Catholic East Texas
The Magazine of the Diocese of Tyler
Open Wide the Door
By Sonja Morin – At this age where we are choosing our careers, discerning our vocations, and finding “home” among loved ones, this is especially important to remember. There are circumstances in our lives which we can’t control. There are times when dreams are fulfilled, and times where our perfect visions fail. The unpredictability of life is probably the most certain fact about it.
Novissima Pt. 4: Purgatory
By Fr. John-Mary S. W. Bowlin, KCHS – We require purification after death before we can enter Heaven, because while all sins dirty the soul, not all of them are mortal, that is, deadly (1 John 5:16-17). The word traditionally used for this “prison” (using the image that Jesus used) by which we are cleansed “as through fire” is Purgatory.
Novissima Pt. 3: Death
Fr. John-Mary S.W. Bowlin, KCHS
Love is concerned with the present and the duties of the present, pleasing the Beloved now. Holiness is, practically speaking, fulfilling the duties of our state in life. Therefore, we should understand our duties well – our duties to God, our neighbor and ourselves, as well as the priorities of our duties, while also accepting our limitations.
Novissima Pt. 2: Called to be Saints
Holiness is not beyond our grasp—it is what we were all created for! We give glory to God by fulfilling his will which he summarized in the two Great Commandments (Matt. 22:37-39). The example of the saints is so important because it shows us what love looks like in action. In order to follow their examples, we have to know their lives, which is why we should read and study the lives of the saints.
St. Joseph: Just, Wise, and Faithful
The sacred liturgy is always the safeguard of the Church’s teaching, and specifically in her prayers of the Mass and the rituals, we see the unfolding of our theology in practice. A privileged place to see this is in the Preface Prayer, which begins with the dialogue between the priest and people and culminating in the prayer of the Sanctus, or Holy, Holy, Holy. In this article, I want to encourage you to read through the text of the Preface for the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pay closer attention to the text, what it says and how it should be a prayer that shapes the way you can understand who Joseph is and what he offers us as a saintly example, second only to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Novissima Pt. 1: Judgment, Hell and Heaven
We are created to know, love, and serve God in this life, so as to be happy with him in the next. In fact, everything exists for our union with God, through Christ, in His Mystical Body, the Church. While God’s plan for each person differs from person to person, every man, woman and child who has ever lived and will ever live, was created to be a saint. No matter our state in life, our wealth, or education, we are all called to enjoy eternal life with God in Heaven.
You Too Go Into My Vineyard: Meet Newly Ordained Fr. Martin Ahiaba
“If you are walking along the street and find a crumpled one-hundred-dollar bill in the gutter, will you go in there and pick it up?” Fr. Ahiaba asked. “…Yes! Because of the value. That is how the human soul is before God. Wherever you are trashed or dumped, he comes down there and picks you up. That is the approach that I see. That you have value. Their life is created in the image and likeness of God. Of course, we do not say that what they did is good; they did not steal candy to get into prison. Some are the most dangerous people in Texas, but still, they have value.”
Book Review: A Church in Crisis
Review by Dr. Luke Arredondo
We need to center our lives around the Eucharist, nourish our minds and hearts by reading and reverencing the Scriptures, and beg upon and trust in the power of the Holy Spirit. Rather than give in to sorrow about the current crises facing the Church, Martin exhorts all of us to cling more steadfastly to the Lord. As Bishop Strickland is fond of saying, we need to be first century Christians in a twenty first century world.
Responding to God’s Search for Us
From the very beginning of the Catechism, the Church proclaims to its reader the good news of salvation. God, who is completely perfect in himself, chose to create man to share his eternal life. This is God’s will for man – that man share in his blessed life for all eternity.
Francesco: Be Not Afraid
Yesterday, Catholic and secular news outlets were reporting on a new documentary featuring Pope Francis, titled “Francesco” which has yet to appear in North America, but made its Vatican premier on Wednesday. The primary reason there has been so much discussion about...
Seriously? Shutting Down Public Masses? A Canonist Responds
In many ways, we find ourselves in an unprecedented situation, a time when a new virus can spawn a worldwide pandemic in 90 days, and a time when we can continually keep up with the spread on our phones. With the endless stream of news and opinions, some are bound to...
Do Not Put the Lord to the Test: Lessons for the COVID-19 Pandemic
Imagine being in a desert for forty days by yourself. There is no easy access to the comforts of life. You quickly become hungry and thirsty. With no sign of civilization, the loneliness can weigh you down. And the desert is dangerous. Life is unpredictable, and one...
