Five Questions with Fr. Joe

Here is the latest from Fr. Joe!

If you have a question about the Catholic faith, Church history, or just want a clarification on Catholic teaching, here is your chance. Even if you just want some advise on a situation that you are dealing with or need some guidance on your personal faith journey, here is an opportunity to do so. Just email your questions to blog.of.daniel@gmail.com or DBender45@yahoo.com

1) The Catholic Church is opposed to contraception because it negates the life giving power that is a major part marital union. Is it morally acceptable for one to use birth control if it is prescribed by a doctor for other medical conditions?

This is a very good question and one that happens with regular occurrence. The Church has always held a strong prohibition about the use of artificial birth control. This was re-affirmed in the 1968 document, Humane Vitae, by Pope Paul VI. Yet, in terms of using birth control for other reasons, within the same document, there is a line that states “on the other hand, the Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there from—provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever (15) ". Given this provision, it would seem that as long as the rationale for the prescription was indeed for the medical problem, not to regulate birth, one would be allowed to use the medicine.

2) In the last "Five Questions with Fr. Joe," you mentioned the only sin that is unforgivable is a "sin against the Holy Spirit." This response generated some discussion amongst the readers of this blog. What exactly is a sin against the Holy Spirit and why can't it be forgiven? Is this referenced in the Bible?

Even though we commonly say, “sin against the Holy Spirit”, one can find a reference to blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1864. Click here for a link to the paragraph. http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1864.htm. Scripturally, one finds references to this sin in Mark 3:29, Matthew 12:32, and Luke 12:10. In case you’re worried about committing it, I heard it said once that if you’ve worried about it, you’ve never committed it and probably won’t commit it either. It seems quite intentional to commit.

3) Catholics tend light candles in Churches and at other places (shrines, etc.) at the same time when they offer up a prayer to God. Why do we light candles and are there certain occasions when should or should not light a candle?

I’m not too sure where and when the practice of lighting candles began. However, I think it might be related to the idea of our prayers rising like incense before God, as we hear in Psalm 141. Just as incense rise to the heavens, the lights of candles illuminates and signifies our prayers “lit” before God. Sometimes, during Lent, parishes remove candles, but if there are candles out, one shouldn’t feel that they have to light or not them; whether they’re lit or not, God will hear our prayers.

4) Protestants reference certain scriptural passages in making the argument that priest should not be celibate. Furthermore, St. Peter, our first pope, was married and there were periods in the Church's history where priest were married. What is reason behind the vow of celibacy that priest take? Can you explain how this is a "discipline" and not a "dogma"?

While there are passages that suggest priests should not be celibate, there are passages that suggest some are given a grace to be celibate for the sake of the kingdom, see Matthew 19:12. This is one of those cases that both being married and celibate are to be respected as valued ways of living life. I think it’s important for us to see both marriage and celibacy as important ways of living one’s devotion to Christ. It’s not a dogma, but a discipline, because it doesn’t attain the same level of teaching on things such as the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Eucharist. One quick way of distinguishing, most dogmas are contained in the Nicene Creed, which disciplines are not. In terms of rationale behind the mandatory celibacy for priests, there are several reasons – some spiritual and some practical. One of the most practical, at times, when married priests were dying, Church property was being left to families and not the Church. Secondly, being unmarried allows for a great deal of freedom – it’s easier to move one person than an entire family to a new assignment. Now, it terms of spiritual rationale, there is a belief and from my experience, it’s true, that celibacy allows a priest to be focused on the work of the parish without concern of one’s family. I’d certainly welcome an ongoing discussion of this.

5) What is Canon Law and what are the origins for it? To what extent should the laity (non-clergy members of the Church) be concerned with regarding Canon Law?

Canon law is the law of the Church. Like any other institution, the Church needs rules and Canon Low provides that for us. It provides for many aspects of the Church’s internal make up. One of the reasons laity should be aware of it is because it does continue obligations and rights for the Christian faithful, which need to be assured. You can find a link to the entire body of text on the Vatican website, http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/_INDEX.HTM. You will want to pay special attention to the part on the obligations and rights of all the Christian Faithful, which is Part I of Book II.

Thanks Fr. Joe!!

March Madness- Catholic Style!

We are finally here. The week of the NCAA tournament. Right now, 68 teams have a shot at winning a National Championship but in the end, there will be just one winner. And if you are like a lot of people, you filled out bracket and know exactly who you will be cheering for in the coming weeks. Hopefully you have done your homework and will be successful.

There are several Catholic Universities who have punched their ticket to the big dance. Since we will be hearing a lot about their teams, their players, and their coaches, I thought it would be good to look at the holy Catholic men and women who these schools are named after. I not saying any of them are a lock to get past the first round but maybe this information can help you know more about these people who allowed the light of Christ to shine through them.

Xavier University (Cincinnati, OH)- St. Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta (7 April 1506 – 3 December 1552) was a pioneering Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre (Spain) and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits who dedicated themselves to the service of God at Montmartre in 1534. He led an extensive mission into Asia, mainly in the Portuguese Empire of the time. He was influential in the spreading and upkeep of Catholicism most notably in India, but also ventured into Japan, Borneo, the Moluccas, and other areas which had thus far not been visited by Christian missionaries. In these areas, being a pioneer and struggling to learn the local languages in the face of opposition, he had less success than he had enjoyed in India.

Gonzaga University (Spokane, Washington)- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga (March 9, 1568 – June 21, 1591) was an Italian Jesuit. (You'll find out that that Jesuit Universities tend to have good basketball teams!) He was born at his family's castle in Castiglione delle Stiviere, between Brescia and Mantova in northern Italy in what was then part of the Papal States. He was a member of the illustrious House of Gonzaga. In November 1585, Aloysius gave up all rights of inheritance when he became a priest and a Jesuit. Purity was his notable virtue; he never looked even upon his mother's face and never looked at his queen so that he could only recognize the queen by her voice. St. Maria Magdalena de Pazzi saw him in a vision in a great glory because he had lived a particularly strong interior life. Pope Benedict XIII declared him to the patron saint of young students in 1729. In 1926, he was named patron of Christian youth by Pope Pius XI. Owing to the manner of his death, he has always been considered a patron saint of plague victims.

Villanova University (Philadelphia, PA). St. Thomas of Villanova (1488 - September 8, 1555), was a preacher, ascetic, writer and Spanish friar of the Order of Saint Augustine. Thomas grew up and was educated in Villanueva de los Infantes, in the province of Ciudad Real, Spain, where his parents owned a prosperous estate; therefore the name Thomas of Villanueva. Part of the original house still stands, with a coat of arms in the corner, beside a family chapel. In spite of his family's wealth, as a young boy he often went about naked because he had given his clothing to the poor. Even though he studied Arts and Theology at the University of Alcalá de Henares and became a professor there, he decided to enter the Augustinian order in Salamanca in 1516, and in 1518 was ordained a priest. He was well known for his great personal austerity (he sold the straw mattress on which he slept in order to give money to the poor) and for his continual and untiring charitable efforts, especially towards orphans, poor women without a dowry, and the sick. He possessed, however, an intelligent notion of charity, so that while he was very charitable, he sought to obtain definitive and structural solutions to the problem of poverty; for example, giving work to the poor, thereby making his charity bear fruit. "Charity is not just giving, rather removing the need of those who receive charity and liberating them from it when possible," he wrote. In 1533, he sent out the first Augustinian friars to arrive in Mexico. He began to experience mystical ecstasies during Mass and when reading the psalms.

University of Notre Dame (South Bend, IN)- Mary, Mother of God. Okay, this is a big one! For the other schools, I'll admit, I used the internet to research some but this one I have a good base of knowledge on. "Notre Dame" is French for "Our Lady." The Virgin Mary was a young girl when the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to Nazareth to tell Mary, "Behold, you will conceive in womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus." (Lk 1:31) I think you know the rest of the story. Often times, Protestants believe that Catholics worship Mary but that is not correct. We venerate her and ask her to intercede on our behalf. We also look to as an example of someone who said yes to God and was faithful enough to allow His will be done with her. Mary has been discussed in a couple of my post already and will be in the future. For more information on Mary, click here.

St. John's University (New York, NY). After extensive research, and even a call to the University's Campus Ministry office, I could not determine which St. John the University was named after (there are many "St. John's" in the Catholic Faith... St. John the Baptist, St. John of the Cross, St. John Neumann, and many more). What I was able to find out is that St. John's University was founded by the Vincentian Fathers. St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660) was from southern France, Vincent pursued the priesthood as a way to assure a comfortable life. Through a profound conversion experience in his early ministry, Vincent unraveled a central paradox of life: it is in giving that one receives. In a Paris marked by great affluence enjoyed by a few as well as by dire poverty endured by the masses, Vincent discovered that one finds God and oneself in service to others. A man of deep faith, keen intellect, great business acumen and enormous creativity, he was at home in the hovels of the poor and in the palaces of royalty. Respected by the powerful and loved by the poor, Vincent bridged social classes through his works of charity and his advocacy for the disenfranchised. Vincent organized hospitals for the poor; founded asylums for the orphaned; opened workshops for the unemployed; championed literacy for the uneducated; advocated for the incarcerated; established local charities; and reformed the education and formation of the clergy throughout France where his community of priests and brothers undertook the spiritual care of the poor, particularly those in rural areas.

St. Peter's College (Jersey City, NJ)- St. Peter's College is yet another Jesuit institution. While I could not completely confirm, I believe that this school is named for Simon Peter, our first pope. St. Peter was the Apostle who denied Jesus three time times before Christ was crucified. However, God is merciful and still worked though St. Peter (which means 'Rock'). During his public ministry, Christ said, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church." (Mt 16: 18) Thus the Church of Christ was founded on St. Peter who later went to Rome and was killed for his belief in Jesus Christ. Simon... a simple fisherman would go on to be Saint Peter, our first Pope (a great fisher of men).

There are at least two other Catholic/Jesuit schools in the dance... Georgetown (based in Washington D.C.) and Marquette (Wisc.)

In no way am I claiming that all of those who are associated with these schools and their basketball teams are saintly 24/7 but it is worthwhile to learn about the lives of our Saints. They lived amazing lives and are in heaven now praying for us. You should get to know them!

Let the Madness begin!

Lent: An Opporunity To Fast As Well As To Feast

As we start Lent, it's good for us to think about what can do to make these next 40 days truly transformative. Ask yourself: What can I do to make these next 40 days filled with God and void of the things that take me away from God? And once Easter Sunday comes, we shouldn't revert to our "old ways" but continue to keep striving to keep Christ at the center of our lives.

As we abstain from meat on Fridays and abstain from other things we've decided "to give up", keep in mind what Jesus Christ taught about fasting: "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." (Matthew 6: 16-18)

In other words, don't do a press release about your fasting. Don't look for sympathy from friends and family because you are giving something up or incorporating something else good into your life (going to daily mass, reading more scripture, participating in charity work, etc.). These things are being done to atone for your sins and to connect your sacrifice to the sacrifice experienced by Christ on the cross.

If you haven't come up with something to do for Lent, whether it be adding something or giving something up; here is a list of things worth trying to both fast from, and feast on:

• Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of life.

• Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.

• Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.

• Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.

• Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

• Fast from anger; feast on patience.

• Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

• Fast from worry; feast on divine order.

• Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.

• Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

• Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

• Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance.

• Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.

• Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.

• Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.

• Fast from discouragements; feast on hope.

• Fast from facts that depress; feast on verities that uplift.

• Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.

• Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

• Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of serenity.

• Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

• Fast from anxiety, feast on trusting in God's providence.

May you all fast from those things that distract us from being the people that God has made us to be. May you all feast on the opportunity to grow closer to our Lord!