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Fun, Faith Filled Facts #9: Missing Sunday mass is a MORTAL Sin? and so is….

Yep, that’s right. Missing Sunday mass (in other words, not fulfilling your Sunday obligation) is a Mortal Sin.

Somehow amidst my Catholic upbringing and my 8 years of Catholic school, I missed (forgot) that fact.

Even more interesting is the fact that it somehow eluded my awareness well into my “re-version” (the period when Catholics who did not sway from the Catholic faith to another faith become like new converts and rediscover their Catholic faith.) Sometimes I think it was due to the theory that God reveals a little bit of the truth at a time in our faith journey so that we don’t become overwhelmed. Other times reality taps me on the shoulder and reminds me that it was probably due more to the fact that I was in denial. I didn’t want to admit to myself that something as simple as not fulfilling my obligation to participate in mass would send me to hell.

But it’s true.

The Catechism states that :

2192 “Sunday . . . is to be observed as the foremost holy day of obligation in the universal Church” (CIC, can. 1246 § 1). “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass” (CIC, can. 1247).

It’s number 3 in the 10 Commandments:

1.) I am the LORD your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
2.) You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
3.) Remember to keep holy the LORD’s day.
4.) Honor your father and mother.
5.) You shall not kill.
6.) You shall not commit adultery
7.) You shall not steal.
8.) You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9.) You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10.) You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

So what IS a “mortal sin”? and how is it sooo effective in getting someone to hell?

The Catechism

1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

(Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.)

Basically, a Mortal sin is breaking any of the 10 Commandments.

Fr. Larry Richards gives a talk where he likens missing mass like jumping off a cliff. People complain that missing mass once is a mortal act on their soul (aka mortal sin….in other words, it kills their soul). Fr. Larry says, “Well, what if, once, JUST ONCE, you jump off a cliff…..ahhhhhhhhhhh…. ahhhhhhhhhh….. ahhhhhhhh…. SPLAT! You’re dead. Even though you only did it once. The same thing happens to your soul.”

So even though someone might only miss mass once, it’s a mortal sin and it requires one to receive the sacrament of reconciliation from an ordained priest to heal their soul, ESPECIALLY PRIOR TO ONE RECEIVING COMMUNION.

The Catechism states:

1856 Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us - that is, charity - necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation

and

1037 God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want “any to perish, but all to come to repentance”:

It is a bit more complicated. (God gives us some consideration, just in case we are misinformed and do know understand the ramifications of our actions. Thank goodness!)

The Catechism states:

1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.

Not only do we need to attend mass on Sundays, but in order to fulfill the third Commandment,

The Catechism states:

2185 On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are to refrain from engaging in work or activities that hinder the worship owed to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, the performance of the works of mercy, and the appropriate relaxation of mind and body. Family needs or important social service can legitimately excuse from the obligation of Sunday rest. The faithful should see to it that legitimate excuses do not lead to habits prejudicial to religion, family life, and health.

I dare say that most cultural Catholics (those who are Catholic merely in upbringing not in practice) don’t know that missing Sunday mass is a MORTAL sin. Why else would Catholic churches be so empty? If the thousands of fallen away Catholics (in New York City alone) knew that merely missing mass on Sunday separates them from God and sends them on the fast track to hell, they certainly would think twice before missing mass.

I have empathy for those who do not acknowledge, as I used to, that missing mass is a Mortal Sin. But now that I’ve heard Fr. Larry’s description, when I hear someone say that they don’t go to mass every Sunday I hear a quiet distant “…….ahhhhhhhhhhh………ahhhhhhhhhhhhh……..ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh SPLAT.” I wince and say a prayer for their soul.

God loves you. Don’t miss mass on Sunday. It hurts Him AND you.

By the way:

Here’s a list of OTHER Mortal Sins that need to be confessed

SINS THAT NEED TO BE CONFESSED
Abortion
Adultery
All use of illegal drugs
Any dealing with occult, IE. Ouija boards
Artificial Birth Control
Blasphemy: disrespect toward God or toward His Holy Name.
Breaking promises deliberately
Bringing dishonor to family, school, community, or the Church.
Calumny: telling lies about another.
Despair: To believe that God will refuse to forgive you
Destruction of other people’s property
Detraction: Telling an unkind truth about another
Disobedience toward parents/teachers
Drunkenness, including any drinking under the age of 21
Excessive materialism
Gluttony: eating or drinking to excess
Gossip: talking about others
Hatred
Homosexual actions
Impure thoughts
Indifference to good or evil
Ingratitude
Intentional violation of school rules
Jealousy
Laziness
Lying
Malice: The deliberate choice of evil
Masturbation: impure actions with yourself
Missing Mass on any Sunday or Holyday
Murder
NOT PRAYING EVERYDAY
Not giving to the poor and the Church
Premarital sex, including oral sex, intercourse, impure touching of another
Presumption: Sinning and saying God MUST forgive me.
Pride
Prostitution
Reckless driving that endangers you, passengers, or others
Rudeness
Selfishness
Stealing
Superstition
Unjustified anger
Using others for your own personal gain
Watching or looking at pornographic material

To obtain this list in a PDF, get info about Fr. Larry Richards, or hear his homilies go to http://www.thereasonforourhope.org/

Fun, Faith Filled Facts #7: What are the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit?

What are the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit? (And who knew there were so many????)

The Prophet Isaiah announced that the Holy Spirit of God would bring
seven precious gifts to those who are faithful to Him. (Is 11:2)

Here they are in quick order:

1. The Gift of Wisdom. A special delight for all that is spiritual,
for all that points to God.

2. The Gift of Fortitude. A special strength to realize what God
wants of us and to resist with patience and courage the difficulties
of life.

3. The Gift of Council. It allows us, at the moment of choice, to
opt for what is best for someone: it inspires what we must do and how
to do it. (This is in reference to God’s law).

4. The Gift of Piety. A filial affection toward God (the affection
of a son or a daughter).

5. The Gift of Understanding. An ease to understand what God tells
us through His word in the Bible or through other means.

6. The Gift of Science. An ease to distinguish between what is true
and what is false.

7. The Gift of Fear of God. A tender hesitancy that inspires fear
of offending God because He is a Father so generous and full of
kindness toward us, and also because we know that God will not leave
a single sin without punishment (this truth is repeated seven times
in the Bible).

All good things I think I’d like to have!

The Catechism says it even more concisely.

1831 The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. They belong in their fullness to Christ, Son of David. They complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make the faithful docile in readily obeying divine inspirations.

And if you’re ever feeling like it’s tough being a Christian, you might be reassured to know that the Catechism also says:

1830 The moral life of Christians is sustained by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. These are permanent dispositions which make man docile in following the promptings of the Holy Spirit. (emphasis added)

****

BTW I was intrigued when I noticed #6: “The Gift of Science- an ease to distinguish between what is true and what is false.” In this day of rampant relativism where truth is in the eye of the beholder, I thought that only the Atheists and the Agnostics held the lock and key to knowledge about “what is true and what is false!” Who knew that the Holy Spirit gives it away as a free gift?!?! Wow!

II. The Relationship Between Tradition and Sacred Scripture

One common source. . .

80 “Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture, then, are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move towards the same goal.” Each of them makes present and fruitful in the Church the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with his own “always, to the close of the age”.⁴¹

. . . two distinct modes of transmission

81 “Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit.”

“and [Holy] Tradition transmits in its entirety the Word of God which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their preaching.”

82 As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation is entrusted, “does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honoured with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence.”

Apostolic Tradition and ecclesial traditions

83 The Tradition here in question comes from the apostles and hands on what they received from Jesus’ teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy Spirit. the first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living Tradition.

Tradition is to be distinguished from the various theological, disciplinary, liturgical or devotional traditions, born in the local churches over time. These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and times, in which the great Tradition is expressed. In the light of Tradition, these traditions can be retained, modified or even abandoned under the guidance of the Church’s Magisterium.

41: Mt 28:20
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

 

Fun, Faith Filled Facts #6: No meat on Fridays?

No meat on Fridays?  You mean during Lent? WHAT?!?! No meat on Fridays throughout the year? 

Yep.  That’s right.  Catholics are to abstain from eating meat each Friday of the year as a sign of penance. 

For those of you who are scratching your head and wondering why the Fish Fry at your local Parish only happens during Lent, here is some additional information on the subject:

What does the Catechism say?

Paragraph 2043 The fourth precept (”You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church”) ensures the times of ascesis and penance which prepare us for the liturgical feasts and help us acquire mastery over our instincts and freedom of heart.⁸

Paragraph 1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice.  These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works).    

Canon Law States:

Canon 1250  All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.

Canon 1251  Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless (nisi) they are solemnities; abstinence and fast are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and on the Friday of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Canon 1252  All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Nevertheless, pastors and parents are to see to it that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated in an authentic sense of penance.

Canon 1253  It is for the conference of bishops to determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence and to substitute in whole or in part for fast and abstinence other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety.*

*The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops did not specify a particular way penance is to be observed on Fridays (other than the Fridays in Lent).  United States Catholics must follow the universal law of observing a form of penance on Friday, but may choose to follow the general practice of abstaining from meat on each Friday throughout the year, OR REPLACE IT WITH ANOTHER FORM OF PENANCE.  

Soooo- for those of you United States Catholics who aren’t abstaining from meat on Friday, be sure to replace it with some other form of penance!

(BTW Vegetarians and Vegans should probably also be doing an additional form of penance since abstaining from meat is their normal way of life- unless, of course, they have chosen to be Vegetarians or Vegans as daily act of penance and rememberance of our Lord’s sacrifice. )

Fun, Faith Filled Facts #5: When was the Catholic Church established?

Many Protestant Christians are surprised to find out that Catholics are in fact Christians.  Adding to their surprise is the fact that the Catholic Church was the FIRST Christian church and the ONLY one instituted by Jesus Christ. 

I’ve learned that sadly, many Catholics don’t know these facts either!(EEP! ACK!)

Given the above information, one would erroneously suppose that the Catholic Church was established in about 30 A.D. when Jesus started his public ministry.  Or perhaps at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles and Mary.  So what’s the real answer? 

What does the catechism say?(The following are excerpts; please access the catechism for a more complete answer.)

II. THE CHURCH’S ORIGIN, FOUNDATION AND MISSION

A plan born in the Father’s heart

Paragraph 759 “The eternal Father, in accordance with the utterly gratuitous and mysterious design of his wisdom and goodness, created the whole universe and chose to raise up men to share in his own divine life,” ¹⁵⁰ to which he calls all men in his Son. “The Father . . . determined to call together in a holy Church those who should believe in Christ.”¹⁵¹ This “family of God” is gradually formed and takes shape during the stages of human history, in keeping with the Father’s plan. In fact, “already present in figure at the beginning of the world, this Church was prepared in marvelous fashion in the history of the people of Israel and the old Advance. Established in this last age of the world and made manifest in the outpouring of the Spirit, it will be brought to glorious completion at the end of time.” ¹⁵²

The Church- foreshadowed from the world’s beginning

Paragraph 761 The gathering together of the People of God began at the moment when sin destroyed the communion of men with God, and that of men among themselves. The gathering together of the Church is, as it were, God’s reaction to the chaos provoked by sin. This reunification is achieved secretly in the heart of all peoples: “In every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable” to God. ¹⁵⁶

The Church - instituted by Christ Jesus

Paragraph 766 The Church is born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. “The origin and growth of the Church are symbolized by the blood and water which flowed from the open side of the crucified Jesus.” ¹⁷¹ “For it was from the side of Christ as he slept the sleep of death upon the cross that there came forth the ‘wondrous sacrament of the whole Church.’”¹⁷² As Eve was formed from the sleeping Adam’s side, so the Church was born from the pierced heart of Christ hanging dead on the cross. ¹⁷³

The Church - revealed by the Holy Spirit

Paragraph 767 “When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church.” ¹⁷⁴ Then “the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the Gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun.”¹⁷⁵ As the “convocation” of all men for salvation, the Church in her very nature is missionary, sent by Christ to all the nations to make disciples of them. ¹⁷⁶

In Summary:

Paragraph 778 The Church is both the means and the goal of God’s plan: prefigured in creation, prepared for in the Old Covenant, founded by the words and actions of Jesus Christ, fulfilled by his redeeming cross and his Resurrection, the Church has been manifested as the mystery of salvation by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. She will be perfected in the glory of heaven as the assembly of all the redeemed of the earth (cf. Rev 14:4).

So the answer to the (trick) question, “When was the Catholic Church established?” is: in the Garden of Eden.  For with Adam and Eve’s sin and banishment from the garden, comes God the Father’s plan for us to one day return to union with Him and the Communion of Saints in heaven: the one holy catholic and apostolic church.

How many times can we receive the Eucharist?

Growing up I thought that Catholics could receive the Holy Eucharist a maximum of once a day.  Last week while listening to an call-in radio program on EWTN radio, I learned that is not true! After doing a bit of research, this is what I found:

As stated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1389, Catholics are obligated to receive the Eucharist AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR (if possible during the Easter Season) and are encouraged “to receive the Holy Eucharist on Sundays and feast days, or more often still, even daily.” 

Ok well, that takes care of the least number of times I should receive the Eucharist, but what about how many times I can receive the Eucharist? Twice (well, sort of.  It gets tricky… keep reading….)

One who has received the blessed Eucharist may receive it again on the same day only within a Eucharistic celebration in which that person participates, without prejudice to the provision of can. 921 §2.” (Canon Law # 917)

So- if we attend the mass (no popping in for a quick reception of Jesus… the dreaded “can I have fries with that?”-mode), and we are ready to receive it (see below), then we can receive the Eucharist.

From http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0295.html :

Never, in ordinary circumstances, do we isolate the reception of Holy Communion from the rest of the Mass. The Church grants the permission of receiving Holy Communion twice in one day to meet those situations of a person attending perhaps a wedding Mass and a funeral Mass on the same day, or attending the regular daily Mass and then some special Mass the same day; nevertheless, the stipulation is that the person attends the whole Mass in both instances. Unfortunately, I have known individuals who on a daily basis just “pop” into Mass (even Masses) at the right time to receive Holy Communion and then leave before Mass concludes; it is almost like they are getting their “Jesus fix” for the day rather than worshiping God and wholeheartedly receiving the Blessed Sacrament.”

AND

“If a Catholic has already received the Sacrament of Holy Communion during the day and he is facing the danger of death, during the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick (Last Rites), he can once more receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist on the same day. But, he cannot receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist twice on the same day through the administration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. ” 

Why would you want to receive the Holy Eucharist frequently?What does the Catechism say?

Paragraph 1394 ….the Eucharist strengthens our charity, which tends to be weakened in daily life; and this living charity wipes away venial sins .

Paragraph 1395 ….. the Eucharist preserves us from future mortal sins. The more we share the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to break away from him by mortal sin. 

Paragraph 1416 Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ increases the communicant’s union with the Lord, forgives his venial sins, and preserves him from grave sins. Since receiving this sacrament strengthens the bonds of charity between the communicant and Christ, it also reinforces the unity of the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ.

9 Effects of the Sacrament of Communion 

From  http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/holycom/comm_sac.htm: 

1. Sustenance of the Supernatural Life
2. Promise of Bodily Resurrection from the Dead
3. Remission of Venial Sins
4. Protection Against Future Sins
5. Curbs the Urges of Concupiscence (a.k.a. Original Sin)
6. Spiritual Joy
7. Perseverance in Grace
8. Growth in the Supernatural Life
9. Remission of Sin

Two basic forms of spiritual protection are taught by the Church. Holy Communion protects the recipient from the contagion of sin, like a “spiritual vaccine”.And it protects the soul from the assaults of temptation like a supernatural armor against the attacks of the world and the devil. ”

“Every worthy reception of Holy Communion deepens the life of God in our souls, draws us closer to the Holy Trinity and makes us more pleasing to the divine majesty. “

Am I ready to receive the Eucharist?

Simply put: Actions speak louder than words.  Make sure your body language matches with what your verbal language is saying. <

The Holy Eucharist is also referred to as Holy Communion because it brings us into Communion with the Body of Christ, the Church.  If we agree with everything the Catholic Church teaches, then we are in total union, or Comm-union, with the universal, Catholic Church. 

• The reception of the Eucharist is a physical sign, a physical action, that we make to show (and simultaneously solidify) our union with the Church.   If we are not in total agreement with what the church teaches, then we should not receive the Eucharist. (Of course, there are many times when we do not yet understand what the Catholic Church teaches.  This situation would elicit our concession to the fact that the Church is the foundation of Truth, prayers for greater understandings of these truths, and a prolific search for knowledge until the Truth is fully understood. God gave us an intellect because he wants us to use it!) 

• Reception of the Eucharist strengthens a union with the Church that has already been established through Baptism and the Sacrament of First Communion.  That is why our protestant brothers and sisters may not receive the Holy Eucharist; they are not in full communion with the Catholic Church until they formally declare their union through the Sacrament of First Communion. 

• If we have made physical signs with our actions that state that we are NOT in union with the Body of Christ (if we have sinned), then we “must first make a sacramental confession and receive absolution. If no legitimate opportunity exists for first going to confession, then a person may make an act of perfect contrition with the pledge to the Lord to go to Penance as soon as possible before receiving Holy Communion (Code of Canon Law, No. 916). ”  (from http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0295.html ) 

One last thing:

• < a person must fast from food and drink (except water or medicine) for one hour beforehand (Code of Canon Law, No. 919). However, the period of fast before receiving Holy Communion is reduced to “approximately one quarter of an hour” for those who are sick at home or at a hospital, those elderly confined to home or a nursing home, and those who care for these people and who are unable conveniently to observe the fast (”Immensae Caritatis,” 1973).

DON’T FORGET: Jesus is the WAY!

Don’t forget: Life can be hard, but Jesus, whose true presence IS the Eucharist,  is the WAY, the Truth and the Life. 

(from  http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/holycom/comm_sac.htm )
“For example, people often tell me, “I am trying to do God’s Will, but it is such a burden. I read the lives of the saints, and I can’t believe it; it must be spiritual fiction. I can’t live a life like that.” In turn, I ask, “How often do you go to Communion?”   ”Every week” “Start going at least twice a week or even every day if you can. Then come back and talk to me again.”There is one sure way a doctor recognizes the value of the medication he prescribes: he asks, “Does it do any good?” with the centuries of the Church’s experience, we can say: This works. This “prescription” –frequent reception of Holy Communion – truly works.

Fun, Faith Filled Facts #3: How many Catholic Churches are there?

The term “catholic”  means universal.  The profession of faith that we state after the Homily on Sundays during Mass states that, “We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.”

What most (Roman) Catholics don’t realize is that “one holy catholic” church is made up of 7 Rites (or types) of Catholic Churches:

7 Rites of the Catholic Church  listed in paragraph 1203 in the Catechism

-Latin Rite (aka Roman Catholic Church- probably what you are!)

-Byzantine

-Alexandrian or Coptic

-Syriac

-Armenian

-Maronite

-Chaldean

In “faithful obedience to tradition, the sacred Council declares that Holy Mother Church holds all lawfully recognized rites to be of equal right and dignity, and that she wishes to preserve them in the future and to foster them in every way.” 

ALL of the above Catholic Rites acknowledge the Pope (the Bishop of Rome) as the successor to St. Peter the Apostle and head of the one catholic church. Attendance to Mass on Sunday, of any of these 7 rites, fulfills the Sunday Obligation (and the 3rd Commandment: Keeping the Lord’s Day Holy).

Incidentally, there are now over 30,000 Protestant Christian denominations that resulted from breaking away from the first Christian church- established and instituted by Jesus Christ:  the Catholic Church. 

Statistically speaking- the USCCB (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops) states these facts about the Catholic Church in the United States:

The Catholic Church

A Snapshot

The Catholic Church in 2006 69.1 million Catholics (23% of the U.S. population)118,992 parishes2 (46 new parishes in 2005)342,271 priests / 5,252 brothers / 67,773 sisters 4 573 Catholic hospitals treated 84.7 million patients in 2005 5 6,511 elementary schools and 1,354 high schools, with over 2.5 million students enrolled6 231 Catholic colleges and universities with a total of 763,757 students 7

In 2005, 73,684 people were received into full communion with the Catholic Church!⁹(These are folks who converted from another Christian denomination). In addition in 2005, 80,817 adults and 943,264 infants were baptized.¹⁰ 
 

(more info and stats can be found at http://www.usccb.org/comm/cip.shtml#toc2)

CCC 36 “Our holy mother, the Church, holds and teaches that God, the first principle and last end of all things, can be known with certainty from the created world by the natural light of human reason.” Without this capacity, man would not be able to welcome God’s revelation. Man has this capacity because he is created “in the image of God”.

I. The Apostolic Tradition

75 “Christ the Lord, in whom the entire Revelation of the most high God is summed up, commanded the apostles to preach the Gospel, which had been promised beforehand by the prophets, and which he fulfilled in his own person and promulgated with his own lips. In preaching the Gospel, they were to communicate the gifts of God to all men. This Gospel was to be the source of all saving truth and moral discipline.”
Matthew 28:19-20 ; Mk 16:15 Read more

I will try to post, on a regular basis, some articles from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  I hope that this will encourage us all to rediscover this wonderful gift given to us by the Church.  Here’s the maiden post.   -Reynor

Article II “I Know Whom I Have Believed”
To believe in God alone

150. Faith is first of all a personal adherence of man to God. At the same time, and inseparably, it is a free assent to the whole truth that God has revealed. As personal adherence to God and assent to his truth, Christian faith differs from our faith in any human person. It is right and just to entrust oneself wholly to God and to believe absolutely what he says. It would be futile and false to place such faith in a creature. (Jer 17:5-6; Ps 40:5; Ps 146:3-4)

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