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| Father Ryan would be happy to answer your questions [the picture is of Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange] |
At The New Theological Movement, we try to post two to three articles per week
(sometimes more, sometimes less). Generally these posts are related to
something from the Church’s liturgical calendar – e.g. a saint’s feast day or a
particular feast of our Lord or our Lady – but occasionally we post on matters
related more directly to the modern world.
Our
primary goal is to spread the faith effectively and to promote a true “hermeneutic
of continuity” in liturgy, theology, and spirituality. Thus, as Father Martin put it
so well, “Our aim at the New Theological
Movement is twofold: (1) To write faithful Catholic theology, in communion
with the Church’s entire 2,000 year Tradition, through the medium of the
internet. (2) To create a platform upon which a theological discussion can be
carried out in charity and in truth.” (from the “about” page)
In the hope of accomplishing this second aim –
creating a place for theological discussion – we have decided to create an “Ask
Reginaldus” page, which has now become an “Ask Father Ryan” page. If you have any topics you would like to see covered in an
article, you can now ask Father Ryan Erlenbush to do so. Moreover, even if you have just a
simple question, feel free to ask Father Erlenbush for a brief reply.
You
may either put your question in the comment box of this post, or you can e-mail Father at his google mail account - reginaldus.ntm[at]gmail[dot]com.
[Fr. Erlenbush will rarely respond to emails, hence it is far better to post any theological or pastoral questions in the comment box]
[Fr. Erlenbush will rarely respond to emails, hence it is far better to post any theological or pastoral questions in the comment box]
247 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 247 of 247 Newer› Newest»greetings Father
I was arguing with a professor about Limbo, he said that he did not believe Limbo existed for two reasons
1. there is no natural happiness apart from God
2. and that since the infants recieve no pain except the pain of loss, he says that this the worst pain of hell and therefore they still suffer....how would you respond to thsee
God Bless
Nick
In discussing the Adam-Christ patriarchal syllogism (consider Rm 8:17) with a priest friend, I reached a confusing problem with the Aristotelian system of metaphysics within the scholastic tradition:
If Adam and Eve had not sinned, they would necessarily have passed down sanctifying grace as an "heirloom". This poses a problem.
Friendship with God (sanctifying grace) could be easily considered "natural", which it is not. Human nature would serve the same purpose as the sacraments do in the Church today (grace through a natural medium). Sacraments cannot be defined as natural or supernatural, because they are kind of both (similar to the way Christ is fully God and fully man). Without delving into the Jesuit vs. Dominican boxing match of the "nature of grace", is there any way we can clear up this issue.
Dear Fr. Ryan, Is is ok for a layman to do binding prayers for his family privately?
thank you for all your good work, Augustine
Dear Father,
As you may or may not know, California has a ballot initiative this November to repeal use of capital punishment in the state. In looking at Germain Grisez's book The Way of the Lord Jesus Vol. 2, Ch. 11, note 107 (http://twotlj.org/G-2-11-E.html), Grisez states that St. Thomas Aquinas makes a fallacious argument that man falls away from the dignity of his manhood,and can therefore be executed like the beast, when he sins. Part of my question is this: Is the modern articulation of Catholic moral and social teaching, by John Paul II in E.V., the subsequent revision of the CCC, and the USCCB and more local conferences of bishops--all implying that it is ALMOST (but not quite) intrinsically immoral to apply capital punishment, or even have it as a legally available remedy to juries in individual cases--reflective of a hermeneutic of discontinuity? It's troubling if so. Arguments of "developments" in moral teaching are not satisfying to me when all the old manuals and the whole moral tradition of the Church permitted capital punishment. Does it really all come down to modern prison systems? What about the safety (physical and moral) of the guards and fellow inmates? And what of the humaneness of keeping somebody locked in a cell 23 or 24 hours a day? Does the modern magisterial articulation on this issue undermine the Church's claim to teach on faith and morals without error given the seeming discontinuity?
Grisez acknowledges in TWOTLJ Ch. 11 e. 1 j. that reconverting Waldensians were required to make a profession of faith that acknowledged capital punishments, when applied by the state, as not mortally sinful (DS 795/425). Grisez parses this issue in a questionable way, putting the emphasis on the issue of mortal sin.
What can you say about the modern articulation of this issue? And does St. Thomas make fallacious arguments? Thank you.
Sincerely, Robert
Dear Father,
Can a man who is paralysed from the waist down contract Matrimony? Given that one of the impediments to Matrimony is impotency - incapacity to realize the sexual act - would this fall into that category?
Pax Christi,
Marco
Is going to discos or hanging out with some of my female friends who are to a certain degree immodestly dressed "per se" occasion for sin?
Is this also scandalous?
EUROPEAN
Would you please help me with this? I am from Mexico and I think I have been instructed well in the Catholic Church. When I came here to USA I have noticed many new irregular things that the Church doesn't promote or teach in liturgical books such as orans position and giving blessings to kids or a non-catholic and even catholics in not a good standings... I have told many people those things are wrong, even returning the greeting to the priest with arms up lifting every time that the priest says the "Lord be with you" how did all of this started? why the USA church promotes it?
Father,
do we need grace to do natural good(and could you name a few natural good deeds)?
If yes wouldn't that be a position of total depravity?
Also what would:"Grace presuposes nature" mean?
Dear Father Ryan,
Perhaps you've been asked this question before so forgive me if it's repetitious.
My question is: Did Jesus have a Guardian Angel?
I would be grateful for your answer.
Liam
I realize that you probably won't be able to answer this any time soon, since this arguably the busiest time of the year...but I was wondering if you have any resources on what could be done theologically to explain our dogma of Original Sin, should science find a proof of some form of polygenism, toward which it seems to be moving. I searched the internet and found a few responses. The best would, of course, be to preserve the idea that all of humanity was confined at some point to just two individuals...however it sounds as if the genetic information doesn't really support this. One person suggested that all that is necessary is that we have a common ancestor who committed sin...and science certainly seems to support that all people have multiple common ancestors...however, the explanations of how original sin could be preserved in that context involved things that struck me as monstrous...humans regularly having children with unensouled hominids (which, to my view, would essentially just be monkeys that look like people...horrific!), long periods of history when humans and unensouled hominids lived side by side etc. Also I am not sure what the scientific data suggests...for instance were there various kinds of hominids which produced art...thus giving indication of a rational soul...would a highly developed brain structure be a sufficient indication of the hylomorphic instantiation of a rational soul? I suppose that some would consider this to be an obscure question...however, to me, this is one of the most provocative objections to the Faith I have heard. If we can't explain Original Sin in a reasonable way which accords with both the scientific data and theology...then we are certainly in trouble. I am just wondering if anyone has either found really good and well accepted scientific data that supports some form of monogenism, or if anyone has come up with good and non-monstrous explanations of how original sin can stand in a context of polygenism. For example, I would find it problematic if someone found beings that they thought were not ensouled, but that these beings were producing art and had highly developed brains. ...but then again, could certain forms of art be compatible with being and irrational beast? If irrational beasts have memory and some sort of imagination, then would art have to be proof of conceptual thought...perhaps they are just reproducing phantasms for things that made them feel good i.e. food etc.?
P.S. I know that at this time, in terms of our teaching, we are not free to teach polygenism or flat out to accept it as true. However, while I think it is better not to talk about this stuff with most laics, I think it is important for theologians and clerics to engage the scientific data (as well as scientists to engage dogmatic data) and not write it off unless we are absolutely certain that it constitutes a genuine violation of defined dogma...like when people some time ago claimed to have found Christ's body...obviously in a case like that we can simply reply, with certainty, that science has erred...but I am not convinced that we can be so sure on the question of polygenism. Pius XII told us to leave it alone because it certainly looks problematic...but if science (done rightly) really starts to support it, then we better be ready to give an explanation of how it happened that all mankind lost the gift of grace, and how the Incarnation doesn't automatically restore it to all mankind...since we cannot budge on Original Sin.
Father.
I'm consecrated to Mary according to Montfort's method.
Is it a mortal sin if i don't succeed in praying at least 5 decades of Holy Rosary in one day?
What kind of protection does the Pope have in promulgating a new liturgy(a la the Novus Ordo)? Is it guaranteed to be free of error, a worthy celebration of God's glory, or is it possible that it can be banal and "dumbed down" as many traditionalists claim of the Novus Ordo? Does the Holy Spirit guide the Pope when he gives the Church a new form of Mass?
Dear Father,
My name is Jitesh Mulani and I am from India my birth date is 20-07-1989 and I just want to know how my angels will support me in difficult times. Because right now I am going through difficult face of my life but not able to find out what are possible ways to sort out. So pls help.
Dear Father,
I have a question I am confuse about the teaching of the Church regarding "death penalty", in the Catechism it says that;
Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor. If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity to the dignity of the human person. Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically nonexistent." CCC 2267
Furthermore, St. Thomas Aquinas in his Summa Theologica says that;
“On their own side [heretics] there is the sin, whereby they deserve not only to be separated from the Church by excommunication, but also to be severed from the world by death. For it is a much graver matter to corrupt the faith which quickens the soul, than to forge money, which supports temporal life. Wherefore, if forgers of money and other evil-doers are forthwith condemned to death by the secular authority, much more reason is there for heretics, as soon as they are convicted of heresy, to be not only excommunicated but even put to death” (ST, Pt II-II, Q 11, Art 3).
Since the Church do not exclude recourse to Death Penalty, can Catholics now openly support the implementation of death penalty? (We do not have death penalty here in the Philippines)
Thank you very much. God Bless!
Dear Father,
Are you still continuing this blog? I'm a girl of only thirteen, searching for my faith. I found a Christian church I really like, but my Dad has a bad past with it and does not want me to go there. When I was younger my Dad was an aspiring minister, working as a co-pastor for his friend Pastor Dave who was just beginning his own church. They watched it grow together for a while, my family attending regularly and my mother and Dave's wife part of the worship team- they found a building and everything, and the church was working out. Then all of a sudden something happened between my Dad and Dave that made my father quit, pack up and move us all away, saying that church was evil and Dave was a bad man.Nobody knows what happened, not even my mom, my Dad never clearly explained it. Years later we end up moving back to the same area, my parents divorced. Dave's church is still going strong and has flourished. My mom's mom and all her sister's and their families still attend, and they have built a big, beautiful building. The bible says God will expose the plans of the wicked, and follow through the plans of the righteous, right? We have attended this new church multiple times and we like it. We are still welcomed, comforted, and Pastor Dave was very happy to see us again. He was sad about the divorce, and sad my Dad had run off. My Dad did go and live with his girlfriend elsewhere, by the way. But we all forgive him, love him, and try to stay in contact with him of course. Anyway, my mom and her family were raised catholic, but when she married my Dad she converted to Christian for him, because he didn't believe Catholicism was right due to the praying of saints and stuff, so you can see I have a lot of questions! There's a lovely Catholic church here we are thinking of attending, and a worker there really welcomed us to join, but I'm not baptised, I don't know anyone besides Christian pastor Dave to baptise me, and I'm not sure if Catholicism is right for me when I feel so comfortable at Pastor Dave's church. I'm sorry if me not being catholic is irrelevant and I should ask someone else- but I'm just so lost! I really need help.I want to honor my father and mother, and if my father says nit to trust Pastor Dave maybe I shouldn't! But I like him and his church so much...I just don't know what to do. I need to strengthen my faith, and I've been praying- but still the answer is unclear. I know Jesus is helping me, and he will pull me through this, but I need opinions too, I think! At one point or two my Dad said attending any church was okay, even pastor Dave, but then he turned it all around again and told my mother no! I just need a good foundation for dedication and praise to God and Jesus, and I don't know what religion is right or what church is right and I'm just very confused! Please help me.
Dear Fr. Ryan,
Thank you so much for your blog and for this forum in which you answer questions!
Today's post brought up a question regarding particular judgement with which I have wrestled for many years.
Without agreeing to any fundamental option theory (at all!) I struggle to comprehend how God, at the moment of particular judgement, could condemn a deeply faithful Catholic who had fallen into mortal sin, to hell for all eternity.
As you wrote above (response to Ryan, April 1, 2013):
"It seems quite likely that most people in the world have committed mortal sins (virtually everyone, excepting a couple of the saints)"
This truth includes those truly faithful, weak and sinful, lovers of God. Therefore, I ask, is it possible, [and do you know of anywhere that the Church authoritatively addresses (or any of the saints or great theologians address)] that the 'moment of death' at which particular judgement is made upon the soul, is more than a mere moment? Could it not be that a God-loving soul caught in an occasion of mortal sin at the moment of death, although severed from grace at that moment, could be given the opportunity to turn back to God in a spirit of humble repentance -- just as it would have done in life?
You were correct in writing:
"In the end, it is all about love. We have to be honest with God ... we have to let him teach us how to love him ... let him open our hearts to receive his Love..." (Response, April 1, 2013)
And it is exactly this certainty that leads me to ask my question (as poorly articulated as it is!).
Canon 1058 also seems to support the idea that in the absence of grace in that soul "caught" in mortal sin, the prayers (which are not bound by the confines of time) of other faithful, might be the strength which helps the faithful-but-gone-astray just-died soul turn back toward God (as it would have done in life had death not come).
To clarify, I am not looking for a way to "permit" habitual occasions of mortal sin without threat eternal damnation. I am referring to a truly faithful soul that falls far just before the moment of death.
Many thanks for your thoughtful response! You and your fellow priests are in my prayers.
AMDG
Dear Fr,
As a convert to the Church(5 years ago) I was-and is- deeply in love with the glorious Church.
I had no difficulties, whatsoever, in embracing anything of the Churce's dogma and I love and respect te Holy Father deeply and genuinely.However, if anyone had told me how many luke warm and disturblngly ignorant "cradle catholics" I would encounter within the parishes, this would have caused a great sorrow. I do realize that the Church, founded by Christ, was, is and will remain forever, notwithstanding the above mentioned cradle catholics.I do have to confess, though, that the conduct of so many of these, marked by a more or less pronounced lack of charity towards others, a remarkable and saddening indifference towards the Magisterium of the Church, the pope, abortion, homosexuality, etc etc, is, at times, very, very difficult to encounter and to manage. it is all too obvious that the majority does not have a clue about what the Catholic Church really is, that the Church has in fact founded Western Civilization. It is rare to come across cradle catholics who are proud of the Church.They just don't seem to reflect on anything, but rather attend Mass on Sundays as a "tradition" to be kept, looking forward more to the coffe chat afterwards than to the Mass. Moreover, the chatting and sometimes even rather loud babbling before and immediately after Mass. inside the Church, is mind boggling to me. Worst of all is having met and experienced direct unkindness and, not too seldom, envy (of a certain gift) from parishioners, and- sorry, even from more than one priest. Since I can say, with a good consciece, that I, in spite of my many faults and human shortcomings, never, ever, have uttered a single unfriendly word or similar to anyone in any church, find this quite disturbing; especially unkindness from a priest, totally unprovoked, or simply an openly and shamelessly displayed disinterest in the parishioner(s). Just to mention a few examples: when stretching out one's hand, with a smile, wishing to shake hands, the Fr hesitatingly takes your hand, saying that "sorry, I am very busy right now,I have no time to speak", or, when asking to run up the stairs to leave a message, which would take two minutes, the priest answers:" No, I wo'nt accept that; I had a busy day, one should not ask too much of a priest". Or: a priest orders a lady, a professionallyb trained musiscian, to play the organ on Sunday, but when she comes, is met by the same Fr, who, with apparent satisfaction, tells her not to play, since he has "change his mind". He asks her a second time, and two minutes before Mass, he orders her, again, not to play, this time under another pretext ("too few people today"hird time,). A third time, he asks her to play on a big Holiday and she prepares hours and hours for this. People are delighted. Everyone, except Fr; he immediately comes up to her and in front of others tell her that she won't play again since it "takes too much time". It took her a couple of months to realize, fully, with a chock, that all of this was perfectly orchestrated by the Fr, who, to tell you the truth, simply was envious of her great gift; it was all too obvious that he himself wanted to be in the "lime light", admired and adored. Sorry, but this has to be said, especially after the horrifying (homosexual, yes, most of the cases!)) scandals in the Church and revealing disturbing signs of a "culture of clericalism".I alaysand everywhere defend and demonstrate my great love for Catholic priests, in general, but the truth can not be suppressed, not even when there is a Fr involved. All of this has caused sth of a trauma within me, but, I once again stress, my love to the Church is and will reamian the same. I thank you for your kind attention.
Irene
Dear Father,
I have a question for you. During the Eucharistic proceedings of the mass, I have always found the priest dipping a small V-shaped piece of bread into wine, after breaking the bread into two pieces. Here is my question, Is there any religious significance for this act of dipping the bread into wine while he prays??
I am struggling with the protestant view of "faith alone" as derived from Romans 4. I am aware of the argument that St. Paul is talking about the old testament law of works and not "good works". Where it may be more clear is the understanding of the greek word "logozomai"
Can you clear these 2 things up for me?
Dear Father!
The rational soul is the form of a human being. There is a substantial union between the soul and the body. We need our brain in order to make use of our reason.
How is it possible that Christ our Savior had use of reason from the very first moment of his conception? A human being has no brain (in actuality) in the moment of conception.
Thank you in advance for your help!
(English is not my native language, please excuse any mistakes!)
Matthias
From Vince H.
What has happened to Fr Ryan? He hasn't blogged since Sept. 2012.
Vince H
@Vince H,
While I have not been able to keep up with the "Ask Father Ryan" page, I have certainly posted many many blog articles since September 2012 ... are you aware of the fact that there is a main page with articles posted regularly? Do you realize that this particular page is only a very very small part of the whole blog?
I've been blogging steady - so it is a bit frustrating to receive a comment like this.
I just don't have time right now to answer all the questions on this page -- though I do hope to get around to them eventually....
Fr. Ryan, recently in two different Parishes I saw where the Sacred Host was dropped on the floor; once by an Altar boy receiving in the hand and the other by the Priest when transferring Hosts into the ciborium. In both instances, the Sacred Hosts were picked up and consumed as usual. After Mass I asked the Priest why the area was not protected with a Purificator since the area was in a foot traffic path during the remainder of Mass. He told me that we don't do that anymore except when the Precious Blood is spilled. Can you explain where or when this new rule came to be and which document shows this. Thank you and God bless you, Lenny.
Fr. Ryan,
Thank you for your blog; it has been a great treasure in growing in knowledge and love of the Faith and of Our Lord.
Is it ever desirable that a person able to receive Communion not do so? Or does not receiving when unimpeded "prevent the building up of the Body of Christ," as a contemporary French spiritual writer puts it?
I have recently begun attending Mass daily. But I am reluctant to receive more than weekly (and on solemnities) because I fear it would reduce my love for the Sacrament. I also feel spiritually unprepared for such intimacy after many years of being in the habit of mortal sin. Is this reluctance over-scrupulous? Jansenist?
You will be in my prayers.
Thank-you,
Andrew
@Andrew,
Please consider St Francis de Sales' advice on this subject: http://www.catholicity.com/devoutlife/2-20.html
For my part, I do not think that daily communion would make you love the sacrament less -- but be sure to make a good thanksgiving after Mass (about 10 minutes).
Also, frequent (monthly) confession would be strongly advisable.
Peace! +
In RCIA, I was told the Bishop in my Diocese does not give dispensations for those who request to have marriage ceremonies performed outside-- no matter how beautiful the field, seashore, or other setting.
My parish has asked us to be sure to attend the annual Outside Mass.
My question is this: if marriages should be performed in the Church (understandably) then why are Masses performed outside?
Fr. Ryan,
I was wondering why you have not mentioned anything about are new Pope Francis ?
Merydee.
Dear Rev. Fr.
Ave Maria!
Father, what is the morality of downloading shows/music? To the point: I am an anime fan, but most shows are not available in the UK. American fans can get streams for most shows but I can't due to licensing issues, which seems a bit unfair. I'd pay but I have nobody to pay! Would it be sinful to download shows, or to switch my IP address to American so I can watch them from American websites?
God Bless Father!
You need to change your Pope name on the blog. Just letting you know.
Dear Father,
Since you've been talking about the Eucharist on the blog lately, would you mind taking a look at this article written by a Calvinist in which he says that the Eucharist is a Monophysite doctrine?
http://beggarsallreformation.blogspot.com/2010/02/is-transubstantiation-monophysite.html
Is he right? If not, where is the flaw in his reasoning? Thank you very much.
Father,
What is your position on the historicity of the Book of Judith? I think the Fathers universally credit it as historical, but many modern apologists treat it as an inspired work of fiction. I admit, it seems to me to be fictional (though every bit inspired, like Jesus' parables)--but we don't do theology based on what "seems right to us." And I'm wary of departing from the tradition in any matter.
I think this is a matter of theology because, per Dei Verbum, the genres of Scripture are of paramount importance in interpretation. And if Judith isn't historical, that means we can't say "St. Judith pray for us!"
I've been told that Fr. Cornelius a Lapide wrote a good defense of Judith's historicity, but it's in Latin--and I've not yet been blessed with knowledge of Latin.
This might be a good topic for a blog post. I'm sure I'm not the only person with the question.
Thank you, Father!
Reuben
Father Ryan;
I was raised a Catholic and strayed off path for many years. I have recently began to come back to the faith,and,its simply amazing the amount of sins one commits and the guilt associated with it. One thing that has always confounded me,and a reason i used for leaving the church (i say used because,frankly,i left because i did not want to do right at that point,however,i used the following point to justify the decision to myself), is are the parts of the trinity separate beings or one single being? I know it is a very trivial detail,but,i have a very hard time worshipping anything above or equal to God,to include Christ,who i do love dearly. I know this must seem a very unimportant question,but,to me,its essential.
Kindest Regards:
Jeremy H.R.
Father Bless ~
I have been doing a search on-line of Catholic Churches that are exclusively using the 1962 Missal for all rites and services. So far I have found 5 that are FSSP parishes. I love that this is their ministry.
Do you know of any other Orders that are serving parishes for the Latin Use or establishing new parishes?
I hope to be moving out of Southern California next year and want to be able to attend Holy Mass either in the Latin Use or the Anglican Use. here where I am living it is a vast wasteland!
Thank you for your assistance.
Matthew M,
Just a note about the anglican use ... remember that it is just as much a "banal fabrication" as is the Novus Ordo (to apply the words of Pope Benedicdt) ... indeed, it is even more banal - as it is highly influenced by heretics, yes?
Well, we do want reverence, but better to seek it in the tradition rather than in fabrications -- obviously, the case would be different if you yourself are an anglican convert to the true Church...
Here is a website with info about the traditional Mass in southern cal ... just one I happened to find via a google search ... be sure to avoid any SSPX Masses.
Pax! +
Dear Father Ryan,
I have a question about my fivefold scapular enrollment.
The priest used the formula of the Rituale Romanum (n.14).
This is my doubt. The priest put the scapular around my neck after (and not before or while) he recited the whole formula of imposition and the formula of conferring spiritual favors attached to each scapular (making the sign of the Cross toward the scapular and not toward me).
Is the enrollment correct and valid anyway? Or should I repeat the ceremony?
Thank you
Angelo
Italy
To the best of my knowledge, an excommunicated Catholic cannot contract a valid marriage. Assuming that to be true, is it therefore correct that a Catholic who has had an abortion, but has neither confessed it nor had the censure lifted, but conceals this from her pastor and proceeds to celebrate a Catholic wedding is, in fact, not validly married?
Many thanks!
SÓB
Ireland
Father Ryan. As recounted, the marriage feast at Cana suggests that the Blessed Mother was clearly aware of the power of her Son and was confident that He would respond to the request of his Mother, notwithstanding His reluctance to manifest his Deity at that event. Is this a fanciful interpretation?
Father, my husband and I would not accept the homosexual lifestyle in our home. He died in May and I took off the names of two children on all financial resources after they did not attend his funeral. One is living the homosexual lifestyle and the other is supporting him. Several weeks ago, the third child asked if he could borrow money. I asked him if he is gay because the man living with him for two years professes on the internet that he is gay. After telling me it is none of my business in very vulgar terms and telling me his is also finished with me, he hung up. My only brother who never married has terminal cancer attacks me constantly over my decision because my son takes him to treatments. Two priests have told me to ignore their lifestyles and accept them and mates in my house household. Another priest said I must forget all my family and start new somewhere else. Easy for him to say that. I have no friends for they left years ago when my husband and I denounced the homosexual lifestyle in our home. They had family members who live the lifestyle and welcome them as if it is a normal lifestyle. I pray and pray, but I am starting to crash. Please help me. What should I do?
Anon, 10:23am,
I think you are right to state that they cannot stay in your house as a gay couple - and also to tell them that the situation is wrong and sinful.
If they reject you, that is their choice -- and, sadly, you cannot make them continue to love you.
However, I stress that you should always try to keep the communication open with them, try to tell them that you love them, send them cards and call them on their birthdays etc. Ask them to be patient with your imperfections too. +
Hello Father,
I wanted to ask you some questions. Was confirmation ever given by priests the way it is given now before Vatican II? When I was confirmed I thought a Bishop was coming to do it, and it turned out to be a priest. There was no emergency. Is there a process that I can go through with The Church to find out if it was valid and so be confirmed by a bishop? What can I do? I now know that it is a defined dogma that the Bishop is the ordinary minister of this sacrament. WHat does ordinary mean? I know that in cases of nearness to death and emergencies priests can do this for adults along with baptism, but this was at a Parish Church at the appointed time. Thank you for your help.
Dear Father Ryan Erlenbush , I have two questions.
Can human's become guardian angels?
Is there a such a thing as a human angel?
A CCD teacher told her class not to be afraid of making mistakes because Jesus even made them. She gave the mud on the blind man's eyes as an example (he had to "try" more than once). What would you have said to her if you heard her say that?
Fr. Ryan,
I have few questions in mind about the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ. I've read in the Catechism of Trent the phrase "it is safe to say that God died and God was buried". In relation to this:
1. Is it correct to say that Jesus Christ died only in His human nature?
Or
2. Is it correct to say that Christ died as a divine person?
3. Is it also consistent with Catholic theology to say that natures (Divine and Human) are abstract reality, not subjected to death and physical suffering, yet provides the person the action of dying, suffering and being born?
Thank you.
Isahel
Hello Father,
I recently read your article on whether or not a Catholic should attend an invalid wedding ceremony. I am not sure whether this upcoming wedding ceremony is considered invalid or not. So my cousin is getting married in the Catholic Church, because her fiancé is Catholic (she is not), but her fiancé is not a practicing Catholic and they are living together. My parents and brothers are going to this wedding, but would it be wrong if I went? Is this considered an invalid wedding? I would really appreciate a quick response because they wedding is soon. Thank you so much.
-MariaRose
Maria Rose,
That marriage is valid -- because in the Church, even if the couple may be sinning by living together prior to marriage. You can go to the wedding.
I have a Protestant short coming, as to the lords supper that Jesus conducted before the crusifiction, how could he give his flesh and blood being still alive and not glorified of the father as yet? thank you for your cncideration.
Anonymous, Oct 23,
Please use a pseudonym.
At the Last Supper, the real presence in the Eucharist was the same as his body and blood in his proper species on earth at that time -- i.e. not glorified.
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