Answers to Correspondents

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 28, 2 July 1924, Page 25

Answers to Correspondents

IL. JJ C.A. McC. wishes to acknowledge through the Tablet favors received through the Little., Flower. Rev. A.L. —Unless you specially desire it, I do not think you ought to have the names published. Thanks for good wishes, L. O’C. wants to know what becomes of all our young Melbas and Pattis when they leave school. Where are they when concerts are organised 'Too often echo answers “Where ” v Inquirer.. —St. George Mivart’s article on “Happiness in Hell was published in the yinctcenth Century. It was condemned by the Congregation of the Index. His view (which was hardly novel in any way) was that as time (?) went on conditions became more tolerable for the. damned. In past centuries such a view was aired occasionally, even Propertius hints at it in a hymn. Needless to say it is contrary to the teaching of theologians. J.J.L. —It is a moot question whether, when a baptised person marries an infidel,. there is no sacrament or a sacrament received by the Christian party only. There are good theologians quoted for the one view and the other. It is certain that when both are baptised there is no marriage unless there is a sacramental marriage. Hence persons who fail to fulfil the Church’s requirements for valid reception of the sacrament are not married validly in the sight of God. Divorced persons cannot be married while either husband or wife is living. The law of the Church cannot change on that matter as it is an institution of divine right. Catholic Student. recommend you to get Father Hull’s publications on the History of England. There are four volumes, published at a very moderate price. They deal with the early and medieval* periods, concerning which most of the lies of history are told by anti-Catholic “historians.” The books are stocked in our. office and you may apply to the Manager for them. The price is about two shillings each. Perplexed. The Church neither recommends -nor reprobates prayers to the Holy Souls. Theologians think they can help us, but not so powerfully 4 as the saints. St. Thomas would seem to be of opinion that they cannot. But there is a good deal to be said for the pious custom of praying to,them. Surely, however, it would be wiser to pray for them and trust tort heir gratitude when they finally reach Heaven. The faithful are encouraged to pray for them not only in general but individually. The practice of the Church in this matter is sufficient guarantee. What we pray teaches us often what to believe. Worker. —Father McGlynn’s statement of his position was put before four professors in America and pronounced by them not to be contrary to the teaching of the Pope’s Encyclical defending the right of private property. On their report he was reinstated. Hence, it is by no means clear how' you can assert that official sanction was given to his teaching. Henry George had no illusions as to the fact that his attack on the right of private property in land was opposed to Leo’s teaching. His open letter to the Pope makes that very evident. Read Arthur Preuss’s essay on the subject. - ■ ■ '

There are many at peace ,as long as we hold them in good esteem; hut let their honor be ever so slightly touched, they at once lose all their peace.St. Teresa.