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The Resurrection Of The Body

January 16, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Resurrection Of The Body

By DON FIER The centrality and foundational importance of article 10 of the Creed (“I believe . . . in the forgiveness of sins”) cannot be exaggerated. Simply stated, the all-encompassing reason mankind is in need of a Redeemer is because he separated himself from an infinite, all-loving God through sin. Without reconciliation, mankind is unable to attain the final end for which he was created: communion with God. When asked why he became a Catholic, G.K. Chesterton acknowledged this primordial need and gave his well-known response: “To get rid of my sins.” “The mission and the power to forgive sins through the ministry of the apostles and their successors,” teaches the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), “[is] the…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

January 15, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Q. An article in a recent issue of The Wanderer quoted Pope Francis as saying that “we Catholics have…many who believe in the absolute truth and go ahead dirtying the other with calumny, with disinformation, and doing evil. We have to combat it; religious fundamentalism is not religious.” Now I believe in the absolute truth of the Nicene Creed and the divinely inspired teaching Magisterium of the Church and the inerrancy of Sacred Scripture. All faithful Catholics that I know believe the same. Therefore, I must ask the following: Just who are these fundamentalist Catholics? What are the absolute truths that they are spreading? How does that do evil? Has our Holy Father been misquoted? — D.M., Virginia. A. No, Pope Francis…Continue Reading

The Gift Of The Scriptures

January 14, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Gift Of The Scriptures

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (YR C) Readings: Neh. 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10 1 Cor. 12:12-30 Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21 At the beginning of the Gospel reading today, St. Luke states that many have undertaken to compile narratives of the events that had taken place regarding our Lord and His work of redemption and salvation. What is important for us to note in this regard is that of the many narratives, only four of them were determined to be inspired by God. Unlike the various books that have been written over the centuries and of which we can say that some are classics, must-read books, or just simply better written that others, the books of the Bible are not judged on literary…Continue Reading

Pope’s Homilies For The Solemnity Of Mary… “Show Us The Face Of Jesus Your Son”

January 13, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Pope’s Homilies For The Solemnity Of Mary… “Show Us The Face Of Jesus Your Son”

(Editor’s Note: Below is the Vatican-provided text of Pope Francis’ homily in St. Peter’s Basilica the morning of the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on New Year’s Day, which also marked the World Day of Peace. Below that is the ZENIT-provided text of his homily during the celebration in St. Peter’s Basilica, December 31, of the First Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary Most Holy, Mother of God. (Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the singing of the traditional Te Deum hymn in thanksgiving for the past year, and eucharistic benediction came after the First Vespers. (ZENIT News Agency transmitted both texts. All rights reserved. + + + We have heard the words of the Apostle Paul: “When the…Continue Reading

A Leaven In The World… Dedication To The Lord In 2016

January 11, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on A Leaven In The World… Dedication To The Lord In 2016

By FR. KEVIN M. CUSICK The challenges our families face as they strive to hand on the faith and keep salvation before the eyes of their children in the world every day will continue in this year of our Lord 2016. As we move forward in this new year, we receive gifts from the Lord to support us in this most important work. In a new year as in every new day we always prepare ourselves to receive these graces and to see the Lord’s hand at work in our relationships and our world. Any of us at any time of day or night have the privilege of opening the word of God in the Holy Scriptures and thus coming…Continue Reading

An Apologetics Course… “Outside The Church There Is No Salvation”

January 10, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on An Apologetics Course… “Outside The Church There Is No Salvation”

By RAYMOND DE SOUZA, KM The sentence that reads “extra Ecclesiam nulla salus,” that is, “outside of the Church there is no salvation,” is attributed to St. Cyprian, rather of the Church (Epistle 73, c. 21, Origen, homily in Josue, 3, 4). It has been confirmed in different ways by Popes over the centuries, and naturally has been a source of ardent controversy for centuries as well, especially by those who left Catholicism and created their own churches that were more in line with their doctrinal and moral preferences. In the next few articles, we shall face the challenge and expound Church teaching on this controversial matter. First, let us establish some basic principles, some common ground upon which to…Continue Reading

The Forgiveness Of Sins

January 9, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on The Forgiveness Of Sins

By DON FIER In concluding an extensive examination of the ninth article of the Creed — our firm belief in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church — it was quite appropriate to end by scrutinizing the place that devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is to hold in the life of the faithful. As Mother of God, Mother of the Redeemer, Mother of the Church, the new Eve, and so many other majestic titles too numerous to name, our Lady truly is, as portrayed so movingly by the 19th-century English poet William Wordsworth, “our tainted nature’s solitary boast.” In light of her Immaculate Conception and unique collaboration in the salvific mission of her Son, the transition made by the…Continue Reading

Catholic Replies

January 8, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Catholic Replies

Editor’s Note: Regarding a recent reply about usury, the following comments were sent by Dr. Anthony Santelli, a former professor of economics at George Mason University: “I have been reading your excellent column Catholic Replies for countless years. The December 10, 2015, issue of The Wanderer is the first time you have made a grave error. Your response to a question on usury is incorrect on several levels, and I was hoping that you would take the time to deepen your understanding of this important issue by reading this e-mail and the attached article. “The traditional definition of usury is the charging of any interest, not excessive interest. Fifteen years ago, I too believed that only excessive interest was disapproved…Continue Reading

Earthen Vessels

January 7, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Earthen Vessels

By FR. ROBERT ALTIER Second Sunday In Ordinary Time (YR C) Readings: Isaiah 62:1-5 1 Cor. 12:4-11 John 2:1-11 In the Gospel reading today, we hear about the miracle at Cana where our Lord turned the water into wine. Have you ever stopped to think about what He did, just on the practical level? He made between 120 and 180 gallons of wine. I guess the wedding feast was going to continue for quite some time. On the more gross level, He used the vessels in which people washed their hands. There is no mention of scrubbing the vessel and washing it out before they refilled it with water. But even this little detail becomes very important. If you had…Continue Reading

Pope Francis To The Curia . . . Here Are The Virtues Necessary For Those Who Serve

January 6, 2016 Our Catholic Faith Comments Off on Pope Francis To The Curia . . . Here Are The Virtues Necessary For Those Who Serve

(Editor’s Note: Below is the full text of Pope Francis’ address to members of the Roman Curia in the Vatican the morning of December 21. ZENIT News Agency distributed the text, which came from Vatican Radio. All rights reserved.) + + + Dear brothers and sisters, I am pleased to offer heartfelt good wishes for a blessed Christmas and a happy New Year to you and your co-workers, to the papal representatives, and in particular to those who in the past year have completed their service and retired. Let us also remember all those who have gone home to God. My thoughts and my gratitude go to you and to the members of your families. In our meeting in 2013,…Continue Reading