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Spirituality

Can We Avoid Sin if We Lived in a Perfect World?

What would it be like in a world that has been accustomed to darkness?

In that perfect day when God establishes a new heaven and a new earth, we’d realize how a perfect world can truly exist.

For now, we must pray for the kind of faith that endures all our trials, the kind of hope that can save us over despair, and the kind of love that would triumph over every evil.

“Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another… fervent in spirit, serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope, enduring in troubles, continuing steadfastly in prayer…” — Romans 12:9–12, WEBBE

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Spirituality

What Are Some Proofs That Science Can Co-exist With Religion?

Since science made much progress in our world, it has questioned the things that science is not able to answer for itself. It only believes what it can explain by its methods. Whenever something is beyond its comprehension or power to measure, it casts its doubt as though nothing else could ever be true.

This does not mean that science directly contradicts faith. If we uncover the noblest purposes of science, we’d realize that it seeks the truth also.

Truth is the underlying principle that should govern science and reason.

But science, just like any field of discipline, can be influenced by the various motivations of the men behind it. While there can be men who sincerely seek the truth, there can also be those who refuse to see it.

Hence, the common view that science and religion cannot co-exist with each other.

But if we take a look at the official stand of the Church, it isn’t opposed to science. It even uses reason to support many of its claims to truth.

Here is what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says:

So “that the submission of our faith might nevertheless be in accordance with reason, God willed that external proofs of his Revelation should be joined to the internal helps of the Holy Spirit.” Thus the miracles of Christ and the saints, prophecies, the Church’s growth and holiness, and her fruitfulness and stability “are the most certain signs of divine Revelation, adapted to the intelligence of all”; they are “motives of credibility” (motiva credibilitatis), which show that the assent of faith is “by no means a blind impulse of the mind”. (CCC 156)

The Church says that faith need not be blind. It should not be the same as believing in superstition.

But there are things that even science cannot explain. And this doesn’t mean that some things aren’t true just because they cannot be explained.

These signs are what we often call as miracles. A common example is a miraculous healing that is “medically inexplicable.” In Lourdes alone, where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in 1858 to St. Bernadette, there are 70 cases of healing that are “medically inexplicable”.

In this way, God provides “signs and wonders” to prove His Revelation. And science works hand in hand by proving what it can and cannot explain.

Even during the time of Jesus with the apostles, He provided the people with various signs and wonders through His miracles. He healed the sick, multiplied bread and raised the dead. He did all those things that could help the people understand who He is and what He could do.

Unfortunately, not everyone chose to believe even with all the evidence they saw before their eyes.

They did not doubt because of the absence of any proof. But because they chose to set aside what they saw.

Even today, various miracles are taking place. Many are recorded in the lives of saints. They can be verified through historical and medical records. There are eyewitnesses that can attest to the miracles that they have witnessed.

The only thing that is needed is the acceptance of these proofs. Once we are given all the evidence that we need, how would we react? Would we choose to believe? Or would we turn our eyes away so we could remain blind?

“So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.” — Mark 16:19–20, WEBBE

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Spirituality

What Is Truth Like?

What is truth likeThe truth is like the sun shining brightly above us. But some see its light only through mists and clouds, while others choose to remain in the shadow of trees. Thus, we don’t see it the same way. Others see the truth much clearer and brighter, while others refuse to see it at all.

Now some may ask, is it the fault of those under mists and clouds not to see the full light of the sun? Is it their fault to live in the darkness where they are?

I’d say that even those in the shadows may desire, if they wish to go farther and seek something that’s missing in their lives. Though I can’t also deny the possibility that some may not know the way to look further while some may have already decided not to seek beyond where they are.

Now when the time comes for the mist and the clouds to fade, the question is whether they shall choose to see the bright world where they now stand or they would prefer to close their eyes and pretend that they were blind.

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Spirituality

Is Abortion Murder?

is abortion murder

Is Abortion Murder?

What is murder? While I may not be an expert in terms of law, I can understand it as a grave offense done with full malice and intent to end the life of another human being.

When it comes to the Catholic faith, it is a mortal sin. Without repentance, a person who commits murder takes upon himself the punishment of hell and the loss of heaven.

Abortion as Murder

Abortion on the other hand is the premature death of a child within the womb. It can be spontaneous such as in cases of miscarriage. It can also be induced such as when a medical procedure is performed to directly cause the death of the child even before he/she is born.

If we consider direct or induced abortion to intentionally end the life of a child (considered as a human being), then we can equate such abortion with the gravity of murder. That is the line of thinking we can generally assume when we try to answer whether abortion is murder or not.

What About the Mothers?

The question at hand before us is this, “How do we consider the mothers who commit abortion?” Is it ever right to call them murderers as well?

I wrote this because I felt sad to hear many mothers automatically being tagged as murderers.

Let us remember that even if we are not talking about abortion, a person who kills another person is not automatically called a murderer. As far as I know, for something to be considered murder, it has to be intentional and premeditated. If someone accidentally kills another person without that malice or intention, it shouldn’t be called that way.

Where We Should Draw The Line

While I cannot erase the possibility of cases where mothers are totally aware of what they will do, I would like to believe that many mothers are not fully culpable of the crime. While sin may not be absent, such can be mitigated and those concerned may suffer with lesser guilt.

Only God knows the heart of a person. He knows our weaknesses and our sins.

If there is ever anyone who can call anybody a murderer, it should be God.

This does not mean that we should stop fighting for the life of every child within the womb. God forbid it! But let us be more compassionate in our approach to help those who may suffer more than we could ever begin to think or imagine.

The child is a human being, made in God’s image and likeness, worthy of our protection and love. But so is the mother. Even if she sins.

For have we not all sinned and deserved death? But Jesus Christ came to save us all and to give us everlasting life.

 


Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the devotional “366 Days of Compassion”. Get the free e-book from Amazon — click here.

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Spirituality

5 Personal Suggestions for Catholic Priests

5 Personal Suggestions for Catholic Priests

A list of unsolicited advice from a lay Catholic

This is not an easy post. I am a Catholic faithful, and I would never want to disrespect God’s chosen priests. They are His vessels of grace. Through them, we can receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

But I do not want to be remiss in my duty as a Catholic. As the Venerable Fulton Sheen once said:

“Who’s going to save our Church? It’s not our bishops, it’s not our priests and it is not the religious. It is up to you, the people. You have the minds, the eyes and the ears to save the Church. Your mission is to see that the priests act like priests, your bishops act like bishops, and the religious act like religious.”

With all humility and prayer, I list down some of my suggestions for priests below:

1. Let the mass be more holy than entertaining

While some jokes are tasteful and even helpful to get one’s message across, it is very difficult to tell jokes in good taste without sacrificing the sanctity of the occasion.

We can be tempted to make more jokes than necessary and to change our focus from preaching the Gospel to entertaining the people. We can be tempted to please ourselves by hearing the laughter and the clapping from the crowd.

Jokes can even end up offending people. Since not everyone has the same personality and therefore, the same taste in humor, some people may take offense at jokes that seem to insult or to judge them.

“Although jokes are at times fitting and pleasant, nevertheless they are incompatible with the ecclesiastical rule.”—St. Ambrose, Doctor of the Church

“Nothing so becomes a church as silence and good order. Noise belongs to theatres, and baths, and public processions, and market-places: but where doctrines, and such doctrines, are the subject of teaching, there should be stillness, and quiet, and calm reflection, and a haven of much repose.”—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church

“Whenever applause breaks out in the liturgy because of some human achievement, it is a sure sign that the essence of liturgy has totally disappeared and been replaced by a kind of religious entertainment”

— Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, The Spirit of the Liturgy

2. Remind people more about the sacrificial character of the mass.

A mass is not an amusement park or a movie theater where people go to be entertained. It is not a comedy bar where they pay a fee to laugh and to be amused.

We must remember that Jesus Christ suffered and died for us and shed His blood to redeem us. What is mass but the sacrifice of Christ to save us all?

While we must rejoice at His resurrection, should we not grieve for His passion like His Blessed Mother did?

“When you hear Mass, do you come in the same frame of mind as the Blessed Virgin at Calvary? Because it is the same God, and the same Sacrifice.”—St. John Vianney

“When you are before the altar where Christ reposes, you ought no longer to think that you are amongst men; but believe that there are troops of angels and archangels standing by you, and trembling with respect before the sovereign Master of Heaven and earth. Therefore, when you are in church, be there in silence, fear, and veneration.”—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church

“Do not try to please everybody.
Try to please God, the angels and the saints –
they are your public.”
– St John Marie Baptiste Vianney

3. Lessen discussions dwelling on politics.

I understand that there are times when we need to take a stand even on political issues. But this should not be the focus of our evangelization.

Even in the time of Jesus, when the Jews were under Roman rule and there were so many political issues to discuss, Jesus did not make it the center of His mission. When asked about tax, He gave His audience a profound answer:

“Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17, WEBBE)

If we preach to the people the important spiritual principles, they will be formed in a way of thinking that will help them decide even on political matters.

Let us also refrain from putting certain political figures on a pedestal to the point of resting our faith on them instead of God. While we can do our utmost in studying the facts, we can still be wrong in judging people along the way. Only God sees. We do our best in acting out of a righteous character and we pray for God to do the rest.

“Wherever politics tries to be redemptive, it is promising too much. Where it wishes to do the work of God, it becomes not divine, but demonic.”

– Pope Benedict-XVI, Truth And Tolerance

“Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.”—St. Francis Of Assisi

4. Speak the truth in love.

There are two pitfalls when it comes to speaking about the truth. The first is to act like self-righteous Pharisees and cast misjudgment on others, looking down on them and treating them with harshness. The second is to take up a kind of tolerance that no longer recognizes truth for the sake of pleasing people.

We should avoid both extremes. Speak the truth. But speak the truth in love.

“Do not accept anything as the truth if it lacks love. And, do not accept anything as love which lacks truth.”

— St. Edith Stein

“Priests must not be quick-tempered or rash, they must, instead, be temperate and thoughtful. We must support those we challenge and challenge those we support. If we neglect this, our work will lack either courage or gentleness. What shall we call the human soul but the food of the Lord? It is created, to become nothing less, than Christ’s body and to bring about growth in the eternal church.”—St Pope Gregory the Great

5. Tell people more about the spiritual world.

It is good to encourage people about their daily lives. But I hope that we can also hear more about the spiritual world. Speak to us more about heaven and the reality of angels. Warn us about the dangers of the occult. Enlighten us about exorcism and the existence of evil spirits.

We need to be reminded that there is something more beyond the secular world we live in. After all, it is by faith that we continue to believe in the God we cannot see (save through the mystery of the Eucharist).

“We feel the world invaded by the powers of evil. Sin is very near, rising on the horizon with admirably organized human power. At physical, psychological and intellectual levels, the devil himself utilizes a power higher than ours, and normally it assures him at least apparent victories. How can we overcome him? We can only do it by supernatural means… by prayer.” – Marie-Eugene of the Child Jesus, OCD, Where the Spirit Breathes

Final Words

I would like to thank all priests for the priceless work that they do for God. I cannot even begin to imagine the sacrifices they make each day for the sake of their mission.

I hope that reading this would help you in examining the things you can still improve and pray for. I may not be entirely correct. I do make mistakes! But I hope that this becomes a venue for growth and realization, even on things I did not even mention in the article.

God bless you and keep you safe during these difficult times. God be with you always!

“If the priest is a saint, the people will be fervent;
if the priest is fervent, the people will be pious;
if the priest is pious, the people will at least be decent;
if the priest is only decent, the people will be godless.
The spiritual generation is always one-degree less intense in its life than the one who begets it in Christ.”

– Jean-Baptiste Chautard, O.C.S.O. The Soul of the Apostolate


Jocelyn Soriano is the author of the free e-books “Defending My Catholic Faith” and “Questions to God”. Read more of my writings when you subscribe to Single Catholic Writer—click here.