Discover the Faith

Daily Mass Readings for the Week Starting March 15, 2009

cd — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 20:46:28 +0000

Here are the Daily Mass Readings for the week starting March 15, 2009

Sunday March 15:

First Reading: Ex 20:1-17 or 20:1-3, 7-8, 12-17

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:22-25

Gospel: Jn 2:13-25

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Sunday March 15: FOR RCIA

First Reading: Ex 17:3-7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9

Second Reading: Rom 5:1-2, 5-8

Gospel: Jn 4:5-42 or 4:5-15, 19b-26, 39a, 40-42

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday March 16:

First Reading: 2 Kgs 5:1-15ab

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 42:2, 3; 43:3, 4

Gospel: Lk 4:24-30

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday March 17:

First Reading: Dn 3:25, 34-43

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9

Gospel: Mt 18:21-35

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday March 18:

First Reading: Dt 4:1, 5-9

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20

Gospel: Mt 5:17-19

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday March 19:

First Reading: 2 Sm 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

Second Reading: Rom 4:13, 16-18, 22

Gospel: Mt 1:16, 18-21, 24a or Lk 2:41-51a

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Friday March 20:

First Reading: Hos 14:2-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17

Gospel: Mk 12:28-34

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Saturday March 21:

First Reading: Hos 6:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab

Gospel: Lk 18:9-14

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

cd — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:42:10 +0000

Here are the daily readings at Mass for the week starting December 21, 2008.

Sunday December 21:

First Reading: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27, 29

Second Reading: Rom 16:25-27

Gospel: Lk 1:26-38

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday December 22:

First Reading: 1 Sm 1:24-28

Responsorial Psalm: 1 Samuel 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd

Gospel: Lk 1:46-56

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday December 23:

First Reading: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14

Gospel: Lk 1:57-66

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday December 24: Morning

First Reading: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

Gospel: Lk 1:67-79

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday December 24: The Nativity of the Lord
Christmas At the Vigil MassFirst Reading: Is 62:1-5

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29

Second Reading: Acts 13:16-17, 22-25

Gospel: Mt 1:1-25 or 1:18-25

For the complete readings click here.

Thursday December 25 Mass at Midnight:

First Reading: Is 9:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13

Second Reading: Ti 2:11-14

Gospel: Lk 2:1-14

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday December 25 Christmas Mass at Dawn:

First Reading: Is 62:11-12

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12

Second Reading: Ti 3:4-7

Gospel: Lk 2:15-20

For the complete readings for this day click here

Thursday December 25: Christmas Mass During the Day

First Reading: Is 52:7-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4, 5-6

Second Reading: Heb 1:1-6

Gospel: Jn 1:1-18 or 1:1-5, 9-14

For the compete reading for this mass click here.

Friday December 26:

First Reading: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 8ab, 16bc and 17

Gospel: Mt 10:17-22

For the readings in full for this day click here

Saturday December 27:

First Reading: 1 Jn 1:1-4

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 97:1-2, 5-6, 11-12

Gospel: Jn 20:1a and 2-8

For the readings in full for this day click here

Casual Apologetics

cd — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:12:34 +0000

Today at work some coworkers were joking around about Catholic baptism. One lady made some innocent jokes regarding baptism by pouring or sprinkling which is done at many Catholic churches throughout the world. From her background, she is used to baptized by submersion. I took this opportunity to clarify the background regarding the different ways that are acceptable to baptize using excerpts from the Didache. The Didache is an ancient Christian document dating from the first century that describes many of the practices of the early Church.

Before I did this she mentioned that she was baptized in a pond and jokingly I told her that it was not valid since it was not done in running(living) water such as in a river. (I told her I was kidding (which I was)but I did say it to make a point.)

Then I proceeded to show her portions of the Didache that describe the various ways to perform water baptism and why they are legitimate. Here is the passage.

After the foregoing instructions, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in living [running] water. If you have no living water, then baptize in other water, and if you are not able in cold, then in warm. If you have neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

What is amazing is she questioned where I got this information and then proclaimed in amazement something to the effect—”This is where you Catholics got this from”.

The point of this is that I took this opportunity to explain the practice of the Church and showed how this practice has been done since the beginning of the Church. She probably won’t become Catholic but I did educate her on why we do this practice as Catholics. We didn’t get a chance to explain infant baptism….maybe next time!

This was a friendly conversation as most of my coworkers like to occasionally rib me about my Catholicism but are good natured about it and they do know that I am fairly well versed in defending it. This to me was casual apologetics. Nothing deep and short and simple.

Daily Mass Readings for the Week Starting December 14, 2008

cd — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 00:27:44 +0000

Here are the daily readings at Mass for the week starting December 14, 2008.

Sunday December 14:

First Reading: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11

Responsorial Psalm: Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54.

Second Reading: 1 Thes 5:16-24

Gospel: Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday December 15:

First Reading: Nm 24:2-7, 15-17a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9

Gospel: Mt 21:23-27

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday December 16:

First Reading: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 34:2-3, 6-7, 17-18, 19 and 23

Gospel: Mt 21:28-32

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday December 17:

First Reading: Gn 49:2, 8-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72:1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17

Gospel: Mt 1:1-17

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday December 18:

First Reading: Jer 23:5-8

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72:1-2, 12-13, 18-19

Gospel: Mt 1:18-25

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Friday December 19:

First Reading: Jgs 13:2-7, 24-25a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 71:3-4a, 5-6ab, 16-17

Gospel: Lk 1:5-25

For the readings in full for this day click here

Saturday December 20:

First Reading: Is 7:10-14

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

Gospel: Lk 1:26-38

For the readings in full for this day click here

Daily Mass Readings for the Week Beginning December 7, 2008

cd — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 22:50:33 +0000

Here are the daily readings at Mass for the week starting December 7, 2008.

Sunday December 7:

First Reading: Is 40:1-5, 9-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 85:9-10-11-12, 13-14

Second Reading: 2 Pt 3:8-14

Gospel: Mk 1:1-8

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday December 8: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

First Reading: Gn 3:9-15, 20

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4

Second Reading: Eph 1:3-6, 11-12

Gospel: Lk 1:26-38

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday December 9:

First Reading: Is 40:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96:1-2, 3 and 10ac, 11-12, 13

Gospel: Mt 18:12-14

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday December 10:

First Reading: Is 40:25-31

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8 and 10

Gospel: Mt 11:28-30

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday December 11:

First Reading: Is 41:13-20

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 145:1 and 9, 10-11, 12-13ab

Gospel: Mt 11:11-15

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Friday December 12:

First Reading: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab

Responsorial Psalm: Judith 13:18bcde, 19

Gospel: Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47

For the readings in full for this day click here

Saturday December 13:

First Reading: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19

Gospel: Mt 17:9a, 10-13

For the readings in full for this day click here

Daily Mass Readings for the Week Starting November 30, 2008

cd — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 23:03:03 +0000

Here are the daily readings at Mass for the week starting November 30, 2008.

Sunday November 30:

First Reading: Is 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:3-9

Gospel: Mk 13:33-37

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday December 1:

First Reading: Is 2:1-5

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 122:1-2, 3-4b, 4cd-5, 6-7, 8-9

Gospel: Mt 8:5-11

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday December 2:

First Reading: Is 11:1-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17

Gospel: Lk 10:21-24

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday December 3:

First Reading: Is 25:6-10a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Gospel: Mt 15:29-37

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday December 4:

First Reading: Is 26:1-6

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a

Gospel: Mt 7:21, 24-27

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Friday December 5:

First Reading: Is 29:17-24

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

Gospel: Mt 9:27-31

For the readings in full for this day click here

Saturday December 6:

First Reading: Is 30:19-21, 23-26

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Gospel: Mt 9:35–10:1, 5a, 6-8

For the readings in full for this day click here

Reply to Anti Catholic Apologist

cd — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 12:57:34 +0000

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I received an email newsletter from an anti-Catholic apologist that I have corresponded with previously. Here is the full newsletter followed by my response. The newsletter pretty much ignores 1 Corinthians 13, which is the basis of my response.

The Newletter:

Pope Benedict said that Martin Luther’s doctrine of justification by faith alone is correct if ‘faith is not opposed to charity.’ The Pope said this during a general audience in a speech on St Paul’s teaching on justification. (November 2008 link)

I am glad that the Pope corrected the false idea popularized by some irresponsible apologists that ‘sola fide’ (faith alone) implies freedom from doing good and license to sin (‘antinomianism’). The Reformers vehemently resisted and opposed the antinomian heresy. The Protestant concept of justification by faith alone never excluded good works in the life of the believer. On the character of genuine faith, Luther wrote: ‘Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn’t stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever.’

Moreover the Pope also said that faith means to trust in Christ. ‘Faith is to look at Christ, to entrust oneself to Christ…’. In traditional Catholic theology, faith is defined as the assent of the intellect to divine truth. Protestants emphasized trust (‘fiducia’), in addition to knowledge and assent, as the essential element of saving faith. It is not enough to know God’s Word, or even to be convinced that it is factually true – to be saved, one must entrust himself to Christ, resting on him alone for salvation.

The Pope noted that the apostle Paul ‘places at the center of his Gospel an irreducible opposition between two alternative paths to justice: one based on the works of the law, the other founded on the grace of faith in Christ.’ In other words, one cannot be saved by faith in Christ if he also attempts to be saved by ‘works of the law’. This is exactly what Protestants mean when we speak of ‘sola fide’ – we are justified by trusting in Christ and not on account of our works.

By Faith and Works

Does this mean that Catholics and Protestants are now in agreement on the doctrine of justification? Unfortunately this is not the case. The Pope’s speech highlights the sad reality that the modern Catholic Church is still insisting on the Council of Trent’s doctrine on justification by faith and works. The divide between the two religions remains as wide today as it was in the 16th century.

On one hand the Pope endorses Paul’s teaching of justification by faith, apart from works of the law; on the other, he insists that we can really be just in the eyes of God on account of our love for God and neighbor. That is justification by love, or, justification by human works, for how can we express love apart from doing good works?

The Pope argues that faith unites us with Christ, enabling us to love God and others, and in so doing, we fulfill the law and become really righteous. He said that ‘the double love of God and neighbor the whole law is fulfilled. Thus the whole law is observed in communion with Christ, in faith that creates charity.’ He concluded his speech by saying that ‘transformed by his love, by love of God and neighbor, we can really be just in the eyes of God.’

To be sure such works of love are not done by our natural abilities; we must have faith, we must be united with Christ to really love. But ultimately, it is on account of these personal works that we are justified by God, according to Catholicism.

Works of the Law

How does the Pope resolve the contradiction between Paul’s teaching and Catholic doctrine? Didn’t Paul clearly state that ‘we hold that a man is justified by faith apart from works of law’? (Romans 3:28).

In effect the Pope says that Paul was only referring to the Torah, the first five books of Moses. The Torah included rituals and cultural observances, in addition to ethical and moral principles, which distinguished and guarded Israel from the false religions of the pagans. But since the coming of Christ, those observances are no longer necessary. Thus when Paul says that we are not justified by the works of the Law, he was really saying that we are not justified by the Law of Moses, but he does not exclude that we are justified by the works of love. That’s the Pope’s argument in a nutshell.

The Pope rightly points out that in his epistles Paul discusses the division between Jews and Gentiles, and that now all believers are united in Christ irrespective of the ethnic background. But that was not his only concern. Paul also addresses the universal human tendency to self-righteousness, that is, our attempts to gain favour with God on account of personal works and merits.

We agree that when Paul spoke about the Law, he was thinking particularly of the Torah, the Law of Moses, and not of the law in general. But that does not mean that we can dismiss his argument as irrelevant since we are no longer required to obey to Jewish ceremonies and rituals. The Torah did indeed include ceremonial and civil precepts, but it also included moral laws. Jesus summarized the Law of Moses as the supreme love for God and love for our neighbor, and said that ‘on these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets’ (Matthew 22:37-40).

What then, if the Mosaic Law – with its ceremonial, civil and moral laws – could not justify, how can we now become just in God’s eyes if we take away the ceremonial and focus on the law’s moral teaching, namely love? Can we obey the law perfectly?

The problem is not with the Law of Moses; Paul declares that ‘the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good’ (Romans 7:12). The problem is with us, sinners by nature, and even after regeneration, the remaining corruption prevents the most mature Christians from reaching moral perfection on this side of eternity. If the Jew could not be justified by the works of the perfect Law, no-one could be justified by the works of any law. After all did not the Gentiles, though ignorant of Moses, also have ‘the law written in their hearts’ (Romans 2:14)? Yet they too were unable to be justified by works.

The Law of Moses served the purpose of keeping God’s covenant people, Israel, distinct from pagan idolatry, as the Pope said. But the moral aspects of the law, whether written on tablets of stone or on the human conscience, also served to expose our depravity, guilt and helplessness. ‘Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin’ (Romans 3:20).

By Faith, Not Works

Moreover Paul could not have limited the concept of ‘works of the Law’ to the Torah. He presented the Patriarch Abraham as the primary witness to his doctrine. He wrote:

‘What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness’ (Romans 4:1-5).

In this context ‘works’ could not refer exclusively to obedience of the Torah, for Abraham lived many centuries before Moses. It is therefore wrong to force Paul’s concept of ‘works of the Law’ exclusively to the Law of Moses. Clearly Paul applies the same principle to works in general. Abraham could not boast before God because he was justified faith and not by works. The same applies to us all.

Paul then gives an example from ordinary life – when a worker receives his payment at the end of the month, could it be considered as grace, a free gift, a favour? Certainly not! The worker has every right for the money he earned by his labour.

But justification is not based on the principle of merit. The very opposite is true. Justification is by grace, pure and underserved grace. Only he is counted as righteous by the divine Judge who ‘does not work’ but ‘believes’ God. That is grace!

Faith Working Through Love

Once more it must pointed out that the question is not about the propriety and necessity of good works in the life of believers. On this point, Paul, Luther and the Pope are in agreement. The question, though, has to do with the purpose of such works.

In Catholicism, the faithful are urged to do works in the hope that they will eventually become ‘really’ just in the eyes of God on account of their ‘love to God and neighbour’. In Paul’s teaching, we are not justified on account of any personal works, but by faith; good works follow after faith and justification. In Catholicism faith is insufficient; it must be supplemented by works to really justify. In biblical Christianity, faith is sufficient, faith truly justifies the beliver on account of Christ’s blood and righteousness, and having justified the sinner, faith then works by love (Galatians 5:6) to the glory of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ. In Catholicism justification is by faith and works – therefore it cannot be of grace (Romans 11:6); in biblical Christianity justification is by faith, that it might be of grace (Romans 4:16).

Here then is the dividing line between Trent and Luther, Catholicism and Protestantism, the true gospel and its counterfeit. May God give us the grace to believe in Jesus his Son, and being justified by faith alone, to give ourselves to love God and our neighbour from our hearts.

My Response:

Greetings. I have a few comments regarding your newsletter

You say:

The Catholic Church merely reflects the whole teaching of Paul. Let us not ignore 1 Corinthians 13:

1If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing. 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Paul says here that you can have all the faith in the world but if you do not have love it is nothing! So it appears that salvation in its full sense is more than just Faith as if it does not have love it counts for nothing! These are Paul’s words and the Catholic teaching. Catholic do works of Love or charity because they complete our faith…they make effective our faith just as Paul teaches. They are NOT works of the Law they are works of LOVE/Charity.

Dr. Mizzi please quit trying to confuse the issue and lead Catholics astray. The Catholic Church teaches the Gospel and is not a counterfeit. You will be held accountable for your actions. Please pray on this and examine the truth.

Readings at Mass for the Week Starting November 23, 2008

cd — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 23:40:56 +0000

Here are the daily readings at Mass for the week starting November 23, 2008.

Sunday November 23:

First Reading: Ez 34:11-12, 15-17

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-2, 2-3, 5-6

Second Reading: 1 Cor 15:20-26, 28

Gospel: Mt 25:31-46

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday November 24:

First Reading: Rv 14:1-3, 4b-5

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

Gospel: Lk 21:1-4

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday November 25:

First Reading: Rv 14:14-19

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96:10, 11-12, 13

Gospel: Lk 21:5-11

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday November 26:

First Reading: Rv 15:1-4

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 7-8, 9

Gospel: Lk 21:12-19

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday November 27:

First Reading: Rv 18:1-2, 21-23; 19:1-3, 9a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 100:1b-2, 3, 4, 5

Gospel: Lk 21:20-28

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday November 27 Thanksgiving Day:

First Reading: Sir 50:22-24

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 138:1-2a, 2bc-3, 4-5

Second Reading: 1 Cor 1:3-9

Gospel: Lk 17:11-19

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Friday November 28:

First Reading: Rv 20:1-4, 11—21:2

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a and 8a

Gospel: Lk 21:29-33

For the readings in full for this day click here

Saturday November 29:

First Reading: Rv 22:1-7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 95:1-2, 3-5, 6-7ab

Gospel: Lk 21:34-36

For the readings in full for this day click here

My New Siberian Husky Puppy

cd — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 18:58:48 +0000

I usually don’t put personal items on the blog but here are a few pictures of my new Siberian Husky puppy. He will be coming home next Monday November 24. I am still thinking about some new names and have considered among other names, Ignatius or Iggy after the early Church father St. Ignatius.

The Church’s role in interpreting Scripture

cd — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:52:27 +0000

Many Christians today believe that they can interpret scripture on their own without any guidance from the Church, priests, bishops, etc. They believe that the Holy Spirit will guide them to truth through themselves. While it is true the Holy Spirit will guide the Church to truth when it comes to Holy Scripture, that does not mean that everyone can come to scripture and let it interpret itself. This false doctrine/belief has led to the splintering and division within the Church.

I want to look at a passages from the Bible that make the point. Acts 8:26-35 tells the story of the Ethiopian eunuch and clearly shows the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding the Church to truth but it also clearly shows the role in the Church and the role of Bishops and priest. Philip was an Apostle and the Apostles had the authority of bishop or overseer. The Ethiopian eunuch clearly indicated that he could not understand what the scripture was saying unless someone instructs him. Now the Holy Spirit did instruct him but it was not through himself, it was through Philip. Many misunderstand how the Holy Spirit accomplishes his task of bringing them to truth. The Holy Spirit works through the Church to bring us to the truth.

2 Peter 3:16-17 shows us why this false doctrine is not the doctrine of the Bible:

speaking of these things ¹² as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.

Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability.

Peter follows up with the message of Acts in telling us that the ignorant (or untaught) and unstable will distort the Biblical truth to their own destruction. This clearly shows the need for teaching and guidance when it comes to interpreting scripture on a whole.

The Holy Spirit may work through us directly or he may work through the Pope and the Magisterium to bring us the truth. How can we gauge what we believe the Holy Spirit is saying to us is true? We can be sure by measuring it against what the Church teaches. The Church is the Pillar and Foundation of Truth and is guided by the Holy Spirit. The Church is ,indeed, the measuring rod for truth. Do not be deceived by those who claim that they know the truth because the holy spirit guides them. Measure what they say against what the Church has taught for 2000 years. In this way you will know whether what they say is true or not. You will know if they are guided by the holy spirit as they claim to be.

Daily Mass Readings for the Week Starting November 16, 2008

cd — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 23:16:09 +0000

Here are the daily readings at Mass for the week starting November 16, 2008.

Sunday November 16:

First Reading: Prv 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 128:1-2, 3, 4-5

Second Reading: 1 Thes 5:1-6

Gospel: Mt 25:14-30 or 25:14-15, 19-21

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday November 17:

First Reading: Rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

Gospel: Lk 18:35-43

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday November 18:

First Reading: Rv 3:1-6, 14-22

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5

Gospel: Lk 19:1-10

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday November 19:

First Reading: Rv 4:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 150:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6

Gospel: Lk 19:11-28

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday November 20:

First Reading: Rv 5:1-10

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

Gospel: Lk 19:41-44

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Friday November 21:

First Reading: Rv 10:8-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

Gospel: Lk 19:45-48

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Saturday November 22:

First Reading: Rv 11:4-12

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 144:1, 2, 9-10

Gospel: Lk 20:27-40

For the readings in full for this day click here

Gay anti Christian bigots invade Church

cd — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:52:08 +0000

Here is distubing news as reported by the Catholic League regarding a group of gay anarchists who stormed a Church in Lansing Michigan. I find it odd that if we say that we disagree with the particular lifestyle we as Catholics and Christians are called bigots but when these people invade our house of worship they get a pass. Talk about double standards.

GAY FASCISTS STORM CHURCH

November 11, 2008

On Sunday, November 9, a band of about 30 gays stormed a church in Lansing, Michigan. Some were well dressed and were stationed inside Mount Hope Church; others were outside dressed in pink and black. The group of self-described homosexual anarchists, Bash Back!, claims the evangelical church is guilty of “transphobia and homophobia.”

The protesters outside the church were beating on buckets, shouting “Jesus was a homo” on a megaphone and carrying an upside-down pink cross. Fire alarms went off inside the church, protesters stormed the pulpit and a huge rainbow-colored flag was unfurled with the inscription, “IT’S OKAY TO BE GAY! BASH BACK!” The church was vandalized, obscenities were shouted and worshippers were confronted. There were no arrests.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue addressed this issue today:

“The real story here is the refusal of the mainstream media to cover what is surely one of the most disturbing events of 2008. If an organized group of gay bashers stormed a gay church, there is not a single sentient person in the United States who wouldn’t know about it.

“This is urban fascism come to America’s heartland. It must be quickly stopped before it gets out of control. We are contacting Mike Cox, the Attorney General of Michigan, calling for an investigation.”

Please contact Mike Cox at miag@michigan.gov

Daily Mass Readings for the Week Starting November 9, 2008

cd — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:33:50 +0000

Here are the daily readings at Mass for the week starting November 9, 2008.

Sunday November 9:

First Reading: Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

Second Reading: 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17

Gospel: Jn 2:13-22

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday November 10:

First Reading: Ti 1:1-9

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 24:1b-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

Gospel: Lk 17:1-6

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday November 11:

First Reading: Ti 2:1-8, 11-14

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 37:3-4, 18 and 23, 27 and 29

Gospel: Lk 17:7-10

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday November 12:

First Reading: Ti 3:1-7

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1b-3a, 3bc-4, 5, 6

Gospel: Lk 17:11-19

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday November 13:

First Reading: Phil 3:3-8a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 146:7, 8-9a, 9bc-10

Gospel: Lk 17:20-25

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Friday November 14:

First Reading: 2 Jn 4-9

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 119:1, 2, 10, 11, 17, 18

Gospel: Lk 17:26-37

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Saturday November 15:

First Reading: 3 Jn 5-8

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 112:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Gospel: Lk 18:1-8

For the readings in full for this day click here

Catholics Vote to Protect Marriage

cd — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:02:57 +0000

Here is an interesting article from the Catholic League with the stats that tell the percentage of Catholics who voted in various states to protect marriage.

CATHOLIC VOTE ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY: MUCH TO CHEER ABOUT

November 5, 2008

Catholic League president Bill Donohue commented today on the role Catholics played in securing marriage and family rights in the election:

“Were it not for Catholics, the institutions of marriage and the family would have taken a hit in places like Arizona, Florida and California. Indeed, in Florida and California, their vote proved to be decisive.

“Arizonians rejected gay marriage by a vote of 56% to 49%, though the margin among Catholics was less—51% to 49%. In Florida, the Catholic vote proved to be controlling: overall, the ban on gay marriage won by 62% to 38%, but among Catholics it was 66% to 34%. Californians narrowly defeated gay marriage by a margin of 52% to 48%, but Catholics rejected it by an impressive 60% to 40% differential. A vote in California to support parental notification lost by 52% to 48%, but it won among Catholics by a hefty 58% to 42%.

“On both issues, Catholics and Protestants who are regular church-goers clearly supported a ban on homosexual marriage and affirmed their support for parental consent. Unmarrieds and those who don’t go to church overwhelmingly voted for the right of two men to marry; they also voted to deny mothers and fathers of their right to be notified in advance if their child is considering an abortion.

“Those who support traditional values, then, tend to be religious and married while those who sport a preference for moral relativism tend to be secular and single. The implications are clear: tax laws, and other public policy initiatives, which are both family-friendly and church-friendly, are critically important.

“Because those who reject traditional values and religion voted heavily for Barack Obama, it’s a sure bet the culture war will only get hotter. We expect to be quite busy.”

Daily Readings at Mass for the Week Starting November 2, 2008

cd — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 23:34:58 +0000

Here are the daily readings at Mass for the week starting November 2, 2008.

Sunday November 2:

First Reading: Wis 3:1-9

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

Second Reading: Rom 5:5-11 or Rom 6:3-9

Gospel: Jn 6:37-40

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday November 3:

First Reading: Phil 2:1-4

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 131:1bcde, 2, 3

Gospel: Lk 14:12-14

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday November 4:

First Reading: Phil 2:5-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 22:26b-27, 28-30ab, 30e, 31-32

Gospel: Lk 14:15-24

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday November 5:

First Reading: Phil 2:12-18

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14

Gospel: Lk 14:25-33

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday November 6:

First Reading: Phil 3:3-8a

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Gospel: Lk 15:1-10

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Friday November 7:

First Reading: Phil 3:17—4:1

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5

Gospel: Lk 16:1-8

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Saturday November 8:

First Reading: Phil 4:10-19

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 112:1b-2, 5-6, 8a and 9

Gospel: Lk 16:9-15

For the readings in full for this day click here

Does Halloween have pagan origins?

cd — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:24:41 +0000

Does Halloween have pagan origins. The quick answer….No… not really.

The word Halloween basically means All Saints Eve. It is the day preceding All Saints Day. The word hallow mean holy…the word saint means holy. There a many sites on the web that refute the pagan origin Halloween myths, so don’t take my word for it! Just do a little research.

The facts are that All Saints Day was celebrated various times of the year depending on the location that one lived. Halloween has no direct connection to Samhain, the pagan holiday that is supposedly its origin, as it was celebrated on different days of year in many locations. In Ireland where Samhain originated, All Saints Day was practiced in April until it was changed to its current date. Undoubtedly some of these myths are anti-Catholic in origin and meant to steer people away from the truth.

Undoubtedly some of the practices today are commercial in origin and have no real connection to the original feast.

Having a feast to honor our brothers and sisters in Christ who have passed on to their reward is not pagan. Even if the date of a pagan feast was changed to a Christian feast celebrating our Christian brothers and sisters would not indict the feast day itself. In fact, the day would become sanctified in the name of Jesus Christ.

Much like music styles of our day have ”pagan” origins, the music in itself can be offered to the Lord in his honor and be sanctified because of this. The same can be said of any day of the year. This reminds me of some recent discussions on this blog with some who think that the word Christian is of pagan origins. I like to think of 1 Peter 14:16 and apply it to the feast of All Saints Day and any other Christian holiday.

yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God.

Hey… let us use this day to glorify Jesus Christ and honor our brothers and sisters who have been perfected in Christ!

Like 1 Corinthians 12:26, let us all rejoice in the honor that is given to the Saints who are in heaven.

or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

This Halloween and the following days let us remember the true origins of the feast days of All Saint and All Souls and remember all our departed brothers and sisters in heaven and purgatory.

Eucharist Desecration Videos Removed from YouTube

cd — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:24:20 +0000

After various protest from Catholics the poster of 40 videos desecrating the Eucharist have been removed by the poster named fmsdude. Thanks be to God for this good news. I am sure there will be others but if we all stand up and protest these sort of things are voice and prayers will be heard.

Here is a short article on the Catholic League website regarding this situation.

http://catholicleague.com/chatterbox.php?#183

Daily Mass Readings for the Week Starting October 26, 2008

cd — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:25:26 +0000

Here are the daily readings at Mass for the week starting October 26, 2008.

Sunday October 26:

First Reading: Ex 22:20-26

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51

Second Reading: 1 Thes 1:5c-10

Gospel: Mt 22:34-40

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Monday October 27:

First Reading: Eph 4:32–5:8

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

Gospel: Lk 13:10-17

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Tuesday October 28:

First Reading: Eph 2:19-22

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 19:2-3, 4-5

Gospel: Lk 6:12-16

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Wednesday October 29:

First Reading: Eph 6:1-9

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 145:10-11, 12-13ab, 13cd-14

Gospel: Lk 13:22-30

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Thursday October 30:

First Reading: Eph 6:10-20

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 144:1b, 2, 9-10

Gospel: Lk 13:31-35

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Friday October 31:

First Reading: Phil 1:1-11

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6

Gospel: Lk 14:1-6

To see the readings in full for this day click here.

Saturday November 1:

Solemnity of All Saints

First Reading: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 24:1bc-2, 3-4ab, 5-6

Second Reading: 1 Jn 3:1-3

Gospel: Mt 5:1-12a

For the readings in full for this day click here

Joe Biden’s double speak on abortion

cd — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:17:47 +0000

This article from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights has Joe Biden talking double speak regarding abortion. He agrees with the Church teaching on abortion but will not legislate against it because many people don’t agree with it. At the same time he agrees with Church teaching that racism is intrinsically evil but will vote to restrict it even though many people disagree with the Church’s teaching on this evil. Something does not add up. Mr. Biden goes on to spread more misinformation regarding Catholic teaching on this issue.

Here is the article:

Wednesday October 22, 2008

“JOE THE THEOLOGIAN” OPINES ON ABORTION

October 22, 2008

In the October 19 edition of the News Journal, Joe Biden offered his thoughts on faith and values. The Delaware daily also printed a 2007 interview with the Democratic VP candidate on the subject of abortion; it was not previously published.

Catholic League president Bill Donohue criticizes Biden’s views today:

“In his latest interview with the News Journal, Biden says, ‘I accept my Church’s teaching on when life begins. But we live in a society where a large number of people don’t agree with that position.’ This is true and much the same could be said about racism: The Catholic Church calls racism ‘intrinsically evil’ and supports laws that criminalize it. Biden agrees with this Church teaching and has no problem imposing his view on ‘a large number of people [who] don’t agree with that position.’ But when it comes to abortion, which the Church also labels ‘intrinsically evil,’ Biden demurs. To explain this glaring inconsistency, consider what Biden said in his earlier interview with the newspaper.

“Biden declared that ‘my church has wrestled with this [abortion] for 2,000 years.’ Wrong—the wrestling match he envisions is pure fantasy. The Catholic Catechism clearly states that ‘Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and is unchangeable.’

“Biden also said that ‘throughout the church’s history, we’ve argued whether or not it [abortion] is wrong in every circumstance and the degree of wrong.’ Wrong—as the Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops recently said, ‘modern science has not changed the Church’s constant teaching against abortion, but has underscored how important and reasonable it is….’

“Biden dug himself in deeper when he opined that ‘One of my avocations is theology,’ boasting that ‘I’m a John XXIII guy, I’m not a Pope John Paul guy.’ Well, someone should tell ‘Joe the Theologian’ that John XXIII was every bit as anti-abortion as that ‘other guy,’ JPII.”

Bill Maher lied to film portions of movie at Catholic Church

cd — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:12:31 +0000

Here is an aticle from CNA that claims that Bill Maher lied to parish in order to film part of his anti religion movie at a Catholic Church. It appears that Mr. Maher and his type will stoop to the lowest levels to achieve his agenda. One person commented on CNA about the similarities of this to those who desecrated the Eucharist. Both lied or misrepresented themselves to pull off their evil agendas.

Maher allegedly filmed anti-religion movie in Catholic parish under false pretenses

Newark, Oct 19, 2008 / 06:19 pm (CNA).- A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark has responded to reports that comedian Bill Maher filmed part of his anti-religion documentary “Religulous” at a parish in the archdiocese.

Maher set part of the film at Our Lady of Mercy in Park Ridge, New Jersey. The relevant scenes show his sister and his Jewish mother, who explains why his Catholic father stopped going to church.

Jim Goodness, an archdiocesan spokesman, told The Record that he turned down two requests to use the church property, one from Maher’s production company and one from the parish.

“This certainly would not be the kind of project we would have given a green light to,” he said.

Goodness explained that the archdiocese doesn’t allow church property to be used for commercial purposes.

“And I personally didn’t trust Mr. Maher,” Goodness told The Record.

“Obviously, our policies were not followed.”

According to the Associated Press, Goodness said the parish pastor Father Charles Grandstrand was aware of the policy.

However, according to Goodness, filmmakers told Father Grandstrand that Maher wanted to film his mother there because the Church was such a big part of her life.

Maher has admitted that he didn’t tell people his movie would take its name from a combination of the words “religion” and “ridiculous.” Instead, he told them the film would be named “A Spiritual Journey.”

On Thursday the Star-Ledger reported that Father Grandstrand claims Goodness told the church to reject the production company’s request to film a Mass but told the parish’s administrative assistant it would be alright to let Maher talk to his mother in the church.

Goodness responded by saying he remembered the events differently and had told the priest not to let the company film anything inside the church.