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From the Archives: A Debate with "Little Less" on the Assumption of Mary, Part 3 2007-08-15 08:36:00 Here is the final installment of my debate with Little Les, where I provide the evidence for the Assumption from Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Also see Part 1 and Part 2. - - -Sacred ScriptureFirst note that the concept of the Assumption is not foreign to scripture. We will all experience the resurrection of the Body when Jesus comes again (cf. John 5:28-29; 6:39-40; 11:24-25 and chapter 15 from 1 Corinthians to name a few). Likewise, Mary was not the only one to experience this before the second coming. Enoch (Gen 5:24; Heb 11:5) and Elijah (2 Kings 2:11-12; 1 Mac 2:58; Sirach 48:4,9) were assumed into heaven. Paul suggests that a third man may have been as well (2 Cor 12:2-3) and Matthew speaks of "many bodies of the saints" who were raised from the tomb after Jesus' resurrection (Mat 27:52-53). So, the principle is scripturally sound. We have left only to answer the question, "Did this happen to Mary?"As far as explicit references go, this can be neither confirmed nor deni Read more:Archives
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From the Archives: A Debate with "Little Less" on the Assumption of Mary, Part 2 2007-08-15 08:29:00 You'll notice at the end of Part 1 that I had intended to post next about the evidence for the Assumption from Scripture and Tradition. But, instead of waiting patiently, he went ahead and responded to what I had said up to that point. Here is how I engaged that response. In Part 3, which will come next, I will post the evidence from Scripture and Tradition that I was eventually able to provide for him. He was banned from Phatmass before he could respond to this evidence, so Part 3 concludes the debate. - - -I have. It doesn't. Evidence please or withdraw your assertion.Munificentissimus Deus doesn't have testimony from the ECF's of the Assumption? Note the following paragraphs, which are numbered:17. "Venerable to us, O Lord, is the festivity of this day on which the holy Mother of God suffered temporal death, but still could not be kept down by the bonds of death, who has begotten your Son our Lord incarnate from herself."[11]18. the Gallican sacramentary designates this privileg Read more:Archives
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From the Archives: A Debate with "Little Less" on the Assumption of Mary, Part 1 2007-08-15 08:17:00 As promised, here is my 3-part debate from Sept. 11, '06 on the Assumption of Mary. What this debate reveals is how important it is to stick to exactly what the dogma declares and nothing else. People will try to discredit the Assumption based on the various legends that surround it. But, where she died, or how many apostles were there, or what they saw when Mary was assumed is not essential to the dogma. We are called to believe only that Mary, at the end of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heaven. Period.I hope this debate is helpful to you all as you field questions today from people wondering what this Assumption of Mary is all about.Pax Christi,phatcatholic - - - - - - - - - -In history, law, medicine, science, etc., it is necessary to establish facts. They cannot be presumed to exist.However, observing Aquinas's advice which may be generally applied, "Seek such certitude as the nature of the thing allows."Dealing with a claim of the infallibility of the fact of Read more:Archives
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For the Solemnity of the Assumption 2007-08-15 07:26:00 Happy Feast Day! For some reason I've been really anticipating this one. I don't know what it is about Marian feast days, but everyone at Mass last night seemed to sing just a little bit louder than usual. Everyone seemed very happy. I was happy too. Thank God for our Blessed Mother and the joy that she brings to us as we celebrate the many ways in which her Son honored her.From the Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy we read the following: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary180. The Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary clearly stands out in Ordinary Time because of its theological importance. This is an ancient memorial of the Mother of God, which signifies and synthesises many of the truths of the faith. Our Lady assumed into Heaven: is "the highest fruit of the redemption"196, and a supreme testimony to the breath and efficacy of Christ's salvific work (soteriological significance);is a pledge of the future participation of the members of the mystical B
For the Memorial of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe 2007-08-14 12:53:00 Few men have contributed to the increase in devotion to our Blessed Mother than St. Maximilian Kolbe. Take some time out today to learn more about this great man and his teaching. Liturgical Calendar: Memorial
of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and MartyrThe Holy Spirit and MaryApostle of MarySt. Maximilian Kolbe and the Immaculate ConceptionThe Man Who Stepped Out of LineWas St. Maximilian Kolbe an Anti-Semite?Priest Hero of a Death CampA Rule of Life for Those Consecrated to MaryWho Is St. Maximilian?Consecration to MaryHomily for the Memorial of St. Maximilian Mary KolbePatron Saints Index: Maximilian KolbeThe Ideals and Program of the Knights of the ImmaculataWhat Is the Militia of the Immaculata?What Is Consecration?Jewish Virtual Library: Maximilian KolbePrayers by and to St. Maximilian KolbePax Christi,phatcatholic
Plumbing the Depths of the Plumber 2007-08-14 12:46:00 For no other reason then because they're amusing, I present the following YouTube videos:Mario PianoSuper Mario Brothers in 5 MinutesThe dude goes crazy at the end of the first video, so make sure you watch the whole thing. The second video makes me anxious b/c I keep thinking he's going to die. But, somehow he beats the whole game unscathed. Pretty crazy.Pax Christi,phatcatholic Read more:Plumbing
Resisting Irresistable Grace 2007-08-14 08:47:00 There's currently a debate going on over at HCR that is tackling two topics at the same time (which is not exactly ideal). The topics are whether or not the calling of God can be refused or rejected and whether or not there is such thing as "actual grace," which Catholics would see as the type of grace that God sends us when he makes that call upon us.When I was looking through the Bible, for verses that speak about this, I came across a potential death-blow to the Calvinist teaching on irresistable grace (the "I" in TULIP): Prov 1:24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,My eyes bugged out when I read it. I haven't done any extensive research on this passage yet, but it appears to explicitly reject the idea that when God calls you, you can't help but respond to it. I'm still waiting to see what the response will be.If you know of any verses that either reject irresistable grace or affirm the reality of actual grace, pleas Read more:Grace
How to Move Up in the World.... 2007-08-29 09:10:00 ....wide web. Does anyone know what I can do to appear higher in Google search results for the phrase "catholic apologetics"? Right now, I'm the first result on page 10. I already have "meta description" and "meta keywords" tags in my template and I've submitted my blog to just about every free blog directory I could find. I'm guessin I'll have to release the firm grip on my wallet and actually spend some money, but if anyone has any suggestions that won't cost me anything, I would really appreciate it.Pax Christi,phatcatholic Read more:World
Luke and John in Defense of Peter 2007-08-29 07:58:00 Since I haven't heard from "The Expositor" yet regarding my defense of Peter
and the papacy from Mt 16 and Isa 22, I thought I would go ahead and bring in a few other passages commonly used in this debate.First, we read from John:Jn 21:15-19 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs." 16 A second time he said to him, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep." 17 He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. 18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch Read more:Defense
A Little Something for St. Augustine 2007-08-28 22:03:00 I've been very busy today, and now I'm about to pass out b/c I'm so tired. But, I wanted to at least post something for today, the feast of St. Augustine
. So, here's a link to an entry on St. Augustine that I made for the Catholic Defense Directory. It's a pretty good collection of articles on his life and thought. I hope you find it beneficial.Pax Christi,phatcatholic
Just a Test 2007-08-28 21:28:00 Check it out! Now my blog looks like a magazine, with the large first letter thingy and justified text. I'm thinking about making each post look like this from now on. It's pretty cool. Definitely something you don't see on a lot of other blogs. I might mess with the color and the size. Anyway, leave a comment and let me know what you think. If you want to do this on your blog, just go..........nah, I think I'll make this my little secret :DPax Christi,phatcatholic
The Authority of Peter in Mt 16 2007-08-27 12:59:00 The primary passage in support of the authority of Peter
(and of subsequent popes) is Mat 16:18-19. Here is the passage, in context:Mt 16:13-20 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesare'a Philip'pi, he asked his disciples, "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" 14 And they said, "Some say John the Baptist, others say Eli'jah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jona! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he strictly charged the disciples to te Read more:Authority
Peter, the First Pope? 2007-08-27 12:21:00 While I was away on vacation, "The Expositor" created a thread in the HCR forum seeking a defense of the authority of Peter
. Of course, I am happy to oblige. What follows is my response to a few comments made by him and "RJ" in that thread. Other people chimed in as well, but these two more directly address the topic at hand. "The Expositor" will be in gray/silver. "RJ" will be in blue.In my next post I will provide a preliminary Biblical defense of Peter and the papacy.Pax Christi,phatcatholic - - - - - - - - - -phatcatholic,Do you believe that if a person denies that Peter was the first pope, they are accursed?What about all succeeding Popes? If we deny the primacy of the Pope and deny that he has full jurisdiction over the whole church, are we accursed?Well, first of all, the Church never damns people to hell. That's not what anathemas are. An anathema means that a person has separated himself from the Church on a particular point of dogma. The result is excommunication. However, n Read more:First
Poll-Release Monday #27 2007-08-27 11:32:00 Turning again to Bible trivia, here is this week's poll question: "For wherever you go I will go . . . your God will be my God." Whose words are these?NaomiMaryEstherRuthEveJudithRemember, vote first and then look up the answer! Do you know your Old Testament?As for the most recent poll, here are the results:The results were pretty inconclusive, which at first I thought was a bad thing, but now I think it's good b/c it means that no matter which background I choose a good number of you will like it. So, I'm just going to stick with this one until I get bored with it again :DThanks everyone for voting. Don't forget to vote in this week's poll, and feel free to get other people to come and vote too.Pax Christi,phatcatholic Read more:Monday
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Back to Business as Usual 2007-08-27 07:38:00 Well, I'm back from vacation now (*sob*). The 11-hr drive back to Steubenville was pretty tough, but we made the most of it. We even stopped at this fireworks place that just so happened to also sell knives, swords, nunchucks, and blow guns! And to top it all off, it was connected to a Jelly Belly. It was pretty much the craziest thing I've ever seen, but wicked freakin cool.A few highlights from the trip:The winter home where we stayed is A LOT cooler than the pics are able to illustrate. I mean, this place is dope. It looks just like a ski lodge, and it has ten-kinds of room. All the wood is real (in the pics it looked kinda fake to me), and it has doorways made out of tree trunks with knots in them, and sleds and snow shoes and other winter stuff hanging on the walls. It was just really nice and I hated to leave. Maybe I'll buy the place one day....The Baseball Hall of Fame was probably my favorite of the various places we visited. The history of baseball is just so rich and amaz Read more:Business
Learning from St. Francis de Sales 2007-08-31 12:33:00 I added St. Francis
de Sales
to the "Pen Is Mightier Than the Sword" section (towards the bottom of my sidebar). He was one of the greatest Catholic apologists of the late 16th and early 17th century, so the presence of his works on my blog was a glaring omission. You can read three of his classics online:Introduction to the Devout LifeThe Catholic ControversyTreatise on the Love of GodLet this saint teach you. He is one of the best. For a short biography of St. Francis de Sales, go here.Pax Christi,phatcatholic Read more:Learning
St. Joseph and John Foxe 2007-08-31 09:43:00 I don't think you can find two more disparate figures! I bring them together because I found two websites today that are pretty cool, one bears the name of the saint, the other of the sinner.First, check out St. Joseph
Software: Table of Contents. It has some really helpful resources, including: Patron Saints IndexeBook of Common Catholic PrayersStations of the CrossPopesOur LadyNew Catholic DictionarySJS eBooksI was pretty happy to find that one.I found the second website, John Foxe's Book of Martyrs: Critical Apparatus and Additional Material, in my research on the book and any Catholic responses/refutations of it. In case you're wondering, this book, written around the time of the Reformation, details the suffering and execution of various Protestant ministers and laymen at the hands of the Church and the State. It's a favorite of generally anyone intent on discreditting the Church and the papacy, or proving the corruption of these at that time.As a Catholic, it's important to
Secret Revealed 2007-08-30 12:37:00 When I was testing the look of a large first character in my earlier post, I was just joking around when I said that I was keeping the directions a secret. Honestly, I felt like I was the only one who didn't know how to do something like that, and I figured that if anyone really wanted to know all they had to do was look at my source code [to view the source code of a webpage w/ IE 6.0, click on "View" at the top of your browser, and then "Source"]. That's how I figure out a lot of things myself.So, I never thought for a millisecond that it would actually be a big deal that I didn't reveal how to do it. But, apparently some people were personally offended and felt that I was being unprofessional and discourteous. So, here it is:How to enlarge and color the first letter of every postNow everyone can be cool like me (I'm just joking!!)Pax Christi,phatcatholic
"Exposit"-ing Some Answers 2007-08-29 14:30:00 After my last post, "The Expositor" responded with some interesting questions. I'm wondering if they might be traps, since they sound a lot like the common arguments that people make against Peter, but dressed up to look like a question. Perhaps he's hoping that I'll answer something incorrectly so that he can drop a verse on me. Who knows. Stay tuned to see how this develops....Pax Christi,phatcatholic - - - - - - - - - -Did Peter take on the trait of infallibility one this "true and proper" jurisdiction was conferred upon him?I don't think there's a teaching on this, so I don't really know for sure, but I'd imagine that Peter was given the charism of infallibility either: when the Father revealed to him that Jesus was "the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Mt 16:16-17),when Jesus changed Peter's name and declared that He would build His Church on him (Mt 16:18), orwhen Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Mt 16:19).Basically, I'd say it happened some time du
God and the Priest: Who's in Charge? 2007-09-25 21:21:00 Recently, "kobe" from the HCR forum asked a question about the meaning of Jn 20:23, where Jesus gives the apostles the power to forgive sins. Of course, Protestants are always confused by this verse b/c it has the potential to drastically change their ideas about the role of man in the work of God. They simply have no conception of anyone being responsible for forgiveness than God Himself. Calvinists in particular are often monergistic and so hesitate to attribute anything to man whatsoever.Anyway, after I posted this information on Jn 20:23, I received a rebuttal from "kobe." What follows is his rebuttal and then my response to it.Pax Christi,phatcatholic- - - - - - - - - -Thanks for the reply phat, but to take that Scripture literal at face value goes against LOADS of other Scripture, mostly all in the NT about only the blood of the innocent Lamb being able to wash away sins, as well as repenting to God. This is THE ONLY Scripture I've ever seen that implies people can forgive or wi Read more:Priest
Steven Colbert Is Wagging His Finger at You! 2007-09-25 19:00:00 I found out today that even with cookie and IP protection, it's still possible to vote more than once in the same poll.Please don't cheat people!It makes baby Jesus cry and it messes up the results, which makes me cry. Read more:Steven
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The Afflictions of Christ: Part 2 2007-09-25 18:34:00 In an earlier post, I explained Paul's words in Col 1:24 as meaning that the objective redemption has been fully accomplished, but the subjective redemption is still required. It is in this way that he is able to say that there is something "lacking" in the afflictions of Christ
.Well, "daveski" from the HCR forum posted in disagreement with me. Here is my short response to him. He requested that we do this via email, so stay tuned for further developments.Pax Christi,phatcatholic- - - - - - - - - -while i understand the contoversy of this verse, particularly because of the word "lacking", i must disagree with your analysis of this verse. your assertion that we must somehow suffer to merit the consumation of our salvation diminishes the sufficiency of Christ, the efficacy of the cross and Jesus' resurrection. it flies in the face of Jesus' words "It is finished!"No it doesn't. If no application upon us of Christ's work is necessary, then every single person who has ever lived or wh
Poll-Release Mon...err, Tuesday! (#30) 2007-09-25 10:18:00 Yea, I know, the poll never happened yesterday like it was supposed to. I just got too frustrated with it. I wish I knew CSS and Photoshop better, or that I had a little web design genius that I could carry around in my pocket and then take out whenever I needed help with this stuff.Basically, my blog is all color-coordinated now, except for the poll. I tried to find another poll, one that would give me more freedom with the style of the poll, but there really isn't a poll service with as many features as Polldaddy. It's the best one out there. So, I'm tryin to work with what I have, and there's even an option to create your own style, but cmon, I can't make something from scratch. I'm not that good. For people like me, you can also load a template from one of the preset styles and fiddle with that. That's what I was trying to do yesterday.Come to find out, these polls are made of several different little images that all come together like a puzzle to make the poll look the way Read more:Tuesday
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Daily with De Sales: 9/25/07 2007-09-25 08:21:00 The parents of Saint Catherine of Siena tried by every means they could to put obstacles in her way as regards prayer and meditation. Our Lord then inspired her to construct within her own heart a little interior "oratory" where she could mentally retire, even in the midst of exterior activity, and enjoy the solitude of her heart. Therefore, from that time on, she advised her spiritual sons and daughters to construct a small room in their own hearts and to dwell within it.-- INT. Part II, Ch. 12; O. III, p. 93 Read more:Daily
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Daily with De Sales: 9/24/07 2007-09-24 19:32:00 It is necessary not only to combat hate and distaste of one's neighbor, but to abstain from a common but quite harmful defect; namely, to complain and to keep repeating these complaints. This is an evident sign of a stubborn heart that has not even a spark of charity in it. Strong and generous hearts sometimes are saddened when there is a very serious cause, but even then they do not fall into exaggerated anguish. Have courage. The few years that remain to us here below, please God, will be for us the best and most useful for eternity.-- Letters 817; O. XV, pp. 288-289 Read more:Daily
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About the Poll.... 2007-09-24 14:26:00 Ihave been trying all day to format the style of my poll so that it matches my blog better, and I simply don't know enough to do it. It is VERY FRUSTRATING, to say the least. Because I spent so much time trying to figure it out, this week's poll will have to come later in the day. Sorry about that.I have other stuff I need to do now, but I'll try to get to the poll as soon as I can.Pax Christi,phatcatholicps: oh, while I'm at it, I need to test out what a blockquote looks like now:as;ldfkjasl;dfjka;sldjkfa;lskdjf;alsdjkf;alsdjkf;alsdjkf;alsdjkf;alskdjf;alsdjkfl;asdjkfCool :D
The Makeup of the Eucharist in the Eastern Catholic Rites 2007-09-23 15:13:00 A member of Phatmass recently asked the following question: Is the physical makeup of the Eucharist
in other rites the same as in the Latin rite? Same percentages of wheat, etc.?I'm probably not the best person to answer this question, since I'm a Latin Rite Catholic
. But, I will certainly try my best.The Code of Canons of the Eastern
Churches, nos. 706-707 read as follows: 706 In the Divine Liturgy the sacred gifts which are offered are bread made of wheat alone and recently made so that there is no danger of corruption and natural wine of the grape and not corrupt.707 1. The preparation of the Eucharistic bread, the prayers performed by the priests before the Divine Liturgy, the observance of the Eucharistic fast, liturgical vestments, the time and place of the celebration and other like matters must be precisely established by the norms of each Church sui iuris.2. For a just cause and having removed any astonishment on the part of the Christian faithful, it is permissible to use t Read more:Makeup
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Is There Something "Lacking" in the Afflictions of Christ? 2007-09-22 23:57:00 A member of the HCR forum recently asked the following question:What does this passage mean?Col 1:24-25 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ
's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,At a glance, one might think this means Christ's afflictions are lacking. I don't believe that, but I don't know what it means.What you have to ask yourself is this: What could still be lacking in the sufferings of Christ? He suffered to the fullest extent, and for all mankind. This work is called the objective redemption, and the degree, or quality, or completeness of it has no imperfection. But, there is still something lacking. What is still required is the application of the grace of the Cross upon us. He won all the grace through his perfect suffering, but this grace must still be applied t
Daily with De Sales: 9/23/07 2007-09-22 23:54:00 So long as we are on this earth, we must realize that we cannot avoid imperfections, because we are all human. We must convince ourselves of this reality; we should not get all upset in seeing ourselves as imperfect beings. The Lord has asked us to say every day those words of the Our Father, "Forgive us our trespasses..." This is a directive that has no exceptions, because we all have need of it.-- Spiritual Treatises XVI; O. VI, pp. 296-297 Read more:Daily
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