The-papacy-its-history-dogmas-genius-and-prospects-wylie

DOCTRINE OF INTENTION. 353was told in Belgium, by an intelligent English Protestant,who had resided many years in that country, that it is rareindeed for a man of substance todie without leaving fromthirty to fifty pounds to be laid out in masses for his soul.No sooner is the fact known, than the priests of the districtflock to the dead man''s house, as do rooks to carrion, and,while a centime of the sum remains, live there, singing masses,and all the while feasting like ghouls.Another of the innumerable frauds connected with purgatoryis the doctrine of intention. By this is meant that thepriest offers his mass according to the intention of thepersonpaying. The price varies, according to the circumstancesof the person, from half-a-crown to five shillings.These intentions, in many instances, are never discharged.Mr Nolan mentions the case of the Rev. Mr Curran, parishpriest of Killuchan, in the county of Westmeath, an intimateacquaintance of his own, who at his death bequeathed tothe Rev. Dr Cantvvell of Mullingar, three hundred pounds,to be expended on masses (at two-and-sixpence each) forsuch intentions as he (Mr Cun-an) had neglected to discharge.It thus appears that Mr Curran died owing twentyfourhundred masses, most of them, doubtless, for souls inpurgatory.* " The frauds,"" says Dr Murray of New York,addressing Bishop Hughes, " which your Church has practisedon the world by her relics and indulgences are enormous.If practised by the merchants of New York in theircommercial transactions, they would send every man ofthem to state-prison."'''-}* " In Roman Catholic countries,""says Principal Cunningham " and in Ireland among therest, thepriests make the people believe that by the sacrificeof the mass, that is, by their offering up to God thebody and blood of Christ, they can cure barrenness, heal thediseases of cattle, and prevent mildew in grain ; and muchmoney is every year spent in procuring masses to effect these* Nolan's Pamphlet, p. 47. + Kirwan's Letters, series ii. letter vi.2jl