Father Bill: My daughter came to me asking how we are ever going to get to heaven since we are not poor. The readings lately have emphasized being humble and the poor and needy shall be first. We have money but are not by any means rich. How do I approach this question with her? - Erik __________________________________________
Dear Erik, Your daughter is very perceptive to be asking you about this. She is obviously listening carefully to the words of scripture and is picking up on a theme that is found often in both the Old and New Testaments. There we are constantly challenged to be aware of the plight of the poor. Your question implies that I should keep my answer simple, so that a child can easily understand. With that in mind, I would start by assuring your daughter that you don’t have to be poor to get to heaven. Jesus never says that, nor does such a statement occur anywhere else in the Bible. However—and this is a big however—there are lots of places in the Bible where it is made very clear that we must care for the poor. Those who have must share with those who have not. If we love our possessions more than we love God or other people, then we have chosen a false god. When it comes to getting into heaven, that is not a good thing! Sharing what we have with others doesn’t mean that we have to go overboard. It is true that there are some people who give up everything to serve the poor. Many of the saints have done this. That doesn’t mean we all have to. But it definitely does mean that we have to be willing to make sacrifices when we know there are others in need. Finally, in his Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” This is important, so what does it mean to be “poor in spirit”? Well, it doesn’t mean that we have to be poor, or that only the poor will go to heaven. What it does mean is what I said already: we cannot love our possessions more than we love God or other people. It means we must be grateful for what we have and not be greedy for more, more, more. It also means that we must be people who know that we need God, and that we must be good stewards of what God has given us. I hope this helps you answer your daughter’s question, Erik. Thanks for asking, and may God bless you. - Father Bill
Father Bill: I am considering becoming a Catholic and my research begs a question: With respect to Saints they are required to perform a miracle after death if I understand correctly. Is one's judgment day on the day one dies? Does Gabriel's horn sound for each individual on that day-or is there one judgment day when Christ returns. If so, how is it said the Saints are in heaven now? Very confusing. - Steven ______________________________________________ Dear Steven, I think your question really boils down to this: do people who have died and are destined for heaven have to wait until the second coming of Jesus? The answer to that is: No. The traditional teaching of the Catholic Church, which can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is that there are two judgments. The particular judgment happens at the moment of death, at which point, the Catechism says, “Each man receives his eternal retribution.” If the deceased is found worthy at this particular (or personal) judgment, then he or she enters into the realm of the blessed. (At this point it may help to remember what Jesus said to one of the criminals who was crucified near him: “This day you will be with me in Paradise.”) The general (or last) judgment will occur at the time of Jesus’ second coming. In this judgment the justice of God will be manifest as all the dead are called forth from their graves. Christ in His glory will separate the peoples one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats (see Matthew 25). Do I think this somewhat confusing? Yes, and I think there are two reasons for my confusion. One reason is that my mind simply cannot wrap itself around all of the wonders of God and His creation. The other reason is that death is the gateway between a world of limits (like time and space) into a world with no limits. Once we have passed through that gateway, time has no meaning. Life beyond this is an eternal now. These teachings about the judgment times that come to us through scripture and the traditions of the Church are expressed in metaphors, and metaphors can never exhaust the reality. Sometimes we just have to live with the limited understanding afforded us by metaphor and be grateful that God has given tantalizing glimpses into what lies beyond this universe that is our current home. Thanks for asking, and may God bless you. - Father Bill
Father Bill:
Dear Arturo, Before moving on to my answer, I’d like to address a couple of common misunderstandings that are present in your question. One is the title of the last book of our Christian bible: it is the Book of Revelation, not Revelations. The other is the word “elder” that is found fairly often in the New Testament. “Elder” does not mean “elderly”. It is an English translation of the Greek word “presbyteros”, and it refers specifically to those who were the leaders of the early Christian communities. Perhaps some of them were indeed elderly, but being an elder did not necessarily imply old age. The term “elder” is still commonly used in some Christian denominations to this day, and even in our Catholic Church the priests of a diocese are often referred to as the “presbyterate”. In fact, the word “priest” comes from the Greek word “presbyteros”. In answering your question, I first would like to make it very clear that I lay no claims to being a scripture scholar. As a priest, I have spent time studying the bible, and I have the privilege of preaching from the scriptures on almost a daily basis. I am inspired, challenged, and sometimes puzzled by what I read in the bible. It truly is a great treasure, a wonderful gift from God to us. The Book of Revelation belongs to a biblical style that is called “apocalyptic literature”. There are examples of this throughout the bible, such as in the books of the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel in the Old Testament. Apocalyptic literature is full of imagery, symbolism and metaphor, and the visionary of the Book of Revelation borrowed freely from some of the Old Testament content. Interpretation of apocalyptic literature is not for us amateurs—and sometimes not even for the professional scripture scholars. Some of the references may be pretty obvious, but many are obscure, and scripture scholars do not always agree on what they mean. The fourth chapter of the Book of Revelation that you are inquiring about describes the so-called “heavenly liturgy”, the joyful, enthusiastic, grateful worship before the throne of God the Creator. The twenty-four elders present here definitely do not imply that only twenty-four people will be saved. Interpretations vary as to who or what these elders represent. It could be the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles; it could be the prophets of Israel; it could represent the old and new Israel—or something else. There is no consistent agreement among scripture scholars. Likewise with the four beings mentioned in these verses. There are many interpretations as to what they represent. In appearance they resemble a lion, a calf (often translated ox), a man and an eagle. These faces are also found in the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel. In Revelation they may represent the four substances or elements into which the ancients categorized the world: earth, air, fire and water. Maybe they symbolize, as is noted in the commentary of the New American Bible, all that “is noblest, strongest, wisest, and swiftest in creation. Since even the greatest scripture scholars tread carefully when trying to explain or interpret the Book of Revelation, I think, Arturo, that you and I are wise not to try to read too much into the details. I think we are much better off reading this book of the bible in the same way that we might view a complex work of art. By this I mean we should admire the beauty of the work as a whole and not get mired down turning it into some kind of a puzzle. The soaring visions of Revelation are, I’m convinced, one of the ways that God has chosen to help us understand that even here on earth our lives are touched by divine realities, and that life after death is a wonder far beyond anything we can comprehend now.
It’s great to know that you are
so interested in the scripture, Arturo. May the Holy
Spirit guide you and inspire you as you prayerfully continue
your inquiry.
Father Kevin: Today being All Souls Day, I'm wondering if it is wrong to pray for souls in hell? I can't imagine another human being in more need of prayers than that of a soul separated from God. Is that questioning God's perfect judgment? Would it offend Him? - Jina ______________________________________
HI Jina, What an interesting question. Of course we can pray for anyone we like. If there is anyone in hell, then of course they are eternally separated from God’s presence. By definition, hell is the absence of God’s presence for ever. Having said that, we don’t know if anyone is there in hell at all! The Church has never, and can never declare that anyone has gone to hell, as this is a matter between each person and God. Since we are all made for communion with God, it is entirely possible that God helps a person at the end of their journey here to find some repentance in their heart. It’s a situation about which we are in no position to judge. By all means pray for them if there are any people in that state. It would be an act of real kindness on your part. Good wishes. - Father Kevin
What can I do or say to change this?" - Ashley Father Kevin: My husband is Baptist and I was raised and am a practicing Catholic. I have completed all the Sacraments up until marriage of course. We just had a baby girl and my husband completely objects to baptizing her as an infant. He claims to be the spiritual leader of the house and we having to follow him. But he has not practiced his faith in over 15 years and doesn’t plan on it either. What can I do or say that will help him realize how important our child being baptized in the Catholic Church is? - Ashley _________________________________________ Dear Ashley, You are in a difficult situation indeed. Your husband’s claim to be the “spiritual head” of the house is a nonsense of course. It is a line from ST Paul that some people use to subjugate women in families in all sorts of ways. It’s especially silly, given he has no intention of acting spiritually. His actions seem to be more about power than love. Having said that, the unity of your marriage is a first priority, and perhaps it is better to wait patiently for a while, and gently raise the matter now and then until he becomes used to the idea. You can be sure God won’t turn away from your little girl just because you haven’t had her baptized. If your local parish runs a baptism preparation program, maybe you could talk your husband into attending the program at least so you could have a mature conversation about the whole matter. If he really loves you and sees how important it is to you, he might come to the party in time. I
wish you all the best in this very difficult situation and will keep
you in my prayers. If you would like to talk further more
privately, you can contact me through this site and I will reply
directly.
6th graders? - Patricia Father Kevin: I'm an assistant Catechist for 6th graders. Somehow (?) these questions came up: Does the Pope get paid? Do Cardinals make more money than Bishops and Priests? It wasn't very "easy" to explain the vow of poverty. Please help. God Be With You. – Patty
Hi Patty, Kids ask the best questions! I will grilled for about 90 minutes by our local fifth-grade class the other week on the priesthood. And it was great fun and also very lovely. Regarding these questions, I’ve no idea if or how the Pope gets paid. As for Cardinals, bishops and priests, I don’t know either! The vow of poverty is something that Religious like myself take. I am a Marist and as a Marist I have that vow. Diocesan priests don’t have a vow of poverty and have their own money. They usually received a stipend from their diocese. The money originally comes from parish collections at Mass. As for Bishops and Cardinals, I suspect that there are many different ways in which they are paid/supported financially. As for the Pope, I doubt that he needs pocket money as the system would carry him along and see to his needs. Some Bishops live very simply and humbly. Some live more extravagantly. There are a great variety of lifestyles among bishops and cardinals I expect. Good wishes to you and your inquiring young friends. - Father Kevin
"Will St. Patrick judge the Irish race on the Last Day?" - Rachel CatholicView Staff: Among the promises to St. Patrick, it states that Patrick will judge the entire Irish race on the Last Day. Does it mean anyone with Irish heritage, or is it more specific? - Rachel _______________________________________________ Dear Rachel:
This is an old legend that promises on the last day that although
Christ will judge all the other nations, it will be St. Patrick
sitting in judgment on the Irish. This is not true. There is only
one judge for mankind, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ Who died
for us all. There will be no respecter of race, for when we stand
before Jesus, we are all the same. No man can judge us
but the one Who paid for our Salvation, I hope this helps.
What does this mean?" - Jerry CatholicView Staff: As my eldest sister was dying, she asked me to sit her up in bed a couple of hours before she passed on. With lips open a strange voice came out of her mouth for about 15 to 20 seconds. I have no idea if it was in tongue, because I have no knowledge of what that sounds like. I thought maybe Latin, which I do not speak. It was a deep voice. Very deep. As in a man's voice. And then she laid back down and fell asleep. Just before she passed away my other sister had relieved me and experienced the exact same thing. She wasn't going to tell anybody for fear of being called delusional, or crazy. When I mentioned my experience sis told us of hers. The last breath she took, sitting up, arms spread like an eagle, and said "Cliff!" That was her husband who had passed away 10 years earlier. Could that have been his voice we heard through our sister? Thanks for any help on this question. - Jerry ______________________________________ Jerry: None of us can
answer this question accurately. CatholicView can only surmise.
Sometimes a person, just before death, sees a loved one who has gone
before them as they themselves are "crossing over". The living can
only speculate what happens in these moments, as in the case of your
beloved sister. Know that she probably had a rapturous moment of
seeing her husband just before she left this earth to be with
the Lord. Hope this helps a bit.
myself to God and the Church?" - Rita Staff of CatholicView: I have been on a long and destructive path that has separated me from God. My question is how do I go about returning to the Church? Along with a multitude of sins I have committed egregious acts of blasphemy and sacrilege. One of these was Eucharistic desecration, which I understand is a case in which absolution is reserved to the Holy See. What do I need to do in order to receive this and is there some form of documentation that is involved or merely anonymous confession as with other sins? Also, I formally renounced Catholicism and joined another religion at one point. Does this form of apostacy require absolution from anyone besides a parish priest? - Rita __________________________________________ Dear Rita: By writing to us at A Catholic View, you have made the first step to full reconciliation with the Church which is Christ's Body on earth. Jesus wants you to be part of his sheep and you are now listening to His Voice to come back to Him who is Life and Salvation Itself. Heaven is rejoicing to see your heart changing from the negative person you were to the positive person you will be in Christ Jesus. Your list of "sins" seem great but Jesus Christ has already died for ALL of your sins on the cross that Good Friday. So, rejoice in His forgiveness and go forward to reconcile yourself to the Church. The sacrament of Penance is sufficient in itself for the forgiveness of your sins, even the sin of the desecration of the Holy Eucharist. You are correct, however, that Canon 1367 (Sacramental Law) does state the following: Can. 1367 A person who throws away the consecrated species or takes or retains them for a sacrilegious purpose incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See; moreover, a cleric can be punished with another penalty, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state.
I do not know what
you mean by desecration of the Holy Eucharist. The above mentioned
canon refers to an extreme act done publicly. That's why I am
asking that you speak to your parish priest concerning this sin of
desecration. If you are able to do so, I would suggest that you
make an appointment with your parish priest and have a good
confession and receive the absolution offered by the Church. That
confession will reconcile you to the Church and you can begin your
spiritual journey with Christ again. As the saying goes,
Christianity is a faith of an infinite number of second chances!
So, right now, get on your knees, pray for forgiveness, and ask
Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Give Him
everything. While on your knees, raise your hands in prayer and
receive His mercy. Then, get up and make that call to see your
parish priest and make that confession. With that confession, you
can get back on your spiritual feet and begin to walk in a positive
spirit to salvation itself. I praise God that one of His lost sheep
is finally coming home! God bless and I am excited for you! Keep
your eyes focused on heaven!
"I see images of Christ everywhere. What is He asking me to do?" - Jim CatholicView Staff: I see images of Christ on the wall and other places. Should I be scared? What is he asking me to do? - Jim _____________________________________ Jim: Some things are hard to explain, such as the images of Christ that you describe. But, I would ask myself if I am living the life that Christ wants you to live. If you are, then sincerely pray and ask the Lord to show you what He is asking of you. If you are not living as God wants, then change it and see what happens. At
any rate, I suggest you go speak with your parish priest with more
information than you give here. He will be better able to guide you
on this. May the Lord give you the peace that you seek.
Would I go to hell for being cremated?" - Sarah CatholicView Staff: I am trying to finish my living trust. I am a Catholic and the rest of my family is not. We have different views on many things. I want to be cremated, but my family says that it says in the Bible that you are to be put in the ground. Would I go to hell for being cremated? Sarah __________________________________________ Dear Sarah: Catholics in the past were taught that cremation was wrong, that the body would not be following the teachings of the Catholic Church sin because it would be, in essence, denying the resurrection of the body. But Pope Paul VI, after reviewing this ruling lifted the ban on cremation. The Church now
allows cremation, providing it is not a denial of faith as to the
ultimate resurrection of the body. The only thing that should be
mentioned here is that the cremated remains receive the same respect
as the decomposed remains. The cremated body must be entombed or
buried with dignity and honor. The Lord knows where you are so
cremation is permitted. Hope this helps.
the Church granted an annulment, did I violate the 6th commandment? - Joel CatholicView Staff: I was married for seven years, no children. I remarried and my wife joined the Catholic church. In order for her to join I needed to get an annulment of my first marriage. During that first I committed several acts of adultery. Since the Catholic Church accepted my annulment, did I violate the 6th commandment? - Joel ____________________________________________ Joel: I am happy to hear that your wife has joined the Catholic Church. You do not state whether you ever received forgiveness for committing the sin of adultery When you received your annulment, did you tell your priest about your adultery and if not, did you go to confession and confess this sin? If not, you must take care of this. You are not entitled to receive the sacrament of communion until you do so. Please talk to
your priest about this. This is important. In the meantime I
strongly suggest that you ask God for forgiveness through prayer
immediately. May God bless your new union.
each other?" - Andrea CatholicView Staff: Why would sex outside marriage be such a sin, even if two people feel so committed to each other it is as if they were married? Why can't just loving and respecting your partner be enough? - Andrea ________________________________________ Dear Andrea: Marriage is a sacred offering, a vow two people make to God. If as you say, two people are committed to each other, they would show that commitment by taking the responsibility to be married. To live together in the mortal sin of fornication and shows immaturity and dishonor to the Lord. True loving and respecting each other is made evident only when it is sealed by marriage. What happens when the sex and respect disappears? Immature couples who cohabitate because of feelings means they are not willing to pledge their love to each other. It is a temporary coming together not bound or blessed by the Church. Because such a couple is living in sin, they must not take the sacraments of the Church. Hope this helps. - CatholicView Staff
Christian approach to my beliefs. How can I get advice?" - Karen CatholicView Staff: I was raised Catholic but have lost my faith over the years and currently take a non-denominational Christian approach to my beliefs. I recently got engaged and am trying to decide if I should have a Catholic ceremony or not. How should I go about getting spiritual advice on this issue? - Karen ____________________________________________ Dear Karen: Congratulations on your engagement! However I am saddened that you lost your faith through the years. And you do not explain what your Christian beliefs are at this time or what your fiancé believes. Are you stating that you no longer want to be a Catholic Christian? If you want to
be married in the Catholic Church, you will need to talk to your
local parish priest about re-instatement within the Church. Discuss
your concerns and He will help you to reaffirm your faith and be
reunited with your Church family . Please call and make an
appointment.
May the Lord
bless and hold you close.
won't be able to attend mass. Can she be excused?" - Vikki CatholicView Staff: My daughter is planning on going on a school trip to California and in the process will be missing mass due to traveling. Without control over the final plans is she excused from mass? - Vikki ___________________________________________ Dear Vikki: How exciting that your daughter will be going on a school trip to California!
If it is not be possible
for your daughter to attend mass, advise her that in cases where
there will be no availability of Mass, she should take an hour on
the Sabbath in which time she can read her bible and pray. These
actions give honor to God on Sunday. Do not worry for God knows
your daughter's heart and He understands her predicament. Be at
peace.
I do?" - Sarah CatholicView Staff: I think there is something evil in my house. My daughter and mother have unexplained marks and my daughter has bad behavior. I've been hearing strange and scary noises. I don't know what to do. I don't think it wants us here. - Sarah __________________________________________ Dear Sarah: I am so sorry that you are having problems in your home. I would suggest that you have your parish priest come to your home and bless it. This should help. Also, I would suggest that you visit each room with your bible and say a small prayer such as "Heavenly Father, please send your peace in this room. Amen." or say one of your own. Ask your priest to set a time when he is available to come. I am sure he will be happy to assist. May you find the peace you seek. - CatholicView Staff
- Elizabeth CatholicView Staff: Can God bring back someone back to life for one night? - Elizabeth ___________________________________________ Elizabeth: God is our
Creator. He gave us life and He can take it away. Should He choose
to bring someone back to life, even for a night, He could if it is
His Will to do so.
"I was married in a Mormon temple and am now divorced after 22 years. My current wife and I want to be Catholic. Is this possible?" - Steve CatholicView Staff: I am considering taking Catechism and becoming a Catholic. I was married in a Mormon temple and then divorced after 22 years. Now I am married for a second time and my wife believes in God but we belong to no church. Is possible for us to be married in the Catholic Church in the future and take holy communion? - Steve _________________________________________________ Dear Steve: Thank you for your interest in becoming a Catholic Christian. Yes, it is possible for you and your new wife to become a member of the Catholic Church. First things first, however. You must talk to a parish priest in your area about getting an annulment from your first wife if needed. In the meantime, you can begin RCIA (which stands for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults). RCIA is a class for people who would like to know more about the Roman Catholic faith. Once the matter of annulment is taken care of, you can have this marriage blessed by the priest or have a formal wedding in the Catholic Church. Please call a
Catholic Church near you and make an appointment to see a parish
priest. He will talk to you and advise you on the next steps of
becoming Catholic members of the Church.
my Grandma but she drinks too. How can I help her if I do?" - Christine Hi there! Thank you in advance for you time. I have a personal question to ask. I am currently living at home with my mom, step-dad, uncle, and siblings. Because of the stress of alcohol abusers in my family, I have considered living with my grandma; who is soon moving to my hometown. Though she is able, it would also be nice for me to help her also with her day to day living. She is also a sad person, and time to time drinks too. My question is: If I take my grandma grocery shopping, can I say no to her when she wants me to take her to the liquor store? I don't want to have anything to do with her drinking and the harmful effects of it. I want to help her, not enable her. What should I do? Thank you. Christine _____________________________________________ Christine: I am sorry to hear that you are having alcohol abuse problems within your family. But it is commendable that you want to help your grandmother. However, if you lived with your grandmother who also drinks, you are basically facing the same thing. As you state, you can refuse to take her to the liquor store, but you will be subject to her feeling that she is being treated like a child, and she will resent it. I would suggest before you go to live with her you must tell her you will be taking her shopping at the supermarket, doing your part at home by helping her as much as possible, but you will not take her to the liquor store or allow her to buy alcohol at the market. Make this clear BEFORE you go to live with her. If she accepts this ultimatum, then you can try to hold her to it. Be straightforward and it will then be easy to say "No" when she asks you later. If she rejects your interference, then suggest to her that she might consider going to Alcohol Anonymous. To want to help
your grandmother shows you are a good and loving granddaughter. If
at all possible, call your Church and make an appointment to speak
to a priest who will advise you further.
Is a gay, bi, or lesbian, guaranteed to go to hell? Or can they go to heaven just like everyone else? Katie ______________________________________
Katie: Being gay, bi-sexual, or Lesbian does not guarantee anything. If they do not act on their feelings in a sexual way, the Catholic Church teaches they are not sinners. If they believe in God and follow His teachings, they will receive salvation and will be in Heaven. The judgment is up to God Who sees all things. God bless you.- CatholicView Staff
Salvation?" - Jina CatholicView Staff: Being baptized Catholic as a baby yet being a sinner my whole life, Hebrews 6:4-8 worries me. Is there true reassurance of salvation? Is a strong effort really enough if I always seem to fall short?- Jina __________________________________________ Jina: The passage you refer to, Hebrews 6:4-8 reads "For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened—those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come— and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing him to the cross once again and holding him up to public shame. When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God’s blessing. But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it." Through our Free Will, many of us go our own way, turning our backs on God. The above passage refers to those who turn away and live life in sin. They will be condemned at the end of the age and will be liken to the field that was condemned and burnt. We all have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23) But we repent, ask God to forgive us and keep to the path that He has set for us. When we accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior through faith and we live as He has taught us, Jesus assures us of salvation. In ourselves we are not worthy. As to falling short of the perfection needed to receive eternal life, "No one is righteous, not even one." - Romans 3:10: We are made righteous because Jesus died and paid for our sins. Through His gift we are forgiven for the things that we do through sin, however small, because in God's perfect heaven, we cannot enter without the cleansing of the Son, Christ. How many times
can we renew our faith? As long as we live we can be forgiven and
move forward in our goal which is eternal life. True faith and love
of God endures to the end!
"My girlfriend and I keep breaking up. Can God make her see I am the one for her?" - Dave CatholicView staff: My girlfriend and I have been fighting to the point where she breaks up with me and gives me one more chance to sort it and I still mess it up. Now we have gotten to the point where she says she doesn't love me anymore and wants it to be over but has given me one week to see what happens. I have prayed to God everyday to help put us on the right track and make us strong again but I don't think He is helping. Will He make her see I am the one for her and she will stay with me? - Dave _______________________________________ Dave: I am sorry to learn of your constant breakups with your girlfriend. Even though you say you are the reason for your girlfriend's discontent, you continue to behave in a way that she does not like. If you love this girl, why do you continue to do the things that are upsetting to her? Sadly, we cannot make someone love us if they do not. Your girlfriend has given you many chances to straighten yourself out and it is fair to say that she has tired of your actions. Give her a chance to see you have changed. If she does not want to be with you, then you cannot force the issue. Many things that we might want or desire may not be what God intends for us Keep Praying.
If God wants her to be with you, it will happen. If not, trust that
God has something greater in mind for you that you cannot not see
right now.
and troubled. What can I do?" - Zoe CatholicView Staff: I have started reading the Bible for the first time because I am studying it in college at the moment. I feel deeply confused and troubled; I don't feel I understand it at all. Other students in my class say it's just something "you get or you don't". I don't, but I want to. What can I do? - Zoe ___________________________________________ Zoe: Please do not be troubled when reading the bible. Try praying before you read it, asking God to give you the understanding you need as you read his words. The bible is a treasury of wisdom that can take a lifetime to uncover. It encompasses all things known to man, and it is a journey like no other that is daunting and intimidating at times. But once you have embarked on it, God will take over to give understanding, clarity, and meaning to what you are reading. An important
point you might consider is that the Bible is the inspired work of
God and a vital way to know Him through His words. In those
amazing truths of God’s Word in the bible, we can also find the key
to eternal life...that key is faith and belief in Jesus Christ.
Hope this helps a bit.
"Why should I believe in God? - Heather CatholicView Staff: I have trouble with the whole faith thing. Why should I believe in God?- Heather ____________________________________ Dear Heather: You may want to read an article posted by the Catholic News Agency which reads in part this way: "This is surely a fundamental question that nearly all humans have pondered with throughout human history. The vast array of religions are a testimony to the human tendency to grasp at the divine. This in itself is perhaps the strongest testimony to God’s existence. It can be said that all humans have an innate desire; an emptiness that they feel must be filled. The human quest for power, riches, sensual pleasure, security, fame and indulgence in natural pleasures is a response to the heartfelt desire for a higher goodness. Temporal pleasures and even natural love is often transitory and ultimately unfulfilling. As humans indulge in their passions their desires continue to go unfulfilled. Many attempt to fill the void with increasing worldly pleasures with little results. Such powerful and elusive desires are a cry from the soul which seeks something that can not be gratified by the things of this world. For the moment we will consider discontent of the heart as a mark of God calling us to embrace him. But I demand physical proof! St. Thomas Aquinas proposed five proofs in which humans can use natural reason to prove the existence of God through extrinsic evidence. Through the use of natural reason we can logically conclude in the existence of God. Yet strictly speaking, God’s existence cannot be definitively proven through laboratory tests and experimental science. Not all things are subject to experimental science. It is illogical to say, "If I can not see, taste, touch, feel or hear something it must not exist!" Reason and extrinsic evidence must also be considered. Experimental science and intrinsic evidence cannot definitively prove historical events, and yet by reason we know they have occurred. And surely were science falters and extrinsic evidence fail, reason and intrinsic evidence can prove the spiritual which can not be measured by material sciences. "To continue this article with St. Aquinas's five proofs use this link: Apologetics: Why Believe in God? :: Catholic News Agency (CNA) Please pray and
ask God to come into your heart. He will hear your prayer and He
will answer. Will you take a minute and do this? May the Lord
continue to bless you with understanding in your search for truth.
annulment?" - Pam CatholicView Staff: Why is infertility not considered grounds for divorce and annulment in the Catholic Church? Thanks for your time. - Pam ________________________________________________ Pam: Infertility is
not a reason for divorce. And Infertility
does not make a marriage invalid. It is something that cannot be
known beforehand or that was planned. The Church's only requisite
is that the couple should be open to the possibility of conceiving
new life. Whether or not this happens is up to God.
online in place of going?" - Elizabeth CatholicView Staff: I am unable to attend mass because of failing health. Can I watch mass online in place of going? I miss not receiving communion. Thank you. - Elizabeth _____________________________________________ Elizabeth: I am sorry to hear of your failing health. There is nothing wrong with watching mass on television, and perhaps if you are able to, read the bible. My suggestion to you is that you call your parish and ask them to send a Minister of the Eucharist to bring communion to your home. The Ministers of the Eucharist can also read the gospels to you and discuss the homily in your home. Please call the Church nearest you and they send someone to you with communion. It is an excellent way to share with another person the beauty of the mass followed by the Sacrament of the Eucharist. God bless you. - CatholicView Staff
"My sins are so great. Will God forgive me?" - Amy Dear CatholicView Staff: I'm writing because I used to be a very devout Catholic. However, during a difficult period in my life I tuned to some questionable behavior that I'm really ashamed of (dealings with the occult, etc.) I want to go to Confession but am terrified. Will the priest tell me that I cannot be forgiven because my sins were so great? - Amy ________________________________________ Amy: I am pleased that you want to return to the Church. Please do not be afraid to ask God for forgiveness. No matter how big the sin, no matter the questionable behavior, you can always bring everything you have done before God in prayer and He will forgive you if you are truly repentant and promise never to repeat these sins again. Jesus died on the cross for your sins and is the key to the forgiveness you seek from the Father. God is a God of second chances as long as you have life within you. He waits for you to come and get His forgiveness through confession. I ask that you pray sincerely after you read this, asking God to forgive you through the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior. Then you must make an appointment to see your parish priest as soon as possible for confession and reconciliation to the Church. Do not be afraid to go for your soul depends on this. The priest will listen and ask you to do some form of penance. Again, there is nothing to be afraid of. Once you have taken care of the past, it will be time to look to the future with hope and strong faith in Jesus Christ. God bless you. - CatholicView Staff
"I have been out of work for a year. I have a wife and two children. I am desperate. What can I do?"- Giovanni CatholicView Staff: I've been more than one year out of work, and have been to more than 60 interviews and was not employed. I have a wife and 2 kids and I am a devoted Catholic, praying to Jesus, Mother Mary, Saint Padre Pio, St-Brother Andre, and many more and no intercession. It's getting desperate. - Giovanni ________________________________________ Giovanni: I am saddened to hear that you cannot find work to support your wonderful family. With this economy, it is very hard to get employment. But please do not stop praying. Keep talking to God, using the name of the Son, Jesus Christ Who tells us that anything we have need of to pray using His name. (John15:16). I will say a
prayer for you too, asking that the Lord will bless you soon with a
job. Keep in mind that though things look bleak, our God can make
a way for you when there seems to be no way. This is what I am
praying for you.
"I want to become Catholic but my priest is delaying my annulment." What should I do?" Susan CatholicView Staff: I am in RCIA, and my husband and I both need annulments. I sent for all the necessary documents and gave the priest a draft of my husband's answers (I only need to prove my ex-husband was Catholic), but when I gave the priest the draft, he said something to the effect of, "It may take me a long time to get to this." It has now been two months, and I have not heard from him. I recently learned that this same priest helped the other annulment-needing couple in RCIA to complete and submit their applications. I asked a parish deacon if he could help me, but he said this priest does not allow deacons to assist with annulments. I really, really want to join the Catholic Church, but for whatever reason this priest isn't helping me. What should I do? Thank you very much.- Susan ___________________________________________ Dear Susan: I don't know the details of your annulment. Perhaps yours may be more complicated than the couple in your RCIA class who got theirs early. Yours may require getting more information from sources that are slow in sending it to your priest. Each case is different. Of course this is frustrating but I can only say be patient. You also can
make an appointment with your priest and ask why it is taking so
long for your annulment papers. Get an update on your situation.
Here's praying that you get closure on this matter as soon as
possible. May the Lord bless you always.
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