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The Lover Of Souls

October 20, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Lover Of Souls

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Thirty-First Sunday In Ordinary Time (YR C) Readings: Wisdom 11:22-12 2 Thess. 1:11-2:2 Luke 19:1-10 In the first reading today, we are given a good perspective on things: Before the Lord, the entire universe is less than a drop of morning dew on the Earth. When we consider one tiny drop of dew in comparison to the entirety of the Earth, it is less than microscopic. God is infinite, and even though the universe may be billions of light years across, it is still microscopic compared to God. Now think of yourself in comparison to the entire universe. We are pretty minute when compared to the universe. If the entire universe is less than a drop…Continue Reading

The Clergy’s Silence, Ambiguity, And Dissent Are Destroying The Family

October 19, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Clergy’s Silence, Ambiguity, And Dissent Are Destroying The Family

By FR. SHENAN BOQUET (Editor’s Note: Fr. Shenan Boquet is the president of Human Life International, and he travels around the world spreading the Gospel of Life in that role. He is a priest of the Houma-Thibodaux Diocese in Louisiana where he served before joining HLI in August 2011. (Fr. Boquet’s commentary below on the silence of the shepherds first appeared at HLI.org and is reprinted with permission. It also appeared at LifeSiteNews.com. All rights reserved.) + + + I have traveled to over 60 countries in the nearly six years since I joined the Human Life International family. Based on feedback I’ve received from several dozen conferences and hundreds of parish talks I’ve given, I estimate that around 90 percent have never…Continue Reading

A Leaven In The World… We Are All Lepers, Marred By Sin

October 17, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World… We Are All Lepers, Marred By Sin

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK In the Rossellini film The Flowers of St. Francis, a series of black and white vignettes drawn from the saint’s life are strung together. In one of these St. Francis encounters a leper. He is repulsed by the man’s wounds, because he is human like the rest of us. Having come to love the Lord Jesus passionately, however, he knows that he cannot claim to love Christ if he cannot love his brother. This being an Italian film about an Italian, there is no hesitation that love expressed must somehow be tangible, physical. The warning tinkle of the bell the leper rings to warn others about his approach summons the conscience of Francis to do…Continue Reading

What Is Faith?… God’s Knowledge And Love

October 16, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on What Is Faith?… God’s Knowledge And Love

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA Part 7 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5). It is impressive to realize that God’s knowledge is infinite, and His love is eternal. Before Jeremias was even conceived in his mother’s womb, God knew him. Jeremias was in God’s mind from all eternity, and God loved him already, and gave him a specific mission: to be a prophet to the nations. He acts likewise with each and every one of us. He knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb, and loved us with a love of preference, and gave each…Continue Reading

Confirmation In The Economy Of Salvation

October 15, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Confirmation In The Economy Of Salvation

By DON FIER To conclude its treatment of Baptism, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) briefly describes, in 13 paragraphs (nn. 1262-1274), the principal effects of this foundational sacrament through which one gains entry into the Church. The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church summarizes what we examined more fully last week: “Baptism takes away original sin, all personal sins, and all punishment due to sin. It makes the baptized person a participant in the divine life of the Trinity through sanctifying grace, the grace of justification which incorporates one into Christ and into his Church. It gives one a share in the priesthood of Christ and provides the basis for communion with all Christians” (n. 263).…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

October 14, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Editor’s Note: Regarding the status of Venerable Mary of Agreda’s book The Mystical City of God, which was discussed in a recent column, B.L. of Pennsylvania sent along a photocopy of a 1998 letter from Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, then the secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. In the letter dated February 7, 1998, Archbishop Bertone said: “This Congregation writes in reply to your fax message of October 29, 1997, in which you asked if there are currently any restrictions on keeping or reading The Mystical City of God by Venerable Maria of Agreda. Please be assured that at the present time there is no condemnation or restriction issued by ecclesiastical authorities with regard to…Continue Reading

Depend On The Lord

October 13, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Depend On The Lord

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Thirtieth Sunday In Ordinary Time (YR C) Readings: Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18 2 Tim. 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14 In the first reading today we hear about the people whose prayers are heard by the Lord. It states clearly that those who serve God willingly are heard, but beyond this general statement, the people mentioned are the weak, the oppressed, the orphan, the widow, and the lowly. The reason these people will have their prayers heard is because they have learned to depend on the Lord. It is a sad thing about our human nature, but unless we find ourselves in a situation we know we cannot deal with, we think we can rely on our own self.…Continue Reading

Our Last Chance

October 12, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Our Last Chance

By FR. MICHAEL P. ORSI (Editor’s Note: Fr. Michael P. Orsi is host of “Action for Life TV,” a weekly cable television series devoted to pro-life issues [actionforlifetv.net]. (A broadcast of a September 10 talk he gave concerning religious freedom and the upcoming election received widespread attention on social media. Fr. Orsi kindly provided The Wanderer with this commentary on his talk. All rights reserved.) + + + I have been quite stunned at the response to a talk I gave on September 10 during a Naples, Fla., event marking the National Day of Remembrance for Aborted Children. In it I challenged pastors and churches to come out of the political shadows and take a forthright stand for religious liberty…Continue Reading

A Leaven In The World . . . Fr. Schmitt Reminds Us Why We Have Priests

October 10, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World . . . Fr. Schmitt Reminds Us Why We Have Priests

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK The news is often filled with the dispiriting and sometimes discouraging news of priests committing the same sins as many others do. The scandal of a man of God even going so far as abusing others is a very heavy cross to bear, and not only for the victims and their families. The work of the Church to prevent abuse and to stop abusers before they victimize anyone involves every one of us. Everyone is called to holiness but, all the same, we expect more from our priests. The one who teaches the Gospel to others must be striving to follow it himself every day. Because priests fall and today every detail of their sins…Continue Reading

What Is Faith?… God In Himself, His Essence And Attributes

October 9, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on What Is Faith?… God In Himself, His Essence And Attributes

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA Part 6 “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40). This being the case, it is of the essence to know God’s essence and attributes — no pun intended — so that we may love Him with our whole heart, soul, and mind. And the Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman Church believes and confesses that there is one, true and living God, the Creator and Lord of Heaven…Continue Reading