These are the last of my notes from the Marian Eucharistic conference. I'm sorry if some of these notes offend my Protestant friends. But not sorry for saying what we Catholics believe.
Tim Staples comes from a
Baptist and Pentecostal background and is a walking encyclopedia of all things Catholic and Protestant. He is the director of apologetics and evangelism at Catholic Answers. He explained that “once saved, always saved”
is a very dangerous heresy. Many Protestants believe that salvation is by faith
alone. Luther taught that we are justified by faith alone. You can murder,
rape, pillage all you want and it shall all be forgiven. This leads to
presumption. He also believed in predestination. That means some souls are destined for hell. And that just doesn’t make sense. That’d be a monster God. Much confusion arises because God knows all. However, He gives us free will. That means that we are free to reject Him. All through the Bible, we see that we’re given a choice. In Genesis, don’t eat of the fruit of tree of knowledge; in Deuteronomy, choose life or death; in Revelations, knock – you get to open the door.
Gospel of Suffering
Jesus didn’t
suffer and die for us so that we don’t have to. Our suffering is salvific when
we join it to His suffering. We must cooperate with His grace. His entire life
was redemptive. His suffering and death on the Cross is the pinnacle. No
redemption without the shedding of blood. At the Incarnation, He became poor.
He’s redeeming us even in the womb. His ministry was redeeming because we
received His Word. He was crucified for our sins. When He said, “It is
finished” it doesn’t mean we have nothing to do. His work on earth is finished.
He is redeeming us even now, through the Eucharist. Allow Christ to live in us.
In the Assembly of
God Church where Tim was a youth minister, there was thinking that Jesus did it
all; I don’t have to do anything but believe. By His stripes we are healed. So there ought to be no sickness or
suffering. He recounted a story of a young woman who nearly died because she
was diabetic and believed Jesus would heal her. Taking insulin would be a lack
of faith. This is dangerous thinking.
Beware of false
Gospels. Jesus Himself told us to pick up our cross and carry it. His life
in us only comes through suffering.
Mary, Mother of God
Tim also gave a lecture on Mary’s involvement
in our salvation. Without Mary, there is no Jesus. Not only did she freely give
her Fiat “Be it done unto me according to your word” but she stands at the foot
of the Cross, where Jesus gives her to us as He was dying. “Behold your
mother!” What a gift!!! This is why we honor and venerate her (note: not worship her).
Mary’s role does
not cease after the Annunciation (many Protestants think *all* she does is
bring Jesus to us). Her role is ongoing. At the wedding feast at Cana, she
tells her Son, “They have no wine.” Jesus rebukes her. “Woman, my hour has not
yet come.” But she tells the servants, “Do whatever He says.” Yup! Get ready
for a miracle.
The Immaculate
Heart of Mary is united with the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Catholics and the
Culture Wars
Catholic Answers
put out a voter’s guide with the 5 non-negotiables but had to scramble to add a
6th one – thanks to Obama – on religious freedom. On the Right to Life, 25 major Christian denominations say abortion is OK. Sometimes you have to fight other Christians. It's that bad. We are living in a
time of crisis. Stand up for Jesus, no matter what the govt. says. We alone
possess the fullness of the Gospel. Our institutions have been infiltrated. But we have Jesus's promise that not even the gates of hell will prevail. So be not afraid. Engage with the world. Let
Jesus shine through. It is essential when it’s a
matter of salvation of souls.
Tom Peterson
Advertising Exec.
who simplified his life and founded Catholics Come Home. The sad fact is that 75% of Catholics leave the Church by age 23. We need to use our talents to bring souls to Christ. Pray them back to Church. This takes patience and trustful surrender to God. Do what love requires. The hope you need is found in Jesus and His Church.
When you are in sin, you live a life of duplicity (two-faced). Perhaps you are addicted to certain sins and don't want to change. But when you go to confession, you receive the graces necessary to change.
Jesus’s last
mandate was “go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Evangelicals have
passion. They invite people. They pray over them. Learn from them. Don’t be
lukewarm. Invite people to Church. Be persistent. Have patience and fortitude.
People are busy so it can take 3-7 times before a person might take you up on that offer. It is a sin of omission to not talk about Jesus. In a time of
despair, speaking the Truth is a revolutionary act. Pilot light of baptism is
still on. Fan the flames.
Remember, 1st
century Christians were fed to the lions. We have it easy, still. Our world needs Catholic heroes.
Bishop Guglielmone offered Sunday Vigil Mass. The readings were on Maccabees and on the Resurrection.
Life after death: Life doesn't end but merely changes. After death, there are two possibilities. (1) Total union with God, in perfect harmony, which we call Heaven or (2) total absence of God, which we understand as hell.
Since many of us are not ready to be in total union with God, we have purgatory. But it is on the road to heaven.
What is necessary? Love God above all things. How can you achieve total intimacy with God in heaven without having practice here on earth? Love your neighbor as yourself. How? At the end of Matthew's Gospel we have the answer. "Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, you did to me." To love is to will the good of the other. And the family is where we learn to love. People who cannot see Jesus in a baby or the elderly are in danger of killing them because they are an inconvenience, or because they are not productive. And this is exactly what is happening in our culture. We must allow God to change our hearts.
This was the weekend before the election and it was such a blessing to have our Catholic faith strengthened. If only we could be like Poland and proclaim Christ as King!
For those who know me, you know I'm a sucker for letters. So look at these two beautiful Christmas books.
The Twelve Days of Christmas in Kentucky written by Evelyn B. Christensen and illustrated by Kent Culotta is a wonderful adaptation of the traditional song. Martin is visiting his cousin Marybeth in Kentucky and each day she gives him a gift of an experience. Martin writes home about it. The letters are both fun and informative and the illustrations capture the spirit. Did you know Abe Lincoln was born there? Or that the world's longest cave system is Mammoth Cave in KY? Reading Martin's letters will have you homesick for the Bluegrass state. 
And here's a third book that is pure fun. The Twelve Days of Christmas: Starring the Chickens by Janet Lee Carey and illustrated by Molly Blaisdell is a fun romp with chickens. Carey's words had me singing and the chicken doodles cracked me up. I think a book like this can inspire kids to make their own 12 days of Christmas stories. Thanks to the illustrator for providing me with a review copy. 
