Catholic Refresher

CATHOLIC REFRESHER

Opening Prayer Come, Holy Spirit Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in them the fire of Your love. V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created. R. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. O God, by the light of the Holy Spirit, You have taught the hearts of Your faithful. In the same Spirit help us to know what is truly right and always to rejoice in Your consolation. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

First Joyful Mystery The Annunciation

The Fifth Sorrowful Mystery—Jesus Dies on the Cross Afterwards, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said: I thirst. Now there was a vessel set there full of vinegar. And they, putting a sponge full of vinegar and hyssop, put it to his mouth. Jesus therefore, when he had taken the vinegar, said: It is consummated. And bowing his head, he gave up the ghost. John 19:28-30

A Protestant once was visiting a Catholic church in the company of a Catholic friend. They passed across the tabernacle area. The Protestant asked the Catholic what that box was and why a little lamp was burning near it. The Catholic explained that Jesus the Lord is present there. The Protestant then put the vital question: "If you believe that your Lord and God is here present, then why don't you genuflect, even prostrate and crawl?" The superficial Catholic got the message. He genuflected. Everyone can thus see why the tabernacle of the Most Blessed Sacrament is located in a central or at least prominent place in our churches. It is the centre of our attention and prayer. Cardinal Ratzinger: The Spirit of the Liturgy, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, 2000, p. 184194

The October 2005 Synod of Bishops emphasised this point (cf Prop., 6, 28, 34). In some of our churches some misguided person has relegated the tabernacle to an obscure section of the church. Sometimes it is even so difficult for a visitor to locate where the tabernacle is, that the visitor can say with truth with St Mary Magdalene: "They have taken my Lord, and I do not know where they laid him" (Jn 20:13).

Apologetics I ain't sorry about nuthin! Apologetics simply means giving a reasoned explanation for your faith. A Catholic apologist charitably explains and defends Catholic doctrine using Scripture, history and common sense Use a good translation Do not argue over translations Stay away from arguments over Greek or Hebrew words

Eucharist John 6 Bread of Life Discourse Mt 26:26-28 Mk 14:22-24 Institution of Eucharist at Last Supper Lk 22:17-20 Lk 24:30-35 Road to Emmaus 1Cor 10:14-17 Real Presence 1Cor 11:23-29 Institution

Real Presence Jn 6:48-58 Jesus means what He says, “I am the living Bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Jn 6:51 the bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world Do not be confused by Jn 6:63 It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.

Defense of Real Presence It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. Jn 6:63 Occurs after Bread of Life Discourse, verse 59. Flesh in this verse is carnal flesh Would Jesus truly say His flesh is of no avail? Verse 66, many of His disciples left Him, but He did not call them back

Sola Scriptura Where is that in the Bible? Bible does recognize Sacred Tradition; 2 Thess 2:15, 3:6 Bible states that not everything that Jesus said was written down; Jn 21:25, 1Cor 11:2, 1 Pet 1:25 Why did the Church exert its authority on interpretation of Scripture? 2 Pet 3:15-16 The Church is “the pillar and the bulwark of the truth.” 1 Tim 3:15

Primacy of Peter and Apostolic Succession In the OT, God has had a living, continuing authority. Peter established as the foundation Mt 16:13-19, and given the keys. Do not get sucked into Petros and Petras Luke 22:31-32 Jesus prays that Peter's faith will not fail Jn 21:15-17 Jesus commands Peter to “Tend My sheep” “Let another take his office” Acts 1:20-26

Purgatory God forgives sin but still requires punishment of sin. 2 Sam 12:13-14 David forgiven but punished for adultery Venial and Mortal sin is biblical. 1 Jn 5:16-17 and James 1:14-15 Nothing unclean enters heaven. Rev 21:27 The word purgatory is not in the Bible, but the doctrine is: Mt 12:32 “will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” 2 Mac 12:44-45 (46 NAB) Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin.

Miscellanea Call no man father Mt 23:1-12. Figurative use otherwise, 4th commandment makes no sense, St Stephen calls elders father Acts 7:2 and 22:1. Paul calls Corinthians, “My children.” 1 Cor 4:14-15 Why do Catholics worship statues? We don't, we worship banners

Iconoclasm is a heresy Didn't Catholic Church become pagan after Constantine? A study of early Church fathers disproves this

Miscellanea Is the Mass really a sacrifice? Yes, refer to Eucharist discussion and 1 Cor 11:26 Does baptism regenerate or is it only a symbolic washing? Jesus made it a requirement of salvation. Jn 3:5, Mk 16:16 Titus calls it washing and regeneration. Why do we baptize infants? Requirement for salvation. Jesus calls children to Him. Mk 10:14 Under old law infants were circumcised at 8 days

Miscellanea

Sola Fide 1 Cor 13:2 Faith without charity is nothing Mt 19:16-17 Must keep the commandments to be saved Heb 10:26-27 If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearful prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries. James 2:24, 26 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works. See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Miscellanea Why do good works and penance? Mt 4:17 Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." MT 19:16-17 If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." Acts 16:31 "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved." Can you lose salvation once having accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior? Mt 24:13 we must “endure to the end.” Rom 11:22 God's kindness to you, provided you remain in his kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off. Heb 6:4-6 “...and then have fallen away, to bring them to repentance again, since they are recrucifying the Son of God for themselves”

How to Determine the Church of Christ History Only Catholic Church existed before 1517 Apostolic Doctrine Confirmed in writings of early Church Fathers Apostolic Authority Bible and Sacred Tradition confirm the Catholic Church and unbroken succession