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The Sacraments Instituted By Christ . . . Understanding Confession More Deeply

June 17, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Sacraments Instituted By Christ . . . Understanding Confession More Deeply

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 33 When Jesus gave the apostles the power to bind and unbind things here on Earth (Matt. 18:18), He gave them authority over His flock. Hence, from the very first century, Popes and bishops passed laws to be observed by the people. Consequently, considering the seriousness of sin, and the risk many take for eternity if they lead a sinful life, the Church wisely made a law requiring all the faithful who have come to the use of reason, to receive the Sacrament of Penance at least once a year. This law does not bind everyone, such as those who are not in mortal sin. It binds only those who are guilty of mortal…Continue Reading

Man’s Desire For Happiness

June 16, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Man’s Desire For Happiness

By DON FIER Significant to note from last week’s consideration of the eighth Beatitude: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:10), is that the reward promised is identical to that of the first Beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). Through a literary device called inclusion, biblical exegetes deduce that the promise made at the beginning and end of the series of eight Beatitudes applies likewise to those between. Thus, as Fr. Servais Pinckaers, OP, concludes: “The beatitude of the persecuted completes the series…and brings to full circle the assurance of the Kingdom of heaven” (The Pursuit of Happiness —…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

June 15, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. Can you tell me the difference between a basilica and a cathedral? — M.N., California. A. A basilica is a title of honor given to certain churches which may be classified either as major basilicas or minor basilicas. The only four major basilicas are located in Rome. They are St. John Lateran, St. Peter, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major. Some churches outside of Rome have been designated minor basilicas and enjoy some of the privileges of the major basilicas. A cathedral is the official church of the bishop, where his permanent episcopal chair is located and where he usually officiates. It is the mother church of all the other churches in the diocese and is…Continue Reading

Mourning Ireland’s Rejection Of The Eighth Amendment

June 13, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Mourning Ireland’s Rejection Of The Eighth Amendment

(Editor’s Note: Below we reprint two statements on Ireland’s recent anti-life vote, the first from Fr. Shenan Boquet, the president of Human Life International, and the second from Bishop Kevin Doran of the Diocese of Elphin, Ireland. (Fr. Boquet’s June 5 commentary first appeared at hli.org, and was reprinted by LifeSiteNews. (Bishop Doran’s May 28 message was reprinted at zenit.org in a ZENIT News Agency article by Jim Fair. (All rights reserved.) + + + St. John Paul II’s Prophecy For Ireland’s future By FR. SHENAN BOQUET (Human Life International) — “You will decide what Ireland will be” — St. Pope John Paul II. In 1979, Pope John Paul II gazed out over a sea of some 300,000 youth at…Continue Reading

Thy Kingdom Come

June 12, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Thy Kingdom Come

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Eleventh Sunday In Ordinary Time (YR B) Readings: Ezek. 17:22-24 2 Cor. 5:6-10 Mark 4:26-34 In the Gospel reading our Lord speaks about the Kingdom of God and to what it might be compared. In this reading the Church gives us, our Lord uses two similes, both having to do with the planting of seeds. In the first the farmer sows the seed, but the seed germinates, sprouts, and produces fruit by itself, apart from the work of the farmer. In the second example, the small mustard seed grows to become so large the birds dwell in its shade. If this is what the Kingdom of God can be compared to, then we have to abstract…Continue Reading

A Leaven In The World… Confirmed To Fight For Truth And Souls

June 11, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World… Confirmed To Fight For Truth And Souls

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK I gratefully enjoyed the privilege of being delegated by Cardinal Wuerl this month for the purpose of conferring through the traditional rite the Sacrament of Confirmation on several young men of our parish. The traditional rite is, of course, beautiful in the richness of the prayers, but also in the signs used. One of the elements omitted in postconciliar times is what is often called a “slap” given by the confirming bishop on the cheek of the person just confirmed. The traditional “slap” or pat on the cheek was significant for symbolizing the necessity of the newly confirmed to be willing to fight for the faith as newly minted soldiers of Christ. The graces of…Continue Reading

The Sacraments Instituted By Christ… Investigating The Sacrament Of Confession

June 10, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Sacraments Instituted By Christ… Investigating The Sacrament Of Confession

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 32 In previous articles we have seen how the Old Testament and the New Testament, as well as the faith of the early Christians, affirm the Sacrament of Confession. And it could not be otherwise. Jesus gave to the apostles the power to forgive sins, and also promised that He would be with His Church till the end of time; He sent the Holy Spirit to dwell with them and within them; if He had allowed a fake sacrament to be administered and received by the faithful for over 1,500 years, then, that would mean the Devil took over the Church and the gates of Hell had prevailed! Then what would have happened to…Continue Reading

Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted For Righteousness’ Sake

June 9, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Blessed Are Those Who Are Persecuted For Righteousness’ Sake

By DON FIER In our deliberation last week on the seventh Beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9), it was observed that St. Thomas Aquinas distinguishes it (along with the sixth Beatitude) as a Beatitude of the contemplative life. In a very real sense, its lived-out practice is a kind of preparation for unending happiness as a citizen of Heaven (cf. Summa Theologiae [STh] I-II, Q. 69, art. 2). The Beatitude of “peacemakers” is linked by Saints Augustine and Thomas to the gift of wisdom. In volume 1 of The Three Ages of the Interior Life (AIL), Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, OP, asserts that the ensuing inspirations of the Holy Spirit “give us…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

June 8, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. I would like to know about Loreto Publications. Is it a trustworthy Catholic publishing house? — J.F., New York. A. Loreto Publications, which is located in Fitzwilliam, N.H., was started in 1999 to publish and distribute “Catholic books designed to aid Catholics in their efforts to convert America to the Catholic religion. . . . We intend to make available only those works that are completely in line with Catholic dogma and morals and to defend and promote the Catholic religion with no compromises.” They say on their website that “all of us who labor in this apostolate with our families are militant Roman Catholics loyal to the Holy Father, faithful to the Magisterium of the Church, and consecrated…Continue Reading

Commencement Address To Thomas Aquinas College… “Witness To The Truth As Jesus Christ Taught It”

June 6, 2018 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Commencement Address To Thomas Aquinas College… “Witness To The Truth As Jesus Christ Taught It”

By BISHOP ROBERT C. MORLINO (Editor’s Note: The Most. Rev. Robert C. Morlino, bishop of Madison, Wis., delivered the following commencement address to the graduates of Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, Calif. In his May 12 speech, Bishop Morlino encouraged the new graduates to be countercultural and celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Humanae Vitae. (The speech is reprinted here with the kind permission of Thomas Aquinas College. All rights reserved.) + + + Dear faculty, staff, students, family, and friends: It is an honor to be here with you today. And to you, my dear graduates, congratulations! What a beautiful occasion this is. And what a beautiful setting in which we find ourselves. I. On Truth Most college campuses these…Continue Reading