Catholic Q&A

Q: What is the sacrament that increases the Body of Christ through the family?

A: The Sacrament of Matrimony (Marriage) has a twofold purpose: the union of the spouses and the procreation of children. Through producing children (and baptizing and educating them in the faith, which is an obligation on Catholics who have children), Catholic families add to the Body of Christ, the Church.

Q: How did Mary die?


A: The question is not how, but if. Since the early Church, there has been extensive speculation on whether or not the Blessed Virgin died. In the Eastern Churches, it has always been believed that the Blessed Virgin underwent Dormition, that she slept instead of dying. The Western Church has debated the matter. The argument against Mary's death is generally that because she was without sin and its effects (she is the Immaculate Conception), she would not die naturally (neither would Christ have died naturally, but He was crucified). The argument that she did die takes this into account and states that, wishing to be like her Son, she chose to die.


In the mid-1900's, following the devastating holocaust and numerous other attacks against human dignity, Ven. Pope Pius XII sought to define dogmatically the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the long-standing belief of the Church that she was taken directly to heaven, body and soul, as a way of reaffirming human dignity due to God's calling all mankind to heaven. Many theologians looked forward to the proclamation, expecting that the debate would finally be settled. Their expectations were disappointed; the proclamation Munificentissimus Deus (#44) stated "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." The formal definition of the dogma of the Assumption gives no answer to the matter of whether Mary died, but avoids it completely by placing it in terms of the end of her life, rather than the moment of her death, dormition, or any other clear terms.


Q: Is there music in a monastery?


A: Monasteries have long been known for their music, especially chant. In addition to singing chant at Mass, monks traditionally come together to chant the Divine Office (also known as the Liturgy of the Hours) throughout the day, including Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline. In the current form: Office of Readings (formerly Matins), Morning Prayer (Lauds), Terce, Sext, or None (only one of these three midday prayers is required, although all are encouraged), Evening Prayer (Vespers), and Night Prayer (Compline). In short, monasteries are often filled with music. 

Q: What are the restrictions on drinking before Mass?


A: Catholics are to abstain from all foods and drinks (except water and medicine) for at least one hour before receiving the Eucharist (Code of Canon Law 919 § 1). § 3 of the same canon of the law states that the elderly, infirm, and their caretakers are exempt from the above.

In other words, you can only have water and medicine within the hour before Communion, unless old age, infirmity, or the need to care for another has somehow kept you from being able to keep the fast. There are also exceptions for priests in certain circumstances.

Q: Why is Rome the center of Catholicism?

A: Rome is the diocese of the pope, the successor of St. Peter, whose task is to "strengthen the brethren," who are the bishops (Luke 22:32). The Magisterium (the authoritative teaching office of the Church) is composed of the bishops in union with the Pope, making the pope the force of unity among the bishops. Finally, the pope is Servus Servorum Dei, the Servant of the Servants of God, meaning that he is in charge of serving the bishops as their leader.

His Servant and Yours,


Micah

Catholic Q&A

Q: Why is the Church considered a sacrament?

A:  The Church is a sacrament (meaning that it is sacramental in nature, not that the Church is one of the seven sacraments) because she has a visible reality which signifies an invisible reality. This fits the human person, which has a visible reality (a body) which signifies an invisible reality (a soul). The Church's sacramental nature stands against some Protestant claims of a merely spiritual church with no visible attributes. It is responsible for the Church's sacramental approach to theology, including soteriology, liturgy, morality, spirituality, etc.

Q: How is a name a symbol of Baptism?

A: At several points in the Scriptures, God renames individuals (Abraham, Peter, Paul) as a sign of their new nature and mission. One of the first tasks of mankind was for Adam to name the creatures. Naming a thing assigns a certain understanding of it and its purpose. When God is involved, the name change is an act of consecration to God's calling. In Baptism, which regenerates an individual and makes him or her the child of God, purifies the soul, and destines him or her for heaven, it is fitting for a name to be given.

Q: What are the vows of Benedictine monks?

A: The vows of Benedictines are stability, conversion, and obedience. Stability means that a monk is tied to his monastery for life (with rare exceptions, such as the need to move on to found a new monastery). Conversion includes poverty and chastity among other things. Obedience is directed toward the abbot or abbess, who lead the community. 

In many other religious orders, such as mendicant communities (Franciscans, Dominicans, etc.), stability is not a part of the vows because these communities are active in the world outside their walls and cannot be bound by these vows. The vow of conversion is therefore split for them into poverty and chastity, leaving them with the three vows familiar to most people: poverty, chastity, and obedience. 

Q: What are the names of Roman Catholic Cardinals in the US?

A: The following are active cardinals in the United States. There are several current dioceses (such as New York) which fit the norms for having cardinals, but do not have cardinals as administrators due to their newly appointed bishops. They are:

His Eminence Francis Cardinal George - Chicago
His Eminence Sean Cardinal O'Malley - Boston
His Eminence Justin Cardinal Rigali - Philadelphia
His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo - Houston
His Eminence Roger Cardinal Mahony - Los Angeles


The following cardinal is from the United States, but is currently at an appointment in the Vatican City:

His Eminence William Cardinal Levada - Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

The following cardinals are retired:

His Eminence Anthony Cardinal Bevilacqua - Philadelphia
His Eminence Edward Cardinal Egan - New York
His Eminence Edmund Cardinal Szoka - Detroit
His Eminence Adam Cardinal Maida - Detroit
His Eminence Bernard Cardinal Law - Boston
His Eminence William Cardinal Keeler - Baltimore
His Eminence James Cardinal Stafford - Denver
His Eminence William Cardinal Baum - Washington, D.C.
His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick - Washington, D.C. 


His Servant and Yours,


Micah

Catholic Q&A

Q: Why was situation ethics rejected by the Church?

A: Situational ethics states that certain other moral norms can be disregarded when agape love requires it. This is a variation on teleological ethics, which states that the ends justify the means. One example given by the founder situational ethics, Joseph Fletcher, was that of a woman who had sexual relations with a guard at a Ukranian POW camp in order to get pregnant and be released to return to her family. The argument was that the loving thing to do was return to her family and this end allowed her to achieve it through whatever means necessary.

The Church rejects this ethic because it is wrong to place the demands of love in opposition to the demands of morality, since love seeks to fulfill perfectly the law of morality. The loving thing to do in the above scenario would be for the wife to remain steadfast in her love for her husband and family and not to succumb to pressure. A love which violates the laws of morality is not a love at all. The objective laws of morality cannot be bent to love nor do they have to be, since love is in accord with them.

For more information, see Pope John Paul II's Veritatis Splendor, #71-83.

Q: Who makes up the Catholic Church's Magisterium?

A: The bishops in union with the Pope make up the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #85.

Q: What was the Virgin Mary's last name?

A: Last names were foreign to Jewish culture of the Blessed Virgin's time. When we examine Jewish figures in the New Testament, they are usually referred to by their other family members, their place of origin, or their trade: Simon, son of Jonah, James, son of Zebedee, Jesus of Nazareth, etc. Women were generally referred to in relation to men: Mary, wife of Cleopas. The Blessed Virgin was most likely known as Mary, Mother of Jesus or Mary, Wife of Joseph.

It is interesting to note that genealogy was of great importance to the Jews, who would memorize their ancestry from an early age. They considered their heritage as strongly related to their personal identity, so it makes sense that they would refer to their ancestors in their own names.

Q: When did Mary pray the Magnificat?

A: Luke 1:46-55 is the text of Mary's Magnificat, which she prayed in response to the greeting and praise of her cousin Elizabeth. The Magnificat is a prayer of humility which points to God's faithfulness instead of her own blessedness. It mirrors the prayer of Hannah, who had a similar story to Elizabeth (cf. 1 Samuel 2:1-10).

His Servant and Yours,


Micah

Catholic Q&A

Q: What is the difference between Calvinists and Catholics?

A: There are several major differences between Calvinism and Catholicism. John Calvin taught the total depravity of mankind, stating that man was evil by nature. The Catholic Church teaches instead that mankind is inherently good, but flawed by original sin, a defect which remains in human nature from the sin of Adam and Eve. Furthermore, Calvinism professes pre-destination, which says that our actions in this life have no effect in eternity because God has already destined some people for heaven and some for hell from the moment of conception. The Catholic Church teaches that without Christ, we would be lost, but those who live their faith out through charity accept the gift of salvation; therefore, our actions do have a tremendous impact on our salvation, even though it is still the gift of God. God chose to make salvation available because, unlike Calvin's view, God wills that all men might be saved. Furthermore, Calvinism disagrees with Catholicism in teaching that Jesus Christ's sacrifice was not meant to atone for all sin, but only for the sins of those God pre-destined for heaven. Calvinism also teaches against Catholicism that any person God wishes to save will be saved and cannot ultimately resist the work of grace.

Q: How did Catholic monks save civilization?

A: The dark ages began with multiple invasions of the Roman Empire (and the Byzantine Empire), which led to the destruction of many aspects of classical civilization, including architecture, art, philosophy, science, mathematics, etc. Monks built monasteries around which new cities were formed, giving structure to a chaotic society. Monks preserved whatever ancient texts and artwork they could, copying manuscripts by hand to produce great libraries where ancient texts were preserved and civilization could be rebuilt not only through the rebuilding of cities associated with monasteries, but through the educational efforts of monks, who were able to provide intellectual learning in the liberal arts as well as practical training in trades. For this reason, St. Benedict of Nursia, founder of western monasticism, is one of the patron saints of Europe.

Q: Why is God's mercy crucial to understanding salvation?

A: Justice is defined as giving one their due or what is owed. Sin violates justice because God is not given the loving obedience He deserves. Strict justice requires that until we pay an infinite price for offending the infinite majesty of God, God must withdraw from us and we must suffer death and the effects of sin. However, through His mercy, the Son of God became man to save us, and offering Himself on the cross, was able to pay the infinite debt owed to God. Because He is God, He is infinite and able to pay an infinite debt; because He is man, He is able to act on man's behalf. Therefore, through God's mercy, salvation is available to God and the demands of justice are still met.

His Servant and Yours,


Micah

Guides Along the Way: The Epistle of St. Ignatius to the Trallians

The town of Tralles (modern-day Aydin, Turkey) was also blessed by an epistle of St. Ignatius. The Epistle of St. Ignatius to the Trallians is a shorter letter, which I will comment on below.

The greeting of St. Ignatius continues his tradition of referring to himself as Theophorus and he relates peace and hope to the Death and Resurrection of Christ.

1. He states again (as he did in his Epistle to the Magnesians) that in the bishop, he has met the whole Church of Tralles. He also sings high praises of the Trallians, noting that they are not only good in action, but inherently. In other words, their choice in favor of Christ and their actions reflecting Him have become so habitual that they are affected on the level of what they are. The ancient ethic agere sequitur esse, that action follows being, is here answered with a complementary statement, that sometimes being is changed according to habitual action. Acting well makes one a good person, which in turn helps them to act even more perfectly well.
2. The people should be subject to the bishop and priests; also, deacons should be beyond reproach. Sin should be avoided as if it were fire. This simile seems fitting, since fire destroys and consumes, just as sin does.
3. The laity should follow and respect the bishop, the priests, and the deacons.
4. St. Ignatius comments on the same temptation that was the motivation for my starting this blog and taking the title Peregrinus. He has not yet been made perfect, he is not yet a saint, and though he is confident in his knowledge (he had much more than I do), he does not want to be told how intelligent he is because he fears the pride that may turn him to sin.
5. The saintly bishop, though aware that he has great knowledge of God and His ways, states that he does not wish to expound on the deeper things to the Tralles, who are too young spiritually to grasp them. This sounds to our ears like a statement of pride (and perhaps his last paragraph was meant to build up to this one, to assure us that he does not mean to be prideful), but it is similar to some things St. Paul said and, as a leader in the Church, it is rightfully St. Ignatius' place to feed the faithful as though they were growing children. He also makes a humble note of pointing out that he is still learning and there are many things he does not understand.
6. St. Ignatius continues the metaphor of feeding the faithful by warning them of the poison of heresy, which some people may try to mix into their food. It is interesting that he notes deadly pleasure; although heresy sometimes seems pleasant to those who favor it, it still leads to destruction.
7. He states that the way to be sure that we are not being fed poison is to follow the bishops, priests, and deacons. Here as in other places we see the forming of the concept of the Magisterium of the Church, which is composed of the bishops, whose teachings are passed through the whole hierarchy of the clergy.
8. He says that faith is the flesh of Christ and love is the blood of Christ. This can be taken as a metaphoric statement on faith and works. Love gives life to faith as blood to the body. The Body of Christ, the Church, shares one common faith which defines them as a group, a body, but this faith is worthless and the body dead if it does not have the blood, the life, of love. Love takes on one of its forms in obedience, and so the love of the Church consists in part of obedience to the bishop.
9. Here we begin to see St. Ignatius' refutation of the heresy he has only alluded to so far in his epistle. One by one, he insists on the reality of the main points of the life of Christ. The Docetist heresy, which was an offshoot of Gnosticism and taught that matter was evil, has been a recurring theme of many heresies. This particular occurance of it taught that Christ's body was not real and therefore that He did not really suffer. St. Ignatius, whom many believe to have been the child Jesus placed in their midst (cf. Matthew 18:1ff), was witness to the reality of much of what Christ went through.
 
10. He mounts the most powerful of defenses, that of the martyr: if "He only seemed to suffer...then why am I in bonds? Why do I long to be exposed to the wild beasts? Do I therefore die in vain? Am I not then guilty of against [the cross of] the Lord?"
11. St. Ignatius calls the Docetism heresy deadly and says that they were not planted by God. The tree God planted is the Cross, and the Docetists deny the cross.
 
12. He gives them final greetings and admonishes them to heed his word, since he does not want his letter to be evidence at the Judgment against anyone that they were warned.
13. He closes with an exhortation to obedience and love.

So far, this seems to me to be the most direct of his letters in confronting heresy. His personal witness to Christ is powerful and would be difficult to refute, while the Docetist heresy stems from Gnosticism, a philosophy pre-dating Christianity which they tried to blend with Christianity, rather than allowing it to be informed by Christianity, which is diametrically opposed to it.

His Servant and Yours,

Micah

Catholic Q&A

Q: Are vocations only part of the Catholic Church?

A: Most theistic religions believe that God calls His creatures to do certain things with their lives, so no, belief in vocations are not only a part of the Catholic Church. Additionally, Catholics believe that God created all people and has a plan (vocation) for each one, regardless of religion.

Q: Can you become Catholic being married multiple times?

A: Going to a local priest and asking him this question would be the best way to get an answer specific to the factors involved in one's individual case. There are many times that marriages can be annulled, meaning that they were not sacramental marriages to begin with (annulment is different from divorce, which says that there was a marriage, but it has ended). However, a person may not become Catholic if they are with a person aside from their lawful (in church law, not civil law) spouse.

These issues are usually worked out and resolved in the process of becoming Catholic.

Q: What color is a Catholic bishop's hat?

A: A bishop's skullcap, also called a zucchetto or pileolus, is violet. The double-pointed hat worn in procession, called the mitre, can be many different colors, but is usually a plain white linen with simple decorations.

Q: What is the title bestowed upon a Catholic Church because of its age or importance?

A: The term basilica (there are two degrees, minor and major), deriving from the Greek word for a castle, is granted as an honorary title on certain churches which have shown prominence within the Church, particularly as pilgrimage sites. A basilica bears certain markings, such as a pavillion (a fancy umbrella used for shade) and a bell, both of which would be used in procession, were the pope to enter the basilica.

His Servant and Yours,


Micah

Catholic Q&A

Q: What is the name of the Third Sunday in Lent?

A: The Third Sunday of Lent is not a special feast and would simply be called in Latin "Dominica III Quadragesimae."

Q: What is the meaning of the crescent moon in depictions of the Immaculate Conception?

A: The image of the moon is a reference to Rev 12:1, in which St. John records his vision of a woman standing on the moon and clothed with the sun. This is a popular image of the Blessed Virgin Mary and also appears in the tilma of St. Juan Diego (otherwise known as the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe).

Q: What is the name of the story where Mary and Elizabeth meet?

A: Luke 1:39-56 is known as the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Q: What are extreme Catholics called?

A: Saints.

Q: Who was a Doctor of the Church?

A: There have been 33 Doctors of the Church, a title designating their learning and scholarly work done for the Gospel. In chronological order (by birth year), they are: St. Athanasius, St. Ephraem, St. Hilary of Potiers, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nazianzen, St. Ambrose, St. Jerome, St. John Crysostom, St. Augustine, St. Cyril of Alexandria, St. Leo the Great, St. Peter Chrysologus, St. Gregory the Great, St. Isidore of Seville, St. Bede the Venerable, St. John Damascene, St. Peter Damian, St. Anselm of Canterbury, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Albert the Great, St. Bonaventure, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Theresa of Avila, St. Peter Canisius, St. John of the Cross, St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Lawrence of Brindisi, St. Francis de Sales, St. Alphonsus Liguori, St. Therese of Lisieux.

His Servant and Yours,


Micah