Some Catechism Paragraphs

Mortal Sins


1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

1858 Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of Jesus to the rich young man: “Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother.” The gravity of sins is more or less great: murder is graver than theft. One must also take into account who is wronged: violence against parents is in itself graver than violence against a stranger.

1859 Mortal sin requires full knowledge and complete consent. It presupposes knowledge of the sinful character of the act, of its opposition to God’s law. It also implies a consent sufficiently deliberate to be a personal choice. Feigned ignorance and hardness of heart do not diminish, but rather increase, the voluntary character of a sin.

1860 Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man. The promptings of feelings and passions can also diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense, as can external pressures or pathological disorders. Sin committed through malice, by deliberate choice of evil, is the gravest.

Eucharist

1333 At the heart of the Eucharistic celebration are the bread and wine that, by the words of Christ and the invocation of the Holy Spirit, become Christ's Body and Blood. Faithful to the Lord's command the Church continues to do, in his memory and until his glorious return, what he did on the eve of his Passion: "He took bread. . . ." "He took the cup filled with wine. . . ." The signs of bread and wine become, in a way surpassing understanding, the Body and Blood of Christ; they continue also to signify the goodness of creation.


1375 It is by the conversion of the bread and wine into Christ's body and blood that Christ becomes present in this sacrament. The Church Fathers strongly affirmed the faith of the Church in the efficacy of the Word of Christ and of the action of the Holy Spirit to bring about this conversion.


Fornication and sexual practices

2353 Fornication is carnal union between an unmarried man and an unmarried woman. It is gravely contrary to the dignity of persons and of human sexuality which is naturally ordered to the good of spouses and the generation and education of children. Moreover, it is a grave scandal when there is corruption of the young.

2396 Among the sins gravely contrary to chastity are masturbation, fornication, pornography, and homosexual practices. 

Abortion 

2271 Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law: You shall not kill the embryo by abortion and shall not cause the newborn to perish.

2272 Formal cooperation in an abortion constitutes a grave offense. The Church attaches the canonical penalty of excommunication to this crime against human life. “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs excommunication latae sententiae,” “by the very commission of the offense,” and subject to the conditions provided by Canon Law.

Pax et bonum

Arguments for Slavery and Abortion

Pax et bonum

More Wake Photos - Younger Years

Pax et bonum

Good Friday Stations of the Cross in Reparation for Abortion

For the past 30 years, every Good Friday local pro-lifers gathered at McQuaid Jesuit High School for a pro-life prayer service, followed by a Stations of the Cross procession to a site where abortions were performed. They pray for a variety of life issues in addition to abortion - war, euthanasia, economic injustice, abuse, the imprisoned, the addicted, and more.   

The doctor who performed those abortion passed away last year, so the service moved this year to a new venue - Corpus Christi Church - and the Stations led to a new site - Planned Parenthood's headquarters 

This year for the first time there was Diocesan recognition, and as such Elizabeth M. Johnston,

Coordinator Life Issues & Cultural Ministries for the Diocese, spoke at the prayer service. 

Pax et bonum

From A Franciscan Calendar

I've been cleaning out some old materials (for garbage or recycling), and I came across a 2023 Franciscan Calendar.

So before it joins the recycling pile, here are some of the quotations.

Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily. To lean upon thy great strength, trustfully, restfully. To waiyt for the unfolding of Thy will, patiently, serenely. To meet others, peacefully, joyously. To face tomorrow, confidently, courageously. - St. Francis of Assisi

It was easy to love God in all that is beautiful. The lessons of deeper knowledge, though, instructed me to embrace God in all things. - St. Francis of Assisi

Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with brightness. - St. John Capistrano

Whenever the divine favor chooses someone to receive a special grace, to to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person with all the gifts of the Spirit neede to fulfill the task at hand. - St. Bernardine of Siena

Actions speak louder than words; let your words teach and your actions speak. - St. Anthony of Padua

Always go forward and never turn back. - St. Junipero Serra

Loving one another with the charity of Christ, let the love you have in your hearts be shown outwardly in your deeds. - St. Clare of Assisi

Keep a clear eye toward life's end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God's creature. - St. Francis of Assisi

God requires that we assist the animals when they need our help. Each being (human or creature) has the same right of protection. - St. Francis of Assisi

Let us make the best use of the precious moments and do all in our power for His dear sake and for His greater honor and glory. - St. Marianne Cope

The journey is essential to the dream. - St. Francis of Assisi

Pax et bonum

Reading Woes

Okay, I've set all sorts of reading goals, and I'm on my way to complete them for this year.

But I also feel a desire to read works recommended by others as books I should read. Joseph Pearce, in his book Literature: What Every Catholic Should Know, includes a list of "Great Works of Literature Every Catholic Should Know".

I've actually read 60 of them, and parts of several others. I will likely read some of the the others. But to be honest, I simply don't like the works of some writers on his list. Flannery O'Connor is the one who stands out. I find her painful to read. I also don't particularly like Walker Percy's books. And though I've read several  of Jane Austen's novels, I, frankly, find her kind of boring.

Sigh.

I am an intellectual slug.

Brandon Vogt also has a great list of more than 100 titles ("Best Catholic Books of All Timer"). Alas, I have read only 24 of those. He has a subsequent list ("More of the Best Catholic Books"). I've read just 8 of them, most of which overlap with Pearce's list.

I am at the point in my life when I struggle to read some of the more "difficult" works. Some of the theological and classical works are sometimes difficult for me to slog through.

I like mysteries and sometimes lighter fare. I like classical American novels. I like Dickens. I like the poetry of Dickinson and Frost. I like haiku and clerihews and light verse. I like the works of  Louis de Wohl. I like short essays. I like history and biography. I like some fantasy and science fiction.

So maybe my reading will be more eclectic.  

Pax et bonum

The First Ten Popes

1. St. Peter (33-67)
2. St. Linus (67-76)
3. St. Anacletus (Cletus) (76-88)
4. St. Clement I (88-97)
5. St. Evaristus (97-105)
6. St. Alexander I (105-115)
7. St. Sixtus I (115-125) Also called Xystus I
8. St. Telesphorus (125-136)
9. St. Hyginus (136-140)
10. St. Pius I (140-155)

St. Peter was, of course, Simon Peter, one of the Apostles.

St. Linus may have been the Linus mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:21 - though that is not confirmed.

St. Clement was a follower of St. Peter, and may be the Clement mentioned in Philippians 4:3 

Pax et bonum