Some Apologetic Posts

Apologetics is the defense of the Catholic faith. Here is a list of some of my posts. If you are non-Catholic and would like more information than posted on this website, much more information on the basics of Catholicism can be found at Fish Eaters.

And for great Catholic book recommendations - including a list of sites with free Traditional Catholic Books - please visit my page: Catholic Book Recommendations

Various:

• Holy Trinity
• The Holy Mass
• Eucharistic Adoration
• Purgatory
• Indulgences
• Papal Infallibility
• Rites of the Catholic Church
• Excommunication
• Brown Scapular
• Rosary
• Example of the Martyrs
• Faith-Alone (Sola Fide)
• Scripture-Alone (Sola-Scriptura)
• Can God co-exist with evil?
• Can women be ordained to the priesthood?
• The Primacy of Saint Peter
• The evil of artificial Contraception
• A Crucifix as opposed to an empty cross
• Why use the title "Holy Father"?
• Are saints alive?
• Errors of Martin Luther?
• The Errors of Protestantism
• Are Catholics "born again"?
• Call no man "Father"?
• How the Church Leads us to God
• Will all Catholics be saved?
• Persecuting the Church is persecuting Jesus
• Can non-Catholics be saved?
• Why Organized Religion?
• Is inappropriate language sinful?
• Why do Catholics light prayer candles?
• How do Catholics view the theory of evolution?
• Fasting and Abstinence Rules
• Statues and Graven Images
• The Errors of So-Called Protestant "Reformers"

Liturgical Issues:

• When should a person bow or genuflect?
• Communion in the Hand, Extraordinary Ministers, Altar Rails
• Avoid the Neocatechumenal Way
• Should holy water be removed during Lent?
• What reverence is shown to the Gospel?
• What are the minor orders?
• Can priests still wear cassocks?
• Should applause take place during Mass?

Responding to Modern Concerns:

• The Catholic Church & Galileo
• The Catholic Church & Slavery
• The Church & the Holocaust
• The Church & the Nazis
• Membership in the Masons
• Nuns should wear the habit
• Women and veils
• Centering Prayer
• Religious Unity/Ecumenism
• Mormons: Sheep Not of this Fold
• Annulments & Divorce

Recommended Catholic Books:

• See the list of recommended books on Apologetics

The Sacraments:

• Baptism
• Confession
• Eucharist
• Extreme Unction

The Blessed Virgin Mary:

• Main Topic: Blessed Virgin Mary

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My Catholic.com

I just found a new and, I'd say, brilliant website called My Catholic.com, which is a customizable Catholic homepage. You can upload blogs to it and read not only news but Mass readings, some saintly writings, see the weather, and many other great features. Please check it out and tell me what you think of it.

And, if you'd like to upload my blog's content by clicking on the "content" tab then just enter my site's feed url into the space that asks for it. Here's my blog's url feed:

http://acatholiclife.blogspot.com/atom.xml

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A List of the Popes of the Holy Catholic Church

"The Lord made Simon alone, whom he named Peter, the 'rock' of his Church. He gave him the keys of his Church and instituted him shepherd of the whole flock. 'The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head.' This pastoral office of Peter and the other apostles belongs to the Church's very foundation and is continued by the bishops under the primacy of the Pope." (CCC 881)

The following is the list of Popes:

• St. Peter
• St. Linus (c. 68 - c. 79)
• St. Anacletus (c. 80 - c. 92)
• St. Clement I ( c. 92 - c. 99)
• St. Evaristus (c. 99 - c. 108)
• St. Alexander I (c. 108 - c. 119)
• St. Sixtus I (c. 119 - c. 127)
• St. Telesphorus (c. 127 - c. 137)
• St. Hyginus (c. 138 - 140)
• St. Pius I (c. 140 - c. 154)
• St. Anicetus (c. 154 - c. 167)

(More Updates coming in the future)

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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The Christian Faith in Two Words

"Jesus and love"

Pope Benedict XVI recently announced this, but there should be no debate or arguing among Christians on this one. Jesus Christ, Our God and Savior, is truly the aspiration of our souls - He is the brightest perfection of all good (mercy, truth, love, hope, etc). And through love of Our Lord we reach a different level of love. A level that embraces people of all colors, nationalities, faiths, and the like. We reach a form of love that cries to Heaven, "Let your will not mine be done." And, most importantly through this love of Jesus Christ and the Cross we grow closer to God by not only loving Him but loving our fellow man as well; "Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me" (Matthew 25:40).

So, today let's try to put Jesus Christ first in our lives, who is with us constantly in the Blessed Sacrament and looking down to guide us. He is with us; let us be with Him in praise and love. Without love we are nothing but with God, the God of Love, we are everything.

Let us live our lives in Christ's memory and for His glory keeping His Words to mind, "This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you" (John 15:12). Above all, The Cross is the great summary of both words - the Love of Christ is infinite. Our love can never be infinite for one another, but we must aspire to reach it as close as possible.

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Patron Saint of Internet Users

If you are looking for a prayer to say when you log on the Internet through the intercession of the patron saint of Internet users then I'm happy to say I found one. The patron saint of Internet users is Saint Isidore (c.560 - 636), and I especially like this prayer since I hope all of my online writings do help others in spirituality and faith.

Image Source: In the Public Domain (Wikipedia)

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A Daily Prayer

This website has a new prayer to say everyday, and these can even be emailed to you. I think this is a great way to continue in devotional prayer, and through these simple emails we can start our day off with something so simple and marvelous - a prayer to the God of Life.

http://www.familyrosary.org/main/prayer-day.php

Image Source: Photo believed to be in the Public Domain

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How Can I Improve This Blog?

I made this blog to be helpful to others, and I certainly hope it has. I have been working on setting up my other blog, and it looks really good; however, I was wondering how best to make this blog as user-friendly as possible.

What are your ideas? Should I remove some links from the sidebar? Which ones? Should I not have so many posts on the main page?

I'm really looking for advice. Please let me know what you think.

Thanks

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St. Pio of Pietrelcina

Memorial (1969 Calendar): September 23

Biography

Today is the Church remembers the life of one of my favorite saints, St. Pio of Pietrelcina - also called St. Padre Pio - (1887-1968), who was canonized recently in 2002. St. Padre Pio is the only priest to ever have the visible wounds of Christ, the Stigmata, and he lived a life dedicated to prayer and God.

On May 25, 1887, St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina was born to a southern Italian farm family, the son of Grazio, a shepherd. At the young age of 15, St. Pio entered the novitiate of the Capuchin friars in Morcone and joined the order at age 19. Suffered several health problems, and at one point his family thought he had tuberculosis. However, through God's will, he was ordained at the age 22 on August 10, 1910.

On September 20, 1918, while praying before a crucifix, St. Pio received the stigmata. Following World War II, he became a point of pilgrimage. St. Pio would hear confessions by the hour and have the ability to read the consciences of those who held back sins. He could bilocate, levitate, and heal by touch. In 1956, St. Pio founded the House for the Relief of Suffering, a hospital that serves 60,000 a year. In the 1920's he started a series of prayer groups that continue today with over 400,000 members worldwide. He died on September 23, 1968. Throughout his life, even after Vatican II, he was given permission to continue to exclusively celebrate the Tridentine Latin Mass.

His canonization miracle of the healing of a sick child, Matteo Pio Colella, age 7, the son of a doctor of the House for the Relief of Suffering. Matteo was admitted with meningitis on June 20, 2000, and by morning doctors feared that he was gone - his organs were shutting down. That night, following a prayer vigil attended by friars of St. Padre Pio's monastery and Matteo's mother, his condition suddenly improved. Matteo said that he had seen an elderly man with a white beard and a long, brown habit, who said to him: "Don´t worry, you will soon be cured." However, St. Padre Pio has worked countless miracles not only after his death but during his life. Read my post entitled: The Miracles of St. Padre Pio.

Prayers

For prayers to St. Padre Pio and ones he loved to say, please visit this site. I especially love the first prayer on that site.

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US Catholic Population

Here are some statistics I found from a local diocese paper:

From 1978 to 2004 the US Catholic population increased from 49,836,176 to 67,259,768. Overall the entire Catholic population during that time saw a 44% increase. Parishes also increased from 18,625 to 19,431.

However, the number of priests actually dropped from 58,485 to 44,212. There was a total 2.6% drop during this time span, and I certainly hope the their will be more priests. It seems that society doesn't view the priesthood much anymore, and many people don't think it requires any intelligence or work.

But, once again, Christ tell us, "You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16, Douay Rheims). The priesthood is a calling and the most important one a person can get. My advice is to ask yourself, if you're single, if God is calling you that way and if He is, then talk with another priest on possibly going into the priesthood. I'm considering this possibility and just wanted to share these statistics.

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Katrina Update

We've been hearing so much about Hurricanes Katrina & Rita, and I would like us to certainly prayer for them. However, I also wanted to share some updates on Katrina. Today the death toll rose past 1,000 but far less than the colossal estimates I heard weeks ago around 10,000. Thanks be to God for His mercy. Let us keep Hurricane Katrina and Rita victims in our prayers too.

Please also remember all of the animals that were left behind in your prayers.

I also found a photo today of a man praying the Rosary on Yahoo News after suffering through the Hurricane. The faith of some obviously was tested, but God is merciful. Let us thank Him and give Him praise. For through the Crucifixion came the Resurrection. Through this disaster, I pray that a new dawn of peace will arrive in New Orleans - a city that is turned back to God. For if the city doesn't turn back to God then it will ultimately face greater destruction in the future.

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain (Wikpedia)

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Lifechecks

I wanted to share a link to a page about lifechecks. I think that there are so many organizations that call themselves pro-life like the March of Dimes, but they support abortion anyway. I just wanted to share this link in case one of my readers buys lifechecks or knows someone that does.

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The 3 O'Clock Prayer

 

Preface: For a listing of hundreds of prayers with indulgences and special blessings attached to them, be sure to refer to a copy of the Raccolta often.  Click here to order one.

Here is a prayer for 3 o'clock, but you don't necessarily have to say this one. The important thing is to say something - to honor Our Lord's sacrifice, who chose to save us from a fate we deserve, and to approach the Fount of mercy, which was opened up "for the washing of the sinner, and of the unclean woman" (Zechariah 13:1). Our Lord died for us; He died for a reason not to be put on our wall or in a textbook but to be placed in our hearts to make us remember we are to be Eucharistic tabernacles to let the light of Christ to shine through us. We can never forget the Lord's infinite love.

The Prayer:

O Divine Jesus, we transport ourselves in spirit to Mount Calvary to ask pardon for our sins which are the cause of Thy death. We thank Thee for having thought of us in that solemn moment, and for having made us children of Thy own Mother.

Holy Virgin, show thyself our Mother by taking us under thy special protection.

S. John, be our patron and model, and obtain for is the grace of imitating thy filial piety of Mary, our Mother. Amen.

Source: Christian Warfare

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UNFPA News

For the fourth year, the US has denied UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) money due to continued reports that it has involvment with the forced abortions in China. The UNFPA would normally receive $34 million; instead, $25 million will be routed to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

However, Canada in last November, announced a $67 million increase (over a four period) to its annual $13.1 million UNFPA contribution.

I certainly am glad we are not giving money just as the US is not giving money to the "Mexico City Policy" which would be used for abortions. Since the drop in funding in 2001 no US funds have gone to funding abortions in Mexico, and I'm very happy with this. I am, however, disappointed in Canada's increased funding for UNFPA.

Also, even worse is that in 2003 there were more donations than ever before to the UNFPA from 142 of 191 UN member states. (http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jan/04010701.html)

For more information as well as links to related articles see this link:
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/sep/05091905.html

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St. Pio's Quotations on Prayer

I have recently blogged on prayer and what how essential I believe it is, but now I would like to illustrate this necessity of prayer on this anniversary of St. Padre Pio receiving the stigmata by two quotations by him.

" Prayer is the best weapon we have. It is a key opening God’s Heart."

"...God needs our prayers."

Image Source: Believed to be in the Public Domain

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The Stigmata

Today is September 20th, and today is the anniversary of St. Padre Pio receiving the Stigmata in 1918; St. Pio kept that stigmata for over 50 years. The Stigmata is a great gift received only by a select few including St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine of Genoa, St. Catherine of Siena, and St. Padre Pio to name a few. The Stigmata (for those that are new to this term) is the presence of Christ's wounds from His hands, feet, and side on these saints.

The Catholic Church has no official position on the stigmata, but it certainly is a great gift indeed going back to Sacred Scripture: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20)

I remember one story where a man came to St. Padre Pio and asked if he could take some of the pain from the stigmata (it bled and hurt every day). So that man went home and he had a horrible migraine, which felt like nails being driven in his hand. Finally, the next time he saw St. Padre Pio, St. Pio said, along these lines, "I told you it would be too much."

St. Padre Pio was a miracle worker (see: The Miracles of St. Padre Pio) able to be in two places at once, read peoples' thoughts in Confession to remind them of past sins to confess, and he had a special and unique fervor to serve Christ in the 1900s.

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Defend the Pledge!

Our Lord asked us to love and we can certainly Love Him by defending Him. If you have not already please contact your elected officials (through the action alert posted on http://www.congress.org) and tell them that you believe the we are one nation "Under God" and that phrase should certainly remain in our pledge of allegiance to a nation that acknowledges we are all under God's rule and love.

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Novena to St. Vincent de Paul

The novena is said for 9 days to his feast day, and the novena is said by saying the chaplet of St. Vincent De Paul for 9 consecutive days.

St. Vincent de Paul is remembered for his tireless work among the poor and today the St. Vincent de Paul society works to help the poor just as their patron did.

The Feast of St. Vincent de Paul was moved to September 27th in the Novus Ordo Calendar of 1969 but from the institution of the feast in 1737 up until 1969, it was held on July 19th.

NOVENA TO ST VINCENT DE PAUL 

O Glorious Saint Vincent de Paul, the mention of your name suggests a litany of your virtues: humility, zeal, mercy, self-sacrifice. It also recalls your many foundations: Works of Mercy, Congregations, Societies. The Church gratefully remembers your promotion of the priesthood. Inspire all Charitable Workers, especially those who minister, to both the spiritually and the materially poor. O Lord, give us the grace that You bestowed upon, your servant St. Vincent de Paul, to relinquish the temptation of material things, in our holy effort to minister to the poor. Amen.

 Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

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Prayer Before and After Mass

I found a few more nice prayers in the Catholic prayer book I recently got and planned on sharing. Here they are. If you like any of them let me know.
Prayer of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Before Mass):
Almighty and eternal God, I am about to approach the sacrament of your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Sick, I draw near to the physician of life; unclean, to the fountain of mercy; blind, to the light of eternal brightness; poor and needy, to the Lord of heaven and earth. I ask you in the abundance of your goodness to heal my ills. Cleanse my sins, enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty, and clothe my nakedness. Make me ready to receive the Bread of angels with such reverence and humility, such sorrow and devotion, such purity and faith, such purpose and intention as shall best lead to my salvation. Dear God, grant that I may so receive the Body of your only-begotten Son, that I may be worthy to be incorporated into his Mystical Body and counted among his members. O most loving Father, let me see your beloved Son, whom I now intend to receive, veiled indeed in this life, revealed throughout eternity face to face. He reigns and lives with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen
Thanksgiving of Baldwin of Canterbury (After Mass):
How great is your goodness, Lord, who does not shrink from letting your servant place you upon his heart! How great my own worth, since you have chosen me to have part in yours, to have you abiding in me, to love you as you deserve, above, myself.
Lord, take from me this hard heart, and give me a new, clean heart of flesh and blood. You who make my heart pure, take possession of mine and make it your home. Hold it and fill it, you who are higher than my topmost height, more inward than my inward being. You, the seal of holiness, beauty of all beauties, engrave on my heart your image and the imprint of your mercy. Be, O God, my eternal love and my inheritance. Amen.
Image Source: In the Public Domain

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Christmas Cards Already In Stores

Yesterday I had a chance to go shopping (something I normally don't like to do), but I went and was surprised at the large selection of Christmas cards. Now, Christmas is probably my favorite time of year, and I love looking through the Christmas cards particularly for the religious cards. Last year I got a box of over 30 for around $3.00 and I thought they were great. Some were of the Magi, some of Christ, some of the angels in Heaven.

Well, yesterday I saw one beautiful card with the three Magi on the front riding camels to a great star in the distance, and this reminded me of a tradition in Syria. On the Feast of the Epiphany children receive gifts not from Santa but the smallest camel. The story goes that this camel traveled with the Magi and was so small and tired but refused to stop in a desire to see Christ. And when the child Christ saw the camel He blessed it with immortality and now every year the Camel brings gifts because of his great faith. I just loved that story the first time I heard it.

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A Prayer of Praise

When we pray we shouldn't just ask God or even only thank Him, but we should in addition to these give Him praise and glory as the Most High King over all creation, who saved us through a death He could have chose not to accept. But instead He died for every last soul.

Here is St. Francis of Assisi's Prayer in Praise of God given to Brother Leo:

You are holy, Lord, the only God,
and Your deeds are wonderful.
You are strong.
You are great.
You are the Most High.
You are the Almighty.
You, Holy Father, are King of Heaven and earth.
You are Three and One, Lord God, all good.
You are good, all good, supreme good.
Lord God, living and true.
You are love. You are wisdom
You are humiliy. You are endurance.
You are rest. You are peace.
You are joy and gladness.
You are justice and moderation.
You are all our reaches, and you suffice for us.
You are beauty.
You are gentleness.
You are our protector.
You are our guardian and defender.
You are our courage.
You are our haven and our hope.
You are our faith, our great consolation.
You are our eternal life, great and wonderful Lord,
God almightly, merciful Savior.

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