What Does It Mean to Be "Man Fully Alive"?

Hey Guys. For my last blog post, we are going to examine what it means to be "Man Fully Alive". "Man Fully Alive" is a complex term. It means that a person is fully living through the grace of God in their day to day activities, and devoting their life to prayer, and doing so in the Glory of God himself. Does this mean that the person living as "Man Fully Alive" cannot sin? No! He is totally open to concupiscence as we are but he recognizes when he has fallen to sin and takes the right steps to prevent it from happening again. As man fully alive the person knows that he is open and that is why he devotes himself to prayer and a life of living for God's Glory, for that is the true meaning of "Man Fully Alive". In this year of theology I have learned all of this through the teachings of Mr. Cole.  

Man Fully Alive

Throughout this year we have all grown to know Mr. Cole better than we did on the first day of school, or for me the fourth day of school. I am sure we have all picked up on his favorite phrases such as goodness, good stuff, or man fully alive, or his favorite tendencies such as pushing on his computer monitor or drawing crazy diagrams on the board. Today I want to take a more indepth look at one of Mr. Cole's favorite phrases, man fully alive. What does it mean to be man full alive? It means to be a person who is in the complete graces of god, a person who devtes their life to Chirst through prayer and by living as a man for others. I am not saying that man fully alive do not sin, we all sin it is part of human nature because of the fall because of concupiscence, but a man fully alive sees his flaws is truly sorry prays for forgiveness and goes to confession to be absolved of those sins. A man fully alive understands he will fall sometimes but understands that it hows you react or bounce back from failure that defines who you are instead of failure itself. If you have lived your life as man fully alive at the time of judgement you will be singing praises as the gates of heaven open up to let you in. I think what I have taken most from sophomore year theology and Mr. Cole himself this year is try and live your life as man fully alive and when you fall which will happen make sure you get up dust yourself off and respond in the correct way so that at the time of judgement God will be calling your name to come into his kingdom forever.

Can we really defend our faith?

Yesturday In our project I was the Catholic, I found myself struggling on some of the questions Gus was asking me. I pratice my faith and pray everyday, but I am not so sure that I could defend my faith free from error. I do not have a knowledge of the subject the way Mr. Cole does. Mr. Cole could make whoever questioned him embarassed by his knowledge. Where as myself on the other hand would struggle some with making the person questioninng me believe what I am saying is the truth and true goodness of Christ. So gentlemen the last thing I want to leave you with today is do you think that you can defend your faith?

Judging a book by its cover

With the homeless man I have sort of opened up my eyes to the fact that some people did not do anything wrong to get into that situation. I find myself constantly judging the people that live on the streets and junkies, drugies, and panhandlers. I have always told myself that if they wanted to get out they could. I Never did relieze that some of them just had some bad luck. After watching this video I think I will change my opinion about judging the people who are begging on the streets and maybe try to help then rather than just driving by. I won't continue to judge a book by its cover.

Reflection to Video (Ronald Davis)

When Watching this video I began to realize my own prejudices against the homeless. Although, I realize not all of them are drug addicts, alcoholics, or substance abusers, I find myself judging them with the stereotype that they are. Deep down I realize that not all of them are, but I find it harder and harder to see the truth in people. Christ says to clothe the poor, and to feed the sick and hungry, to shelter the homeless, and to not neglect the needy, but in moderns times, it has become so hard to tell the difference between the needy, and the desperate.

I know how good it makes me feel when I help out someone in need. A few weeks ago, I was at my local gas station, right off highway 59, a young man, no older than 25 approached me very shyly with a gas can, he said " excuse me sir, I don't mean to bother or provoke you, but my friend and I...our car ran out of gas, could you lend me a few dollars?" Startled by the situation, I studied him for a moment, he either was honest, or a very good liar, so I gave him 3 dollars, almost enough to buy a gallon of gasoline, told him good luck, and he left. After filling my tank, I decided to test this mans honesty. I parked up front, where I could get a good view of everything, and waited. The young man, solicited a couple other people, and gained some extra money, he had a hand full of ones in his hand. He then walked past me, into the gas station, and to my surprise, actually put the money on the pump. He and his friend filled their tank as fullest as money would allow, and were on their way. I was pretty satisfied with myself, having actually helping the needy, who was actually in need.

After watching the video however, I also realize how cruel people can be, and how humiliating (regardless of how desperate you are) begging can be. I never ridicule people because they cannot afford something, but I am prejudice against people for what I can only assume they have done. I believe that is what prevents us from helping more people like Ronald Davis. Not because we have extreme prejudice against the poor, but because we are judging the book by its cover. While the interview shows what the book has to say....

Ronald Davis Story

In this video that is just now gaining viral attention, I was very moved. I saw this man, Ronald Davis, and saw a man hurt by luck and bad circumstances and then cast aside because of it. I see him and all I think is what I can do to help him. Ronald is a homeless man living day to day from the money he earns off his begging on the streets. Even if you just look at him you can think and know that he is an honest man just trying to make a living and just trying to get a decent meal, and shelter to stay in. It made me even more sad to hear what some people would say to him. They would call him a bum when, if you had listened to him is not. He also said that even though your having a bad day, that doesn't mean you can just be mean to a person. I think we can all relate to this even by looking to the words and actions of Christ and seeing how he handled this situation. Even when he was crucified, he didn't spit back in their faces, he cal my ask for their forgiveness and wanted them all to do well just like Ronald.

From personal experience with working with the homeless, I can say his story is not unlike that of the homeless in Houston. I have worked on The Beacon, a homeless food distribution center in downtown, and seen the way some of the homeless people live. When I check people into the system sometimes I see that they are vets and others I see have been living literally on the streets for over 2 years and it breaks my heart. Just like Ronald said, I don't do anything detrimental to the homeless but do everything I can to help them. I think we can all do that. Just give a little of our time each month to helping people like Ronald can go along way, and personally I think that is what we should all do.

Here is the link to the video itself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AusCA28efa0&feature=youtu.be

Relating Basketball to the Church

With the basketball example I believe that the player who doesnt dribble cannot yell at the owner because there are rules to the game, and if those rules are broken such as a travel it is a turnover. I think this relates to the church because the rules in basketball are basically the same as the sin in the church. If you sin you fall out of the grace of God. If you die not in the grace of God you do not go to heaven that is kind of like a turnover in the game of basketball. So just like in basketball there are rules to being a good catholic in the Church.

Women Priests

• Hey guys. Today I want to talk about a sort of controversial topic, women priests. In Kentucky there is a woman who was ordained a priest. She believes to be under the authority of the church, but she is not. The church teaches that only men can be priests and no one else. Former Pope Benidict reaffirmed the statement and threatened other priest’s orders and excommunication if they were to ordain a woman priest. This woman, Smead, said that she is not scared of excommunication and is going to preahc regadless of what the church says. I think that this is wrong, I’m one for equaltiy for all but if the church says it is against its teachings then I say it is wrong as well. I leave this one up for discussion. If you want to read the article for yourself here is the link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/28/us-usa-religion-womenpriests-idUSBRE93Q0EE20130428.

    

Reflection on News Article

Kentucky Women Ordained Priest Outside Roman Catholic Church 

I really don't know how to address this topic without being sexist or discriminate about women's rights. A week ago, in theology, we were studying the marks of the Church. One of the most arguably important marks, One, would vigorously attack this problem.

In order to be fully be in communion with Christ and his Church, we must be one in faith, one in praise, and one in leadership. In the article, it states "The former pope, Benedict XVI, reaffirmed the Catholic Church's ban on women priests and warned that he would not tolerate disobedience by clerics on fundamental teachings". This draws a huge line across the playing field. I do not believe Pope Benedict XVI was under the influence of any one but God himself, when reaffirming this ruling. This already cripples the mark of the Church, One, because Smead is no longer in collaboration with the Churches leader. 

She also states " "It is a Medieval bullying stick the bishops used to keep control over people and to keep the voices of women silent. I am way beyond letting octogenarian men tell us how to live our lives." Well one could argue that some bishops and Popes of the past were sacrilegious of the Catholic Faith. That they were plagued by heresy, and schism, but if this is a act of the Church as a whole, then the Churches teaching is infallible. This is not to draw the line, or install a glass ceiling on women's rights in the Church. I am no person to declare the will of God, but I am a firm member of the Catholic Church, and wish to stay in Communion with Christ and his body, therefore believe and follow the Church's teachings, and I believe what the Pope taught and will teach will be correct. 

Also, she speaks that the Church is a body of State. AS A CATHOLIC WE ARE NO COUNTRY! We come from many Nationalities, and wish to unify the world as one people, one body, one God. We seek for equal representation of all human life, and coming from a males perspective, not to put down and silence our other half. 

Finally, if she was a Catholic, and wishes to hold the same standards as a Catholic, but wishes to incorporate women in the sacred sacrament, She gains nothing by splintering the Church. You solve no problems by starting fires. She fails just as greatly as Martin Luther did in the 14 Century. She might spark insight, but by forming a new religion, she only allows further splintering from her religion.

I believe see this more as a cry for attention, then as a act of faith. 

To the 6th Graders of America--on Anoiting

Anointing has been a part of the Catholic Tradition since the time the bible was written. The formation of the sacrament drew heavily from the Christ's healing and anointing of the sick in James 5:14-16:

           “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, 

and they should pray over him and anoint (him) with oil in the name of the 

Lord, the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him 

up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.”

In the 3rd Century, Apostolic Tradition, by Hipppolytus described in his writings the anointing of the sick. In 5th century A.D. Pope Innocent addressed anointing explicitly in his letter to Decentius, Bishop of Gubbio. The letter was a reaction to a interpretation held by only presbyters could administer the sacrament and not bishops. This was corrected in Congregation for the Doctrine of the 

Faith.

In the 15th century, major leeps were made in the Council of Florence: to use olive oil blessed by a priest, only given to the sick if death is expected, person is anointed on eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, hands, feet and loins,the minister of the sacrament is a priest and the effect is to cure the mind, body, and soul.

confession

All of us have misconceptions to what confession is, what it does, and the proper way to celebrate the Sacrament. Today in this article all of your questions will be answered. Some people that when we become Christians all sins past present and future are forgive. This is not true, nowhere in scripture does it state that our future sins are forgiven. Some people believe confession is necessary for every little sin, but this is also not the case, small menial sins can be confessed straight to God himself but bigger mortal sins must be confessed to a priest during the Sacrament of Confession in order for them to be forgiven. Since we know we cannot confess all of our little daily sins we know confessions is for grave mortal sins. Back during the time of Christ people did their penance before absolution today the order is reversed. Over the years confession has changed some, but the roots of the Sacrament stayed the same. The Didache says "Confess your sins in church, and do not go up to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of life. . . . On the Lord’s Day gather together, break bread, and give thanks, after confessing your transgressions so that your sacrifice may be pure". I hope this article on Confession helps enhance the knowledge of the Sacrament and clear up all misconceptions.

Miracle of Lanciano

This Miracle takes place during the 700 A.D., in the city of Lanciano.

In St. Longinus Church a Basilian monk said Mass with doubt of the true presence of Christ in his soul. Upon saying the words of Consecration the bread and wine turned into true living flesh. The blood coagulated into 5 pools, varying in size and shape. 

This is a picture of the literal flesh and blood the was consecrated into the body and Blood of Christ. It is responsible of a strange phenomenon baffling scientist. Five blood "pellets" were resulted from the miracle, each varying in size and shape, but when weighed the all weigh the same, and when added to each other and weighed against, no matter how many pellets are weighed, they equal the same weight. 

The most recent scientific research done on the material was in 1970 and was proved that...

• The flesh is real flesh. The blood is real blood.
• The flesh consists of the muscular tissue of the heart  (myocardium)
• The flesh and blood belong to the human species.
• The flesh and blood have the same blood type (AB).
• In the blood, there were found proteins in the same normal proportions as are found in the sero-proteic make up of fresh, normal blood.
• In the blood, there were also found these minerals: Chlorides, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, sodium and calcium. The preservation of the flesh and of the blood, which were
  left in their natural state for twelve centuries (without any chemical preservatives) and exposed to the action of atmospheric and biological agents, remains an extraordinary phenomenon.

Christ day after day gives us his flesh and blood in accordance for our sins. He gives it to us freely, to accept or reject freely, and without hesitation. He simply asks for us to believe fully in him, and to conform ourselves to the incarnation. Celebrating Christ with doubt in our soul is much like entrusting your life to a serial killer. Foolish, and suicide. We should fully believe in Christ and his Church, and fully entrust our souls and will to them. 

Eucharist

Hey guys. Today I’m going to talk about who can really receive the Eucharist. People who can receive the Eucharist are as follows: Catholics, other christians, and some exceptions. Next I’m going to talk about some exceptions, and then go into deeper why some can receive the eucharist and some cannot. Some exceptions, of those who can receive the eucharist are Protestants and Eastern Orthodox churches. The reasons why protestants can receive the eucharist are more limited than others. Protestants can only receive the Eucharist when the presence of death is eminent and they truly wish to repent and accept Jesus. eastern Orthodox has almost the same limitations but can also receive it in the acceptance of penance.

We as catholics can receive the Eucharist in many different areas. We can receive it before death in the anointing of the sick. We can receive it during penance. And we most often receive it during mass. There are some restrictions how we can receive it. We cannot receive it with a mortal sin on our conscience and cannot receive it without fasting for an hour before. Thanks guys bye.  

Who Can Receive Communion?

Gentlemen, Today I will be speaking to you about who can receive communion. Communion is the most important of the seven sacraments instituted by Christ. The Church has specific guidelines for those who can receive communion. First you must be in a state of grace. Therefore you must not have a mortal sin on you conscience, if you receive  communion with a   mortal sin it is another mortal sin. Another major requirement is that the person receiving the sacrament must believe in transubstantiation. Those receiving must observe the Eucharistic fast.  Finally those receiving cannot be under ecclesiastical censure. Catholics welcome other Christians to join them in the sacrament of Eucharist. Although Catholics encourage non Christians to join them in the celebrating of the liturgy but not in the Sacrament of Eucharist. I hope what I have told you today helps you understand who can and cannot receive the Sacrament of Communion.  

Sacraments to Human Nature

The Sacraments Correspond to Human Nature by revealing deeper realities to the soul. Sacraments are a visible signs of God's love and will for us to be saved. They correspond to the soul by which they are a factor of God's saving grace and enable us to fully experience God's plan for us. They enable us to participate in the invisible and therefore see what God has planned for us, and experience the faith fully, by incorporating us completely into the Catholic Faith. The Church created the sacraments to do just that, to allow us ( its members) to be fully united to Christs Church. 

Sacraments

Hey guys. Today I’m going to talk about how the sacraments correspond to human life. Some sources that I used to research this information are as follows: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas_and_the_Sacraments). Thomas Aquinas says that the seven sacraments, Baptism, Reconciliation, The Eucharist, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Marriage, and Anointing of the sick, all corresponds to a part of human life. Baptism is our outward sign of washing and corresponds to infancy and the cleansing of that which is bad. Reconciliation corresponds to, agian, to cleansing and the washing away of sin. The Eucharist corresponds to our human and spiritual nourishment and as John 6:56 says,"My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” But it is much more than a food item we eat at mass. It is the heavenly nourishment that is our key to salvation. Confirmation is the sign of maturity in the church, and signifies our adulthood in the church. Holy Orders is the sign of the few who have been called to the service and shows another sign of maturity in the church. Marriage, again, is another sign of maturity by accepting what God has bound in two flesh to be bound in one flesh. Finally anointing of the sick signifies the process from life to death and signifies that we are no longer materially able to hold on and are ready to receive our judgement and our not scared of our fate because of this preparation. Thanks guys for listening. Bye

What is a Lay person?

A Lay person, in my own words, is someone who carries out God's plan for them ( doing the will of God), without being ordained to do so. I bring this topic up because about two years ago I received a book filled with the writings of Ann the lay Apostles, and I never understood what exactly her role was in the Church so this is my go at it.

Lay is commonly defined and being in a certain profession but not being licensed or recongnized as a professional in that profession, such as I am a blogger, but I am not really famous for it, or very good at it.
So when Ann titles herself as the "Lay Apostle" she is in the profession of evangelizing, but she is simply licensing herself to do so. In a sense, all the people of the world are "Lay" at something, in the Church a Catholic Monk would be considered lay, because he is not what society would consider a professsional, but he takes up his role in praying in solitude and fasting for the common good of others.

The A's B's and C's of the Liturgal Celebration

So in Mass this morning I noticed how next to the readings,in the hymnal, it has a letter identify its version as A, B, and C. It got me curious, I just thought the readings were set at the beginning of each year, not that there were three different versions to follow depending on the year. I google searched it, and this is what I learned.

What we are reading is the lectionary, and it is on a cycle that rotates once a year, with three different variations. I never noticed this before but in year A, we usually hear the Gospel on the account of Matthew, B is Mark, and C is Luke. Now, yes I have left out John. Why? Because we listen to him during the season of lent. Currently, I believe we are in year B. There isn't really anything significant about it I have learned ( so far) other than that its so one, we don't have to hear the same thing over and over again, year after year, and two its so we get different accounts of the same idea, and I am assuming it helps us to better piece together Christ's message. Anyways.. Thats All I got.

Miracles

I believe in miracles. Fade in. It was a cold dark friday afternoon about 20 boys walk into their last class of the week. During this last period these students wound be taking an essay theology test on moodle. Once Mr. Sulliavn unlocked the computers but when the kids clicked on moodle the recivied a gift from God. Moodle was down, there was a problem with the server. The boys yelled for joy, the IT department was notified about the problem but could not fix it. We could not take our test, we were extactic. Also our teacher Mr. Cole's wife just had their first child so he can't be too mad. Lets just say based on recent events I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES!!!!

Catholic Rites

Hey guys. Today I want to talk to u about all the different rite of the church. First off there are many different rites set up for different things like the Armenian rite which traces its roots back to the earliest church fathers. The church has all of these rites because there are many different places and Catholics around the world who celebrate in different ways and the church has to make different ceremonies to accommodate them. Here in Houston we have the adapted Roman rite. It is interesting to see how all these rites work from the Alexandrian to the Chaldean rites we'll get into that maybe tomorrow.