Page:Withgodbookofpra00las.djvu/572

 confraternities have  existed,  but  the  membership  of  these was practically  made  up  of  women. A few  devout  men,  of course,  sought  the  spiritual  advantages  of  these  societies. So far  as  I  know,  I  have  not  learned  of  a  confraternity  or society  on  the  continent  for  the  past  four  decades,  requiring corporate action  in  the  practice  of  the  essentials  of  their religion, that  has  been  successful  in  uniting  the  majority  of the  men  of  the  parishes  throughout  a  diocese.

Thank God,  our  priests  here  in  the  United  States  appreciate fully  how  necessary  it  is  for  the  Church  to  have  a hold  on  our  men  through  the  organized  effort  of  a  church society. It is  recognized  that  such  an  organization  can not ask  too  much  of  our  men  without  failing  to  hold  the majority of  them. The Holy  Name  Society  in  the  providence of  Almighty  God  has  filled  just  the  requirements  tbat our priests  would  have  asked  for  had  they  been  assembled in council  with  the  authority  of  the  Holy  See  to  form  a society  peculiarly  adapted  to  the  Catholic  men  of  America. The Society  says  to  our  American  Catholic  men:  "No decent  man  can  refuse  to  do  what  the  Holy  Name  Society requires  of  you.  It  asks  nothing  but  what  the  Church asks,  but  in  discharging  the  obligations  imposed  on  you  by the  Church,  the  Holy  Name  Society  merely  requests  you for  a  corporate  action,  that  you  may  have  strength  in  unity and  that  strength  of  your  numbers  may  be  an  example  and an  invitation  to  all  weak-kneed  men,  who,  left  to  themselves, would  be  devoid  of  courage  or  indifferent  or  careless about  the  practice  of  their  religion." Writing of  the  Holy Name Society,  his  Excellency,  our  present  Most  Reverend Apostolic Delegate,  Monsignor  Falconio,  says:  "Example is  a  powerful  force  for  good  or  evil,  and  the  example  of  a large  body  of  men  in  a  parish  practising  their  religious duties  faithfully  is  at  once  a  stimulus  and  a  help  to  the members  to  fervor  and  perseverance  and  an  inducement  to others,  who,  without  this  example,  might  be  careless  and indifferent."

While rejoicing  at  what  has  been  done  and  what  is  being done by  our  priests,  and  while  thanking  God  for  the  firm hold the  Church  has  on  our  American  men,  we  must  not fail to  recognize  the  Divine  element  that  has  been  at  work.