(If) our will fully accepts what faith teaches; it accepts it with love, with all its strength, and our soul believes unreservedly in God's infinite love. God is Love; this truth, fundamental for all Christian life, has penetrated to the depths of the soul; it feels it, it lives it, because it has, so to say, almost touched it in its Incarnate God. One who so believes in infinite love will know how to give itself to Him without measure; to give itself totally. -Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel

Over the weekend I experienced something for the first time. At a wedding when I went up for communion I was denied it because I knelling. I have only heard about this happening for many years but never thought it would happen to me, I was shocked. Looking back I should have known something was off because the priest instructed everyone to remain standing for consecration, which my wife and I did anyway. Also, the priest had the bride and groom on the alter during consecration, which as far as I know is a violation of cannon law.

I must say this experience really make me reflect how important the Eucharist to me and being denied it made me realized how at time I take this gift for granted. I wonder how many out there, like me, take it for granted. How much does it hurt our Lord.

I pretty certain little come of it, but I will be reporting this priest to the Bishop, I am also considering writing him a letter, and sharing my thoughts, feeling, and church rules.

A Pluralistic Society.....What Gives?

A Pluralistic Society is a lie. Hows that for summing up a thought?

A Pluralistic Society simply believes are that all ideas are the truth. But how is that possible? Take for example that we are in a room full of people and they are observing something a sculpture at an art gallery or listening to a lecture in a lecture hall. More than likely each person looking at the sculpture will believe that the artist is say something. Now some of these people might interpret the the same things. But the vast majority with infer the artists' meaning without ever having met the artist and asking what was the meaning behind their work. Similarly the people listing to a lecture might walk away from the experience interpreting it very differently from the the lectures intended interpretation.

So here we have an artist and a lecturer that have an intended meaning, or in philosophical terms an objective truth. Then we have an audience with their interpretation of that truth, often times it called their truth. Pluralism would says every audience member and the original artist or the lecturer are all objectively correct. This is what makes Pluralism a lie, just because I or anyone else interprets something doesn't make the truth. The originators of the knowledge hold the truth. Relative to our selves we believe that what we think and feel to always be truth. But we can be and often are, wrong. We make judgments based on the info we have, and that knowledge can be lacking.

So for a society to say that all beliefs and ideas are valid and true is a contradiction. The reality is there is a single objective truth. We as individuals and a  society have to be willing to acknowledge and accept that truth. And this isn't about my truth or your truth, we have to lay aside our erred interpretations of things and accept that the Catholic Church maintains the timeless truth for society.

Now some might want to argue that Church can not still hold the truth. The church maintains that the core of the faith, aka the truth, since the time Christ has induced the Church. One just needs to do a little homework and study the history of the Church.

Prayer

"A soul who longs for a life of intimacy with God is not satisfied to limit it's relations with Him to the time of prayer, but tries to extend them throughout the whole day."

Such an immensely more satisfying way to say we should pray unceasingly don't ya think. It's funny how we are try to compartmentalize our lives and leave time for God only at certain times. The Lord knows I do this, perhaps we all need to pray for God to open our hearts more so that our lives blend into a continuous prayer where we share all the experiences of our heart with I ÀM and his Son.

May God deepen our hearts in charity, faith, and courage so that we can go forth each day in the world to help Jesus with his mission, to save souls. Amen.

Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi, Lex Vivendi

Lex Orandi - As we Worship

Lex Credendi - So we Believe

Lex Vivendi - So we Live

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 This an old Latin maxim of the church, that really says a lot about our faith lives.

The funny thing is people read it left to right in order, and think that's it. So the default understanding is.... 

a - How we worship is how we believe, is how we live. 

But language isn't always one dimensional. In this case there are few more ways to gain a deeper understanding. Here's a few more.

b - How we worship, is how we live, is how we believe.

c - How we believe, is how we worship is how we live.

d - How we believe, is how we live is how we worship.

e - How we live, is how we worship, is how we believe.

f - How we live, is how we believe, is how we worship.

Note...For the basis of discussion I am equating faith with belief. In theological realm I know it bigger than that. But the two  are strongly intertwined.

The interesting thing is all of these variations are true.  They also debunk the false notion that one's faith life is private. Lets be clear, I am not saying that there isn't a private aspect to ones faith life, what I am saying is that a faith life, if it really exists, can not be completely private because ones faith (i.e. beliefs) define you in how you live and worship.

So this begs to question, is belief enough to save ones soul, or does it take more.

In the bible it says "(a)faith without works is dead."

If how we live is absent of what we believe then it can be argued that one's faith is dead. And if your faith is dead do you really believe. I think the answer is easily apparent. But in case you missed it then, then no your faith is dead, because you don't truly believe, because you don't live your life in faith.

Our goal is to live our faith in action, words, and deeds with courage, honor and truth so that we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.

God be with you,

-C

Happy News....

I told my wife of my plans to write this blog and she decided she wanted to contribute as well. So you'll now get varying views of Catholic truth, but it should still be the same truth, after all the Catholic Church is thew Universal Church. She'll introduce herself when she is ready.

-C

Introduction

This is my first entry where I'll share Catholic / Christian Truth (Veritas). I know some people who would choose to visit this blog will find the Truth unsettling. Some may argue that is "my truth" and not their truth, implying there is no absolute Truth. To them I say, I am sorry but you are wrong. Growing in faith and learning the Truth is an evolutionary process, but the truth will not change just because you or I don't understand it yet. What I share will be the best of my ability and sources. I am course human and errors could happen, if it does please be charitable in understanding and kindly inform me.

God Bless,

-C

p.s. Just found my first mistake, forgot to make a title. Fixed It.