Dear Father

DEAR FATHER | Scripture does much to explain Real Presence in the Eucharist

Wed, 15 May 2013 21:58:59 +0000

Father John Mayo

The Church bases her belief in the Real Presence on divine revelation in both Scripture and tradition. Since a majority of Christians recognize Scripture as part of divine revelation, I will begin here.

Dear Father | Calling Mary 'woman' leads us to deeper faith with Christ

Thu, 09 May 2013 17:25:09 +0000

By Father John Mayo

Q: Why does Jesus, particularly in St. John's Gospel, call Mary 'woman' and not 'mother'?

There are two places in St. John's Gospel where Jesus refers to Mary as "woman." The first is at the wedding feast of Cana, after Mary informs Jesus that the newly married couple has run out of wine. Our Lord responds by saying, "'Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come'" (John 2:4). The second time is at the crucifixion when Jesus entrusts Mary to St. John; He says, "Woman, behold, your son" (John 19:26).

DEAR FATHER | Holy Spirit found in inspiration of Old Testament authors

Wed, 01 May 2013 23:16:33 +0000

By Father John Mayo

Q: Where can I find the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament?

We can first find the Holy Spirit's presence in the Old Testament, and really in the entire Bible, in His inspiration of the sacred authors of the text. The Spirit inspires the prophecies of the Old Testament, sees their fulfillment in Christ and confirms the Church in the truth of Christ through the writings of the New Testament. While He inspires the biblical authors, He is also actively at work in the Bible in both the Old and New Testaments.

Dear Father | Doxology at end of Our Father comes down to understanding interpretations of early texts, Gospel

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 03:19:40 +0000

Father John Mayo

The Our Father is an eternally beautiful prayer that is cherished by all Christians. Yet this sacred prayer, which came from Our Lord, is one place where sad divisions of His Church are seen. How can we make sense of the division in the ending of this prayer between Catholics and many other Christians?

Dear Father | Easter is more than one day of celebration of the Risen Christ

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:27:22 +0000

By Msgr. Matthew Mitas

Q: What do we mean when we say Easter is a season?

When I was growing up in the 1960s, I loved to watch the movies that were set in biblical times, but I found myself wistfully repining to have lived in those sacred days of yore when Divinity walked the earth. I don't think I was the only one. It seems that Jesus anticipated that and took measures to make it possible for us, who live 20 centuries too late, to have been eyewitnesses to the events of our salvation as they occurred. To become partakers in them, nonetheless.

Dear Father | The separation of body and soul at death is only temporary

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:21:22 +0000

By Father John Mayo

Q. Are those who die in a spiritual form or in a bodily form, like our Blessed Mother and Christ?

At the moment of our death, our body lies in death, but our soul is summoned before our Lord for judgment. This judgment is, in the words of St. John of the Cross, to be a judgment on how we loved during our lives.

Papal infallibility is reserved to the Petrine office

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 23:04:51 +0000

Msgr. Matthew Mitas

It's not surprising that a lot of people are unsure about the status of an "ex-pope," seeing as how we haven't had one in 600 years. The Holy Father's surprise announcement caught a lot of people off guard, to be sure, but in the context of the Church's 2,000-year history, papal resignation is not unheard of, so there's no confusion about just exactly what that status is. In order to understand it, let's review what the Church teaches about the Petrine Office.

Jesus came to save all, including those who came before Him

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 16:56:38 +0000

By Father John Mayo

Q. In the Apostles Creed, we say that Jesus descended into hell. What does that mean?

In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14). This is for us a very consoling image of Jesus watching over us as members of His flock. We can also think of Jesus as the Good Shepherd who brings back those who have strayed. Both views of Jesus the Good Shepherd bring us great consolation at His loving actions for all of us.

Dear Father | Difference between Mass and Communion service lies in 'full meal experience'

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:27:34 +0000

Father John Mayo

Q: What is the difference between a Communion service and holy Mass?

One popular way of describing holy Mass to a non-Catholic is through the image of a family meal. The family gathers and begins to catch up with one another through sharing stories from their lives. Then, the meal is set on the table, grace is said, and the family partakes in it. At the end of the meal all help to clean up, before finally exchanging their goodbyes and going their separate ways.

Dear Father | Immaculate Conception of Mary is essential to God's plan for salvation

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 02:29:27 +0000

By Father John Mayo

Q: I thought that the Immaculate Conception was about the conception of Jesus, but people tell me it is about the conception of Mary. Can you clarify this?

In God's salvific plan, before Jesus could be born, God needed a suitable mother who would not only be willing to bear God's Son in her womb, but also be spiritually prepared for this unique, grace-filled event.

Dear Father | Celebrating Mass in the early Church was well understood by the Apostles

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 19:07:23 +0000

Msgr. Matthew Mitas

Q: When did the Church start celebrating Mass daily?

The New Testament is practically our only source for any information on the activities of the newborn Catholic Church. Since it was written mostly for the benefit of those who already believed in Christ and were living the life of the Church, it leaves out a great many details about the normal, routine elements of Catholic life, mentioning them only in passing or when dealing with some pastoral or doctrinal issue that involved them.

Dear Father | Feast days, monks helped growth of daily Mass

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:19:47 +0000

By Msgr. Matthew Mitas

Q. When did the Church start celebrating Mass daily?

There are certain practices that are so intrinsic to the exercise of our Catholic faith that people assume that they were in existence in every age and every place from the very beginning. This is often not the case. Daily Mass and a great many other Catholic observances that are now a huge part of the devotional life of the faithful have come to us through a gradual and organic evolution.

Dear Father | The difference between God's actions in Old and New Testaments lies in preparedness

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 22:08:16 +0000

By Father John Mayo

Q: How are we to understand God's actions in the Old Testament, when He ordered so many killings and other things we now consider immoral, while Jesus in the New Testament reveals a loving Father?

In the Old Testament, God permits the people of Israel to put the population inhabiting the Promised Land under the ban, killing every person who inhabited the land. Contrast this to Christ in the New Testament, who teaches to love one's enemies and to turn the other cheek. What a contrast for the same God!

Dear Father | Pastoral judgment key to reception of Anointing of the Sick

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 20:03:34 +0000

By Msgr. Matthew Mitas

Q: I know that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is regularly given to those whose maladies are not necessarily life-threatening, but how often can a person who is sick receive the sacrament?

Calling a priest 'Father' is humbling reminder of responsibility to guide the faithful to God

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 19:53:12 +0000

Father John Mayo

Jesus said this to a crowd after silencing the Sadducees and Pharisees, two religious groups that continuously sought to trip up Jesus in His teachings. He accuses the scribes and Pharisees in particular of usurping the chair of Moses as their own and teaching from there great burdens for the people to follow.