Reflections: The Summons

Well, it's nearly the end of my planned time blogging on The Summons. The original purpose of this blog was for a Theology project, and although I did not always keep up with post updates, I did enjoy writing posts as I gradually caught up to my quota. The Summons has given me an opportunity to reflect what I have learned in class and apply it toward the theme of holiness. This will be my last post on here, but I plan to keep this blog open for any potential readers, that they may find my work useful and apply it to their journey toward holiness, and most especially, toward becoming a man fully alive. 

However, before I close, I would like to answer why I titled my blog "The Summons." In the Holy Liturgy, The Summons is the title to one of my favorite liturgical songs, and it fits perfectly with the theme of this blog: to reflect and inspire all of us who are on the pilgrimage to holiness. I listen to it, and I instantaneously feel enlightened and empowered to follow Christ. I listen, and I know what it takes to follow Him. I listen, and I know that I truly love Christ. 

Thank you all for reading; it has been a good run. I have truly enjoyed writing for all of you, and hope that maybe one day, I will revive The Summons, and continue reflecting and inspiring you all on your path to holiness. Thank you and God bless. 

Holiness: Man Fully Alive

"The glory of God is man fully alive" - St. Iranaeus

What on earth does this quote mean? What is man fully alive? How is it the glory of God?

From the very beginning of creation, God intended for us to be in communion, communion with the birds, the fish, the animals, with each other, and especially with Himself. God created the world free of sin. All existed in perfect harmony in the garden of Eden. However, Adam and Eve, the first humans, ruptured this state of perfection, by taking fruit from the Tree of Life and consuming it, despite explicit instructions in refraining from doing so. On top of that, Adam and Eve lied to God when He questioned them, and put the blame for the deed on each other and ultimately the serpent.

From then on, all descendants of Adam and Eve would be plagued by Original Sin. Concupiscence, which is the tendency to sin, will govern us for generations. From Noah, to Abraham, to David, God works with us. After the flood and events with Noah, God sees the potential for good in us, and begins guiding us. For no other reason than love, God raises us out of the deep, endless pit of sin that we have fallen into; He raises us up higher than we were before Original Sin. Through the savior Jesus Christ, we were freed from sin, and are able to know and love God not as a transcendent being, but as our King, our savior, our friend, and especially our Father and brother.

God sending His son, Christ, to die for our sake, and rising and freeing us from our greatest enemy: sin, could not have been anything but a gesture out of love. God stuck by us, despite all the damage we have caused, and has raised us up higher than we have ever been. Yet after all this, God continues to give us free choice. God loves us so much that after all this work He has put in, He respects us and loves us so much that He is once again giving us the choice to grab hold of His hand, and climb out of the pit of sin and death, or fall back into pitch black emptiness.

"The glory of God" refers to the love that God has for us, and His desire for us to be with Him. "Man fully alive" is us, all of us, from Adam and Eve until the end of time, accepting His love, accepting His grace, dwelling with Him in heaven.

Reflections: The Priesthood

More people are joining the priesthood. Isn't that contrary to today's society? According to this article, it's not.

One would typically that the Catholic Church is rapidly shrinking, especially in the United States. America's "free society" would typically be thought of as a breeding ground for atheism, selfishness, greed. However, contrary to this, America has become a birthplace for many young priests who wish to follow in the footsteps of Christ. Ironic isn't it?

As stated by Brett Meltzer in the article, "I think that's why so many people come into the seminary and so many of the youth is starting to go to church now. Because they're realizing that fulfillment and happiness isn't found in what the culture is telling them it's found in." The "culture" Brett is referring to is the widespread American belief that salvation is found from within, that self-improvement comes from ourselves. Obviously this is an extremely errant view. Salvation, from our part, requires faith. It requires giving ourselves to God, as Brett has done, and letting Him take over. Ultimately, God himself is the only one who can bride the gap created by sin.

Giving oneself to God is a wondrous experience, and is rewarding in more ways than one could imagine. God is calling several of us to join His mission, and help combat the atheism, selfishness, and greed that plaques America today. Brett, among one of them, has answered this call, and serves as an example that all of us are called into a life holiness.

Reflections: Fishers of Men

What makes a hero? Does it have to be a man in a cape? Do they have to have superpowers?

Heroes exist. They can be as obvious as a soldier fighting for freedom, or a parent raising their child the right way. However, would you ever think of a priest as a hero? Personally, the thought never came to mind. But after watching Fishers of Men, I have a new perspective on the priesthood.

The priesthood is not glorious, nor is it rewarding in the sense that you are frequently praised for your efforts. The priesthood is a special calling. Priests are unique. Living a life of Christ is not easy, and these select few men are called by God to give their own lives in example to others, and do so every second of every day. Priests are called to be in service to others. They are able to intimately bond with their communities, and be there for them, be part of the special moments of their life. Priests are there when you are born, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Priests are there to confirm them, they're there when they get married, they're there when they fall ill, they're there when they have greatly sinned and need reconciliation. Every step of the way priests are with us, teaching us and guiding us.

A hero is not defined by the amount of glamour he or she receives, nor the bad guys they defeat, but rather, they are defined by the deeds they do in service of others. Priests are heroes. They don't need a fancy cape, just Christ. They don't need superpowers; they have Christ. Priests live their entire life to be in service for us, to be there in our moments of need, and to bring us closer to God every Sunday. They are an example of what good we can accomplish in service of others; they are teachers.

Holiness: Confession

Sin is an infinite offense against God. We all sin, and as a result, there is an infinite gap between us and God that only continues to grow bigger and wider with every sin we commit. How are we to bridge this gap? We humans are finite; God is infinite. Therefore, only God himself is able to bridge this infinite gap. 

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Confession, offers us an opportunity to receive God's grace. To take part first requires an "I'm sorry." A perfect contrition, or sorrowfulness, is feeling truly sorry for your sins and taking responsibility for it. Imperfect contrition is technically being sorry, however, one does not yet fully grasp the severity of the offense. Whether imperfect or perfect, confession requires at least one. 

Confession is an intimate experience. You feel sorry, and you share your sins with a priest. The priest is acting in persona Christi, or "in the person of Christ." So essentially, you are talking directly to God himself. This allows for a special intimacy to occur, and further builds our relationship with God, hence the term "reconciliation." 

Holiness: Responsibility

What is so difficult about taking responsibility for our own actions? Why are we afraid to admit that we made an honest mistake?

Mistakes, failures, all a part of life. With every up must come a down. Like with the Great Depression. The US economy steadily grew and grew, but with all that upward growth must come a downward spiral.

Everyone makes mistakes, so what makes us so afraid of the responsibility? The shame, the feeling of failure, perhaps. But, the experience allows for growth. I mean, what if we had not learned not to put our hands on hot objects? Who knows? Maybe eventually we would have stuck our whole arm on the stove and set ourselves on fire. Mistakes are a part of life and growth. Part of making a mistake is the responsibility that goes along with it. Accepting responsibility shows maturity, that we are able to say "yes I accept the consequences, and I have learned from this experience." Through this, we are able to learn and grow into better men and women, and eventually bring upon our children, and even grandchildren, the lessons we have learned from our past mistakes.

Holiness: Sportsmanship

Sportsmanship. An aspect that is all too often forgotten in modern-day sports. I recall a lecture that my coach gave us earlier this year, the day after one of our first Water Polo games of the season. The day before, our varsity had beaten a team 18-0. But was this really a win? No. The game was not a win. Our team may have won on paper, but our opponent left feeling like they just played against "a group of spoiled rich kids."

Part of playing a sport is the opportunity to represent your school. It is an opportunity to show the very best player inside of you, and play against another team doing the exact same. Being a good player comprises your skill at the sport, but it also comprises your character. How are you going to act on and off the field? How are you going to act if you win or lose? Winning or losing is merely a state of mind. If you really did play your best and gave it your all, maintained sportsmanship, and accepted that you lost on paper, then you did win.

We need to be respectful when we compete, not only to our opponent but ourselves. A game is just that, a game. It is not the end of the world if you lose. Winning does not make you all powerful. Not all schools may have a sports program as established as others. We should be respectful and fortunate that we have the opportunity to compete against them in the first place. In time, their program will grow, and one day they could be a formidable opponent to truly give a challenge to all who face them.

Sports may allow us to stay fit and compete. But what else? They are an opportunity to compete. They are an opportunity to be the very best of who we are. But not only that, but sports opens the doors to friendships, lessons in life. Playing is only half the game. It is how the players carry themselves on and off the field that truly defines how a game is played.

Holiness: Losing

What is it about losing that gets us down? Is it that we were outmatched by our opponent? Or rather, that the loss makes us feel like we did not try out very best? How about that losing is just the worst thing that could ever happen and the world will end if we don't win? 

Losing is part of life, or rather, failure is a part of life. We can't all be winners all the time, I mean think about it. If everything we did was perfect, what would there be to strive for? Life would be pretty boring, wouldn't it? Our mistakes are a way of learning. Mistakes are good; they help us grow. Otherwise, why would God allow them? God would only allow something bad to happen in the first place if he saw the greater good coming out of it. 

But even if we know this, why do we still get down when we lose? It takes a strong person to accept a loss, and an even stronger person to take it even further, and love their opponent, and sincerely congratulate them on their victory. Losing does not necessarily mean you are not good enough, but that your opponent performed better in that particular situation.  Losing is not the end of the world, but rather it is the beginning of a new opportunity. The opportunity to take the mistakes you made and your failures, and improve upon them, build upon them.  

Reflections: Ronald Davis

"Wait a minute, I'm not a bum, I'm a human being."

These are the words of Ronald Davis, a homeless man who was interviewed in a moving video that is currently going viral all over the internet. Ronald's words serve as testimony to the cruel, cold life that people like you and me endure everyday. These people are in our communities, on the streets we drive on every day, they may even be having a cup of coffee in the doughnut shop you stop in on your way to work. How immoral is it that we get to have a nice warm bed, a nice home, a job, and people just like Ronald have had all these stripped away and are struggling to survive?

What do we normally think of homeless people? In the interview with Ronald, the word bum was mentioned, along with the common "get a job!" phrase. We tend to not think too highly of homeless people. It is ironic that we see them everyday, but few of us stop to offer some aid, and fewer even look deeper into their situation. Sadly, most of us are the "get a job" sayers. However, think for a second. Who would want to hire a homeless person? They have no home, they drag with them the filth of street life, and who knows what history they have? What if they are some kind of serial killer? Yeah, didn't think so.

Homeless is simply a state of being. These are just ordinary people created by God, just like you and me. Just because they are deprived of a home does not take away their dignity as a human person. People like Ronald are fully capable in doing good for society, but what they need is not so much money or food, but rather, an opportunity.

Reflections: All Are Welcome!

Today I will reflect on an article by Cardinal Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York. In his article, Cardinal Dolan talks to us about the classic saying of "hate the sin, love the sinner." After reading the article, I would just like to elaborate on a few of his points.

First, Cardinal Dolan talks about the prominent issue in today's society known as abortion. He states "the Church loves, welcomes, and respects a woman who has had an abortion, and the man who fathered the child and encouraged the abortion...but would be united with them in mourning and regretting that deadly choice." In other words, the Church has a solid stance on its role in defending life and most importantly, creation. However, just because abortion is a mortal sin does not mean that anyone associated with the process is excommunicated from the Church. Rather, the fact that they have sinned greatly increases the need for the Church, her comfort, and her support.

Second, Cardinal Dolan also talks about the the Church's stance on homosexuality, stating "The Church loves, welcomes, and respects a woman or man with a same-sex attraction...while reminding him or her of our clear teaching that, while the condition of homosexuality is no sin at all, still, God's teaching is clear that sexual acts are reserved for a man and woman united in the lifelong, life-giving, faithful, loving bond of marriage." One of the main causes of dispute is the misunderstanding of the Catholic Church's stance on homosexuality. Homosexuals are in fact welcome in the Catholic Church. The Church respects them and sees them as people, just like heterosexuals. However, the Church hates the act of sexual intercourse between a same-sex couple. This goes back to the Church's role in defending life and creation, and since same-sex couples are not capable of yielding life, the Church cannot condone such an act.

Vocation: The Priesthood

Today's post will discuss the recent ordination of a Kentucky woman as a priest. In recent years, many have been questioning the Church's ordination of only males into the priesthood. Some take it as the Church is not open to women doing a "man's job," or that the Church is prejudice against females. However, there is a deeper question to be answered here. That question is "what exactly is a vocation?"

A vocation is something we are called to, not something we can easily pick and choose. When pertaining to the priesthood, a vocation is a call from God Himself. One of the biggest misconceptions in today's society is that the priesthood is simply a job that anyone can apply for. The priesthood is a vocation, not a job. Priests are called by God to serve him; to teach, sanctify, and govern. 

The main reason the Church has her current stance on the ordination of female priests is because Christ's Apostles were all men. Even then Christ was not prejudice against women, but rather, to much objection from the authorities, had women, such as Mary Magdalene, as disciples. 

The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano

How many times have we gone to Mass and thought? Is this really the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior? Or is the priest just saying that?

Back in the 8th century, after the death of Christ of course, occurred the first and greatest Eucharistic Miracle in the entire history of the Catholic Church. In the small Church of St. Leogontian, a Basilian monk was celebrating Mass. Right as he consecrated the Eucharist, the host miraculously morphed into live Flesh and the wine into live Blood. The miracle has remained intact throughout the centuries, and can be seen even today.

How do we know this isn't a fake, you may ask? Well, a scientific investigation was conducted by Professor Odoardo Linoli with the assistance of Professor Ruggero Bertelli in 1970 and '71. Linoli was a Professor in Anatomy, Pathological Histology, Chemistry, and Clinical Microscopy. Their investigation yielded the following conclusions:

• The Flesh is real Flesh. The Blood is real Blood.
  
• The Flesh and the Blood belong to the human species.
  
• The Flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart.
  
• In the Flesh we see present in section: the myocardium, the endocardium, the vagus nerve and also the left ventricle of the heart for the large thickness of the myocardium.
  
• The Flesh is a "HEART" complete in its essential structure.
  
• The Flesh and the Blood have the same blood-type: AB (Blood-type identical to that which Prof. Baima Bollone uncovered in the Holy Shroud of Turin).
  
• In the Blood there were found proteins in the same normal proportions (percentage-wise) as are found in the sero-proteic make-up of the fresh normal blood.
  
• In the Blood there were also found these minerals: chlorides, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium.
  
• The preservation of the Flesh and of the Blood, which were left in their natural state for twelve centuries and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon.

The Eucharistic Miracle is the greatest of its kind in the history of the Church. To this day, it continues to deepen the faith of the members of the Catholic Church and persuade non-Christians to a second look at the Miracle of Jesus Christ. 

Works Cited

The Real Presence. Real Presence Eucharistic Education and Adoration Association. Web. 8 May 2013. 

http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/mir/lanciano.html

Science, Intellect, God

Science and religion are often separated in contemporary society. Today, atheistic ideas regarding science as the sole means to the secrets of the universe run rampant. Through science, we can conquer disease, death. Our intellect allows us to uncover the secrets of the universe, create gadgets straight out of science fiction, bring new ideas to life. 

This idea is the complete opposite of what is true. Our intellect is a gift from God. It is through our intellect that we are able to learn and come to know our Holy Father. The gift of intellect allows us to take the crazy ideas that are given to us by God and bring them to life. 

For example, take recent advancements such as Google Glass, a gadget composed of computerized glasses. This idea popped straight out of science fiction on the big screen to a reality that exists in everyday life. A rather arrogant way of taking this accomplishment would be "Hey! I don't need God, we created this technology with our minds alone.Our minds can do anything!." The truth is, God gave us this new technology for a reason. We are called to use whatever gifts he presents us with in service of others. For instance, one way we could use this technology would be an app that would monitor blood pressure for those who have heart problems. There are endless possibilities for the usage of Glass, and all the other advancements as well.

Technology is an important part of our daily lives, and we often abuse the privilege of science and intellect that got us there. It is important to remember that it is God who got us where we are, and without God, we are nothing. Although technology and science are great, God is greater. Science is a gift from our faith in God. 

A History: The Catechumenate

Today let us take a look at the history of the Sacrament of Baptism. Back in the early days of the Church, those who wished to join were initiated through a process known as the Catechumenate.  Through this process, the Church would instruct in the teachings of the Faith and prepare for the Sacraments of Initiation. Over the years, it became tradition to Baptize these new members into the Church at the Easter Vigil, or the night before the commemoration of the Resurrection. In recent years, this same process can be seen in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults, or RCIA.

The Sacraments and Human Nature

Human nature is a strange thing. We consistently require a need for a physical representation. We are unable to fully believe on faith alone. We need evidence, proof. 

St. Thomas Aquinas wrote that humanity is led by physical things, things that we can interact with through the five senses. God dispenses His grace through the sacraments. Although the sacraments each dispense spiritual grace, each has its own unique physical representation. For example, take the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Of course you could just go to the priest and say "Forgive me for I have sinned" and the priest would reply "You are forgiven" and we could all skip happily into the sunset. However, as humans, we need to feel forgiven. We need a sign to reassure ourselves that yes, God still loves me and He has forgiven me. As a result, we confess our sins to the priest, and he gives us absolution in the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

Another example is in the Eucharist. Sure, God could have just told us we are saved, but how long are we going to believe that? Instead, God sacrificed Himself on the Cross and instituted the sacrament of the Eucharist. We are able to remember His death and resurrection every time we go to Mass and relive the last supper, consuming the Body and Blood of Christ. 

We have events such as banquets and graduation ceremonies so as to have a tangible experience to our actions. Such applies to the sacraments. God has given a means to receiving His grace through a physical experience. It is through the experience that we build our relationship with God and continue on the path to greater holiness. 

Holiness: The Liturgy

What is liturgy? What is its purpose?

Liturgy derives from the Greek ergos ("work"), and leiton ("of the people").  Leitourgia (from the 3rd century BC Greek translation of the Old Testament) was a term for the worship led by the Levite priests of the Temple on behalf of the people. Since then, leitourgia has evolved into the liturgy we know and love today. Liturgy has come to define the Church's public and official worship of God. This includes the Mass as well as the official rites and cerimonies.

The liturgy's purpose is diverse: giving glory and honor to God, building the faith of the people, instructing the faithful in the Faith. It is also an exercise of the priestly office of Christ, which the Church continues under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Holiness: A Life of Prayer

What is so important about prayer? I mean it's weird isn't' it? You see people just sitting there staring into space, or talking to themselves? Are Christians insane?

Prayer is basically a conversation with God himself. A well-formed life of prayer strengthens our relationship with God. Why care? God responds to us through prayer. Prayer is how God communicates with us. If we're going through difficult times, prayer can comfort us and offer hope for better times. If we're struggling with a decision, God can talk to us through prayer and guide us in making the right choice. 

On the path to holiness, prayer plays a significant role in getting us there. Through prayer, we can build on our relationship with God. Through prayer, God guides us on the road to holiness. 

St. Gianna Beretta Molla

St. Gianna Beretta Molla. Wife, mother, doctor who dwelt on this planet back in the mid-twentieth century. But what about her makes her worthy of the title "saint?"

Gianna was born into a rather large, but devoted Catholic family. In her early years, she contemplated a religious life, but ultimately chose to pursue a career in medicine. But even here, she did not completely put aside her religious devotion. Much of her free time was spent on charity work, and upon her graduation, she immediately went to work, opening a clinic in her hometown for the poor and elderly. Later, she obtained an additional degree in children's medicine so that she would be able to give proper care to the mothers and their young who came to her for help.

In her later years, she would marry a gentleman by the name of Pietro Molla. The two would joyfully celebrate the births of three children, Pierluigi, Mariolina, and Laura. However, in the fall of 1961, after two miscarriages, Gianna once again became pregnant. What made this event significant, is the fact that a tumor was discovered, which threatened both her life and the life of her future child. Gianna was urged by her doctors to abort her child, so as to save her own life. To her, this was completely unacceptable and stated "If you must decide between me and the child, do not hesitate. Choose the child - I insist on it. Save the baby."

Nine months later, on the Good Friday of 1962, checked into the hospital and the following day, gave birth to Gianna Emanuela. Gianna's doctor's fought and struggled to save her life as well, but ultimately the complications of childbirth proved too much for the elderly woman to bear. She died exactly one week after the birth of her newborn child.

Gianna's actions are a perfect fulfillment of John 15:13, "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." She was later canonized by Pope Blessed John Paul II in 2004.

The Universal Call to Holiness

"Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect," (Matthew 5:48).

Although perfection is an aspect that no human could ever achieve, each of us is constantly called to greater holiness through charity, prayer, and especially the New Commandment of Love. There are a select few of us who are called to holiness through the priesthood, and another group of us who are called to join the special group known as the laity. The laity composes of lay men and lay women who engage in everyday activities, and evangelize and sanctify the world "from within." These men and women are the "front lines" in the Church's evangelical mission.

How does one seek holiness through the laity? This requires more than just attending mass once a week or volunteering for service hours at a retirement home or homeless shelter. God calls us to seek holiness in every part of our lives: work, school, home, friends, family, etc. A proper response to the call to holiness would be:

• Actively participating in the liturgy (i.e. altar serving, attending mass daily)
• Frequent reception of the Sacraments (especially of the Eucharist and Reconciliation)
• Forming an active life of prayer
• Applying the practices of sacrifice and self-denial
• Sanctifying all part of life (ordinary and within the Church)

We should put as many of these practices into our ordinary lives as possible. Through their application, we may grow closer to God and aid in sanctifying the world to make it a better place. 

The Church in the Life of the Faithful

Does the Church play a major or minor role in the life of the faithful? Should it?

Each of us is called by Christ to follow in his footsteps, to live a life of Christ. He outlined what it means to live a life of Christ in the Beatitudes. Christ knows not all of us can easily leave our rich, luxurious lifestyles to follow him, but he calls us to give what we can. However, there are a select few who are called by Christ to follow him. These men join the clergy or become members of holy orders such as the Jesuits. There is also another group of the faithful which are not consecrated to Holy Orders known as the laity. These individuals "sanctify from within." They are the "front lines" of the Church's work towards salvation. They serve others in their daily lives, teach them, mentor them. They visit the elderly, they serve food to the homeless. They evangelize through their everyday family and professional activities.

Rites of the Catholic Church

The Church, since her earliest days has continued growing and spreading to the ends of the earth. With her growth, came expressions of worship specific to the various regions the Church occupied, which are referred to as "rites." There are twenty-one rites of the Catholic Church, all of which are in communion with the Catholic Church and share in the same apostolic origin and Sacraments. The rites are different forms of worship unique to the individual cultures that separate them. A few examples of rites would be the Alexandrian, Antiochene, Armenian, Byzantine, and Chaldean rites.

It is great that the Catholic Church has different forms of worship within her. This allows us to not just be constrained to the traditional liturgy, but rather, be able to experience several modes of worship that have been touched by cultural presence in the Church. Through the rites, we can each have a special form of worship specific to a culture, and yet be in communion with the Catholic Church and share in the same body and blood of Jesus Christ.

The Fourth Mark: Apostolic

Since her founding at the time of Christ, the Church has continued to grow. But how has the Church remained intact all these years?

The answer lies within the Deposit of Faith - specifically, Sacred Tradition. The Eucharist, the Gospel, Sacred Scripture...all have been passed from generation to generation. How fascinating is it that the Eucharist we celebrate at Sunday Mass today has been handed down for over 2,000 years? 

The original twelve continued ordaining members as Bishops, as seen with the election of St. Matthias, and deacons, as seen with St. Stephen. Why is this important? Well think, could twelve bishops each succeed in governing a diocese the size of a continent? Probably not. This is why the authority in which Christ ordained his Apostles is passed down to each bishop. However, the term "Apostle" is still reserved specifically for the original twelve. Bishops and cardinals today possess the same authority to "bind and loose" as the twelve Apostles, which can be seen in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which a bishop or priest forgives us of our sins, essentially "freeing" us.

How can we participate in the Apostolic mark of the Church? As humans, we are continually called by God in the universal call to holiness. Christ gave us the beatitudes, which outlined how to follow in a life of Christ. However, not everyone can just leave everything, and this is why we are only asked to give what we can. But for those few who are able to drop everything to follow God, they participate directly in the Apostolic mark of the Church by joining the clergy or in Holy Orders. There are also members of the faithful who go above and beyond, yet are not ordained as a member of the clergy or a member of Holy Orders. This special group is referred to as the laity, and their job is to "sanctify from within," or help to sanctify in their day to day life. 

The Third Mark: Catholic

Catholic. Translated into "universal." How does the Church live up to that title today?

In Matthew 28:19, Christ commissions the Apostles to "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit." Today, the Church continues her mission, having spread to many of the earth's countries, and continually welcoming members into the family of God. As you can see in the map, Catholics are predominately in South America and Europe. Other countries have little or no population of Catholics. However, it is probably safe to say that wherever people are, the Church will follow.

Today, it can be especially hard to follow the Catholic Church. Within the Church herself, there are tens of thousands of schismatic beliefs branching from her, and that does not include non-Christian beliefs, of which there are many more. However, it is important that we stand by our faith in the Catholic Church, and do our best to draw people into her, as Christ's mission is not complete until the world believes in Him.

Source: Wikipedia.org

The Second Mark: Holy

How is the Church Holy? The Holiness of the Church is attributed to three reasons:

1. The Church is Holy because of her origin.
2. The Church is Holy because of her mission. 
3. The Church is Holy because of her destination. 

The Catholic Church was instituted by Christ and carried on from the twelve Apostles. Jesus Christ is God, and since God is all-good and can only allow goodness to come into being, His Church must share in His goodness. Christ commissioned His Apostles to teach, sanctify, and govern. The Church continues her mission today throughout the world, shepherding her flock until Christ's return at the end of time. 

The First Mark: One

What does it mean to say the Church is One? What about Holy? Catholic? Apostolic? We say these in the Nicene Creed over and over again, but exactly what do they mean to us? Are they simply words we utter from our mouths, or do they have a deeper, theological and historical purpose?

The Church is One through her teachings, leadership, and faith.

Unity in faith originates in the people of the Church. Their faith comes from the time of Baptism, in which the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity are infused within them. Faith allows for the belief in the Holiness of the Church, her message, and her mission.

Unity in leadership is found in the hierarchy of the Church. There are priests and bishops all around the world fulfilling Christ’s mission to teach, sanctify, and govern. Bishops represent their people when communicating with the

Vatican. The Pope is the head of the entity of the Church on Earth, and represents her as such. The people of God are united under the Pope and his bishops.

Unity in teaching can be seen when a doctrine declaring a truth is issued. For example, if the Pope issued a doctrine on the Immaculate Conception, the bishops are responsible for teaching the doctrine to their people. In turn, it is the responsibility of the people of the Church to accept the doctrine as truth and include it in their belief of the Catholic faith. The Church is also united in teaching in that the same Eucharist is celebrated throughout the world, and has been for the last two thousand years. The Church teaches the same Sacred Scripture everywhere, and delivers it in the native tongue of each region.

Throughout the centuries, heresy, schism, and apostasy have ruptured the unity of the Church. Ecumenism, the belief of uniting the various Churches into one single Church, is stressed by the leaders of the Catholic Church. Christian’s are encouraged to pray for unity, as Christ intended to have one flock.

Indulgences

What is an indulgence? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, an indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven
(CCC 1471). For example, lets say Bob stole a piece of gum. Bob feels guilty, returns the gum, then goes to confession. Even though he was absolved of all sin, he still bears the guilt of his sin, and he may also be watched when he goes shopping at the store. An indulgence is simply a task one performs to reconcile with the party that one has sinned against. So lets say that the manager of the store sees that Bob is a nice kid, he may give him a task to earn back the trust of the store. Once Bob does said task, he will be able to freely shop at the store.

In real life, indulgences are used by the Catholic Church on occasion. However, only the Pope and his bishops may assign them. The Pope has the ability to give them as he sees fit, however, the bishops may only give an indulgence once a year, and they have a set of restricted guidelines to follow.

All of us here are sinners. Those of us in the Catholic Church go to confession and receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. However, too often we do not take the extra step to reconcile with those we have hurt. Accepting responsibility for your actions may give you good character, but reconciling with those you have sinned against can make you holy. So long as there is a rift between the affected parties, the relationship will never be the same.

A Quote of Mine...

"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart." - Anne Frank

One of my favorite quotes. I admire Anne for being able to say this, even after all she went through. She may have been Jewish, but yet she still follows Christ's words in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant:"'Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"' Jesus answered," I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times,'" (Matthew 18:21-22).


God can only allow good to come into being. Even if he allowed something bad to happen, it was definitely for the greater good. God created all of us to be good all the way from the time of Adam and Eve. Even though we have fallen into sin, we are all still capable of good. None of us are born and immediately decide to sin and harm others. The process has to do with the environment we are raised in. For example, could we blame a teenager for stealing and resisting authority if all that's all they know? It can be difficult to change if you've been living a lifestyle for your entire life. But, underneath that rebel teenager is one really nice kid. Changing someone requires a significant amount of time and effort, which today's American justice system lacks the resources to do. However, the rewards are far worth the investment.

Zzzzzzz

Lets face it. As teenagers in high school, most of us tend to doze off in at least one of our classes. But is that really what we should be doing?

When we go to school, we have an obligation to pay attention in class. Our parents pay tax dollars for us to attend public school, and even more for those in private schools. When we sleep in class, we not only risk the in-school consequences, but also we waste our parents' money. But what if the teacher doesn't care if you sleep in their class? Why should I have to pay attention? I could be having a much needed power nap right now!

In this situation, we are presented with a choice: to sleep or stay awake. Of course, some of us may have had a long night or the teacher is simply a walking lullaby. But, it is still our responsibility to know the material. After all, it would be useful to know that bleach and ammonia is a no no. Or, how to find a geometric mean. Who knows? Maybe the stuff we learn in class might actually apply to our lives.

Love: The Church's Teaching

What does the Church teach on love? To answer this, let us take a look at John 15:12, where Jesus says "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you." Jesus perfects the Decalogue, or the Ten Commandments, and replaces it with one single one. However, His new commandment of love is the hardest of all. Jesus is calling us to show love even in the most difficult of circumstances, as said in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant "'Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?"' Jesus answered," I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times,'" (Matthew 18:21-22). We constantly sin against Christ, but yet He forgives us every time.

Jesus is calling us to do the same, by showing infinite love to our brothers and sisters, even if they should sin against us. Let us follow the path of Christ, and be more forgiving toward our brothers and sisters. After all, there is only one Earth, and we have to share it as we await for the return of our lord and savior. 

Love: Subjective or Objective?

Today's post is about love. Is it subjective or objective? First , let us define "subjective." Subjective pertains to one specific individual; it is a personal idea or opinion. Objective refers to purely the facts, free from the distortion of personal thoughts or feelings.

Let us look at an example: a mother's love for her child. Objectively, she is supposed to love her child unconditionally. Unfortunately, we all know that this tends to vary between mothers. Subjectively, one mother may spoil her child, while another may abuse him or her. While these are the broad ends of the spectrum, we are all human, and therefore, are not perfect. Only God is perfect, and his love for us is infinite. He loves us to the extent that He died for all of us, despite all the opposition we gave him.

Christ's redemption is objective. He redeemed us all on His Cross, and freed us from sin. However, subjectively, we still need to respond to His call. While God may have redeemed us all, He still gives us the free will to accept or deny that redemption.

Service Projects

Service. Probably the most obvious answer to the question of "how can I holy?". However, most of us have neither the time not the willingness to just go out and work for no pay. Is there even a benefit to volunteering? What's the point?
I just finished a reflection paper of my recent service project to the mentally ill. I volunteered at two places: a Church where a gala-type event was being held in which I was serving food to the mentally ill, and a retirement home that comprised mostly mentally ill and disabled patients. Most of us probably don't frequently interact with mentally ill people, and in the event that we do, we have no idea how to treat them. Service projects are a great way to meet all types of people. Through them, we can learn how to deal with different people, and make friends along the way. Learning social skills is an important part for any job, as no matter where you go, you will have to encounter people one way or another. Service can help you gain these skills, while also giving back to the community.

Marriage: What's the Problem?

So what exactly is the problem with the issue of same-sex marriages? Why is the Catholic Church against it?
First, let us define "marriage." Marriage is a sacrament of the Church, and is solely defined as the union of one man and one woman. Bearing children is also a part of marriage, as defined in Genesis 2:28 "God blessed them and God said to them: Be fertile and multiply." Same-sex couples are neither, and since the Church is pro-creation, it is unable to support same-sex marriage.
However, people will inevitably choose to live that lifestyle. Who are we to deny them the same benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy? I mean, something as basic as sharing a health insurance plan or claiming social security is important in their life. But, either way, Marriage is a sacrament and must be protected. What advocates for same-sex marriages are looking for is a Civil Union with the same federal benefits as traditional Marriage. The problem is that we use the two terms Civil Union and Marriage interchangeably, when they are completely different.

Good Friday

Hello all! Today is Good Friday. Most of us are off from school and are just relaxing in the comfort of our own homes. I myself am spending the day playing Halo 4 and Wizard101. But, I ask, is it even possible to be holy by spending your entire day playing games?

Most of us would probably think being holy involves dramatic acts of goodness, such as pushing someone out of the way of a speeding car, or volunteering at a homeless shelter. However, it is possible to be holy by spending your day in front of a computer screen. But how, you may ask. The answer lies with how you play your game.

For example, lets say I'm playing Halo 4 multiplayer and an opponent I'm facing continually kills me every time I get near him. What do I do? Do I go into a rage and threaten to report him if he doesn't let me win? Or rather, happily congratulate him on his skill with the game?  If I had chosen the first option, what would I have to gain? I would most likely interact with my opponent in only this scenario, and yet I have given him the impression that I am an immature, spoiled brat. And as for reporting him, I could possibly have sanctions issued against me for a false report. Now, if I had chosen the latter, what do I have to lose? Most likely my opponent would thank me for the complement. Perhaps he would have shared a tip or two to improve for the next match. But what if he insults me and calls me a "newbie" or "noob"? Let us recall the words of Jesus Christ in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me," (Mt 5:11).  In other words, should he insult me for my compliment, then it will be on him to make reparations. Christ calls us to show love and mercy in all circumstances, and here is yet another example of when we are summoned to do so.

Holy Thursday

Holy Thursday. How can one truly make it holy? After all, isn't it just another day here on planet Earth?

The answer is no. This week is the end of the season of Lent, which is a time of fasting for the Catholic Church. Lent lasts forty days, and is a time of remembrance of Christ's sacrifice in the desert. During those 40 days, one typically gives up an aspect of his or her life that is valuable (i.e. dessert, candy). Also, meat cannot be consumed on Wednesdays and Fridays, although an exception is made for fish.

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, where a special mass is celebrated in which a cross is marked on the forehead with ashes. The mass typically ends in silence. The ending week of Lent is referred to as "Holy Week."Good Friday, Good Saturday, and Easter Sunday mark "Easter weekend," or the Triduum. According to the precepts of the Catholic Church, one is especially called to receive the Eucharist at least during the Easter season. Easter weekend is also in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross. Good Friday is held as the day He was crucified, and Easter Sunday is held as the day He rose from the dead.

Now, back to the first question. How can one truly make Holy Thursday holy? There are many ways to do so, of course, but in my opinion, one of the best ways to end Lent would be to hold out on your commitment for at least these last few days. Several of us probably have broken their lenten commitment a few times, I mean I definitely have. But, try to hold out at least the last three days, as they are specifically dedicated in remembrance of Christ's sacrifice on the Cross.

Also, along with your Lenten observance, remember to attend Mass throughout the weekend! Lets welcome all those newly Baptized Catholics into the Church!

The Glory of God...

...is man fully alive. The words of St. Irenaeus himself, and also heavily emphasized on by my theology teacher. We are all called to be holy. But how can this be accomplished? How can one become man fully alive? The Summons aims to answer these questions, by looking at everyday situations and delving deeper within them. Let us see, just how and where God calls each and every one of us.