Lesson Eighteen Update

If this lesson on tolerance is a tough one for you, you may be comforted by the words of the writer G.K. Chesterton who said, "Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions." When we love our faith, we want others to love it, or at least respect it, as well. We just have to remember to defend our faith the right way.

While I was buying my groceries this afternoon, I was thinking some more about our conversation on receiving communion--the where, when, and why--and in some ways, I think it can be compared to our thinking about heaven and purgatory. When you understand that being in heaven means being with God, purgatory makes sense; I want to be ready and made right before I go to God. Now apply that kind of reasoning to your thinking about the Eucharist. Once you understand what the Eucharist means, don't you want to be ready and made right to receive Jesus? That means that you are fulfilling all the requirements that the Church has professed that will make you ready to receive the Body and Blood of Christ.

I found an excellent article on the Catholic Answers web site that may answer some of your questions on this topic. It is written in the form of an imaginary conversation between a Catholic and a non-Catholic. If you read it, let me know what you think about it.
Why Is Communion for Catholics Only?

In case you're interested, here are my notes from today's lesson as well.
Lesson Eighteen Notes

Have a wonderful week! Don't forget, we have a big review lesson in two weeks, so don't wait until the last minute. I will get a study guide up ASAP.

Lesson Eighteen

Tick, tock. We're really winding down on our study of Romans. I must admit that I struggled with a little bit of spring fever yesterday, but I got my homework done before I went outside!

This lesson is about tolerance. It is still a very timely topic, because we live in a time when we are preached to about zero-tolerance, on one hand, and what I would call over-indulgent tolerance, on the other. We know we need to all try a get along, but it's never easy. In addition to the study guide, I have also provided a link to a Vatican decree on ecumenism that we'll refer to in our discussion on this lesson.

Don't forget to keep checking in on the Pope this week. He looks great for 81, doesn't he? See you on the 24th!

Lesson Eighteen Study Guide

"Unitatis Redintegratio" ("Restoration of Unity") The Second Vatican Council's Decree on Ecumenism

Lesson Seventeen Update

Next week we have a great opportunity as American Catholics to follow the Pope's visit to our country. People will be talking about his visit, and we should be ready to be good ambassadors for our faith. While he is here, I would encourage you to look for coverage of this event apart from the mainstream press. In fact, if you look just to the right of this post, I have provided you with links to two websites that should be great resources concerning everything about his trip: the websites of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and EWTN.

A video taped message from the Pope to the US:


We had a really good session today. It's amazing how a letter written to some Romans a couple of thousand years ago still speaks to us today. Even though it meant "staying after school" for a while, I was glad that we were able to get through my bit on "Dogma, Doctrine, and Canon Law", too. I know I tend to harp on the value of the Catechism, but I'd just hate to see anyone get to their judgment and claim ignorance on a sin that separated them from God, and having God's response be, "What, you couldn't read?" (I picture Mel Brooks as God saying that with a thick Jewish accent!)

Be good. See you on April 24.
Lesson Seventeen Study Guide w/Notes
Catechism Lesson: Doctrine, Dogma, and Canon Law