Homily, 12-4-23; Monday of the 1st Week of Advent: Although we associate Advent with preparation for celebrating Jesus’ first coming at Christmas, in the beginning of Advent we think about preparing for His return, His second coming. But how will things be when He returns? Many Protestants believe in the idea of millennialism, that there… Continue reading Preparing for Jesus’ Return
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The Rapture?
Bulletin Q&A Article; Published 12-3-23: What is the “rapture” that other faiths believe will come? The term rapture actually comes from the Catholic Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible. It has been borrowed and misused by a small group of Protestants. In 1 Thessalonians 4:17 we find the Latin word rapiemur. If you insert the… Continue reading The Rapture?
Resist the Call to Abandon our Faith
Homily, 11-20-23; Monday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time: Back in 2008, then presidential candidate, Barak Obama, criticized those who were bitter and clung to their religion. And in 2015, Hillary Clinton in addressing women’s rights issue stated: “Deep seated cultural codes, religious beliefs and structural biases have to be changed.” As she campaigned… Continue reading Resist the Call to Abandon our Faith
Called to be the Worthy Wife
Homily, 11-19-23; Sunday of the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle A: Almost ten years ago, I accepted a three-month contract assignment working as an engineer at a manufacturing facility in Detroit. The company had ties to a French company, and so there were two young French men on two-year development assignments who were stationed… Continue reading Called to be the Worthy Wife
Precepts Revisited
Bulletin Q&A Article, published 11-19-23: What about the sixth precept of the Church? Or the seventh, or the tenth? In researching my recent article on the precepts of the Church, I ran across references to various lists of precepts from the past. One had six precepts, one had seven, and one even listed ten. I… Continue reading Precepts Revisited
Catholic Cemeteries
Bulletin Q&A Article, published 11-12-23: I prefer to be laid to rest in a Catholic cemetery, but if not, what are the Church’s views on public cemeteries or scattered ashes? As outlined in the bulletin a few weeks ago, from November 2 to November 8, there was an opportunity to gain a plenary indulgence for… Continue reading Catholic Cemeteries
Mercy, a Gift for the Disobedient
Homily, 11-6-23; Monday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time: Our first reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans is one we hear every other year on Monday of the 31st week of Ordinary Time. So I have been exposed to it many times in the past and, as I look back through my… Continue reading Mercy, a Gift for the Disobedient
Precepts of the Church
Bulletin Q&A Article, published 11-5-23: Would you please list and discuss the five precepts of the Church? This is an interesting request because we don’t often talk about the precepts of the Church, but we should. The Catechism states: “The precepts of the Church are set in the context of a moral life bound to… Continue reading Precepts of the Church
Loved, but Not Always Pleasing
Homily, 10-30-23: Monday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time: I had the opportunity to attend the Call to Holiness Conference on Saturday. One of the speakers was Fr. Chad Ripperger, who happens to be an exorcist. The title of his talk was “Combatting Evil as an Integral Part of Becoming Holy.” He said that… Continue reading Loved, but Not Always Pleasing
Biblical Old Age
Bulletin Q&A Article, published 10-29-23: In the Bible where it states that individuals lived to be hundreds of years old, is that accurate? In the 90th Psalm we hear: “Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong; Most of them are toil and sorrow; they pass quickly, and we are… Continue reading Biblical Old Age