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Q. In Amos 7:14, at the king’s sanctuary in Bethel, the prophet verbally defends himself against the priest Amaziah by denying that he ever said he belonged to a company of prophets. Amos adds, “I am a herdsman and a dresser of sycamores.” What does that expression mean?
I know that words often have a root meaning. For example, our word sacrament comes from the Latin word sacramentum, which I know St. Augustine described as “an outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace.” In preparing for a seventh-grade religious education class about the paschal mystery, I would like to know where we get the word paschal.
According to a news article, Pope Francis recently acknowledged the Big Bang theory and evolution. I was quite startled by comments I’ve heard about this story. I hope you can enlighten me on this matter.
I am a 79-year-old Catholic who doesn’t believe in the Sacrament of Penance.
I have been perplexed by the rift between Jews and Samaritans and their hatred mentioned in the New Testament.
While watching the evening news, I realized how my ignorance of Islam hindered me as a U.S. citizen and as a Catholic.
Kyle and Cyndi Kramer live with their three small children 8-year-old twins Eva and Clare and 5-year-old Eli in a home Kyle built largely by himself. They use solar power, a cistern and firewood they harvest from their woods. The Kramers grind their own grains, buying them in bulk.
Because we are Jesus’ disciples we face rejection and persecution. Not everybody likes what we stand for. But if we suffer for proclaiming what Jesus taught we won’t be alone.
If we stay attached to the vine–to Jesus–we will have life, and bring forth the abundant fruit that the Father has in mind for Jesus’ disciples.
The intersection of the themes of religious life and mercy should be even clearer for those of us who commit to living the Franciscan charism in the modern world, for mercy was a theme close to Francis of Assisi’s heart.
