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12 hours agoAre you praying the Saint Andrew Christmas novena this year? -
13 hours agoKeeping an Advent calendar is a special way to count down to the Nativity of Our Lord. -
yesterday“I asked them to pin the Miraculous Medal to my pajama coat. I’ve worn the medal constantly ever since. I’ll wear it to my grave.”
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WHY DO WE DO THAT? - CATHOLIC LIFE EXPLAINED
Question:
I have a friend who says she doesn’t need to attend Mass because she prays to God every day. What are your thoughts on this justification?
Answer:
If the only reason for going to church were to talk to God, your friend might be right. Prayer is not something limited to a physical place or even a holy place. If the sole purpose of the Church were prayer, it would be a narrow purpose indeed. The Church is a community of believers, formed by “one Lord, one faith, one Baptism.” It is an outward sign of our faith in God instituted by Christ, and the purpose of the Church is to give us grace, that is, a share in God’s life.
Coming to Mass is not really for God’s sake, but for ours. If we believe that Jesus is truly present in the holy Eucharist, then we will want to be in his presence. We will want to be fed by him. Our daily prayer and good works are strengthened by our authentic encounter with our Lord. For Catholics, it is at Mass that we celebrate the source and summit of our faith. If this is true, why would we ever stay away?
Who Can Offer Anointing of the Sick?
Question: Can anyone offer the Anointing of the Sick to a sick or dying person, or is that only something a priest can do?
Answer: The Letter of James speaks to us of the ancient tradition of a special anointing and blessing of those who are sick: “Is there anyone sick among you? Let him send for the presbyters of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord … If he has committed any sins, they will be forgiven him” (5:14, 15b). This passage forms the foundation for the theology of the sacrament that we call “Anointing of the Sick.” In keeping with what we read in the Letter of James and the ancient tradition of the Church, the anointing of a person of who sick or dying many only be performed by a priest or bishop.
Although deacons and other members of the Church are not able to celebrate the sacrament with a person who is sick, we can read Sacred Scripture and pray with and for those who are ill. Resources like the Book of Blessings also contain special blessings that can be celebrated by deacons or lay ministers. In the end, we want to be sure that we show a special care and concern for the sick, helping them to always experience God’s loving comfort through made tangible through our acts of charity and service.
Question:
Why is it so important that we register in a parish? Isn't it good enough that we go to Mass?
Answer:
Registration is the official way we join a parish community. Many people think that because they attend a particular parish they automatically belong. At times, young adults who have moved away for years think they are still signed up under their parents. But membership requires signing up, formally enrolling yourself in a parish. Registration is a commitment to a community, a way to be included in the religious, social, and ministerial activities of your parish. Your registration affects the parish in many ways. Census numbers can determine how many priests are assigned to a church, what benefits and obligations the community has to the diocese, and how Masses, Confessions, and devotions are planned and scheduled. Registration shows you belong. It is also necessary for certain benefits, like scheduling sacraments, obtaining sponsor certificates, and getting donation statements for taxes. Most importantly, it lets the parish count on you, to call on you to assist in its mission. Registering in your parish is a statement of faith and confidence in the life and work of your parish.
Question:
What is the difference between tithing and stewardship?
Answer:
Both tithing and stewardship are part of a spiritual way of life that calls us to use all of our resources for the service of the Gospel. Everything we are and everything we have comes from God. Offering back to God what He has given us is part of how we worship and give thanks to God.
Tithing is the practice of giving back 10 percent of what we earn. It comes from the Old English word for “ten.” The first Scriptural example of tithing came from Abraham who gave a tenth of his possessions to the priest Melchizedek. He did so as an act of thanksgiving to God.
Stewardship as a way of life calls us to use well all that we have and all that we are, placing all things in service of others and God. Stewardship helps us see the good we can accomplish by making God and our spiritual life the most important values in our life. Whatever we accumulate in this life stays here. We can’t take it with us! Both tithing and stewardship help us remember that nothing is mine or even ours … all belongs to God.
Question: After a civil divorce, is a Catholic obligated to pursue an annulment?
Answer: Many Catholics are not exactly sure what an annulment does. An annulment does not deny that a marriage took place, nor does it deny that there once was love. It does not mean that people say anything untrue, such as they never loved each other or that everything in their marriage was wrong. An annulment does not negate children, nor make them illegitimate. An annulment addresses the spiritual aspect of marriage. In effect, an annulment says that at the time of the wedding, there was either something present or something absent that prevented the sacrament from taking place. It is a spiritual determination that, if granted in the affirmative, allows a person to marry in the Church.
Annulments have no legal standing and are unable to be used in a civil court. Therefore, a Catholic has no moral obligation to pursue an annulment. However, when the tragedy of divorce occurs, and there is no hope for reconciliation, annulments may help bring some spiritual closure to a person’s life. Some people have found the process to be healing and others have found it to be difficult. Speak to your priest or a member of the Diocesan Tribunal staff to decide what is best for you. -
National Catholic Register
