Monday 29th April 2024

Home » Our Catholic Faith » Recent Articles:

Life Everlasting — Purgatory

February 20, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Life Everlasting — Purgatory

By DON FIER The goal that every human being yearns to attain, knowingly or unknowingly, is the state of supreme and definitive happiness that can only see its fulfillment in the beatific vision. The joy that will be ours if we die in the state of sanctifying grace — either immediately after death or following a period of purification — is beyond all imagining and indescribable in human terms. “Gathered around Jesus and Mary, the angels and the saints,” those blessed souls who achieve the ultimate end for which man was created “form the Church of heaven, where they will see God ‘face to face’ (1 Cor. 13:12). They live in [an everlasting] communion of love with the Most Blessed…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

February 19, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. In a brochure I got from a Jehovah’s Witness, it says that “the Bible also shows that God’s Son, Jesus, healed the sick. Why did he do so? Because he wanted to (Mark 1:40, 41). Jesus perfectly reflected his Father’s personality by his desire to help those in need — John 14:9.” But the Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t believe that Jesus is God, do they? — K.E.R., Connecticut. A. No, they don’t and that’s why, in the brochure, they only referenced John 14:9 to show that Jesus merely reflects the Father’s personality. Had they quoted that verse and the verses that follow it would have undermined their position. Here is what Jesus said to the Apostle Philip in verses 9-11:…Continue Reading

A Desert Of Selfishness

February 18, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Desert Of Selfishness

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Third Sunday Of Lent (YR C) Readings: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 1 Cor. 10:1-6, 10-12 Luke 13:1-9 In the first reading today we hear the call of Moses. We recall that Moses had been raised in Pharaoh’s palace, but when he killed an Egyptian who was abusing a Hebrew, he had to flee for his life. After Moses had been a nomadic shepherd in the desert for many years, the Lord appeared to him in the burning bush. In this revelation of Himself, God tells Moses that He has heard the cries of the Israelites and has come down to rescue them. Moses, with his unique background, is the one chosen by God to speak to Pharaoh…Continue Reading

Pope Francis To Padre Pio Prayer Groups…. St. Pio Of Pietrelcina Was A Servant Of Mercy

February 17, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Pope Francis To Padre Pio Prayer Groups…. St. Pio Of Pietrelcina Was A Servant Of Mercy

(VATICAN CITY — Below is a ZENIT translation of Pope Francis’ address when he met with Padre Pio prayer groups, who were in Rome to venerate the saint’s relics, in St. Peter’s Basilica Saturday morning, February 6. (The relics of Padre Pio and St. Leopold Mandic visited St. Peter’s Basilica from February 5 to 11 as part of the Jubilee of Mercy. (ZENIT provided the text. All rights reserved.) + + + Dear Brothers and Sisters, good morning! I give you my welcome — I see that you are very numerous! — and I thank Msgr. Castoro for the words he addressed to me. I greet you all, who come from several countries and regions, united in great affection and…Continue Reading

A Leaven In The World . . . The Battle For The Babies And Super Bowl 50

February 15, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World . . . The Battle For The Babies And Super Bowl 50

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK In the midst of our national pastime at Super Bowl 50, the abortion battle flared again. The television ads that often prove to be light entertainment, cleverly advertising as they do commodities like junk food and cars, can even prove to be causes of contention. NARAL tweeted a petulant protest of a Doritos ad which aired during the big game featuring a sonogram image of a baby who kept reaching to help himself to Dad’s Doritos, ultimately leaping inside the womb to dive after them. How dare the producers “humanize” the fetus through the use of ultrasound? NARAL pouted, enraged that this might put “choice” at risk. The scuffle that ensued resulted in the battle…Continue Reading

An Apologetics Course . . . The Infallibility Of The Church Of Jesus Christ

February 14, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on An Apologetics Course . . . The Infallibility Of The Church Of Jesus Christ

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM Part 41 In our study of apologetics, we have seen that Jesus Christ claimed to be the Son of God, and proved it by His teachings, prophecies, miracles, and above all by His Resurrection. He founded one Church, not many, and endowed His apostles with the power to consecrate the Eucharist, forgive sins, preach in His name, and pass His priesthood to others in the course of time. In order to guarantee that His teaching would be properly and faithfully transmitted, He endowed His Church with infallibility in her teaching ministry. Please note that He has never given the gift of impeccability to the Church ministers, but only infallibility in their formal teachings, under very…Continue Reading

Life Everlasting — Heaven

February 13, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Life Everlasting — Heaven

By DON FIER As we continue our examination of the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) on the Four Last Things — Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell — we recall from last week that at the exact instant man’s immortal soul separates from his body in death, it appears before Christ for the Particular Judgment. This definitive judgment will be confirmed at the end of time in the General Judgment when our risen bodies are eternally reunited with our souls. The particular judgment is “the judgment of immediate retribution which each one after death will receive from God in his immortal soul in accord with his faith and his works,” as defined by the Compendium of the…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

February 12, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. I understand that plenary indulgences are available during this Jubilee Year of Mercy if one passes through the “Holy Door of Mercy” in a Catholic cathedral and meets all the other conditions for an indulgence. But what if one has no opportunity to visit a cathedral? Can the plenary indulgence still be obtained? — P.D., via e-mail. A. Yes. First of all, indulgences are always available to Catholics regardless of whether it’s a year of mercy or not. In the Manual of Indulgences issued in 2006, there are listed dozens of prayers, devotions, and good works that can obtain indulgences. These include adoration of the cross on Good Friday, teaching or studying Christian doctrine, attending a spiritual retreat of…Continue Reading

Listening To Jesus

February 11, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Listening To Jesus

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Second Sunday In Lent (YR C) Readings: Gen. 15:-12, 17-18 Phil. 3:1-4:1 Luke 9:28b-36 In the Gospel reading today the apostles were blessed to hear the voice of God speaking about His Son. The first part of the statement, that Jesus is the Son of God, is pretty easy for us to handle. The second part of the statement, however, is far more problematic for us: We are to listen to Him. The idea of listening to Jesus does not simply mean sitting down and being present while He is speaking about something. Listening to our Lord implies that His words enter into our hearts and that we act upon them. When the three apostles heard…Continue Reading

The Year Of Consecrated Life Ends . . . Answering God’s Call And Proclaiming His Mercy

February 10, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Year Of Consecrated Life Ends . . . Answering God’s Call And Proclaiming His Mercy

By MOST REV. LEO O’REILLY KILMORE, Ireland (ZENIT) — Bishop Leo O’Reilly of Kilmore gave this homily on Sunday, January 31 to mark the closing of the Year of Consecrated Life. The year ended February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and the World Day of Consecrated Life. Bishop O’Reilly told consecrated persons that they have been “quietly playing your part in carrying on Jesus’ mission of mercy for generations, and you continue to carry it out today.” Below is the text of his homily, provided by ZENIT News Agency. All rights reserved. + + + It is providential that the Year of Consecrated Life ends some weeks after the beginning of the Jubilee Year of Mercy.…Continue Reading