What People Are Commenting
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A Standing Francis & Self-Defense
Modern Man Likes Frenzy
Re: St. Macarius, hermit
Modern man likes agitation, frenzy, delirium, madness, etc. Inside the home. Even for a visit or conversation, family members turn on a television.
Within the Church, in modern masses, what you see is a revolutionary music show. There is no more prayer or elevation of thought - this for Catholics, while even pagans like Buddhists make a point of meditation.
L.J.C.
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To Please the World…
Re: Adolescent girls dance in scandalous nightgowns in front of altar (12/30/18)
Poor children don’t know what they’re doing, pleasing the world.
R.C.
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Angels of Resurrection
Re: Angels of the Resurrection' Show their Legs
This is horrible and the priest approved and enjoyed.
M.E.
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Can a Priest Change the Eucharist Prayer?
Is it permissible in NO for a priest to write (in its entirety) and use his own Eucharistic Prayer?
Thanks and God Bless.
B.C., Canada
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TIA responds:
B.C.,
A priest can certainly write a prayer as a personal expression of his devotion for Our Lord present in the Eucharist – this can be called an Eucharistic prayer. However, he is not entitled to change the Canon of the Mass, which is the official prayer in which the Consecration takes place.
Even in the Novus Ordo Mass with all its openness to heresies and abuses, the Vatican does not allow the Canon to be changed; it stipulated four precise formulae for the Canon. Then, the Vatican allows each conference of Bishops to decide which formula should be adopted in its country. This is the doctrine that rules the Novus Ordo Masses.
Thus, as far as we know, there is no provision that permits a private priest to change the formula of the Canon at his own will.
Cordially,
TIA correspondence desk
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St. Jerome's Annals of the Hebrews
In your article on the "Two Advents" you referenced St. Jerome finding 15 signs preceding the Last Judgment. Could you please provide me a specific reference? Is there a book called Annals of the Hebrews? Is this the same as the Book of Jasher? I wish to study this further and get more specifics on St. Jerome's views on this.
Thanks and have a happy and holy New Year.
N.F.
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TIA responds:
N.F.,
The article you mentioned is an excerpt of a commentary written by Blessed Jacobus of Voragine. You may find his entire comment in his book The Golden Legend (Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1993, vol. 1, pp. 4-12).
Voragine was an Archbishop of Genoa in the 13th century. He was a quite erudite man who wrote his renowned work about the life of Saints.
He referred to the Annals of the Jews as a work written by St. Jerome from which he took the 15 signs he mentioned. He did not provide precise bibliographic information on that work of St. Jerome.
Cordially,
TIA correspondence desk
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Self-Defense in the Scriptures
Hope your year is off to a nice start.
I wrote an article on the importance of self-defense for Church folks. Would be excellent to get your feedback, as your schedule permits.
Thanks,
R.R.
While there is not a single all-encompassing statement in the Bible about self-defense, it is apparent from all of the below Bible passages that church-going folk should feel free to stand up for themselves whenever necessary.
There is a consistent principle in the Bible when it comes to self-defense, namely, that a believer is allowed to defend him/herself and protect other people, and should always try to do so with a respectful and compassionate spirit toward individuals who are causing mistreatment. Exodus 22:2-3 demonstrates this principle, where a believing person can defend property and is supposed to try to restrain an assailant rather than killing him. In the passage 1 Corinthians 16:14, we are told to "do everything in love," and that should include how we defend ourselves.
When we receive inhumane treatment or witness others being treated poorly, we should never be passive by allowing abuse to continue, but we should not be callously aggressive toward abusive people either. The ethical high road, in response to abuse, is to avoid retaliation ("turning the other cheek" from Matthew 5:39 and Luke 6:29), while ending mistreatment just as soon as possible, which means benevolently confronting an abusive person, or avoiding troublesome people altogether, if possible.
As the many below Bible passages consistently demonstrate, we should be gracious yet assertive as we strive to protect ourselves and others.
Jesus protected himself by: standing up for himself, confronting an attacker, and avoiding mistreatment: Matthew 12:14-15, Luke 4:29-30, John 8:59, John 10:31,39, John 11:53-54, John 18:22-23
Jesus told others to protect themselves by avoiding evil, escaping mistreatment, verbally defending themselves, and physically defending themselves: Matthew 6:13, Matthew 10:16-23, Mark 13:11, Luke 12:11-12, Luke 18:1-8 (the persistent widow is determined to not allow an enemy to take advantage of her), Luke 22:35-51 (cross-reference 2 Corinthians 11:26-27 where the "sword," Greek: maxairan, is a dagger or short sword that belonged to the Jewish traveler's equipment as protection against robbers and wild animals)
Paul protected himself by: escaping mistreatment, standing up for himself, demanding fair treatment, verbally defending himself, confronting an attacker, and requesting government protection: Acts 9:22-25, Acts 14:5-6, Acts 16:35-40, Acts 17:8-14, Acts 18:14, Acts 22:1-25, Acts 23:1-5, Acts 24:10, Acts 25:8-27, 2nd Corinthians 11:32-33
Paul told others to protect themselves by: refusing verbal and relational mistreatment, taking care of their own needs, and avoiding troublesome people: 2nd Corinthians 11:20, Philippians 2:3-4, 2nd Timothy 3:1-5, 2nd Timothy 4:14-15
The early church fled persecution: Acts 8:1; 9:25,30; 14:6; 17:10,14
We should protect the vulnerable: Psalm 82:3-4, Proverbs 31:8-9, Isaiah 1:17, 1st Timothy 5:8
Posted January 8, 2019
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The opinions expressed in this section - What People Are Commenting - do not necessarily express those of TIA
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Please, check the photo below: While everybody was kneeling, Pope Francis remained standing in front of the Blessed Sacrament on December 31, 2018.
On that day he sang the Vespers in St Peter’s Basilica. Before the Te Deum in thanksgiving for 2018, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed.
Francis stood for 20 minutes in front of the monstrance, although a kneeler was in front of him. The Catholic Liturgy requires the faithful to kneel in front of the Blessed Sacrament. A pope is not above the liturgy.
It has become Francis' pattern to kneel neither in front of the Blessed Sacrament nor during consecration.
He loves, however, kneeling for Anglican martyrs and bowing his knees to wash the feet of immigrants, prisoners or transvestites.
M.G.