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MyCatholicSource.com Newsletter - August 2016
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* Greetings
* MCS News & Notes
* The Month of August: Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
* Reflection From St. Alphonsus Liguori
* Salutation To the Blessed Virgin
* Liturgical Feasts in August
* '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?
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Dear Friend,
Greetings & blessings to you! We hope you are having a pleasant and holy summer.
We send our thanks to all subscribers who have signed up for Rosary Week and also for the kind comments we have received with signups. For those who haven't yet signed up, please accept our invitation to join fellow Catholics in praying the rosary for worthy intentions. It doesn't take very long to participate, it doesn't cost anything to sign up, and you can pray from anywhere. And this year, we have some great news! A very dear, holy priest we know said he will join us for Rosary Week. We hope you will likewise join us in this 'spiritually rewarding endeavor'. For more information on Rosary Week, please visit www.MyCatholicSource.com/RosaryWeekInfo . To sign up, please visit www.MyCatholicSource.com/RosaryWeek . Please sign up today!
We would also like to thank all subscribers for their support of our newsletter. Please know that we always welcome your feedback. We want our newsletters to be as interesting & useful as possible, so please let us know if there's something we can improve. You can use the subscriber feedback form at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/subscriber_feedback.htm to send us a quick note.
We wish you God's blessings,
Your Friends at MyCatholicSource.com
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"Although she was never subject to the frailty and perversity of our nature, Mary well knows its condition and is the best and most solicitous of mothers. How willingly will she hasten to our aid when we need her; with what love will she refresh us, and with what strength sustain us." (Pope Leo XIII, "Magnae Dei Matris", 1892 A.D.)
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MCS News & Notes
* Rosary Week: The online signup sheet for our Eighth Annual Rosary Week is ready & waiting for you! This year's Rosary Week is scheduled for 10/24-10/30/16. It's easy, it's free, and it takes only a little time. You can sign up for one day, a few days, or for the entire week. You can participate at any time of day or night. If desired, you can sign up anonymously & an e-mail address is *not* necessary (unless you'd like daily reminders or want to be contacted next year). And, you can join us from the comfort of your own home or even from your parish. Please join us in this 'powerful prayer event'! Sign up today at www.MyCatholicSource.com/RosaryWeek . Don't know how to pray the rosary? Visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/rosary/how_to_pray_the_rosary.htm for assistance.
* Can you help? Please invite your family and friends to sign up for Rosary Week at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/fdb/rosary_week_sign_up.htm . Also, please consider passing the word around at your parish. You can find printable Rosary Week fliers at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/rosary_week.htm (click on the 'Fliers' link). Thanks in advance for any help!
* We spoke too soon! In last month's newsletter, we referenced email delivery issues that we hoped had been resolved. Unfortunately that was not the case. Nevertheless, we continued to work with our host for a solution to this issue. At long last, we do think there has been some improvement. We once again hope that the delivery issues have been resolved, however this time we think our hopes are better founded as we sent a test email to one of the 'problem' domains that was (thankfully) not returned. Once again, if you were one of the subscribers affected by this issue, we apologize that we were unable to get our mailings through to you over the last year (or longer). We wish this matter could have been resolved more expeditiously, but we don't know what else we could have done to make that happen. Still, we are very sorry for the occurrence and hope you will now be able to enjoy your mailing list subscription. Also, if you are interested in viewing past newsletters, please note that plain text versions of them are available at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/newsletters/mcs_newsletters.htm
* Five Year App Anniversary: The month of August marks the 5 year anniversary of our first app release. We are happy to report that in these five years we have released 10 apps total - 5 iOS/Apple apps & 5 Android apps - plus 5 updates. Our apps have been sold in or used in dozens and dozens of countries. Although it has been very difficult for us to get reviews (unfortunately, people don't seem to recognize the importance of leaving reviews), we have enjoyed mostly positive ratings on those we have received. Although app sales have not been as high as we'd like, they have still been helpful in keeping us going for the time being. We plan to continue our Android app development for the foreseeable future, and we hope to release at least one more app within the next year. For those who have already purchased our apps, we thank you very much for your support. We really appreciate it.
* Did you know? You can post information about your Catholic event FREE in the Catholic Events Section. To tell other Catholics about your event, visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/events.htm
* Do you have children that will return to school soon? You might want to have a look at the user-submitted article entitled "Attention: Read This If You Love Your Children" at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/ua/user_article-attention_read_this_if_you_love_your_children.htm
* Looking for inspiration? Have you visited our Reflections pages? Please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/reflections_categorized.htm for thousands of quotes from popes, saints, scripture, and more categorized by section. Or, if you prefer, you can view the links alphabetically at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/reflections.htm . These are definitely pages to bookmark!
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The Month of August: Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
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"But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart." (Lk. 2:19)
"And [Jesus] went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. And his mother kept all these words in her heart." (Lk. 2:51)
"Tell everybody that God gives graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Tell them to ask graces from her, and that the Heart of Jesus wishes to be venerated together with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Ask them to plead for peace from the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the Lord has confided the peace of the world to her." (Bl. Jacinta of Fatima)
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Related Resources...
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Blessed_Virgin_Mary.htm
* Popular Marian Devotions (Incl. Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, First Five Saturdays Devotion & Prayers of Consecration) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/popular_marian_devotions.htm
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Reflections) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/mary_our_mother_reflections.htm
* Popular Marian Prayers - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/marian_prayers.htm
* More Marian Prayers - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_Marian.htm
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Papal Writings) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pd/classic_encyclicals_by_category.htm
* Marian Facts - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/facts.htm
* Marian Scripture References - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/marian_scriptural_references.htm
* Reasons to Honor the Blessed Virgin Mary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/reasons_to_honor_mary.htm
* Thoughts on the Blessed Virgin Mary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/thoughts_on_mary.htm
* Mary Our Mother Section - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/mary_our_mother.htm
* Do Catholics Worship Mary? - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/do_catholics_worship_mary.htm
* Marian Apologetics - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/nc/non_catholics__Marian.htm
* The Holy Rosary (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-holy_rosary.htm
* Scapulars (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-scapulars.htm
* Marian Apparitions at Fatima (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-fatima.htm
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Coloring Pages) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_coloring_activities.htm
* Marian Word Searches - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_word_searches.htm
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Crossword Puzzle) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/crossword_puzzle_Mary.html
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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"Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee" (Cant. 4:7 / Song. 4:7)
"[Thy] patronage, O Mary, is more powerful and loving than anything of which we can ever form an idea." (St. Germanus)
"When Mary has taken root in a soul she produces in it wonders of grace which only she can produce; for she alone is the fruitful virgin who never had and never will have her equal in purity and fruitfulness." (St. Louis de Montfort)
"Just as Mary surpassed in grace all others on earth, so also in heaven is her glory unique. If eye has not seen or ear heard or the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9), who can express what He has prepared for the woman who gave Him birth and who loved Him, as everyone knows, more than anyone else?" (St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church)
"Who can ever comprehend the solicitude with which Mary constantly stands before God on our behalf? 'She is never weary of defending us,' says St. Germanus; and the remark is beautiful meaning that so great is the compassion excited in Mary by our misery, and such is the love that she bears us, that she prays constantly, and relaxes not her efforts in our behalf: that by her prayers she may effectually defend us from evil, and obtain for us sufficient graces." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
"[B]y the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory. Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith." (Pope Pius XII, "Munificentissimus Deus", 1950 A.D.)
"But should there by chance be a sinner who, though not doubting her power, might doubt the compassion of Mary, fearing perhaps that she might be unwilling to help him on account of the greatness of his sins, let him take courage from the words of St. Bonaventure. 'The great, the special privilege of Mary is, that she is all-powerful with her son.' 'But,' adds the saint, 'to what purpose would Mary have so great power if she cared not for us?' 'No,' he concludes, 'let us not doubt, but be certain, and let us always thank Our Lord and His divine Mother for it, that in proportion as her power with God exceeds that of all the saints, so is she in the same proportion our most loving advocate, and the one who is the most solicitous for our welfare." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
Prayer of Consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary: "O Virgin Immaculate, Mother of God and my Mother, from thy sublime height turn upon me thine eyes of pity. Filled with confidence in thy goodness and knowing full well thy power, I beseech thee to extend to me thine assistance in the journey of life, which is so full of dangers for my soul. And in order that I may never be the slave of the devil through sin, but may ever live with my heart humble and pure, I entrust myself wholly to thee. I consecrate my heart to thee for ever, my only desire being to love thy divine Son Jesus. Mary, none of thy devout servants has ever perished; may I too be saved. Amen." (Raccolta)
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Reflection From St. Alphonsus Liguori
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"Friends in the world have generally certain days on which they meet and converse; on other days they are apart; but between God and you, if you wish, there need never be one hour of separation: 'You shall rest, and your sleep shall be sweet: the Lord will be at your side' (cf. Proverbs 3:24). You may sleep, but God will place Himself at your side and watch over you continually: 'I will rest with Him and He will be a comfort in my cares and grief.' (cf. Wisdom 8:9 and 8:16). When you take your rest, He does not leave your bedside. He remains there, always thinking of you, that when you awake in the night He may speak to you by His inspirations, and receive from you in return some act of love, of oblation, of thanksgiving. Thus, He desires to continue even in the hours of the night His sweet and gracious converse with you." (St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church)
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For more reflections, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/reflections_categorized.htm
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Salutation To the Blessed Virgin
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Note: This prayer of St. John Eudes is particularly recommended for the conversion of sinners. It is said that the Blessed Virgin Mary promised the saint that all who say the prayer "with devotion, or at least with good will if they are in the state of grace, receive an increase of divine love in their hearts at each of the [salutations or benedictions] contained in it" and that those in mortal sin may also receive assistance (it is said that "she will knock at the door of their hearts" to urge them to open their hearts to grace). Also, those difficult to convert or 'steeped in sin', are encouraged to recite this salutation "or at least consent to have it read to them". Note that there are various versions of this prayer.
[Notice: We have made a few changes to the text below (e.g. abbreviating, spelling change, word addition)]
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Hail Mary, Daughter of God the Father.
Hail Mary, Mother of God the Son.
Hail Mary, Spouse of the Holy Ghost.
Hail Mary, Temple of the Divinity.
Hail Mary, Immaculate lily of the resplendent and peaceful Trinity.
Hail Mary, Radiant rose of heavenly fragrance.
Hail Mary, Virgin of virgins, Virgin most faithful, of whom the King of Heaven did will to be born.
Hail Mary, Queen of martyrs, whose soul was pierced with a sword of sorrow.
Hail Mary, Queen of the Universe, to whom all power has been given in Heaven and on earth.*
Hail Mary, Queen of my heart, my mother, my life, my consolation, and my dearest hope.
Hail Mary, Mother most amiable.
Hail Mary, Mother most admirable.
Hail Mary, Mother of Mercy.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women.
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
And blessed be thy spouse, St. Joseph.
And blessed be thy father, St. Joachim.
And blessed be thy mother, St. Anne.
And blessed be thy adopted son, St. John.
And blessed be thy angel, St. Gabriel.
And blessed be the eternal Father who chose thee.
And blessed be the divine Son who loves thee.
And blessed be the Holy Ghost who espoused thee.
And blessed be forever all those who bless and who love thee.
Amen.
[* Note: Of course this does not refer to inherent power, but rather to power conferred to her by God.]
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For more prayers, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-catholic_prayers.htm
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Liturgical Feasts in August
The following is a listing of all liturgical feast dates for August 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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August 1 - St. Paul (T)
August 1 - St. Peter's Chains (T)
August 1 - The Holy Machabees (T)
August 1 - St. Alphonsus Liguori (N)
August 2 - St. Alphonsus Liguori (T)
August 2 - St. Stephen I, pope (T)
August 2 - St. Eusebius of Vercelli (N)
August 2 - St. Peter Julian Eymard (N)
August 3 - Finding of St. Stephen (T)
August 4 - St. Dominic (T)
August 4 - St. John Vianney (Cure of Ars) (N)
August 5 - Dedication of Our Lady of the Snow (T)
August 5 - Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome (N)
August 6 - Sts. Sixtus II (Xystus) (pope), Felicissimus & Agapitus (T)
August 6 - Transfiguration of Our Lord (T)
August 6 - Transfiguration of the Lord (N)
August 7 - St. Cajetan (T)
August 7 - St. Donatus (T)
August 7 - St. Cajetan (N)
August 7 - St. Sixtus II (pope) & companions (N)
August 8 - Sts. Cyriacus, Largus & Smaragdus (T)
August 8 - The 14 Holy Helpers (T)
August 8 - St. Dominic (N)
August 9 - St. Emidius (T)
August 9 - St. John Vianney (Cure of Ars) (T)
August 9 - St. Romanus (T)
August 9 - St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) (N)
August 10 - St. Laurence (Lawrence) (T)
August 10 - St. Lawrence (N)
August 11 - St. Philomena (T)
August 11 - Sts. Tiburtius & Susanna (T)
August 11 - St. Clare of Assisi (N)
August 12 - St. Clare of Assisi (T)
August 13 - Sts. Hippolytus & Cassian (T)
August 13 - Sts. Pontian (pope) & Hippolytus (N)
August 14 - St. Eusebius (T)
August 14 - Vigil of the Assumption (T)
August 14 - St. Maximilian Kolbe (N)
August 15 - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T) *
August 15 - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (N) *
August 16 - St. Joachim, Father of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T)
August 16 - St. Stephen of Hungary (N)
August 17 - St. Hyacinth (T)
August 18 - St. Agapitus (T)
August 18 - St. Helena (T)
August 18 - St. Jane Frances de Chantal (N)
August 19 - St. John Eudes (T)
August 19 - St. John Eudes (N)
August 20 - St. Bernard of Clairvaux (T)
August 20 - St. Bernard of Clairvaux (N)
August 21 - St. Jane Frances de Chantal (T)
August 21 - St. Pius X, pope (N)
August 22 - Sts. Timothy, Hippolytus & Symphorianus (T)
August 22 - The Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T)
August 22 - The Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary (N)
August 23 - St. Philip Benizi (T)
August 23 - St. Rose of Lima (N)
August 24 - St. Bartholomew, apostle (T)
August 24 - St. Bartholomew, apostle (N)
August 25 - St. Louis IX, king of France (T)
August 25 - St. Joseph Calasanz (N)
August 25 - St. Louis IX of France (N)
August 26 - St. Zephyrinus, pope (T)
August 27 - St. Joseph Calasanctius (T)
August 27 - St. Monica (N)
August 28 - St. Augustine of Hippo (T)
August 28 - St. Hermes (T)
August 28 - St. Augustine of Hippo (N)
August 29 - Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (T)
August 29 - St. Sabina (T)
August 29 - Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist (N)
August 30 - St. Rose of Lima (T)
August 30 - Sts. Felix & Adauctus (T)
August 31 - St. Raymund Nonnatus (T)
Please Note: Above may exclude moveable feasts. For moveable feasts, 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
* Holy Day of Obligation, unless abrogated (Contact your diocese for info.)
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'Catholic Trivia'
1. What is a 'Privileged Altar'?
2. According to Pope St. Gregory the Great, what are the four marks by which pride betrays itself?
3. What does Kalends refer to?
4. Complete the passage...: "Your every act should be ___." (1 Cor. 16:14)
5. Who are the Three Cappadocians?
6. What is an octave?
7. Complete the passage...: "Let love be sincere; hate ___, hold on to ___" (Rom. 12:9)
8. Where are we told that the devil is prowling around "like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour"?
9. What are "Novissima"?
10. What industry does Pope Pius XI say became "more pernicious and deadly" as it progressed? What occurred in the United States in 1930 which was supposed to curb such degradation?
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Answers:
1. Privileged Altar: "One at which a plenary indulgence may be gained for a soul in Purgatory by the celebration and application of a [particular] Mass. The privilege is either local (belonging to any priest at a particular altar) or personal (to a particular priest and any altar) or mixed (to certain priests at certain altars)." (Catholic Dictionary) Note that the indulgence is to be applied to the soul for whom the Mass was offered.
2. "There are four marks by which every kind of pride of the arrogant betrays itself; either when they think that their good is from themselves, or if they believe it to be from above, yet they think that it is due to their own merits; or when they boast of having what they have not, or despise others and wish to appear the exclusive possessors of what they have." (Pope St. Gregory the Great, Doctor of the Church)
3. Kalends refers to the first day of the month in the old Roman Calendar.
4. "Your every act should be done with love." (1 Cor. 16:14) [DR Trans: "Let all your things be done in charity."]
5. The 'Three Cappadocians' refers to three Fathers of the Church who were natives of Cappadocia: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory Nazianzen, and St. Gregory of Nyssa. Note that St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory of Nyssa are brothers.
6. An octave is "The commemoration of a feast over a period of eight days, counting the feast itself; the final day of such a commemoration. Days in between are 'within the octave.'" (Catholic Dictionary)
7. "Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good" (Rom. 12:9)
8. We are told that the devil is "prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" in 1 Pt. 5:8: "Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour."
9. Novissima are "Last Things" - The four last things are: Death, Judgment, Hell, and Heaven.
10. As Pope Pius XI states, "Now then, it is a certainty which can readily be verified that the more marvelous the progress of the motion picture art and industry, the more pernicious and deadly has it shown itself to morality and to religion and even to the very decencies of human society. The directors of the industry in the United States recognized this fact themselves when they confessed that the responsibility before the people and the world was their very own. In an agreement entered into by common accord in March, 1930, and solemnly sealed, signed, and published in the Press, they formally pledged themselves to safeguard for the future the moral welfare of the patrons of the cinema. It is promised in this agreement that no film which lowers the moral standard of the spectators, which casts discredit upon natural or human law or arouses sympathy for their violation, will be produced." (Pope Pius XI, "Vigilanti Cura", 1936 A.D.)
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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)
"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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In Closing...
"[Mary] is by nature so good and so merciful that inclined to aid spontaneously those who suffer, she is absolutely incapable of refusing her help to those who invoke her." (Pope Benedict XV)
Prayer for the Blessed Virgin Mary's Patronage: "Grant unto us, Thy servants, O Lord Jesus Christ, to be protected at all times and in all places by the patronage of Blessed Mary, Thy Virgin Mother." (Raccolta)
"My soul doth magnify the Lord: And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Because He hath regarded the lowliness of His handmaid: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed." (From the Magnificat / Canticle of Our Lady, cf. Lk. 1:46-55)
"Thus the Faithful of every age, both in public misfortune and in private need, turn in supplication to Mary...so that she may come to their aid and grant help and remedy against sorrows of body and soul. And never was her most powerful aid hoped for in vain by those who besought it with pious and trustful prayer." (Pope Pius XI, "Ingravescentibus Malis", 1937 A.D.)
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