Controversial? (Part 1)

So the past number of posts have been a bit heavy (and there will be more of that type of stuff to come), so I thought I would lighten it up a bit by introducing a new series in the blog called 'Controversial?'. 

Basically, every now and then I will post something, either a video or an article, and just ask for your opinion: do you think this is controversial?  What do you think about what is being portrayed?  What would you have done/said differently if you could/wanted to? 

So for today's first posting of this series, it will be a Coca Cola commercial that, according to the youtube channel that it is on, was banned in various places from airing. 

So what do you think?  Do you like it?  Do you hate it?  Anything about it you would change? Whatever you think about this commercial, let's talk about it and get our opinions out there.

The Mass in Scripture (Part 5 (Finale))

(After everyone has been given the chance to receive the Body and Blood of Christ, the Priest and Deacon purify (a certain way of cleaning) what was used to hold the Body and Blood of Christ.)

Priest (quietly while purifying): What has passed our lips as food, O Lord, may we possess in purity of heart, that what has been given to us in time may be our healing for eternity.

[So turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with purity of heart. (2Timothy 2: 22)]

(The Priest and Deacon then sit down.  The congregation usually returns to a sitting position.  A silence often follows before the Priest stands up, beckoning everyone else to stand.)

Priest: Let us pray.  (The Priest then says a prayer.)

Congregation (after Priest's prayer): Amen.

(The Priest then says, if necessary, any announcements from the Church.)

Priest (after announcements): The Lord be with you.

Congregation: And with your spirit.

Priest (while he and everyone else does the Sign of the Cross): May almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Congregation: Amen.

Priest/Deacon: Go forth, the Mass is ended.

                                                                         or

Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.

                                                                        or

Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.

                                                                        or

Go in peace.

[But he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 7: 50)

The jailer reported the(se) words to Paul, "The magistrates have sent orders that you be released.  Now, then, come out and go in peace." (Acts 16: 36)

He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace." (Luke 8: 48)]

(The Priest, Deacon, Lector, and Alter servers then step off of the alter, bow towards it, and proceed out of the church.  This marks the conclusion of the Mass.)



That is the end of the Catholic Mass, and the end of this series.  I hope this was as enjoyable for you as it was for me.  As it turns out I ended up finishing this while on vacation in Poland (visiting my girlfriend since she lives here :) ).  So it was good to end this in a stress-free environment.

If you have any questions, problems, or comments about anything that I mention/bring up at anytime throughout this series, or about anything else that crosses your mind, then please let me know and I will do my best to address it.

The Mass and Scripture (Part 4)

Here is part 1, 2, and 3.

(The Priest, Deacon, and Alter servers prepare the table for the Eucharist.  While this is happening tithes, or monetary donations to the church, are given and collected.  Then the 'gifts', the bread and wine to  be used in the Celebration, are brought up by a couple of people from the Congregation to the Priest.  The rest of the alter is prepared, with various prayers being recited by the Priest.  Then when the preparation is complete, the Priest invites everyone to stand.)

Priest: Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.

[and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1Peter 2: 5)]

Congregation: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and the glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his holy church.

(The Priest says a prayer over the Offerings (bread and wine), to which the congregation replies, "Amen.")

(The Eucharistic Prayer begins after this point.  It is a prayer meant to praise and give glory to God through Jesus' actual body and blood.  Catholics believe that during a particular point of the Mass the bread and wine actually become the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.  Thus, this Eucharistic Prayer is meant to convey our praise to God through the Celebration of his bodily Presence.  It is also a time for us to participate with Christ in his Sacrifice for us, since, as was addressed in the first part of this series, the Mass and the Eucharist in particular are the sacrifice that Christ made for the sake of our salvation.  Thus, by God's grace, we are able to participate with Christ in his very sacrifice for us.)

Priest: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And with your Spirit.
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
Congregation: We lift them up to the Lord.
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
Congregation: It is right and just.

[...giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. (Ephesians 5: 20)

We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you... (Colossians 1: 3)

We give thanks to you, Lord God almighty, who are and who were. (Revelation 11: 17)

To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. (Proverbs 21: 3)]

Priest: It is  truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy, through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, your Word through whom you made all things...

[In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth. (John 1: 1, 14)]

Priest: ...whom you sent as Savior and Redeemer, incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin. 

[From this mans' descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. (Acts 13: 23)

For, in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you. (2Peter 1: 11)

...to Titus, my true child in our common faith: grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our savior.  (Titus 1: 3)]

Priest: Fulfilling your will and gaining for you a holy people he stretched out his hands as he endured his Passion, so as to break the bonds of death and manifest the resurrection.

[...but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel... (2Timothy 1: 10)]

...but we do see Jesus "crowned with glory and honor" because he suffered death, he who "for a little while" was made "lower than the angels," that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2: 9)

But now Christ has been raised from the dead... (1Corinthians 15: 20)]

Priest: And so with the Angels and all the Saints we declare your glory, as with one voice we acclaim:

[...that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15: 5)

And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord... (Acts 4: 24)]

All: Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.  Heaven and Earth are full of your glory.

[David answered him: "You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of hosts..." (1Samuel 17: 45)

Covered are the heavens with his glory, and with his praise the earth is filled. (Habakkuk 3: 3)

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!" they cried one to the other.  "All the earth is filled with his glory!" (Isaiah 6: 3)]

All: ...Hosanna in the Highest.  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the Highest.

"[Hosanna to the son of David; blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest." (Matthew 21: 9)

Those preceding him as well as those following kept crying out: "Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  Blessed is the kingdom of our father David that is to come!  Hosanna in the highest!" (Mark 11: 9-10)

...they took palm branches and went out to meet him, and cried out: "Hosanna!  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, (even) the king of Israel." (John 12: 13)]

Priest: You are indeed holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness.

[Therefore, O holy One, Lord of all holiness... (2Maccabees 14: 36)]

Priest: Make holy, therefore, these gifts [the bread and wine], we pray, by sending down your spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his Passion, he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, gave it to his disciples, saying: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND EAT OF IT, FOR THIS IS MY BODY, WHICH WILL BE GIVEN UP FOR YOU. (Priest holds up the bread.  It is at this point that the bread literally becomes the Body of Christ.  The Priest puts down the Eucharist and kneels.  He then stands back up)

[...that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me." (1Corinthians 11: 23-24)

Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me."  (Luke 22: 19)

While they were eating, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, and said, "Take it; this is my body." (Mark 14: 22)

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, "Take and eat; this is my body." (Matthew 26: 26)]

Priest: In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice and, once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying: TAKE THIS, ALL OF YOU, AND DRINK FROM IT, FOR THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE NEW AND ETERNAL COVENANT, WHICH WILL BE POURED OUT FOR YOU AND FOR MANY FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS.  DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME.  (Priest holds up the Chalice with the wine.  It is at this point that the wine literally becomes the Blood of Christ.  The priest puts down the Chalice and kneels.  He then stands back up)

[In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." (1Corinthians 11: 25)

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you." (Luke 22: 19)

Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it.  He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed for many." (Mark 14: 22)

Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins." (Matthew 26: 27-28)]

Priest: The mystery of faith.
Congregation: We proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.

[For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1Corinthians 11: 26)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of  Jesus Christ from the dead. (1Peter 1: 3)]

                                                or

Congregation: When we eat this Bread and drink this Cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, until you come again.

[For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. (1Corinthians 11: 26)]

                                                or

Congregation: Save us, Savior of the world, for by your Cross and Resurrection you have set us free.

[Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world. (1John 4: 14)

"We o longer believe because of your word; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the savior of the world." (John 4: 42)

For freedom Christ set us free; so stand firm and do not submit again to the yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5: 1)]

Priest: Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his Death and Resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the Bread of life and the Chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you.

["My sons, be not negligent any longer, for it is you whom the LORD has chosen to stand before him, to minister to him, to be his ministers and to offer incense." (2Chronicles 29: 11)

As though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks, or thousands of fat lambs, so let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly (Daniel 3: 40)]

Priest: Humbly we pray that, partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit.

[The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?  The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?  Because the loaf of bread is one, we, though many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf. (1Corinthians 10: 16-17)]

Priest: Remember, Lord, your Church, spread throughout the world, and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with ___________ our Pope and ____________ our Bishop and all the clergy.

Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy: welcome them into the light of your face.

[(We do not want you to be unaware, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose, so too will God, through Jesus, bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (1Thessalonians 4: 13)

Many say, "May we see better times!  LORD, show us the light of your face!"...In peace I shall both lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me secure. (Psalm 4: 7, 9)

It was your right hand, your own arm, the light of your face for you favored them. (Psalm 44: 4)]

Priest: Have mercy on us, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God...

["And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1: 43)]

Priest: ...with the blessed Apostles, and all the Saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be coheirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ.

[...that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through  the gospel. (Ephesians 3: 6)

And this is the promise he made us: eternal life. (1John 2: 25)]

(The Priest takes the Body and Blood and holds them up)

Priest: Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever.

Congregation: Amen.

[May he carry out in you what is pleasing  to him through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever (and ever).  Amen.  (Hebrews 13: 21)]

(The congregation stands up)

Priest: At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we dare to say:
All: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

["This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us from to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one." (Matthew 6: 9-13)]

Priest: Deliver us, Lord, we pray, from every evil, graciously grant peace in our days, that, by the help of your mercy, we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

[He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness.  By his wounds you have been healed. (1Peter 2: 24)

...as we await the blessed hope, the appearance of the glory of the great God and of our savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2: 12)]

Congregation: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and for ever.

[Your throne, O God, stands forever and ever... (Hebrews 1: 8)

Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these: He leads out their army and numbers them, calling them all by name.  By his great might and the strength of his power not one of them is missing! (Isaiah 40: 26)]

Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, who said to the Apostles: Peace I leave you, my peace I give to you;

[Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. (John 14: 27)]

Priest: Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will.  Who live and reign for ever and ever.

Congregation: Amen.

Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Congregation: And with your spirit.

Priest/Deacon: Let us over each other the sign of peace.

(All turn towards those around them and shake hands with one another, saying): Peace be with you.

[...Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." (John 20: 19)

Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you." (John 20: 26)]

Priest (quietly while breaking the Eucharist and putting a piece of it into the Chalice): May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it.

[Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day." (John 6: 53-54)]

(At the same time...)

Congregation: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.  Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.  Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.  (The congregation then kneels)

[The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)

Hear, O LORD, for you are a God of mercy; and have mercy on us, who have sinned against you... (Baruch 3: 2)

So now if you implore God for mercy on us... (Malachi 1: 9)]

Priest (says quietly): Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who, by the will of the Father and the work of the Holy Spirit, through your Death gave life to the world, free me by this, your most holy Body and Blood, from all my sins and from every evil; keep me always faithful to your commandments, and never let me be parted from you.

[Now someone approached him and said, "Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?"  He answered him, "Why do you ask me about the good?  There is only One who is good.  If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." (Matthew 19: 16)]

                                                                         or

May the receiving of your Body and Blood, Lord Jesus Christ, not bring me to judgment and condemnation, but through your loving mercy be for me protection in mind and body and a healing remedy.

[A wicked messenger brings on disaster, but a trustworthy envoy is a healing remedy. (Proverbs 13: 16)]

(The priest kneels down briefly, and then raises the Body and Blood of Jesus and says aloud:) Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.  Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.

[Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb." Revelation 19: 9)]

Congregation: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

[He [Jesus] said to him, "I will come and cure him [your servant]."  The centurion said in reply, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof; only say the word and my servant will be healed." (Matthew 8: 7-8)

And Jesus went with them, but when he was only a short distance from the house, the centurion sent friends to tell him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you enter under my roof.  Therefore, I did not consider myself worthy to come to you; but say the word and let my servant be healed. (Luke 7: 6-7)]

Priest (says quietly): May the Body of Christ keep me safe for eternal life.  (He then eats the Body of Christ.  Then he says quietly) May the Blood of Christ keep me safe for eternal life. (He then drinks the Blood of Christ.  Afterwards, the Priest as well as others (the Deacon and/or Eucharistic Ministers) receive the Body and Blood of Christ, and then receive a portion of it to help distribute to the rest of the congregation.  It is at this point that everyone in the congregation, who so chooses to, receives the Body and/or Blood of Jesus Christ.)

The Mass and Scripture (Part 3)

Here is part 1 and here is part 2.



(The next part of Mass is the reading of Scripture.  This is done at every Mass because of the importance of coming to know the Scriptures, as it is considered to be the Word of God)

[These Jews were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all willingness and examined the scriptures daily to determine whether these things were so.  (Acts 17:11)

(The Lector stands up and approaches the podium.  He/She reads the scripture readings for the day (every Catholic church in the world follows the same scripture readings every day).  The Lector begins with the First Reading, a passage from Holy Scripture normally taken from the Old Testament.)

Lector (after First Reading is complete): The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.

[So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house.  (Acts 16: 32)

But thanks be to God... (Romans 6: 25, Romans 7: 25, 1Corinthians 15: 57, 2Corinthians 2: 14, 2Corinthians 8: 16)

Thanks be to God... (2Corinthians 9: 15)]

(Either the Lector or a choir singer says/sings the Psalm Reading, a passage from the Holy Scripture normally taken from the Book of Psalms.)

(The Lector then begins to read the Second Reading, a passage from the Holy Scripture normally taken from a non-Gospel New Testament book.)

Lector (after Second Reading is complete): The Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God.

(All stand as the Gospel Acclamation, also known as the Alleluia verse, is sung/stated.  The congregation repeats the word Alleluia (interchangeable with Hallelujah in meaning), which means to praise the Lord (go here to learn more).  This is followed by a one-line Scripture verse, which is then followed by a repetition of the Alleluia.  During this time, the Priest or Deacon prepare to read the Gospel Reading, which is always taken from one of the four Gospels of the New Testament).

Priest/Deacon: The Lord be with you.
Congregation: And with your spirit.
Priest/Deacon: A reading from the Holy Gospel according to (name of Gospel here)
Congregation: Glory to you o Lord (everyone makes the sign of the cross on their forehead, lips, and heart)

[Worthy are you, Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power... (Revelation 4: 11)]

Priest/Deacon (after Gospel Reading is complete): The Gospel of the Lord.
Congregation: Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ. (all but the Priest/Deacon sit)

["Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him." (Romans 15: 11)]

(After everyone sits the Priest (or once in a while the Deacon) goes up to the podium and gives a Homily, a speech that applies the readings of the day, and in particular the Gospel Reading, to our daily lives, teaching us how to grow in holiness and faith from what we have heard during this particular Mass)

[All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2Timothy 3: 16-17)]

(After the Homily is complete the Priest/Deacon sit and a moment of silence follows, for the Homily to 'sink in' to the congregation.  Then the Priest stands, and everyone else stands with him)

(The Nicene Creed is then stated by everybody participating in the Mass.  The Nicene Creed was established at the Council of Nicea in the early centuries of the Church.  It is a profession of faith that Catholics make, acknowledging what we believe.  Here it is in its entirety)

All: I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God,
Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
(everyone bows head) and by the Holy Spirit, was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the scriptures.
He ascended into Heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and the kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

[I believe in one God...invisible:

And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, "Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them... (Acts 4: 24)

For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible... (Colossians 1: 16)

I believe in one Lord...all ages:

In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: "You are my son; this day I have begotten you" (Hebrews 5:5)

Everyone who believes that Jesus Christ is begotten by God, and everyone who loves the father loves (also) the one begotten by him. (1John 5: 1)

God from God...consubstantial with the Father: (consubstantial means 'of the same substance'; theological term meaning the Father and the Son are the very same being (i.e. God) even though they are different 'persons')

God replied, "I am who am."  Then he added, "This is what you shall tell the Israelites: I AM sent me to you." (Exodus 3: 14)

So Jesus said (to them), "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I AM, and that I do nothing on my own, but I say only what the Father has taught me. (John 8: 28)

They answered him, "Jesus the Nazorean."  he said to them, "I AM." (John 18: 5)

Jesus answered, "I told you that I AM.  So if you are looking for me, let these men go." (John 18: 8)

For us men...heaven:

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me...For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him (on the last day."  (John 6: 37-38, 40)

and by...became man:

Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary.  Of her was born Jesus who is called the Messiah. (Matthew 1: 16)

Now this is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.  When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. (Matthew 1: 18)

"Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."  But Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?"  And the angel said to her in reply, "The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you."  (Luke 1: 31-35)

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate:

For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. (2Corinthians 5: 21)

For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. (1Peter 3: 18)

[Governor Pontius] Pilate said to [the crowd], "Then what shall I do with Jesus called Messiah?"  They all said, "Let him be crucified!"  But he said, "Why?  What evil has he done?"  They only shouted the louder, "Let him be crucified!"  When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood.  Look to it yourselves."...After he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.  (Matthew 27: 22-24, 26)

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barabbas to them and, after he had Jesus scourged, handed him over to be crucified. (Mark 15: 15)

With loud shouts, however, they persisted in calling for his crucifixion, and their voices prevailed.  The verdict of Pilate was that their demand should be granted. (Luke 23: 23-24)

They cried out, "Take him away, take him away!  Crucify him!"  Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your king?"  The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."  Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.  (John 19: 15-16)

He suffered death:

But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit. (Matthew 27: 50)

 Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last. (Mark 15: 37)

Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father, into your hand I commend my spirit"; and when he had said this he breathed his last. (Luke 23: 46)

When Jesus had taken the wine, he said, "It is finished."  And bowing his head, he handed over the spirit.  (John 19: 30)

and was buried:

He [Joseph of Arimathea] went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be handed over.  Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it (in) clean linen and laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock.  Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomb and departed. (Matthew 27: 58-60)

Joseph of Arimathea...came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  Pilate was amazed that he was already dead.  He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had already died.  And when he learned of it from the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.  Having bought a linen cloth, he took him down, wrapped him in the linen cloth and laid him in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock.  Then he rolled a stone against the entrance to the tomb.  (Mark 15: 43-46)

He [Joseph of Arimathea] went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.  After he had taken the body down, he wrapped it in a linen cloth and laid him in a rock-hewn tomb in which no one had yet been buried. (Luke 23: 52-53)

Now in the place where he had been crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had yet been buried. So they laid Jesus there because of the Jewish preparation day; for the tomb was close by. (John 19: 41-42)

and rose again...Scriptures:

Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid!  I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified.  He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said." (Matthew 28: 5-6)

Very early when the sun had risen, on  the first day of the week, they [Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome] came to the tomb....On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed.  He said to them, "Do not be amazed!  You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified.  He has been raised; he is not here." (Mark 16: 2,5-6)

"He is not here, but has been raised.  Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day." (Luke 24: 6-7)

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.  For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead. (John 20: 8-9)

For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures; that he was buried; that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.  (1Corinthians 15: 3-4)

He ascended...of the Father:

The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.  (Ephesians 4: 10)

Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.  But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20: 17)

As he blessed them he parted from them and was taken up to heaven.  (Luke 24: 51)

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16: 19)

He will...dead:

He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. (Acts 10: 42)

...but they will give an account to him who stands ready to judge the living and the dead. (1Peter 4: 5)

They said, "Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky?  This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.  (Acts 1: 11)

And his kingdom will have no end:

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end. (Luke 1: 33)

I believe in the Holy Spirit...proceeds from the Father and the Son:

When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth that proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. (John 15: 26)

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. (2Corinthians 3: 17)

who with...prophets:

"Well did the holy Spirit speak to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah..." (Acts 28: 25)

...which was not made known to human beings in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit... (Ephesians 3: 5)

for no prophecy ever came through human will; but rather human beings moved by the holy Spirit spoke under the influence of God. (2Peter 1: 21)

I believe in one, holy, catholic [universal], and apostolic [passed on from the apostles] Church:

there will be one flock, one shepherd. (John 10: 16)

...that he might present t himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5: 27)

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4: 1-6)

He [Jesus] is the head of the body, the church.  He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. (Colossians 1: 18)

So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the holy ones and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the capstone. (Ephesians 2: 19-20)

I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins:

Paul then said, "John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus." (Acts 19: 4)

...one Lord, one faith, one baptism... (Ephesians 4: 5)

John (the) Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. (Mark 1: 4)

He went throughout the whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins... (Luke 3: 3)

I look forward...Amen:

(I) am on trial for hope in the resurrection of the dead." (Acts 23: 6)

For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead came also through a human being.  For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall all be brought to life... (1Corinthians 15: 21-22)]

(What follows from the Nicene Creed is the Prayer of the Faithful.  The Lector walks up to the podium and reads a list of intentions for the Congregation to pray for in their hearts.)

Lector [at the end of each intention]: We pray to the Lord.
Congregation: Lord, here our prayer.


(The Priest then says a Collect Prayer, to which the Congregation replies, "Amen."  Then the Congregation sits.)



This was very helpful in discovering more of the Nicene Creed in Scripture.  Check it out.  Even more to come later ;)

The Mass in Scripture (Part 2)

Here is part 1 to the series.

From here on out, we will be going line by line through the Mass.  I will add some explanations to some things, but mainly I will be providing Scripture for what can be found within the Mass.  I hope and pray that this is enlightening at the very least.

Scripture will be in brackets.  Wording in the Mass will be non bracketed and bolded.



(Alter servers, Lector, Deacon, and Priest enter and proceed toward the Alter.  Congregation stands. Those proceeding forward bow, then the Priest and the Deacon go up toward the alter and face the congregation.  The Lector and Alter Servers stand on the sides of the alter)

Priest: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.

["Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit." (Matthew 28: 19)]

Priest: The Lord be with you.

                                             or

            Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

                                             or

            The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Congregation: And with your spirit.


[The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. (1 Corinthians 16: 23, Romans 16: 20)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."(1Thessalonians 5: 28)

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the holy Spirit be with all of you. (2Corinthians 13: 13)

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1: 7, 1Corinthians 1: 3, 2Corinthians 1: 2, Galatians 1: 3, Ephesians 1: 2, Philippians 1: 2, 2 Thessalonians 1: 2, Philemon 1: 3)

Grace to you and peace to God our Father.  (Colossians 1: 2)

Grace to you and peace.  (1Thessalonians 1: 1)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers.  Amen brothers.  Amen.  (Galatians 6: 18)

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  (Philippians 4: 23, Philemon 1: 25)

The Lord be with your spirit.  (2 Timothy 4: 22)]

Priest: Brothers and Sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, that we may prepare ourselves to celebrate this sacred mystery.

[If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.  (1John 1: 9)

(The following is the Penitential Act, a petition to God and to those in our community to forgive us our sins; here it is in its entirety)

All:  I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and what I have failed to do, (strikes the breast) through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask the Blessed Mary, ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

[ I confess...most grievous fault:

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful.  (James 5: 16)

If a man (or a woman) commits a fault against his fellow man and wrongs him, thus breaking faith with the Lord, he shall confess the wrong he has done, restore his ill-gotten goods in full, and in addition give one fifth of their value to the one he has wronged.  (Numbers 5: 6-7)

Therefore...Lord our God:

At the same time, pray for us, too... (Colossians 4: 2)

Brothers, pray for us (too).  (1Thessalonians 5: 25)

Finally, brothers, pray for us, so that the word of the Lord may speed forward and be glorified, as it did among you... (2Thessalonians 3: 1)

Pray for us, for we are confident that we have a clear conscience, wishing to act rightly in every respect (Hebrews 13: 18)]

                                                                         or

Priest: Have mercy on us o Lord.
Congregation: For we have sinned against you.
Priest: Show us o Lord your mercy.
Congregation:  And grant us your salvation.

[I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you."  (Luke 15: 18)

They cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation comes from our God, who is seated on the throne, and from the Lamb."  (Revelation 7: 10)

Just as you once disobeyed God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so they have now disobeyed in order that, by virtue of the mercy shown to you, they too may (now) receive mercy. (Romans 11: 30-31)]

Priest:  May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us into everlasting life.
Congregation: Amen.
Priest: Lord have mercy.
Congregation: Lord have mercy.
Priest:  Christ have mercy.
Congregation: Christ have mercy.
Priest: Lord have mercy.
Congregation:  Lord have mercy.

                                                                        or

Priest:  You were sent to heal the contrite: Lord, have mercy.
Congregation: Lord have mercy.

[By his wounds you have bee healed. (1Peter 2: 24)]

Priest:  You came to call sinners: Christ, have mercy.
Congregation: Christ have mercy.

["I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Matthew 9: 13)

Jesus heard this and said to them (that), "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do.  I did not come to call the righteous but sinners." (Mark 2: 17)

"I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners." (Luke 5: 32)]

Priest: You plead for us at the right hand of the Father: Lord, have mercy.
Congregation: Lord have mercy.

[Who will condemn?  It is Christ (Jesus) who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us.  (Romans 8: 34)]

Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us into everlasting life.
Congregation: Amen.

All: (The Gloria is now said or sung, where we glorify God; here it is in its entirety)
Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace to people of good will.  We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, Lord God, Heavenly King, O God, almighty Father.  Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.  For you alone are the holy one, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the most high, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

[Glory to God...good will:

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. (Luke 2: 14)

We praise you:

Through him (then) let us continually offer God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. (Hebrews 13: 15)

We bless you:

God who is over all be blessed forever.  Amen. (Romans 9: 5)

With it [the tongue] we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who are made in the likeness of God. (James 3: 9)

We adore you, We glorify you:

...that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15: 6)

Therefore, glorify God in your body.  (1Corinthians 6: 20)

...that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you... (2Thessalonians 1: 12)

We give you thanks...almighty Father:

...giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. (Ephesians 5: 20)

And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3: 17)

We give thanks to you, Lord God almighty, who are and who were. (Revelation 11: 17)

Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son:

In the same way, it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the one who said to him: "You are my son; this day I have begotten you..." (Hebrews 5: 5)

Lord God, Lamb of God...right hand of the Father, have mercy on us:

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world." (John 1: 29)

...and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God." (John 1: 36)

So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. (Mark 16: 19)

But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God. (Luke 22: 69)

God exalted him [Jesus] at his right hand... (Acts 5: 31)

But he, filled with the holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God... (Acts 7: 55)

And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (Acts 7: 56)

If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. (Colossians 3: 1)

But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God... (Hebrews 10: 12)

...through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to him. (1Peter 3: 21)

For you alone are the Holy One:

"I know who you are--the Holy One of God!" (Mark 1: 24, Luke 4: 34)

"We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6: 69)

You alone are the Lord...Amen.]

Priest: Let us pray... (The Priest says a prayer meant to lead everyone into the rest of the Mass Celebration)  ...We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Congregation: Amen

(All sit)



This concludes part 2.  More to come ;)

The Mass in Scripture (Part 1)

I decided to do a several-part series involving the Catholic Mass.  This is for several reasons:  1) I want Catholics to learn more about the Mass, especially those Catholics that may very well be 'going through the motions'.  2) I want those who are not Catholic to learn more about the Mass and how rich in the Scriptures it is.  And 3) for myself.  A bit selfish admittedly, but I myself know that I have a lot more to learn about God and my own faith then I realize, and this is a pretty awesome way to do it.

So without any further wait, here we go!

...But first a bit of a preface.  We need to, after all, define what we mean by the Mass, and while we are at it, we might as well see where the Mass is found in the Holy Scriptures. ;)

So what is the Catholic Mass?  Well, the Mass, also referred to as the Eucharistic Celebration, is a sacrifice; but not just any sacrifice, but THE sacrifice, the very sacrifice that Jesus made for the human race.  (How so?  Read on to find out ;) ).  It is also considered by Catholics to be in and of itself the most perfect prayer on Earth.

To understand this more fully, let us turn to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: "The command of Jesus [at the Last Supper] to repeat his actions and words 'until he comes' does not only ask us to remember Jesus and what he did.  It is directed at the liturgical celebration, by the apostles and their successors, of the memorial of Christ, of his life, of his death, of his Resurrection, and of his intercession in the presence of the Father...

...From that time on down to our own day the celebration of the Eucharist has been continued so that today we encounter it everywhere in the Church with the same fundamental structure.  It remains the center of the Church's life.  Thus from celebration to celebration, as they proclaim the Paschal mystery of Jesus 'until he comes,' the pilgrim People of God advances, 'following the narrow way of the cross,' toward the heavenly banquet, when all the elect will be seated at the table of the kingdom."  (CCC 1341, 1343, 1344)

So what does all of this stuff mean?  It means that the Catholic Church views the Mass as having originated from Jesus himself, having continued down through the ages, is a celebration of the memorial of Christ (the whole life of Christ as it was, is, and will be), is the center of the Church, leads people toward salvation, and will continue until Jesus comes (i.e. until the end of time).

How is this all truly possible?  Well to answer this, we must ultimately turn to the Scriptures.  And the best place to start is the very place that was brought up by the Catechism: The Last Supper, the night before Jesus was crucified and died.

"When the day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread arrived, the day for sacrificing the Passover lamb, he sent out Peter and John, instructing them, 'Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover'....Then they went off and found everything exactly as he had told them, and there they prepared the Passover.  When the hour came, he took his place at table with the apostles.  He said to them, 'I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God....' Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, 'This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.'  And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.'" (Luke 22: 7-20).

Here we see something truly unique.  The night before his suffering and death, Jesus sits at table with his apostles (this is clearly more then just any regular meal).  He describes how he has been wanting to have this Passover meal with them before his suffering.  Then he takes the bread and says the words that are said at Mass every day, "This is my body, which will be given for you," and similarly, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you."  Based on what Jesus says, it seems that the bread and wine are united to the suffering and death that he will experience on Good Friday ('my body...given up', 'my blood...shed for you').  He takes the bread and wine and presents them to his apostles as his body and blood 'which will be given for you', thus showing that, like the death on the cross that he will experience the next day, he is currently, at this Passover meal, making a very real sacrifice.   the connection between the Last Supper and Jesus' death we would similarly not say that they are two different sacrifices, but one in the same sacrifice.

What should be looked at as well is Jesus' words to his apostles, "Do this in memory of me."  Jesus commands them to do what Jesus is doing in his memory.  THAT is what Catholics do, we DO, purely by the grace and power of God, what Jesus did so long ago.  Thus, that is what the Mass is, the very same Last Supper that Jesus had with his apostles.  The Mass is Jesus' command and desire come to life.

The Last Supper is shown in the other Gospels (Mark 14: 17-24, Matthew 26: 26-28).  However, St. Paul also addresses the words of Jesus, stating to the Corinthians, "For I received from the Lord what I also hand on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, 'This is my body that is for you.  Do this in remembrance of me'" (I Corinthians 11: 23-24).

There are even numerous passages in the Old Testament that give prophecy to the Mass.  For instance, in the book of Malachi we see God say to the Levite Priests, "I have no pleasure in you, says the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept any sacrifice from your hands, for from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, my name is great among the nations; and everywhere they bring sacrifice to my name, and a pure offering; For great is my name among the nations, says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 1: 10-11).  Indeed, as Catholic Encyclopedia explains, God brings up how a 'sacrifice' will be made by everyone in all nations, even amongst the Gentiles (non-Jewish people).  Such a sacrifice is clearly not going to be done during Malachi's time, greatly implying a future time in which a 'sacrifice' will be made 'everywhere,' a 'pure offering.'

There are more scriptural references to the Mass, but this serves as a good start in showing the basis for the most holy Eucharistic Celebration. 

I hope that the next few posts will help you to learn even more about the Catholic Mass and I pray that it can in some way bring you that much closer to God.

I give my thanks in advance to Logos Bible Software which has made it significantly easier to find and use the Bible, and to a succinct play-by-play of the Mass here.

 

Sexuality, Feminism, and Catholicism

I figured there was no title that could be more interesting than this one, so I will also go for a similarly interesting start to this post: if you are Catholic then you must, by definition, be a Feminist. 

There, now that I have gotten that out of the way I can explain what I mean.

Even if we go with a basic/crappy definition of Feminism we ultimately see this to be true.  To be a feminist is to be a defender and a champion for the rights and equality of all people and, thus, to oppose any and all discrimination and oppression of women, for such oppression and discrimination is in and of themselves a show of inequality and of basic rights being taken away.  In fact, I would say that to be a feminist is ultimately to love your neighbor as yourself, for if you do then you will inherently desire to treat your neighbor, male and female, with the same rights as everyone else and with the same love as everyone else. 

That is why to be Catholic, or any Christian for that matter, is to never abandon this notion of feminism, for they are both rooted in the calling we all have to love our neighbor as ourselves. 

I would be surprised if most people reading this blog would disagree with this.  Surely we must defend women from unjust discrimination.  Surely they must be treated and paid the same as men in the workplace.  Surely they must be able to vote.  Surely they must be able to choose for themselves what religion they want.

The real question, then, is what does true feminism look like on a practical level?  Is it truly just supporting things like the right to vote, or is there something more?

With these questions in mind, I would like to bring something up with you all. 

My girlfriend, Maria,  posted on her facebook a link to this blog post.  Maria described the blog post as being very sad and upsetting, so I took a look at it.  I encourage you to take a few minutes to read the link above before continuing on with what I have to say.

If you have done so, then you will see how sad it is.  This woman, a self described radical feminist, believes that intercourse (what she calls PIV (penis in vagina)) is inherently wrong because it has been and is used by men as a way to oppress women. 

Now there are a couple of ways to look at a post like this.  Initially I was very disturbed with the intellectual argumentation that the author uses to justify her position (...it isn't good).

But as I read on I looked at it a different way.  I thought to myself what horrible things this author has probably gone through in her life to lead her to such a belief, what terrible abuse she has probably taken by men throughout her life, how much she has suffered in a still sexist world.  Indeed, my suspicions were true, as I read in some of her previous blog posts that she has been abused in many ways by many different men in her life.  She has been so deeply disturbed and affected by the sexism that still exists in this world that she feels and truly believes that the only way to get away from this is to abandon men entirely and to refrain from conjugal love, because it is difficult if not impossible for her to see it as love at all.

Indeed, Christians (hopefully) recognize how amazing sex is under the right circumstances.  God did not tell us to 'be fruitful and multiply' (Gen 1: 28) as a punishment; it was a command.  Conjugal love, the act of intercourse between a husband and wife, 'involves a totality in which all the elements of the person enter--appeal of the body and instinct, power of feeling and affectivity, aspiration of the spirit and of will.  It aims at a deeply personal unity, a unity that, beyond union in one flesh, leads to forming one heart and soul' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1643).  The husband and wife in the Sacrament of Marriage and, by extension, the act of intercourse give themselves entirely to the other, self sacrificing themselves.  The act of intercourse is that physical act of complete bodily self-giving to your spouse, issuing a union of the bodies which stops being 'bodies' and starts being 'body', but not just one flesh, for such a union is the physical representation of the spiritual union the husband and wife undergo when they say 'I do' before God, their community, and each other. 

But sexism distracts so many people, particularly women, from seeing this truth.  In fact, sexism plays its part in the act of sex itself in numerous ways.  Doesn't pornography serve as a degradation of the act of sex as well as the men and, especially, women involved in it?  Don't men who have pre-marital sex 'often' receive less shame then women in the same circumstances?  Isn't the loss of virginity oftentimes treated with greater importance for women then for men?  Aren't women who wear skimpy or immodest clothing oftentimes blamed for the sexual abuse that may befall them as a result of their clothing? 

The unfortunate answer to all of the above questions is yes.  I know because I myself have, at one time or another, done or assumed these sexist acts or thoughts, sometimes even without my realizing it; and many men that I know have acted or continue to act on these thoughts as well.  In fact, even women are sometimes sexist against their own gender. 

So what is the answer then?  How can the woman stated above, and other women who have been hurt or abused (physically, mentally, emotionally, verbally, or spiritually), and so many others who have experienced sexism, especially in the act of sex itself in one way or another, recognize the gift of total self giving that is conjugal love in all its God-given glory?

The answer, it seems to me anyway, is in the very definition Catholicism and of Feminism: to love your neighbor as yourself.  If you truly care about a person, if you truly desire for them to become better people and holier people, if you truly remember how much God wants them to know Him, then you will desire to show them that you do, not through oppression or disdain, but through Love.  This is not to suggest that you cannot or should not speak the truth; you should always speak the truth, even if it is uncomfortable for some to listen to.  It may very well be uncomfortable for people to hear that you should, for instance, have sex only in marriage, for they may be having sex with their boyfriend/girlfriend and what you say will to them be a sort of attack because you are attacking their beliefs and actions.  But you can still do so in love and charity.  And it is through this that God can and will act in their heart as well as ours.

If you are Christian, then please pray for the woman who wrote that blog post, please pray for all women who are used and abused, who experience discrimination in their daily lives.  And pray that you and I have the courage to stand up against that discrimination and love that woman as we love ourselves.

Happy New Year!!

So I figured, you know, being the new year and all that it would be a good time to reflect on at least a couple of the good and bad things that have occurred during the year 2013.  Of course I am only aware of a small fraction of them, and it will be even more limited by my less-than-stellar memory.  But let's give it a go:

The Bad

1.  One of the bigger problems that arose this year was the continuing decline of the acceptance of the nature of Holy Matrimony via the legalization of same-sex marriage throughout the United States.  What is particularly alarming, however, is the rate at which states are doing so.  From 2003 to 2012, 10 states passed bills or legislations that led to the acceptance of lawful marriages between same sex couples.  However, in 2013 alone, 8 states achieved the same end.  In other words, same sex marriage legalization has almost doubled in 1 year what occurred in the 9 years before that (to be more accurate, the first state to legalize in 2013 did so in May; so it almost doubled in 8 months).

Those states that legalized same sex marriage this year include Rhode Island, New Jersey, Utah, Hawaii, New Mexico, Delaware, Illinois, and Minnesota. 

2.  The HHS Mandate, which requires organizations to provide insurance coverage for contraceptives, has also been continuously forced on companies and even religious institutions.  Many businesses and organizations, particularly, but not only, for-profit agencies, that are morally and religiously against such practices may be forced to support somebody's use of said coverage if the U.S. Supreme Court rules that it is constitutional for the Obama administration to impose such policies.  And a number of those that have filed for a lawsuit were shot down by various court systems in receiving a temporary injunction from the mandate.

3.  The general attack that many people have launched against those who express their religious views publicly has continued to be an impediment to our calling to evangelize.  People are afraid to talk about God at work and even in public places in general because of the fear of being punished or penalized for it.  The issue concerning Phil Robertson from Duck Dynasty is just the latest and most popular example of such attacks.  The 'War on Christmas' is still very much alive.  Even the HHS Mandate is a kind of example of such an attack, since it forces religious organizations to abandon certain religious practices by financially supporting something that they are morally against. 

These are things that need to be addressed and dealt with during this new year.  Recent history has shown that it will only get worse if we don't. 

The Good

1.  Despite serious concerns still existing over the HHS mandate, it is important to note the gains that have been acquired since its start.  For one, the ridiculously narrow religious exemption has been expanded, and the new definition was finalized in June.  There are still many problems with it, but it now, at least, includes a broader religious exemption for more Catholic and Protestant organizations to work with then they originally had.

It is also important to note the amount of legal victories that have occurred.  Numerous companies and institutions this year alone have succeeded in getting temporary injunctions from the HHS Mandate.  Most recently, The Little Sisters of the Poor in Colorado was granted their injunction by the Supreme Court the night before the new year, which was the day after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals originally denied their injunction.  You can go here to get an up-to-date review of the legal proceedings of those who filed lawsuits against the HHS Mandate. 

The success of the current cases may very well be a sign of things to come.

2.  There have been several bioethical gains within the United States throughout the year as well.  Almost all states introduced pro-life bills and many others received success in passing said bills.  What is particularly awesome is that many of these bills are geared toward protecting the unborn AND the mothers.

Euthanasia has also been defended valiantly in legal settings.  Vermont, unfortunately, legalized Physician Aid in Dying (the act of the physician giving the patient deadly substances so that the patient can choose to self-administer the substances).  However, several states have turned down motions to legalize PAD and Euthanasia.  Attempts to legalize them also remain relatively low. 

And much to the surprise of some, Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research (HESCR) has taken a popularity drop.  This appears to be the result of the lack of effectiveness in HESCR then was originally predicted and hoped for, combined with the growing success of research done within human adult stem cells.  It is still very much supported by many, but it is certainly not advocated for nearly as much as it used to be. 



Those are just some of the cool things that happened this year.  I did have one other, though, to add to the 'good' list, but I cannot seem to remember it (I told you before I have a terrible memory).  I thought of it before, but I seem to have lost track of what it could be...

 

 

Nope, I am just totally drawing a blank here.  It's really sad when I can't remember something from five minutes ago.

 

 

Wait, Wait, Wait...I think it's coming back to me...

 

 



 

 

 

...Nope, I lost it.  I'll let you know if it comes back to me.

 

 

 

So as you can see we have all been through quite a year.  A lot has transpired.  But a lot more will transpire in the year to come.  I pray that the events that have arisen this past year cause us to reflect and hold steadfast to the will of God.  I pray that we learn from our mistakes and correct our wrongs.  I pray that we remember what we have done right by the Grace of God and that we pass these on to current and future generations.  And most of all, I pray that we do all of this in faith, hope, and charity.

 

Have a happy and blessed new year, everybody.