FAQ of Faith - Sacramentals

First, sacramental objects (Rosaries, medals, scapulars, etc.) only obtain their special nature through the Blessing of a priest (and sometimes deacon). In and of themselves, the sacramental objects possess no power. The significance of these items is drawn from the blessing, prayer and how they are utilized to draw the person closer to God. Sacrementals should be used as daily reminders to live a life of virtue - answering the call to universal holiness, even in our own ordinary lives.

To wear rosary beads as talismans or carry medals as "good luck" charms diminishes the objects to superstitious rubbish. The sacramentals should draw us deeper into prayer and a life more reflective of Christ and His saints.

OTHER RESOURCES:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1667

EWTN

Catholic Encyclopedia

The How To Book of Sacramentals

Saint Talk - St. Nicholas

St. Nicholas was the Bishop of Myra and is known as the patron of children.  He was known for his special kindness toward the poor and needy.  Learn the true story of the man who is known by many as Santa Claus.

Saints SQPN

EWTN

Catholic Answer to Healthcare Bill

Go to the below links to read what Bishop Vann and the rest of the US bishops have to say about the current healthcare reform bill.

Bishop Kevin Vann's Statement

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

November Meeting: The Precepts of the Church

a. To go to Mass and refrain from servile work on Sundays and holy days

b. To go to Confession at least once a year (traditionally done during Lent)

c. To receive the Eucharist at least once a year, during the Easter Season (known as the "Easter duty")

d. To observe the days of fasting and abstinence

e. To help to provide for the needs of the Church according to one's abilities and station in life

f. To obey the marriage laws of the Church

Catholic iPhone Apps

Some of you have asked me about the Catholic apps I use on my iPhone. Here are the top three I recommend:

iBreviary - this app is available for 99 cents on iTunes. It contains the daily readings and several prayers. The most important characteristic of this app is the Liturgy of Hours. You can pray the Hours at Daily Mass using this application. It takes some getting use to as you have to find where you are in relation to the Shorter book used by Father Mathew at Mass.

iConfess - this application contains an extensive check list to use for a thorough Examination of Conscience prior to going to Reconciliation. It also has all the prayers you will need before, during and after the sacrament. It is available for download for $1.99.

iMissal - this app is the closest electronic version of the Roman Missal I have been able to find. It has all the Eucharistic Prayers, the Order of the Mass and all the readings. It does lack the ability to switch over to optional Feast Days. Otherwise a very useful app when traveling. It is a little pricier than most apps at its $4.99 price, but I believe well worth it. The app has been updated twice and another is due at the end of this month. As the designers have continued to respond to suggestions, I can only believe they will add a way to switch to feast days.

October 4 - Feast of St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis is one of the most well known and beloved saints. He was the founder of the Franciscan Order of which Father Mathew is a Third Order Member.

St. Francis is known as the patron of animals and this is why Catholic Churches will traditionally conduct blessing of pets/animals at or near his feast day.

To learn more about St. Francis please visit these links:

Catholic Online

CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA

Patron Saints

St. Francis of Assisi, G.K. Chesterton

September Saint Talk - St. Josemaria Escriva

St. Josemaria (founder of Opus Dei) is know as the saint of the ordinary life.

Saints SQPN

Saint Talk: St. John Vianney

St. John Vianney, known as the Cure d'Ars, is the patron saint of parish priests. It is fitting we study his life in this Year of the Priest. In fact, Pope Benedict XVI recently declared St. John Vianney the Universal Patron of Priests.

He was not a particularly good student and his Latin was even worse. This made his study for the priesthood even more difficult. Through the grace of God he was eventually able to become a priest. God blessed him with the gift of reading souls and he would spend countless hours hearing confessions. He typically only slept 2-3 hours a night and was often the victim of demonic torments.

PRAYER FOR PRIESTS:

Dear Saint John Vianney, your childhood dream was to be a Priest, to win souls for God. You endured years of toil and humiliation to attain the Priesthood. You became a Priest truly after God's own heart, outstanding in humulity and poverty; prayer and mortification. Totally devoted to the service of God's people. The Church has exalted you as model and patron saint of all Parish Priest, trusting that your example and prayers will help them to live up to the high dignity of their vocation to be faithful servants of God's people, to be perfect imitators of Christ the Savior Who came not to be served but to serve, to give His Life in ransom for many.

Pray that God may give to His Church today many more Priests after His own Heart. Pray for all the Priests under your patronage, that they may be worthy representatives of Christ the Good Shepherd. May they wholeheartedly devote themselves to prayer and penance; be examples of humility and poverty; shining modelss of holiness; tireless and powerful preachers of the Word of God; zealous dispensers of God's Grace in the Sacraments. May their loving devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist and to Mary His Mother be the Twin Fountains of fruitfulness for their ministry. Amen.

To read more about the life of St. John Vianney:

Saints SQPN

The Catholic Encyclopedia

EWTN

August Meeting -Saturday, August 1st

Joe Catholic will meet August 1st in the Hospitality Room in Assisi Hall 7:00 AM - 8:20 AM. Coffee and refreshments will be provided.

This month's topics include The Real Presence, St. John Vianney and the Sign of the Cross.

Apologetics 101: Brothers of Christ?

Today's Gospel reading may have caused some of you to raise an eyebrow. In Mark 6:3 the gospel writer describes the brothers and sisters of Jesus. How can this be if Mary was "ever virgin?" Did Jesus have brothers and sisters? NO. The primary explanation is that no word existed in the Hebrew or Aramaic languages for cousin. The third note at the bottom of this scripture reference explains its meaning. For a more detailed answer please see the article on Catholic Answers entitled Brethren of the Lord.

Meeting #2: Additional Resources for Study: Sts. Peter & Paul

Saints Peter & Paul

St. Peter

• Prince of the Apostles
• Scriptural Support for Peter's primacy among apostles
• Biography - Saints SQPN

St. Paul

• Paul's Conversion Story
• Biography - Saints SQPN
• Year of St. Paul - Books

Peter and Paul (1981) - the movie.  Can be checked out at Carrollton Library

Meeting 2: Resources for Additional Study: Teaching Authority of Church

Teaching Authority of the Church (Magisterium)

Biblical References

• Gen 3:5 - The sin of Adam
• Luke 10:16 - Whoever listens to you, listens to me 
• Matt 18:18 - Whatever you bind on Earth...bound in Heaven
• Matt 16:19 - Keys to Heaven given to Peter, the first pope
• John 21:17 - Feed my sheep

Web Sites

• Papal Authority, Catholic Answers
• Dei Verbum #10 (You need to scroll about half way down to #10; the whole document is really worth reading)
• Papal Primacy (EWTN)

Catechism of the Catholic Church

• CCC 888-892 - Teaching office of the Church
• CCC 2032 - 2039 - The Church - Mother & Teacher

Books

• Ever Ancient, EVER NEW, Father John Corapi, SOLT, STD

Quotation from St. Josemaria - Furrow #357

Joe Catholic

This blog is intended to be a supplementary resource to the Joe Catholic series held at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Carrollton, TX.

This site will contain summaries of talks and links to web sites and resources mentioned in the series.  When possible we will also include MP3 links to portions of the talks and outlines from the talks.   The goal is help men know their faith, so they can share their faith and defend their faith.