CATHOLIC UPDATES

From the earlier post( Understanding The Holy Eucharist.) , we saw that the Holy Communion which we receive in the Mass is truly and wholly the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our saviour. So many are yet to believe this. Of course it is a mystery and therefore you can't comprehend it. Do well to understand the little arithmetic you do in the classroom before you bother to comprehend God's greatness and mysterious nature.

Every Lent, Holy Mother, The Church advocates certain pious practices that her children should perform to satisfy their requirements to do penance, to pray, to perform good works, to make reparation for their sins, and to further the apostolic work of the Church—all at an extra level. Our Lord tells us, as recorded in Scripture, “Unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise perish.” ( 13:3). And St. John the Baptist announced the coming of the Saviour with the ominous admonition, “Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ( Luke Matt. 3:2). With regard to prayer, St. Paul tells us to “Pray without ceasing.” ( 1 Thess. 5:17).

The Scapular devotion dates from the time of the prophet Elias  (Third  Book  of  Kings).  The  people  were  then  adoring Baal  (the  devil).  To  bring  the  people  back  to  God,  Elias prayed for a drought, which the people would understand as a sign of Divine displeasure. After  it  did  not  rain  for  three  and  a  half  years,  Elias  went up to Mount Carmel (in Palestine) and asked God to send rain.  After  praying  for  a  time,  he  sent  his  companion  to  see  if rain  was  coming.

Like the people of Israel freed from the bondage of slavery, Christians are called to experience the path toward hope and new life during the Lenten season, Pope Francis said.

The Holy Spirit the comforter showers us with seven special gifts. Despite the benevolence of God, these special gifts are given to those who acknowledge God as God; those who come in humility and meekness to him the creator and comforter. It is wisdom itself to seek God first and the Holy spirit will give you all you need to pull through the hurdles of life. 1.WISDOM: Helps us to see that the world is only a temporary place for us, that Heaven is our true home. It helps us to set our hearts on the things that really count in life, such as God, virtue, and prayer.

The word 'Epiphany' means 'manifestation'. This is the feast of God’s showing His Son to the world. One week after Epiphany we will celebrate another manifestation: when our Lord was baptized by St. John the Baptist, and God the Father spoke from Heaven, identifying Him.

There are marriages, which in the light of faith, are irregular. They may be called marriages by the civil or traditional society but the Catholic Church regards them as irregular. They include: polygamy, premarital cohabitation and pregnancy, remarriage after divorce, traditional or civil marriage without the sacrament of Matrimony, union between a Catholic and a non Catholic without the appropriate dispensation or permission, women marrying women and men marrying men. They are irregular from thier very foundation or processes.