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Callers choose the topics during Open Forum, peppering our guests with questions on every aspect of Catholic life and faith, the moral life, and even philosophical topics that touch on general religious belief. 

Questions Covered:

01:47 - Is it necessary to say the number and kind of sin when you make a confession? 

06:04 - If we know that our tax dollars are going to fund abortions, do we have to pay taxes? 

14:21 - How welcome are Orthodox Christians to receive the Eucharist at a Catholic Mass?  

21:41 - Why can’t girls be altar servers? 

29:04 - Does a layperson have the right to go talk to a priest who is making up words to the Mass as they go? 

33:30 – Why doesn’t the Church keep people who have children in a previous marriage from having more children when they can’t take care of the first kids? 

43:35 - I am Protestant. I don’t understand why certain things are attributed to Mary that I grew up attributing to the Holy Spirit. Can you help me to understand this? 

49:36 - Why do certain people get more grace than others, like Mary or St. Paul?

Callers choose the topics during Open Forum, peppering our guests with questions on every aspect of Catholic life and faith, the moral life, and even philosophical topics that touch on general religious belief. 

Questions Covered:

03:53 - As a divorced Catholic, where is my place in the Church? 

16:46 - How could Joseph have divorced Mary quietly? Wouldn’t their entire town have known what happened? 

22:22 - What is the seamless garment theology? 

32:35 - Why is Joseph’s grandfather different in the gospel of Matthew than he is in Luke’s gospel? 

36:03 - Why is there a statue of Moloch in Rome if it is a religious place? 

39:45 - What is the morality regarding Catholics or Christians continuing to support streaming services and media outlets that promote horrific agendas like abortion? 

46:35 - The Pope was talking about not having rigidity in the faith. How can I reconcile this with the need for rigidity in doctrine?

Did you know this popular Christmas carol is known as a *secret catechism*? Listen as Richaél Lucero reveals the Catholic significance to the twelve merry verses of this timeless classic and how they can teach and deepen your faith during the Christmas season.

SHOW NOTES:—Share this episode with non-podcast listeners:-"The Twelve Days of Christmas" on clumsytheosis.net clumsytheosis.net/2019/12/20/the-t…ys-of-Christmas/

—Catechism references- CCC 1832 “The fruits of the Spirit are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory. The tradition of the Church lists twelve of them: "charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity."

—Song references: -The Twelve Days of Christmas on YouTube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tReKR_ar5Ls

—Scripture references:- "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23

—Book references: -“Mirth Without Mischief” from 1780 containing The Twelve Days of Christmas amzn.to/2Z8Kk1w

—Article references:-St. Aquinas quoting St. Augustine on nine verses twelve Fruits of the Spirit. www.newadvent.org/summa/2070.htm

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Christmas Jesus Nativity Catechism Christ Catholic Holiday Twelve days of Christmas Christmas carol Christmas song Christmas season Catholic podcast Podcast

Our speaker today Dwight Edwards has worked for over 30 years in the high-tech industry and a member of Toastmasters for 10 where he has achieved the Distinguished Toastmasters distinction. He has many times, during his Catholic life, swerved off his path, however the process you will pick up today not only helped him become resilient and get back on track, but it also helped him to earn a top 20 finish out of 10,000 speakers at “The World Championship of Public Speaking.” This is the same process that will help you to become resilient and stay strong in your faith. Presenting his Keynote entitled: “How to navigate doubt and attain stronger faith through Resiliency.”

This podcast is recorded live and attendants were able to share some of their struggles and fears about living the faith and also how they stay strong in it.

Today's Gospel gives us the great story of St. Joseph’s faith.

To read this week's readings, go to: usccb.org

Questions Covered:

05:57 - I’ve been a Catholic for a few years now and I still don’t understand how we can offer up our suffering. Can you explain this to me? 

16:00 - If believing in God is so important, then why doesn’t He make it more obvious to us? If God knows all things, then why did he create people who would go to hell? 

36:15 - I recently bought a print of an icon from a company that turned out to be a heretical company. Do I need to get the icon blessed or something? 

43:00 - What special grace was given to Mary so that she could remain without sin? 

51:29 - On Sunday, the gospel reading from Matthew said that, “The least in the kingdom in heaven is greater than he [John the Baptist]. How could someone be in the kingdom of heaven before Jesus’ Resurrection?

Steven Greydanus tackles the latest in film, from a Catholic perspective.

Questions Covered:

13:43 - Is it hard to put faith in a movie?

Join  Fr. Scott Mansfield, Pastor of St. John Vianney and Will Tapia, Director of Development as they give an in depth review of the Gospel from fourth Sunday of Advent: Angel of the Lord.

Remember to subscribe in iTunes/Google Play/your favorite podcast app, and to leave us a review.

Contact the crew at [email protected]

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Opening music by The Thirsting: http://www.thethirstingcatholic.com/

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It was just a small photo my dad texted me the other day. Around the tiny pine cone tree that stood proudly on their kitchen table he and mom had strung an equally tiny string of white lights. For what is a Christmas tree without lights?

What is Christmas without the star blazing in the night, announcing the glory of the news of the Messiah’s birth?

As we drove home after dark Sunday with strains of music from the Christmas concert performed by our choir still in my heart, I felt an almost child-like wonder at the lights that stood as solitary sentinels in the darkened windows of the homes in our neighborhood. House after house was trimmed in light. In just a few days we will decorate our own convent with nativity scenes and a tree, with symbols of the Christmas story…and with light.

I still remember near our convent in Metairie Al Copeland’s house on Folse Drive that attracted carloads of visitors from near and far in December to see the thousands of lights that filled every inch of their yard. The owners moved out in October while their property was prepared by a professional Christmas decorator with a unique theme for this December extravaganza of light which brings out the wonder in both kids and adults alike.

Light.

We turn on the lights after dark. Lights are more visible in the night. It dispels the night. Stars are only visible in the night sky. So even as Christmas is celebrated with lights, on a deeper level it is so because there is darkness.

St Augustine wrote:

Wake up, O human being! For it was for you that God was made man. Rise up and realize it was all for you. Eternal death would have awaited you had He not been born in time. Never would you be freed from your sinful flesh had He not taken to Himself the likeness of sinful flesh. Everlasting would be your misery had He not performed this act of mercy. You would not have come to life again had He not come to die your death. You would have perished had He not come....