tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-324316172024-03-07T00:35:13.769-07:00The Catholic WarriorPBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.comBlogger264125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-296017417344177992008-06-02T23:18:00.002-06:002008-06-02T23:22:37.069-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF1lTrM0_CfK-TFaEEBIsu4YCgvc3dzoMdsKsX9BmKwm1QsklAcHzkv7wDti7OfAzOi4pCHTdWdhPGMfNgf_nZU_qnTDfEd_kf3UJyERNX9mcrn55mf7MDIVh7kAjktMrqY7K/s1600-h/busy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207521334142028002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitF1lTrM0_CfK-TFaEEBIsu4YCgvc3dzoMdsKsX9BmKwm1QsklAcHzkv7wDti7OfAzOi4pCHTdWdhPGMfNgf_nZU_qnTDfEd_kf3UJyERNX9mcrn55mf7MDIVh7kAjktMrqY7K/s320/busy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Leave of Absence...</span></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><br /><div align="left">You've probably realized nothing has been happening here for awhile. My life is too busy and stressful right now, so I find a "leave of absence" necessary. Please keep my grandma V. in your prayers as she has been sick from her chemo and has been in the hospital the past few days. It is not serious at this point, but obviously the chemo is really wearing her out. She appreciates all the prayers very much! Thank you! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-50455257102632530942008-05-25T21:18:00.005-06:002008-05-26T10:52:43.944-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdP777D6RcOuLr_LoKzHvL1jd9lUd_GAvmyJHjFri3f0R6HXe9V7I0bfOkipPGuXoAQn8vWUXUXu4MJqjhmzq91VI9uN3U4wBAowmM0LFyYMtEdjh_0xuyfswX3ZiaLoIAkIE/s1600-h/chile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204528177582793746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdP777D6RcOuLr_LoKzHvL1jd9lUd_GAvmyJHjFri3f0R6HXe9V7I0bfOkipPGuXoAQn8vWUXUXu4MJqjhmzq91VI9uN3U4wBAowmM0LFyYMtEdjh_0xuyfswX3ZiaLoIAkIE/s320/chile.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><strong><u>¿Quiere aprender Español?</u></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><u></u></strong></div><br /><div align="left">This summer God has blessed me with an opportunity to travel to Chile for six weeks to a new Catholic "immersion" school. For six weeks I am supposed to speak pretty much <u>only</u> Spanish so that I can (hopefully) obtain fluency or at least very close to it. I really believe that I should do my best to learn this language (especially with my desire to be a priest one day) as there are so many people in our country today that will benefit from having someone that can reach out to them without a language barrier. The leader of this school has given me an opportunity to raise a little mula if through my advertising efforts an individual signs up to go to this school. So therefore, I am asking that if you yourself do not think God could be calling you to something this radical, perhaps you know someone who could benefit from this, or could even advertise in a local youth group or Catholic college. This IS a Catholic school, so they would have to be willing to participate in Catholic activities etc.. If you are willing to help out a little, I would greatly appreciate it! The next programs are coming up soon with the following dates:</div><br /><div align="left"><br />OCTOBER 20th-NOVEMBER 29th, 2008 </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">DECEMBER 10th-JANUARY 13th, 2009 (winter break program) </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">You can check out the official website <a href="http://escueladelmaestro.com/">here</a></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">My Facebook group <a href="http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=27132108440">here</a></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">or email <a href="mailto:chile@escueladelmaestro.com">chile@escueladelmaestro.com</a> for more info.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">OR if you are simply interested in helping me advertise (which I would GREATLY appreciate) please <a href="mailto:ilovethepope@msn.com">email</a> me asking me to send you a poster to hang up. Thanks in advance!</div><br /><div align="left"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-63603837765823638252008-05-25T20:25:00.001-06:002008-05-25T20:29:20.488-06:00<div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">With the upcoming elections in America, what is/are the MOST important voting issue(s) for you?</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong> </div><div align="left"><br />Abortion/life issues: 12 (75%)<br /><br />The War and/or Death Penalty: 0 (0%)</div><div align="left"><br />The Economy: 0 (0%)</div><div align="left"><br />Civil Rights: 0 (0%)</div><div align="left"><br />Health Care: 0 (0%)</div><div align="left"><br />Religious Freedoms: 0 (0%)</div><div align="left"><br />Other: 0 (0%)</div><div align="left"><br />I won't be voting: 4 (25%)</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Votes: 16<br /> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="center"><strong>Please vote pro-life!!!</strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-24250747048192644492008-05-22T21:45:00.008-06:002008-05-23T11:15:58.249-06:00<div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Stump the Chump Answer....</span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="left">This week's question comes from <a title="http://www.blogger.com/profile/10032635090335638695" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/10032635090335638695">Eva</a>: <em>"Should we hate the devil</em>?"</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj572Z0QFhnkaw-SzZbeVSAxILRIei0hULuSLPnepEfAe3kgnaTDlJD3tkOsfRc9FOI3blzWMvDvmYXcLddupvlOATgqaw8g0fu8xOu_owkKDGWf79AlP-sDou6U4TfQxP68Qfl/s1600-h/michael_by_raphael.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5203605476873692162" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj572Z0QFhnkaw-SzZbeVSAxILRIei0hULuSLPnepEfAe3kgnaTDlJD3tkOsfRc9FOI3blzWMvDvmYXcLddupvlOATgqaw8g0fu8xOu_owkKDGWf79AlP-sDou6U4TfQxP68Qfl/s320/michael_by_raphael.jpg" border="0" /></a>My Answer:<br /><br />Well, honestly this is a very tricky question. First, though I wish to turn your question around a little. Before we think about whether we should <em>hate </em>the Devil, maybe we should think about whether we should have <em>love </em>for him. That probably sounds strange, but some people question this as Jesus tells us we should love all people, even our enemies: <span style="color:#990000;"><em>"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." (Matthew 5:44-45</em><span style="color:#000000;">) </span></span><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="color:#000000;">Obviously the Devil is our enemy and he persecutes us, so is Jesus implying that we should love him and pray for him? Now before I answer that question, I wish to share these inserts from the Catechism: </span></span><span style="color:#000066;">"<em>Scripture speaks of a sin of these angels. This "fall" consists in the free choice of these created spirits who radically and irrevocably <u>rejected</u> God and his reign</em>...[#392] <em>It is the <u>irrevocable</u> character of their choice, and not a defect in the infinite divine mercy, that makes the angels' sin unforgivable. 'There is no repentance for the angels after their fall, just as there is no repentance for men after death.'</em></span><span style="color:#000066;"> (St. John Damascen, De Fide orth.) [#393]<em> </em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000066;"><em></em><em></em></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">So this is saying that the Devil (and demons) has already decided what his will is, and he CANNOT change that. He has rejected God <u>forever</u>. Period. Now let's go back to the question above of whether we should love and pray for the Devil. How can we pray for the devil when he will not change? We can pray for God's protection from him, but praying <em>for </em>the Devil will not do any good as Satan has forever rejected God's grace. How about loving him? As I wrote about <a href="http://catholicwarrior.blogspot.com/2008/05/stump-chump-answer.html">earlier</a> when I was questioned about God's love for the souls in Hell, I stated how God's love simply cannot be given to the damned souls as they have rejected God and therefore His love. The same would be applied to the Devil. The Devil cannot receive God's love, because God IS love (1 John 4:16), and since the Devil has rejected God, he has rejected His love which is inseparable. We are to be imitators of Christ and His love, but it is impossible to love the Devil as a Christian as the Devil has rejected God and his love forever. Our 'love' for the Devil would do no good. </span></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">But then you didn't ask whether we should love the Devil, but whether we should "hate" the Devil. Now this is where it gets really tricky. Does God "hate" the Devil? Should <em>we </em>hate the Devil? I think we need to define the word hate first before going further. Hate can mean to "wish evil or death on someone" or it can simply be "to detest". The Church clearly condemns "hatred", but renunciation of sin (evil) is simply what every Christian must do. At a baptism, the candidate or sponsor is asked: <em>"do you renounce Satan?... And all of his works?"</em> to which the reply is, <em>"I do renounce him</em>.". When we equate or define hatred as "renunciation" and "detestation" then I think it is safe to say that we should indeed "hate" the devil. As Christians, we should never hold hatred which is a desire or wish for evil upon someone, but we should always seek after love as Christ taught us. Hatred of this latter kind is evil, and although this sounds funny we should really "hate" (despise) that kind of hatred. Unfortunately languages are limited and words can have broad meanings, thus making words like "hate" quite difficult to define. As the Holy Scriptures say: <em><span style="color:#000066;">"The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."</span></em> <span style="color:#000066;">(Proverbs 8:13)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000066;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000066;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000066;"></span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">The Bible uses this word hate in other references where I believe the definition is clearly "to despise" and not the kind of hatred which is a desire for evil. Look up Psalm 5:4-6 and Luke 14:26 to see further what I mean. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">To sum it up: <em>"Should we hate the Devil</em>?"</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">If you are defining "hate" as "despising" or "renouncing" then the answer is yes. As for "wishing evil", this kind of hate should simply not be apart of a Christian as it is not of God. I hope that answered it pretty well. </span></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;">Think <strong>you</strong> can <a href="http://catholicwarrior.blogspot.com/2008/04/stump-chump-well-since-its-thursday-its.html">stump the chump</a>??? </span></div><div align="left"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-6136508238820391732008-05-21T08:24:00.000-06:002008-05-23T10:18:25.629-06:00<div align="center"><a name="the"></a><strong><u>THE EUCHARIST UNITES US OVER AND ABOVE ALL DIFFERENCES</u></strong></div><strong></strong><br /><br />VATICAN CITY, 22 MAY 2008 (VIS) - At 7 p.m. today, Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Benedict XVI celebrated Mass on the square in front of Rome's Basilica of St. John Lateran, then presided at the Eucharistic procession to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.<br /><br />In his homily, the Pope spoke of the significance of today's Solemnity through the three fundamental gestures of the celebration. Firstly "our coming together around the altar of the Lord to be together in His presence", secondly "the procession, walking with the Lord", and finally "kneeling before the Lord in adoration".<br /><br />Explaining the first of these gestures, the Holy Father quoted St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians, where it is written that "there is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus'. ... In these words", said the Pope, "we feel the truth and the power of the Christian revolution, the most profound revolution in human history, which we may experience in the Eucharist where people of different ages, sexes, social conditions and political ideas come together in the presence of the Lord. The Eucharist can never be a private matter. ... The Eucharist is public worship, which has nothing esoteric or exclusive about it. ... We remain united, over and above our differences, ... we open to one another in order to become a single thing in Him".<br /><br />Concerning the second of these gestures, that of "walking with the Lord", Benedict XVI affirmed that "with the gift of Himself in the Eucharist, the Lord Jesus ... raises us up again ... and puts us on the journey with the power of this Bread of life. ... The procession of Corpus Christi teaches us that the Eucharist wants to free us from all distress and discomfort ... so that we can resume the journey with the strength God gives us in Jesus Christ".<br /><br />"Without the God-with-us, the God Who is near, how can we sustain the pilgrimage of life, either individually or as a society or a family of peoples?" asked the Pope. "The Eucharist is the Sacrament of the God Who does not leave us to journey alone, but puts Himself at our side and shows us the way. Indeed, it is not enough to keep going, it is important to see where we are going! Progress is not enough if there are no criteria of reference".<br /><br />Finally, the third element of Corpus Christi, that of "kneeling in adoration before the Lord", is "the most valuable and radical remedy against the idolatries of yesterday and today, ... it is a profession of freedom: those who bow to Jesus cannot and must not prostrate themselves before any earthly power, however strong", said the Pope.<br /><br />As Christians "we prostrate ourselves before God, Who first bowed down towards man ... to save him and give him life, Who knelt before us to wash our dirty feet. Adoring the Body of Christ means believing that there, in that piece of bread, Christ is truly present and gives real meaning to life, to the vast universe as to the smallest of creatures, to the whole of human history as to the briefest of lives".<br /><br />Following Mass, the Pope presided at a Eucharistic procession that passed along Rome's Via Merulana to the Basilica of St. Mary Major. Along the way, thousands of faithful prayed and sang, accompanying the Blessed Sacrament. An open vehicle transported the Sacrament in a mostrance, before which the Holy Father prayed.<br />HML/CORPUS CHRISTI/... VIS 080523 (610)<div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-750951786953921232008-05-19T10:57:00.001-06:002008-05-19T10:57:45.671-06:00Unfinished Theme<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/-IX3DbTcv-c' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/-IX3DbTcv-c'/></object></p><p>Here is another composition from me! I hope you enjoy it. </p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-80719200029319739902008-05-16T22:28:00.002-06:002008-05-16T22:58:54.276-06:00<div align="center"><strong><u>I've said this a thousand times I'm sure...</u></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><u></u></strong> </div><div align="left"><strong> </strong>Yes, I'll say it again.... I'm sorry for not blogging in such a long time. I do have some good excuses I'll try to use though:</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> I am graduating tomorrow May 17th!!! I have been working to finish up school, though I'll still be doing some more after graduation (isn't that depressing or what???)---what?---I'm homeschooled. I can get away with stuff like that.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I will continue the blogging soon, but please be patient. The Stump the Chump question will be answered by this Thursday... </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">God Bless you all! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-83827526689731424712008-05-12T21:49:00.004-06:002008-05-12T22:30:27.410-06:00<div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Soon to be Seminarian in Need</span></u></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></u></strong></div><div align="left"><strong></strong>I was recently emailed by a young man named <a href="http://www.helpmebecomeapriest.com/">Neven Pesa</a> who is a man aspiring to the priesthood, but is faced with completing a serious mission of paying off student loans from his time at Franciscan University in Stubenville before he can enter seminary. The order Neven believes he is called to has accepted him provisionally, but he must be debt free. He has to earn thousands of dollars very soon to complete his goal, but perhaps some of you readers could help him. He is apparently quite musically talented and is <a href="http://www.helpmebecomeapriest.com/my_music.htm">selling some CDs</a> that he has personally produced to help him pay his way to seminary. Please consider supporting him. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-12503050065736484182008-05-12T20:34:00.004-06:002008-05-12T21:13:59.830-06:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><u>How well do you like Pope Benedict XVI?</u></strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="left"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwCUISy7eWKBOmuVZe_VEW-4BXdPBonwsCfcEpJ4KH1ZMJOV8CvQGDyw2ebKphphYOikgaR3InI1a19GnjwVvjXb0FAoT359i6gL6vkdGWh8m-MDmDMEmFIZVmkVt_DJCOBNg/s1600-h/Pope+Benedict+XVI.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199695005690761234" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwCUISy7eWKBOmuVZe_VEW-4BXdPBonwsCfcEpJ4KH1ZMJOV8CvQGDyw2ebKphphYOikgaR3InI1a19GnjwVvjXb0FAoT359i6gL6vkdGWh8m-MDmDMEmFIZVmkVt_DJCOBNg/s200/Pope+Benedict+XVI.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><strong>He's AWESOME!:</strong> 22 (78%)<br /></div><p align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwCUISy7eWKBOmuVZe_VEW-4BXdPBonwsCfcEpJ4KH1ZMJOV8CvQGDyw2ebKphphYOikgaR3InI1a19GnjwVvjXb0FAoT359i6gL6vkdGWh8m-MDmDMEmFIZVmkVt_DJCOBNg/s1600-h/Pope+Benedict+XVI.jpg"></a> </p><div align="left"><strong>He's better than JPII, but I wish he did more:</strong> 0 (0%)</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><strong>I wish he were more like JPII:</strong> 0 (0%)</div><br /><div align="left"><br /><strong>I really don't like him:</strong> 1 (3%)</div><div align="left"><br /><br /><strong> I don't know him well enough:</strong> 5 (17%) </div><div align="left"><br /><br /><strong> He's the Anti-Christ!:</strong> 0 (0%)</div><br /><div align="left"><br /><strong> Who are you talking about?:</strong> 0 (0%)</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><br />Votes : <strong>28 </strong></div><br /><div align="left"><strong></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Thanks to all who took the poll! It appears that our Holy Father is well loved!</strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong>Try the new poll...</strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-18681745996483883122008-05-08T21:38:00.007-06:002008-05-09T10:28:04.916-06:00<div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Stump the Chump Answer....</span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;">This week <a onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/16548929894809092486" rel="nofollow">Joey</a> asked the <em>Stump the Chump</em> question: </span></div><br /><br /><div align="left"></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAi5TqAH2lNT2IVKSsg8P82qU75Muwj6bAnLlI9K1u_Sz13_3Kvblzu8kOWo-nNJ-sAKJEyJJgvlldCl-k05t3TpwEJ6-32kKjzF87J8rRxyQ7Gczvwnl7Loqicjgp6neOSiw/s1600-h/hell.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5198413688281728706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAi5TqAH2lNT2IVKSsg8P82qU75Muwj6bAnLlI9K1u_Sz13_3Kvblzu8kOWo-nNJ-sAKJEyJJgvlldCl-k05t3TpwEJ6-32kKjzF87J8rRxyQ7Gczvwnl7Loqicjgp6neOSiw/s200/hell.jpg" border="0" /></a> <em>"If God loves everyone, does he even have love for souls in hell?"</em></p><p><br /></p><div align="left"></div><div align="left">My Answer:</div><br /><div align="left">Wow. Good question! You have <em>almost </em>stumped me on this one. First of all though we have to work with what God's Love is really all about. Does God love everyone? If so, it would reason his love would extend to the souls in Hell.</div><br /><div align="left">We read in 1 John 4:16, <span style="color:#000066;">" <em>We have come to know and believe in the love God has for us.</em> </span><span style="color:#000066;"><em>God is love, and <u>whoever remains in love remains in God</u> <u>and God in him</u></em></span><span style="color:#000000;">." (emphasis added) I will talk about this verse in a second, but first also look at this one:</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><em><span style="color:#000066;">"For thou art not a God who delights in wickedness; <u>evil may not sojourn with thee</u>. The boastful may not stand before thy eyes; thou <u>hatest</u> all evildoers. Thou destroyest those who speak lies; the Lord abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men."</span> </em>(Psalm 5:4-6 emphasis added)</span></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">"Hate" is a pretty "hard-cord" word these days, yet this is the word that the psalmist uses. At the same time we have the passage in 1 John saying that "God is love". So if God is love then how can He hate? Before I answer these questions let's look at one more section of Scripture:</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#990000;">"<span style="color:#000000;">[Jesus]</span> </span><em><span style="color:#990000;">If any one comes to me and does not <u>hate</u> his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple."</span> </em>(Luke 14:26)</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Here again we see the use of the word "hate". Now, I wish I knew some Hebrew (for the psalm at least), because only going back to the original text and *context* can you begin to extract the original meaning. Now, I think the context issue is very important for the last verse that I gave you where Jesus tells us that we must "hate" everyone close to us to be worthy of Him. Now this makes absolutely no sense if Jesus is telling us to actually <em>hate </em>in the sense of "desiring evil for someone" or "wishing death" to someone. That makes no sense since Jesus clearly states many times about how we must have love for all people and that loving our neighbor is the second most important commandment in the world. I believe the word "hate" in Jesus' context is meaning "to detest", in the sense of: "you can't love (hold on to) your mom (or whoever) more than me, so that you would do what <em>she </em>wanted you to do and not what <em>I</em> (Jesus)<em> </em>wanted you to do". We must <em>deny </em>ourselves and place God first. That's what I believe Jesus is telling us there. I think the same context can be applied to the psalm. God <em>detests </em>evildoers makes a whole lot of sense. Obviously those who don't follow Him will not be supported or helped by Him, which brings us back to our first verse in 1 John. </div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000066;"><em>"...whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him</em>." </span><span style="color:#000000;">This begins to make sense when we come to understand an important principle with how God's Love works. Love is a two way road. I can love someone who hates me, but they will not be able to <em>receive </em>my love because of their hatred for me. They won't give a care if I love them, and they want nothing to do with me, so how can my love do anything for them until they allow themselves to be open? Of course as a Christian I must love everyone, but if someone really hates me my love will not do <em>them </em>any good (excluding the good example etc.), though I would benefit from it. God's love is the same principle. If someone loves God, God's love can pour into their lives, because remember that "God is love". To receive God is the same as to receive love. When we reject God, <em>we </em>are the ones who are rejecting His love. God's love cannot enter if we reject God because again "God is love". So many times people desire to receive God's love, and yet they want nothing to do with God. You can only have all or nothing, there is no in between. So in the psalm where it says God "hates evildoers", it stands to reason that He is not able to give His love to them because they have rejected His gift of love. If they repented of their sin, His love would be able to be given. </span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#000000;"><em>"...does he even have love for souls in hell?"</em></span></div><br /><div align="left">Let's talk about Hell. Hell is not a place where God has fun eternally torturing those who didn't like Him. Hell is simply the place where one is utterly separated from God and His Grace. I like to think of how eternity begins <em>now.</em> Right now, this second we are all either living for God or against Him. We show this through how we live. Jesus said <span style="color:#990000;">"</span><span style="color:#990000;"><em><span style="color:#990000;">You</span> are my friends <u>if you do what I command you."</u> </em></span><span style="color:#000000;">(John 15:14) There you have it. Many people have no desire to follow Christ and His ways. These people have rejected God. No one will be dragged off "kicking and screaming" into Hell. Remember that Hell is the place totally separated from God and His love, so therefore Heaven is the place totally filled with God and His love. Those who have chosen to reject God would suffer much more in Heaven, as they could not stand being in His presence. Therefore they would <em>willingly</em> go to Hell, even though Hell is certainly no fun place to be. It <em>is</em> a place of eternal suffering as living without God's love can only be torture and imprisonment. Of course, the Devil will try to paint a pretty picture of sin for us on Earth. Just remember he's on the campaign trail today. So that should answer your question. God is love, but His love can only be received by those who really desire it. Those souls who have chosen to reject God and are now in Hell, have rejected His love, and because our God is a loving God He will not force them to receive His gifts. </span></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">I hope that answered it pretty well.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">Think <strong>you</strong> can <a href="http://catholicwarrior.blogspot.com/2008/04/stump-chump-well-since-its-thursday-its.html">stump the chump</a>???</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-6719962094742697782008-05-03T21:36:00.000-06:002008-05-03T21:37:12.857-06:00<div align="center"><strong><u>Prayers for my Grandma V.</u></strong><br />Any prayers you guys could give for my grandma "V." would be very much appreciated. She has recently been put back on Chemo-Therapy after several years of her breast cancer being steady, as the cancer numbers have been going up for the past several months. I visited her today and she is not doing well. She is so weak and sick she can't really get out of bed. She suffers many other health issues as well. She has Scleroderma (a tissue disease), borderline diabetes, bad arthritis, some nerve problems in her feet, sleep apnea, and can easily suffer from depression as well. Also, recently she has some sore on her arm which has given her a lot of pain. Praise the Lord she is a good Catholic, but please pray that she would stay close to Jesus through her suffering which she endures 24/7. After her last chemo treatment a few days ago, she could barely talk as she was so out of energy. It almost seems like the chemo will kill her quicker than the cancer! Please pray for her and for our family who is taking care of her. Thank you, and I will pray for you all as well! </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"><a href="http://catholicwarrior.blogspot.com/2007/04/any-prayer-intentions-as-i-recently-put.html">Have your own prayer request?</a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-74771500021109834632008-05-01T08:47:00.000-06:002008-05-01T10:15:47.051-06:00<div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Stump The Chump!</span></u></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></u></strong></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Well, since it's Thursday it's time for <em>Stump the Chump</em>! The rules are simple: </span></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">1. Comment in this post a question (religiously oriented) that you think will "stump" me </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">2. Come back the next Thursday to see if there is a response</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">3. If there is no response you have "stumped the chump" and you will be publicly recognized on this blog</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">4. If there is a response, comment on how well I answered it</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">5. If three or more comments show that I have not answered the question well, you will be recognised as having "stumped the chump"</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="center">Are you ready?</div><div align="center"><strong><u></u></strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-16071076592450225612008-04-30T14:54:00.002-06:002008-04-30T14:56:46.019-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MCcv93zkQ_5LG5IPWygf1WzWcVgEIKF8TYXWHUv4W0OP4tygNEhrASzfsuI86f4sryHIsYX85xsLj3MftncTVWRkdfZv6fLjhyphenhyphenXYMJfeeg1kI0qtdAX_rqDv9isqs8Z1yiU0/s1600-h/popepiusv.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5195145074234410786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8MCcv93zkQ_5LG5IPWygf1WzWcVgEIKF8TYXWHUv4W0OP4tygNEhrASzfsuI86f4sryHIsYX85xsLj3MftncTVWRkdfZv6fLjhyphenhyphenXYMJfeeg1kI0qtdAX_rqDv9isqs8Z1yiU0/s200/popepiusv.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><u><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Feast of St. Pius V</span></strong></u></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></u></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Father, you chose Saint Pius V as pope of your Church to protect the faith and give you more fitting worship. By his prayers, help us to celebrate your holy mysteries with a living faith and an effective love. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. </em>(Prayer from the <em>Divine Office</em>)</span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-44673265815693600142008-04-29T12:15:00.001-06:002008-04-29T12:15:22.056-06:00I Am Legend Theme<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/CwMygnD8O-Q' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/CwMygnD8O-Q'/></object></p><p>Here is another music video I made. This is one of the themes from the amazing soundtrack by James Newton Howard from the amazing movie "I am Legend". Tell me what you think. </p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-73255152702429491592008-04-28T22:41:00.004-06:002008-04-28T22:48:57.207-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyLD2kFqhyphenhyphenW-CFlZzz5f-FaOaC-M0aDe10Fc3JoPkbp2zPM4xSVXRrpJdyaln3r-jqsjJmG4PK51BegyUxLdBJVoVt3zIr43TqN_1ECNB-z0B8_Si3USd6r0hr6vMA0gesBfT/s1600-h/Dante.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194524451460138770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyLD2kFqhyphenhyphenW-CFlZzz5f-FaOaC-M0aDe10Fc3JoPkbp2zPM4xSVXRrpJdyaln3r-jqsjJmG4PK51BegyUxLdBJVoVt3zIr43TqN_1ECNB-z0B8_Si3USd6r0hr6vMA0gesBfT/s200/Dante.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><strong><u>You can tell I'm running out of stuff to blog on when...</u></strong></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><u></u></strong></div><br /><div align="left">I start to post homework assignments... Yes sorry, but if you are quite bored maybe you will enjoy reading this essay of mine about Dante's <em>Purgatorio</em>. Here it is below:</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><strong><u>Dante’s Insights Into Love and Sin</u></strong></div><strong><u><br /><div align="left"><br /></u></strong></div><br /><br /> Dante Alighieri follows his Inferno from the Divine Comedy with The Purgatorio. This second installment brings about some very strong insights into the human person and soul just as the Inferno did. As Dante has now reached closer to Heaven, Purgatory, we are able to glimpse at the root causes of the vices, which if continued would’ve led to the souls’ damnation as witnessed in the Inferno. In Purgatory the souls make reparation for their sins which are now seen clearly as evil and not as the superficial beauty they deceptively held while on earth. It seems that all of the sins can be placed in one of three categories: corrupt love, not enough love, or impure love.<br /> The lowest three levels of Purgatory contain those souls who need purifying from sins caused by corrupt forms of love. The first of these levels holds the prideful. The vice of pride, according to Christian Tradition, is ultimately the source of all sin. Pride is a corrupt form of love as it places love of oneself or of one’s own accomplishments over love of God and neighbor. This distorted love leads many to deceive themselves of their own greatness and to find their value in relation with themselves or their power and not in relationship with God. In reparation for this sin the guilty souls have to carry an enormous boulder on their shoulders. The boulder is made in size according to the amount of pride they had while on earth. The second level contains those souls who were guilty of the sin of envy. Envy is a corrupt form of love as it possesses only love for oneself and one’s own wellbeing, and has no desire that others should be well off. Instead of being envious of other people, one should be thankful and joyful that they are blessed as this is what true love is. In punishment, the envious souls have their eyes wired shut. In their lives on earth they used their eyes to lead them into sin, and so now they must suffer blindness in reparation. The final level within the “corrupt love” category is for the wrathful. The wrathful have given into so much anger that they are blind to reason and to love. Although Jesus commands us to love our neighbor and to do unto others as we would have them to do unto us, the soul filled with wrath is self-consumed and refuses to reason through love or Christian reasoning. In penance for their sin, these souls are subjected to living in a smoky environment which is blinding. Just as these souls were filled with wrath which blinded them from love and reason, they now suffer from blindness.<br /> The second category in Purgatory is for the souls who did not possess enough love. There is only one level in this category, and it is for the purification of the slothful. The slothful have not committed something wrong, rather they have omitted from doing what is right. They have chosen to do what is most easy and not to do what is right (even though they have not committed something wrong). Their irresponsibility and lack of love for God and neighbor is now punished in Purgatory through the souls having to run quickly and constantly. Although Dante is normally able to talk to the different souls at the various places in Purgatory, the souls here have no time to stop and chat. Only one shade takes advantage of an opportunity by shouting as he passes by. In life they wasted their time, and so now in Purgatory they must waste no time in their purification.<br /> The final category in Purgatory is for those souls whose love was impure. This category is divided into three levels. The first of these levels is for the souls guilty of the sin of avarice. The souls who have given into this vice that is caused from impure love have either hoarded possessions or have seriously wasted their possessions without reason . Although the desire for those things which sustain man (i.e. clothing, shelter, enough money) are completely fine and natural, the inordinate love of these things is wrong and “impure” as it impedes others from having what is needed and it replaces love for God. The souls who have sinned in this way are punished in Purgatory through possessing nothing whatsoever and being crowded together so as to not even possess their own space. The next level is for the gluttonous. These souls, have placed a love of their appetites and tastes above reason and natural law, and thus they are filled with an immoderate and impure love for what is carnal. They have placed their love of food above their love of God, their neighbor, and themselves. These souls now suffer to eat no food and to have their bodies in a wretched decaying state with their mouths as a gaping wound. The final level in Purgatory is for the souls who have committed sins of lust. Through lust these souls have distorted natural and appropriate love of neighbor by worshiping sensual pleasures and rejecting true charity. Lust is a great perversion of love as it only is concerned with itself and not for anyone or anything else. These lustful souls now must endure a burning cleansing fire which will not consume them, but which continually inflicts it’s burning painful sensation.<br /> Dante’s Purgatorio has given us magnificent insights into the human soul and how love can be expressed. His idea that all sin is derived from corrupt, impure, or lack of love is really quite astounding. When we look closely at it, it seems that Dante really has visited Purgatory and come back to share with us his amazing wisdom. Perhaps this is why Jesus prayed to His Heavenly Father: <em>“I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”</em> (John 17:26)<div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-12536062869859273742008-04-27T22:39:00.004-06:002008-04-27T22:55:27.237-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWYSiHj447jJi93t7gWUfMPui2Ub4Wb6zsuJ7s95LF-Zuvc8FqNLusHqGCbt92BBtxGDiTf3eZ2RxI5WXtkWUZIyvaoq94vnta1YUhV4_q5hro63FyeDWJW3BXCoC-0ATt4GV/s1600-h/Fr.+Corapi.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5194153181602170626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxWYSiHj447jJi93t7gWUfMPui2Ub4Wb6zsuJ7s95LF-Zuvc8FqNLusHqGCbt92BBtxGDiTf3eZ2RxI5WXtkWUZIyvaoq94vnta1YUhV4_q5hro63FyeDWJW3BXCoC-0ATt4GV/s200/Fr.+Corapi.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Fr. Corapi Fan Club</span></u></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></u></strong></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Fr. John Corapi has been a favorite speaker of mine for quite some time now. He has delivered many messages which are so relevant in today's confused and lost world. I would really encourage EVERYONE to purchase just one of his cds or listen to one of his talks on EWTN sometime and see for yourself what I am talking about. He never ceases to inspire me! <a href="http://www.fathercorapi.com/">Here </a>is his official website, and below I am posting some funny quotes I found from <a href="http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2219669127&topic=3584">this Facebook group </a>on Fr. Corapi: </span></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><em>Father Corapi does not know where you live, but he knows where you will die (in order to administer Viaticum...duh).</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>Every time Father Corapi says Mass, an angel gets its wings.</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>Father Corapi and God once shared a high-five. The wind that was created caused Hurricane Katrina.</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>Father Corapi, when he was in the military, once shot down an enemy plane by pointing his finger and shouting, "Bang!"</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>They say lightning never strikes the same place twice. Neither does Father Corapi. He doesn't have to</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>"Abortion clinics, pornography stores...I would move my artillery into place and light 'em up! I would totally liquidate them...speaking metaphorically, of course"</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>The Soldier's Creed states, "surrender is not an option...except when Father Corapi is in town."</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. The only thing fear has to fear is Father Corapi.</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>Regardless of race, gender, location, or education level... at one point in your life you have underestimated Father Corapi. You will live just long enough to regret this.</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>"I am ready and willing to destroy my enemies in close and mortal combat."</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>Father Corapi's statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary wears combat boots.</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>Father Corapi's Rosary is made of spent .54 caliber bullet shells. No, really.</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>When Satan goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet to make sure Father Corapi isn't there.</em></div><div align="left"><em></em> </div><div align="left"><em>An apple a day does not keep Father Corapi away. Only going to Mass and confession every day keeps Father Corapi away... sometimes.</em></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-75856253487062296542008-04-21T20:58:00.002-06:002008-04-21T21:02:04.047-06:00<div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">How often do you attend Mass (go to church)?</span></u></strong><br /></div><br />Every day: 5 (25%)<br /><br /><br />Sundays and 1 or more weekdays: 7 (35%)<br /><br /><br />Every Sunday: 7 (35%)<br /><br /><br />1-2 times/month: 0 (0%)<br /><br /><br />1-2 times/3 months: 1 (5%)<br /><br />1-2 times/year: 0 (0%)<br /><br />I don't go to church: 0 (0%)<br /><br /><br />Votes so far: 20 Poll closed<br /><br /><br />Very good! It appears we have many faithful Mass goers out there! Remember <strong><u>Every Sunday </u>is a Holy Day of Obligation</strong>! Missing Mass without a serious reason on Sunday is a <strong>mortal sin</strong>. I know you all know that!<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Take the new Poll!</strong></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-89811203627211114832008-04-20T22:30:00.000-06:002008-04-20T23:21:36.055-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16qs7TZfbDJ8j0M0ViEuo5MYSFOlx_m2gYg-AO_icSiImHSlvB8ro0EYwGq9w3pqdEl8-xqK2tzaJ75x__iVVPov5dPmrIZYmK2lqrizryaHX4JTWuhjzmuCUjGl1o8jwGHQ2/s1600-h/Holy+Communion.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5191548401606844066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16qs7TZfbDJ8j0M0ViEuo5MYSFOlx_m2gYg-AO_icSiImHSlvB8ro0EYwGq9w3pqdEl8-xqK2tzaJ75x__iVVPov5dPmrIZYmK2lqrizryaHX4JTWuhjzmuCUjGl1o8jwGHQ2/s200/Holy+Communion.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">"This Saying is Hard; Who can Accept It?"---Part II</span></u></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u></u></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><u>Why are Non-Catholics Excluded from Receiving the Eucharist?</u></strong></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><u></u></strong></div>Many people do not seem to understand the Church's teaching that non-Catholics (except in <em>extremely</em> rare cases) are not eligible to receive Holy Communion. Why are some Catholic politicians denied Communion because of their political views? Doesn't this seem unfair and like the Church is getting too personal and overly controlling? I wish to answer how in fact the Catholic Church is <strong>not </strong>"too personal" or "overly controlling", and the reasons why there are rules for the reception of the Holy Eucharist.<br /><br />Let's look first in the Holy Scriptures where we read St. Paul talking to the Corinthians about the Eucharist: <em><span style="color:#000066;">"Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. <u>For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself</u></span><span style="color:#000000;">."</span></em><span style="color:#000000;"> (1 Corinthians 11:27-29) </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">St. Paul uses very strong language by today's standards, and these truths are just as true today as they were when he spoke them. The Eucharist has not changed. So now let's see and compare that to what the Church says regarding the reception of Communion. </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"><em><span style="color:#000066;">"To receive Holy Communion one must be fully incorporated into the Catholic Church and be in the state of grace, that is, <u>not conscious of being in mortal sin</u>. Anyone who is conscious of having committed a grave sin must first receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before going to Communion. Also important for those receiving Holy Communion are a <u>spirit of recollection and prayer</u>, observance of the fast prescribed by the Church, and an appropriate disposition of the body (gestures and dress) as a sign of respect for Christ."</span></em> (<em>Compendium of the Catholic Church</em> #291 emphasis added) </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">You should have been able to catch those parallels between what St. Paul said and what the Church stated. Really, the Church has simply given further clarification into what St. Paul was saying. Simple logic can help us to understand why this is so important. And again it boils down to Faith on what Jesus said. If Jesus really said that the Eucharist is His REAL Body and Blood, then who are we to think we are worthy to receive It? Obviously, no matter how "holy" we are, while on Earth we are never "worthy" enough, but we must be at least in a state of Grace (life with Christ, free from mortal sin) before we can dare approach to receive Him. If we have no life with Christ, how can Christ live in or enter into us? </span><br /><span style="color:#000000;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">This then gives a very simple explanation as to why some so called "Catholic" individuals (e.g. politicians) have been refused Holy Communion because of their stance on political issues or other things. Probably the most popular example would be a politician who supported abortion being denied Holy Communion---why is this? To support abortion, which is murder, is to commit a serious sin, and therefore, as this is also publically known, the Church has the right to refuse Holy Communion. The Church is doing these people a huge favor in reality, as she is preventing these individuals from committing sins of sacrilege against our Lord's Body. Receiving the Lord in mortal sin, is itself a mortal sin. So, the Church lays this out clearly so that we can know what St. Paul means by "discerning" and how we can live an authentic and living relationship with Jesus Christ, and not a fake, self-centered, "warm and fuzzy", superficial relationship. Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy, in fact quite the contrary, but we do know that it will be the only way to true fulfilment and lasting happiness.<br /><br /></span><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-62693583815842890552008-04-17T10:02:00.001-06:002008-04-17T10:05:13.180-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOeeO7nMj-Q9NeDmsozIKh8mUPk-b75sqARAoDRLHr9_qf9E_Rkf4eH0NEfbBoFVJ2uAj_TSoI8afhJ41CQ8HFCmzZBRcg4xGTBj5BDg_tZ6Gfx9ZUUKO-Ijm717Pn5JLC4Pv/s1600-h/Pope+America.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5190245933590933138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOeeO7nMj-Q9NeDmsozIKh8mUPk-b75sqARAoDRLHr9_qf9E_Rkf4eH0NEfbBoFVJ2uAj_TSoI8afhJ41CQ8HFCmzZBRcg4xGTBj5BDg_tZ6Gfx9ZUUKO-Ijm717Pn5JLC4Pv/s200/Pope+America.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a name="religion"></a><strong>RELIGION, AN INSPIRATION AND DRIVING FORCE IN U.S. HISTORY</strong><br /><br />VATICAN CITY, 16 APR 2008 (VIS) - Shortly before 10.30 a.m. local time today, Benedict XVI arrived at the White House, official residence of U.S. President George W. Bush who, together with his wife Laura, was on hand to welcome the Pontiff.<br /><br />The Pope, who celebrates his 81st birthday today, delivered an address from a podium on the South Lawn of the White House. Among those present, apart from the civil and political authorities, were U.S. cardinals, the Presidium of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), the auxiliary bishops of Washington, and the bishop of Arlington within whose diocese is the cemetery in which thousands of U.S. servicemen and various presidents are buried. The ceremony was attended by a total of around 5,000 people.<br /><br />Having expressed his appreciation for President Bush's invitation "to visit this great country", the Holy Father recalled how his journey coincides with the 200th anniversary of the elevation of the country's first Catholic diocese, Baltimore, to a metropolitan archdiocese. He went on: "I am happy to be here as a guest of all Americans. I come as a friend, a preacher of the Gospel and one with great respect for this vast pluralistic society.<br /><br />"America's Catholics", he added, "have made, and continue to make, an excellent contribution to the life of their country. ... I trust that my presence will be a source of renewal and hope for the Church in the United States, and strengthen the resolve of Catholics to contribute ever more responsibly to the life of this nation.<br /><br />"From the dawn of the Republic, America's quest for freedom has been guided by the conviction that the principles governing political and social life are intimately linked to a moral order based on the dominion of God the Creator". In the process which forged the soul of the nation, "religious beliefs were a constant inspiration and driving force, as for example in the struggle against slavery and in the civil rights movement. In our time too, particularly in moments of crisis, Americans continue to find their strength in a commitment to this patrimony of shared ideals and aspirations".<br /><br />Referring to the many religious traditions present in the United States, Benedict XVI recalled how "not only Catholics, but all believers have found here the freedom to worship God in accordance with the dictates of their conscience, while at the same time being accepted as part of a commonwealth in which each individual and group can make its voice heard".<br /><br />He continued: "As the nation faces the increasingly complex political and ethical issues of our time, I am confident that the American people will find in their religious beliefs a precious source of insight and an inspiration to pursue reasoned, responsible and respectful dialogue in the effort to build a more humane and free society.<br /><br />"Freedom is not only a gift, but also a summons to personal responsibility. Americans know this from experience - almost every town in this country has its monuments honouring those who sacrificed their lives in defence of freedom, both at home and abroad. The preservation of freedom calls for the cultivation of virtue, self-discipline, sacrifice for the common good and a sense of responsibility towards the less fortunate. It also demands the courage to engage in civic life and to bring one's deepest beliefs and values to reasoned public debate".<br /><br />"The Church, for her part, wishes to contribute to building a world ever more worthy of the human person", said the Holy Father, because "she is convinced that faith sheds new light on all things" and gives us "the hope that inspires us to work for an ever more just and fraternal society. Democracy can only flourish", he added, "when political leaders and those whom they represent are guided by truth and bring the wisdom born of firm moral principle to decisions affecting the life and future of the nation.<br /><br />"For well over a century, the United States of America has played an important role in the international community", the Pope concluded, noting how "America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this concern for the greater human family will continue to find expression in support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress".<br /><br />The welcome ceremony over, the Pope held a private meeting with President Bush in the Oval Office. He them travelled back to the apostolic nunciature in Washington where he lunched with U.S. cardinals and the Presidium of the USCCB. Later, also in the apostolic nunciature, he received leaders of five charitable organisations: the Knights of Columbus, the Patrons of the Arts, Centesimus Annus Pro Pontefice, the Papal Foundation and the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land.<br />PV-U.S.A./WELCOME CEREMONY/WASHINGTON VIS 080417 (820)<br /><br /><a name="joint"></a><strong>JOINT U.S. - HOLY SEE COMMUNIQUE<br /></strong><br />VATICAN CITY, 16 APR 2008 (VIS) - At the end of the private meeting between the Holy Father Benedict XVI and U.S. President George W. Bush in the Oval Office of the White House, the Holy See and the Office of the President of the United States of America released a joint declaration, the text of which is given below:<br /><br />"President Bush, on behalf of all Americans, welcomed the Holy Father, wished him a happy birthday, and thanked him for the spiritual and moral guidance, which he offers to the whole human family. The President wished the Pope every success in his apostolic journey and in his address at the United Nations, and expressed appreciation for the Pope's upcoming visit to 'Ground Zero' in New York.<br /><br />"During their meeting, the Holy Father and the President discussed a number of topics of common interest to the Holy See and the United States of America, including moral and religious considerations to which both parties are committed: the respect of the dignity of the human person; the defence and promotion of life, matrimony and the family; the education of future generations; human rights and religious freedom; sustainable development and the struggle against poverty and pandemics, especially in Africa. In regard to the latter, the Holy Father welcomed the United States' substantial financial contributions in this area. The two reaffirmed their total rejection of terrorism as well as the manipulation of religion to justify immoral and violent acts against innocents. They further touched on the need to confront terrorism with appropriate means that respect the human person and his or her rights.<br /><br />"The Holy Father and the President devoted considerable time in their discussions to the Middle East, in particular resolving the Israel-Palestinian conflict in line with the vision of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, their mutual support for the sovereignty and independence of Lebanon, and their common concern for the situation in Iraq and particularly the precarious state of Christian communities there and elsewhere in the region. The Holy Father and the President expressed hope for an end to violence and for a prompt and comprehensive solution to the crises which afflict the region.<br /><br />"The Holy Father and the President also considered the situation in Latin America with reference, among other matters, to immigrants, and the need for a co-ordinated policy regarding immigration, especially their humane treatment and the wellbeing of their families".<br />PV-U.S.A./MEETING PRESIDENT/WASHINGTON VIS 080417 (410)<br /><br /><a name="meeting"></a><strong>MEETING WITH BISHOPS: LIVE CHRIST-CENTRED LIVES</strong><br /><br />VATICAN CITY, 16 APR 2008 (VIS) - At 5.45 p.m. local time (11.45 p.m. in Rome), the Holy Father presided at the celebration of Vespers with bishops of the United States at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C.<br /><br />At the beginning of his homily, the Holy Father highlighted the American people's "great vitality and creativity" and their generosity towards the poor and needy, which also finds expression in "the many forms of humanitarian assistance provided by American Catholics through Catholic Charities and other agencies".<br /><br />"America is also a land of great faith" said the Pope, noting how its people are well-known for "their religious fervour" and "do not hesitate to bring moral arguments rooted in biblical faith into their public discourse". At the same time, "respect for freedom of religion is deeply ingrained in the American consciousness".<br /><br />"People today need to be reminded of the ultimate purpose of their lives", said Pope Benedict. "Without God ... our lives are ultimately empty. ... The goal of all our pastoral and catechetical work, the object of our preaching, and the focus of our sacramental ministry should be to help people establish and nurture that living relationship with 'Christ Jesus, our hope'".<br /><br />He went on: "At a time when advances in medical science bring new hope to many, they also give rise to previously unimagined ethical challenges. This makes it more important than ever to offer thorough formation in the Church's moral teaching to Catholics engaged in healthcare". In this context he told the bishops that "yours is a respected voice that has much to offer to the discussion of the pressing social and moral questions of the day. ... It falls to you to ensure that the moral formation provided at every level of ecclesial life reflects the authentic teaching of the Gospel of life".<br /><br />In this regard, the Pope identified a "matter of deep concern to us all" as being "the state of the family within society. ... Divorce and infidelity have increased, and many young men and women are choosing to postpone marriage or to forego it altogether". At the same time there exists "an alarming decrease in the number of Catholic marriages in the United States together with an increase in cohabitation, in which the Christ-like mutual self-giving of spouses, sealed by a public promise to live out the demands of an indissoluble lifelong commitment, is simply absent".<br /><br />"It is your task to proclaim boldly the arguments from faith and reason in favour of the institution of marriage, understood as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman, open to the transmission of life. This message should resonate with people today, because it is essentially an unconditional and unreserved 'yes' to life, a 'yes' to love, and a 'yes' to the aspirations at the heart of our common humanity, as we strive to fulfil our deep yearning for intimacy with others and with the Lord.<br /><br />"Among the countersigns to the Gospel of life", the Pope added, "found in America and elsewhere, is one that causes deep shame: the sexual abuse of minors" by the clergy. "It is your God-given responsibility as pastors to bind up the wounds caused by every breach of trust, to foster healing, to promote reconciliation and to reach out with loving concern to those so seriously wronged".<br /><br />"While it must be remembered that the overwhelming majority of clergy and religious in America do outstanding work in bringing the liberating message of the Gospel to the people entrusted to their care, it is vitally important that the vulnerable always be shielded from those who would cause harm".<br /><br />Children, said the Holy Father, "have a right to be educated in authentic moral values rooted in the dignity of the human person. ... We need to reassess urgently the values underpinning society, so that a sound moral formation can be offered to young people and adults alike. ...Indeed, every member of society can contribute to this moral renewal and benefit from it".<br /><br />Turning his attention to priests, the Pope highlighted the fact that they too "need your guidance and closeness during this difficult time. ... At this stage a vital part of your task is to strengthen relationships with your clergy, especially in those cases where tension has arisen between priests and their bishops in the wake of the crisis. It is important that you continue to show them your concern, to support them, and to lead by example".<br /><br />"We need to rediscover the joy of living a Christ-centred life, cultivating the virtues and immersing ourselves in prayer", the Pope concluded his homily. "Time spent in prayer is never wasted, however urgent the duties that press upon us from every side".<br /><br />During the course of his meeting with the U.S. prelates, three bishops posed questions to the Holy Father.<br /><br />In the first question, the Holy Father was asked to give his assessment of the challenges of secularism and relativism, and his advice on how to confront these challenges more effectively.<br /><br />"Perhaps", he replied, "America's brand of secularism poses a particular problem: it allows for professing belief in God, and respects the public role of religion and the Churches, but at the same time it can subtly reduce religious belief to a lowest common denominator. Faith becomes a passive acceptance that certain things 'out there' are true, but without practical relevance for everyday life. The result is a growing separation of faith from life. ... This is aggravated by an individualistic and eclectic approach to faith and religion: far from a Catholic approach to 'thinking with the Church', each person believes he or she has a right to pick and choose".<br /><br />"What is needed, I am convinced, is a greater sense of the intrinsic relationship between the Gospel and the natural law on the one hand, and, on the other, the pursuit of authentic human good, as embodied in civil law and in personal moral decisions. In a society that rightly values personal liberty, ... the Gospel has to be preached and taught as an integral way of life, offering an attractive and true answer, intellectually and practically, to real human problems. ... I believe that the Church in America, at this point in her history, is faced with the challenge of recapturing the Catholic vision of reality and presenting it, in an engaging and imaginative way, to a society which markets any number of recipes for human fulfilment".<br /><br />The second question put to the Pope concerned Catholics' abandonment of the practice of the faith, sometimes by an explicit decision, but often by distancing themselves quietly and gradually from attendance at Mass and identification with the Church.<br /><br />"It is becoming more and more difficult, in our Western societies, to speak in a meaningful way of 'salvation'", said Benedict XVI. "Yet salvation - deliverance from the reality of evil, and the gift of new life and freedom in Christ - is at the heart of the Gospel. We need to discover, as I have suggested, new and engaging ways of proclaiming this message. ... It is in the Church's liturgy, and above all in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, that these realities are most powerfully expressed and lived in the life of believers; perhaps we still have much to do in realising the Council's vision of the liturgy as the exercise of the common priesthood and the impetus for a fruitful apostolate in the world".<br /><br />Finally, answering a question on the decline in vocations, Pope Benedict recalled how "the ability to cultivate vocations to the priesthood and the religious life is a sure sign of the health of a local Church" and he reaffirmed the importance of prayer. "Nor am I speaking only of prayer for vocations", he added. "Prayer itself, born in Catholic families, nurtured by programs of Christian formation, strengthened by the grace of the Sacraments, is the first means by which we come to know the Lord's will for our lives".<br /><br />Before concluding the Pope also acknowledged "the immense suffering endured by the people of God in the archdiocese of New Orleans as a result of Hurricane Katrina, as well as their courage in the challenging work of rebuilding". He also presented Archbishop Alfred Hughes of New Orleans with a chalice, "as a sign of my prayerful solidarity with the faithful of the archdiocese".<br />PV-U.S.A./VESPERS BISHOPS/WASHINGTON VIS 080417 (1400)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-56311599166716598152008-04-16T08:54:00.000-06:002008-04-16T08:55:26.026-06:00<div align="center"><a name="paedophilia"></a><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Papal Updates...</span></u></strong></div><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>PAEDOPHILIA IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE PRIESTHOOD</strong><br /><br />VATICAN CITY, 15 APR 2008 (VIS) - During a meeting with journalists accompanying him on the flight to the U.S.A., where he arrived at 4 p.m. local time (10 p.m. in Rome), the Pope answered a number of questions.<br /><br /> Referring to the case of paedophile priests that has affected the Catholic Church in America, Benedict XVI said: "I am deeply ashamed. We will do everything possible to ensure it does not happen again".<br /><br /> "We will rigorously exclude paedophiles from priestly ministry", he said. "The two things are absolutely incompatible and someone who is truly guilty of paedophilia cannot be a priest".<br /><br /> "Only healthy people, ... only people with a profound personal life in Christ and who also have a profound sacramental life can be admitted to the priesthood ... It is more important to have good priests than to have many priests". We hope, he insisted, "to do everything possible in the future to heal this wound".<br /><br /> Going on to speak about his forthcoming visit to U.N. headquarters, on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Pope said: "It seems important to me that the foundation of the United Nations should be the idea of human rights, of rights which express non-negotiable values, which come before all institutions and are the foundation of all institutions".<br /><br /> "It is important", the Pope went on, "to renew the awareness that the United Nations, with its peace-bringing role, can work only if it has a shared basis of values, which are expressed as 'rights' and must be observed by everyone. To confirm this fundamental concept and as far as possible bring it up to date is one aim of my mission".<br /><br /> Asked whether the public recognition of religion in the United States could be a model for secularised Europe, Benedict XVI recalled how the U.S. "began with a positive concept of laicism", but that the laicism of the State existed "precisely for love of religion in all its authenticity, which can only be lived in freedom. ... Of course", he concluded, "in Europe we cannot just copy the United States. We have our own history. But we must learn from one another".<br />PV-U.S.A./PLANE INTERVIEW/...<br /> VIS 080416 (370)<br /><br /><a name="meeting"></a><strong>MEETING WITH U.S. PRESIDENT, VESPERS WITH BISHOPS</strong><br /><br />VATICAN CITY, 16 APR 2008 (VIS) - This morning the Pope, who celebrates his 81st birthday today, celebrated a private Mass in the chapel of the apostolic nunciature in Washington D.C.<br /><br /> At 10.10 a.m. local time (4.10 p.m. in Rome) Benedict XVI will travel by car to the White House for the welcome ceremony, during which he is scheduled to deliver an address and, subsequently, to hold a private meeting with U.S. President George Bush.<br /><br /> The Holy Father will lunch with American cardinals and with the president, vice-president and secretary general of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), respectively Cardinal Francis E. George O.M.I., Bishop Gerald Kicanas and Msgr. David Malloy. At 4.45 p.m. local time (10.45 p.m. in Rome) he will meet with leaders of five charitable organisations: the Knights of Columbus, the Patrons of the Arts, Centesimus Annus Pro Pontefice, the Papal Foundation and the Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land.<br /><br /> At 5.30 p.m. local time (11.30 p.m. in Rome) the Holy Father will go to Washington's National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception where he will preside at the celebration of Vespers with United States bishops.<br /><br /> Following the ceremony, the Pope will return to the apostolic nunciature in Washington D.C., where he will dine in private and spend the night.<br />PV-U.S.A./WELCOME CEREMONY VESPERS/WASHINGTONVIS 080416 (230)<div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-90262340825369099452008-04-14T16:36:00.003-06:002008-04-14T16:40:43.181-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0ZSKKfBmbJS_0e582cnCeKwQxn9gL64tay3MZlVQX6t0jrbMcXAyTEU_aSzDNQN7e3Gu-YcO9_RKbkXVdxgCTYYW8i13sqbM_cTfFnJHrIZ-z-I9qTfhbA26bhJYgAKqslD4/s1600-h/birthday-cake.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5189234327058804354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0ZSKKfBmbJS_0e582cnCeKwQxn9gL64tay3MZlVQX6t0jrbMcXAyTEU_aSzDNQN7e3Gu-YcO9_RKbkXVdxgCTYYW8i13sqbM_cTfFnJHrIZ-z-I9qTfhbA26bhJYgAKqslD4/s200/birthday-cake.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><u><strong>Happy <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Anniversary</span> to Me!!!</strong></u></span></div><br /><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></u></strong></div><br /><div align="left">Today I celebrate being Catholic for seven years! Praise Jesus Christ! </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-65360649695321720092008-04-14T09:30:00.003-06:002008-04-14T09:43:45.474-06:00<div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><u>Meme </u></strong></span></div><br /> <a href="http://hicatholicmom.blogspot.com/2008/04/time-for-some-fun-ive-got-urge-to-meme.html">Esther </a>tagged me!<br /><br />The <strong>"I've Got the Urge to... </strong><br /><br />1. Become a priest/go to seminary!<br /><br />2. Learn Spanish!<br /><br />3. Finish School (please!!!)<br /><br />4. Earn $<br /><br />5. Have coffee with my Catholic friends!<br /><br />6. Go swimming!<br /><br />7. Get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather!<br /><br />8. Get out of every commitment I have and just live life! (that won't happen!)<br /><br />9. Play piano for fun!<br /><br />10. Study only the stuff that interests me!<br /><br /><br /><br />I tag anyone else who likes talking about themselves!<div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-69239517494756996032008-04-14T08:44:00.000-06:002008-04-14T08:45:53.194-06:00<div align="center"><a name="pope"></a><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">His Holliness is Coming to Town!!!</span></u></strong></div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong></strong> </div><div align="center"><strong>POPE CALLS FOR PRAYERS FOR SUCCESS OF HIS U.S. TRIP<br /></strong> </div><div align="left"><br />VATICAN CITY, 13 APR 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, following the Regina Coeli prayer, Benedict XVI reminded the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square that on Tuesday 15 April he will travel to the U.S.A. where he will visit Washington, New York and the headquarters of the United Nations.<br /><br /> "With the various groups I shall meet", he said in English, "my intention is to share our Lord's word of life. In Christ is our hope! Christ is the foundation of our hope for peace, for justice, and for the freedom that flows from God's law fulfilled in His commandment to love one another".<br /><br /> <strong>The Pope also asked people to pray for the success of the visit, "so that it may be a time of spiritual renewal for all Americans".<br /></strong>ANG/UNITED STATES TRIP/... VIS 080414 (150)</div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-8919357215620086092008-04-13T22:15:00.002-06:002008-04-13T22:23:09.689-06:00<div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Vocation Update...</span></u></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></u></strong> </div><div align="left"> This past weekend I was up at the Denver vocation's office for my final interviews for acceptance into the diocese of Denver. The vocation's board decided that I need more experiences in the world and to mature more before entering official seminary and suggested I enter a Catholic University for a couple of years first, and then to re-apply. I'm currently applying for <a href="http://www.avemaria.edu/">Ave Maria Univeristy</a>, and hope to enter their Pre-Theologate program, and then after two years I will return to Denver and enter St. John Vianney Seminary, assuming I am accepted. Please pray for me during this time as this is not what I was expecting or desiring, but I know that this is the best plan as I am sure this is from the Holy Spirit and God's Holy Will. </div><div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32431617.post-67477656734518186922008-04-09T22:59:00.007-06:002008-04-10T00:19:44.022-06:00<div align="center"><strong><u><span style="font-size:130%;">Stump the Chump Answers...</span></u></strong></div><br /><div align="left">This week I received two stump the chump questions, so here I go!</div><br />First:<br /><br /><div align="left"><a title="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01187685398897830910" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01187685398897830910">Soutenus</a> asked:</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyy2LUJq4euVy6T8LPeQ6Lkt_32kMlwU44W2mkNZMPp4aZL7I3-vIJdr1Gv3A3bpF4_wVIpQNCSD7Eivnt7BNJrK8dYmZeXJpGaTdoeoCPEuiSC__5ZAKebpt3KsBbGEl7Cot/s1600-h/lazarus.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187496223143806882" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyy2LUJq4euVy6T8LPeQ6Lkt_32kMlwU44W2mkNZMPp4aZL7I3-vIJdr1Gv3A3bpF4_wVIpQNCSD7Eivnt7BNJrK8dYmZeXJpGaTdoeoCPEuiSC__5ZAKebpt3KsBbGEl7Cot/s200/lazarus.jpg" border="0" /></a> "<em>I do not know if we can really know the answer to this one -- maybe I just want another's opinion. Why did Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead? Some priests (in homilies) have said it showed Jesus' humanity -- that He was sad about the death of Lazarus. But, what I do not get is -- if Jesus was going to make eternal life possible -- why bring Lazarus back to his earthly life. Won't life in Heaven be so much better? Was it a miracle to prefigure the resurrection He would have? Kind of like a prelude to His death and resurrection? Was Jesus maybe showing people that He had power over death? If it was simply that then why did Jesus weep? </em><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><em></em></div><div align="left">My answer:</div><br />There are a large number of points in this Gospel story, and I don't think that I have grasped half of them, but I think a couple major points can answer your question. Of course, God is all-knowing (UN-like me) so only He can really know every "why" to what He does. I think that the main reason Jesus rose Lazarus from the dead was to show to the Jewish people that He really was the Messiah and that He had power even over death itself. He was not just a prophet or "good man", but He was (and is) God Himself. I'm not just saying this as a pure guess either. Read in the story: <em>"<span style="color:#000066;">When Jesus heard this he said,</span> </em><span style="color:#990000;"><em>'This illness is not to end in death, <u>but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it</u>.' </em></span><span style="color:#000000;">(John 11:4) </span><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">And then later: <span style="color:#000066;"><em>"So then Jesus said to them clearly,</em></span><em> </em><span style="color:#990000;"><em>'Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, <u>that you may believe</u>. Le us go to him'" </em></span><span style="color:#000000;">(John 11:14-15)</span></div><br /><br /><div align="left">And: <span style="color:#000099;"></span><em><span style="color:#000066;">"And Jesus raised his eyes and said,</span> <span style="color:#990000;">'Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me;<u> but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.'</u></span> <span style="color:#000066;">And when he had said this, he cried out in a loud voice,</span></em><span style="color:#990000;"><em> 'Lazarus, come out!'" </em></span><span style="color:#000000;">(John 11:41b-43)</span></div><br /><br />You do bring a good point asking why Jesus would raise Lazarus back to life when eternal life seems like it would be WAY better, and it is, but Jesus obviously had a bigger picture here. He knew that Lazarus was a holy man and would still be able to obtain eternal life, but Lazarus' resurrection was a huge sign for the increase of Faith among the other people. If you read ahead in John a little bit you will find this interesting verse: <span style="color:#000066;"><em>"And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him." </em></span><span style="color:#000000;">(John 12:10)</span><br /><br /><br />Jesus' humanity is also expressed in this narrative, but I don't think that this is the underlying reason for His actions. I think He expresses His humanity beautifully to us when it says: <em>"</em><span style="color:#000066;"><em>When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, <u>he became perturbed</u> and deeply troubled, and said, <span style="color:#990000;">'Where have you laid him?'</span> They said to him, 'Sir, come and see.' <u>And Jesus wept</u>. So the Jews said, ' <u>See how he loved him</u>.'" </em></span><span style="color:#000000;">(John 11:33-36)</span><br /><br /><br />So yes, His humanity is shown, but I really don't think this can in any way give us the full reason behind Him raising Lazarus. As the first verse I gave you said, Lazarus' death was already known by Jesus, and Jesus knew that He would raise Lazarus from the dead.<br /><br /><br /><div align="left">There is also probably a lot more to dig up in these passages as well. Read Chapter 11 verses 19-40 and Jesus has these conversations with Martha and Mary which seem to bring up some important teachings of Jesus. It is within this context that He says: <em><span style="color:#990000;">"'I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.'"</span></em> (John 11:25-26)</div><br />Hope that answered that pretty well...<br /><br /><br />And now the second question is a little easier:<br /><br /><br /><a title="http://www.blogger.com/profile/03359367633082026375" href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/03359367633082026375">BevansInc</a> asked:<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187496489431779250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzp_LcvOuA5oNfEVihPa4hywyL33VBmoMYgG9JiuRk92YvmtVMfMea9-Y2pf93FCRhTJ3XYjBerN0I7aZC4M73fwDi64qhZVapHoCRFjN-VARP9UAU8AAmp_INDs3myAsz36PR/s200/ugly+27.jpg" border="0" /><em>" ...over the past six months or so, readers in our Parish have begun to say "the word of the Lord" or just "word of the Lord" instead of "This is the Word of the Lord" which has been the norm, since I was little. Our priest also now says "the Gospel of the Lord" leaving out the 'this'. I heard it on EWTN in a brodcast they did from a live coverage of Mass somewhere (not EWTN itself) and I just wondered, seeing that it seems 'global' if you know of any specific announcement or change calling for it or if you have come across this new phenomenon yourself, if so, why is it? All of the readers now have changed to this in our Parish and it just got my attention when I heard it from America too! "</em><br /><br /><div align="left">Hmmm... I have to say that I can't really remember for sure if I have heard lectors using 'this is...", because I have always heard it just, "The word of the Lord". I could not find the official way to do this in the GIRM, but the USCCB Committee on Divine Worship <a href="http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/girm/lit3.shtml">says</a>: <em><strong>"At the end, the lector makes the acclamation, The Word of the Lord, with all responding, Thanks be to God."</strong></em> I think that should clear it up. Remember that the original Latin would be, "Verbum Domini", translating "The word of the Lord". I am not sure why it was (is?) so common to add the "this is..." before that, but I'm guessing that that was just some creative idea some liturgist came up with that became popular. This is really a minor point though, so I wouldn't go blowing a horn around at your local parish if they do it either way. From what you said, I'm guessing they are just trying to follow Rome more closely on how the Mass is supposed to be said, which is really quite awesome! I hope every church may be so concerned as to follow the rubrics carefully!</div><br /><div align="left">Hope that helps....</div><br /><br /><br />Think<strong> you</strong> can <a href="http://catholicwarrior.blogspot.com/2008/04/stump-chump-well-since-its-thursday-its.html">stump the chump</a>???<div class="blogger-post-footer">All about Catholic teaching. I love the Catholic Church, and that is why The Catholic Warrior is here - to defend the Church in the so many ways she is attacked and slandered everyday.</div>PBXVIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16522665325981583344noreply@blogger.com5