Vol 9 Issue 47 ~ Editor: Rev. Fr. Courtney Edward Krier
October 22, 2016 ~ Our Lady on Saturday
1. Baptism: Means of Salvation (91)
2. Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
3. Saint Anthony Mary Claret
4. Family and Marriage
5. Articles and notices
Dear Reader:
Normally one could expect the Liturgy of this Sunday to fall within the month of November as the Church considers death and the souls in purgatory. However early it may be this year it is also an early reminder to make sure one is prepared for death, yes with the reception of the Sacraments of Penance, Holy Eucharist and Extreme Unction, but also making sure one’s burial arrangements have been settled. A young person who suddenly dies may be excused for not having settled his or her affairs.
Normally one could expect the Liturgy of this Sunday to fall within the month of November as the Church considers death and the souls in purgatory. However early it may be this year it is also an early reminder to make sure one is prepared for death, yes with the reception of the Sacraments of Penance, Holy Eucharist and Extreme Unction, but also making sure one’s burial arrangements have been settled. A young person who suddenly dies may be excused for not having settled his or her affairs. But someone who is in the winter of age cannot, in justice, put the burden on another. When, in the past it was simply putting someone in a wooden casket and digging a hole in the public cemetery one could say it wasn’t too expensive. But with the regulations and fees amounting well over $10,000.00, too many Catholics are rejecting that one is to be buried, not cremated. Though it may not be so horrendous as the use of contraceptives, it still gives expression of a lack of faith in consideration of material wealth. Faithful Catholics should consider that they have a responsibility to have a burial policy, burial plan with the funeral home or are setting aside funds that will assure their burial. Despite your Will that says you are to be buried with a Catholic Requiem, your executor will not spend any personal funds or deprive themselves of any inheritance to have you respectfully buried with a Requiem Mass. AS Our Lord came to the side of Jairus’ daughter and raised her from the dead, may we too await for His coming and raising us from the dead.
As always, enjoy the readings and commentaries provided for your benefit. —The Editor
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Baptism
Means of Salvation
Sacrament of Baptism
Summary of Church Teaching Concerning Baptism
320. Why is Baptism necessary for the salvation of all men?
Baptism is necessary for the salvation of all men because Christ has said: “Unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
321. How can those be saved who through no fault of their own have not received the sacrament of Baptism?
Those who through no fault of their own have not received the sacrament of Baptism can be saved through what is called baptism of blood or baptism of desire.
322. When does an unbaptized person receive the baptism of blood?
An unbaptized person receives the baptism of blood when he suffers martyrdom for the faith of Christ.
What are the effects of the Baptism of Blood?
The baptism of blood confers a high degree of sanctifying grace and takes away sin, both original and actual sin, as well as all the punishment due to sin, but it does not imprint a character, as does baptism of water.
What are the effects of martyrdom endured by a baptized person?
Martyrdom endured by a baptized person takes away all punishment due to his sins, so that he goes directly to heaven where he receives a great degree of glory.
What is necessary for martyrdom?
For martyrdom it is necessary that one willingly endure from a supernatural motive physical suffering sufficient to cause death, inflicted out of hatred for Christ, for His Church or for His teachings.
What is necessary in order that a child below the age of reason be a martyr?
In order that a child below the age of reason be a martyr it is necessary that some one out of hatred for Christ or for His Church or for His teachings inflict on him physical suffering sufficient to cause death; no dispositions are necessary on the part of the Child, any more than the baptism of water.
323. How does an unbaptized person receive the baptism of desire?
An unbaptized person receives the baptism of desire when he loves God above all things and desires to do all that is necessary for his salvation.
Can an unbaptized person receive the baptism of desire only in danger of death?
An unbaptized person can receive the baptism of desire not only in danger of death, but also whenever he comes to a sufficient knowledge of God from revelation to love Him above all things.
What are the effects of the baptism of desire?
The baptism of desire takes away original and actual sins and gives sanctifying grace with the right to heaven, but it does not impress a character nor always take away all the temporal punishment due to actual grace.
What becomes of the souls of infants who die without baptism?
The souls of infants who die without baptism are sent to limbo where for all eternity they will enjoy natural happiness but not the supernatural happiness of heaven.
324. When should children be baptized?
Children should be baptized as soon as possible after birth.
325. What sin do Catholic parents commit who put off for a long time, or entirely neglect, the Baptism of their children?
Catholic parents who put off for a long time, or entirely neglect, the Baptism of their children, commit a mortal sin.
How soon after birth should Catholic parents have their children baptized?
Catholic parents should have their children baptized, if possible,within two weeks after birth; and if there be any danger of death a child should receive baptism immediately.
Are we allowed to baptize a child of non-Catholic parents against their wish?
We may not baptize a child of non-Catholic parents against their wish, unless the child is in danger of death.
In what three ways can the water be applied in baptizing?
In baptizing, the water may be applied in any of three ways-by pouring it on the recipient or by sprinkling on him or by totally immersing him in it; but nowadays pouring the water on him is the most common method, and the sprinkling method is ordinarily not used because of the danger that the water may not flow.
What kind of water is used when baptism is given solemnly in church?
When Baptism is given solemnly in the Church, consecrated, or baptismal water is used-that is, water mixed with the holy oil of Catechumens and with Chrism and blessed by the priest on HolySaturday.
What are some of the ceremonies added to baptism when it is given solemnly, and what do they signify?
Some of the ceremonies added to Baptism, when it is given solemnly, are: The placing of salt on the tongue to signify wisdom, the anointing of the breast, back and head to signify the strength given by baptism, the clothing with a white garment to signify the purity of the baptized soul, the giving of the candle to signify the light of faith and the fire of love.
Why must a child who has been baptized privately later be brought to the church?
A child who has been baptized privately must later be brought to the Church in order to receive the various ceremonies of solemn Baptism.
326. What do we promise through our godparents in Baptism?
We promise through our godparents in Baptism to renounce the devil and to live according to the teachings of Christ and of His Church.
327. Why is the name of a saint given in Baptism?
A name of a saint is given in Baptism in order that the person baptized may imitate his virtues and have him for a protector.
Can a person be godparent, or sponsor, at baptism without being present?
A person can be a godparent, or sponsor, at Baptism without being present-that is, he can be sponsor by proxy, if he has consented to be sponsor and some one else in his name and by his permission answers the questions and at the moment of actual baptism touches the one being baptized.
What spiritual relationships are contracted in baptism?
Godparents as well as the one baptizing contract a spiritual relationship with the one baptized, which makes them incapable of marrying the baptized person except with a dispensation; but the godparents do not contract such a relationship with each other.
328. What is the duty of a godparent after Baptism?
The duty of a godparent after Baptism is to see that the child is brought up a good Catholic, if this is not done by the parents.
Can a non-Catholic be godparent for baptism?
A non-Catholic cannot be godparent for a Catholic child, because such a person could not be expected to bring the child up as a good Catholic.
329. Who should be chosen as godparents for Baptism?
Only Catholics who know their faith and live up to the duties of their religion should be chosen as godparents for Baptism.
What other points are to be noted regarding a sponsor at baptism?
The father, mother, husband or wife of the one to be baptized cannot be sponsor; and ordinarily one should not be chosen who has not reached his fourteenth year, nor one who is a cleric or a religious.
What must be the dispositions for baptism of one who has reached the age of reason?
To receive this sacrament validly one who has reached the age of reason must also make an act of faith and be sorry for all his mortal sins.
What is the ceremony of churching?
The ceremony of churching is a blessing given by the Church to a mother after the birth of her child, while she returns thanks to God.
(To be continued)
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Benedict Baur, O.S.B.
Home at last
1. “I will bring back your captivity from all places” (Introit). The time of our exile is drawing to a close. Our home in heaven awaits us. We are “fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God” (Eph. 2: 19). We are “heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8: 17).
2. “He will dwell with them and they shall be His people; and God Himself with them shall be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears; and death shall be no more; nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more; for the former things are passed away” (Apoc. 21:3 f.). The time of our imprisonment, the time of our exile, is at an end. We are home at last. The time of tribulation and trouble, of labor and suffering, is past. The days of our exile are over, and the way of the cross, which we had to walk in this world, has been completed. We have entered “into the joy of the Lord” (Matt. 25:21), into the land of light and plenty, into the land of perfect happiness and bliss. We are allowed to join our voices with the redeemed and with the seraphim and sing “Holy! Holy! Holy!” Our soul sinks in the unfathomable depths of light and glory. We have regained the inheritance which we lost, the inheritance which Christ reclaimed for us through His sufferings and death. We have obtained that which “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man what things God hath prepared for them that love Him” (I Cor. 2:9).
“Fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God” (Eph. 2: 19), we are home at last with God. God Himself is our heaven and our inheritance. “We shall live in Him and at the same time we shall be the dwellings of God” (St. Augustine). “We shall see Him as He is,” “face to face” (I John 3:2; I Cor. 13:12). We shall see God and all things in Him. We shall love Him, cling to Him, and receive all the blessings of His love. We shall possess God and be overwhelmed through the joy of that love. O life of inexpressible joy! We shall behold the beauty of God unveiled. We shall contemplate the infinite truth with perfect clarity. We shall possess all good things without measure and without any fear of ever losing them or ever becoming satiated with them. And this happiness we experience in one eternal, unbroken act. Yes, we shall be at home with God, enjoying the eternal and blessed possession of the divinity. And God will be within us, enlightening us by direct intuition. We shall all be as tiny suns, reflecting the glorious light of the mighty Sun that has risen upon us. We shall be at home, at rest, in the heart of our Father. We shall be at home, enjoying the most delightful and the most intimate union with the bridegroom of our souls. We shall be in possession of His glory, His blessing, His riches. “They shall be inebriated with the plenty of Thy house, and Thou shalt make them drink of the torrent of Thy pleasure” (Ps. 35:9). We shall be at home with all the blessed of heaven, in company with our brothers and sisters in Christ, in company with all that are pure, strong, and noble. There will be no envy and no selfishness amongst us; we shall know only an all-embracing and universal charity. We shall be united one with the other, possessing but one heart and one soul in the love of God and of Christ. We shall be at home and shall have all that we desire: all truth, all knowledge, all virtue, all holiness, all honor, and the love of God and of the angels and the saints. We shall possess the love of God, of Mary, of all who are good and noble. O blessed home!
3. “Let us always embrace that vision with perfect faith. Let us strive for it with all our hearts and achieve it by the continual practice of charity. Whether we achieve it or not depends entirely on us. Heaven suffers violence. Heaven can be purchased by no price less than yourself, O man. The measure of its value is the value of your very being. Give yourself completely, and you will possess it” (St. Bede).
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come” (Rom. 8: 18). “Blessed are the poor in spirit. . . . Blessed are the meek. . . . Blessed are they that mourn. . . . Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after justice. . . . Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’ sake. . . . Blessed are ye when they shall revile you and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake. Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven” (Matt. 5:3-12).
God has promised us, “I will bring back your captivity.” We have been united to Christ and the Church through baptism. How precious, then, should the Church and sacraments of baptism and the Eucharist be to us! “He that eateth Me, the same also shall live by Me” (John 6:58). How wretchedly poor are those who do not possess Christ, the Church, and the sacraments! How wretched are those who, though baptized, do not live as members of the Church! These are those who “walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, . . . whose God is their belly; . . . who mind earthly things” (Epistle).
PRAYER
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