why should the badge of the Rosary be derided as supremely ridiculous? Both are in themselves mere pieces of worthless stuff, but both are symbols and memorials of a fellowship with the great or good. Besides, whatever the scapular may be in the eyes of others, experience proves that it is often of incalculable service to the wearer; that it has prevented the perpetration of many a crime; and that in several instances the unhappy sinner bent on gratifying his evil desires, had to fling aside this badge before he could find heart to offend his God: such was the force of its silent admonition.

What is the perpetual Rosary?

A pious practice by which the Rosary is recited uninterruptedly throughout the year; one member succeeding another in the performance of this devotion on the day and hour chosen by himself, and inserted in the book kept for this purpose by the director of the Confraternity.

For what purpose was the perpetual Rosary instituted ?

To honour God and his Virgin Mother every day, and hour, and moment of the year; as they are unceasingly honoured by the angels and saints in heaven.

What obligation does a person contract by entering into the perpetual Rosary?

That of reciting the whole of the Rosary at the hour of the day appointed by himself, and inserted in the book before mentioned. It is usual to select a person's birth day, or the feast day of his patron saint; but having once made the selection,

and communicated it to the director, he cannot change it, without giving due notice. To gain the plenary indulgence attached to the perpetual Rosary, the sacraments must be worthily approached on the day appointed for reciting this form of devotion.

Are there any other pious practices attached to the Rosary?

Yes, particularly that which is termed the Fifteen Saturdays of the Rosary. It consists in receiving the holy communion on fifteen successive Saturdays, in honour of the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary, to obtain some favour from God, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.

To obtain the Indulgences granted to this devotion, it is necessary,-First, to communicate in a church where the Confraternity of the Rosary is established. Secondly, to recite the whole of the Rosary on each of these Saturdays; meditating for some time on the mystery in honour of which the communion is received that day. Thirdly, it is advisable to devote that day to exercises of pietyto the works of mercy, spiritual or corporal-to fast, or practise some other kind of mortificationto have Mass celebrated, &c.

What benefits are derived from this devotion?

First, a plenary indulgence granted by the Popes to those who perform it. Secondly, experience has proved that it is very efficacious in obtaining from God the favours which are asked. Many members of the Confraternity, by resorting to this excellent devotion, have received grace to overcome some troublesome temptation, to acquire some

D

difficult virtue, to enter on a course of penance, to persevere in the service of God. Others have obtained in it even temporal blessings, the sudden cure of some ailment, or success in some important affair. It is, therefore, of great advantage to have recourse to it in any temporal or spiritual necessity.

In concluding this chapter, it may be proper to observe, that, within the Confraternity, many of the members form several sub-associations, united for various purposes of piety; such as teaching the Christian doctrine, watching over the due observance of order and propriety of behaviour in the church, providing ornaments for the holy Sacrifice, visiting the sick, particularly the members of the Confraternity, and rendering an account to each other, and to the Reverend Prior, of the faithful discharge of the duties they have undertaken.

CHAPTER III.

"WHATSOEVER YOU SHALL LOOSE UPON EARTH, SHALL BE LOOSED ALSO IN HEAVEN."-Matt. XVIII.

As the Catholic doctrine regarding Indulgences is often and grossly misrepresented by those who assail it without inquiring into its nature, or are predetermined to misunderstand it, we deem it right to state what it really is, before enumerating the various Indulgences which the Popes and General Councils have bestowed on the Confraternity of the Rosary. For Catholics this explanation is unnecessary, but it may serve to disabuse some erring brethren, who form their ideas of our Church from the frightful picture which designing men have presented as its real portrait. Taught that in our belief an Indulgence is a license to commit sin, it is scarcely a wonder that those misguided people should execrate the religion which upholds, as they imagine, so monstrous a doctrine. What must they think of those who have deceived them, when they learn that Catholics believe with all the unswerving firmness of their faith, that no power in heaven or on earth can give permission to commit sin-that

it would be a shocking blasphemy to assert, that even God himself can grant it? Will not their better feelings revolt against the calumniators,whose vituperations they so long implicitly believed, when they discover, that far from regarding an Indulgence as a permission to commit sin, we hold that it is not even a pardon for past sin, that of itself it cannot efface the most venial offence, the slightest blemish ? Had they consulted our doctrinal books to ascertain the nature of our belief, they would have learned, that we consider an Indulgence as the remission of the whole or of a portion of the temporal punishment due to sin after its guilt is forgiven. Now it is not very seemly in those who maintain that no temporal punishment is due to sin, and no satisfaction necessary on the part of the sinner, and who thereby give the most plenary of all indulgences, to accuse the Catholic Church of affording facilities for the commission of crime, when, in consideration of certain stipulated works of piety, it offers, in virtue of the authority entrusted to it by its Founder, to remit wholly or partially that punishment which in the opinion of Protestants has no existence what

ever.

To show still more clearly how shamelessly false it is to assert, that our Church gives encouragement to vice, we need only place in juxtaposition the conditions which Protestants and those which Catholics require before a sinner can have a wellgrounded confidence that his sins are forgiven.Both acknowledge, that through the merits of Christ the greatest criminal may obtain pardon. But for this