Mary has the highest place in the Church after Christ because: (1) she is the Ever-virgin Mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God; and (2) she is our spiritual mother. 1. Mary has the highest place in the Church after Christ because she is the Ever-virgin Mother of Jesus Christ our Lord and God. The source of Mary’s motherhood …
We show our love for our neighbor when we obey all lawful authority, whether it be in the home, in civil society, or in the Church. With respect to lawful authority in the home, the Fourth Commandment of God says: “Honor your father and your mother” (Deuteronomy 5:16; Exodus 20:12). St. Paul wrote: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, …
We sin against our neighbor in four general areas, namely: (1) justice, (2) God’s gift of life, (3) speech, and (4) sexuality. 1. Sins against our neighbor in the area of justice. The Seventh Commandment of God is, “You shall not steal”, and the Tenth Commandment is, “You shall not covet anything that belongs to your neighbor” (cf. Exodus 20:15, …
Our responsibilities toward self are: (1) to be an example of Christian goodness; (2) to be humble and patient with ourselves; (3) to be simple in the use of the things of this world; (4) to be pure in thoughts, words and actions; and (5) to avoid pride, laziness, envy, and intemperance in food and drink. 1. Our responsibilities toward …
The thought of the duties and obligations which flow from the love of God and man helps the Christian: (1) to form a right conscience, (2) to always choose what is right, (3) to avoid sin and the occasions of sins, and (4) to live in this world according to the Spirit of Christ, for the love of God. 1.The …
We have good reason to face death with courage and joy because: (1) Christ’s Resurrection has conquered death; (2) in the risen Christ we live, die, and shall live again; and (3) we look forward to our homecoming with God our loving Father. 1. We have good reason to face death with courage and joy because Christ’s Resurrection has conquered …
At the very instant that the soul leaves the body, it is judged by Christ. This is the particular judgment. If we die with no sins on our soul which require atonement or satisfaction, the immediate sight of God in Heaven will itself be our judgment.
Hell is the eternal separation from God. The person who dies in the state of mortal sin has deliberately torn himself from God during life and has died without that bond of union with God which we call sanctifying grace. He has no means by which to establish contact with God and has lost Him forever. He is in Hell. …
We know the duties that flow from the love of God and man by: (1) the Ten Commandments of God, (2) the Sermon on the Mount, especially in the Beatitudes, (3) the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy, (4) the Theological and Cardinal Virtues, and (5) the laws of the Church. 1. We know the duties that flow from the …
We have the life-long duty, as Christians, to love and serve God. This means: (1) we must put the will of God first on the list of our personal values, and keep it there throughout our lives; (2) our attitude towards God must be that of a devoted son or daughter towards an all-loving Father; (3) we must never think …