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Want to know more about our Catholic faith? Monthly Faith Facts help adults to grow in knowledge and love of certain aspects of Catholic teaching. See a brief description of topics covered during 2014 below.
ARE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS PAGAN?
Are Christmas decorations pagan? What is the Christian symbolism of traditional Christmas plants such as mistletoe, holly, and the poinsettia? As we prepare to welcome the Child Jesus at Christmas, this week’s Faith Fact explains the deeper truths contained within these festive decorations.
THE MIRACULOUS IMAGE OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
“Know for certain, least of my sons, that I am the perfect and perpetual Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God through whom everything lives, the Lord of all things near and far, the Master of heaven and earth.” ~ Words of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan DiegoWho is Our Lady of Guadalupe? What is the significance of her image on St. Juan Diego’s tilma? As our parish welcomes the Our Lady of Guadalupe relic, this week’s Faith Fact explains the rich symbolism found in the miraculous tilma, which led to the conversion of 10 million Aztecs and vanquished their practice of human sacrifice. Copies are available in the back of church and on our parish and school websites.
WHAT ARE RELICS?
“The sacred bodies of the holy martyrs and of the other saints living with Christ, which have been living members of Christ and the temple of the Holy Spirit and which are destined to be raised and glorified by Him unto life eternal, should also be venerated by the faithful. Through them, many benefits are granted to men by God.” ~ The Council of Trent (1563)What are relics? What meaning do they have for Christians? As we prepare to welcome the Our Lady of Guadalupe relic to our parish, this week’s Faith Fact explains the role of relics in the Christian spiritual life.
In this age of euthanasia, do we recognize the dignity of the dying? As we prepare for the annual March for Life and celebrate our parish’s Festival of Life, this week’s Faith Fact discusses the value and beauty that can be found through the pain of the dying process.
CATHOLIC TRADITIONS FOR ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS
“When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing in the long preparation for the Savior’s first coming, the faithful renew their ardent desire for his second coming. By celebrating [John the Baptist’s] birth and martyrdom, the Church unites herself to his desire: ‘He must increase, but I must decrease.’” ~ Catechism, no. 524
How can families better live the spirit of Advent and Christmas in their homes? As we approach the season of Advent, this week’s Faith Fact provides ten activities to help Catholic families fully experience the joy and blessings of this holy season. Copies are available in the back of church and on our parish and school websites.“Crucified spiritually with her crucified Son (cf. Gal. 2:20), she contemplated with heroic love the death of her God, she ‘lovingly consented to the immolation of this Victim which she herself had brought forth’ (LG 58) … as she was in a special way close to the Cross of her Son, she also had to have a privileged experience of his Resurrection. In fact, Mary’s role as co-redemptrix did not cease with the glorification of her Son.” ~ Pope John Paul II
What is Mary’s role in our salvation? Isn’t Jesus Christ the one Mediator between God and man? This week’s Faith Fact examines Mary’s titles of Co-redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate to explain her role in our lives.Is the celebration of Halloween a pagan feast? May a Catholic celebrate in good conscience? This Faith Fact explores the history of this popular American holiday.
THE GIFT OF CHILDREN
“A child is not something owed to one, but is a gift. The ‘supreme gift of marriage’ is a human person.” ~ Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2378
What does marriage have to do with children? Does the Church think that marriage is a mere “instrument” for having children? Why does the Church teach that “in vitro fertilization” is unacceptable? This Faith Fact examines frequently asked questions about the “supreme gift” of children in marriage.THE CHURCH'S NORMS ON CREMATION
“[T]he Church earnestly recommends that the pious custom of burying the bodies of the dead be observed; it does not, however, forbid cremation unless it has been chosen for reasons which are contrary to Christian teaching.” ~Code of Canon Law, no. 1176 §3
May a Catholic’s cremated remains be present at the funeral liturgy celebrated for him? What may be done with a person’s cremated remains after the funeral? This Faith Fact explains the Church’s norms for cremation.
THE CARDINAL VIRTUES 3: FORTITUDE AND TEMPERANCE
“And if any one loves righteousness, [wisdom’s] labors are virtues; for she teaches self-control [i.e., temperance] and prudence, justice and courage [i.e., fortitude]; nothing in life is more profitable for men than these.”
~Wisdom 8:7
What are the cardinal virtues of fortitude and temperance? What moral virtues are related to these virtues? This Faith Fact includes the two facets of fortitude, the true practice of temperance, and a list of related moral virtues.
THE CARDINAL VIRTUES 2: PRUDENCE AND JUSTICE
“And if any one loves righteousness, [wisdom’s] labors are virtues; for she teaches self-control [i.e., temperance] and prudence, justice and courage [i.e., fortitude]; nothing in life is more profitable for men than these.”
~Wisdom 8:7
What are the cardinal virtues of prudence and justice? What moral virtues are related to these virtues? This Faith Fact includes the three stages of prudence, the three basic forms of justice, and a list of related moral virtues.
THE CARDINAL VIRTUES 1
“And if any one loves righteousness, [wisdom’s] labors are virtues; for she teaches self-control [i.e., temperance] and prudence, justice and courage [i.e., fortitude]; nothing in life is more profitable for men than these.”
~Wisdom 8:7
What are the cardinal virtues? What is the role of the cardinal virtues in the Christian life? This Faith Fact introduces the cardinal virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. These virtues, which are the basis of the other human virtues, will be explained in detail in the upcoming weeks.
CONTRACEPTION AND STERILIZATION: ARE THEY MORTAL SINS?
“The regulation of births represents one of the aspects of responsible fatherhood and motherhood. Legitimate intentions on the part of the spouses do not justify recourse to morally unacceptable means (for example, direct sterilization or contraception).” ~Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2399
Are contraception and sterilization mortal sins? To demonstrate the consistent teaching of the Church on these issues, this Faith Fact highlights twelve quotes from the past twenty centuries that discuss the grave sinfulness of contraception and sterilization.