Adoration tonight!!

Adoration tonight, 7-8 pm, SAA Church. All are invited!!
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Here are some recent questions from bloggers:

Anon: “Was Jesus an Essene and if so did His life differ than from most of the people in His day? My understanding is that the Essenes really didn't interact with the rest of society.”

First of all, information about the Essenes is ambiguous and not completely reliable. From what we’ve been told, they were secretive in many ways, particularly with regards to their spirituality and devotions. They did interact with society, showing great care for the sick and welcoming strangers. They stressed asceticism and poverty which Jesus lived, so it has been assumed that Jesus was an Essene. But, that is only an assumption, and mere speculation.



HSPrincess: “God told us to go out a multiply (Genesis 9:7, i think), so why is chastity considered holy? Wouldn't God want us to procreate?”

First, let’s get our terms straight. Chastity is sexual purity, to which all persons (married, religious, single) are called. It means living sexuality in the way(s) that God intends. Living chastity means living holiness in the area of sexuality.

If you are referring to celibacy which is freely renouncing marriage, it has been deemed holy by Christ himself. Check out Mt 19:12. Jesus says that some are incapable of marriage because they have renounced it “for the sake of the kingdom”. In other words, God calls some people to sacrifice marriage for Him and His Church.

Most are called to live out what God says in Genesis, and unite as husband and wife and open to procreate. But, some are called to serve them. Celibacy frees those people (religious and single) to serve the rest (married, children, etc.)


Anon: “What is faith?”

From the Catechism (glossary): Faith
“Both a gift of God and a human act by which the believer gives personal adherence to God who invites his response, and freely assents to the whole truth that God has revealed. It is the revelation of God which the Church proposes for our belief, and which we profess in the Creed, celebrate in the sacraments, live by right conduct that fulfills the twofold commandment of charity (as specified in the ten commandments), and respond to in our prayer of faith. Faith is both a theological virtue given by God as grace, and an obligation which flows from the first commandment of God (#s 26, 142, 150, 1814, 2087).”