Gina's notes
1 February
- Tomorrow is Candlemas, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (formerly the Feast of the Purification of Mary), 40 days after Christmas.
- Friday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time.
- Candlemas Prayer.
- Yasmin: Can you explain the 3 crosses we make before the Gospel is read during the mass? What does it mean, where did it originate from?
- Ginny from Buffalo, NY: Wanted to give glory to God for getting through a trying dental visit. Wants to thank God for the Priests. Is asking for sacrifices for the missions (ex: waiting 30 min after you get a snack or a coffee before you partake to offer it up for their needs).
- A friend complained that I had missed the point of the question on Monday from Kathy in Pennsylvania.
- I thought you missed the point of the question a few days ago when you went into the long explanation of the natural union between Adam and Eve. All I can say is that one of my nephews announced at Christmas his "marriage" sometime in February and is not sure what kind of ceremony they will come up with, but wants everyone to be there and will pay everyone's plane fare and lodging. All of this has caused his parents great pain, discussions over whether they will go, anger on the part of the other children that dad would be so old fashioned--while his siblings all think this is fine--it is like the "new normal"--why get excited?
- USCCB, "Between Man and Woman," 2003
- Marriage, as instituted by God, is a faithful, exclusive, lifelong union of a man and a woman joined in an intimate community of life and love. They commit themselves completely to each other and to the wondrous responsibility of bringing children into the world and caring for them.
- Marriage is both a natural institution and a sacred union because it is rooted in the divine plan for creation. In addition, the Church teaches that the valid marriage of baptized Christians is a sacrament—a saving reality. Jesus Christ made marriage a symbol of his love for his Church (see Eph 5:25-33). This means that a sacramental marriage lets the world see, in human terms, something of the faithful, creative, abundant, and self-emptying love of Christ. A true marriage in the Lord with his grace will bring the spouses to holiness. Their love, manifested in fidelity, passion, fertility, generosity, sacrifice, forgiveness, and healing, makes known God's love in their family, communities, and society. This Christian meaning confirms and strengthens the human value of a marital union (see CCC, nos. 1612-1617; 1641-1642).
Recent questions
Are we psychic?
- Thomas from Facebook: Does Ecclesiastes 10:20 imply we are psychic? "Even in your thoughts do not curse the king, nor in the privacy of your bedroom curse the rich; for the birds of the air may carry your voice, a winged creature may tell what you say."
Oath of the Knights of Columbus?
- From Facebook: What is the real oath of the Knights of Columbus?
- http://tinyurl.com/7vemft6
- http://www.ewtn.com/vexperts/showmessage_print.asp?number=321363&language=en
- I swear to support the Constitution of the United States. I pledge myself, as a Catholic citizen and Knight of Columbus, to enlighten myself fully upon my duties as a citizen and to conscientiously perform such duties entirely in the interest of my country and regardless of all personal consequences. I pledge myself to do all in my power to preserve the integrity and purity of the ballot, and to promote reverence and respect for law and order. I promise to practice my religion openly and consistently but without ostentation, and to so conduct myself in public affairs, and in the exercise of public virtue as to reflect nothing but credit upon our Holy Church, to the end that she may flourish and our country prosper to the greater honor and glory of God.
Soteriology
- Zach from Amherst: How does the death of Jesus make reparation for our sins? Does God just want us to be content in not knowing exactly why He wills what He does, but just know that He wills it?
Consolation and Desolation
- Patricia from Facebook: Father my friend would like a definition of what a consolation would be, or an experience of such.
Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ
- Suellen Ann from Facebook: I just saw a beautiful documentary on EWTN about Fr. Walter Ciszek, a Jesuit who was held captive in Siberia for 15 years. Could you talk a little bit about his life and works?
Jewish roots of Catholic liturgy
- John from Facebook: Is the tradition of having a sequence of annual feasts rooted in the Church's Jewish heritage?
Catholic understanding of marriage
- Nicole from e-mail: I spoke w/a 20-something co-worker regarding male/female complementarity one day when she mentioned that people who don't accept "same-sex marriage" are bigots. She listened to me kindly but did not accept the idea that opposite genders go together because of procreation. Her immediate answer was, "well, the couple can use IVF." I find that many younger people have a utilitarian point of view - the end justifies the means. How can I present the Church's teaching on marriage and the natural law in the most effective fashion?
Ordination of Women and Priestly Celibacy
Amy from e-mail: I recently spoke with some women friends about the ordination of women and allowing priests to marry. They claimed that these two issues are founded on human law rather than divine law, and then argued that because some day there will not be enough priests to serve the people, other options must be discussed. Are these issues open to discussion?
Year of Faith Website
- David M. from Rochester: Here is the Vatican’s website for the year of faith: www.annusfidei.va.
Common Bible includes "Apocrypha"
John W. from e-mail: I was very surprised this afternoon when you quoted Tobit 4:8 on giving. You said, "The Protestants don’t have Tobit in their Bible." Here in Canada, or at least Toronto, we DO! We also have Judith, Wisdom, Baruch, 1&2 Maccabees, and the other Deuterocanonical Books in the pew Bibles of at least our local Anglican and Presbyterian churches, and probably in the local United Church too. The pew Bibles are the “New Revised Standard Version (with Apocrypha).†These are logical developments based on Vatican II, which began fifty years ago, and the first Anglican-Roman Catholic Common Declaration and the establishment of the Anglican-Roman Catholic International Commission forty-six years ago. Most Protestant churches are also using the Revised Common Lectionary. Is this just a Canadian thing?
Lives of Saints for Young Children
Veronica from Ithaca made some extra suggestions: Good books for God's children.
Psychology and Catholicism
- John from Facebook: At the school I work, they are doing workshops on motivation and learning. They presented a workshop on William Glasser's "choice theory," which seems to me to advocate faith but no God. When the Church provides counsel through Catholic Charities or even through a priest, how does it merge psychology and faith?
The Gospel of Jesus' Wife
What does the Church think about the Coptic fragment that people are calling "The Gospel of Jesus' Wife"?
Godly Gynecology; Pregnancy Support Services
- Melissa from Kenmore, New York: "A friend of a friend of mine was told for decades that she had a thyroid problem that would prevent her from becoming pregnant. The doctors were wrong. When she began to gain weight because of a pregnancy, her doctor just adjusted her medication, thinking that her weight gain was due to thyroid problems, not a pregnancy. This was a devastating situation for her, as she ended up having an abortion. Many women who opt for abortion are not FOR abortion in and of itself. Many just do not have the support of the father or their family, and do not know who would help them cope with an unplanned child at the time of birth. Could you list some resources women in such a situation can turn to?"
Pacifism required?
- Anonymous: Why do some candidates who are pro life still support violence via wars, detainment, and the like? Why can't being pro life mean being more vigilant in ending wars through diplomatic talks rather than continuing what seems an endless fight in another country? Our military wants to come home. Does war ever make any sense?"
Feeling guilty after Confession
- Anonymous: "I have a hard time forgiving myself, even after I confess a sin in confession. Is that also a sin?"
Prayer request
- "Just wanted to say thanks for the prayers. I know that you prayed that I can get back with my wife. It really isn't possible. I don't know what is going on with her. She has started a lot of problems, and she is hanging around with violent people. I don't want to keep her from seeing her daughter. Yet at the same time I fear what she may do. I am fearful for my daughter as well as my own as well as my family's lives. Please pray for me. I am so scared."
Interceding for Sinners
- Anonymous: "What is the consequence if someone who is not Catholic receives the Eucharist in ignorance. Besides educating them, is there a penance one can do for them?"
Spiritual Warfare
- John Z. from Facebook re: spiritual warfare.
- Can people be used by demons to try and fight and create turmoil and strife?
- Are there angels and demons duking it out fighting for our souls?
- Also, I saw on a blog where a guy said to look in the Old Testament as to how many people Satan killed vs God. He claims that Satan only killed ten and God killed thousands. So, in his view, the whole Christian idea of God is false, and Satan got a raw deal.
How to Create Extra Pages
There are two ways to make more pages for yourself. Well, three, I guess. The first two require being logged in.
1. Search for the title of the page you want to create. When the search fails, click on the red link to create the page.
2. Put the name of the new page you want to create in double square brackets on a current page. When you save the page, the name of the page you are about to create will appear in red.
- Here is a red link; if you click on it, you may choose to create the page: Gina's test page.
3. Ask me to create the page(s) for you.
After you have created a page, putting the name of the page in double square brackets makes a blue link to the page. So, for example, I have been working on the book of Jonah for a few days.
To create an external link, use just one pair of square brackets:
This does depend on a space between the URL and the text that is shown to the reader.
You can link to an existing page using double square brackets and a pipe: This is an active link to my old draft page. None of the words you see are the name of the page. It's hidden from view.