catholic culture website

Question from Ronan on 12/7/2007:

The website Catholic Culture in a review for a website by a Baptist says that we should keep the man who run's the website in our prayers because 'since outside the Church there is no salvation'. The website is implying that he and all protestant's are going to Hell which is not what the Church teaches.I thought Catholic Culture was a orthodox website which was faithful to the teachings of the Church but it is teaching in error. Go to the Catholic Culture website and search for 'just for catholics' in it's search engine to see this. The website is www.catholicculture.org

Answer by Fr. Robert J. Levis on 12/8/2007:

Ronan, I can't take on the responsibility of patrolling the many websites that claim to be Catholic. Just don't have the time to do this. Why not strike out after dissenters yourself????? Most of the posters are very well instructed in their Faith to serve as serious representatives of Catholicism. With the loss of so many priests these days, our good laymen and laywomen might have to serve in ways we priests used to be able to serve. God b less. Fr. Bob Levis

Eucharistic Minister - Candles

Question from A on 12/1/2007:

The elderly gentleman I give Communion to at home now is on oxygen and we can not light candles in his room.

Does it need to be candle light or if I can find something battery operated, would that be ok to use instead?

Answer by Richard Geraghty on 12/9/2007:

Dear A,

That would certainly be OK.

fatima third secret

Question from anon on 12/10/2007:

will the events in the third secret of fatima really happen? or likely to happen? I work at a 33 storey high building, and if ever such an event will happen, I'll surely will be buried alive. I'm on the 31st floor and really getting very scared.

Thank You

Godbless

Answer by Richard Geraghty on 12/11/2007:

Dear Anon,

Relax. The Fatima secret has nothing to do with that.

Dr. Geraghty

The Fatima Crusader

Question from BMS on 10/8/2007:

When I was coming out of church one day last week there was some small magazines on the table at the front door. It is called the Fatima Crusader published by the National Pilgrim Virgin of Canada. It is dated back in the winter of 2002. In it is mentioned a Father Gruner & when I googled him there is all kinds of information on him. Do you know if he is in good standing with the Vatican? Also is this a good Catholic publication? In reading parts of it quickly it seemed to be critizising some of the higher prelates at the Vatican & talking about the Masons taking control in some areas. It was very disconcerting to me. Should it have been available at my church? Thank you.

Answer by David Gregson on 11/27/2007:

No, Fatima Crusader should not have been available at your church. Perhaps copies were placed on the table without your priest's knowledge. See FAQ Fr. Gruner, Fátima Crusader, Catholic Family News.

Mysteries of the Rosary

Question from Andrew on 11/22/2007:

I'm not sure if this is the correct forum, but I have a question about when to pray the Mysteries. In the traditional way, one would say the Joyful Mysteries on Sundays in Advent, the Sorrowful during Sundays in Lent, and the Glorious the rest of the year. With the addition of the Luminous Mysteries, am I always to say the Glorious Mysteries on Sunday, or does this change with the liturgical season?

Thank you and God bless!

Answer by Fr. Jay Toborowsky on 12/3/2007:

Good question. I'm not sure how the Luminous Mysteries affect the recitation of the Rosary on Sundays. I'd say mix it up a bit between the Glorious and the Luminous mysteries on the Sundays of Ordinary Time.

Santuary Candle

Question from Margie Pearson on 11/17/2007:

We keep a candle burning beside the tabernacle in our church. It has been the practice here to let the candle go out before lighting another one--in most cases this happens during the night.

I have heard this is NOT permissable--that the candle should be a perpetual light for Jesus being present in the tabernacle. I have also heard if it does go out the priest is required to spend an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament in reparation for this violation. Please let me know if any or all of this is true according to the Church. Thank You, Margie

Answer by Fr. Jay Toborowsky on 11/23/2007:

Canon Law is specific that a sanctuary candle should burn near a Tabernacle to show the faithful that the Eucharist is reserved there. But there is no specific rule which assigns a "penalty" (though spending an hour with the Lord in the Sacrament is hardly a penalty), should the candle burn out. Some parishes do change the candle when the wax gets low and the candle might burn out soon. Others, especially the parishes which allow parishioners to make a monetary offering for the candle so that it burns for a particular prayer intention, let the candle burn out before lighting another one. The bottom line is that the candle should never be intentionally left unlit except for Good Friday when the Tabernacle is empty. If the priest or a sacristan discovers that the candle has burnt out (or perhaps the wick has blown out for some reason), it should be relit.

Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Question from JH on 12/4/2007:

I am almost weary trying to find a Mass to fulfill our obligation for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The bishop of our diocese has been silent on this issue -- no guidance whatsoever. I have emailed his office and his secretary responded that she "thinks" December 8th is a holy day of obligation.

Our pastor is celebrating a Mass on the morning of December 8th, but the liturgy will be for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (because the ladies of the parish want to celebrate it then) and NOT for the holy day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Our pastor announced to the congregation that if we go to the 5PM Mass on Saturday, December 8th, it will fulfill BOTH the holy day Mass obligation and the Second Sunday of Advent Mass obligation. Isn't this double dipping? It seems that our priests and the faithful have less and less time for our Lord and his Mother these days.

I have looked on the USCCB website to get an official ruling on the holy day for this year -- but have found nothing. Can you provide a link to anything that I can send to my pastor? Thank you.

Answer by Catholic Answers on 12/4/2007:

J. H.--

Recommended reading:

Can I go to a Saturday vigil Mass for the Immaculate Conception?

Michelle Arnold
Catholic Answers