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When Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as president on March 4, 1861, he focused his inaugural address on the seven states that had already seceded from the Union.
How can I attend Sunday Mass when the readings and homilies make me question my faith? I love the Catholic Church, the faith in which I was brought up, the Eucharist, the hymns, buildings, and statues. As soon as the readings begin or the homily starts, however, I begin to struggle with my faith. I want to believe and be a good Catholic. I have not been attending Mass for some time now, but I would like to return. What can I do?
According to your Saint of the Day online entry for September 2 (John Francis Burt and three other Franciscans), these priests were martyred for their faith because they refused to swear allegiance to the “Civil Constitution of the Clergy. ” I think it’s a gross exaggeration to say that Constitution was an attack on the Catholic faith. I see it as more an attack on the papacy and having more to do with politics than with faith.
Two family members have been asked to be godparents for a Baptism in the Russian Orthodox Church. Does the Catholic Church permit this?
It is not a problem as far as the Catholic Church is concerned, but the Russian Orthodox Church may see it differently; their practice on this needs to be respected.
We have been told for years that Jesus died to save all people. In the Mass, we are told that he came to save “many. ” Which is correct?
There seems to be a push to return to the Latin Mass and all its implications. Our parish has become very divided when this was imposed on us with refusal of Communion in the hand, reintroduction of Communion rails, and traditional hymns replaced by Latin ones. Our bishop seems to favor these changes. People are leaving our parish.
Sometimes at night I cry about my own death and the afterlife. At 17, I don’t want to make wrong choices (especially about chastity). Why am I so worried about death and the afterlife?
Thanks for writing. I hope you find this reply helpful. As someone who taught high school students for 16 years full-time and three more years part-time, I appreciate that you find death scary. At age 71, I’m probably closer to death than you are.
