Jul06
Some folks who have been away for a while have questions and concerns to express. (Even Catholics who have never been away have many questions!) Please feel free to use the comments section below to ask questions and state concerns.
All of us who contribute to this blog are pleased to answer questions and address your concerns. Your questions will help this blog to get its wings and really fly. Ask and ye shall be answered!
I have friends who have Vatican II issues, so I figured I’d go read the documents so I’d know what they’re talking about. Can you tell me the difference between documents, decrees, declarations, etc.?
Hello there,
I have a question that nobody seems to be able to answer me about. Below Christ in Majesty is 3 angels and if you look closely (up close in person) you will see a White Squiggly line that goes from the temple of the heads of all three angels. When I was on a tour someone said hey that looks like a snake going in the angels head and out the other side. I told the person it is not a snake as there is no head to the snake but the squiggly line does indeed resemble a snake. I am curious as to what this squiggly white line is and what it means? You can clearly see the squiggly white line start at the temple of each angels head and come out on the other side of the head/temple. I would like to know the meaning of these squiggly lines, their meaning, and their purposes on the mosaic. If anyone would like more detailed info on my question you can contact me at dcrevenston@gmail.com thanks for answering my question or hopefully someone will attempt to answer it. I have already asked several people and nobody knows people ask me why I am asking can you believe that……
Dave
Sorry that I have no idea about what they mean.
The above question that I asked above is regarding The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Specifically the (Christ in Majesty Mosaic) in the back of the shrine.
Dear Msgr. Pope,
How do you become a monsignor and is this something that is going to go out of practice, at least in the United States?
Thank you,
Alexander Witt
Becoming a Monsignor is something completely dependant upon the Bishop. He proposes certain priests to the Holy Father for inclusion in the papal household. It is a merely an honorary title. It does not make a man more a preist neither does it move him into a clear path to become a bishop. A bishop usually names a priest a Monsignor as a recognition of something he has done or a role he has. Often the bishop’s senior staff who are priests receive this title. Other priests in the diocese who have doen something of prominence may also receive this recognition. Additionally the Bishop sometimes likes to reward certain pastors who have been loyal and faithful in their ministry, perhaps they have been willing to take difficult assignments, perhaps they have built up communities and are well loved by wide segments of the diocese etc. Hence the title, though merely ceremonial, is way for a bishop to recognize and reward certain priests he feels especially deserving of such recognition.
You observation that it is more rare today seems accurate. There are many bishops who have discontinued the practice of naming monsignors or have severely limited it. There may be many reasons for this but it seems the main reason is that honoring certain priests is always a delicate matter. Sometimes resentments are created that some priests are honored and others not. In the end there will always be some artibtrary qualities in such such choices. To avoid this some bishops have discontinued the practice.
I am a relatively recent convert (5 years this Easter) and one of the devotions that has really shaped my life is the rosary. So here’s an easy question–since the rosary is the prayer of the gospels, is it permissible to use incident other than the 20 recognized mysteries as I pray the rosary? For example, when a friend was ill with cancer, I prayed meditating on the healing miracles of Jesus. When I’m feeling particularly inept in my spiritual life, I mediate on the interactions of Christ and St. Peter (God love him for his wonderful, imperfect humanity–thinking about him, sometimes, I don’t feel so bad about myself, and seeing how Christ teaches Peter helps me pay attention to how He might be talking to me). I’ve never seen this addressed anywhere so would be grateful for an answer.
As a personal devotion you are free to adapt it. However, when groups gather to pray the rosary in the church the norms are best followed. Norms exist for the very purpose of allowing people to pray together. So, privately or in a small group go ahead and adapt, but respect for the prescribed ritual is necessary in larger groups and in the public worship of the Church.
Dear Msgr Pope,
I’ve been praying to Blessed Mary MacKillop for intercession and have half heartedly said that if she ever answered my prayers I would do my part and make it known so she might have a back up miracle incase she needs one (she has the two needed for canonization). I also told her she should answer my prayers so she can become a famous household saint like Saint Anthony. So she must have a good sense of humor, because she came through! I am overjoyed with her and wanted to ask if she continues to answer my prayers, is there somebody I should actually notify to report it?
randy
It seems she is already scheduled for canonization. Hence the reporting of a miracle or answered prayer is not necessary.
Website is here: http://www.marymackillop.org.au/canonisation/landing.cfm?loadref=61
Where can I go to register for pre-cana classes in the DC area? I will be getting married in Chicago but I live here and am looking for places to do it in the area.
I have been married by a justice of the peace while I get my first Catholic marriage annulled (paperwork has been submitted). I am in the military and deployed, I decided to get married before my marriage could be annulled officially so my relationship with my current wife would be recognised by the military (benefits for my spouse if I am KIA, housing, medical care) I have gone to confession for my second marriage and the priest absolved me of my sin. I have full intention in remarrying my current wife in the Church if I am granted an annullment and never divorcing again (my first divorce will be forever a sin in my heart).
Monsignor Pope, Can I partake of the Eucharist during this time of getting “right” with the Church?
What is the provenance of the lovely picture of the 8th Station of the Cross on your Web page of April 20th?
I clipped it from here: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://extraordinarymomsnetwork.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/jesus-and-the-women.jpg&imgrefurl=http://extraordinarymomsnetwork.wordpress.com/2009/10/10/weekend-ponderings-how-blessed-are-you/jesus-and-the-women/&usg=__F9TvYmPxUTCEARlW5bZdua8cAEo=&h=320&w=320&sz=34&hl=en&start=5&sig2=hxNgGKe3Ia05F5bA5R_l-A&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=jKAqLfo7vV3g6M:&tbnh=118&tbnw=118&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djesus%2Bwomen%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbo%3D1%26rlz%3D1T4GGLL_enUS348US348%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=6n7PS5KFKMT_lgfkhYiiCw
They also credit a site known as outofthesilentplanet.files.wordpress.com
Who, besides a priest, is authorized to offer Holy Communion in the Catholic Church?
Many rumour came about that Father Grunner of the Fatima Crusader had be excom, is that true? it is strange for a priest that want only good and healthy Church continue to be bashed around while others worst fairer who celebrated mass with koolaid and pita bread got a clean bill of health, to farther my question, Is it wrong for myself a Catholic to believe that the Consacretion of Russian to the Immaculate Heart were not done?
If as said by Vatican, it was done in 1984, than my next question is, why are we still in so much trouble? Abortion, same sex marriage, error after error in the Church, in the world etc…… and yesterday it stike me odd that Vatican chief is revealing the tradition of celebercy of priesthood, I would like to object to that and how can I do it? Is there a group that can voice out agaisnt this? seem to me we are powerless.
Is the Pope Benedict XVI the man in vatican or Is He Just a symbolic head of state? ( Christ Word that he is the man for this job only, not other, others should be obedience to him). Why than? who is this Cardinal Bertone? is he the man above the Pope, it sure sound that way, it is confusing to many, do catholic have a say or a vote in this or are we to just sit on our hand and have our hand tie behind our back and let him run everything and hope for the best and watch demolish the Sacreness an item at a time until we are fit to be called disciple of luther, instead of Aposlte of Christ.
When i was a young girl in the 1950’s I remember at Easter we would sing” Christ has risen from the dead, risen as He truly said..(la la la la la)….raise our voice……….( la la la) …. rejoice, rejoice…resurrexit sicut dixit, alleuia, aleuia, alleuia, alleuia”. I would LOVE to hear it again, or at least know where I can get a copy. Hope to hear soon. Thank you
Did i see a recent article listing the deaths of the Apostles? – in that list was included Luke and Mark, the evangelists- did they get promotions? Didi i misread- I’d welcome the article to be sent to me- and a clarification if Mark and Luke are considered Apostles- they not being listed in the apostolic listing in the ancient canon-
help
Hello Msgr. Pope,
A while ago I saw you interviewed about women’s ordinations, an argument the other person made was how Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalen and was told to go and tell the disciples of his resurrection. You never got a chance to reply on tv, so I was wondering given the time, what would you have said?
thanks
Brett M.
I have three questions regarding the Mass:
1. Is it appropriate/correct to sing “Alleluia” not only before but also after the Gospel?
2. When there is the Communion Antiphon, who is supposed to say it? All? Only those that are going to receive Communion? Only the celebrant(s)?
3. What are the requisites for the wine to be used during Communion? Does it necessarily have to have come from grapes or can it be from something else? I ask because today at Mass, it tasted a little bit like mango. I also understand that it needs to have a minimum percentage of alcohol, correct? I’m sure you can infer why I’m including that comment.
Hi.
When someone prays the Breviary by themselves (NOT in a group) is the opening song required?
Thank you.
David
What day of the week was Christ born?
Dear Msgr. Pope,
It is a great mystery to me that a discussion about dress at Church could be carried on seriosly without any attention given to St. Paul in his I. Corinthians XI verse 5 which states “But every woman praying or prophesysing with her head not covered, discraceth her head, for it is all one as if she were shorn”
There is much more in the same chapter. Does not Holy Scripture count any more?
I am at a loss.
Well, as discussed in the post Adore the Lod in Holy Attire, Paul links his teaching to custom. Hence the Scriptures are not set aside and do count. I discussed this at great length in this post: http://blog.adw.org/2010/05/should-women-cover-their-heads-in-church/
Is there any training offered for those wishing to become a subdeacon or acolyte? Or is this a step towards permanent deaconate or priesthood?
Father, may I have permission to post your excellent article on judging to other websites?
I have only read a couple of your writings but you are surely batting 1000%!
For Msgr.Pope:
I saw article in Our Sunday Visitor for June 20, “Dressing up for the most sacred occasion,” about your blog article on appropriate attire for Mass. It said to go to blog.adw.org for more of your post than the excerpt in the article, but I couldn’t find it (probably because this is the first time I’ve ever looked at the world of blogs). I’d be grateful if you could tell me where I can find your full article on this subject.
Best regards, Gerry Early, Easton, Md. (410-770-4878)
Msgr. Pope:
While I can’t say I understand the “why” of suffering, I do have a sense of your explanation that does not require for me furthur explanation. But…
If God loves us 100% a 100% of the time how can hell exist with created souls as inhabitants.1. Christ’s sacrifice is capable of defeating all evil. 2. Without God’s love we do not exist. 3.How could God the Creator of all Mercy allow those that are flawed to continue in existence in the state of perpetual agony?
I have made the statement many times that I will not be surprised about who is in heaven. Could not God’s Mercy allow last minute redemption? I think back to the workers in the vineyard.
Dear Msgr. Pope, I am an Italian reader, and I find that some of your articles are very interesting and may be useful also for italian readers.
Unfortunately, many italians can’t read english, so I am asking your permission to translate into italian some of your articles and publish them on http://porta-stretta.blogspot.com
Thank you very much for your kind attention, and keep on with your good work.
Please feel free to translate and use this material in any way. Thanks for your help.
In yesterday’s blog we pondered the sin of human respect and its remedy, the holy Fear of God.
I can’t seem to find this – could someone please send me this ?
Thanks,
John
http://blog.adw.org/2010/07/risk-it-a-meditation-on-the-sin-of-human-respect-and-the-holy-fear-of-the-lord/
I’ve recently began learning to pray the Rosary and still have to keep an instruction pamphlet handy. Anyhow, I was wondering if there’d been any revelation or theological theories about why the recent (only a century or so – small on historical time) vision at Fatima. It keeps popping up for me during the meditations. The Iberian Peninsula; where I hear Fatima is located is probably predominately Catholic but, wasn’t it a Moslem possession for a long time until 1492? And wasn’t Fatima the name of a daughter of Mohammed and of historical significance on her own? Is their any indication of peace, neutrality or conflict with the Moslem belief implied by that location being chosen? Is it still very much a mystery? That would be good to hear because the Mysteries are so cool. Pagan deities of other groups are just too understandable and often described in terms used to describe spoiled brats. God the Father and His Mysteries are so assuring becaluse One who is beyond my understanding appears to be able to do more than I can even understand (let alone do) and that’s downright reassuring. Anyhow it would be nice to get some comment about Fatima because it keeps cropping up; especially during the Sorrowful Mysteries.
I find the Christ in Majesty mosaic in the National Shrine to be beautiful and compelling artwork….where may I obtain a large print of this image suitable for framing so I may display it in my home? Thank you
Dear Msgr. Pope,
I’m already thinking about Christmas and your special gift with internet technology came to mind. I have a song I would love to see worked in somehow to one your blog entries. I can’t find an actual video on the internet but found the full song on Rhapsody. The song is Kathy Mattea’s ‘Good News’ (Track 10) at:
http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/mattea_kathy/albums.jhtml?albumId=61198 or
http://www.rhapsody.com/player?type=track&id=Tra.2592258&remote=false&page=&pageregion=&guid=&from=&__pcode=mtv
Whenever I’m particulary troubled or disturbed this song never fails to transport and sooth me. It’s probably just me, but everytime I listen, this song just slays me. I was hoping, if possible, you could work it in one of your entries near Christmas if there’s no copyright infringement issues. It’s just a suggestion, I realize how busy you are and understand you must have entries planned already. I won’t be disappointed if you don’t or can’t.
In humble gratitude for all you do….
I am reading Fr. Euteneuer’s Exorcism and the Church Militant. In it he says every diocese is advised to have an exorcist. I wondered, does the Archdiocese of Washington have one?
I am sure we do but who that is usually kept secret and he is only consulted after a thorough investigation has first been conducted. Can you imagine all the calls a known diocesan exorists would get, even all through the night, if he were publically known?! Also, the exorist of a given diocese may or may not be resident in that diocese. He may be from an order or may live elsehwere in the country but is “on-call” if the need arises.
Dear Msgr., et. al.,
I have a question regarding one of your recent posts regarding marriage and the involvement of the state. Although I agree with your rendering that marriage is a union between a man and a woman, I disagree regarding your end all conclusion that marriage is some how a uniquely or for that matter religiously-based institution. As a student of religious studies with a concentration in religion and society, I am perplexed by this conclusion.
We know from an examination of Roman and Germanic Law that marriage, in fact, preceded Christianity and developed outside of Judaism. In addition, we no little about early nuptial ceremonies, but we do know that such was not a requirement in Roman and Germanic Law. In fact, in the case of Roman Law, cohabitation often constituted marriage, especially with those who were not amongst the elite. Those who were among the elite, would have likely had a dotal requirement, depending on the period in which they were married an under which Novel. In an examination of Roman Law, we see that neither Novels or the writings of noted jurists (e.g. Ulpian) do not speak of any nuptial ceremony being required.
In the Germanic tradition, we see something similar to the Lex Romana, however, it does differ with regard to how dowries are offered and by home. In the Germanic tradition there was also a greater emphasis placed upon the concept of “buying” a wife and thereby had a “property” connotation.
In fact it was not only Medieval France, that we see this development of a link between the divine and secular with regard to marriage requiring some type of a nuptial ceremony.
I would appreciate any comments you have on this post and believe that this blog should post a clarifying post so as to ensure that the laity and others have a clear understanding of the secular roots of marriage which informed the Christianization of marriage.
Humbly yours,
Ryan
It is the Judeo/Christian view that marraige was established by God at the creation of Man and woman and thus it far preceeds Roman or Germanic Law. The establishment of Marriage by God is recorded in Genesis 1 and 2. It is historically true that ancient and even not so ancient civilization have codified Marriage in their civil law. These law amy of may not have perfectly exemplified God’s plan but they are later developments. It is also true that one requires some sort of faith to accept that the Genesis account is in fact a description of what God did. Nevertheless, most ancient as well as modern civil laws enshrined the basic essentials of the Judeo/Christian understanding of marriage. It is only in the last 50 years or so that civil law in this land has begun to depart from Genesis (e.g. no-fault divorce in 1969, and now so called Gay marraige, down the road a short way we are bound to see a return of polygamy).
Hence I don’t believe a clarifying post is necessary. The history of marriage is far more ancient that roman and germanic law or medieval france.
Msgr. Pope: Why did the Catholic Church recently alter the language of the New American Catholic Bible in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 19 by replacing the word “fornication” with the word “illegal” in regard to marriages impacted by adultery? To me it makes no sense as the two terms have no meaning whatsoever in common with one another. In fact this word swap appears to alter the whole message of the original teaching.
I wrote your answer as a post here: http://blog.adw.org/2010/08/puzzlement-over-porneia-and-a-pet-peeve/
Dear Msgr. Pope: These are some famous infallible papal declarations:
1 Auctorem fidei, Pope Pius VI, 1794, condemning seven Jansenist propositions of the Synod of Pistoia as heretical;
2 Ineffabilis Deus, Pope Pius IX, 1854, defining the immaculate conception;
3 Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII, 1950, defining the assumption of Mary.
Would you list the infallible papal declarations since the 1950 one, defining the assumption of Mary?
I’m looking for guidelines for administering communion to the sick and homebound. Specifically, when I receive THE BODY OF CHRIST in my pyx, should I leave Church immediately and proceed to the sick person to administer communion, or may I attend to unrelated matters on my way to the sick bed (i.e., stop at grocery store). My husband and I disagree on this. He said he thought people received THE BODY OF CHRIST for a sick person for the week (i.e., 5 hosts). I’m scandalized at this very thought but cannot find published guidelines. Thank you.
Dear Msgr. Pope – I have drawn such inspiration from your blog that I frequently print them out so I can re-read them and meditate on them at leisure. I realize that blogging on the Internet is a wonderful way to communicate, but I, for one, would love to see them (selectively, obviously( collected and published as an old-fashion print-on-paper book!
Most humbly
Efrayim (A Jewish believer in Jesus)
What is the nature of the homily? Is it to catechize on a subject or explain the Sunday readings? I had a friend just become a deacon and he said that it is mainly a teaching tool to address the needs of the parish. If this is true, why is the homily usually a superficial explanation of the Gospel and other readings? Why do pastors not give a series of homilies on a particular subject?