Having pondered the gifts of fear of the Lord, piety, and knowledge, we proceed to the gifts of understanding and wisdom. Please remember that the quoted definitions are from Father Jordan Aumann’s Spiritual Theology. Understanding is a gift “to give … Continued
Having reflected on the gifts of fear of the Lord and of piety, we move onto the gift of knowledge. Remember the foundation: The gift of fear of the Lord moves a person to have a profound reverence for God; to remember his creatureliness … Continued
In the last issue, Straight Answers reflected on the gift of the Holy Spirit identified as fear of the Lord. Recall that fear of the Lord is a profound reverence for Almighty God, which motivates us to avoid sin and attachment to … Continued
In a previous article, we introduced the gifts of the Holy Spirit, which are first imparted at baptism and then fully given at confirmation. We must not underestimate these gifts. Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The moral life of Christians … Continued
As a pastor, I fear that many people, no matter their ages, who have received the sacrament of confirmation know that they have received the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but never really appreciate them, or we … Continued
As Catholics, we are accustomed to having religious objects “blessed,” which signifies the permanent sanctification and dedication of an object for some sacred purpose. I think every weekend someone asks me as well as the other priests to bless a … Continued
Pope (now St.) John Paul II should definitely be credited with helping bring about the demise of the Soviet Union. Historian Paul Johnson said, “Reagan, Thatcher and John Paul II were the trio who destroyed Soviet communism and its evil … Continued
Rather than just provide a simple answer, we should begin by briefly reflecting on the mystery of the Holy Mass. At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the precious gift of the Holy Eucharist. His words and actions were indeed sacrificial: … Continued
The simple answer is that we do not have any record of St. Joseph’s age when he was betrothed to our Blessed Mother Mary and when Christ was born. Indeed, the portrayal of St. Joseph also is conflicting. For example, … Continued
While we are familiar with Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent, we should also remember “Shrovetide,” the preceding week. Shrovetide is the English equivalent for “carnivale,” which is derived from the Latin words carnem levare, meaning “to take away the … Continued
Indeed, at the closing Mass for the Year of Faith (Nov. 24, 2013), Pope Francis venerated the relics of St. Peter and displayed them for public veneration during the singing of the Nicene Creed. Here was a great gesture of … Continued
Candlemas Day is another name for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Forty days after His birth, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple for the rites of purification and dedication as prescribed by the Torah. According … Continued
The simple answer: No, IHS is not an acronym for “I have suffered.” Rather, IHS is a Christogram — a combination of letters that represent the holy name “Jesus.” Early scribes would abbreviate the sacred names of Jesus by using … Continued
How wonderful it would be if Our Lord had been born in the age of information technology or even when the public records office issued birth certificates. Alas, the Gospels do not provide such information. Nevertheless, some scriptural detective work … Continued
Avoiding the commercialization of Christmas is a real challenge. For Catholics, the liturgical season of Advent helps us focus on the spiritual preparation for Christmas and on the coming of Our Lord. (Advent comes from the Latin adventus, meaning “coming.”) … Continued
The practice of offering the holy Mass for the repose of the soul of the deceased originates in the early church. The catechism teaches, “From the beginning the church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in … Continued
These names refer to categories of angels, those pure spirits who adore God and serve as His messengers. Since the fourth century, nine choirs or types of angels were identified in the Bible and popularized in the Middle Ages by … Continued
Given the principles for declaring war or taking military intervention, ius ad bellum, a country must meet the following criteria in waging war, ius in bello: 1) Discrimination. Armed forces ought to fight armed forces, and should strive not to harm noncombatants … Continued
Just-war theory is complicated, but we can highlight the principles as well as some issues pertaining to the current situation in Syria. For a more detailed explanation of just-war theory, consult previous Straight Answers. All Catholics need to understand church … Continued
The moral teaching regarding the use of chemical weapons or any weapon of mass destruction is governed by the principle of discrimination in just-war theory. Succinctly, the principle of discrimination means that armed forces ought to fight armed forces, and … Continued