Perfect for Lent! Free, Downloadable, Fully Illustrated, Catholic Faith Study: “Overcoming the World, the Flesh and the Devil, In and Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ.”

The True Story of Our Salvation In Jesus Christ
Perfect for Lent.
The “Hows” and “Whys” are explored and illuminated
according to the official rubrics of The Sacred Deposit of the Faith,
suitably enhanced by authentic, insightful excerpts
from the writings and reflections of some of the greatest
theologians, saints and scholars, of all time.

One Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
The masterful expressions and subtle nuances
of the classic illustrations greatly enhance the overall experience.

PART ONE:
The primeval events
that resulted in the Fall of Man (PDF)

PART TWO:
The totally gratuitous
saving works of God (PDF)

PART THREE:
Why we venerate
the Blessed Virgin Mary (PDF)

*** EXCELLENT LENTEN STUDY ***

PART FOUR:
The mystery
of our redemption
revealed (PDF)

*** EXCELLENT LENTEN STUDY ***

PART FIVE:
The spiritually vital mission
of the Holy Church (PDF)

PART SIX:
Our personal identity
in Jesus Christ (PDF)

Download the latest Adobe PDF Reader Software for free

For detailed information on a wide range of Catholic topics
(available in both English and Spanish language formats)
visit Bob Stanley’s “The Catholic Treasure Chest”

New, Free, Illustrated, Comprehensive Catholic Faith Study, Available Now: Overcoming the World, the Flesh and the Devil, In and Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ

Down-to-Earth Answers To Heavenly Questions
Key aspects of the Judeo-Christian Faith Tradition
are exquisitely imaged and explained by
combining timeless, religious art with extensive citations
from the Bible, the Catholic Catechism and other
official Church documents, illustrating the rich patrimony
of the original, authentic, universal Church,
as well as its’ primary rationale, practical application
and eternal benefits, in a profound, insightful
and (hopefully) most enjoyable way.

The True Story of Our Salvation In Jesus Christ
The “Hows” and “Whys” are explored and illuminated
according to the official rubrics of The Sacred Deposit of the Faith,
suitably enhanced by authentic, insightful excerpts
from the writings and reflections of some of the greatest
theologians, saints and scholars, of all time.

Extraordinarily Powerful, Yet Easy To Understand
“Overcoming” presents a litany of rational, logical
and deeply satisfying divine truths to the faithful,
while also serving as a “basic primer” on Christianity
for people of non-Christian faith traditions,
or people of no faith tradition, at all.

One Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
The masterful expressions and subtle nuances
of the classic illustrations greatly enhance the overall experience.

Critical Insights Into the Purpose and Workings of the Holy Church
The complete, SIX PART PRESENTATION
is available to view online, at absolutely no cost,
in the popular, easy to use and easy to view,
full color, PDF file format.
(Download the Free Windows/Mac/Android PDF Reader, below)

Study Virtually Any Time and Anywhere
No cost.
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No kidding!

PART ONE:
The primeval events
that resulted in the Fall of Man

PART TWO:
The totally gratuitous
saving works of God

PART THREE:
Why we venerate
the Blessed Virgin Mary

PART FOUR:
The mystery
of our redemption
revealed

PART FIVE:
The spiritually vital mission
of the Holy Church

PART SIX:
Our personal identity
in Jesus Christ

Download the latest Adobe PDF Reader Software for free

Overcoming the World, the Flesh and the Devil,
In and Through Our Lord Jesus Christ
is recommended for anyone who wants to learn more
about the essential tenets of Christianity,
as well as the unique, temporal and spiritual efficacies
of The Holy Catholic Church: the original,
authentic, universal Christian Church,
that was personally founded, authorized,
empowered and perpetually guaranteed
by Jesus Christ,
for the purpose of our salvation.

“Overcoming” aims to respectfully present
the immutable truths of the Christian faith
to “The People of God”
unencumbered by denominational concerns
or political differences,
according to the much brighter light
of our common, Christian heritage
and our grace empowered humanity
in Jesus Christ.

Supplemental use of the Holy Bible
and the Catechism of the Catholic Church
is highly recommended.

For detailed information on a wide range of Catholic topics
(available in both English and Spanish language formats)
visit The Catholic Treasure Chest

Recommended for Further Study:
CIS (Catholic Information Service) Free, Certificated
Online Catechetical Faith Formation Courses, Booklets and PDFs

To Tell You the Whole Truth About the Church and the Holy Bible:
Eighty pages of authentic Catholic Truths (Downloadable PDF File)

Today’s Question: What’s your personal image of God and how did you acquire it?

Question: What’s your personal image of God?

Answer: I know God the Son, the second person of the Holy Trinity, through my intimate and personal knowledge of Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God; knowledge which was primarily obtained through receipt of the Sacraments and by diligently studying the Holy Bible, as well as all the timeless, superb, theological and philosophical teachings of the Holy Catholic Church.

Through my constant, personal interaction with the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Holy Trinity, who facilitates all my prayers, indwells and sanctifies my immortal soul, I also know God the Father, who by his awesome power and divine provision, has always lavished on me and mine, from his supernaturally abundant supply, everything I ever needed and much, much more.

All of this is possible (as a practical matter) only by the grace of God and through through a regular program of prayer and study, along with my full, faithful, free-will participation in all the work, worship, sacraments and devotions of the Holy Catholic Church; the only Church that was ever personally founded, authorized, empowered and perpetually guaranteed by Jesus Christ, for the purpose of our eternal salvation.

There is no better or more effective way of “knowing” God … this side of Heaven.

Today’s Question: Why are some people possessed by evil spirits when they wear crosses, drink holy water, go to church and have guardian angels?

(Satan afflicting Job)

Today’s Question: Why are some people possessed by evil spirits when they wear crosses, drink holy water, go to church and have guardian angels?

Answer: Some people have a difficult time discerning the will of God, so they continually get themselves into bad spots.

Some suffer from generational curses, or similar curses/attacks, due to engaging in ill-advised activities/lifestyle choices/addictive behaviors.

Others might be temporarily or permanently oppressed by demon spirits, who are more powerful than their assigned, guardian angel.

Some are simply, “victims of circumstance” whose spiritual afflictions are due to mysterious causes, that may never be fully understood or explained.

All the more reason for a “belt and suspenders” approach to personal holiness – a regular, personal program of prayer and study, combined with a lifetime of full, faithful participation in all the work, worship, sacraments and devotions of the Holy Catholic Church.

Recently asked and answered on Yahoo! Answers. Edited for content and clarity.

Today’s Question: What currently available Bible translation is the ONLY one considered to be infallible and inerrant, according to the Council of Trent and the Holy Catholic Church?

Question: What currently available Bible translation is the ONLY one considered to be infallible and inerrant, according to the Council of Trent (and hence, officially, by the Holy Catholic Church)?

Answer: The Church has already stated, extraordinarily at the Council of Trent and ordinarily through constant usage, that the Old Vulgate is “authentic” and “free from error”.

Therefore, the only edition of Sacred Scripture we should be using for anything is either the Old Vulgate itself, or if you can’t functionally understand Latin, a translation of that text. Anything else is simply not guaranteed.

Trent, Session IV “Moreover, the same sacred and holy Synod … has decided and declares that the said old Vulgate edition, which has been approved by the Church itself through long usage for so many centuries in public lectures, disputations, sermons, and expositions, be considered authentic, and that no one under any pretext whatsoever dare to presume or reject it.”

See the entire article here. Be sure also, to view all the comments, since that’s where the two above passages, are located.

Also note that the Catholic Church of that time was standing up for the truth of the Old Latin Vulgate, as opposed to many of the “new” Protestant translation efforts that were underway, at the time. Of course, none of our current, English language Catholic Bible translations existed back then, either.

This writer agrees with the author of the article that one of the the worst Bible translations of all time (even with most Protestant efforts included) is probably the disgraceful, vapid and totally uninspiring, “Catholic In Name Only” New American Bible.

Today’s Question: Did Jesus tell us to keep the (old) law?

Question: Did Jesus tell us to keep the (old) law?

Answer: Prior to Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Old Law remained fully in force. Afterwards, by the power of Christ, the New Covenant and the Church replaced the entirety of the Old Law, which never had the ability to save a soul.

If the Old Law/Old Covenant had been sufficient, the “New” Covenant would not have been necessary; Nor would Christ’s perfect and atoning sacrifice on the cross, for the sins of the world. 

Jesus also spoke about the folly of attempting to put new “wine” into old wine “skins”. This is precisely the type of thing to which he was referring.

The sole governing authority of the New Covenant is the Holy Catholic Church, which was given the Power of Binding and Loosing, as well as the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, by Christ himself.

Only that which the New Covenant Church authoritatively decided to readopt or re-adapt (from OT times) made the transition from old to new. Nothing else.

Conclusion: The Holy Catholic Church remains the sole governing authority under the New Covenant, as well as the primary channel of God’s grace on earth, with Jesus as its’ head and the Holy Spirit as its’ constant Advocate and Spirit of Truth.

Grace – not Law – now, mercifully reigns – in and through Jesus Christ, our Divine Redeemer – in God’s “New” and “Better” order of things.

That’s how Jesus set things up for us. He knew what he was doing. He’s God!

Asked and answered today on Yahoo!Answers. Edited for clarity and content.

Question of the day: If god loves us so much why does he go through all these games and shenanigans? Why did he send his son to jump through hoops and die?

Question: If god loves us so much why does he go through all these games and shenanigans? Why did he send his son to jump through hoops and die?

Answer: The Fall of Man unwittingly transferred dominion over the whole earth from Adam to Satan, with mankind ending up hopelessly and perpetually enslaved to Satan, sin and death.

So, mere forgiveness would have changed nothing.
The only hope for mankind
was divine intervention of a very particular type,
something only God was capable of accomplishing, for us.

Once redeemed from perpetual slavery to Satan, sin and death by Jesus Christ, it would be supremely foolish and wasteful for man to be voluntarily compromised by sin, once again. That’s why God holds us to high standards, yet mercifully forgives, so long as we remain faithful (to him) and are truly repentant.

God typically accomplishes this for us by means of his grace and through our full, faithful and consistent participation in all the work, worship, sacraments and devotions of his Holy Catholic Church.

Asked and answered on Yahoo!Answers. Edited for clarity and content.

Today’s question: Why do I deserve to burn in hell for eternity? If God is love, how can such a thing even be possible?

Question: Why do I deserve to burn in hell for eternity? Please explain how I deserve to burn in hell, from a human perspective and how can I possibly follow a religion that doesn’t make sense?

Answer: The problems related to “The Human Condition” are probably due as much to “circumstance” as to the personal “guilt” of we who are alive on earth, today. That said, the problem of sin is and always has been, deadly serious!

Due to the Fall of Man (in the beginning, in the Garden of Eden) the default state of all humanity is to be born estranged from God, totally lacking the divine grace that is necessary to enter Heaven, perpetually enslaved to Satan, sin and death, having a natural attraction to sin, as well as an all too human propensity to commit sin.

The only known antidote to perpetual slavery and eternal damnation, is faith in Jesus Christ, the divine man who has demonstrated (as one of us and on our behalf) his total mastery over Satan, sin and death.

The fact that Jesus voluntarily took on flesh, became man, willingly sacrificed himself and then, rose again from the dead, in order to destroy Satan’s power over us (the power of death and hell) while asking nothing in return, except for our faithful allegiance, should be more than sufficient proof of God’s abiding love and tender mercies.

Christians typically swear faithful allegiance to Jesus Christ by being Baptized into his Holy Catholic (Universal) Church.

The Holy Sacrament of Baptism, followed by a regular program of personal prayer and study, along with a lifetime of full, faithful participation in all the work, worship, sacraments and devotions of the Holy Catholic Church, is the time-tested, “Jesus Approved” method of first, being justified by the grace of God and then, proceeding to live a holy life that will serve to glorify God, while preparing us to (hopefully) spend an eternity with him, in Heaven.

Asked and answered today on Yahoo!Answers. Edited for clarity and content.

The “spirit” of a key Vatican II document vs the “spirit” of the age

Posted at Connecticut Catholic Corner

What exactly is IN the Vatican II document “Sacrosanctum Concilium” (Pope Paul VI, December 4, 1963)? To be clear, I LOVE my Holy Catholic Church…I am just not very fond of all the things that came out of Vatican II.

Let’s take a look at a few items that might surprise you (I am not quoting the entire document, only parts). ALL the comments (in blue), and underline text are my own, as are the OPINIONS scattered between the Vatican II text. I would greatly welcome any clergy to correct me in my observations. So let’s get started.

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