In Defense of the Family Part Three - Marriage preparation and annulments

MARRIAGE PREPARATION:

Many will say that in this day of social revolution that it is not being realistic to point to the pre-marital preparation class with a priest to be that important. But it is probably the most important thing a couple can go through to prepare themselves to enter into a lifelong commitment with each other. It does not just involve them but the children that will come into the world as a result of their union. There is one thing that is more important and that is the quality of the union of their parents and the stability of the home in which they were raised. These two elements together; the family and the home they each come from and the preparation for marriage given them by the Catholic Church.

ANNULMENTS:

In defense of life - Part one -A- Abortion - Contraception and Contraceptive Sterilization

 What follows is a dictionary definition of "abortion" and "contraception". The dictionary, The Modern Catholic Dictionary authored by Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J. Among his collaborators were seven priests and three nuns. It carries the Imprimi Potest, Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur. Father Hardon has among other degrees a doctorate in theology from the Gregorian University in Rome. He was a professor in the Institute for Advanced Studies in Catholic Doctrine at St. John's University, New York.

Defense of the family - Part two

We said in part one that the six points would be reverted to later. They are listed below.


The first paragraph dealt with the Holy Father and the Bishops that were in union with him who form the Magisterium of the Church. However Paragraph twenty five of Lumen Gentium states clearly and emphatically that when the Holy Father proclaims on faith and morals he is teaching infallibly.

In defense of the family-Part one

The Catholic faith has been, and is being redefined. We are witness to a breakdown in authority and obedience. "Whoever hears my words, says the Lord, and believes in him who sent me, has eternal life". Jn 5:24. The One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church is the person of Christ. Those baptized into Him by means of water and the Holy Spirit are members of His mystical body of which He is the head. The Kingdom of Heaven, the beatific vision, eternal life are names for that supernatural condition that the immortal soul of man will partake of as a reward for his cooperation with divine grace in this life on earth. He is body and soul. At the last judgment our body will be reunited with our soul forever either in heaven or in hell. Prov.24:12, Mt. 25:12,41. St. Paul says, "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard nor has it entered the mind of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him" 1 Cor 2:9

Come follow me!

This is the thirteenth Sunday of ordinary time. The theme of the scriptures today is a question for each of us to answer. What is my response to the command of the Lord to, “Follow me.”? We note that it is not an invitation but a command.

Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More

     Today I celebrated the morning Mass in memory of these two great Martyrs of the Church. In my homily I pointed out that they were victims of the heretical upheaval that started in Germany with Martin Luther. He was an Augustinian priest who led a revolt against the Pope in the early part of the sixteenth century. Our two Saints were Englishmen who lived under the reign of King Henry VIII. John Fisher was the Bishop of Rochester and Thomas More was the Kings Chancellor. Henry wanted to divorce his wife so he could marry Anne Boleyn. His petition to Rome was denied. Henry decided to revolt like Martin Luther. He took over the Church in England and made himself its head and thereby broke from the Holy See in Rome and from the Pope. He told the Bishops that they would now be taking orders from him. They all fell into line except for Bishop John Fisher who refused to renounce his loyalty to Christ and to the Holy Catholic Church. He was arrested and exiled to the Tower of London.

Father’s Day – Marriage

This is the twelfth Sunday of ordinary time in the church calendar and also Father’s day.

In the Scriptures the reference is made to God the Father, to our father in faith Abraham and to King David, ruler, shepherd and warrior.

Corpus Christi, Melchizedek

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Corpus Christi.

The first reading from Genesis and the 110th Psalm refer us to the King of Salem, Melchizedek. The second reading from 1COR and the Gospel from Luke speak of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. For our own benefit we should read St. Paul’s references to the King of Salem, Melchizedek and to Christ the high priest in Hebrews Chapters 5, 6, 7.

The Holy Trinity

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, three persons in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This mystery of religion is revealed to man by God Himself in the Holy Scriptures, in His Word.

Public concern for abandoned animals vs. public acceptance for partial birth abortion of children

     Harris County in Texas which includes the city of Houston supports, at tax payer expense, an office of  The Society for The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. There is a popular t.v. program based on the work of this worthy cause.  There are special officers who investigate complaints; squad cars and large trucks that transport dogs, cats, goats and horses from the places where they have been abused or abandoned by their owners to veteranarian clinics where evaluation and surgery can take place. There is no question that the animals need help in order to save their lives. The thing that stands out in these real life situations is the compassion and concern that is exhibited by all concerned. When the animals are fit once again they are put up for adoption where the focus is, "on finding them a loving home".

Pentecost and the Holy Spirit

Today the church celebrates the solemnity of Pentecost. Fifty days after Easter. In the Jewish calendar it was known as the feast of weeks. Fifty days after Passover. The Passover was the seminal event in the story of salvation history when the Jewish people were led out of four hundred years of slavery under Egyptian rule by Moses under the direction of Yahweh, God.

Ascension, Jesus is the Kingdom

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven. The first reading is from the very beginning of the Acts of the Apostles which was written by St. Luke and the Gospel is from the very end of the 3rd Testament written also by St. Luke, the last words of the 24th Chapter.

Humanae Vitae reference the clergy sexual scandals

     If we want to address the problem  of sexual abuse by clergy, we need to go back to the teachings of  "Humanae Vitae", says a Dutch Catholic psychotherapist. This is the opening sentence of the interview of Genevieve Pollock with Gerard van den Aardweg in Haarlem, Netherlands on April 28, 2010.  Mr. Gerard van den Aardweg has worked as a therapist for fifty years specializing in cases of homosexuality and marital problems. He has taught worldwide and written extensively on homosexuality and pedophilia, as well as the relation of these issues to other topics: same sex attraction in the priesthood, "Humanae Vitae", and the effects of gay parenting. The interview continues as follows.

3rd, 5th, 6th Commandments

This is the vigil mass for the fifth Sunday of Easter and it is also the world day of prayer for vocation.
This past week in 2007 saw the church in Dallas welcome and install her seventh bishop, the most Reverend Kevin Joseph Farrell. He was most recently an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. In his homily at the mass in the cathedral on Tuesday he welcomed everyone and thanked all those who had planned and taken part in the ceremony. He said that many had asked him what plans and new programs did he have in mind. His answer was none. His only plan was the mandate given by Christ to his apostles to preach the Gospel to love God and our neighbor and to know the will of God which is our sanctification and our salvation if we will abide in it.

Indifferentism

We are living in an age of indifferentism, in an era of cynicism toward God and religion.

In the book of Revelation or the Apocalypse, the author, St. John the Evangelist is commanded by God to write letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor. To the church in Laodicea he says: “I know thy works. Thou art neither cold nor hot. I would that thou were cold or hot, but because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to vomit thee out of my mouth.”

Third Sunday of Easter

Today is the third Sunday of Easter. The Lord is risen and the scriptures speak of the work to be done and that work is evangelization. The bringing of the Word of truth, which is Christ, to mankind, the apostles the first evangelists were fishermen. When Jesus first saw Peter and his brother Andrew as well as the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, they were fishing and the Lord said to them, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” The Gospel says, “ they left everything and followed Him.”

The "spirit of Vatican II" is a ghost that must be exorcised

     From the Ignatius Press Blog dated October 16, 2009 is an interview with His Excellency R. Walter Nickless of Sioux City, Iowa on the above topic. A topic that is identical with the purpose of this blog. Bishop Nickless states, "It is crucial that we  all grasp that the hermeneutic or interpretation of discontinuity or rupture, which many think is the settled and even official position, is not the true meaning of the Council. This interpretation sees the pre-conciliar and post-conciliar almost as two different churches. It sees the Second Vatican Council as a radical break with the past. There can be no split, however, between the Church and her faith before and after the Council. We must stop speaking of the "Pre-Vatican II" and post-Vatican II Church, and stop seeing various characteristics of the Church as "pre" and "post" Vatican II. Instead, we must evaluate them according to their intrinsic value and pastoral effectiveness in this day and age.

Faith, Love and Christ the Anointed

Today is the 4th Sunday of Ordinary Time. The beginning of the penitential season of Lent, Ash Wednesday is three and a half weeks away.

Father Paul Marx: Founder of Human Life International has died

    

     Father Paul Marx, the founder of Human Life International has died at the age of ninety.  He began his pro-life apostolate in 1972 at the time that the culture of death was gaining force. Wherever he went in the world his message always included this thought .      In every country, without fail,where there is widespread contraception there is widespread abortion". That is the message of this blog also. " Respect life in all areas". There are other articles in our archives that speak about this problem, a matter that is not heeded. Contraception is the fundamental reason  for abortion and for the weakening of the family.

Easter Sunday 2010

     Today is the solemnity of the Resurrection of the Lord, "He is risen he is not here', said the figure in white to Mary Magdalene as she entered the empty tomb." In the first reading from the acts of the Apostles it is Peter who gives us an account of the things that preceeded this day. In the second reading it is St. Paul who speaks to us. "Brothers and sisters, if then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth, for you have died , and your life is hidden with Christ, in God, when Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory".