Category: Tradition

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What is Epiphany?

We know as Epiphany the divine manifestation of Jesus Christ, the first of these being the wise men from the East. But this fact has a much greater meaning, it is the manifestation of the Son of God to the Gentiles, to the people who were not Jews, in other words, to all of us. This manifestation not only happens when they finally find baby Jesus, but even before starting their journey, since these wise men arrived in Jerusalem because they had seen His star rise (Matthew 2:1-2), that is, even before they had him in front of them, the light of Jesus Christ (John 8:12) had already been revealed to them.

When the wise men reached Bethlehem, following the star again, it stopped over the place where Jesus was (Matthew 2:9-10). They entered the abode and paid homage to him by offering him gifts (Matthew 2:11): gold signifying his royalty as a son of the Most High, a descendant of the line of David (Isaiah 11:10); frankincense, used as an ingredient in the incense that was burned as an offering in front of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 30:34-37), recognizing him as high priest and also as God’s new covenant with the world; and myrrh, a perfume that was an ingredient in the sacred oil used to anoint high priests and kings, again acknowledging his role as high priest and king of kings.

They left us a great teaching: Jesus Christ from his birth was destined to be the salvation of the world, we are all now the new chosen people of God (1 Peter 2:10), and called to be his children because we enter into communion with Jesus Christ through of the Holy Eucharist.

Just as the wise men from the East recognized in Jesus Christ the promised Messiah, God’s new covenant with the whole world, let us also recognize the body and blood of Jesus in the consecrated bread and wine, source of eternal life, which was offered in sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins and thus we can achieve salvation.

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What do we really celebrate at Christmas?

Nativity scenes, decorated trees, lights, garlands, gifts, special dinners; All this makes Christmas present to us, a time in which joy abounds, but within that joy, what is it that we really celebrate at Christmas? Do we celebrate the secular vision of a good-natured and generous bishop riding around in a reindeer-drawn sleigh? Do we celebrate in advance the gifts brought by the wise men from the east or also known as the Three Kings? Or is it that we celebrate the first coming of the world’s redeemer and prepare for his second coming?

The first coming of Jesus Christ into the world is that coming prophesied from the beginning of time (Genesis 3:15) to save humanity from sin, because God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not die, but have eternal life (John 3:16). Our Lord Jesus had to come to this world as a man, because, just as Adam’s  trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act of Jesus Christ resulted in justification and life for all people (Romans 5:18-19).

Jesus in his ministry lets us glimpse through many of his parables that we must be prepared for his second coming. Advent season gives us an example of how we can prepare ourselves. During advent we prepare the nativity scene, cleaning the dust accumulated in each figurine from being stored for almost a year, we make a space in our home to assemble it and make it look beautiful, and then we keep the manger empty to place the baby Jesus in it in the last hours on Christmas Eve, so we must also prepare ourselves to receive Jesus, cleansing our souls of those sins that we may have committed, making space for mercy in our hearts, and just as the manger receives Jesus, let us also receive his body that it is the bread of eternal life (John 6:35) every time we come to Mass.

Let us celebrate Christmas always, with the perfect banquet, the banquet that Jesus Christ himself has prepared for us, the banquet that gives us eternal life consecrated on the altar, so that the grace, love and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ may always be with us.

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Is it all penance during the Advent season?

During the liturgical season of Advent, as Catholics we prepare our hearts for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, doing penance for our sins and being austere to avoid falling into temptation that will take us away from that eternal dwelling that the Lord has reserved for us in heaven. (John 14:2), but neither should we fall into a gloomy mentality, because the Lord will come victorious and full of glory to reign over Heaven and Earth (CCC 1043), and His kingdom will have no end (Luke 1:32-33).

That is why our Holy mother Church teaches us that we must also rejoice during this time of preparation, through “Gaudete” Sunday, the third Sunday during Advent, this is a Sunday of rejoicing, because the Lord is at hand. Let us be filled with joy because we will overcome sin and eternal death through Jesus Christ, King of the universe and redeemer of the world.

Let us joyfully participate in the banquet with which Jesus Christ offers us eternal life (John 6:58). Let us do good works for the benefit of our brothers in Christ, and thus bear good fruit in the eyes of God (Matthew 7:15-20). Let us keep the Bible as a source of continuous reference and let us participate in the joy of the gospel (Evangelii Gaudium 5).

Let us rejoice in the Lord always. Let our gentleness be evident to all. Let us not be anxious about anything, but in every situation  by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Philippians 4:4-6).

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What is Advent?

The word Advent comes from the Latin “adventus”, word that means “coming”, it is during the advent season that we prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, both to commemorate his first coming into this world and for his second coming in all his Glory (CCC 524).

Advent begins a new liturgical year, that is, a new year for the Catholic Church, since with the birth of Jesus Christ the beginning of our faith was founded. During Advent we focus on the light of Christ in opposition to the darkness, since our Lord came into the world to throw away the darkness of sin to redeem us, and he will come again as the light of the world (Isaiah 2:4-5, Revelations 22 :5).

The season of Advent is divided into two parts, from the first Sunday of Advent to the Saturday prior to the fourth Sunday of Advent, we have a marked eschatological character, facing the second coming of the Lord at the end of times. And from the fourth Sunday of Advent to December 24, the Church intensifies the preparation of our hearts, directing them to meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation.

The liturgical color of the Advent season that is used in the liturgy is purple. This color is a symbol of austerity and evokes a sense of penance. It is used because it helps the faithful to be aware of the need for conversion, to “be prepared”, that we must prepare our hearts for the imminent arrival of the Lord. But not everything is austerity and penance during the Advent season, on the third Sunday, we celebrate “Gaudete” Sunday or Sunday of rejoicing, because both comings of Jesus Christ, the first in which he redeemed us from sin and the second when he will come to reign and His Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, are cause for rejoicing for all of us who believe in Him, the liturgical color for this Sunday is the color rose.

Let’s use these weeks to prepare our hearts before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, may our preparation be austere but let us not lose sight of the joy that Jesus Christ arrival into the world means.

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Why is the Pope the highest authority in the Church?

Jesus Christ consecrated his apostles to the priesthood (John 13:15-16) and gave them a mission (Matthew 28:19-20), but he entrusted Simon with a very special task, he made him the foundation on which his Church would be founded (Matthew 16:15-18), so much so that he even changed Simon’s name to Cephas, an Aramaic word that means “stone” (and “petra” in Latin), and that is why we now know the apostle Simon as Saint Peter.

Not only would Jesus Christ would found his Church upon Peter’s faith, but he would also give him authority over it (Matthew 16:19). Peter and his successors, therefore, are the base or foundation of the Church and in turn its highest authority on Earth. It is the Pope, in whom remains the function that the Lord uniquely entrusted to Peter, head of the College of Bishops, Vicar of Christ and Pastor of the universal Church on Earth (Code of Canon Law 331).

Some will say how this authority was given to Peter, who denied the Lord three times during His Passion (Matthew 26:69-75). Let us remember that Jesus Christ not only forgave Peter but also reaffirmed him in the mission that he had entrusted to him (John 21:15-17). But this is not the only reason to put him as an authority over his Church, but Peter is a man of humble origins and a sinner like us, he is someone with whom we can identify more directly. Peter is a person who was completely transformed and changed by his encounter with Jesus, he is an example of how we can achieve holiness even from our origins as sinners.

Let each one of us follow in the footsteps of our Lord, let us recognize the authority of the successor of Peter entrusted by Jesus Christ himself, let us pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be for the intentions of the Holy Father and may he continue to shepherd the Church.

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What must I do to inherit eternal life?

This is the question we must always keep in mind to evaluate our actions, our Lord Jesus Christ himself tells us: we must comply with the commandments, and abandon ourselves to the Lord (Mark 10:17-22). He was also very clear when he spoke with his disciples telling them that: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life ” (John 6:35-58). Our Lord also teaches us how we can eat his flesh and drink his blood, through the consecrated bread and wine in the mass (Luke 22:19). Jesus Christ is the spotless lamb who frees us from the slavery of sin (Exodus 12:3,5), the lamb who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). So, we already know what we must do to be able to get to heaven, we must be in communion with Jesus whenever we can and when are in the grace of the Lord.

But, what do I have to do to be in grace and thus be able to take communion? Jesus Christ also indicates which path we must follow, since He is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6-7), we must follow the example of Christ, love God above all things and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:36-40).

Jesus Christ knows that we want to be perfect, but that we have flaws and that many times we succumb to sin, that is why He left us a way to be able to purify ourselves in life from our sins and that is why he gave authority to the apostles (John 20:22-23) and their successors to be able to forgive our sins (CCC 1461), by means of the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Jesus left us these sacraments, so that as pilgrim people to the new Jerusalem where we have the abode that our Lord has prepared for us (John 14:2), we can battle against earthly temptations, and to be able to heal the wounds of our soul the times when sin takes its toll on us.

Let us be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power, Therefore let’s put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, we may be able to stand our ground, with the belt of truth buckled around our waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with our feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace, let’s take up the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  (Ephesians 6:10-18)

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Does Purgatory exist?

“That’s an invention, purgatory does not appear in the bible!”, these are arguments that we have heard from other Christians and that sometimes make us doubt. Is purgatory an invention or are there really biblical foundations for its existence? The Church since its
inception has promulgated the purification of souls through fire (1 Corinthians 3:11-15) since nothing tainted will enter the eternal city of heaven (Revelations 21:27).

Although the sacrament of reconciliation cleanses us from sins, this is a sacrament that consists of several parts: contrition, absolution and penance (CCC 1448), it is necessary to comply with penance in order to be completely free of the sins committed (CCC 1459). The Church teaches us that the souls of the purgatory,  are souls who departed from this world in full charity with God, but who have not yet completed the penance for the sins committed (Council of Lyon II – 1274).

We can find references in the old testament about the purification of the sins of those who have already died being pious and the works that the living can do for the final sanctification of their souls (2 Maccabees 12:44-45), the tortuous wait and subsequent salvation (Micah 7:8-9), the final judgment and purification by fire (Isaiah 4:4).

Jesus Christ himself through the parable of Lazarus and the rich man explains to us that the souls that go to hell, cannot cross into heaven (Luke 16:25-26). So what does He tell us about purgatory? He also made reference to the final judgment and forgiveness of sins, in the Gospel of Saint Matthew we find His words: “Come to terms quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court with him. If you fail to do so, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge will put you in the custody of the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Believe the truth of what I tell you: you will not be given your freedom until you have paid your debt down to the last penny” (Matthew 5:25-26). What kind of prison could He be referring to from which you can get out by serving the penance if it is not the purgatory?

Let us receive the sacrament of reconciliation often, repent of all our sins, faithfully carrying out penance so that we may share the glory with our Lord. Let us offer masses and works of mercy for the blessed souls in purgatory for their complete sanctification.

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What are the states of the Church?

When we pray the apostles’ creed, we say: “I believe in the communion of saints…” What does this passage refers to? Let’s review what the successors of the apostles tell us: “Until the Lord shall come in His majesty, and all the angels with Him and death being destroyed, all things are subject to Him, some of His disciples are exiles on earth, some having died are purified, and others are in glory beholding «clearly God Himself triune and one, as He is»; but all in various ways and degrees are in communion in the same charity of God and neighbor and all sing the same hymn of glory to our God. For all who are in Christ, having His Spirit, form one Church and cleave together in Him.” (Lumen Gentium 49, CCC 954-955). Since all followers of Christ are called to Holiness (Matthew 5:48) and share with Him the grace of the Holy Spirit by virtue of our Sacraments of Initiation (CCC 1285), the Church recognizes holiness in the living and in the dead. Some of them being in the process of purification and others enjoying the glory of the presence of God.

We understand then the states of the Church, as those states in which the souls of the disciples of Christ are found, some of them, already in the Triumphant Church or Glorified Church, the Church in Heaven, in the kingdom of the Holy Trinity, the angels and the saints who have reached complete salvation with Christ (Romans 8:28-30). We, in the Church Militant or Pilgrim Church, walk through the world towards the Church triumphant, and we are militants because we are in a constant battle facing earthly temptations (Ephesians 6:13-16). Some souls find themselves being purified in the Suffering Church, those are the souls that left this world in charity with God, with true repentance of their sins, without having satisfied their sins of what they did or failed to do with true fruits of penance, purifying themselves after death with the pains of purgatory. These penance can be mitigated through actions of living beings, namely: masses, prayers, alms and other works of piety according to the provisions of the Church (Council of Lyons II).

Let’s keep fighting against earthly temptations, let us request the help of those who preceded us in the presence of our Lord, and let’s keep praying for the purification of the holy souls in purgatory.

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Do angels really exist?

When we pray the penitential act at mass, we ask the intercession of the Virgin Mary, the angels and the saints, who are the angels and how do we know if they really exist? Let’s go to the explanation given by St. Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Church: “The name of an angel indicates his office, not his nature. If you ask about his nature, I will tell you that he is a spirit; if you ask about what he does, I will say that it is an angel” (CCC 329), then we understand that angels are spiritual beings created by God and we accept this as a truth of faith (CCC 328). We profess this truth of faith every time we recite the creed by saying: “…creator of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.” The angels do the will of God (Psalms 103:20) since they are always in the presence of God and see his face (Matthew 18:10).

Being Catholics, we cannot deny the existence of angels, since they are mentioned multiple times in the Scriptures, starting in Genesis where God put an angel to guard the Garden of Eden after the expulsion of Adam and Eve after having fallen into sin (Genesis 3:24), all through the book of Revelations where angels are mentioned 73 times. Even the devil acknowledges their existence when tempting our Lord (Matthew 4:6), he takes Him to the
pinnacle of the temple and citing the Scripture tells Him to launch from there, since “the Angels will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone” (Psalms 91:11-12).

The tradition of the Church even tells us that each of us has a guardian angel (CCC 336) placed by God himself to guide us on the right path and protect us, just like they did to Moses (Exodus 23:20), Elijah (1 Kings 19:5), Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego (Daniel 3:24-25) among many other prophets and faithful devoted to God.

Let us continue to join the heavenly choir of angels every time we participate in the mass by singing or reciting the Gloria, just as they did to announce the arrival of the Savior of the World and Redeemer of humanity (Luke 2:10-14)

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What is Advent?

The word Advent comes from the Latin “adventus”, word that means “coming”, it is during the advent season that we prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, both to commemorate his first coming into this world and for his second coming in all his Glory (CCC 524).

Advent begins a new liturgical year, that is, a new year for the Catholic Church, since with the birth of Jesus Christ the beginning of our faith was founded. During Advent we focus on the light of Christ in opposition to the darkness, since our Lord came into the world to throw away the darkness of sin to redeem us, and he will come again as the light of the world (Isaiah 2:4-5, Revelations 22 :5).

The season of Advent is divided into two parts, from the first Sunday of Advent to the Saturday prior to the fourth Sunday of Advent, we have a marked eschatological character, facing the second coming of the Lord at the end of times. And from the fourth Sunday of Advent to December 24, the Church intensifies the preparation of our hearts, directing them to meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation.

The liturgical color of the Advent season that is used in the liturgy is purple. This color is a symbol of austerity and evokes a sense of penance. It is used because it helps the faithful to be aware of the need for conversion, to “be prepared”, that we must prepare our hearts for the imminent arrival of the Lord. But not everything is austerity and penance during the Advent season, on the third Sunday, we celebrate “Gaudete” Sunday or Sunday of rejoicing, because both comings of Jesus Christ, the first in which he redeemed us from sin and the second when he will come to reign and His Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, are cause for rejoicing for all of us who believe in Him, the liturgical color for this Sunday is the color rose.

Let’s use these weeks to prepare our hearts before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, may our preparation be austere but let us not lose sight of the joy that Jesus Christ arrival into the world means.