Vicki:
You were
helped by the priest at Eternal World Television Network (EWTN). You found
the resources necessary for your terrifying experience. I must tell you as
a parish priest that rarely do I encounter people who have either been
possessed by evil spirits or have been harassed by demonic forces as you
have described (demonic obsession). So, when someone does report something
to that effect, I usually investigate the incident and situation. And if a
simple blessing and exorcism of the house does not solve the
perceived demonic obsession, then I will refer the situation to the regional
(Archdiocese) exorcist to examine further. But as I said, rarely in my 34
years as a priest I have ever been confronted by a case like yours. That is
when someone in your situation must invoke the Holy Name of Jesus and place
your entire trust in Jesus, and pray in Jesus' Name to battle demonic
obsession and possession. You were right to contact EWTN and I am thankful
to God that they sent a priest to meet with you. Jesus' Name is all the
weapons we need against demons. May the Lord protect you always and may the
Name of Jesus be ever ready at your lips to drive away all evil. -
Father Francisco
"My Mormon daughter-in-law miscarried at 4 months
and thinks Spirits who roam the earth took her baby.
What should I say to that?" - Theresa
Father Cervantes:
My daughter-in-law miscarried at 4 months.
She is Mormon. They believe that spirits roam the earth looking for bodies.
So one took her baby. What do I say to that? - Theresa
_____________________________________________________
Theresa:
I am so sorry to hear that your daughter-in-law lost her unborn child in a
miscarriage. The emotional and spiritual pain of such an experience is
difficult to express in human words. May the Spirit of God heal your
daughter-in-law, her husband, and you. The Church of Latter Day Saints do
believe that there are roaming spirits, spirits of those who have died
without the benefit of the gospel preached to them by way of the Church of
Latter Day Saints. But I am not an expert in Mormon theology, but I can say
that I have never heard or read that there are roaming spirits on earth
looking for bodies taught by any Mormon leader. The teachings of the Latter
Days Saints are so foreign to Catholics and other Christians that the only
answer we can say is that this is not true in our faith. I don't know if
you can say anything to your daughter-in-law. Unless she can accept that
the Catholic faith is the truth and that there are no roaming spirits ready
to take a body, she will always think that she is correct and that somehow
that explains why she lost her unborn baby in a miscarriage. This is one of
those times in which you may say, "I don't believe that. I believe that my
grandchild is with the Lord in heaven and beholds His Glory forever."
Otherwise, there is no argument to present to your daughter-in-law that she
is wrong in her belief that roaming spirits killed her unborn child. Once
again, I am sorry to hear of her loss. I pray that the Spirit of God
comforts her and releases her from any false teachings that keep her
unsettled. - Father
Cervantes
"I am 34 years old and
recently divorced my wife. The marriage
was not valid because of lack of canonic form. Once my kids
become grown men, can I become a brother or priest?" - Mark
Father Francisco:
I am a 34 year man with two sons. I recently divorced my wife. However, my
marriage was not valid because of lack of canonic form. I was once
interested in becoming an OFM. Cap. I was one step away from becoming a
novice. Although, I was married I always think that that is my path. Once,
my kids become grown men, can I become a brother or priest? - Mark
_____________________________________
Mark:
Technically and canonically, yes, you can pursue your desire to become a
Capuchin Franciscan after your two sons are financially independent from
you. I suggest you speak with your local Franciscan community and seek the
particular answers you are looking for. You could also seek more answers
from this link about the Capuchin Franciscans in the Province of Saint
Mary in New York:
http://www.capuchin.org/vocations .
I hope this helps. - Father Francisco
"In bible study we learned that Peter was devout Jew.
Can I assume Christ was also a devout Jew. Shouldn't
all Catholics seek to become Jews?" - Steve
Father Cervantes:
In bible study we learned that Peter was devout Jew. Is it safe to
assume that Christ was also a devout Jew and, if so, how could He establish
a religion with himself as God/ Son. Shouldn't all Catholics really seek to
become Jews since that was the founding Church's foundation? - Steve
________________________________________________________
Steve:
On the
contrary, all Jewish people should come to Jesus as Lord and Savior. The
Jewish people do NOT accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, do NOT accept that
Jesus is the Messiah, and do NOT accept that Jesus fulfilled the Old Mosaic
Law and replaced it with a New Covenant built on faith in Jesus and the fact
that the death of Jesus on the cross is the one and ultimate sacrifice that
fulfilled the Old Law. Jesus fulfilled every letter and requirement of the
Old Law through His one sacrifice on the cross, through the shedding of His
Blood, and by doing so, released us from the requirements of the Old Law,
and freed us to have full access to the Father without limitations or laws.
Jesus did found a new way of life, and founded the Church on the rock of
Peter (Matthew 16:16). All those of the Jewish community will one day come
to Jesus as their Lord, Savior, and Messiah. No, Catholics shouldn't seek
to become Jewish. All who do not believe in Jesus should come to the
Church! - Father
Cervantes
"Is boxing a sin?" - Frank
Father Cervantes:
None of the
priests on "Ask a Priest" has had enough backbone to answer my question:
"Is boxing a sin?" The whole premise of this sport is to beat your opponent
until you've knocked them unconscious, or to lacerate their face to the
point that the doctor or referee "might" stop the fight. Would Jesus accept
a ringside seat to watch 2 of his children beat the living hell out of each
other? Should Muhammad Ali be held up as a legend and a hero? He is a man
who made millions of dollars for "legally" beating people half to death!
Hope to hear from one of the priests. - Frank
___________________________________________________
Frank:
Let me
make this as clear as possible. Boxing as a sport
is not a sin,
never has been and will never be. Boxing as a sport is as old as humanity
itself. Saint Paul himself uses boxing as an allusion to winning the race
of life with faith. In I Corinthians 9:24-27, Saint Paul writes this:
"This I
do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive
my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I
myself should be disqualified."
For Saint Paul, life is like an athletic race or a real boxing match (not a
shadow boxing match) in which a Christian trains himself to fight the
onslaught of temptation and evil that we face each day. Saint Paul, in his
writing to Timothy, kept this same thought when he gave this advice to
Timothy to stay strong in faith and to fight the temptations of life in II
Timothy 2:5 --
"Similarly, an athlete cannot receive the winner's crown except by competing
according to the rules."
If Saint Paul wanted to say that boxing or any sport was sinful, he would
have said so. Instead, he used sporting allusions to preach the gospel of
Christ. In the Old Testament, Jacob famously wrestled with an angel all
night and wouldn't give up, even when seriously injured, until the angel
blessed him (please see Genesis 32:23-33). No sin there. Instead, a
blessing was bestowed. When I became pastor of my parish, I inherited a
youth boxing club that was sponsored by our parish and by the
local veterans' post. I was really impressed by the discipline and focus
that this boxing club gave to both young boys and girls. I found that this
boxing club was a blessing for the youth that participated in this program.
I gladly continued the financial support of this youth boxing club. This
club eventually sent two of its members to the Olympics! For others, this
athletic experience was helpful in their future lives. I attended these
boxing matches and found the sport to be exciting and joyful. I do not know
if Jesus attended any sporting functions when He was on earth. The
scriptures do not say. But if he was truly human and was involved in His
surroundings, I am sure that He saw and even participated in many sports of
that time, and may have even attended a boxing match!
- Father Cervantes
"Should we listen to people when they post things
about God or ignore them?" - Ryuzaki
Father Francisco:
I recently noticed how many people post things about God asking to
republish and to comment Amen and stuff like that. I was wondering should
we listen to them or just ignoring them because they are using God to get
likes and comments on their post and many people call me wrong because I see
it in that point of view and think I don't care about God so I want to see
your point of view. Which side is right? - Ryuzaki
____________________________________________________________
Ryuzaki:
I agree
with you. You don't have to respond to the many forwarded e-mails that have
God stories or God messages. I really dislike it when people say at the end
that if I believe in God or believe in that particular message, that I
should send it, and that if I don't, then don't send it. You don't have to
forward anything you don't want to. And don't fall into the "guilt trip"
that these forwarded mails give. I do not forward any messages unless it is
so important and unique that I will forward something for someone's
information. So, go ahead, delete all those forwarded messages! -
Father Francisco
"Am I being a prude if I don't want to be around
a priest who uses profane words?" - Bill
Father Cervantes:
Am I being a prude by not wanting to be around a priest who uses
the words frickin , damn, God, and somebody not having the balls? - Bill
_________________________________________________
Bill:
I agree
with you. I don't want to be around ANY person, clergy or not, that uses
profane words. You are not a prude. You are a wise Christian. Yes,
sometimes I have to deal with people who use profane and disgusting
vocabulary. I treat them with respect even though they have no respect for
me. So, you don't have to deal with this bad mouthed priest. He should be
challenged to clean up his vocabulary. -
Father
Cervantes
"My newborn niece is only 3 weeks old and very ill.
She needs immediate surgery. Because of her weight
this cannot be done. Can she receive the Sacrament of
the Anointing of the Sick without Baptism?" - Cynthia
Father Francisco:
My newborn
niece is only 3 weeks, she is really sick, weak, and underweight. She needs
immediate surgery that cannot be done right away because of her weight. I
would like for her to receive the sacrament of the anointing of the sick.
Can she have it even though she is not baptized yet? - Cynthia
________________________________________________________
Cynthia:
I must tell you:
baptize her now. You can baptize her in an emergency situation. Take clear
clean water, pour the water on her head or any where on her body, and say:
(Name of child), I
baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
So, once she is baptized, she can receive the Anointing of the Sick.
Please, either you baptize her or have the local deacon or priest baptize
her immediately! If your local priest comes, he can baptize her and give
her anointing of the sick at the same time. - Father Francisco
"My friend is agnostic. Can he be saved at the end?"
- Giovanni
Father Cervantes:
My friend is an agnostic fella. Can he
still be saved in the end? - Giovanni
__________________________________________________________
Giovanni:
That's a
question that can only be answered by God Himself. Your friend is agnostic
because he has not yet been told the gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that he
can comprehend. Pray for your friend that he may find the truth in Jesus
Christ. God will take care of your friend, and even lead him to the truth
in Jesus Christ. Sometimes, people find Jesus in their old age. Sometimes,
Jesus is found in their youth. So, don't be so quick to close the door of
Christian truth on your friend. I am sure that in time, he will encounter
the love of Christ and become a believing Christian! He will encounter
Salvation Itself when the time is right.
- Father Cervantes
"I am 73 years old with a Social Security income with plans
to work out of my home doing massage therapy. Do I have
to file an income tax return if I will be earning money?"
- Edie
Father Cervantes:
I am 73
years old - a widow drawing social security income. I plan to start working
out of my home doing a massage type therapy. Am I obligated to file an
income tax return if I haven't established a business but I will be earning?
- Edie
___________________________________________________________
Edie:
You are
an honest person, a believing Christian. Therefore, any added income that
can be recorded must be reported whether you have an official business or
not. Income is income. Yes, you are obligated to file an income tax return
and pay your taxes. Remember what Jesus said in the Gospel (Matthew
22:15-22, and Mark 12:13-17) "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to
God what belongs to God." Dishonest people do not pay their taxes and
therefore will be held accountable to God and civil law.
- Father Cervantes
