Ask a Catholic what you've been wanting to ask

  • Thread starter Thread starter PJM
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
Here my friends in an opportunity to ask that question you’ve “alway’s” wnated to ask:)

God Bless,
Pat
How is someone to celebrate feastdays or solemnities, and what is the difference between the two?

thanks,
 
Thank you to those who answered my question; they were all great answers and insightful.

Still, I’m a bit dubious. Something doesn’t seem quite complete in those answers, or perhaps the reality seems larger than the simplicity of the explanations-- I’m not quite certain.

It’s the obvious response, but I’m not certain it’s whole. I need to think on it.
 
Thank you to those who answered my question; they were all great answers and insightful.

Still, I’m a bit dubious. Something doesn’t seem quite complete in those answers, or perhaps the reality seems larger than the simplicity of the explanations-- I’m not quite certain.

It’s the obvious response, but I’m not certain it’s whole. I need to think on it.
Ok, I’m going to take a different approach, so please, bear with me. This is a hypothetical situation to show it from a different angle. It seems that your biggest hangup is over Peter just being one of the 12, and your not understanding how or why Jesus singled him out as a leader, because he doesn’t seem to have any special title inferred on him by Jesus.

If we look at the Church that Jesus established in the way that a modern company might be set up, then let’s say there is a ‘board of directors’ (the Apostles) that are left in charge to run the business in the owner’s (Jesus) absence. Let’s also say that while the owner is away on a business trip, a serious crisis happens that needs to be dealt with immediately, but there is no way to contact the owner to ask him directly what they should do.

There are 12 members of the board, so they call an emergency meeting to discuss the problem. After a lot of deliberation, they boil it down to 2 solutions that seem reasonable, but they’re equally divided on which solution is the correct one to take, that would be approved by the owner. How can they come to any decision without there being anyone with the final authority to choose between them in such a case? They can’t agree on one, and no one is willing to give up their vote, but the crisis is getting worse by the minute.

So, the question is, would Jesus leave the ‘company’ without any way for them to agree on the solution, or would He appoint one individual to make that decision for Him, in the case of such an emergency situation? Wouldn’t He pick someone that He trusted to be fair, someone that would do exactly as He would do, if He were there? I think He’d be a fool not to leave them with some kind of final authority to take action, and Jesus is certainly no fool. Perish the thought! :eek:

And, I didn’t even mention the whole thing about the ‘keys’. 😃
 
Hello Telstar,

Your analogy is not lost on me, but it doesn’t seem to completely reflect the current reality of the Papacy-- well at least in the way I perceive it to be.

With that said, I am willing to concede that my understanding of the Papacy may be limited since I am not Catholic. Being Episcopalian, I consider myself Catholic-adjacent, (that’s good, I’ll have to remember that) but even then, I only converted a few years ago.
 
=Stephen W;8685975]How is someone to celebrate feastdays or solemnities, and what is the difference between the two?
WOW A REAL QUESTION:D Thank you!

They are at base the “same.” The difference is the position of GREATER respect certain afforded to notable Saints such as Marian feast, Feastdays of the Apostles, Christmans and Easter.

Quite often the Solemnities are also ***“Holy Day’s of Obligation” ***with all of the normal obligations of a Sunday with Mandatory Mass Attendence. Bishops have the authority to alter Holy Day’s is they fall under “Church Practices” not Doctrine.

Again thanks for the REAL question!

God Bless you,
Pat
 
Hello Telstar,

Your analogy is not lost on me, but it doesn’t seem to completely reflect the current reality of the Papacy-- well at least in the way I perceive it to be.

With that said, I am willing to concede that my understanding of the Papacy may be limited since I am not Catholic. Being Episcopalian, I consider myself Catholic-adjacent, (that’s good, I’ll have to remember that) but even then, I only converted a few years ago.
Think in terms of humility and Jesus words that a leader is to serve, not to be served. Your line of thinking is in terms of 21st century understanding, from what I can glean from your replies.

Something to think about too, the significance of the name change of Simon to Peter, and the only name change among the apostles.

In that culture then, when a name is changed, it signifies a change in stature or change in authority.

Significant name changes in the Bible…

Abram to Abraham- and God’s command to Abraham, to be the father of nations

Jacob to Israel, and God’s command-to build the nation of Israel

Simon to Peter, and God’s command-to build His Church.

See the similarities?

Even when Peter addressed them as fellow elders, these elders knew about Peter’s stature.
 
Think in terms of humility and Jesus words that a leader is to serve, not to be served. Your line of thinking is in terms of 21st century understanding, from what I can glean from your replies.

Something to think about too, the significance of the name change of Simon to Peter, and the only name change among the apostles.

In that culture then, when a name is changed, it signifies a change in stature or change in authority.

Significant name changes in the Bible…

Abram to Abraham- and God’s command to Abraham, to be the father of nations

Jacob to Israel, and God’s command-to build the nation of Israel

Simon to Peter, and God’s command-to build His Church.

See the similarities?

Even when Peter addressed them as fellow elders, these elders knew about Peter’s stature.
Excellent point, pablope! I’ll definitely have to remember that one. 😃

Many things written in the Gospels are difficult for us to understand in modern terms without knowing about the way people in those early days viewed the world and spoke. Their traditions and beliefs are extremely important in figuring it all out. That’s why it’s so important to have a teaching authority (the Magisterium of the RCC) to guide us in our understanding exactly what those things meant to the writers (and readers) at that point in time, which affects our own interpretation of their words. It’s much more complicated than just picking up a Bible and reading it. Some things might seem clear to us, but they’re still subject to the context of the people involved at the time it was written. So, we really need to understand some of the history of those times, as well as the words.they used and how/why they used them.
 
You ask a interesting question and being Anglican, one would think I should know the answer since the See of Canterbury is First Among Equals. Don’t take what I’m about to say as gospel, but I take it to mean:

a. Authority doesn’t differentiate much from second, or third except in cases of tie breaking
b. The individual becomes, for lack of a better term, a mascot or figure head. One person to rally around. The front man in the band.
c. In the case of Animal Farm, all are equal. Some are just more equal than others.

Anyway, who cares what I think? This is “ask a Catholic,” not “ask an Anglican.”
Okay,but first means something or someone has preeminence or rank. I simply have never understood how one is “first” among equals?
 
(Another tangent…)

Fairouz is actually not Catholic–she became Greek Orthodox at marriage.
I thought she was Marounite. My mistake.
Do you have any good YouTube links on hand per chance?
Good Friday Lamentations
(youtube.com/watch?v=xdTm8JD1LV8)

Yaa Oum Alla
(youtube.com/watch?v=SrKPP4FU8fE&feature=related)
Her unique voice certainly takes getting used to, so I usually listen to other Middle Eastern artists. Fairouz still demands our respect and attention, given her very long and successful career and unquestionable talent.
Yes, she’s certainly amazing. Who else do you listen to?
 
No. It makes vibrations, which make pressure waves.

It takes an ear to perceive sound.
The answer is yes. Just because no one is there doesn’t mean animals and insects don’t hear it.
 
No. It makes vibrations, which make pressure waves.

It takes an ear to perceive sound.
Not that it matters, but it seems to me that the perception of sound is “hearing”. Sound itself would be more accurately described as sound waves.
 
I have plenty of questions. Unfortunately I have baby brain right now!

Why do you think there is this stereotype of “Catholic guilt?” :confused: I keep hearing about it. Do you think it’s because there are so many “rules” and people just want to continue to do things their own way?
 
I have plenty of questions. Unfortunately I have baby brain right now!

Why do you think there is this stereotype of “Catholic guilt?” :confused: I keep hearing about it. Do you think it’s because there are so many “rules” and people just want to continue to do things their own way?
From a recent convert’s point of view, “Catholic Guilt” is a misnomer. I would say that the Catholic Church has stood by the traditional teachings on sin. Many churches today have stopped calling sin evil. In many years at my former church, I never heard about sins like impurity and lust. Many have come to believe that society is right, that these sins don’t hurt anyone. The Church still teaches that these are sins, so if one commits these acts, they are guilty. We are blessed to have the sacrament of reconciliation to cleanse us.

It seems that the farther you travel on your faith walk, the narrower the path becomes. I used to get away with some sins, now I feel convicted by the Holy Spirit. I don’t think it is a Catholic guilt, but something we all run into as we grow closer to Christ. The only ones who may not experience this feeling, are those whose church tells them they can sin all they want and never lose their salvation, so they follow that idea. And yes, I have heard “the more we sin, the greater His grace” used in that way.
 
I have plenty of questions. Unfortunately I have baby brain right now!

Why do you think there is this stereotype of “Catholic guilt?” :confused: I keep hearing about it. Do you think it’s because there are so many “rules” and people just want to continue to do things their own way?
There is another thread that addresses “Catholic guilt”. You might want to check it out. 😉

God bless the new baby! 😃
 
I have plenty of questions. Unfortunately I have baby brain right now!

Why do you think there is this stereotype of “Catholic guilt?” :confused: I keep hearing about it. Do you think it’s because there are so many “rules” and people just want to continue to do things their own way?
"Catholic guilt’ is is the guilt a Catholic feels when they want to slap some one for saying such things.:D.
Didn’t Jesus say something to the effect of obedince in the little things lead to greater reward.
 
It seems that the farther you travel on your faith walk, the narrower the path becomes.
Hi Newsy,

I had never thought of it in quite that way before, but it’s true! And the narrowness isn’t a bad thing; it’s a good thing.

Thank you for that little sentence.

Xuan
 
Okay, here’s one I’ve been curious about.

Is it considered a sin for a catholic to commit adultery?

I have to ask because the catholic men I know have girlfriends in addition to their wives and they spend their time telling me that I’m not a true Christian because I don’t want to be involved with their church. They also partake in recreational drugs and act like all of this is perfectly alright as long as they go to mass every now and then.

Is this acceptable behavior for catholics?
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top