Page:Delineation of Roman Catholicism.djvu/368

 60 PSNCS--S,tTmrJ,�?ZO. [Boos 11 mad says all others may be reduced to these three. Afflict/on of body may be referred to alms; 8acted communion and the tlve acts of latria. or worship, to prayer; and whatsoever relates to benefiting our neigh- hour may be referred to alms. "The following,'* say8 Dens, "can be enjoined under the head Frayer, once, or oftener, either for many days or wee*ks, viz., 1. To say five Patemolters and tlve Ave Maias, in memory of the five wounds of Christ, either with bended knees or outstretched arnm, or before crucifix. 2. To recite the rosary, or litanies of the blessed Virgin Mary, or of the saints, &c. 3. To read the psalm Miserere, or the seven penitential psalms. 4. To hear mass, or praises, or preaching. 5. To visit churches, to pray before the tabernacle. 6. At stated hour in the morning, evening, during the day, or as often as they hear the sound of the clock, to renew orally, or in the heart, ejaculatory p .rayers, acts of contrition or charity: such as, I love thee, 0 Lord, above all things; I detest all my sins; I am resolved.to sin no more; O Jesus. crucified for me, have mercy on me, &c. 7. At an appointed day, to confess again, or, at any* rate, to return to the confessor." "To fasting may be referred whatever pertains to the mortilicatio of the body: so that a perfect or partial fast can be enjoined. 1. Let him fast (J'o-/d sext) on the sixth holyday, or oftenor. 2. Let him fast only to the middle of the day. 3. Let him not drink before noon, or in the afternoon, unless at dinner or supper, though he may be thirsty; let lim abstain from wine and from �visiaforti. 4. Let him eat less, and take in the evening no more than small portion. 5. Let him rise earlier from bed let him kneel frequently and for a long time; let him suffer cold, observe silence for a certain time, and stain from sports and recreations, &c." "To abn is tel'erred whatever may be expended for the benefit of our neighbout. 1. To give money, clothes, food, &c. 2. To furnish personal assistance, to wait on the sick, to pray for the conversion of sinners, &c., and other works of mercy, whether corporeal or spi- ritual."* Another kind of penances might readily be made out, viz.,  au.tel/es; but this technical division is of 8mall importance. It is proper, however, to remark, that the collection of Dens, though sufl- ciently ample, omits 8everal classes of penances which are or have been in great vogue in the Roman Catholic Church, such as pilgrim- ages, whipping, bodily tortures, &c. It seems, in the estimation of the Church of Rome, that pra)-er is considered a suef'/f, and a pun/s/tme, by which, among other things, they expect to make atonement for their sins. But among enlightened evangelical Christians it is considered a precious privilege to have acce88 to C_red, in the name of Christ, by prayer and supplication for those things of which they have need. Among Roman Catholics it is quite different; few of them can take any interest in their prayers, as they are chiefly in an unknown tongue, and consist in the constant repetition of the same words, without having any distinct ideas attached to them; I.t is quite natural to look upon such an exercise as a punish- ." lta in genere orat/fit injuni porenat, &c."--Dmu  /fmzf/mte, No. vi, p.  MeeJt]/n, 180.

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