Blogposts

You may have heard at funerals that a deceased is in heaven. Does that reflect Catholic teaching? The answer is no. The deceased may be in heaven but funerals are not canonizations and hence no one can say with certainty any deceased is in heaven except baptized infants and canonized saints. In the confusion following the close of the Second Vatican Council many Catholic teachings were ignored or denied especially those on death and what happens after death.

Also called the Quicumque-vult (‘‘Whoever wills [to be saved]’’) or for short, Quicumque from its opening words in Latin; a profession of the Catholic Faith in 40 rhythmical sentences. The Athanasian Creed is one of the approved statements of the truths of the Faith, dating back to the fourth or fifth century. Modern scholarship indicates that it was not written by St. Athanasius, but its expressions and ideas reflect his influence. Some scholars think it may have been written by St. Ambrose of Milan.

“The Most Important Person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral -a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby’s body. . . The angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God’s creative miracle to bring new saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creature; God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation. .. What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?” ~ Venerable Jozsef Cardinal Mindszenty

The Conclave to elect the next Vicar of Christ, Successor of St. Peter, will take place on May 7. Prayer is vital for the Cardinal-Electors, those Cardinals under the age of 80. We need to especially ask the prayers of the Blessed Virgin, Mother of the Church, to whose Motherhood May is dedicated, for the Pope we need in these times of fracture, doctrinal confusion, and scandal in the Church, although we should keep this observation of St. John Henry Cardinal Newman in mind as we think about the state of the Church: