Part III, The Means of Grace: Religious Associations

The Church makes use of religious associations as a further means of promoting the salvation of souls.

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In the present day, when the enemies of the Church are so numerically strong, it behooves her loyal children to form, as it were, into ranks, and with united forces to withstand the foe. Only in thiswise can victory be ensured. " Few men," says Mirabeau, " acting conjointly, can make a hundred thousand isolated individuals tremble." This language may appear somewhat exaggerated, but there is much truth in it. Union is strength. We cannot raise a weight with a single thread ; but a twisted cord is not easily broken.

1. Religious associations are voluntary societies formed among the faithful, with the object of furthering their own salvation or the salvation of their fellow-men.

Religious associations have much the same aim as secular associations ; the object of the latter is to promote their own earthly advantage or the public weal; that of the former to promote in the first place their own spiritual interests or those of their fellow-men, and for the most part, as a secondary consideration, the temporal welfare of their neighbor.

2. Religious associations may be divided into confraternities or sodalities, and charitable societies.

Confraternities are, as a rule, exclusively for purposes of devotion; charitable societies are for the relief of the spiritual and temporal needs of others.

Thus the members of confraternities make their own spiritual advancement their primary aim, while charitable societies seek the good of their neighbor. Religious societies have nothing to do with politics ; but friendly intercourse and innocent amusements are encouraged as a means of promoting the main object of the association, and preventing the members from taking part in undesirable dissipation.

3. Religious associations are in all spiritual matters subject to episcopal authority; in some countries the legislature exercises a certain control over them.

In all that concerns religion, the Church has exclusive right over confraternities and sodalities. Only the bishop, or the general of an Order has power to erect them; and their rules must be sub mitted to him for approval, unless they have been already approved by the Holy See. To the bishop it belongs to direct the devotional exercises of the confraternity, to prohibit anything peculiar or extraordinary. It is for him to prescribe the manner in which funds are to be raised, and how they are to be expended when collected. He can attend their meetings or send some one to represent him ; he can also appoint the parish priest to be director of the confraternity. It is also necessary to obtain ecclesiastical sanction for the forming of charitable societies.

4. The formation of religious associations has always been highly commended by the Holy See, and large indulgences have

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been granted to them, because they are of great benefit both to the individual members and to the community in general.

Our Holy Father, Leo XIII., in his encyclicals of 1884 and 1891, expressed high approval of religious associations, especially of the Society of St. Vincent of Paul, and the guilds of artisans and workingmen. Pope Pius IX. says they are an army set in battle array, to combat the adversaries of the faith, not with the clash of arms, but with the silent weapons of prayer. Confraternities may be compared to Noe's ark, because persons living in the world seek in them a refuge from the rising tide of crime and corruption. The members of these confraternities, as a rule, lead a more devout and well-ordered life than the rest of the world. They are not as apt to neglect prayer, because their rule prescribes certain prayers to be recited daily; they approach the sacraments more frequently, because days are marked for them on which a plenary indulgence may be gained; they learn obedience because they submit to the decisions of their director. They spend more time in religious exercises than in running after excite ment and worldly amusements, and the observance of the regulations cultivates in them a salutary habit of self-restraint. They tend to keep up a high standard of faith and morals in the parish to which they belong, and by their good example lead others to frequent the sacraments. They assist in the diffusion of good and useful books; they all contribute their mite for ecclesiastical purposes; for the most part, they discharge the obligations of their calling with conscientious regularity, and the parish priest often finds them a great help in the duties of this office. And if some members give scandal, the rules of the confraternity are not to blame, but the neglect of them; and it must be remembered that cockle always grows among the wheat. Charitable societies are also most useful. Through combined action with those who are likeminded with themselves, the members are encouraged to profess their faith openly and carry into practice the maxims of the Gospel, and be ready to take part in all good works. It is remarked that in parishes where there are no con fraternities or sodalities, religion is generally at a low ebb.

5. There is this advantage in snch associations, that the rules enjoining the performance of certain good works are not binding under pain of sin.

St. Francis of Sales was a member of several confraternities; he gave as a reason for this that one might gain much from them, and lose nothing. However, if the rules are not observed, the indulgences and graces are lost; this is often the case if one joins too many confraternities. Let no one think it is a mark of predestination to be inscribed in the books of a number of societies, for by a holy life alone can we hope for heaven.

6. Third Orders are, however, in every way more important than ordinary religious associations.

The Third Order is not to be classed with confraternities, as it is affiliated to one of the great monastic Orders. " The religious

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state," says St. Alphonsus, " is preferable to all the dignities and riches of the world."

The Third Order of St. Francis

1. The Third Order was founded by St. Francis of Assisi for the sake of seculars, in order that, by the observance of certain rules, they might, while still living in the world, attain speedily and easily to sanctity of life.

After St. Francis of Assisi had already founded the Orders of the Friars Minor and of the Poor Clares, he was requested by a wealthy Italian merchant to furnish him with a rule, by following which he would be enabled to lead a holy life, although his calling obliged him to hold constant intercourse with men of the world. The saint gave him a rule, which was soon adopted by other persons. Thus the Third Order of St. Francis originated about the year 1220. Its members lived in the world and wore a gray habit fastened round the waist by a cord. This Third Order was, with some alterations, confirmed by the Holy See, and spread rapidly throughout Christendom. It is intended for those who live in the world and are not of the world.

2. The Third Order is distinguished from ordinary confra ternities by the fact that its members are entitled to wear a habit, and are subject to a religious superior.

Tertiaries, i.e., members of the Third Order, wear a small scapular under their upper garment, as a part of the religious dress, and a cord as a girdle, a token of penance. These things are given to the postulant when he is clothed ; no one is admitted before the completion of the fourteenth year of his age; he must also be of good morals and a peaceful disposition. After a year of probation, he is professed ; that is he takes a solemn promise to keep the law of God and the rule of the Order with all fidelity. The director of the Third Order is a Franciscan monk, appointed to the office by the general of the Franciscan Order. This post, which gives power to receive new members, to give dispensations, to examine aspirants, to exercise supervision over the professed, may also be filled by a secular priest, appointed by the provincial. In every parish there is a Zelator, whose duty it is to see that the members live conformably to the spirit of the rule.

3. The Third Order is distinguished from the First and Second Orders, because it does not impose the obligation of keeping the evangelical counsels, but only the commandments of the Gospel ; moreover the rules of the Order are not binding under pain of sin.

The obligations of the rule are very light. They were considerably mitigated in 1883 by Pope Leo XIII. and adapted to the requirements of the times. The rule enjoins upon the tertiaries;

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" To obey God's commandments and the precepts of the Church ; to avoid faction and quarrelling, to observe moderation in food, drink and clothing; to avoid luxury, to refrain as far as they can from the dangerous seductions of dances and the theatre." They are also required to fast on the eve of the feast of St. Francis and of the Immaculate Conception, to approach the sacraments every month, to recite twelve Paters, Aves and Glorias daily, to hear Mass, if possible, every day, to attend the monthly meetings, to assist those of their fellow-members who are sick or destitute, and to pray for deceased members. Any one who is unable to perform one or more of these obligations can be dispensed. Special privileges are conceded to priests.

4. The members of the Third Order have greater graces within their reach than the members of almost any other exist ing confraternity.

They can gain a plenary indulgence, on the ordinary conditions, cnce a month on any day they may choose, on the day of the monthly meeting, besides some other days, and in the hour of death. Once a month, by reciting six Pater Nosters, Ave Marias and Glorias, they may obtain the indulgences of the holy places in Rome, Jerusalem, Compostella and the Portiuncula. These, and many other rich indulgences attached to various prayers and good works, are all applicable to the souls in Purgatory. Every Mass said for a departed member has the indulgence of a privileged altar. The Third Order enjoys the benefit of the intercession of many eminent saints belonging to the Order, especially that of their holy father, St. Francis; the members are all assisted by the prayers of the numerous saints of the Franciscan Order and of the Poor Clares before the throne of God.

5. The Third Order has counted among its members many distinguished personages and eminent saints.

It would be impossible to enumerate in these pages the crowned heads, the saints and servants of God whose names are familiar to all Christians, who have been enrolled in the Third Order of St. Francis. Our Holy Father Leo XIII. is, and his predecessor in the Chair of Peter was, a tertiary of this Order. " If this Order were once more to flourish among us as it did in days of yore," are the words of our Holy Father, "the lawless greed for temporal things would be weakened, men would obey their lawful rulers, they would learn to conquer their natural propensities to evil, they would outrage no one's rights, and the relations between rich and poor would be satisfactorily arranged." By means of the Third Order of St. Francis the kingdom of God would triumph upon earth, and the kingdom of Satan be overthrown.

The Mope Widespread Confraternities

"No confraternity can be established in a parish without the permission of the bishop; affiliation to an archconfraternity is also necessary.

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1. The object of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith is to aid and support the work of missions to the heathen by means of prayer and alms.

The members of this confraternity are required to recite one Our Father and Hail Mary daily with the invocation : " St. Francis Xavier, pray for us!" and to pay a small weekly or monthly sum. Among the indulgences granted to the members of this confraternity, the principal is a plenary indulgence on any two days in the month which they may choose, and one in the hour of death. This work was founded in 1822 in Lyons, where it still has its centre. The contributions amount to nearly two million dollars annually, half of which sum is collected in France, chiefly from the working classes. In the course of forty years no less than one hundred and fifty episcopal sees have been erected in different parts of the world and millions of heathen have been converted to the faith of Christ. Some say : " There are plenty of poor at home." Let these remember that there is no work so meritorious as one which contributes to the salvation of souls, or one to which such abundant blessings are promised.

2. The object of the Confraternity of the Child Jesus is to provide funds to enable missioners to receive and educate in a Christian manner heathen children who are abandoned by their parents.

The members of this association are required to recite a Hail Mary daily, with the prayer : " O Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us and for the unhappy heathen children." No one is admitted into this association who is not under twenty-one years of age. Oftentimes a mother will enrol her child in this confraternity, and herself perform the obligations attached to it; thus by helping to rescue an unknown child from eternal destruction, she obtains a special bless ing for her own offspring. This association was originally founded in China, where sickly children or those of whom their parents would fain be rid, are ruthlessly exposed and left to perish.

3. The object of the Confraternity of St. Michael is to as sist the Supreme Pontiff by the prayers and alms of the faithful.

The members of this association are required to recite one Our Father, one Hail Mary and the Creed daily for the intentions of the Holy Father, and to contribute not less than twenty-five cents yearly to the Peter's Pence. This confraternity is under the protection of the archangel St. Michael. A plenary indulgence is granted to the members in the hour of death.

4. The object of the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament is the adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

In the present day the Confraternity of the Perpetual Adoration is being widely propagated. Each member pledges himself to spend an hour every month in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament,

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members watch in turn, generally on Sundays or holydays. The chief indulgences are a plenary indulgence once a month, the day being optional; on the first Thursday in the month; on the feast of Corpus Christi or in the octave; on the five principal feasts of Our Lady, besides other festivals, and in the hour of death. It is meet that Our Lord, present under the eucharistic veils, should be perpetually adored. Just as there is no hour of the day or night in which in some place on earth the holy sacrifice is not offered, and as in heaven the hosts of angels and the company of the redeemed unceasingly sing the Tersanctus, so it is right that on earth the ascription of praise should incessantly resound : " O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine ! All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine." In addition to the Confraternity of Perpetual Adoration there are besides in every town, tabernacle or altar societies, the object of which is to honor the Adorable Sacrament of the Altar by doing the sacristy work, and providing altar linen, vestments, etc., for poor churches. Each member of these societies pledges herself to spend an hour in church every month in watching before the Blessed Sacrament.

5. The object of the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is to venerate and adore the Sacred Heart of Our Lord, and participate in the abundant graces He promises to those who practise this devotion.

The members of this confraternity are required to recite an Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Creed daily, with the prayer : " O sweet est Heart of Jesus, I implore that I may ever love thee more and more ; " they are moreover to approach the sacraments every month, if possible on the first Sunday or Friday of the month; to keep the feast of the Sacred Heart (on the Friday or Sunday after the octave of Corpus Christi) with all solemnity, and to pray for the members of the association both living and dead. Many rich indulgences are attached to this confraternity; among others, an indulgence of sixty days is granted for every good work performed during the day. In order to belong to this confraternity, it is not necessary that it should be erected in the place where one lives; any one who is once enrolled can gain all the indulgences by complying with the obligations imposed on the members. When Our Lord appeared to Blessed Mary Alacoque,. He made known to her the great and abundant graces vouchsafed to all who honor His Sacred Heart with particular devotion.

6. The object of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary is to promote the devotion of the Rosary.

To form the " living rosary " fifteen individuals unite every month to apportion among themselves (generally by drawing lots) the fifteen decades of the Rosary ; each one recites the decade which falls to his share daily throughout the month ; thus between them they recite the whole Rosary every day. This confraternity is under the direction of the Dominicans. A plenary indulgence may be gained by the members on the third Sunday of every month, on Trinity Sunday,

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on the principal feasts of Our Lord and of His blessed Mother. The recitation of the Rosary is also indulgenced in a special manner. The Confraternity of the Holy Rosary was established in the lifetime of St. Dominic; the members are required to recite all the fifteen decades of the Rosary every week, but not all on one and the selfsame day. This confraternity is affiliated to the Dominican Order; its members share in the good works of the whole Order, and are placed under the special protection of Our Lady. A plenary indulgence is granted on the first Sunday of the month, on all feasts of Our Lady, on the three great festivals of the Church, and in the hour of death.

7. The object of the Confraternity of the Holy Scapular is to implore the protection and intercession of the blessed Mother of God in all the perils of this life, in the hour of death, and in the flames of purgatory.

This confraternity was founded in 1250 by St. Simon Stock, then general of the Carmelite Order. The Mother of God appeared to him and gave him a scapular, with the promise that every one who wore it, and lived piously, should escape eternal death, should experience her protection in seasons of danger, and should ijbe speedily released from purgatory. An aspirant will be admitted into the confraternity by a priest who has the necessary faculties from the provincial of the Carmelites; his name will be entered in the register of the confraternity and the scapular hung round his neck. This scapular consists of two small pieces of brown cloth, fastened together by braid, so that one piece hangs on the breast, the other 09 the back; this must be worn night and day. Members of the Third Order of Mount Carmel are obliged to recite the little office of Our Lady (which may, if necessary, be commuted to a certain number of Paters and Aves), to fast on every Friday throughout the year, besides other specified days ; to make a daily meditation of at least half an hour, and observe certain other rules. Plenary indulgences may be gained by members of the confraternity on all the festivals of Our Lady, and on days when the principal saints of the Order are commemorated, on the usual conditions, with a visit, if possible, to a church or chapel of the Order. There are four other scapulars : that of the Holy Trinity, of the seven dolors, of the Immaculate Conception, and of the Passion. The five are often worn all together. For each of these certain prayers are prescribed to be repeated daily. Our blessed Lady acts towards her children as Rebecca did to her favorite son Jacob; she arrayed him in the garments of his brother Esau, in order that he might obtain the blessing of his father ; so Mary clothes us with the scapular, the livery of her divine Son, to render us accept able in the sight of our heavenly Father and obtain for us His benediction.

8. The object of the Confraternity of the Bona Mors is to obtain for its members who are yet on earth the privilege of a happy death, and for the departed a speedy release from the cleansing fires.

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The members of this confraternity are bound to have a Mass said once every year for the intention of their fellow-members, that the one who is the next to die may have a happy death, and those who are already gone before may experience a mitigation of the pains of purgatory. They are also exhorted to approach the sacraments frequently, to entertain a special devotion to the Immaculate Conception, to St. Joseph, the patron of a good death, and often to make acts of the theological virtues and of contrition. This confraternity is very richly indulgenced. For every visit to a sick person, twenty years ; for every meditation of half -an-hour's length, sixty years ; for every visit to a church, seven years, etc. All these indulgences are applicable to the souls in purgatory.

9. The object of the Confraternity of the Holy Ghost is to beseech the Holy Ghost to multiply the number of priests, and enlighten them with His divine light.

The members of this confraternity are required to repeat daily seven Glorias and one Ave for this intention, also to make a novena before Pentecost and receive the sacraments frequently. Among other indulgences they may gain one hundred days for every good work they perform, a plenary indulgence at Pentecost and on the Annunciation (or in the octaves of these feasts) and in the hour of death.

The Apostleship of Prayer

This is a league of prayers in union with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Apostleship of Prayer is not a confraternity or sodality, but a pious organization, whose object is to give an apostolic character and power to all our prayers, work, and sufferings. This object it attains by the union of its members with the unceasing pleading of the Sacred Heart in the sacrifice of the Mass: and this union is effected by the morning offering, which constitutes the First Degree of the Apostleship of Prayer and the only essential duty of its members. The morning offering is thus worded : " O Jesus, through the immaculate heart of Mary, I offer Thee the prayers, work, and suffer ings of this day in union with the intentions of Thy Divine Heart in the holy Mass."

Two things are necessary for membership:

(1), Registration of one's name by a local director in an affiliated centre; (2), A certificate of admission. Centres are affiliated by diplomas from the director general (a father of the Society of Jesus, residing at Toulouse, France) and transmitted to them by the diocesan directors, whom, with the license and in accordance with the nomination of the Ordinary, he has appointed for that purpose. The second degree consists in the daily recital of one Our Father and ten Hail Marys for the monthly intention approved by the Holy Father; and the third degree in offering a communion of atonement to the Sacred Heart, once a week, or at least once a month on a day or days

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fixed by arrangement with a promoter of the Apostleship of Prayer. The organ of the association is called " The Messenger of the Sacred Heart" published by the authorized editors in various countries under the direction of the director general. There are thirty-seven distinct editions of the Messenger. The members of the Apostleship of Prayer in the whole world number some twenty to thirty millions.

Charitable Societies

1. The Society of St. Vincent of Paul is very widespread; its object is to seek out the destitute and afford them spiritual and temporal relief.

The work of the active members of this society is to visit the poor in their own dwellings, to assist them with money and the necessaries of life, and to make use of every means to ameliorate their moral and spiritual condition. They also collect voluntary donations and subscriptions from those who are interested in the work. Conferences of the members are held every week, as a rule, for consultation respecting the most necessitous cases and the most necessary works of mercy. For visiting the poor, for every alms distributed to them, as well as for everything that is done in their service, a large indulgence is granted. This society was started in Paris in 1830 by eight students, after imploring the help and guidance of St. Vincent of Paul, whose remains rest in the Church of St. Lazare. It has spread with astonishing rapidity throughout all the countries of Europe, and it is impossible to estimate the amount of good effected by its means.

2. Mention may also be made of the Society of St. Boniface, the object of which is to preserve German Catholics living in Protestant surroundings from losing their faith, by providing them with priests of their own nation, and establishing schools for the education of their children.

3. The Society of St. Raphael, instituted for the purpose of affording counsel and protection to German subjects emigrating to America.

It is not intended to encourage and promote emigration; on the contrary, many persons are deterred from it, and the intending emigrant is warned of the dangers awaiting him in a strange land. He is exhorted to go to his religious duties before starting on thp voyage, and on his arrival in the United States he is provided with suitable shelter, and often employment is found for him.

4. The Catholic Society for Friendless Youths.

This proposes as its object to lead young workingmen to follow a religious and upright life, to encourage a spirit of industry and brotherly kindness among them. A priest presides over this society; the youths are assembled of an evening for innocent entertainment,

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reading, and religious instruction. They are assisted in sickness or poverty, and every endeavor is made to render them useful members of society.

5. The Workingman's Guild.

This association, as well as the one spoken of above, was originated in Germany by Adolf Kolping, the so-called " apostle of the working-classes," who began life as a shoemaker's apprentice, and through diligent study and pious perseverance, fitted himself for the ofiice of the priesthood. A great number of friendly societies and charitable works for the improvement of the laboring classes, and for the promotion of kindly feeling between employers and employed, owe their establishment to him.

Various societies suited to the needs of the people.

It would be difficult to enumerate the various associations, suited to the exigencies of the day in different countries, and corresponding to the special needs of the different classes of men and women, which the charity of Catholics has instituted. The Catholic Truth Society has for its object to supply instructive and useful literature at a low price; its work is rapidly extending, and is productive of most satisfactory results. " In the present day," as one of our bishops remarks, " the need is strongly felt for combination and centralization in all great undertakings in the field of politics, commerce and finance. Let us then, who are Catholics, unite to form a healthy body, powerful to promote and maintain the spirit of Christianity in our families. The striving after union, now so, strongly marked in every depart ment of social life, surely ought to play a no less prominent part in our religious life."