"It is you who have crucified him"

Questions from bloggers:

1)“WTFlarry!”: “Is there another way to make Confession other than physically? Is there a site for 'internet' confession?”

No and No. When people ask me if Confession can be done over the phone, I respond by asking if we can receive Holy Communion over the phone. They usually laugh off my question as being ridiculous and physically impossible. But, that’s the point – Sanctifying Grace can only be transmitted in person. Grace is the main reason we go to the sacraments, and it’s what makes a sacrament a sacrament. “A sacrament signifies the grace it contains”.



2) "Victoria" : "How does one find TV stations that carry The Mass? And, if one is not able to receive the Holy Eucharist or making confession, does the TV station qualify for observing Mass?"

The best Catholic TV network, in my opinion, is EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network). They have the Mass televised every day, as far as I know. To find local channels that carry EWTN, check out this link on the EWTN site - http://www.ewtn.com/channelfinder/

A canon lawyer wrote online, “Watching Mass on TV is fine, but it is a purely devotional exercise which does not qualify as liturgically "assisting" at Mass; thus, watching TV does not satisfy the Sunday and holy day obligation set out in 1983 CIC 1247-1248”. (This refers to Canon Law, specifically law # 1248 which is below).

*Can. 1248 §1. A person who assists at a Mass celebrated anywhere in a Catholic rite either on the feast day itself or in the evening of the preceding day satisfies the obligation of participating in the Mass.

§2. If participation in the eucharistic celebration becomes impossible because of the absence of a sacred minister or for another grave cause, it is strongly recommended that the faithful take part in a liturgy of the word if such a liturgy is celebrated in a parish church or other sacred place according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop or that they devote themselves to prayer for a suitable time alone, as a family, or, as the occasion permits, in groups of families.


3) Anon: “Do non catholics commit mortal sin by not going to mass on sunday, also who made that law.Tom.”

God made the law, Tom: “Keep Holy the Sabbath”. Christ gave the Church the commandment to celebrate the Eucharist (“do this in memory of me”). From the beginning (and documented as early as 150 A.D.), the Church has kept holy the Sabbath primarily in the context of the Mass.

If a non-Catholic has full knowledge about the Mass and the Sunday obligation and freely chooses to miss Mass, then he/she would commit a mortal sin. This is probably a rare scenario, and one that most likely occur only with someone who had been in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).


4) Anon:” If God is still alive, aren't the sins we commit another nail pounded into his hands?”


The Catechism of the Catholic Church says this:

Since our sins made the Lord Christ suffer the torment of the cross, those who plunge themselves into disorders and crimes crucify the Son of God anew in their hearts (for he is in them) and hold him up to contempt. And it can be seen that our crime in this case is greater in us than in the Jews. As for them, according to the witness of the apostle, “None of the rulers of this age understood this; for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” We, however, profess to know him. And when we deny him by our deeds, we in some way seem to lay violent hands on him. Nor did demons crucify him; it is you who have crucified him and crucify him still, when you delight in your vices and sins. (CCC 598, quoting St. Francis of Assisi, Admonitio 5.3)


Here’s a video montage of clips from “The Passion of the Christ”. It contains strong and graphic images.