Catholic Q&A

Q: What is the liturgical instrument used to asperge holy water?

A: The name is an aspergillum.

Q: Foreplay before marriage a sin?

A: Foreplay that intentionally does not reach its natural conclusion in vaginal intercourse involves the deliberate stimulation of the genitals for sexual pleasure outside of the proper context of unitive and procreative sex. This classifies it as masturbation (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2352) and therefore as sinful. Because this sexual act is practiced outside the context of marriage, it is also classified as fornication (cf. CCC, #2353). Pope John Paul II, who wrote extensively on sexual morality during his pontificate, notes that sexual activity of any kind outside of marriage objectifies the persons involved in the act (it treats them as objects instead of as persons). In this particular instance, while sex was meant to unify spouses and to be open to life, we see that two persons are not becoming one, nor is their sexual act capable of producing life. Since the only remaining part of sex is the secondary aspect of pleasure, the two individuals involved can only be said to be having sex for pleasure alone, which falls short of the great purpose of human sexuality, as it is mean for much more than mere pleasure. Because the act is not conducive to the purpose of sex, it damages the persons involved by disabling them from living out the fullness of their purpose.

Q: What is the difference between the Holy Catholic Church and the Communion of Saints?

A: The Communion of Saints is a name for the Church with regard to all her members. It is composed of the Church Triumphant (the saints, or holy ones, in heaven), the Church Suffering (the holy ones in purgatory), and the Church Militant (also called the Pilgrim Church, the holy ones on earth). The Church does not consist merely of those members on earth, but is a reality and communion which reaches from here into heaven.

Q: What day is the Feast of Stephen?

A: The Feast of St. Stephen the First Martyr is December 26.

His Servant and Yours,

Micah