The Season of Penance
Saint Ambrose, Bishop, and Doctor of the Church “Behold, now is the appointed time, in which you must confess your sins to God, and to the priest, and by prayer, and by fasting, by tears and by almsgiving, wipe them away. Why should a sinner make known his sins, since they are already known and […]
Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?
Fr. William P. Saunders, Ph.D Jesus said, “I solemnly assure you, no one can enter into God’s kingdom without being begotten of water and Spirit” (Jn 3:5). At the ascension, our Lord commanded the apostles, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them in the name ‘of the Father, and of the […]
Validity of Mass Using Grape Juice
Canon Law § 924 states: §1. The most holy Sacrifice of the Eucharistic must be offered in bread, and in wine in which a small quantity water is to be added. §2. The bread must be wheaten only, and recently made, so that there is no danger of corruption. §3. The wine must be natural, […]
Scriptural Basis for Belief in the Real Presence
Catholics must believe in mysteries. They must give intellectual assent without doubt to the existence of Three Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who own and communicate one divine nature. Moreover, of these Persons, the Son, the Second Person, became man by being born of a woman. . . . [This same Person, Jesus […]
Holy Eucharist on the Tongue or on the Hand?
©2022 Victor R. Claveau, MJ Since February 12, 1970, in Canada, and June 17, 1977, in the United States, North Americans have had the option of receiving the Holy Eucharist on the tongue or on the hand. This was allowed by a Vatican indult granted at the request of various conferences of bishops. Before approving […]
False and True Interpretation of the Lord’s Presence in the Eucharist
Fr. Peter Skarga THE FIRST HERESY concerning the Blessed Sacrament came through Berangarius who lived in the eleventh century. The later disciples of Berangarius, the Zwinglians, and Calvinists, were almost contemporaries of Luther. The three dissenters taught that Christ’s body was not present In the Holy Eucharist, but that this was merely a symbol of […]
Bringing Back Berengarius
(Denial of the Real Presence) Michael J. Mazza One of the most beautiful and powerful mysteries of our Catholic Faith is the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Long a source of fervent devotion for millions of followers of Christ, this crucial aspect of our Faith has come under attack in recent years. Yet […]
The Tabernacle: Out of Sight, Out of Mind!
The Sacraments Regis Scanlon, O.F.M. Cap. Many Catholics are familiar with the Gallup poll finding that only 30% of Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.1 There are, no doubt, various reasons for this failure in faith, from dissent in theology to poor teaching on the part of pastors and […]
The Seal of the Confessional
A priest is bound by the natural law, the divine law and the law of the Church to keep absolutely secret whatever he hears in Confession. Canon 983 §states, “The sacramental seal in inviolable; therefore, it is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a penitent by word or in any other […]
The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation in the Catechism of the Catholic Church
1440 Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason, conversion entails both God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.38 Only God forgives sin 1441 Only […]