Q & A

The following are questions from anonymous bloggers:

1)“I have an unrelated question. I like to learn about what different actions symbolize in the church. When a priest is ordained, why do they lay down face forward on the ground?”

It symbolizes the fact that they are laying down their lives for Christ and the Church as priests.


2) “Where did the titles Father, Brother, Sister, Deacon etc. come from?”

From newadvent.org: “The word Father is used in the New Testament to mean a teacher of spiritual things, by whose means the soul of man is born again into the likeness of Christ: ‘For if you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet not many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, by the gospel, I have begotten you. Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 4:15, 16; cf. Galatians 4:19). The first teachers of Christianity seem to be collectively spoken of as ‘the Fathers’ (2 Peter 3:4).”

I don’t know the exact origin of the terms Brother (11th cent.?) and Sister (9th cent.?), but I would guess that they are derivatives of the term Father in the sense that they provide great assistance and support to the priest in the Church family.

Deacon comes from the Greek word, diakonos, which means servant. The first deacons of the Church were selected by the Apostles (see Acts 6).


3)"St. Francis was ordained as a deacon so does that mean he had to go to Mass at a church or was there a priest in his group who conducted Mass?”

There were priests in his group who offered Mass.


4) “What are Charismatic Churches?”

The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Church that stresses the charisms (gifts or graces) of the Holy Spirit. Charismatic gatherings (Masses, prayer services, conferences, etc.) have an evangelical appearance, with high energy and intensity. Oftentimes, the focus is on the Spirit’s gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues, and healing.


5) “Stigmata - I would like to learn more about it. Are there good sound books about it?”

I can’t recommend any books at this time, but this website might provide some help or insight:
http://www.ewtn.com/padrepio/mystic/stigmata.htm