(Choose your School or teachers wisely) “But what, Quintus Propertius, sir,” says the old bearded fellow, wringing his hands as he tugs at the reins of the centurion’s horse, “do you have to offer us, the defeated peoples of Iberia? Let us reason this out, we and you, together. Is it right by the gods that you should impose your laws upon us at the point of a sword? What have we done to you to warrant it?” “You have lost,” says the centurion. “I’m a soldier, not a philosopher. You’re an old man, not a soldier. And if you …
Author: Manuel Xavier
Some Reasons Why Women Can’t be Priests
Swedish Lutheran ‘bishops’ Antje Jackelén (L) and Eva Nordung Byström (Magnus Aronson/IKON, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons) “Only a baptized man validly receives sacred ordination. … The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.” Angelo Stagnaro The main problem with illicit ordinations is that they destroy the Church’s unity by creating a competing authority structure. This is not in keeping with the Scriptural admonition: Christ is like a single body, which has many parts; it is still one body, even though it …
Shooting the Orthodox Catholic Messenger
Shooting the Orthodox Catholic Messenger Fr. Timothy V. Vaverek The renowned philosopher Josef Seifert issued a cri de coeur last month expressing grave concern that if Amoris Laetitia n. 303 is taken literally (as some are in fact doing), this could destroy Christian morality by suggesting that God can command immoral acts. Despite the professor’s acknowledged expertise and dedicated ecclesial service, the Archbishop of Granada, Javier Martínez Fernández, immediately accused him of damaging the communion of the Church and announced Seifert’s “resignation” from a philosophical institute associated with the archdiocese. Shooting the messenger, however, is not a solution …
Shroud of Turin
Robert J. Spitzer SJ is a Jesuit priest, philosopher, educator, author, speaker, and retired President of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. Spitzer is founder and currently active as President of the Magis Center of Reason and Faith, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing educational materials on the complementarity of science, philosophy, and faith. He is President of the Spitzer Center of Ethical Leadership, dedicated to helping Catholic and for-profit organizations develop leadership, constructive cultures, and virtue ethics. Introduction The Shroud of Turin is a burial shroud (a linen cloth woven in a 3-over 1 herringbone pattern) measuring 14 ft. 3 …
Sacramentals
Sacramentals are sacred signs which in a sense imitate the sacraments. They signify certain effects, especially spiritual ones, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. They prepare the faithful to receive the fruit of the sacraments and sanctify various circumstances of life. Sacramentals may consist of material things or actions. Among the sacramentals, blessings occupy an important place. They include both praise of God for His works and gifts, and the Church’s intercession for men, that they may be able to use God’s gifts according to the spirit of the Gospel. Some other sacramentals are: the Sign of …
Regina Coeli
Regina Coeli Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia. / For He whom you did merit to bear, alleluia. Has risen, as he said, alleluia. / Pray for us to God, alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia. / For the Lord has truly risen, alleluia. Let us pray. O God, who gave joy to the world through the resurrection of Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, grant we beseech Thee, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, His Mother, we may obtain the joys of everlasting life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Questions on the Legion of Mary
How do I start a Legion of Mary group in my parish? Each praesidium must, either directly or through an approved council, be affiliated to the Concilium Legionis. Permission to start a new praesidium must first be formally obtained from a Curia or the next-highest council, or in the ultimate resort, from the Concilium Legionis. Otherwise there is no Legion membership. No praesidium shall be established in any parish without the consent of the parish priest or of the Ordinary. In places where the Legion already exists, the effort should be made to provide the officers and a fair proportion …
Prudence
Prudence In February of 1522 Ignatius Loyola was travelling to the shrine of Monserrat when a Moor rode up to him. The two men then rode together. As they were discussing about the Blessed Virgin the Moor said he could not believe she remained a virgin after giving birth to a child. Ignatius insisted she did and as they argued over this point, Ignatius grew increasingly agitated. As their conversation deteriorated the Moor decided to press on ahead, and Ignatius soon lost sight of him. As he reflected on the conversation his temper remained fever pitch to a point he …
Preach the Truth by Fr. Weinandy
Priest Dismissed by US Bishops Keeps Speaking the Truth In recent essay, Fr. Weinandy claims the Church is betraying her own identity A Franciscan priest dismissed by the U.S. bishops for his orthodoxy remains undeterred from his calling to preach the Truth. Father Thomas Weinandy, in an academic essay shared online this week, expressed his concerns about the state of affairs in the Church today: Granted, the post-Vatican II Church was rife with divisions — disputes over doctrine, morals and the liturgy. These disagreements continue still. However, at no time during the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI was …
Prayer to the Holy Face
O Blessed Face of my kind Savior, by the tender love and piercing sorrow of Our Lady as she beheld You in Your Cruel Passion, grant us to share in this intense sorrow and love so as to fulfill the holy will of God to the utmost of our ability. Amen