Catholicity

HOLDING STEADY WHEN THE NOISE GETS LOUD !   Pastor TD Hale  The Clockmaker’s Lesson In a quiet village, there was an old clockmaker whose tiny shop was filled with ticking and chiming timepieces. Each clock had its own rhythm, yet none ever struck the exact same note at the same second. People would come in and complain, “Master, your clocks are not in perfect harmony!” The old man would smile and say, “Ah, but they are not bound to each other. They are set to a greater truth, each is governed by the sun. The sun rises and sets without fail, and no matter how many ticks go wrong inside this shop, the sun never changes.” One day a young man entered, discouraged because he had heard another false prediction about Christ’s return. “I am weary of all these failed words,” he sighed. “It makes people laugh at us.” The clockmaker placed a small timepiece in the young man’s hand. “You see this? It may run fast, or it may run slow, but the sun still rises at its appointed time. Do...

How to respond when you hear someone say, " All religions are the same." ♰♰♰ You’ve probably heard it before, especially in the last 60 years or so: “All religions are the same. Basically, they all teach people to be good human beings.” This has become the battle cry for the secular humanist movement in our time, and while this might sound, “tolerant,” “inclusive,” or “unifying,” it’s only partly true,... and only to a small degree, as we shall see.      As Catholics, and indeed as Protestant Christians, we need to understand how this applies, and how to respond with both clarity and charity. 1. Yes, There Are Similarities      OK, first off, it is true — many religions encourage moral living, compassion, and justice. That’s because of something called the inherent Moral Law of Man, i.e., the natural tendency of men to be just towards one another, which has been part of human culture since its origins.      This exists because God has writ...

DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE IN GHOSTS ? Yes and No. Stories of ghosts—spirits of the dead who linger among the living—are found in nearly every culture. For that reason, we must say yes, Catholics might believe in ghosts.  From haunted houses, and TV Ghosthunters, to graveyard scares and family tales of loved ones appearing after death, we may find ourselves imagining the spirits of the departed roaming about the world.  But there's more to it than that, as we shall see. So, when the question arises: "Should Catholics believe in ghosts, based on the teachings of Catholicism?"...well, we need to know that the answer requires careful understanding of Catholic teaching on the afterlife, the soul, and the supernatural. 1. The Catholic Teaching on Life After Death The Church teaches that when a person dies, their soul leaves the body and faces particular judgment (Hebrews 9:27). The soul then goes to one of three states: Heaven (for those who died in God’s friendship), Purgatory (for...

Sep 17 2025 In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. > From the first letter of the Apostle Paul to Timothy. 1 Timothy 3:14-16 "Dear brother, I am writing these things to you in the hope of coming to see you soon. But if I'm late, I want you to know from now on how you should act in the house of the living God, which is the Church, the pillar and foundation of the truth. Truly great is the mystery of God's love that has been manifested to us in Christ, made man, sanctified by the Spirit, contemplated by the angels, proclaimed to all nations, accepted in the world through faith and raised to the glory." The Word of God. R:/ We praise you Oh Lord. > The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke. + Luke 7:31-35 At that time, Jesus said, " T o whom shall I compare the men of this generation? Who do they look like? They look like those kids who sit at playing in the square and shouting at each other. We play the flute and they haven't danced....

FIVE FISH FOR THE DEVIL'S HOOKS by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen  As one makes a study of those who have been caught on the hooks of the Devil's fishing line, or, those who hide behind their freedoms in order to destroy the very source of that freedom, and who are thus particularly gullible for the Devil's bait, we find they can be reduced to five classes.... 1. Haters.  Bigots use their heads, though wrongly; haters, however, use their spleens, though overmuch. Hate may come from being ridiculed, for having lost a job, or for being unsuccessful and feeling owed. In order to exonerate themselves of their hate, they fasten the blame on others, and develop an unholy hate against a class, a race, a government, a party, a business organization, a group, or a Church. But, since their individual hate has such impotence, they search about for some conspiracy that will socialize their resentment. Finding a group which collectivizes and intensifies their hatred, they swallow satan'...

  MATTHEW 24:15 — THE MYSTERY OF THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION:  A Catholic Key to Vigilance, Discernment, and Hope --- INTRODUCTION:  A Single Verse That Demands Understanding Matthew 24:15 reads: “So when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand).” This short but haunting phrase has stirred Christian minds across centuries.  But what is the “abomination of desolation”?  Is it a past historical event, a present spiritual reality, or a future apocalyptic sign?  From a Catholic perspective, the answer is not “either/or” but “both/and.”  Catholics tend to avoid relying and the fragmenting Scripture into single verse splinters. Rather, we focus on the larger context of Scripture and Tradition, letting them teach that this mystery has layers of meaning—historical, prophetic, spiritual, and eschatological. This is the norm for approaching Scripture, really, and we should al...

WHY PROTESTANTS STRUGGLE WITH MARY For Catholics, the Blessed Virgin Mary holds a central place of honor as the Mother of God, the model disciple, and the Queen of Heaven. Yet for many Protestants, devotion to Mary is confusing—or even seen as unbiblical. Why is there such a struggle with Mary among Protestants? The answer lies in history, theology, and misunderstandings. 1. The Reformation’s Break with Tradition When the Protestant Reformation began in the 16th century, reformers like Martin Luther and John Calvin sought to return to “Scripture alone” (sola scriptura). In the process, many ancient traditions of the Church—including Marian devotion—were set aside. This shift created a suspicion of anything not explicitly outlined in Scripture. 2. Fear of Idolatry Many Protestants believe Catholic devotion to Mary looks like “worship,” which belongs to God alone. The images, statues, and prayers directed to her are easily misunderstood as giving her the worship due only to God. Catholi...

Recently I engaged with a woman in a Facebook group on Catholics attending Protestant church services. Interestingly, that led to an anguished exchange on her behalf about the molestation of children by Catholic priests. This was obviously such a strong emotional moment for her that she had to make it known. I shall call her, "Ms. B," to protect her identity, and share with you that exchange. ☩☩☩ Ms. B. “Such a snob. I grew up Protestant and converted to Catholicism. This is not a good time to be Catholic. How do we explain all these molested children? The Protestants aren't molesting children.”      Here she calls me a, "snob," because she didn't like my comments about Catholics attending Protestant church services. Me Ms. B,  can you prove no Protestants have ever molested children? Because I recall instances in my home town where it happened. Many others can as well. We know it happens. It just doesn't make the news. The world sees Catholics as “sno...