Q & A CRUCIFIX & SIGN OF THE CROSS

Q:“
What is the significance of making the sign of the cross before and after private prayer?
”
A:
The sign of the cross is closely tied to baptism. Jesus told the apostles, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Mt 28:19).
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that when Catholics are baptized “the sign of the cross, on the threshold of the celebration, marks with the imprint of Christ the one who is going to belong to him and signifies the grace of the Redemption Christ won for us by his cross” (CCC 1235).

Thereafter, each time we make the sign of the cross we remember that we belong to Christ.
The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the sign of the cross: “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” The baptized person dedicates the day to the glory of God and calls on the Savior’s grace which lets him act in the Spirit as a child of the Father. The sign of the cross strengthens us in temptations and difficulties. (CCC 2157)


Q:“
My son is dating a Lutheran girl who finds it hard to understand why we have a crucifix in every church. I explained that because of Christ's love for us, he suffered and died on the cross for our sins and our salvation. She says Jesus' Resurrection is what they focus on. Could you please explain further?
”
A:
Jesus did not redeem us on Easter Sunday. He redeemed us on the cross on Good Friday. He also said that to be his disciple we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him (Matt.16:24-27). Nowhere in Scripture do we find him replacing such attention with Easter Sunday! To behold the image of Jesus hanging on the cross is to recognize the greatest event in history. It is to remember how incapable we are of fully appreciating what his infinite love is—and how infinitely fortunate we are to know such love (even though imperfectly) through the gift of faith.


Q:“
I seem to remember reading in the General Instruction of the Roman Missal that a crucifix showing Christ crucified must be present in the altar area during Mass. Is this correct?
”
A:
Yes:
There is also to be a cross, with the figure of Christ crucified upon it, either on the altar or near it, where it is clearly visible to the assembled congregation. It is appropriate that such a cross, which calls to mind for the faithful the saving Passion of the Lord, remain near the altar even outside of liturgical celebrations. (GIRM 308)



Q:“
Most crucifixes show Jesus' chest wound on his right side, which is opposite from the heart cavity. Do we know for certain where he was pierced, or is it a pious tradition that the spear entered his right side?
”
A:
John the Evangelist tells us that Jesus’ side was pierced (John 19:32–35) but does not say which side. Crucifixes are artistic renderings, not exact reproductions, so the depiction of Christ’s chest wound on the right side may be artistic symbolism. In Scripture, those on Jesus’ right are the ones to be saved (Matt. 25:32–33) and they are saved by the blood that he shed for them (Matt. 26:28).



Q:“
Our church has a large cross with a figure of the risen Christ attached but no crucifix. Even the processional cross has the risen Christ. Shouldn't there be a crucifix near the altar?
”
A:
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal instructs that there must be a cross (with a crucified corpus) on or near the altar, "positioned either on the altar or near it, and . . . clearly visible to the people gathered there" (GIRM 308). In the case where a crucifix is not in the sanctuary, the processional cross with the figure of Christ crucified upon it would be an option.


Q:“
During Lent my parish removes all the holy water from the entrance fonts. The crucifix in the sanctuary has also been replaced with a shroud-draped cross. Is this the first step towards iconoclasm in my parish, or am I just overreacting to a legitimate tradition?
”
A:
Emptying or covering holy water fonts during Lent is a modern innovation not found in the Church’s directives. Water is always kept in the holy water fonts until after Mass on Holy Thursday, when they are emptied of holy water and later refilled with the water blessed at the Easter Vigil (Paschales Solemnitatis 97).Lent is a time when we need the spiritual benefits of holy water. Holy water is a protection from evil, a reminder of our baptism and of our commitment to live a Christ-centered life. Empty holy water fonts during Lent only deprive the faithful of spiritual benefits that are theirs by right. The General Instruction on the Roman Missal requires a crucifix to be present during the celebration of the Mass. It may be possible to get away with replacing the main sanctuary crucifix with a cross if there is another crucifix present at least during the Mass (e.g., if an altar server or crucifer bears a crucifix into the sanctuary during the entrance). The covering of crosses is permitted during the last two weeks of Lent (approved by USCCB and Holy See, effective April 2002). The rubrics for the fifth Sunday of Lent state:

In the dioceses of the United States of America, crosses in the church may be covered from the conclusion of the Mass for Saturday of the fourth week of Lent until the end of the celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday. Images in the church may be covered from the conclusion of the Mass for Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent until the beginning of the Easter Vigil.


Q:“
What is the proper crucifix to have or to wear? I was told that a cross is not the same as a crucifix. I was told also that a cross represents that Jesus has risen and is proper to wear.
”
A:
Some Protestants suggest that because Catholics often depict Jesus on the cross it means that they believe he has not risen. This is, of course, nonsense. Catholics are adamant about the Resurrection of Christ. That’s why it is written into the creed that we say every Sunday.Depicting the cross bare is not an especially good symbol of the resurrection since the cross probably never stood bare. When Jesus was taken down from it, the crossbeam that his arms were nailed to was probably removed. It is doubtful that after he rose from the dead anyone bothered putting the crossbeam back up.From a Catholic perspective there is little theological significance for items of personal jewelry whether or not the cross is bare. In a wide variety of art forms, Christians throughout the ages have depicted both Jesus on the cross and the bare cross depending not on theological considerations but on other factors, such as whether the medium they were working in could accommodate the human form easily and whether they had the artistic skill or craftsmanship to fashion a corpus.Traditionally there has been a preference for showing the corpus when possible, as this is a more vivid reminder of the crucifixion (the crucifixion is the whole point of a cross, after all). However, this is not a theological mandate.Bottom line: Wear whichever one you prefer. (Though know that most people will identify you as a Catholic if you wear one with a corpus.)


Q:“
I would like to know if it is necessary for a crucifix to be present at the altar in order for the Mass to be valid.
”
A:
Masses are not valid or invalid, they are licit (in conformity with the law) or illicit (not in conformity with the law). It is the consecration of the Eucharist within the Mass that can be valid or invalid.Whether a crucifix is present at the altar has no bearing on whether the Eucharist is valid or invalid (the absence of a crucifix will not cause the Eucharist to be invalid), but it does have a bearing on whether the Mass is licit or illicit.The law requires that "There is to be a cross, clearly visible to the congregation, either on the altar or near it" (General Instruction of the Roman Missal [GIRM] 270). The revised General Instruction—which has not yet gone into effect—clarifies that the cross in question should have a corpus (representation of Christ’s body), meaning that it should be a crucifix rather than a bare cross.If there were no cross by on or near the altar (or, once the new GIRM goes into effect, no crucifix) then the Mass would be illicit, or not celebrated in accord with the requirements of the law.However, a Mass celebrated in this manner would still have a valid consecration of the Eucharist. Furthermore, it would still fulfill one’s Sunday obligation.


Q:“
There is a large mural of the Crucifixion in our church. Above Jesus' head on the cross are the four letters "INRI," and next to the cross is a Roman soldier holding a banner that says "SPQR." What do these abbreviations stand for?
”
A:
"INRI" is an abbreviation for the Latin "Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum" ("Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews"), posted on the cross by order of the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate. "SPQR" stands for "Senatus Populus Que Romanus" ("The Roman Senate and People"), designating the civil authority that presided over the scene.


Q:“
Since Jesus rose from the dead and now lives in glory, why do you Catholics dwell morbidly on his death by keeping his body on the cross? Why not display an empty cross, as we do?
”
A:
We like to follow Paul's example and counsel. Remember that it was he who wrote, "We, for our part, preach a crucified Christ; to the Jews indeed a stumbling block and to the Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men" (1 Cor 1:23-25).Here's another verse to remember: "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with pretentious speech or wisdom, announcing unto you the witness to Christ. For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (1 Cor 2:1-2).You seem to forget the many examples of Catholic art in which Jesus is depicted as a lamb, an infant in his mother's arms, a vibrant man engaged in his public ministry, a shepherd, and as the triumphant risen Lord. All of the aspects of Christ's life are represented in Catholic art, but none more than the Crucifixion. Why? Because that was the goal, the focal point, of Jesus' Incarnation.

All Hallow's Eve.

Happy All Saints Day and happy All Souls Day!" this coming Sunday Oct 31, 2010 All Hallow's Eve.

If some Protestants think that Halloween is satanic, then I understand their retreat to church parties. However, many Catholics are also beginning to retreat from Halloween.

Like Protestants, some have church parties. Others simply close their blinds and watch videos in a back room come All Hallow’s Eve. Because of what’s going on in the streets, I don’t entirely blame them. Yet, if Christmas Eve had somehow become a celebration of death, would Christians retreat to a back room and watch videos? I hope not.So why should we, good Catholics, flee from this day? We should not. We should take back our "holy" Halloween.

One of the first things I would encourage is to get yourself and your children clean and, when possible, holy costumes.

During the medieval times - on All Soul’s Day custom of beggars knocking on doors for "soul cakes" in exchange for prayers for the household’s deceased. So, when your Children go for treating they must say the following: "Thank you for the treat and that our family and I will be praying for you and the souls of your dearly departed loved ones during the month of November. Happy All Saints Day and happy All Souls Day!"

I hope your Halloweens truly becomes joyful and holy events with the month of November which is dedicated to special prayer, not just for our own loved ones, but also for the souls of all our neighbors and their dearly departed. The Church has always evangelized, in part, through the celebration of feasts. By taking back Halloween we can introduce our children to evangelization and begin to respond to our Holy Father’s call to re-evangelize the West.

The Fathers of the Church

Dear Friends, as I have recently started the book by Mike Aquilina a renowned Catholic writer on "The Fathers of the Church" My goal is to unravel the mysteries and shed some light about the Fathers of the Church. In order to know the Catholic Church from the outside looking in - one must understand the history and lineage.


So, in this blog I will be writing about the how it started and who were the Fathers of the Church. These Father had direct link to the Apostles; they were friends, teachers and students. As the church Doctor Luke the Evangelist writes: in Acts 4:32


"Now the COMPANY of those who believe were of one heart and soul" - Act 4:32.


The whole concerns of the Fathers of the early Church was to preserve the unity and integrity of the "COMPANY of those who believed,".


World’s libraries are filled with books that tell the story about the first Christian centuries as succession of creeds, councils, persecutions and heresies. At each up- rise the Fathers of that family strove to keep their household together and gave their lives protecting the family from danger.


Fathers were a selected group of early Christians that are long revered by the Catholic Church, Orthodox Churches and other churches because of their doctrinal authority.


This Age of the Fathers is also known as the Patristic Era which dates back from middle of first century to the eighth, concluding at the death of St. John of Damascus. As stated before early Church Fathers were disciples of the Apostles and their witness is invaluable because they were the nearest to the Apostles, who in turn were nearest to Jesus Christ.


During the Patristic Era was the extraordinary time where expression and Christian doctrine was developed.


In the New Testament one can clearly see how the Apostles addressed themselves as Fathers.


St. Paul reminds the Christians of Corinth that he was their "father in Christ Jesus" (1 Cor 4:15)

St. John greets his flock as "my children" (3 Jn 4) and "my little children" (1 Jn 2:1).

St. Peter explicitly referred to Christians of his own generation as "the fathers" (2 Pt 3:4).


The custom of calling bishops "Father" was passed on from the Apostles generation. The word "pope" derives from Latin and Greek word means "father".


St. Irenaeus of Lyons at the end of the second century speaks of the "Fathers" not only to the Apostles and Apostolic Fathers, but also to the patriarchs and prophets of ancient Israel.

St. Clement of Rome in his writing shows his pedigree from two Apostles, Sts. Peter and Paul.

St. Polycarp of Smyrna who in turn had learned from St. John the Apostle and the list goes on.

As I unravel this book, my goal is to take you through this journey which will give you concrete evidence of the history of the Fathers and Church.

Reference: The Fathers of the Church - An introduction to the First Christian Teachers by Mike Aquilian.

Mormonism - church of the Latter Day Saints

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today I wanted to introduce you to a religion that is peculiarly American. Branded in America and delivered to your doorstep every weekend by a pair of "Elders" dressed conservatively usually in the crisp white shirts, black trousers and ties. Well, without any further suspense let me introduce you the distinctive belief of the Mormon Church or the Latter Day Saints.

Recently I heard on Catholic radio that a priest was asked if he belong to the Church of the Latter Day Saints and in his humble reply stated he belonged to the Church of Present day sinners. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

1. Question: Are Mormon's Protestants? And the answer is "NO". However, their founder Joseph Smith actually came from Protestant background. They are no closer to Protestantism than they are to Catholicism

2. Mormons try to attract new members based on the wholesome family image that they portray. Their public image of large, happy families and marriage bring to mind "Polygamy". Even though most Mormons don't practice "Polygamy" it is permitted by their faith. Very similar in nature to Islam doctrine, in terms of the number of permissible marriages.

3. Mormon’s believed that Christ also established his Church in the Americas, after the failure of GOD’s plan i.e. his original Church efforts in Palestine. So, are they eluding that Christ our Lord and his Father GOD had an imperfect plan for mankind? See bullet point 8 and it will make more sense as to what perception they have regarding GOD and his progression to Father-hood.

4. They also believe in continuing revelation according to their ninth article of faith - "We believe all that God has revealed all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things." If compared to the Catholic Christian faith, that public and general revelation ended at the death of the last Apostle, but private revelations can be given importance still and have been as Marian apparitions at places such as Fatima and Lourdes.

5. Mormonism borrowed majority of their doctrine from Puritanism. So, they avoid alcohol, tobacco, tea and caffeine. If we reference the Bible, it clearly shows in John 2:1-11 - Lord clearly approved of the practice of wine drinking since he made wine from water when the wine was depleted at Cana – “The Wedding”.

6. Proverb 31:6-7 "Give strong drink to him who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress; let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more". So, the Bible tells you clearly that you can use wine in moderate consumption (see condemns excessive drinking - 1 Cor. 5:11; Gal, 5:21; Eph. 5:18: 1 Pet. 4:3). Often when founders of new religions get an idea, they take it to an extreme. So Joseph Smith confused that misuse of wine with its legitimate use.

7. “When the Mormon church leaders such as Gordon B. Hinckley refer to the “evils of alcohol”, he gets it completely wrong. Alcohol itself is not evil, but the misuse of it” (Catholic.com).

8. Also, Mormon’s believe in three heavens and also teach that practically no one is forever damned to hell, aside from Satan and his followers. Their three heavens can be described as lowest**, middle and top heaven**. Lowest will populate all of the adulterers, murderers, thieves, liars and other evil-doers. Middle heaven will possess souls and bodies of good non-Mormons and those Mormons who were in some way deficient in their obedience to Mormon church commandments. Lastly the top heaven is reserved for devout Mormons, who GO ON TO BECOME GODS AND RULERS OF THEIR OWN UNIVERSE. “By having their wives and children “sealed” to them during an earthly, temple ceremony, these men-gods will procreate billions of spirits and place them into future, physical bodies. (Catholic.com). **One must also clearly understand that the Lord has said in the scriptures no unclean thing (persons) can enter the kingdom of heaven. So, the concept of lowest heaven is out of the question.

9. This new generation of spirits or future children will then worship their father-gods, obeying Mormon commandments, and eventually take their place in eternal progression to their own godhood.

I hope this helps; unlocking some of the mysteries behind the Mormon faith. Walk with GOD and follow his commandments and stay blessed. Amen. In the Name of the FATHER, his son and the HOLY SPIRIT that precedes from the FATHER. Amen.

Reference: http://www.catholic.com/ (Distinctive Belief of the Mormon church)

CATHOLIC MASS A JUMBLE OF MEDIEVAL SUPERSITITIONS

Is the Catholic Mass a Jumble of Medieval Superstitions or true remembrance of Jesus Christ's Sacrifice on Calvary? Many non-Catholics and sadly many fallen away Catholics do not understand the Mass. If we look at the Last Supper the night our Lord was betrayed, Jesus instituted the Eucharistic. The Sacrifice of his Body and Blood, soul and divinity.

"And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me’" (Luke 22:19).

Gospel passages in Greek (Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22) reads: Touto estin to soma mou and in Paul’s version Touto mou estin to soma (1 Cor. 11:24). These both translate as "This is my body."

He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the centuries until he should come again, and so to entrust to his beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of his death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed." (Sacrosanctum Concilium 47).

Here is where the problem occurs, many non Catholics insist that Christ says, "This is my body," he is speaking figuratively. However, if we look at Paul's discussion in Corinthians 11:23-29 and John 6, the chapter where the Eucharist is promised. The Greek if translated into English for 'body" in John 6:54 is "SARX", which means physical flesh, and the word for "eats" (trogon) translates as "gnawing" or "chewing." There are many non-Catholics who also believe that the word "is" is used because Aramaic, the language Christ spoke, had no word for "represents." However, this claim does not hold much solid ground as it a century ago, Aramaic had about three dozen words that can mean "represents."

The Catholic Church does not teach that the Mass is a re-crucifixion of Christ, and Christ does not suffer and die again in the Mass. Yet, it is more than just a memorial service. Jesus Christ really shed his blood once on the cross. In a Catholic Mass no real shedding of blood, no real death occurs. But, the consecration of the bread and wine are symbolic of body and blood of Christ, thus symbolizes his death upon the cross.

The Catholic Church specifically says Christ does not die again—his death is once for all. It would be something else if the Church were to claim he does die again, but it doesn’t make that claim. Through the Catholic Mass, Jesus continues to offer himself to his Father as a living sacrifice, and he does so in what the Church specifically states is "an unbloody manner"—one that does not involve a new crucifixion. Catholic.com.

If you look in the Old Testament the prediction of Christ being the true sacrifice to GOD using the elements of bread and wine. In Genesis 14:18, Melchizedek, the king of Salem (that is, Jerusalem) and a priest, offered sacrifice under the form of bread and wine. Psalm 110 predicted Christ would be a priest "after the order of Melchizedek," that is, offering a sacrifice in bread and wine. We must look for some sacrifice other than Calvary, since it was not under the form of bread and wine. The Mass meets that need.

"Furthermore, "according to the order of Mel-chizedek" means "in the manner of Melchizedek." ("Order" does not refer to a religious order, as there was no such thing in Old Testament days.) The only "manner" shown by Melchizedek was the use of bread and wine. A priest sacrifices the items offered—that is the main task of all priests, in all cultures, at all times—so the bread and wine must have been what Melchizedek sacrificed" Catholic.com

"Do this in remembrance of me" can also be translated as "Offer this as my memorial sacrifice." The Greek term for "remembrance" is anamnesis, and every time it occurs in the Protestant Bible (whether in the New Testament or the Greek Old Testament), it occurs in a sacrificial context. For example, it appears in the Greek translation of Numbers 10:10: "On the day of your gladness also, and at your appointed feasts, and at the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; they shall serve you for remembrance [anamnesis] before your God: I am the Lord your God." Thus the Eucharist is a remembrance, a memorial offering we present to God to plead the merits of Christ on the cross" Catholic.com

Hope this helps and shed's light to the true meaning of Catholic Mass and clears up any misconception that most non-Catholics assume that a Catholic Mass is a Jumble of Medieval Superstitions. The Mass is the renewal and perpetuation of the sacrifice of the cross in the sense that it offers [Jesus] anew to God . . . and thus commemorates the sacrifice of the cross, reenacts it symbolically and mystically, and applies the fruits of Christ’s death upon the cross to individual human souls. All the efficacy of the Mass is derived, therefore, from the sacrifice of Calvary" (306).

Reference material: http://www.catholic.com/library/Institution_of_the_Mass.asp

NIHIL OBSTAT: I have concluded that the materials presented in this work are free of doctrinal or moral errors. Bernadeane Carr, STL, Censor Librorum, August 10, 2004

IMPRIMATUR: In accord with 1983 CIC 827permission to publish this work is hereby granted. +Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego, August 10, 2004

What is the purpose of us being on earth?

Dear Friends in Christ - The answer to our purpose in life or in other words the true purpose of mankind's existences is to learn to "LOVE" the creator with all our heart and mind.

GOD'S ultimate plan for mankind is similar to a potter who molds clay and forms it's shape into a vessel. That molded clay vessel starts of wet and then is baked at high intensity of heat and becomes solid, though it may have slight imperfection but becomes the potters delight and he shows off his creation to the world. In the similar fashion our Father in Heaven expects from us to become hard as a baked clay in his love for him.

We cannot take his LOVE for granted. Adam and Eve who he loved and made them in his own image; sinned and there disobedience to GOD created an imbalance in GOD's plan. GOD wants perfection from us, he wants to be loved as he love us. As our first parents took and ate the forbidden fruit in the garden of Eden. We his creation must avoid and learn from our parents mistake that we do not take part and eat the fruit of disobedience this world offers in the form of lust, adultery, murder, thief, fornication, disobedience to our earthly parents and the list goes on.

We must forgo of the temptations of this world and become strong in our love for GOD. Satan, the fallen Angel who was a murder and a liar from the beginning wants for you to become of this world, he tempts you at every corner and wants total submission to him.

But, my Friends we must think twice and listen to our conscience when tempted; that "DO WE LOVE GOD". For example think of the person that you love the most in this world maybe your wife, your child or parents and you do not want to hurt them by doing wrong towards them. In the similar fashion when you sin you hurt the creator who with his Love created and made you for his delight.

Jesus asks you as he asked Peter three times "Do you love me", Do you love me - Do you love me - Peter. So, my brothers and sisters in Christ. LOVE GOD the Almight with all your heart your soul and your mind. Our Father is asking us "DO WE LOVE HIM" and the answer should be YES - YES and YES!!!.

Amen, be blessed in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. May your love burn for the Almighty forever and ever. AMEN.