THE PRACTICES OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH I.--Vespers and Benediction II.--Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament III.--Holy Communion IV.--Confirmation V.--Honoring the Blessed Virgin VI.--Confession of Sin VII.--Granting Indulgences VIII.--The Last Sacraments IX.--Praying for the Dead X.--Praying to the Saints XI.--Crucifixes, Relics, and Images XII.--Some Sacramentals--The Books Used by the Priest, the Sign of the Cross, Holy Water, Blessed Candles, Palm and Ashes, Holy Oils, Scapulars, Medals, Agnus Dei, Prayers, Litanies, Rosary, Angelus, Stations, Funeral Service, and Various Blessings XIII.--The Celebration of Feasts XIV.--Infant Baptism XV.--The Marriage Tie--One and Indissoluble XVI.--Respect Shown to Ecclesiastical Superiors XVII.--Celibacy XVIII.--Conclusion PART I The Veneration and Invocation of Saints, and the Efficacy of Prayer "Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation" (_Heb._ xiii. 7). "Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I am also of Christ" (_1 Cor._ iv. 16). [Illustration: Presentation of Mary in the temple.] CHAPTER I The Veneration and Invocation of Saints IN THE Creed of the Council of Trent, which the Catholic Church places before the faithful as the Rule of Faith, we read: "I firmly believe that the saints reigning with Christ are to be venerated and invoked." The Church therefore teaches, first, that it is right and pleasing to God to venerate the saints and to invoke their intercession; and second, that it is useful and profitable to eternal salvation for us to do so. The veneration of the saints is useful and profitable to us. Men conspicuous in life for knowledge, bravery, or other noble qualities and unusual merits are honored after death. Why, then, should Catholics not be permitted to honor the heroes of their faith, who excelled in the practice of supernatural virtue and are in special grace and favor with God? That this veneration is profitable to us is evident from the fact that the example of the saints incites us to imitate them to the best of our ability. The veneration of the saints is not only in full accord with the demands of reason, but we are, moreover, enjoined explicitly by Holy Scripture to venerate the memory of the holy patriarchs and prophets: "Let us now praise men of renown, and our fathers in their generation" (_Ecclus_. xliv. 1). "And their names continue for ever, the glory of the holy men remaining unto their children" (_Ecclus_. xlvi. 15).