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PTL
Guest
I once heard a teaching said exactly the same thing as you mentioned. The thief on the right side of our Lord was spending his purgatory on the Cross, so he could go to paradise with the Lord that night.
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PTL
Guest
Yes, I agree Christians must live their faith by all means. The problem today is people generally are lack of the concept of sin. Why? Because the media, Hollywood, and secular culture are prevailing, and moral teachings are not heard from the pulpit.
Unless a person does his own readings on the Bible, the Catechism, the Saints, or watch EWTN, or belong to a good Bible study group, or spiritual group, he has very little contact with any moral teaching.
That does not give the person excuse to live an immoral life, but you cannot deny moral teaching from the pulpit is important. For past so many years, I have never heard any mention about the sin of fornication, contraception,abortion, sodomy… in my own parish.
Luckily I have heard moral teachings in some other parishes. That is always refreshing.
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PTL
Guest
The reason moral teaching is not heard because many parishes have become the church of nice.
In many cases, pastors who refuse to do moral teaching have made their parish a church of nice where everyone feels welcome, no one feels any conviction and donations keep on coming.
We do not need to hear moral teaching every Sunday, but it is definitely wrong when moral teaching is never the topic of any Sunday homily.
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Della
Guest
I don’t think there’s any need to denigrate our priests in order to make a point.
The homily should be centered around the readings of the day, not the prevailing sins of the day. The Mass is not catechetical in nature. It’s the gathering of God’s people to worship him in spirit and in truth, to hear God’s word proclaimed and to receive (if possible) the Holy Eucharist.
Certainly a homilist may raise certain issues if they are connected to the readings, but he is not to "wing it’ merely for the sake of pushing any agenda, either his own or anyone elses. His obligation is to preach God’s word, not berate people for their sins merely for the sake of it. He has a fine line to walk, not just so he won’t upset sensibilities and donation will go down, but so he does his ministry as the Church desires it, not as he alone wishes.
I’ve read many posts on CAF about priests preaching about only one or two topics every Mass. That too is an abuse be it social justice or preaching about nothing but sins. If the homily subject is the mere duty of the priest, he may say whatever he wishes, good or bad. But this is not the case. He is limited to the readings, for the very good reason that God’s people are to hear God’s word, not anyone’s opinions. Sometimes a priest can work the sins of the day into his homily, certainly there’s a place for that, but it’s not his duty to rail against anything from the pulpit, but to preach God’s word.
Some teaching may be given in homilies, of course, but again, that’s not their primary purpose. There are other venues for that, which a good pastor ought to institute at his parish or encourage the lay to volunteer to do. We must do our part, as well. It’s not all up to the pastor. After all, the home is the domestic Church–instruction in faith and morals begins there.
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mikekle
Guest
You are so right, I see this so much in my parish, I know MANY people, my own family even, that seem to think just going to church for one hour each week is good enough, and thats it! When mass goes a little long some weeks, I see people fidgeting, checking their watches…they DONT want to be there any longer than absolutely necessary, they dont want to hear negative things, they want to hear happy good things, they dont want to face their own sins, they just want to go thru the hour long routine every sunday so they call themselves active catholics/good people.
The numerous times Ive tried talking to family members about certain bible verses, the either blow them off, or say they never heard of them, this shows me my parish has been doing something wrong over the years!
The only church I have ever been to where I saw people TRULY living the faith, was a Pentecostal church I was a member at years ago, I only stayed about year or so, but it has been weighing on me lately to go back. Service could go 3 hours and I never saw anyone anxious to leave, people actually talked about the bible, talked about the faith, faced, and discussed ‘bad’ things, etc.
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Della
Guest
So you know what’s in people’s hearts merely by observation? I used to be Pentecostal and I can tell you they are not always thinking about God and the service while they’re there. They may look like they are participating more than Catholics, but that’s only because they have a service that demands they do look like they’re “all there” mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But I can tell you that not everything is as it appears to be, especially to those who are looking for reasons to dismiss the faith of others merely because they are not so demonstrative in worship style.
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ynotzap
Guest
The human state from birth, as Christian understand is one of a fallen state. That is humanity is subjected to the rule of Satan, the representation of an “evil spirit” with angelic powers that are restricted, but active along with his cohorts, and the need of the Holy Spirit, the giver of grace, the supernatural help to overcome the evil influence and control over the human race. This supernatural help, can only come from God, in Jesus Christ, and there is only one Savior of humanity. This evil spirit, and the loss of grace has taken advantage of human weaknesses, ignorance, the rule of passion over the rule of mind, selfishness, pride(a lack of humility- the beginning of the downfall), arrogance, disobedience, immediate gratification, inundation of the senses with superficial activity, vision, and sound to keep one from thinking about values, the family destruction, the root of much mental illness. I can go on and on.
Christianity can not be passed on from generation to generation. It is only given through a personal encounter with the Savior, Jesus Christ. No one else is capable of curing humanitys fallen state. As has been stated, many are so called Christians, but are they truly converted to Christ? The truths of Christianity can be passed on, but to assimilate those truths and practice them is the work of the Holy Spirit given by Jesus Christ. Mankind looks to its own for a saviour or saviours, a secular approach, and a failing one as we all witness. Its failing state carries with it great hope, as humanity will be forced to look elsewhere. This is why Evangelization is so important, and greatly needed. The evangilizers have to be evangelized themselves. We have to stand by the impregnable wall of truth, and pick up the pieces of those who hit it, like our children when they disobey the loving guidance of their parents We have no choice when it comes to the will of people except to watch with pain the outcome of their choices, and we pray and continue to do our best by living our own christian convictions. Human nature was destined to fail, in order to be uplifted, instrumentally by the Children of God, through Jesus Christ.
Christianity can not be passed on from generation to generation. It is only given through a personal encounter with the Savior, Jesus Christ. No one else is capable of curing humanitys fallen state. As has been stated, many are so called Christians, but are they truly converted to Christ? The truths of Christianity can be passed on, but to assimilate those truths and practice them is the work of the Holy Spirit given by Jesus Christ. Mankind looks to its own for a saviour or saviours, a secular approach, and a failing one as we all witness. Its failing state carries with it great hope, as humanity will be forced to look elsewhere. This is why Evangelization is so important, and greatly needed. The evangilizers have to be evangelized themselves. We have to stand by the impregnable wall of truth, and pick up the pieces of those who hit it, like our children when they disobey the loving guidance of their parents We have no choice when it comes to the will of people except to watch with pain the outcome of their choices, and we pray and continue to do our best by living our own christian convictions. Human nature was destined to fail, in order to be uplifted, instrumentally by the Children of God, through Jesus Christ.
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CHRISTINE77
Guest
Yes unfortunately this is so true. It’s like the Catholic church doesn’t want to acknowledge sin! Somehow we need to get back to the reality of sin, how we are all sinners and in total need of the redemption of our savior. I don’t think it really helps the church to be so easy going. I know there are still a lot of non-Americans who belong to the church, but why dumb it down so much. I find the homilies a lot like socialism these days: doing everything for the poor in our country, but I tend to think that the “poor” in our country are not very poor. I tend to give my money to the poor in third world countries. In any case, it is important not to just focus on how much money you can get out of your congregation, but rather, how you can help redeem the sinner. (just my rant).
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Dorothy
Guest
The Catholic Church’s teachings certainly acknowledges sin. I believe it is the influence of our materialistic culture that has crept into the lifestyles of Catholics, that has done much harm. We need to be counter-cultural, promoting daily family prayer time, and where possible go to Eucharistic adoration and daily mass.
Others will change if we change and focus on our own sanctification.
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CHRISTINE77
Guest
Yes you are right. We need to focus on our Lord and how to be like him.
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grannymh
Guest
I am still interested in contemporary Stealth Arianism.
And what is really tough is that I have no clue how to combat it.
And what is really tough is that I have no clue how to combat it.
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PTL
Guest
In the article of this thread intends to discuss, Father Heilman said:
Such situation is not only be observed by Father Heilman and many laity, here is another priest’s testimony. In his near death experience, Father Steven Scheier received his personal judgment of hell. He said “priests are accountable for what we say or don’t say.” Fr. Scheier told us “hell is real, and priests are liable to it.”
Fr. Scheier talks in this video how priests do not want to make parishioners feel guilty and “especially do not want to make persons who write big checks feel guilty.” That is what we are discussing here. Watch the video.
Above is Father Heilman’s observation about what is going on in the church. He is not trying to make any priest look bad but paying attention to a serious problem. This is also what this thread wants to discuss.
Such situation is not only be observed by Father Heilman and many laity, here is another priest’s testimony. In his near death experience, Father Steven Scheier received his personal judgment of hell. He said “priests are accountable for what we say or don’t say.” Fr. Scheier told us “hell is real, and priests are liable to it.”
Fr. Scheier talks in this video how priests do not want to make parishioners feel guilty and “especially do not want to make persons who write big checks feel guilty.” That is what we are discussing here. Watch the video.
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mikekle
Guest
No, not by observation alone, with my family, it comes from talking to them numerous times, their actions over the years, etc.
Ive mentioned this before, my dad started 1st grade at our parish, went all thru high school, was a professor at a local catholic college part time, he has rarely missed a sunday mass, but when I asked him about all the OT accounts of God ordering people to kill others, he did not believe me, he wanted me to show him the verses, when I did, he was surprised, said he never heard of those before. There were some other biblical topics Ive talked to him about and he was not aware of them either, this tells me, somewhere along the lines, this church has been doing something wrong.
I know my dad very well, we talk and spend alot of time together, I get the impression he goes to church out of routine, his parents took him to church when he was a kid, he did the same thing when he had kids.
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mikekle
Guest
You are right about the poor in this country, I read an article long ago about this, they did a study and found the numbers staggering…
it was along these lines…
97% of poor households had some form of stove, microwave, etc to cook food.
98% had some form of keeping food cold/frozen, refrigeration.
90% had heating and cooling in the house/apt they lived in.
97% had cable tv
It went on down the line with similar things, I wish I could remember where this article was, it was amazing, I had never thought about it like this before.
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Della
Guest
Your dad’s, your or my ideas about what the Church is doing right or wrong is a moot point based on nothing more than personal inclinations. Your impressions of your dad’s faith life is just that and nothing more. You cannot possibly know the depth of his heart and soul. No one but God can know that. Instead of abandoning the faith or denigrating it, it would be better to embrace it fully for Catholicism isn’t just a set of beliefs or rules and regs–is practiced. Sometimes we do well at that and other times we don’t. But the more we fully practice our faith, the more we grow in it.
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Dorothy
Guest
Your last sentence is a great truth!Your dad’s, your or my ideas about what the Church is doing right or wrong is a moot point based on nothing more than personal inclinations. Your impressions of your dad’s faith life is just that and nothing more. You cannot possibly know the depth of his heart and soul. No one but God can know that. Instead of abandoning the faith or denigrating it, it would be better to embrace it fully for Catholicism isn’t just a set of beliefs or rules and regs–is practiced. Sometimes we do well at that and other times we don’t. But the more we fully practice our faith, the more we grow in it.
We don’t have to be intellectuals with degrees to know who Jesus is and what He did for us. There are many with simple faith who practice it very well. Through the excellent bible studies put out by Ascension Press (Jeff Cavins) I am learning much more about my faith.
And, the more we get into prayer the more we get out of the sacraments and from that the desire to know and love the Lord more is the result.
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CHRISTINE77
Guest
Don’t forget cars too!
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PTL
Guest
I read a Deacon’s article on a Diocese Newspaper talking about homily. Here are a few paragraph to share with you. It is very good.
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Paddy1989
Guest
I’m sorry but how do you even come close to the idea that the US is the Nation god blessed the most. You would have to be ignorant of European history and how much it’s nations contribute to Christianity. This way of thinking is similar to the “America is the greatest country on earth” mentailty. It’s a radically dangerous mentality that keeps many Americans ignorant and naive. This Nation only a few centuries old has been at the forefront of wiping God out of people’s lives. How can this not be seen?
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