Tag: averagecatholic
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Euthanasia the Epitome of Capitalistic Efficiency
Pope Leo’s latest encyclical, Humanitas Magnifica, says, “When efficiency becomes the ultimate measure of value, human beings are tempted to see themselves as a project to be optimized rather than as persons called to relationship and communion.” This is crystal clear in terms of Euthanasia. The desire to artificially end someone’s life is at best…
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What Kungfu Movies Taught Me about the Virgin Mary.
I was a fan of Jackie Chan growing up. The jumps and stunts in the movies inspired my childhood shenanigans to my mother’s chagrin. The stories involved overcoming obstacles both physical and spiritual. The protagonist is on a path of self-discovery and must adapt and change to find the fulfillment that they are looking for.…
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The Count Down (or Up) Till Judgement Day
When will Judgement day happen? A question that everyone has entertained at least once. A few eccentric spiritual leaders believe that they truly know the date. But orthodox believers recognize that the true day of judgement is known only to God. It would be fascinating if there was a countdown clock somewhere in heaven. Perhaps,…
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How mercy is like a Bolt of Lightning
Many nights of strong rains and deep thunder gave me a nostalgia for rainstorms. The heavens are coming down, but my slumber went undisturbed. There is a relaxing quality to the sounds of the fiery tempest. My condolences to those who experience fear while my reaction is peace. I see the streak of lighting, the…
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I was Born a Heathen … then I was Baptized
My apologies for the misleading title. Both my mother and father were Catholics when I was born. But I wanted to comment on the uniqueness of Baptism. The Catholic Religion is not just a belief system to which we give our assent. We believe that there are ontological changes involved with our rituals. Both the…
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At least one time God was not in control… The Annunciation.
“Let it be done according to Thy Will.” That is the Magnificat, the statement of faith made by Momma Mary in Luke 1:38. It is a profound moment that was the lynch pin moment in Salvation History. The feast of the annunciation is also known as the day of the Incarnation. Jesus of Nazareth was…
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Is Love a Choice or an Emotion?
To will the Good of another. For some, this is the definition of love. The English language does a terrible job capturing what love means. We use love to express sentiments such as food preference and binding commitments. I prefer to think of it as “to WILL the good of the other,” Because it places…
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From your Uncle Screwtape (1/2)
Along with many people, I am a fan of C.S. Lewis “Screwtape Letters.” C.S. Lewis was a Christian author who challenged himself to write as a demon giving advice to a younger demon on how to tempt man into damnation. It offers a scathing self-reflection that can humble any Christian. The book was published many…
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Catholics vs Protestants on works for salvation
One of the perennial issues between Catholics and Protestants is works and salvation. Works and salvation is the belief that if you perform x, y, z, then you can enter heaven. It can be proclamations, acts of service, verbal prayers, or whatever else. The point is that salvation is able to be earned from an…
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