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MyCatholicSource.com Newsletter - April, 2010
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* Easter Greetings
* MCS News & Notes
* The Month of April: Dedicated to the Holy Eucharist
* Excerpts From an Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
* Eastertide Resources
* Liturgical Feasts in April
* Catholic Trivia
* Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Reject the Concept That There is a Certain Defined Body of Doctrine That You Must Believe?
* Newsletter Changes: Q & A
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Dear Friend,
Pax vobis! ["Peace be to you!", the words of our Lord Jesus Christ after the Resurrection, in the Church's official language, Latin (see Lk. 24:36, Jn. 20:19)]
We send our greetings & best wishes to you during this most joyous time of year.
We also send our thanks to all the kind subscribers who participated in our newsletter preview and send a special thank you to the dear subscriber (with the initials "JJ") who offered feedback regarding our newsletters before the time of our preview. All subscribers' comments were greatly appreciated.
We hope you like our newsletter's new look. As of the date of this writing, nearly all feedback regarding the preview has been positive, so we felt ready to go ahead with the new format. If you experience any difficulties with the new format, and to find out more about the changes, please see below for "Newsletter Changes: Q & A". Note that these Q & A may also assist with questions, comments, suggestions, etc. regarding the new format. We encourage you to review them.
We thank you for being a subscriber to the MyCatholicSource.com mailing list and wish you God's blessings,
Your Friends at MyCatholicSource.com
"In thy resurrection, O Christ, alleluia. Let heaven and earth rejoice, alleluia." (Liturgical Year)
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MCS News & Notes
* New: We have opened the MCS Web Poll Archive. Please visit the archive at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cmno/pl/poll_archive_1.htm to view the results of archived web polls
* New: The previously announced page for URL shortcuts is now available. To view URL shortcuts and instructions for using these shortcuts, please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/shortcuts.htm . We hope you will find that these convenient URL shortcuts make navigation quick & easy!
* The 'post of the month' page has been updated for 3/10. This month it was chosen from the Catholic Seniors Section and it is titled "Write your wishes down". To view the 'post of the month' page, please go to: http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/post_of_the_month.htm . To submit a post in your choice of hundreds of categories, visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fa/share_your_thoughts.htm
* Clarification regarding new features: We recently mentioned our large backlog of improvements & items we'd like to get to. So there is no misunderstanding, we wanted to mention that we, unfortunately, have only a limited amount of time each month to dedicate to improvements and new features. Besides improvements and new features, we also have to divide our time between regular news updates, chats, post processing, correspondence, newsletter, site maintenance, business matters, etc. It takes a good deal of time to maintain our site and there is usually only a relatively small portion of remaining time that can be dedicated to improvements. Therefore visitors' suggestions can help us to prioritize the large backlog of improvements and additions we would like to make.
* Have you experienced delivery problems with our regular newsletter or our news updates? If so, it may be because your e-mail provider filtered our e-mail. We have found that when e-mail hasn't been received, it is often found in "junk", "spam", etc. type folders. Your e-mail provider may automatically filter your e-mail and put messages into those folders. If so, it is often possible to find the e-mail there and click on a "not junk" or "not spam" button or link. When you do this, it may help some systems "learn" that certain e-mail is wanted. Unfortunately, though, it may take numerous times marking mail "not junk" before the system "learns" properly (possibly a dozen times or more). We regret that we are unable to solve this problem on our end. However, the more subscribers who remove our e-mail from "junk" folders, the better chance we may have of not having our mail filtered as "junk" in the future. Note that e-mail may need to be removed from a "junk" folder within a certain time period before the system discards it entirely. If you have any questions about how this process works, please contact your e-mail provider. Also, please note that we have NEVER missed a scheduled issue of either our regular newsletter or our news updates, so if you didn't get one/some, it may have been filtered out or returned to us.
* Reminder: To help ensure delivery of your newsletter, please put our e-mail addresses (for both our regular newsletter AND our news updates) in your 'trusted senders' list - or use other applicable options your e-mail provider may offer to let them know that our e-mail is wanted. Thank you.
* Please visit the "Notices" page for timely news and other important information regarding MyCatholicSource.com - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/notices.htm
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The Month of April: Dedicated to the Holy Eucharist
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"Jesus said to them, 'Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.'" (Jn. 6:53-58) [Note: As Scripture makes clear, reception of the Holy Eucharist is one essential condition for salvation. To be saved, one must also live according to God's laws.]
"Every Communion is a new gift which Jesus Christ makes of Himself." (St. Ignatius Loyola)
"Neither gifts nor portraits take the place of the beloved one. And our Lord knew it well. We needed Him, and so He gave us Himself." (Archbishop Fulton Sheen)
"A soul can do nothing that is more pleasing to God than to communicate (receive Holy Communion) in a state of grace." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
"[T]o the Holy Eucharist we owe the future resurrection of our bodies. Our Savior himself teaches us this, where he says: 'Your fathers did eat manna in the desert, and are dead. This is the Bread which cometh down from heaven, that if any man eat of it, he may not die... He that eateth my Flesh, and drinketh my Blood, hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up in the last day (Jn. 5:49,50,55).'" (Dom Gueranger)
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Related Links...
* The Holy Eucharist / Mass - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/Holy_Eucharist.htm
* Mass / Holy Eucharist Prayers - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_Mass_Holy_Eucharist.htm
* The Catechism of the Council of Trent on the Holy Eucharist - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/catechism_of_the_council_of_trent_Holy_Eucharist.htm
* Holy Eucharist / Mass Reflections - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/sacraments_reflections_Holy_Eucharist.htm
* Holy Communion Reflections - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/sacraments_reflections_Holy_Eucharist_Mass__Holy_Communion.htm
* Priests & The Holy Eucharist / Mass (Reflections) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/priests_and_vocations_reflections_Mass.htm
* Holy Eucharist / Holy Communion (Topical Scripture) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/pcst/topical_scripture_E.htm [Note: Scroll down to bottom of page to view]
* The Holy Eucharist / Holy Mass (Classic Encyclicals) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pd/classic_encyclicals_by_category.htm
* Latin Mass & Catholic Tradition - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/latin_mass_and_tradition.htm
* Holy Eucharist / Mass Apologetics (Non-Catholics Section) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/nc/non_catholics__Eucharist_Mass.htm
* Communion in the Hand: Why Not? - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/communion_in_the_hand__why_not.htm
* Communion Under Both Species: Is it Required? - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/sacraments/communion_under_both_species__is_it_required.htm
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Excerpts From an Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom
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The following are some excerpts from an Easter sermon of St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church.
Note: Formatting, paragraphs, capitalization, etc. below may differ from the original.
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Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay. For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together!...Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaias foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below." ...
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?
Christ is risen, and you, O death, are annihilated!
Christ is risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen!
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Eastertide Resources
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"At the [Easter] season, which commemorates the triumph of Christ, our souls are filled with deep interior joy: we, accordingly, should also consider that we must rise, in union with the Redeemer, from our cold and slothful life to one of greater fervor and holiness by giving ourselves completely and generously to God, and by forgetting this wretched world in order to aspire only to the things of heaven: 'If you be risen with Christ, seek the things that are above...mind the things that are above.' (Col. 3:1-2)" (Pope Pius XII)
"Therefore we observe Easter in such a manner as not only to recall the facts of the death and resurrection of Christ to remembrance, but also to find a place for all the other things which, in connection with these events, give evidence as to the import of the sacrament. For since, as the apostle wrote, 'He was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification,' a certain transition from death to life has been consecrated in that Passion and Resurrection of the Lord. For the word Pascha itself is not, as is commonly thought, a Greek word: those who are acquainted with both languages affirm it to be a Hebrew word. It is not derived, therefore, from the Passion, because of the Greek word paschein, signifying to suffer, but it takes its name from the transition, of which I have spoken, from death to life; the meaning of the Hebrew word Pascha being, as those who are acquainted with it assure us, a passing over or transition. To this the Lord Himself designed to allude, when He said, 'He that believeth in Me is passed from death to life.' And the same evangelist who records that saying is to be understood as desiring to give emphatic testimony to this, when, speaking of the Lord as about to celebrate with His disciples the passover, at which He instituted the sacramental supper, he says, 'When Jesus knew that His hour was come, that He should depart from this world unto the Father.' This passing over from this mortal life to the other, the immortal life, that is, from death to life, is set forth in the Passion and Resurrection of the Lord." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church)
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* Prayers for Easter - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_for_certain_occasions_times.htm
* Topical Scripture: Resurrection - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/pcst/topical_scripture_R7.htm
* Resurrection Reflections (scroll down to 'Resurrection' link) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/catholic_basics_reflections.htm
* Easter Duty - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_precepts_of_the_church.htm
* Definitions (e.g. for terms such as Easter, Easter Duty, Resurrection, etc.) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_definitions.htm
* Easter Date (Council) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_councils.htm
* Happy Easter Coloring Page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_happy_easter.htm
* The Resurrection Coloring Page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_the_resurrection.htm
* Alleluia Coloring Page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_alleluia.htm
* He is Risen Coloring Page - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/coloring_book_He_is_risen.htm
* Word Search Puzzle (Easter) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/word_search_easter.htm
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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Liturgical Feasts in April
The following is a listing of all liturgical feast dates for April as they appear at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/saints/feasts.htm
Note: (T) = Traditional, (N) = New (Novus Ordo)
Reminder: Feasts may be superseded / transferred / etc.
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April 2 - St. Francis of Paula (Paola) (T)
April 2 - St. Francis of Paola (N)
April 4 - St. Isidore of Seville (T)
April 4 - St. Isidore of Seville (N)
April 5 - St. Vincent Ferrer (T)
April 5 - St. Vincent Ferrer (N)
April 6 - St. Juliana of Cornillon (T)
April 7 - St. John Baptist de la Salle (N)
April 8 - St. Julia Billiart (T)
April 11 - St. Leo the Great, pope (T)
April 11 - St. Stanislaus (N)
April 13 - St. Hermenegild (T)
April 13 - St. Martin I, pope (N)
April 14 - St. Justin (T)
April 14 - Sts. Tiburtius, Valerian & Maximus (T)
April 17 - St. Anicetus, pope (T)
April 21 - St. Anselm of Canterbury (T)
April 21 - St. Anselm (N)
April 22 - Sts. Soter & Caius, popes (T)
April 23 - St. George (T)
April 23 - St. Adalbert (N)
April 23 - St. George (N)
April 24 - St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen (T)
April 24 - St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen (N)
April 25 - St. Mark the Evangelist (T)
April 25 - St. Mark the Evangelist (N)
April 26 - Our Lady of Good Counsel (T)
April 26 - Sts. Cletus & Marcellinus, popes (T)
April 27 - St. Peter Canisius (T)
April 27 - St. Thuribius of Mogrobejo (T)
April 28 - St. Paul of the Cross (T)
April 28 - St. Vitalis (T)
April 28 - St. Louis Marie de Montfort (N)
April 28 - St. Peter Chanel (N)
April 29 - St. Peter of Verona (T)
April 29 - St. Catherine of Siena (N)
April 30 - St. Catherine of Siena (T)
April 30 - St. Pius V, pope (N)
Please Note: Above may exclude moveable feasts. For moveable feasts see below & try here: http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/latin_mass_and_tradition/traditional_liturgical_calendar.htm . For other feasts, try the MCS Daily Digest each day at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/mcs_daily_digest.asp
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Other Dates In April ...
Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday): 4/1/10
Good Friday: 4/2/10
Holy Saturday: 4/3/10
EASTER SUNDAY: 4/4/10
Easter Monday: 4/5/10
Easter Tuesday: 4/6/10
Easter Wednesday: 4/7/10
Easter Thursday: 4/8/10
Easter Friday: 4/9/10
Easter Saturday: 4/10/10
Low Sunday (Quasimodo Sunday) (Trad.) / Divine Mercy Sunday (New): 4/11/10 [Reminder: Plenary Indulgence May Be Available. For indulgence information, please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/indulgences.htm . For information on the Divine Mercy devotion, please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/prayers_and_devotions/divine_mercy.htm ]
Second Sunday after Easter (Good Shepherd Sunday) (Trad.), Third Sunday of Easter (New): 4/18/10
Third Sunday after Easter (Trad.), Fourth Sunday of Easter (New): 4/25/10
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Catholic Trivia
1. How is the date of Easter traditionally determined and what is the range of dates wherein Easter may fall?
2. What does the 'Easter Duty' refer to?
3. What does Sanctissimum refer to?
4. In the traditional Mass, what replaces the Asperges during Paschaltide?
5. Who said...? "Eternal Wisdom, on the one hand, wished to prove his love for man by dying in his place in order to save him, but on the other hand, he could not bear the thought of leaving him. So he devised a marvelous way of dying and living at the same time, and of abiding with man until the end of time. So, in order to fully satisfy his love, he instituted the sacrament of Holy Eucharist and went to the extent of changing and overturning nature itself."
6. What are two other terms for Easter?
7. What are five other terms for the Holy Eucharist?
8. Complete this sentence: The Holy Eucharist is received as ___, received by the dying as ___, and made present at ___
9. What does anastasis refer to?
10. Who said...? "A thousand years of glory in palaces of men cannot be worth the sweetness of one hour spent before the tabernacle."
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Answers:
1. The traditional date of Easter is the first Sunday after the full moon which occurs on or after March 21. It may range from March 22nd to April 25th.
2. Refers to the grave obligation to receive Holy Communion at Easter time. "Can. 920 §1 Once admitted to the blessed Eucharist, each of the faithful is obliged to receive Holy Communion at least once a year. §2 This precept must be fulfilled during paschal time (the Easter season), unless for a good reason it is fulfilled at another time during the year." (1983 Code of Canon Law)
3. Latin for Blessed Sacrament
4. The text of the Asperges is replaced by the Vidi Aquam during Paschaltide in the traditional Mass
5. St. Louis de Montfort
6. Easter is called the "'feast of feasts,' and 'most solemn of all solemnities,' for the Resurrection is the keystone of the Christian faith and hope" (Catholic Dictionary)
7. The Most Blessed Sacrament, The Bread of Life, The Sacrament of the Altar, The Bread of Angels, The Sacred Host (from the Latin 'Hostia', for 'Victim')
8. The Holy Eucharist is received as Holy Communion, received by the dying as Viaticum, and made present at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
9. Latin for the Resurrection
10. St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother
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For more information concerning the topics above, try our General A-Z Index at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
Like trivia? You might enjoy our crossword puzzles located at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_crossword_puzzles.htm
You might also be interested in the Q & A and historical information which may be found each day on the MCS Daily Digest at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/mcs_daily_digest.asp
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Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Reject the Concept That There is a Certain Defined Body of Doctrine That You Must Believe?
It is good for Catholics to be able to defend their faith against attacks (or even simple questions) from those outside the Church. We therefore hope you may find the following "apologetics brief" helpful.
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Note: Text below is taken from http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/nc/non_catholics__truth_doctrine.htm
The following may be used as discussion points when discoursing with those outside the Church (or even among Catholics).
Topic: Do You Reject the Concept That There is a Certain Defined Body of Doctrine That You Must Believe? (Note: Topic is directed at Protestants)
Consider:
* If there is heresy (cf. Ti. 3:10-11), there must, therefore, be fixed truths which have to be believed.
* Scripture says to "guard what has been entrusted to you..." (1 Tim. 6:20), yet you reject that any definite body of doctrine has been entrusted?
* Scripture shows that Jesus taught a defined body of doctrine - Jesus never said persons may simply believe whatever they 'feel' or 'think' is true.
* Scripture speaks of the need for unity among Christ's followers (cf. Jn. 17:19-23, Eph. 4:5, Jn. 10:16, Phil. 2:1-2, 1 Pt. 3:8) and one can only have unity in truth! "Contradiction is manifold, but truth is uniform." (St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church, c. 350 A.D.)
* Christ's believers cannot be divided in faith (see Mt. 12:25, Lk. 11:17).
* Why would St. Paul warn about men who "will come forward perverting the truth to draw the disciples away after them" (Acts 20:30) if there was no fixed truth to be drawn away from?
* St. John the Apostle wouldn't even remain in a building with a heretic, yet you tolerate all varieties of heresy?
* St. Polycarp, a disciple of St. John the Apostle, told a heretic he was the "firstborn of Satan", yet you would give license to the same heretic under the banner of "personal interpretation"?
* Scripture tells us to not even greet heretics (2 Jn. 1:10-11), yet you would argue in favor of the false and contradictory teachings of heretics under the banner of "personal interpretation"?
* Holy Scripture urges unity of belief and rejection of novel doctrines, yet you allow disunity among believers and the toleration of novel doctrines under the banner of "personal interpretation"?
* We know there is objective truth and that we are responsible for knowing it and living it. As Scripture says...
"God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth." (Jn. 4:24)
"...and the truth will set you free." (Jn. 8:32)
"But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming." (Jn. 16:13) [Note: Reference has been corrected]
"So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate" (Eph. 6:14)
"...every lie is alien to the truth." (1 Jn. 2:21)
* We know there is an objective truth that must be believed (see Mk. 16:15-16), and that we are called to reject error/false teachings:
"If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him in your house or even greet him; for whoever greets him shares in his evil works." (2 Jn. 1:10-11)
"But there are some who are disturbing you and wish to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach (to you) a gospel other than the one that we preached to you, let that one be accursed! As we have said before, and now I say again, if anyone preaches to you a gospel other than the one that you received, let that one be accursed! Am I now currying favor with human beings or God? Or am I seeking to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a slave of Christ." (Gal. 1:7-10)
* We also know that Jesus ["the way and the truth and the life" (Jn.14:6)] came to testify to the truth: "For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice." (Jn. 18:37)
* Christ said the truth will set you free - not one's opinion, not half-truth, not error.
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"Whatsoever He commands, He commands by the same authority. He requires the assent of the mind to all truths without exception. It was thus the duty of all who heard Jesus Christ, if they wished for eternal salvation, not merely to accept His doctrine as a whole, but to assent with their entire mind to all and every point of it, since it is unlawful to withhold faith from God even in regard to one single point." (Pope Leo XIII, "Satis Cognitum", 1896 A.D.)
"Everyone knows that John himself, the Apostle of love, who seems in his Gospel to have revealed the secrets of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and who never ceased to impress upon the memory of his disciples the new commandment 'to love one another', nevertheless strictly forbade any intercourse with those who professed a mutilated and corrupt form of Christ's teaching: 'If any man comes to you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house, nor say to him, God speed you.' (2 John 1:10)" (Pope Pius XI, "Mortalium Animos")
"I have learned however, that certain persons from elsewhere, who have evil doctrine, have stayed with you; but you did not allow them to sow it among you, and you stopped your ears so that you would not receive what they sow... Do not err, my brethren: the corrupters of families will not inherit the kingdom of God. And if they who do these things according to the flesh suffer death, how much more if a man corrupt by evil teaching the faith of God, for the sake of which Jesus Christ was crucified? A man become so foul will depart into unquenchable fire; and so also will anyone who listens to him." (St. Ignatius of Antioch, hearer of St. John the Apostle, c. 110 A.D.)
"But he who dissents even in one point from divinely revealed truth absolutely rejects all faith, since he thereby refuses to honor God as the supreme truth and the formal motive of faith. 'In many things they are with me, in a few things not with me; but in those few things in which they are not with me the many things in which they are will not profit them' (S. Augustinus in Psal. liv., n. 19). And this indeed most deservedly; for they, who take from Christian doctrine what they please, lean on their own judgments, not on faith; and not 'bringing into captivity every understanding unto the obedience of Christ' (2 Cor. x., 5), they more truly obey themselves than God. 'You, who believe what you like, believe yourselves rather than the gospel' (S. Augustinus, lib. xvii., Contra Faustum Manichaeum, cap. 3)." (Pope Leo XIII, "Satis Cognitum", 1896 A.D.)
"That is, as there is one Lord and one baptism, so should all Christians, without exception, have but one faith. And so the Apostle St. Paul not merely begs, but entreats and implores Christians to be all of the same mind, and to avoid difference of opinions: 'I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no schisms amongst you, and that you be perfect in the same mind and in the same judgment' (I Cor. i., 10). Such passages certainly need no interpreter; they speak clearly enough for themselves. Besides, all who profess Christianity allow that there can be but one faith. It is of the greatest importance and indeed of absolute necessity, as to which many are deceived, that the nature and character of this unity should be recognized. And, as We have already stated, this is not to be ascertained by conjecture, but by the certain knowledge of what was done; that is by seeking for and ascertaining what kind of unity in faith has been commanded by Jesus Christ." (Pope Leo XIII, "Satis Cognitum", 1896 A.D.)
"And yet this same gentle and loving Saint [John the Evangelist] was the inflexible enemy of heresy; for heresy, by destroying Faith, poisons Charity in its very source. It is from this Apostle that the Church has received the maxim she gives to us, of shunning heresy as we would shun a plague: If any man come to you and bring not the doctrine of Christ, receive him not into the house, nor say to him 'God speed thee', for he that saith unto him 'God speed thee', communicateth with his wicked works (2 Jn. 1:10-11). St. John having one day entered one of the public baths, he was no sooner informed that the heresiarch Cerinthus was in the same building, than he instantly left the place as though it were infected. The disciples of Cerinthus were indignant at this conduct of the Apostle, and endeavored to take away his life by putting poison into the cup from which he used to drink; but St. John having made the sign of the cross over the cup, a serpent was seen to issue from it, testifying both to the wickedness of his enemies and to the divinity of Christ, This apostolic firmness in resisting the enemies of the Faith made him the dread of the heretics of Asia; and hereby he proved how justly he had received from Jesus the surname Son of Thunder" (Dom Gueranger)
"I could point out the very spot where sat blessed Polycarp while he conversed with us; I could describe exactly his bearing, his address, his manner of life, his every feature, and the discourses he made to the crowd. Thou rememberest how he used to tell us of his intercourse with John [the Apostle] and the rest of those that had seen the Lord, and with what a faithful memory he repeated their words; what he had learnt from them respecting our Lord, his miracles, his doctrine, all these things Polycarp transmitted to us, as having himself received them from the very men that had beheld with their eyes the Word of life; all of what he told us was conformable to the Scriptures. What a grace from God were these conversations of his! I used to listen so eagerly, noting everything down, not on parchment, but on my heart; and now, by the grace of God, I still live on it all. Hence, I can attest before God, if the blessed apostolic old man [St. Polycarp] had heard [heretical] discourses ... He would have stopped his ears, saying, as was his wont: 'O God most good, to what sort of times hast thou reserved us!' Then would he have got up quickly, and would have fled from that place of blasphemy." [St. Irenaeus (disciple of St. Polycarp, a disciple of St. John the Apostle), 2nd century A.D.]
"The Church, instituted by the Lord and confirmed by the Apostles, is one for all men; but the frantic folly of the diverse impious sects has cut them off from her. It cannot be denied that this tearing asunder of the faith has arisen from the defect of poor intelligence, which twists what is read to confirm to its opinion, instead of adjusting its opinion to the meaning of what is read. However, while individual parties fight among themselves, the Church stands revealed not only by her own doctrines, but by those also of her adversaries. And although they are all ranged against her, she confutes the most wicked error which they all share, by the very fact that she is alone and one. All the heretics, therefore, come against the Church; but while all the heretics can conquer each other, they can win nothing for themselves. For their victory is the triumph of the Church over all of them. One heresy struggles against that teaching of another, which the faith of the Church has already condemned in the other heresy - for there is nothing which the heretics hold in common - and the result is that they affirm our faith while fighting among themselves." (St. Hilary of Poitiers, Doctor of the Church, c. 356 A.D.)
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For more apologetics resources, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/non-catholics.htm
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If your e-mail is displayed in html format, you should have noticed some changes to our newsletter in this issue. The following are some questions & answers regarding our new format.
Q. Why don't I notice any difference between the old and new format?
A. If you don't notice any difference between the old and new formats, you may be viewing e-mail in plain text format. To view newsletter in the new format, try switching to html (if possible).
Q. What are some differences between the old and new format?
A. You may notice the addition of colors, larger fonts, bold text, and images, as well as links on top allowing you to easily navigate to the article(s) you are interested in. Also, the new format may include personalization (e.g. your name, subscription start date). However, if you are not viewing the e-mail in html view, you may not notice some or all of these changes.
Q. Is it only the formatting that has changed?
A. Yes. We have NOT planned any changes to the content. However, we are open to suggestions. If you want to make suggestions, please use our newsletter feedback form at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/newsletter_feedback.htm
Q. Why don't images display?
A. If images don't display in html view, it may be because they are turned off. If they are turned off but you want them displayed, look for the option in your e-mail client to display images. If you are viewing the plain text version, images will not be displayed. You can try switching to html version to view the images.
Q. Does the newsletter look the same in every e-mail client?
A. No. The appearance of the newsletter - including spacing, fonts, etc. - may vary significantly depending upon the e-mail client. Unfortunately, there may be little we can do about this. However, we would appreciate it if you would report any problems so that we might at least see if it is possible to make adjustments. To do so, please provide as many details as possible via our newsletter feedback form at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/newsletter_feedback.htm
Q. How should the new format look?
A. To view a sample of how the new format "should" look, please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/newsletters/sample_html_newsletter.htm . Remember, however, that the appearance may vary significantly depending upon the e-mail client.
Q. What do these changes mean for me?
A. On the positive side, the newsletter may be more visually pleasing, easier to use, and easier to navigate. On the negative site, the size of the e-mail mail may be larger since it contains two versions. It is also possible that the appearance of the newsletter in html format may be less attractive in some e-mail clients (if so, please tell us).
Q. What do these changes mean for you?
A. It takes more work on our end to put the newsletter together in this format since we have to create two versions of it, and add formatting & personalization. It is also a bit more involved since it involves a separate system and requires us to put more effort into cross-platform issues. Hopefully, though, subscribers will find the improvements worth our extra effort.
Q. What does it mean that "two versions" of the newsletter are sent?
A. Each newsletter e-mailed in the new format actually contains two versions - an html version and a plain text version - even though subscribers may not notice that the newsletter contains two versions. The version displayed on your screen may depend upon your e-mail client. Users can often change the settings in order to display the version they prefer. Note that there are two versions for your convenience - you do NOT need to view both versions.
Q. My mailbox size is limited. Can you send me just one version of the newsletter?
A. Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to do this for individual subscribers. Both versions are sent automatically.
Q. I can only view plain text. Can you switch me to a "plain text only" version of the newsletter?
A. Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to do this for individual subscribers. However, your e-mail client may have the ability to display just the plain text version.
Q. Can I opt out of the html version?
A. Unfortunately, we do not have the ability to do this for individual subscribers. However, your e-mail client may have the ability to display just the plain text version.
Q. Why did you make this change?
A. We have been wanting to improve the appearance of our newsletters for some time, however there were a number of hurdles we had to overcome in order to be able to adopt this new format. We just recently found a solution to most of the difficulties, so we were able to proceed.
Q. Will you send all future newsletters in the new format?
A. Unless there are problems, we plan to send monthly newsletters in the new format as a general rule. However, there may be some occasions where the old format will be used (possibly for the first newsletter for new subscribers, or for occasional 'resends', or if the new system is unavailable, etc.). Also, the old format will be used for the archived version appearing on our site (at least for the foreseeable future).
Q. Whey aren't there more images?
A. To keep e-mail size to a minimum, we may use as few images as possible.
Q. Can the newsletter text be narrowed for easier reading (e.g. spread across multiple columns)?
A. Although the new design does not allow for multiple columns for most text [such a format would introduce a number of complications (e.g. due to the wide variety of e-mail clients, monitor sizes, various user settings, etc.), it would significantly increase the time it takes to produce a newsletter, and it may result in unpleasant consequences (e.g. uneven columns, uncontrollable white space, difficulties for those who can't view nested tables, etc.)], it is nevertheless easy for individual users to view narrower blocks of text by simply adjusting the size of their window if they so desire. The width of columns should automatically increase or decrease to fit your window size.
Q. Where did you get my name from? Why is it in all upper or lower case? How can I request a change?
A. The name displayed is what was provided to us by subscribers when they subscribed, capitals and all. At least initially, we will try to honor subscribers' requests to make changes to their name. To request a change to your name, please reply to this e-mail and put "change name to: (input name)" in the subject line (replace "input name" with the name you want to change your subscriber record to). Be certain to spell your request correctly and use the capitalization you wish us to use. No more than one change request per person, please. Please provide your actual name (first, last, middle...your choice, any or all) ONLY, or use initials. No requests deemed inappropriate. All requests must conform to our standards for posting. We reserve the right to refuse name changes or to change name to initials only. We will try to make changes as soon as possible, but please allow a few weeks for changes to be made. Sorry, we cannot promise to make any particular change(s).
Q. What if my name isn't displayed or something other than my name is displayed?
A. Whatever is displayed in the "Name" field (e.g. after the word "Dear" at the top of this e-mail) is what was provided to us when you subscribed. If you wish to change this information, please see the question above.
Q. Can I change my subscription start date?
A. No, sorry, this date cannot be changed.
Q. Will the weekly news updates also be in the new format?
A. No (at least not for the foreseeable future).
Q. Why aren't you planning to issue the news updates in the new format?
A. Putting together two versions of news updates (html, plain text) each week would be rather time-consuming on our end and we do not have sufficient personnel to undertake this work. Also, subscribers with limited storage space for e-mail may not appreciate the increased e-mail size on a weekly basis.
Q. Will you be archiving the html version of the newsletter online?
A. No (alt least not at this time). We will, however, continue to archive a plain text version.
Q. Can you assist me with technical details regarding displaying images or displaying e-mail in html or plain text?
A. Sorry, no. You should, however, be able to obtain this information from your e-mail client or e-mail provider.
Q. What if there are technical problems I cannot resolve?
A. If you have another e-mail address (e.g. from another e-mail provider), you can try subscribing under that address to see if things work better for you there. To sign up for another subscription, go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/mail_list.htm . Note that you can cancel either of your subscriptions using this same page.
Q. What if I don't like something about the new format? What if I'm having a problem with something?
A. Please tell us. You can use our newsletter feedback form at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/newsletter_feedback.htm . Also, please remember that you may be able to view the newsletter in plain text format. In this format, the newsletter should appear similar to how it did before. To view the plain text version, please consult your e-mail client.
Q. What if I have a question about the new format?
A. Please ask us. You can use our newsletter feedback form at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/newsletter_feedback.htm
Q. Do my comments really matter?
A. Absolutely! While we can't promise we can resolve all issues, we have always taken subscriber feedback very seriously.
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Closing Quotations...
"After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, 'Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.'" (Mt. 28:1-6)
"Let now the heavenly troops of angels rejoice: let the divine mysteries be joyfully celebrated: and let a sacred trumpet proclaim the victory of so great a King. Let the earth also be filled with joy, being illuminated with such resplendent rays: and let us be sensible that the darkness, which overspread the whole earth, is chased away by the splendor of our eternal King. Let our mother, the Church, be also glad, finding herself adorned with the rays of so great light: and let this temple resound with the joyful acclamations of the people." (Liturgical Year)
"Life conquers death; man now regains what he had lost - the joys of heaven; the angel sheathes his two-edged sword, and leaves the passage free. Jesus opens heaven, and liberates them whom sin had made captives of death. For this great victory, be glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen." (Sequence, Adam of St. Victor)
"We belong not to ourselves now, since Christ has bought us 'at a great price' [His blood] (1 Cor. 6:20)" (Pope Pius XI)
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We sincerely welcome feedback regarding our newsletters. Please visit our newsletter feedback page at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/newsletter_feedback.htm to share your comments.
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