DOMINUS PARS HÆREDITATIS MEÆ

Hello anon:

People in life need to avoid being judgmental and exaggerated, and hopping between extremes.

Sad to say, there is a certain group of people who think that in order to love the Tridentine Latin Mass, they have to trash the Novus Ordo or Ordinary Form. This is silly and childish. It is what we called, “making the perfect the enemy of the good.” Most people who attend Ordinary Form Mass are quite content and happy and do not feel a strong tug toward Latin and the older rites.

They will say, “I’m fine where I’m at, this is good for me” to which the Latin Tridentine crowd will respond, “Oh, but this form of the liturgy is perfect, so you should stop going where you’re going and only come to Mass with us.” Young people are especially prone to this kind of extremism, and when they grow up and mature they eventually find that it is not necessary to hate one thing (Novus Ordo) because you love another (Tridentine Mass). 

Neither form of the Mass can be stereotyped because in every single town and city where Mass is celebrated, there are people going of different races, languages, cultures, education level, income level, age bracket, and political persuasion. Priests also will offer Mass with variations depending on the congregation they are serving. 

I would hope by “conservative” that you mean holding fast to the Tradition of the Church. However, you can love the Tradition and still respect Catholics who wish to adore the true God in a different rite of the liturgy than you.

It is not necessary to hold up a particular form of the Mass and say that the only true Catholics are the ones who go to that Mass. You can be going to what you think is the “perfect” Mass and still respect and encourage those Catholics who go to the Mass they feel is good for them.

So yes, I would be concerned if someone begins to love the ancient Latin Mass and then uses that as a pretext for being elitist, pharisaical, and judgmental toward other good people, good Catholics, who choose to go to the Novus Ordo.

The purpose of the Eucharist is to build up the life of charity in the Church, so that we love one another, the way Jesus loved us. God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

Hello anon:

Where is this coming from?

I’m not sure I get what you are asking.

I’m a priest. I’m surrounded by women, who make up at least half of the active membership of the Church and the majority of parish staffs.

A priest should not be cold and frigid. When women wish to hug and kiss their priest, we let them. Since entering the service of the Church, I have hugged and kissed more women than I can remember or count, in a priestly sort of way, not in a romantic way. If a guy wants to be a priest, he has to accept the affection of his people, especially the women, but always in a chaste and professional manner. God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

Hello anon:

Catholic priests are educated men, but not that educated. That’s another way of saying that I have to put off some questions until I get the answer myself. But if I may make a suggestion: instead of telling people “I’m gay” why don’t you say you are a person, a human being, a beloved child of God, with same sex attractions. 

That doesn’t mean to be ashamed—not at all. Instead, what I’m saying is not to identify your sexuality as the central focus of your identity. I’ll bet there are so many other things about you that are cool and interesting and your sexual attractions are one small piece of the pie of your personhood, the mystery that is you. God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

Hi anon:

I just answered this question two days ago:

http://fatherangel.tumblr.com/post/50741197022/and-does-it-mean-that-everyone-shouldnt-work-on

God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

Hello anon:

St. Paul writes to Timothy these words about knowledge which is vain and unhelpful to the soul:

O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid profane babbling and the absurdities of so-called knowledge. By professing it, some people have deviated from the faith (1 Timothy 6:20).

I haven’t heard of the book you are mentioning, and I don’t want to be seen as the book burning police. My only concern is that if you are very young, and under parental authority, you should avoid books that have “mature” content and should always run certain things by your parents before you read them. In fact, that goes for internet and emails, especially if you are a minor and interact with adults.

Since you are firm in the Catholic stance regarding the immorality of homosexual acts of physical intimacy, then the reading of pro-gay relationships in your literature should lead you to certain critical questions:

1) What is your own stance and mindset on the moral issues of the book? (you examined that, which is great)

2) What has attracted you to this book? We often like in literature a retelling of the story of our life and experiences, or a depiction of the life and experiences we would like to get in touch with.

3) Are there elements of the book that go beyond storytelling and seem more pornographic and debased? In other words, have you critically weighed the true artistic value of the story, or the morale of the story and its appeal to our noble side?

4) If the book moves along a darker portrayal of human nature and human decisions, do you see anything redeeming in other characters? Is the dark side or shadows of human denial and dishonesty exposed or lauded?

5) Even if the book turns out to be a propaganda piece of political issues of the leftist elite, did it challenge you to search out Catholic truth and the treasure of Christ? What renewed desires have been awakened in you toward apologetics or fidelity to the teaching of the Church?

7) Weighing all this in the scales and balance of spiritual discernment, are the pros of re-reading the book outweighing the cons? Even “bad” literature can serve a certain spiritual purpose to awaken in us new opportunities for taking stock of how we will defend and spread the True Faith.

On the other hand, if you weigh that this literature is just not right for your overall journey toward heaven, and see that it speaks to much to your lust and not to your mind, move on to something else. This is why St. Paul warns us of “profane babbling” and “absurdities.” It is not because Catholics are in to book burning and censorship, which we are not, for we boldly and courageously face the debates of the world which must be faced. 

But some things just do not have an artistic content and value in the long run, and so do not nourish us in spirit and truth. This is my advice and the thoughts that come to my mind. God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

Hello anon:

In the United States, the sisters no longer run orphanages since the government funds and supports foster care and adoption services for children who are wards of the state. Are you writing from the U.S. or from another country? In other countries, there are Catholic sisters that run orphanages. Perhaps you could write to the people at this website for further answers. 

http://vocation.com/

God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

Hello smidgeofmidge:

The Body of Christ in Holy Communion is the most sacred and holy thing that can be received on earth. Therefore, I think it is more appropriate to receive Him on the tongue, while kneeling. When the Body of Christ is taken in the hand, there is constant tossing of crumbs or fragments and the frequent danger of the Body of Christ being taken and left on church benches.

The Catholic Church allows people to stand and receive the Body of Christ in the hand, because this was done in the early days of the Church. So, to your question, I would have to answer that the majority of the Church thinks it is fine to receive Christ in the hand.

However, I think there were good reasons for switching to taking the Body of Christ on the tongue, while kneeling. I personally do not agree with switching back to the ancient practice, as it has paved the way for widespread disrespect to the Sacrament.

Many Catholics do not treat the Body of Christ with the proper reverence, and this is directly related to the modernistic practice of receiving the Body of Christ in the hand, and treating Him like just some piece of bread. God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

adaltaredei said: As a priest how do you deal with this? I know some priests who give holy communion by intinction to avoid giving it on the hand.

That is a good question. It is very difficult because the Church allows this novelty and so I cannot forbid it. What I do is encourage people often to receive on the tongue, and have all the children trained to receive on the tongue when they make their 1st Communion. So in a matter of six years that I’ve been here, the vast majority of the younger people receive on the tongue. Also, at weddings and funerals, I do not allow the option of receiving in the hand, because of the danger of profanation. But for the rest of the Masses, I have to give people that option. 

Hi betweenrealityandourdreams:

Praise God, that you are feeling the tug to return to the Faith of your dad’s side of the family. I have been Catholic all my life, and even before going to the seminary and studying to be a priest, the message of Jesus Christ has been so meaningful to my life. Following Christ in the Catholic Church has reaffirmed all of my core values about God and human beings.

So here goes :)

Catholics firmly believe that the true God commanded all matter, time and space into existence, when previously there was nothing (Big Bang). The resulting universe, with its intelligent design, beauty, awesomeness and goodness reflect the Creator, who is wise, awesome, and good. Catholics believe that the Creator willed that on this planet, the human race should be the result of His creative designs and have reason and the ability to love.

Unfortunately, something went terribly wrong, as humans abused their free will and turned against each other (original sin), and lost sight of this loving and kind God. Catholics believe that God responded to this condition of sin by revealing Himself in a plan of friendship to the people of Israel, whom He chose and to whom He gave His Law, and the prophets. The prophets announced that in the fullness of God’s plan, a savior would come to our world.

This is how Catholics see Jesus of Nazareth. He is the answer of the heavenly Father to our condition of sin and hatred and death. Jesus’ life is literally God walking in the flesh here on earth, and replacing sin with grace, replacing hatred with fraternal love and the family of the Church, and replacing death with the hope that someday He would return and raise us out of our graves. 

While waiting for Jesus to return and establish the Kingdom of God, Catholics see their role as spreading His message of justice, peace, love, fellowship in the Church, and conversion towards what helps all of us make this world a better place. All the teachings of the Catholic Church work toward this goal of helping people find God and one another (we call this holiness) and challenging us to not stay with the status quo but always move forward and be better people. 

The Catholic Church’s doctrines, taken from the message of Jesus, do not change according to what is popular opinion, but always are meant to bring comfort to the afflicted, and to afflict the comfortable (challenge us in our thinking and lifestyles to improve and turn away from worldly, “politically correct” thinking).

I hope this helps. God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

Hello anon:

Catholics should be faithful to attending Sunday Mass and receiving Holy Communion. 

However, there is nothing wrong in attending a non-Catholic Christian church for the sake of a graduation. It was a special occasion, and you were there to show your support, best wishes, and goodwill for the graduates. That is a wonderful witness for other Christians to see the friendly spirit of Catholics as long as you do not do things which are forbidden, such as receive their communion. 

As far as singing or bowing your head, remember that they are praying to the same God. It would have been fine to join in a song that was a praise to God and to bow your head and pray with them. The only time you should not join in song or prayer is when things are being said that are anti-Catholic.

So, yes, it seems to me that your behavior was appropriate, maybe even a little too careful or restrictive for someone who is with fellow Christians. God bless and take care! Fr. Angel

Hello anon:

I’m not sure that I understand the question. Are you wondering why dating, from a Catholic standpoint, is important in deciding whether to get married? Or are you asking how dating should be done by a Catholic man or woman? If English is not your first language, maybe you can ask the question in your own language and I can translate it? Let me know. God bless and take care! Fr. Angel