Answer Priest

Ladies of the Lord -- February 10, 2011

Liturgical Norms

• Can a Mass be said for someone who is not Catholic----please advise??
• Recently I have heard some well meaning and religious folks talking about things that priests do in their parishes that are perhaps not the best choices. I'm not talking about illicit matters, simply things that could be done to encourage more reverence, especially for the Blessed Sacrament. As a priest, could you please speak to the importance of our submission to our priests, and the graces which can flow from our obedience. There seems to be a spirit of being "right" which is trumping what is God's will for us in our state in life. There also seems to be a dangerous spirit of rebellion to God given authority among even the most orthodox laity.

The Virtue of Piety

I've been hearing too much backbiting about priests lately. The things being said are often true, but the value of obedience is being ignored. I always tell people how BAD it is to just gripe about the faults of priests--even if they are real. We should instead think about how much grace God can pour out on our priests and on us when we submit to God's authority in the Church. I believe this sin is weakening our prayer power! I see this with so many wives, too, who know the "right" thing to do in their families, and so they trample their husbands role as head of the household. Then they complain that their husbands won't take authority! I know I'm guilty of this myself, but God has shown me in so many instances how the grace flows when we do submit, and we prayer warriors need to be at FULL POWER these days! No leaking vessels!

I love listening to Fr. Moleski on the radio. He has a beautiful, gentle way of teaching, that perhaps this difficult truth would be well received coming from him.

The Ladies of the Lord may know this, but many Catholics are not aware of the reason for some of the actions that are/should be performed during mass,or when walking by the alter, and the reasons for them:

• Genuflect: when and why
• Why the priest kisses the alter
• Why we make the sign of the cross on forehead, lips and mouth during gospel reading
• The bow during the Nicene Creed at the words "By the power of the Holy Spirit, He was born of the Virgin Mary and became man." (some don't notice it at all, others don't know if it is for the priest to do or for all to do)
• Church teaching on receiving Communion:
• Should parishioners bow or genuflect when receiving Communion
• Is it ever inappropriate to take the blessed Host into our hand?
• Does the church forbid dipping the blessed Host into the blessed Wine? Why?
• Prayers, actions during the raising of the Host and the Chalice during communion.
• Why it is inappropriate for Catholics to receive Communion in non-Catholic churches and for non-Catholics to receive communion in the Catholic church (Once when I attended a non*Catholic funeral mass where many of my co*workers were present some noticed that I did not take Communion and they later asked me why. If I experienced this, others could as well and they need to be able to gently explain their faith.)

Mary and the Joys of Heaven

I have long been bothered by just how our Lady can enjoy the happiness of heaven given that for so many centuries she has been appearing on earth caring for her children and in some apparitions has been reported as weeping. It makes me sad to see that she shares in our sufferings. So, then, how is it that she can enjoy eternal happiness? Isn't it a contradiction? poor Mary!

Confession

• My husband doesn't believe in Confession! He says he does not have to confess his sins to another man and he can still be Catholic living this belief. What can I say to him about this and is there something in the Bible I could show him? Could Fr. Marty explain the importance of confession?

Purgatory

I am Catholic but I do not believe in Purgatory. How do we know it really exists? It seems to be just a Catholic thing.

Saints

• Why did Pope John Paul II pronounce so many saints for this time. Was he a mystic?
• Could Fr. Marty talk about why some of the saints are found incorrupt and what, if anything it means?
• One mediator. In the dictionary it is a noun of the verb mediate which means to bring peace or understanding between 2 people. In the Greek, the word is Mesites=a go between a reconciler or intercessor. A mediator is someone who effects or attempts to reconcile between 2 parties. A successful mediator is acceptable to both parties because he/she understands the position of both parties and Thur reasonableness get them to relinquish any position that is unjust.

WHO IS GOD"S MEDIATOR--Only the Bible written by the inspiration of God can reveal this. In the New Testament the Greek Word Mesites occures 7x,s. This occurs 3x,s in Galations 3:19-20. This is where the Apostle Paul speaks of a mediator. In the Old Testament God gave the Low of the Covenant at Mt Sinai. Under the law-the tribe of Levi was the High Priest. Aaron was the High Priest. Read Lev. 16. Paul points in Galatians that the High Priest law--mediation did not and couldnot bring about true unity with the Holy God. The only possible was was through Faith in Jesus Christ. Gal. 3:22-26 and 1Tim. 2:5.The law reveals sin --but by adoption the justified believer is a heir in God's family with all rights and privileges. Gal. 4:14-17--Romans 8:14-17--Hebrews 8:6--9:15--12:24. God reveals the True Mediator THE MAN CHRIST JESUS, our risen Lord who mediates a new covenant which is better than the old covenant of Moses because it involves faith in God's Word and trust in His redeeming GRACE. Jesus Christ is the one and only one mediator between between God and Man. He represents God because as the Son of God HE was sent to live an exemplary life of holiness and He became obedient unto death. Jesus represents man kind because He is the man Jesus Christ and bore our mortal nature, all our weaknesses, died as an offering for sins, God raised Him from the dead, gave Him God's own nature---Immortality--made Him High Priest. The one and only mediator between God and Man. 1Tim 2:5

Jesus causes our reconciliation goes to the Father and makes intercession for us and then the Father Forgives us of all our sins--therefor we seek Him and desire to serve Him. Jesus is in Heaven seated at the right hand of the Father and He is our High Priest. Heb 4:14-16.We live under the dispensation of GRACE not the dispensation of the law ONLY GRACE.

Gary's Statement is as follows----Jesus is his only access no other source to God. Not Mary, nor the saints nor the Pope. Jesus is his pope absolution and confession is only to Him.The church teaches that your access is only tradition, I sure hope that this helps you Anne and I will send more to you tomorrow regarding your other questions. Love you Lynda

Signs of the Times

• Could Fr. Marty please talk about the times we are living in. With dead birds, fish kills, massive floods, frequent earthquakes and an increase of man's inhumanity to man it looks like the End Times or certainly it looks like we are being 'warned' of some upcoming event. I would really like to hear what he has to say on this subject.

• What does Fr. Marty think is the greatest crisis in the Church and what are each of us called to do to help overcome it??

Detachment

• What do you do if you have a very dysfunctional family who steals your peace and joy on every occasion no matter what you do----I do pray for them but I feel I can no longer be with them because of the dark places take send me. They are Joy-stealers!

Divine Mercy

• Could you explain Divine Mercy and the importance of it. In St. Faustina's Diary it says the spark that will ignite the world will come from Poland. Do you think that spark is referring to Pope John Paul too, St. Faustina or the work of Divine Mercy?

Angelology

• Could Fr. Marty talk a bit about the Angels and there importance to us. Can some people really 'see' them and if someone claims to receive a message from one of these messengers how do we know if it is from good or evil? There seems to be a whole other side to the Angels as seen in the New Age movement and I believe some of that has crept into the Catholic Church. Perhaps Fr. Marty could talk about Newageism---what is contained within it and what we should avoid. Is Harry Potter evil? Someone said Yoga and Reiki are also evil?

Honors in the Priesthood

• We never hear of any priest being made a Msgr. lately. What is the status of the Msgr. amd also that special designation that Msgr. Rupert received last year? Is this a title and honor that is fading away? What is the church's status on this position? Do you go from Father to Bishop? Do you think I have anyone in mind when I ask this? Is our Bishop retiring? I don't know if the Msgr. status is a very relevant but I do wonder about it?

I'm dating myself, but I remember someone many years ago asking why bells were rung during the Catholic mass. :-)

2) Indulgences: What is the difference between a Plenary indulgence and a Partial indulgence? When did these first come about in the Catholic church?

3) Is the Catholic church unique regard belief in Purgatory? What, if anything, has changed regarding the church teaching on Limbo?