Catholic Answers Forums http://forums.catholic.com Largest Catholic Forum has Catholic discussions, Catholic answers to your faith questions, Catholic apologetics, Catholic Scripture study, Catholic Prayer groups, Jesus, Christian, evangelization, spirituality, sacraments, vocations, Mary, saints, liturgy, Holy Bible, Catholic book club, Church documents, Vatican news, newsletter, Christianity, Catholic Answers Store. Via www.catholic.com en Fri, 24 May 2013 13:34:16 GMT vBulletin 30 http://forums.catholic.com/images/misc_khaki/rss.jpg Catholic Answers Forums http://forums.catholic.com Dreams versus stability http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790078&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 13:33:30 GMT I'm wondering if there is a Catholic perspective on putting priorities on having a stable financial life and working towards goals and dreams. I sometimes get stressed out with the thought that I'm not working in a career that I've always wanted, and that we would prefer to live further south and near the ocean.

As far as my career, I have a stable job making a decent salary & I've been here for eleven years. However, I earned my bachelor's degree online a few years ago and will be paying on that student loan for the foreseeable future. But achieving that goal of a four year degree has not opened up any realistic job opportunities, so I feel it was pretty much a waste of time and money. I struggle between the mindsets of simply being at peace with my stable job and having the attitude that I should "follow my dreams" of having the kind of job that would be more fulfilling, even if it means a cut in pay.

As far as moving south, my wife and I would both prefer the warmer climate and we both love the ocean. But moving, of course, would be a huge undertaking, mostly finding a new job that pays just as good as my current job.

My instinct lately has been to just not think about these big changes and be satisfied / grateful that I even have a job and be content with the life we have in our current location.
I know I would be less stressed if I could just keep this frame of mind, but something keeps telling me that it's "healthy" to try and obtain these goals, not to get "stagnet" in life.

Is there a Catholic view of these options? Perhaps inner peace should be my highest goal (not trying to change these life situations), and not getting stressed about making these life changes? ]]> Faith and Finances C3P0 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790078 <![CDATA[Darthmouth school replaces Mother's Day, Father's Day with Family Day]]> http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790071&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 13:23:27 GMT http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/dartmouth-school-replaces-mother-s-day-father-s-day-with-family-day-1.1285081 I think this is an example of how gay rights and legalization of gay marriage are a real threat to traditional family and to society in general. http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/dartmouth...-day-1.1285081

I think this is an example of how gay rights and legalization of gay marriage are a real threat to traditional family and to society in general. ]]> World News JMJSHJ http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790071 Weird! Random correction of capitals! http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790063&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 12:51:30 GMT So on occasion, when I type LOL! instead of showing up in all caps, it changes to lol (small letters).

This happened today, and it corrected my QED to lower case as well.

AND! it also, rather than putting the icon of the grinning face, only put the letters ; D.

What up?

Oh, and for some reason the poster to whom I'd been responding's name was also changed from starting with a capital to a lower case.

http://forums.catholic.com/showpost....&postcount=127 ]]> Bug Reports PRmerger http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790063 Change one letter (15) http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790061&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 12:44:07 GMT Last entry in 14 was *hand* ICXC NIKA Last entry in 14 was

hand

ICXC NIKA ]]> The Clubhouse GEddie http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790061 Woolwich video edited for PC? http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790045&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 11:42:33 GMT I came across this less edited version of the Woolwich attacker. Transcript below. As you can see there are references to "Allah" and Islam being the reason for the attack. Plans to start "bustin our guns in the streets" Why does the press continue to edit out references which point to the Islamic faith and hostility towards westerners as the reason behind these attacks?
Unedited video here.

Transcript: "The only reason we have killed this man today is because Muslims are dying daily by British soldiers. And this British soldier is one. It is an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. By Allah, we swear by the almighty Allah we will never stop fighting you until you leave us alone. So what if we want to live by the Shari'a in Muslim lands? Why does that mean you must follow us and chase us and call us extremists and kill us? Rather you lot are extreme. You are the ones that when you drop a bomb you think it hits one person? Or rather your bomb wipes out a whole family? This is the reality. By Allah if I saw your mother today with a buggy I would help her up the stairs. This is my nature. But we are forced by the Qur'an, in Sura At-Tawba, through many ayah in the Qu'ran, we must fight them as they fight us. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. I apologise that women had to witness this today but in our lands women have to see the same. You people will never be safe. Remove your governments, they don’t care about you. You think David Cameron is going to get caught in the street when we start busting our guns? You think politicians are going to die? No, it’s going to be the average guy, like you and your children. So get rid of them. Tell them to bring our troops back so can all live in peace. So leave our lands and we can all live in peace. That’s all I have to say. [in Arabic:] Allah’s peace and blessings be upon you." ]]> Popular Media ChurchSoldier http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790045 pray to stop smoking for my cousin http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790026&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 10:03:39 GMT please pray for my cousin to stop smoking please. I can't stand that he smokes without care about his own body and the people that love him and I am afraid that he will get a lung cancer just like my teacher.:( ]]> Prayer Intentions jeffrey_tantowi http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790026 <![CDATA[Cantoring & keeping the Sabbath?]]> http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790013&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 08:32:10 GMT I have been cantoring (as a volunteer) at the 4pm Sunday mass every week for 7 years now. I have no musical training but I enjoy singing. I joined the choir and was coerced into being a cantor. I enjoy it but it's recently become more difficult. In January, our choir director cut down on the masses he played as the accompanist. There are now two hired, rotating accompanists. I never know which one will show up until they arrive at church 30 minutes before mass and they have different musical styles/tempos. We practice together but 30 minutes isn't always enough and their schedules do not allow us to meet during the week (one's a nurse who works night shifts and the other is not available in the evenings - not sure why).

Last Saturday, a fellow cantor called me at 1pm to ask if I could cover that day's 5pm mass. She said she had agreed to cantor the mass but forgot she had a paddling race that day. I told her I could fill in for her. As a result, I wasn't able to get all my planned housework and yardwork done but I figured I would offer it up and deal with a messy house and weeds in the yard for a week.

Anyway, today I received an email from the same cantor stating that she realized she will be competing in weekly paddling races every weekend through August and could I cover all the masses for her? I can cantor, but I'm concerned because Saturday is the only day of the week when I have enough time to complete house/yard chores. I'm trying not to do any housework or chores on Sunday and I already squeeze in some chores during the week, but if I take this Saturday mass on (in addition to Sunday 4pm mass), I'm honestly not sure I can keep the Sabbath without my house and yard turning into a total wreck.

So, the question is, if I cantor at 2 masses every weekend and can't get my household chores done, would it still be a sin to do some chores on Sunday which I would have otherwise been able to do during Saturday when I'm cantoring? Or should I ask the choir director to find someone else. For what it's worth, I cannot simply show up and begin singing. Cantoring at mass (for me) requires about a 3 hour chunk of time, not including practicing I do on my own. We don't have a physical church because the 2006 earthquake damaged our church beyond repair. I cantor in a large open-air tent and we have to pull out all the musical and electronic equipment (electric piano, microphones, cords, speakers, etc) and set it up with all the wires, etc before mass. Sometimes extra precautions are needed if it's especially windy (which is rather often) - binder clips or bricks to ensure music doesn't fly away. For some reason, all the choir members only attend the 7am or 9am Sunday masses. The only other choir member who attends my 4pm Sunday mass is the lady who cantors the 12pm Sunday mass because she enjoys singing Alto parts when I sing the Soprano/melody. She can't cantor the 5pm Saturday mass because she's going out of the country for 6 weeks.

Not sure what to do. Any advice? ]]> Liturgy and Sacraments efj803 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790013 Hosanna Hosanna Hosanna in the Highest, Peace to His People on Earth, now and for Eternity http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790011&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 08:18:31 GMT ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hosanna Hosanna Hosanna in the Highest, Peace to His People here on Earth, walking in Jesus Image and following all of His Divine Holy Loving ways and Earth in the image of Heaven and its Holiness, now and for Eternity by all sinners, Amen. Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear! Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear! Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear! Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the Highest, Peace to His People here on Earth, walking in Jesus Image and following all of His Divine Holy Loving ways and Earth in the image of Heaven and its Holiness, now and for Eternity, by all sinners, Amen. Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++++++
Hosanna Hosanna Hosanna in the Highest, Peace to His People here on Earth, walking in Jesus Image and following all of His Divine Holy Loving ways and Earth in the image of Heaven and its Holiness, now and for Eternity by all sinners, Amen.

Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear!
Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear!
Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear!

Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the Highest, Peace to His People here on Earth, walking in Jesus Image and following all of His Divine Holy Loving ways and Earth in the image of Heaven and its Holiness, now and for Eternity, by all sinners, Amen.

Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear!
Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear!
Yahweh is the God of my Salvation, I trust in Him, I have no fear!

Hosanna, Hosanna Hosanna in the Highest, Peace to His People here on Earth, walking in Jesus image and following all of His Divine Holy Loving ways and Earth in the image of Heaven and its Holiness, now and for Eternity, by all sinners, Amen

Praise and Thanks be to Thee Dear Jesus Christ our Saviour and Dear Our Lady Mary Mother of Jesus from all sinners and myself now and for Eternity, Amen ]]> Prayer Intentions HolyRosaryChild http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790011 What If Muhammad Was Born Today? http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790004&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 07:53:31 GMT If Muhammad was born in this age how would he preach? Would he lead his ministry by word or guns or both? If Muhammad was born in this age how would he preach?

Would he lead his ministry by word or guns or both? ]]> Non-Catholic Religions Augustine3 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790004 Arguments Against Divorce http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790003&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 07:46:50 GMT My country is in the process of approving a divorce law. Right now all we have is legal separation and annulment. I was hoping for some advice how to combat this law. Does anyone here know the legal, moral, psychological etc. arguments against divorce? Or at least point me in the right direction? Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you! :) My country is in the process of approving a divorce law. Right now all we have is legal separation and annulment. I was hoping for some advice how to combat this law. Does anyone here know the legal, moral, psychological etc. arguments against divorce? Or at least point me in the right direction? Any help would be much appreciated! Thank you! :) ]]> Social Justice MarytheDefender http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790003 What do I do to rectify what my father did as a kid? http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790001&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 07:39:54 GMT I can't think of an appropriate forum for this quandary, so I'm dumping it here in the Back Fence. I'm a semi-regular poster on CAF under another name. The subject of this post is very sensitive (and actually criminal), so I'm posting under a pseudonym.

I just came back from a visit to my parents' house. They are both non-Catholics, and I converted a couple years ago. I was showing my father a cool internet site that takes old photos (from the 1950s-60s) from around our city and puts them into a 3D sort of map in order to show what it would've looked like to walk down the streets during that time.

Out of nowhere he asked me to virtually take him to a particular street corner to see an old Catholic Church he knew of as a kid (he mentioned the parish by name). I told him that the Church likely didn't exist then due to its current architecture; it's very modern. He insisted I do it anyway, and so I complied. Sure enough, there was a rather magnificent, traditional Catholic church building standing in the same place where now stands the current church with the same name.

"Wow. It's so beautiful. Was it damaged in an earthquake or something?" I asked.
"No. Fire. A bad fire."
"You lived just up the street from here, didn't you Dad?"
"Yes. I was 7 at the time. The fire was so awful. It spread so fast."
"My Gosh! You witnessed it?"
"Of course I witnessed it, I was inside."
"Why were you inside a Catholic Church?"
"Don't worry about it. It was just an awful sight to see."

He nervously began talking about something else. My family comes from a (historically) rather anti-Catholic religion, and they themselves are quite absolutist in their theology: their church and only their church is correct, and I know for certain that outside of a friend's First Communion or Confirmation, neither of my parents would've stepped foot into a Catholic Church in the 60s.

Something just didn't sit right with me concerning the haste with which he changed the subject. Later on in the evening when we were alone I pressed the issue a bit further, when finally he told me that he and a buddy accidentally started the fire while they were playing around in the nave. According to him, they knocked over a rack of votive candles which subsequently set the carpet on fire. Being 7 year olds, they simply ran away, never to tell a soul. Everything except the arch over the front doors and the bell tower burned to the ground. Nobody was hurt. No suspects were found, and as far as I know the case remains unsolved to this day.

I can tell my father is seriously upset by this, and that this was a mere accident of youthful stupidity. That I myself am Catholic, and know that the Eucharist also burned along with the church leaves me aghast.

What do I do?
I have to do something. Do I start making anonymous donations to the church? Do I turn my father in? I don't think this would be very helpful since it happened so many years ago, and the Parish has since gotten on with its life. My parents are very religious people, and as adults they would never behave in such a manner. I also suspect that if I did turn my father in, and he was questioned about it by police he would fess up.

What do I do? ]]> Back Fence SinsOfMyFather http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=790001 Morality issues with online selling/advertising http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789999&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 07:20:05 GMT Hello,

I became a Christian in a protestant church but I've left that and am seriously thinking about becoming a Catholic. Anyways, I had a moral question and was wondering what Catholics thought about it.

Now, I guess my blessing and my curse is that I pay attention to details. So, I don't know if the following issue is just me nit-picking too much or if it's a real issue.

Anyways, I'm developing a website that will automatically search other websites (like walmart.com) and list items they have for sale. This will be an automatic process. A program will search the website and find which items are for sale. Most of these items will be normal household items or electronics. In some instances I will be able to get a commission off a successful sale.

So the problem is - I can't be 100% which items I'm selling. I mean generally, I can avoid adult-type items but I can't manually check every item. What if I happen to sell some morally questionable item like an offensive book or movie. Or perhaps some overly sexual item (I guess I'm not sure what but it seems like modern society sexualizes a lot of things).

Do you think this is a legitimate concern or should I not be worried? Thanks ]]> Faith and Finances Teneth http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789999 Obama Responds to Heckler http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789991&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 06:11:53 GMT Obama interrupted by heckler (twice) who wants Gitmo closed. Ironically, Obama was talking about how he wants Gitmo closed too. Obama is a very good public speaker no doubt. video link here (http://www.carbonated.tv/news/obama-has-unique-reaction-to-heckler-at-major-terrorism-address-video) Obama interrupted by heckler (twice) who wants Gitmo closed. Ironically, Obama was talking about how he wants Gitmo closed too.

Obama is a very good public speaker no doubt. video link here ]]> World News johnmarson http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789991 prayers for recommendation letter http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789990&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 06:09:51 GMT Hi!

This is kind of small compared to some other prayer request, but

I'd like to request prayers for a person who is going to write a letter of recommendation for me...that they are doing better after being ill, that they can write the letter in time, and get back to me about an interview.

:shrug:

Thank you all... ]]> Prayer Intentions sunny422 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789990 Looking for St. Joseph the Worker Icon http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789989&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 06:08:40 GMT Has anyone ever seen one of these, and if so where can I get a print of one? I've looked everywhere I can think of, but with no luck. I would love to put it in my cubicle. ]]> Eastern Catholicism pbiller http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789989 My Catholic Faith Inspired My Actions, Says Ingrid Loyau-Kennett, the Heroine Who Faced Woolwich London Attacker http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789987&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 06:02:44 GMT When a solder was brutally murdered on a busy London street by two fanatical Moslems, a murder that has been covered internationally in the media, a fearless London woman went to talk with one of the murderers, who was still holding his bloody knives, in hope of keeping him from further bloodshed. This article tells the faith what motivated her. Links to a video in which she speaks and to an article in a London newspaper which is the source of this information about her action are also provided in this post. www.patheos.com/blogs/feastofeden/2013/05/my-catholic-faith-inspired-my-actions-says-ingrid-loyau-kennett-the-heroine-who-faced-woolwich-attacker/ When a solder was brutally murdered on a busy London street by two fanatical Moslems, a murder that has been covered internationally in the media, a fearless London woman went to talk with one of the murderers, who was still holding his bloody knives, in hope of keeping him from further bloodshed. This article tells the faith what motivated her. Links to a video in which she speaks and to an article in a London newspaper which is the source of this information about her action are also provided in this post.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/feastof...wich-attacker/ ]]> Catholic News mdgspencer http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789987 Copd- a terrible disease http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789981&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 05:45:35 GMT Please pray for my wife that has COPD. GOD helps us everyday but believe he expects us to all pray for each other. Thank you. Please pray for my wife that has COPD. GOD helps us everyday but believe he expects us to all pray for each other. Thank you. ]]> Prayer Intentions Txmoose http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789981 Ex-Ford execs charged in Argentine torture cases http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789979&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:58:48 GMT http://news.yahoo.com/ex-ford-execs-charged-argentine-torture-cases-192149822.html http://news.yahoo.com/ex-ford-execs-...192149822.html ]]> World News Maxirad http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789979 I just dont understand??... http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789978&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:55:12 GMT :confused: why life is the way it is? let me give you a little background. I am 22 years old girl. I still live at home with my parents. This past january i went through the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I woke up on january 26 of this year to my mom yelling for my brother to call 911. She had went into the bedroom and saw my dad on the floor. He was concious and awake but he was just looking around the room and could not speak. He had a severe ischemic stroke. It affected the right side of his body he can no longer talk, or walk or use his arm. My life has changed forever. I dont understand why God allowed this to happen to my family?.. Before this happened everything in my life was starting to come together. But, now i wake up everyday and have to help my mom take care of my dad. Its to much for one person to do. Its so hard to deal with, i feel like one day i am gonna wake up and my dad will be normal again and this was just a bad dream. I often cry, and it stresses me... :confused: why life is the way it is? let me give you a little background. I am 22 years old girl. I still live at home with my parents. This past january i went through the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I woke up on january 26 of this year to my mom yelling for my brother to call 911. She had went into the bedroom and saw my dad on the floor. He was concious and awake but he was just looking around the room and could not speak. He had a severe ischemic stroke. It affected the right side of his body he can no longer talk, or walk or use his arm. My life has changed forever. I dont understand why God allowed this to happen to my family?.. Before this happened everything in my life was starting to come together. But, now i wake up everyday and have to help my mom take care of my dad. Its to much for one person to do. Its so hard to deal with, i feel like one day i am gonna wake up and my dad will be normal again and this was just a bad dream. I often cry, and it stresses me out so much. My mom is constantly yelling at me about something, i help her and nothing is ever good enough. I do alot i feel like a "mom" to my brother because i have to make his dinner, iron his clothes, clean his room. He is 18 by the way and fully capable of doing it himself. I also have to clean the house, cook meals for my dad,give him his meds.. and so on. I dont have any friends so i never go out the house only to go grocery shopping and do errands for the household. I feel stuck:(. I kinda just needed to vent. sorry its so long. I still beleive in God but i dont pray as much as i use to before this happened. And i am forced to go to church. So please just pray for me.. ;) ]]> Family Life lolashy http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789978 Is Internet Trolling a sin? http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789976&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:51:02 GMT I was wondering if it was a sin. I was wondering if it was a sin. ]]> Back Fence KingJohn http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789976 Adoration http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789970&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:48:51 GMT I'm not sure how to phrase this, so I'm sorry if I don't say it correctly.

I understand the concept. I understand that Jesus is present in the Host and all. I just don't know what I'm supposed to do.

I guess I need to learn how to adore? I don't know. I'm taking any and all advice at this point. Just don't be mean. lol. :D ]]> Liturgy and Sacraments KendraDZ1902 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789970 <![CDATA[Confirmation, 'Baptism of the Holy Spirit' confusion]]> http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789969&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:47:18 GMT I was baptized Reformed-ish. We were taught that baptism was not regenerative nor was it a special vehicle of grace (it didn't "do anything"), but was an act of obedience to Christ; and if this act of obedience was the result of faith in Christ, we would receive the Holy Spirit (not because of the baptism, but because of the faith), and the Holy Spirit would then grant us assurance of salvation. I did not sense that I "had" the Holy Spirit; I didn't have love, wisdom or peace, and I did not receive assurance of salvation in spite of much prayer. I thought that perhaps something had 'gone wrong' with my baptism; there was a similar situation in Acts where people received Christian baptism but not the Spirit, and some of the Apostles had to be called in to lay hands on them so that they could receive the Spirit. I was taught that there were no more Apostles (and no Apostolic Succession) so it didn't seem likely that there was anyone who could help me, and if it was not God's will for me to have the Spirit, this (among other things) was because I was just not Predestined.

When I became Catholic, I thought that Confirmation would clear up any "problem" with my baptism. I was hoping that it would be a happy day, but mostly I was praying that it wouldn't trigger a stint of depression. Because I wanted to avoid an emotional high followed by a crash, I chose not to be received into the Church at the Easter vigil when there would be greater expectations and excitement. I did not want to remember the day as a source of disappointment. I was Confirmed quietly in a quiet month, and at the time I was quietly happy, which was nice. A couple of things didn't go as expected but it was okay. After I saw the Easter vigil, though, the "couple of things" were overwhelming, and I wonder if it was a suffering caused by avoiding the cross - I tried to protect myself from potential emotional pain, and ended up finding emotional pain in another way?

I am too sensitive about my Confirmation/First Communion, as it seemed vitally important as the seal of my baptism and a remedy for an apparent lack of God. It felt almost like it ought to have been a wedding, and I had wanted to do it right, but at the same time I was trying to downplay it so as not to create any false hopes. I know that I ought to just be grateful to have received Confirmation and now have access to Confession and the Eucharist. I am so thankful to be a Catholic, but when I see how "normal" people celebrate these milestones, I feel absurdly sad and rejected, even cheated. (Just feelings, I know.)

Now I realize that, even within Catholicism, there is a "baptism of the Holy Spirit" that can come separately from the sacraments of baptism and Confirmation, and this does not come to everyone? Am I supposed to request it? In the Acts reference, it was obvious whether or not a convert had received the Spirit, but although I am told that I "have" the Spirit by baptism and Confirmation, I can't tell.
:shrug: ]]> Liturgy and Sacraments SecretaryMonday http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789969 <![CDATA[Hell & The New Creation]]> http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789968&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:45:03 GMT How does Hell "fit" into the New Creation? Both Scripture and Tradition paint the New Creation as being free from sin, death, and evil. Assuming the concept of Hell normally taught today (i.e. eternal separation from the love of God), how do these two things fit together? It would seem that in this scenario, sin and death will have always have apace in God's creation. Thoughts? ]]> Philosophy Paul423 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789968 Summer Blockbuster: A Black Hole Swallows a Cloud http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789965&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:24:49 GMT http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...swallows-cloud

Quote:
No matter where the unlucky cloud originated from, its fate is sealed: within a few years it will be sucked past the event horizon of the black hole, its existence obliterated. But astronomers will be studying its long farewell, using every kind of telescope available to them. Perhaps the cloud isn't so unlucky after all, suggests Stefan Gillessen, a member of the team that first discovered the cloud in 2011. “It's unlucky in the sense that it will be destroyed,” he quips, “but lucky in the sense that it becomes famous.”
I wonder if we will see this event with advanced telescopes and what data will be gathered. It seems very interesting. ]]> World News matt1985 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789965 <![CDATA[Hell & The New Creation]]> http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789964&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:22:53 GMT Okay, this question might be a bit tricky to word properly, but I'm gonna give a shot.

How does Hell "fit" into the New Creation? What I mean is this: both Scripture and Tradition paint a picture of the New Creation as being freed from sin, death, and evil. There are new heavens and a new earth; we will have resurrected, glorified bodies; God will dwell among us; etc. it's a picture of complete whole ness between creation and Creator. As St. Paul puts it, God will be "all in all." So my question is, how does Hell fit in to this picture? Assuming the concept of Hell put forth by the Church today (i.e. eternal separation from God) then how do these two concepts fit? It seems to me that sin and death will forever have a place in creation with this understanding. Thoughts?

P.S. Not arguing against Church teaching on Hell, just looking for a little philosophical/metaphysical explanation. ]]> Apologetics Paul423 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789964 <![CDATA[Singles: What if we were "Not Single"?]]> http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789963&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:18:13 GMT A bit of a wild thought entered my mind today and I thought I'd share it, just in case it resonated with some of my fellow "singles" (we'll get to that in a moment).

What if, instead of thinking of yourself as "single" you thought of yourself as "not single"?

Think about it...

When I think of "single" as a status, I think of being alone, being left behind somehow, or lacking in some way.

I think of the lifestyle choices that many associate with the term in mainstream culture, choices that are often reflected in popular movies and tv shows.

But those of us who are serious about our faith and discerning God's will with regards to relationships do not follow this lifestyle, are never alone, and are not lacking. No. We are all always "in a relationship" with God. We're "taken"...by the Holy Spirit.

We sometimes talk about singleness as if it is some kind of a condition or problem...when I think about being single, "the single life", etc. I feel as though I have to claim some sort of status that implies a certain degree of independence, of self-sufficiency.

But we all know that we are wholly reliant on God. We trust Him. We need Him. And He's always there. Our faith calls us to always live in relation to others...even when it seems impossible...even when our only connection to others is through prayer.

What do you think about embracing your "not single"ness? ]]> Family Life iwillrisenow http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789963 Roses from St. Therese http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789962&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 04:09:10 GMT Has anyone had this happen? Has anyone had this happen? ]]> Spirituality Evania http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789962 Grave matter? http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789958&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 03:34:53 GMT This is not going to sound like the question someone who has been Catholic for 15 years should have to ask, but here goes. I just went to confession today, and I do have a spiritual director but I only meet with her once a month. I just literally have no judgement right now about what is mortal or venial sin. Of course, I know if I murder someone, rob a bank, commit adultery, or worship in the temple of Baal, I need to go to confession. But many other things just aren't so clear to me b/c they involve things that occur inwardly--in the mind. I was googling, "How often do priests go to confession?" and I saw a link that said, "Do priests go to confession? If so, to whom do they confess?" I had misread it though, thinking it said, "Do priests go to confession? If so, WHAT do they confess?" And I clicked on it kind of curiously and excitedly, thinking, "I wonder what they do confess? I wonder if they ever have sins of impurity to confess?" Well, I read the article, kind of hoping for some interesting "dirt", and of course it didn't have anything about what they confess, and then I read the words, "A priest is a man and therefore sinful and needful of penance." And then I thought, "Of course they are" and I felt ashamed that I had been reading to find "dirt". Even though there was nothing sinful in the article, I feel like my intentions were sinful. My logic tells me this is probably a venial sin because I wasn't really thinking at the time how sinful it was (I mean, I wasn't searching for porn or anything like that), but my scruples want to tell me I may have committed mortal sin. Is this even grave matter? ]]> Moral Theology Veronica97 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789958 For my husband http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789956&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 03:32:26 GMT Please pray for my husband's job situation. Please pray that he will be able to handle the stress of his position and for the chaos to pass or for a better opportunity to be available to him as he is our main source of income. (And more importantly, he is the backbone of our family and we hurt so much to see him struggling under the weight of all this stress). ]]> Prayer Intentions grlfreedy http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789956 <![CDATA[Did Saint Paul say that the Jews are permanently God's people?]]> http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789955&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 03:28:49 GMT I mean, I know he emphasized over and over again that the old covenant is dead and that we need to believe in Jesus to be saved. I remember reading one of his epistles and he apparently said that Israel is always God's chosen people? Please, correct me if I'm wrong? ]]> Sacred Scripture JDGaney http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789955 Impure thoughts and conscience formation http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789951&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 03:09:20 GMT I have been having an interesting dilemma lately. It turns out that Satan loves to tempt me with impure thoughts during maritals (for lack of a more pure term). I pray again them and reorder my thoughts but they occur at extremely vulnerable moments during the act. The last temptation I fought scared me so much to where I gave in briefly with the thought "Get away from me" and I literally had to recompose myself for a period. It was akin to me involuntarily pointing a gun at someone, fighting the temptation to shoot and then closing my eyes, setting off the gun just so I can drop it and run away....a knee jerk reaction to drop defenses and alter the situation where I am not tempted again. I have limited access to confession - I live in a mission church rural area with one priest for 4 missions and his availability is seriously limited. Therefore, I try to thoroughly examine my conscience for confession of serious sins when I absolutely am in mortal sin. Has anyone encountered this knee jerk reaction before? Would this be partial consent or a cop out on my part? :( ]]> Spirituality aggiecatholic85 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789951 One of the Devils schemes http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789950&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 02:56:56 GMT here is one of the devils scheme that i have come to figure out and need to share this with you all so that you dont let our enemy who has no power over us to bring us down, make us stay down or hinder us in any way.. the enemy wants you to think that the thoughts he put into your head are yours, that you came up with them and therefor you are a bad person , because you thought of these evils and there is no way for you to change there is something inherently wrong with you these thoughts he puts into your head usually riht after something good or before you are about to think about something good andy ou will know it is him putting these thoughts into your head because you would never think of such a thing yourself, unless of course you would know because you would have the holy spirit convicting you to repent... when you question the thoughts as coming from yourslef you are unrealistically believing that his thoughts are yours and therefor equating yourself with the... here is one of the devils scheme that i have come to figure out and need to share this with you all so that you dont let our enemy who has no power over us to bring us down, make us stay down or hinder us in any way..

the enemy wants you to think that the thoughts he put into your head are yours, that you came up with them and therefor you are a bad person , because you thought of these evils and there is no way for you to change there is something inherently wrong with you

these thoughts he puts into your head usually riht after something good or before you are about to think about something good andy ou will know it is him putting these thoughts into your head because you would never think of such a thing yourself, unless of course you would know because you would have the holy spirit convicting you to repent...

when you question the thoughts as coming from yourslef you are unrealistically believing that his thoughts are yours and therefor equating yourself with the enemy.. this is not true! i cannot stress this enough, if you let this happen like i have for the past couple years of my lifey ou will stay down, or struggle, immensely, try to even avoid religion alltogether because you think your never good enough..

dont let satan win! and remember that christ is with you and i will be praying for you all ]]> Spirituality pwlj_christ87 http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789950 Baptism of baby by lesbian http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789949&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 02:53:57 GMT My niece recently had a baby and has asked her sister who is a lesbian and living with her lesbian lover to be the baby's godmother. My conscience tells me this should not be allowed since the godmother makes a promise that in the parents absence she will bring up the child as a good catholic. If a priest goes ahead and agrees to this and allows the baptism of the child, what would my obligation be? Do I report him to the bishop or do I speak to him direct? Can you tell me where I can find where it goes against our Catholic faith? ]]> Liturgy and Sacraments Clararos http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789949 <![CDATA[Mary's religion]]> http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789948&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 02:53:32 GMT I had a visit from Jahovah witness's, after a good 20 minute talk they left me with a question that I had never put much thought into. Did Mary continue to be a Jew after Jesus's sacrifice? How can I answer this question? ]]> Apologetics Cinico http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789948 New Catholic here struggling to find spiritual support http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789945&goto=newpost Fri, 24 May 2013 02:44:08 GMT I am 21 and got baptized this Easter vigil. I am a convert and former Anglican.
I never doubt God, I am very spiritual and have been very happy this past year but suddenly the past week or two I've felt very isolated, lonely and sad. I don't have many friends, few catholic friends, no one in my small family is Christian and recently my priest has stopped talking to me because I told him I could not be a reader at church due to having anxiety issues so now he ignores me and no longer acts as a support person or a friend. The few Catholics I know from my Parish I rarely see and they are busy with their own lives.
God never fails me, I'm always comforted in prayer and feel love and strength from prayer and mass. But I feel the world hates me, no one understands me for my beliefs and mocks me for not being married or partnered (and I don't want to be) I just feel so alone and hurt at the moment and having my priest ignore me really hurts because he is someone I respect and look up to. At times I feel like I just don't want to get up in the morning.
Before I was baptized, I was very happy, very in love with god but it's like all of a sudden I've stepped into a dark cloud.

I will never abandon my faith but I need to know is this perhaps a trial/test from God? I am willing to suffer for him, but wow, it's hard.

I wish I had a priest that understood me and could support me, i have been to other parishes in the week and none I connect with. I feel hurt and lost. :( ]]> Evangelization _Gemma_ http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=789945