2cornucopias

Posts Tagged ‘Faith’

, , , , ,

THANK YOU

In 13 History on 2016/10/14 at 8:56 AM

Dear Followers and Visitors,

Thank you for your faithfulness in following the blog.  No more will be added.  The first post was on 3/2/2011 and many of you have entered at different times, so you do have a cornucopia full of posts that you might have not read.

Also, you might want to check my other blogs:

http://whogivesahootaboutyou.wordpress.com

http://earlychurchfathers.wordpress.com

http://ideastocontemplate.wordpress.com   (my husband’s essays)

http://aroundtheworldandthroughthelens.wordpress.com     (our world travels)

Wishing you the best,

Barbara Reagan, retired research historian

Advertisement

, , , ,

“Sadness is the end product of selfishness”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2016/03/18 at 12:00 AM
May no one read sadness or sorrow in your face, when you spread in the world around you the sweet smell of your sacrifice: the children of God should always be sowers of peace and joy. (Furrow, 59)

Being children of God, how can we be sad? Sadness is the end product of selfishness. If we truly want to live for God, we will never lack cheerfulness, even when we discover our errors and wretchedness. Cheerfulness finds its way into our life of prayer, so much so that we cannot help singing for joy. For we are in love, and singing is a thing that lovers do.

If we live our lives in this way, we shall be bringing peace to the world. We shall be making God’s service attractive to others, because ‘God loves a cheerful giver’ [1]. Christians are ordinary people, but their hearts overflow with the joy that comes when we set out to fulfil, with the constant help of grace, the will of the Father. Christians don’t see themselves as victims, underrated, or restricted in their behaviour. They walk head on high, because they are men and children of God.

Our faith brings out the full meaning of these human virtues, which no one should ever neglect. Christians should be second to none as human beings. Those who follow Christ are able (not by their own merit but by the grace of God) to communicate to those around them what they at times suspect but cannot quite grasp: that true happiness, a genuine spirit of serving our neighbour, can only come by passing through the Heart of our Redeemer, perfectus Deus, perfectus homo. (Friends of God, 92-93)

[1] 2 Cor 9:7

, ,

“Get to know the Holy Spirit”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2016/02/19 at 12:00 AM
Get to know the Holy Spirit, the great Stranger, on whom depends your sanctification. Don’t forget that you are God’s temple. The Advocate is in the centre of your soul: listen to him and be docile to his inspirations. (The Way, 57)

The strength and the power of God light up the face of the earth. The Holy Spirit is present in the Church of Christ for all time, so that it may be, always and in everything, a sign raised up before all nations, announcing to all men the goodness and the love of God. In spite of our great limitations, we can look up to heaven with confidence and joy: God loves us and frees us from our sins. The presence and the action of the Holy Spirit in the Church are a foretaste of eternal happiness, of the joy and peace for which we are destined by God. (…)

But our faith in the Holy Spirit must be complete. It is not a vague belief in his presence in the world, but a grateful acceptance of the signs and realities into which he has poured forth his power in a special way. When the Spirit of truth comes, our Lord tells us, “he will glorify me, for he will take of what is mine and declare it to you.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit sent by Christ to carry out in us the work of holiness that our Lord merited for us on earth.

There cannot be faith in the Holy Spirit if there is not faith in Christ, in his sacraments, in his Church. A man cannot act in accordance with his christian faith, cannot truly believe in the Holy Spirit, unless he loves the Church and trusts it. He cannot be a coherent Christian if he limits himself to pointing out the deficiencies and limitations of some who represent the Church, judging her from the outside, as though he were not her son.

(Christ is passing by, 128-130)

, , ,

“The richness of our faith”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2015/12/20 at 12:00 AM
Don’t be a pessimist. Don’t you realize that all that happens or can happen is for the best?—Your optimism will be a necessary consequence of your faith. (The Way, 378)

In the midst of the limitations that accompany our present life, in which sin is still present in us to some extent at least, we Christians perceive with a particular clearness all the wealth of our divine filiation, when we realize that we are fully free because we are doing our Father’s work, when our joy becomes constant because no one can take our hope away.

It is then that we can admire at the same time all the great and beautiful things of this earth, can appreciate the richness and goodness of creation, and can love with all the strength and purity for which the human heart was made. It is then that sorrow for sin does not degenerate into a bitter gesture of despair or pride, because sorrow and knowledge of human weakness lead us to identify ourselves again with Christ’s work of redemption and feel more deeply our solidarity with other men.

It is then, finally, that we Christians experience in our own life the sure strength of the Holy Spirit, in such a way that our own failures do not drag us down. Rather they are an invitation to begin again, and to continue being faithful witnesses of Christ in all the moments of our life — in spite of our own personal weaknesses, which, in such a case, are normally no more than small failings that hardly perturb the soul. And even if they were grave sins, the sacrament of penance, received with true sorrow, enables us to recover our peace with God and to become again a good witness of his mercy.

Such is the brief summary, which can barely be expressed in human language, of the richness of our faith and of our christian life, if we let ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit. (Christ is passing by, 138)

, , , ,

Catechism and Controversies

In 15 Audio on 2015/11/27 at 12:00 AM
Catechism and Controversies
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn
The Catechism of the Catholic Church issued in its present form contains an authentic statement of the faith in its fullness. Unfortunately, there are those, and many are religious educators, who are already trying to subvert the teachings found in the Catechism. In a challenging and insightful way, Msgr. Michael Wrenn examines the inner workings behind the publication of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as several problems found in today’s religious education efforts.

Catechism and Controversies Back to Series List
Program Name Audio File Name – Click to download
1. Catechetical failures
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_01.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn looks at the ethical and moral problems found in our society and attributes them to, among other things, the failure of catholic religious educators to pass on the faith.
2. The historical context for the New Catechism
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_02.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn examines a number of documents and ideas that lead to the need for a new Catechism.
3. Struggles
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_03.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn examines the idealogical power struggle that surrounded the formation of the new Catechism.
4. The English translation
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_04.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn discusses some of the problems with translating the text of the new Catechism into English.
5. Commentaries
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_05.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn looks at the numerous commentaries written for and against the new Catechism and their impact on the Faith.
6. Scripture scholarship
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_06.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn discusses the importance of expert scripture scholarship and its impact on the new Catechism and those who would read it.
7. The Foundations of our Faith
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_07.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn talks about the four pillars of the Catechism and the bedrock of our Faith.
8. Proper Faith Formation
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_08.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn discusses the proper formation of a person’s faith which is one of the functions of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
9. Religious Education in the U.S.
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_09.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn looks at some of the tensions which came about after the holy See strengthened the norms of religious education in the US.
10. Church History
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_10.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn examines the antiquity of the Church and how proper religious education can enhance our appreciation for church history.
11. Pope John Paul II’s teachings
Host – Msgr. Michael Wrenn		 catcontr_11.mp3
Msgr. Michael J. Wrenn looks at Pope John Paul II’s voluminous contributions to the teachings of the faith including the new Catechism.

 

, , ,

Apologetics 101 – Host: John Martignoni

In 15 Audio on 2015/07/17 at 12:00 AM

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/file_index.asp?SeriesId=7061&pgnu=Apologetics, 101 Back to Series List
Program Name Audio File Name – Click to download
1. What does the word “Apologetics” mean?
Host – John Martignoni apologetics101.mp3
2. Are there any basic rules for doing apologetics?
Host – John Martignoni apologetics102.mp3
3. What should I keep in mind when I’m trying to defend my faith?
Host – John Martignoni apologetics103.mp3
4. Cafeteria catholicism
Host – John Martignoni apologetics104.mp3
5. Why do Catholics have crucifixes.
Host – John Martignoni apologetics105.mp3
6. Are Adam and Eve “just myths”?
Host – John Martignoni apologetics106.mp3
7. Literalist vs. Literal meaning of Scripture
Host – John Martignoni apologetics107.mp3
8. “Faith alone”, “Works alone”, or none of the above?
Host – John Martignoni apologetics108.mp3
9. Are Catholics saved?
Host – John Martignoni apologetics109.mp3
10. Is Baptism only symbolic.
Host – John Martignoni apologetics110.mp3
11. “Left Behind”
Host – John Martignoni apologetics111.mp3
12. Did Jesus have brothers and sisters?
Host – John Martignoni apologetics112.mp3
13. Man-made traditions
Host – John Martignoni apologetics113.mp3

, , , , ,

Fides et Ratio

In 15 Audio on 2015/06/26 at 12:00 AM

http://www.ewtn.com/vondemand/audio/file_index.asp?SeriesId=6138&pgnu=1

1.Part One
Host – Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, Dr. William Marshner, and Fr. George Rutler fides_1.mp3

2.Part Two
Host – Dr. Timothy O’Donnell, Dr. John Cuddeback, and Fr. George Rutler fides_2.mp3

 

, , ,

“May you not lack simplicity”

In 01 Daily Meditations on 2015/05/22 at 12:00 AM

 

Look: the apostles, for all their evident and undeniable defects, were sincere, simple… transparent. You too have evident and undeniable defects. May you not lack simplicity. (The Way, 932)

The first Apostles, for whom I have great affection and devotion, were nothing to boast about, humanly speaking. With the exception of Matthew, who probably earned a comfortable living which he left behind at the behest of Jesus, the Apostles were mere fishermen. They lived a meager existence, fishing all night to keep food on the table.

But social status is unimportant. They weren’t educated; they weren’t even very bright, if we judge from their reaction to supernatural things. Finding even the most elementary examples and comparisons beyond their reach, they would turn to the Master and ask: “Explain the parable to us” [1]. When Jesus uses the image of the “leaven” of the Pharisees, they think that he’s reproaching them for not having purchased bread [2].

They were poor; they were ignorant. They weren’t very simple or open. But they were even ambitious. Frequently they argued over who would be the greatest when — according to their understanding — Christ would definitively restore the kingdom of Israel. Amid the intimacy of the last supper, during that sublime moment when Jesus is about to immolate himself for all of humanity, we find them arguing heatedly [3].

Faith? They had little. Jesus Christ himself points this out [4]. They had seen the dead raised, all kinds of sicknesses cured, bread and fish multiplied, storms calmed, devils cast out…

And did these men of little faith at least stand out in their love for Christ? Undoubtedly they loved him, at least in word… They are ordinary men, complete with defects and shortcomings, more eager to say than to do. Nevertheless, Jesus calls them to be fishers of men [5], co‑redeemers, dispensers of the grace of God. (Christ is passing by, 2)

[1] Matt 13:36: Domine, edissere nobis parabolam

[2] Cf Matt 16:6‑7

[3] Cf Luke 22:24‑27

[4] Cf Matt 14:31; 16:8; 17:17; 21:21

[5] Matt 4:19 [Top]

, ,

In Uncategorized on 2015/01/02 at 12:00 AM

 

 

, , , ,

Christmas Mass

In 05 Homilies by Fr. Reid on 2014/12/25 at 12:00 AM

 France has long been called the “Eldest Daughter of the Church,” mostly because of the deep way our Christian faith took root in that country in the earliest centuries of our Church history.
 The faith came to life in France like in no other country, which can be seen in the fact that so many of our greatest saints and so many of our most beautiful Catholic churches and works of art are to be found within her borders.
 Considering the historical greatness of the Catholic faith in France, it really should come as no surprise that the downfall of the Catholic faith in France was so heinous and horrifying.
 St. Peter tells us that satan prowls the world like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, and what greater prey could he have had than a country like France was 250 years ago?
 In a Reign of Terror that made our revolution here in America look like a tea party, the French Revolution of the late 18th century sought to strike a blow to the faith in France by a wholesale assault on the Catholic Church.
 Indeed, the French Revolution was not only an assault on the Church, but an assault on God Himself. To the revolutionaries nothing was considered sacred.
 Indeed, hundreds of priests and nuns were sent to the guillotine, and as if there were not enough, many of the Church’s goods and treasures were confiscated, and countless church buildings and works of art were destroyed.
 This is because the revolutionaries knew that to root out the faith and to limit the Church’s influence, they had to destroy not only the living embodiments of our Faith – the priests and religious – but also the images and icons that testify to what we believe.
 Like the iconoclasts of old who thought it heretical to have manmade images of our Blessed Lord and the saints, the French revolutionaries sought to destroy the Church’s ability to evangelize humanity by destroying her art and architecture.
 Now, over 200 years later, we can see that while the Catholic faith has not been completely extinguished in France, the revolutionaries certainly succeeded in maiming the Catholic faith of the Church’s eldest daughter.
 They were successful in part because of their destruction of our art and architecture. You see, my brothers and sisters, our faith is incarnational by its very nature!
 Our beautiful works of art are not simply decorations to enhance the aesthetics of a church building. Our architecture is not meant to be simply a method of providing a place for us to worship.
 Beautiful art and architecture that is truly sacred makes the invisible, visible. Sacred art and architecture serve to remind us not only of the particular mysteries of our faith, but that God Himself is something that we can perceive with our senses.
 And that is precisely what we celebrate every year with this joyful feast of Christmas: that God is not an abstraction or some grand figment of the collective imagination of mankind. God is real!
 Knowing that man often tends to be feckless and fickle in the weaknesses of human nature, our blessed Lord knew that He to be something that man could see and touch and hear in order to get man’s attention and save man from his sins.
 And so in act of love beyond all telling, an act of infinite self‐giving, our Lord Jesus Christ became man. At the assent of a teenage virgin in the city of Nazareth 2000 years ago, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
 And tonight we see His glory: the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth!
 Our blessed Lord became flesh and dwelt among us not simply to prove that He is real, but so that He could deliver us from our sins through His death on the cross. In short, Christ was born for us so that He could die for us.
 Thus Christmas is, in this sense, a precursor to Good Friday! We see this from the moment He was born.
 So poor was Jesus when He was born that His virgin mother laid Him in a wooden manger – a feeding trough for animals – foreshadowing the supreme moment of His life when our Lord would feel course wood against His back again on Calvary – poor and naked once as the day He was born.
 But in His generosity, it was not enough for our Lord to live and die for us. His incarnation was not only a gift to those who lived at the same time as He. Jesus is Emmanuel, God‐with‐us, and He is with us even now!
 We hear Him speaking to us through His Word contained within Sacred Scripture.
 In His mercy and goodness our Lord becomes present for us again at every Mass in the
miracle of Eucharist. In the Eucharist, which is His body, blood, soul, and divinity, our

Lord remains something that we can see and touch and even taste.

 No, my dear brothers and sisters, God is not an abstraction. He is not a fairy tale. God is
as real as you and me, and tonight we celebrate our Lord as a tiny babe born to the

Virgin Mary.

 Our world is dark today, and in the darkness of our world today it is often difficult to
see and know God. Indeed, faith is something most of us have to work at.

 In the busyness of modernity, it is easy to lose sight of this tiny baby born for us 2000
years ago.

 But Christmas confronts us with a decision: the decision of whether or not to believe
this truth and to live our lives like we believe it.

 For if we truly believe that Jesus is God, then we need to live in a way that is pleasing to
Him by fulfilling His commands, most especially the command to love Him above all

things and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

 And so for the past couple of Sundays I’ve been asking you, who or what is it that you
worship? For worshipping is an inescapable reality for man.

 Do you worship this God Who became man for us on this night some 2000 years ago in
the tiny village of Bethlehem?

 Trusting in His our Lord’s goodness and generosity, let us recommit ourselves tonight
to worshipping this tiny child who birth we are celebrating. Let us place all our faith and hope in Him, trusting that He is not only real, but that He will save us from our sins.

 

25 December 2012

© Reverend Timothy Reid

Fr. Reid is the pastor of St. Ann Catholic Church, Charlotte, NC

Homilies from June 17, 2012 onward have audio .
To enable the audio, please go directly to Fr. Reid’s homily homilies and select the matching date.

Link to Homilies:
http://stanncharlotte.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&id=8&Itemid=61