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God The Sanctifier Of Men… Get To Know The Holy Spirit

September 24, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on God The Sanctifier Of Men… Get To Know The Holy Spirit

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 4 In this article, we consider the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Every day at Mass — or at least every Sunday — we say, “I believe in the Holy Spirit.” But, I ask, how many of us have taken time to really know the Holy Spirit? Some theologians call Him, “The Great Unknown One.” And He gives us His Gifts, which sanctify us and prepare us for our eternal destiny, Heaven. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are virtues that enable us to act like Jesus. Remember the question, WWJD? “What would Jesus do?” It is not a matter of guesswork, trying to imagine Jesus standing next to us, holding His chin and…Continue Reading

The Sacrament Of Holy Orders

September 23, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Sacrament Of Holy Orders

By DON FIER Several months ago when we began our consideration of the seven sacraments, it was noted that they can be subdivided into various categories (see volume 148, n. 32; August 13, 2015). The authors of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) chose to present them according to a threefold classification: sacraments of Christian initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist), sacraments of healing (Penance and Anointing of the Sick), and sacraments of vocation or service (Holy Orders and Matrimony). Having now covered the first five sacraments, it can be seen they share a common characteristic: Each of the five has as its primary effect the sanctification of the individual person. The sacraments of Christian initiation “lay the foundations…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

September 22, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. At Our Lady’s July 1917 appearance at Fatima, she stated that a war greater than World War I would break out during the pontificate of Pope Pius XI. Ambrogio Ratti chose the name Pius XI when he became Pope in 1922. No doubt Our Lady knew he would be known as Pius XI, but why didn’t she say “the next Pope” instead of, it would seem, picking a name for him? Was Ratti free to choose his own papal name or was he somehow bound to be known as Pius XI? — J.F.H., Illinois. A. We would think that Cardinal Ratti was certainly free to choose the name Pius XI, and Our Lady of Fatima knew what name he…Continue Reading

The Radical Call To Follow Christ

September 21, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Radical Call To Follow Christ

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Twenty-Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time (YR A) Readings: Ezek. 18:25-28 Phil. 2:1-11 Matt. 21:28-32 In the second reading today, St. Paul says we are to have in us the same attitude as Christ. As we continue through the reading we can see the attitude of Christ is marked by humility, obedience, and charity. This essentially repeats what St. Paul said earlier, calling us to do nothing out of selfishness or vainglory, to humble ourselves and to seek the interests of others. Sadly, pride, selfishness, and doing only what I want to do have become the norm in our society. The call to follow Christ has always been a radical call and it has always required Christians…Continue Reading

Professor Josef Seifert… Amoris Laetitia’s “Immense Threat” To The Moral Teaching Of The Church

September 20, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Professor Josef Seifert… Amoris Laetitia’s “Immense Threat” To The Moral Teaching Of The Church

By MAIKE HICKSON (Editor’s Note: In light of Professor Josef Seifert’s recent essay examining some of the dangerous logical consequences of Amoris Laetitia — an essay for which he was dismissed from his teaching position by the archbishop of Granada — Dr. Maike Hickson of OnePeterFive.com reached out to the Austrian philosopher to ask him some additional questions about not just the post-synodal exhortation that has generated so much controversy, but the state of moral teaching and praxis in the Church in its wake. (This interview was first published by OnePeterFive.com on September 5 and it is reprinted here with their gracious permission. All rights reserved. (The Wanderer has published this interview in two parts, in place of our usual…Continue Reading

A Leaven In The World… Can Division In Worship Bring Unity Of Faith?

September 18, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World… Can Division In Worship Bring Unity Of Faith?

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK Pope Francis has given authority through a new motu proprio, Magnum Principium, issued this month, to local bishops’ conferences to approve translations of the liturgy from Latin into local languages. By doing so he hopes to accomplish a couple of things. First, as we know by now Pope Francis places full trust and confidence in Vatican II. When it comes to all matters Vatican II there are the documents of the council itself which can easily be read in the light of tradition. But there are also other documents issued by committees which took matters a step further and opened the way to what some call “the spirit of Vatican II.” This so-called “spirit” is…Continue Reading

God The Sanctifier Of Men… Other Christs

September 17, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on God The Sanctifier Of Men… Other Christs

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 3 In a previous article, I mentioned that sanctifying grace makes us brethren of Christ. It is, by the way, one more reason to have devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ and Mother of us, our common Mother. The reason is quite simple to understand: Christ is the Head of the Church, and we are its members. A mother does not give birth only to the head of a child, but to the whole child, head and members. Since she is the Mother of the Head, and we are the members, she is our Mother, too. Yes, sanctifying grace makes us other Christs. It makes us brethren to Him and to…Continue Reading

The Effects And Fruits Of Anointing Of The Sick

September 16, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Effects And Fruits Of Anointing Of The Sick

By DON FIER The proper time for receiving the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick for a baptized Catholic “has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age” (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], n. 1528). However, as we saw last week, the sacrament is not exclusively for those who are facing the last moments of life on this Earth. Elderly people may be anointed when there is a notable weakening in their native powers (even though serious illness is not present and death does not appear to be imminent) as can a person who is facing serious surgery. Children who are dangerously ill may be anointed if they have…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

September 15, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. Please clarify 1 John 5:16-17. Does this refer to mortal sin? What is meant by not praying for one in deadly sin? Isn’t deadly sin a top priority for prayer? — P.S., Indiana. A. The passage in question reads: “If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly.” While it is not completely clear what St. John meant by sin in the first instance, he…Continue Reading

Magnify The Lord!

September 14, 2017 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Magnify The Lord!

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Twenty-Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time (YR A) Readings: Isaiah 55:6-9 Phil. 1:20c-24, 27a Matt. 20:1-16a In the first reading today, God says that His thoughts are not our thoughts nor are His ways our ways. He adds that as the heavens are high above the Earth, so high are His ways above our ways. Certainly this is true, but we cannot just sit back and think that since our thoughts and our ways are infinitely beneath the Lord’s thoughts and ways that we should not even try to form ourselves to be like Him. God is infinite, so no matter how high we are able to reach, we will still be infinitely below Him. There are,…Continue Reading