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JANUARY 2014
ASK A PRIEST
FATHER WILLIAM G. MENZEL
FATHER WILLIAM G. MENZEL Father Bill:
Who designed the Rosary? Why are there 10 Hail Marys per decade instead of 10 Our Fathers? Why do we pray to God through an intercessor instead of going directly to Almighty and Merciful God? - Steve _____________________
Dear Steve:
Let me begin with a bit of “full disclosure” on my part. The rosary is not a prayer that I am particularly fond of. I rarely pray it. That being said, I think it is a wonderful prayer for those who find that it draws them closer to our Lord and his Blessed Mother. It is a way of praying that is steeped in our Catholic traditions, and it truly is rich in its potential, especially when it is prayed as intended.
The
history of the rosary was explained quite well in
an article written by Fr. William Saunders in 1994. Rather than
repeat what he says, I'd encourage you to follow this link: http://www.ewtn.com/library/answers/rosaryhs.htm
I think it's important to note that Fr. Saunders wrote this brief history before Pope John Paul II added something very important to the rosary. As the article explains, a person praying the rosary “meditates on the saving mysteries of our Lord's life and the faithful witness of our Blessed Mother.” For many years there were three sets of mysteries: the Joyful mysteries, which embraced the birth and early part of Jesus' life; the Sorrowful mysteries, which tell of the passion and death of Jesus; and the Glorious mysteries, which celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and events which followed.
Thanks to Pope John Paul II, we now have the Luminous mysteries, which portray the life and ministry of Jesus. In my opinion, this was a very wise and important step, as the Luminous mysteries help to clarify that the rosary is not so much about an aimless multiplication of words as it is about using those words as a backdrop for prayerful meditation on the life of Jesus and the faithful witness of Mary his mother. This how the rosary is supposed to be prayed, and the Luminous mysteries add so much to that.
You ask why there are ten Hail Marys in each decade rather than ten Our Fathers. The only answer I can give is that this is the way the tradition evolved.
It is important to remember, though, that the first part of the Hail Mary is taken directly from the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke—the greeting of the angel Gabriel and the words spoken by Elizabeth. It's all right there in the Bible. When we pray the Hail Mary, we are doing what God himself did through his angel. We are acknowledging the most significant event in all of human history, as the Son of God begins his presence in human life and human time in the womb of a woman remarkably chosen by God himself to make that possible. We are honoring the will of God, as Mary herself did, and we honor this woman who is so much loved by her Son.
The second part of the Hail Mary is an intercessory prayer. We are asking the holy mother of God to pray for us. This type of intercessory prayer is a wonderful example of the richness of our Catholic spiritual heritage. There is, of course, no reason why we cannot pray to God directly, nor is there any rule which says that we must go through an intercessor. However, one of the elements of our creed proclaims that we believe in the “communion of saints”. This affirms our belief that all of God's people, living and dead, are united by virtue of the all-embracing love of God and that those who have gone before us in death and share in the fullness of God's love in heaven can listen to us and can add their prayers to ours in the presence of God. Whose prayers could be more powerful than those of the mother of our Savior? Whose motherly concern could be more devoted, generous and loving than that of the woman specially chosen by God Himself to join our humanity to His divinity?
The rosary, prayed well, is a profound prayer with a potential for endless riches.
Thank you for your question, Steve, and may God bless you. - Father Bill
Father Bill:
I was raised in
the Catholic Church all my life. Now considering leaving it
due to realizing that so many practices and traditions directly go
against scripture! How can you justify Purgatory, praying to
saints, repetitive prayers, Mary as an intercessor to Jesus and
"limbo", when scripture directly indicates otherwise? - Daphne
Dear Daphne:
Thank you for your question, and please do not be too hasty to leave the Catholic Church!
My first reaction to your question is to wonder who told you that our practices and traditions go directly against scripture. While there may be some Catholics who practice and teach things that are contrary to scripture, this simply is not true of authentically Catholic practices and traditions. There may be some outside the Catholic Church who think this, but they are wrong.
My next reaction is to wonder what these “many” practices and traditions are to which you refer. You point out five, and I will get to those in a moment, but I wonder if there are others that are included in that “many”.
I would first like to point out something that many Christians, including some Catholics, seem to be unaware of or simply ignore. It is the truth that the Church as we know it existed before the bible as we know it. It is not the bible that formed the Church, it is the Church that decided which books would be included in the bible. The bishops of the Church, gathered in council and inspired by the Holy Spirit, decided which books of the bible were authentically inspired by the Holy Spirit. This was not an easy task, and it was more than three centuries before the Church made this final determination. Looked at another way, the Church existed more than three centuries without the bible as we now know it. During that time it was practices and traditions that inspired the spiritual lives of Christians. Many of these practices and traditions are not mentioned in the bible, nor did they need to be. They were simply understood as being part of the Christian life.
Moving on to the practices and traditions that you specifically mention in your question, I'd like to start with limbo. Simply stated, this is not an official teaching of the Catholic Church. It is not mentioned at all in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). It is true that many of us were taught that limbo was a nice place where infants who died without being baptized would go, but it was never official Church doctrine. It was a theological opinion that tried to answer a question on the minds of many, and it gained a measure of popularity for a long time, but it was never more than a theological opinion.
The Church's teaching on Purgatory can be found in paragraphs 1030-1032 in the CCC. It's important to note that Purgatory is not a “place”. In brief, here's what the CCC says:
All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.
As far as repetitive prayer is concerned, I would simply ask when repetition of prayer becomes wrong. If I pray the Lord's Prayer five times a day, is that wrong? If I pray ten or fifty Hail Marys while meditating on the life and death of Jesus and the faithful witness of his beloved mother, is that wrong? If I pray over and over again asking God to heal someone I love, is that wrong? If I pray Psalm 23 multiple times while lying on my deathbed, is that wrong? Yes, our Heavenly Father knows our needs, but prayer is not always about asking for needs, nor should it be. Ideally prayer is about becoming closer to God, and this is what St. Paul meant when he counseled the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing” (I Thess. 5:17-18).
Besides being a long-standing tradition with roots in the Old Testament, praying to and seeking the intercession of saints is a wonderful way of putting into action a belief that we profess every time we recite the Apostles Creed. There we say that we believe in the communion of saints, which means that we believe that there is a joyful and holy union of those who already have died in Christ and those of us who are still here trying to live his life. Death does not separate us from those who now share in the glory of eternal life.
The Church never has taught that we cannot pray directly to God, but she does teach that we can also seek the intercession of our brothers and sisters who already are in his holy presence. The fullness of God's love which they now share is so powerful that it can reach into our own time and our own lives, and if we can go directly to God with our prayers, so can they. It can't hurt to ask them for their help and intercession.
Before you make a decision to leave the Catholic Church, I would strongly encourage you to spend some time with your pastor or other knowledgeable Catholics who could help you in the search for the truth about our faith. You might also want to read about the faith journeys of people like Scott Hahn and Marcus Grodi. These are just two of many faith-filled, knowledgeable people from other Christian faith traditions who have come to realize that the Catholic Church is faithful to the bible and is, in fact, the authentic teacher of its truths.
May God bless you, Daphne, and guide you on your journey of faith. - Father Bill
“If Heaven is a place of immeasurable joy, will we be
Father Bill:
If Heaven is supposed to be a place of immeasurable happiness and joy, it seems that one would not be capable of feeling sorrow even if he knows that a loved one is in Hell. How is this problem accounted for? Are we really even ourselves anymore if we cannot feel pain for the sake of others, as in Heaven there is no pain or suffering? – Patrick
Dear Patrick:
Yours is a very interesting question. It made me ponder that scenario, and I don't think I really have an answer.
On this Catholic View website I have answered some other questions about heaven, and I have always been careful not to say too much. I just don't know what we will be like in heaven. The bible and the teachings of the Church only give us hints. In the Gospel of John Jesus speaks of preparing a place for us and coming back to take us to himself. The Book of Revelation gives us the metaphorical image of the heavenly banquet. In an answer to a trick question by some of the Sadducees, Jesus tells them that we will be like angels.
In my own faith life I have come to understand what I consider to be two very important things about heaven. One is that the exact nature of heaven is among those many questions that I simply must leave in the hands of God. The other is corollary to this, and it is that God will not disappoint those he loves. In other words, I'm simply not going to worry about my heavenly questions. Our life here on earth is all we really know, and this makes it nearly impossible to envision what God has planned for us in eternity—an eternity in which He will not disappoint us. - Father Bill
Father Bill:
I have found out that my son is gay and I just want to die. I have prayed and prayed about this but nothing seems to change. He is coming out about this more and more and I am embarrassed and ashamed. I just want to die. I tried to raise him as a practicing Catholic and he was always a wonderful son but he is convinced this is what he is and he has no choice. I feel overwhelmed with grief and disappointment. At the same time, I just found out that my sister is dying of lung cancer and she is only 50 years old. I am lost and I just want to die. I cannot deal with these problems any more. Praying just doesn't seem to work. I have been visiting the blessed sacrament every Saturday for ten years and I plead with God to please help me with these awful problems, but I don't seem to get any relief. I wish I never existed. I want my son to go to heaven but if he keeps up what he is doing I am not sure he will make it. I cannot accept not seeing him in heaven when we are gone. I cannot reach him. He says he is lonely and my heart breaks. I don't want him to be alone but he certainly shouldn't be involved with another man. There is no answer. - Patricia
_________________________
Dear Patricia:
You
are bearing some very heavy burdens, and I'm very glad that you took
the time to share your pain with others. That is a good first
step toward seeking answers. It is also good to know that you are a
person with a deep faith. While God doesn't solve all of our
problems or take away all our pain, our faith assures us of God's
constant presence with us in both our joys and sorrows.
You specifically mention two problems that are breaking your heart: the sexual orientation of your son and the serious illness of your sister. These are two people whom you obviously love very much. Love is a gift from God, and it is indeed a great gift. It opens us up to the possibility of great joy, but it also makes us very vulnerable. Your love for your son and your sister highlight that vulnerability, as you ponder the suffering of your sister and her imminent loss and your concern for the consequences of your son's sexual orientation.
There is no easy way to explain why your 50 year-old sister should be dying of lung cancer. But honestly, Patricia, there is no easy way to explain why anyone should die before what we believe to be their time. Death is a reality of life, and there are no guarantees as to when that is supposed to happen to any of us.
When a loved one is dying, often the best thing we can do is to lovingly accompany them on their final journey. There is no one way to do this, because there are so many variables, but it usually means trying as best we can to be sensitive to the needs and wishes of the one who is dying. If they need rest, let them rest. If they need a hand to hold, give them yours. If they want to pray, pray with them. If they're ready to die, let them know it's okay, and let them go. There is not much we can do about death, but there is a lot we can do for the dying.
You say that your son was always a “wonderful son”. Let me ask you this, Patricia. Other than his sexual orientation, is he a good person, a decent human being, and still a loving and wonderful son? Do you love him? Do you think God loves him?
Please remember that the Church has never taught that being gay is a sin. The Church does teach that sexual activity outside of marriage is a sin, but even at that, as Pope Francis has pointed out, we need to let God be the judge.
I would suggest that as much as you love your son, God loves him infinitely more. What that may mean in terms of his eternal salvation is not ours to know or decide. It is best left in the hands of our God who has loved us so much that he would send his son die for our sins that we might have life.
You can't change your son's sexual orientation, Patricia, but you can—in fact you must—continue to love this wonderful man to whom you helped give the gift of life. Love him. Love his friends. It's okay that you do not agree with his lifestyle, and it's even okay if you occasionally remind him of that—but do it lovingly, not with judgment or condemnation. If he is a good son and a good man, be grateful. There are many mothers who would do anything to have that.
I'll keep you in my prayers, Patricia. Your faith has made you strong. Your love has given life to your faith. - Father Bill
“I had to
"pull the plug" on my husband because
Priest Staff:
In April after 2 months of suffering in the hospital I had to "pull the plug" on my husband and desperately want to join him. If God is all forgiving and if I take my own life will I join my husband in heaven even though suicide is a sin? He was my whole world and I cannot forgive myself and need to be with him. I cry every day and take antidepressants but all I want to do is join him. - Ottavia
Ottavia:
Your intense sadness blinds you presently to God's plan for your life. You are here because your life's mission is not complete. I want to remind you of a biblical verse, a New Testament gospel verse that Jesus said. I want you to pay attention to it. In the gospel of Saint Mark, there is this verse from the mouth of Jesus (Mark 3:29): "Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin."
The reason that I am bringing your attention to this gospel verse is
that if you commit suicide so that you can join your husband in
heaven is basically a sin against the Holy Spirit, an unforgivable
sin. And by committing an unforgivable sin means that you will
never ever see your husband again and you will languish in a hell
that you have devised by your own hand. Why is such a decision be
considered a "blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?"
Leave this world by your own hand is a slap in the face of God, the ultimate blasphemy against the Spirit of God. There will be no forgiveness for this blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. So, suicide is not, never, an option for you. The only option is to find help to get your life back on track for the "next chapter" of your life mission. You can find such help either by talking to a professional counselor or therapist, or by calling a hotline such as this: http://www.christiansuicideprevention.com/ Please get in touch with them and please explain your pain.
You are a gift to the world. You are here for a reason. You are special. You are the love of God made in the flesh for all of us. Time to get back on the road to heaven. You are going to achieve great things! I believe in you! By living your life to the full, you will be reunited with your husband in that heavenly place where there will be no more tears or sadness. Live! And trust in God Who has a big plan for you! - Father Cervantes
"Canon Law forbids a priest to
absolve an CatholicView Priest Staff:
Canon Law forbids a priest to
absolve an accomplice in a sin against the 6th Commandment. Should
this be interpreted strictly, i.e. actual sexual relations? Thanks.
I hear the confessions of many priests who ask this. - Father
Thomas
Father Thomas:
This Canon has always been strictly interpreted. The integrity of the sacrament of Penance must be preserved at all costs.
Any kind of sexual relationships, even merely kissing another with
sexual overtones, is considered a sin against the sixth commandment
and the presbyter cannot absolve his accomplice in confession. The
absolution is invalid, according to Canon 977. Priests must always
be men of integrity. There is no wiggle room in regards to the
interpretation of Canon 977. Here is the canon in question:
Can. 977 The absolution of an accomplice in a sin against the
sixth commandment of the Decalogue is invalid except in danger of
death. I presume that you are a spiritual director
of priests in your diocese or religious community.
CatholicView
Priest Staff: ____________________________
Joshua:
Being overwhelmed by emotional and mental illness is a burden and
cross that is so difficult to bear that it blinds a person to the
reason why he or she is alive. I can appreciate your pain and
burden. But you have a reason for life. I have written about why
suicide could be considered an act of blasphemy against the Holy
Spirit, the only unforgivable sin described in the scriptures. Here
is what I have written to another person who asked a question
similar to yours:
You are a gift to the world. You are here for a reason. You are special. You are the love of God made in the flesh for all of us. Time to get back on the road to heaven. You are going to achieve great things! I believe in you! By living your life to the full, you will be in God's time in that heavenly place where there will be no more tears or sadness. Live! And trust in God Who has a big plan for you!
You see: God has a plan for you despite your mental illness. You
mentioned the verse from JONAH 4:3 which states: "And
now, Lord, please take my life from me; it is better for me to die
than to live."
But you seem to take this verse way out of context. Notice what God
said in the next sentence (Jonah 4:4):
But the Lord asked, "Have you reason to be angry?"
The Lord dismissed Jonah's frustration and anger and told Jonah to
shut up and finish the mission and destiny that God gave him to do.
And the rest is history: Jonah, despite his frustration and wanting
to die, finished his mission and the great city Nineveh repented of
its sins and turned to the Lord and Jonah became the great prophet
that God wanted him to be. And his story will be told until the end
of time! Despite Jonah's wanting to die, God worked wonders through
him. And so will God for you: He wants to work wonders through
you.
CatholicView Priest Staff:
I am not a Catholic but I have recently re-dedicated my life to Christ after several years of running headlong into sexual sin, substance abuse, and just about everything else imaginable.
I still struggle with these things but I feel like God is making me into the man he wants me to be more and more. My problem is my job. I'm a police officer, in a very rough part of town, and I often find myself using violence a lot. I probably point a gun at someone twice a week. I've broken bones, knocked teeth loose, and acted quickly and totally without any thoughts of mercy or grace or "Godliness".
Now I've never acted outside the law. I've never used force in a manner that was unjustifiable or illegal. I've never been violent because I enjoy it, although I confess that I have been very, very angry at times. Still, I haven't made a habit of "Turning the other cheek". To an extent, I can't. Even if I was ok with one of these people killing me, they may also kill my partner, other victims, etc. So what am I to make of the Gospel? How do I apply this to my job? - Charley ______________________
Charley:
I am so happy that you have rededicated your life to Jesus Christ as
your Lord and Savior. I rejoice with heaven itself for another soul
returning to the Lord. This rededication is just the beginning of
becoming more and more like Jesus Christ each day.
As you have stated, "turning the other cheek" (please see Matthew 5:39) is not something you can do in a serious law enforcement situation. But you must! Jesus has demanded that of all of us to "turn the other cheek" no matter what. There can be no excuses in regards to following the gospel. Yet, how can I turn the other cheek when I am being threatened and others around me are threatened?
We are also tasked with defending those around us from evil (please see John 15:13) when Jesus said: No one has greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. That particular verse doesn't mean that we just lie down and die, like a passive object. On the contrary, this verse is an active participatory decision to do something that will protect all those around me from any kind of evil. I take the initiative and I react out of love. And that is the key to your question: not to react out of anger or judgment, but to react out of love. Instead of reacting out of judgment, anger, and hatred, react in love, total love for those around you and love for yourself. This demands a change of total attitude and view of life.
Instead of reacting out of the negative, I react out of love, a
positive and life changing positive energy that will stop any kind
of evil. The best law enforcement officers I have met and dealt
with are the ones who have learned this life lesson: react out of
love for those around them and for themselves. The worst law
enforcement members that I have met and dealt with are those who
have no respect for anyone or have no love in their hearts, or have
no patience, and are filled with hatred for others which is
understandable since most law enforcement people deal with the evil
in people's hearts. But these kinds of people should not be in law
enforcement at all because they have lost their vision of building a
better society and have fallen into cynicism and negativity.
Father:
You need to overcome
your depression with the knowledge that you are loved by God and
that He has a mission for you to complete. There are many others in
this world who feel the same abandonment you feel right now. You
could be of great help to them by your own experiences now. You are
being called by God to be a healer, but first, you must seek healing
from God and with the help of others you will overcome.
You are in our prayers
and thoughts. Time to stop staring into the abyss of sadness and
look up and see the beauty of what is around you. When you feel
really sad, just say to yourself, "Thank you, Jesus, thank you,
Jesus" until you calm down.
Father:
CatholicView
Priest Staff:
To me it is quite clear that the Catholic Church, founded by Jesus and built on the apostles (with Peter as presider over all) will always be protected by God, and the gates of hell, deceit or error will not prevail against the Church, and the keys of the kingdom have been given to the Church forever. Now, with all that in mind, you have stated in your question that you no longer believe the truth of the scriptures and the truth of the foundation of the Catholic Church on Jesus Christ. Instead, you believe now that the Catholic Church has fallen into error, somehow that Jesus did not keep his promise to make sure that the Church would not fall into the hands of hell.
This is the same Church that has ensured that we have the New Testament throughout the ages and now you erroneously state that the Church doesn't know how to interpret scriptures. With all that in mind, receiving Holy Communion in the Catholic Church implies that you are united with all Catholics in belief and in accepting the fact that Holy Communion is the real and true body and blood of Jesus Christ Himself as stated in scripture (John 6:47-71).
Here
is what Saint Paul says about division between believers in I
Corinthians 1:10:
"I urge you,
brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you
agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you but
that you be united in the same mind and in the same purpose."
Since you have separated yourself from the Catholic Church and have
separated yourself from the truth of the scriptures as revealed to
the Catholic Church (and the Orthodox communion as well), receiving
communion in the Catholic Church would be hypocritical since
communion implies that you accept ALL that the Catholic Church
teaches and accept the spiritual discipline of the Catholic Church.
CatholicView Priest Staff:
What is the correct thing for a priest to do if he has performed a sacramental marriage then realizes that one of the persons was not free to marry but the ceremony has been completed. Essentially the priest has been duped. What should he do? - Michelle
Michelle:
Sadly,
this has happened to me as a parish priest. I would find out later
that the marriage I presided at was fraudulent and invalid. You
could mention to the presiding priest what has happened but there
isn't much anyone can do until the marriage in question comes up
before an annulment process and your diocesan marriage tribunal. In
the eyes of the state, the marriage is a valid civil bond. In the
eyes of the Church, the marriage is invalid and not considered a
sacramental marriage. But not much can be done at this time.
Probably, the parties in this marriage don't care about
the sacramental validity of their church marriage. If they did,
they would not have deceived their presiding priest. Let God figure
this one out. These people have to answer to Him for their deceit
and actions. -
CatholicView Priest Staff
CatholicView Priest Staff:
I have a condition called Peyronie's which gives me a bend in my penis when I have an erection. Sometimes the erection is painful. I have been using a nonsurgical "extender" to help lessen the curvature. It is working well to correct the curvature and making my penis longer and more normal looking. Is there anything sinful in this as long as I am not using my newfound normalcy and size to sin? Thanks. - Brody
______________________ Brody:
I am sorry that you are struggling with this condition. But it is amazing that medical technology can fix more and more things that are wrong with the human body. As long as you follow your doctor's orders for your health and well-being, no sin is committed in your particular situation. May the Lord heal you and give you a grateful heart. - CatholicView Priest Staff
Father:
I will be traveling to the UK over the Christmas season and will be attending a mid-night mass at an Anglican church, as you know the closest to Roman Catholic. We’re doing this, as my wife is a convert and we will be visiting relatives, two of which will be singing it the choir of that mid-night mass. I’m assuming the doubt as to the consecration of the host, but will it be acceptable to partake in communion? Will I be required to go to confession later to receive communion at a Catholic Church? - Tom __________________________
Tom:
As a Catholic, you are NOT in communion with the Anglican Church. Receiving holy communion in the Church of England means that you are accepting their teachings and accepting their spiritual disciplines as your own. But you are not doing that since you are Catholic. You may attend the midnight Mass but you may not receive communion at their liturgy. If you attend the liturgy at the Anglican Church, you do not need to confess that. If you received communion at the Anglican Church, you do need to confess that. - CatholicView Priest Staff
"How can I
have faith in God to answer my prayers
Dear Father:
I am struggling with my prayer life and faith. I do not question the existence of God, or doubt the validity of the Catholic faith. My struggle is in asking for and receiving blessings from God. I can't think of a time God has ever answered my prayers, and I no longer believe God cares about my needs or happiness. I read James 1:6-8 …"but he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."
My question is how can I have faith in God to answer my prayers when He never does? The "unstable" part of the verse really upsets me also. Let me explain: I have recently been diagnosed with Dysthymic disorder, which is a chronic, low to medium grade depression and one of the effects of this disorder is a pessimistic thought process, and a sense of hopelessness about the future. My doctor has explained that this is simply how my brain has been "programmed" and it's not something I can control. So, I guess in that sense, I am "unstable" Does this truly mean that God will never hear or respond to my prayers? It makes me feel a little abandoned by God. I know it's sinful to doubt God's love, but I do, I just can't help it. What do I do? Not bother with supplication in my prayer life at all? – Kathy
________________________
CatholicView Priest Staff:
My brother is
Catholic, and divorced for 9 years now. He has been in an
adulterous affair for 5 years with a Baptist woman. He thinks
because she is Baptist, it's not a "marriage." Should I tell the
Baptist woman's husband of the affair since neither of them think
they're doing anything wrong? - Pat
Pat:
I am to understand that your brother is having an affair with a married woman and doesn't think that the woman is in a "sacramental marriage?" First, sexual relations outside of marriage is considered a mortal sin, the sin of adultery, one of the deadly sins. That's a non-negotiable sin. Second, your brother is still bonded sacramentally to his "divorced" wife unless he acquired a petition of annulment from his own diocesan marriage tribunal.. And the woman in the other marriage is bonded sacramentally to her husband since the Catholic Church recognizes all non-Catholic marriages as sacramental and valid in the eyes of God.
As to speaking to the husband of the woman your brother is having an affair with, please think this through. The consequences could be catastrophic. Are you willing to accept the backlash from this action of notification? Is this something you want to do? Have you spoken to your brother first about his sin? Show him this answer as a starter of a conversation about this. Please speak to your brother first. If he doesn't want to listen and ignores you, then you can speak to the husband of the woman. Please ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. - CatholicView Priest Staff"
Father:
If we are all sinners, what is the
difference between being simply a sinner and wicked? Most people I
encounter are good people. The bible says the narrow is the gate to
heaven. If most people are good in my eyes, why will plenty of us be
condemned? -Jessica
We
are all sinners because our relationship with God is not always
complete. Sin in Catholic theology is seen not solely as breaking a
commandment or not fulfilling a specific church law. Sin is seen as
a
breaking of a relationship
with our Creator and God, and
my fellow human beings.
Sin is always seen in relationship and so is Grace.
Grace is relationship with God,
not some kind of substance that can be physically measured. So, sin
is a breaking of my relationship with God,
and in effect,
breaking the relationships with others.
Father:
I was a witness at a civil marriage and now realize the sin committed. Is there any way I can have my name removed from the documents? I feel awful. – Jenni __________________________
Jenni:
I don't understand why you think it is a sin to be a civil marriage
witness, as versus a witness for a church wedding. There is NO sin
in being a civil marriage witness. And there is no legal way to
remove your name from civil documents. Let me repeat: there is no
sin in being a civil marriage witness. I have been a witness to a
civil marriage before I became a priest. I have not sinned. I am
at peace with God. Please, stop this beating up yourself over
something that is NOT sinful.
- CatholicView Priest Staff
I am a non-believer and I work as a firefighter. Our department employs a Catholic Priest as our Fire Chaplain. He is a very nice man and he visits the firehouses on occasion. I enjoy his visits, however I feel uncomfortable calling another man "father", who is not my father. I've always just avoided addressing him by name. My question is, how else can I address him without offending him or creating an awkward situation? - John _____________________
John:
The title, CHAPLAIN, is the correct title for your priest in the fire department. You don't need to call him any title that is not in keeping with your belief system. The proper title for any rabbi, minister, priest, or other religious leader within an organization such as yours is CHAPLAIN, such as Chaplain Smith, or Chaplain John. I was a military chaplain for 24 years, and those who were not Catholic always called me "Chaplain." Of course, those who were Catholic called me "Father." - CatholicView Priest Staff
Priest Staff:
What is the Catholic teaching on "charismatic" spirituality? My sister is a Pentecostal who believes that every dream or private inclination she has is somehow the Holy Spirit guiding her. Every time she babbles incoherently at church it's a "angelic" language. I'm aware we have charismatic churches but are we as subjective as the Pentecostals in our interpretations of what the Spirits gifts really are? – Craig Craig:
The Church is always open to spiritual movements that propel people into a secure, faithful relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. The "charismatic spirituality" is one that serves many people in their walk with God. Charismatic spirituality is based on an emotional relationship with God the Holy Spirit.
The Spirit of God always touches our souls and emotions. My spirit soars when touched by the Spirit of God. But as you have correctly observed, some "charismatic" people think that every dream and every inkling is God talking to them. They sometimes take these dreams and inklings to be on par with the Sacred Scriptures. In that sense, they are in error. I have had to fight people with a charismatic spirituality who say that the Spirit of God says to do this, or to do that, or that someone is sinning. I say that each "prompting" of the Spirit must be discerned in regards to reality around us.
Saint Paul writes about this in I Corinthians, Chapter 14. He doesn't take too kindly to those speaking in tongues. He sees that prophecy [no. not telling the future], another way of saying preaching, is more important than anything else. Always discern every prompting that you receive. Not all promptings are from God. Some promptings are from someone's selfish desires. I had someone tell me that the Spirit of God told him that God wanted me to know that I should give him $50. Really? I discerned that this was just his way to get money to support his own selfish desires. All gifts of the Spirit must be discerned by what is already known as the truth given to us from our apostolic traditions, teachings and in Holy Scriptures. No subjectiveness here. - CatholicView Priest Staff
"Why does God forgive us?" - Sarah
CatholicView Staff:
________________________ When we sin, we are turning away from what our Father asks us not to do, but He is still willing to give us a chance., The "catch" is, none of us knows when we will be called in judgment. And then it would be too late if we haven't been forgiven. If we don't come back to God, we will be separated from him forever.
As human beings we sometimes are caught in a cycle of sin. Try as we might, sometimes we can't seem to break free. Not on our own. And so, we must pray, promising to avoid sin and not repeat the sin again. Make things right by going to confession, relying on God’s goodness and forgiveness, promising once again that we will repent. God is good and is willing to do this for us, however we must not go into sin counting on forgiveness later. We cannot play games with Almighty God.
God sent His Son Jesus to purify and redeem us by paying the price on a cross for our sins. On our own, we could never repay Him for this.
God gave man free will. The
question is what each of us will do with that Free Will. What will
you choose?
Please be assured that God has seen all the good things that your husband was in this life. Please be at peace, knowing that God reads all hearts and has seen the caring and the love your husband not only extended to his precious family, but also that love transcended to God through prayer. Depend on God's mercy and His everlasting love for those who loved Him. Do not worry, your husband is in loving arms and I believe that you will see him again one day. God bless you. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Betty:
You ask if it is gossip
to talk about people in the news. It is true that people speak of
what they read in the newspapers or from other sources, such as
television. And it is normal to talk about weather,
rising prices or even about people in high places or happenings in
the world around us. Everybody enjoys reading about the good times of
others, and sharing what they read or heard to friends and family. But in the case
of public figures, some are inclined to believe the stories circulating
about how others are living even if the news is being inflated by
the press. And it is true that there are those who enjoy gossip, especially the
plight of others because it makes them feel better about
themselves. It is okay to be interested in the people that we
admire, but if we feed ourselves on the downfalls of others then
this becomes wrong, particularly if we are gleeful concerning
the sadness of others.
Gossip can be true, partially
true, or completely false and while it can be motivated by good
intentions, it always contains negative personal information about
another that puts them in a bad light. Similarly, we can also
participate in gossip by remaining silent or using approving body
language such as nodding our head in agreement."
"
Pope Francis finished his homily by saying, “Today we ask the
Lord Jesus to give us this grace not to ever get involved in the
lives of others, not to become Christians of good manners and bad
habits, it is to follow Jesus, to walk behind Jesus on his way.....”
CatholicView Staff:
________________________
Nonetheless, she is an adult and must make her own decisions. If she continues, you might remind her that should she die in this sin, she could lose her soul. If she will not listen, you can only continue to pray for her. God go with you in this matter. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: James:
Yes, it could be recognized by the Church, but in order to marry outside of your Church as a Catholic, you will need a dispensation from the local bishop first. The couple must meet with a priest or deacon and fulfill the same pre-cana preparations as all practicing Catholics must do. The Catholic priest or deacon will fill out the necessary forms. If this procedure is not followed, the Church will consider this is an invalid marriage for the Catholic party. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
______________________
Devan, always remember that God does forgive if we repent. And the sins that you committed in the past have been forgotten. Hebrew 8:12 reads, "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” So you must let go of your guilt and move forward in the Lord. If you truly believe in Jesus, know that He has already paid the price for your admittance in Heaven if you trust in Him and live according to His word.
Please
talk to your priest about your feelings. If you haven't gone to
confession, GO! Do not let Satan taunt you about the past. Know
that God is well pleased that you have returned to the fold.
Here is a short
prayer you might say when you feel like you feel unsure.
Have you talked to your priest concerning your doubts about forgiveness? Make an appointment if you haven't. May God give you courage and peace. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView: _____________________
Tammy:
I am so sorry that you have found yourself in this predicament. I know that this revelation was one of shock, despair, and a feeling of betrayal and I am assuming that you did not know beforehand that your husband was gay before you married. This is an important point. If you did not, then you should see about an annulment immediately since this was not told to you in honesty before your marriage vows were taken.
If you agreed to this marriage knowing your husband was gay, this is a matter to be discussed with your priest. If your husband, in spite of his homosexuality, promises and wants to be faithful to his marriage vows and is willing to get the marriage counseling that he needs to keep his vows, then it may be possible to move forward with the marriage. But this is no guarantee that your husband can.
CatholicView Staff: ______________________
Daniel:
Some people who want to avoid the religious Christian meaning of Christmas may use the word "Xmas".
Actually the word "Christmas is derived from an old English word "Cristes maesse" which translated means "Christ's Mass" and dates back to the 14th century. It formally came from the Greek word "Christos" meaning Christ. Missa is a Latin word meaning "mass".
Others consider "Xmas" as a shortened word for Christmas and may not have any connotations, except for its shortened usage. But it should not be used for formal writing.
http://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-xmas-and-christmas reads, "A common misconception today is that Xmas is a secular attempt to remove the religious tradition from Christmas by taking the ‘Christ’ out of ‘Christmas’. However, some fail to realize that X is actually an abbreviation for Christ, one that has been in use for over a thousand years. Xmas has just gotten a lot of recent popularity as it is shorter to write, and is often used by youngsters and by advertisements targeting the young."
Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Christ among Christians worldwide. As we celebrate Christmas, Christ is set as the priority and for me the center of my celebration, and so, using "Christmas" is an honor and would be the word I would use. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: ______________________
Pam:
There are children involved in this. Please see that she protects herself and her children. Please! And if things start to happen and she feels afraid, she MUST call the police. Their lives, hers as well as the children, must have protection.
See that she protects herself and her children. Please! And if things start to happen and she feels afraid, she MUST call the police. Their lives, hers as well as the children's, are at stake.
May the Lord keep your friend from harm. May He bless you for helping and being there for your friend. - CatholicView Staff"
CatholicView Staff: _____________________
Zandria:
CatholicView Staff: _____________________
Debbie:
You see, Debbie, God know all things about each of us. God will decide whether a person is worthy to be saved. We must not make judgments either way. Let's leave this up to God Who knows everything. I hope this helps. - CatholicView Staff
“I am an
Episcopalian. Can I partake in
______________________ Robert:
A non-Catholic cannot receive the Eucharist (Holy Communion) in the Catholic Church. Only baptized Catholics who believe that the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ is truly and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist may receive this Sacrament.
What you can do when communion is being served is to join the line with your arms crossed which signifies that you would like to receive a blessing
Please know that you are most welcome to visit with us at any time. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: ______________
Teri:
You have suffered
through your first marriage. We are assuming that you obtained a
divorce from your previous husband. Did you get an annulment from
the Church? If not, you are still bound by your first marriage
therefore you are
living in adultery. But this can be taken care of.
With your circumstances of marital abuse, there should be no problem
attaining an annulment.
Catholic View Staff:
______________________
Laura:
Laura, we will keep you in prayer. May the Lord bless you abundantly. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
_____________________
Steve:
If a relative comes to your home for dinner but does not believe in God and is offended by you thanking our Father for what He has provided for you and family, you might try this: You and family could say a silent prayer of thanks to God before eating with heads bowed. No words out loud. Arrange before hand that you will do this. If the relative is still offended, please explain that saying grace and thanking God is very important to you and your family. If this does not work, then explain that our Heavenly Father Who created her and all of you, would be offended also by her denying prayer in your own home.
You might inform this lady that since this is your home and not hers, perhaps it would be best for her not to visit at mealtimes when prayer will be said. She would be welcomed at any other time if she wishes to do so.
In any case, please pray for your in-law. Hope this helps. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
_________________
Kathy:
You are not sharing your friend's sin if you make it clear that she should not receive communion. She is a grownup and must make her own decisions. You are not responsible if she chooses to receive communion even after knowing it is wrong for her to do so.
As a thought, you might ask your family member to get in the communion line with arms folded which denotes she would like a blessing only. Remember to tell your family member that we are always honored to have all faiths attend our mass. I hope this helps you. - CatholicView Staff
Lulu __________________
Lula:
I am so sorry that you have lost faith in God. Without faith, you slowly move away from your Heavenly Father. You lose the trust that you need to be in a close relationship with God, our Father, and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
However, I am so happy that you want to renew your belief in God. The first thing you must do is pray asking God to show you the way back to Him. Tell Him that you want to be closer to Him, and ask this in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. John 14:13-14 tells us "Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it."
Please find a quiet moment to pray to God, and take a few minutes to read your bible. Here is a simple short prayer that you might pray:
Heavenly Father, I want with all my heart to believe in You as I did many years ago. I struggle with my faith, and I ask You to let me feel Your presence and Your guidance in my life once again. Renew my faith, dear God. Open my heart, and let my faith shine forth again. I ask all this through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Please make an appointment with your priest and ask for prayer. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Continue to go to Church. Pray, asking God to strengthen you. I am incredibly proud that you want to come back home. May the Lord strengthen you and keep you on His path. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: _______________________
Don:
I am so sorry that you lost your wife two years ago. And I can certainly understand how you might grow to love the person who offers comfort during your time of sorrow. But, you must put these unclean feelings aside and get on with your life. This love you feel for your friend's wife is adultery. To continue this would be destroying a friend's marriage. Think. Think about this destruction you will cause your friend. Think about the fact that you can no longer take the Sacraments because of sinful behavior. Please, do not continue this. Ask God to forgive this trespass and move forward. God loves you and has a plan for your life. Don't mess it up. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: ________________
Sheila:
I am so sorry to hear about this situation at your church. Have you spoken with your Vicar of Clergy or written to the diocese in your city about the behavior of the priests at your parish?
Please call or write about these issues. Report this activity immediately. And outline whatever is not in accordance with Church teachings.
If you can, make an appointment with the priest involved and share directly with him the concerns you wrote to us about. If he refuses to explain and continues this behavior, write or contact your Vicar of Clergy or your diocese as soon as possible. Hope this helps. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: _________________________
Christine:
It is sad to hear that your mother is hurtful and accusatory to you and your family. Perhaps she has a health issue that you are not aware of? Nonetheless, she is being destructive to your entire household. It is also clear that you want to honor and love your mother as the bible says.
I would suggest that you make a lunch date with your mother. Give her this honor. And talk to her about her behavior to you and your family. Try to find out why she is behaving this way. I am assuming that she was more loving in the past. Also, if your dad is alive, you might want to talk to him about this. Use this lunch time to perhaps find a cause as to why she has become this way.
If you cannot come to any conclusions, limit her coming to your home. This is important, not only for the children, but also to you and your husband. Lovingly visit with her alone and try to see if she needs help mentally or is going through some traumas of her own. Old age brings many problems. We will pray for you and your family. - CatholicView Staff
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