On Being Catholic (3)

The following is borrowed largely from the article “This is Why We Are Catholic” by Patti Armstrong, The National Catholic Register. (4/16/2017)

… Some are saints yet all are sinners. And there is always room for one more.   There is no better place for sinners to be—for healing, and worship, and community.

We are the branches and Jesus the vine;  we cling to him through our Church, to keep his life flowing abundantly though us.

To enter our Church, is by way of the narrow gate. Following Christ is challenging and we are always behind in the popularity polls. Regardless of misunderstanding, Church teaching does not restrict, but rather enhances our freedom.  For while we are free to choose, even to sin, we are not free of the consequences of those choices.  Church teaching, that is Christ’s teaching, guides us to the best choices with the best consequences, which leads to becoming our best selves.

Life is not easy, and the Catholic Church cannot make it so, but it can make it better with consolations and grace and truth that never changes. And that is why we are Catholic.

On Being Catholic (2)

The following is borrowed largely from the article “This is Why We Are Catholic” by Patti Armstrong, The National Catholic Register. (4/16/2017)

...We pray for those in purgatory going through purification because nothing unclean will enter Heaven (Revelation 21:27). Jesus let us know that they will not leave until they “have paid the last penny” (Matthew 5:26).

We preach good works as the necessary response to being saved by the death of Jesus Christ. “Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21).  We know we cannot save ourselves, but we have the hope — though not the assurance — of salvation. “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus: 5-7).

While we do not judge individuals we discern good and evil; we hate the sin and yet love the sinner. And we defend life because it is God’s to create and to terminate in his perfect timing. Scandals we know. The misguided blame the Church rather than recognizing scandal as the antithesis of Catholic teaching. Thus, there is never just one victim, for the Church always suffers alongside, betrayed and defiled. (To be continued)

On Being Catholic (1)

The following is borrowed largely from the article “This is Why We Are Catholic” by Patti Armstrong, The National Catholic Register. (4/16/2017)

Often, misunderstood. Nonetheless, we are enduring, resistant to whims, and unafraid to stand alone. History is on our side and so is Scripture.

We are members of the Church founded by Jesus Christ and yet, we are not better or more loved than any of God’s children — we simply embrace all the gifts that God provides.  And thus, we are challenged, for to whom much is given, much is expected.

Jesus comes to us uniquely in Holy Communion. And we go to him in Confession where Jesus, through the authority he has conferred to the priest, absolves us of our sins. “… he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.’” (John 21-23).

It is a misunderstanding to consider us rude to visitors at Mass during Holy Communion, for the Eucharist is for all who believe and are one with us. The Eucharist is not ours to give. “For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves,” (1 Corinthians 11:29). To allow non-believing guests to take Communion is to be far, far worse than rude.

It is a misunderstanding to think us uptight for reserving procreation for marriage and warning against contraception. Pope Paul VI’s 1968 encyclical Humanae Vitae reemphasized that constant teaching which all Christian denominations once followed.  Then too, there is the teaching that marriage, once validly begun, is until death. Because Jesus said so.

Wrapping Up...

I want to conclude this series by recalling the quandary confronting Fr. Longenecker and the insight he received from the Abbot of Quarr Abbey (a Benedictine monastery on the Isle of Wight) who counseled:

“Sometimes we have to deny some lesser good in order to affirm the greater good. I think you have to deny women’s ordination in order to affirm the apostolic ministry. If the apostolic authority says no to women’s ordination, then to affirm the greater good of apostolic authority you will have to deny the lesser good of women’s ordination. Because if we deny the greater good, then eventually we will lose the lesser good as well.”

In this series of columns, you have heard the rationale for belief in a creator that is far more reasonable than the beliefs of those who don’t know God.

You have heard the reasons for believing that this creator has given us the Bible, and his Son. You have heard the rationale for why Christ died for us all, and reasons for believing he subsequently rose. And finally, that he founded the Catholic Church for the benefit of us all.

My hope is that by grasping the reasonableness of Catholicism you have found your Catholic voice and can fulfill what the Catholic Catechism calls our obligation to “spread and defend the faith by word and deed.” (CCC 1285) (emphasis added).