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MyCatholicSource.com Newsletter - December, 2014
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IN THIS ISSUE:
* Greetings
* MCS News & Notes
* The Month of December: Dedicated to the Immaculate Conception
* Advent / Christmas Resources
* Preparing for the Heavenly King this Advent
* Liturgical Feasts in December
* 'Catholic Trivia'
* Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Wonder If (or Doubt That) Jesus Is Really God?
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Dear Friend,
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel." (Isa. 7:14)
Greetings during this joyful time of year in which we prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our blessed Lord Jesus. During this time when the world seems bent on distorting - or at least distracting us from - the real meaning of Christmas, we hope Catholics will make a special effort to keep a holy Advent, always bearing in mind the real, true meaning of Christmas -- Our Lord's birth -- the very Son of God becoming incarnate in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary and being born on earth in order to save His beloved creatures from the yoke of Satan and eternal hellfire & to unite us to Himself. We know that St. John the Baptist tells us to prepare the way for Him by repentance. Why not make an extra special effort this year to reject 'Christmas consumerism' and draw closer to Christ? Our Lord is the best gift any of us could ever have, and the most joyous & fulfilling treasure our hearts could ever hope for...and one that we will never tire of for all eternity.
We wish you and your loved ones a most holy & joyous Advent and Christmas followed by a blessed new year,
Your Friends at MyCatholicSource.com
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"Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the ways of Thine only-begotten Son; that through His coming we may attain to serve Thee with purified minds. Who liveth and reigneth with Thee..." (Collect)
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MCS News & Notes
* MCS Daily Digest: The MCS Daily Digest is presently undergoing maintenance. We are hoping to complete this project by the end of the year, however it is possible that we will not be able to finish our work in this narrow time frame. If we are not able to complete the maintenance by the end of December, the MCS Daily Digest may be unavailable for an unspecified duration (hopefully not too long, but we cannot say for certain). Your prayers to complete the project on schedule would be most welcome and appreciated! [Note: To view the MCS Daily Digest, please go to http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/mcs_daily_digest.asp ]
* January 2015 Newsletter May be Early or Late: It is possible that the timing of our January 2015 newsletter may be shifted somewhat (perhaps to 12/30/14 or 1/2/15). We hope the earlier or later timing of the newsletter will not cause any inconvenience to our subscribers. [Note: In the event that our January newsletter is late, please let this serve as a reminder that January 1 is a holy day of obligation]
* New Guest Article: A guest article has been added to the site. To view a list of currently available user-submitted & guest articles, please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/ua/user_articles_index.htm
* Reminder: For your free 2015 liturgical calendar-flier (Jan.-Dec.), please visit http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-catholic_liturgical_year.htm and click your choice of "fliers" links [Note: Fliers are based on the traditional calendar]
* A spiritual bouquet is free & 'truly Catholic gift that will be appreciated by all'. You can print a free spiritual bouquet card at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/spiritual_bouquet_card.pdf . [Note: This is a .pdf file. To use: Print card (preferably on colored paper or color the image by hand), fold to 4.25" x 5.5" ("A Special Gift..." should appear in front)]
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The Month of December: Dedicated to the Immaculate Conception
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"Thou art all fair, O my love, and there is not a spot in thee." (Cant. 4:7)
"The commemoration of the mystery of the Most Holy Virgin, conceived immaculate and immune from all stain of original sin, should, in the first place, urge us to that innocence and integrity of life which flees from and abhors even the slightest stain of sin." (Pope Pius XII, "Fulgens Corona", 1953 A.D.)
"[The Church] did not hesitate to present for the public devotion and veneration of the faithful the Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin. By this most significant fact, the Church made it clear indeed that the conception of Mary is to be venerated as something extraordinary, wonderful, eminently holy, and different from the conception of all other human beings" (Pope Pius IX, "Ineffabilis Deus", 1854 A.D.)
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Related Resources...
* Blessed Virgin Mary (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-Blessed_Virgin_Mary.htm
* Immaculate Conception / Sinlessness Reflections (quotes from popes & saints) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/mary_our_mother_reflections_sinlessness.htm
* Proclamation of the Immaculate Conception - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pd/ineffabilis_deus.htm
* Some Reasons to Honor the Blessed Virgin Mary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/reasons_to_honor_mary.htm
* Some Thoughts on the Blessed Virgin Mary - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/thoughts_on_mary.htm
* Marian Facts - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/facts.htm
* Marian Prayers - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_Marian.htm
* Popular Marian Devotions - 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
* Marian Scriptural References - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/marian_scriptural_references.htm
* Marian Encyclicals (click link: "The Blessed Virgin Mary") - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pd/classic_encyclicals_by_category.htm
* Marian Apologetics - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/nc/non_catholics__Marian.htm
* Mary, Our Mother Section - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/mary_our_mother.htm
* Marian Coloring Pages - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_coloring_activities.htm
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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"For nothing is worthy to receive God unless it be pure, according to Psalm 93:5: 'Holiness becometh Thy House, O Lord.'" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")
"It was fitting that Jesus Christ should have such a mother as would be worthy of Him as far as possible; and she would not have been worthy, if, contaminated by the hereditary stain even for the first moment only of her conception, she had been subject to the abominable power of Satan." (Pope Pius XII, "Fulgens Corona", 1953 A.D.)
"I consider that the blessing of a fuller sanctification descended upon her, so as not only to sanctify her birth, but also to keep her life pure from all sin; which gift is believed to have been bestowed upon none other born of woman. This singular privilege of sanctity, to lead her life without any sin, entirely benefited the queen of virgins, who should bear the Destroyer of sin and death, who should obtain the gift of life and righteousness for all." (St. Bernard, Doctor of the Church)
"From the very beginning, and before time began, the eternal Father chose and prepared for his only-begotten Son a Mother in whom the Son of God would become incarnate and from whom, in the blessed fullness of time, he would be born into this world. Above all creatures did God so love her that truly in her was the Father well pleased with singular delight. Therefore, far above all the angels and all the saints so wondrously did God endow her with the abundance of all heavenly gifts poured from the treasury of his divinity that this mother, ever absolutely free of all stain of sin, all fair and perfect, would possess that fullness of holy innocence and sanctity than which, under God, one cannot even imagine anything greater, and which, outside of God, no mind can succeed in comprehending fully." (Pope Pius IX, "Ineffabilis Deus", 1854 A.D.)
"[T]he Fathers proclaimed with particular and definite statements that when one treats of sin, the holy Virgin Mary is not even to be mentioned; for to her more grace was given than was necessary to conquer sin completely. They also declared that the most glorious Virgin was Reparatrix of the first parents, the giver of life to posterity; that she was chosen before the ages, prepared for himself by the Most High, foretold by God when he said to the serpent, 'I will put enmities between you and the woman.' - unmistakable evidence that she has crushed the poisonous head of [Satan]. And hence they affirmed that the Blessed Virgin was, through grace, entirely free from every stain of sin, and from all corruption of body, soul and mind; that she was always united with God and joined to him by an eternal covenant; that she was never in darkness but always in light; and that, therefore, she was entirely a fit habitation for Christ, not because of the state of her body, but because of her original grace." (Pope Pius IX, "Ineffabilis Deus", 1854 A.D.)
"It was due to His own infinite sanctity that God should suspend, in this instance, the law which His divine justice had passed upon all the children of Adam. The relations which Mary was to bear to the Divinity, could not be reconciled with her undergoing the humiliation of this punishment. She was not only daughter of the eternal Father; she was destined also to become the very Mother of the Son, and the veritable bride of the Holy Ghost. Nothing defiled could be permitted to enter, even for an instant of time, into the creature that was thus predestined to contract such close relations with the adorable Trinity: not a speck could be permitted to tarnish in Mary that perfect purity which the infinitely holy God requires even in those who are one day to be admitted to enjoy the sight of His divine majesty in heaven" (Dom Gueranger)
Prayer for the Immaculate Virgin Mary's Intercession: "In thy Conception, O Virgin Mary, thou wast immaculate; pray for us to the Father whose Son Jesus, after He was conceived by the Holy Ghost, thou didst bring forth into the world." (Raccolta)
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Advent / Christmas Resources
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"The name Advent [from the Latin word 'Adventus', a coming] is applied, in the Latin Church, to that period of the year, during which the Church requires the faithful to prepare for the celebration of the feast of Christmas, the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ." (Dom Gueranger)
"The Child that is born of Mary and is couched in the Crib at Bethlehem, raises his feeble voice to the Eternal Father, and calls him, My Father! He turns towards us and calls us My Brethren! We, consequently, when we speak to his Father, may call him Our Father! This is the mystery of adoption, revealed to us by the great event [of Christmas]. All things are changed, both heaven and on earth: God has not only one Son, he has many sons; henceforth we stand before this our God, not merely creatures drawn out of nothing by his power, but children that he fondly loves. Heaven is now not only the throne of his sovereign Majesty; it has become our inheritance in which we are joint-heirs with our brother Jesus, the Son of Mary, Son of Eve, Son of Adam, according to his Human Nature, and (in the unity of Person) Son of God according to his Divine Nature. Let us turn our wondering and loving thoughts first to this sweet Babe, that has brought us all these blessings, and then to the blessings themselves, to the dear inheritance made ours by him. Let your mind be seized with astonishment at creatures having such a destiny! And then let our heart pour out its thanks for the incomprehensible gift!" (Dom Gueranger)
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Resources...
* Advent (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-advent.htm
* Christmas (Topic Page) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/tp/topic_page-christmas.htm
* Make Your Own Advent Calendar - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/advent_calendar.htm
* Advent / Christmas Prayers - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_for_certain_occasions_times.htm
* Advent / Christmas Practices (See 'Traditional Practices', 'Advent / Christmas') [Page also contains fasting / abstinence info.] - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/latin_mass_and_tradition/traditional_prayers_and_practices.htm
* Advent / Christmas Activities (See 'Holiday Activities') - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_other_activities.htm
* Incarnation / Nativity Reflections - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/catholic_basics_reflections_Incarnation_and_Nativity.htm
* Incarnation / Birth of Jesus Reflections - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/qt/mary_our_mother_reflections_annunciation_incarnation.htm
* Bible Prophecies: Coming of Christ / Supremacy & Facts About Upcoming Messiah - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pcs/biblical_prophecies_coming_supremacy_facts.htm
* Scripture References (Marian Scriptural References) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/the_Blessed_Virgin/marian_scriptural_references.htm
* Biblical References / Divinity of Christ / Etc. (Non-Catholics Section, apologetics) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/non-catholics.htm
* Definitions (Advent, Christmas, Christmastide, Etc.) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_basics/catholic_basics_definitions.htm
* O Antiphons (12/17-12/23) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pr/prayers_and_hymns_hymns_sequences.htm
* Coloring Pages (Christmas Bells, Christmas Candles, Christmas Card, Nativity, Etc.) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_coloring_activities.htm
* 'Spiritual Bouquet' Card - "a great Christmas gift" (See 'Other') - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/catholic_activities/catholic_fun_other_activities.htm
* Word Search (Christmas) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/word_search_christmas.htm
* Crossword Puzzle (Christmas) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pca/crossword_puzzle_christmas.html
* Catholic Travel: Collages (Incl. Bethlehem) - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/pc/travel_collages.htm
Looking For Something Else? Try Our Various Indexes For 15,000+ Entries - http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/help.htm
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Reminder: Don't forget to check the MCS Daily Digest each day. During Advent, the MCS Daily Digest may contain various items to help prepare for Christmas. Visit the MCS Daily Digest at http://www.mycatholicsource.com/mcs/cg/mcs_daily_digest.asp
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Advent Prayer: "I adore Thee, O incarnate Word, the true Son of God from all eternity, and the true Son of Mary in the fullness of time. As I adore Thy divine Person and the sacred Humanity thereto united, I feel myself drawn to venerate likewise the poor Crib that welcomed Thee, when Thou wast a little Child, and which was, in very truth, the first throne of Thy love. Would that I could fall prostrate before it with the simplicity of the shepherds, with the faith of Joseph, and the love of Mary! Would that I too could bend low to venerate this precious memorial of our salvation with the spirit of mortification, poverty and humility, with which Thou, the Lord of heaven and earth, didst choose a manger to be the resting place of Thy dear limbs! And do Thou, O Lord, who didst deign in Thine infancy to be laid in this manger, pour into my heart a drop of that joy which must have been experienced at the sight of Thy lovely infancy and of the wonders that accompanied Thy birth; by virtue of this Thy holy birth, I implore Thee to give peace and good-will to all the world, and, in the name of all mankind, to render perfect thanksgiving and infinite glory to Thine eternal Father, with whom, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, Thou livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen." (Raccolta)
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Preparing for the Heavenly King this Advent
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The following is taken from an 18th century publication entitled 'Moveable Feasts and Other Annual Observances of the Catholic Church'. It is a posthumous work of Fr. Alban Butler. An imprimatur was not located on publication. [Note: We have made some changes to the original text (e.g. spelling, capitalization & punctuation changes)]
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Though our spiritual, only, and infinitely important interest and eternal happiness were not so highly concerned in, and did not so essentially depend upon our fervor in making this Advent a time of our sanctification; duty, love and gratitude to God ought most powerfully to excite us to it: motives which weigh above all others with generous minds. The eternal omnipotent God, whose presence the whole creation would not be able to bear, should He appear in the immense and incomprehensible glory of His Majesty, before whom, according to the expressions of the Prophets, the mountains would tremble, the sun withdraw its light, the earth vanish out of sight, and nature shrink into nothing: this immortal God leaves the throne of His glory, clothes Himself with our weakness, and stooping down infinitely below His majesty, humbles, nay annihilates Himself so as to appear the very outcast of His own vilest sinful creatures, only to enlighten our darkness, deliver us out of the jaws of everlasting death, raise us from the abyss of miseries, exalt us upon the throne of His glory, and enrich us with the treasures of His divinity. And can we remain so deeply immersed in the filth of this earth, so insensible and so ungrateful as to give no attention to so bright a mercy and to the presence of so adorable a majesty? Do not our hearts burst with love, gratitude and astonishment at so wonderful a mystery, at this infinite condescension and goodness of our God? Are not our souls all on fire with glowing desires to go forth and meet Him, to make Him a tender of our best homages, offer ourselves in return to Him, and prepare Him the best reception we are able in our hearts, which alone He comes to seek? If an earthly King would honor us with a visit, how would every hand and every contrivance of art be employed in removing all filth out of the road and out of the house, correcting every deformity and deficiency, and setting off the dwelling with every ornament that could embellish it; how careful should we be that nothing should be found in Our [dwellings] that could give Him the least offence or disgust, and nothing be wanting that could give Him delight and pleasure, and testify our sense of the favor and honor done us? How unpardonable would be the offence if we neglected such a preparation? We should justly forfeit all the favors we could promise ourselves from His presence and should incur by our contempt His severest indignation. Sin, worldly attachments of the heart, and the slavery of our criminal passions, are an abomination to our God, and incompatible with His divine presence: the ornaments of all virtues are the charms and attractives which invite Him into our souls, and make them an abode for Him: if we neglect to remove the impediments, and make Him this preparation for His reception, we shut our hearts against Him, such an insensibility and indifference must quite freeze His divine heart glowing with love of us, swelling with tender compassion for our miseries, and burning with a boundless desire of giving Himself whole and entire to us, and to crown us with His infinite mercies and glory. For this He sent John the Baptist before to announce to us the necessity and obligation which we lie under of such a preparation.
The great summons delivered by the Baptist to the Jews, is equally addressed to men of every age, and belongs no less to us than it did to the Jews then living. Christ was born for all men: it is then an indispensable duty in us to dispose ourselves to receive Him, and by His grace improve in ourselves the fruits of His coming. Lest we should deceive ourselves in this point, and neglect so essential a duty, our holy mother the Church, ever tenderly solicitous for the spiritual welfare of her children, and the faithful depositary and interpreter of the divine Oracles, proclaims the summons of the Baptist to us during all the time of Advent in the most pressing and solemn manner. The same pathetic invitation, the same sacred voice, which formerly echoed on the banks of the Jordan, and in the deserts of Jericho, is now sounded in our ears from the altars, and by the same divine authority and commission. The ministers of God now cry out to us in the words of the Prophets; "Sound your trumpets, announce to all nations; behold God the Savior will come: the Lord is near: the day is just at hand, prepare the way." The Church at this time ceases not daily to proclaim aloud and repeat to us the exhortations of the Baptist, the great herald of heaven sent for this purpose; of whom it is written. "Behold I send my angel before thy face who shall prepare thy way before thee (Mat. xi. 10.), prepare ye the way of the Lord, make strait His paths, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God (Luke iii. 4-6.)." This divine precursor also points out to us in what this preparation of our soul chiefly consists, and what are the conditions which it requires: compunction, penance, and most earnest and assiduous sighs and prayer.
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Liturgical Feasts in December
The following is a listing of all liturgical feast dates for December 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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December 2 - St. Bibiana (T)
December 3 - St. Francis Xavier (T)
December 3 - St. Francis Xavier (N)
December 4 - St. Barbara (T)
December 4 - St. Peter Chrysologus (T)
December 4 - St. John Damascene (N)
December 5 - St. Sabbas (T)
December 6 - St. Nicholas of Myra (or Bari) (T)
December 6 - St. Nicholas of Myra (or Bari) (N)
December 7 - St. Ambrose (T)
December 7 - Vigil of the Immaculate Conception (T)
December 7 - St. Ambrose (N)
December 8 - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (T) *
December 8 - The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (N) *
December 9 - St. Juan Diego (N)
December 10 - St. Melchiades, pope (T)
December 11 - St. Damasus I, pope (T)
December 11 - St. Damasus I, pope (N)
December 12 - Our Lady of Guadalupe (T)
December 12 - Our Lady of Guadalupe (N)
December 13 - St. Lucy of Syracuse (T)
December 13 - St. Lucy (N)
December 14 - St. John of the Cross (N)
December 16 - St. Eusebius of Vercelli (T)
December 21 - St. Thomas, apostle (T)
December 21 - St. Peter Canisius (N)
December 22 - St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (T)
December 23 - St. John of Kanty (John Cantius) (N)
December 24 - Vigil of the Nativity (Christmas Eve) (T)
December 25 - Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas) (T) *
December 25 - St. Anastasia (T)
December 25 - The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) (N) *
December 26 - St. Stephen the First Martyr (T)
December 26 - St. Stephen, First Martyr (N)
December 27 - St. John, apostle & evangelist (T)
December 27 - St. John, apostle & evangelist (N)
December 28 - The Holy Innocents (T)
December 28 - The Holy Innocents (N)
December 29 - St. Thomas of Canterbury (T)
December 29 - St. Thomas Becket (N)
December 31 - St. Sylvester I, pope (T)
December 31 - St. Sylvester I, pope (N)
* Holy Day of Obligation
Please Note: Above may exclude moveable feasts. For moveable feasts, see below and 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
Also...
12/7/14 - Second Sunday in Advent
12/14/14 - Third Sunday in Advent (Gaudete Sunday)
12/17/14 - Ember Wednesday in Advent (T)
12/19/14 - Ember Friday in Advent (T)
12/20/14 - Ember Saturday in Advent (T)
12/21/14 - Fourth Sunday in Advent
12/28/14 - Feast of the Holy Family (N)
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'Catholic Trivia'
1. What does Adonai mean?
2. What does St. John Vianney recommend if something uncharitable is said in your presence?
3. What does U.I.O.G.D. stand for?
4. What does St. Elizabeth Ann Seton say we should give time to each day and why?
5. What does the term "Jehovah" mean and should Catholics use this term?
6. What does Scripture say about those who wear articles not proper to their gender?
7. What does "the authoritative and unbroken transmission of the mission and powers conferred by Jesus Christ on St. Peter and the Apostles from them to the present pope and bishops" refer to?
8. In the Encyclical Letter Pascendi Dominici Gregis, who does Pope St. Pius X call "the most pernicious of all the adversaries of the Church"?
9. Who does Doctor Marianus refer to?
10. Besides the New and Old Testaments, is anything else comparable to Holy Scripture?
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Answers:
1. Adonai is from the Hebrew meaning "lord" or "ruler".
2. "If something uncharitable is said in your presence, either speak in favor of the absent, or withdraw, or if possible, stop the conversation." (St. John Vianney)
3. U.I.O.G.D. is an acronym for "Ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus" (Latin for "That God may be glorified in all things").
4. "Give some time, if it is only a half an hour in every day, to devotional reading, which is as necessary to the well ordering of the mind as the hand of the gardener is to prevent weeds destroying your favorite flowers." (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton)
5. The term "Jehovah" has been used to refer to God, however it has been shown to be a transliteration error (the proper name of God is Yahweh). Considering that one of the Ten Commandments is dedicated to God's name, one should steer clear from using an erroneous term as His name.
6. "A woman shall not wear an article proper to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's dress; for anyone who does such things is an abomination to the LORD, your God." (Deut. 22:5)
7. Apostolical Succession is "The authoritative and unbroken transmission of the mission and powers conferred by Jesus Christ on St. Peter and the Apostles [and] from them to the present pope and bishops." (Catholic Dictionary)
8. In the Encyclical Letter Pascendi Dominici Gregis, Pope St. Pius X calls Modernists "the most pernicious of all the adversaries of the Church".
9. Doctor Marianus (Latin for Marian Doctor) refers to St. Anselm of Canterbury.
10. No. No other items, even papal pronouncements are comparable to Holy Scripture, which has God as its principal author.
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Defending the Faith: "Apologetics Brief" - Do You Wonder If (or Doubt That) Jesus Is Really God?
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__Divinity_of_Christ.htm
The following may be used as discussion points when discoursing with those outside the Church (or even among Catholics).
Topic: Do You Wonder If (or Doubt That) Jesus Is Really God? [Note: Topic is directed at certain Protestants]
Consider:
* Scripture says that Jesus is "Emmanuel", meaning "God is with us" (see Mt. 1:23)
* Scripture says that the Word (that is, Jesus) was God (see Jn. 1:1)
* Jesus said that if you knew Him, you would know His Father (that is, God) also (see Jn. 8:19)
* Jesus said "I AM" (Jn. 8:58, Jn. 18:5, Jn. 18:8), a clear reference to God (see Ex. 3:14)
* Jesus said that "The Father and I are one" (Jn. 10:30)
* Jesus said that "The Father is in me and I am in the Father" (Jn. 10:38)
* Jesus says that "whoever sees me sees the one who sent me" (Jn. 12:45)
* Jesus says that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father (Jn. 14:8-12)
* The Apostle St. Thomas proclaims: "My Lord and my God!" and is not rebuked by Jesus (Jn. 20:28)
* Scripture says that in Jesus "dwells the whole fullness of the deity bodily" (Col. 2:9)
* Christ instructs the Apostles to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit (Mt. 28:19). This would not make sense unless the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God.
"O Lord our God, we believe in You, Father and Son and Holy Spirit. For the Truth would not say: 'Go, baptize all nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,' unless You were a Trinity. Nor would You command us, O Lord God, to be baptized in the name of anyone who is not the Lord God." (St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church, c. 407 A.D.)
"The Spirit, then being established in us, the Son and the Father come; and they make their dwelling in us. For the Trinity is indivisible, and its Godhead is one; and there is one God over all and through all and in all. This is the faith of the Catholic Church; for on the Trinity the Lord founded it and rooted it, when He said to His disciples, 'Go out and instruct every people, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' But if the Spirit were a creature, He would not have joined Himself with the Father, lest the Trinity be dissimilar within Itself, lest It have united in Itself anything strange or foreign. Indeed, what could be lacking in God, that He should assume any foreign substance, and be glorified with it? Inconceivable!" (St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church, 4th century A.D.)
* Christ demonstrated His divine power countless times in the ability to forgive sin and through His miracles.
"The miracles which Christ worked were a sufficient proof of His Godhead in three respects. First, as to the very nature of the works, which surpassed the entire capability of created power, and therefore could not be done save by Divine power. For this reason the blind man, after his sight had been restored, said (John 9:32,33): 'From the beginning of the world it has not been heard, that any man hath opened the eyes of one born blind. Unless this man were of God, he could not do anything.' Secondly, as to the way in which He worked miracles - namely, because He worked miracles as though of His own power, and not by praying, as others do. Wherefore it is written (Luke 6:19) that 'virtue went out from Him and healed all.' Whereby it is proved, as Cyril says (Commentarium in Lucam) that 'He did not receive power from another, but, being God by nature, He showed His own power over the sick. And this is how He worked countless miracles.' Hence on Matthew 8:16: 'He cast out spirits with His word, and all that were sick He healed,' Chrysostom says: 'Mark how great a multitude of persons healed, the Evangelists pass quickly over, not mentioning one by one... but in one word traversing an unspeakable sea of miracles.' And thus it was shown that His power was co-equal with that of God the Father, according to John 5:19: 'What things soever' the Father 'doth, these the Son doth also in like manner'; and, again (John 5:21): 'As the Father raiseth up the dead and giveth life, so the Son also giveth life to whom He will.' Thirdly, from the very fact that He taught that He was God; for unless this were true it would not be confirmed by miracles worked by Divine power. Hence it was said (Mark 1:27): 'What is this new doctrine? For with power He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.'" (St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church and "greatest theologian in the history of the Church")
* Christ's death was sought for the very reason that He "made Himself equal to God" (cf. Jn. 5:18, Mt. 26:63-66, Jn. 19:7).
* Christ could not be our Savior if He was not God.
"Neither could a portion of creation, while itself in need of salvation, become creation's salvation... A man would not have been deified if joined to a creature, nor if the Son were not true God; neither would a man have been brought into the Father's presence if He had not been the Father's natural and true Word who had put on a body. Since we could have had nothing in common with what is foreign, we would not have been delivered from sin and from the curse if that which the Word put on had not been natural human flesh; so also, the man would not have been deified if the Word which became flesh and not been by nature from the Father and true and proper to Him." (St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church, 4th century A.D.)
* God the Father in Heaven testified that Christ is His Son. For example, consider the events of the Transfiguration where God said "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (Mt. 17:5).
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"Christ says, 'If anyone sees Me, he sees the Father,' If He were of another essence He would not say this. But if I may make use of an argument of the crasser sort, no one who is ignorant of gold is able to discover the essence of gold in silver. For the nature of one thing is not manifested in another." (St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, c. 391 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...
"May we receive Thy mercy, O Lord, in the midst of Thy temple: that we may with becoming honor prepare for the approaching solemnities of our redemption. Through our Lord." (Postcommunion, First Sunday of Advent)
"The dew of heaven being sprinkled on thee, thou, without losing the flower of thy purity, didst in a new manner give to the world a new flower. The Word co-equal with the Father, entering thy virginal body, took for our sakes a body in the secret of thy womb." (Adam of St. Victor)
"Let us be glad in the LORD, dearly-beloved, and rejoice with spiritual joy that there has dawned for us the day of ever-new redemption, of ancient preparation, of eternal bliss. For as the year rolls round, there recurs for us the commemoration of our salvation, which promised from the beginning, accomplished in the fullness of time will endure for ever; on which we are bound with hearts up-lifted to adore the divine mystery: so that what is the effect of God's great gift may be celebrated by the Church's great rejoicings." (Pope St. Leo the Great)
"If then God has such a horror of sin as to have willed to keep free the future Mother of His Son not only from stains which are voluntarily contracted but, by a special favor and in prevision of the merits of Jesus Christ, from that other stain of which the sad sign is transmitted to all us sons of Adam by a sort of hapless heritage: who can doubt that it is a duty for everyone who seeks by his homage to gain the heart of Mary to correct his vicious and depraved habits and to subdue the passions which incite him to evil?" (Pope St. Pius X, "Ad Diem Illum Laetissimum", 1904 A.D.)
"The holy Fathers, true witnesses of the divinely revealed doctrine, wonderfully understood what St. Paul the Apostle had quite clearly declared; namely, that the mystery of love was, as it were, both the foundation and the culmination of the Incarnation and the Redemption. For frequently and clearly we can read in their writings that Jesus Christ took a perfect human nature and our weak and perishable human body with the object of providing for our eternal salvation, and of revealing to us in the clearest possible manner that His infinite love for us could express itself in human terms." (Pope Pius XII, "Haurietis Aquas", 1956 A.D.)
"The unchangeable Image of the Father, the type of his eternity, assumes the form of a servant, and is born of a Virgin-Mother; yet he suffers not any change: for that which he was he continues to be - the true God; but that which he was not he now becomes, being made Man for the love of man. Let us cry out to him: O thou that art born of the Virgin! Have mercy on us." [Liturgy, Christmas Day (Liturgical Year)]
"And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, the glory as it were of the only-begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth." (Jn. 1:14)
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