Why Should I Wear A Scapular?

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Gary Zimak

Yesterday, in honor of the memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, I blogged about the importance of wearing a scapular.? Rightfully so, several readers asked the question “Why?” or asked for for details about this often misunderstood devotion.?

My simple answer to the question of “Why?” is?that by wearing the scapular we are placing our lives under the protection of the Blessed Mother, as we place our faith in her promise made to St. Simon Stock:

“This is a privilege for you and the order: whoever dies wearing this Scapular will be saved.”

Of course, the scapular isn’t magic and Our Lady’s promise shouldn’t be taken as an excuse to live an immoral life because you have a “get out of jail free” card.? Wearing the scapular represents a TRUE devotion to Mary, which implies living a good, moral life.?

At the end of this post, I’ll include links to a few books.? However, I do want to make one point clear.? Although I think these books are very good for learning about the brown scapular, 2 of them are reprints of manuscripts originally published in the 1930’s and 1940’s and may contain some out of date information, especially about indulgences.? That being said, I would still recommend them due to the pious information about the devotion.? One of them (Mary In Her Scapular Promise) even has a?preface by (then) Msgr. Fulton Sheen!

For those who want current (and very detailed) information about the brown scapular, here is the Doctrinal Statement regarding the devotion:

The Doctrinal Statement on the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

?The following is the approved English text of the doctrinal section of the “Rite of Blessing of and Enrollment in the Scapular of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel” as issued and confirmed by the Congregation for Diving Worship and for the Disciple of the Sacraments, November 29, 1996, Prot. 2243/96/L.

I.? HISTORICAL PROFILE

1.? Devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel is bound to the history and spiritual values of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and is expressed through the scapular.? Thus, whoever receives the scapular becomes a member of the order and pledges him/herself to live according to its spirituality in accordance with the characteristics of his/her state in life.

A Marian Plan for Evangelical Life

2.? The Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin was born on Mount Carmel, in the Holy Land, in the twelfth century.? A group of hermits who came from the west settled there to live after the example of Christ in his land.? At their request, the Patriarch Albert gave them a rule of life that demanded of them, among other things, to build an oratory among their cells, where they could gather for the celebration of the Eucharist.1 ??They dedicated the oratory to Mary, and thus they were meant to bind themselves to her in a special way, so that they were identified, at first by the people, and later officially, as the “Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel”.

?Thus, the matter in which the Carmelites follow the gospel takes on a deeply Marian character.? Mary:

?? magnifies the Lord and exults in the wonders of his merciful love (cf. Lk 1:49);

?? listens to and ponders in her heat all the things concerning Jesus (cf. Lk 2:19, 51);

?? identifies herself with her people, especially those in need, the spirituality and materially poor, the marginalized (cf. Lk 1:52-53ff, Jn 2:3); and

? is constant in prayer, open to the fire of the Spirit (cf. Acts 1:14; 2:1-4) who is the strength of all apostolic gifts.

?In the Fraternity of Carmel

3.? From of old, they were faithful who were attracted by this ideal way of life and its characteristics and asked to be able to share in it.? Their circumstances as family people who lived in the world were no obstacle to their sharing in the fraternity of Carmel.

The visible sign of reception to this fraternity was the habit (or part of the habit) of the order.? At first the special sign was the mantle, but soon after it became the scapular.

?The scapular of Carmel, or the habit (also called by other names in different places), is one of the devotions most loved by the people of God.? The great diffusion of the scapular seems to have been due to the tradition of a vision of Our Lady, documented at least since the end of the fourteenth century.

?4.? During one of its difficult times, the order asked to get full recognition an stability within the Church.? Mary, Patroness of Carmel, seemed to have answered this plea with a vision to the English Carmelite, St. Simon Stock.? She held in her hand the scapular and assured the holy prior general, saying:

“This is a privilege for you and the order: whoever dies wearing this Scapular will be saved.”2? Later it was widely believed that the Virgin would deliver from Purgatory, on the first Saturday after death, the Carmelites and people associated with them who observed chastity according to their state, recited prayers, and wore the habit of Carmel.? This is the so-called Sabbatine Privilege.3

The faithful then quickly understood that to wear the habit meant to enter into the fraternity of the order and of Mary.? By responding to the love of the Virgin, they lived secure under her protection in all the dangers of life and, at the hour of death, confident that even after death she would intervene on their behalf, she who “with her maternal love takes care of the brothers of her Son?until they are led to the blessed land.”4

More recently, thanks to a deeper understanding of our tradition and the fruit of research and of the process of renewal in the whole Church, the approach to popular devotions and, therefore, to the scapular, has changed.5

?5.? As a result of the history and evolution of devotion to Mary through the scapular, there are today several categories of devotees according to the degree of identification with and affiliation to the family of Carmel.? These may be listed as follows:

?a)? The religious men and women.

b)? The Secular Order (also called Third Order).

c)? Those who belong to the Confraternity of the Scapular.

d)? All those who receive the scapular and live according to its spirituality in various degrees of association with the order.

e)? Those who receive the scapular and live according to its spirituality, but have no formal association with the order.6

f) ?All who are committed to put into practice the Marian characteristic of Carmelite spirituality wholly and fervently, but in forms which correspond to the nature of the bond that ties them to the family of Mary.7

II.? Nature and Character

6.? “The scapular is essentially a habit.? Whoever receives it, is, by virtue of such reception, associated more or less intimately with the Order of Carmel.”8? The scapular or habit is, in fact, a habit in miniature of the order that, in order live “in allegiance to Jesus Christ,”9 has chosen the spiritual experience of familiarity10with Mary, sister, mother, and model.

7.? Association with the Carmelite family and familiarity with Mary take on a character that is fundamentally communitarian and ecclesial, because Mary “help all her children – wherever and whenever – to find in Christ the way to the house of the Father.”11? Thus the scapular is the small “sign” of the great ideal of Carmel: intimacy with God and friendship among the disciples.

Biblical Symbolism

8.? In the Old Testament, a habit – especially a mantle – was the symbol of divine benefits, of protection from on high, of power transmitted to one of God’s messengers.

The special coat of Joseph was symbol of predilection (cf. GN 37:3); the gift of Jonathan’s mantle to David was a symbol of friendship (1 Sam 18:4).? In Isaiah w read: “I exult for joy in Yahweh, my soul rejoices in my God, for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation, he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity” (Is 61:10).? When the prophet Elijah was taken up to heaven, his mantle fell on his disciple Elisha, thus passing on to him the spirit of the master (cf. 2 Kings 2:14ff).

9.? In the New Testament, even the hem of the cloak of Jesus, if touched with faith, communicated his healing power (cf. Mk 5:25ff).? St. Paul more than once talks of life in Christ in terms of putting on Christ (Rm 13:14; Ga 3>27); to put on the same attitude as Jesus, that is, the life of filial grace of the Christian, is described by the image of clothes.? the religious habit, of which the scapular is a part and symbol, signifies, in a special way, this following of Jesus.

In the Trinity with Christ

?10.? Mary, the blessed among women, is the masterpiece of the Most Blessed Trinity who united her to Itself, bringing the feminine to its greatest possible realization in her, like an icon of the Trinity’s tenderness, and Its saving will.12? Mary is the Lady in whom “all is related to Christ and all depends on him; foreshadowing the Son, God the Father, from all eternity, chose her to be the all holy Mother and adorned her with gifts of the Spirit, granted to no one else.”13? Our Lady is for the whole Church the model of that “praise of the glory of the Most Blessed Trinity” to which we are all called to be.

11.? The scapular is a symbol of filial and grateful recognition of the mission that the Most Blessed Trinity willed to confide to Mary in the history of salvation, “mystery of mercy” (1 Tim 3:6).? These truly significant words were placed on the lips of Mary: “I bring you a scapular as a sign of my blessing and my love and, at the same time, as a sign of the mystery, which will be accomplished, in you.? I come to fully ‘clothe you in Jesus Christ’ (Gal 3:27) so that you may be ‘rooted in him’ (Col 2:7), ‘the royal way’, in the depths of the abyss, with the Father and the Spirit of love.”14

Ecclesial Journey-Pilgrimage

12.? Through space and time, and especially through the history of human kind, Mary is present as “she who has believed” (cf. Lk 1:45), as she who goes forward on the pilgrimage of faith, partaking in the mystery of Christ above all other creatures.15

13.? The Church on her faith pilgrimage finds its best model in Our Lady.? The example of the Blessed Virgin leads the faithful to conform themselves to the Son.? But it also leads them to celebrate the mysteries of Christ with the profound attitude that the Virgin had when she was by her Son at his birth and at the Epiphany, at his death and resurrection.? That is, it urges them to guard zealously the Word of God to meditate on it lovingly; to praise God with exultation and to thank him joyfully; to serve God and neighbor faithfully and to offer generously for them even life itsel, to pray to the Lord perseveringly and to implore confidently; to be merciful and humble; to “wait vigilantly for the coming of the Lord.”16

?14.? Carmel has followed this way, suggesting to its members to become like Mary in order that, following her example, they may dwell in the divine intimacy.? The three phases of this ascent of Mount Carmel are: imitation, union, and likeness to Mary.17

III. Commitment to a Way of Life

15.? The following of Chris and of Mary, as understood and lived in the charism of the Order, becomes the reality after which the faithful in the Carmelite family strive.? They can rely on the help and support of all the brothers and sisters who share in the same ideal.? The members of the Carmelite family live their commitment in various ways: in the “desert”, in fraternal life, in the apostolic life, on the streets of the world, working with Mary for the Kingdom of Christ.

16.? The institutional forms, erected and acknowledge by the Order, help to emphasize the communal character of the family of htose who, led bye the Spirit, want to dedicate their whole life in this world – in union with Mary – to the glory of God.

Thus, becoming part of the fraternity of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and receiving the scapular as a sign of such membership, is for the faithful an instrument of Christian life with special characteristics:

?a)? To live as “brothers” or “sisters” of Mary in communion with Carmel, to enter more deeply into its spirit, to live its ideals and its history, praying and cooperating with it in order that, faithful to its charism and their vocation, they may reflect, in the world, Mary who brings Jesus to all.

b)? To give to Mary ever more space in their life, seeking to live in their circumstances their fidelity to Christ in the spirit of Mary:

– in the faith that gazes at and prays to God, welcomes and dialogues with him;

– in the hope that transforms itself into being at the service of All, which is God; and

– in the charity that abandons itself to the will of the Lord in order to be a true gift to the brothers and sisters, especially the smallest and most humble.

c)? To imitate the “praying Virgin” who “kept the word of God in her heart” (cf. Lk 2:19,51), setting aside some time to meet God in prayer, meditating on the mysteries of salvation, taking part in faith in the liturgy of the Church, especially the Eucharist, reciting every day some liturgical hour or some psalms or the holy rosary.? To see to it that living in the presence of the living God, every aspect of life becomes prayer and that prayer becomes life, at the same time remembering the obligations and work of their state of life.

d)? To share in the Paschal Mystery of Christ by means of voluntary penances, lived in the spirit of Carmel, looking at Mary, whose soul was pierced by a sword (cf. Lk 2:35), who “sustained her union with her Son faithfully even to the cross, where she stood (cf. Jn 19:25) suffering deeply with her Firstborn and uniting herself to his sacrifice.”18

e)? To show the love of God.? The “Most Pure Virgin” allows the love of God to shine through all her being without any resistance or opacity, a love which clothes her personally and opens her to the whole of humanity.? Thus, she charms and attracts the devout, who keep their heart and senses, their body and soul, open to the love of God, whom they seek and desire in all things and above all things.? The faithful open themselves to receive all the gifts of holiness that God himself places in human relationships and in the love of neighbor.? Thus love involves the human body as the “dwelling place” of God (cf. 1 Col 3:16-17), and through which they communicate with others.? It is the vehicle for the expression of love.

f)? To engage in the works of evangelization.? Those who wear the scapular identify themselves with the mission of Carmel to be in the world a prophetic sign of union with God, to work for the coming of the Kingdom of God through visible signs of sharing, reconciliation, justice, looking after the sick, and listening to the cries of the poor.

g)? As much as possible, to foster fraternal communion among the members of the fraternity by means of assemblies and reunions, which nourish and support these aims.

?17.? The scapular is the sign of the love of Mary, icon of the goodness and mercy of the Most Blessed Trinity.? This love is the fruit of the grace of God poured into the hearts of the faithful who, in turn, commit themselves to it.

18.? Appendix: Practical Norms for the Scapular Confraternity

?1) The scapular confraternity of Carmel is an association of the faithful who strive for the perfection of charity in the world in the spirit of the Carmelite Order, participate in the life of the Order and its spiritual benefits in an intimate communion of thought, ideals, and works together with Mary.

2)? The supreme moderator of the Carmelite Order is the competent authority for the canonically established of a confraternity.? For churches belonging to the Order, the consent given by he ordinary for the canonical establishment of the religious house is also valid for the canonical establishment of the confraternity.? However, for the canonical establishment of the confraternity19 in other churches or places, the written consent of the ordinary is required.20

3)? A person given authority to act in the name of the Order may receive people into the confraternity of the scapular.

4)? Reception into the confraternity takes place according to the proper rite approved by the Holy See by means of enrollment in the scapular.? The scapular consists of two brown or dark pieces of material joined together by two ribbons or pieces of string.? For receptions, the name of the faithful and the date must be registered in a book kept for the purpose.? These conditions, however, may be waived.

5)? After the reception of the scapular, the faithful may substitute it with a medal showing on one side the Sacred Heart of Jesus and on the other Our Lady.? Both scapular and medal may be replaced without having to be blessed again.

?6)? The members of the confraternity must at all times devoutly wear the scapular or the medal as a visible sign of their belonging to Mary in the brotherhood of Carmel.

7)? Members are bound to set aside regularly time to be with God in prayer, frequent participation in the Eucharist, daily recitation of one of the hours of the liturgy or of some psalms or the rosary or other equivalent prayers.

?8)? If possible, they will meet periodically to build up the sense of fraternity, to study the spirit of Carmel, to care for brothers and sisters in need, all in union with Mary.

9)? They may gain plenary indulgences, provided they fulfill the usual conditions,21on the day they join the confraternity and on the following feasts:? the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel (July 16), St Elijah, prophet (July 20), St Simon Stock (May 16), St Therese of the Child Jesus (October 1), St Teresa of Jesus (October 15), All Carmelite Saints (November 14), and St John of the Cross (December 14).22

10)? The solemn feast of the confraternity is that of the Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel July 16.? Members will celebrate this feast with great love and gratitude towards Mary, renewing their commitment of service to her, fidelity to Jesus Christ and the Church, and commending the whole Carmelite family to the maternal heart of the Virgin.

?Notes

1. Rule, 10.

2. B. Xiberta, De visione S. Simonis Stock oma. 1950. 3 11.

3. L. Saggi, La Bolla Sabatina, ambiente, testo, tempo. Roma. 1967.

4. Lumen Gentium, 62.

5. Lumen Gentium, 67.

6. See also the document,Un segno di fede e di impegno cristiano. Lo Scapolare del Carmine(Dec. 1994), which contains a brief catechesis.

7. However, the possibility is not excluded for those who see in it a sign of hope and protection of Mary for a Christian life and eternal salvation.? Henricus M. Esteve, De Valore Spirituali Devotionis Sacri Scapularis. Roma. 1953. 229.? He Quotes Benedict XIV.

8. Pius XII, Notre Premier Souhait, Aug. 6, 1950.? Discorsi e radiomessaggi 12 (1951), 168; of also Pius XII, the letter, Neminem profecto Libet.

9. Rule, prologue.

10. Consuetudo Vitae.

11. John Paul II, Redemptoris Mater, 47.? John Paul II spoke of the scapular in a 1985 letter to the Cardinal Legate to the Mariological and Marian Congress of Santo Domingo.

12. A. Bostius, De Patronatu?,” n.1542; cf. n. 1574.

13. Marialis Cultus, 51

14. Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity, letter to Mother Germana, September 24, 1906.

15. Cf Lumen Gentium, 65; Redemptoris Mater, 25.

16. Introduction to the Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

17. Cf Blessed Titus Brandsma, Historical notes on Carmelite mysticism: The Beauty of Carmel.? The tertiary Maria Petijt reached the heights of mystical experience with Mary.

18. Lumen Gentium, 58.

19. Cannon 312, par. 2.

20. Ibid.

21. Confession, communion, prayers according to the intentions of the Pope, and a renewal of the promise to keep the pledges of the Confraternity.

22. Decrees of the Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary 144/68/R of June 25, 1968, and 11533/68/R of Sept. 17, 1968.

As promised, here are links to some books about the brown scapular.? All are relatively inexpensive and still in print:

Scapular Facts by Albert Dolan, O. Carm

Mary In Her Scapular Promise by John Mathias Haffert

The Scapular of Mount Carmel by a Monk of St. Joseph Abbey

Garment of Grace by The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Hope this helps.? Let me know if you have questions/comments.

Posted in Blessed Mother, devotion, devotions, Marian, Mary | Comments Off on Why Should I Wear A Scapular?

What Can Brown Do For You?

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Gary Zimak

While most of you will think of the United Parcel Service when you hear this expression, there’s another kind of “brown” that’s a lot more powerful than UPS…

The Brown Scapular!

Today, the Church celebrates Our Lady’s appearance to Saint Simon Stock on July 16, 1251.? In this apparition, Our Lady of Mount Carmel promised a special blessing for those who wear her brown scapular.? For many years I thought that the use of this sacramental was nothing more than a superstition.? One day, however, I finally decided to listen to the Church’s wisdom and started wearing the scapular?and asking for Mary’s protection.? As a result, I’ve seen an outpouring of grace that has?brought me closer to Our Lady and to Our Lord.? If?you don’t believe me, listen to the words of?the late Holy Father Pius IX:

“This most extraordinary gift of the scapular – from the Mother of God to Saint Simon Stock – brings its great usefulness not only to the Carmelite Family of Mary but also to the rest of the faithful who wish, affiliated to that Family, to follow Mary?with a very special devotion.” (Blessed Pope Pius IX)

What can (the) ?brown (scapular) do for you?? Keep you close to Christ, protect you from sin and ensure that Our Lady will be with you at the hour of your death.

Sounds like a good deal to me!

Posted in Blessed Mother, devotion, devotions, Marian, Mary | 4 Comments

The 5 Biggest Mistakes Catholics Make (And How To Avoid Them)

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Gary Zimak

There are many different approaches to living the Catholic Faith.? Some people prefer more traditional devotions such as novenas and formal prayer while others choose to speak to Jesus using spontaneous prayer.? Some like the Charismatic movement while others pray in silence.? As long as your approach is faithful to Church teaching and brings you closer to Christ, it really is a matter of personal choice.?

However, over the course of my life as a Cradle Catholic, I’ve discovered 5?big mistakes that will definitely hurt your faith.? I have personally made most of these mistakes and the results were not pretty.? Instead of getting closer to Christ (and being a good example for others), I ended up heading in the wrong direction.? In order to spare you some agony, I present my list of the 5? biggest mistakes Catholics make and how to avoid them.

1. Checking The Box– “What do you mean I’m not a good Catholic?? I go to Mass on Sunday!”? This was my philosophy for most of my life.? I went to Mass every week and thought that I was fulfilling my duties as a Catholic.? After all, there are tons of Catholics who don’t even go to Mass!? Unfortunately, even though I was physically going to church and saying the prayers, my mind was a thousand miles away.

Those of you who are married, in a relationship, or have?close friends realize that speaking to a person once a week doesn’t help to build a close relationship.? If you want to get closer to someone, you need to speak with them often.? The same principle applies to our relationship with Christ.? If all we do is show up for Mass each week, we’re never going to REALLY know Him.? This situation becomes even worse when we don’t even pay attention at Mass.? If we want to become good friends with Jesus, we must talk to Him (in prayer) frequently.? We should listen to Him speak through the Bible and we should encounter Him in the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession as often as we can.

2. “My Faith Is A?Personal Matter”?– “I can’t impose my personal beliefs on others.”? Sometimes known as “religious indifference”, this is rooted in the belief that one religion is as good as the next.? People who fall into this trap believe that our religious beliefs are personal and shouldn’t be “forced” on others.? While we shouldn’t force our beliefs on others,?we should “always be ready to make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15) and be willing to “preach the gospel to all nations” (Mk 13:10).? Before He ascended into Heaven, Jesus instructed the Apostles:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.”? (Mt 28:19)

In other words, what one believes really DOES matter!? Jesus?instructed the Apostles to teach ALL that?He commanded,?not just some things.? Our Lord founded the Catholic?Church (Mt?16:18-20) as the vehicle for our salvation.? The Church has the fullness of truth and her teachings should be shared with others.? As proof of this, St. Paul tells us that “God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tm 2:4).? It is?our job as Catholics to share in this mission and to share the “Good News” with?those whom we encounter in our daily lives.?

3. The “Do It Yourself” Approach-? “I don’t believe in?medals and novenas.? That’s a bunch of superstition.??Saying the rosary is for?old people.? I speak?directly to God!”? Does that sound familiar?? If you want to ensure that your faith never gets any stronger, the best way to do that is to ignore the Blessed Mother, the intercession of the saints, devotions, approved apparitions, sacramentals (such as the scapular, medals and?holy water) and try to do it all by yourself.?

The Church gives us sacramentals and devotions to help?us?get to Heaven.? The same can be said for approved (please note that I say “approved”!) apparitions of Our Lady and Our Lord.? If we try to do it all by ourselves, we’re going to fail.? Why?? Because we’re?human and that makes us?prone to laziness, love of comfort and doing the wrong thing.? Not exactly the?qualities that will help one attain eternal life!? If we avail ourselves of some?Divine assistance, however, all things are possible.

For many years I chose to ignore?approved Marian apparitions, as I?thought?they?were an unnecessary distraction.??I?now realize that this?wasn’t too bright on my part.? If the Church rules that certain?appearances of the Blessed Mother are worthy of belief, why would I choose to ignore her?message?? If I really?wanted to get closer to the Lord and be a better Catholic,?shouldn’t I listen to?her advice???It really makes sense?to?me?now and I strongly encourage you to?take advantage of this powerful gift.???

Another form of this mistake is forgetting to ask for help.? I once told my spiritual director that I was trying to stop worrying and trust God more.? I?mentioned how hard I was trying, but without much success.? He replied, “Did you ask God for help?”? I was speechless because I honestly never thought of doing that!? Don’t try to become a better person on your own.? Ask the saints to intercede for you and ask the Lord for some extra grace.? You’ll be amazed at the results!?

4. Ignorance Is Bliss?- “What I don’t know won’t hurt me”.? If we don’t take the time to learn the teachings of the Church, it’s almost certain that we’re going to be going against God’s will.? How can we truly obey the Lord’s commandments if we don’t know them???Proponents of this brand of Catholicism?go through life practicing contraception, downloading music illegally, missing Mass on Holy Days of Obligation, drinking to excess, etc.? The trouble with this approach is that we’re not doing what Jesus wants us to do.?

As Catholics, we are blessed to have the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).? This book provides an excellent summary of what Catholics believe.? Sadly, many Catholics have never looked at this great resource.? One of the most eye opening sections involves the explanation of “Thou Shall Not Kill” (CCC 2258 – 2330).? Aside from the?obvious meaning, the Church expands?the commandment to cover respect for the souls of others (avoid setting a bad example?that may?lead others astray), proper attention to our health (gluttony, excessive use of alcohol or tobacco and even speeding can be grave sins!) and the preservation of peace (be on guard?against anger and verbal abuse).

Not only can this mistake cause damage to your spiritual well being, it can even afect your salvation!? As Catholics, we are responsible for the education of our conscience.? While, objectively speaking, God will not hold us accountable for what we don’t know, we are expected to make an attempt to learn what the Church teaches.? According to the Catechism:

This ignorance can often be imputed to personal responsibility. This is the case when a man “takes little trouble to find out what is true and good, or when conscience is by degrees almost blinded through the habit of committing sin.”? In such cases, the person is culpable for the evil he commits. (CCC 1791)

5. The?”Either-Or”??Fallacy – Either you know the facts and follow the laws of the Catholic Church or you do nice things for people.? We can’t deny Communion to anyone because Jesus?dined with sinners, not just those who were holy.? The Mass MUST be in Latin because that’s the way things were done years ago when Catholics “cared about their faith”.? Those who fall into this line of thinking are making the false assumption that in order to be a good Catholic you must either follow the rules OR be a good person.? In reality, we must do BOTH!

Throughout His public ministry, Jesus made it clear that we must worship Him with our hearts as well as our lips.? In the Sermon on the Mount, He warned against rattling off “empty” prayers:

In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. (Mt 6:7)

Unfortunately, many individuals incorrectly interpret this as a condemnation of formal prayer or, worse yet, as a dismissal of the need for any law or rules.? That viewpoint completely ignores the words of Jesus who says just the opposite!

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.? Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.? Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.? But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt 5:17-19)

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (Jn 14:15)

In order to live our Catholic?Faith, we first need to understand the?rules.? Once we understand the rules and expectations of being a Catholic, we have to live them.? The “either-or” fallacy just doesn’t “cut it”.? In order to be a good Catholic, we must do both!

So there you have it …My list of the 5 biggest mistakes that Catholics make and how to avoid them.? What do you think? Agree? disagree?? Did I miss any?? Let me know…

Posted in apologetics, Catholicism, Christian Living, spiritual direction | 19 Comments

With God, “No” Doesn’t Always Mean “No”!

Posted on July 14, 2011 by Gary Zimak

“No means no!”

We’ve all heard this expression and it’s meaning is clear, right?? Sorry to burst your bubble, but there’s one case where “no” doesn’t always mean “no” and, surprisingly, it has to do with unanswered prayer!

I feel that it’s?a safe assumption to state that, at one time or another, we have prayed for something and didn’t receive what we requested.? These situations usually get lumped into the “unanswered” prayer category and can cause us much grief and?often results in the question:

“Why didn’t God answer my prayer?”

Sometimes we fail to recognize that “no” is a valid answer to our prayers.? Being a loving Father, God is not going to answer our prayer by giving us something that’s not good for us.? Just like the child wanting to play with an electrical cord or a shiny knife, we sometimes desire things which will harm our spiritual well being.? Fortunately for us, the Lord will deny these requests so that He can protect us from ourselves.? This point is emphasized in the Sermon on the Mount, when Jesus adds an often ignored?disclaimer to His “Ask and you shall receive” teaching:

Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread,?or a snake when he asks for a fish?? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.? (Mt 7:9-11)

However, there is a case where an apparent “no” from God, may not mean “no”.? Before you think that I’ve lost my mind, let’s look at an example.? Once upon a time, there was a mother who was concerned about her son’s immoral lifestyle.? He wanted to take a trip to Italy, but she was fearful of the trouble that he would encounter and possible endanger his salvation to an even greater degree.? The mother prayed that her son would not be able to make the trip.? Despite her petitions, the son sailed for Italy.? At first glance, it appeared that her intention was denied.? However, once there the son encountered a great preacher and ended up experiencing a great conversion.? Her son was not only baptized, but became a great teacher and leader.

Great story, huh?? What makes it better is that it’s true.? The mother’s name was Saint Monica, the great preacher was Saint Ambrose and the son – Saint Augustine, bishop and doctor of the Catholic Church!? Even though Monica’s particular petition was denied, her general petition was granted.? What’s the point, you might ask?? Simple.? The point is that God always knows what’s best for us.? The sooner we accept that, the sooner we’ll find peace!

Don’t be discouraged when it appears that God is not answering your prayers.? He really does know what He’s doing.? Console yourself with the fact that either you were asking for something harmful or…

maybe, just maybe, He plans on turning?that “no” into a “yes”!

Posted in Christian Living, faith, prayer, trust | 2 Comments

10 Reasons To Go To Confession

Posted on July 12, 2011 by Gary Zimak

Recently on the USCCB media blog, Sister Mary Ann Walsh discussed 10 Points in Favor of Going To Confession.? Here is that?discussion, complete with additional commentary from the?always insightful Fr.?John?Zuhlsdorf.? It’s well worth a read!

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2011/07/usccb-media-blog-10-points-in-favor-of-going-to-confession/

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The Perfect Prayer…

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Gary Zimak

The perfect prayer is not one in which we tell God what we wish from Him, but rather one in which we ask God what He wishes from us. (Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen)

Many of us pray every day using words like this:

Lord…

… help me to find a new job.

…?please let me recover from my illness.

… allow me to pay my bills this month.

… let me meet someone with whom I can share my life.

… help him/her to change.

… let the weather be good for my party.

While there is nothing wrong with any of these prayers, they are all relatively easy to utter.? When we need something, it’s not too difficult to ask for the Lord’s help.? On the other hand, the prayer we rarely pray is the one that takes the most courage.? It’s the prayer spoken by the prophet Samuel?to the Lord, “Speak, for your servant is listening” (1 Sm 3:10).? It’s the prayer that you and I should summon up the courage to say from time to time.? While God certainly wants us to ask for what we need, it couldn’t hurt to?add:

Lord, what can I do for You?

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What Concerns Me The Most About The Corapi Scandal…

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Gary Zimak

Whenever someone says, ?I belong to Paul,? and another, ?I belong to Apollos,? are you not merely human?? What is Apollos, after all, and what is Paul?? Ministers through whom you became believers, just as the Lord assigned each one.? I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth.? Therefore, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who causes the growth.? The one who plants and the one who waters are equal, and each will receive wages in proportion to his labor.? (1 Cor 3:4-8)

On Tuesday,?the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) issued a press release detailing numerous allegations directed toward Fr. John Corapi.? A few days later, Corapi issued a response.? While the emerging details concerning the popular Catholic preacher are extremely alarming, there is something that concerns me even more – the willingness of some of Corapi’s followers to defend all of his recent words and actions, even when they may be at odds with Church teaching.?

As someone who always enjoyed his preaching, I remember Fr. Corapi warning us against criticizing bishops because “they have the hardest job in the world”.? He?instructed us that we don’t have the right to gossip about anyone – even if what we’re saying is true.? He spoke about the power of the priesthood and the importance of remaining obedient to Holy Mother Church.??Sadly,?his recent messages have been?peppered with some of the very?practices he cautioned us about.??And?his decision?to walk away from the priesthood?after?3 months is stunning, to say the?least.?

I make no secret of the fact that I love and will defend the Church.? Why?? Because the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ as the vehicle for our salvation.? I am not an ordained minister nor am I employed by the Church.? I’m a regular lay Catholic who loves Jesus and His Church.? People who read my blog or listen to me on the radio do so because they believe that I’m sincere.? What if someone did some research?and discovered that I didn’t attend Mass on Sundays or was involved in an extra-marital affair?? Would you?still listen?to?me preach about?my love for the?Church and the importance of living by the commandments or would you find a new messenger?

While I agree that the latest SOLT accusations are alarming (as is Corapi’s lack of response to many of them),?they don’t change the way I think about the Black Sheep Dog one bit?. ?In reality, Fr. Corapi lost me the minute that he announced his intention to leave the priesthood and starting hurling allegations at the Church.? In my mind, that?killed his credibility.? If?he’s?going to preach about obedience to the Church while lashing out at that same Church, I’m not going to listen.? If?he’s going to have a DVD sale in honor of the 20th anniversary of his?ordination AT THE SAME TIME?he’s?walking away (don’t be confused by his misleading wording, he IS walking away) from his priestly office then how can I take him seriously?

The words of St. Paul to the Corinthians (see above) remind us that the messenger can?never be?more important than the message.??Throughout his career, Fr. Corapi?was a faithful messenger for the gospel message of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church.? Many?of us have?learned?much about the Faith from Corapi and the recent developments don’t?”undo” that knowledge.? However, his? recent words and actions contradict the “Good News” that he preached for so many years.?

Folks, it’s time to find a new messenger.?

Fortunately for us, there are plenty of them out there.? It might be a famous Catholic priest, ?lay?evangelist or?your local parish priest.? You?may opt to read the Catechism,?Vatican documents or the?Bible.? Whatever you choose, I recommend that you do it without John Corapi.? Continuing to follow “The Black Sheep Dog” is a mistake and will only drive you further away from Our Lord and His Church.? By all means, continue to pray for?Corapi ?and all affected parties, but don’t let him convince you to turn against the Church.? Father Corapi is NOT the Church.? Father Corapi is NOT Jesus.? Father Corapi is not (nor ever was)?the “only game in town”.? He is simply a messenger who did his job well for many years.??

The vast majority of us don’t know Fr. Corapi or his accuser personally.? Therefore, it’s not wise to accept EVERYTHING he?says as the gospel truth, especially when there are some major red flags emerging.? Hopefully, we do know Jesus Christ and we acknowledge the fact that He founded a Church.? This Church is protected by the power of the Holy Spirit and has Our Lord’s assurance that the gates of hell will not prevail against her.? The same protection and assurance does not apply to Father Corapi.? If you’re still not convinced that you should stop following Corapi, consider the message issued by his own religious society.? Even if you choose to ignore the accusations and assume that he’s totally innocent, the following statement?speaks volumes:

“Catholics should understand that SOLT does not consider Fr. John Corapi as fit for ministry.”

You may question why I’m devoting another blog to this matter.? Am I looking for publicity?? Am I judging Corapi?? Do I want to kick a man when he’s down?? Am I angry and trying to punish him?? The truth is that I’m concerned for the souls that he could potentially lead astray.? Everything I do with Following The Truth is dedicated to helping promote the Catholic Faith.? I want to help Catholics and non-Catholics?know Jesus Christ and learn about?His Church.? I have received numerous emails and messages on the Corapi situation and I can assure you that people are affected by this matter.? One can only listen to so many unfair criticisms of the Church and her bishops, threats to leave the Catholic Church, and expressions of betrayal before doing something.? This blog is my latest and (probably)?final attempt at preventing further damage.

I urge you to pray for Fr. Corapi, his accuser and all affected by this scandal.? Please also pray for all of our clergy and religious DAILY, as they are under serious attack by the evil one.?

John Corapi (a.k.a. The Black Sheep?Dog) is now preaching a message of division.? It is not the?same message preached?by FATHER John Corapi for so many years.? It is a deceptively worded message contrary to the “Good News” of Jesus Christ.? It is a message that should be avoided at all costs.? Take the advice of St. Paul and don’t become too attached to any one messenger.? Continue to follow Jesus as He works through His Catholic Church.? As I always say, “Stick with the Church and you’ll never go wrong”.

Posted in Father Corapi | 12 Comments

What’s The Best Way To Handle Liturgical Abuse?

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Gary Zimak

For the record, I don’t like holding hands during the Our Father, participating in a “love fest” during the sign of peace, and talking in Church before/after Mass.? I don’t appreciate it?when there are more extraordinary ministers than parishioners or when a large number of musicians perform in the sanctuary.? I cringe when priests?ad-lib during the Mass,?especially during the Eucharistic prayer.??And why?do I dislike these things, you may ask?? Simple – Because we’re?not supposed to do them!

Now that I got my personal feelings out of the way, let’s discuss how we?should handle the liturgical abuses/annoyances we run across.? Here are a few suggestions that I’ve found to be effective, some of which may surprise you:

Question your motives – The first question we should ask? is “Why is this bothering?me so much”?? I know from personal experience that our annoyance sometimes results from?excessive pride.? One of the unfortunate?by-products of?studying the Catholic Faith is that we sometimes start to feel smarter than our fellow parishioners (or priests).? We’ve read the?GIRM (General Instruction of the Roman Missal)?from cover to?cover?and know that Father is definitely not supposed to be doing “this or that” and we’re going to tell him.? Why?? Is it because there is really harm being done or is it because we think that we’re smarter than him?? Some prayerful meditation on this question may?provide a surprising answer.? Sometimes recognizing our true motives can be difficult, but it should be the first step in dealing with these situations.?

Set a good example – One of the most frustrating things about liturgical abuses or a lack of reverence at Mass is that it is often outside of our control.? However, while I can’t control the behavior of the priest or other parishioners, I can control my own actions.? If you’re annoyed that people are talking before and after Mass, try setting a good example by closing your eyes and praying.? While it’s often difficult to concentrate, it does have an effect on others and discourages?them from interrupting your prayers.? In addition to discouraging others from interrupting your prayers, this action provides a good example of reverent behavior.??

Ignore it – It’s important to differentiate between severe liturgical abuses and mere annoyances.? If the priest is saying “this?REPRESENTS my Body” instead of “this IS my Body” when consecrating the Host, you’ve got a big problem on your hands.? This could very well invalidate the consecration and should be brought to the attention of your pastor or bishop.? If, on the other hand, he is not elevating the host high enough or people are holding hands during the Our Father,?it would probably be better to “look the other way” and concentrate on the Mass.? Satan uses many?tricks to distract us at Mass and this is one of his favorites.? Don’t fall for it!

Take action– After prayer and analysis, you may determine that the abuse is so serious that you must take action.? If you choose to write a letter to your pastor or bishop, make sure it’s signed.? An anonymous letter will be thrown in the trash.??If you speak to them in person, always remember to be charitable.? Aside from being ineffective, having an “attitude” could very well cause you to sin, which is the last thing you want.

Once you’ve made the decision to either ignore the situation or pursue it, let it go and move on.? At this point, it’s out of your hands and you should not let it become a distraction.? While I don’t recommend switching parishes in haste, sometimes it’s necessary.? Before you decide to?pursue a new parish, however, make sure you take the matter to prayer.? Whatever you do,?keep?your focus on the Lord.??Losing sight of Him is worse than any liturgical abuse that you’ll ever?encounter!

Posted in abuse, liturgy, Mass | 3 Comments

Altar Rails And Reverence

Posted on July 3, 2011 by Gary Zimak

In recent years, there has been a trend to remove altar rails from Catholic churches.? This has even?happened in my own parish.? I believe the idea is that the altar rail acts as a barrier between the priest and the people and removing them allows the congregation to participate more fully in the Mass.? In my opinion, altar rails and the practice of kneeling to receive Communion promotes reverence during Mass.? This is something very much needed in many parishes today.? Many Catholics have lost that sense of the Sacred when attending Mass and that’s sad.

Here’s an interesting article from the National Catholic Register about the resurgence of altar rails.? I’d be interesting in hearing your opinion.? Do you feel that kneeling to receive Communion helps you to be reverent or does it not matter?? Let me know…

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Two Hearts, One Love

Posted on July 1, 2011 by Gary Zimak

Today and tomorrow are very special days in the Catholic Church, as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.? Many of us are familiar with the images which represent?a special kind of love,?but what do these devotions actually mean?

The devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an outgrowth of Our Lord’s humanity and? reminds us that Jesus loves us not only with a Divine affection, but also with a human heart.? It was promoted by individuals such as St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Gertrude and St. Francis de Sales.? However, the greatest proponent of this devotion was St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, to whom Jesus appeared in the 17th?century.? In his encyclical Haurietis Aquas (May 15,1956), Pope Pius XII made the following observation about this powerful devotion:

It is altogether impossible to enumerate the heavenly gifts which devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus has poured out on the souls of the faithful, purifying them, offering them heavenly strength, rousing them to the attainment of all virtues.

On the other hand, the?devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary honors Mary’s compassion and sinlessness.? This devotion, which became popular after the Fatima apparitions in 1917, reminds us of Our Lady’s unconditional love…??

for God, as illustrated by her “yes” when asked to become the Mother of the Savior…

for Jesus, which was so strongly evident as she stood by Him during His death on the Cross…

for each of us, as could be seen when she came to the assistance of the couple at the wedding in Cana.

Although distinct, the hearts of Jesus and Mary love each of us?in the same way -?unconditionally.?? Now would be a good time to show our love in return.? We can do this by turning away from sin, leading a holy life and speaking to them often.? The love of Jesus and Mary is constant and will not go away.? No matter how badly we sin?or ignore them, that love remains….

can the same be said?of our love for them??

Posted in devotions, Jesus, Marian, Mary | 2 Comments