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JUNE 2007 FATHER CEDRIC PISEGNA, C.P. FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM FATHER AMARO SAUMELL CATHOLICVIEW STAFF FATHER CEDRIC PISEGNA, C.P.
”I set myself up as a god and had a friend defer to me as such. How can I confess this?” - Larry
I am
Protestant but have always felt drawn to the Catholic faith. A few years ago I began to drift from my
faith and got involved in several inappropriate relationships with women over the Internet
and telephone, though I never met any of them in person.
What is worse is that the last one I got involved with was very
submissive to me and at the time I was exploring Gnosticism and gothic ideas. I began to
set myself up as my own god and informed her to refer to me as such, and she eagerly did
so. At first I guess it was a powerful
feeling, but then it began to make me feel sick inside, so I told her not to call me that
anymore, that there is only one God. My
question is, I am not sure how to confess these sins, I suppose adultery is adultery
whether it was in person or not, but I am not sure how to confess the sin of making myself
out to be a god (never was it meant to mean the Most High God, simply a lesser god).
Should I simply say "I committed
blasphemy"? - Larry
Dear Larry:
Father Cedric: I pray each day, several times. I find that there are times when I am in a personal crisis or struggling with something, I pray but I feel guilty. I feel like praying at these times is manipulative on my part. What should I do about this? Thank you for your time. God Bless, Racheal
Dear Racheal, Your struggles are a common one. First, thanks for being so honest and vulnerable about your prayer life. None of us can “manipulate” or “control” God. However, if we are living a life consistent with God’s will, we will eventually pray according to God’s will. Perhaps the feelings you are having is because you are praying in a selfish way, (I don’t mean this in a harsh way…read on) rather than for what you really need. God doesn’t always give us what we want, but what we truly need. When we pray in selfish ways, our conscience testifies that we need to pray more maturely. Here is what I mean: You used the words: “crisis” and “struggling with something.” We all go through experiences like that. Most times our immediate instinct is to ask for these painful happenings to be removed. If there was ever a struggle, it was Jesus in the garden as he contemplated his passion. He wanted this “cup” to be removed, but despite his emotions screaming at him, he wisely prayed for God’s will. God didn’t remove that suffering, but “Son though he was, he learned obedience through his suffering.” (Heb. 5:8) One of the gifts of our pain is the virtue acquired. Paul, the Apostle, was suffering with some affliction/tribulation still unknown to scholars and saints alike. He asked for it to be removed over and over. Finally he came to the realization that God could work through his weakness in a way he couldn't if he were healed. (2 Cor. 12:8,9) Also, when the writer (scholars tell us it was not Paul) of Ephesians prayed, he didn't pray that the church be taken out of persecution and hard trials, but that they "be strengthened in the inner man" and be grounded and rooted in love." (Eph. 3:16-17) In other words, crisis can lead to new life. Struggles can lead to rebirth. Trials can bring about deep inner change. I challenge you to evaluate and wrestle with your “crisis’ and struggles.” God may want to remove them. Most times, though, God will work through them to help us grow and mature in Christ. God isn’t so much interested in alleviating pain as he is in our growth. Perhaps your guilt feelings are an indication something isn’t quite right. All prayer is good, but mature prayers lead to a sense of tranquility and peace within. I invite you to surrender your situations to God in trust, knowing that God makes all things work to good for those who love him. Sincerely, Fr. Cedric
Father Cedric:
Dear Gina, First the good news: You didn’t make an angry display of bitterness like some would have! You were caught off guard and did the best you could, given the drama of the past. However, you sensed in your heart how rude you were and wished you could have had another chance. I admire your desire to be Christ-like! That tells me you love God a lot. I think what you did was an initial attempt to tell her that you have moved on. You said later in the question that you truly are “just fine” within. Yet, there is still some pain. We all have this idea that in order to be truly forgiving, we have to be best friends with the person we’ve forgiven. I don’t think so. Be kind, courteous and gracious. Do the best you can. Then move on. You can learn from this. The next time this happens (if it does) try to smile, have your normal demeanor and relax. God will help you. Until then, quit beating yourself up. You did well given what happened. God Bless you. Sincerely, Fr. Cedric
”I have been praying hard for a job. Why Can’t I get one?” - Anne
Dear Anne: I don't know what guidance I can give you here. Putting everything into God's hands in prayer involves asking for what we need, and also it means that we surrender everything into God's hands and wait patiently. The whole question of praying for things involves a great mystery. God, for instance, does not interfere with human freedom, and so we still have to make our own intelligent and free choices with the gifts that God has already given us. So for instance, your suggestion about changing professions, may be a wise one - but in the end only you can determine that. You can discern with good friends, and in prayer, but in the end the decision is yours. If you mean by "praying harder", that you are asking harder, then I don't know that that is the way to go. Praying harder could involve surrendering to God’s purposes more freely - then that could lead to a peacefulness and new trust as you wait for some success in your job applications. Anne, I wish you the very best in your search for a job. - Father Kevin
”I show up late for weekday masses but take communion. Am I wrong to do this?” - Eric Father Kevin:
Dear Eric: I would ask what are you trying to achieve in
all this? It is a worthy and lovely thing to want to share in the Eucharist as often
as possible, and should not be a cause of anxiety or worry. If you and Jesus know
each other as well as you seem to, can't you just trust him to know that you are doing
your best? All good wishes to you. - Father Kevin Father Kevin:
Hi Damian: Firstly
it is Jesus, (not God as such) in that gospel text Who instructs people not to call
people "Father" as we have only one Father in heaven - God. Secondly, I
don't know that it is correct to say that the Church "insists" that priests be
called "Father". It is a long-standing custom, a statement of reverence,
love and respect, and a naming of the sort of role that a priest has in a community as a
spiritual father in a sense, to the people there. The word Jesus uses in the Gospel
is a sort of Title or Honor. As a priest myself, I experience that same word not as a
title so much as a reminder to me of the role that my ministry calls me to be among God's
people. It is a call to faithfulness, and to respond to God's people as God's
minister. If a priest uses the word "Father" more as a title of honor or
status rather than a naming of his ministry of service, then that would probably be the
sort of error that Jesus was referring to. Even though the
word "Father" is used in both instances, the meaning is quite different in each.
All good wishes to you. - Father
Kevin
In the Creed it says 'on the third day He rose again according to the scriptures. I have been asking this question for 20 years and priests for 20 years have come up with all sorts of different answers. What one priest came up with is 'the word again is not in the Latin version of the creed. It is not in the Italian version of the creed. However, when translated from Italian to English the word 'again' was added. A friend of mine who now works for the Vatican Embassy in Wash, DC and very fluent in both Latin and Italian went through the creed in Latin and Italian and could not find a word that translated to 'again'. How did this error occur and will it be corrected? When I recite the creed at Mass, I intentionally omit the word 'again',as I believe Christ only rose once. What say you. P.S. as of 7-1 this year Fr Amaro will be our new pastor at St. Ann Parish in Needles, CA.
Dear Ed:The word “again” is an English
word problem. The translation from the original Greek and subsequent Latin rendering
(the Council of Nicea of 312 AD) does not say "again." Nor does any
OTHER language translation of that original document except English. It is just a
term of speech that doesn't make sense to us now but when it was originally
translated into English so long ago in the 14th century in England, it made sense to them. It isn't necessarily a translation from a
particular word, but rather a poetic wording of a reality.
So, since He died and was buried, we say in English that He "rose
again" as if it were one word. But don't get discouraged about translations. The
Church is constantly working on such things. In fact, we're all anxiously awaiting the new
translation for the Latin Missal.
”Why does God send perfect people to hell? - SH CatholicView Staff:
Dear SH: Thank you for your question. First, let me address your idea of a perfect human being. No one is perfect. We are all imperfect. The thing that makes us worthy to enter God’s PERFECT heaven is Jesus Christ. Through our Father’s eternal love for us, He sent Jesus as our Savior. By the shedding of His blood on Calvary over two thousand years ago, He paid the price for mankind to enter that kingdom of heaven. Read John 3:16 which tells us: “For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” When we accept Him as Lord and Savior, living as He taught us, we are made clean, spotless, and without sin, with a promise of eternal life. All our past sins are erased forever and we begin life anew. “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.” (Ephesians 1:7) God does not send people to hell. We send ourselves to hell when we turn their backs on God and refuse to accept the salvation that Christ offers and reject the supreme love of our Heavenly Father. God wants to share a perfect eternity with each of us. Imperfect though we are, we are made perfect through Jesus Christ. Hope this helps. – CatholicView Staff ”What is the Church's stance or
opinion on plastic surgery?” - Gina CatholicView Staff: Dear Gina: If plastic surgery is a matter of medical need, there is no concern here. As to the use of plastic surgery to enhance one’s image simply for the sake of pride and aggrandizement, then it is a matter of the sin of pride. Plastic surgery in itself is not sinful. The motivation of the heart is what makes something sinful. Medical necessity is obviously not sinful (such as physical reconstruction after cancer surgery). Plastic surgery simply for one’s pleasure is something that I would question. Why mess with what God has given you? – CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: Dear Stuart: There is no expiration date on Holy Water that has been blessed. Use it until it is depleted or if you desire to do so, add a small amount of regular water, but less than the remaining Holy Water, in order to stretch the amount you have left. Keep in mind, you can always get more Holy Water at Church. Some churches have a special font for this purpose or simply ask a priest to help you. CatholicView Staff ”Can a
non-Catholic person bless himself with Holy water?”
- Kevin CatholicView Staff: Dear Kevin: You ask if your friend can bless himself with Holy Water. Yes, he can. But before your friend uses Holy Water, make the sign of the cross, or genuflect before entering the pew, he should understand the significance of the acts from a Catholic perspective. If he does accept the significance of the aforementioned acts, then there is no reason to refrain from them. He must not participate in the sacraments of the church such as communion, however, until he is baptized in the Church. – CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff:: Dear Joe: You do not give details as to why you would want to live apart from the woman you profess to love. Why would you marry this person and not live as God intended? Marriage is a relationship, a union that is so intimate and real that "the two become one flesh." Marriage
is a lifetime commitment to one another. If
the two of you have become one, you are expected to live together. Jesus says in Matthew 19:4-6 "Haven't you read," he replied, "that at the
beginning the Creator 'made them male and female, 5and
said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,
and the two will become one flesh'? So they are no longer two, but one.
Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate." The
primary purpose of marriage is to fulfill a vocation in the nature of man and woman, and
very importantly, for the procreation and education of children, mutual support and love,
and to stand as a symbol of the mystical union between Christ and His Church. Please
talk to your parish priest with more details. With
the limited amount of information you have given in your letter, it is hard to determine
your reasons for you and your fiancée wanting to live apart from each other. – CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff:
Dear Pereira: Limbo, which was
described as a place where innocent babies, children, and good people who are not
Christian go if they are not baptized, was never a doctrine of the Church and never
even implied in Sacred Scriptures. What is known is the mercy of God and that heaven
is our destiny. Saint Paul answers the question about a non-baptized person's
destiny in his letter to the Romans, Chapter 2, Verses 12 through 16: "For when Gentiles who do not have the
law by nature observe the prescriptions of the law, they are a law for themselves even
though they do not have the law. They show that demands of the law are written in
their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts
accuse or even defend them on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge
people's hidden works through Christ Jesus. No matter
what your faith is, no matter what your religion is, we will ALL be judged by
Christ Jesus and we will be judged by the motivations of our heart. So, limbo DOES
NOT fit into the described plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus
died for ALL, not just for some. And everything will be reconciled in Christ Jesus.
That's the plan and it will be fulfilled. You state that without the idea of
limbo, that hell is "way more probable than heaven for those who die without
rebirth." On the contrary, our Christian faith makes heaven WAY MORE PROBABLE
than hell for anyone who has lived on earth. Hell is for those who chose not to live
in union with the Creator. We cannot truly love God without a free choice. So,
hell exists so that we can have a choice. My heart is the determining factor of my
eternal destiny as Paul wrote in Romans. My heart is with Jesus. My place, at
this time, is reserved in heaven through the mercy of God. If I should turn my back
on Jesus and decide to have NOTHING to do with God, then I chose hell as my destiny.
My heart, no matter what religious affiliation I hold, either chooses God or
chooses hell. It would never chose limbo. It doesn't exist anyway. If you chose to believe
in the non-existence of limbo, that is your choice. I wouldn't call you a heretic
since you are living in the grace of Jesus Christ. But you are wrong in holding that
limbo exists. Only heaven and hell exists as places of destiny. And that is,
as you say, "semper ubique ab omnibus." -
CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Michael: You are correct in
saying that we cannot change God's Mind. My prayer, my conversation with God does
not change His Mind. Prayer changes my mind to His Will, changes my heart to
His love, and changes my life to His Life. And when we get the inspiration to do
something good, when I think I have an idea, it is my mind touching the Mind of God and
seeing His Plan for that moment. And when that happens, I have the power of God
behind me to do what He intends for His creation. God intervenes all the time.
But do I have the spiritual maturity to see it? Prayer is not the power
of divination, as if we could, through some kind of witchcraft, make something happen for
our personal benefit. Also, prayer is not the power to change things as such.
Prayer primarily (and solely) is a dialog between God and myself, His creation, made
in His image and likeness. And that is what prayer really is....a dialog. It
is the dialog between the divine and the created that makes me grow, mature, and able to
change the world around me. This dialog makes my relationship with my Father in
heaven grow and mature. As an example, having a talk with my mother and father makes
my love for them grow and I automatically grow closer to them and share my life with them
and do things for them and they do things for me. There are some who have the
immature idea that God is some kind of genie and prayer is rubbing that genie and getting
a wish. That is a false idea of prayer. Also to say that "everything
created by God should be perfect, God should not be expected to change based on
prayer" is not to acknowledge the destructive force of sin on creation and the power
of human free will to determine the outcome of many events on earth and the
universe. God is perfect, but creation has become imperfect because it is created
and touched by created beings like ourselves who do not act always in accord to God's
Will. What prayer does is place me in His presence, the presence of Love Itself, of
Beauty Itself, of Life Itself, of Creation Itself. By being in His presence, I am
able to see and be inspired to be God's Hands, Feet, and Presence in this broken world.
By being so inspired, I am able to be the answer to other's prayers as well as
an answer to my own prayers (and accept the work of others to be an answer to my
prayers.) And because creation now has become so flawed by our presence in it,
God does intervene so that creation can get back on track to His Plan and Will. God
intervenes when we ask and also when we do not ask. But because of my
free will, I chose whether to be open to God's interventions or close the door on His
interventions because of my selfishness. And the only way I can be open to God's
interventions is to have a relationship with Him who is Life Itself. When I am open
to God's interventions in His broken creation (broken by us not by Him), then it
seems that our prayers have been answered. And yes, our prayers have been answered
because through my dialog with God, I have opened my heart and soul to him to reveal my
true needs and see His Hand in everything around me and in me. And He will
intervene to fix what is broken by sin and others. So, as you can see, prayer is not
divination but a love bond between Father and created being. And love is a
powerful force that can change anything. –
CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff:
Heidi: Rocks and gems are just rocks and gems and really have no curative powers on their own. Any scientist would tell you that. But there are some in the “new age movement” that use these special gems and stones to facilitate physical and emotional healing. As such, using such items are not sinful or against God. But do they help in our relationship with God? All I know is that the power of prayer and faith in God does much more for the human body and spirit than some rocks. Put your faith in trust in God alone and not in His creation. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Sandra: The Catholic Church requires its members to have their marriages solemnized in a church building because marriage is the symbol of Christ’s love for His bride, the Church. Even though there are rare exceptions to most canonical (church) requirements for marriage, in this situation, I cannot see an exception for having a Catholic’s marriage blessed in a church (sacred place), not outdoors (a secular/profane place). There are options, though. You could have two ceremonies, a civil one outside and the church blessing ceremony in your local Catholic church. Another way, that would require a dispensation from the local bishop, is that the marriage be blessed and solemnized in the Presbyterian church. You are correct in saying that the marriage of the Catholic party outside of a church would be considered “sacramentally” invalid. – CatholicView Staff Hello Father, Dear Gavin: I find it interesting
that an inactive Catholic would partake of the sacramental and religious rites of the
Church when that inactive Catholic is not a believer. I find it even more
disconcerting that the inactive Catholic would partake of the sacraments in the name of
science and not in the name of faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I have
always understood that anthropologists who are studying a people or a specific group of
people with specific religious expressions do not participate in their sacred rites but
observe them and try to understand their human expression of spirituality.
So, I find that your colleague's actions to be unethical if she is
participating in the Catholic faith just because of reaching some anthropological
conclusion. But maybe she is participating in the Church because she really does
believe in her heart or is trying to find her own Christian faith that she lost some time
ago. But I do not know that. Only she can truly answer the question why she is
participating in the Church as a non-believer. I suggest that if you feel that she
is crossing the ethical line as an anthropologist, you should confront her about it.
You might be surprised by her response. - CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: Stephanie: Why can’t you receive the Holy Eucharist? Your fiancé is a wonderful person to participate in the annulment process so that he can marry you. That’s true love! Rejoice in that love and let the process come to its conclusion. When you have your marriage blessed in the church, you will rejoice in receiving Holy Communion. I presume that you are not married now (since you talk about having a fiancé). So, you can receive Holy Communion now! So, I don’t understand why you say, “since I will never be able to receive Holy Communion again?” - CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: Charles: If a priest, who is single and has taken either the vows of celibacy (religious orders and congregations) or the promise of being single for the sake of his ministry to the church (diocesan/secular priest), wants to leave active ordained ministry to get married, he would ask his superior (religious order and congregation) or bishop (diocesan/secular priest) to be released from his vows/promise and then he would leave active ministry. This process is called laicization (becoming a “lay” person) and he would still be in union with the Church and would not lose his status as a member of the Catholic Church. – CatholicView Staff ”I forgot the
words for the "Act of Contrition". Was
this a good CatholicView Staff: Dear John: Actually, that’s all you have to say! You made an excellent Act of Contrition and Sorrow for your sins. You made an excellent confession. God doesn’t want words. He wants your heart. The words mentioned come from your heart and that is all that matters. – CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: Richard: A blessing is a sign that God shows His favor and love to the recipient of the blessing. When the priest blesses at the end of Mass, it is a sign that God loves you and will go with you as you begin your week. A blessing like this is a pledge of God’s presence in your life. The blessing with the Holy Eucharist is simply a blessing from Christ Himself as present in Holy Communion. The difference is that one blessing is from a man (the priest) as instrument of God’s presence, and the other blessing from Christ Himself who is God. Either way, it is God who pledges His love and presence with His people. – CatholicView Staff “Would God send
me to hell if I name my new bar ‘Ale Mary”? - David CatholicView Staff:
Congratulations on
your new business venture! Your mom is
especially blessed to have a son like you who loves her like you do. To call your bar, Ale Mary, is a humorous play on
the prayer, “Hail, Mary.” There is
nothing wrong or sinful in the title, Ale Mary.
May God bless your new establishment with success. But, what concerns me is not the title of the bar
but the abuse of alcohol that can happen within the walls of your establishment. I hope you will be able to challenge those
who have had too much to drink to stop and go home. And
for those predisposed to alcoholism, I hope you have the moral virtue and strength not to
serve those who have problems with alcohol. By
doing so, you may be saving their lives, and the lives and peace of the families they come
from.
“I want to be a priest but my mother said she will disown me if I do. What should I do? - Mauro CatholicView Staff: Dear Mauro: I do not know why your family is upset that you feel you have a calling to ministry and priesthood. I am so happy for you. I say, go for it. Talk to your local priest and find out more about what it takes to be a priest. Much will demanded of you. As for your family, I do not know why they are so negative. You will have to ignore that. You must go where your heart leads. Not to do so will leave you regretting things. Your mother will probably get “over it” as soon as she sees that you are serious about this life vocation to serve God as a priest. And if you should be ordained as a priest one day in the future, I can assure you that your mother will be in the front row of the church smiling broadly and proud of her son. May the Lord bless you greatly for accepting the Lord’s call to the priesthood. - CatholicView Staff “Should I stop
reading H.G. Wells’ science fiction works?”
Ernest CatholicView Staff: Dear Ernest: H.G. Wells had quite a life and there were many experiences that he had making him the ultimate socialist of his time and wanted to have a world government established (not a democracy). He also saw that human beings were barely civilized animals. He certainly was not someone who liked religion or Christianity. He likened himself to be a man of science. His books are interesting and exciting reading to those who like to imagine and be taken to places never seen. He also places within his various books his own view on what humanity and the world should be. This does not mean that I should stop reading his books even though he may be at odds with Christianity. I would read his books for a different point of view, to expand my horizons of knowledge, and be better able to express my faith in Jesus in a secular world. If you can read, read as much as you are able. Open your mind. But your heart and faith belong to Jesus. In time, the Holy Spirit will make all things clear to you. So, don’t stop reading H.G. Wells. But now that you know his background, you can better appreciate his writings and know what parts are solely his own opinion of what truth is. May the Lord bless you. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Glinko: How exciting that you know someone who is being ordained as a priest! I must tell you, that any religious gift would be repetitious. Priests get religious gifts all the time. Although grateful for the thought, most priests have many bibles, crosses, rosaries, pictures of Jesus, Mary, and other saints and angels and they are usually given away. A monetary gift is always welcome because the priest can buy something needed (like clothes, priest “uniforms” [Yes,they have to pay for their own priest clothes] and other personal items). So, my suggestion is a monetary gift. Enjoy yourself at this Mass of Thanksgiving and pray for your new priest. He needs all the prayerful support that he can get! - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Rhonda: Trust in the Lord always! To do something as sneaky and deceptive as trying to baptize (or even say prayers in denunciation of Satan over the child) would be counter-productive and sinful (as this action would do nothing to establish a relationship with Jesus as Lord with the child and her parents). I would be more concerned about your daughter and boyfriend who desire to have nothing to do with the Lord. Pray for them. Ask the Holy Spirit to change their closed hearts. But trust in the Lord and trust in His plan for your granddaughter who is precious in the eyes of the Lord. He will take care of everything. God Bless! - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Terry: Only God can judge the human heart, and God who knows the secrets of us all will determine our eternal destiny. I do not know what you are referring to when you say that a good honest person can be sent to hell for just one sin (that is not confessed). That has never been the church’s teaching even though it may have been taught by our catechism teachers when we were young to keep us on the road of virtue. But a good and honest person who has accepted Jesus as Lord and has lived his life in accord to the Gospel of Christ has his place in heaven even though that person may have “unresolved sins” that have not been confessed. A person who has committed mortal sin is a person who has through a conscious decision chose to cut himself off from God altogether. Those who kill, steal, hurt people badly, abuse are people who have cut themselves off from the love of God and chose their destiny to be hell. People who are honest and have lived good lives are people who are united with God and chose their destiny to be heaven. Now, in a twist of your question, my “wondering” that amazes me is this: through God’s eternal forgiveness and His own justice, a bad person who does all these kind of things can receive a place in heaven by repenting and accepting Jesus into their changed lives. Now, that’s what amazes me. One sin doesn’t necessarily get you a place in hell. But one affirmation of the Lordship of Jesus Christ in your life will get you a mansion in heaven. - CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: Thomas: Your situation is serious enough for you to seek medical advice before you make any decision as to the future of your family and the changing of your reproductive creative powers given to you by God. I would suggest that you follow your medical doctor’s advice on what to do next to ensure the health of your wife and mother of your children. Even though the church would never accept vasectomy as a viable option for a Christian, the priority for you (and the priority for God) is to ensure the health of the parents. By following your doctor’s advice, there would be no sin involved no matter what the decision you make. Trust in the Lord. He will take care of everything. Be at peace. – CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff:
Dear Kevin: The letters, INRI, that is seen on the sign above the head of Jesus on the cross, are the Latin acronym for JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS. This comes from the New Testament description of the cross of Christ at the time of his crucifixion. In the Gospel of John, Chapter 19, Verses 17 through 22, it states: Pilate wrote out a notice and had it fixed to the cross. It ran: “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews.” The notice was read by many of the Jews because the place where Jesus was crucified was not far from the city, and the writing was in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. – CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: Colleen: Yoga as a physical exercise and as a healthy support is fine for any Christian. There is some concern when a person who practices yoga goes further and complements these exercises with prayers (and acknowledgement) of Buddha and other “deities.” Meditation on the mysteries of God and His creation and focusing on Jesus Christ and His love and mercy for you is suggested for any Christian who uses yoga as a way to maintain one’s health of both mind and body. – CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: Clay: Usually, the biblical scholars have interpreted the “We” (Genesis 3:22) in terms of the royal “We.” What that means is that monarchs (king or queen sovereign) have used the plural to denote not only themselves individually but also citizens of the state that they lead. So, when they speak, they say something like this, “We are not amused,” even though they are only talking about their own individual feelings. God is using the “royal we” in this sense since He is the King of the Universe and Creator of all. On the other hand, there are those who put a Christian meaning to this: that “We” means Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I personally have the opinion that God is speaking in both the “royal we” terms and also acknowledging that He is a Trinity. – CatholicView Staff
”My mind starts
to wander when I pray. Can you help?” -
Pat CatholicView Staff: Dear Pat: Some people have the misconception that centering prayer and meditation means that you must shut out everything and ignore your reality that you are in. This is untrue. When your mind begins to bring in distractions and other things, let them be part of your prayer and the mind will slowly begin to unwind and settle itself. So, when you begin your meditation and your mind goes on alert, let it. And say with your heart, “Lord, these are the things that I am concerned about. I leave them in your Hands.” Then watch your mind go peaceful. Time will fly. And your heart will be strengthened. Remember, don’t shut out the activity of your mind. Let it be part of your prayer experience. - CatholicView Staff
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