where vulgar and
sometimes sinful amusements, scenes, or plays are presented. Even in
taking lawful recreation we may serve God and please Him if we take it
to strengthen our bodies that we may be enabled to do the work He has
assigned to us in this world.

Sunday is well spent by those who, after hearing Mass, devote some part
of the day to good works, such as pious reading, teaching in Sunday
school, bringing relief to the poor and sick, visiting the Blessed
Sacrament, attending Vespers, Rosary, etc. Not that I mean they should
do nothing but pray on Sundays; but they should not give the whole day
to useless enjoyment or idleness, and forget God. Some begrudge God even
the half-hour they are obliged to give to Mass on Sundays: they stand
near the door, ready to be the first out, and perhaps were the last in;
or they come late, and do not give the full time necessary to hear the
entire Mass. Others spend the whole day in reading newspapers,
magazines, or useless--I will not say sinful--books. It is not a sin to
read newspapers, etc., on Sunday; but to give the whole time to them,
and never read anything good and instructive, is a willful waste of
time--and waste of time is sinful. There should be in every family,
according to its means, one or more good Catholic newspapers or
magazines. Not all papers that bear the name of Catholic are worthy of
it. A truly Catholic paper is one that teaches or defends Catholic
truth, and warns us against its enemies, their snares, deceptions, etc.;
one, too, that tells us what is being done in the interests of religion,
education, etc. Besides such a paper there should be a few standard good
books in every family such as the New Testament, the Imitation of
Christ, a large and full catechism of Christian doctrine, etc. On the
other hand, all the books in your house need not be books treating of
religion or piety. Any book that is not against faith or morals may be
kept and read. A book may not be bad in itself, but it may be bad for
you, either because it is suggestive of evil, or you misunderstand it,
and take evil out of it. In such a case you should not read it. At the
present time there are so many bad books that persons should be very
careful as to what they read.

Not only should we keep Sunday well ourselves, but we should endeavor to
have it so kept by others. We must be careful, however, not to fall into
the mistake of some who wish the Sunday to be kept as the Pharisees of