No Baptizing with BEER!

Apparently sometime in our Churchʻs history some people tried to baptize with BEER and it happened so often that it required a Papal letter to correct them :) 

"447 [DS 829] Since as we have learned from your report, it sometimes happens because of the scarcity of water, that infants of your lands are baptized in beer, we reply to you in the tenor of those present that, since according to evangelical doctrine it is necessary “to be reborn from water and the Holy Spirit” [John 3:5] they are not to be considered rightly baptized who are baptized in beer."

[From the letter of GREGORY IX “Cum, sicut ex” to Sigurd, Archbishop of Nidaros, July 8, 1241] Denzinger (1954). The sources of Catholic dogma (178).

So if you ever wondered if a beer baptism is legit, the answer is NO :) 

image from the 'MORGUEfile' via creative commons

The ʻother sheepʻ on Good Shepherd Sunday

The Gospel for Good Shepherd Sunday (2nd Sunday after Easter) is John 10:11 - 16. A question is often raised of verse 16 where it says: "And other sheep I have that are not of this fold: them also I must bring. And they shall hear my voice: And there shall be one fold and one shepherd. " (Douay-Rheims)

Who are these ʻother sheepʻ? The answer is the Gentiles (those not Jewish) We can take a look at some respected Catholic biblical commentaries as well as the writings and homilies of the Early Church Fathers to expound :

MacEvilly, in his commentary states  “ ʻAnd other sheep I haveʻ etc. He refers to the Gentile world, whom He meant to call into His Church, bestowing on them the priceless gift of faith" (MacEvilly, J. (1902). An Exposition of the Gospel of St. John (209) Benziger Brothers.

Haydock continues the same sentiment by saying that the signification of the ʻone foldʻ later in the verse is that "there shall be one church of Jews and Gentiles converted." (Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary, 1859)

St Thomas Aquinas, in his famous Catena Aura, confirms this understanding by showing the commentaries of several Church Fathers including Pope St. Gregory I  (A.D. 590) and the Doctor of Grace, St. Augustine 

" Gregory. (Hom. xiv.) But as He came to redeem not only the Jews, but the Gentiles, He adds, And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold.

Augustine. (de Verb. Dom. s. 1) The sheep hitherto spoken of are those of the stock of Israel according to the flesh. But there were others of the stock of Israel, according to faith, Gentiles, who were as yet out of the fold; predestinated, but not yet gathered together. They are not of this fold, because they are not of the race of Israel, but they will be of this fold: Them also I must bring." (St. Thomas Aquinas, Cardinal Newman. Catena Aurea, Volume 4)

 image used through the 'Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. via wikimedia commons. Stained glass: Alfred Handel, d. 1946

Have a question about the Faith? Ask the Angelic Doctor!

Well studied Catholics should know the importance of the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas, when it comes to a proper understanding of our Faith.

He is SO revered, in fact, that a Papal encyclical was written about him (Studiorum Ducem,” June 29, 1923 by Pius XI) and many others referenced him as source of Truth and as defense against heresy and modernism (i.e. Humani Generis, Pascendi Dominici Gregis)

Both of those great documents even go as far as saying those who DO NOT adhere to St. Thomas UNDERMINE the foundation of Catholic Doctrine.

"2322 [DS 3894] If these matters are thoroughly examined, it will be evident why the Church demands that future priests be instructed in the philosophic disciplines “according to the manner, doctrine, and principles of the Angelic Doctor,” since it knows well from the experience of many ages that the method and system of Aquinas, whether in training beginners or investigating hidden truth, stand out with special prominence; moreover, that his doctrine is in harmony, as in a kind of symphony, with divine “revelation,” and is most efficacious in laying safe foundations of faith, and also in collecting usefully and securely the fruits of sound progress."

(Some False Opinions that Threaten to Undermine the Foundations of Catholic Doctrine: From the Encyclical, “Humani generis,” August 12, 1950)

But the greatest honor to St. Thomas Aquinas, I believe, was expressed by Pope Leo XIII

" The ecumenical councils, also, where blossoms the flower of all earthly wisdom, have always been careful to hold Thomas Aquinas in singular honor. In the Councils of Lyons, Vienna, Florence, and the Vatican one might almost say that Thomas took part and presided over the deliberations and decrees of the Fathers, contending against the errors of the Greeks, of heretics and rationalists, with invincible force and with the happiest results. But the chief and special glory of Thomas, one which he has shared with none of the Catholic Doctors, is that the Fathers of Trent made it part of the order of conclave to lay upon the altar, together with sacred Scripture and the decrees of the supreme Pontiffs, the Summa of Thomas Aquinas, whence to seek counsel, reason, and inspiration" (Pope Leo XIII, ʻAeterni Patrisʻ, 1879)

WOW! The Fathers of the GREAT council of Trent in order to ʻseek counsel, reason, and inspirationʻ had three things upon the Altar 1)The Holy Scriptures 2)The Decrees of the Roman Pontiffs AND 3) St. Thomasʻ Summa Theologica!

There should be no doubt that when we have a question about our Catholic Faith, ask the Angelic Doctor!

 image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons. St. Thomas Aquinas, by Carlo Crivelli

ʻThe Holy Sacrifice of the Massʻ - A Biblical and Magisterial look at the Mass as a Sacrifice

The Mass is the ʻsource and summitʻ of the Catholic Faith. In fact, as St. Pio says, ALL that exists in the world and in the universe is held together by the Mass.

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

From time immemorial Catholics have understood the adage "Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi " which in Latin literally means the law of prayer (how we worship) is the law of belief (is what we believe). It is essential for us to remember that Mass is the foundation of Catholic identity and that it expresses our highest purpose which is the love and worship of God.  There really ought be NO doubt that there is a reciprocity between Worship and Life and so our ʻLex Orandiʻ ought to ought refelect what we truly believe and how we view ourselves in relationship to God, the world and one another. 

But what is the Mass? Is it just a communal assembly gathering on Sundays where we hold hands and enjoy one anotherʻs company? or is it something more? Surely, if its something more, we ought to understand what it is and internalize it so that we can properly fulfill our ʻhighest purposeʻ and allow the way we worship to reflect what we believe as Catholics. 

In the first canon of the 22nd session of Trent we see the Church affirm that the ʻThe Mass is a true and proper sacrifice which is offered to God.ʻ In this audio Mp3 (Recorded at our weekly study group) and accompanying PDF we take a look at the Mass as a sacrifice. By using the Magisterial documents of the Church as well as Holy Scripture we challenge ourselves to come to a deeper appreciation of the immensity of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and, in turn, be more receptive to receiving greater faith in what we believe as Catholics. 



image from the 'FSSP' via wikimedia commons. Tridentine mass—elevation, FSSP – Fraternitas Sacerdotalis Sancti Petri

ACCE 2018 - Catechizing a new generation


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