Re: "The judgment of the nations" (Mt 25:31-46)
vv34-36,40 "'Then the king will say to those at his right hand, 'Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; [35] for
- I was hungry and you gave me food,
- I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
- I was a stranger and you welcomed me,
- I was in prison and you visited me....
[40] "...'Truly I tell y ou, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Saturday, February 9, 2008
procreation
Fr: Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC] (1994). "The gift of a child."
Re: Concept of the child
#2373 "Sacred Scripture and the Church's traditional practice see in large families a sign of God's belssing and the parents' generosity. (Cf. Gaudium et spes 50, par 2.)"
#2378 "A child is not something owed to one, but is a gift. The 'supreme gift of marriage' is a human person. A child may not be considered a peice of property, an idea to which an alleged 'right to a child' would lead. In this area, only the child possesses genuine rights:
- the right 'to be the fruit of the specific act of the conjugal love of his parents,' and
- 'the right to be respected as a person from the moment of his conception.' (Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Donoum vitae II, 8.)
Re: in vitro fertilization
#2376 "Techniques that entail the dissociation of husband and wife, by the intrusion of a person other than the couple (donation of sperm or ovum, surrogate uterus), are gravely immoral.
These techniques (heterologous artificial insemination and fertilization) infringes
[a] the child's right to be born of a father and mother known to him and boudn to each other by marriage..
[b] They betray the spouses' 'right to become a father and a mother only through each other' (Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum vitae II, 1.)
#2377 "Techniques involving only the married couple (homologous artificial inseminatoin and fertilization) are perhaps less reprehensible, yet remain MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE...."
Re: Concept of the child
#2373 "Sacred Scripture and the Church's traditional practice see in large families a sign of God's belssing and the parents' generosity. (Cf. Gaudium et spes 50, par 2.)"
#2378 "A child is not something owed to one, but is a gift. The 'supreme gift of marriage' is a human person. A child may not be considered a peice of property, an idea to which an alleged 'right to a child' would lead. In this area, only the child possesses genuine rights:
- the right 'to be the fruit of the specific act of the conjugal love of his parents,' and
- 'the right to be respected as a person from the moment of his conception.' (Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Donoum vitae II, 8.)
Re: in vitro fertilization
#2376 "Techniques that entail the dissociation of husband and wife, by the intrusion of a person other than the couple (donation of sperm or ovum, surrogate uterus), are gravely immoral.
These techniques (heterologous artificial insemination and fertilization) infringes
[a] the child's right to be born of a father and mother known to him and boudn to each other by marriage..
[b] They betray the spouses' 'right to become a father and a mother only through each other' (Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Donum vitae II, 1.)
#2377 "Techniques involving only the married couple (homologous artificial inseminatoin and fertilization) are perhaps less reprehensible, yet remain MORALLY UNACCEPTABLE...."
Friday, February 8, 2008
fasting, prayer, and mercy
Re: Christianity, Nature; Non-dichotomous
Fr: Excerpt from Saint Peter Chrysologus [(c.406-450), Bishop of Ravenna, Doctor of the Church]. “Then they will fast.” Sermon on prayer, fasting and almsgiving; PL 52, 320, http://dailygospel.org /www/ popup-comments. php?language=AM&id=1151 (2008 Feb 8)
“There are three actions, my brethren, on which faith stands firm, in which piety consists and by which virtue is upheld: prayer, fasting, mercy. Prayer knocks at the door; fasting obtains; mercy receives…
Thus, fasting is the soul of prayer and mercy is the life of fasting... Therefore, the one who prays must fast, and the one who fasts must have mercy…
“Whoever practices fasting must… sympathize with the hungry man if he wants God to sympathize with his own hunger…
“And so prayer, mercy, fasting must make up one, single sponsor to recommend us to God, one defense, one prayer in our favor under this threefold form.”
Comment:
St. Chrysologus’ sermon presents Christianity in a holistic manner. Love of God leads to love of neighbor and vice versa. Spirit is made flesh and reverts back to its origin. Theory is made manifest in practice. Personal striving for holiness overflows towards others and enriches one further.
Fr: Excerpt from Saint Peter Chrysologus [(c.406-450), Bishop of Ravenna, Doctor of the Church]. “Then they will fast.” Sermon on prayer, fasting and almsgiving; PL 52, 320, http://dailygospel.org /www/ popup-comments. php?language=AM&id=1151 (2008 Feb 8)
“There are three actions, my brethren, on which faith stands firm, in which piety consists and by which virtue is upheld: prayer, fasting, mercy. Prayer knocks at the door; fasting obtains; mercy receives…
Thus, fasting is the soul of prayer and mercy is the life of fasting... Therefore, the one who prays must fast, and the one who fasts must have mercy…
“Whoever practices fasting must… sympathize with the hungry man if he wants God to sympathize with his own hunger…
“And so prayer, mercy, fasting must make up one, single sponsor to recommend us to God, one defense, one prayer in our favor under this threefold form.”
Comment:
St. Chrysologus’ sermon presents Christianity in a holistic manner. Love of God leads to love of neighbor and vice versa. Spirit is made flesh and reverts back to its origin. Theory is made manifest in practice. Personal striving for holiness overflows towards others and enriches one further.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
spiritual fasting
Re: Fasting, Suggestions
Fr: Funspirations. “A different approach to fasting…” frw by chary@edmaexe.ae, 2008 Feb 7
“Fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like giving up food or television. But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus’ healing touch.
“Here are suggestions we may want to consider.
1. Fast from anger and hatred.
Give your family an extra dose of love each day.
2. Fast from judging others.
Before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.
3. Fast from discouragement.
Hold on to Jesus’ promise that He has a perfect plan for your life.
4. Fast from complaining.
When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.
5. Fast from resentment and bitterness.
Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.
6. Fast from spending too much money.
Try to reduce your spending by 10% and give those savings to the poor.
Fr: Funspirations. “A different approach to fasting…” frw by chary@edmaexe.ae, 2008 Feb 7
“Fasts have a tendency to be oriented toward things like giving up food or television. But there are many other creative ways we can welcome Jesus’ healing touch.
“Here are suggestions we may want to consider.
1. Fast from anger and hatred.
Give your family an extra dose of love each day.
2. Fast from judging others.
Before making any judgments, recall how Jesus overlooks our faults.
3. Fast from discouragement.
Hold on to Jesus’ promise that He has a perfect plan for your life.
4. Fast from complaining.
When you find yourself about to complain, close your eyes and recall some of the little moments of joy Jesus has given you.
5. Fast from resentment and bitterness.
Work on forgiving those who may have hurt you.
6. Fast from spending too much money.
Try to reduce your spending by 10% and give those savings to the poor.
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