AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
2014
ASK A PRIEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
FATHER LAZARUS CHAWDI
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
PRIEST STAFF
FATHER LAZARUS CHAWDI
"The idea of death terrifies me. How can I
alleviate this fear?" - Tiffani
Father Lazarus
I am a Catholic
Convert and sometimes I struggle with doubt. This is especially
true when it comes to the issue of death. The idea of death
terrifies me. Is it wrong to pray that God give me a glimpse
behind the veil? If not, what can I do to alleviate my immense
fear of death? – Tiffani
___________________________________
Dear Tiffani:
Peace be with you.
God loves you.
You have asked is it
wrong to pray that God give me a glimpse behind the
veil?
As a child has a right to ask anything from his parents so also
being children of God we have right to ask God anything.
By our faith in Jesus, we have total access to our Father in
heaven. All our prayers are answered
but not on our particular schedule
or at the moment we want, but in His time. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
gives a beautiful explanation about the same.
What can we do to
alleviate fear of death? Our
destiny is to be with our Creator Father God in heaven and death
is the doorway and passage to our complete union with God
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So, how can we prepare ourselves
for that eventual meeting with our Creator in death?
I think we can prepare
ourselves to receive this gift of eternity in 3 ways:
1) By
completing all our work: we leave and postpone lot of
things saying there is still lot of time for me.
One never knows at what hour when Jesus will call us home to be
with Him. So, don’t waste time, and for example,
if you have to say sorry to someone, the time is now; if you
have to express your love to someone the time is now. Whatever
work we have we have to complete it now. Mahatma Gandhi had once
said, “Kal kare so aaj kar, aaj kare so abhi kar”
(which means what you have
kept to do for tomorrow you must do it today, and what you have
have kept it for today do it right away).
2) By being
at peace with others: What
will people say about you when you should die? We need to do
our best to love one another and remain in peace with others so
that others will praise God for your life!
3) Be at
peace with oneself:
If we are at peace with ourselves, at the end of our earthly
journey, we will be in God’s Loving Hands through out faith in
Jesus.
Romans 14:8 says,
“Alive or dead we belong to God”. You always belong to God and
He loves you. Read Jeremiah 29:11.
God loves you. God
bless. Wish you Jesus. - Fr. Lazarus
"What is the Mercy Seat?" - Shannon
Father Lazarus:
I have been
attending a Catholic Church for a few months, and I am curious
about a few things. I plan to attend the next class that is
scheduled for new Catholics. One of the questions that I have
is "What is the Mercy Seat"? I know you are extremely busy, so
a one sentence answer will be more than appreciated! Thank
You. – Shannon
____________________________________
Dear
Shannon,
Peace be
with you. God loves you.
Firstly I
am not too sure what you want to know about “Mercy Seat”?
Please excuse me for saying this after such a long period to
your question. I will be very grateful to you if you can specify
what you want to know when you say “Mercy Seat”. Thanks.
But as you
say, here is the one sentence answer to your question. The
Mercy Seat is the space between the two angel cherubim on the
Ark of the Covenant. It was believed by the Hebrew (Jewish)
people that the Ark of the Covenant was God’s seat on earth. It
is from this seat that God judges the actions of human beings.
Here is the
definition of the Mercy Seat from the Holman Bible Dictionary:
A slab
of pure gold measuring about 45 inches by 27 inches which sat
atop the ark of the covenant which was the same size. It was the
base for the golden cherubim. (Exodus
25:
17-19, 25:21, 25-21) and symbolized the throne from which God ruled Israel
(Leviticus 16:2, Numbers 7:89). On the Day of Atonement the high priest sprinkled the blood
of a sacrificial lamb on the mercy seat as a plea for
forgiveness for the sins of the nation (Leviticus 16:15). The Hebrew word means literally “to
wipe out” or “cover over.” This has led modern translators to
render the term “cover” (REB, NRSV note), “lid” (TEV), or
“atonement cover” (NIV). “Mercy seat” is based on the earliest
Greek and Latin translations. The mercy seat has been replaced
as the symbol and place of God's presence and atonement.
Christ's cross and resurrection showed the perfect presence and
accomplished atonement once for all (Hebrews 9:1).
St.
Augustine says, “God never gives less than Himself” and it so
well explained in John 3:16. We receive special grace and
forgiveness of our sins through Sacrament of reconciliation.
Through our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we have
God’s mercy, forgiveness, healing, and justification. For
Christians, the Mercy Seat is now the judgment seat in heaven on
which Jesus sits in judgment on all humankind. I hope this
helps. God bless. God loves you. God loves you. God bless.
Wish you Jesus. - Fr. Lazarus
"Why do Catholics believe specific works such
as Holy Days of Obligation and Reconciliation
must be done to reach heaven?" - Michelle
Father Lazarus:
Why do Catholics
believe that specific works such as Holy days of Obligation and
Reconciliation must be done in order to reach heaven when it
says in the Bible that believing in Jesus results in eternal
life with God. Where do you get such things as mortal sin? It's
not in the Bible. - Michelle.
____________________________________
Dear Michelle,
Peace be
with you. God loves you.
Perhaps you
do not understand our Catholic faith. Catholics believe and
accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and through that faith, we are
immediately justified and have total access to God our Father
through Jesus, the one mediator between God and humankind. The
Catholic Church does not teach that one has to accomplish a list
of actions to get to heaven. Faith in Jesus as Lord is the key
to heaven and eternal life with God.
What makes
Catholics different from other Christians of the Protestant
tradition is that through our faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior,
we must show that faith in all our actions and that we will
judged accordingly. In the New Testament, in the Letter of
James, Chapter 2, Verses 14-26, the Apostle James writes: “What
good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does
not have works? Can that faith save him?” The answer is no.
Faith and works go hand in hand. I know if a Christian has a
true faith in Jesus by the fruits of his life and his works.
But once again, I want to make clear. I do not have a list of
accomplishments to complete to get to heaven. My faith is my
access key to heaven. But my faith must be active and must be
full of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Mortal sin
is a biblical concept and a biblical term. In the First Letter
of John, Chapter 5, Verses 16-17, John the Apostle writes: “If
anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is NOT DEADLY
(mortal), he should pray to God and He will give him life. This
is only for those whose sin is NOT DEADLY. There is a thing as
DEADLY SIN, about which I do not say that you should pray. All
wrong doing is sin, but there is sin that is NOT DEADLY.” I
don’t know how clear that can be. Deadly sin is MORTAL sin.
Deadly and mortal are the SAME WORD. Mortal, or deadly, sin is
so evil that it destroys one’s relationship with God and with
the body of believers in Jesus called the Church.
May I
suggest a book that can really help you understand the Catholic
faith: YOUCAT (Ignatius Press, San Francisco,
California, USA). What I am writing to you is from the same
book. Points Number 315 and 316 speaks about what is sin and how
can we distinguish serious sins (mortal sins) from less serious
(venial) sins?
A sin is a word,
deed or intention by which man deliberately and voluntarily
offends against true order of things, as God’s loving providence
has arranged them.
To sin means more than to
violate rules about which men have agreed upon. Sin turns
freely and deliberately against God’s love and ignores Him. Sin is
ultimately
“Love of oneself even to
contempt of God” (St. Augustine), and in the extreme case the sinful creature says, “I
want to be like God” (see Genesis 3:5). Just as sin burdens me with
guilt, wounds me and by its consequences ruins me, so too it
poisons and damages the world in which I live. It becomes
possible to recognize sin and its seriousness by drawing near to
God.
Serious sin
destroys the divine power of love in a person’s heart, without
which there can be no eternal beatitude. Hence it is also called
mortal sin. Serious sin breaks with God, whereas venial sin only
strains the relationship with Him.
A serious
sin cuts a person off from God. One requirement for such a sin
is that it be opposed to an important value, for instance,
directed against life or God (for example, murder,
blasphemy, adultery, and so on) and that it be committed with
full knowledge and full consent. Venial sins are opposed to
secondary values (honor, truth, property, and so on) or are
committed without full knowledge of their seriousness or without
full consent of the will. Such sins disrupt the relationship
with God but do not sever it.
With regard to your question on
what is needed to be done to reach eternal life? There are very
many references in the scripture and every time it is mentioned
it is in a certain context and we need to understand it
properly. (Story about the rich young man Matthew 19:16-22, Mark
10:17-31, Luke 18: 18-30), John 3:15-16, 6:40, 6:54, 12:25,
17:2-3, Romans 2: 7, 6:22-23. Kindly go through these passages.
God loves you. God bless. Wish you Jesus. – Fr. Lazarus
PRIEST STAFF
“If I made a promise
to God if He would help me, I
would give something up, what happens if I break
it?”? - Gay
Father:
If you pray to God for
something, asking for his help and then make a promise if he
helps you, with your need, you will in turn give up something as
a sacrifice. What happens if you break that promise. - Gay
__________________________________
Gay:
First, God doesn't need your promises. He only wants one
thing: your faithfulness.
God wants the only thing He doesn't have, something that only
you can give: your faithfulness and love for Him. And once you
give your faithfulness and love to Him, then you will have
everything you will need and you will have the strength to
overcome all obstacles.
Second, if you are a person of your word, you would keep your
promises. For a Christian, one never needs to make promises of
some kind of sacrifice as if one can BRIBE God to fulfill your
particular prayer petition. What can you give God that He
doesn't already possess? There is only one thing He "doesn't"
have: your free-will faithfulness and love for Him. That you
give Him everyday without question or limit.
God will always answer prayers according to His Will and Plan,
the big picture of God's plan for humankind's salvation. Your
prayer was answered according to your desire. You should be
giving thanks to God. And stop making promises that God doesn't
need and that it seems you cannot keep. God doesn't need your
promises and bribes. He wants your faithfulness and love that
can only be given freely by your own will. And He wants your
faithfulness so that you can be what God wants you to be: His
Presence in a broken world.
Your prayers were answered because it was important in the big
picture of salvation (the answer to your prayer was for a much
bigger purpose). He answered it not because of your unnecessary
promise of making a sacrifice: He answered it because of His
bigger Plan which is much larger than you and me. To your
question: what happens if you break your promise? God already
answered your prayer. He will not take it back because the
answer was important in the "big picture." But if you are a
person of integrity, you would keep all your promises no matter
to whom you made them. - Father Francisco
“I was raped and became pregnant but kept the child.
The church people and family shunned me. What
should I do?” -
Allison
CatholicView Staff:
I was raped in Dec.. '09 and I became pregnant as a result of the
assault. I chose to keep the child, something my family didn't
agree with for they believed if I was truly raped, I would have
aborted the child, but I couldn't because he was still a part of
me and a blessing just like my other child. Anyway, after being
shunned by my family, church, community I have raised my son
alone and turned away from the church until now. I have been
out of work and he saw me praying alone and said, "I like what
you are doing, can you teach me?" Does the church want us
even though they think my child is a son of someone evil?
Should I
just go to a different church? I do so love my son, I call him
my gift from God. - Allison
___________________________________
Allison:
I am saddened to hear of your suffering, first from rape, and
then from your family shunning you because you rightly kept your
child alive! I want to thank you and honor you for your faith
in life and ultimately in God. You gave your son life and God
will work wonders through your son!
You stated something that is not true:
You said
that the Church might think that your child is a son of someone
evil.
Your son has life because of His Creator Who is God Himself.
Your son is a son of God Himself and God is not evil. He is the
ultimate good and the ultimate love. Yes, your son
was conceived through a brutal act, but your son has life
because God created him for His plan and purpose. Your son's
real and true Father is God. Always remember that. As you
said, "I call him my gift from God." You spoke the truth.
The church
never passes judgment on a child conceived in such tragic
circumstances, and I don't understand why you feel that the
church has rejected you and your son. The church does not
reject you and your son. Maybe the people who know you
in your parish may not have been unable to reach out to you as
you wanted due to their own sense of what to say and do. If you
were part of my parish, you would be more than welcome.
As to the shunning you perceive from those around you, sometimes
people find it so difficult to deal with victims of any kind of
brutal act. People don't know how to act and what to do for a
victim of such a horrific crime. And there are times when the
victim has great expectations from the very people that care and
love them, and those expectations can blind the victim to the
clumsy acts of care and concern of those who don't know how to
help or what to say. You have done much to heal on your own,
but the wounds of this criminal act and betrayal leave lifetime
scars.
These scars influence your own fears and actions. But now, it
is time to get back to church and use as your testimony of faith
in God the events of your life that gave you your "gift from
God," your son. Your son's life is one big testimony to faith:
faith in God, faith in life, faith in your son's destiny, and
faith in the midst of horror. Your testimony of faith will heal
others, will challenge others, will shame others to change, and
will ultimately serve God's Plan and Purpose for the salvation
of all humankind.
Time to teach your son the ways of God and to introduce him to
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Time to get back to the
spiritual disciplines of the Church and get back on track. I am
so grateful for your testimony of total faith in God despite the
pain and suffering you have been through. I wish you were in my
parish because I would ask if you would like to be part of our
counseling of young people who have suffered great pain as you
have. So, get back to church. Speak to your parish priest
about what I have written to you. Bring this answer to him as a
starter of a conversation about healing your relationship with
the Church.
Thank you for writing! You are a special and blest person. And
your son is destined to make this world a better place! Thank
you, Jesus, for healing this mother and for the gift of her
son.
Also, don't expect things from other people that they
cannot or are ready to give at this exact moment. You just keep
going forward, not looking back. Your future is bright and
filled with the light of Christ!
- Father Francisco
“Is it more important to live by pure mercy or
pure justice in times of war? – Elizabeth
CatholicView Staff:
Is it more important to live by
pure mercy or pure justice? If God says to leave justice and
wrath in His hands, then why, even in protecting freedom and
goodness, must we go to war? Is there a divine purpose for war
and justice? - Elizabeth
_____________________________________
Elizabeth:
It is important to live in balance! Live in mercy and justice.
But I have to correct your definitions of justice and mercy.
God's justice is NOT human justice. Human justice is based in a
kind of revenge mentality, and vengeful satisfaction of seeing
the other in the pain that they may have caused you.
God's justice is simple: justice for God is making things
right. That is quite the paradigm shift from the vengeful
(negative) to making things right (positive). God's justice is
true healing of what is broken. Mercy is also based on God's
justice. Mercy is not a license to sin or God's way of saying
that everything is fine. Mercy is forgiveness, the ability to
live in the present, so that things can be made right.
So, to your question if there is a "divine purpose" for war and
justice: God works with what He has, and God has us sinful,
vengeful, spiritually immature people, and God forgives, and has
mercy so that we can learn from our mistakes and sin, and
through that learning and introspection, things will be made
right. War and human justice is a humankind thing, not
necessarily from God or part of His grand purpose.
But God will work with us, and work with our weaknesses, to make
all creation in right relationship with Him. For humans, war
and vengeful justice may seem necessary. For God, it is just a
sign of how much we need to grow and mature to be what God wants
us to be. And God will use our human sin and immaturity for His
greater purpose and plan.
None of us can frustrate the plans of God. God has a Plan "A",
and a Plan "B," and on and on to infinity. So, live in mercy
and justice. For to do so, we live "purely" in God. In
Romans 5:1, Saint Paul writes: "Therefore, since we have been
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith to
this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory
of God." Notice once again, God's justice through faith makes
right our relationship with God and His creation.
In time and through spiritual growth, one day we humans will act
just like God when it comes to "justice"; we will make things
right and heal all that is broken instead of imposing a vengeful
sentence with no thought of making right a broken relationship
between all humankind. -
Father Francisco
“My wife betrayed me constantly by seeing her ex-boyfriend.
We have a son. Should I fight for her?” - RR
Father:
My wife has betrayed me a number of times. We have a son, but
she still choose to play around with her ex boyfriend, and now
that she is back working, another man has arrived. She kept on
coming back to me, saying that she will fix things but after a
couple of days I will find out that she has been meeting and has
not stopped her relationship with this man. I don't know what
to do anymore. I so love her despite the betrayals, but I
can't stop hurting inside. Should I still fight for her or
should I just let her go and not let her come back anymore? I
have been praying to God to give me the answer. I hope God can
talk to me through you. Thanks. - R.R
________________________________
RR:
I am so sorry to hear of your wife's regular betrayal of you and
your son. Every time she steps outside of marriage to fulfill
her own desires, she hurts her relationship with you and your
son. Your son is also being betrayed by her unfaithfulness. It
seems on the surface that your wife has a major problem with
faithfulness. Maybe she has an addiction to sex, or an
addiction to the danger of being found unfaithful by you and
your son.
If so, she must find help for herself to overcome these
destructive and addictive behaviors. Fighting for your marriage
is a good thing to do! But to do so, you may be fighting your
wife's destructive behaviors that are going to be beyond your
ability to control.
If your wife can agree to go to marriage counseling and also
agree to work with a counselor on her own for her own issues,
then go fight for your marriage. If your wife refuses to find
help for her own behaviors, your marriage may be doomed. Try
counseling and see what happens.
If she refuses to change her behaviors, she may have mental and
emotional issues that may demand a medical intervention with a
psychiatrist. And if she refuses medical help, then you might
be forced to make a decision to end your marriage. You may have
a case for an ecclesiastical decree of nullity (annulment) if
your wife had these emotional issues of unfaithfulness from the
beginning of your marriage. -
Father Francisco
“What is the Church's position
on dietary restrictions
in the Old Law?” - Misty
Father:
What is the Church's position on
dietary restrictions in the Old Law? Are they merely symbolic,
or instituted for health reasons? Both? If the second is true,
is it not preferable, if not incumbent on or even required of us
by God, to continue to observe these restrictions for better
health? - Misty
______________________________________
Misty:
The Old Testament dietary restrictions and laws were made for
the people of the Old Covenant, the Hebrew people. The Old
Covenant was made with the Hebrew people, and part of that
covenant between God and His people were these dietary laws.
When Jesus came, He fulfilled all the prescriptions of the Old
Law and set up a New Covenant that is based on faith in Jesus as
Lord and Savior. The shedding of Jesus' blood on the cross and
His resurrection from the dead was the fulfillment of the Old
Law.
We are now in a New Covenant, a covenant that cannot be broken
by us because it was made between God the Father and Jesus His
Son, and we share in that covenant by our faith in Jesus as Lord
and Savior. The Old Law and its dietary prescriptions have been
abrogated and are no longer in force. We are not required to
observe any Old Law dietary laws because as Christians we are
NOT under any prescriptions of the Old Law.
This was made quite clear by Saint Paul in all his New Testament
letters as well as this very important vision of Cornelius and
Saint Peter from ACTS OF THE APOSTLES, all of Chapter 10. In
this vision of Peter, God showed ALL the animals of the world
and declared them clean. Here is one part of this vision from
Acts 10:14:
But Peter said,
"Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane
and unclean". The voice spoke to him again, a second time,
"What God has made clean, you are not to call profane."
This happened three times.
This is quite clear: for the Church, the Old Law has been
abrogated by the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross
(see Acts 15).
We are under the New Law, to love God and to love your neighbor
as yourself. The New Law and the New Covenant is affirmed by
our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord. No longer under the Old Law,
we are free from its prescriptions and are now living in faith.
These dietary laws are not for Christians. But that doesn't
mean that we don't learn about healthy ways of dieting from the
Old Testament. If you choose to live by the Old Testament
dietary laws for health reasons, that is your choice but it is
not necessary for salvation or having total access to God. The
Old Law has been fulfilled in Jesus.
We are in the New Covenant of faith, forgiveness, mercy, and
freedom from the prescriptions of the Old Law (see Romans 5).
- Father Francisco
“I can´t attend Mass (not even weekdays), due
to panic attacks. Any advice?” - Tanja
CatholicView Priest Staff:
I can´t
attend Mass (not even weekdays), due to panic attacks. I
see a psychiatrist + take medication against schizophrenia, the
attacks are not just in church. My priest brings me the
Eucharist regularly. I fear never being able to attend
Mass. Any advice on that? - Tanja
_______________________________
Tanja:
Your medical condition is a large cross that you carry.
Continue to talk to Jesus and ask Him to send the Holy Spirit
upon you for healing and strength.
You are very blest to have a priest to bring you communion
regularly. I am so happy to hear that! You may never attend
Mass in the near future but Jesus comes to you in Holy
Communion. You are loved and you are blest! Never forget
that!
My suggestion to you is simply give thanks to God that you are
able to receive communion regularly and ask Him to give you
healing and strength so that one day you will be able to attend
Mass. In the meantime, read your bible, pray often and share
with God your struggles, read spiritual books, and continue to
receive communion! You are doing very well in your spiritual
growth! -
Father Francisco
“My ex-wife divorced me and wants to attend
my son’s confirmation with her boyfriend.
What do I do?” - Samuel
CatholicView Priest Staff:
My ex wife divorced me after I
confronted her about the affair she was having, I was willing to
work with wife, but she chose her affair partner over the
family. Now, my focus on my health and my children. The issue
I have is my eldest child is now in the second grade and will be
confirmed. From what I hear, she plans on attending this
sacrament with her affair partner, I understand she cared
nothing about our marriage vows, family until, commandments etc.
I am having a issue with her being there with her affair
partner, she is just way out there in the affair addiction and
sees nothing wrong with being with him....what do I do? thank
you in advance.
p.s. I am healing very well, I have done extensive work on
myself, times, bible reading, etc. My focus is on Christ, my
church, my children's health, using all this trauma for the
rebuilding my life for me and my children, she has been in the
affair addiction for about a year. Now she has been taking
about marriage to her affair partner but has not done anything
yet... - Samuel
____________________________________
Samuel:
I am giving thanks to God that you are healing from the betrayal
and the breaking of your marriage and family. But as you say,
you have progressed and I hope that you give thanks to God for
His healing Spirit. You are civilly divorced and your ex-wife
has gone forward in her own life. There is nothing you can do
about it. She is on her own and she will face God one day to be
accountable for her actions. Give her to God and you must
continue forward with your children. They must see your faith
in action, a faith that lives in the present and not in the
past. With that in mind, if your ex-wife wants to attend HER
son's sacramental Mass with her "affair friend," then she is
free to do that. And you must be a Christian in ALL things,
including this painful and disgusting display of betrayal.
Remember the gospel verse of turning the other cheek. Well,
it's time to do that. This sacrament is
about your son,
not you, nor your ex-wife, nor her "affair addiction." This is
about your son. Not you or your feelings of betrayal. Keep
your focus on your son and his beautiful relationship with
Jesus, his saving Lord, and the Church. Everything else is
irrelevant. - Father Francisco
“If a Catholic publishes personally written prayers
or writings, do they need to ask for an Imprimatur?”
- Ana
Father Francisco:
Dear
Father, I am wondering about the Canon requiring an Imprimatur
for spiritual writings. If a Catholic publishes personally
written prayers or writings they felt inspired with during
prayer on their blog, do they need to ask for an Imprimatur?
Thank you very much! - Ana
__________________________________
Ana:
I am excited about hearing that you have a "blog" of
inspirational prayers! Thank you so much for your special work
on behalf of God and the Church!
The word,
Imprimatur,
means "let it be published." Since the end of the Second
Vatican Council (1964), there has been a relaxation of the
canonical rule that all spiritual and theological books be
subject to a
Nihil Obstat
(an approval from a theological expert that the book is free
from moral and theological error, though the "censor" may not
agree with the opinion of the writer), and then be presented to
the local diocesan bishop for approval to be published, hence
the
Imprimatur.
Your blog of spiritual prayers and writings does not need a
Nihil Obstat
and
Imprimatur
to be published in the Internet. If you decide to have your
writings published in book form, then you may ask your local
diocesan bishop for an
Imprimatur
if you so wish. Usually, books with an
Imprimatur
and
Nihil Obstat
are usually published for use in theological studies in
universities and seminaries. If you wish to publish a book just
for the inspiration of anybody who reads such books, there is no
need for an
Imprimatur.
- Father Francisco
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
"My son wants to have his baby baptized in
a Protestant Church. Does the Church
recognize this baptism?" - Dennis
CatholicView Staff:
My son is Catholic
and his wife is not. They just gave birth to a baby boy. My son
said he heard that as long as it's a baptism of water in a
Christian Church, that makes it okay for the baptism being
recognized by the Catholic church. I thought being baptized
Catholic was and is the only way to rid yourself of "original
sin" and to receive the sacraments. All Christian baptisms
aren't alike.......are they?? - Dennis
_____________________________________
Dennis:
When you say that
your grand child would be baptized in a Christian Church, please
note that the Catholic Church is a Christian Church as well.
As to your question,
Catholics believe in "one Baptism for the remission of sins".
It's really not necessary to be baptized twice if a
baptized non-Catholic Christian wants to be accepted into full
communion with the Catholic Church. As long as a baptism is
performed "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit," as Christ commanded, the Catholic Church regards
that baptism as valid, and "takes away original sin."
However,
you are correct in saying that the non-Catholic baptism of your
grandchild is outside of the Catholic Church and therefore it
means that he is not a member of the Catholic Church and is
therefore not able to receive the other sacraments in the
Catholic Church. Through this non-Catholic baptism, your
grandchild is a member of another Christian denomination and not
a member of the Catholic Church. If your grandchild should want
to be a full member of the Catholic Church, your grandchild will
have to be formally accepted into the Catholic Church through
the Rites of Christian Initiation (RCIA). Your son will want to
take that into consideration when making his decision to have
the baby baptized outside the Catholic
Church. Here's hoping this helps you. May the Lord be with you
always. - CatholicView Staff
"Why
won't God grant me happiness? Why?" - Theresa
Question:
Why won't God grant
me happiness? I pray literally 50 times a day. Prayers of thanks
and gratitude. I beg for my path but I get nothing. I'm left
struggling when those who hurt me so terribly rejoice. WHY?!!! -
Theresa
______________________________________
Theresa:
As Christians,
sometimes God allows difficulties and problems to make us
strong. It seems that the closer we get to God and Jesus
Christ, the more we face trials and tribulations. Remember
Mother Theresa who went through that for half a century of her
life. No one but her confessor knew her anguish. She taught the
love of Jesus to all. She hid how she was suffering internally.
Now the Lord is rewarding her. So don't give up. God
understands your pain.
Christ never
promised richness or love for His followers. He told his
followers that there will be many who will persecute them, but
they must continue to carry His cross. The early Christians
suffered and many were killed for their beliefs, but they didn't
see it as an absence of God, they saw it as an opportunity for
them to grow strong.
Find a quiet place
and sit in prayer as you wait for the Holy Spirit to speak to
your heart and comfort you.
God loves
you, He's there when you need Him, so continue to pray and
meditate on the goodness He has already given to you. He hears
every prayer you pray. Rest assured on this.
Also remember always
that you are uniquely special in God's eyes. Know that you are
loved.
I strongly suggest
that you make an appointment to see your parish priest. He will
talk to you and suggest what you can do to find the peace and
solace that God wants you to have. We will pray for you.
CatholicView Staff
"How can I cleanse my home of black magic
and evil spirits? - Alexandria
CatholicView Staff:
How do you
spiritually cleanse your house to get rid of black magic and
evil spirits? - Alexandria
_______________________________
Alexandra:
I have received many
questions asking what to do to rid a house of black magic and
evil spirits. Although CatholicView does not address this issue
here, I would like you to say this short prayer in your home:
"Dear God, I ask
that You send Your mighty angels to protect me and my family in
my home. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ that You bind these
evil spirits and cleanse all satanic activity from this house.
I also ask that You touch this house with the Precious blood of
Jesus Christ to restrict Satan's spirits from this dwelling. I
ask this in the mighty name of Your Son, Jesus Christ." -
Amen
See your parish
priest and ask him to come and bless each room in your house.
In the meantime, continue to pray and read your bible. God be
with you and give you peace. - CatholicView Staff
"Is it a sin to consciously distance myself from the
family I was born into?" - Ellena
CatholicView Staff:
Is it sinful to
consciously distance myself from the family I was born into? My
3 siblings and parents are living secular, selfish lives and
other than returning a phone call to be polite, I just want to
forget making contact with them. These family ties are not good
for me or my own family. – Ellena
________________________________
Ellena:
It is sad that you
cannot find a way to show kindness and caring to family members
and receive it. To consciously separate yourself from your
parents is never right because they gave you life, loved you and
raised you to be the person you are today.
As long as you limit
the visits, especially to your parents, but show love. your
actions are not sinful. Try to be
kind and loving but without involvement in their lives. None of
us can change another's life style but we can be an example of
what God wants all of us to be. Let them see you in this light.
As to the reality of
allowing them into your family for short visits, this has to be
your decision. If you do, show love but firmness, protecting
your own children from their lifestyle if this is necessary.
Think about this, knowing that God sees all things, and He will
bless you greatly for your efforts. - CatholicView Staff
"I
am dating a Mormon. Is this a good idea
to continue dating if we both won't leave our
religions?" - Paola
CatholicView Staff:
I'm dating a Mormon. Is it a good idea to continue dating even if
we both won't leave our religions, but we love each other so
much?- Paola
_______________________________________
Paola:
There are many issues that you will have to decide on should you
become married to your fiancé. What seems like a beautiful
relationship can and may change should you marry. Many times a
marriage can seem almost perfect, and in your case, this
situation may appear to be perfect since it allows you and your
boyfriend go your separate ways on the Sabbath. And you might
think it is harmless to attend each other's place of worship.
However if you marry, the main problem here is whether or not you
can agree to raise your children in the Catholic faith or
possibly even continue in yours. This is where things may
become heated once you have signed that marriage agreement.
Mormon baptism is not recognized in the Catholic Church because
that baptism is invalid and it is not based on the Trinity.
Please think carefully about this union. Such things as the
raising of a family in either religion can cause a problem to
the other party. Be sure you understand what you are getting
into. Talk to your priest about this. Bring your fiancé with
you if he can be persuaded to do so. Talking to a priest may
solidify you own thinking about this possible marriage. Pray
about this. Think very, very carefully. May the Lord guide
you to make the right decision. - CatholicView Staff
"I
was born with Cerebral Palsy and I need
a miracle. Please help me?" - Sofija
CatholicView Staff:
My father is a strong non-believer, he regrets being a Lithuanian,
not a wealthy man. Mother too, she wants money so much. I
was born with cerebral palsy. Want get rid of it. I have done
a positive tumor in my head, useless. I need a miracle. Please
help me. Grateful. - Sofija
____________________________________
Sofija:
I am so sorry to hear that you are suffering with Cerebral Palsy.
Cerebral Palsy
is a general term for a group of permanent movement disorders
that cause physical disability. I am assuming that you are
under a doctor's care?
Here is
a prayer for you:
"O Divine Physician, You are my source and strength of all
things. When
I grow weary and afraid, let me surrender my suffering into your
loving hands. And Heavenly Father, look upon me with
everlasting mercy and eternal love. Let your healing Hand rest
upon my infirmities and let your life giving power flow through
my being, through every cell in my body, to the depths of my
soul. If it is your will, restore me to wholeness. If this is
not Your will, help me to understand that even now, You have a
plan for me. Let me know that You have not forgotten nor turned
Your back on me. You are there with me always.
And
Lord, touch the heart of my father, open his eyes to Your
everlasting love and mercy. Let my mother see, in the long run,
that money cannot save her soul, nor can she take money with her
when she leaves this life."
I ask
all this in the name of my Savior Jesus Christ.
Amen."
I am going to pray
for you, Sofija, asking our Heavenly Father to intervene and
strengthen you, and if it is His Will, take away your
suffering. - CatholicView Staff
"My 5 year old daughter is Autistic. Do I
commit a mortal sin if I get impatient and
yell at her?" -Rosa
CatholicView:
I am raising an autistic 5 year old daughter. She doesn't talk,
isn't toilet trained, doesn't sleep well and has frequent
meltdowns. Sometimes I will get very angry and impatient with
her where I will yell at her but I don't mean to. Am I
committing a mortal sin when I get angry and impatient with her
and I don't mean to? - Rosa
__________________________________
Rosa:
If you shout or yell at your child because you are tired and feel
remorse for doing this, please remember that our God Who sees
all knows you are human and He knows your heart. This is not a
mortal sin since you did not want to frighten your daughter or
be mean. This was not your intention and God knows this.
I am so sorry to hear that your daughter is autistic. And yes, it
is easy to become frustrated sometimes when it seems your
precious daughter has to go through so much turmoil. It is easy
to be filled with anger that you little child is caught in that
web, and yet knowing you have done all you can to make her
better.
I would strongly suggest that you take a break now and then and
perhaps get your husband or family member to take over and give
you an hour or two to sit outside your home quietly, go to a
movie or see a friend. I am sure you have been a good, loving
mother, catering to your precious daughter without fail. But
please remember though, this child is completely dependent on
you for her life.
Talk to your doctor about this. You did not say whether she
understands what you say, can read a young child's book, or even
watch a children's program on TV. But she can feel your
displeasure with her.
For her sake, take that break once in a while. Be YOU for a half
an hour or so. You will come back refreshed and ready to take
care of her needs. Keep in mind as I am sure you do, your child
is precious, so try you best not to yell, even though you are
tired. Always try to show your loving side to her. I will pray
for you. - CatholicView Staff
"I work in Land Management. I often collect Memorial
items that accumulate as trash at various locations
for those who die in accidents. Is there a prayer I can
recite as I perform these tasks?" - Daniel
CatholicView Staff:
I work for a land
management agency and too often am required to collect personal
items that accumulate as trash left at locations established as
memorials for loved ones who die in accidents in public areas.
Many employees refuse to touch items as they do not want "bad
karma" or "bad ju-ju" associated with disturbing spirits.
Unfortunately I can not simply leave these items there when they
become an eyesore and attract other trash. I'd like to be
respectful when I am required to collect these items to discard
them in the trash. Is there a prayer I can recite when I perform
these tasks? Thanks for the help. - Daniel
___________________________________
Daniel:
May you be blessed
for your sensitivity about the dead souls who died in accidents
in public areas where you work clearing the memorial items left
behind from friends and family. Yes, you can say a prayer in
your heart even as you clear the debris of the dead. Here is a
small prayer you might want to pray:
'Heavenly Father, these earthly things left behind are reminders
of our own brief stay here. Help me to always remember this as
I make my way to You. Send your Holy Spirit to comfort the
families and please bring their deceased ones into your heavenly
presence, in Jesus Name I pray" - Amen
Keep doing this
honorable duty. May God bless you always. - CatholicView
Staff
“Although my family kept me from pursuing the
Catholic faith, I find peace there. How can I join?”
- Alison
CatholicView Staff:
I have always been
interested in the Catholic faith. I've visited more cathedrals
than I can count. It always feels like home when I'm in such a
sanctuary. My family's beliefs have kept me away from pursuing
joining. Please help me to understand what things I should
consider and how to start a journey to peace. - Alison
_______________________________________
Alison:
May the
Lord bless you in your quest for peace within the Catholic
Church. The Catholic Church welcomes you to join with us. I
know it is difficult to do something that your family would not
agree to, especially about the Catholic faith. The Catholic
Church is an apostolic church, meaning that it was founded by an
apostle of Jesus Christ, in particular, the Roman
Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ through Saint
Peter. The reason that I am Catholic is that I wanted to be in
a Church community that has apostolic roots and founded by Jesus
Christ, not by some human person. Maybe that's why you are so
attracted to cathedrals and old architecture because you are
moved by the 2000 year history of the Catholic Church. Time to
check it all out. I would suggest that you start reading the
Catechism of the Catholic Church as a way to familiarize
yourself with the Catholic way of thinking about Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior. If you seek an even closer relationship with
the Catholic Church, then here are some suggestions:
The way to become
Catholic is to contact the Parish Office of your chosen church
and speak with them about becoming a member. Make an
appointment with the parish priest who will ask various
questions such as why do you want to become Catholic. He will
then want you to become familiar with the Church and ask you to
sign up for instructions about us. This is called RCIA, which
stands for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, this is a
process through which non-baptized men and women enter the
Catholic Church. You will get information about prayer, the
Gospel, and rites at Mass.
Participants in the
RCIA are known as catechumens. They undergo a process of
conversion as they study the Gospel, profess faith in Jesus and
the Catholic Church, and receive the sacraments of baptism,
confirmation and the Holy Eucharist.
Use this link to
find out more about the Catholic Church: http://www.wikihow.com/Become-Catholic
Alison, we want to
welcome you aboard! May God bless you always. -
CatholicView Staff
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