Catholicity - Apologetics For Our Time

Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. First Reading From the Book of the Prophet Isaiah Listen to me, O islands; hear me, distant peoples. The Lord called me from my mother's womb; while I was still in my mother's womb, He pronounced my name. He made my mouth like a sharp sword; He hid me in the shadow of His hand. He made me a polished arrow and kept me in His quiver, and He said to me: “You are my servant, Israel; in you I will reveal my glory.” Then I thought: “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing.” Yet my cause was in the hands of the Lord, and my reward was with my God. Now the Lord speaks, He who formed me in the womb to be His servant, to bring Jacob back to Him and gather Israel around Him. The Lord honored me greatly, and my God became my strength. And now the Lord ...

  The Chief Heresies:  The major corruptions of the doctrines of the Church 1. Arianism The Arians were founded by the heresiarch Arius, an ambitious priest of Alexandria, born about A.D. 250 and died A.D. 336. They denied the divinity of our Lord, and said that He was not born of the Father, but made by Him; that He was not equal to, but inferior to, the Father. These heretics were condemned at the Council of Nicaea, a town in Bithynia, A.D. 325, under Pope St. Sylvester I. The Nicene creed was drawn up at this council. 2. Manicheanism This religion was founded by the Persian Mani in the latter half of the third century. The Manicheans taught that our Lord did not take to Himself a real body, but only the appearance of a body, something similar to what the angels assumed when they visited holy persons, as mentioned in Scripture. They also said that there were two gods, a good one and a bad one. These heresies commenced about A.D. 280, and were finally condemned in the Fourth ...

 🛐 Seven Things OSAS (Once Saved, Always Saved) Does Not Teach The doctrine of Once Saved, Always Saved (OSAS), also known as Eternal Security, is one of the most misunderstood teachings in Christianity. Many criticisms of the doctrine are actually based on ideas that OSAS does not teach. Before discussing what Eternal Security is, it is helpful to understand what it is not. 1. OSAS Is Not a License to Sin The doctrine does not teach that Christians may live however they please without consequences. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid…” (Romans 6:1-2 KJV) God disciplines His children when they stray (Hebrews 12:6-8). 2. OSAS Is Not “Once Prayed, Always Saved” Repeating a prayer does not save a person. Salvation comes through genuine faith in Jesus Christ. “For by grace are ye saved through faith…” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV) A profession of faith is not the same as possession of faith. 3. OSAS Is Not Teaching That All Professing Christian...

From Today's Gospel: At the sight of the crowds, Jesus’ heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.” (Matt 9:36-38). Catechism of the Catholic Church , 863: The whole Church is apostolic   (1) , in that she remains, through the successors of St. Peter and the other apostles, in communion of faith and life with her origin and in that she is "sent out" into the whole world. All members of the Church share in this mission, though in various ways. "The Christian vocation is, of its nature, a vocation to the apostolate as well." Indeed, we call an apostolate "every activity of the Mystical Body" that aims "to spread the Kingdom of Christ over all the earth." Commentary on the Sunday Mass Readings for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary ...

  A lot of people claim to be “Bible only” – if its not in the Bible, they wont accept it. And that may sound good, but the Bible never tells anyone to do that. In fact, it never says it is the one and only thing one has to deepen faith – that idea was concocted during the breech from The Church during reformation. It simply took off from there, as a rally cry. So let me give you just one an example of a non-Bible writing that literally defines what YOU believe today. Let it be an example of how one can see outside the Bible, and deepen ones faith while keeping the Bible as well. "Light from Light, True God from True God." Have you heard this? Have you said it? Did you know this comes from the Nicene Creed (325 AD)? And whether you say it or not – it has formed what you believe. When you hear those words, they sound like poetry. And in a sense, they are. The early Church wrote with beauty as well as precision. But you must understand something about those phrases that m...

     Today, June 6, the Church Celebrates the memorial of  St. Barnabas, Apostle and teaches The Gospel of Reconciliation Readings of the Day First Reading: Acts 11:21-26; 13:1-3 “The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord. The news reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted everyone to remain faithful to the Lord with a firm heart, because he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great multitude was added to the Lord.” (Acts 11:21-24) "Barnabas set out for Tarsus in search of Saul, and when he found him, he took him to Antioch. They met with the Church for a whole year and taught many people. It was in Antioch that, for the first time, the disciples received the name of Christians.” (Acts 11:25-26) “While they were celebrating the worship of the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Separ...