Does the Koran Assume that Mary is a Person of the Trinity?

Interesting article about how the Koran depicts the Trinity. It seems that at face value, the Koran assumes that Christians understand the Trinity to be God, Jesus, and Mary.

"Many of His Disciples Drew Back"

At my local parish, we've had some good homilies of late on the Holy Eucharist. In the Gospel, Christ teaches:

John 6
[53] So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
[54] he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
[55] For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
[56] He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
[57] As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.

The disciples replied, "This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?" (John 6:60)

Christ said, "my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed." And His disciples are troubled. Remember, these are Christ's "disciples" saying this. These are those who have followed Christ and committed themselves to His teachings. But they are having trouble with it.

Also, this is the first hint that one of His Apostles doubts Him. Fulton Sheen states that this is the moment in which Judas turns on Christ.

"But there are some of you that do not believe." For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. (John 6:64) This is the context in which the betrayal is foretold.

After this, the Scriptures say that "many of His disciples drew back and no longer went about with Him."

Think of it. Christ lost a chunk of His disciples. They just dropped out. They went back to their normal lives. Christ didn't say, "Hey, guys. I'm just speaking metaphorically. Come back. It's symbolic language." No Christ is serious on this point. "You must eat my flesh." He lets them walk away. He turns to the Apostles and says, "Do you also wish to go away?" Christ is saying, "If you can't handle my teaching about 'eating my flesh/drinking my blood,' then now is the time to leave. I'm not watering this down. This is essential. If you can't accept it, then you're free to go."

For me, this is a compelling reason to be Catholic. No Protestant denomination teaches this biblical truth. They walk away from this one. At this point they "draw back." Even Anglicans don't teach it (except for a minority party), and the presence of women "bishops" and "priests" brings profound doubt on Sacraments which are supposed to be certain and sure signs of Christ's grace.

Pius XII's "Long Distance" Exorcism of Hitler

Great post on the "long distance" exorcism of Hitler by Pope Pius XII by American Papist.

According to Vatican exorcist Gabriel Amorth, it didn't work because, "One of the key requirements for an exorcism is to be present in front of the possessed person."

Plan B and Bush (I'm Gravely Disappointed)

I'm very disappointed. Bush has allowed the FDA to become the handmaiden of chemical abortion by way of the Plan B abortificant.

I had a recent epiphany. As the Democratic party becomes more radically leftists, it actually injures the conservatives of our nation because the Republican party can afford to compromise on big issues (like Plan B and the FDA appointment) because we conservatives have no other option. We have to vote Republican because its the best thing we've got. The Republican party can now fudge a bit on moral issues because they think they have us securely. What are we to do? We can't got to the Democrats in protest. And yet the Republicans have taken us for granted!

P.S. The very fact that it is named "Planned B" implies that the culture of death assumes contraception is the "Plan A" - a mere sequence of defense against that most beautiful and natural gift of human life.

Converting at Gunpoint

I just learned of the release of the two kidnapped reporters, Steven Centanni Olaf Wiig, in Gaza. We thank God for their release and safety. They reported that they were forced to convert to Islam at gunpoint and they complied.

The implications of this are profound. A Christian who says any statement against Christ (be it coerced or not) has committed the sin of apostasy. "But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven." Matt 10:33.

The Chronicles of the first 500 years of Christianity testify that this was the gravest sin known to man, far worse than sodomy, adultery, murder, etc. because it is a direct act of blasphemy against Christ. It is forgivable, but it is the worst sin because one denies the very channel and mode of forgiveness and salvation, that is Christ Himself.

But my worries are that most Western Christians see no problem with this. "Oh, they didn't really mean it. They were a gunpoint!" All the early martyrs were at "gunpoint," and they refused to speak against Christ, affirm the gods, or confess Caesar as "Lord." St Paul could have "tricked" his persecutors and continued to evangelize the world by getting out of jail free if he had just said to Nero (if even he didn't mean it in his heart), "Yeah, yeah, Nero. You are the Lord. I won't be a Christian anymore." But St Paul did not do this. He refused to act or speak against Christ and instead he bore his neck and allowed his head to be cut off for the glory of Christ. And his witness was magnified.

Everything we do matters. Every single thing and our witness to the world, our evangelism, depends on our steadfast testimony to Christ at all times in all places. If the Muslim sees that we are not willing to die for Christ they will not see that Christ is worth living for.

New "K Street Catholic" Podcast

At the Catholic Information Center in Washington DC, we have begun a new podcast called "The K Street Catholic."

So far we have uploaded the following audio files:

"Stem Cells: A Guide for the Perplexed"
by Eric Cohen
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Eric Cohen of the Ethics and Public Policy Center delivers a presentation describing the different kinds of stem cells and the interplay (or lack thereof) of ethics and science.

"Assumption Homily"
by Rev. William Shaughnessy
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Father Shaugnessy of the Prelature of Opus Dei delivers a sermon at the CIC for the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, highlighting her role as the Ark of the New Covenant.

"St Dominic & the Origin of the Rosary"
by Fr Dominic Langevin, OP
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Fr Dominic explains the long history of the Rosary devotion from its beginning as the “Psalter of the Laity” and its role in Dominican piety.

Visit the "K Street Catholic" Podcast

The Testament of St Louis IX

My dearest son, my first instruction is that you should love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your strength. Without this there is no salvation. Keep yourself, my son, from everything that you know displeases God, that is to say, from every mortal sin. You should permit yourself to be tormented by every kind of martyrdom before you would allow yourself to commit a mortal sin.

If the Lord has permitted you to have some trial, bear it willingly and with gratitude, considering that it has happened for your good and that perhaps you well deserved it. If the Lord bestows upon you any kind of prosperity, thank him humbly and see that you become no worse for it, either though vain pride or anything else, because you ought not to oppose God or offend him in the matter of his gifts.

Be kindhearted to the poor, the unfortunate and the afflicted. Give them as much help and consolation oas you can. Thank God for all the benefits he has bestowed upon you, that you may be worthy to receive greater. Always side with the poor rather than with the rich, until you are certain of the truth.

Be devout and obedient to our mother the Church of Rome and the Supreme Pontiff as your spiritual father.

In conclusion, dearest son, I give you every blessing that a loving father can give a sons. May the three Persons of the Holy Trinity and all the saints protect you from every evil. And may the Lord give you the grace to do his will so that he may be served and honored through you, that in the next life we may together come to see him, love him and praise him unceasingly. Amen.

- from a spiritual testament by King Saint Louis IX to his son

The English Marian Apparition(s)

When we think of England and Marian apparitions, we naturally think of Our Lady of Walsingham. However, she appeared there at least twice. We often forget that the scapular devotion is itself English in origin. St Simon Stock "received" the Holy Scapular at Cambridge, England, on Sunday, 16 July, 1251 from the Blessed Mother herself.

Just as a reminder: The Holy Scapular must be composed of two segments of brown 100% wool cloth with the one segment hanging on the wearers chest, and the other hanging on their back. These segments are joined by two straps which overlap each shoulder, hence the word "scapular". Images sewn onto the Brown Scapular are superfluous.

Get enrolled today.

Hillaire Belloc on the Puseyites

"Thus, one Protestant may affirm, as do the English Puseyites the truth of all the doctrines underlying the Mass - the Real Presence, the Sacrifrice, the sacerdotal power of consecration, etc. - another Protestant may affirm that all such conceptions are false, yet both these Protestants are Protestant because they communicate in the fundamental conception that the Church is not a visible, definable and united personality, that there is no central infallible authority, and that therefore each is free to choose his own set of doctrines."

- Hillaire Belloc The Great Heresies

I think this is where Anglo-Catholics differ even with the Eastern Orthodox. The Anglo-Catholic will exist side by side with the Anglican Zwinglian and the Anglican Calvinist, because he truly does not recognize "the Church" in the same theological way that Catholics or Orthodox understand her, i.e. "a united personality," to use Belloc's words.

Bishops and Schism

Here is something interesting about how heresies and schisms were handled at the Council of Nicea.

The Meletian schism was started by Bishop Meletius in the regions of Egypt as a rigorist movement that denied the sacraments to those who had equivocated during the Diocletian persecutions. Meltius began consecrating men to the episcopate (alone, not in the canonical mode of three consecrators). There were between 29 and 35 Melitian bishops by AD 325.

The Council of Nicea ruled that if reconciled the schismat Melitian bishops could function as Catholic bishops. They received something like an ordination to perfect what was lacking before the translated text of Nicea reads:

"but that those who have been placed by him [Meletius], after they have been confirmed by a more sacred laying on of hands, shall on these conditions be admitted to communion: that they shall both have their rank and the right to officiate."

After receiving “more sacred laying on of hands” these Meletian bishops were allowed to function as bishops in Egypt under the close attention of the Patriarch of Alexandria and when seated Catholic bishops died, they were to be allowed to replace them in the Sees with permission of the Patriarch of Alexandria. As for Meletius, he was allowed to be called an “episcopos” but deprived of all episcopal faculties.

In the end, it seems that Meletius did not favor the graciousness of the Council but eventually joined up with the Arians.

The Antichrist according to Islam

Muslims believe that our Lord Jesus is indeed the Messiah and born of the Virgin. They believe that Christ will come at the end of the world and slay the Antichrist, whom they call "Dajjal." According to Islam, the Antichrist or "Dajjal" possesses these attributes:

He will be physically misshapen, and will be blind in his left eye. His right eye will be present but it will be dark (black). In a number of hadith he is referred to as one-eyed.

He will ride a white donkey which can cross seas, fly over land, and crawl under Earth.

He will deceive the faithful, teaching them that Heaven is Hell and vice versa.

The arabic letters "Kaa" "Faa" "Raa" (kafir, meaning "disbeliever") will appear on his forehead and will be read by all true Muslims regardless of them being literate or not.

He will be able to see and hear many things in many places.

He will have the power to work miracles in order to mislead believers.

He will try to put man on God's throne.

He will have what appears to be water and fire with him and call them Paradise and Hell: what will seem to be fire will be cold water (or Paradise) and what will seem to be water will be fire (or Hell).

He will claim to be God and will deceive people into thinking that he has risen the dead. One particular person he will kill and then say he will now resurrect him, whereupon Allah will resurrect him. He will not have this power again.

Those who reject and refuse to believe in him will suffer drought and famine whereas those who accept him will be living a life of plenty.

Some traditions of Islam relate that he will appear at Isfahan, and that he will rally the Isfahan Jews and many former Muslims and Christians to his support.

He won't be able to enter Mecca or Medina.

Wikipedia: Dajjal

New ICEL Accuracy

Preface of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Draft 2006 ICEL Translation

It is truly right and just,
our duty and salvation,
always and everywhere to give you thanks,
Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,
through Christ our Lord.

Since today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven
as the beginning and pattern of your Church’s perfection
and a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people,
For justly you would not allow her
to see the corruption of the tomb,
because from her own flesh she brought forth ineffably
your incarnate Son, the author of all life.

And therefore in company with the choirs of Angels
we praise you, proclaiming with joy:

Holy, Holy, Holy...

Missale Romanum

Vere dignum et justum est, aequum et salutare,
nos tibi semper et ubique gratias agere:
Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens aeterne Deus:
per Christum Dominum nostrum:

Quoniam hodie Virgo Deipara in caelos assumpta est,
Ecclesiae tuae consummandae initium et imago,
ac populo peregrinanti certae spei et solacii documentum;
corruptionem enim sepuleri
eam videre merito noluisti,
quae Filium tuum, vitae omnis auctorem,
ineffabiliter de se genuit incarnatum.
Et ideo, choris angelicis sociati,
te laudamus in gaudio confitentes:

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus....

Recent Books of the Last Few Months

Here is what I have been reading of late:

Anglican Difficulties John Henry Cardinal Newman

The Temple: Its Ministry and Services Alfred Edersheim

Wisdom of Our Fathers Tim Russert

Brideshead Revisited Evelyn Waugh

Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of a Nun Raymond Arroyo

Catholic Matters Richard John Neuhaus

Helena Evelyn Waugh

Marcus: A Novel Michael Edward Giesler

The Way St Josemaria Escriva

The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien