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Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest” (PDF)
Down To Earth Answers To Virtually All Your Heavenly Questions.
English – On the Web
Spanish – On the Web

How the Holy Bible defines and explains
The Blessed Virgin Mary’s powerful role as the Mother of God

How To Pray the holy Rosary (PDF)

Which Mysteries to pray on what day – “Handy Cheat Sheet” (PDF)

The Rosary and the Scapular are inseparable

Complete Information On The Brown Scapular
Including The Procedure for Priestly Blessing and Investiture – Latin and English

Overcoming the World, the Flesh and the Devil,
In and Through Our Lord Jesus Christ (PDF)
A beautifully illustrated “advanced course” on Christianity that provides
critical insights into what Christians believe, how they practice, and why.
Special emphasis on The Mystery of Our Redemption and The Church.

The “Peculiar” Theology of Our Redemption in Jesus Christ (PDF)
Complete course. How the death of Christ at the hands of man
served to destroy Satan’s power and reconcile sinful mankind with God.
Fully illustrated.

Why Be Catholic?

The fact that Jesus Christ took on flesh, lived a human existence, communicated and confirmed certain divine truths, died, subsequently rose again (and while he still walked the earth) founded the Catholic Church, provides Catholic Christianity with a unique status, as the ONLY constant, living, eye-witness to divine truth and the ONLY CHURCH that Jesus Christ EVER authorized, empowered and eternally guaranteed, for the purpose of our salvation. (MORE)

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of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

A Comprehensive Study of The Sacraments
by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

The word “sacrament” in Greek means “mystery,” and Christ has been called by St. Paul “the mystery hidden from the ages.” In Him is something divine, something human; something eternal, something temporal; something invisible, something visible.

The mystery of Bethlehem was the Son of God taking upon Himself a human nature to unite human nature and divine nature in one Person.

He Who, in the language of Scripture, could stop the turning about of the Arcturus, had the prophecy of His birthplace determined, however unconsciously, by a Caesar ordering an imperial census.

He Who clothed the fields with grass, Himself was clothed with swaddling bands.

He from Whose hands came planets and worlds had tiny arms that were not quite long enough to touch the huge heads of the cattle.

He Who trod the everlasting hills was too weak to walk…

These are the Sacraments – Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen – PDF
88 pages – Free Download

“Ancestral Mathematics” and “The Communion of Saints”

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church: In the Communion of Saints

1474 The Christian who seeks to purify himself of his sin and to become holy with the help of God’s grace is not alone. “The life of each of God’s children is joined in Christ and through Christ in a wonderful way to the life of all the other Christian brethren in the supernatural unity of the Mystical Body of Christ, as in a single mystical person.”86

1475 In the communion of saints, “a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. Between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things.”87 In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin.

1476 We also call these spiritual goods of the communion of saints the Church’s treasury, which is “not the sum total of the material goods which have accumulated during the course of the centuries. On the contrary the ‘treasury of the Church’ is the infinite value, which can never be exhausted, which Christ’s merits have before God. They were offered so that the whole of mankind could be set free from sin and attain communion with the Father. In Christ, the Redeemer himself, the satisfactions and merits of his Redemption exist and find their efficacy.”88

1477 “This treasury includes as well the prayers and good works of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They are truly immense, unfathomable, and even pristine in their value before God. In the treasury, too, are the prayers and good works of all the saints, all those who have followed in the footsteps of Christ the Lord and by his grace have made their lives holy and carried out the mission the Father entrusted to them. In this way they attained their own salvation and at the same time cooperated in saving their brothers in the unity of the Mystical Body.”89

Marian terms that all Catholics should understand.

Pamphlet 202 – part of an extensive collection of free,
re-printable pamphlets
published by The EvangelizationStation.com

Advocate – a role signifying Mary’s special
power of intercession. This term is first
mentioned by St. Irenaeus of Lyons in
Adversus Haersies – “that the Virgin Mary
should become the advocate of the virgin Eve.”
St. Anne – mother of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Annunciation – the announcement from the
Archangel St. Gabriel to Mary that she
would be the Mother of the Redeemer and
Savior (Jesus Christ).
Apocrypha – writings that are not
considered the “Word of God” and therefore
are not part of the official canon of the Bible.
Apparitions – appearances by the Blessed
Virgin Mary on earth to one or more
Christians after her assumption into Heaven.
Assumption – The entrance of Mary’s body
and soul into heaven. This is not to be
confused with the Ascension of Christ.
Ave Maria – “Hail Mary.”
Christokos – Christ-bearer.
Co-Redemptrix – this term originated in the
14th century. It refers to Mary’s cooperation
in the redemption of mankind by consenting
to give birth to the Messiah. This is an
indirect, remote cooperation as opposed to
her Son’s direct redemption. It certainly
does not diminish Christ’s salvation of the
human race.
Cult – this term is used in the positive sense
as in devotion towards.
Dormition – the falling asleep of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. Since Mary was
without Original Sin, she did not deserve
death. The Church has never stated that
Mary “died” in the traditional sense, but that
her “earthly life ended.”
Ephesus – an ancient city in Asia Minor
(now Turkey) where St. John the Apostle
and the Blessed Virgin Mary allegedly lived.
Feast – a day set aside to honor a saint or an
event in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary
or Jesus Christ.
Fiat – literally “Let it be done.”
Hyperdulia – special honor given to the
Blessed Virgin Mary as opposed to the
honor given to the saints (dulia) and to the
higher honor and adoration given to God
Himself (latria).
Icon – an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
a saint or Jesus Christ painted on wood or
some other material. Generally, icons are
within the Eastern church.
Immaculate Conception – the doctrine
stating that the Blessed Virgin Mary was
conceived without the stain of Original Sin.
Immaculate Heart of Mary – a devotion to
the spotless, sinless heart of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.
Immanuel (Emmanuel) – the personal
name of the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14).
Incarnation – the act of God Himself
coming down to earth in the form of a
human being (Jesus Christ), born of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
Intercession – Mary’s willingness to
intercede on our behalf to her Son, Jesus
Christ.
St. Joseph – foster father of our Lord, Jesus
Christ and husband of Mary.
St. Joachim – father of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Magnificat – the hymn of Mary in Luke 1:46-55.
Marian – of or relating to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Marian Confraternities – religious
associations of lay people whose members
practice a special form of public devotion.
Marian Congresses – public assemblies of
clergy and/or laity for the study of topics
related to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Mariology – the study of the Blessed Virgin
Mary in relation to Christology (the study of
Jesus Christ).
Mediatrix – a title given to the Blessed
Virgin Mary as she occupies a “middle”
position between Jesus Christ and His
creatures, because, together with Christ and
under Him, she cooperated in the
reconciliation of God and mankind when she
was here on earth and because she
distributes the graces that God bestows on
His children.
Miraculous Medal – a medal commissioned
by the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1830 to have
minted by St. Catherine Laboure.
Mother of God – title given officially to the
Blessed Virgin Mary at the Council of
Ephesus in 431 A.D.
New (or Second) Eve – a title given to the
Blessed Virgin Mary as the second Eve just
as Christ is the new Adam (Ephesians 4:24;
Romans 5:17-19; 1 Corinthians 15:45)
Novena – a public or private prayer of nine
days for some special occasion or intention.
Perpetual Virginity – the belief that Mary
was a virgin before the birth of Christ,
during the birth of Christ and after the birth
of Christ.
Queen – a title given to Mary by Tradition
since the 4th century. As Jesus Christ is
king, His Mother is Queen Mother.
Rosary – a set of prayer beads which are
generally composed of the prayers – “Hail Mary,”
the “Lord’s Prayer” and the
“Doxology.” Meditation on the mysteries of
Christianity are to be observed during these
prayers.
Sabbatine Privilege – refers to the pious
belief that those who (1) wear the scapular
of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, (2) observe
chastity according to their state of life, and
(3) daily recite the Little Office of the
Blessed Virgin Mary or abstain from meat
on Wednesdays and Saturdays or faithfully
observe some other similar work will be
aided “by Mary’s unceasing intercession,
devout pleadings, merits, and special
protection – especially on Saturday, the day
dedicated to the Holy Virgin.”
Salve Regina – the best-known Western
anthem to the Blessed Virgin Mary
– “Hail Holy Queen.”
Scapular – a special piece of cloth generally
connected by a piece of string or a habit
worn by Christians dedicated to Mary.
Shrine – a special place dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ or some
other saint.
Sub Tuum – “We fly to your patronage.”
The oldest petition to the Blessed Virgin
Mary found on papyrus in the 3rd century
A.D. in Egypt.
Theotokos – Mother of God, God-bearer.
Virginal Conception and Birth – the belief
that Mary conceived Jesus Christ and gave
birth to Him without having “known man.”

The Old Testament religion is a vastly different religion than what we know today as modern Judaism.

The latter merely has some things in common with the Old Testament religion because it is a broken branch thereof, in the same way that Protestantism accepts the Creed (for the most part) but changes its definitions and rejects the fullness of Christianity as passed down to us by those who’ve been given priestly authority in the New Covenant.

… and with the destruction of the Temple the Sadducees disappeared altogether, leaving the regulation of all Jewish affairs in the hands of the Pharisees.

Henceforth Jewish life was regulated by the teachings of the Pharisees; the whole history of Judaism was reconstructed from the Pharisaic point of view, and a new aspect was given to the Sanhedrin of the past. A new chain of tradition supplanted the older, priestly tradition. Pharisaism shaped the character of Judaism and the life and thought of the Jew for all the future. (Jewish Encyclopedia. Emphasis mine.)

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Popular heresy: Dispensationalism, Israel, & the Church

The view of history held by adherents of this theology is some variation of the following:

God promises Jewish people an earthly kingdom to be ruled by Messiah.

The Messiah comes to offer Jews their earthly kingdom that would establish Jewish law throughout the land, but Jews reject Him, so the promise is postponed But the Church develops, an unforeseen consequence of the Messiah’s Coming, and the Church Age, or the “Parenthesis Period” as far as God’s plan for “Israel” goes, begins (i.e., the “parenthesis” is the “pause” in God’s “real” plan, which is for ethnic Jews).

At some point, out of the clear blue, with no warnings, the Christ will come to rapture up the Church
The Rapture will be followed by the Tribulation and appearance of the Antichrist. Then 144,000 Jews preach the Gospel.

After things heat up, the Battle of Armageddon will occur. Christ will come a third time, which will bring on an instant conversion of “all Israel”. God will set up His Millennial Kingdom and bind Satan. For ethnic Jews, this Kingdom will be on earth, in the natural order and with a restoration of Temple sacrifices; for the Church, its members and the resurrected Saints go to the Heavenly Jerusalem, suspended over the earthly city.

Satan is loosed for a season and a revolt by some will follow. Christ comes again (a fourth time!) for the final judgement, more resurrections, and a new Heaven and a new earth

There are so many problems — out and out heresies — involved with this mode of thought that it’s hard to know where to begin.

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Saint Ephraim’s Ancient Homily on Our Lord Jesus Christ

This is the food that hungered to eat its eater.

Full text (PDF)

The Rescue Project

Acquitted priest: I received no justice, no comfort and no word of mercy from the Diocese of Duluth during my long ordeal.

Full story

“Infinite Dignity” and other heresies: The Paganization/Gnosticization of Traditional beliefs.

Pagan Gnosticism Is Modernist Christian Babel

Given the institutions where I have taught during my professional life, it is appropriate to begin my overview of the Paganization/Gnosticization of NT Studies with a quote from J. Gresham Machen, speaking of the inroads of Liberalism into the American church at the beginning of the last century:

“The truth is that liberalism has lost sight of the very centre and core of the Christian teaching. In the Christian view of God as set forth in the Bible, there are many elements. But one attribute of God is absolutely fundamental in the Bible; one attribute is absolutely necessary in order to render intelligible all the rest. That attribute is the awful transcendence of God. From beginning to end the Bible is concerned to set forth the awful gulf that separates the creature from the Creator. It is true, indeed, that according to the Bible God is immanent in the world. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without Him. But He is immanent in the world not because He is identified with the world, but because He is the free Creator and upholder of it. Between the creature and the Creator a great gulf is fixed.

To be sure, Machen does mention Gnosticism, but he does define the essence of it, as a religious belief.

Gnosticism builds on the common, pagan notion of “humanity as divine”.

Plato taught that the soul “was immortal by its very nature.” This notion is integrated into Jewish thinking by Philo, and developed by later Gnosticism as the alien, “divine spark” within humanity.

Hans Jonas defines Gnosticism as radically dualistic–a dualism between man and the world, “an anthropological acosmism.” “The essence of man is knowledge of the self and God.”

As the famous Messina Colloquium on Gnosticism in 1966 clearly recognized, “the idea of divine consubstantiality” is a defining notion of Gnosticism.

Such a notion effectively eliminates the uniqueness and transcendence of God.

Read more

Pope Francis privately acknowledges existence of sinister “Lavender Mafia” within the Catholic Church

Pope Francis reportedly confirmed the existence of a “gay lobby” within the Roman Curia, in a candid conversation with visiting religious from Latin America.

During a meeting with representatives of the Latin American and Caribbean Confederation of Religious (CLAR), the Pope spoke frankly about the need for reform in the Church and particularly in the Vatican bureaucracy. A report on the Pope’s remarks, furnished by one of the CLAR representatives who spoke with the Pontiff, has appeared on a Chilean web site, Reflexion y Liberacion.

The Pope’s remarks, according to the CLAR correspondent, included an admission that “there is also a current of corruption” within the Roman Curia. “There is talk about a ‘gay lobby,’ and it’s true, that exists,” the Pope continued.

Link

How the Lavender Mafia operates within the Catholic Church

They know well, however, that they may be exposed and embarrassed, so they shield one another by offering mutual support. They build informal relationships reminiscent of a clique or even mafia, aimed at holding particularly, those positions which offer power and money.

When they achieve a decision-making position, they try to promote and advance mostly those whose nature is similar to theirs, or at least who are known to be too weak to oppose them. This way, leading positions in the Church may be held by people suffering from deep internal wounds.

They may actually achieve a dominating position in many areas of church hierarchy, become a “backroom elite” which actually has tremendous power in deciding about important nominations and the whole life of the Church.

Indeed, they may even prove to be too powerful for honest, well-meaning bishops.

Read more

Old Fashioned, Authoritative Catholic Teaching About Purgatory

The Sources of Catholic Dogma, Henry Denzinger, (13^th Edition) 2004.

(XIVa) The souls of those who die in the state of grace, but with venial faults or temporal penalties not yet satisfied are detained in Purgatory, concerning the existence of which it is certain from scripture; which does not consist in only the fears of one about to die; but in satisfactory penalties which the souls suffer while they are tormented by fire, secure nevertheless, concerning their state of salvation, but are outside the state of merit, they do not sin by seeking rest or by abhorring the penalties; they are helped by the prayers, satisfactory acts, and almsgiving of the living, by indulgences, especially by the sacrifice of the Mass.

References – Denzinger numbers:

(456) Council of Lyons I, 1245, (Reaffirmed the name Purgatory, the nature of the punishment, and that suffrage by the living may be beneficially applied to the souls there.)

(570s) Re: Purgatory – “Tortured by fire for a time” Pope Clement VI, Letter, Sept. 20, 1351.

Re: Purgatorial fire

At the Council of Florence, Bessarion argued against the existence of real purgatorial fire, and the Greeks were assured that the Roman Church had never issued any dogmatic decree on this subject. In the West the belief in the existence of real fire is common. Augustine (Enarration on Psalm 37, no. 3) speaks of the pain which purgatorial fire causes as more severe than anything a man can suffer in this life, “gravior erit ignis

quam quidquid potest homo pati in hac vita” (P.L., col. 397). Gregory the Great speaks of those who after this life “will expiate their faults by purgatorial flames,” and he adds “that the pain be more intolerable than any one can suffer in this life” (Ps. 3 poenit., n. 1). Following in the footsteps of Gregory, St. Thomas teaches (IV, dist. xxi, q. i, a.1) that besides the separation of the soul from the sight of God, there is the other punishment

from fire. “Una poena damni, in quantum scilicet retardantur a divina visione; alia sensus secundum quod ab igne punientur”, and St. Bonaventure not only agrees with St. Thomas but adds (IV, dist. xx, p.1, a.1, q. ii) that this punishment by fire is more severe than any punishment which comes to men in this life; “Gravior est omni temporali poena. quam modo sustinet anima carni conjuncta”. How this fire affects the souls of the departed the Doctors do not know, and in such matters it is well to heed the warning of the Council of Trent when it commands the bishops “to exclude from their preaching difficult and subtle questions which tend not to edification’, and from the discussion of which there is no increase either in piety or devotion” (Sess. XXV, “De Purgatorio”).

(693) Council of Florence, 1438, (The truly penitent who have departed in the love of God, before they have made satisfaction are cleansed after death in purgatorial punishment, etc., etc.)

(778) Lateran Council V, 1512 – Refuting the errors of Martin Luther: Souls in Purgatory are indeed assured of salvation, and are indeed beyond the state of meriting and/or increasing in charity. Here is no sin in their abhorring punishment or seeking rest.

Adendum Re: Merit

In the Bull “Exurge Domine” Leo X condemns the proposition (n. 38) “Nec probatum est ullis aut rationibus aut scripturis ipsas esse extra statum merendi aut augendae caritatis” (There is no proof from reason or Scripture that they [the souls in purgatory] cannot merit or increase in charity). For them “the night has come in which no man can labour”, and Christian tradition has always considered that only in this life can man work unto the profit of his own soul. The Doctors of the Middle Ages while agreeing that this life is the time for merit and increase of grace, still some with St. Thomas seemed to question whether or not there might be some non-essential reward which the souls in purgatory might merit (IV, dist. xxi, q. i, a. 3). Bellarmine believes that in this matter St. Thomas changed his opinion and refers to a statement of St. Thomas (“De Malo”, q. vii, a. 11). Whatever may be the mind of the Angelic Doctor, theologians agree that no merit is possible in purgatory, and if objection be urged that the souls there merit by their prayers, Bellarmine says that such prayers avail with God because of merit already acquired “Solum impetrant ex meritis praeteritis quomodo nunc sancti orando) pro nobis impetrant licet non merendo” (They avail only in virtue of past merits as those who are now saints intercede for us not by merit but by prayer). (loc. cit. II, cap. iii).

(840) Council of Trent, 1545, Canon 30 (Temporal punishment for sin may remain, even after justification by grace.) See also the Decree Concerning Purgatory, Session XXV, December 3, and 4, 1563.

(983) Decree Concerning Purgatory

Since the Catholic Church, instructed by the Holy Ghost, has, following the sacred writings and the ancient tradition of the Fathers, taught in sacred councils and very recently in this ecumenical council that there is a purgatory,[1] and that the souls there detained are aided by the suffrages of the faithful and chiefly by the acceptable sacrifice of the altar, the holy council commands the bishops that they strive diligently to the end that the sound doctrine of purgatory, transmitted by the Fathers and sacred councils,[2] be believed and maintained by the faithful of Christ, and be everywhere taught and preached. The more difficult and subtle questions, however, and those that do not make for edification and from which there is for the most part no increase in piety, are to be excluded from popular instructions to uneducated people.[3] Likewise, things that are uncertain or that have the appearance of falsehood they shall not permit to be made known publicly and discussed.

But those things that tend to a certain kind of curiosity or superstition, or that savor of filthy lucre, they shall prohibit as scandals and stumbling-blocks to the faithful. The bishops shall see to it that the suffrages of the living, that is, the sacrifice of the mass,[4] prayers, alms and other works of piety which they have been accustomed to perform for the faithful departed, be piously and devoutly discharged in accordance with the laws of the Church, and that whatever is due on their behalf from testamentary bequests or other ways, be discharged by the priests and ministers of the Church and others who are bound to render this service not in a perfunctory manner, but diligently and accurately.

(998) Council of Trent – Reaffirms the existence of Purgatory and that souls detained there are aided by the prayers of the faithful. The use of indulgences is affirmed and especially salutary.

(2147a) Pope Pius X, Letter: “Ex Quo” December 26, 1910 – No doubt that the sacred dogmas on Purgatory and the Blessed Virgin Mary were acknowledged by the holy men of earlier years.

See also, Denzinger 427, 464, 530, 535, 723a, 729, 780, 998, 1542

Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma, Ludwig Ott, 4^th Edition, May 1960

Supporting texts: 314, 321, 443, 482-85

From the Roman Catechism, published following the Council of Trent

… the fire of purgatory, in which the souls of just men are cleansed by a temporary punishment, in order to be admitted into their eternal country, into which nothing defiled entereth (cf. Rev. 21:27). The truth of this doctrine, founded, as holy Councils declare, on Scripture, and confirmed by Apostolic tradition, demands exposition from the pastor, all the more diligent and frequent, because we live in times when men endure not sound doctrine. Prayers for the dead, that they may be liberated from the fire of purgatory, are derived from Apostolic teaching. We also beg of God … that we be not sentenced to endure the fire of purgatory, from which we piously and devoutly implore that others may be liberated.

Catechism of Council of Trent, The Lord’s Prayer, Seventh Petition

“We also beg of God that we be not cut off by a sudden death; that we provoke not His anger against us; that we be not condemned to suffer the punishments reserved for the wicked; that we be not sentenced to endure the fire of purgatory, from which we piously and devoutly implore that others may be liberated.”

Encyclical of Pope Benedict XIV in Preparation for the Holy Year, 1749

“The faithful must be fully aware that sin and its eternal punishment are remitted by the Sacrament of Penance if one makes proper use of it; however the entire temporal punishment is very seldom taken away. This must be removed either by satisfactory works in this life or by the fire of Purgatory after death.”

Encyclical On Proclaiming a Universal Jubilee by Pope Leo XII, 1824

“You must also discuss carefully how much efficacy there is in indulgences; how great is the fruit of remission, not only of the canonical but also of the temporal punishment due for sins; and finally, how much aid from the treasure of merits from Christ and the saints may be applied to those who died truly penitent before they had made adequate satisfaction for their sins. Their souls must be purified in the fires of purgatory so that entry into the eternal fatherland may open to them.”

Baltimore Catechism No. 3

LESSON 37 – ON THE LAST JUDGMENT & RESURRECTION, HELL

PURGATORY & HEAVEN

Q. 1381. What is Purgatory?

A. Purgatory is the state in which those suffer for a time who die guilty of venial sins, or without having satisfied for the punishment due to their sins.

Q. 1382. Why is this state called Purgatory?

A. This state is called Purgatory because in it the souls are purged or purified from all their stains; and it is not, therefore, a permanent or lasting state for the soul.

Q. 1383. Are the souls in Purgatory sure of their salvation?

A. The souls in Purgatory are sure of their salvation, and they will enter heaven as soon as they are completely purified and made worthy to enjoy that presence of God which is called the Beatific Vision.

Q. 1384. Do we know what souls are in Purgatory, and how long they have to remain there?

A. We do not know what souls are in Purgatory nor how long they have to remain there; hence we continue to pray for all persons who have died apparently in the true faith and free from mortal sin. They are called the faithful departed.

Q. 1385. Can the faithful on earth help the souls in Purgatory?

A. The faithful on earth can help the souls in Purgatory by their prayers, fasts, alms, deeds; by indulgences, and by having Masses said for them.

Q. 1386. Since God loves the souls in Purgatory, why does He punish them?

A. Though God loves the souls in Purgatory, He punishes them because His holiness requires that nothing defiled may enter heaven and His justice requires that everyone be punished or rewarded according to what he deserves.

Most recently, the Second Vatican Council in its Constitution on the Church renewed the teaching of previous councils on eschatology, including the doctrine of purgatory. “This sacred Council,” it declared, “accepts with great devotion this venerable faith of our ancestors regarding this vital fellowship with our brethren who are in heavenly glory or who, having died, are still being purified….At the same time, in conformity with our own pastoral interests, we urge all concerned, if any abuses, excesses or defects have crept in here or there, to do what is in their power to remove or correct them, and to restore all things to a fuller praise of Christ and of God” (Chapter VII, No. 51).

Pope Paul VI – From the Apostolic Constitution of Pope Paul VI INDULGENTIARUM DOCTRINA whereby the revision of Sacred Indulgences is promulgated. January 1, 1967:

“It is a divinely revealed truth that sins bring punishments inflicted by God’s sanctity and justice. These must be expiated either on this earth through the sorrows, miseries and calamities of this life and above all through death, or else in the life beyond through fire and torments or “purifying” punishments.

Therefore it has always been the conviction of the faithful that the paths of evil are fraught with many stumbling blocks and bring adversities, bitterness and harm to those who follow them.”

Current Edition: The Catechism of the Catholic Church

III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY

1030 All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.⁶⁰⁶ The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:⁶⁰⁷

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.⁶⁰⁸

1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: “Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin.”⁶⁰⁹ From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.⁶¹⁰ The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:

Let us help and commemorate them. If Job’s sons were purified by their father’s sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.⁶¹¹

1472 To understand this doctrine and practice of the Church, it is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence. Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the “eternal punishment” of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This purification frees one from what is called the “temporal punishment” of sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no punishment would remain.[83]

1473 The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the various practices of penance, to put off completely the “old man” and to put on the “new man.”[84]

1475 In the communion of saints, “a perennial link of charity exists between the faithful who have already reached their heavenly home, those who are expiating their sins in purgatory and those who are still pilgrims on earth. between them there is, too, an abundant exchange of all good things.”[86] In this wonderful exchange, the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the punishments for sin.

Editor’s note: It will be interesting to see what Pope Francis has to say about all this.

Candace Owens posted on social media Monday that she recently ‘made the decision to go home’ by becoming a member of the Catholic Church.

(LifeSiteNews) — Popular American conservative pundit Candace Owens announced on social media Monday that she is now an official member of the Catholic Church.

Full story

Don’t trivialize your sin.

https://www.barnhardtmemes.com

St. Alphonsus de Liguori explains The Lord’s Prayer.

Pater noster, qui es in coelis (“Our Father, who art in heaven).

The Apostle St. John says: Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. It is assuredly only by the effect of extreme love that we worms of the earth have been enabled to become the children of God, not by nature, but by adoption; and such is the immense grace that the Son of God has obtained for us by becoming man; for St. Paul says: You have received the spirit of adoption of sons, whereby we cry, Abba (Father).

Can a subject wish for greater happiness than to be adopted by his king? Or a creature to be adopted by its Creator? This is what God has done for us; and he wishes that we should address to him with filial confidence the following prayer:

1. Sanctificetur nomem tuum (“Hallowed be Thy name”).

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The planned “Noahidation” of the Christian religion.

Overall, it appears clear that a significant school of (Talmudic Jewish) thought believes that Christianity is a form of idolatry, and thus contrary to the Noahide laws, which appear to be central to the religion to be imposed on the world by the Moshiach (Messiah) awaited by the Jews.

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You’re Invited! Our Lady of Peace Adult Catechism: Know God Better. Love God more. Elevate your eternal trajectory. Classes begin soon.

Classes Begin Soon! Stay tuned for further details.

Our Lady of Peace Catholic Parish
709 Plainfield Road
Darien, IL 60561

A nice, illustrated Catholic catechism, in English and Spanish

Visit the site

Shocking undercover video: How abortion is all about killing “it”.

An 8-minute Live Action undercover video about killing “it”.

How they won’t show you the ultrasound photos of “it”.

How “it” is often already 6-months (24 weeks) along
and usually capable of living outside the womb.

How “it” must be killed while still inside the mother’s womb
or legally … “it’s” murder.

How they lie about “it” not being a real baby.

How poison “laminaria sticks” will be inserted into the mother,
so “it” might be quickly and conveniently killed.

How “it” will be chopped up, while still inside the womb.

How they lie about “it” not being able to feel pain
as “it” is systematically dismembered.

How “it” will be sucked out – piece by little piece.

How “it” will be placed inside a bottle and sent to a lab.

How the special liquid in the bottle
will make certain “it” is completely and totally dead.

How “it” will be disposed of as medical waste … or used for “parts”.

How they don’t inform the mother about her risks
when aborting “it”.

How they lie about the mother finally being through with “it”.

But wait … there’s more!

Watch the video

Unlikely story: An avowed atheist’s conversion.

For the first time in my life, I prayed, and said. “Dear God. There is no logical way you could possibly exist, and even if you appeared before me in the flesh, I would call it an hallucination. So I can think of no possible way, no matter what the evidence and no matter how clear it was, that you could prove your existence to me.

But the Christians claim you are benevolent, and that my failure to believe in you inevitably will damn me. If, as they claim, you care whether or not I am damned, and if, as they claim, you are all wise and all powerful, you can prove to me that you exist even though I am confident such a thing is logically impossible.

Thanking you in advance for your cooperation in this matter, John C. Wright.” — and then my mind was at rest. I had done all I needed to do honestly to maintain my stature as someone, not who claimed to be logical, objective and openminded, but who was logical, objective, and openminded.

Three days later, with no warning, I had a heart attack, and was lying on the floor, screaming and dying.

-Then I was saved from certain death by faith-healing, after which–

-I felt the Holy Spirit enter my body, after which–

-became immediately aware of my soul, a part of myself which, until that time, I reasoned and thought did not exist-

-I was visited by the Virgin Mary, her son, and His Father-

-not to mention various other spirits and ghosts over a period of several days–

-including periods of divine ecstasy, and an awareness of the mystical oneness of the universe-

-And a week or so after that I had a religious experience where I entered the mind of God and saw the indescribable simplicity and complexity, love, humor and majesty of His thought, and I understood the joy beyond understanding and comprehended the underlying unity of all things, and the paradox of determinism and free will was made clear to me, as was the symphonic nature of prophecy. I was shown the structure of time and space.

-And then Christ in a vision told me that He would be my judge, and that God judges no man. I mentioned this event to my wife. Then about a month later, when I was reading the Bible for the first time beyond the unavoidable minimum assigned in school, I came across the passage in the book of John, a passage I had never seen before, and to which no Christian in my hearing had ever made reference, which said the same thing in the same words.

-And then I have had perhaps a dozen or two dozen prayers miraculously answered, so much so that I now regard it as a normal routine rather than some extraordinary act of faith.

So I would say my snide little prayer was answered with much more than I had asked, and I was given not just evidence, and not just overwhelming evidence, but joy unspeakable and life eternal.

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Verses about divine judgment from the Gospel of St. John:

(John 3:17) For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world: but that the world may be saved by him.

(John 5:22) For neither does the Father judge any man: but hath given all judgment to the Son.

(John 5:30) I cannot of myself do any thing. As I hear, so I judge. And my judgment is just: because I seek not my own will. but the will of him that sent me.

(John 7:24) Judge not according to the appearance: but judge just judgment.

(John 7:51) Doth our law judge any man, unless it first hear him and know what he doth?

(John 8:15) You judge according to the flesh: I judge not any man.

(John 8:16) And if I do judge, my judgment is true: because I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.

(John 8:26) Many things I have to speak and to judge of you. But he that sent me, is true: and the things I have heard of him, these same I speak in the world.

(John 12:47) And if any man hear my words and keep them not, I do not judge him for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

(John 12:48) He that despiseth me and receiveth not my words hath one that judgeth him. The word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Vain repetition?

Revelation 4:8-11 And the four living creatures had each of them six wings: and round about and within they are full of eyes. And they rested not day and night, saying: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come. (9) And when those living creatures gave glory and honor and benediction to him that sitteth on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever: (10) The four and twenty ancients fell down before him that sitteth on the throne and adored him that liveth for ever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: (11) Thou art worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. Because thou hast created all things: and for thy will they were and have been created.

July 25–Lt. Nathan Jeffcoat, of Orrtanna, didn’t always want to be a U.S. Marine, but it’s safe to say it’s something that runs in his blood.

After being hit by an improvised explosive device, IED, in Afghanistan on June 30 and traveling back to the states, doctors went looking for him in his hospital room to do physical therapy, and the platoon commander in the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines was nowhere to be found.

Turns out, in true commander fashion, he had escaped and made his way through a quarantined hospital area to check on one of his men who had been injured two weeks before him, and was still in the hospital.

Jeffcoat knows he’s a lucky man, a lucky Marine…

“He’s really, really lucky,” [his mother] Sue said, as she watched her son.

She breaks the eye contact to say she tells him all the time it’s because of the number of times she said the rosary for him, and all the prayers.

When he came back, the only things he had on him where his dog tags, watch, St. Christopher’s medallion and his rosary.

“Pray pray pray,” Sue Jeffcoat said.

That’s how they got through this, and that’s how they’ll get through it during the next tour.

Link

Observation: Swallowing small amounts of saliva over extended periods of time, always proves to be fatal.

Only one known antidote