We have said that the question box should be a feature of the societies, especially for the young, as long as interest in it is manifested. Have it in the church, in a secluded spot, so that anyone may ask a question without his identity being known. Here is a batch of questions from a recent question box:
"What prayers must we say to gain the indulgence of the Scapular?"You may postpone the answering of part of the questions, if you desire time to post yourself.
"Is it wrong to pray for a husband?"
"Why can't I go to a fortune-teller?"
"Why can some be married without calls, and others can't?"
"How can a person excommunicated return to the Church?"
"Why do we have Forty Hours' Prayer?"
"Is it a sin to flirt?"
[499] "Please explain at Sodality meeting, how to make a general confession."
"Could I eat meat on Friday if it would be inconvenient for the people at whose house I am to procure other food?"
"Is it wrong to go to a Protestant church for fun?"
"Is it true that everyone going to a theatre [sic] commits a sin?"
"Must one have a regular confessor?"
"Why is it sinful to repeat what the priest says to you in the confessional?"
"Can I wash my mouth with Sozodont [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sozodont] before going to Holy Communion?"
"Is perfumery the sign of a proud person?"
"Is baptism in any church, true baptism?"
The Talk.
The society should be considered as a family circle, where a father speaks plainly of abuses, and commends good. Correction given to a society should always be general. It should never go out of the hall, and never degenerate into personal remarks. Words of encouragement must be spoken at every meeting. Let your talk be sharp and bright. Write it for the society. Deliver it sitting, if need be even from manuscript. Make it spicy. It should be plainer than a public address. Your object is to better your hearers. Have it so that they will understand you. The addresses should not exceed twenty minutes for a grown society, and ten minutes for children's societies. A great deal of the success of the society will depend on the discourses you give them. There is no better way of driving nails into the coffin of a society than to have a priest read a chapter of a good book at society meetings. The priest should ordinarily leave the hall as soon as the meeting ends, so that the members may have an opportunity to discuss the instruction. If the Director remains, he will be the centre [sic] of attraction to the detriment of much good. Have the hall closed one-half hour after the termination of the meeting.
The objection to this line of action is, that at this time a priest can meet his people best. This is a mistake. Let [500] him find some other time and means to meet them, rather than take away from the members of the society the means of meeting one another and forming acquaintances. The priest must remember that he was made for the people, not the people for him.
Attendance.
A very essential thing to the success of a society is that the members attend all meetings. Insist on this. Your society will never amount to anything, no matter how many you have on the roll, if they fail to attend the meetings. In nearly every parish we have some who want the benefit, but are too proud, or too indolent, to attend the meetings. They will pay their dues in advance, and they think that they have done all that is required. Have no such members in your society; they will be but stumbling blocks. For this reason encourage the system of having the dues paid at each meeting, and not in advance. Dues should not be received except at business meetings. Have members wear badges at meetings. Let there be a record of attendance kept.
Communion.
It is a mistake to insist too strongly on men, particularly young men, going to Communion in a body, where there are not many confessors. Priests of experience know the reason of this. Many approach poorly prepared, and some even unworthily, because "they had to." While urging all to go as often as the rule prescribes, ever be ready to accept excuses without a question. If one should deliberately remain away from the Sacraments for a long time, see him, or her, privately, and if no promises can be obtained, drop such members quietly from the roll, without, however, losing sight of them.
Never sanction the action of a society that would force a person to receive the Sacraments at a specified time. We must never use force in obliging anyone to receive the Sacraments.
No society should have in its rules a clause requiring [501] members to approach the Holy Table more than once a month. If the devotion of the individual prompts more, let it be individual work. There should be a short public act of thanksgiving after each society has received Holy Communion, in a body. It may not be more than the Litany of the Holy Name of Jesus, but there should be some such prayer. By all means have the members of societies wear full regalia when approaching Holy Communion. It is a wise rule to offer the mass at which they receive, for their intention; and they should be made aware of this, so that each society furnish the proper stipend from their treasury.
Strangers.
Strangers should bring credentials. On the presentation of such, admit them at once to the society with which they were affiliated elsewhere. Have the credentials read at the next meeting of the society. This will be an introduction for them. The prefect, or some other officer, should then deem it a duty and a pleasure to introduce the newcomer to the individual members. Catholics are often slow in giving a hearty welcome to strangers. Treat them under all circumstances as you would like to be treated. On the other hand, it is a mistake to lionize newcomers who are without recommendations. Especially is this the case when the attempt is made to elect an unknown quantity to office. If they have real merit, it will come to the surface. Priests must be careful about this if they desire to escape blame.
Elections.
The most successful way of managing what is ordinarily the greatest source of dissension in societies, is to have each member write at his home, and place in a sealed envelope, the names of as many persons as there are officers to be elected. Say there are seven officers in a society. Let the electors write the names of seven members who, in their judgment, are qualified to hold office. When the time of election arrives, let the teller gather up the ballots and give them to the Reverend Director. This shortens the usual [502] lengthy and unsatisfactory election meetings. The officers elected will be notified of their election, so that they may be ready to fill their positions at the next meeting. Have some trustworthy persons count the ballot, or do so yourself in their presence. Follow the ballot as a guide. The member receiving the highest number of votes will be president, the second vice-president, and so on. However, always choose from the number elected, the most capable for secretary, even if the member has enough votes to make him, or her, president. The secretary is the most important officer, the president second, the treasurer third. The election of one dishonest treasurer is enough to bring the society into discredit. Practically, the Director has it in his own hands to select the various officers. This is as it should be. An officer once elected, cannot be excused from accepting the office. Better expel him, or her, from the society, than have him refuse to accept. Let this be understood and there will be few refusals. This should also be clearly understood from the beginning, so as to avoid trouble. The retiring officers should form the council for one year. They, with the active officers, should hold a meeting once a month to discuss applications for membership, and such other matters as may be brought before them. Encourage all the members to render a prompt and cheerful obedience to officers. Maintaining this respect for officers is maintaining your own.
The Accounts.
The accounts should be audited once a year. Do it yourself, or select a prudent person to do it. You can seldom expect perfect exactness. If there should be a trifling error, pass it by without noticing it. Never expect an absolutely correct balance from roll book marking, and receipts of treasurer. The better way is to count receipts after the meeting, and enter the results at the time. It is unwise to question the accounts of a good, honest person. The shortage, if any, can be accounted for without imputing dishonesty [503]. Being too exacting will turn members away from the society. If a member is out-and-out dishonest, he will soon, of his own accord, cease to trouble you. Never have any wrangling about accounts in a public meeting.
In the children's societies, let the treasurer deposit the funds either with the priest or with the sister. It is not prudent to expose children to temptation by allowing them to keep the money in their possession.
The members of the Altar Society are likely to prefer paying their dues to the priest. When this can be done, let the priest in charge act as financial secretary.
Retreats.
A triduum, or three days' retreat, should be provided each year for the men's and women's societies. The retreat for the women should be in Advent, for the men in Lent. Have the society make the offering to the missionary. Instructing them, by this means, in their duty regarding the honorarium, is an excellent way of making them place a proper valuation on the services of their Reverend Director.
A pastor needs to exercise some care in discriminating between the religious who may be sent to him by superiors for giving such retreats. Do not allow them to send whomsoever they please; that is, anyone who wears the habit. Know your man. An imprudent missionary frequently does more harm than good. The habit does not make the successful missionary. At the conclusion of the retreat, all should renew their Act of Consecration.
Receptions.
There should be a specified time set for the reception of new members, and that twice a year for all the societies except those of the married men and women. Make a great deal of such occasions. Invite a stranger to preach, if you can conveniently do so, and carry out the ceremony with all [504] possible solemnity. Have it before the entire congregation. Let the candidates approach the rail holding lighted tapers in their hands. They should be induced to make an offering of these, after the services, for the use of the altar. Have them repeat the Act of Consecration after you, in a loud tone of voice. Speak a few words of encouragement. Close the services with Benediction.
Funds.
Always use the funds for the object for which they were intended; never divert them from the proper channel. You will have little if you do. There is an Altar Society account book in existence which contains the following entry among others: "Credit: By collection for Vestments, $48.00; Debit: To a new lounge for pastor's room, $48.00." It is to be feared there are many such account books. No wonder that the vestments are in a ragged condition where such a state of affairs exists. Money is not the real object of the society, yet without it there is no activity. A non-paying church member is a poor stick. A non-paying society is like it. The pastor will manage to care for the real poor, so that their feelings may not be hurt. Never permit a poor person to suffer for non-payment of dues. As a rule, it is the wealthier portion of the flock who are the most penurious. It is well for us to instruct the members of societies in the art of giving. Often it is not the lack of generosity which makes people niggardly, but the lack of the knowledge of what to do. The knack of giving at the proper time, and in the proper manner, is a real art. Let the people know where and for what the money is used. Make financial statements at least once a year. Account for the pennies, and you will not be lacking in having them. Make our people feel that everything that is done for the Church is done for "Our Good God."
It is never well to have a society solicit funds for a society's benefit, i. e., banner, uniforms, etc. This should never be tolerated. A public solicitation from any society, no matter [505] by what means, must be for some general benefit of the congregation.
Cards.
Cards[1] something like the following are of great help for the prompt payment of dues. They should be used in all societies where fixed dues are required.
[506]
These cards must be renewed each year. The old ones should be called in. This will make members careful of them, as well as settle all disputes about dues. We would suggest that all such cards, and all donation cards, be carefully assorted and placed under the Altar steps of the High Altar, at the end of each year. Let the members of societies know this. Have them know also that every Sacrifice you offer on that Altar, the names on those cards will be included in your memento for benefactors. If you have never used this means of encouraging contributions, you will be astonished [507] at its results. The cards will be kept clean, and be paid up in full. Never make light of old cards. Don't throw them on the floor or tear them up before a member. The cards lose all their value with such actions. Never permit the owner of the cards to write the dues for themselves. Get a rubber stamp about the size of the head of a pencil, have on it the letter X within a circle. Use this stamp for cards. With it you can accomplish rapid, neat work, and it cannot be so easily counterfeited. Insist on members bringing their own cards. Discourage sending them with children. The payment of dues at any other time than at meetings should be discouraged. The donation columns are for sums above the dues paid at each meeting. Those who are prompted to donate in this way do not care for further notice of it. Hence the X stamp, in the donation column, is sufficient receipt for same. Change the color and style of card each year.
Singing
should be encouraged in all of the societies. Do not allow this great means of good to go into disuse.
Troublesome Characters.
There are to be found in church societies, as in every other body, members who by their conduct become an annoyance, and frequently do harm to others.
In children's societies you will find those who endeavor to keep others form regular attendance at meetings, and entice them to spend their due money for candy, etc. As soon as you discover these mischief-makers, dismiss them at once.
Children of older growth become jealous. They will sow the seed of discord, and use their little endeavors to "break up" the society. As a rule, they are double-faced and always use tools for their ends. Hence, the evils of cliques. Petty [508] and mean characters will not leave the society when they are dissatisfied, but remain to give trouble. As a rule, they want to appear as being friends of the priest. They misconstrue his words, and retell, as his, sayings that he never thought of uttering. They make use of all their endeavors to inveigle others into mischief. They coax and promise. They are fond of newspaper notoriety, and glory in a victory over the priest. They claim credit for everything that is being done in the society, as though it proceeded from them.
These petty individuals delight in getting others into trouble.
A wholesale dismissal of all connected with such persons, or cliques, even if it takes every officer, is the only measure for effecting the safety of the society. Do this gently if you can. Harshly if you must.
In women's societies it is the talker that does the harm. Be careful of anyone who will bring you a story. As a rule, you will have a dozen about yourself circulating for the one that is brought to you. Silence is the powerful armor of the priest. The warning of the Gospel in regard to the "yea" and "nay" applies eminently in his case. As a rule, any attempt at explaining the things you may have been foolish enough to say will only complicate matters.
Men's Societies.
We must acknowledge that our influence with men has been much weakened by the disposition on the part of the poorly instructed to confound the meaning of the words liberty and license. We find that this is taken advantage of by evil-minded men, and there is a disposition on the part of many to listen to the voice of disorder, and follow in its wake. A politician usually takes advantage of this weakness among his Catholic brethren, and will seek to give himself importance by opposing the priest, whom he finds to be the only obstacle in his way. Keep politicians out of church societies. They are not a help to the church, and simply join for their own ends. When they fail in the [509] accomplishment of their designs, they will resort to all sorts of measures to stir up opposition. Put such a one in his place when he begins to find fault with the method of electing officers. This will be the starting point. Then is the time to "nip such in the bud." The plan we have proposed will prevent electioneering. But the disgruntled will find some opportunity to condemn what they are apt to call priestly tyranny. They fail to have their own way, and this is the source of their discontent. Hence, I would say: Avoid the chronic office-seeker; classify him with the fault-finder and intemperate. It is hard to guard against such. They neither practice nor respect candor and truthfulness, and in general they have no regard for holy things.
It is these who delight in uncovering the sores of the parish. Woe to the priest, if his life has not been blameless, when such men have been his bosom friends, as is too often the case. They worm their way into the confidence of the priest, only to strike him a death blow at their own pleasure. There are few unfortunate outcasts in the priesthood who may not trace their misfortune to such members, or ex-members, of a church society. In the same category with the above must be classed certain characters who, attaching themselves to a society, pretend to be everyone's friend. A true man must have oppositions, therefore enemies. Beware of liberal Catholics! Beware of nationalism! It has caused more sorrow for the Church in this country than all other sources combined. Malcontents will revenge their littleness by trying to bring about discord.
How are we to stop this evil? Pray. Keep quiet. Remove members who show the dispositions which I have mentioned, before they become a malignant growth. Bishops have a sacred duty to be slow in listening to reports against priests from members of societies. A priest who has deserved the confidence of being placed in charge of a parish, must be trusted as a man who knows enough to care for his flock in a manner which makes the interference of the Bishop in every petty squabble unnecessary. We have known of societies boldly asserting that their influence [510] was paramount with the Bishop. They may not be church societies, yet they call themselves by the Catholic name. If you think any good can be accomplished, send for the discontented party and talk straight to him. Where there is any Catholic feeling left, it will be well to induce him to approach the Sacraments frequently, say, every two weeks for three months. Our Lord may change his disposition, and bring him in the end to become a useful member. But do not place any confidence in expressions of regret until your man by his actions shows true signs of amendment.
If we ourselves have made mistakes, let us not fail to rectify them. Let us apologize. It is the Christian way. Humility always brings its blessing. We are not infallible. A gracious "giving in" when there is nothing of importance at stake will often effect much good.
There is no wisdom in insisting upon your own views with societies. If there appears to be any fault, don't speak of it until you are sure you have reason. Be quite certain that you are right before you act; hence, never follow the momentary suggestions of impulse. When you are right, stand firm. If you go down in the storm, you will soon float. God takes care of His priests, when His priests let Him carry the burden. The divine promise, "I will protect thee as the apple of Mine eye," is not a mere phrase. When you want satisfaction, and make up your mind you are going to have it, and use worldly means to obtain it, you plainly declare that you will get along without God. On the other hand, when our burdens are cast on Him, we shall recognize that "revenge is mine, saith the Lord."
In order to uphold God's kingdom on earth we shall need the co-operation of every true man and woman in the parish. But while we have the right and duty to seek that co-operation, we should never forget that we are the leaders under God, so that our intercourse may not degenerate into familiarity, or mere human attraction. While proud of our dignity as priests, the humility of the creature should help balance the honor of the Creator. Honest, open, manly friendship is all that we should ever seek. Friendships which shun the [511] light of day are means of destruction. There should be no distinctions, no personal preferences in our converse with the people under our care. Treat all alike. Treat all fairly. Making your spiritual children your brethren will dispel disturbing elements, and unite all your parish in working solidly for the honor of God in His Church.
Frank A. O'Brien.
St. Augustine's Church, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Footnotes:
1. They can be had from any printing-office at about $1.50 per hundred.
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Source: Francis A. O'Brien, "Organization and Maintenance of Parish Societies," American Ecclesiastical Review 14 (June 1896): 498–511.
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