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Our Lady of Guadalupe, Extremadura.
Like Mother, like Son.
The bambino, Rocco, and St. Joseph

Contents

Sitz im leben

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Easter: "Come, Holy Spirit, come!"

   

May 14

Recent questions

May 11

May 1

The month of May is traditionally dedicated to Mary in many cultures. May is considered the season of the beginning of new life. Already in Greek culture, May was dedicated to Artemis, the goddess of fecundity. In Roman culture, May was dedicated to Flora, the goddess of bloom, of blossoms. The Romans celebrated ludi florales (literally: floral games) at the end of April, asking the intercession of Flora for all that blooms. This is also related to the medieval practice of expelling winter. May 1 was considered the beginning of growth.
Matthew 11:2-6 and Luke 7:18-23.
"Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
And he said to them in reply, "Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

April 27

1. Why is the Anglican Ordinariate under the Latin Church, instead of having its own hierarchy?
2. Why does the Society of Jesus celebrate the Feast of St. Peter Canisius on April 27 (today), instead of December 21, as it is on the General Roman Calendar?
In an accountable care organization, doctors and hospitals take on joint responsibility for the health of their patients and receive financial incentives to save money and meet quality targets by avoiding unnecessary tests and procedures, tracking patients as they navigate through the network, and doing a better job of providing preventive care.
Catholic Health officials touted their selection, saying the program is a natural extension of the hospital system’s progress in integrating care across its many sites.
“Regardless of what the Supreme Court does, and I hope it rules in favor of health reform, health care is moving away from fee-for-service care. We have to look at patients’ whole health status and not provide services episodically,” said Joseph McDonald, president and chief executive officer.
Catholic Health anticipates the program will begin June 1 and eventually care for about 25,000 patients.
The patients may not notice a big difference, except their physicians will use a team-based approach, including dietitians, nutritionists, pharmacists and office-based nurses, said Dr. Michael Edbauer, chief medical officer of the physicians’ network.
For instance, last summer, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the results of a demonstration project that started in 2005 to test ways to reward physicians who provided care of higher quality at lower cost to Medicare patients. The 10 large medical groups in the Physician Group Practice demonstration project improved their performance on quality measures after five years, but the cost savings were modest.
“If the Supreme Court rules against the health reform law, then what?” McDonald asked. “We still need to do this. It’s consistent with our values.”

April 20

"Still, it was Paul VI who, very late in the day of his papacy, realized that the original dual purpose of the Societyof Jesus had been changed. Under his pontificate, an extensive critical dossier about the Society was compiled. It is enough for the moment to say of that dossier that its contents were damning. It was a portrait, in effect, of a Jesuit Order that, like a weathervane atop a roof,had been turned by a different wind. For Jesuits, the papacy no longer held primacy of position. The corporate aim of the Society was now to place itself and the Church at the disposal of a radical and purely sociopolitical change in the world, without reference to--indeed, in defiance of--papal strategy, policies, and aims."
With the current news in the Church, as you have known, during this week, the Holy See has issued the findings on the LCWR and ordered renewals of the LCWR under the Archbishop Sartain and the potential reunion of the SSPX with the Church. I have sensed the work of the Holy Spirit work manifiested here. I am interested to know what your thoughts on the LCWR, SSPX and the future of our Holy Mother Church. I am very excited and thankful for God's work through the Holy See and I can't wait to see the fruits of the Holy Spirit work.
Thank you Father for your thoughts and God bless. Have a great weekend Father and Gina.

13 April

1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the "old man" and to put on the "new man.">>
St. Augustine
“The number which signifies the law is ten, from the ten Commandments. But when to the law is joined grace, to the letter spirit, the number seven is brought in, that being the number which represents the Holy Spirit, to Whom sanctification properly belongs. For sanctification was first heard of in the law, with respect to the seventh day; and Isaiah praises the Holy Spirit for His sevenfold work and office. The seven of the Spirit added to the ten of the law make seventeen, and the numbers from one up to seventeen when added together, make a hundred and fifty-three.”
I added them up and he is right!
1.) At the end of Mass we pray to St. Michael. Is that appropriate?
2.) With me being blind, the bells during consecration are helpful. Is it proper for them to, or not to ring the bells?

11 April

I've checked the Roman Missal. All of the special Communicantes prayers are still in it. It may be that they are not printed in parish missalettes, but they are definitely in the official text of the Eucharistic Prayer.

Hello Father and God Bless, Are we able to speak to people in Purgatory as we are able to speak with Saints? I know that the Catechism says that love transcends all time and since people in Purgatory will eventually be Saints can our love transcend time so we may speak with them? Thanks, Brian P.S. I love the show!!!

9 April

  • "The Year of Faith, commemorating the opening of the Second Vatican Council fifty years ago, should provide us with an occasion to proclaim the message of faith with new enthusiasm and new joy.
  • We find it of course first and foremost in sacred Scripture, which we can never read and ponder enough.
  • Yet at the same time we all experience the need for help in accurately expounding it in the present day, if it is truly to touch our hearts. This help we find first of all in the words of the teaching Church: the texts of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are essential tools which serve as an authentic guide to what the Church believes on the basis of God’s word.
  • And of course this also includes the whole wealth of documents given to us by Pope John Paul II, still far from being fully explored" (homily for the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday.)

April 3

  • 1.) Why are Communicants prayers for special feast days and solemnities removed from Eucharistic Prayer I in the revised edition of the Roman Missal?
  • 2.) I know someone who was recently confirmed "conditionally" by a Pius X Society bishop but was already confirmed as a teenager by their Diocesan bishop. Would they have the sacrament of Confirmation twice?

30 March

23 March

If we are ready to die and face Judgment Day, then we are as ready as we can be to endure the end of the world, if it comes in our lifetime. The scriptures that mention trumpets do not tell us what they will sound like. The recordings on the internet do not sound like "trumpets" to me (I used to play trumpet when I was a boy). In the scriptures, when the angels blow their trumpets, things happen immediately afterward; in these accounts of noises from the sky, nothing happens afterwards that we can point to as caused by the sound of the "trumpets."
We don't need strange sounds from the sky to tell us that we should repent of our sins and pray that our brothers and sisters will repent and believe the Good News. The Church has been preaching that message for 2000 years. Every time we go to Mass, we confess our sins and ask for God's mercy. Every time we say the Our Father, we pray, "Deliver us from evil." Every time we say the creed at Mass, we say, "He will come in glory to judge the living and the dead." What more can we do to be ready for life or death?

March 16

March 12

The noun, "porphura," means purple fish, purple dye, purple cloth. One source says that "There were three familiar shades of purple in the ancient world: deep violet, deep scarlet (or crimson), and deep blue (WP, 2, 220)."[1] The adjective derived from the noun is porphyroús–-a purple (reddish-purple) cloth or dye. "(Jn 19:5) It was customary in ancient times for a king to dress in purple. Hence, giving Jesus a purple cloak, mocked Him as someone merely posing to be a king."[2]
It sounds as though you are reading a paraphrase version of the Bible in Spanish, one that explains words as it goes along, rather than a more literal translation. Here is an interlinear translation of the Greek.

March 9

1.) Why does the wording of the "Our Father" in Matthew's gospel differ from the way we say the prayer at Mass? Is there a Catholic version of the Bible in which Matthew's version is identical to the liturgical version?
2.) In the English translation of the scriptures, the color of the robe placed on Jesus' shoulders after the scourging is purple, but in Spanish it is red. What color was the robe?
Matthew 27:28
And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.
Mark 15:17
And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head."
John 19:2
And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe.

March 2

Their mom is catholic but doesn’t go to church. What should I do? Should I talk w/the kids or should I just stay out of it since they live w/their father in the east coast?

24 February

1.) What are father's two favourite study bibles?
2.) What is the Church's teaching on evolution?
  • Janene from Rochester: The St. Ignatius study Bible is New Testament only. They are still working on the Old.
1.) Did the Blessed Mother Mary know that Jesus was God and the 2nd person of the Holy Trinity right after the Annunciation? If not, when was she imparted of the God's mystery of Incarnation of God the Son?
2.) Is there any special grace or blessing or indulgence associated with praying the Divine Office? Why is it that the four Gospels are not used for all the readings in the Liturgy of the Hours?
1.) How can she find out about the Miracles of Fr. Baker, and
2.) Has the Church ever talked about the dangers of the Welfare State?
  • OLV Rectory: (716) 828-9444
OLV Basilica & National Shrine
767 Ridge Road
Lackawanna, N.Y. 14218

February 17

Comments from an unhappy listener

St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!
"To be pleased at correction and reproofs shows that one loves the virtues which are contrary to those faults for which he is corrected and reproved. And, therefore, it is a great sign of advancement in perfection."
Where we are at fault, we need to confess our sins, do penance, and amend our lives.
If we are not at fault, we need to stand our ground and proclaim "the fullness of truth in clarity and charity."

From: J.
Sent: Tuesday
Subject: Mandate

I have listened to your radio station. I was told that:

1. Voting for a candidate who favors abortion is a mortal sin.
2. Liberalism is evil.
3. Our President is attacking the Catholic Church.
4. I need to go to confession.
5. A person cannot in most cases re-marry unless the other party is dead.
6. Gay behavior is a mortal sin.
7. We should not judge or cast a rock.
8. I should not question the Bishops and must obey their rulings.

I have concluded that the Church:

1. supports vulture capitalism and
2. uses vilification to attack those who do not share their beliefs.

Given that the Church seems to have no problem administrating the sacraments to obvious sinners, casting a rock, vilifying individuals, and misrepresenting facts, I view its behavior as hypocritical and illicit.

Although I love the Church and will support it in a limited way, I have come to believe that past criticisms I have heard about the Church had merit.

A reply is not requested or wanted, for I believe it would only add to my frustrations and serve no useful purpose.

February 10

  • Do we know which angel appeared to the Fatima children?
- Angel of Portugal
1) Is Mother Angelica alive?
2) Is it a sin to get a tattoo?
It is not an intrinsically evil action. There is a verse in the Old Testament that condemns some form of tattoo or marking, but not all of the Old Testament laws are still in force (see, for example, the kosher food laws that we no longer follow). There is nothing about this in the Catholic Encyclopedia or the Catechism. So you have to make up your own mind. I am personally opposed to tattoos because in the culture of the United States, they are generally used as a sign of rebellion. I can't think of any tattoos that I personally find "edifying," by which I mean something that "builds up" faith, hope, and love. The tattoos are either seductive or some kind of aggressive self-assertion. Things may be different in your culture, about which I know practically nothing.
3) What is a guardian angel?
Guardian Angels.
Lack of moral restraint. "License" means "permission to engage in an activity," e.g., driver's license, pilot's license, hunting license, marriage license. Those who are licentious give themselves permission to do things that are improper.

Friday, February 3

Prayer to St. Blaise
Planned Parenthood claims to offer "women's cancer health screening" in that they claim to offer Mammograms. They claim that their funding (or de-funding, in the temporary case of the Komen Foundation) will affect this "women's cancer health screening." However, Planned Parenthood does not, in fact provide Mammograms at all. When various Planned Parenthood locations were called by an undercover agency to see if someone could schedule a mammogram, they were told that they do not offer them.
Ironically, studies show a strong connection between breast cancer and the use of oral contraceptives, as well as an abortion-breast cancer link, both sold as a "bill of goods" to women by Planned Parenthood.
See link for connection between breast cancer and contraceptive use: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/oral-contraceptives

Monday, January 30

1.) for the U.S. Catholic Bishops
2.) for the repose of the soul of my grandmother JoAnn
3.) for priests who are currently on a leave of absence from the priesthood.
4.) When a priest incenses the gifts during the Offetory, why does he sometimes make a circular motion over the gifts with the thurible?
H.R. 1179
S. 1467
Phil 3:12-14: "It is not that I have already taken hold of it or have already attained perfect maturity, but I continue my pursuit in hope that I may possess it, since I have indeed been taken possession of by Christ [Jesus]. Brothers, I for my part do not consider myself to have taken possession. Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit toward the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus."

Friday, January 27

David and Bathsheba (2 Sam 1).
Psalm 51--the Miserere.
The Kingdom of God grows like seed in a farmer's field--"he knows not how" (Mk 4:26-34).
1. Could you tell me if it is allowed to have communion more than once per day?
2. Also my sister in law is an Anglican and yet goes to communion at Mass when she occasionally visits us, is this right?
3. Lastly, could you ask father to pray for my elderly dad who had a mini stroke last week. We are all worried about him.

Friday, January 20

It's impossible to guess what will help your friend develop a mind open to God, Ben, without talking to him about his convictions--if anything will. Some folks are "invincibly ignorant." They criticize every act of faith except their own, which they imagine to be an act of pure reason beyond reproach. I like Lonergan's approach: if the universe is intelligible, there must be a God who gives it order; every appeal to scientific discoveries is a concession that the universe is intelligible; therefore, whoever celebrates the advance of science ought to acknowledge that there is a God.
The hard part is persuading people of the first premise. Hawkings et al. are highly skilled in thinking that there is no reason to think that thinking is in need of a reason to explain the success of thought. That the universe has a rational structure and that our minds are capable of exploring that rational structure is just dumb luck from their point of view. This is something assumed, not proven, but it is a very powerful act of faith. Everything else in the religion of materialism flows perfectly logically from this dogma, so it is easy to cover up the fundamental treason against reason by a multitude of maxims in praise of observation, logic, objectivity, verification, falsification, etc., etc., etc.
  • Brian R, from Buffalo on Facebook:
1) I understand Science and our Faith are compatible. Both are seeking Truth.
2) Humorous scenario. The question is asked, "Why is that water boiling?"
Person #1 answers, "Well you see the molecules are heating up and bouncing off one another..."
Person #2 exclaims, "I am heating the water to make a cup of tea."
Both answers are correct but coming from a different angle.

Monday, January 16

Sunday's readings
  • "Speak, for your servant is listening" (1 Sam 3). The miraculous birth of Samuel foreshadows those of John the Baptism and Jesus. He began the tradition of anointing the Kings of Israel (first Saul, then David).
  • "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God ... You are not your own" (1 Cor 6).
  • John 1: "Lamb of God," "Rabbi," "Kephas," "Messiah."
Monday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time
  • First Reading: 1 Sm 15:16-23. Disobedience of Saul. Prophetic criticism of vain sacrifices.
  • Gospel: New wine, fresh wineskins.

Friday, January 13

I listen to your radio program on Fridays on EWTN out of Elmira-Corning. First of all I am an Ordained Baptist Minister who serves as a chaplain in Elmira. Since I work with a retired priest and a deacon I have come to learn more about Catholic Doctrine and am quickly finding out we have more in common that we have differences. I enjoy the stories of different saints and how they furthered the cause of Christ in a dark world.
Now since the name of the program is "Calling all Catholics" you will be surprised that it falls on the ears of a Baptist Chaplain.
Continuing to Listen;
Shalom!
Father, I decided to make a 'tuna casserole' while listening to you program yesterday afternoon... I consider myself a chef and do not follow any recipes for anything; just make it up as I go. I love the combination of tuna and peas so I decided I would add peas to the casserole. Well, apparently I can't listen to the radio and cook at the same time - I forgot to add the tuna and the peas to the casserole...?
Turned out not so good. I consider this your fault - not Chef Carloni's fault - you should make a disclaimer that your program may be distracting for some folks.
John Carlin, 1998.
Used by permission.

January 6

From a Christmas letter received by two friends of mine in Orangeville, NY:

My wife and I very much hope this letter finds you at least as happy and healthy as we are. We both sort of go along almost taking for granted all our many blessings. This year has been different. For some years now we've been concerned about our daughter's health. It seemed like things were getting worse every time she saw another doctor.
She was reduced to four hour days at work. Even at that she couldn’t work every day. She was urged to consider applying for a disabilities pension.
One day in July, our daughter arrived home feeling she had no more strength. As she dragged herself up the front steps she prayed to God, "I truly believe You can heal me. If it be Your will, I'm asking You to heal me in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ." She had just unlocked the door when she finished praying; pushing the door open she stepped inside.
Can you picture one of these little marionette puppets with strings all loose? It kind of flops about all bent over and barely able to function. This was our daughter. As she passed the threshold, the Master picked up the strings. She stood straight. She had no pain. She was strong. She was healed! The change was so fast and powerful, she felt sure He must be physically standing right there, and actually turned right around looking for Him. The brain injury is gone; so is the fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue; the IBS and her hormones are fixed too; the scoliosis in her spine, along with the bulging discs in her neck and back, all gone; and her twisted right leg is straight once again.
So here we are, sharing the house with a living miracle. If God was trying to get our attention, He sure did a good job. It's not possible to have doubts when the proof is standing at the sink, washing dishes and flicking water in her dad’s face.
Hmm, it seems there are a few things he didn’t change. Oh well, I guess a little soapy water won’t hurt me.
Anyway, I think one might say "Our cup runneth over." We’ve been telling just about everyone we talk to; but just in case we missed some we wanted to include this miracle in our letter.
Back to saying nice things: I had expected the doctors to be somewhat skeptical when we told them. They were not skeptical. They just nodded and said "Spiritual healing, I know about that." It seems that miracles happen a lot more often than I ever knew.

The Treasury of Extra Questions

We have had many questions that either come too late in the show or that need research to answer. We often say, "Tune in next week and we'll deal with that in more depth"--but we haven't always kept our promise. The purpose of this page is to make a list of those questions for future reference. If we run low on callers or current questions, we can always dip into this reservoir to keep the conversation going.

More Recent

Current Events Topics

On January 24, 2012, the Starbucks corporation issued a memorandum to all "US Partners" declaring that same-sex marriage "is aligned with Starbucks business practices" and "is core to who we are and what we value as a company."
In addition to declaring its corporate-wide position in support of gay marriage, Starbucks also used its resources to participate in a legal case seeking to overturn a federal law declaring marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
In taking these actions, Starbucks has declared a culture war on all Catholics and other people of faith (and millions of others, too) who believe that the institution of marriage as one man and one woman is worth preserving.
"Recently a group of priests from a European country issued a summons to disobedience, and at the same time gave concrete examples of the forms this disobedience might take, even to the point of disregarding definitive decisions of the Church’s Magisterium, such as the question of women’s ordination, for which Blessed Pope John Paul II stated irrevocably that the Church has received no authority from the Lord. Is disobedience a path of renewal for the Church? We would like to believe that the authors of this summons are motivated by concern for the Church, that they are convinced that the slow pace of institutions has to be overcome by drastic measures, in order to open up new paths and to bring the Church up to date. But is disobedience really a way to do this? Do we sense here anything of that configuration to Christ which is the precondition for all true renewal, or do we merely sense a desperate push to do something to change the Church in accordance with one’s own preferences and ideas?"
See http://www.democraticunderground.com/121818339
"The last keyword that I should like to consider is “zeal for souls”: animarum zelus. It is an old-fashioned expression, not much used these days. In some circles, the word “soul” is virtually banned because – ostensibly – it expresses a body-soul dualism that wrongly compartmentalizes the human being. Of course the human person is a unity, destined for eternity as body and soul. And yet that cannot mean that we no longer have a soul, a constituent principle guaranteeing our unity in this life and beyond earthly death. And as priests, of course, we are concerned for the whole person, including his or her physical needs – we care for the hungry, the sick, the homeless. And yet we are concerned not only with the body, but also with the needs of the soul: with those who suffer from the violation of their rights or from destroyed love, with those unable to perceive the truth, those who suffer for lack of truth and love. We are concerned with the salvation of men and women in body and soul."
"Let us ask the Lord to fill us with joy in his message, so that we may serve his truth and his love with joyful zeal. Amen."

Courage

"Courage, an apostolate of the Catholic Church, ministers to persons with same-sex attraction and their loved ones. We have been endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family and our beloved John Paul II said of this ministry, "COURAGE is doing the work of God!" We also have an outreach called EnCourage which ministers to relatives, spouses, and friends of persons with same-sex attraction."

Contraception, HHS Mandate, and Catholic Doctrine

  • Cardinal Dolan's position that the church’s activity in insurance is a religious function and cannot be regulated by the government assumes that the faithful are stupid. The insurance activity by some parishes, namely the rich 1%, is a financial one. It is done to reduce the cost of health insurance when the parish has sufficient funds and is usually with the purchase of re-insurance to provide coverage in the case of catastrophes. Surely, no one can argue that insurance provides for a social benefit for those in need. ...
I don't think Jack has correctly represented the Cardinal's view. We don't claim that self-insuring our employees is a religious activity; we claim that the work for which those employees are hired in our Catholic institutions is one of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy. The administration wants to restrict freedom of religion solely to those institutions that provide worship services for the faithful; the Catholic tradition of hospitals, schools, social services, and direct support for the poor is religious activity in our view--but not in the eyes of the Admnistration.
  • It appears obvious that the good Cardinal wishes to impose his beliefs on others of different beliefs which is against freedom of religion. The good Cardinal seems to want to make a name for himself and his position that there can be no compromise. Surely this shows his desire for power and his belief that he is right.
The Church has taught that abortion is evil for the whole of its history. The HHS Mandate forces the Church to participate in the murder of innocent children in the womb by providing contraceptives, which act as abortifacients, and by providing the morning-after pill, which is an abortifacient. The mandate also would force the Church to pay for sterilization of women, which is another violation of our understanding of God's will for us.
  • I simply cannot believe the personal attacks being offered by the Church on those who have different political and religious beliefs. Could it be possible that the Catholic Senators and others who voted against the amendment did so based on their beliefs that it was right for the country, was upholding the Constitution and that it did not violate their religious beliefs?
Yes, it is not only possible, but likely. However, there is a discrepancy between their understanding of the Catholic Church's teachings and the understanding of the Church's teachings by those who official teach in the name of the Church--our bishops. In such a situation, the Senators are acting like Protestants, not like Catholics.
  • I am completely put off by statements made as to the cost and ability of people to choose where to work. The latter merely shows again the desire to discriminate in hiring practices and enforce religious beliefs on others.
There is a grain of truth in this. Those who wish to earn a living by working in Catholic institutions must accept that the institutions cannot act against Church teaching and still retain the right to be called "Catholic."
  • I was really put out by the remarks directed at the law student. I can’t believe that you want to belittle her. I guess it is not as bad as Rush but isn’t it like throwing the rock. Can’t you accept that she may be doing what she believe is correct and that this type of implications is simply not proper?
As with the dissenting Senators, so here: we can tell that the law student's view does not correspond to that of the Church. It's not rocket science.
  • Your medical analysis would make anyone LOL. To even imply that birth control pills are not used to treat diseases or ease pain is unbelievable.
I don't know anyone who made this claim. On the contrary, Fr. Calabrese on Wednesday explicitly said that the use of synthetic hormones to treat medical ailments is different from the use of those same hormones to cause the sexual act to be sterile.

Seven New Saints

Seven new saints to be canonized in the fall of 2012:

The Use of Leavened Bread in the East

Catholic Answers question: "Why do the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches use leavened bread? When did the East and West go separate ways?"

The Jewishness of Jesus

Catholic Answers question: "Why does the Scripture say that salvation comes from the Jews? Jesus did not have a Jewish father. He was born of the Holy Spirit."

Requirements to be an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

Cherubim vs. Seraphim?

What is the Catholic understanding of the word, 'soul'?

Divine Mercy better than the Heavens?

Jewish vs. Catholic Scriptures

Allegory vs. Parable

Less Recent

Preaching Jesus vs. Tolerating Other Faiths

John Z. from Facebook: "If the Church is supposed to "go ... and make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19), isn't the ultimate goal to teach the world about Jesus? Doesn't that mean that we must not tolerate other religions and faiths? It seems as though relativism has crept into the Church and is undermining our missionary activity."

Hitler in Hell? Animals in Heaven?

From Walter B., a former student of mine:

1) "I remember a statement you made in class. A student asked, "How long will Hitler be in Hell?" I found your reply, "As long as it takes for all those who were wronged by him to forgive him" to be profound. I still think about it to this day. Can you make any further comments about this?
2) "Is it possible that a 'Christ-like' savior could exist for other species (ants, iguanas, llamas, etc.)?
For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God.

Angelic Intimacy

From two friends who are studying John Paul II's "Theology of the Body" together: "Are humans able to be more closely united to each other than angels can be united to each other because humans have bodies and angels do not?"

"Blessed Mary, Ever Virgin" in the new translation

Joyce from Buffalo called on November 11 to ask about dropping the phrase 'Ever-Virgin' in 1973. She loves the dogma about Mary's perpetual virginity and felt that the removal of the phrase was unfortunate.

  • "Ever-virgin" is still in the confiteor (once instead of twice).
  • It is still in the first Eucharistic Prayer.
  • The prefaces for Our Lady contain the teaching without using that phrase.
  • It does not appear in the other three Eucharistic Prayers.
  • It is not found in the Libera Nos after the Our Father.

Remission of Sins: Right Dispositions

John from e-mail: This is out of the Baltimore Catechism:

Q. 153. Are actual sins ever remitted by Baptism?
A. Actual sins and all the punishment due to them are remitted by Baptism, if the person baptized be guilty of any, and is rightly disposed.

And with your spirit

From Marilyn in Cleveland, Ohio, who listens on an iPad and wrote to us via e-mail:

I heard Fr. Moleski express his preference for the 'And also with you' response instead of the newer 'And with your spirit'. When I first learned of that change, I was delighted. I have 3 children, 25, 22 and 20 years old. All are in college and or grad school (pray for me, i am a single mother). For years, decades actually, I feel that I have been taking on a dragon fighting for my children's salvation. The world they have been raised in has emphasized, ad nauseam, how important they are, to the point now where they expect things (aka entitlement generation). They were given things every where they went, stickers at the doctors office, dentists, awards for ridiculous things at school and so on. The emphasis on hair, dress and all the material likes Is so hyper focused on the me, me, me that I see the 'and with your spirit' supremely refreshing and pointedly contradictory to the cultural persuasion. 'And with your spirit' is very challenging, and to me it points directly to the soul, not the person. Be it priest or pew sitter, it's all about God, not me. We must start focusing on our eternal souls, not on the flesh or ego. I truly believe this will be an unconscious sign post directing us appropriately to Our Lord.
Thank you for saying yes to God, our dear priests, we need you, we pray for you and we love you.

Planned Parenthood and Cancer Research

Some friends in Amherst via e-mail: Many cancer research organizations donate to Planned Parenthood and/or support the use of tissue from abortions for medical research and therapy. Is there a list of cancer research institutes to which Catholics can donate with a clear conscience?

Taking chastity seriously

From a letter written in the fall of 2011 from some concerned young adult Catholics in the Diocese of Buffalo:

  • We are increasingly disappointed and disheartened by the lack of support from priests and bishops ... regarding the sanctity of life and the value of true marriage.
  • Why are these high-profile, high-impact moral issues avoided during Sunday homilies: abortion, adultery, contraception, embryonic stem cell research, euthanasia, fornication, homosexuality, impurity with oneself, pornography?
  • Why are Catholic public officials given a pass when they publicly violate Church teachings time after time? Why aren't they denied Holy Communion?
  • It was disappointing that no priests attended the National Organization for Marriage's Rally for Traditional Marriage at Buffalo's City Hall on July 24.
  • Please help us to engage and evangelize the anti-Catholic culture that confronts us everyday.

Christians and Jews in Muslim territory

From a friend in Amherst: Does the Koran call Jews and Christians "People of the Book"? Have Muslims historically been more tolerant of Christians and Jews than Christians have been of Muslims and Jews?

Questions from Ladies of the Lord

Avery Cardinal Dulles, SJ: A Faithful Jesuit

On Second Thought

I often think of better answers to questions after the show is over. This is called "l'esprit de l'escalier," (French: "the spirit of the staircase") because lawyers so often think of the best arguments to have made while walking down the staircase leading away from the courthouse.

Catholicism and Judaism

What about the prophecies about the Antichrist?

The book of Revelation and other apocalyptic passages were written to comfort people who were suffering for the sake of Jesus. The message is, "Hang on. Your sufferings will be rewarded. You will reign with Jesus in glory." That message was valid in the first century and in every age since wherever disciples suffer for Jesus.
In other words, the material is about the present, NOT the future.

Johnny Cash and the End of the World

Kevin in Buffalo: What do you think of the Johnny Cash song, "The Man Comes Around"?

The meaning of fiction

Matt from Colorado asked about (e-mail about The Shack). Second thoughts: interpreting fiction.

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