Full Question The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that if a person makes a “perfect” act of contrition, his mortal sins are forgiven if he has the firm amendment to go to sacramental confession as soon as possible. Does this mean that a person in the pew at Sunday morning Mass, after supposedly making a perfect act of contrition, can receive the Eucharist at that Mass? Answer First, to clarify, the Catechism speaks of “perfect contrition,” not a “perfect act of contrition.” This is an important distinction because it is not a......
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By Matt Hadro Washington D.C., Jun 17, 2016 / 03:48 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A virtual brouhaha erupted Thursday after Pope Francis said in unscripted remarks that “the great majority” of marriages today are null, due to a “provisional” culture in which people do not understand permanent commitment. Although his comment was later revised to say that “a portion” of marriages are null, the question remains: What exactly makes a marriage invalid?“It’s certainly in my experience that the kind of provisional culture, the conditional and temporary way in which we view real permanent institutions,......
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Question If two people live together before marriage and do not go to confession before their wedding in a Catholic Church, is their marriage valid in the eyes of the Church? Answer The validity of the sacrament does not depend on the holiness of the couple. “This is the meaning of the Church’s affirmation that the sacraments act ex opere operato[literally, ‘by the very fact of the action being performed’], i.e., by virtue of the saving work of Christ, accomplished once for all. It follows that ‘the sacrament is not wrought by the......
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How Could Someone Be Born Without Original Sin? Adam and Eve, by disobeying God’s command not to eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 2:16-17; Genesis 3:1-19), brought sin and death into this world. Roman Catholic doctrine and tradition hold that Adam’s sin has been passed down from generation to generation. It is not simply that the world around us has been corrupted by Adam’s sin in such a way that all those who have followed have found it nearly impossible not to sin (an admittedly......
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Question I was born and raised in the Mormon Church, went on a mission, and did everything a good Mormon should do, including tithing. Since my wife and I converted to the Catholic Church we still have nagging doubts that we should be tithing to our parish (as we did when we were Mormons: ten percent of our gross income), except that it’s much harder to do so now that we have several children. The Mormon Church taught me that tithing is mandatory. What’s the Catholic Church’s position? Answer Although the Church teaches......
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Question Many Protestants celebrate communion on occasion; Catholics celebrate it at every Mass as an integral part of their worship. If Christ’s death atoned for all sins, why is it celebrated at each Mass? Answer The Mass holds the place it does in Catholic worship because becomes of the Real Presence of Christ in the Catholic Eucharist. When Jesus has deigned to become present in that manner, it automatically becomes the most important form of worship. There are many forms of Catholic worship beside the Mass, and the celebration of the Eucharist is......
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ISSUE: What is the role of godparents (sponsors)? What are the Catholic Church’s norms regarding godparents? May a Catholic serve as a godparent for a non-Catholic? May a non-Catholic Christian serve as a godparent for a Catholic? Finally, may a Catholic have more than one godfather and godmother? DISCUSSION: To understand the role of godparents, we must first understand the purpose and effects of Baptism and Confirmation. In addition to the forgiveness of all sins (cf. Catechism, no. 1263) and the placement of an indelible mark on the person’s soul (cf. Catechism, nos.......
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The obligation? The Code of Canon Law states: On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to assist at Mass. They are also to abstain from such work or business that would inhibit the worship to be given to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, or the due relaxation of mind and body (canon 1247). The Catechism of the Catholic Church reiterates this precept of the Church (CCC 2180), with a proviso: The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason......
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QUESTION My husband and I married in the Catholic Church, but now I am separated from my husband and in the process of divorce and annulment. Priests have told me that I can date and still receive the sacraments if the relationships are pure and entered into prayerfully. Is this correct? ANSWER No. Currently you are not even legally divorced, much less have you received a decree of nullity from the Church. Until the latter happens, you must presume that you are a married woman and may not date anyone. Once you are......
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