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Learn A Lesson From The Fig Tree

November 5, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Learn A Lesson From The Fig Tree

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Thirty-Third Sunday In Ordinary Time Readings: Daniel 12:1-3 Heb. 10:11-14, 18 Mark 13:24-32 In the second reading today St. Paul says that Jesus waits now until His enemies are made His footstool. As we look around, it appears that we, the followers of Christ, are being made the footstool of His enemies. When one considers the horrific things that are taking place in the Middle Eastern and Western African countries as well as the frequent losses of liberty for Christians and the massive influx of Muslim immigrants in the West, one would need to be a bit off kilter to suggest that the enemies of Christ are being trampled underfoot. However, when we consider the other…Continue Reading

Archbishop Gadecki Gives Homily . . . Mass Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Polish Bishops’ Message To German Bishops

November 4, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Archbishop Gadecki Gives Homily . . . Mass Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Polish Bishops’ Message To German Bishops

ROME (ZENIT) — Here is the homily given October 26 by Archbishop Stanislaw Gadecki of Poznan, president of the Polish Bishops Conference, at the opening Mass of an event to mark the 50th anniversary of the Message of the Polish Bishops to the German Bishops. The anniversary event was held in Rome, and included a historical and theological consideration of this important letter, sent in the context of the Second Vatican Council. + + + We forgive and ask for forgiveness. Intervention on the 50th anniversary of the Message of the Polish Bishops to the German Bishops, Rome, Campo Santo Teutonico, October 26, 2015. + + + On the 50th anniversary of the Message of the Polish Bishops to the…Continue Reading

A Leaven In The World… Did Jesus Give Communion To Judas?

November 2, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World… Did Jesus Give Communion To Judas?

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK If we truly loved Catholics who don’t go to Sunday Mass, commit adultery, fornicate, lie, steal, or commit any other mortal sin we would correct them because we want them to choose life. But in many cases we do not. Among the reasons for this are that we who are faithful often lack courage animated by Christ-like love and those who are in grave sin often continue to feel very much exuberantly alive. Silence in the face of sin is, however, not an option because in that case love itself becomes a sham and this brings ruin to all of us. Fr. James Martin, SJ, recently used the example of the Last Supper, and the…Continue Reading

Apologetics Course . . . The Personality Of Luther

November 1, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Apologetics Course . . . The Personality Of Luther

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 26 It is not possible to understand the current divisions among Christians — these many thousands of “denominations” holding contradictory beliefs regarding faith, morals, and behavior — unless we understand something of the personality of the founder of Protestantism. In previous articles in The Wanderer I cited several affirmations of Luther that shocked many people, and whenever I speak to a sincere Lutheran I recommend to him the attentive reading of Luther’s own writings and sayings copied by his faithful secretary, Melanchthon. That will be enough to persuade him to become Catholic. But let us know the man a bit more, in order to understand his work. Luther was not a fool. He was…Continue Reading

The Consecrated Life

October 31, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Consecrated Life

By DON FIER Part 3 The consecrated life, as we have reflected over the past two weeks, is “a permanent state of life recognized by the Church, entered freely in response to the call of Christ to perfection, and characterized by the profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience” (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], Glossary). Through baptismal consecration all are called to holiness, which entails “chastity appropriate to their state of life, obedience to God and to the Church, and a reasonable detachment from material possessions” (Vita Consecrata [VC], n. 30 § 2). However, through a special gift of the Holy Spirit not given to everyone, some are called to “leave everything behind” in order to…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

October 30, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. I know that we are supposed to welcome the stranger, to reach out to those refugees who are coming to our shores, but shouldn’t there be some prudential judgment involved since not all persons seeking entry into America are legitimate refugees? — Name and State Withheld. A. Of course, and Fr. George W. Rutler, pastor of the Church of St. Michael in New York City, made the distinction in a recent column. He first listed some of the “genuine heroes” — Charles Martel, Richard the Lionhearted, St. Louis IX, Janos Hunyadi, St. John of Capistrano, Don Juan of Austria, Andrea Doria, St. Pius V, and Jan Sobieski — in the centuries-old battle against radical Islam and said that “if…Continue Reading

The Two Widows

October 29, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Two Widows

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Thirty-Second Sunday In Ordinary Time (YR B) Readings: 1 Kings 17:10-16 Heb. 9:24-28 Mark 12:38-44 In the Gospel reading today, we hear two points of importance. The first is the condemnation for those who use religion as a pretext for some selfish purpose. The second is the teaching on the widow who, though she offered only a couple of small copper coins, gave more than the people who put in large amounts of money because she gave from her want, not from her surplus. Even when we put these two things together, we can see how they apply to us. Our goal is to love God with our whole heart, soul, and strength. There are many…Continue Reading

Archbishop Kurtz . . . Says Localizing Certain Pastoral Practices Could Fracture Unity

October 28, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Archbishop Kurtz . . . Says Localizing Certain Pastoral Practices Could Fracture Unity

By DEBORAH CASTELLANO LUBOV VATICAN CITY (ZENIT) — In reflecting on the Synod of Bishops underway in Rome, the president of the U.S. episcopal conference, Archbishop Joseph Kurtz of Louisville, Ky., says the synod fathers are emphasizing that “we as the body of Christ can have a great effect on families, but families can have a great effect on the life of the Church.” Still, he says, changes won’t come overnight. In an exclusive interview with ZENIT in Rome’s Pontifical North American College on Thursday, October 15, Archbishop Kurtz, who was appointed bishop of Louisville, Ky., by Pope Benedict, gives his view on the message that families in the United States might most need to hear. The prelate, who served…Continue Reading

A Leaven In The World… Bringing People To Grace

October 26, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World… Bringing People To Grace

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK The feast day of Blessed Karl of Austria landed on the calendar providentially during the final week of the Synod in Rome on the Family. His cause for canonization in process and no doubt one of the signposts for the movement to declare him a saint were his words to his wife Empress Zita on the day after their nuptials, when he said, “Now, we will help each other to get to Heaven.” In a few words, here precisely is what we hope the synod will teach about in marriage in continuity with the witness of Blessed Karl and all those before and after who understand the beautiful meaning and purpose of holy matrimony in…Continue Reading

An Apologetics Course… The Origins Of Protestantism And Its Disunity

October 25, 2015 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on An Apologetics Course… The Origins Of Protestantism And Its Disunity

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 25 In the previous article we considered the fact that Christ founded one Church, and only one, not thousands. There is no such a thing as a “Protestant Church,” in the singular; instead, there is a myriad of Protestant churches, in the plural, divided among themselves in faith, worship, and government. A plateau de fromage of religion. The Protestant revolution is inaccurately enough called the “Reformation,” but in reality it did not reform the Church. It is true that the Church was in dire need of an authentic Reformation — but instead Luther made a Deformation by creating a new church, of new churches. It began in Germany in the 16th century, and from…Continue Reading