LESSON #35
PART ONE - Our Journey Toward A Deeper Understanding of the Truth Through Jesus Christ and His Church
During the month of May, we will begin each lesson with a prayer to our Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary.
We fly to your protection, most holy Mother of God; please listen to our petitions and needs, and deliver us from all dangers, ever glorious and blessed Virgin Mary.
Mary, our model and mother, by your obedience and patience you have taught us how to be true children of God. Please help us by your powerful assistance to overcome all our weaknesses and to fulfill perfectly our tasks in life.
By your compassionate aid may we ever stand in spirit with you beneath the cross of Christ so that we may also rejoice with you in your divine Son's triumphant victory over sin and death.
In your maternal kindness help us to be faithful to prayers in the company of God's Church as you were one with the Apostles in the upper room as you waited for the promised Spirit at Pentecost. Amen.
AMERICA TODAY - As America continues to re-new it's sense of what made our nation great, the following portion of the lesson will begin a "mini series" on the meaning of our flag. This section will consist of a new portion of the article "What Does Our Flag Stand For? The Foundations of American Government" by Fr. Bill McCarthy, MSA, each week until the article has been printed in total.
Our Religious Heritage
Our heritage is undeniably religious. Beginning with the first primarily Catholic explorers -- Marquette, Vasco de Gama, Isaac Joques, Junipero Sierra, Ponce de Leon, Christopher Columbus -- and moving on to the pilgrims, the American Revolution, the Civil War and long after, religion had the strongest positive influence on the successful development of this nation.
Compton's Encyclopedia
Compton's Encyclopedia states, "The most powerful, single influence in all history has been Christianity. This influence has shown itself not only in religious beliefs and spiritual ideals of the human race, but in the march of political events and institutions, as well" (Vol. 3, pg 301).
We are surrounded with recognitions of our Judaic-Christian roots. Our national anthem reflects our reliance on God: "Blessed with victory and peace, may this heaven-rescued land, praise the God who has made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must when our cause is just, and this be our motto, 'In God Be Our Trust.' And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave, o'er the land of the free and the home of the brave." even our money declares our faith in God, for our national motto is "In God We Trust." Our Pledge of Allegiance heralds our testimony to God's importance: "And to the Republic for which is stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
(to be continued)
In honor of St. Philip and St. James (Apostles) who are remembered on May 3 the following passage from the book "The New Missal for Everyday" by Fr. Lasance has been included in this lesson.
The apostle St. Philip was one of the first chosen disciples of Christ. He preached the Gospel in Eastern Europe, and in Phrygia, and in the end suffered death by crucifixion. St. James, called the Less, to distinguish him from the other apostle of the same name, governed the Church of Jerusalem for nearly thirty years, until about A.D. 62, when he was stoned to death by the Jews. He wrote the Epistle which immediately follows that of St. Paul to the Hebrews. The bodies of Sts. Philip and James are buried under on altar in their church in Rome.
In honor of St. Hilary of Arles and St. Angelo of Jerusalem, who are remembered on May 5 the following passage from the May 2000 issue of Magnificat magazine has been included in this lesson.
Saint Hilary of Arles , Bishop (c. 401-449)
A young officer converted to Christianity, Hilary embraced the monastic life of an older relative, Saint Honoratus of Lerins. When the latter was named bishop of Arles, Hilary remained with him for a time, and then returned to his monastery. He assisted the bishop, however, at his deathbed, and although the young monk was only twenty-nine at the time, he was chosen to succeed Honoratus, much against his own inclination. As bishop, Hilary founded many monasteries and defended the faith and Church discipline. His concern for the poor was well known. On one occasion he did not hesitate to interrupt a homily he was giving in order to reprove an unjust judge who had joined the congregation.
Saint Angelo of Jerusalem, Martyr and Religious (c. 1185-1225)
Born in Jerusalem of Jewish parents who had converted to Christianity, Angelo was one of the early members of the Carmelite Order on the heights of Mount Carmel. he was deputed to go to Rome to submit the Rule written by Saint Albert to Pope Honorius III. Angelo then traveled through Sicily preaching, and is venerated there.
In honor of St. Boniface IV, who is remembered on May 8 the following from the May 2000 issue of Magnificat magazine has been included in this lesson.
As pope, Boniface received the gift of the Pantheon from the Emperor Phocas in 608, and converted what had been the temple of all the Roman gods into a church dedicated to the true God, in honor of the Virgin Mary and All Martyrs. He also was concerned with the affairs of the Church in England.
The Ascension
From the book, "My Catholic Faith," chapter 37
by Fr. Louis LaRavoire Morrow
On Mount Olivet, a hill outside Jerusalem, forty days after His Resurrection, Our Lord spoke to the disciples, telling them how the Holy Ghost would descend upon them. "And when He had said this, he was lifted up before their eyes, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing up to heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white garments, and said to them, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up to heaven? This Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have seen him going up to heaven.' " (Acts 1:9-11)
When did Christ ASCEND into heaven?
Christ ascended, body and soul, into heaven on Ascension day, forty days after His Resurrection.
1. The Ascension took place from the Mount of Olives. Christ's Apostles and disciples were present. It was full daylight.
He gave His followers His last instructions. Then He raised His hands and blessed them. He told them to preach the Gospel to all nations, and promised to be with them to the end of the world.
2. While all looked on, He was raised up, by His own power, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. "As He blessed them... He was carried up into heaven" (Luke 24:51).
3. The disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Their Master had returned to heaven in glory, and His arrival there had opened to His followers the heavenly gates.
Christ the King had earned for men infinite grace, and had gone home to prepare a place for men in heaven (John 14:16; 2 Cor. 1:7). We celebrate the feast of the Ascension forty days after Easter, on Ascension Thursday.
Why did Christ REMAIN ON EARTH forty days after His Resurrection?
Christ remained on earth forty days after His Resurrection to prove that He had truly risen from the dead, and to complete the instruction of the Apostles.
1. Christ's resurrection is an undoubted fact on which rests the Christian faith.
St. Paul says: "If Christ has not risen, vain then is our preaching, vain too is your faith" (1 Cor. 15:14). And according to St. John, an eyewitness: "Many other signs also Jesus worked in the sight of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God" (John 20:30-31).
2. In the first place, Christ really died. His death was witnessed by many, both friends and enemies. It was proved by the soldier who plunged his spear into His side. It was communicated officially to Pilate. His bones were not broken, because He was found already dead. His Mother and disciples would never have buried Him had they suspected the least chance of life.
Some unbelievers urge that Christ was dead only in appearance and after an interval recovered from His swoon and left the grave. The loss of blood following the scourging alone would have been enough to cause death, not to mention the wounds He received on the cross.
3. In the second place, Christ really came to life. On the first Easter morning He appeared to Mary Magdalen and the other women who sought Him at the sepulchre. Then He appeared to Peter. In the evening He walked with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. A night He appeared to the assembled Apostles.
Nor were these witnesses easily deceived. The Apostles did not at first believe the women who told them the Lord had risen. They would not even believe their own senses, thinking the risen Savior was a ghost. Christ had to call for something to eat, to prove that He was not a ghost. St. Thomas refused to believe the other ten Apostles, who had seen Christ first. He only believed when Our Lord appeared to him and bad him touch His wounds.
4. The Jews bribed the guards to say that while they were asleep, the disciples had stolen the body of Christ.
Such an act was made impossible by Christ's enemies themselves. They had sealed and guarded the tomb. "So they went and made the sepulchre secure, sealing the stone, and setting the guard" (Matt. 27:66). Even supposing the guards to have fallen asleep, the great stone which covered the sepulchre could not have been moved without waking some at least of the guards. Finally, it is a remarkable circumstance that the guards were not punished for this breach of duty.
What do we mean when we say that CHRIST SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, the Father Almighty?
When we say that Christ sits at the right hand of God , the Father Almighty, we mean that Our Lord as God is equal to the Father, and that as man He shares above all the saints in the glory of His Father, and exercises for all eternity the supreme authority of a King over all creatures.
1. Christ as God is equal to the Father in all things. But even as man Christ is only next to God.
He is above all the angels and saints. To sit at the right hand of anybody is a mark of honor from that person. "Sit at My right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool" (Ps. 109:1)
2. Christ ascended into heaven in order:
(a) To enter into the glory He had merited.
(b) To send down the Holy Spirit on His Church
(c) To be our intercessor with the Father.
(d) To prepare a place for us in heaven.
What do we mean when we say that Christ will come FROM THENCE TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD?
We mean that on the last day Our Lord will come to pronounce a sentence of eternal reward or of eternal punishment on every one who has ever lived in this world.
1. Jesus Christ will be our Supreme Judge because He is "King of kings and Lord of lords" (Apoc. 17:14).
"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of His Father and then He will render to everyone according to his conduct" (Matt. 16:27).
2. Christ's teaching has changed the face of the earth. One poor young man, teaching for three years in the hills and valleys of Galilee, and dying a shameful death, has brought light, love, peace, and hope into men's lives, even the lowliest.
Before Christ the world was the abode of sin and vice, idolatry, polygamy, divorce, and slavery. However, the world today, although reformed by Christianity, is far from perfect. This is because many refuse to obey the teachings of Christ. It is our duty to make Christ better known and loved, so that all may "seek first the kingdom of God."
During the month of May, we will end each lesson with a prayer to our Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary.
Our Lord's Virgin and Mother
We turn in all our needs to Christ's blessed Mother, Mary, because we know that our Lord, as her obedient and loving Son, can refuse her nothing.
Hence, we turn with confidence to our blessed Lady as "comforter of the afflicted," "the help of Christians," "health of the sick," and "Virgin most powerful."
Our Virgin Mother still stands by us as she stood faithfully by the foot of the Cross, and as she remained praying with His apostles and disciples. So, too, will she be close to us when we turn to her in our necessities.
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now, and at the hour of our death. Amen.
This is the final lesson in this series "PART ONE - Our Journey Toward A Deeper Understanding of the Truth Through Jesus Christ and His Church." Next week, we will begin our new series, "PART TWO - Our Journey Toward a Deeper Understanding of the Truth Through Jesus Christ, His Church, and the Holy Spirit." Please join us on this journey as we explore our calling as "the Laity," those who are called upon not only to enunciate Christian values in the secular city, but also called upon to live them.