The Power Of The Mass

The power of the Mass is for you. It's the power of the crucifixion on Calvary, which isn't repeated, but entered into through time and space.

You can have 2 intentions for every Mass - One for the entire Mass itself, and one during the prayers of the Faithful. When you first get into Church and kneel down and pray, tell Jesus what your personal intention is for that Mass. During the Prayers of the Faithful, tell Him what your other intention is. Of course, you can always call the Parish secretary to have specific Masses said for loved ones and other intentions too. The poor souls in purgatory really feel consolation and comfort in their misery when you have Masses said for them. Don't forget them, even if they've been dead a long time, because time has no meaning in eternity. If you don't have intentions for the Mass, you are missing out on a lot of spiritual benefits.

At the hour of death the Holy Masses you have heard devoutly will be your greatest consolation.

Every Mass will go with you to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you. By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins, more or less, according to your fervor.

By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord.

Through the Holy Sacrifice, Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of your negligence through acts or omissions.

He forgives you all the venial sins which you are determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins which you never confessed. The power of Satan over you is diminished.

By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the Souls in Purgatory the greatest possible relief.

Through Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you. You shorten your Purgatory by every Mass.

Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.

When you hear Holy Mass devoutly, offering it to Almighty God in honor of any particular Saint or Angel, thanking God for the favors bestowed on him, you afford that Saint or Angel a new degree of honor, joy and happiness, and draw his special love and protection on yourself.

Every time you assist at Holy Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it in honor of the Saint of the day.

In holy Mass, in obedience to Christ's command, "Do this in remembrance of me," we of the Church offer perfect praise to the heavenly Father, and sanctify ourselves and the world by the power that flows from the priestly office of our eternal High Priest, Jesus Christ.

The benefits of even one holy Mass are infinite and include the whole world. The blood of the new and everlasting covenant was "shed for you and for all."

In every Mass that is offered the Church remembers before God "those who take part in this offering, those here present and all your people, and all who seek you with a sincere heart." In a special way those who have holy Mass offered and those for whom a Mass is offered partake of the grace of the Eucharistic sacrifice.

The Church which offers Mass each day includes not only the faithful on earth, but the saints in heaven, as well as the suffering souls still awaiting entrance into heaven.

It is a pious and praiseworthy custom for the faithful to have Masses offered for their particular intentions, and especially for departed friends and loved ones. It is a laudable Catholic practice when requesting Mass for a special intention to make an offering both for the support of the priest who will celebrate the Mass and to provide for the needs of the altar as well as the materials required for the holy Sacrifice.

It is very sad that so many non-Catholic Christians consider the Mass to be an abomination. It is just the opposite. It is the one-time sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross recreated, through time and space, in an dignified fashion, just like Jesus did during the Last Supper.

QUOTES FROM THE SAINTS

"The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer" Pope Paul VI

"For each Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death." (revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the great).

A great doctor of the Church, St. Anself, declares that a single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death. St. Leonard of Port Maurice supports this statement by saying that one Mass before death may be more profitable than many after it.

"The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death." Pope Benedict XV

Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord "How can I thank you?" Our Lord replied, "attend one mass"

The Blessed Virgin Mary once told Her faithful servant Alain: "My Son so loves those who assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass that, if it were necessary He would die for them as many times as they've heard Masses."

"When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary - a joy, a fragrance, a well being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exalt." St. Jean Vianney

"If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy." St. Jean Vianney

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us." - St. Jean Vianney

"When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelops the soul as the flower envelops the bee." - St. Jean Vianney

"The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross." - St. Thomas Aquinas

"It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass. " St. Padre Pio

"The Mass is infinite like Jesus. Ask an angel what the Mass is, and he will reply to you in truth,"I understand what it is and why it is offered, but I do not, however, understand how much value it has." One angel, a thousand angels, all of Heaven know this and think like this." St. Padre Pio

"If we only knew how God regards this Sacrifice, we would risk our lives to be present at a single Mass." St. Padre Pio

"Renew your faith by attending Holy Mass. Keep your mind focused on the mystery that is unfolding before your eyes. In your mind's eye transport yourself to Calvary and meditate on the Victim who offers Himself to Divine Justice, paying the price of your redemption." St. Padre Pio

"Every Holy Mass, heard with devotion, produces in our souls marvelous effects, abundant spiritual and material graces which we ourselves, do not know." St. Padre Pio

"The heavens open and multitudes of angels come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass." St. Gregory

"The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass. " St. Augustine

"When Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar." St. John Chrysostom



Download this free ebook - 101 Questions About The Catholic Mass.

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Francis J. Beckwith's Testimony

Francis J. Beckwith, the ex-president of the Evangelical Theological Society, an association of nearly 5,000 Protestant theologians, resigned in 2007 to rejoin the Roman Catholic Church.

Francis Beckwith is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (B.A. in Philosophy), Simon Greenleaf School of Law, Anaheim (MA in apologetics), Fordham University (Ph.D. and M.A. in philosophy) and the Washington University School of Law, St. Louis (Master of Juridical Studies).

He was raised as a Catholic in Las Vegas and was “born again” as an evangelical during his teens, at the height of the countercultural “Jesus movement” in the 1970s.

As a result of his return to the Catholic Church, Francis Beckwith said in a telephone interview that he had expected some repercussions in academic circles but was stunned by the public response. He said strangers have called him at home to berate him, and that his Internet server was overwhelmed by 2,000 e-mails a day to his personal Web site, which in the past seldom generated more than 90 a day.

He said that for many years he agreed with the criticisms of the Catholic Church made by Martin Luther and other leaders of the 16th-century Reformation, who emphasized the authority of the Bible alone — rather than the pronouncements of church leaders — and who argued that justification resulted from the grace of God, not from good deeds.

But his thinking began to change, he said, as he read more deeply into Catholic theology, including works by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI. After studying Ratzinger’s book “Truth and Tolerance”.

“I do agree with Protestants that there is no good I can do, no work I can perform, that would justify me,” Beckwith said. “But there are many places in scripture that say there’s an obligation Christians have to take on the character of Christ, and that contributes to their justification. The Catholic solution is: I am required to take on the character of Christ, but it is not my power that does it, but God’s grace” said Beckwith.

He has written a book; Return to Rome: Confessions of an Evangelical Catholic.

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The 7 Deadly Sins

The Seven Deadly Sins, also known as the Capital Vices or Cardinal Sins, is a classification of objectionable vices that have been used since early Christian times to educate and instruct followers concerning fallen humanity's tendency to sin.

Lust

Lust or lechery (carnal “luxuria”) is usually thought of as excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Aristotle’s criterion was excessive love of others, which therefore rendered love and devotion to God as secondary.

In Dante’s Purgatorio, the penitent walks within flames to purge himself of lustful/sexual thoughts and feelings. In Dante’s “Inferno”, unforgiven souls of the sin of lust are blown about in restless hurricane-like winds symbolic of their own lack of self control to their lustful passions in earthly life.








Envy

Envy (Latin, invidia) may be characterized by an insatiable desire; they differ, however, for two main reasons:

First, greed is largely associated with material goods, whereas envy may apply more generally. Second, those who commit the sin of envy resent that another person has something they perceive themselves as lacking, and wish the other person to be deprived of it.

Dante defined this as “a desire to deprive other men of theirs.” Envy can be directly related to the Ten Commandments, specifically “Neither shall you desire… anything that belongs to your neighbour”. In Dante’s Purgatory, the punishment for the envious is to have their eyes sewn shut with wire because they have gained sinful pleasure from seeing others brought low. Aquinas described envy as “sorrow for another’s good”.












Gluttony

Derived from the Latin gluttire, meaning to gulp down or swallow, gluttony (Latin, gula) is the over-indulgence and over-consumption of anything to the point of waste. In the Christian religions, it is considered a sin because of the excessive desire for food or its withholding from the needy.

Depending on the culture, it can be seen as either a vice or a sign of status. Where food is relatively scarce, being able to eat well might be something to take pride in. But in an area where food is routinely plentiful, it may be considered a sign of self-control to resist the temptation to over-indulge.

Medieval church leaders (e.g., Thomas Aquinas) took a more expansive view of gluttony, arguing that it could also include an obsessive anticipation of meals, and the constant eating of delicacies and excessively costly foods. Aquinas went so far as to prepare a list of six ways to commit gluttony, including:

Praepropere – eating too soon.
Laute – eating too expensively.
Nimis – eating too much.
Ardenter – eating too eagerly (burningly).
Studiose – eating too daintily (keenly).
Forente – eating wildly (boringly).








Sloth

Over time, the “acedia” in Pope Gregory’s order has come to be closer in meaning to sloth (Latin, Socordia). The focus came to be on the consequences of acedia rather than the cause, and so, by the 17th century, the exact deadly sin referred to was believed to be the failure to utilize one’s talents and gifts. Even in Dante’s time there were signs of this change; in his Purgatorio he had portrayed the penance for acedia as running continuously at top speed.

The modern view goes further, regarding laziness and indifference as the sin at the heart of the matter. Since this contrasts with a more willful failure to, for example, love God and his works, sloth is often seen as being considerably less serious than the other sins, more a sin of omission than of commission.












Greed

Greed (Latin, avaritia), also known as avarice or covetousness, is, like lust and gluttony, a sin of excess. However, greed (as seen by the church) is applied to a very excessive or rapacious desire and pursuit of wealth, status, and power.

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that greed was “a sin against God, just as all mortal sins, in as much as man condemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things.” In Dante’s Purgatory, the penitents were bound and laid face down on the ground for having concentrated too much on earthly thoughts. “Avarice” is more of a blanket term that can describe many other examples of greedy behavior. These include disloyalty, deliberate betrayal, or treason, especially for personal gain, for example through bribery . Scavenging and hoarding of materials or objects, theft and robbery, especially by means of violence, trickery, or manipulation of authority are all actions that may be inspired by greed. Such misdeeds can include simony, where one profits from soliciting goods within the actual confines of a church.

As defined outside of Christian writings, greed is an inordinate desire to acquire or possess more than one needs, especially with respect to material wealth.












Anger

Wrath (Latin, ira), also known as anger or “rage”, may be described as inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. Anger, in its purest form, presents with self-destructiveness, violence, and hate that may provoke feuds that can go on for centuries. Anger may persist long after the person who did another a grievous wrong is dead. Feelings of anger can manifest in different ways, including impatience, revenge, and vigilantism.

Wrath is the only sin not necessarily associated with selfishness or self-interest (although one can of course be wrathful for selfish reasons, such as jealousy, closely related to the sin of envy). Dante described vengeance as “love of justice perverted to revenge and spite”. In its original form, the sin of wrath also encompassed anger pointed internally rather than externally. Thus suicide was deemed as the ultimate, albeit tragic, expression of wrath directed inwardly, a final rejection of God’s gifts.












Pride

In almost every list Pride (Latin, superbia), or hubris, is considered the original and most serious of the seven deadly sins, and the source of the others. It is identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to acknowledge the good work of others, and excessive love of self (especially holding self out of proper position toward God). Dante’s definition was “love of self perverted to hatred and contempt for one’s neighbour.”

In Jacob Bidermann’s medieval miracle play, Cenodoxus, pride is the deadliest of all the sins and leads directly to the damnation of the titulary famed Parisian doctor. In perhaps the best-known example, the story of Lucifer, pride (his desire to compete with God) was what caused his fall from Heaven, and his resultant transformation into Satan. In Dante’s Divine Comedy, the penitents were forced to walk with stone slabs bearing down on their backs to induce feelings of humility.

Related post: The Seven Deadly Sins

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Apologetics 101

Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a religious beliefs through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers (c. 120-220) who defended their faith against critics and recommended their faith to outsiders were called apologists.

This audio series by Catholic apologist John Martignoni examines how you can defend your faith by apologetics.

John Martignoni is currently the host of EWTN Open Line, a live, internationally telecast call-in program of Bible apologetics. His career has spanned numerous industries: After receiving his MBA at Alabama in 1981, John worked as a defense industry cost analyst, finance instructor, volunteer at Covenant House Alaska, investment analyst, theology instructor and manager of many christian apostolates.

John is also the founder of the Catholic Businessmen and Professionals Association and the Catholic Businesswomen and Professionals Association.

1.	What does the word "Apologetics" mean? Host - John Martignoni	apologetics101.mp3
2.	Are there any basic rules for doing apologetics? Host - John Martignoni	apologetics102.mp3
3.	What should I keep in mind when I'm trying to defend my faith? Host - John Martignoni	apologetics103.mp3
4.	Cafeteria catholicism Host - John Martignoni	apologetics104.mp3
5.	Why do Catholics have crucifixes. Host - John Martignoni	apologetics105.mp3
6.	Are Adam and Eve "just myths"? Host - John Martignoni	apologetics106.mp3
7.	Literalist vs. Literal meaning of Scripture Host - John Martignoni	apologetics107.mp3
8.	"Faith alone", "Works alone", or none of the above? Host - John Martignoni	apologetics108.mp3
9.	Are Catholics saved? Host - John Martignoni	apologetics109.mp3
10.	Is Baptism only symbolic. Host - John Martignoni	apologetics110.mp3
11.	"Left Behind" Host - John Martignoni	apologetics111.mp3
12.	Did Jesus have brothers and sisters? Host - John Martignoni	apologetics112.mp3
13.	Man-made traditions Host - John Martignoni	apologetics113.mp3

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Doctors Of The Church

In this audio series, Father Charles Connor examines the 33 doctors of the Church.

Father Charles Connor is the historian of the Diocese of Scranton and pastor at St. John the Evangelist Church, Susquehanna.

1.	Ambrose and Augustine Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch01.mp3
2.	Jerome and Gregory the Great Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch02.mp3
3.	The Eastern Doctors Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch03.mp3
4.	Angelic and Seriphic Doctors Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch04.mp3
5.	The Early 18th Century Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch05.mp3
6.	The Late 18th & 19th Centuries Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch06.mp3
7.	The Doctors of Pius XI Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch07.mp3
8.	The Doctors of Leo XII Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch08.mp3
9.	Doctors of the 1920s Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch09.mp3
10.	Doctors of the 1930s Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch10.mp3
11.	Doctors of the Modern Papacy Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch11.mp3
12.	The First Two Women Doctors Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch12.mp3
13.	The Greatest Saint of Modern Times Host - Fr. Charles Connor	docofch13.mp3

Related post: Doctors of the Church

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Catholic Websites

While there are thousands of Catholic websites these days in various languages, this is a list of Catholic websites worthy of being bookmarked. This list, however, is not a ranking of top Catholic websites by order of priority.

Having said this, it is my personal opinion that the top Catholic website would probably be Mother Angelica's EWTN.

1. EWTN

2. American Papist by Thomas Peters

3. New Advent

4. What Does The Prayer Really Say?

5. Catholic Church Conservation

6. The American Catholic

7. The Curt Jester by Jeff Miller

8. Jimmy Akin

9. Conversion Diary

10. Whispers in the Loggia

11. Holy Smoke by Damian Thompson

12. Per Christum

13. Inside Catholic

14. The Black Cordelias

15. RORATE CÆLI

16. The Hermeneutic of Continuity

17. Pro Ecclesia by Jay Anderson

18. Vatican YouTube Channel

19. CVSTOS FIDEI

20. Steve Skojec

21. PewSitter News

22. Domine, da mihi hanc aquam!

23. New Liturical Movement

24. National Catholic Register’s Daily Blog

25. The Holy See

26. ACI Digital

27. Catholic.net

28. Centro Católico de Evangelización

29. Catholic Answers

30.Conférence des évêques de France

31. 4 Marks

32. Catholic Online

33. Encuentra.com

34. USCCB

35. Catholic Exchange

36. Zenit News Agency

37. Christus Rex

38. The Catholic Company

39. American Catholic

40. Spirit Daily

41. Catholic Community Forum

42. Catholic World News

43. Traditional Catholic Apologetics

45. Catholic Asian News

46. Catholic Bridge

47. Catholic Canada

48. Catholic Culture

49. Catholic Education

50. Catholic Ireland

51. Catholic News Service

52. Catholic Tools

53. Catholic TV

54. Catholics Come Home

55. Fish Eaters

56. Gloria.TV

57. Good News

58. Holy Spirit Interactive

59. Renewal Ministries

60. Rome Reports

61. The Catholic Herald

62. The Catholic Leader

63. The Catholic News

64. The Catholic Weekly

65. The Irish Catholic

66. Creative Minority Report

67. The Tablet

68. The Vatican

69. Union Of Catholic Asian News

70. US Catholic

Please post your comments. Let us know what is your favorite Catholic website.

A Course In Miracles

The text of the book "A Course in Miracles" is the product of seven years of trance spirit channeling of a Mrs. Helen Schucman. The spirit that channeled a "new gospel" to Mrs. Schucman claimed to be Jesus Christ. The "spirit" made contact with her to correct errors in Sacred Scripture, and the teachings of the Church. The "spirit" that channeled through Mrs. Schucman wrote that Sacred Scripture was in error in teaching us that sin separates us from God, and that Jesus Christ did not die on the cross for our sins. The book "A Course in Miracles" contains a Text (the dictation's of Mrs. Schucman), a Student Workbook, and an Instructors Manual (1).

Mrs. Schucman, a Columbia University professor and psychologist, was an acquaintance of Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R. (seen on EWTN). Fr. Groeschel gave a eulogy at her funeral. Fr. Groeschel wrote (2), "This woman who had written so eloquently that suffering really did not exist spent the last two years of her life in the blackest psychotic depression I have ever witnessed." Fr. Groeschel is a holy, practical, wise, no nonsense priest, and psychologist. During an October 1994 lecture on "Discernment" given at Holy Cross Church, Rumson, N.J., Fr. Groeschel stated that he believed that Helen Shucman's experience with the channeled "spirit" was possibly a true diabolic manifestation. Fr. Groeschel's experience as a psychologist and priest included being called upon by his Bishop to investigate reported diabolic manifestations in his New York City diocese. In the lecture Fr. Groeschel described one experience — called as an exorcist — where he witnessed objects unexplainably being thrown about a room. At the end of a lengthy discussion he attributed that particular experience to paranormal manifestations — but not diabolic in nature (3). Fr. Groeschel is not easily inclined to attribute any experience to the diabolic. The possible diabolic origin in the spirit channeling of Helen Schucman was one exception given by Fr. Groeschel. Fr. Groeschel's suspicions find support in Sacred Scripture. Helen Schucman's "channeled spirit" denies that our Lord Jesus Christ came to the earth in the flesh. An abstract of "the Course" can be written based solely on two lines of the "spirit" channeled writings. Chapter 8, Section VII, paragraph 7, page 152 states:

"The Bible says, "The Word (or thought) was made flesh." Strictly speaking this is impossible, since it seems to involve the translation of one order or reality into another."

Contrast the "spirits" channeled words to the inspired words of St. John (1 John 4:1-3):

" Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God; for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit which does not confess Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of anti-christ, of which you heard that it was coming, and now it is in the world already."

To further stress the assertion to a "student" of "the Course" that Jesus Christ was but an illusion the accompanying Manual For Teachers, page 87, Clarification of Terms, Section 5, "Jesus-Christ", paragraph 2 states: " The name of Jesus is the name of one who was a man but saw the face of Christ in all his brothers and remembered God. So he became identified with Christ, a man no longer, but one with God. The man was an illusion, for he seemed to be a separate being, walking by himself, within a body that appeared to hold his self from Self, as illusions do."

The "channeled spirit" was not from God.

On page 186 of the Text the "spirit" writes, "I do not bring God's message with deception, and you will learn that you always receive as much as you accept."

One does find truth in the writings of "the Course." The following quote would be humorous if it were not for the sad ending of Mrs. Schucman's life, and the influence "the Course" has had on thousands of individuals. Chapter 9, Section IV, paragraph 8, of the Text, page 170 states: "Anyone who elects a totally insane guide must be totally insane himself." Chapter 25, Section VII, paragraph 8, of the Text, page 533, again states: "It would be madness to entrust salvation to the insane."

The writing style of "the Course" is very confusing — but at the same time in some way intellectual and emotionally seductive. The writings may start with a beautiful, seemingly inspired truth and than will slowly drift to confusion — logically ending up with conclusions that are contrary to Sacred Scripture and the teachings of the Church.

The course is "Gnostic" in teaching and practice. The writings deny the reality of physical creation (4). The course acknowledges the need for a novice student to receive training in "the Course" by a teacher that has already received some enlightenment by studying "the Course." A separate teacher's guide forms part of "the Course." As with all "New Age" teachings, seminars are provided — for a fee — to help the individual advance in spirituality.

Some of the beliefs, as written in "the Course" are:

a. REALITY: Reality is illusory.

(1.) From Manual, page 85, "The world you see is an illusion of a world. God did not create it, for what He creates must be eternal as Himself" (Manual, p85).

(2.) "And therefore all your sins have been forgiven because they carried no effects at all. And so they were but dreams" (Manual, p87).

(3.) "Forgiveness through the Holy Spirit lies in looking beyond error from the beginning, and thus keeping it unreal for you" (Text, p169).

b. CREATION/TRINITY: The writings teach that God and His creation are one.

(1.) "There is no separation of God and His creation." (Text, p147)

(2.) "If you are part of one you must be part of the other, because they are one. The Holy Trinity is holy because It is One. If you exclude yourself from this union, you are perceiving the Holy Trinity as separated" (Text, p146).

(3.) "Creation is your will because it is His" (Text, p196).

c. JESUS CHRIST'S ORIGIN: The writings state that Jesus Christ was created (made not begotten).

(1.)"God would not have us be alone because He does not will to be alone. That is why He created His Son, and gave him the power to create with Him" (Text, p150).

d. SALVATION: We do not need a savior. Salvation is nothing more than right mindedness. We are the source of our own salvation.

(1.) "Never forget that the Sonship is your salvation, for the Sonship is your Self. As God's creation It is yours, and belonging to you It is His. Your Self does not need salvation, but your mind needs to learn what salvation is." (Text, p200).

(2.) "My holiness is my salvation." (Workbook, Lesson 58, p97)

(3.) "My salvation comes from me. It cannot come from anywhere else." ..."My salvation cannot come from any of these things. My salvation comes from me and only me."....."My salvation comes from me. Nothing outside of me can hold me back. Within me is the world's salvation and my own." (Workbook, Lesson 70, p120)

(4.) "Whenever two Sons of God meet, they are given another chance at salvation." (Text, P142)

(5.) "We cannot be separated. Whom God has joined cannot be separated, and God has joined all His Sons with Himself." (Text, p150)

(6.) "Yet all loss comes only from misunderstanding. Loss of any kind is impossible." (Text, p152)

(7.) "He will teach you how to see yourself without condemnation, by learning how to look on everything without it. Condemnation will then not be real to you, and all your errors will be forgiven." (Text, p168)

e. GOD: God is your identity, you will be like God.

(1.) " The recognition of God is the recognition of yourself. There is no separation of God and his creation." (Text, p147)

(2.) "God's Name is holy, but no holier than yours. To call upon his Name is but to call upon your own." (Workbook, p342)

(3.) "My decision cannot overcome yours, because yours is as powerful as mine. If it were not so the Sons of God would be unequal." (Text, p145)

(4.) "Our creations are as holy as we are, and we are the Sons of God Himself, as holy as He is." (Text, p150)

(5.) "God Himself is incomplete without me." (Text, p177)

(6.) "God is not jealous of the gods you make, but you are." (Text,p186)

f. SELF: We are sinless and are like God.

(1.) "My true Identity is so secure, so lofty, sinless, glorious, and great, wholly beneficent and free from guilt, that Heaven looks to It to give it light." (Workbook, Lesson 225, p403)

(2.) "You do not know yourself, because you do not know your Creator. You do not know your creations because you do not know your brothers, who created them with you.... He is the co-creator with God and you." (Text, p137)

(3.) "Glory to God in the highest, and to you because He has so willed it." (Text, p141)

(4.) "What God and His Sons create is eternal, and this only is their joy." (Text, p148)

(5.) "God does not contradict Himself, and His Sons, who are like Him, cannot contradict themselves or Him. Yet their thought is so powerful that they can even imprison the mind of God's Son." (Text, p149)

(6.) "God gave you the function to create in eternity." (Text, p168)

g. LAST JUDGMENT: Have no fear of God's Judgment

(1.) "Do not fear the Last Judgment, but welcome it and do not wait, for the ego's time is "borrowed" from your eternity."..... "The Second Coming is the awareness of reality, not its return." (Text, p170)

In dealing with individuals who teach and follow "the Course" one must realize that they probably believe they are truly seeking God in their studies of "the Course." Those trying to follow the teachings would consciously reject all evil. Unfortunately, their beliefs are "Gnostic" and they probably consider a Catholic's devotion to the Faith , given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ, as unenlightened medieval superstition to be rejected by all in this enlightened "new age." The teaching's in "the Course" are particularly attractive to individuals who have fallen away from the faith and find themselves seeking something to fill their spiritual void.

Reading Sacred Scripture is nourishment for the soul, since the words have been inspired by the Holy Spirit. Taking the words of "the Course" into one's heart will lead to a slow spiritual death. It is a book to be avoided at all costs. Unfortunately celebrities such has John Denver have been taken in by the book and have spread its influence.

Source: Catholic Culture


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The Apocalypse

The Apocalypse or Armageddon in Christianity is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, written by St John. It is the last book of the Bible, simply called the Apocalypse. It is predicted by an intersection of religions, science, and prophesies. Many great Prophets, religious scriptures, and scientific evidence point to this apocalyptic event - the end of time; the final conflict between good and evil.

In Christianity, the End Times (the end of days or doomsday) are often depicted as a time of tribulation which precedes the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. He will usher in the fullness of the World to Come and Kingdom of God, and bring an end to suffering and evil and all things wrong with the current world.

Watch this History channel video about the Apocalypse:


Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Part 4



Part 5



Part 6



Part 7



Part 8



Part 9




Below is the trailer from a National Geographic documentary about the Apocalypse:



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Cenacle Of Divine Mercy

In this audio series, Cenacle Of Divine Mercy, Fr. Joe Roesch of the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, and guests , examines and explains the history and devotion to the Divine Mercy.

The Cenacle or the Upper Room was the place where Jesus, on the night before He died, gathered with His Disciples to celebrate the Passover meal.

This 13-week teaching program, Cenacle of The Divine Mercy is based on the the Bible, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and St. Faustina's Diary.

1.	What is Divine Mercy? Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM	cendm01.mp3
	Join Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC and Bryan Thatcher, EADM along with Cenacle prayer group members as they talk about Divine Mercy – what it is and how to experience it in our daily lives.
2.	Who is St. Faustina? Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm02.mp3
	Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members examine the life of St. Faustina and the beginnings of her visions of Divine Mercy.
3.	The Divine Mercy Image Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm03.mp3
	An international devotion to the Divine Mercy Image has developed over many years. In this episode Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members look at the spiritual meaning of the Divine Mercy Image and its timeless message to us today.
4.	Trust Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm04.mp3
	The inscription below the Divine Mercy Image reads, “Jesus, I trust in You.” In this episode Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members use the Diary of St. Faustina to examine what it means to trust God.
5.	Mercy Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm05.mp3
	The inscription below the Divine Mercy Image reads, “Jesus, I trust in You.” In this episode Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members use the Diary of St. Faustina to examine what it means to trust God.
6.	Forgiveness Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm06.mp3
	Through the Diary of St. Faustina, Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members look at God’s wondrous love through his gift of forgiveness.
7.	Reconciliation Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm07.mp3
	In this episode Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members discuss the fact that the only way we can obtain true peace in our souls is through reconciliation with god.
8.	Eucharist Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm08.mp3
	In this episode Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members discuss how the Divine Mercy of God leads us to divine, intimate communion with Him.
9.	Suffering Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm09.mp3
	In this episode Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members discuss how St. Faustina intimately understood suffering and how she learned that suffering was a way to help her abandon all things but God.
10.	The Chaplet Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm10.mp3
	Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group Members talk about the inherent benefits of praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
11.	The Mercy Pope Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm11.mp3
	Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members look at the legacy of Pope John Paul II and his devotion to The Divine Mercy.
12.	Mother of Mercy: Mary Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm12.mp3
	Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members examine Mary’s integral connection to The Divine Mercy.
13.	Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy Host - Fr. Joe Roesch, MIC w/ Bryan Thatcher, EADM w/ Cenacle members	cendm13.mp3
	Fr. Joe, Bryan and the Cenacle Prayer Group members wrap up the series with a discussion of how devotion to The Divine Mercy helps us to incorporate the spiritual and corporal works of mercy into our daily lives.

Source: EWTN

Related post: The Divine Mercy Devotion

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What So Special About The Catholic Church ?

Although there are more than 22,000 types of Christian faiths or denominations in the world today, the Catholic Church is the only Christian church which has tangible proof to have direct apostolic succession to St. Peter; who Christ has called "the Rock".

"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it," said Jesus (Matt. 16:18).

Because of this promise of Jesus Christ to St. Peter, for more than 2,000 years the Catholic Church, despite overwhelming trials and tribulations, has emerged victorious over all its adversaries due to Christ's special protection and blessings. It also remains the bastion of Christianity and has been the guardian of the books of the Bible, Christian art, literature and relics since the dawn of Christianity.

Although the many thousand Christian denominations of various sizes have emerged (and dissipated) over time were also bestowed some gifts of Christ, just as God has promised Abraham and blessed all his descendents including Ishmael, the Catholic Church is the only Christian church which has the fullness of all the gifts of Christ, similar to God's full protection and blessing the decedents of Issac and Jacob. This is not merely a theory or an interpretation, history proves this.

The Catholic Church, founded by Jesus the Christ.

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Catholic Beliefs Supported By Scripture

By Christopher Wong

SOLA SCRIPTURA

Jn 21:25 ... not everything is in the Bible.
2 Thess 2:15; 2 Tim 2:2; 1 Cor 11:2; 1 Thess 2:13 ... Paul speaks of oral tradition.
Acts 2:42 ... early Christians followed apostolic tradition.
2 Pet 3:16 ... Bible hard to understand, get distorted.
2 Jn 1:12; 3 Jn 1:13-14 ... more oral tradition.
2 Pet 1:20-21 ... against personal interpretation.
Acts 8:30-31 ... guidance needed to interpret scriptures.
Heb 5:12 ... need to be taught.


SOLA FIDE

Jas 2:14-26 ... what good is faith w/o works?
Heb 10:26-27, Rom 8:12-13 ... must avoid sin.
Jas 5:20 ... “earning” forgiveness.
Lk 6:46-49; Mt 7:21; Mt 19:16-21; Jn 5:28-29 ... must do will of God.
1 Cor 9:27 ... “buffet my body ...”
Phil 2:12; 2 Cor 5:10; Rom 2:6-13; Mt 25:32-46; Gal 6:6-10; Rev 20:12 ... works have merit.
1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:24; 1 Jn 5:3 ... keep commandments.


SALVATION (ONCE AND FOR ALL?)

1 Cor 9:27 ... after preaching ... I myself disqualified.
1 Cor 10:12 ... thinks that he stands ... lest he fall.
Phil 2:12 ... work out salvation with fear and trembling.
Heb 4:1 ... fear of failing to reach salvation.
1 Jn 5:16-17 ... some sins are mortal, some not.
Rom 11:21-22 ... spare branches, continue or be cut off.
Heb 6:4-8 ... believers can apostatize, be damned.
Heb 10:26-29 ... those sanctified who sin can still be damned.
2 Pet 2:20-21 ... righteous can fall.


DEUTEROCANONICALS

Deuterocanonicals were used in NT: 2 Mach 6:18-7:42 ... Heb 11:35; Wisdom 3:5-6 ... 1 Pet 1:6-7; Wisdom 13:1-9 ... Rom 1:18-32
Septuagint (Gk, w/ Deuterocanonicals) version of OT quoted in NT, noticably different from Hebrew version: Is 7:14 ... Mt 1:23; Is 40:3 ... Mt 3:3; Joel 2:30-31 ... Acts 2:19-20; Ps 95:7-9 ... Heb 3:7-9 etc.


PURGATORY

Lk 12:58-59; 1 Cor 3:15; Mt 5:25-26 ... temporary agony.
Heb 12:6-11 ... God’s painful discipline.
Mt 12:32 ... no forgiveness ... nor in the age to come.
1 Pet 3:18-20 ... might be purgatory (limbo?).
1 Pet 4:6 ... preached to the dead.
Rev 21:27 ... nothing unclean shall enter heaven.
Heb 12:23 ... souls in heaven are perfect.
Col 1:24; 2 Sam 12:13-14 ... “extra” suffering.
2 Mac 12:43-46 ... sacrifice for the dead.
2 Tim 1:15-18 ... prayer for Onesiphorus for “that Day.”
1 Jn 5:14-17 ... mortal/venial sins


EUCHARIST

Mt 26:26-27; Mk 14:22,24; Lk 22:19-20; 1 Cor 11:24-25 ... this is my body ... this is my blood.
1 Cor 11:26-30 ... sinning against the body and blood.
Jn 6:32-58 ... long discourse on Eucharist.
Gen 14:18; Ps 110:4; Heb 7:1-17 ... Melchizedek.
Acts 2:42 ... breaking of bread.
Ps 14:4; Ps 53:4; Is 9:18-20; Is 49:26; Micah 3:2-3; Rev 17:6,16 ... symbolic interpretation of Jn 6 inappropriate.
Ex 12:8,46 ... paschal lamb has to be eaten.
Jn 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7 ... Jesus is lamb of God, paschal lamb.
Jn 4:31-34; Mt 16:5-12 ... Jesus speaks symbolically of food.


BAPTISM

Acts 2:38-39; Acts 16:15, 16:33, 18:8; 1 Cor 1:16 ... suggests baptism of all, incl. children.
Jn 3:5; Rom 6:4; Mk 16:16 ... necessity of baptism.
Col 2:11-12 ... circumcision (normally performed on infants c.f. Lk 2:21; Gen 17:12) replaced by baptism.
Acts 22:16 ... baptism removes sin.
1 Pet 3:21 ... baptism saves by water.


FORGIVENESS OF SINS

Jn 20:22-23 ... “if you forgive ... they are forgiven.”
Mt 18:18 ... binding on earth and heaven.
2 Cor 5:18 ... ministry of reconciliation.
Jas 5:14-16 ... forgiveness of sins, anointing of the sick, confession.


PAPACY/INFALLIBILITY

Mt 16:18-19 ... Jesus gives Peter primacy: rock, keys, binding and loosing.
Is 22:22; Rev 1:18 ... keys as symbol of authority.
Jn 21:17 ... “feed my sheep”
Mt 10:1-4; Mk 3:16-19; Lk 6:14-16; Acts 1:13; Lk 9:32 ... Peter always mentioned first, as foremost apostle.
Mt 18:21; Mk 8:29; Lk 12:41; Jn 6:68-69 ... Peter speaks for the apostles.
Acts 2:14-40 ... Pentecost: Peter who first preached.
Acts 3:6-7 ... Peter worked first healing.
Acts 10:46-48 ... Gentiles to be baptized revealed to Peter.
Jn 1:42 ... Simon is Cephas (Aramaic: Kepha for rock).
Lk 22:31-32 ... “Simon ... strengthen your brethren”.
Lk 10:1-2, 16; Jn 13:20; 2 Cor 5:20; Gal 4:14; Acts 5:1-5 ... “vicars” (substitutes) of Christ.
Mk 6:20; Lk 1:70,2:23; Rom 12:1; Act 3:21, 1 Cor 7:14; Eph 3:5; Col 1:22 ... humans can be holy (“call no one holy”).


“BROTHERS” OF JESUS

Mary wife of Cleophas and “sister” of the Virgin Mary (Jn 19:25) is the mother of James and Joset (Mk 15:47; Mt 27:56) who are called the “brothers of Jesus” (Mk 6:3).
Acts 1:12-15 ... apostles, Mary, “some women” and Jesus’ “brothers” number about 120. That is a lot of “brothers.”
Gen 14:12-14 ... Lot, Abraham’s nephew (Gen 11:26-28), described as Abraham’s brother (KJV).
Gen 29:15 ... Laban, Jacob’s uncle, calls Jacob his “brother” (KJV).
John 19:26-27 ... Jesus gives care of Mary to John, not one of his “brothers.”
2 Sam 6:23, Gen 8:7, Dt 34:6(KJV) ... “until.”
Jn 20:17-18 ... “go to my brethren/brothers”: Mary goes to disciples.


MARY

Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5; 2 Kings 2:1-13 ... Enoch and Elijah taken to heaven.
Lk 1:28 ... annunciation.
Lk 1:42-48 ... blessed among women. All generations shall call her blessed.
2 Tim 4:8, Jas 1:12, 1 Pet 5:4, Rev 2:10 ... coronation awaits saints.
Jn 2:1-5 ... Mary’s intercession.


SAINTS

Mk 12:26-27 ... “not God of the dead, but of the living.”
Jn 15:1-8 ... vine and its branches.
1 Cor 12:25-27; Rom 12:4-5 ... body of Christ.
Eph 6:18; Rom 15:30; Col 4:3; 2 Thess 1:11 ... intercessory prayer.
Jos 5:13-14; Dan 8:15-17; Tobit 12:15-16 ... veneration of angels united with God (Mt 18:10).
1 Cor 13:12; 1 John 3:2 ... saints also united with God.
Lk 20:34-38 ... those who died are like angels.
2 Mac 15:11-16 ... deceased Onias and Jeremiah interceded for Jews.
Rev 8:3-4; Jer 15:1 ... saints’ intercession.
Is 14:9-10, 1 Sam 28:8-19, 1 Pet 3:19, Lk 16:19-31, Mt 17:3, Rev 5:8, Rev 7:9-10, Rev 6:9-10 ... those who have died are not in a coma.


STATUES, IMAGES AND RELICS

Ex 25:18-22, 26:1,31; Num 21:8-9 ... God commands images made.
1 Kings 6:23-29, 35, 7:29 ... Solomon’s temple: statues and images.
Acts 19:11,12 ... Paul’s handkerchiefs and aprons.
2 Kg 13:20-21 ... Elisha’s bones.
Acts 5:15-16 ... Peter’s shadow.
Mt 9:20-22 ... Jesus’ garment cures woman.


CHURCH AND AUTHORITY

Acts 2:42 ... doctrine, community, sacred rite (bread).
Eph 5:25-26 ... Christ loved the Church.
1 Tim 3:15 ... church is pillar/foundation of truth.
Mt 16:18 ... Christ protects Church.
Heb 13:17 ... obey.
Mt 18:17-18 ... church as final authority.
Mt 23:2-3 ... Pharisees succeeded Moses (seat of Moses).
1 Cor 5:5; 1 Tim 1:20 ... excommunication.
Jn 17:21 ... that they may be one.
Jn 10:16 ... one flock, one shepherd.


PRIESTHOOD

Acts 1:15-26; 2 Tim 2:2; Tit 1:5 ...unbroken succession.
Acts 15:6,23; Acts 14:23; 1 Tim 4:14, 5:22; 1 Tim 5:17; Jas 5:13-15 ... presbyters/elders (priests) were ordained, preached and taught the flock, administered sacraments.
Jn 8:56; Lk 16:24; Rom 4:1,16-18; 1 Cor 4:14-15; Acts 7:2; 1 Thess 2:11; 1 Jn 2:13-14 ... “call no one father”?
1 Cor 7:7-9 ... Paul unmarried.
Mt 19:12; 1 Cor 7:32-33, 1 Tim 4:11-12 ... celibacy.
Gen 14:18; Ps 110:4; Heb 7:1-17 ... Melchizedek.
1 Cor 12 ... different roles of members of body.


WORSHIP

1 Kg 8:54; 2 Chr 6:13; Ezra 9:5; Mt 17:14; Lk 5:8 ... kneeling.
Rev 8:3-4 ... incense.
Col 2:16 ... don’t condemn concerning sabbath.
Acts 20:7; 1 Cor 16:2 ... Eucharist, collections on Sundays.
Rev 4:8, Mt 26:44 ... “vain repetition”?


JUSTIFICATION

1 Jn 1:7, 2 Pet 1:9 ... purified from sins.
Jn 1:29, Heb 9:26-28 ... takes away sin.
Acts 3:19; Ps 51:1-2, Ps 103:12, Is 43:25 ... blot out, clear away sin.
Tit 3:5-7 ... regeneration, renewal part of justification.
Rom 2:13, Rom 3:20 ... future justification.
Heb 11:8...Gen 12:1-4; Rom 4:2-3...Gen 15:6; Jas 2:21-23...Gen 22:1-18 ... justifications of Abraham.
2 Pet 1:4 ... become partakers of the divine nature.


MORALITY

Gen 38:9-10 ... Onanism.
Mal 2:14-16 ... God hates divorce.
1 Cor 7:10-11 ... don’t divorce.
Mt 5:32-33; Mt 19:4-6,9; Mk 10:11-12; Lk 16:18 ... Jesus prohibits divorce.

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A History Of Christianity

The history of Christianity is the study of the religion started by a Jewish prophet from Nazareth named Jesus. Christianity would grow into one of the major religions, impacting all other faiths and changing the course of human history. It mainly concerns the Christian religion and Church, from the successor of Jesus, James the Just, up to contemporary times and denominations. Christianity differs most significantly from the other Abrahamic religions in the claim that Jesus Christ is God the Son.

"A History of Christianity" is a 6 part British television series originally broadcast on BBC Four in 2009. The series was presented by Diarmaid MacCulloch, Professor of History of the Church at St Cross College Oxford, and it considers his view of the evolution of the Christian faith and its four main forms: Orthodoxy, Oriental Christianity, Western Catholicism and Protestantism.

This is the video:

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Mysteries Of The Garden Of Eden

This documentary release from the History Channel explores the mythology of the Garden of Eden, the paradise on Earth described in the Bible as existing before the corruption of mankind. Using the expertise of historians and archaeologists, the program examines the origins of the story, and searches for real life places that the location may have existed.

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