Reconciliation is the sacrament, instituted by Christ, through which we acknowledge our sins to God’s chosen representative. After his resurrection, Jesus told his Apostles, “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (Jn 20:23). Jesus’ decision to give particular human beings the power to forgive...
Last week I discussed prayer as a means of our growing in the knowledge and love of God. This week I discuss prayer as a means by which we develop our human potential (physical, emotional, and intellectual) and even change the world around us. God provides us with special talents...
Prayer, in one form or another, is essential to the life of a Christian, being nothing less than “the living relationship of the children of God with their Father” (Catechism, 2565). Whenever I direct my thoughts, feelings, and resolutions to God—I am praying. If I thank God for a sunset,...
In 1968, Pope Paul VI promulgated his encyclical Humanae Vitae, explaining Catholic teaching on the regulation of birth. In his encyclical, Pope Paul lauds “responsible parenthood” and endorses the regulation of births when serious reasons exist for doing so (10). The decision could arise from “the physical or psychological conditions...
The question of the Holy Spirit is an interesting one. In Hebrew, the term “ruah,” which means wind or spirit, is feminine. The spirit or breath of God stirred the waters at creation. In the wisdom books of the Old Testament (Proverbs, Sirach, Wisdom of Solomon), they speak of Lady...
Predestination is primarily a Calvinist concept. It takes a Scripture passage or two (see Romans 8:29-30 and Ephesians 3-14) and weaves a theology of predestination around it. Catholics prefer to see Paul’s use of the term ‘predestination’ to refer to God’s foreknowledge of what a person will chose to do....
On Wednesday we begin the season of Lent, our 40 daypreparation for the memorial of Christ’s Passion on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, and for the celebration of his resurrection on Easter Sunday. The story of Christ’s death, like any story, requires time for the telling, 40 days in this case. Thestory begins on Ash Wednesday with the reminder that salvationexists only because God “made him...
Why “explore” the Catholic faith? A person either “believes” or he doesn’t! Actually, faith begins with belief, the belief that Jesus’ words are true and that they are spoken to me personally, but my faith matures over time until the promises of Jesus are fulfilled in me: “Ask and you...
The sacrament of marriage is a divine institution given to men and women that they might be “cooperators with the love of God the Creator” (GS 50) and so attain their supernatural end (GS 48). The primary means of their cooperation are the love and support they give to one...
The Eucharist is the “heart and summit of the Church’s life,” since through it Christ “pours out” on his people the “graces of salvation” won by the sacrifice of his life “offered once for all on the cross” (Catechism, 1407). In every Eucharistic celebration, the very sacrifice of Christ on...