Wednesday, March 28, 2007
A Catholic Life: Mexico City: Will it allow abortion?
Well, it looks like we have to bring another terrible situation to prayer again as right after Portugal is legalizing abortion, now Mexico City is in the race. A sickening 14 week allowance for abortion! Please, if your reading this I beg you to take a moment right now and pray that God would not allow for Mexico City to legalize the killing of innocent children! Evil will prevail if good men do nothing!
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us, and on the whole world!
Our Lady of Guadalupe pray for us!
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Q. "My daughter is 18 and just now graduating from High school. In her junior year she had a confirmation sponsor who was male and 6 yrs her senior (she was 17 and he was 23. He is a devout and wonderful Catholic who taught apologetics at our Church. During that year they fell in love. They did not date then, but when she turned 18 they did. Her father and I and both of them had a long talk (they asked permission) and since he had had such a profound spirtual influence on her and I trusted him, we said yes. He has just graduated from college and lives in another town but visits frequently. The problem is that his family is totally against this. (one of his sisters is in my daughter's class and hates it) His mother thinks that I am awful for allowing them to date and I know that he must not tell them when he sees my daughter. The age doesn't bother me so much because I know and trust him so well, but his family believes that this is wrong. He says there is nothing in Catholic theology that prevents this because of age as long as both are adults. Like I said, they didn't "date" during the confirmation process.Is it wrong and what should he do?"
A. I want to start out by saying that I don't feel very qualified to answer this question as it doesn't have much to do with Catholic teaching per say, and that I don't have more information, but I'll do my best to answer.
First of all, I must agree with the young man involved here that there is nothing in Catholic teaching that opposes marriage just because he is six years older. In fact, I happen to know one good Catholic family where the couple is ten years apart.
So let's look at the pros and cons of this situation. First the pros: Both the young lady (your daughter) and young man appear to be in good Catholic standing and since they are both Catholic, should they marry, they would be able to support each other in their Faith and be in the same boat. This is a healthy situation. Another pro seems to be that this young man was responsible in starting this relationship by asking his girlfriend's parents permission to date. That is a rare and responsible action that is not normally seen today. Also, now that your daughter is 18, she is considered a young adult and is responsible for her actions, though that doesn't mean you parents don't have any say--especially while she is living at home.
Let's look at the cons now--really, I see only one. That is the situation with the man's family not being accepting of this relationship. It seems to me that they consider it wrong because of age, or perhaps of personal dislike, or wishing their son to pursue a different lady. I am guessing it's mostly the first. In that case, though I don't know if they're Catholic, it is necessary that there be communication between this young man and his parents. Let him talk to them if he has not already, and try to explain to them why he is pursuing this relationship and also that the Church doesn't forbid it. Also, if this man is living at home in his parents house, he should should be honoring of their wishes, and be communicative as to his happenings. The fourth commandment of "honor thy father and mother" here seems to be the issue. Although, his parents cannot decide what his vocation is (only God can), he should to the best of his ability be honoring towards them and to try to bring reconciliation and peace in the relationship.
What is important in any vocation is an openness to the Will of God. What does God want me to do? Does God want me in this situation? These are the questions that must be prayed through and each one in the relationship must make sure they are totally unselfish and open to what God wants for them.
I suggest getting a spiritual director if you don't already have one and you can discuss this situation with him more and give some more specifics. I hope my two cent worth was helpful! God Bless! ---The Catholic Warrior
Monday, March 19, 2007
Sunday, March 18, 2007
And it turned into a new apostolate! I am so excited! Today I called the lady who is the head of the Altar Servers, and is the lady that asked me to get some prayer books. I told her that they arrived and that I thought it would be a good idea to have a meeting with the servers to tell them how we are going to use these. She agreed, and is allowing me to organize this meeting. More importantly, she is allowing me to meet monthly if desired with the Altar Servers to have meetings discussing changes in serving the Mass, religious education, and just having some fun (which will get them to come.)! This is exciting as this is a great way to catechize the youth beyond just First Confession and First Communion classes! Please pray for me as I try to head and organize this, as there will eminent obstacles. Also, if any of you guys have suggestions as to making this a success, or have been involved with an Altar Boy society or something please drop a note in the comment box! Thanks!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Via A Catholic Life
Portugal Legalizes Abortion
Portugal's Parliament has just voted and liberalized the abortion law: now "the new law will set no restrictions on women seeking to end their pregnancies up until the 10th week, though it does require a mandatory three-day reflection period before an abortion will be performed" (Christian Post)
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
VATICAN CITY, MAR 10, 2007 (VIS) - In the basilica of St. John Lateran, on Monday April 2, the second anniversary of the death of John Paul II, the closing session will be held of the diocesan investigation into the life, virtues and fame of sanctity of the late pontiff.
Having received notification from the postulator of John Paul II's cause of beatification and canonization, Fr. Slawomir Oder, Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Holy Father's vicar general for the diocese of Rome, announced the news in a letter addressed to the priests, deacons, male and female religious and laity of the city.
The opening session of the diocesan investigation was held in the same basilica on June 28, 2005, less than three months after John Paul II's death, after Benedict XVI waived the normal waiting period of five years after the death of a Servant of God.
The diocesan investigation over, the acts and documents will now pass to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, where all the material will be studied.
.../BEATIFICATION JOHN PAUL II/... VIS 070312 (190)
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Many people have tried to answer these questions, and some have decided that the Novus Ordo is evil and should be completely avoided. They have broken away from the Church and try to term themselves "Traditional" Catholics, when in reality they are not even fit to call themselves Catholic and should rather be called "Protestant" (From the word 'Protesting"). This is a wrong approach to the recognized state of chaos the Church is presently in.
Other people have have taken the opposite road and are really one of the major cause of the present state in the Church. These are the people who would like to live a certain way and therefore push their religion to fit their life styles. They want abortion and contraceptives so they convince people that these are OK things and that you can still be Catholic. They try to make the Mass more of a "performance" rather than a Sacrifice and ceremony as it is in reality. They draw emphasize away from God and onto the people so they do not have to come to terms with their Creator and Judge. This is also a wrong approach as it is a rebellion to the Church and to God. It is placing worship on "me" rather than on Him.
So what approach should we take? And how do we answer that original question as to why the Church and many Masses taking place are in a state of confusion? First of all, since the Novus Ordo Mass was instituted by Pope Paul VI, and the Magisterium has put forth the Mass in this form of Ceremony, then it cannot be said to be false or wrong by Catholics. The simple matter of fact is that unless you deny the authority that Christ gave to Peter and that has been Apostolically passed down from Pope to Pope, then you must believe that the Novus Ordo is OK. Now, you don't have to like it. I sympathize with those people who have been so worn out from the abuse done at Novus Ordo Masses that they only wish to attend the Tridentine Mass. I understand how sickening it is. But the Novus Ordo is NOT evil. The abuse done to it is evil! I think that so many people have not seen a Novus Ordo Mass done without abuse and therefore they cannot appreciate the beauty that it truly possesses. I highly recommend going to a Mass said by the Legionaries of Christ, or watching EWTN to see how beautiful the Novus Ordo Mass really is. The Novus Ordo is not evil, but the abuse is!!! Please pray that the Church would be rid of the terrible abuses man has put into the Holy Mass!