20100530 On the Question of Faith

 Question: Do you have an example of a story about faith?


Here is what I have to share...

VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION

An Atheist Professor of Philosophy was speaking to his Class on the Problem Science has

with GOD, the ALMIGHTY. He asked one of his New Christian Students to stand and . . .

Professor : You are a Christian, aren't you, son ?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, you Believe in GOD ?

Student : Absolutely, sir.

ProfessorIs GOD Good ?

Student : Sure.

Professor: Is GOD ALL - POWERFUL ?

Student : Yes.

Professor: My Brother died of Cancer even though he Prayed to GOD to Heal him.

Most of us would attempt to help others who are ill.

But GOD didn't. How is this GOD good then? Hmm?

(Student was silent )

Professor: You can't answer, can you ? Let's start again, Young Fella.

Is GOD Good?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Is Satan good ?

Student : No.

Professor: Where does Satan come from ?

Student : From . . . GOD . . .

Professor: That's right. Tell me son, is there evil in this World?

Student : Yes.

Professor: Evil is everywhere, isn't it ? And GOD did make everything. Correct?

Student : Yes.

Professor: So who created evil ?

(Student did not answer)

Professor: Is there Sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness?

All these terrible things exist in the World, don't they?

Student : Yes, sir.

Professor: So, who Created them ?

(Student had no answer)

Professor: Science says you have 5 Senses you use to Identify and Observe the World around you.

Tell me, son . . . Have you ever Seen GOD?

Student : No, sir.

Professor: Tell us if you have ever Heard your GOD?

Student : No , sir.

Professor: Have you ever Felt your GOD, Tasted your GOD, Smell your GOD?

Have you ever had any Sensory Perception of GOD for that matter?

Student : No, sir. I'm afraid I haven't.

Professor: Yet you still Believe in HIM?

Student : Yes.

Professor : According to Empirical, Testable, Demonstrable Protocol,

Science says your GOD doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?

Student : Nothing. I only have my Faith.

Professor: Yes,Faith. And that is the Problem Science has.

Student : Professor, is there such a thing as Heat?

Professor: Yes.

Student : And is there such a thing as Cold?

Professor: Yes.

Student : No, sir. There isn't.

(The Lecture Theatre became very quiet with this turn of events )

Student : Sir, you can have Lots of Heat, even More Heat, Superheat, Mega Heat, White Heat,

a Little Heat or No Heat.

But we don't have anything called Cold.

We can hit 458 Degrees below Zero which is No Heat, but we can't go any further after that.

There is no such thing as Cold.

Cold is only a Word we use to describe the Absence of Heat.

We cannot Measure Cold.

Heat is Energy.

Cold is Not the Opposite of Heat, sir, just the Absence of it.

(There was Pin-Drop Silence in the Lecture Theatre )

Student : What about Darkness, Professor? Is there such a thing as Darkness?

Professor: Yes. What is Night if there isn't Darkness?

Student : You're wrong again, sir.

Darkness is the Absence of Something

You can have Low Light, Normal Light, Bright Light, Flashing Light . . .

But if you have No Light constantly, you have nothing and its called Darkness, isn't it?

In reality, Darkness isn't.

If it is, were you would be able to make Darkness Darker, wouldn't you?

Professor: So what is the point you are making, Young Man ?

Student : Sir, my point is your Philosophical Premise is flawed.

Professor: Flawed ? Can you explain how?

Student : Sir, you are working on the Premise of Duality.

You argue there is Life and then there is Death, a Good GOD and a Bad GOD.

You are viewing the Concept of GOD as something finite, something we can measure.

Sir, Science can't even explain a Thought.

It uses Electricity and Magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one.

To view Death as the Opposite of Life is to be ignorant of the fact that

Death cannot exist as a Substantive Thing.

Death is Not the Opposite of Life: just the Absence of it.

Now tell me, Professor, do you teach your Students that they evolved from a Monkey?

Professor: If you are referring to the Natural Evolutionary Process, yes, of course, I do.

Student : Have you ever observed Evolution with your own eyes, sir?

(The Professor shook his head with a Smile, beginning to realize where the Argument was going )

Student : Since no one has ever observed the Process of Evolution at work and

Cannot even prove that this Process is an On-Going Endeavor,

Are you not teaching your Opinion, sir?

Are you not a Scientist but a Preacher?

(The Class was in Uproar )

Student : Is there anyone in the Class who has ever seen the Professor's Brain?

(The Class broke out into Laughter )

Student : Is there anyone here who has ever heard the Professor's Brain, Felt it, touched or Smelt it? . . .

No one appears to have done so.

So, according to the Established Rules of Empirical, Stable, Demonstrable Protocol,

Science says that You have No Brain, sir.

With all due respect, sir, how do we then Trust your Lectures, sir?

(The Room was Silent. The Professor stared at the Student, his face unfathomable)

Professor: I guess you'll have to take them on Faith, son.

Student : That is it sir . . . Exactly !

The Link between Man & GOD is FAITH.

That is all that Keeps Things Alive and Moving.

fr everett corvera, corvera everett, everet corvera

20090223 On Theological Virtues

Question: Father, what are the so-called theological virtues? What does it mean?


Answer: Here is the answer according to our Catechism of the Catholic Church


"The human virtues are rooted in the theological virtues, which adapt man's faculties for participation in the divine nature: [2 Pet. 1:4] for the theological virtues relate directly to God. They dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have the One and Triune God for their origin, motive, and object. (Catechism of the Catholic Church # 1812)


"The theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity; they animate it and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. They are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as his children and of meriting eternal life. They are the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being." (C.C.C. # 1813)

fr everett corvera, corvera everett, everet corvera

20091102 On Angels and "Body of Christ"

Do Members of the "Body of Christ" have Guardian Angels?


Answer: Paul's epistles are written to the "Body of Christ" which comprises all believers through the "Gospel of the Grace of God" (Jew or Gentile) from the beginning of his special ministry until a future day in which the "Body" (whether asleep in the grave or alive) will be called up into the air to meet our Lord Jesus Christ in the heavens. (Acts 20:24; I Corinthians 12:27; I Timothy 1:12-16; I Thessalonians 4:13-18.)
This church called "The Body of Christ" is a "New Creature" distinct from God's people of Israel who were called "An Holy Nation." The church which is Christ's Body was brought into being for God's secret purpose called "The Mystery" - "Which He kept hid from ages and generations but now is made known..." as Paul writes; "To the intent that now unto the principalities and power in the heavenly places might be made known by the church the manifold witness of God." (Ephesians 1:22,23; II Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; I Peter 2:9; Ephesians 3:1-10)
In other words, God's purpose in saving us today in this "the dispensation of the grace of God" is for the prpose of teaching the angels in heaven, things that even they never knew concerning the many sides of God's wisdom.
Most importantly it teaches the Angels how God's wisdom in the Cross has defeated Satan and openly displays Satan's ignorance as God reveals the triumph of His wisdom and powever over him. (I Corinthians 2:7-9; Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 2:13-15)
In God's grace to us, He is using us to teach the Angels, and He will display us in the Heavens forever to demonstrate to the Angels "the riches of His kindness in His grace toward us" - Ephesians 2:4-7.
Since God's program for us involves teaching the Angels, and since this truth exposes the defeat, failure and doom of the devil and his angels, this truth and those who know it are in a spiritual warfare with "spiritual wickedness in high places" - Ephesians 6:10-12.
The armor God has given us is not "guardian Angels," but is the "truth," "righteousness," "peace," "faith" and "hope" found in our position in Christ. Furthermore, II Corinthians 10:4 tells us that the "weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds." They are not carnal (fleshly), but spiritual, for we do not fight against flesh and blood. Our weapon is spiritual. It is the Word of God.
Therefore Jesus Christ through Paul, his Apostle to us, warns us over and over not to be deceived; nor lured into the worship of Angels; nor to be spoiled of our rewards through Angels appearing to teach us another gospel or any other doctrine not found in Paul's epistles for us. (Colossians 2:18; Galatians 1:8; II Corinthians 11:13-15; I Timothy 4:1,2)
Interestingly, Colossians 2:18 implies that those who would have you believe a message from an Angel or to adore the Angels in worship, they have never even seen an Angel, though they may testify that they have seen an Angel.
To the contrary, the Apostle Paul says much about Angels observing, listening and learning of God's grace from us:

"We are made spectacles to the Angels..." - I Corinthians 4:9.
"We shall judge the Angels" - I Corinthians 6:3.
We ought to obey the authority God has established "because of the Angels" - (perhaps because they are watching our obedience) - I Corinthians 11:10.
Our position "in Christ in heavenly places" is a show of the kindness and grace of God to the Angels who never had seen such grace - Ephesians 2:4-7.
And it was God's intent in forming the Body of Christ to teach the Angelic Host about His "manifold wisdom" - Ephesians 3:10.
Paul acknowledges that his words are heard before "the Elect Angels" - I Timothy 5:21.
Today, we have the privilege and the ministry of using "the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God" (particularly "the Word of His grace" to us;) and by using it we can assist God in "spoiling principalities and powers" by the preaching of the Cross and thereby, through faith, save those (Jews or Gentiles) who were part of the kingdom of Satan - "the power of darkness" and "translate them into the Kingdom of God's dear Son." (Ephesians 6:17; Acts 20:32; Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 2:8,9; Colossians 1:12-14)

As God's purpose for Israel centers around His kingdom in the earth, so God's purpose for us - the Body of Christ centers around His kingdom in the heavens. Angels were used to help Israel by informing them and protecting them as a nation, in fulfillment of God's intent for the earth. However, today God is using the church which is His Body to help the Angels by informing them and warring against the spiritual wickedness in high places in fulfillment of God's intent for the heavens.
The more one understands the uniqueness of the age in which we live and how it is that we battle in a spiritual warfare for the heavenly places the more insight is gained as to the ministry of Angels today. We the Body of Christ are teaching and warring in their behalf in the heavenly places. We accomplish unseen victories as we "stand fast in the Lord and in the power of His might" using as the weapons of our warfare "the sword of the Spirit" and "praying always" for "boldness" to proclaim "the mystery of the gospel." From that point of view, why would we have guardian Angels?
Rather than Angels helping us, God has given unto us something much more comforting and powerful. He has given to us His Holy Spirit who strengthens us with "power" and "might in the inner man" and "seals" us as God's possession unto the day of our redemption; all to His glory. (Ephesians 3:14-21; Ephesians 1:13,14)
Instead of protecting us from all the evils that may befall us in life we are instructed to be "filled with the Spirit" and to learn that God's grace is sufficient. In fact we begin to understand that in our weakness God is made strong in us so that while we may suffer need, go hungry, be afflicted with pain, or suffer loss; we "can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us!" What a testimony this is to the power of God's grace in us, both unto man and the Angels. (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:22,23; II Corinthians 12:7-10; Philippians 4:11-13)
There is an amazing truth which can only be received by faith. We are told in scripture that our afflictions in this life are working for us. As we walk by faith, motivated by grace, strengthened by God's Spirit, guided by His Word through all the difficulties of life we will be rewarded "a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." If guardian Angels prevented such afflictions, they would be working against you, robbing you of rewards, and the glory God receives through His working in your life. (II Corinthians 4:16-18; Romans 8:16-18; II Timothy 2:9-13; 4:6-8) 







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20081129 On Grace

Can you please explain to me father what grace is, and how do we get more of it?  

Answer:

We are very blessed in the Catholic Church because we have priests who dispense sanctifying grace each and every day to the faithful in the sacraments, especially Holy Communion and Confession. In this materialistic world that we live in, there is a need for more and more grace in our lives if we want to overcome the evil and be close to God. Grace is an absolute necessity in our daily endeavors. But how many among us realize that?  How many people live out their existence and never even once ask God to send more grace?

Grace is a free gift from God to His sons and daughters.  There is nothing we can do to merit grace, because it is a gift, after all.  Faith is also a free gift AND a response to grace - to quote the Catechism:

#162:  Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man.  

#166:  "Faith is a personal act - the free response of the human person to the initiative of God who reveals himself."

In the Sacred Scriptures, St. Paul is struggling with personal sin, he says in his second letter to the Corinthians 12:7-10:

"And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me;  but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

From Paul's words, we see that God gives each one of us sufficient grace to overcome sin, even when it seems like we are struggling with overcoming sin.  And when we are weak, that is when we are strong, because that's when God's power is made perfect in us.  How many people, when things get so bad in their lives, fall down on their knees in tears and ask God to fix things?  A lot! And that is exactly what God means when he says "my power is made perfect in weakness." The acknowledgment of God as our loving Father over our own strength and power is the beginning of our relationship with God, and the beginning of the end of our pride. The prideful and strong who are always in charge of their affairs never do this, so God can't work in them as powerfully as someone who is humble and acknowledges God in their distress.

20081201 Doctors of the Church

Father, who are the Doctors of the Church and why are they called as such?


Answer:


For a person to be proclaimed Doctor of the Church, three requisites are necessary, according to Pope Benedict XIV's well-known definition:

• an eminent doctrine,
• a remarkable holiness of life and
• the declaration by the Supreme Pontiff or by a General Council which has met legitimately.

Following is the list of Doctors of the Church, starting with their name(s), the Pope who proclaimed them and the date on which this occurred:

1-4.	Saints Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, Gregory the Great	Boniface VIII,    September 20, 1295
5.	Saint Thomas Aquinas	Saint Pius V ,    April 11, 1567.
6-9.	Saints Athanasius, Basil, Gregory of Nazianzus, Saint John Chrysostom	Saint Pius V,    1568.
10.	Saint Bonaventure	Sixtus V,    March 14, 1588
11.	Saint Anselm of Canterbury	Clement XI,    February 3, 1720.
12.	Saint Isidore of Seville	Innocent XIII,    April 25, 1722.
13.	Saint Peter Chrysologus	Benedict XIII,    February 10, 1729.
14.	Saint Leo the Great	Benedict XIV,    October 15, 1754.
15.	Saint Peter Damian	Leo XII,    September 27, 1828.
16.	Saint Bernard of Clairvaux	Pius VIII,    August 20, 1830.
17.	Saint Hilaire of Poitiers	Pius IX,    May 13, 1851.
18.	Saint Alphonsus Liguori	Pius IX,    July 7, 1871.
19.	Saint Francis of Sales	Pius IX,    November 16, 1871.
20-21.	Saints Cyril of Alexandria and Cyril of Jerusalem	Leo XIII,     July 28, 1882.
22.	Saint John Damascene	Leo XIII,    August 19, 1890.
23.	Saint Bede the Venerable	Leo XIII,    November 13, 1899.
24.	Saint Ephrem of Syria	Benedict XV,    October 5, 1920.
25.	Saint Peter Canisius	Pius XI,    May 21, 1925
26.	Saint John of the Cross	Pius XI,    August 24, 1926.
27.	Saint Robert Bellarmine	Pius XI,    September 17, 1931.
28.	Saint Albert the Great	Pius XI,    December 16, 1931.
29.	Saint Anthony of Padua	Pius XII,    January 16, 1946
30.	Saint Laurence of Brindisi	John XXIII,    March 19, 1959.
31.	Saint Teresa of Avila	Paul VI,    September 27, 1970.
32.	Saint Catherine of Siena	Paul VI,    October 4, 1970
33.	Saint Therese of Lisieux	John Paul II,    October 19, 1997.