Browsing Archive: October, 2014

What Catholics believe: 10 truths about purgatory

Posted by Site Webmaster on Thursday, October 30, 2014, In : Catholic Bible Study

Does purgatory still exist? Even though we don’t hear about it as much as in earlier times, Catholics do believe in purgatory. It is a matter of faith, supported by the Bible and tradition, clarified at the Council of Florence in 1439 and the Council of Trent (1545-1563) and explained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Here is what we know about purgatory.

1. Purgatory exists: The Catechism of the Catholic Church states there are three states of the church, those who are liv...

Lapsed Catholics weigh in on why they left Church

Posted by Site Webmaster on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, In : Evangelization

The Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University estimates that there are currently approximately 32 million adults in the United States who were raised Catholic but have ceased to identify themselves as a member of the Church. A recent survey of lapsed and former Catholics in the Diocese of Springfield, Illinois, conducted by researchers at Benedictine University, offers new insights into why some Catholics stop attending Mass or leave the faith all together....
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No Big Bang without God, Says Pope Francis

Posted by Site Webmaster on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, In : OLP Newsline

The Big Bang “doesn’t contradict the intervention of a divine Creator, but demands it,” Pope Francis said Monday morning, because the beginning of the world “is not the work of chaos.”

The Pope was addressing the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, gathered in the Vatican to discuss “Evolving Concepts of Nature.”

God is not some sort of wizard, said Francis, but rather “the Creator who brought all things into being.” The origin of the world derives directly...
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Why Become Catholic?

Posted by Site Webmaster on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, In : Evangelization

G.K. Chesterton once said, “The difficulty of explaining ‘why I am a Catholic’is that there are ten thousand reasons all amounting to one reason: that Catholicism is true.”

The Catholic Church is the “pillar and bulwark of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15) because it is the Church founded by Jesus Christ who is God. 2,000 years ago the Son of God became incarnate on earth; that is, he became fully man and took on human flesh while remaining fully divine. Jesus Christ walked and breath...

Prayer of Exorcism by Pope Leo XIII

Posted by Site Webmaster on Monday, October 13, 2014, In : Our Lady's Promise

A beautiful prayer (a minor exorcism) that anyone can pray to ask Our Lord to drive the lingering influence of Satan away from a
place. Recommended by His Eminence Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke for use by the laity, August 2, 2014.
EXORCISM OF SATAN AND THE FALLEN ANGELS
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel
ST. MICHAEL the Archangel, illustrious leader of the
heavenly army, defend us in the battle against principalities
and powe...
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Prayer of Consecration

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Catechism Lessons

We have fallen short of that love.

Sadly, the “bad news” is that we often settle for things that are finite. What’s worse is we may subconsciously treat them as if they were infinite (e.g.: expecting a finite human relationship to offer eternal bliss). Whenever we prioritize ourselves or the people or things in our lives above God, we offend him. We call this sin. This misplaced worship escalates quickly, and so it’s not hard to see the effects of sin in our world today: war, sta...

Evangelization

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

The steps to living a full Christian life are:

To know Jesus Christ as His disciple.
To discover your charisms, or gifts, Jesus has given you.
To live your personal vocation in this life.
To tell others about Jesus.
To be a part of a holy Christian community.
To help the Church transform the culture by turning our hearts back to God.

Let us help you start this journey of faith. We are not here to judge you, criticize you, or condemn you. We are a world wide community of faithful that ...

Abandonment

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

As a disciple we are called on to abandon ourselves to Jesus Christ and his will. That means giving up our own desires and will for our own life. God never disappoints! Trust in Jesus! If you are struggling with faith in Jesus Christ or have prayer requests, you can use the contact form below.

We also encourage you start praying more often. God hears you. His answers are sometimes mysterious but the Church can help you discern His will for your life. Catholics all over ...

Discipleship

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

Once you become a disciple by repenting of your sins, believing in Jesus Christ for your salvation, and being baptized into God’s covenant family you become Jesus’ disciple. As his disciples we are given the grace to live new lives in the Holy Spirit, putting away our former selfish natures. We can, as it were, become perfect. God will fulfill our every desire for happiness that can be found in God alone. This journey is never done alone. As we said, you are created ...

Be Baptized

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

Baptism is the normal way that a person begins life as a disciple. If you are not baptized, baptism will wipe away all sin from your life and restore your relationship with God. (cf Matthew 28:19) It is possible that you can be a follower of Jesus, though you might not yet be baptized. If that is the case, it’s strongly recommended that you learn more about baptism, by speaking to a Catholic priest or lay minister. It is also possible that you were baptized as an infa...

Repent

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

In order to receive the good news we have to first break free from the bad news, namely sin. We need to examine ourselves honestly and humbly come before God, acknowledging our weakness and disobedience. A Catholic will experience great freedom when he or she goes to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Here we confess our sins to a priest of God, ordained to this ministry. As frightening as it may be at first, this sacrament is a wonderful place to encounter Jesus’ mercy...

Believe

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

What’s Next?

First, believe & trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Here we proclaim our faith in God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We must acknowledge his saving action in our lives and choose to put him in charge, at the very center of our hearts. At its essence, this is about deciding to “surrender” ourselves comp...

He Experienced Suffering & Death

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

When Jesus, the Lamb of God, died on the cross he became for us the ultimate substitute.

But death did not have the last word. On the third day Jesus was resurrected to new life, victoriously conquering even death itself! Now each of us has the possibility of being forgiven for our sins AND living forever with God in eternal life. Forgiveness is free for the asking, and we are saved by Jesus’ gift of love! What could be better? But the good news does not end there.

God Sent His Son Incarnate

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

Year after year the people tried to “get right” with God by offering these finite animal sacrifices. Nevertheless, the infinite problem of sin still had no permanent solution. So God the Father sent his beloved Son from heaven to earth to become man. One day, when Jesus was beginning his public ministry, he was walking by the Jordan River. John the Baptist, pointed him out with this prophetic title: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”...

Repayment for Sin

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

SIn the Old Testament of the Bible, God’s people were enslaved in Egypt for over 400 years. God used Moses, as mediator, to eventually rescue his people. As part of the plan for freedom, each household was instructed to sacrifice a baby sheep. Sounds crude, right? If our sin (a kind of interior slavery) leads to death, then something has to die. Right from the beginning, when humans offended God they needed to find a way to make atonement (repair the wrong). Instead of giv...

God Made You In Love

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

God the Father created you out of love to be like him & to be with him. Who are you and why are you here? Scripture tells us our core identity: “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1) The Creator of the universe lovingly made you, your individual human soul from nothing. Furthermore, you were made in the image and likeness of a Supernatural Being who is infinite, eternal, all-powerful, all-know...

It is Reasonable to Say So

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

To say that God exists is not at odds with reason. Nor is it unreasonable to have faith in God. St. Theophilus of Antioch taught us this: “And why do you not believe? Do you not know that faith is foremost in all matters? For what farmer is able to reap, unless first he have faith, and trust the seed to the earth? Or who is able to journey across the sea, unless first he have faith to trust himself to the ship and to the pilot? What sick person is able to be cured unl...

God Exists

Posted by Site Webmaster on Sunday, October 12, 2014, In : Apologetics

All of us—no matter what our age, race, gender, socioeconomic status, or situation in life—carry in our hearts some very big and very basic questions about life: Who am I? Why am I here? Why is there a world in the first place? Who is God? What difference does all of this make? Is it possible to find true love or true fulfillment? What happens when we die?If you find yourself asking any of these questions, or if they at least pique your curiosity, please keep readin...

Father Benedict Groeschel (1933-2014)

Posted by Site Webmaster on Saturday, October 4, 2014, In : OLP Newsline

NEW YORK — Franciscan Father Benedict Joseph Groeschel, well-known preacher and a founder of the , died on Friday at age 81, after an extended illness.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of Father Benedict. He was an example to us all,” said Father John-Paul Ouellette, community servant of the Friars of the Renewal, in a statement.

“His fidelity and service to the Church and commitment to our Franciscan way of life will have a ...

Scriptural Reference Guide

Posted by Site Webmaster on Saturday, October 4, 2014, In : Catholic Bible Study

Jesus is God

Exodus 3:13–14 Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, … “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 8:23–24 [Jesus] said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are...

Why Become Catholic?

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, October 3, 2014, In : Apologetics

Why Become Catholic?

G.K. Chesterton once said, “The difficulty of explaining ‘why I am a Catholic’is that there are ten thousand reasons all amounting to one reason: that Catholicism is true.”

The Catholic Church is the “pillar and bulwark of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15) because it is the Church founded by Jesus Christ who is God. 2,000 years ago Jesus became incarnate on earth; that is, he became fully man and received a human body while remaining fully divine. This God-Man wal...

Important Points About Evangelization

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, October 3, 2014, In : Evangelization

After His Resurrection, Jesus gave his Apostles a solemn command: “Go … and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:19-20, RSVCE). Evangelization is fulfilling this command; it is the process by which disciples of Jesus Christ make new disciples of Jesus Christ.

Here are 7 important facts about evangelization:

1.) Evangelization is Apostolic. It...

St. Paul Street Evangelization

Posted by Site Webmaster on Friday, October 3, 2014, In : Evangelization

“Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious…What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being the Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man…he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything…In him we live and move and have our being.” St. Paul preaches to the Athenians (Acts 17:22-28)

St. Paul Street Evangelization (SPSE) is a grassroots, non-profit organ...

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Browsing Archive: October, 2014

What Catholics believe: 10 truths about purgatory

Lapsed Catholics weigh in on why they left Church

No Big Bang without God, Says Pope Francis

Why Become Catholic?

Prayer of Exorcism by Pope Leo XIII

Prayer of Consecration

Evangelization

Abandonment

Discipleship

Be Baptized

Repent

Believe

What’s Next?

He Experienced Suffering & Death

God Sent His Son Incarnate

Repayment for Sin

God Made You In Love

It is Reasonable to Say So

God Exists

Father Benedict Groeschel (1933-2014)

Scriptural Reference Guide

Why Become Catholic?

Important Points About Evangelization

St. Paul Street Evangelization

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