11/71"1/
.1.1:1,/ "'Or
jr.
'
7.7
.3111117,7.
PIPIP7/117117:0P-
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH, Registered at the G.P.O., Perth, for transmission by post as a newspaper. NO. 2,244.
PERTH, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST
14,
ESTABLISHED 1874. 'PHONE B8960 450 Hay Street, Perth,
PRICE THREEPENCE
1946.
Box A35, G.P.O., Perth.
SEVENTY-THIRD YEAR
true Religion Impaired by Stupidities of nation always involves some man- for those who neglect to do so. ner of association with the evil Recently I was given a prayer of Superstition and religion have spirits; for even when their aid is this nature, addressed to Our Lord this much in common: both are not expressly invoked they printed on a leaflet which containbased on the conviction that hu- meddle in practices in which people ed the amazing statement that the man beings are subject to the in- try tt discover things which cannot prayer had been found in grave of fluence of spiritual forces beyond be known naturally. At any rate Christ in 1805! To those who recite ed as sacramentals they procure ment of the power of the Most the sphere of sense perception. even though one positively rejects this prayer, or keep it on their per- for those who use them devoutly High-it possesses no permanent there the likeness ends. Religion any alliance with the spirits of son, the promises are made that the prayers of the Church. They and inherent efficacy. It must be noted that the decree has its source in the revelation of darkness, divination is sinful in- they shall not die a sudden death, do not guarantee protection from of the Holy Office, cited above, an all -wise God; superstition orig- asmuch as it ascribes to creatures nor fall into the hands of their bodily harm. It would also be superstition to explicitly reprobates extravagant inates in the credulity of ignorant the power to reveal what is known enemies, nor be affected by poison. creatures. The tenets of religion only to God. Women are assured of safety in use such holy objects with the con- devotions that occassion the wonare reasonable and harmonious, To this vain category of super- child -birth, and their offspring are viction that they possess of them- der and the obloquy of non Caththose of superstition absurd and stition belongs also vain obser- promised freedom from all misfor- selves supernatural power. This olics. inconsistent. Religion makes its vance-the tise of a creature to tune. The final statement is the may happen more especially in the Superstition is a very insidious unorthodox assertion that the use of relics. It must always be vice; one may almost unconsciousremembered that a relic is in itself ly 'become thabituated to some prayer is as true as the Gospels! Apart from the ridiculous -and an inanimate thing, incapable of superstitious practice. When in Its doubt as to the lawfulness of some sometimes heretinal-phraseology any extraordinary effect. which they generally employ, chain primary purpose is to remind us of practice, a Catholic should consult prayers dieser* severe condem- the saint from whose body or gar- a priest, and abide by his decision. nation because they promise that ments it has been taken, so that An enlightened Catholic will pracadherents noble; superstition procure an effect which the Althose who comply with their con- we may more devoutly pray to him tise only those formt of worship makes its votaries cowardly. mightly has certainly not put in dition will certainly obtain some or her. The use of a relic does in- and devotion that are fully conOn May 26, 1937, the Holy Office its power. Thus, it is superstitious particular favours. Now, Our Sav- deed sometimes lead to a mirac- formable to the belief and to the issued a decree sternly condemning to carry a rabbit's foot, to wear a did annex some manner of ulous favour, but even in such a approved cult of the Catholic all forms of superstition, especially "lucky ring," to "knock on wood" iour to prayer when He said: case the relic is only the instru- Church. those masquerading under the in the belief that these practices certitude "Amen, Amen, I say to you: if you guise of piety. The document ad- are productive of good fortune. father for anything in my monishes bishops to eradicate any The same is true of the avoidance ask the you." , He will give it to superstitious practices that may of "three off a match' or of thir- name xvi, 23.1 But Christ did not have arisen in their dioceses, and teen at table" with the conviction (John, this of realization for the urges them to be vigilant lest that such contingencies are liable prescribe promise a definite formula of Quite to bring misfortune. others be introduced. nor did he stipulate how bluntly the decree states thatin In treating of this type of sup- prayer, we must pay before we recent times superstitious customs erstition, two practices furnish much Furthermore. His are rapidly increasing among the matter for discussion: the use of are heard.was certainly conmembers of the Catholic Church. the divining rod and astrology. promise ditional in the exercise of interIn view of this grave warning, a study of the nature and of the malice of the sin of superstition is . . . opportune. Superstition is a false cult. The cult may be false either in its obAccordject or in its manner. ingly,we can distinguish two types The divining rod is a forked twig iur dispositions such as faith and of superstition. The first is giving employed to discover the presence humility, and not on the vocal a creature the honor that belongs of a hidden spring or of buried repetition of certain words, which INTEREST TO ALL LIBRARY MEMonly to God; the second is giving metal -ore, on the principle that is the main feature of the chain LECTURE OF SPECIAL BERS. God the honor in the wrong way. when carried loosely by the fork- prayer. Finally, Christ surely did FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 1946. Under the former-and usually ed ends in the hands of an ex- not mean that everyone who prays OF GERMANY DURING THE WAR more grievous-form of supersti- pert diviner, it will be attracted lw -even though his prayer has the SOME RECOLLECTIONS YEARS. tion comes idolatory. This is the the concealed water or metal and requisite qualities-will infallibly Major Heagney, who was a foundation member and Treasurer of explicit worship of some creature will bend downward over the pro- obtain the precise object of his petIt would seem that ition. It may well be that this the Library for many years joined the A.Il. in October, 1939, and 'statue, the sun, a human being per spot. with the rank of Major in the 2/11th. Battalion. After serv-with the homage of adoration. the use of the divining rod cannot particular thing would not be spiri- served ice in Palestine, Egypt, the first Libyan campaign and Greece, he The most abhorrent manifestation be condemned as superstitious, tually beneficial to him;in which became a prisoner of war on the capitulation of Crete, and spent of idolatry is devil -worship. It since there is reason to believe that case God mercifully witholds it, four years as a prisoner of war in 'Germany. must not be imagined that this purely natural forces can cause it and instead gives him something A hearty invitation is extended to all the old Club members practice is confined to uncivilized to operate (Davis, "Moral Theol- truly advantageous to his soul. and the general public. However, of inp. 15). promise Christ's Vol. II, ogy,' In a word, present at the in London there are THE DATE: Friday, August 23, at The Library, 36 day thousands of men and women anyone who uses a divining rod or fallible efficacy to prayer is to be PierNOTE Street, at 8 o'clock. who worship Satan, holding assem- employs a diviner, should make understood in the sense that if we BOOKS BOOKS blies in which obscene ceremonies the positive intention of limiting pray with the proper dispositions are conducted according to a def- the operation of the rod to the of mind and heart and with suc- NEW AND REPRINTS RECEIVED THIS WEEK - - - Now availicient frequency for a certain favable for Bale inite ritual. There is even a par- natural sphere. our, we are sure to obtain either ody of the Mass enacted. Astrology is the science con- this favour tr something more con- MAN TRACKS (Iop Idress), 6/-PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, 4/8 To this same type belongs divi- cerned with the quest of informa* ISLES OF SPICE (Frank Clune),FR. FRANK SULLIVAN, S. J., 16/6 nation: the attempt to obtain from tion from the heavenly bodies. Its ducive to our spiritual welfare. 12/6 trava only is The chain prayer creatures knowledge which they chief, practical application is the POEMS OF "BANJO" PATTER -SECRET CURE MARS, 7/6 this promise esty of THIRD DAY (Lunn), 16/9 cannot naturally impart, especially formation of horoscopes-charts SON, 7/6 The use of holy objects-medals, THE COAST WATCHERS (EricLITTLE FLOWERS OF ST, knowledge of the future free acts which show the exact position of FRANCIS, 12/ of human beings. Among the more the stars and planets at the time scapules and relics-is recomFeldt), 17/6 oonitnon forms of this sin are a person was born. Great im- mended to Catholics. Yet, this MATILDA WALTZES WITH forand supergazing with tainted palmistry, crystal THE TOMMIES, 7/6 portance is attached to the par- practice can be tune telling by cards. Other ticular sign of the zodiac that stition. Such is the case when modes of divination practised in was rising in the east at the mo- inevitable efficiency toward the procuring of some temporal favor the past but not so common now- ment of one's birth. is attributed to these objects. adays, consist in the quest of inUnder the second type of super- Tl us, a swimmer wearing a scap formation from the wind (aeromancy), from smoke capnomancy) stition, which consists in honour- ular or a scapular -medal with the and from bodies of water (hydro- ing God in a wrong way, comes firm conviction that he will cerNecromancy, the att- first the chain prayer. This is a tainly be preserved thereby from Inancy). IN THE ARMADALE DISTRICT HALL empt to communicate with the formula of petition addressed to drowning is guilty of superstition. souls of the departed and to learn the Almighty or one of the saints Same is true of a motorist who bePresentation of Debutantes to the Lord Mayor of Perth. bidden things from them, has been deriving its name from the fact lieves himself entirely immune Perth 7.30 p.m.; Return to Perth after Ball at 1.30 a.m. ex Bus chain In a through it "circulates" a times. that he has because accidents from employed from ancient our own day it is called spiritual- of persons in ever increasing scope. St. Christopher's medal in his car. Annexed to the prayer are wonder- These objects stimulate persons to MONDAY, AUGUST 19, 1946 ism. Double, 7/6. According to St. Thomas Aquin- ful promises for those who recite invoke the aid of our Blessed Lady Ladies, 3/6; Gents., 5/-.; as (Summa 11-11, Q. 95, a. 2), divi- and pass it along, and dire threats or the saints, and if they are bless By Francis J. Connell, C.SS.R.
SUPERSTITION
Wild and Heretical Claims of Astrology and Chain Prayers
Central Catholic Library 36 Pier Street, Perth
Sacramentals Do Not Guarantee Bodily Preservation
-a
Armadale Annual
CATHOLIC
-
BALL