Archive for the ‘Catholicism 101’ Category

Medicine for Life

By in Catholicism 101, Faith 911, Reflections & Meditations on 18 June 2012 at 12:04pm

Recently, I went to mass at St Andrews Cathedral in Dundee, Scotland. I was visiting some old friends here and they, not being Catholic said why don't you go to mass at the Catholic Church, its at the same time as ours then we can meet back for lunch. I thought that was very kind and thoughtful of them, so I did.

One thing I love about being Catholic is the consistency of the mass. Universally, despite language differences, it is always the same rituals. You know when to stand, sit and kneel. Not saying that Dundonians speak another language, but a mere thought when I go travelling to different countries! As I enter a different church, I am always intrigued by how the interior's are designed, (maybe a bias as I have an architecture degree), but St Andrews Cathedral in Dundee, is very pretty and quaint, but it is relatively small to be called a Cathedral.

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Innocent Suffering

By in Catholicism 101, Faith 911, Reflections & Meditations on 11 June 2012 at 9:29pm

A few weeks ago at St Patrick's RC Church, Edinburgh, we had a visiting priest come over from Ireland,  Father Geroge Wadding CSsR. His presence was brief but his Sunday's homily still resonates. Upon asking, he kindly shared his homily with us:

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER:  (Year B - 2012)

The experience of innocent suffering destroys the faith of many people.  We had it on a massive scale after the tsunami disaster at Christmas 2004 and a year later in the horrible Pakistan earthquake.  Later again in Haiti and elsewhere.  It never ends. If God is all goodness as we Christians say he is, why does he tolerate innocent suffering? Why are young children deprived of their parents in death?  Why are young lives crippled or destroyed in road accidents? Why? Why? Why?  If I could answer this question to everyone's satisfaction I could be a very rich man.   Over the centuries wise men and preachers have offered various answers - some of them very unsatisfactory.

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Fellowship

By in Catholicism 101, Reflections & Meditations on 20 July 2011 at 9:34am

Through the Bible, God offer's His thoughts on a variety of life issues, in particular the notion of 'fellowship' is pertinent to any Young Adult group. However, perceptions about fellowship have become warped in its biblical meaning, we view fellowship through fellowship halls, fellowship dinners, and fellowship retreats, but very few have real fellowship.

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St Alberto Hurtado

By in Catholicism 101 on 23 August 2010 at 1:37pm

Last August 18th the Catholic Church celebrated the Feast of Saint Alberto Hurtado. This feast is important in Latin America and particularly in Chile, when thousands of people (15000 this year), mostly young people, walk 8 kms to the Sanctuary and Grave of St Alberto, located in the heart of Santiago.  In Chile, that day is known as the “Day of Solidarity”, because that was probably his main legacy.

St Alberto was born in Vina del Mar, Chile in 1901. He became a Jesuit priest after studying Law. He died very young, at the age of 51. The people who were alive at that time say that at the moment of his death, a big cloud with the shape of a Cross was alone in the sky.  He was canonized in 2005 by Pope Benedict XVI.

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St Alphonsus de Liguori

By in Catholicism 101 on 3 August 2010 at 2:34pm

August 1st the feast day of St Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, proclaimed the ‘Doctor of the Church,’ the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer or the ‘Redemptorists’ was also an Italian Bishop, theologian, spiritual writer, moralist, missionary and a great propagator for Mariology.

Born, Alphonsus Mary Antony John Cosmas Damian Michael Gaspard de' Liguori on September 27th, 1696 in Marianella near Naples, St Alphonsus was the first born of seven children belonging to a Neapolitan nobility (however, his family’s line of decent became impoverished.)

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St. Bridget of Sweden

By in Catholicism 101 on 23 July 2010 at 9:50pm

Sometimes we only concentrate on ‘celebrity’ Saints, we often hear about their lives, their teachings, books and quotations, however what about the lesser known Saints? I mean they are Saints too, and have a dedicated feast day to their name?

July 23rd, the feast day of a woman called Birgitta Birgersdotter, now St Bridget of Sweden, the Patroness of Sweden. It was the first time I have ever heard of such a Saint, why was I interested? Well because she was married with children, but she still became a Saint!

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Baptism

By in Catholicism 101 on 19 May 2010 at 11:17pm

In the gospel of John, Jesus said 'I give you a new commandment; love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, every one will know that you are my disciples.'

This simple message to 'LOVE,' can easily be felt through the eyes of parents holding their new born baby, you feel their unconditional love. In baptism, the parents sign of faith is passed on to the baby, as true disciples of Jesus.

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Scottish Cross

By in Catholicism 101 on 6 May 2010 at 12:19pm

Who in their right mind would carry a larger than life size wooden cross across the highlands of Scotland?

You will be surprised, there is always a group of 20 to 30 people who do this every year during holy week in Easter. It may sound daunting at first but once you have done it, you really want to keep doing it every year.

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