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“Ask a Priest: Is It OK to Use the Bible to Divine the Future?”

June 6, 2017 / Ask a Priest

Q: Is praying to God then opening the Bible and reading the first passage you read divination (bibliomancy)? – K.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: There is nothing wrong with praying to God and opening the Bible and reading the first passage your eye comes upon. What could be problematic is our intention and our expectation. But let’s review a few points first.

“Divination” is a word usually used for recourse to demonic spirits. The Catechism in No. 2116 says, “All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to ‘unveil’ the future.”

One definition of bibliomancy is “foretelling the future by interpreting a randomly chosen passage from a book, especially the Bible.” When bibliomancy involves Scripture, it certainly isn’t turning to demonic powers. But it can border on presumption.

True, God can speak to us in a special way by our coming across a passage of the Bible, seemingly at random. But to open the Bible and read the first passage we find, and to assume that it is telling us something definite about the future, can be to expect too much from God — as if he responds instantaneously to our curiosity. In fact, God has a way of responding in his own time and in his own way.

The better path is to pray and read the Bible in a spirit of humility. The idea here is that we need to be open to what the Holy Spirit might be trying to teach us — which can be something quite unexpected at times.

For information about the time-honored tradition of lectio divina, click HERE.

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Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. AskACatholicPriest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just type in your question or send an email to AskAPriest@rcspiritual.wpenginepowered.com and you will get a personal response back from one of our priests at RCSpirituality. You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events… Our goal is simply to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question…

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“Ask a Priest: What’s a Married Man to Do If He Has Same-Sex Attraction?”

June 2, 2017 / Ask a Priest

Q: What if someone marries and had children, but God never wanted him to marry? What does the person do? What if the person carries the cross of same-sex attraction and ignorantly chose marriage when he was Protestant. He learns later he was probably called to be single. Now he is married with children. What does he do? — T.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: It is laudable that this man wants to do God’s will in his life. The good news is: He is doing it now, by being a faithful husband and father.

His specific concern centers on the same-sex attraction. Such attraction can be more or less intense, and for shorter or longer duration in a person’s life. Having such attraction isn’t sinful in itself and it doesn’t automatically disqualify someone from marriage. The face that he sees this attraction as a cross is a sign that he hasn’t sought it.

It’s hard to say whether God never intended for him to marry. In any case God gives us a certain freedom of choice in the path we pursue in life. And the children certainly were no mistake. So let’s start with them and the man’s wife.

He made a decision to marry a woman. Even if God’s perfect plan was to call him to the single life, the option for marriage was still there, and he took it. God can work with that; he can give this man the grace to grow in holiness if he is faithful to his spouse and dedicated to his children, and make prayer and other good works a part of his life.

He made a choice, and now his duty is to live out the consequences of that choice. This isn’t meant in a legalistic way. This is simply what life is about.

By remaining faithful and dedicated to his family, this man can become a saint. There is no reason to deviate from that path now.

Perhaps all the news about same-sex unions, etc., in recent years has prompted his second thoughts about marriage. If so, he needs to recognize them for what they are: temptations. He would do well to shrug them off. Marriage isn’t only about sexual intercourse, and he can still continue to grow in spiritual, emotional and intellectual intimacy with his wife, developing a truly beautiful spousal relationship.

If need be, he might seek out a bit of counseling, preferably with someone who has a strong Christian viewpoint. (the site HERE might help).

At any rate make time for prayer for man. You mention “when he was Protestant.” If he is Catholic now, he would do well to stay close to the sacraments and the Blessed Virgin Mary. She will help him live his marriage well.

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The Mystery of Eternal Love | An RC Retreat Guide on the Blessed Trinity with Fr. John Bartunek, LC

The Mystery of Eternal Love: A Retreat Guide on the Blessed Trinity

May 30, 2017 / Retreat Guide

According to Pope Benedict XVI, as human beings, we have imprinted upon our spiritual DNA a profound mark of the Trinity, of God as Love. For we are created in the image and likeness of God, and, as the First Letter of John puts it, “God is love.” But who is this God in whose image we’re created? What difference does it make to say God is a Trinity of Persons? What kind of relationship can we have with the Blessed Trinity? These questions are central to any Christian’s life. In this Retreat Guide on the Blessed Trinity, The Mystery of Eternal Love, we’ll contemplate exactly that.

In the First Meditation, we’ll consider what the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches about the Blessed Trinity. We’ll also examine the experience of two friends of God to help guide us deeper into the mystery.
In the Second Meditation, we’ll look at the response of Abraham, our father in faith, to the “Theophany” at Mamre in the book of Genesis.
And finally, the Conference will explore Saint John Paul II’s teaching on the Trinitarian shape of prayer, helped by one of the greatest icons in Russian history. We’ll draw out some practical applications for our own lives, as we seek to live in the light of this tremendous mystery of love in whose image we are created.

We are excited to share with you an improved version of this Retreat Guide. It is now available for purchase as a booklet on Amazon. The booklet journal includes the entire text for each meditation, conference, and reflection questions by Fr. John Pietropaoli, LC along with space for taking notes and journaling. We hope it helps to further open your heart to Christ.

Retreat Guide Video Update! Here is what is new and improved:

The introduction and meditations are now available as ONE video. Pause at anytime or click ahead to watch the next meditation.
The Personal Questionnaire/Group discussion questions are available in the Companion Guide Book or Small Group Companion Guide. Either download the PDF Companion Guide Book or purchase it. The Companion Guide Book is available for purchase from Amazon. Pause the video at any moment to go to the Companion Guide Book or continue to the next meditation.

Let’s begin by turning to the Holy Spirit, and humbly asking him to guide us in this Retreat.

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“Ask a Priest: Did John the Baptist Stumble in His Faith?”

May 30, 2017 / Ask a Priest

Q: Can you reconcile the seeming disparity between the question of St. John the Baptist coming from prison concerning Jesus as the messiah, and his earlier experience of baptizing Jesus and hearing the words from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”? Our priest in his homily yesterday seemed to see this as a big problem and somehow it discredited St. John the Baptist. – Y.G.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: John’s question has been interpreted in various ways. Some say that his question was really for the benefit of his followers, some of whom might have had doubts about Jesus.

Others take the question in Matthew 11:3 (“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”) at face value — that John has his own difficulties about Jesus as the messiah.

Both interpretations have merit. The act of faith in Christ isn’t a once-and-done kind of thing. Probably all of us who profess Jesus as our savior have, at one time or another, had our difficulties in trusting him or even questioning his will for us. We wonder if this is the spouse I really should have married, or whether we really were called to have that sixth child, or whether this monastery I entered 30 years ago is really the place for me.

Faith is a journey, and sometimes we lose sight of the star, as the magi did. That is when faith tells us to keep moving forward.

To put it another way, John’s question might have reflected his humanness, in the sense that he too didn’t always understand Jesus. Perhaps John thought the messiah would act differently. The footnote in the New American Bible on Matthew 11:3 says, “The question probably expresses a doubt of the Baptist that Jesus is the one who is to come (cf. Mal 3:1) because his mission has not been one of fiery judgment as John had expected (Mt 3:2).”

This doesn’t detract from John’s greatness. Jesus himself said that “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.”

Rather, John’s question shows his human side. And that gives us confidence to know if, we have our own difficulties at times, we aren’t unique.

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Poetry Matters: A Regnum Christi Essay on How Poetry Nourishes Our Integral Formation

May 30, 2017 / RC Essay

One important aspect of integral formation is what Regnum Christi describes as “human formation,” conceived to include the acquiring of a “rich and balanced personality, full of human virtues and values, which will serve as a solid base for the supernatural action of grace.” The acquisition of such a formation cannot be completely achieved without an understanding and appreciation of the great poetry of our human race, and to expound on that belief is the goal of this essay. This then is our plan: first, to explain the importance of poetry for an integral formation and the reasons behind it; secondly, to propose a possible list of poets and poems for Regnum Christi readers; and finally, to present examples of good poetry from a selected group of Regnum Christi members. This essay intends by no means to give a complete explanation of poetry, but to introduce it in a simple way, and thus propose it to be included in the different Regnum Christi programs of integral formation.

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Reclaiming Love: Connecting the Head and the Heart

May 29, 2017 / Book

Our most important mission in life is to love well!

There are a lot of different ideas in society today about what it means to love. What does real love look like? How do we live authentic love in our lives? This book is for everyone. Single, dating, engaged, married, priest –whoever and wherever you are!

Reclaiming Love: Connecting the Head and the Heart is a book that presents a convincing pathway to educate ourselves in love as a total gift of self. Our very happiness depends on this love.

Let’s dive deep and not be superficial – Love is way too important! Reclaiming Love offers you an excellent pathway to gather friends and talk “substance” about life! Perfect for any small group or book study.

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“Ask a Priest: Why Condemn Origen Along With His Writings?”

May 26, 2017 / Ask a Priest

Q: As part of a college course I have recently started reading about Origen, one of the early Christian theologians. I read that he was condemned by the Catholic Church for holding heretical beliefs but that some of his writings were considered canon. How is this? Furthermore, what does it mean to be condemned or “anathematized” by the Church? Is it the same as being excommunicated? Why couldn’t Origen’s writings just be condemned? I understand that we must fight against heresy, but what about being merciful and forgiving toward the person? Do I have to condemn/curse him too? – J.N.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: Two words need to be clarified here, namely, “condemned” and “canon.”

The word condemn in this context can easily be misinterpreted. The Church can condemn a work for its faulty ideas, as a way to warn people about its doctrinal mistakes.

The Church might also “anathematize,” or excommunicate, a person for holding on to seriously wrong ideas, since embracing such heresy puts his soul at risk. Excommunication, however, doesn’t mean the Church is sentencing a soul to perdition. The Church cannot do that. God alone is the judge of a soul.

In the case of Origen some of his later ideas weren’t acceptable to the Church and thus were condemned. This doesn’t mean that all of his writings were condemned. In fact, he is still studied as an important early Christian writer.

Pope Benedict XVI is something of a supporter of many of Origen’s (good) ideas. You can see from his general audience talks HERE and also HERE.

The other word is canon. “Canon” is usually applied to the list of books recognized as divinely inspired and include in Scripture. “Canon” in regard to early Christian writings has a looser meaning. These writings aren’t considered inspired in the same sense as biblical texts are, though they might have great value for understanding the mind and practices of the early Church. Some of Origin’s works fulfill those criteria.

By the way, the notions of the condemnation of writings and the excommunication of people are acts of charity, for two reasons.

First, it alerts others that certain writings have serious errors and should not be treated as real doctrine. This is part of the Church’s mission to teach the Gospel — a great act of charity.

Second, it sends a strong signal to a writer, if he is still living, that he needs to dissociate himself from certain faulty ideas, in part for the good of his own soul. This, too, is charity in the deep sense.

To allow someone to stay stuck in grave mistake is not an act of mercy but one of neglect or indifference.

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“Ask a Priest: What If I Still Feel Shame for Visiting a Bad Website?”

May 23, 2017 / Ask a Priest

Q: I visited a bad website some years ago and sent messages to some of its members. I was stupid enough to send my picture when the members asked me to. Later on, I realized that some of my work colleagues are on that website too. I figured it out only from their reaction toward me. They reported it to my line manager. The problem was that no one actually said anything, even when I asked. They said I was paranoid, so I don’t know who they are. I was out of that website and went to confession straight away, but stress and being ashamed isolated me and took me to the hospital. It challenged me for years; after all those years I am still ashamed of myself. I am being emotionally challenged sometimes even when I am at church, and if someone looks at me in a wrong way I imagine it might still spreading like leprosy. It eats away at me on the inside. I am praying lots and asking God for forgiveness but still can’t forgive myself. I don’t receive Communion even after being to confession as I don’t consider myself worthy. I would be grateful for your advice. – J.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: If you have been to confession and confessed your sin, then you should feel confident about receiving Communion again. Perhaps that is what you most need right now — the Eucharist will give you strength.

We all make mistakes. What gives us hope is the knowledge that we can receive God’s forgiveness and start over.

That is what you might try focusing on: God’s mercy. He is the one you will face at the end of life, not your co-workers. (It’s not even clear what your co-workers know or what they said, if anything, to your boss.)

God loves you and wants you to spend your energy on good things. So don’t worry about the past. Put it behind you. Get on with life. And avoid any misuse of Internet in the future.

You don’t want to stay stuck in the past. It isn’t what Jesus wants for you. Be confident of his mercy. And think about focusing on good things on Internet, such as the Retreat Guides you can find on this website.

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“Ask a Priest: Does Everyone Really Have a Right to the Sacraments?”

May 19, 2017 / Ask a Priest

Q: I recently participated in a ministry workshop at my parish when the priest said that “everybody” has the right to the sacraments; I inquired about the story narrated on the article attached and he reaffirmed “everybody has the right to the Sacraments.” [Editor’s note: The attached article spoke of a priest who denied someone Communion at a relative’s funeral because the priest read in an obituary that the man was living in a same-sex union. The article said that local bishops did not support the priest but rather apologized to the man.] I am confused between what I read in the article that I’m attaching and what the priest at my parish said. Could you tell me where is the truth on this topic and its corresponding support in the Catechism and the Gospel? – G.

Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC

A: Sometimes the word “right” is used in a very loose way when it comes to the sacraments.

The Catechism in No. 1269 says, in part, “Just as Baptism is the source of responsibilities and duties, the baptized person also enjoys rights within the Church: to receive the sacraments, to be nourished with the Word of God and to be sustained by the other spiritual helps of the Church.”

While there is a stated right to the sacraments, the Catechism in No. 1131 says of the sacraments, “They bear fruit in those who receive them with the required dispositions” [italics mine].

“Required dispositions” in the case of the Eucharist means that a person should be in a state of grace, that is, not knowingly have any mortal sins. To receive Communion in a state of mortal sin would be a sacrilege. St. Paul warns as much in this passage: “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27).

So the phrase “right to the sacraments” has to be understood in context. A teenager with little or no religious instruction, for instance, cannot get in line at a confirmation Mass and present himself to the bishop for anointing. A cohabiting couple couldn’t simply show one Saturday afternoon at the parish and demand their “right” to marry.

Now, distribution of Communion is a delicate business. Normally it is up to each person to examine his conscience as to whether he is worthy to receive. The middle of Mass is normally not the time nor the place for battles with a minister.

I won’t try to second-guess any bishops here, for the simple fact that: 1) I don’t know all the facts, and 2) bishops have the authority to intervene in these cases. There might be lots of reasons why it is not opportune for tensions to be raised in a Communion line at a funeral Mass.

Suffice it to say, then, that the right to a sacrament is always conditional, and usually the onus is on the person who presents himself for a sacrament.

Pastorally, I would avoid using the phrase “Everyone has a right the sacraments” since it can be easily misunderstood.

Normally, in the case of someone who appears to be in an irregular situation, it is usually up to the pastor to decide how to handle things. He might choose to approach a person discreetly and explain Church teaching about norms about receiving Communion. If it involves a high-profile person, such as a politician, this kind of thing might be best left for the bishop to decide.

One important clarification is needed here: A minister never knows the state of a person’s soul. God alone knows the heart and soul of a person. This distinction is crucial to understanding why a minister will normally not refuse Communion to someone in line at Mass.

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“Ask a Priest: Is It OK to Use the Bible to Divine the Future?”

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“Ask a Priest: What’s a Married Man to Do If He Has Same-Sex Attraction?”

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The Mystery of Eternal Love: A Retreat Guide on the Blessed Trinity

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“Ask a Priest: Did John the Baptist Stumble in His Faith?”

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Poetry Matters: A Regnum Christi Essay on How Poetry Nourishes Our Integral Formation

Reclaiming Love: Connecting the Head and the Heart

Reclaiming Love Video Guides

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“Ask a Priest: Why Condemn Origen Along With His Writings?”

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“Ask a Priest: What If I Still Feel Shame for Visiting a Bad Website?”

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“Ask a Priest: Does Everyone Really Have a Right to the Sacraments?”

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