Women as Priests

This topic has been gaining ground across America and across the world. Should women be priests?

First, this article might help give some insight into the debate. Woman ordained as a priest

Okay I hope you read the article, because now it's time to get some thoughts out. Obviously the main debate is that Catholics feel there is an injustice in that the Church will not allow women priests. Now discrimination of gender is obviously bad, but this is not what God wanted.

Now how do we know this? Well, Christ himself chose twelve men who became known as the Apostles. Jesus created this hierarchy for the means of salvation to the world. The Church, which was instituted by Christ, cannot willfully disobey God's command.

The debate on this topic now comes largely in part due to Christ having female disciples that acted out higher roles. They delude themselves into thinking these famous Christian females were priests or deacons. This, they feel, gives further credibility for women priests. Also, these people feel that the Church should allow it to keep up with the modern era (this topic also leads into debates on abortion, birth control, and same-sex marriage). They say that Christ held no qualms against women, and they were even some of his closest disciples. They say Christ obviously only followed the customs of old (as in the time) which is why he only chose males.

Now for the Catholic's side. First off, most of this debate I personally find funny since these same people keep giving a double standard. They want the Church to modernize by changing some of its infallible decrees, yet they also critic on the Church on supposedly continuously adding new teachings that never should exist. The Church, because Christ chose twelve men and no women, only allows the sacrament of Holy Orders to be given out to men because that is how Christ instituted it.

It is also true Christ had close disciples in women, but stating that women were not chosen because of society is entirely untrue. Since when did Christ conform to society? Christ only obeyed the will of the Father and thus obeyed some Jewish customs too. However, when did Jesus allow himself to be stopped by society? He frequently stayed with the sinners, which is not at all conforming to society. He had some of the more unintelligent lot become Apostles. He even had a tax collector be one of his closest members whom everyone hated. If he wanted to, he would have chosen females to enter as Apostles. Since he did not, there must be some reason for it.

For those Catholics who still think that women should be ordained as priests, well you are entitled to your own opinion, but I would then say you are deluded in your beliefs. It may sound chauvinistic since a male is writing this, but it is either accepting this and staying with the Church Christ instituted or schisming from the Church. I for one will stay with the Church Christ instituted. None of us can declare what is right in the Church without the will of God, and I for will stay on that side.

Eucharistic Miracle: Lanciano, Italy 8th Century A.D.

One day in the eighth century, in the church dedicated to Saints Legontian and Domitian in Lanciano, a Basilian monk was celebrating Holy Mass in the Latin rite, with a host of unleavened bread. The monk started doubting the real and substantial presence of the Flesh and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the consecrated Holy Species. After having pronounced the words of Consecration (“This is My Body... This is My Blood”), as Jesus had taught it to His Apostles, the monk saw the host change into a living piece of Flesh, and the wine change into real blood, which thereupon coagulated and split into five globules, irregular and differing in shape and size.

The Host-Flesh, as can be very distinctly observed today, has the same dimensions as the large host used today in the Latin church; it is light brown and appears rose-colored when lighted from the back. The Blood is coagulated and has an earthy color resembling the yellow of ochre.

During Sunday mass, the same thing takes place. The Church teaches that although the accidents(the visual aspects)  remain the same the core of the substance changes in a process called transubstantiation. Transubstantiation is the process in which the bread and wine changes to flesh and blood. This process is usually internal, yet in this case the process was visual for the doubting monk to see.

It is impressive to me how God gives us answers to everything. If one doubts the real presence, he proves it.  God loves all of us and wants us to prosper! We should not take for granted the miracles that take place in our everyday lives: a bird singing; the sun rising; etc.... God gives us what we need when we need it, let us ask for nothing more!

The Seven Sacraments with Human Nature

The Seven Sacraments are a way of receiving Sanctifying Grace,grace has been defined as "the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it the condescension or benevolence shown by God toward the human race It is understood by Christians to be a spontaneous gift from God to man - generous, free and totally unexpected and undeserved - that takes the form of divine favor, love and clemency.  Christ wishes for us to be saints and live for eternity with him. This is why he created the sacraments, so we can attain the grace necessary for salvation.  Christ make salvation available to us through the sacraments.

Have you ever felt like no matter what you do you just don't fell fulfilled? That is you body's longing for Christ. It is in our nature to seek for God. The sacraments are necessary tools for our salvation. They grant us the grace necessary for our nature to be fulfilled. So next time you have a longing for something, go to mass!

Catechumenate

The Catechumenate is the process for all those who wish to become members of the Church. Likewise, the person who is called a Catechumen while the community of such people and the actual time period until Baptism is called the Catechumenate. It originates from a Greek word which means 'learner.' This process is an undergoing of instruction and teachings of the Faith and preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation.

The original purpose of the process was to give a sort of first step in order to convert into Christianity. There has to be a time period in which people who willfully enter the Church must undergo instruction to properly know about the Faith. The Catechumen must understand what it is that entering the Church entails. Normally this process happened by initiating members at Easter Vigil, the night before Christ rose from the dead. This process then became restored by Vatican II in the process of RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).

Baptism by immersion

To understand this, we need to understand the Rite of Baptism. The entire Rite contains the actual pouring of water, a re-commitment of baptismal promises, a white candle, and white garments. The water not only symbolizes cleansing but taking part in the Paschal Mystery. This can be seen by Baptism through immersion since the person immerses himself/herself under the Holy Water and "rises again" to new life.

While the Eastern Rite gives out all three Sacraments of Initiation in a row, the Latin rite is somewhat different. Normally, a child of the Latin rite would be baptized as a baby. Once that child reaches the age of reason (meaning seven years old), they typically receive Eucharist. When they become older (middle school through high school [leaning towards high school]), the person finalizes his/her initiation by receiving Confirmation.

What about those who become baptized later?

This is where RCIA comes in. Since the Baptism is necessary for salvation, people must enter this process. RCIA is for all older minors and adults who have not received their initiation Sacraments. However, unlike those going through the standard route, anybody who takes RCIA follows the same school of thought by receiving all three Sacraments consecutively. The Catechumen will go through the process, listening to the Word of God, forms of prayer, etc. When they are ready to receive the Sacraments of Initiation, they will be baptized on the Easter Vigil Mass through a special ceremony on that day.

So it is never too late to be saved be saved. Anyone who wants to enter the Church under the right attitude can join the Church.

Saint Andrew

Saint Andrew was one of the 12 apostles. He is patron saint of fishermen, for he was a fisherman. He became a disciple of the great St. John the Baptist, but when John pointed to Jesus and said, "Behold the Lamb of God!" Andrew understood that Jesus was greater. At once he left John to follow the Divine Master. Jesus knew that Andrew was walking behind him, and turning back, he asked, "what do you seek?" When Andrew answered that he would like to know where Jesus lived, Our Lord replied, "Come and see." Andrew had been only a little time with Jesus when he realized that this was truly the Messiah.

After the death of Christ, St. Andrew went to Greece to preach the gospel. He is said to have been put to death on a cross, to which he was tied, not nailed and it is believed that it was in the shape of an X for he believe to be unfit to die the same way Christ died. He lived two days in that state of suffering, still preaching to the people who gathered around their beloved Apostle. Two countries have chosen St. Andrew as their patron - Russia and Scotland.

Saint Andrew is without a doubt my favorite Saint. Most apostles lived non religious live previous to meeting Christ, but Saint Andrew was a follower of John the Baptist. He lived an inspiring life! Who is willing to suffer for 2 days straight for the faith of a dead person.


From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. -Luke 12:48