, and grieve him not. ip his life. And if his understanding under-standing fail, have patience with him. and despise him not when thou art in thy strength: for the relieving of the father shall not be forgotton. For good shall be repaid to thee for the sin of thy mother. And in justice thou siialt be built up. and in the day of affliction afflic-tion thou shalt be remembered: and thy sins shall melt away as the ice in the fair warm weather. Of what an evil fame is he that forsaketh his father, fa-ther, and he is cursed of God that an-gereth an-gereth his mother." This citation from Holy YYnt may well give rise to serious reflection in the minds of a number of men and women who are accustomed to regard the fourth commandment nyrely as their "bill of rights." the enumeration of their privileges., and .; not at all as a statement of their "duties'. Such a view is. of course, erroneous. "Honor thy father and thy mother" is a divine com-1 com-1 mand, addressed not solely to little boys and girls, or youths and maidens I in their' teens, "but to men and women I grown to all w hose parents still survive. sur-vive. It is the heawn-granted. gospel- oonfirmed'c-rtaHeT" of these who. "have fallen into; t ei'tC tlio ' yllejw "Jea f." not less that! of" Those" Who are yet in life's vigorous prime; and it is not always al-ways the latter who have most reason to grieve that the chaiter has been violated, vio-lated, that tie honor due them is not paid. -- One of ihe saddest and most pitiful sights in domestic life is the poor old grandfather whom the disrespect and inattention and neglect and bitter upbraiding up-braiding and habitual nagging of grown-up sons and daughters have taught to reflect, with Lear. How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is To have a thankless child; 1 Or 'to ask himself, in utter hopelessness Of further happiness in life: When he's forsaken. Withered and shaken. What can an old man do but die?" Xor is tuch a sight at all so rare as. for the honor of Christian manhood and womanhood, it ought to be. Downright Down-right physical cruelty to the old is not, perhaps, very common: but utter disregard dis-regard of their advice, contemptuous indifference to their likings." " habitual impatience with their foibles, angry retorts to their complaints all this is of daily occurrence in households of every grade in the social scale; and to the sensitiveness of old age a bitter word or a sneering smile is ofttimes I more "cruel than would be an actual blow. "Despised"' Is the most poignant epithet in Lear's description of himself: him-self: "A oor, infirm, weak and despised de-spised old man." v That the. old and more especially the very old are often enough a trial and a vexation to their grown-up children, chil-dren, is no doubt true; but it is equally true that, while we may, and do, outgrow out-grow the obligation of obeying our par- " f enis, we never outgrow the duty of loving and respecting and honoring them; and love that merits the name at all is gentle and patient and long-suffering long-suffering and forgiving. A comthon inconsistency in-consistency is to say of an old man that he is iiKjiis second childhood, and yet to make for him none of the allowance allow-ance that we grant to the young, but rather to treat him as rigorously as if he were at his intellectual strongest. Xo son or daughter, it is safe to say, ever lived to regret the wealth of tender ten-der love and gentle words and delicate attentions lavished day after day, even through long years, upon an aged father fa-ther or mother; but there is no doubt whatever that many a grandfather or grandmother can discern in the harshness harsh-ness and misery of their present lot a fitting retribution for the former lack of honor and respect shown to their own parents when stricken with age. "Honor thy father in work and "word and all patience." then, and thou needst not fear unhappiness in thine own declining de-clining years, I?ut an old age serene and bright. And lovely as a Lapland night. Shall lead thee to thy grave. Ave Maria. One Time When Sullivan Wept. Tom O'Rourke. in his recollections of John L. Sullivan, tells of the time wher the famous gladiator wept at a funeral. fune-ral. The story was related by an eyewitness eye-witness to O'Rourke. who passes it along to the public thus: "It was at the time when Luke Schoolcraft, the comedian, died." suid tie narrator. "The Elks took charge f the funeral and whfn the lodge room was opened for the services I was ore of the many who attended. The services had hardly commenced when in walked Join. L. It looked strange for the popular ex-champion to enter the rooms of a lodge from which he hud been expelled, but it was Luke Si::.co!craft's funeral, and. he and John L were fast friends. John took a sea.t near the door and all eyes were on him for a moment. Then one of the members mem-bers read an original poo?n, and. boys, vo-! ought to have seen the ladies cry. "The president then announced that when Luke at any time referred to death he always said that when he died he wanted some one to sing 'My Old Kentucky Home' over his remains. T'-e president said the request would be granted Julius Witmark would sing it. Witmark walked over to the organ with the muaic in his hand. When he was singing the last bar of ihe famous old song he broke down and wept like a child, and uearly every ma;i and woman ir. the room was crying. cry-ing. I tried to choke mine back, but I couldn't do it. I looked over to where John L. was sitting. There he sat with a Hank look on his face. There was no sign of a tear. "A moment later a minister got up to speak. It was a touching sc-tmon, boys, .and during his remarks he said: 'Noy I lay me down to sleep.' There was nothing so awful touching about that to me, as I had heard it before, but Sullivan was all strung up-yard could not hoid his pent-up feelings any longer. I locked over and Sullivan was crying like a baby."' Wouldn't Do in Catholic Churches. "One feature which T noticed especially espe-cially in a recently op'ened church in the city was the large number of small pews pews intended for two persons only," was the comment of an old New York churchgoer the other Sunday. "Xcw. fifty years ago the majority of th-? pews held six persons comfortably, and sometimes more. There may have been a few of these two-seated pews, buc they were a necessity because of the Interference of a pillar, and there were never more than six or eight of these small pews in an entire church. In the church I speak of I noticed two rows of them, extending the entire-depth entire-depth of the auditorium.. I couldn't help but think of the good old times when the entire family'went to church in a body and filled a long, old-fashioned pew. And I got to wondering what the new two-seated arrangement stood for. Is it the outgrowth of the apartment living, race suicide and all the other evils one hears of, or is H old-fashioned now for children to accompany ac-company their parents to church?" X -w York Sun. ! With God's Help. Some say that the age of chivalry ;.- past. The age of chivalry is never past so long as there is a wrong left unredressed unre-dressed on earth or a man or woman left to say, "I will redress that wrong or spend my life 111 the attempt." The age of chivalry is never past so long as we have faith enough' tD say. "God will help me to redress that wrong, or, if not me. he will help those that come after me. for his eternal will is to overcome over-come evil with good." A Chain Prayer. ! To the Editor: I am sending you a prayer that I received re-ceived with the request that it be re-v. re-v. ritun and sent to. nine persons. Please do not break the chain. (Heie follows the prayer with th:; usual calamity threat against those who will not pass it along.) This is an exact copy of the one I received. A good many of your readers j would be glad of your opinion of this lc-tier. "Throw it in the waste basket. Or, if the letter is signed, hand it to the police. po-lice. Editor of Catholic Citizen. Don't Know Lord's Prayer. A' fashionable gathering of members of the Church of England, attending the opening of a bazaar at Bath, shocked the archdeacon of Bath cathedral, ca-thedral, who opened the function, by their lack of acquaintance with the Lord's Prayer. The archbishop pointedly point-edly rebuked the gathering, saying it was a very solemn thing to him to find how much the company needed Christian instruction. He added: "I really d'd think that those here would know the Lord's Prayer, but if, they know ii.they do not know 'how to say il." Thereupon he invited those not acquainted with the prayer to come to him and he would teach it to-them. The lecture acted like an ice douche en the throng. |