Biblical Christmas and Easter

Christmas

It all started with a prophecy of Isaiah;

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." 

(Isaiah 9:6 ESV)

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33 ESV)

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known." (John 1:14-18 ESV)

"And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:8-14 ESV)

Jesus, The Word of God Personified was born so that we may have forgiveness of sins. We celebrate Christmas on Dec 25th as a way to commemorate the birth of Christ, The Savior of The World! "He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God." (Rev 19:13 ESV)

The Church officially in AD 354 using the date of Dec 25 as the day in which to celebrate the holiest of days the birth of Christ. It is unknown exactly what day Jesus was born and whether in winter or another season is debatable but according to the tradition handed down to us, we celebrate this holy day in the winter.

We also know that some Christians had been identifying December 25th as Jesus' birthday at least a century and a half before this time. Around A.D. 206, St. Hippolytus of Rome wrote in his Commentary on Daniel that: "The first coming of our Lord, that in the flesh, in which he was born at Bethlehem, took place eight days before the kalends of January." In ancient Roman time reckoning, the Kalends was the first day of the month, and if you count back eight days from January 1, you arrive on December 25.

Easter

As The Lamb of God Jesus lay down his life as the Sacrificial Lamb. As prophesied by John the Baptist, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"(John 1:29 ESV)

"So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:8-18 ESV)

"As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” (Matt 17:22-23 ESV)

It was a Friday the day of preparation of the Passover Holy Day in the Jewish calendar when Jesus was taken to be prepared that morning for his death before sunset the same day, he was placed in the tomb this same evening. Christian Easter is the fulfillment of the Jewish Passover, the day Jesus died for our sins. We see in the King James Version of the Bible Acts 12:4, that the term Easter is used for Passover.

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,... (1 Cor 15:3-4 ESV)

And (1 Cor 15:12-28) "Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all."

It is the hope of our own resurrection, and the celebration, commemoration of what Jesus has done for us why we celebrate Easter as Christians and believers in Christ! Like I said this Christian Easter is the fulfillment of the Passover celebrated by the Jews. Christianity is the continuation of Judaism thought Christ! There is literally hundreds of more scripture that I can quote but it is not for me to do your Bible reading for you. You really have to go from beginning to end, going through the prophecies in which Jesus fulfilled in himself, from his conception to his death.

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phill 2:5-10 ESV)

In 325 CE the Council of Nicaea established that Easter would be held on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon occurring on or after the vernal equinox. From that point forward, the Easter date depended on the ecclesiastical approximation of March 21 for the vernal equinox.

Why do I celebrate Christmas? Because I believe Jesus was born for us and died for us. I also believe what he says and that the Scriptures are His Word! Y'all can believe what you want but this is why I celebrate.

Thanks for reading!

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Catholicism in a nut shell :)

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines [temples] made by man," (Acts 17:24) 

The Catholic Church has buildings, but she is not a building. We don't go to Mass because the Church is beautiful. We don't go because we like the people there or the music. We go to Mass because of the Eucharist! The most important thing (and never forget this) is the Eucharist! Let us not forget the Sacraments which exist, and are real, and substantial no matter what building, cave or dirt patch they happen to be in or on. We are blessed to have such beautiful churches, and wonderful people to be around, this is Gods mercy! Is he pleased with such beauty? He is, if it is for God and not for our own vanities to feed some material need we have. Yet no beauty of a building compares to Christ in the Eucharist!!!

"And I give them life everlasting!" 

Sincerely Joanne

THINK

Regarding the image we have access to live the bible through the Church's Sacraments and celebrations. In fact our Lord gave us the church.This doesn't mean that Catholics individually always live the Gospels as they should. For Christ did not come to call the righteous but us sinners into repentance. Salvation as we know is a process simply because we as individuals are always falling from Grace. 

I Will Build My Church

Establishment of The Church in Scripture Study

    I would like to present to you here some of the scripture that concerns the topic of The establishment of Christ's Church. After reading this study, go back to your bible and read the passages again. I am using the English Standard Version as well as my Ignatius RSV Study Bible for this article. Also note that the CCC or Catechism of The Catholic Church is also referenced. The links will be provided.

Let's begin!

"Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” "Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:13-19)

Jesus asks his disciples "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" Notice that "they" (the disciples) answer first, although giving incorrect answers. Then Jesus turns to "them" (specifically the 12 Apostles) saying, "But who do you say that I am?” When only Peter answers, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Notice that here and in many other instances Peter is shown speaking for the twelve and even more specifically the whole Church or all Christians. Jesus makes it know that Peters correct answer has been given by God. This passage clearly indicates Peter's capacity to make infallible teaching on behalf of the whole Church and the leaders of that Church, the twelve Apostles.

Therefore Christ says, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this

rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 

Christ establishes his physical Church here on earth on Peter as his first representative (Deputy or Vicar) and the Apostles.

By Paul Rubens

Remember: Everything Christ did and is, was both physical as well as spiritual. He is both God and Man. (John chapter 1 clearly explains this spiritualness and physicalness of Christ's entire existence) He was born (physical), but conceived of the Holy Spirit (spiritual.) When he healed (spiritual) blind man he used mud (physical) and had the man wash. He could have just healed him with his power alone, but he chose as he always did and does to use matter. When he offered us forgiveness of sins and the hope of heaven, he was physically beaten, spit on and brutally killed in order for redemption to take place!

Likewise, when our Lord founded his Church it was to be a physical reality of his spiritual Church in heaven. In heaven there is Christ resurrected in Glory seated at the right hand of God The Father, and all the Saint's or God's children and members of his Church. On earth there is Peter (Pope or head Bishop) Christ's deputy or Vicar and the Apostles serving as fathers (Bishops, priests and deacons) over God's children who are members of his Church. In heaven like I already said, we have Christ's Glorified body!

Likewise, here on earth we have Jesus Christ truly present, and glorified, body, blood, soul, and divinity, in the Eucharist! For further study on the Eucharist in Scripture click here. And these are just a few examples. Even we as human beings are both spiritual and physical beings, because we have both a body and spiritual soul. This is precisely why Christ's Church is both spiritual as well as physical, in order to supply us with what we need for the sanctification of both our body and soul.

No one in the Church takes the place of Christ he is The head and founder of the Church. But, while he reigns from heaven through his Church here on earth he has appointed those by way of Apostolic Succession to feed his flock. (John 21-15-17)

Divine Protection

This Church which Christ states will be protected from the "gates of hell," will also, through Peter whom Jesus gives, "the keys of the kingdom of heaven," will have the authority of binding and loosing.

"The keys are a symbol of teaching authority (Lk 11:52). Jesus consecrates Peter as the Church's chief teacher, whose office will continue on through successors. The plural use of keys may imply a connection with the "gates" in (Matt 16:18) and mean that Peter's position includes, among other things, the authority to release the righteous souls who are detained in Hades but destined for heaven.

In the OT Davidic empire, the king appointed a cabinet of ministers for specific tasks in the kingdom (1 Kings 4:1-6; 2 Kings 18:37). Of these, a prime minister was elevated to unique status of authority, ranking second only to the king. This government structure was common among kingdoms in the ancient Near East (cf. Gen 41:39-43; Esther 3:1-2). Jesus here evokes (Is 22:15-25), where the prime minister's office is handed on to a successor by the symbolic act of handing on the "key of the house [i.e., kingdom] of David" (Is 22:22).

In Matthew, Jesus is the new Davidic king, who appoints Peter the prime minister over the kingdom of heaven in the Church. As in (Is 22), Peter's position is designed for him and his successors; the office is meant to endure as long as the kingdom itself. Entrusted with the keys, Peter wields Christ's own royal authority (cf. Rev 1:18; 3:7).

Whatever you bind and loose: Familiar language in early Jewish literature. The metaphor carries several connotations: (1) It signifies teaching authority and the ability to render binding decisions. Rabbis were said to make "binding" interpretations of the Law. (2) It denotes authority to include or exclude members of a religious community. (3) It signals the forgiveness of sins (Tg Neof in Gen 4:7). The verb loose is used this way in (Rev 1:5 translated "freed") and by the early Church Fathers (cf. Jn 20:23). Peter is thus invested with Christ's authority as the kingdom's chief teacher and administrator; through him heaven governs the Church on earth (cf. Jn 21:15-17; 1 Tim 3:15; CCC 553, 1445)." (The Ignatius RSV study bible New Testament)


More on Binding and Loosing...

We see this again in Christ's church in Matthew. Speaking to the Apostles specifically, "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt 18:17-18) 

"Matthew 18:17 the Church: Mentioned only here and in (Matt 16:18) in the Gospels. Whereas (Matt 16:18) envisions Peter's authority over the universal Church, this verse (18:17) pertains to a local congregation of Christians. Gentile . . . tax collector: Two groups generally despised by first-century Jews. The choice of these terms suggest that Jesus requires a policy of non-association with those who are disciplined by leaders of the Church (cf. 1 Cor 5:9-13; 2 Cor 6:14-15).

Matthew 18:18 whatever you bind . . . loose: In (Matt 16:19), Peter was invested with Christ's authority as the visible head of the Church. A derivative—but subordinate—authority is given also to the apostles as royal ministers in the kingdom. Jesus' authority in this context is related to Church discipline; by extension, it is also a sacramental authority to forgive sins (cf. Jn 20:23; CCC 553, 1444)." (The Ignatius RSV study bible New Testament)

Later in Matthew, "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:18-20)

Using the authority that has been given to the Apostles by Christ he then commands them to "make disciples" by "baptizing" in the Trinitarian name. Jesus promises that he would be with "them" (the Apostles) until the end! Christ's church will last until he comes again. Peter, the Apostles and those who succeed them will also have this authority, guidance and protection. Note: Obviously Jesus knows that the Apostles themselves will not live on earth forever. This is why he said, "teaching them" (future disciples and leaders in the Church) "to observe all that I have commanded you," the "you" being the Apostles. We see this same transmission throughout the bible in various places.

"You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men a who will be able to teach others also." (2 Tim 2:2) 

Baptism or Else...

"And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
(Mark 16:15-16)

Jesus like in (Matthew 28:18-20) gives the Apostles (The Church) a command to go preach and baptize. He stresses the importance of believing (a spiritual act) and being baptized (a physical act.) "Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23)

He does this through the Sacraments thanks be to God!

Authoritative Church and The Holy Spirit

Speaking to the seventy-two laborers Jesus sent out he says, “The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10:16) Keep in mind that these laborers are ones whom have been taught correct doctrine handed down to them by Christ.

"He who hears you hears me: The messengers of Jesus carry his authority wherever they go. To reject them is to reject both the Father and the Son (Jn 12:48-49; 13:20). Jesus confers an even greater share of his royal, priestly, and prophetic authority upon the apostles before his Ascension (Mt 28:18-20) (CCC 87, 858)." (The Ignatius RSV study bible New Testament)

Matthew 28:18-20 quoted above...

Speaking to the Apostles and therefore to the members of The Church.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."  (John 14:15-26)

Our Lord confirms that his Church will be guided by The Holy Spirit and that the world in general will not have him or be guided by him. But, those of his Church through the Apostles will have access to him. Christ has not left us as orphans to fend for ourselves especially regarding matters of faith and morality. He has given us a Church to teach us correct doctrine feeding us spirituality as well as physically. For more information on how Christ feeds us through his Church click here.

More to Come...

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you." (John 16:12-15)

Christ's Church will speak with the authority of God through The Holy Spirit! And will faithfully glorify Christ and give what belongs to Christ like salvation, forgiveness of sins, and correct teachings to his followers. He does all of this through the Sacraments of the Catholic (Universal) Church!

This next verse kinda brings it all home. St. Paul is writing to Timothy about the Church and how people and leaders in the Church should conduct themselves. Paul reminds us that his good council through The Church is efficacious to is followers and that they should listen to him because The Church which he represents is the pillar of Truth!

"I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, pillar and buttress of the truth." (1 Tim 3:14-15)

In Conclusion...

Obviously, there is so much more I could say, but there is a lot of Scripture to go through already. What I want to stress here is that Christ in fact built a Church and this Church is both spiritual and physical, the continuity of Christ's actions in scripture proves it. Like I said before in the Remember section. Everything Christ did and does is both spiritual as well as physical, even to the point of creating you and me. To say that he stopped with the creation and mission of his Church is to say Christ lacks continuity in what he does! To say that the physical reality of his spiritual Church some how disintegrated along with the death's of the Apostles denies what is said in Scripture and what has been witnessed throughout history! We know that Christ lacks nothing and is no fool who built upon sand (Matt 7-24-27.) What Christ builds lasts and what he says is no lie!!

Believe it!

Sincerely Joanne Utke

Further look at Church teaching...

Sections of The Catechism referenced by Ignatius Study Bible: New Testament plus a couple extra. The bold numbers are for the place the passage holds in the Catechism. Notice certain others are reference for your further study. I have included the scriptures rather than the footnote numbers for your convenience.

(CCC 87) Mindful of Christ’s words to his apostles: “He who hears you, hears me,” the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.

(CCC 551) From the beginning of his public life Jesus chose certain men, twelve in number, to be with him and to participate in his mission. (Cf. Mk 3:13–19) He gives the Twelve a share in his authority and “sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.” (Lk 9:2) They remain associated for ever with Christ’s kingdom, for through them he directs the Church: (858, 765) As my Father appointed a kingdom for me, so do I appoint for you that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Lk 22:29–30)

(CCC 552) Simon Peter holds the first place in the college of the Twelve; (Cf. Mk 3:16; 9:2; Lk 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5) Jesus entrusted a unique mission to him. Through a revelation from the Father, Peter had confessed: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”Our Lord then declared to him: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18) Christ, the “living stone,” (1 Pet 2:4) thus assures his Church, built on Peter, of victory over the powers of death. Because of the faith he confessed Peter will remain the unshakeable rock of the Church. His mission will be to keep this faith from every lapse and to strengthen his brothers in it. (Cf. Lk 22:32) (880, 153, 442, 424)

(CCC 553) Jesus entrusted a specific authority to Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:19) The “power of the keys”designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: “Feed my sheep.” (Jn 21:15–17; cf. 10:11) The power to “bind and loose”connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles (Cf. Mt 18:18) and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom.

(CCC 858) Jesus is the Father’s Emissary. From the beginning of his ministry, he “called to him those whom he desired;.... And he appointed twelve, whom also he named apostles, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach.” (Mk 3:13-14) From then on, they would also be his “emissaries” (Greek apostoloi). In them, Christ continues his own mission: “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” (Jn 20:21; cf. 13:20;) The apostles’ ministry is the continuation of his mission; Jesus said to the Twelve: “he who receives you receives me.” (Mt 10:40; cf. Lk 10:16.)

(CCC 1444) In imparting to his apostles his own power to forgive sins the Lord also gives them the authority to reconcile sinners with the Church. This ecclesial dimension of their task is expressed most notably in Christ’s solemn words to Simon Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Mt 16:19; cf. Mt 18:18; 28:16-20) “The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of the apostles united to its head.” (981)

(CCC 1445) The words bind and loose mean: whomever you exclude from your communion, will be excluded from communion with God; whomever you receive anew into your communion, God will welcome back into his. Reconciliation with the Church is inseparable from reconciliation with God. (553) The sacrament of forgiveness

Chair of Moses - Chair of Peter

Great video by Steve Ray about the Jewish Roots of the Papacy. A must watch and listen. You will learn so much! So get your coffee and take a seat :)

Embracing Halloween

   I felt this article touched on All Hallows Eve (Halloween) in a wonderful way and from a Catholic Christian perspective. I hope it can help you put Halloween in the correct perspective. Also see my Halloween article or just share this post with both great articles. 

IT'S TIME FOR CATHOLICS TO EMBRACE HALLOWEEN

    "As we near All Hallows Eve, aka Halloween, we fired some questions at the walking encyclopedia that is Father Steve Grunow, and he responded with everything you ever wanted to know about Halloween and its deeply Catholic roots.

QUESTION: I always figured that Halloween had pagan roots, but you are telling me they are Catholic. Huh? How so?

Fr. Steve: The origin and traditional customs associated with Halloween require no other explanation than that they are examples of the kinds of festivity that served as a means of celebrating the various holy days of the Catholic Liturgical Year. This includes everything from masquerades, feasting, and the associations of a given day of the year with supernatural or spiritual truths.

I would draw a distinction between the violent, macabre imagery that characterizes the modern appropriation of Halloween as a kind of secular celebration and the more traditional customs that are characteristic of a Catholic cultural ethos. The descent of Halloween into the madness of an annual fright fest is a relatively recent development, but the true substance of Halloween belongs to the Church. Halloween (or “All Hallows Eve”) is the festive precursor to the celebration of the Church’s public commemoration of All Saints Day.

There has been an appropriation of the festivities of Halloween by modern pagans, but please understand that modern paganism is precisely modern and should be distinguished from the cults of ancient religions. The origins and practices of the modern paganism do not extend farther back than the late nineteenth century. Also, remember, the term “pagan” is a slippery one. What does it mean? The worship of the gods and goddesses from long ago? Those cults have long since passed away with the cultural matrix that once supported the world views that were the conditions for their possibility. You can’t just reinvent those cults without the culture that supported them..." 

Keep reading at wordonfire.org

Enchiridion of Saint Augustine

The Enchiridion On Faith, Hope, And Love By Saint Augustine A.D. 420 (5th century)

     This post is about one of my favorite books. I have it in Kindle form and in audio from from Librivox.org. You can also read it online via several different websites.

New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia and Catholic Treasury are two other great sources for this book. You can read chapters 11-17 concerning the topic of Good and Evil here on my blog.

I love his explanations so profound and beautifully written!

I like to read it and listen to it on my phone at least once a year. Saint Augustine is my buddy in Christ and I have learned a lot from him. His Enchiridion is a 5th century Catechism/Apologetic handbook. In fact Enchiridion is Greek for handbook although it was first written in Latin the common language in the 5th century and one Augustine spoke most fluently. It outlines the main tenents of the Christian faith as understood by Augustine and the Church in the 5th century. Augustine was Bishop of Hippo. He is also considered an early father and doctor of the Church. In this book Saint Augustine doesn't deviate from unanimously held doctrine in Christian orthodoxy on matters such as the Divinity of Christ, which he explains nicely, God, good and evil, faith and works, angels, and so much more.

"You are anxious, you say, that I should write a sort of handbook for you, which you might always keep beside you, containing answers to the questions you put, viz.: what ought to be man'schief end in life; what he ought, in view of the various heresies, chiefly to avoid; to what extent religion is supported by reason; what there is in reason that lends no support to faith, when faith stands alone; what is the starting-point, what the goal, of religion; what is the sum of the whole body of doctrine; what is the sure and proper foundation of the catholic faith. Now, undoubtedly, you will know the answers to all these questions, if you know thoroughly the proper objects of faith, hope, and love. For these must be the chief, nay, the exclusive objects of pursuit in religion. He who speaks against these is either a total stranger to the name of Christ, or is a heretic. These are to be defended by reason, which must have its starting-point either in the bodily senses or in the intuitions of the mind. And what we have neither had experience of through our bodily senses, nor have been able to reach through the intellect, must undoubtedly bebelieved on the testimony of those witnesses by whom the Scriptures, justly called divine, were written; and who by divine assistance were enabled, either through bodily sense orintellectual perception, to see or to foresee the things in question." (Chapter 4)

Good stuff!

I want to encourage everyone to read and listen to his wonderful words and insights into scripture and Christian teaching. May he be a blessing in your life as he has been in mine.

Sincerely Joanne Utke

Saint Augustine Restless Heart

The Elevation of Mary

     She was saved in a unique way by the free gift of Grace at her own conception. This is called the Immaculate Conception. It refers to a unique salvation reserved
Mary because of the role she would play in salvation history. Jesus as
Scripture states, was like us except in sin. (Hebrews 4:15, 2 Cor 5:21)
It's simple. The Word of God cannot be contained in that which is unholy, or full of sin! 

Therefore it is logical! 

   Christ's mother had to be preserved from all stain of sin in order to contain that which is without sin. Can the unholy contain which is holy? Who on earth is suitable to contain in her womb The Word of God? The words of Jesus in this next verse come to mind.
"Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.” (Matt 9:17 ESV)

There is no doubt in my mind that Jesus' mother who is "blessed among women" was preserved from sin at her conception and preserved from sin throughout her life. It is precisely because of that special and unique salvation that she lived her whole life without sin.  

She was the first faithful Christian! 

Mary was the first to believe in Jesus Christ, and because of him she surrendered herself completely to God, when she said,“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." (Luke 1:38 ESV)  


All Have Sinned...

   But the scriptures say, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23.) 

Doesn't that include Mary? To answer that I argue that Rom 3:23 isn't speaking of a literal "all" but can be considered a hyperbole. A hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used to make a point. It is like the opposite of “understatement.” It is from a Greek word meaning “excess.” Like when we say things like, "everyone will be there!" We don't actually mean everyone, but a lot of people. I believe that is what's going on in Romans 3:23. 

Romans 3:23 says, "all have sinned" but we already know that there is exceptions to that verse. Obviously Jesus isn't included in Romans 3:23, because he never sinned. (Hebrews 4:15, 2 Cor 5:21) Also unborn babies, new born babies, small children, and anyone who has not yet sinned for whatever reason, etc... are also not included in the "all" of this verse, because they haven't sinned. There are many exceptions to Romans 3:23. Since we know that to be true why couldn't Mary the Mother of Jesus also be an exception? My point is you can't say that Romans 3:23 includes Mary when she could possibly be one of many exceptions to it :) 

The question is how do you know she isn't?

"Not all without exception (every human being), but all without distinction (Jews and Gentiles alike, 3:9; 10:12). That there are exceptions is clear: Jesus was sinless; children below the age of reason do not willfully commit sin; and tradition holds that Mary, by the grace of God, lived her entire life unstained by sin." (From the footnotes of my Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: RSV New Testament)

Don't Catholics elevate Mary?

Yes, but not to the point of deifying her and not to the point of worship. Mary deserves honor, love, respect as the Mother of the our Lord. We are called to imitate Christ and he loved his mother perfectly, he honored her following perfectly the fourth commandment. (Ex 20:12, Ephesians 6:2) We are to honor, and love Mary as our own Mother, as Christ does. See, Do Catholics worship Mary?

"And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"(Luke 1:41-43 ESV)

The Sacred Scripture elevates Mary in the same way our Lord (who is the Word) does. Likewise the Catholic Church elevates her to the same status, no more, no less! If you think otherwise you are mistaken as to the true teachings of the Church! In Luke Mary is "blessed among women."  And in a most prophetic statement Mary declares, "For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed"  These words spoken in sacred scripture are fulfilled by those faithful Christians who honor, love, and call her blessed!


And, What About that Mother of God thing?

Notice that in Luke 1:43 Elizabeth after she was "filled with the Holy Spirit" in verse 42 calls Mary "the Mother of my Lord!" In other words the mother of my God, since Elizabeth's Lord is God and Jesus in Mary's womb is God, it goes that she is the Mother of God.

It's in Scripture folks! 

This is why the Church since the first centuries of Christianity have affirmed that Mary is the Mother of God! In early Christianity the Greek title Theotokos, or "God bearer" as translated was used to show Mary's unique motherhood. 

"The Virgin Mary, being obedient to his word, received from an angel the glad tidings that she would bear God" (Irenaeus in his Against Heresies, 5:19:1 [A.D. 189]). 

Although Mary is the Mother of God, she is not his mother in the sense that she is older than God or the source of her Son’s divinity, or the source of God for that matter, for she is neither. Rather, the Church says that she is the Mother of God in the sense that she carried in her womb a divine person, Jesus Christ, God "in the flesh" (2 John 7, cf. John 1:14) and in the sense that she contributed the genetic matter to the human form God took in Jesus Christ. For more information and early church quotes  about the Mother of God, like Irenaeus. I highly recommend you read, Mary: Mother of God.


The Catechism of The Catholic Church explains it this way...

490 To become the mother of the Savior, Mary "was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role."¹³² The angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as "full of grace".¹³³ In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God's grace.

491 Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, "full of grace" through God,¹³⁴ was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854:

The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.¹³⁵

492 The "splendor of an entirely unique holiness" by which Mary is "enriched from the first instant of her conception" comes wholly from Christ: she is "redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son".¹³⁶ The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" and chose her "in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love".¹³⁷

493 The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God "the All-Holy" (Panagia), and celebrate her as "free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature".¹³⁸ By the grace of God Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long.

"Let it be done to me according to your word. . ."

494 At the announcement that she would give birth to "the Son of the Most High" without knowing man, by the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary responded with the obedience of faith, certain that "with God nothing will be impossible": "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to your word."¹³⁹ Thus, giving her consent to God's word, Mary becomes the mother of Jesus. Espousing the divine will for salvation wholeheartedly, without a single sin to restrain her, she gave herself entirely to the person and to the work of her Son; she did so in order to serve the mystery of redemption with him and dependent on him, by God's grace:¹⁴⁰ 

As St. Irenaeus says, "Being obedient she became the cause of salvation for herself and for the whole human race."¹⁴¹Hence not a few of the early Fathers gladly assert. . .: "The knot of Eve's disobedience was untied by Mary's obedience: what the virgin Eve bound through her disbelief, Mary loosened by her faith."¹⁴² Comparing her with Eve, they call Mary "the Mother of the living" and frequently claim: "Death through Eve, life through Mary."¹⁴³

I want to encourage you to read the whole article 3 and paragraph 2 of The Catechism of The Catholic Church.

Such a beautiful doctrine I just want you all to know about it!

In Conclusion...

Sure the Catholic Church elevates Mary above all other women in history. The Scriptures do. The early Church Fathers do in their writings! Why shouldn't we? She is "blessed among women!" She is the Mother of our Lord who is God incarnate! He was conceived in her womb taking on her flesh to be his own. She raised him, loved him, and was the first to believe in him! When our savior was hanging on that cross she was there too once again as she always had been, loving him, believing in him and following him.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (Jn 3:16 ESV) 

On that day when her son was hanging on that cross she saw her baby boy and remembered the day (the Annunciation) she consented in faith to be his Mother. You see Mary also gave us something, she gave us her son! And Christ's only concern as he died was us, and his Mother! 

"When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home." (Jn 19:26-27 ESV)

Will you as a beloved disciple take her home also? 

Everything Mary is, every title the Church gives her is in relationship to her son. She owes it all to God as we all do! It's always about Christ. He wants us to love and honor her. When we do that we love and honor him! Likewise she wants to bring us to her son, our brother! And she never stops telling us “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn 2:5 ESV)

I hope you liked the article or at least found it informative regarding what the Catholic Church actually teaches regarding the elevation of Mary. There is so much more I could say. Consider this a start and open your heart and your home to Mary as Christ would want you to.

Remember to check out the links on this article for more information. Good stuff! Also get the awesome book by Tim Staples Behold Your Mother - A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines learn so much more about our Lord's Mother!

Sincerely
Joanne Utke

Additional Information

Problems in The Catholic Church

For those who like to point out the problems in The Catholic Church, and the wrong things committed by Catholics and so called Catholics and think somehow this invalidates what Christ has accomplished in his Church!

We are all sinners and do wrong and make mistakes even Peter denied Christ three times and did not Judas one of the twelve hand picked by Christ, betray his master? There have always been these problems. However if you want to talk about the wrong done by Catholics over the last 2,000 years lets add Martin Luther a Catholic priest who after denying the Church, lead thousands of good Catholics (Christians) to the slaughter and mass persecution made possible by the Reformation. King Henry the 8th the Catholic King who after denying the Church turned into a mass murderer beheading also his own devoutly Catholic wife! Why? Because his Catholic Bishop wouldn't grant him a divorce so he could procure multiple marriages!

The point is the Church is Holy because Christ is Holy, the Holy Spirit is Holy and not because of you, me, the Bishops, priests, etc... The same goes for each one of us as Christians! We can be Holy, but only because of Christ and the Holy Spirit. We must pray for the holiness of ourselves, our Bishops, priests, and everyone!

Jesus truly present in the blessed sacrament of the Eucharist sanctify us! Amen

Continue reading on this topic of Problems In The Church...

Problems In The Church

Regarding problems in the Catholic Church...

    There has always been problems. Did not Jesus hand pick Judas and he betrayed him deserving the title of devil? (John 6:70) Did not Peter deny Christ three times? (Luke 22:54-62)

You see there have always been problems in the Church. The Church is run by humans and we are all sinners and do the best we can with what we know. And some can be just out right bad! I will not deny that. I will say however that you may have been given some not so true information or information that has been blown out of proportion. I recommend the book Catholicism and Fundamentalism: The Attack on "Romanism" by "Bible Christians" which is a very honest look at all of those claims against the Catholic Church.

Now if you want to say that the Catholic Church is false because of sinners which exist and have always existed in the Church or because of some people in the Church passed or present that did some things they should not have, then not even Protestantism would be true under those criteria! During the reformation was not Catholics also persecuted and killed by other Christians? You see there are sinners everywhere, but that is not a test to how true or holy the Catholic Church is. The Catholic Church is holy because of Christ and not because of you or me or anyone else! Christ is the head of the Church with the Pope who succeeded from Peter as his vicar.

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ." (Matt 16:18-20 ESV)

Even if not one person in the Church was saved or holy she (the Church as the Bride of Christ) would still be holy and perfect because Christ is one with his bride! And he sanctifies her with his very own body! The Catholic Church was founded by Christ and this is a historical fact see above quote. The Catholic Church is The Apostolic Church like it or not! She has existed for almost 2,000 years despite the many people throughout history that tried to take her out! Satan has tried, but Christ promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against his Church (Matt 16:18 noted above).

This also implies that Satan will sure try and he has! Only the Catholic Church has stood while others fall! I want to invite you to learn more about the Church with an open mind apart from the anti-Catholicism that you may be accustomed to. There are many awesome people who write openly and honestly about the faith. Steve Ray a convert is one of them, also check out Tim Staples and Jimmy Akin also converts from Protestantism to Catholicism. Go to Catholic.com for more information.

And just learn even if you never agree just learn about the Church from real Catholics who love the faith! I am not asking you to agree just take a look openly and honestly. You can read the Catechism of the Catholic Church for the truth about what the Church actually teaches and stop getting your info about the faith from people who don't know or never really understood in the first place.

God bless!

Sincerely Joanne Utke

Works Salvation

I have titled this Works Salvation not because that is a real teaching, but that non-Catholics wrongly assume that it is a real teaching.

So lets begin!

        We are saved by faith in Christ.
This means what He taught us!

Salvation is a free gift only because it was purchased for us by Christ. Christ provided the redemption and we have to do the work out of love. 

I have seen this  posted by many non-Catholics on the Internet and none-Catholics teach in their churches. The thing is we are saved by faith in Christ and that faith in Christ is only true, is only justified, by what we do with it.

Our faith is not something to keep to our self. Faith is meant to be acted on or it will not save us! It is the difference between a dead faith absent of Grace given by the Holy Spirit and a living faith that is made alive by the Holy Spirit.

So far I think non-Catholics will agree with this. As it says in James 2:17 "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead." There is a couple verses commonly quoted by non-Catholics to prove faith alone salvation in Rom 3:28 "For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."

And in Rom 4:4 "Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due." Saint Paul is talking about works of the Mosaic law specifically which Christians are not bound and will not save us, again we can all agree on that. In this chapter and in many others Abraham is *justified by his faith* that worked in him to cause obedience to God, not that he did it perfectly. Paul is making it clear to readers that it was his faith and not his works that counted him righteous. We can see that by reading the whole chapter and the whole book, But I don't think we disagree on that, yet it is still a good book to read.

We also see in Rom 2:6 "He will render to each one according to his works:" Rom 2:13 "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified."

We can see that there is a type of works (Christian works) that *justifies our faith in Christ that saves us* or we have a dead faith (a dead faith will not save us). Works of mercy, charity (like prayer), love, proclaiming the Gospel, and I will add the Sacraments like baptism, all of which make our faith alive!

John 14:12 "“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father."

If you are a non-Catholic reading this you should know that what I am showing you here is traditional Catholic teaching about salvation. For the record the Catholic Church has never, and will never teach works salvation, we are not saved by works as non-Catholics wrongly assume the Church teaches.

The Catholic teaching on this is *we are saved by Grace through faith, and our faith is justified by our Christian works* it is a living faith in Christ that saves us not a dead one!

We can look at John 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." This is how we are saved I know you the non-Catholic Christian agrees and this is Catholic teaching just so you know.

Regarding the salvation of the Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians Acts 15:11 "But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”

Rom 3:23-25 "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins."

Concerning the free gift of salvation through Grace (Christ) and the justification through Grace. Rom 5:15-16 "But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification."

Rom 5:21 "so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Christ is the Grace that has appeared for our Salvation through faith in him! Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,"

The Grace of God who is Christ has appeared to bring us salvation by Grace through faith in him and all that he taught us to do if we love him. All of this in biblical and it is Catholic teaching which you non-Catholic Christian agree with! I hope that you can now see how you don't actually disagree with the Catholic teaching on Salvation, now that you know what that is.

"The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus' proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. "Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man. Justification detaches man from sin which contradicts the love of God, and purifies his heart of sin. Justification follows upon God's merciful initiative of offering forgiveness. It reconciles man with God. It frees from the enslavement to sin, and it heals. **Justification is at the same time the acceptance of God's righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.** Righteousness (or "justice") here means the rectitude of divine love. With justification, faith, hope, and charity are poured into our hearts, and obedience to the divine will is granted us. Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God, and whose blood has become the instrument of atonement for the sins of all men. Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy. Its purpose is the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life:" (Catechism of the Catholic Church Article 2 Grace and Justification selections 1990-1992)

In conclusion.

Non-Catholics often and wrongly assume and teach that the Catholic Church teaches "Works Salvation" as many like to call it. They assume without ever reading the Catechism or talking with faithful knowledgeable Catholics that the Church teaches that we are saved by works.

I hope that after this you the non-Catholic will never again wrongly teach lies such as this to people! I also hope the words here can inspire you to learn more about what the Church actually teaches by reading the Catechism. If you are Catholic I hope this helps you understand what the Church teaches on about Salvation when someone tries to tell you about "works salvation."

We all love Christ and want to do God's will and imitating Christ by doing "the works that he does." This is what Saint James meant in his book when he said, "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24. He is talking about Christian works like I stated before which justifies our faith in Christ and is made possible by Grace.

We don't want to suppress the truth and it is our duty to teach the truth, but first we must know what that is. I believe as do all faithful Catholics that the fullness of that Truth is Christ and is found accessible to us in the teaching of the Catholic Church!

Rom 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth"

God bless you and may Grace be with you always!

Sincerely Joanne Utke

Are Catholics Christians?

     I have heard it before, "Catholics aren't Christians." I am sure you all have heard this before. If you are among the various Protestant or non-Catholic Christians you may actually believe this statement. That is what this post is all about to answer the claim that Catholics aren't Christians. My first thought is how could anyone make such a claim in the first place. Don't all Christians love Christ? Don't all Christians profess a belief in the death and resurrection of Christ the Son of God our Savior! For the Catholics I can say YES WE DO, and the faithful Catholic like the faithful Christian thinks no different on these points. 

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor..."

To learn more about the marks of a true Christian refer to Romans 12:9-21.

Christ through Saint Paul in the book of Romans gives us the standard that we must follow. Being a Christian is not just something you believe in it is also something that you do! Believing is one thing, but we are called to act on what we believe. The Catholic and the non-Catholic alike are subject to these standards which are Christ's! There are so many more verses that I could show you here to make the point, but I think you will get it.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:21 

Now that we know what a Christian is and DOES, lets take a quick look at a verse that tells us what a Christian most definitely is not.

"Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son." 1 John 2:22

Along with not acting like a Christian another way to NOT be a Christian is to be "antichrist" and not a Christian. Any denomination that denies Christ is "antichrist." Catholics as well as other Christian denominations do not fall into this category who profess a belief and obedience to Christ at least most of the time

"for all have sinned and fall short to the Glory of God." Romans 3:23

Romans 3:23 is no excuse to do what you wish even commit sin because our Lord also says, "You therefor must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" Matthew 5:48 The thing here is we as Christians are called to a higher standard and must do our very best to meet those expectations if we want to reach the goal which is heavenly perfection and the beatific vision (seeing God as he is.) This is where the Sacraments of the Catholic Church come in which I will talk a little bit about. This article is not about Sacraments so I strongly encourage you to learn more about them. 

A little bit on the Apostolic Church. The Catholic Church is The Apostolic Church which was founded on the Rock of Christ who then passed on this authority to Peter his first Apostle who is also a rock to act in "Persona Christi" (in the person of Christ) for his Church here on earth.

"And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”" Matthew 16:18-19

This Church was to be an everlasting Church that exists both in heaven and on earth simultaneously encompassing all believers from all corners of the world, a Universal Church founded by Christ himself! This Catholic Church is given by Christ the authority to "bind and loose." In other words to bind the things of heaven right here on earth like the seven Sacraments (Baptism, etc..) and to loose also as in the nullification of a marriage, etc.. Regarding Sacraments this is how I define it, "a Sacrament is the physical reality of a spiritual good." You can also say that they are channels God uses to distribute his Grace. Catholics are in fact Christians as all who have faith in Christ the Son of God are. Don't you ever let anyone tell you other wise especially if your Catholic! Give this article to them or others like it. This is a common misconception among non Catholics. Here is a little history on the word Catholic being used to represent the early Church Christ founded. The word Catholic comes from the Greek word for "Universal" you can look it up in the dictionary to see that. It signifies the Universal Church that Christ established through the Apostles which included not only Jews, but Gentiles as well. In other words Everyone! 
The reason why Catholics are called Catholic is to differentiate the Catholic with the non-Catholic. Starting in the first century of Christianity there were a lot of people claiming to be Christians, (not much has changed) but were not among the sect of the Apostles. And in many cases teaching something other than what the Apostles taught.

"So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter." 2 Thessalonians 2:15

 "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us." 2 Thessalonians 3:6

The term Catholic was coined to identify those Christians who follow Christ's Church through the Apostles (Apostolic Church) and the others. The earliest record of the early Church being Called Catholic exists in the writings of Saint Ignatius of Antioch and later writings from many other Fathers of the Church contain the term Catholic as well when referring to the Apostolic Church.

"You must all follow the bishop as Jesus Christ follows the Father, and the presbytery as you would the Apostles. Reverence the deacons as you would the command of God. Let no one do anything of concern to the Church without the bishop. Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop, or by one whom he appoints. Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. Nor is it permitted without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate the agape; but whatever he approve, this too is pleasing to God, so that whatever is done will be secure and valid."

This Saint Ignatius quote is taken from a very early Christian erra--- (LETTER TO THE SMYRNAEANS - ST. IGNATIUS BISHOP OF ANTIOCH, AD 110 (2nd century) The Faith of the early Fathers page 25, section 65.)

Saint Ignatius' quote is also interesting because he was Bishop of Antioch in the 2nd century less than a century after Acts of the Apostles was written. Antioch is also the place where the followers of Christ are first called Christians.

"The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." Acts 11:26

Also notice that Ignatius also mentions that this early Church consisted of bishops, presbyters (which are priests), reverence to the deacons, and the validity of the Sacraments, like Eucharist, baptism and the mass in the Catholic Church alone. Which confirms what scripture teaches us about there being one faith and one baptism!

"one Lord, one faith, one baptism" Ephesians 4:5

There is so much more I could say on this that I could write a book on it. In fact many books have been written on them as well. Let me recommend first anything by Scott Hahn. Please take a look at my recommended reading page on this blog for a nice list of books that I have read. You may also want to refer to the Catholic answers website and most importantly the Catechism of the Catholic Church for more information. The Catechism link above that I have provided you will take you to the Apostolic succession page in the Catechism. I think you will find it helpful if you will take the time to read it. Also keep in mind that the Catechism is always available online for free for your reading pleasure.

Many people make lots of claims about the Catholic Church claiming to know what the Church teaches on one teaching or another. I have found that most people have a lot to say regarding what the Catholic Church teaches and most are acting upon misinformation that has been given to them sometimes even among Catholics them selves. 

Unfortunately many Catholics have not read much of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I want to urge all Catholics and non Catholics alike to pick it up and study it along with your bible. 

The Catechism helps us to study scripture in the light of Christ resurrected and in light of the almost 2,000 year history and tradition of the Church! I also often wonder how many people who claim to know what the Church teaches actually have read the Catechism. From my experience those who appose the Church's teachings have not read even one line in the Catechism, and do not understand the biblical origin of her teachings. 

How about you? 

Speaking for my self I have it, and read it often, and love it. I make it a regular part of my spiritual reading. I have just gotten it also for my Kindle for more convenient reading that way anytime I promote a religious or spiritual view it is in line with authentic teachings of the Apostolic Church. I find it a very beautiful, Theological book which loves and honors Christ.

For more information about the early Church Fathers like Saint Ignatius is The Fathers Know Bestby Jimmy Akin. You can also read many of the writings of people like Saint Ignatius online just by doing a search.

Please also take a look at these previous posts:

Eucharist in Scripture Study Guide

And feel free to take a look at the Bible Study page at the top of this blog :)

Thank you for your time and the likes to this page.

God bless! From Joanne Utke

Quotes used in this article:

Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 7:21
1 John 2:22
Romans 3:23
Matthew 5:48
Matthew 16:18-19
2 Thessalonians 2:15, 3:6
Acts 11:26
Ephesians 4:5
LETTER TO THE SMYRNAEANS - ST.  IGNATIUS BISHOP OF ANTIOCH, AD 110

All bible quotes are taken from the English Standard Version of the bible which I happen to love!