'Call No Man Father': Can Catholics call Priests 'Father'?

This Bible Study is one of several ‘shorter’ studies that will address some of the 'everyday' questions/objections brought up against our faith. These issues, big or small, can sometimes be MONUMENTAL blocks in the mind of a non-catholic considering coming to the FULLNESS of TRUTH in the Catholic Church.

In the hope of bringing non-Christians to Christ and our separated protestant brethren into full unity with the Catholic Church (UR 24) it is important that we are prepared to explicate our Catholic Faith in its 'full purity and consistency' (Ut Unum Sint 3) so that, like it says in 1 Pet 3:15, we will "be prepared to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you" We do this in charity for benefit of souls and in honor of God and His Truth.

In this study we will address the question: “Why do Catholics call priests “father,” since Jesus says “call no man your father” in Matthew 23:9?”


Mt 23:1-12; 1 Cor 4:15; Rom 4:16

*Thank you to Tiffany Mina for sharing her insight during the study*
image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons.
P. BATONI PINXIT ROMAE 1773 '
Gleichnis vom verlorenen Sohn' (The Prodigal Son)

The Holy Angels: 'Protectors and Shepherds'

The word 'angel' itself is from a greek word meaning ‘messenger’ It important to know that though Scripture is FULL of angels and though there is A LOT of theological speculation about angels very little has been declared and defined by the Church with regard to details. But of course some has. And that ‘SOME’ is packed with insight.

CCC 328, CCC 336, CCC 330, & CCC 391

So what does Scripture say about them? A LOT! In our Bible Study we will see what the scriptures say about their functions, characteristics, and what role they play in salvation history and in our lives

Rev 4:8; Gen. 3:24; Rev. 12:7 2; Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Mt 13:49; Dan. 10:13 ; Acts 16:6 Tobit 12:12, Tobit 12:14-16; Hebrew 1:14; Mt 18:10; Judges 13:3 – 7; Acts 6:15; Heb 13:2; 1 Cor. 13:1; Luke 2:10; 15:10; Jude: 1:9; Rev. 12:7; Dan. 8:16; Luke 1:26; Col 1:16; Eph 1:21; Is 6:6; 1 Thess. 4:16;

image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons. William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - Song of the Angels (1881)

Baptism now Saves! (A Biblical Defense & Lenten Mission)

A sacrament is an outward and visible sign instituted by Christ to impart an inward and invisible grace. Jesus Christ himself is the sacrament, as he gave his life to save mankind and gave us these sacraments to help us lead a A Christian Life.

The sacrament of Baptism makes us part of the mystical body of Christ (CCC 1272), cleanses us from original sin through the regeneration by water (CCC 1213), and is necessary for Salvation (CCC 1257). In this Bible Study we will take a further look at the Catholic understanding of this important sacrament and find the clear teachings of Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture that support this understanding.


John 1:32 ; Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16; John 3:5; 1 Cor 12:13; Col 2:11-12;

1 Pet 3:21; G

en. 17:12, Lev. 12:3, Col 2:11-12; Matt. 18:2-5, Matt 19:14; Acts 16:15


The presentation on Baptism was given in the context of the Lenten Mission held by the St. Damien's Parish (formerly St. Sophia's church) on Molokai. To listen to the entire day's presentation, which including the biblical basis for Lent, Confession, Baptism, Suffering, Fasting, and Indulgences, listen to the Mp3 below.


image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons. (From the Book: 'La Cappella Brancacci a Santa Maria del Carmine, in AA.VV.')

'I shall prepare Him my heart' - Our Lenten Sacrifice

According to Church documents, "Lent is a preparation for the celebration of Easter. For the Lenten liturgy disposes both catechumens and the faithful to celebrate the paschal mystery: catechumens, through the several stages of Christian initiation; the faithful through reminders of their own baptism and through penitential practices" (General Norms 27). and The CCC states, "'By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert" (CCC 540).
In this Bible Study we will visit the biblical foundations and principles surrounding Lent as we prepare our hearts for Easter

Ex. 24:18, 34:28, Jonah 3:4; Matt. 4:2; 1 Cor. 1:23; Luke 9:23, 14:27; 1 Peter 4:1-2, 13, 16, 5:10; Phil. 3:10; 2 Thess. 1:5; Col. 1:24; Joel 1:14; 2:12,15; Psalm 35:13 , Esther 4:3,16 , Jonah 3:5,10 ; Luke 2:37; Acts 13:2-3; Mt 17:21; Luke 5:35; Mt 6: 16 – 18; Dan. 10:1-3

image from the 'Public domain' via wikimedia commons. Temptation of Christ (mosaic in basilica di San Marco)

Sola Scriptura? Is the Bible the exclusive means by which God's Word is transmitted?

As Catholics we love and revere the Sacred Word of God handed down to us through the Scriptures, the written Word of God. We also equally accept and love the Word of God handed down to us throughout history through the Sacred Traditions of Jesus and the Apostles, either orally or by letter.

Our protestant friends do not accept the latter precept. They believe that God transmitted His Revelation through Scripture alone. That is, they see the scriptures as formally sufficient and so any and all teachings of the Christian faith MUST be explicitly in the Bible. This protestant doctrine is called Sola Scriptura THIS IS A BIG DEAL! It is one of the ESSENTIAL pillars on which protestantism stands. UNFORTUNATELY the problems with this doctrine are MANY. Logic, History, Tradition, and even Scripture itself show clearly that Sola Scriptura is an unscriptural doctrine and was not taught by the early Christians, by the Apostles, nor by Christ Himself. In this study we will look at what is said in the written transmission of the Word of God and develop a concise way to help in our apologetic and evangelistic efforts to our non-catholic friends.


Please read 1 Tim 3:15, 2 Tim 3:16-17, Titus 3:8, Mt 4:1-11, John 5:39-40, 2 Tess 2:15 , 1 Thess 2:13, 1 Pet 1:25, Heb 13:8, 1 Cor 15: 1-4 , 2 Thess 3:6, 1 Cor 11:2, Phil 4:9, and 2 Tim 2:2

Image from LabyrinthX via a creative commons license

Speaker's Board : Marcos Brackins on 'Good vs. Evil'

Marcos Brackins, founder of 'In Him ministries' here in Hawaii gave a wonderful lesson on 'Good vs. Evil' at a recent 'On Fire' youth event for the diocese of Honolulu. 'In Him' is a powerful and effective ministry, seeking to bring youth and young adults closer to the foot of the cross through the Sacrament of Salvation which is Christ's Church here on Earth (1 Tim 3:15)


Verses to read: Isaiah 14:12-15 and Revelation 12:7 - 12

To learn more about 'In Him' ministries visit their website at http://www.inhimhawaii.org/

Traditional Image taken from http://makemeasaint.blogspot.com

Catholics witnessing to Mormons

So I came home from a long 'day' mission on the Big Island and two of my good friends were waiting, in my garage, to ask for some practical ways to speak with the missionaries that come knocking at their doors.

For several years I, with proper catholic spiritual direction, studied the ins and outs of the mormon church. I spent several years 'mormon bashing' and it had very little (if any) positive effect on those I spoke with. . . . I realized that without LOVE, nothing mattered. I also realized though that simply smiling, being super NICE, and 'loving' mormons didnt work either! So what to do? In this 'off the cuff' recording I share some of the methods ive picked up that have had the greatest positive effects so far ;)

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