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GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1963 PAGE 5 GEORGIA PINES Christmas- From A To Z BY REV. R. DONALD KIERNAN Writing Christmas cards is a real chore. I doubt if there is anyone who really enjoys writ ing cards but nearly everybody enjoys receiving them. So it seems that the annual ritqal is a "must" in all our lives, that is if we want to re ceive them ourselves. About five or six years ago I walked into a five and ten cent store and purchased a composition book. When I arrived home I marked the pages A through Z and then put down all the names that I could think of. The following Christmas I check ed off the names of those who ;ent me cards and with that >ractice I began to build up a Christmas card list. THERE IS ANOTHER feature o this practice which I found onvenient. Whenever I go on a rip 1 put this little book in my suitcase and if I'm in a new city I can finger through it and readi ly find out if I know anyone in that town. I guess I have made an otherwise laborious task at least a little interesting. It is real rasci- nating each year to read through he pages and find out the different addresses and status of per sons every year. OF COURSE what is most sad is to start ad dressing a card and then recall that this person has been called to his eternal reward since last season. At least it affords an opportunity to say a quick prayer for someone who was a good friend. Then there is the boy or girl to whom you simply addressed a card with the title Mr. or Miss and then realize that this year it has been changed to Mr. and Mrs. ITS ALWAYS A joy to change the address from Mr. and Mrs. to the—-Family and rea lize that Almighty God has blessed their marriage with children. Then too, there is always the man who has changed his status or title. The aspiring politi cian who now is addressed as The Honorable; or the army man who is now receiving his mail as Captain instead of Lieutenant; and the student of medicine who now is called Doctor. GREAT SATISFACTION comes to me when I no longer address a card to a young man at the semi nary but send it instead to the Reverend so and so in care of such and such a church. Mixed emotions come when I realize that a family now has been able to move from an apart ment to a home, or have changed their address from one section to another section of the city with a more formidable address, or havenotbeen so fortunate and have moved to a less impres sive locale. THEN THERE ARE the different types of Christ mas cards. Some like their name printed on the card while others feel that it is more personal to sign their name. (Incidentally, its impossible to read some unless you are a handwriting expert.) Some cards are real inspirational while others contain little or no resemblance to the Holy Sea son. The size of some are real indicative of sta tus symbols, while others seem more sensible. At any rate the whole idea of cards definitely does bring joy to those who receive them. The aged, sick and infirm look forward to receiving cards and it is a good way to say “thanks” to a person who has been kind and thoughtful to you the other 364 days of the year. Here it is the 14th of December and I haven't sent mine out yet. I must close and go back to that little book I bought five or six years ago. I hope your name is in it. QUESTION BOX Murder-Conscience? BY MONSIGNOR J. O. CONWAY Q. IF YOU MURDER SOMEONE ARE HIS SINS ON YOUR CONSCIENCE? A. No, the murderer’s own sins will be too much for one conscience to bear. Q. WOULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME IF A PRIEST CAN EXCOMMUNICATE A PERSON BE CAUSE HE HAS TRANSFERRED HIS CHILD FROM A CATHOLIC TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL? PLEASE GIVE ME A YES OR NO ANSWER. A. No. A priest cannot excommunicate anyone, for any reason. A bishop may make a law provid ing a penalty of excommunication for those who maliciously violate the law. Q. HOW CAN CATHOLICS GO TO HOLY COM MUNION EVERY SUNDAY AND AT THE SAME TIME REFUSE TO PAY THEIR DEBTS? in faith and love to offer the Mass in union with Jesus Christ? I know that you do not fulfill your obligation of attending Sunday Mass by assisting at a tele vised Mass. However, I am sure that you do par ticipate in some unmeasured measure in offer ing the Sacrifice and in receiving its benefits. Evidence that you do not fully participate is your in-ability to receive Holy Communion. However, your presence by attention, devotion, intention and electronics is far from negligible. You are joined in substantial Way to the priest, the wor shippers in the church, and millions of othes who share the priesthood of Christ in making this of fering. The Pope often grants an effective blessing by TV or radio. Why cannot Jesus join us to Him self in Sacrifice by similar means? We share in the Mass in the measure we take part in it, and join with all those who offer it. A. I can think of three possible reasons; (1) they are convinced that the debts are not just; (2) they fully intend to pay, but do not have the money now; or (3) they have juggled their conscience, as many Ca tholics are able to do on other subjects. My suggestion: Unless they owe the money to you, don’t worry your pretty head about them. The Lord will judge them. Q. IN WHICH RESPECTS IS SCIENTOLOGY UNACCEPTABLE TO A CATHOLIC? A. It is unacceptable to this Catholic because he hasn’t the slightest idea what it is. Q. WE WATCHED TH E PRESIDENT’S FUN ERAL mass on tv, following our missal AND KNEELING, ETC., AT THE PROPER TIME. WOULD THIS BE CONSIDERED “ATTENDING MASS?” IF NOT, WHY NOT? THERE CER TAINLY ARE NO DISTRACTIONS AS THERE ARE IN CHURCH. A. What are the distraction of church? Your brethren of the Mystical Body who join with you Q. CAN MARTIN LUTHER BE CALLED AN APOSTATE? WHAT IS THE REASON HE CAN OR CANNOT? IF POSSIBLE PLEASE PRINT THIS VERY SOON BECAUSE WE ARE ALMOST PAST THIS UNIT IN OUR RELIGION BOOK. A. In the modern ecumenical spirit we do not call people offensive names. But even in the old dog-eat-dog spirit apostate was not an appro priate name for the Augustinian monk of Wit tenberg who inspired and led the Evangelical re form which we now call Protestantism. Certain ly, in terms of Canon Law, he was an apostate from his vows as a monk. In a broad, popular sense of the word a Catholic of his age might have called him an apostate from the faith - ex cept that few men of that age, of either persuasion, were accustomed to such restraint. In a technical sense, however, an apostate is one who totally rejects the faith which he has held. Luther never did that: he rejected the Pope, with all his popish pomps and practices; he re jected monastic vows, some of the sacraments, and good works with all their Pelagian presump tions. But he held fast to Jesus Christ as Divine Redeemer, to sanctification by faith and grace, and to the inspired word of God as found in the Scriptures. LITURGICAL WEEK ‘The Lord Draws Near’ (Continued from page 4) ' What a beautiful economy of expression in the Gospel’s simple statement, "she will bear a son, whom thou shalt call Jesus, for he is to save his people from their sins”! WEDNESDAY, DEC. 25, CHRISTMAS DAY. Everything worldly is today invaded by divinity and orientated toward a spiritual goal. The mid night, dawn and daytime Masses all sing the joy of creatures who have labored long under the no tion of some kind of opposition between matter and spirit but whose integrity and wholeness and harmony is now restored. “You are my son” (Midnight Entrance Hymn) is addressed not only to Jesus but to all of us whom He has joined to Himself, who break the Bread of His Body at the holy table. THURSDAY, DEC. 26, ST. STEPHEN, FIRST MARTYR. Lest we find it surprising that so welcome a message should encounter resistance, the first post-Christmas saint we honor is a martyr. This blood that has been so dignified must yet flow. Man is not eager to accept his glorification. We prefer that God should respect our bounda ries, should stay on His side of the fence. But Christians must make Stephen's vision their own: ”1 see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of almighty God” (First Reading, Alleluia, Communion Hymn). FRIDAY, DEC. 27, ST. JOHN, EVANGELIST. The importance of the Gospel book, the Bible, in our public worship is uppermost in the Church’s consciousness today, as we honor “the same dis ciple that bears witness of all this and has writ ten the story of it’’ (Gospel), John the beloved. The Collect prayer is for the enlightenment and understanding which should result from our hearing the Scriptures proclaimed. SATURDAY, DEC. 28, THE HOLY INNOCENTS, MARTYRS. It IS not only the mature adult with his deliberate response of faith that benefits from Jesus’ coming. Even children, even the unrea soning, have been touched by the glory of the Son of God. Their blood, their lives, are fashioned by the Christ into a hymn-of praise, just as the Eu charist we celebrate around our altarfashions the lives of the human community- we represent into such a hymn. Saints in Black and White ST. LAURENCE 66 ACROSS 74. Admit 28. Middle 1. Lettuce 4. Remove 8. Gun 11. Lump 11. Strike 15. Uncovered 16. Central American tree 17 pro nobis 18. French island 19. Psyche 20. Month; abhr. 21. Hebrew teacher 22. Dutch portrait painter 24. Agent 26. Story 2"\ Vague 30. Marble 33. Manage 36. Gainers 4 0. Malay coin 43. Farm department 4 5. Footwear 46. Electrical unit* 48. Debauchees 50. Devotion 51. Hawaiian salutation 5 3. Numbers 55. Duck 56. His home was in 58. Fact 60. Arranger 61. He was granted a vision of the wisdom at age 19 63. Cited 65. Belief 67. Set above 71. U.S.S.R. News Agency 77. Clean 29. Period of time 78. Mother of ancient Irish Gods 31. 79. Passing fancy 32. 81. In arrears 8t. Government Agency 3 i. 85. Soak 35. 86. Wrath 8". Persia 3". 88. Summit 38. 86. Consumed 36. 90. Saul's grandfather iO. 91. Disputes " Pinafore" .1. 92. i2. DOWN i7. i l ). 1. He longed to become 52. a Samt while one 5 4. 2. Lubricator 5‘». 3. Stone slab or pillar 56. 4. Benedictine form of 62. address 6 i. 5. Far of grain (Fr.) 66. 6. ” me* your cars * Comb, form meaning within 68. 8. He joined the Canon* 69. Regular of St "0. 9. Rudiments *1. 10. Child - > 11. Girl’s name "3. 12. Pertaining to the *s. mnuih 76 13. Infant ”6. 23. Head ofi course SO. 25. B.ib\ Ionian deity S2. 26. Sport Fellow of the American Acadeniv; nbbr. Light carriage King of beasts Priest of the ancient celts Dropsy Fsti mater Craftier Crossbeam Rent again Only Chinese town Garments Bristle Skin disease Well Lamb Sea in Fr.in k e Chief Small drops of moisture Popular entertainer His feast das is Sept English town Gathers Home of Irish kings Dill herb Fulls satisfy Medley Part of a hosyi'nl Wingiike projection Fsist l rchin Existence ANSWER TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE ON PAGE 7 VATICAN DAILY Christian And Socialist Coalition Gets Support ROME (NC) —Vatican City’s dally newspaper has thrown its weight behind Italian Premier Aldo Moro’s coalition with the Socialists in the £ace of mount ing opposition with Moro’s own Christian Democratic party. In two editorials L’Osserva- tore Romano urged Catholics to rally round Mor’s Catholic- inspired party. Powerful party members led by former Pre miers Mario Scelba and Giuseppe Pella had threaten ed to withhold their support from Moro's center - left government in the parliamen tary vote of confidence requir ed for every new government. Scelba and company object to any collaboration with Pietro Nenni’s Socialists because of their Marxism and neutralism. THE FIRST editorial (Dec. 13) spoke in veiled terms of unity among Catholics without referring to the political crisis. It only said that “any breach in the unity of Catholics in any field means joy for the enemies of the Faith.” But the very day that edition appeared (Dec.12), the breach within the Christian Democratic party became pub lic knowledge. Two days later L’Osserva- tore spoke forthrightly about the threat to split the Christian De- moncratic party and the uncon cealed satisfaction fo some Ital ian newspapers at this revolt in the party’s leadership. IT SAID, ". . .certain news papers are expressing satis faction at the split within the Christian Democratic party, saying that the party ’has had a jolt at last’ and that this may have beneficial results for the political situation and the struggle against communism The fact remains that if there is independence, security and democratic progress in an Italy restored to democracy after a catastrophic war, this is mainly due to the fact that the Christian Democratic party has remained disciplined and united, and that it became that great political force which en sured stability and security to successive governments and to the nation.” L’OSSERVATORE declared that the Christian Democratic party “continues to face the largest communist party in Europe, which works insidious ly and relentlessly for the con quest of power.” The paper also declared, "In Italy there is but one alternat ive for the party of Catholics and for democracy itself; either to be united or to be defeated.” ' THE EDITORIAL finally re called the appeal for unity among Catholics which was is sued by the Italian Hierarchy on the eve of last spring’s national elections. Scelba took this point up in replying to L’Osservatore. The high-ranking politician asked, “Is communism such a grave threat for our country as to justify the grieving appeal of the Italian Episcopate which now is echoed by L’Osservatore Ro mano? If so, and the results of the April elections proved it, then the policy of the Christ ian Democrats must shape it self to this reality.” (Italy’s communists gained about a million votes in that election.) Seminary Fund Remember the SEMINARY FUND of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in your Will. Be quests should be made to the “Most Rev erend Paul J. Hallinan, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta and his suc cessors in office". Participate in the daily prayers of our seminarians and in the Masses offered annually for the benefactors of our SEMINARY FUND. ARNOLD VIEWING Plays Bad-Movies Worse BY JAMES W. ARNOLD Dissatisfied with making bad movies out of good plays, some Hollywood producers now have decid ed to make even worse movies out of bad plays. One current example (too appalling even to con sider) is “Under the Yum-Yum Tree.” Another is "Take Her, She’s Mine,” in which such gallant actors as J immy Stewart and Robert Morley strug gle to keep afloat in an apocalyptic flood of cliches. It is impossible to believe what passes for humor in this film, adapted from Phoebe and Henry Iphron’s stage potboiler by old pro Nunally Joyn- son (“Three Faces of Eve”), who ought to recon sider the advantages of retirement. The comedy climax (the very peak) occurs when actor Ste wart’s clothes fall off at a cos- e ball in Paris. ■he show’s Main Joke, and rly its only one, is the rnal War between genera ls. Stewart and movie wife irey Meadow s are parents of blossoming blonde (Sandra ;) whose virtue, to their o.uggish minds, seems constan tly in danger. There is also sub-joke one (the effect Miss Dee has on passing males, a result less of her charms than of her unwillingness to clothe them), and sub-joke two (what happes to old fogey Stewart when he rashly invades his daugh ter’s world). At college Miss Dee meets boys and girls not seen on campus since producer-director Henry Koster ("The Robe”) and F. Scott Fitzgerald went to school (“Oohl Here come the boys I”). At this point in human history, even one more joke about Beatniks is unbearable. “Take Her” has a full 10-minute coffee house sequence, in which Stewart and the bearded proprietor have a tedious misunderstanding about whether Miss Dee removes her clothing or merely plays guitar during the floor show. Stewart finally becomes enraged when one character says he wouldn’t look under either circumstance. SINCE NO old fogey «comedy/ would be com plete without a trip to Paris (tourist version), the script somehow gets Sandra flunked out of college and abroad as an art protegee. This gives her a chance to perch on a table in a bistro and sing for hundreds of delirious extras, all appa rently tone-deaf, while Stewart blunders into a high-comedy brothel and gets picked up in an “Irma La Douce” raid. Actor Morley, the soft round Britisher with the polite diction and the wide innocent eyes, watches Stewart trying to persuade a French cabby to go “tres slow, sill voo play,” then gets the movie’s first real laugh with the line: “I always tell them I’m pregnant.” Morley later is also obliged to lose his clothes in public, but this is one fellow w ho is really funny in shorts. Aside from the fact that the movie has no right to the laughs it strangles from the audience, it is the sort that is, in its own incompetent way, as dangerous to the spirit as, say, “Dragstrip Sweetheart” or "Les Liaisons Dangereuses." In the first place, more people are likely to see it and assume it is harmless. (The film does try to be naughty' with pseudo-shocking dialog on such topics as virginity and female anatomy). The facts: 1. - WITH ONLY momentary exceptions, "Take Her” and films like it are clumsy, unimagina tive entertainment that blunt the soul and, through repetition over time, tend to blur the perception of the Beautiful and, ultimately, the Source of All Beauty. 2. - The main target of its satire is the blun dering father-figure who is capable of loving his daughter but of being no help to her. Somehow a successful law yer and even president of the school board, he has got through life without hearing of Henry Miller; he is baffled by nearly everything in the world, including folk-singing, modern paint ing, cab drivers and foreigners. Mother, on the other hand, is cool and balanced, permissive and wise. The only time she is funny is a tribute to her wisdom - sneaking extra lug gage on a jet without charge. Yet both parents are so incompetent they can’t tell when a phonograph record is playing at the wrong speed. 3 - The daughter's wildness has a definite gla mor. All the boys desire her. Her art teacher fondles her during class; the French consul’s eyes keep wandering from her art to her decol- letage. A failure in school, she is a success in life: she becomes the Idol of Paris and marries a young Frenchman (Philippe Forquet)who is rich and arty and looks like a dimpled Monty Clift. AGAIN there is the odd situation so peculiar to American movies: being "bad” is attractive and no more risky than attending a tea dance at Miss Bullfinch’s academy. Vice is not only fun, but it pays off. TheDefenderof Old-Fashioned Virtue, however, is ludicrous, incompetent and Out of Touch. In the end, all he can do is sputter hope lessly as his younger daughter wiggles off in her bikini. 4 - The image of the American family is awe some. Daughter is sexy and brainless. Mother is glamorous and omniscient. Father is loud, ami able, anti-intellectual and stupid - but above all rich. He never works, takes air flights around the world at will, owns a $75,000 home with swim ming pool. At one point he decides to send his younger daughter to Wellesley. “We can just about make it if there isn’t another tax jump...and if you and 1 don't eat next year.” Here the moved spectator may, like Steve Allen, put his thumb in his mouth and groan, sympathetically. CURRENT RECOMMENDED FILMS: For everyone: Lawrence of Arabia, Lilies of the Field, The Great Escape. For connoisseurs: Winter Light, 8 1/2, This Sporting Life, The Leopard. Better than most: The Haunting, The V.I.P.’s, The Reluctant Saint. God Love You BY MOST REVEREND FULTON J. SHEEN Do you sleep well? Or do you worry about other people— their diseases, their hunger, their poverty? Does your consc ience ever disturb you about not sharing with the poor of the world? Put together the following contrasting facts and you will be bothered. The average American family throws away 750 tin cans a year, while many houses in Latin American slums are made of tin cansl Within 40 years (up to 1914), the United States used 40 per cent of the natural resources of the earth , which is more than the rest of the world used dur ing 4,000 years. Each day the aver age American uses ten times more of the earth's natural resources (not including food) than the rest of the world. . .The average American eats 4.66 pounds of food a day; the aver age Indian eats 1.2 pounds a day (and this is mostly starch). Ameri cans throw enough food into their garbage pails each year to feed 600 million Chinese for three days a week. . .The average funeral of an adult in the United States costs $1,450. Ten thousand people in the world die daily of starvation. Many consciences are becoming stirred in the United States. One woman was sent a prospectus of a new dormitory building on a college campus and was asked to contribute $50,000. The marble floors, the elaborately decorated bathrooms, the kitchenettes on each floor made her consider whether she was contributing to the excessive display of wealth of those who sh ould be signed with Christ’s Cross. She wrote to us quoting Nietzsche. It was he who said: "God is dead." But maybe he said it because we act as if God is dead. For Nietzsche reflected: “How can you convince me of a Redeemer, if you do not act like one redeemed?" This is the challenge thrown upon the Church in the United States: Christ does not want you to fulfill your desires before- satisfying the necessities of others. Make your soul consider these facts, and then give to the Holy Father who aids all— all societies, all places, all areas. He does not invest your money so that missionaries may live on interest. He, who knows best where it is needed, gives it away immediately to the poor. This kind of sensible, unhoarded charity is yours through The Society for the Propagation of the Faith. May the Lord bless you for sharing with the poor. GOD LOVE YOU to Mrs. T. V. B. for $20 "My sister-in- law and I decided not to exchange Christmas gifts among the family this year, so I’m sending the money for Our Lord’s Poor.” . .to A. M. P. for $10 ”1 received an increase insalary rec ently. Now I would like to contribute a raise in a salary to the Missions.” . . .to Mr. and Mrs. D. C. F. for $5 “We promised this for the successful Canadian moose-hunting tripwe hadl" Find out how an annuity' with The Society for the Propagation of the Faith helps both you and the poor of the world. Send your requests for our pamphlet on annuities, including the date of your birth, to Most Rev. Fulton J. Sheen, 366 Fifth Avenue, New York New York 10001. < Cir. out this column, pin your sacrifice to it and mail it to Most Rev. Fulton J. Sheen, National Director of The Society for the Pro pagation of the Faith, 366 Fifth Avenue, New York, N. Y. I000I, or 3 our Diocesan Director. Rev. Harold j. Rainey, P. O. Box 12047, Northside Station, Atlanta 5, Ga.