For the Solemnity of Christ the King

In honor of Jesus Christ our King and Savior, upon the conclusion of the liturgical year, I present the following articles:

Articles:

• Liturgical Calendar: Feast of Christ the King
• For the King Trusts in the Lord
• Praise the Lord, King of All the Earth
• My Crown Shall Shine
• Feast of Christ the King
• The Kingship of Christ
• The King of Kings
• Christ the King Is Lord of the World and History
• Kingship of Christ, Queenship of Mary in Scripture
• And That's the Gospel Truth: Feast of Christ the King
• Quas Primas (On the Feast of Christ the King)
• Ubi Arcano Dei Consilio (The Peace of Christ in His Kingdom)
• Kingdom of God
• Feast of Christ the King
• Jesus' Eternal Kingdom
• Kingdom and Church in Luke-Acts
• Sense of the Words "Kingdom of God"

Prayers

• Prayer to Christ the King
• Act of Dedication of the Human Race to Jesus Christ, the King
• Litany of Christ the King
• Song of the Sodality of Our Lady (For Christ the King)

ALL HAIL CHRIST OUR KING!!

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Catholic Q&A: Part 1

Here is a recent batch of questions that I answered in the "Catholicism" category at WikiAnswers. I do this from time to time because I think it's good to get the right information out there when it comes to the Catholic Church, and because it also serves as good material for my weekly column in my church bulletin.

• Does First Communion come before Confirmation?
  
  It depends on when your diocese has chosen to celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation. In the United States, Confirmation can be celebrated anywhere between the age of reason (7 yrs) and age 16. So, if your diocese celebrates Confirmation in the second or third grade, then it will come before First Communion. But, if your diocese celebrates Confirmation in the eighth grade, then it would come after First Communion.
  
  What is the mystical process in which the bread and wine become Jesus?
  
  That “mystical process” is called transubstantiation.
  
  What is man’s earthly purpose?
  
  According to the old Baltimore Catechism, man was made to know, love, and serve God in this life, and to be with him in the next.
  
  Who was the first Catholic bishop?
  
  The Catholic Church believes that the first bishops were the 12 apostles themselves. It's difficult to say which, from among the 12, became a bishop first. Perhaps it is Peter, who Jesus built His Church upon (cf. Mt 16:18).
  
  When did the Holy Spirit originate?
  
  The Holy Spirit is God. This means that He has no beginning or end. Thus, there is no point in time in which we can say that the Holy Spirit first came to be and there is no point in time in which we can say that the Holy Spirit did not exist.
  
  When did Roman Catholicism begin?
  
  The Catholic Church considers Her origin to be on the day of Pentecost, around 33 AD, when Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit upon the apostles and disciples in the Upper Room. It was this Spirit that gave the Apostles the courage to preach the Gospel with boldness and to establish local churches wherever they traveled.
  
  Who was the first one to call the Church “Catholic”?
  
  The first instance that historians have found of someone referring to the "Catholic Church" is in Ignatius of Antioch's Letter to the Smyrneans, where he writes, "Let no one do anything of concern to the Church without the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop or by one whom he ordains [i.e., a presbyter]. Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church."

Do you know your faith? Help me tackle some unanswered questions. Of course, if you have any questions of your own, just leave me a comment or send me an email.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

How to Read the Bible

Should the Bible be taken literally? Is any of it metaphor?

Well, it depends. Besides the literal sense of Scripture there is also a spiritual sense. This in turn is divided into the allegorical, moral, and anagogical senses. Each one brings a different layer of meaning to the text.

The literal sense is the sense that the human author wished to convey to his immediate audience. Once one considers the historical context in which the author lived, exactly who he was writing to, the circumstances in which they lived, and the purpose for his writing, then one is able to derive the literal sense of the text.

The spiritual sense is the meaning that the divine author – God, the Holy Spirit – wishes to convey to mankind in every age. It is the meaning that is found in a passage once that passage is read in the light of Christ and of Christian revelation. The allegorical, moral, and anagogical senses are all spiritual senses of Scripture.

The allegorical sense is the one in which persons, objects and actions depicted in a text are taken as representing other things not present in the text. With the allegorical sense, Moses becomes a type of Christ in his intercessory role for the people. The snake he raised up to heal them becomes an image of Christ crucified.

The moral sense is that element of Scripture that teaches us how to live rightly. As St. Paul says, “These things ... were written down for our instruction” (1 Cor 10:11). Within all of the suffering that the Jewish people had to endure is a moral lesson for us, to strive to do the will of the Lord in all things.

The anagogical sense provides the eternal significance to the realities and events of Scripture. It shows the reader that Scripture has an end in sight. Scripture not only speaks of the author’s day and of our own circumstance, but also of that final culmination of history, when Jesus Christ will make all things new.

Knowing now that there are multiple senses of Scripture, we must also keep in mind that Scripture is made up of many genres or styles of writing, such as history, poetry, parable, song, apocalypse, narrative, prophecy, etc. Once you know the genre of a writing then you know how best to understand it. For example, since the Book of Revelation is apocalyptic literature, we know that it is highly symbolic and thus we don’t think for a second that an actual dragon will appear with seven heads and ten horns when the world comes to an end (cf. Rev 12:3). Instead, we try to figure out what that dragon symbolizes.

Once you consider the multiple senses of a passage and the style in which it was written then you can capture the full breadth of meaning to be found in that passage.

Defending the Book of Maccabees

A friend recently told me that the Book of Maccabees shouldn’t be in the Bible because it has prayers for the dead in it. How should I respond to that?

There are a handful of books in the Catholic bible that are not included in Protestant bibles. These are Sirach, Tobit, Wisdom, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and Baruch, as well as additions to Daniel and Esther. Protestants refer to these books as the “apocrypha,” or the “apocryphal books.” One reason why these books are excluded is because Protestants find in them various doctrines or practices that are supposedly at odds with the rest of Scripture. Your friend is using that argument, and there are at least two ways to respond to it.

One approach is to defend the practice of praying for the dead. After all, your friend is assuming that there is something wrong with praying for the dead, when in fact it is perfectly fine. Catholics pray for the dead because we believe in the reality of Purgatory, the state of being cleansed by God of any remaining impurities before we enter heaven. Souls undergoing this purging can benefit from our prayers because death does not separate us from the Body of Christ. As members of one Body, we can pray for each other and offer up our hardships for one another. A lengthy defense from Scripture is usually necessary before one can convince most Protestants that praying for the dead is a legitimate practice. Read the Catechism on these subjects, as well as a few articles from Catholic.com and you can find all the verses you need. You may also consider a different approach.

Another way to tackle this is to simply show your friend that prayers for the dead can be found in his Bible as well as the Catholic one. I like this approach because it turns his argument against him. Now, in order to be consistent, he has to start tearing out books that no one in his right mind would ever dream of excluding! Elijah (cf. 1 Kings 17:20-22), Peter (cf. Acts 9:40), and even Jesus himself (cf. John 11:41-43) are all seen praying for the dead in books that are well established in Protestant bibles. It is true that the prayer is for the person to come back to life. But, that doesn't change the fact that the soul of a dead person is still being prayed for, which, according to Protestants, is strictly forbidden. Note also that, in order for these souls to return to their bodies, they must have been in an intermediate state, since heaven and hell are irrevocable and eternal judgments. This is what "prayer for the dead" is: prayer for souls in this intermediate state. Also, in 2 Tim 1:16-18, Paul prays for the soul of Onesiphorus, that he will find mercy on the day of Judgment. So, prayer for the dead is certainly to be found in the Protestant bible.

This same two-fold approach can be used to defend the legitimacy of the other “apocryphal” books as well. If you have never read them before, I highly suggest you do!

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Mary's Fiat and Magnificat

I always hear people speak of Mary’s “fiat” and her “magnificat.” What are these things?

Mary’s fiat is found in Lk 1:38. It is her “yes” to God, which she declared once the Angel explained to her that she would conceive a son by the power of the Holy Spirit. Her specific words were, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord: be it done to me according to thy word.” In Latin, it is, "Ecce ancilla Domini; fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum." The Latin word for “be it done” (or “let it be done”) is fiat, so that is the name used by scholars to refer to Mary’s response to the angel.

Mary’s fiat is special because it is through this act of humble submission to the will of God that the Son of God makes his entrance into human history, taking on a human nature and becoming one like us in all things but sin. It is an example to us of obedience and a lively faith in the Lord. Just imagine if all people responded to the will of the Lord by saying, “Let it be done!”

The magnificat, also called the “canticle of Mary,” is the song of praise proclaimed by Mary after Elizabeth rejoiced at Mary coming to visit her. It is from Lk 1:46-55:

• "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever."

The first few words in Latin are, "Magnificat anima mea Dominum . . .” so that is why these words of Mary are referred to as the magnificat. This canticle is noteworthy because it is a beautiful example of praise and thanksgiving to God for all that He has done for His people and for those in need. We tend to only pray to God in our down times. We could all learn a lesson from Mary here and redouble our efforts to pray to the Lord in good times as well as in bad.

Most people don’t know what the fiat or the magnificat is because they aren’t familiar with Latin. But, Latin is a revered language that the Church has been using in her worship and her authoritative documents for many centuries. It is good to know at least a few Latin words, at least for the simple purpose of preserving our Catholic traditions and ways of speaking.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Fr. Benedict Groeschel: Saint in Our Midst

Short Video of My Wedding

Here's a little preview of the wedding video that Amy and I had made. I am told it is not finished yet, but it will give you some indication of the joy of that day. The song in the background is "Book of Love," by Peter Gabriel. It was the song that Amy and I chose for our first dance. Oh, and the two testimonials at the end of the video were recorded towards the end of the reception, when Amy and I both were about to pass out from exhaustion.



Thank you Lord for my beautiful wife.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

NBC Tackles the Abortion Issue

Check out this amazing clip from an episode of Law and Order: SVU



I never saw the episode myself, so I don't know what the verdict ends up being. But, as it stands by itself, this clip does a good job of exposing a little bit of the horror of the abortion industry. The whole reason the defense attorney is frustrated is because he knows that the jury has just been awakened to that horror and he will be hard-pressed to create the cognitive dissonance necessary for the jury to not feel completely repulsed by what the doctor has done.

I'm surprised that this episode even saw the light of day. What do you think? Leave a comment and let me know.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Planned Parenthood's Declaration of Debauchery

Halloween and All Saints/Souls Day

There is much confusion about the origins of Halloween, and about what the Church celebrates on and around this day. Sometimes it can be a little difficult to make sense of it all. As a result, I offer the following links to articles and other resources that will help you to learn more about these holidays, and to defend them against the oh-so-typical charge that Catholics are pagans (in case you're wondering, we're not). I say Protestants just don't know how to throw a party like we do! (evidence here)

• All Hallow's Eve
• All Saints Day
• All Souls Day
• Halloween: Its Origins and Celebration
• Smashing Pumpkins: Halloween
• Ghosts, Hauntings, and Things that Go "Bump" in the Night
• Catholic Education: All Hallow's Eve
• Ideas for Sanctifying Halloween
• Halloween: Reclaim the Celebration of All Saints
• Halloween, All Saints, and All Souls Day
• Taking Back Our "Holy" Halloween
• Halloween, High Street, and Holy Witnesses
• Halloween's Origins
• Halloween Word Origins
• Holiday Hysteria
• Pulling the Plug on the Halloween Habit
• Reinventing the Hallowheel!
• Laughing at Satan
• Great Tips for Halloween Fun
• What the Halloween Hullabaloo Says about Our Culture

Have fun everyone! Be holy!

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Catholics Come Home

The Truth About the Senate Bill

Going to the Chapel

.... and I'm gonna get married.

About to drive to Louisville to take the plane to Maine. Please pray for me that the trip goes well. Me and planes don't get along very well.

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

SoulWow: Removes Stains .... from Your Soul

October: Month of the Rosary

In honor of the most Holy Rosary, which we take up as our sword and shield particularly during this month of October, I have collected the following resources for your edification:

General Articles

• A Brief History of the Rosary


• Family Rosary in the Irish Home


• How to Recite the Holy Rosary


• Light for the World: New Mysteries for an Old Prayer Form


• Little Rosary of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini


• New Advent: The Rosary


• New Mysteries for the Rosary


• Pope Calls for a Rediscovery of the Rosary


• Pray the Rosary, Enter Deeply Into the Mystery


• Praying the Rosary


• Rosary Scripture Citations (a Word doc)


• St. Louis de Montfort's The Rosary


• The Garden Way of the Rosary


• The Rosary


• The Rosary and the Christian Wake


• The Rosary Dissected


• The Rosary in History: From the Beginning to the Consolidation of its Actual Structure

The Rosary Encyclicals (go here for a summary of the Rosary encyclicals)

• Adiutricem (On The Rosary)


• Consueverunt Romani (On the Rosary)


• Diuturni Temporis (On The Rosary)


• Fidentem Piumque Animum (On The Rosary)


• Grata Recordatio (On The Rosary)


• Ingravescentibus Malis (On The Rosary)


• Ingruentium Malorum (On Reciting The Rosary)


• Iucunda Semper Expectatione (On The Rosary)


• Laetitiae Sanctae (Commending Devotion To The Rosary)


• Magnae Dei Matris (On The Rosary)


• Octobri Mense (On The Rosary)


• Rosarium Virginis Mariae (On the Most Holy Rosary)


• Supremi Apostolatus Officio (On Devotion Of The Rosary)

Rosary Apologetics

• Common Questions and Concerns about the Rosary


• Not In Vain: Repitition and the Rosary


• All Mothers Are Alike....Save One


• Devotion to Mary Is the Result of Devotion to Her Son....and Vice Versa


• Did Jesus Renounce Marian Devotion? (Lk 11:27-28)


• Don't Confuse Catholic Poetry with Catholic Doctrine


• How to Explain Mary to a Sola Scriptura Protestant


• Is Mary a Pagan Goddess?


• Is Mary Worshiped By Catholics?: The Latria/Dulia Distinction


• Is the "Catholic" Mary an Imitation of Ancient Pagan Goddesses?


• Mariology?


• Mary Worshippers Need Not Apply


• Mary: Seventh-Day Misconceptions


• The Original KJV Honors Mary


• Why Don't We See Marian Devotion in Paul's Epistles?

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Hiding Behind Hyde

For more information on how exactly the Hyde Amendment does not apply to the House Health Care Reform Bill, go to www.StopHyding.com

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

Those Mormons Have At Least One Thing Going For Them

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Charles Wesley

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that promised rest.
Take away our love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
'Til in heaven we take our place,
'Til we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.