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Becoming a Witness of Christ By Elder D. Todd Christofferson Apostles, by virtue of their priesthood office, are commissioned as special witnesses of Christ in all the world (see D&C 107:23). Their testimony is vital in the Lord’s work of salvation. Yet the Apostles must not and do not stand alone. All of us who are baptized and confirmed have taken upon us the name of Jesus Christ with a commitment “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9). It is within the capacity of each of us to...

As many of the Bishops of the Anglican Communion meet at their Lambeth conference, Christians throughout the world pray and watch with deep concern. The global Anglican communion and its American expression, the Episcopal Church, has been beset with division arising concerning fundamental doctrinal issues which, to orthodox Christians whether they are Catholic, Orthodox, or Protestant, derive from the very heart of the Christian revelation. The late Servant of God, Pope John Paul II responded to the growing requests from priests, deacons and the lay faithful of the Anglican Communion, and its expression in the United States the Episcopal Church....

Feast day of St. John Bosco Culture/Society MiscellaneousSource: Tan Books and PublishersAuthor: Fr. J. Bacchiarello, S.D.B. Posted on 01/31/2001 12:19:19 PST by Cap'n Crunch For 60 years St. John Bosco experienced remarkable vision-like dreams, which were so lively and vivid that he would often awaken exhausted the next morning. The dreams frequently featured the actual boys at the Oratory; however, their value goes far beyond this, since they bring to life the realities of the Catholic Faith in a way that is absolutely unique! The following is perhaps St. John Bosco's most famous dream entitled "Two columns in the...

The Two Columns: A dream of Saint Don Bosco Miscellaneous Miscellaneous Keywords: POPE DREAM DON BOSCOSource: "Dreams, Visions and Prophecies of [Saint] Don Bosco"Published: 1986 -- ISBN 0-89944-085-1 Author: Eugene M BrownPosted on 02/12/2000 02:34:48 PST by topher   THE TWO COLUMNS On May 26 [1862] Don Bosco had promised the boys that he would tell them something pleasant on the last or second last day of the month, and so at the "Good Night" on May 30 he narrated this parable, or allegory, as he chose to call it: "A few nights ago I had a dream. True,...

Should Freepers who call themselves "Christians" believe the word of pimps, as told to them by the mainstream media? The Australian (a newspaper) published the claims of a Syndey pimp who claims that business has increased during World Youth Day. The article notes that up to 5,000 traveling journalists have descended upon Sydney. Of course, we all have heard how the overwhelming majority of journalists are pro-gay, pro-abortion, unchurched, and politically liberal. Plus, incredibly enough, there are armies of protesters. Yet, the article leaves it up to the reader to presume that it's all those Catholic faithful visiting the prostitutes,...

Sydney, Jul 18, 2008 / 09:36 am (CNA).- Spectacular scenes were played out across Sydney city’s landmarks, as part of the re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross for WYD. An audience of half a billion tuned in to watch the performance that involved around 80 performers and was played out by young people at six major venues. Over 270,000 international and local spectators also made their way to points around the city to watch the Stations of the Cross live and on big screen televisions. The first station held on the steps of St Mary’s Cathedral was attended...

In 1986, Brother Don Fleischhacker of Notre Dame University wrote a letter to Playboy protesting that magazine’s fragmented view of human sexuality. Citing Humanae Vitae, this intrepid Holy Cross religious reasoned that once “the contraceptive mentality is accepted, there can be no coherent objective ground for opposition to homosexual activity.” If the unitive aspect of sex becomes an end in itself, he went on to explain, “There is no essential reason why sex should be restricted to couples of different sexes.” Recent events have proven that Brother Don was as prophetic as was Pope Paul VI when he penned Humane...

GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP)--Have you ever noticed that when a discussion turns to a recently deceased celebrity, someone invariably says, "I know he's looking down on us right now"? It doesn't matter how godless the person was, his peers refer to him as being in a better place and then gesture skyward. Mark Coppenger, professor of Christian apologetics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, sees a lamentable example of that in the 1941 poem "High Flight," which was quoted in tribute to astronauts who died in the 1986 explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger. Not all the astronauts were Christians "but we...

 Books of the Catholic Bible: The Complete Scriptures Some books of the Catholic Bible aren't in the Protestant Bible. Did the Catholic Church add things to the Bible? No! In fact, the opposite is true: Protestant reformers rejected some parts of the Bible. When I was entering the Catholic Church, I was confused by the fact that Protestants used a slightly different Bible. Why wasn't there just one Bible? This article looks at this issue of why the list of books of the Catholic Bible is slightly different. The answer... ...is history! The Old Testament canon The accepted list of...

Verified” Lakeland Resurrection from the Dead was a Lie Thanks to poster ’Arise My Love’ for pointing this video out here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toGYy-H3pCw&feature=related From 6.20 minutes onwards on the video explains how the Fresh Fires Ministries passed through their ‘audit’ process an email, and Todd Bentley read out this same email of an alleged raising from the dead, without even attempting to check out any of the facts, let alone verifying them. Update 17th July: despite explictly being told the story was false, they haven’t retracted this story from their website or verbally.

Chuck Pierce and Kabbalah: The Month of Iyar Last week, I posted an article exposing the occultic origins of Chuck Pierce's so-called "ministry," explaining that most of what he claims are "Words from the Lord" actually comes from astrology and Kabbalah (a New Age form of Jewish Mysticism). The latest post from Chuck Pierce is just more evidence that "Dr." Chuck Pierce is not a Christian minister, but an adherant of another religion, Kabbalah. According to him (and Kabbalah), we have just entered the Hebrew month of "Iyar." Here's a comparison of what Chuck Pierce and Kabbalah have to say:...

If you’ve ever read any of Chuck Pierce’s so-called prophecies, you will have undoubtedly noticed that the man seems to have a vocabulary all his own, using words which, to the uninitiated, make absolutely no sense at all — at least in the Christian context in which Mr. Pierce chooses to frame his words. I’m talking here of words like shift, atmosphere, earth realm, energy, alignment, pillar and so on. Many of his writings also seems to place an unusual emphasis on colors, sounds and vibrations. It is tempting to just dismiss him as a nut and not give him...

Please watch Segment 14 and comment on the following discussion items.1. Do fallen angels control human actions? If yes, please give an example. 2. Is it possible to yeild control of one's mind to demonic influences by joking as Carl does? Is it possible to yeild control of one's mind to demonic influences by surrounding oneself with negative music, books, and movies? 4. Do fallen angels use religious leaders to accomplish their agenda? 5. If Satan exists as an active force in the world, what are the limits of his power? Does prayer help? Segment 14: In this segment, Carl...

Dear friends, life is not governed by chance; it is not random. Your very existence has been willed by God, blessed and given a purpose (cf. Gen 1:28)! Life is not just a succession of events or experiences, helpful though many of them are. It is a search for the true, the good and the beautiful. It is to this end that we make our choices; it is for this that we exercise our freedom; it is in this – in truth, in goodness, and in beauty – that we find happiness and joy. Do not be fooled by those...

p>SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils is praying for peace and harmony among all people of good will during the World Youth Day activities in Sydney. President Ikebal Patel sent out a statement this week in which he extended "sincere greetings to the Catholic community of Australia on behalf of the Muslims of Australia." He continued, "I take this opportunity on behalf of the Muslims of Australia to also extend our good wishes to all Australians of all faiths on this auspicious occasion of World Youth Day and pray for peace, harmony and goodwill...

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 16, 2008 (Zenit.org).- The archbishop of Sydney says that World Youth Day is helping to restore a key element for the life of the Church -- the sacrament of reconciliation. To this end, Cardinal George Pell has made sure the sacrament is readily available in the host city this week. Priests, who received with their accreditation a schedule for hearing confessions, are located throughout the city in real and makeshift confessionals. You see them under the trees of the Domain, around the waters of Darling Harbor and in the alcoves of every city church. Notre Dame University...

More Observations on the Stone Dead Sea Scroll Text July 8, 2008 (from Taiwan) By bock - Posted on July 8th, 2008 am writing from Taiwan, but I am not immune to the news about the new Stone "Dead Sea Scroll". I have made available by link in the News We Are Watching window Time's latest article on this. Thanks to Craig Blomberg for noting where access to the text can be found. The BAR site also in the News We Are Watching window gives access to both English and to the Hebrew text. Now you do not have to...

ONE OF THE PUZZLING QUESTIONS likely to turn up sooner or later to vex the seeking Christian is how he can fulfill the scriptural command to love God with all his heart and his neighbor as himself. The earnest Christian, as he meditates on his sacred obligation to love God and mankind, may experience a sense of frustration gendered by the knowledge that he just cannot seem to work up any emotional thrill over his Lord or his brothers. He wants to, but he cannot. The delightful wells of feeling simply will not flow. Many honest persons have become discouraged...

ROME, JULY 15, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy at the Regina Apostolorum university. Q: Many Catholic brides and grooms acknowledge themselves as "living together" right up to the time of a sacramental marriage, and/or they admit that they have not followed the precepts of the Church (Mass on Sunday, Easter obligation, etc.). They decide to have a "Catholic wedding." Their marriage preparation lacks the requirement that they attend the sacrament of reconciliation to place themselves in a state of grace. Must a Catholic bride and/or groom be in the state of grace...

 When Was The Bible Written? Many people ask, "When was the Bible written?" It's a common question, and the answer shouldn't be so hard to find! This article contains the likely dates of composition for the various books of the Bible. Of course, the Bible contains many different books, written at different times by different people. This means that sometimes there isn't a straightforward answer to the question when was the Bible written. The theology faculty at the University of Navarre, Spain, put together an outstanding Bible commentary called the Navarre Bible. These volumes also contain a number of excellent...

Protestants don’t see why Catholics who come to disagree with essential teachings of the Church don’t just leave. Adult conversion to Catholicism involves more than adding a few new beliefs. It means a whole new world and life view. No ingredient in that new perspective was more of a shock to my old Protestant sensibilities when I became a Catholic than the idea that the God-man is really present in, and not just symbolized by, what appears to be a wafer of bread and a cup of wine. It seemed scandalous! It has ceased to scandalize me, though it has...

Jeffrey Steenson (formerly bishop in TEC [The Episcopal Church]) recently spoke at the Anglican Use Conference in Texas, USA. [Excerpts:] Anglicanism has for the last quarter century proceeded quite intentionally from the principle that truth not only is discerned primarily in the experience of the Christian community but also that the community itself has priority over truth. This approach has produced a very meager and inconsequential harvest, and the great legacy of Anglican theological scholarship has been lost. The contrast with the Catholic mind is striking. As an Anglican I would take in hand, for instance, The Catechism of the...

A group of monks close to the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X asked for and received canonical good standing and communion with the Holy See. The vicar-general of the Transalpine Redemptorists, Father Michael Mary, reported this month on the group's blog that "our community now truly rejoices in undisputed and peaceful possession of communion with the Holy See because our priests are now in canonical good standing." He said that he had asked the Holy See, in the presence of the members of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei, for the priestly suspensions to be lifted. The status of the...

SYDNEY, Australia, JULY 14, 2008 (Zenit.org).- World Youth Day is already bringing converts to the Catholic Church, and it hasn't even started yet. Sydney's Polish-Catholic community World Youth Day coordinator, 24-year-old Basia Slusarczyk, explained to ZENIT that her non-Catholic boyfriend is participating in the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. His conversion was triggered by the experience of praying with her for the fruits of World Youth Day. "He is attending World Youth Day with me and I hope the week of events and the solidarity with so many Catholics from around the world will make him proud to be...

Last week brought a Vatican appointment that didn't exactly cut in the direction of what I call "affirmative orthodoxy," meaning Pope Benedict XVI's strong defense of the faith coupled with a gentle, positive style. Archbishop Raymond Burke, named as prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, instead has a profile as something of a cultural warrior. This week Benedict XVI returned to form, with a nomination to a post arguably more consequential than Burke's. On Wednesday, the pope named Jesuit Fr. Luis Ladaria, a Spaniard, as secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Fait By all accounts, they don't come...

OF THE POWER AND PRIMACY OF THE POPE. Treatise Compiled by the Theologians Assembled at Smalcald, in the Year 1537. The Roman Pontiff claims for himself [in the first place] that by divine right he is [supreme] above all bishops and pastors [in all Christendom]. Secondly, he adds also that by divine right he has both swords, i.e., the authority also of bestowing kingdoms [enthroning and deposing kings, regulating secular dominions etc.]. And thirdly, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. And for these reasons the Roman bishop calls himself [and boasts that he is] the vicar...

Issue: How does the Catholic Church understand predestination? Response: Predestination is a term used to identify God’s plan of salvation, in which according to His own decree, He “accomplishes all things according to his will” (Eph. 1:11). God gives us the gift of salvation through grace and faith. In turn, we must use our free will to persevere in good works “prepared beforehand” by God Himself (Eph. 2:8-10; cf. Phil. 2:12, 13). Discussion: There are two opposite and equally erroneous positions about predestination that have always been rejected in authentic Catholic teaching. The first is that of the Pelagians.[1] Pelagius taught that...

[The video referred to in the article may be found by clicking on the link] Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete He reads Paul in his context? On Buddhist salvation, the Buddhist will get to heaven “probably faster than I will.” How about an atheist? Just watch. Not sure what it's worth... Mark

Traditional Holy Mass Propers † Dominica IX Post Pentecosten ~ Ninth Sunday After Pentecost † Missa Ecce Deus ádjuvat me, et Dóminus suscéptor est ánimæ meæ ( "Behold God is my helper, and the Lord is the protector of my soul...." ) 13 July 2008 Anno Dómini ".... Deliver me from my enemies, O my God...." "Nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass forever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words; it is a great action. The greatest...

Q. Scripture says there is ONE mediator between God and man in I Tim 2:5. Aren’t Catholics going against scripture by praying to Mary and the saints?A. No. Jesus as God/Man is the ONE mediator between God and Man. Mary and all the saints are human beings. God of course is God and Jesus is BOTH. So, He is the Mediator between God and Man. Mary and the Saints and all Christians living and dead are a part of the Body of Christ. When we “pray to the saints� we are merely asking for their intercession.If we forbid “praying...

In last week’s catechetical post, I likened the deposit of faith–all that Christ has revealed to us through His Church–to a bank deposit, with the Church being the bank and the apostles and bishops having special authority to safeguard this deposit so that it might bear interest for the kingdom of God.Another way of approaching this reality is to think of the Church’s Magisterium, or teaching office, as a fence or wall. If the deposit of faith is understood as a body of teachings regarding what we are to believe and how we are to live as Christians in the world, one...

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31, NIV) For years I'd thought Timbuktu was just a made-up name for "the ends of the earth." When I found out it was a real place in Africa, I developed an inexplicable fascination for it. It was in 1986 on a fact-finding trip to West Africa for Mission Aviation Fellowship that...

Young people have been flocking to Pope Benedict XVI since he began teaching in his twenties. As I write this, hundreds of thousands – from declared agnostics to metal heads to believing Catholics – are descending upon Sydney, Australia for World Youth Day 2008 ready to embrace Pope Benedict’s theme of Acts 1:8, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.” However, there is more to inspiration than some might think. For example, while an Olympic athlete probably wouldn’t be able to spring from his seat after a transatlantic flight;...

LINCOLN, Nebraska, JULY 11, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Prayer, study and rugged physical exercise are the keys a man needs to fight for all that is just in good in today's world, says the director of an apostolate aimed to strengthen the family. Doug Barry is the founder and director of RADIX, an apostolate he founded to help strengthen the family, especially the roles of fathers and sons, by learning and living the Catholic faith. In this interview with ZENIT, Barry discusses RADIX and his efforts to teach young men how to be real men. Q: You are the founder of RADIX,...

The Vatican has recently confirmed that anyone who attempts the priestly ordination of a woman will incur automatic excommunication. At the same time, this year’s Lambeth convocation of the world’s Anglican leaders has opened the way for the ordination and consecration of female bishops. To the Anglicans at Lambeth, the issue is no doubt obvious. But the question of the ordination of women is just the tip of an iceberg. Slaves to Fashion The contemporary West is largely existentialist. By this I mean that we instinctively believe that there is no particular order and meaning to the universe apart from...

The international ministry "Light for the Nations" presents: Revelations of Heaven and Hell to 7 Youths Together as a group, these 7 Columbian youths were taken by Jesus Christ and shown Heaven and Hell. Hear their account of the Glories of Heaven and misery of Hell. Due to the recording, we could only record 6 testimonies, Originally transcribed from Spanish Audio, Illustrations/Pictures were added later, and were not part of the testimony, Translation help by Claudia Alejandra Elguezabal -Heaven- [Youtube.com Video] http://www.minluznaciones.org --Hell—[translations listed at the link] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --- (1st Testimony, Esau) --- 2 Corinthians 12:2 : I know a...

Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict  The medal of St. Benedict is a very powerful sacramental with exorcizing properties; the exorcism is written right on it. First a little history: St. Benedict of Nursia, Italy (A.D. 480-543), the twin brother of St. Scholastica, is considered to be the Father of Western monasticism, and his "Rule of St. Benedict" came to be the basis of organization for many religious orders (his own Order has its cradle at Monte Cassino, Italy, about 80 miles South of Rome). At any rate, in order to understand the symbology of the Medal, you must know of...

 Catholic Morality: Life in Christ Catholic morality is about life: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) Faith & baptism give us new life in Christ. That life involves far more than simply following a set of rules. This article provides an overview of basic principles of Catholic morality. It is essential to know these principles: they are the how-to manual for living fully your new life, for obtaining that abundant life Christ has promised you. The Catholic Catechism starts its section on Catholic morality with St. Leo the Great's beautiful words: Christian, recognize...

A serious celebrationJuly 10, 2008 Visitors to Calvin's campus mid-morning on July 10 are likely to see offices with far fewer employees than normal. On that day each summer the prospect of celebration will have carried off the majority of faculty, staff and student employees to one place: John Calvin’s birthday party. There, cake and punch are passed around while party-goers listen to an address often made by the man himself, John Calvin. Celebrating John Calvin This year there would be 499 candles on John Calvin’s birthday cake—too many to dodge the college’s restrictions on open flames. Still, several hundred...

On June 6, Martin Burnham, an American missionary, died in a battle between his Islamic kidnappers and Filipino troops sent to rescue him. Burnham, thus, becomes the newest member of what the Te Deum, an ancient hymn, calls "the white-robe army of the martyrs" -- an army that, according to a recent estimate, is a staggering 70 million strong. But what's even more staggering is that, according to the same estimate, 45 million, or two-thirds of all Christian martyrs, died in the twentieth century. These estimates are contained in a new book, The New Persecuted: Inquiries into Anti-Christian Intolerance in...

perichoresis Gk. peri “around” + choreio “dance” Refers to the mutual indwelling and relationship of the members of the Trinity. This concept is emphasized more by Eastern Christianity, but is affirmed by all orthodox branches of Trinitarian Christianity. St John of Damascus defines it such: “The subsistences [i.e., the three Persons] dwell and are established firmly in one another. For they are inseparable and cannot part from one another, but keep to their separate courses within one another, without coalescing or mingling, but cleaving to each other. For the Son is in the Father and the Spirit: and the Spirit...

Jeremiah Wright boasts on reciting Black Liberation Theology authors. He did so repeatedly when trying to nail Sean Hannity, co-host of "Hannity & Colmes". He’d say to Hannity, "How many Black Liberation Theology authors have you read? How many of their books can you name? You don’t know anything about theology." On and on he went. What Wright did not know is that Hannity does know his theology, having graduated from St. Pius X Preparatory Seminary. It’s just not the lowbrow excuse for theology known as "Black Liberation Theology." This mix-and-match of revolutionary schemes by which to create racist wars...

Washington, Jul. 7, 2008 (CWNews.com) - The US bishops have rejected the latest proposed English translation of the liturgical prayers from the Roman Missal. In a mail-in ballot, support for the proposed translation fell well short of the two-thirds required for approval by the US bishops' conference. The mail ballot became necessary because of an inconclusive vote at a June meeting of the episcopal conference. The proposed translation was for "Proper" prayers for the Mass: the prayers for particular feasts and liturgical seasons. The US bishops have already given their consent to an English translation of the unchanging prayers of...

Orange County, FL -- One week after a University of Central Florida student snatched something sacred from church, armed UCF police officers stood guard during Sunday Mass to protect what Catholics call "The Body of Christ."Minutes before the Mass began, Student Senator Webster Cook returned the Holy Eucharist he was holding hostage in a Ziploc bag ever since smuggling the blessed wafer of bread out of the Catholic Mass service Sunday June 29.Carol Brinati with the Diocese of Orlando said the Catholic community was "concerned about the possible desecration of the Eucharist," and pleaded for its safe return.Cook, who was...

Scapulars   A scapular is a sacramental that looks like two small pieces of wool cloth connected by string that is worn over the neck, either under or over one's clothing (typically under the clothing), such that one piece of cloth hangs over the chest, and the second piece of cloth hangs over the back (see picture below). They derive from the scapulars which make up part of monastics' religious habits -- that ankle-length (front and back), shoulder-wide, apron-like part of the habit that basically consists of a long rectangular piece of material with a hole for the head (some of...

The Miraculous Medal    On the night of 18 July, 1830, a "child" awakened Sr. Catherine Labouré  (seen above) in her Daughters of Charity convent at 140 Rue du Bac, Paris, telling her to go to the convent's chapel where Mary awaited her. There Mary told her:God wishes to charge you with a mission. You will be contradicted, but do not fear; you will have the grace. Tell your spiritual director all that passes within you. Times are evil in France and in the world. Come to the foot of the altar. Graces will be shed on all, great and...

'Holy Things To The Holy': Sacred Things, Places, and Times Issue: What does the Church call sacred and why? What is the proper use of the sacred? Response: According to the Code of Canon Law (Codex Iuris Canonici [CIC], c. 12-5), a place is said to be sacred if it is designated for divine worship. Such things must be used according to their purpose in divine worship to the exclusion of any common or ordinary usage. Sacred times are those times set apart in which “the astonishing actions of the Savior God” are commemorated in order to give God thanks and...

Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry         www.carm.org Location:  Home > Religious Movements > Oneness Pentecostal Debate Topic: Is water baptism necessary for salvation? On Tuesday, May 13, 2008 I debated a Mr. Roger Perkins on "Is water baptism necessary for salvation?". Mr. Perkins is a oneness believer and an ex-pastor in the oneness movement.  Mr. Perkins holds the position that water baptism is necessary for salvation.  I deny that assertion and maintain that justification is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.Mr. Perkins opened with a 15 minute speech.  I followed with the text below, which I read...

Baptism Verses with responses On May 13, 2008 I was in a formal debate with a oneness believer who said baptism was necessary for salvation. Following are my notes I prepared for that debate.  I put htem here as an additional help to readers.If you would like to read the opening paper I read at the debate, please see Matt Slick's Opening Statement on Baptism. Matthew 28:19-20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I...

All Things are of God II Corinthians 5:18 by Don Fortner "All things," past, present and future, "all things," in heaven, earth and hell, "all things," regarding angels, men and devils, "all things," good, bad, or indifferent, "all things are of God." This is high doctrine. This is gospel doctrine. This is soul-cheering, heart-comforting doctrine to those who know God. To the degree that we are able to receive this blessed truth of Holy Scripture, that "all things are of God," our hearts will be at peace, resigned to the will of God, submissive to the hand of God, confident...