The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive

     Man Fully Alive is someone who gives his best in anything - sports, school, work. Man Fully Alive is that very man striving to achieve the glory of heaven. He is fully alive knowing he is trying to reach his ultimate goal of heaven. We all strive to achieve what we deem possible, but Man Fully Alive calls us to greater goals. It calls us to holiness; it calls us towards God. Man Fully Alive is a vocation, a vocation which calls us to greatness. Man Fully Alive is a natural vocation. We can all reason towards this vocation. God created us with reason and free will. What better way to use our free will than to worship God (Our Creator). We give glory to God when we live fully alive. The Glory of God is life which we should respect. God intended for men to live in harmony with Him, creation, man himself, and woman. Man Fully Alive allows us to try and gain that lost harmony by "repairing" our relationship with the Creator. "The Glory of God is man fully Alive, But man fully alive is to behold God", reasoning towards God and sharing in Him through the Eucharist is to be Alive. God is true life, so we strive to be with Him in Heaven. Our journey in life is to be Men Fully Alive in the Glory of God.

The Sacrament of Matrimony

     Reflection Post - Matrimony is a vocation between the spouses. Marriage was always in God's plans from the beginning of time. Marriage is between God and the spouses. The spouses are the ministers of the Sacrament. Through the Sacrament of Matrimony, the spouses become one, united forever. Matrimony restores the harmony lost between man and woman due to sin. "The mutual sacrifice and devotion of husband and wife is a true picture of Christ's sanctifying sacrifice and devotion to His Church. 'Matrimony has its significance in the first place from Christ who took the Church as his bride at the price of his own blood. And also because when he offered his life as the price of her ransom, he stretched our his arms in an embrace of supreme love. And thirdly: as Eve was formed from the side of Adam while he slept, so the Church was formed from the side of the dying and dead Christ, as the two chief sacraments poured from his side - the blood of redemption and the water of absolution' (Albertus Magnus)." http://www.catholic.org/prayers/sacrament.php?id=7

Confessing Sins to a Priest

     Reflection Post -Many people believe that confessing your sins to a man is not valid forgiveness. But this is not true. God is the being who forgives our sins. The priest is a mediator between you and God. Confessing is a "conversation" between the confessor and God. The person who seeks true forgiveness receives forgiveness from God. The priest who some consider unholy is only again a mediator. God is who truly forgives sins. God through the priest gives us advice on how to live better catholic lives. 

 

Pentecost

     Pentecost is the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, fifty days after the Resurrection. The Holy Spirit filled the Apostles with courage. The courage necessary to begin their Commission. On Pentecost, the Apostles went from scared men to brave knights of the Church. Pentecost is a day, we as Catholics, remember that God is all the courage we need. Through God, anything is possible even the impossible to us.

 

 

 Leviathan

     A Leviathan is a sea monster referenced in the Old Testament. "In Psalm 74 God is said to "break the heads of Leviathan in pieces" before giving his flesh to the people of the wilderness; in Psalm 104 God is praised for having made all things, including Leviathan; and in Isaiah 27:1 he is called the 'wriggling serpent' who will be killed at the end of time". The image of a Leviathan is used as an image for Satan. The Leviathan endangers both God's creatures and God's creation. St. Thomas Aquinas described the Leviathan as a demon of envy.

St. Francis of Assisi

     St. Francis of Assisi is the founder of the Franciscan Order. He was born at Assisi in Umbria. Francis heard a voice call to him  "Go, Francis, and repair my house, which as you see is falling into ruin." St. Francis believed this to be his call at the time (taking it literally). St. Francis of Assisi was a very humble man. Humility is a great virtue for any person seeking holiness.

St. Justin Martyr's Letter

     This blog does not relate to my theme, but is related to theology. The letter was written about 150 A.D.

 

 What stood out? What stood out was where he St. Justin states that the Word makes "food" into flesh and blood with a prayer of His word. Our bodies are nourished by transmutation (the flesh and blood of Jesus).

 

 Why is the date important? The date is important because it shows that the Church's understanding of the Eucharist comes from tradition in the early Church.

 

 What does it tell you? The letter tells me that bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ. It tells me that even in persecutions the People of God gathered to celebrate the Eucharist, give thanksgiving, and worship the Lord.

The Holy Foreskin

     Jesus was circumcised according to his customs. The Holy Foreskin is said to be the only piece of Jesus' body to remain on Earth after the Resurrection. During the Middle Ages, many monasteries claimed to have the Holy Foreskin. The only papal approved foreskin was believed to be given to Charlemagne. The last sighting of the Holy Foreskin occurred at an Italian town (Calcata) in 1983. It is said that the foreskin resembled or appeared as a "red chickpea". Later after the last sighting, it is said that the foreskin disappeared. The Holy Foreskin teaches us that Jesus indeed had a human nature; his parents taught him to follow their culture from an early age.



St. Januarius' Blood

     St. Januarius' blood becomes liquid during the every year. St. Januarius is the patron saint of Naples. He was martyred during the Roman emperor - Diocletian. Scientists cannot explain the nature of the blood's behavior.

                                                "In experiments conducted in 1902 and 1904 the reliquary was weighed in a delicate balance. It was discovered that its weight was no more constant than its bulk, that is, its weight might increase as much as 25 grams, thereby defying physical laws. The strangest element is that there is often an increase in weight when the mass actually decreases, and a decrease in weight when the volume increases - this in direct opposition to the laws that dictate an increase in weight with a corresponding increase in mass."

     The blood reminds the faithful that martyrdom is the "seed of the Church". Martyrs were men who tried to live like Christ, and spread the message of the gospel in the face of death.



The Devil

     The Devil was an angel named Lucifer. His pride caused his fall from heaven. Jesus said that he saw Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Jesus said that his mission was "to defeat the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8). Satan is a powerful spirit who instigated man to sin, and continues to tempt man. The Devil's goal is to separate man from God. "One of his greatest tricks on us is to convince so many of us that he doesn’t even exist, truly a great wartime tactic." Humility is the best virtue against the devil. If the devil exists, we know a greater good exists. Evil was not created by God - because God is good. Evil came from a prideful angel.

Flying Nun

     A novice ran up to tell St. Thomas Aquinas about a nun who could levitate. This supernatural event was attracting large crowds, and St. Thomas went to the chapel to investigate. When he looked up, he saw the nun in mid-air.

                  "Look, Father, isn’t it amazing! What do you think?"
                  Thomas answered, "I didn’t know nuns wore such big boots."
Thomas did not deny or was very impressed with the flying nun. Thomas knew that a supernatural event did not mean holiness. Thomas only knew that the supernatural are events which man cannot understand. Like Thomas, we should treat supernatural events with caution because all we know is that the supernatural cannot be explained.

St. Gabriel the Archangel

     St. Gabriel the Archangel's name is recorded in Scripture only 4 times. "Fortitudo Dei", one of the three archangels mentioned in the Bible. Gabriel is presented as the angel of mercy. Gabriel appeared to Mary to announce to her God's message. It is believed he appeared to St. Joseph and to the shepherds. Also that he is the one who "strengthened" Christ in the Garden. St. Gabriel is a supernatural being who stayed faithful to God and serves the human race.

St. Michael the Archangel

     His name was the war cry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven. Michael's name is recorded in Scripture four times. Michael is the champion of God's people. "It would have been natural to St. Michael, the champion of the Jewish people, to be the champion also of Christians, giving victory in war to his clients."

The Four Horsemen

     The Four Horsemen are depicted in the Book of Revelation. They are war, famine, conquest (pestilence in modern culture), and death. They are the first in a series of "Seal" judgments. These judgments are when God will judge the living. St. Irenaeus depicted the horsemen of war as Christ himself with the white horse as the success of the gospels. The Horsemen represent the effects sin committed.



 

St. Juan Diego's Tilma

     The Tilma contains the replica of the Virgin Mary. The Tilma was a sign to the unbelieving bishop. NASA has stated that the image colors are made of material not found on Earth.

"A laser that scanned the image even found that the colors float three tenths of a millimeter in front of the Tilma surface, without touching it."

    The image is sacred and supernatural. Terrorists placed a bomb in front of the image, but the image remained the same. The image is a revelation to all unbelievers who think Mary is not holy or worth praying to. The Tilma is a stamp to every believer of Mary and her holiness.



Stigmata

     Stigmata are visible and invisible "sufferings" that relate to the Passion of Christ. The existence of stigmata have been recorded in history. Unbelievers now do not dispute them, but try to find natural explanations for them. Stigmata is to be like Christ for the expiation of sins committed in the world. Without the "sufferings", the wounds would only be a graphic representation of an empty symbol. Stigmata are examples of holy men and women living like Christ, they endure his sufferings for the sins of others.  



Our Lady of Lourdes

     Lourdes is a village in France. In this village, Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858.  Mary appeared to Bernadette 18 times. After the 18th apparition, Bernadette joined the Sister of Charity. Bernadette died at the age of 34. She was buried, but then her body was exhumed and her body was not corrupted. Buried once more, ten years later her body was exhumed and again it remained untouched by nature. Bernadette is an example of discipleship in the "flesh".

Gospel of Thomas

     This gospel is claimed by sources to be written by the Apostle Thomas. It writes that Jesus as a young child was revengeful. In this gospel, it claims Jesus killed out of revenge. It claims Jesus was feared, not the description of the Jesus in the other Gospels. In those Gospels, Jesus is loving, caring, and merciful. The Gospel claims to have secret knowledge, a Gnostic theme. The Gospel of Thomas is consisted mostly of Jesus' sayings. The depiction of Jesus in this gospel is heretic. Jesus if vengeful would have taken revenge upon his killers. The gospel goes against the Church's teachings which were handed down by the Apostles themselves.

Relics

      What is a relic? A relic is some object (usually a part of the body or clothes) remaining as a memory of a departed saint. Relics are to be honored by all the faithful. Even in the early Church relics were recognized. The wood of the cross was distributed to all parts of the world.
       Relics have been abused by people. Sin is the cause of this greed. People disguised as monks would sell materials claiming it to be relics. Relics are reminders of the capability of men to achieve holiness through Christ.

Demons

     Demons are considered evil spirits or fallen angels. They tempt men towards sin. Demons fell from grace when they rejected God. Demons are believed to be in hell. The Devil is the chief of all demons. But as men who will be tempted to sin; we should remember that if evil exists, a greater good also exists.

  "In Scripture and in Catholic theology this word has come to mean much the same as devil and denotes one of the evil spirits or fallen angels. And in fact in some places in the New Testament where the Vulgate, in agreement with the Greek, has daemonium, our vernacular versions read devil. The precise distinction between the two terms in ecclesiastical usage may be seen in the phrase used in the decree of the Fourth Lateran Council: "Diabolus enim et alii daemones" (The devil and the other demons), i.e. all are demons, and the chief of the demons is called the devil" http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/04710a.htm

Reflection over Service Project

This Blog is Different from my Theme.

But it stimulates ideas over one's service to their community

           The organization I worked for during the year was the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul focuses on helping those in need and those seeking charity. The Society has a variety of ways to help those in need. I worked in the Society’s Thrift Store at Bellaire. The Thrift Store sells donated clothes and other donated materials at cheap prices. The Thrift Store helps people in need of clothes and they also use the money earned to continue helping people in need. My duties at the Thrift Store were to enhance the “customers” experience (help them find what they needed), clean the store (vacuum and clean windows to shelves), price used clothes at reasonable prices, and move heavy furniture to style the store.

            The Jesuit motto is “Men for Others”; I helped people in need of charity find necessities at the store. Jesuit education teaches me to be patient. Many people, who needed help, took time to find their needs. I had to be patient with each individual “customer”; for example, there was a couple who did not speak English nor Spanish and I had to use sign language (pointing and creating objects with my hands) to communicate. Jesuit education teaches me to be loving. I was loving with each “customer” no matter their size, color, or religion. The service project helped me grow as an individual person striving to become a “Man for Others”. The peaceful feeling one gets from helping other is amazing. One feels closer to God because all people are God’s children. In my long-term goals, I wish to give back to my community. The service project is a way to give back to my community for at least fifteen hours.

            The service project has not really impacted my belief system. I always knew I had to aid others. I've always believed in God; God through the Church encourages us to act with kindness towards others.  Jesus said, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34), I try to follow this Commandment through acts of charity. The service has affected my sense of Christian responsibility. I was responsible for the care of people in dire need. A Faith that does Justice to me means the Catholic community striving to help the poor (some who through no fault of their own are poor). My family encouraged me for helping my community. My family felt proud that I was giving “back to the faith”. My family’s experience with the Service-Learning Project was encouraging. They believed that the project is a great way for young men to help people in need. Before the project, I felt comfortable working with those in need as I have experience from freshman year. During the project, I felt tired because striving to do well does not come easy. Hard work leads to great results. After the project, I felt a sense of accomplishment because I was a “Man for Others”.

Angels

 

An angel is a messenger of God. There is a hierarchy to the organization of angels:

"It is as messengers that they most often figure in the Bible, but, as St. Augustine, and after him St. Gregory, expresses it: angelus est nomen officii ("angel is the name of the office") and expresses neither their essential nature nor their essential function, viz.: that of attendants upon God's throne in that court of heaven [...]" http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01476d.htm



All people have personal guardian angels, even Jesus Christ had guardian angels. Angels are spiritual beings who do not have a body. Angels possess free will, they choose God or evil. Angels help humans listen to their conscious. Angels in modern culture are depicted with wings, which is not rue due to the fact they're spiritual. Scripture only names three angels: Raphael, Gabriel, and Michael. Angels are believed to be in Heaven. 

 



Milk Grotto

The Milk Grotto is a sacred site for Christians. According to tradition, while Mary and Joseph escape Herod's soldiers after the Slaughter of the Innocents, they stooped in a cave. In this cave, Mary nursed baby Jesus. A drop of Mary's milk fell on a rock, which turned white. The site was recognized by a proclamation of Pope Gregory XI in 1375. Franciscans built a church around the Grotto in 1872. Many new mothers and women trying to conceive visit the site to pray for their children and maternal problems. The Milk Grotto testifies that Mary is the Mother of God (a caring and protective mother). The Milk Grotto testifies that Jesus had a human nature (all babies need to be nursed).



The Shroud of Turin

The Shroud contains bloodstains and a light outline of a man who underwent crucifixion. Some results place the shroud's origins between 300 B.C. and 400 A.D. Scientists cannot determine how the marks remain on the shroud for so many years. The Shroud of Turin has not been claimed authentic by the Catholic Church. The Shroud might be proof of the existence of Jesus Christ for non-Catholics. The Shroud of Turin might prove the existence of Jesus but as a Catholic myself, I believe in Jesus Christ (no matter what tests try to prove otherwise).
http://www.history.com/shows/the-real-face-of-jesus/articles/about-the-shroud-of-turin

      



Miracle During Eucharist

The setting of this miracle occurred in an Italian town named Lanchano. The bread and wine transformed into live blood and flesh. This miracle stamps the belief of the dogma of transubstantiation.
     "Transubstantiation, as was said earlier, is the dogma which says that the bread and wine, when ingested in the Mass, are supernaturally transformed into the literal body and blood of Christ, which then imparts blessing to the participant."
                                                       http://www.studytoanswer.net/rcc/rvb_mass.html
Some pieces of the flesh and blood were put in a wooden cist for future generations. Scientists first examined the relics in 1574. During an examination, scientists found the blood to be AB - AB blood type is very common in Palestine (Jesus' birth place), and not in Italy.
     "What scientists can not explain is how the blood that is 1300 years old doesn’t lose its chemical qualities. Normally blood changes its properties after 20 minutes in the open air. The fact that the blood’s properties remained the same for more than a century is a real miracle. "
This miracle cannot be explained by scientists because it comes as a sign from God.

The Eucharist

Spear of Destiny

     The Spear of Destiny is the spear that pierced Christ as he was on the cross (according to sources). Romans have a tradition to break the legs of those crucified to speed the death process. The Romans knew Jesus was dead already and decided to stab him to assure his death; Jesus' side flowed water and blood (referring to the Sacraments).  Legend says that whoever possesses it will rule the world. The spear is only mentioned in the Gospel of John. There are many spears that claim to be authentic: Vatican Lance, Echmiadzin Lance, and the Vienna Lance.
     The Vienna Lance was held by Hitler at one time. Some believe the Echmiadzin Lance to be the same lance as the Vatican Lance. The Vatican Lance (preserved in St. Peter's Basilica) has never been declared authentic by the Church. The Spear of Destiny is a true relic in the Church. The Spear is a testament to the human and divine natures of Christ.

 The Vienna Lance

Is Love Subjective?
I believe love is subjective. One cannot not know for certain if she/he is loved. Someone can do a kind act showing love, but that someone might be doing it without "heart". The person's intentions should be holiness in order to achieve love, but one cannot know what a person's heart holds. A person can have faith in people but sin will always disrupt the relationship of love; therefore, love cannot be fully proven with facts.

Pope Francis
This topic is not really related to my theme. Pope Francis is the first Jesuit pope. He was born in Argentina and comes Italian descent. Pope Francis is also the first pope from the Americas. Pope Francis name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio. Pope Francis is a very different pope; he celebrated Holy Thursday in jail, washing the feet of twelve people (women and non-Catholics) in a humble gesture. Pope Francis faces many challenges, but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit those challenges shall be overcome.
"Habemus Papam! The first Jesuit. The first pope from the Americas."
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/03/18/pope-francis-a-golden-opportunity-for-change.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/pope-francis-keeping-it-real-simple/2013/04/05/c73d206a-9d35-11e2-9a79-eb5280c81c63_story.html

Easter Vigil Mass
On Sunday, March 31, I altar served for the Easter Vigil Mass at Holy Ghost Church. The Mass was very different and a hour longer. The Mass starts in an unique fashion - outside with a fire. Once the priest proceeds into the Church, the lights are off. It was a special Mass for me because I witnessed the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist all in one Mass. As an altar server, the Mass was very different; during the Gloria, the bells were rung for a longer period than the usual. There were several readings beginning with Genesis.

Not Holy Ghost Church

What is Hell?
Hell is the eternal state of punishment for mortal sin. Hell's greatest punishment is being separated from God's grace. The existence of Hell is proven in the Bible. Hell is believed to be an abyss with fire. Hell to many is the home to demons and other evil supernatural creatures.
     "The poena damni, or pain of loss, consists in the loss of the beatific vision and in so complete a separation of all the powers of the soul from God that it cannot find in Him even the least peace and rest. It is accompanied by the loss of all supernatural gifts, e.g. the loss of faith."
                                                                                        http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07207a.htm

What is Purgatory?
Purgatory is state of purification, the final stage of pardon for sins.
     "Purgatory (Lat., "purgare", to make clean, to purify) in accordance with Catholic teaching is a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God's grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions."
The Church has always taught the doctrine of purgatory. Purgatory is a temporal punishment due to sin after death.
                                                                                 http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12575a.htm

What is Heaven?
     Heaven is and shall be eternal peace. Heaven was promised to those who do good in the world. In Heaven, one lives in harmony with God and himself. Heaven is the goal of all people even does who don't reason to it. Some say Heaven is everywhere as God is. One lives free of sin in Heaven. I believe in Heaven in a life after death. I believe in the Church's ultimate goal to help all reach Heaven.
  "There is a heaven, i.e., God will bestow happiness and the richest gifts on all those who depart this life free from original sin and personal mortal sin, and who are, consequently, in the state of justice and friendship with God. Concerning the purification of those just souls who depart in venial sin or who are still subject to temporal punishment for sin"
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07170a.htm

Indulgences
Today March 27, 2013 Mr. Cole taught about indulgences in the Church. Indulgences discharge one's debt (trespass toward Perfection) during this life.

     The Communion of Saints states, "'We being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another' (Romans 12:5). As each organ shares in the life of the whole body, so does each of the faithful profit by the prayers and good works of all the rest—a benefit which accrues, in the first instance, to those who are in the state of grace, but also, though less fully, to the sinful members." http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htm

     Indulgences pardon one from more time in Purgatory. In Purgatory, one is in a state of repentance to become prepared for Heaven. Purgatory is a state of trial, meaning the souls are tested by God. An indulgence is not a pardon for a future sin. The one thing that interest me about indulgences is that there is no "time" in the afterlife; so does one stay in Purgatory for years in "human time" therefore indulgences are accomplished to shortened the "time" in Purgatory? Indulgences were sold by people; therefore, the Council of Trent clarified:
"Since the power of granting indulgences has been given to the Church by Christ, and since the Church from the earliest times has made use of this Divinely given power, the holy synod teaches and ordains that the use of indulgences, as most salutary to Christians and as approved by the authority of the councils, shall be retained in the Church; and it further pronounces anathema against those who either declare that indulgences are useless or deny that the Church has the power to grant them (Enchridion, 989)."

Selling of indulgences

And Here We Go!!!!...

Angel: Stay on this blog.
Demon: Leave this blog.
Make your choice!

I chose The Church as the Communion of Saints topic for my blog. I want my blog to reach to the audience that doesn't believe in Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory (people of all genders and ages - especially teenagers). I want this blog to be a serious topic with some "fun facts" and humor included. This blog will have interesting theories from experts and common people, but also articles over "witnesses" of supernatural beings. This blog's goal is to create thoughts beyond the natural.