The Rites of the Catholic Church

4/18/13

 The Rites of the Catholic Church

When we pray the Nicene Creed, towards the end of the prayer we recited the Four Marks of the Catholic Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. Most of you know that the definition of Catholic is universal, meaning it is open to the world. When the Apostles first left Rome after the establishing of the first Church, they went to evangelize and make disciples of all nations. To make Churches in these different countries, the Apostles needed to understand the customs of the local area. This is where rites come in.

A Rite of the Catholic Church is a just the same as the Catholic Church, just their liturgies and traditions are different. A Catholic can participate in any mass and receive the Eucharist in any rite, they just will not be accustomed to their procedure and prayers since that Catholic is used to his/her own rite. The most famous rite is the Roman Catholic Rite, the main rite used in the United States. There are many rites spread across the world and here they are: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Catholic_rites_and_churches

What is Truly Important in Life?

5/5

Ok...... so maybe I've run out of ideas for blog posts this week, but seriously, what ultimately matters in life? This is a very interesting question, one that I ponder about. It is a good question to ask yourself when making important decisions, or even in everyday life. Sometimes we get caught up in the struggles of everyday life that we lose site of whats important. We will all die some day, it is inevitable. So what at that moment will be important? I think what will be important is your relationship with God, how you view yourself, and your imprint in other's lives. Clearly the most important thing is your  relationship with God as it is our ultimate goal to be in full communion with him in heaven. The other important things, like the way you view yourself and your imprint in others lives is more worldly. I think that if you have a good view of yourself, then you can die in peace with no regrets. I also think it is important to impact others in your life so that you still survive, even in your death, with the actions that you did during your life and the legacy you left behind. Now that I have contemplated about myself, I ask for you to take time to reflect. What is truly important in YOUR life?

Sacraments: Related to Human Nature

4/29/13

Sacraments:Related Nature

The sacraments. Pretty big stuff. Kinda sorta really important to the Catholic Religion. They are efficacious signs of grace instituted by Christ himself entrusted to His Church. But how do this oh so powerful sacraments relate to us as humans? That is a great question. You ask great questions. I will now explain one by one, how these relate to our human nature.

1. Baptism- Baptism directly relates to our human nature in that it cleanses the body from original stain that is natural to use as humans. It opens our human nature to all other sacraments.
2. Confirmation- Confirmation confirms these gifts we received at baptism and strengthens that grace we received, helping our human nature out even more. (We only have one nature, until death).
3. Eucharist-  This one is easy to relate because we can physically intake the bread and wine that represent the blood and body of Christ.
4. Reconciliation- This reconciles us from our human sins
5. Anointing of the Sick- This sacrament is given before death to anoint one's human nature one more time before death
6. Holy Orders- These are only for those who intend to join the Catholic ministry. This is the physical, so human, acknowledgement of a position in the Church.
7. Matrimony- This is the physical communion of two humans, binding their two natures.