On Earth as It is in Heaven
Issue 11 - March 22 2016
To Defend & Proclaim the Word of Christ and the Catholic Church
Repent And Convert! Consumer Christianity Cannot Save You!
EDITORIAL
Amnesty International and the United Nations lose their mandate to speak for the rights of people when they cannot even defend the unborn Confession in the Catholic Church is one of the most beautiful ways that Christ has taught us on how to reconcile with God when we have sinned [Ref 1]. Reviewing the Catechism on the Sacrament of Confession [Ref 2] brings alive the incredible nature of God’s mercy, love and forgiveness offered to us in spite of the sins we commit. How God can forgive so compassionately and the full depth of His mercy is such a mystery for us though St. Paul tries to quantify this for us in his beautiful letter [Ref 3]. Yet in truth we still cannot fully comprehend this God’s capacity to forgive. Christ, the apostles and saints, by word and deed, though have given us tangible proof of God’s mercy. The Catholic church, Christ’s bride, has been charged by Christ with the mission of proclaiming and teaching the Word of God and for 2,000 years has thus fought against the forces of evil and continues to do today. As before the challenges the Church faces are in many ways similar to the heresies of the past such as Arianism [Ref 4] and the protestant revolt led by Martin Luther [Ref 5] though more intense and wider in scale. Watering down of Church teachings, heterodoxy [Ref 6], is one of the main battles the Church is engaged in this spiritual warfare with no less deadly consequences than in the past. The very salvation of souls is at stake in danger of being lead astray by not only a militant secular anti-church agenda but also by destabilizing forces within the `Church. One of these internal battles centers on the re-interpretation of sacred scripture, which has more to do with intellectual gymnastics than a passionate desire to proclaim the truly authentic and beautiful teachings of the Catholic Church. We all sin. Turning to God and flippantly saying ‘I flunked’, can now be heard in homilies indicating that this is all that is necessary to gain God’s forgiveness. If this admission of ‘flunking it’ contains the meaning beautifully described in the Church teachings, then yes, for sure we can hope and believe we receive God’s forgiveness. But if we treat this admission as something light not requiring true contrition then we are in danger of being led astray and thinking we will be saved. And what of atonement? Where is the sense for the need of true contrition before God that surely must accompany the admission of having ‘flunked it’? Yes it is certainly very appealing to think that all that is required is to admit I made a mistake, but do we really think this is adequate? God knows our hearts. Our shepherds the priests are there to help us gain salvation and to teach us how to have genuine contrition for our sins. God will know if we are truly sorry. Do we wish to risk our salvation with acts of contrition, which are ‘frothy’ and lacking in true sincerity? If you are in doubt about homilies or teachings regarding confession of sins before God, please take time to read the Church teachings [Ref 2], 15-20 minutes spent reading these wonderful words of wisdom can save you from error and putting your eternal salvation at risk. The beauty and life-giving sacrament of confession as made available by the Catholic Church truly liberates us from the bonds of sin because it so completely restores us to reconciliation with God. Our baptismal graces and all graces received since baptism, diminished through sins we commit, are replenished. This act of contrition is more than just a private confession
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to God as often described in the protestant faith but it also can be a confession offered within our community to our brothers and sisters within the family of the Catholic Church and thus brings graces not only to the confessor but also to the Church. It is both a private and a public act of humility before God from our part, which restores our spiritual lives and enriches our Christian community within the Church. Confession then is an occasion for great joy for we know we are welcomed back to salvation, to the eternal inheritance God has stored for us and we give witness to the role Christ made for the Church which can help encourage and enlighten the lives of our fellow Christians. [Ref 1] Matt. 18, 2 Cor. 5:18, 2 Cor. 5:20 Christ told the apostles to follow his example: “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you” (John 20:21). Just as the apostles were to carry Christ’s message to the whole world, so they were to carry his forgiveness: “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 18:18). [Ref 2] THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE AND RECONCILIATION This power was understood as coming from God: “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18). Indeed, confirms Paul, “So we are ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). [Ref 3] Romans 8:38 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Ref 4] Arianism [Ref 5] Counter-Reformation [Ref 6] Heterodoxy - Dayly Knightly
Know Your Faith
Repent And Convert! Consumer Christianity Cannot Save You! By, Msgr. Charles Pope
Too many Catholics are uncomfortable using the biblical and traditional words, “Repent,” convert and conversion. To repent means to change your mind and come to a new way of living. To convert means to turn from sinful ways or erroneous teaching. But too many Catholics, including priests are uncomfortable using words like this. We used to speak of convert classes etc. But now many prefer abstract descriptions like, “Inquiry Classes” or the even more abstract “RCIA” Many draw back lest they seem to suggest that others are wrong, “going wrong,” need to change, or, heaven forfend, “sinful.” Words like repent and convert more than suggest that there is right and wrong, true and false, sanctity and sinfulness, good and evil. But the fact is, many, including us, need on-going conversion And a good number need outright conversion And a complete change of mind, heart and behavior. Of course repentance and the call to conversion are a key biblical summons. repentance is not suggested, it is commanded, and without it we will not see the kingdom of God. Perhaps a central reason for the embarrassment many feel at the call to repentance and conversion is that it runs a foul of a kind of “consumer Christianity” wherein faith is reduced to using God’s grace to access blessings but not to give one’s life over to Jesus Christ in love and obedience. Consumer Christianity targets “seekers” looking for enrichment rather than disciples. The heart of discipleship is, as Jesus says, is to “Deny yourself, take up your Cross, and follow me.” But when faith is reduced to personal enrichment, true discipleship seems obnoxious and words like repentance, conversion, and concepts like self denial, and the cross are non-starters and rejected as negative, judgemental, and, to use consumer language, is bad marketing. To be sure, the faith does enrich and words like repentance and conversion need not be accompanied with sour faces or with no reference to the joy of salvation. We need not act like the wild-eyed sidewalk evangelists screaming repent only as a tactic of cringing fear. But as to the avoidance of any fear at all and the words repent and convert, nothing could be more unChrist-like, for Jesus led with the summons to repent. It was in the very opening words of his public ministry: He said, “The time is now! The kingdom of God is near! Repent, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). And why does Jesus lead with this? Because the joy and enrichment of salvation cannot be accessed except through repentance and conversion. Eternal Life cannot be accessed except through turning our back on this world and dying to it. Easter Sunday is accessed only through Good Friday. Consumer Christianity cannot save. Repentance and conversion, even if not popular in marketing focus groups of “seeker-sensitive” mega-churches, must be recovered in the call and vocabulary of the Church. Watering down the very thing Jesus led with is no way to make true disciples. Repent and be converted that the Gospel may fill you.
Know Your Faith - Evangelization
Excerpts from the Confession of St. Patrick An Unlearned Man Turned Hero-Saint 34. Thus I give untiring thanks to God who kept me faithful in the day of my temptation, so that today I may confidently offer my soul as a living sacrifice for Christ my Lord; who am I, Lord? or, rather, what is my calling? that you appeared to me in so great a divine quality, so that today among the barbarians I might constantly exalt and magnify your name in whatever place I should be, and not only in good fortune, but even in affliction? So that whatever befalls me, be it good or bad, I should accept it equally, and give thanks always to God who revealed to me that I might trust in him, implicitly and forever, and who will encourage me so that, ignorant, and in the last days, I may dare to undertake so devout and so wonderful a work; so that I might imitate one of those whom, once, long ago, the Lord already pre-ordained to be heralds of his Gospel to witness to all peoples to the ends of the earth. So are we seeing, and so it is fulfilled; behold, we are witnesses because the Gospel has been preached as far as the places beyond which no man lives. 41. So, how is it that in Ireland, where they never had any knowledge of God but, always, until now, cherished idols and unclean things, they are lately become a people of the Lord, and are called children of God; the sons of the Irish [Scotti] and the daughters of the chieftains are to be seen as monks and virgins of Christ. Read the full article here. Source: Gretchen Fitz, GetFed
Saint Patrick is one of the most famous and beloved saints of the Catholic Church. This 5th century missionary bishop was so effective in his ministry that his legacy of evangelization continues today, 1500 years later. His zeal for Jesus Christ and the salvation of souls, and his effective leadership in the Church, made him the legendary patron saint of Ireland. His feast day is celebrated around the world on March 17th. Read the full article and the Breastplate Prayer of St. Patrick, here. Source: Kathleen Wellman, GetFed
Know Your Faith
Lame Excuses for Banning Communion on the Tongue Read article here - Source: Ryan Fitzgerald, Church Militant
“[91.] In distributing Holy Communion it is to be remembered that “sacred ministers may not deny the sacraments to those who seek them in a reasonable manner, are rightly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them”.[177] Hence any baptized Catholic who is not prevented by law must be admitted to Holy Communion. Therefore, it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds, for example, that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling or standing.” -
Source: the Vatican’s website for the ‘Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacrament’ and ‘Redemptionis Sacramentum’
‘it is not licit to deny Holy Communion to any of Christ’s faithful solely on the grounds that the person wishes to receive the Eucharist kneeling’ Source: Directory of the Church in Japan Concerning the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion during Mass (2015.1.27) Download the Directory here.
Know Your Faith
Introducing a new series “A Tour of the Catechism of the Catholic Church” given by Fr. Daniel J. Mahan, S.T.L. The entire Catechism is covered in about 80 videos, 10-20 minutes long each, giving an outline of the content along with easy to follow explanations. It is based on the 2nd Edition of the Catechism. Click here for 11th video in the series, ‘Heaven and Earth’.
What happened to the Apostles - Click here to find out.
7 Powerful Ways to Pray for Christians Suffering in the Middle East
Know Your Faith
The Passion of Jesus Christ Documentary
The Passion and the Fulfillment of the Prophecy. The suffering, the death and the resurrection of Christ.
St Benedict & Humility Homily on St Benedict’s feast day & his regula. What is humility & how can you apply it to your life? For more please go to http://www.reginaprophetarum.org & please say 3 Hail Marys for the priest.
FIRES ENCOUNTER
Families, Intercommunication, Relationships, Experiences, Services A series of programs originated by Fr Gabriel Calvo, for Married Couples, Sons and Daughters, Families, Engaged Couples, Individuals, Priests and Men and Women Religious, to build more honest and loving relationships with oneself, with ones’ family, with others and with GOD. Engaged Next Session Franciscan Chapel Center, Tokyo Please contact Fr. Donnon (donnon.murray@holistic–family.org). Website is here.
Catholic Truth
St. Anthony of Padua: Hammer of the Heretics Source: Gretchen Filz , GetFed
“St. Anthony of Padua was the fastest canonized saint in Church history, taking place a mere 11 months after his death. In 1946 he was proclaimed a doctor of the Church. St. Anthony was a Franciscan friar who lived during the lifetime of the founder of the Franciscan order, St. Francis of Assisi. St. Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195 and became known as Saint Anthony ‘of Padua’ because he founded a convent near the Italian city where he spent the last years of his life. He died near Padua, Italy in 1231 when he was just 36 years old. He was the foremost preacher in his day and also taught theology. St. Anthony proceeded to preach with great brilliance, much to the shock of all in attendance. His time spent studying the Scriptures, praying, serving God, and living a life of poverty, chastity, and obedience prescribed by the Franciscan order prepared him to be used mightily by God.” Read full article here.
Catholic Truth
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: The Catholic Church Is Absolutely Necessary for Salvation By, Bradley Eli, M. Div., MA.Th
Excerpt: Pope Emeritus notes that starting in “the second half of the last century,” mankind believed “God cannot let go to perdition all the unbaptized” or even let them go to a place of “purely natural happiness,” which the Church calls Limbo. Benedict contrasts the zeal of “the great missionaries of the 16th century” who “were still convinced that those who are not baptized are forever lost” with the lackluster missionary efforts after the Second Vatican Council, when “that conviction was finally abandoned” by many. The former pontiff affirms that the lost conviction that the Church is necessary for salvation causes “a deep double crisis.” “On the one hand this seems to remove any motivation for a future missionary commitment,” he says. “Why should one try to convince the people to accept the Christian faith when they can be saved even without it?”
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: The Past 50 Years Have Caused A Great Crisis Of Faith
Emeritus Pope Benedict Grants an Interview
Christianity and Science
God and Creation: Irenaeus of Lyons and the Opulence of God “Irenaeus of Lyons is one of the most significant early Church Fathers. Scholarly opinion places his birth at about 120 AD and was one of the strongest theological voices to address the problem of Gnosticism in the early Church . Another part of his significance is that he was a disciple of St. Polycarp, who was a disciple of John the Apostle. Therefore, Irenaeus provides us with an important window into the apostolic age. In regard to God and creation, Irenaeus used a number of striking metaphors to explore this relationship such as God as Master Architect and God as Master Artist. These and other images of God were central to his theological understanding of the Economy of God, or the slow working out of the plan of salvation. A core aspect of the Economy of God is the development of the soul, moving from infancy to maturity.�
MILITIAE SPIRITUALI
Archbishop Chaput: Luke Warm Christianity Is A Convenient Form Of Paganism! Addressing a gathering of European church officials on March 4, Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver warned that many contemporary Christians have reduced their faith to a convenient “form of paganism,” which cannot compete with the widespread “idolatry” of modern consumer culture. Archbishop Chaput offered his observations at a conference in Paris honoring the late Cardinal Archbishop Jean-Marie Lustiger, a Jewish convert to Catholicism who was the Archbishop of Paris from 1981 to 2005. The Denver archbishop described Cardinal Lustiger as “an unsentimental realist” who dared to speak about disturbing trends in the Church and society – including a lack of faith among professed Christians, leaving a vacuum that would be filled by other “gods” such as sex and money. “Lustiger named lukewarm Christians and superficial Christianity for what they are: a congenial form of paganism,” said Archbishop Chaput. “The Church needs a great deal more of his medicine.” Many Christians Have Reduced God To An Idol He recalled Cardinal Lustiger’s prophetic warnings against “creating alibis and escaping the implications of our faith.” In a passage cited by Archbishop Chaput, the cardinal wrote that “many Christians,” through evasions and misunderstandings, had “reduced the God of the Covenant to a mere idol.” “The main crisis of modern Christianity is not one of resources, or personnel, or marketing,” Archbishop Chaput asserted. “It is a crisis of faith. Millions of people claim to be Christian, but they don’t really believe.” “They don’t study Scripture. They don’t love the Church as a mother and teacher. And they settle for an inoffensive, vanilla Christianity that amounts to a system of decent social ethics.”The Worst Kind Of Phony Christianity! “This is self-delusion,” he warned, “the worst kind of phony Christianity that has no power to create hope out of suffering, to resist persecution, or to lead anyone else to God.” Archbishop Chaput said that these weakened forms of Christian faith would not be able to compete with the many modern cults of instant gratification and success.
Cardinal Lustiger, he recalled, had “warned that one of the deepest and oldest instincts of man is idolatry.” The Denver archbishop said he sees that instinct taking on several forms today. “There are no real atheists in America – quite the opposite,” he said. “We have a thriving free market of little gods to worship. Sex and technology have very large congregations.” The Modern State Is A Great Idol! “I was especially struck,” he noted, “by Lustiger’s description of the modern state ‘as one of the strongest forms of idolatry that exists; it has become the most absolute substitute for God that men have been able to give themselves . . . and it is a tyrant god, feeding itself on its victims.’” But the Archbishop of Denver said that these human tendencies, leading to the worship of objects and of oneself, could not be driven out by the mere exercise of authority. To Purge Christianity Of These Great Idols Demands Total Conversion Of Individuals “The Christian remedy to these idolatries,” he explained, “can never simply be coerced from the outside, by stronger statements from stronger bishops.” He quoted Cardinal Lustiger’s insight that these forms of idolatry “must be exorcised from the inside … To uproot them, we must be converted in depth.” He also indicated that Cardinal Lustiger’s unique perspective was just as important for U.S. Catholics today as it was for European Catholics during his lifetime. The cardinal’s work, Archbishop Chaput noted, “continues to influence our seminary formation” at Denver’s St. John Vianney seminary. “He is a Jew who discovers Jesus Christ … His mother is murdered at Auschwitz. He survives the most horrific war in history, but he refuses to hate and despair. Instead, he turns to God more deeply and gives himself to the priesthood.” “Most of the young men I meet hunger for examples of manliness, confidence, courage and faith,” Archbishop Chaput noted. “Cardinal Lustiger’s personal story is itself a catechesis – an invitation to pursue God heroically.” By Benjamin Moore, CNA
MILITIAE SPIRITUALI
2nd Trimester Surgical Abortion: Dilation and Evacuation (D & E)
Former abortionist, Dr. Anthony Levatino, explains the most prevalent second trimester abortion procedure, a dilation and evacuation (D&E). See this video presentation here. For educational resources and to learn more about Dr. Levatino, visit AbortionProcedures.com
Authentic vs. Inauthentic Renewal - by Fr. Benedict Groeschel
Fr. Benedict Groeschel discusses the uniting factor among all Christians - devotion to Jesus Christ - and describes the need for authentic holiness. Fr. Groeschel discusses the need for continual personal and communal reform/renewal and what separates authentic vs inauthentic. About the Deep in History Talks from the CHNetwork: Why should we go deep in history? As generations before us have learned, history is the laboratory for thinking about the issues that matter most to us as human beings. By placing ourselves back into another time, we are able to look at our own time with more objectivity; we see its strengths and weaknesses. For Christians, there is the additional truth that ours is a historical faith. Christianity is rooted in the historical facts of Jesus’s life. The Church which is his body has lived, grown, and matured in space and time. The surest way to know Jesus and his Church is through the study of history, both biblical and post-biblical. We hope these resources take you deep into the history of Christ’s Church and thereby deeper into Christ. Please visit: http://DeepinHistory.com
MILITIAE SPIRITUALI - Culture of Life
Warriors in Christ, Warriors for Christ, Warriors before Christ
Our case, Priests for Life vs. HHS, to be reviewed by the Supreme Court, challenges the HHS mandate which tries to force groups like ours to cover abortion-inducing drugs, and other ‘services’ we find morally objectionable, in the health insurance coverage we offer our employees. It is about the freedom of us, as employers, to practice our own religious beliefs, not just in Church on Sunday, but in the workplace on Monday Source: Priests for Life.
Striaght Talk - March 2016
More Pro-Life Straight Talks at ProLifeStraightTalk.com Pro-Life Straight Talk with Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life. See Fr. Frank’s talk here.
Abortion from the Abysmal Depths
Source: By Judie Brown . American Life League
Online for Life
Online for Life, helps rescue unborn children and their families from abortion. And we try to do it in such a way that infuses more compassion and love into the movement. Through our advanced online and offline marketing techniques, Online for Life helps women in crisis pregnancies find a life-affirming pregnancy center in their communities. Once there, these women are shown grace and love as they make a fully informed decision regarding their pregnancy. Read more here.
MILITIAE SPIRITUALI - Persecution
What Are The Worst Countries For Christians?
Genocide against Christians in the Middle East A report submitted to Secretary of State John Kerry by the Knights of Columbus and In Defense of Christians
With the recent ISIS attacks, this is one of the most common questions people ask us. We need your prayers, resources, and voice to help spread awareness about the perilous crisis in Iraq and raise funds to help fight the battle.
MILITIAE SPIRITUALI - Persecution
What I Saw at the Genocide Report Details Gruesome Extermination of Mideast Christians Read more in the report:
“In captivity at the hands of ISIS, husbands and wives are separated for weeks at a time,” the report states. “Christians were often offered freedom at the price of one family member, which usually worked out to be the father. Many among the [internally displaced persons] community have been without husbands or wives for more than a year and a half with no word from them. … ISIS has raped hundreds and more likely thousands of Christian women, either causing permanent damage to reproductive organs or impregnating women with the children of their captors.” Source Aleteia by John Burger -Read full article here.
Pray for the Persecuted Church
Pope Francis on persecuted Christians
Aduno - Unity
The Church in Jerusalem retraces the footsteps of Jesus
The Franciscans begin, in the Dominus Flevit Sanctuary, the journey of the Lenten pilgrimage to the Holy Places that recall the stages of the Passion of the Lord. Source: Christian Media Center (The Holy Land)
An in-depth look at the situation of Catholics living in Morocco
Aduno - Unity
An in-depth look at the situation of Catholics living in Syria.
An in-depth look at the situation of Catholics living in Egypt
The Passion of Christ
3 Simple & Unique Ways to Meditate on the Passion of Christ Source: Veronica Mena, GetFed
ENCOUNTER - Prayer & Meditation Ancient Irish Litany to the Blessed Virgin Mary
This beautiful prayer in honor of the Blessed Mother originated in Ireland, probably in use since the 8th century. At one time Pope Pius IX (1792 – 1878) granted a special indulgence to the faithful in Ireland who recited it devoutly. Source: Gretchen Filz, GetFed - Read full litany here.
Descent from the Cross The Catholic Rose
A Few Thoughts for Encouragement