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On Monday 23rd April, the friars were priveleged to attend a discussion between two Catholic Presidential Candidates, Sen. Chris Dodd and Sen. Sam Brownback, at Boston College’s Conte Forum. The discussion was moderated by Tim Russert & the questions revolved around the influence, or lack thereof, of Catholicism on the senators’ political stances. Following the exchange, Peter Wolfgang of the Family Institute of CT was fortunate enough to be able to interview Sen. Brownback.

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The goal of this next series of vlogs “The Six Steps to Catholicism” is to answer this Question: How does our reason point out the truth of the Catholic Church? For Catholics this series will be invaluable for strengthening your own faith and for leading others to the Church. For non-Catholics this series will be an examination of conscience : Does the religion I practice, or don’t practice, truly hold up to reason?

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The ascent of the 6 steps that leads to Catholicism begins with proving that God exists. Today we take a look at one of the arguments based on the motion and change that we see in the universe.

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No Apologies #33 – Historical Reliability of The Gospels ( 6min) >>> Play

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This week we return to our 6 steps to Catholicism. On the 4th step Fra Joseph continues to demonstrate that Christianity is the religion worthy of belief. He shows this by establishing that the sacred writers assigned to write the Gospel accounts were indeed the true sacred writers. Listen as we examine the historical reliability of The Gospels!
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Roving Reporter #53 – Dawn Eden tells her tale  ( 27min) >>> Play

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Dawn Eden author of “The Thrill of the Chaste” graciously gives the Roving Reporter an account of her journey from Judaism to Protestantism and then finally through the intercession of St. Maximilian Kolbe to Catholicism. And, of course, St. Maximilian led her to Our Blessed Virgin Mary who in turn gave her the inspiration for her book that teaches young adults and college students the importance of chastity. Listen to her amazing story.

Dawn Eden’s Blog: The Dawn Patrol

Her book: The Thrill of the Chaste

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No Apologies #119 – Type the Caption here ( 04min) >>> Play

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Sabellianism taught that the 3 Persons in the Trinity were not distinct persons but rather 3 different modes or offices that the 1 God appeared in. Knowledge of their error is helpful in dealing with those who believe that the Bible is the sole transmitter of the Deposit of Faith. Sabellius broke from Sacred Tradition and it was this that orthodox opponents used to combat him.

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Audio (MP3)

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The post Catholicism -VS- Protestantism – Debate – Penance first appeared on AirMaria.com.

In my last post I promised more on the Holy Sepulcher and the Holy Grail and their relation to an Easter catechesis and the tradition of chivalry. There is much there to reflect on, much to be researched and assimilated, so it will take at bit more time.

Meanwhile, however, I thought I would point out that in the Office of Readings this week we have been reading from the the Jerusalem Catechesis, or otherwise known as the Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem (+386).  The Catechesis consists in twenty-three lectures, the first eighteen of which were delivered to the candidates for baptism during Lent and the last five to the newly baptized during Easter, and is an excellent example of the mystogogia. In fact, at the end of the prologue for Lectures St. Cyril makes sure his readers understand that his instructions are only for those whose Baptism is imminent, and is to be seen neither by the other catechumens nor heathens.

St. Cyril admonishes the candidates for Baptism to shun all “secret hypocrisy,” in order to be fit for the Lord’s true service.   He compares the penetration of our souls by the judgment of God to a military review of recruits by one who levies for war.  He bestows his seal only upon those in whom He discerns a good conscience, in view of which the devils tremble and the holy angels recognize.  St. Cyril says:  ”You are receiving not a perishable but a spiritual shield. Henceforth you are planted in the invisible Paradise . . .  it is God’s to grant grace, but yours to receive and guard it. Despise not the grace because it is freely given, but receive and treasure it devoutly” (Lecture 1, 3-4).  This is even before Baptism, hence prior to the mystagogia, but the saint is already admonishing the new recruits to be prepared for war and especially to to protect the paradise of their own souls.

During the mystogogia proper, when St. Cyril discusses the doctrine of the Eucharist:

Consider therefore the Bread and the Wine not as bare elements, for they are, according to the Lord’s declaration, the Body and Blood of Christ; for even though sense suggests this to you, yet let faith establish you. Judge not the matter from the taste, but from faith be fully assured without misgiving, that the Body and Blood of Christ have been vouchsafed to you (Lecture 22, 6).

But he goes beyond the content of the doctrine and emphasizes to the newly baptized that the Eucharist has been prepared for those who have been anointed by the Lord, and thus they have been sealed against the afflictions of the evil spirits.  The Lord has set a “mystical and spiritual Table,” in opposition to table of corruption set against us by the enemy. Our hearts have been strengthened, he say,s and the “face of our souls” made to shine.

And your cup intoxicates me, as very strong. You see that cup here spoken of, which Jesus took in His hands, and gave thanks, and said, This is My blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Lecture 22, 6-7, 9).

This is the Holy Grail that we seek.  At the beginning of the mystogogia proper, St. Cyril speaks of the relation between the catechesis prior to baptism and that that is about to take place:

And these things were done in the outer chamber. But if God will, when in the succeeding lectures on the Mysteries we have entered into the Holy of Holies , we shall there know the symbolic meaning of the things which are there performed. Now to God the Father, with the Son and the Holy Ghost, be glory, and power, and majesty, forever and ever. Amen (Lecture 19, 11).

We are not only searching, but we have already arrived.  We are in an in-between time, indeed.

The Easter octave is about to come to a close with the celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday.  At that Mass we will pray:

O Lord our God, may we be healed now and forever by these sacred rites which You instituted to protect us in our new life of grace.

We have entered into the Holy of Holies, and that sanctuary is the Heart of Christ, whose mercy and grace is poured out as blood and water from His side.  We are healed and protected in Him, and in the Heart of His Holy Mother.  The true knighthood of Christ is the protection of these mysteries, first of all within our own Hearts.  That ultimately is the meaning of the crusade for the Holy Sepulcher and the Quest for the Holy Grail.  More on this next time.

Filed under: Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholicism, Chivalry, Culture, Knaves, Knights, Literature, Marian Chivalry, Prayers, Religion, Spirituality Tagged: Baptism, Easter, Easter Triduum, Eucharist, Holy Grail, Holy of Holies, Holy Sepulcher, Holy Week, Jerusalem Catechesis, Mystagogia, St. Cyril
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The Holy Father has been taking a beating lately on behalf of his sinful sons in the priesthood.  “The pope will have much to suffer,” Our Lady told the children at Fatima.  This has been realized in every pope since the time of the apparitions, but we wonder if Our Lady had these days and this pope particularly in mind.

None of us should be particularly surprised or even disturbed by the assaults of the enemies of the Church.  This is nothing new or unexpected.  For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in the dry? Our Lord said on the day he died (Lk23:31).  History has played itself out, just as he predicted.

It is the height of hypocrisy for secularists to act horrified by unnatural vice within the Church when they are its biggest advocates.  But it is even worse for a wolf to cloth himself in the robes of a shepherd.  We have put the rope in our enemies’ hands.

En route to Portugal on Tuesday, Benedict was asked if the suffering of John Paul contained in Fatima’s third secret could be extended to encompass the suffering of the church today concerning the clerical abuse scandal.

Benedict affirmed it could, arguing that the Fatima message doesn’t respond to a particular situation or time but offers a “fundamental response” to the constant need for penance and prayer.

“In terms of what we today can discover in this message, attacks against the pope or the church don’t come just from outside the church,” he told reporters. “The suffering of the church also comes from within the church, because sin exists in the church. This, too, has always been known, but today we see it in a really terrifying way.”

The evil within the Church is especially terrifying because it has not done more to restore our militancy.  Where has been the outrage?  Why did the Church not protect the innocent once pastors knew what was happening?  Leon Podles has written on the subject of anger and the sex scandal.  Katie van Schaijik at The Linde has an interesting commentary on Podles’ article.

The ethics of chivalry originally arose out of the need to moderate the ferociousness of masculine aggressiveness.  Today it needs to be restored in order to validate masculine authority and the role of fathers.  This is not to say that the moderation of chivalry is not necessary today.  Militancy and Chivalry are not necessarily identical and there are many divisions within the Church that exist because of arrogance and a lack of charity.  But child molestation is a no-brainer.

The way of Chivarly is the hard road.  It admits of no extremes and makes demands on all sides.  No rest for the weary.  No convalescing for the wounded.  On your feet and fight.  On your feet and tend to the needy.

Here is an interesting take on the culture of Twitter which is appropriate to this subject.  Fight the good fight, with the emphasis on good.

Filed under: Blessed Virgin Mary, Catholic, Catholic Action, Catholic Church, Catholicism, Chivalry, Culture, Knights, Manliness, Religion, Spirituality Tagged: Benedict XVI, Fatima, Katie van Schaijik, Leon Podles, The Linde
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Br. Anthony Josemaria a member of our Third Order has published an article in Homiletic and Pastoral Review on the tragic Catholic holocaust that occurred in Nagasaki when the Bomb dropped. Great article Br. Anthony!

The Catholic Holocaust of Nagasaki—“Why, Lord?”

The witness of the Catholics
of Nagasaki shows
God’s providence in the darkest of times.

By Brother Anthony Josemaria

On August 9, 1945, God’s inscrutable providence allowed an atomic bomb named “Fat Man” to be dropped from a B-29 into the heavily populated city of Nagasaki. The epicenter of the blast was the Urakami district, the heart and soul of Catholicism in Japan since the sixteenth century. My purpose in this article is to share an insight into God’s purpose in allowing this horrible event, a discovery made from reading (the recent Ignatius Press reprint of) Fr. Paul Glynn’s marvelous book A Song for Nagasaki. The book is subtitled, The Story of Takashi Nagai: Scientist, Convert, and Survivor of the Atomic Bomb.1

via The Catholic Holocaust of Nagasaki—“Why, Lord?”.

Also mentioned on Insight Scoop and New Advent.

The post FiNews – Br. Anthony Josemaria FTI Publishes in Homiletic and Pastoral Review first appeared on AirMaria.com.