E-text prepared by Michael Gray (Lost_Gamer@comcast.net) EXPLANATION OF CATHOLIC MORALS A Concise, Reasoned, and Popular Exposition of Catholic Morals by Rev. JOHN H. STAPLETON New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benzinger Brothers Printers to the Holy Apostolic See Publishers of Benzinger's Magazine 1913 Nihil Obstat. REMY LAFORT, _Censor Librorum_. Imprimatur JOHN M. FARLEY, Archbishop of New York New York, March 25, 1904 Copyright, 1904, by Benzinger Brothers. PREFACE THE contents of this volume appeared originally in The Catholic Transcript, of Hartford, Connecticut, in weekly installments, from February, 1901, to February, 1903. During the course of their publication, it became evident that the form of instruction adopted was appreciated by a large number of readers in varied conditions of life-- this appreciation being evinced, among other ways, by a frequent and widespread demand for back-numbers of the publishing journal. The management finding itself unable to meet this demand, suggested the bringing out of the entire series in book-form; and thus, with very few corrections, we offer the "Briefs" to all desirous of a better acquaintance with Catholic Morals. THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS I. Believing and Doing II. The Moral Agent III. Conscience IV. Laxity and Scruples V. The Law of God and Its Breach VI. Sin VII. How to Count Sins VIII. Capital Sins IX. Pride X. Covetousness XI. Lust XII. Anger XIII. Gluttony XIV. Drink XV. Envy XVI. Sloth XVII. What We Believe XVIII. Why We Believe XIX. Whence Our Belief: Reason XX. Whence Our Belief: Grace and Will XXI. How We Believe XXII. Faith and Error XXIII. The Consistent Believer XXIV. Unbelief XXV. How Faith May Be Lost XXVI. Hope XXVII. Love of God XXVIII. Love of Neighbor XXIX. Prayer XXX. Petition XXXI. Religion XXXII. Devotions XXXIII. Idolatry and Superstition XXXIV. Occultism XXXV. Christian Science XXXVI. Swearing XXXVII. Oaths XXXVIII. Vows XXXIX. The Professional Vow XL. The Profession XLI. The Religious XLII. The Vow of Poverty XLIII. The Vow of Obedience XLIV. The Vow of Chastity XLV. Blasphemy XLVI. Cursing XLVII. Profanity XLVIII. The Law of Rest XLIX. The Day of Rest L. Keeping the Lord's Day Holy LI. Worship of Sacrifice LII. Worship of Rest LIII. Servile Works LIV. Common Works LV. Parental Dignity LVI. Filial Respect LVII. Filial Love LVIII. Authority and Obedience LIX. Should We Help Our Parents? LX. Disinterested Love in Parents LXI. Educate the Children LXII. Educational Extravagance LXIII.