Friday 13th December 2019

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A Leaven In The World . . . Internationalized College Of Cardinals A Good Sign For Tradition

January 19, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World . . . Internationalized College Of Cardinals A Good Sign For Tradition

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK As of this writing the biggest buzz in the Catholic media is about the new cardinals named by Pope Francis. Commentators are reading them like tea leaves to try their best at predicting what these choices mean for the future of the Church and as a key to understanding the pontificate. One of the most useful analyses is that by John L. Allen Jr. as published in the National Catholic Reporter: “Upon closer examination, there’s also a clear option for the periphery among Francis’ picks. “For instance, Bishop Chibly Langlois will become the first cardinal from Haiti, by most measures one of the poorest countries in the world. The appointment breaks an unwritten Vatican rule…Continue Reading

Priestly Celibacy: Unnatural? Or . . . Supernatural? Celibacy In The Teachings Of St. Paul

January 18, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Priestly Celibacy: Unnatural? Or . . . Supernatural? Celibacy In The Teachings Of St. Paul

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 4 St. Paul was not one of the twelve, but he is known as “the Apostle,” certainly because of the richness of his apostolic zeal in teaching, possibly more than all the other apostles put together. He was educated in the faith by Jesus Himself, and after that intense training, he became as zealous as the fiery prophet Elias — who wouldn’t, after spending years alone with Jesus in a monastic atmosphere receiving His teachings? St. Paul understood very well the distinction between commandment and counsel, taking from Jesus’ exhortation to the rich young man to leave everything and follow Him. Jesus said: “if” you will be perfect. It was a counsel, not a…Continue Reading

The Senses Of Scripture

January 17, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Senses Of Scripture

By DON FIER Part 2 The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches that the spiritual sense of interpreting Sacred Scripture can be subdivided into three senses: allegorical, moral, and anagogical. Last week, we discussed the allegorical sense in some detail and found that through its use, as expressed by the Catechism, “we can acquire a more profound understanding of events by recognizing their significance in Christ” (n. 115). The specific historical event cited as an example of the application of this interpretative technique was the recognition of the hidden, deeper meaning of the crossing of the Red Sea by the Israelites during their flight from Egypt. In light of the coming of Christ, this Old Testament event can be…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

January 16, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. After reading Rey Flores’ excellent column in the December 12, 2013 Wanderer, I agree wholeheartedly except for the “we should all include people like these in our prayers.” Why pray for devils? We are taught that there are many devils prowling about the world seeking the ruin of souls. I for one cannot and will not pray for the Devil and his minions, be they on our streets or in the government. — G.B., via e-mail. A. We think that if you go back and read the column again, you will see that Mr. Flores was not advocating prayer for devils, who are in Hell and beyond the reach of our prayers. He was talking about a pro-abortion protest…Continue Reading

Pope Francis’ Homily… The Epiphany Of The Lord: The Great Light Of Christ

January 15, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Pope Francis’ Homily… The Epiphany Of The Lord: The Great Light Of Christ

(Editor’s Note: Following is the full text of Pope Francis’ homily at the Eucharistic Celebration for the Epiphany of the Lord, January 6, the Vatican Basilica. The Vatican’s news portal, News.Va, provided the text of the Holy Father’s message; all rights reserved.) + + + “Lumen requirunt lumine.” These evocative words from a liturgical hymn for the Epiphany speak of the experience of the Magi: following a light, they were searching for the Light. The star appearing in the sky kindled in their minds and in their hearts a light that moved them to seek the great Light of Christ. The Magi followed faithfully that light which filled their hearts, and they encountered the Lord. The destiny of every person…Continue Reading

The Lamb Of God

January 14, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Lamb Of God

By Fr. ROBERT ALTIER Second Sunday In Ordinary Time (YR A) Readings: Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 1 Cor. 1:1-3 John 1:29-34 In the Gospel reading today, St. John the Baptist testifies that although he did not know Jesus to be the Messiah prior to His Baptism, the reason John was baptizing in the first place was so that Jesus might be made known to Israel. As one who came in the spirit and power of Elijah, it was precisely his task to prepare the people of Israel for the coming of the Messiah. However, the revelation given to St. John the Baptist went further than what he had first understood. He says that the One who sent him to baptize with…Continue Reading

A Leaven In The World… “Rebuilt”: A Catholic Reviews The Book And The Parish

January 12, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World… “Rebuilt”: A Catholic Reviews The Book And The Parish

(Editor’s Note: The author of this article is related to columnist Fr. Kevin M. Cusick.) +    +    + Several months ago I was asked by my pastor to read the book Rebuilt: Awakening the Faithful, Reaching the Lost, and Making Church Matter by coauthors Fr. Michael White and Tom Corcoran as part of an exercise in discernment for a parish council retreat. As I recall, some of the key things that were emphasized in the book were liturgical orthodoxy, excellent preaching, a welcoming environment, a clean church, parking attendants, high-quality music, and a focus on reaching out to a non-practicing Protestant or lapsed Catholic character called “Timonium Tim” who was central to the mission and service of the church. After…Continue Reading

Priestly Celibacy: Unnatural? Or …Supernatural? Celibacy In The New Testament

January 11, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Priestly Celibacy: Unnatural? Or …Supernatural? Celibacy In The New Testament

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 3 Hints in the Old Testament point to realities in the new. In Jesus’ days there were several Jewish sects: The Pharisees, Sadducees, Herodians, and the Zealots were the most famous. The publicans were not a sect as such, but just the practical-minded Jews that worked for the Romans as tax collectors. And yet there was another sect, less conspicuous in the land, who practiced celibacy: the Essenes. The Jewish Virtual Library refers to the Essenes as “The Dead Sea Sect” and states that they had emerged out of disgust with the Sadducees and Pharisees. The Essenes believed that the others had corrupted the city and the Temple. They moved out of Jerusalem and…Continue Reading

The Senses Of Scripture

January 10, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Senses Of Scripture

By DON FIER Last week’s installment introduced the two main senses which the Church’s Magisterium instructs are to be used for faithful interpretation of Sacred Scripture: the literal sense and the spiritual sense. The spiritual sense can be subdivided into the allegorical, moral, and anagogical senses; thus, the senses of Scripture are classically referred to as fourfold. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explains: “The profound concordance of the four senses guarantees all its richness to the living reading of Scripture in the Church” (CCC, n. 115). We ended by embarking on an explanation of the literal sense, which according to St. Thomas Aquinas is the foundation of all the senses of Sacred Scripture. When one interprets the literal…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

January 9, 2014 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. In one of the readings at Mass after Christmas, St. John talked about the Antichrist. He said that “many antichrists” had appeared “and thus we know this is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). What are we to believe about the Antichrist? — T.K., California. A. The Antichrist is specifically mentioned only in the letters of John (cf. 1 John 2:18, 2:22, 4:3, and 2 John 7), and John identifies the Antichrist as “whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist” (2:22). St. Paul doesn’t use the word “Antichrist,” but talks about “the lawless one…the one doomed to perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and…Continue Reading