Displaying posts tagged with

“sacrament”

Life&Morality 2 comments

Divorce and Remarriage?

By on June 17th, 2010

“What God has joined, no man can separate.” Mark 10:7-12.

Divorce and remarriage. In today’s culture, they almost run hand in hand. In the mind of the secular world this may be acceptable; but what about the Christians who do it? We should know, as followers of Christ, that divorce and remarriage is unacceptable. Starting in the Old Testament, we read in Malachi 2:14-16 that divorce is loathed by the Lord. But most Christians are only familiar with with the newer text of the Bible. So let’s proceed in the New Testament and see what God has spoken about divorce and remarriage.  Read more... (461 words, estimated 1:51 mins reading time)

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Apologetics, Theology No comments yet

Sacraments

By on June 16th, 2010

Sacrament “A sign and instrument of grace. Sacrament are liturgical rites instituted by Jesus Christ as channels of his salvation to the world” by Dr. Scott Hahn in his Catholic Bible Dictionary. Sacraments, as seen in the Old Testament, were physical forms that represent spiritual bonding. There are also Sacramentals.

There are seven sacraments:  Read more... (434 words, estimated 1:44 mins reading time)

  1. Baptism
  2. Holy Communion (Eucharist)
  3. Confirmation
  4. Confession (Reconciliation)
  5. Matrimony
  6. Holy Orders
  7. Anointing of the Sick
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Theology No comments yet

Matrimony

By on June 16th, 2010

Matrimony is a sacred bond instated by God to espouse a husband and wife. From the very first book of the Bible, Genesis, we see that a man is called to leave his parents and will eventually come to find a woman whom he will become one flesh with. For the understanding of one flesh and the triune spiritual sanctification, read article Trinity, section “Man: Made in the Image of God, the Trinity”. As for this short essay, allow me to take you through passages of scripture that unravel the truth that God has handed to us in His Word.  Read more... (365 words, 1 image, estimated 1:28 mins reading time)

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Theology No comments yet

Celibacy

By on June 16th, 2010

Celibacy. It’s a devotion, a vocation, a lifestyle. Some choose it and others are called to it. In this short essay, I will be discussing two aspects of celibacy; the Biblical references to it, and why priests are committed to celibate living. To learn more about the vocation, which celibacy applies to, please read articles Holy Orders, which is and proceeds from the article Sacraments.  Read more... (752 words, estimated 3:00 mins reading time)

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Traditions No comments yet

Confession

By on June 8th, 2010

A fair amount of people ask if I pray to Jesus. I thought this very random but obliged them with an answer anyway. Yes I do. Then they proceeded to ask if I believe Jesus died for my sins. I replied, “absolutely”. Then comes the thing that mystifies them; “How can priests possibly forgive your sin? Why confession?” My brothers and sisters who ask me this don’t understand the sacrament of confession and how beautifully sound it is for man to be involved in reconciliation with God. Allow me to open up scripture and share with you the truth that God has offered us in the Bible.  Read more... (835 words, estimated 3:20 mins reading time)

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Traditions No comments yet

Infant Baptism

By on June 4th, 2010

It is interesting to see that baptism is the new circumcision (Colossians 2:11-12). With this in mind, remember that God is the same today, yesterday, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Now, back to baptisms and circumcisions. Since we know that baptism proceeded from circumcision, let’s see what circumcision was. Circumcision was instated by God and to be used when the child was eight days old (Genesis 17:12). If baptism is the new circumcision, than baptism is to be administered at the earliest of eight days old.  Read more... (474 words, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

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Theology No comments yet

Baptism by Desire

By on June 4th, 2010

“Did he not obtain the grace which he desired? Did he not obtain what he asked for? Certainly he obtained it because he asked for it” St. Ambrose, 300th c..

When unable to undergo the baptismal sacrament of water, we are baptized by desire. This is demonstrated in Christ’s Passion, in which the good thief asks Jesus for His grace, “Jesus answered him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:43). The good thief was not able to acquire baptism via water and spirit (John 3:5). But Jesus sanctified him by his desire for cleanliness. This is called a perfect act of contrition.  Read more... (244 words, estimated 59 secs reading time)

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Apologetics, Eucharist, Theology 2 comments

The Fourth Cup: Eucharist & Transubstantiation

By on May 22nd, 2010

“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne.” Revelation 5:6.

A Lamb as though it had been slain. Hearkening back to the Old Testament, in the time of Pharaoh’s rule over God’s children, the Jews of Egypt, we see the establishment of the long held Passover feast. As most Christians can tell you, this foreshadowed the sacrifice of Calvary. As we go through the Holy Writ of Exodus, we find in chapter 12 the tradition of Passover. To ensure the safety of all the children, specifically the firstborns, we understood that a price of blood had to be paid. Lambs blood was used, having been smeared on the door-posts of each home. As we read further, we see that this was not all that was to be done to save the children. Had anyone smeared the lamb’s blood and foregone the consumption of the unblemished sacrificial lamb, many would have awoken to a morning filled with grief over deceased firstborn sons.  Read more... (8326 words, estimated 33:18 mins reading time)

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