Catholic Church Teaching - Still Roman Catholic After All These Years

DEVOTION TO THE MOST HOLY EUCHARIST

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine Amen

INTRODUCTION

THE REAL PRESENCE

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

1323 At the Last Supper, on the night he was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic sacrifice of his Body and Blood. This he did in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved Spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet ‘in which Christ is consumed,

1357 We carry out this command of the Lord by celebrating the memorial of his sacrifice. In so doing, we offer to the Father what he has himself given us: the gifts of his creation, bread and wine which, by the power of the Holy Spirit and by the words of Christ, have become the body and blood of Christ. Christ is thus really and mysteriously made present.

1391 Holy Communion augments our union with Christ. The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus. Indeed, the Lord said: “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” Life in Christ has its foundation in the Eucharistic banquet: “As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.” The Eucharist is also an anticipation of the heavenly glory

SCRIPTURE

The word of God is so powerful that whatever he commands is carried out. When he says, “Let there be light” Genesis 1:3, at creation, light suddenly appears. At his word, the sun, moon, and stars are brought into existence. The power of that divine word is also in Jesus.

When Jesus tells a paralyzed man, “Rise, take up your pallet, and walk”, the man is immediately healed and begins to walk John 5:8-9. When Jesus tells the dead Lazarus to come out of the tomb, Lazarus comes out risen from the dead. John 11:43-44.

When Jesus took bread and said, “This is my body”, and took wine and said, “This is my blood” Matthew 26:26-28. These sacred words bring about what he says. Catholics believe that the same divine word in Christ that had the power to heal, raise people from the dead, can change bread and wine into his Body and Blood”.

COMMENTARY

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE!

HE IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!

It doesn’t get much better than that but we don’t have to wait until the end of time to unite ourselves with Jesus’ glorious body and blood. At the Last Supper for all time Jesus gave us His greatest gift, His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity to share at every Mass, every day, everywhere in the world!

The Church has historically encouraged the month of April for increased devotion to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. “The Church in the course of the centuries has introduced various forms of Eucharistic worship i.e. visits of devotion to the tabernacles; Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament; solemn processions, especially on the Feast Day of Corpus Christi; and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament publicly exposed .

REFLECTIONS

The Celebration of the Eucharist is a memorial, an act of thanksgiving, and a sacrifice; a memorial of the Last Supper , an act of thanksgiving in gratitude for the gift of salvation and we offer ourselves along with Jesus in sacrifice through the un-bloody offering of bread and wine. “Do this in remembrance of me” Luke 22:19

The Lord Jesus, “the way, and the truth, and the life” John 14:6, speaks to our thirsting, pilgrim hearts, our hearts yearning for the source of life, our hearts longing for truth. Jesus Christ is the Truth in person, drawing the world to himself. In the sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus shows us, in particular, the truth about love which is the very essence of God. It proclaims God’s everlasting love and everlasting presence!

If I look at the Eucharist through the lens of Jesus the Bridegroom Messiah, another meaning comes to light. If Jesus is the Bridegroom and the Church is his bride, the Lord’s Supper is not just a memorial, or a banquet of “thanksgiving,” or a sacrifice; it is also a wedding banquet in which Jesus gives himself entirely to his bride, the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. This kind of self-gift is only really possible if the Eucharist is not just a symbol of Jesus, but is truly His body and blood, soul and divinity. It is the “marriage supper of the Lamb” Revelation 19:9,

Jesus’ Passion and death is not about pain and suffering but God’s sacrificial gift of love to us that we might live. In this very messy world of incomprehensible death and tragedy, cling to Jesus, run to Him. Hug him, stay close…..He is our only refuge in this spiritual battle between good and evil.

“TO WHOM SHALL WE GO!” JOHN 6:68

HOLY HOUR OF EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

Christ is present in the Most Blessed Sacrament to manifest his great love for us. You may wish to break the hour into 4 fifteen minute sessions. The first 15 minutes we may devote to the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament…Spend this time in ADORATION. Think of the marvel of this great reality: Christ, the God-Man, is truly present in his divinity as well as his humanity, body and soul before me.

PRAYER OF ADORATION

Lord, thank you for this hour of Eucharistic devotion. I adore you as the infinite and Holy One of God. You and the Father are one and you promised that we will be one in You… May Your Holy Spirit be with us. Send Him constantly to us as You promised. As I look at this mysterious sign, the white host, my eyes tell me nothing of who is there, but faith affirms in my heart that You, my Lord and God, are there. I thank You for this precious gift of faith. Amen.

The next 15 minutes may be devoted to THANKSGIVING. Let words of thanksgiving rise up in your soul, or just simply give thanks to God for his presence here in such a remarkable way. Take time to recall and thank God for other special blessings and wonders of God: your family, vocation, gift of life, opportunity to be in his Presence, special friends, etc. Thank him for his love for you, for his unfailing help in trials and difficulties.

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Thank you, Father, for having created us and given us to each other in the human family. Thank you for being with us in all our joys and sorrows, for your comfort in our sadness, your companionship in our loneliness. Thank you for yesterday, today, tomorrow and for the whole of our lives. Thank you for friends, for health and for grace. May I live this and every day conscious of all that has been given to me…

Dedicate the next 15 minutes to PETITION. First of all, ask Jesus here present in the Holy Eucharist for the grace he wants most for you: the great blessing of redemption and eternal salvation….for you, for each member of your family, your friends, people of you neighborhood and parish, for all mankind. Pray for conversions… Pray for the sick and lonely, the discouraged, our youth, the unborn, our country, its leaders. for our Holy Father, and for all priests and religious ….Pray for vocations to complete the work of Christ.

PRAYER OF PETITION

Give me yourself, O my God, give yourself to me. Behold I love you…if my love is too weak a thing, grant me to love you more strongly. I cannot measure my love, but let my soul hasten to your embrace… This only do I know that it is not good for me when you are not with me, when you are only outside me. I want you in my very self. All the plenty in the world which is not my God, is utter want. Amen.

Dedicate the last 15 minutes of the Holy Hour to ATONEMENT. A look into one’s own conscience first, for where we sin and where we need to ask for pardon and mercy. Oh my Jesus, forgive us our sins, save us from the fires of hell and lead all souls to heaven, especially those most in need of your mercy! A look into the conscience of the world at large…the demeaning of others, insults and injuries inflicted around the globe, sins against life and the world we live in…are we good stewards…do we welcome the stranger…feed the hungry…care for the sick….. treat others as we wish to be treated….

PRAYER OF CONTRITION

O Lord, forgive me my sins; the sins of my youth, the sins of my age, the sins of my soul, the sins of my body; my idle sins, my serious voluntary sins, the sins that I know, the sins I have concealed so long and which are now hidden from my memory. I am truly sorry for every sin, mortal and venial, for all the sins of my childhood up to the present hour. I know my sins have wounded Thy tender Heart; O my Savior, let me be freed from the bonds of evil through your most bitter passion. O my Jesus, forget and forgive what I have been. Amen.

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD WHO TAKES AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD

WELCOME TO THE MARRIAGE FEAST OF THE LAMB

REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

We live in a world that flees from suffering. We are taught to believe that the less we suffer, the happier we will be. We run away from it every way we can, drugs, alcohol, sex, shopping binges, eating binges and so forth.

The world says, “Pleasure yourself and all will be well.” However, there is still a problem. We are not in control and suffering comes our way whether we like it or not. It might be us that are suffering or someone we love. Suffering need not be something we hate and try our best to avoid. Jesus showed us another way, “not my will but thy will be done” This blog today is about turning our suffering into blessings for ourselves and others.

It was not the original plan of God that suffering and death be a part of human existence. The gift of immunity from suffering and death are not essential to human nature, however, and could be lost. God endowed man with free-will so they may freely choose Him above all things before entering into the beatitude of heaven.

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, rebelled and as a result they lost for themselves and their descendants those gifts that made them immune from suffering and death, the consequences of sin.

Adam and Eve was cast out of the Garden of Paradise to till the ground from which they had come. They were separated from God along with their descendants. God could have left man in this helpless state but in His mercy He chose to send His only begotten Son, Jesus, to become a member of the human race. Because Jesus is God and Man, the reparation Jesus offered was infinite. Divine Justice would be fulfilled.

REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING

“In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ raised human suffering to the level of Redemption. Thus each man, in his sufferings, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ” Saint Pope John Paul II

Redemptive suffering is offering oneself united with Christ’s passion for ourselves and others to obtain heaven. It takes on our sins and the sins of others. St. Paul writes that we are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:17

By suffering in His human nature during His Passion, Christ gave to all suffering members of His Mystical Body a redeeming power, when accepted and offered up in union with His Passion. There was no dark place of suffering that Jesus did not redeem and sanctify, make holy and redemptive.

St. Paul was so filled with the idea of the redemptive power of suffering that he exclaimed: “I find joy in the sufferings I endure for you. In my own flesh I fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, the Church.” Colossians 1:24

Just to be clear….There is nothing lacking in Christ’s redemption. When Christ exclaimed: “It is consummated!” Jesus says in effect: All is accomplished that I came to do. There is no grace that comes to any human being that was not merited by Jesus. Jesus’ sacrifice lacked nothing. Jesus had no need of any other in redeeming the human race.

St. Paul, in Colossians, is speaking of the Mystical Body of Christ, made up of Christ, the Head, and all souls who are the members of His Body. It is in the members of His Body that something is lacking.

Jesus willed that the mystery of His Passion continue on in us, so that we may be associated with Him in the work of redemption. In God’s justice He demands the debt of atonement be paid. In His mercy, God allows us to “fill up what is lacking” in another member of the Mystical Body, the Church.

Catechism of the Catholic Church #618

The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the “one mediator between God and men”. But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man… He calls his disciples to “take up their cross and follow him, for “Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example so that we should follow in his steps.”…and share in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.

REFLECTIONS

Everyone suffers. No need to go in search of a “cross” to bear with Jesus. Most likely you already carry one, especially designed for you. Will you drag it behind in bitterness and stubbornness only making it more unbearable or will you pick it up, stumble forward in hope, of a glorious future one day!

The “cross” can include anything we find hard to bear. It may be physical pain, chronic illness for decades, mental anguish, disappointments, set-backs in business, loneliness, or sadness at death of family member or friend. Or they may be little irritants like a cold, being cut off in traffic, losing a parking place to another, computer problems, or cable television outage.

Though these crosses are beyond our power of control, they are part of God’s providence. God foresees them all and allows them, so He can bring good out of them. There are so many stories in the Old Testament that looked really bad and turned out very good. But here, I will just cite the story of Joseph, sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, who then in the divine providence of God became a powerful ally in Egypt that saved his family from famine in the land of Canaan. Genesis 37-42

By accepting willingly and without complaint our crosses which God in His Providence allows to come our way, we can pay in part the debt that we, or others, have incurred by our sins. Redemptive suffering does not have to take on extreme forms to be effective but rather, any suffering, if offered with love, can be given redemptive value, even something as mundane as a toothache.

It is not easy to accept suffering. Even Jesus in His human nature asked the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, “if this cup could pass, but not my will thy will be done.” Like Jesus, we too can pray in painful situations, “let this chalice pass from me” as long as we are willing to add “nevertheless, not my will but yours be done”

Christ has raised suffering to level of redemption. We share in that redemptive suffering with Christ. We may never understand suffering just as Job (Book of Job) said to God “I don’t get it “and God replied “I know you don’t understand.”

We don’t understand suffering either. But we know God is all good, only permits suffering if He can draw some greater good out of it.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY APRIL 11

JESUS TO SAINT FAUSTINA

“You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone!

AMAZING GRACE

1 Comment / CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

FALLING INTO SIN

IN THE GARDEN

Adam and Eve before they sinned had special gifts not necessary to human nature. These were called Preternatural gifts and include infused knowledge, integrity, and immortality of the body.

Before original sin, man was in a state of “original justice.” Had Adam and Eve not sinned they would have passed this state of “original justice” down to their descendants. After Adam and Eve committed “original sin,” they lost “original justice” and the preternatural gifts for the entire human race, their descendants.

God gave Adam and Eve the ability to live a life that was more than human, that was divine, with the Spirit of God dwelling in their souls. (Sanctifying Grace) But Adam lost that gift of divine life for himself and all his descendants. We are born physically alive but spiritually dead.

Adam’s fall from grace left all his descendants with a darkened intellect, a weakened will, and disordered affections and appetites. Man’s passions are no longer ruled by right reason We are now inclined towards anything our imagination paints as pleasurable, without regards for what is good for us by God’s design. (Concupiscence) We also inherited from Adam and Eve pain, suffering and death.

Saint Paul states very well the conditions of Concupiscence,” I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate….now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me….The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not….For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want….ROMANS 7:15-20

FALLING INTO GRACE

Just as we fell into sin, we fall into Grace. When things are so bad and we are so miserable, frustrated, and desperate and there is no one else to turn to, we fall on the mercy of God and plead with Him to be our Savior and restore us in relationship. Grace is a supernatural gift of God, first infused in us at our Baptism for our eternal salvation.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

CCC 1997 Grace is a participation in the life of God. It introduces us into the intimacy of Trinitarian life By Baptism the Christian participates in the grace of Christ, the Head of his Body. As an “adopted son,” he can call God “Father,” in union with the only Son.

CCC 2000 Sanctifying Grace is a habitual gift and the supernatural state of being infused by God, which permanently inheres in the soul; but may be lost in commission of mortal sin. It is a vital principle of the supernatural life. It is called sanctifying grace because it makes holy those who possess the gift by giving them a participation in the divine life.

There is also a Grace called Actual Grace, a temporary supernatural intervention, that can strengthen our minds and wills to choose the good that will help maintain Sanctifying Grace and lead us to our destiny in Heaven. Actual grace is a transient divine assistance that we can pray for that enables us to obtain, retain, or grow in supernatural grace and the life of God.

The call to salvation depends entirely on God’s gratuitous initiative, for he alone can reveal and give himself. It surpasses the power of human intellect and will. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons and daughters, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.

Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. The veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he breathed his last, the centurion said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:37-39

REFLECTIONS

The mistake many of us make at the beginning of the spiritual life is to try “go it alone”. After falling into sin, sin that has separated us from our God, a darkness we can no longer endure, we reach a point when we can no longer rely on our own resources. So, humbly, we fall back on God’s mercy. We discover again what it means to trust in God, to fall back on the power and love of Christ. My Jesus Mercy!

Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, out of Paradise, away from the Tree of Life. But before they were sent forth, God gave them the First Gospel, the first Good News. He promises he will save them. The Second Eve [Mary] will be obedient, undoing Eve’s disobedience; Genesis 3:15 Her seed, Jesus Christ .will crush the head of the serpent. Man will receive a greater Tree of Life from the wood of the Cross with greater gifts flowing from it.

Salvation flows from the New Tree of Life, the Cross! From the new Tree of Life will come the Eucharist, the Eternal Bread from Heaven. Jesus promises, ‘If you eat this Bread and drink my Blood you have Eternal life.’ This is the new spiritual food flowing from Christ’s pierced side, blood and water, great symbols of the Eucharist and Baptism. Eternal life is once again available from the pierced side of Christ.

Baptism restores God’s life to our souls, but it doesn’t take away the tendency to sin. It doesn’t restore to us the clarity of mind, the strength of will, and the rightness of desire that Adam and Eve had in the beginning. The Sacrament of Reconciliation forgives sins committed since Baptism and restores or increases Sanctifying Grace. God has dealt to every man his measure of faith.” Romans 12:3 The grace of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord,” Romans 6:23

“We are not, the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us, and our real capacity to become the image of his Son.” Saint John Paul II

Our real capacity! What a challenge lies in those few words! St John Paul is clearly implying that, under ordinary grace, each one of us has the capacity to become a saint. That will demand radical change!

The poet W.H. Auden once brilliantly observed: “We would rather be ruined than changed. We would die in our dread than climb the cross of the moment and let our illusions die.”

What truly frightens us is the capacity we have – the remarkable capacity – to become transformed from being poor sinners into radiant, brave and faithful disciples for Christ. The capacity we possess, each one of us, in spite of all our weakness, to become the image of the divine Son.

It is precisely in the discovery and acceptance of the Father’s love for us, in trusting in that love, in falling back on that grace, that our lives begin to be transformed by the power of God. Those of us who felt helplessly weak, now begin to find themselves capable of acts of courage and generosity. Let us all work to fill that capacity up, to live in the image of Jesus, Our Savior, and our destiny.

CONCLUSION

FIRST VERSE OF AMAZING GRACE

Amazing grace, How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I am found, Was blind, but now I see.

PRAYER OF FIRST CENTURY MONK

Lord, whether I want it or not, save me because dust and ashes that I am I love sin. But you are God almighty, so stop me yourself. If you have pity on the just, that’s not much, because they are worthy of your mercy. Show the full splendor of your mercy in me. Reveal in me your love for men and women, because this poor man has no other refuge but you.

SIN BLOCKS GRACE

REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOSPEL!

ARE YOU SAVED? WHAT IS SALVATION?

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

GOD THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love God destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. EPHESIANS 1:3-10

INTRODUCTION

No one saves himself. Only by the mercy of God are we saved. Grace is a gift from God to the sinner and the righteous, earned for us by our Savior, Jesus Christ. “What is impossible for human beings is possible for God.” Luke 18:27

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

1989 The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion…Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high.

1996 Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.

Jesus is our Savior, revealed by the Father and foretold by the Prophets. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” GENESIS 3:15

The Law and Old Testament covenants are specifically fulfilled in Christ, Christ fulfills the law by offering himself in love for us. At his Last Supper, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another” John 13:34

While Jesus is Savior of all, does that mean that all will be saved? Of course not! What if I refuse and reject Jesus and His commandments? Many Christians believe that they are saved by making one single act of faith at one single point in time in their lives. Nowhere does Scripture say such a thing. As Catholic Christians, we believe that salvation is a process which begins with our Baptism and continues throughout our lifetimes,

Jesus warns us, “Enter through the narrow gate;^* for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.” Matthew 7:13

Jesus is asked directly what one must do to have eternal life. “…young man asked, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” MATTHEW 19:16-17

Did Jesus say, accept me into your heart once and that’s it? No! Jesus said, “If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

COMMENTARY

For by grace you have been saved through gift of faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast. —Ephesians 2:8-9. Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification.

Sin is a debt. Jesus’s death dissolves the “debt” humanity owed to God. Atonement refers to “delivering a person from death by means of a payment, that is, a ransom.” Hebrews 8:5. Jesus pays the price. Jesus not only frees us from the debt of sin but also its consequences: “slavery to sin” Romans 6:6-7.

Salvation is not simply about being forgiven of our sins or escaping the fires of eternal damnation. It is, also about being united to God. To be saved is to be united to God in Christ and to be “conformed to the image of his Son” Romans 8:29

Salvation involves even more than just communion with God, in Christ. It also means union with all others who are united to Christ. Christ is now acting in the Mystical Body, the Church. What Jesus did in his personal body, he now does in his mystical body. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” Matthew 25:40.

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. For, just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” James 2:14-26

To be in Christ is to be more than “forgiven;” it is to be elevated and transformed. Being saved means not living in sin; it means living as Jesus told us, “be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” Matthew 5:48.

According to the biblical authors, saving faith also entails participation in Christ’s own suffering. Faith involves submitting to God’s will. Christ himself is the model of this; he was “obedient unto death” (Philippians 2:8).

St. Paul writes, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” Colossians 1:24. St. Thomas Aquinas explains, this writing of St. Paul should not be misinterpreted that Christ’s passion was not sufficient for our redemption.

Instead, the passage indicates that Christ’s body, the Church, must participate in the work of her head, Christ himself. What is “lacking” according to Colossians 1:24 is not Christ’s sufferings on the cross, but the Church’s full participation in his redemptive work.

CONCLUSION

Then we will say with St. Paul, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, Which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day And not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance. and persevered to the very end” 2 Timothy 4:7-9

KEEP OUR EYES ON THE PRIZE!

JESUS CHRIST!

THOUGT FOR THE DAY

HOW DO WE SPEND ALL ETERNITY FOREVER AND EVER WITH GOD IF WE DON’T SPEND TIME WITH GOD ON EARTH!

HELL EXISTS, THIS I KNOW, BECAUSE THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO

1 Comment / CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

YOUR CHOICE

I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world.

John 12:47

INTRODUCTION

Every Saturday morning a few of my friends meet to pray and talk about God. It is our own small group of faith formation. No one gets to heaven alone. We are made for community, the mystical body of Christ.

One day the subject of hell came up and we all remarked how little we hear about hell in our homilies at Mass. We range in age of 30s, 50s, 70s, and 80s. At any rate, a friend who grew up in the 50s like I did proclaimed how the preaching and teaching about hell by the good sisters kept him on the straight and narrow regards chastity through his teens and dating years.and still today thankful for that guard rail that kept him pure and connected to Jesus. “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.”

A mortal sin separates us from God and there is nothing worse that can happen to any of us. Just imagine separated from our maker and creator, the one who loved us into existence for all eternity. The pain of permanent estrangement, alone, is worse than any bodily punishment. The thirst of longing for God that is implanted in our hearts never to be satisfied.

At Fatima, the Blessed Virgin Mary reminded the three children that many souls go to hell because they have no one to pray or make sacrifices for them. Sister Lucy later described this vision of hell in her memoirs. “We saw a vast sea of fire. Plunged in this fire, we saw the demons and the souls of the damned. The demons were distinguished from the souls of the damned by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals…

Mary told the children of Fatima they must add this prayer to the saying of the rosary for so many souls are in danger of going to hell. These souls must repent and turn their lives around before it is too late.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins, Save us from the fire of hell. Take all souls to heaven, especially those Who are most in need of thy mercy.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

1033 We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. We cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves…This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called “hell.”

1035 Immediately after death the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, “eternal fire.” The chief punishment of hell is eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs.

1037 God predestines no one to go to hell…this, is our choice, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end.

SACRED HEART OF JESUS HAVE MERCY ON ME

WHAT SCRIPTURE HAS TO SAY ABOUT HELL

OLD TESTAMENT

The doctrine of hell is suggested in the Old Testament, but it is much more clearly revealed in the New Testament. Hell is not specifically stated in Old Testament but Judgment certainly is.

They shall go out and see the corpses of the people who rebelled against me; For there worm shall not die, their fire shall not be extinguished; and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh. Isaiah 66:24

Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Daniel 12:2

NEW TESTAMENT

Our Lord Jesus Christ made frequent references to the activity and influence of Satan throughout His ministry, Jesus, himself, underwent the temptations and wiles of the devil in the desert after His Baptism in the Jordon.

Jesus says it is a place of eternal torment Luke 16:23, of unquenchable fire Mark 9:43, where the worm does not die Mark 9:48, where people will gnash their teeth in anguish and regret Matthew 13:42 and from which there is no return, even to warn loved ones Luke 16:19–31.

Matthew 7:13

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

John 15:6

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

CONCLUSION

God gave us free will but that does not mean we are free to sin. While human freedom is a good, human freedom is not in itself an absolute. We are not free to do evil. “The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to “the slavery of sin.” (CCC 1733)

Deny the Devil and Hell at your own risk! The devil loves denial of his existence. A vast majority of Catholics in America reject the Church teaching on the devil and hell. This is just fine with the devil! If the devil is rejected then it is easy to reject Jesus, our Savior, as well and His Father! Who needs a Savior or the Father who sent Him? If no Satan, who needs God! Let’s call a spade a spade, stop calling darkness light. “The devil is a liar and father of all lies.” John 8:44

If you feel that things are spinning out of control in our world and in our Church today, you’re right. Be assured, we have not arrived at this place in history by accident. There is an intelligent evil being behind all of this work. He is sometimes called Satan, bent on our destruction and the destruction of Jesus’ Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.

This evil has gone unchecked by faithful Catholics as well as the Church’s hierarchy for too long. When was the last time you heard a homily on Satan or hell? Why have most parishes dropped the prayer to St. Michael at the end of Mass as we prayed in the 50s and 60s? Are we not in danger anymore? Satan is laughing his fool head off at our stupidity. What a great con job. Are we suckers too?

We need to get on our knees and beg God to deliver us from the sinful evil of this current generation, and protect the Church Jesus founded, from infiltration of the devil! As Catholic Christians who are blessed with faith, sacraments, and Church teaching, we must lead the way by bearing witness to the truth every day, every place. “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” Luke 12:47-48

“Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith.” 1 Peter 5:8

Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, And do thou, O heavenly hosts, By the power of God, Thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits Who prowl about the world for the ruin of souls. Amen.

FAITH IS FREE GIFT FROM GOD PRAY FOR IT! ACCEPT IT! PROTECT IT!

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

“O YOU OF LITTLE FAITH, WHY DID YOU DOUBT?” MATTHEW 14:31

INTRODUCTION

Peter and the other disciples were in the boat when they saw Jesus walking on water. They were terrified even though they had seen many miraculous things He had done. They thought it was a ghost and we know how superstitious fishermen are. Peter cries out, if it is you Lord, tell me to come on the water. Jesus says, “Come!” Jesus confirms for Peter; He, indeed is the Lord!

Peter began to fear outside the boat and cries out, “Lord Save Me!” Jesus reaches out and takes him by the hand. “You of little faith why did you doubt?” I begin this blog with this Scripture story because it contains many of the points I want to call attention to.

There are different kinds of “faith” There is an everyday kind where you believe when you get out of bed you won’t fall down, your breakfast won’t make you sick, and you will safely drive to work. and you won’t catch Covid 19 today.

There is another kind of FAITH that is related to a heavenly Father that wants a relationship with us and provide for our physical and spiritual well-being. I will be talking about the Theological virtue of FAITH in today’s blog. Faith is a gift of the Father. We need to pray for it. We can lose it altogether or it can become weak and leads to falling and stumbling, and sometimes even separation from our Father in heaven.

The Disciples became afraid seeing Jesus walking on water and lost sight of who Jesus was, who He said He was, and the many proofs He was who He says He is.

Peter plays the game of testing God, okay Lord I am testing you if you are Lord tell me to come to you. It is sort of what Satan did in temptations of Jesus in desert. “If you are the Son of God, turn these stones into bread.” Maybe we play that game too, God if you do this, I will believe, Hmmm, how does that work out for us?

BACKGROUND

WHAT THE CHURCH TEACHES

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

CCC 814 Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us… By faith “man freely commits his entire self to God.”^…

CCC 1816 The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and live it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it: “All must be prepared to confess Christ before men and to follow him amidst the persecutions which the Church never lacks.

CCC 154-155 Faith is human. Believing is possible only by grace and the interior helps of the Holy Spirit….”In faith, the human intellect and will co-operate with divine grace: Believing is an act of the intellect assenting to the divine truth by command of the will moved by God through grace.

CCC 160 Faith is an act of freedom. To be human, man’s response to God by faith must be free and… therefore nobody is to be forced to embrace the faith against his will. The act of faith is of its very nature a free act. God calls men to serve him in spirit and in truth… but not coerced…”

SCRIPTURE

THE POWER OF FAITH

Mark 9:23– And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Matthew 21:21– And Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, if you have FAITH and do not doubt and say to this mountain, “Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen..” ‘

Matthew 8:10 A Roman centurion, a pagan and Gentile, approached Jesus and told him his servant was paralyzed at home in great pain and Jesus agreed to come heal him.

The Centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed…Jesus responded; “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.’” Jesus said to the centurion, “You may go; as you have believed, let it be done for you.” And at that very hour [his] servant was healed.

Matthew 15:22 One more story of incredible faith outside the chosen people, A Canaanite woman, a pagan also, begged Jesus to cure her demon-possessed daughter. At first Jesus rebuffs her, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel but the woman persisted in her faith in Jesus. Jesus was moved by that faith and said to her, “O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed at once.

SEE WHAT GREAT FAITH THIS WOMAN WHO PERSEVERES

COMMENTARY

In the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 11, we find this definition of faith given by St. Paul, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

Faith is a gift from God, animated by the Holy Spirit, who creates in our hearts a desire for God. God never ceases to draw us to Himself. Although we can forget God or reject God, God never ceases to call everyone to seek Him and to find eternal life.

The Holy Spirit animates our minds and hearts so that we may recognize Jesus for who He is. “For no one can say Jesus is Lord except the Holy Spirit and who He has revealed him.”

I Cor. 12:13

There are many ways to know or approach God. Beginning with Creation, its beauty, and order, we can come to the knowledge of an intelligent First Cause. The world and the human person both attest to the fact that they are not their own origins. Our holy Mother the Church holds and teaches us that God is the first principle and last end of all things and can be known with certainty from the created world by the natural light of human reason. The human person’s faculties, mind, intellect, and memory, welcome the revelation of a personal God.

Faith is a dialogue of love with God. In His revelation, God says, “I love you.” In Faith we say, “We gratefully accept your love and return it to you, Father.” I Corinthians 3:11 It is not so much about our love for God that is so very crucial in the beginning but an acknowledgement and an acceptance of God’s love for us.

By the gift of faith, the Holy Spirit enables us to enter into relationship with God. After death we call that relationship, eternal life. But right now, this life in Jesus begins through the “obedience of faith.” With his whole being man gives his assent to God the revealer.

This obedience of faith can most perfectly be seen in the exemplar of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. By faith Mary welcomes the tidings and promise brought by the angel Gabriel, believing that “with God nothing will be impossible.” Mary is the Mother of God and our Mother too. Mary will always lead us to her son, Jesus.

CONCLUSION

Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man. We must pray steadfastly for this gift. Faith is a priceless gift, a pearl of great price. To love, grow, and persevere in our Faith, we must nourish it with the Word of God and practice it through works of charity. We must persevere in faith until we enter eternal life.

We must pray never to lose FAITH and ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance and protection against onslaughts and attacks by a faithless world. Paul said to his disciple, Timothy, “By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made a shipwreck of their Faith.” I Tim.1:18-19

Faith makes us taste in advance the light of the beatific vision. “Then we shall see God, face to face, as He is.”

I Cor. 13:12 The Theological virtue of Faith right now, is the beginning of eternal life. Pray that the Holy Spirit inspires our minds and hearts and strengthens our wills to say YES to God as Mother Mary did.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, you have in your love given us your precious gift of faith. May all you wished to reveal to us be opened in our hearts. Send your Spirit to protect and guide this most precious gift. Thank you for loving us and revealing that love in your only-begotten Son, Jesus, through the inspiration of the Most Holy Spirit. Amen.

FREE WILL, FREE TO DO ANYTHING WE WANT?

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JESUS IS TEMPTED IN WILDERNESS

AS HE EXERCISES HIS FREE WILL

Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures:

‘You must worship the Lord your God. Serve only him!

MATTHEW 4:18

God created us and endowed us with free will in his image. God never forces his will on us. The Angels had free will. Some Angels chose to reject God. We have free will. Some humans choose to reject God. Mary had free will and could have said No to the Angel’s request that she be the Mother of our Savior.

God while transcendent, that is way beyond our understanding, is also immanent, that is with us, and interacts in the world He created. God does try to get our attention, sometimes dramatically as in the case of Saul of Tarsus. But even Saul in his free will could have rejected Jesus.

Free Will, for psychologists out there, may have mitigating circumstance like in cases of mental illness and addictions but this does not mean we were not born with Free Will to the extant it is available to us. The addict or alcoholic may have repressed his ability to choose but has not eliminated the gift of free will.

While human freedom is a good, human freedom is not in itself an absolute. Remember we are made in the image and likeness of God, that is an intellect and will in conformity with the image and likeness of God.

We are not free to do “evil. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, “The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to “the slavery of sin.” (CCC 1733)

This world is unkind and threatening not because God made it so but because of our first parents choosing to disobey God and choosing their will over His. God wills our happiness and salvation. Adam and Eve’s fall from grace left all their descendants with a darkened intellect, a weakened will, and disordered affections and appetites.

We live in the world man has made for himself. This is not the world God created. But God respects our free will and allows through His permissive will evil actions to take place. But there are consequences, just ask Israelites of the Old Testament as they wandered in the desert and led into exile to Assyrian and Babylon

What are some obvious consequences of sin today: drug addiction, sex trafficking, clergy abuse, broken homes, wars, racism, violence in our streets, pornography readily available to our children, greed, exploitation of others, sexual diseases, same sex marriage against natural law, legalized abortion, killing of the innocent, sacrificed on the altar of convenience, calling evil good, and placing God Almighty out of sight and out of mind, to name a few!

ADAM AND EVE DRIVE OUT OF PARADISE.

OH, THAT IT WASN’T SO!

In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve. In His image and likeness, He gave them the grace of “original holiness.” Man and the world began in grace, not sin. The inner harmony of the human person, between man and woman, and the harmony between man and all of creation comprised the state of “original justice.”

“Original justice,” God’s original plan for man, will be lost by the sin of our first parents. The union of man and woman became subject to tensions, lust, and domination. The rest of creation became hostile and alien to man. We, the descendants, now struggle with disordered desires and passions (concupiscence.)

Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden, out of Paradise, away from the Tree of Life. But before they were sent forth, God promises he will save them. The Second Eve [Mary] will be obedient, undoing Eve’s disobedience; Genesis 3:15. Her seed, Jesus Christ, .will crush the head of the serpent. Man will receive a greater Tree of Life with greater gifts flowing from it.

Descendants of Adam and Eve, us included, inherited Concupiscence. Because of concupiscence we are inclined towards anything our imagination paints as pleasurable without regards for what is good for us by God’s design.

Saint Paul states very well the conditions of Concupiscence,” I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate….now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me….The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not….For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want….Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me…. ROMANS 7:15-20

DEVELOPMENT OF CONSCIENCE

The exercise of freedom does not imply a right to say or do everything.” CCC 2740 By deviating from the moral law (God’s Law) man violates his own freedom, becomes imprisoned within himself, disrupts neighborly fellowship, and rebels against divine truth.

What, then, is to guide the children of God in the use of their freedom? Jesus promised through prophet Ezekiel 36:26, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

Deep within his conscience (heart) man discovers a law which he has not laid upon himself but which he must obey. Conscience, then, is the judgment of reason whereby the human person, guided by God’s grace, recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act. In all we say and do, we are obliged to follow faithfully what we know to be just and right.

Catholics believe that “the education of conscience is a lifelong task.” (CCC, No. 1784) Where do we go for this education of our consciences? In the formation of conscience the Word of God is the light for our path; we must assimilate it in faith and prayer and put it into practice. Also the Magisterium of Jesus Church guided by the Holy Spirit assists us in forming our consciences..

GOD IS GOD AND WE ARE NOT

AMAZING GRACE

Grace is a supernatural gift of God to intellectual creatures (men, angels) for their eternal salvation. The vocation to eternal life is supernatural. It depends entirely on God’s gratuitous initiative, for he alone can reveal and give himself. It surpasses the power of human intellect and will.

Grace plays the indispensable part, divinely ordained, to effect redemption through Christ and lead to eternal destiny in heaven. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons and daughters, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life

Everyone receives the grace he needs. “Every man has his proper gift of God; one after this manner, and another after that.”1 Corinthians 7:

SANCTIFYING GRACE

The supernatural state of being infused by God, which permanently inheres in the soul. It is a vital principle of the supernatural life. It is called sanctifying grace because it makes holy those who possess the gift by giving them a participation in the divine life.

ACTUAL GRACE

Temporary supernatural intervention by God to enlighten the mind or strengthen the will to perform supernatural actions that lead to heaven. Actual grace is therefore a transient divine assistance to enable man to obtain, retain, or grow in supernatural grace and the life of God.

CONCLUSION

To help us exercise our free will properly, we have a conscience, Scriptures, Church teaching and God’s grace. Pray for that grace to exercise our wills in accordance with the will of our Creator and maker, the source of our being and the end of our being. Let’s all meet up together in heaven!

Salvation flows from the New Tree of Life, the Cross! From the new Tree of Life will come the Eucharist, the Eternal Bread from Heaven. Jesus promises, ‘If you eat this Bread and drink my Blood you have Eternal life.’ This is the new spiritual food flowing from Christ’s pierced side, blood and water, great symbols of the Eucharist and Baptism. Eternal life is once again available from the pierced side of Christ.

GRACE POURS FORTH FROM JESUS’ PIERCED SIDE

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING SOCIAL JUSTICE

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PROLOGUE

The Catholic Church from the time of Jesus has a long history of promoting social justice. The early Christians took care of one another in community, looked after the common good, loved and prayed together.

“All who believed were together and had all things in common they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one’s need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes… praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.” Book of Acts 2:42-45

CATHOLIC TEACHING ON SOCIAL JUSTICE

CATHECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

CCC #1934 Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity.

CCC #1936 On coming into this world man is not equipped with everything he needs for developing his bodily and spiritual life. He needs others. Talents and gifts are not distributed equally, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit”. Corinthians chapter 12:4-7

CCC #1937 These differences belong to God’s divine plan who wills that each receives what he needs from others and those endowed with particular talents share them with those who need them. These differences encourage and sometimes oblige persons to practice generosity, kindness, and sharing of goods.

No one person receives the same talents and gifts but all talents and gifts are present in the body of Christ so that no one is left behind materially or spiritually. In other words, Catholic Social Justice teaching calls on us the “people of God” to minister to our neighbor’s needs, to speak out against injustice, and to work for peace.

SCRIPTURE

“Anyone who says I love God and hates his neighbor is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.” I John 4:20

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?…If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? Faith without works is dead.” James 2:14-17

“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:34-35

INTRODUCTION

In these turbulent times I am going to focus on the subject of Racism. Along with the Pandemic, Racism dominates the news and social media. Black lives matter is a fact from Jesus and the Church he founded.

Now this fact does not mean I agree or should you with every body’s use of this term. The mantra Black Lives Matter was a natural after many acts of police brutality towards black victims.

Some enterprising revolutionaries took that expression and incorporated themselves into BLACK LIVES MATTER ORGANIZATION INCORPORATED. This organization is not to be supported as it’s aims and platform is directly opposed to much of Catholic Church teaching.

Black lives matter does not mean violence, arson, vandalism, looting is an appropriate response. There will always be those who take advantage of chaotic situations to benefit themselves. They were selfish before incidents, during incidents, and will remain destructive and divisive after incidents waiting their next opportunity to plunder.

I have been a social justice advocate all my adult life. Matthew 25:40, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” compels me to witness the faith in deeds not just words. I marched with Martin Luther King, Selma to Montgomery 1965, protested Vietnam War, an activist in prison reform and abolition of the Death Penalty. I was blessed as a boy growing up Catholic to be in an archdiocese led by Cardinal Joseph Ritter.

Joseph Elmer Ritter was born on July 20, 1892—the dawn of the industrial age—in New Albany, Indiana, a small city on the Ohio River across from Louisville, Kentucky. The son of working-class parents, His life was marked by his deep concern for the poor and working-class people. In 1938 as bishop of Indianapolis, he took a brave, bold, and controversial act, ordering the desegregation of all of the Catholic schools in the Indianapolis diocese. This groundbreaking act of Ritter’s stemmed from Ritter’s deep belief that all people are created equal in the eyes of God.

In 1946 Cardinal Ritter was named Archbishop of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. One year later he ordered the St. Louis Catholic schools to integrate. Some Catholics became upset at his order, which was in opposition to existing Missouri state laws. Ritter, a man who understood well the obligations of leadership, used the office of archbishop to remind Catholics of the equality of all people under God. It would be seven more years before the U.S. Supreme Court would order public schools to integrate with its landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education. In 1960 Pope John XXIII elevated Archbishop Ritter to Cardinal

RACISM

COMMENTARY

Racism is not merely one sin among many. It is the Original Sin of our Country. Our country was built on slave labor and the genocide of Native Americans. That is a fact whether we like it or not.

Racism is a radical evil that divides the human family blots out the image of God among specific members of that family, and violates the fundamental human dignity of those called to be children of the same Father.

We are entering an era characterized by limited resources, restricted job markets and dwindling revenues. In this atmosphere, the poor and racial minorities are being asked to bear the heaviest burden of the new economic pressures. As economic pressures tighten, those people who are often black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian, the marginalized poor, slip further into the unending cycle of poverty, deprivation, and disease, .

CONCLUSION

In Christ Jesus “there does not exist among you Jew or Greek, slave or freedom, male or female. All are one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28 It is in Christ, then, that the Church finds the central cause for its commitment to justice, and to the struggle for the human rights and dignity of all persons.

No one wants to think of themselves as a racist and most people are not. But an examination of conscience might be in order to see the extent that racial bias affects our personal attitudes and judgments. To the extent that we allow another’s race to influence our relationship and limit our openness to those who might not look like us we may be infected.

I know over the years if I had an unpleasant experience with a person of color, I might be inclined to let that “color” my opinions leading to prejudging and perhaps avoiding such a person in the future. Racism is insidious as it might sneak up on us before we are aware and take steps to mitigate any generalization about a race.

As evangelizers and disciples of Jesus we do our best to influence the attitudes of others by expressly rejecting racial stereotypes, racial slurs and racial jokes. We should influence members of our families, especially our children, to be sensitive to authentic human values and cultural contributions of each racial grouping in our country.

If we want peace, we must work for justice – here at home and around the world. Lasting peace is the effect of charity. There is no real peace without forgiveness… If we want peace, we must let go of our desire for revenge, we must be willing to let old wounds heal through the saving grace of God’s love. Our secular world views peace as the product of human effort. Our faith teaches us that peace is a gift from God.

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS FOR THEY SHALL BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD

MATTHEW 5:9

Prayer to Overcome Racism

Mary, through your Son, Jesus, God has found a way to unite himself to every human being, We are called to be one people, sisters and brothers to each other.

Mother Mary we ask for your help in obtaining the grace we need to overcome the evil of racism and to build a just society.

We seek the forgiveness of your Son for times when we have failed to love and respect one another.

We pray prejudice will no longer infect our minds or hearts but be replaced with a love that respects the dignity of each person.

Mary Mother of us all, pray for us. Amen

WHY I AM STILL ROMAN CATHOLIC AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

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PETER’S BASILICA ROME ITALY

As Jesus’ vicar/prime minister, St. Peter established the Mother Church in Rome in 42 A.D. All other Christian denominations over the centuries have their roots in the Church Jesus founded. Just as Bishops today are successors to the Apostles, the Pope is successor to Peter.

INTRODUCTION

A friend of mine who lives out of town that I have known for 50+ years called on Mother’s Day to wish my wife Happy Mother’s Day. During the course of our conversation he wanted me to know he believes in God just not the Church. Gene and I have discussed religion forever. He is a good man who reaches out in service to others especially the elderly

I reminded Gene that while the Church was divinely instituted, it is humanly constituted made up of saints and sinners. There is no greater target of Satan then the Church of Christ. Since their Intellect is darkened and their Will is weakened as a consequence of Original Sin the clergy of the Church are just as susceptible to the “dark” side as the laity.

Of course, it is not just clergy abuse that caused so many to leave the “church.” Most reply they just don’t believe what the Church teaches. Well, this is not so surprising since for the last several decades our Catholic faithful, the young and old, have been so poorly served in the area of Catechesis. It seems when the nuns left the building so did a lot of strong true Catholic teaching. So we now have generations of the under Catechized who are not able to teach their children about God as well.

Some have asked me why I have the adjective, Roman, before Catholic in my website stillromancatholicafteralltheseyears.com. There are several rites in communion with Rome (Latin Rite) such as Maronites, that never separated and others that did, but have reunited with Rome such as Byzantine, Copts, and Chaldeans. I want readers to know my blog is orthodox and in full communion with the Church of St. Peter.

There are so many denominations out there that have catholic in their names that it is confusing. There are even groups out there that call themselves Catholics for Choice. This is not a Catholic organization but a pro- abortion advocacy group. There are “cafeteria catholics” who pick and chooses what Catholic teaching they want to follow. Catholics are not free to choose which teachings on faith and morals to obey.

I love my Church warts and all and so grateful to Jesus giving us this guide. It isn’t perfect. But Jesus is!, Jesus founded His Church on the Apostle Peter.” And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:18-19

FEED MY SHEEP

“JESUS SAID TO SIMON PETER, SIMON, SON OF JOHN, DO YOU LOVE ME MORE THAN THESE?

Peter said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.

Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my Lambs

“Jesus said to him a second time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’

Peter said to him, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’

He said to him, ‘Tend my sheep’

.Jesus said to Peter the third time, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’

Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, and he said to him, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep’”

John 21:17,

Not all are Good Shepherds all the time! Remember Peter denied Jesus three times but Peter repented and wept bitterly for his sins but returned to Jesus. Jesus returns the favor by entrusting His Church to Peter and his successors. As far as the Church of Christ goes our trust is not in the human constituency but in the Third person of the Blessed Trinity, the Holy Spirit.

The Father, indeed, revealed the fullness of Truth in His Son but the Church in its early days could not take it all in. It needed inspiration, guidance, the breath of the Spirit. What was (and still is) required is the ongoing influence of the Spirit, the divine interpreter of the Word, who does his work gradually and powerfully as the Church journeys across space and time.

“When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me.” John 15:26 “The Holy Spirit teaches the Church “all things,” bringing to mind everything that Christ first taught His apostles” John 14:26.

The Holy Spirit came on Pentecost Sunday and a Church was born. After the descent of the Holy Spirit the disciples were filled with courage and faith. They went out into the streets and proclaimed the Good News of Jesus Christ fearlessly in Truth and the Holy Spirit

PENTECOST SUNDAY

With the Holy Spirit, Jesus sends His apostles and their successors as the Father sent Him “with “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Mt. 28:18). The apostles, the first bishops, chosen by Christ, exercise the Church’s Magisterium or teaching office of His Church.

It is the Holy Spirit who comes into this world to convict Satan and Sin. The battle is joined. Do you know who wins: Check out the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible.. My trust is in the Holy Spirit not man!

THE BIBLE

Sometimes Catholics are criticized by other denominations as not knowing the Bible or down playing Scriptures. That is ridiculous. If you were to attend Sunday Mass regularly in a three year cycle and daily Mass in 2 year cycle you would hear read at Mass from Old and New Testament well over 80% of Scriptures.

There was no Bible in the early Church. It was the Church–her leadership, faithful people–guided by the authority of the Spirit of Truth which discovered the books inspired by God in their writing.

The canon of the Bible was established by the Roman Catholic Church definitively at the Council of Trent in 1556. Canon means keeping something “straight” by rule of faith.

A canon distinguishes what is revealed and divine from what is not revealed and human. Some criteria used to determine canonicity were: special relation to God, i.e., inspiration; apostolic origin; used by the community of believers in Church services guided by the Holy Spirit.

If God has revealed Himself to man and He has, man must be able to know with assurance where that revelation lies. In other words, man needs to know without error what the books of the Bible are. There must be an authority which will make that decision. That authority is the Magisterium of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

Is the Bible enough? Jesus told his apostles in His Last Supper discourse, “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming.” John 16:12-13

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING ON MORALITY

The Church doesn’t make this stuff up. God the Father himself in the Old Testament gave the 10 Commandments to Moses. These commandments were written on stone to symbolize that they could not be changed. Human laws change from time to time, but God’s word never changes.

MOSES RECEIVES GOD’S LAW FOR US

While I was growing up, I questioned the Commandments and other Church Teaching but that was because I had the notion these were restrictions and I resisted like any “red blooded American“.

As I matured in my faith development I realized the commandments were not prohibitions at all but the best self-help book on the market for living well and happy. God was not asking me to give up anything that was good for me.

Let’s just take a few examples from the Commandments,, How about worshipping God our Creator on the Sabbath. What’s nuts about that? All that I am; All that I have; I have received from God. If I throw that out it isn’t long before I think I am in charge and I am not.

Here’s another one, Do not kill or do violence in actions or words. Who am I to harm someone? I don’t want anyone to harm me! And do not commit adultery nor covet your neighbor’s wife. Well how is that working out for the sexually active outside of marriage crowd? Divorce, fractured families, abandoned children, single parent families, sexually transmitted diseases, abortion etc. Sin has consequences. To deny this is to deny reality!

“See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse: the blessing, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I am commanding you today; and the curse, if you do not listen to the commandments of the LORD your God… Deuteronomy 11:26

SACRAMENTS

God’s plan includes sacraments dispensed by His Church. Sacraments are an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace. Sacraments are the means by which God “resurrects us” in this life. Jesus expresses Himself on earth today through His Sacraments. Not every denomination has the seven sacraments that Jesus instituted, but the Roman Catholic Church does.

Baptism restores divine life to our souls. Confirmation strengthens our faith and assist us in being faithful witnesses. Eucharist nourishes that life. Sacrament of Reconciliation heals our soul when we have sinned against God and neighbor. Matrimony: the sacramental binding covenant between a baptized man and woman in which they agree to eternal fidelity and commit to being God’s partners in the creation of new life.

Holy Orders continues Jesus’ Apostolic Mission today. This sacrament confers on a man the power of consecrating the offering of the Body and Blood of Christ and of remitting and retaining sin. Pray for vocations to the Priesthood. They administer the Sacraments in Jesus’ name. Anointing of the Sick stirs up the divine life within us to heal our bodies and prepare our souls for eternal life.

REAL PRESENCE IN EUCHARIST

Many other religious denominations claim the Sacrament of the Eucharist but do not believe as I do or other practicing Catholics in the Real Presence. Some denominations say it is a symbol. Some say it is something we do in memory of Jesus. Some say it is a fellowship meal.

As Roman Catholic, I believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Sacrament. I believe that when a priest at consecration says the words, “Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you. Take this, all of you, and drink from it for this is the chalice of my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me”.

I believe Jesus, body and blood, soul and divinity is reserved in the tabernacles of Catholic Churches around the world. Outside of Masses, Jesus may be brought to the sick and home bound.

The body and blood that we eat is the same body that hung on the cross, lay in the tomb, and then rose from the dead. That body is also the same body that passed through walls, that could be in Emmaus one minute, and Jerusalem the next, and then ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

When we eat hamburger or pizza etc. we are physically nourished and it becomes part of our body. But when we consume the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy Communion, the exact opposite happens. Instead of us assimilating Jesus into our bodies, he assimilates us into his body. He doesn’t become part of our body. We become part of his body, a share in the Divine life!

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever” (John 6:51).

“The bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh” (John 6:51). He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (John 6:53–56) He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (John 6:53–56)

CONCLUSION

I love my Church founded on Saint Peter. God can save whoever He wills but there are tremendous, superlative aids within the Roman Catholic Church for happiness and excellence of living in this world and to complete our journey home to Jesus. There are no restrictions harmful to mankind in Roman Catholic Church teaching. I thank God for my faith and my Church that have been there for me throughout my life of joy and suffering, let me persevere, keep my eyes on the prize and finish the race.

WHY WORSHIP GOD

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

Hear, O Israel!

The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!

Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,

with your whole heart, and with your whole being,

and with your whole strength!

Take to heart these words which I command you today.

Keep repeating them to your children.

Recite them when you are at home and when you are away,

when you lie down and when you get up.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

The God of the Old and New Testament is certainly in need of nothing, even our worship. God lacks nothing. God is the cause of everything, and source of all beings. God is not just another being, He is existence itself, all that exists, exists in Him and through him.

Are we not grateful when someone gives us a gift, no matter how small it is? We can’t begin to tick off all the gifts we receive from God, our very existence, our world, the air we breathe, the sunlight and rain that produce food for our nourishment…

Each day is a day of gratitude and thanksgiving to the one who makes all things possible. Worship is not something that God needs, but it is very much something that we need…. To acknowledge that God is our end all and be all.

We can add nothing to God’s glory, but we can express God’s glory in our behavior to others. . Our lives become right ordered. We are ready to travel safely home. We may pray with the Psalmist…

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?

The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid?

One thing I ask of the LORD; this I seek:

To dwell in the LORD’s house all the days of my life,

For God will hide me in his shelter in time of trouble,

He will conceal me in the cover of his tent; and set me high upon a rock.

Wait for the LORD, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the LORD! (PSALM 27)

Very disturbing are continued reports of diminishing attendance at Sunday Mass. In a few decades it has dropped from 70% of Catholics to now 30%, Wow! So many going it on their own. How is that working out? It can be a real challenge to remain faithful. So many worldly distractions. So many Church scandals…

When people dismiss or ignore God’s presence in this world they also ignore His graces and support for times of stress, grief, despair… At Sunday Mass we celebrate the Eucharist, the same sacrifice as on Calvary but in an un-bloody manner.

As we join ourselves in offering ourselves with Jesus to the Father we encounter God’s presence in personal and profound ways and are the recipient of the graces Jesus merited over 2000 years ago. We are there with Jesus offering ourselves in sacrifice and in reparation for sin.

Just as we need to nourish our physical bodies in order to have strength; to work; and to live well, so too we need to eat in the House of the Lord to have spiritual strength. Nourished by this heavenly food we carry on the work of Christ and His Church.

Recently, I was in a hospital recovering from a fall and severe fracture of my upper arm, then that led to rehab and both OT and PT, all very painful and now in out-patient rehab. Why I bring this up is that when you are in pain it is not the easiest time to pray or even feel presence of God. Don’t wait until you are in extreme conditions to pray. Pray now, attend Mass now, participate in Sacramental life now!

Sometimes God seems so distant….not engaged at all….the faith of my Baptism tell me He is engaged in my suffering….sometimes all we can do is ask God to do something good with our suffering for others…sure we can pray for our healing…but that is in God’s time and place….something beyond our control..

In rehab, I looked around at so many others older and more disabled than myself and most likely not to ever go home again. What is that all about, God? No wonder euthanasia has so much support around the country based on a fictitious “quality of life.” What does God and His Church say about doctor assisted suicide?

So called “Death with Dignity” is always immoral. Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable. A government that legalizes assisted suicide sends the terrible message that there is such a thing as disposable people.

So God, what is the God answer to these long suffering souls in nursing homes and the like. First, their very state of being can be a prayer, a surrender to will of God for themselves and others. Second, those who are their caregivers have opportunity to love and care for their neighbor and show by example how we love one another. I know the caregivers I had I will never forget and are in my prayer intentions. I know they were God’s hands of mercy to me in this world.

God allows evil in this world but never wills it. Sometimes, the evil he allows brings a greater good, like conversion, reconciliation and forgiveness. What some perceived as a shameful death of Jesus became our lifeline to eternity.

Did God just retire to some far away place after Old Testament and New Testament times? I think not! Why would He do that? He has a lot invested in us, a very complex, salvation plan evolving over centuries, the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, and promises that have not yet been fully realized.

THIS IS MY BODY DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME

I am the living bread from heaven…whoever eats this bread will live forever….whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day…whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him John 6:48 (Bread of Life Discourse)