The Passover of the Lamb

As with any great event in our lives, there are some preparations which may be done at a more remote time, and some which can only be done more proximately.  Our preparations for the Passover of the Lamb of God are no different.  Before Lent, we began to pack our bags for our forty day journey, discarding those things that would only weigh us down on our pilgrimage and packing the essentials to ensure the success of our trip.  But now, the goal of our journey is fast approaching, and a more proximate preparation must be made. 

It must have been about this time that the faithful Jews began to leave their worldly homes to make their way to the spiritual home, Jerusalem, where all would gather each year for the great festal days of Passover.  In like manner, let us lift up our eyes and see the Holy City of Jerusalem set in wondrous array on the horizon of our Lenten Journey.  Let us see the Cross of Christ being set up, and the empty tomb being made ready for the entombment of the Savior.  For today the Lamb of God makes his way to the Passover, wherein he will pass mankind over from death to life, from slavery to freedom, from the tomb to Paradise.  As has been our custom during this Lenten season, let us once again turn to the wisdom of the Church, and sitting at the feet of Saint Gregory Nazianzen, let us continue our preparations for the Passover of God.

The Lamb of God: Understanding the Sacrifice of Christ
Rev. Paul Schenck
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Saint James Catholic Church, Falls Church, VA

Salvation - a reflection by Dcn. Sabatino - Part 4

Over the past couple weeks, we have considered the topic of our salvation, as it is understood from both the Catholic and Protestant perspectives.  Once again, from the Catholic perspective, salvation consists in being made a sharer in God’s own life, and by this gift or grace, man is justified, or made right, in the eyes of God.  From the Protestant perspective, God’s grace is not something that justifies man interiorly, rather it is God’s declaration of justification, apart from any real interior justification of the soul. 

The Cross of Christ: The Bridge to Paradise

Soon all faithful followers of Christ will lay prostrate before His holy passion.  Soon the Body of Christ, the Catholic Church, will be nailed to the Holy Cross with her Savior.  Soon all of us who have made the great journey of Lent will stand in the cool mist of Easter morning to see for ourselves the Risen Lord.  Let us contemplate the mysteries that lie before us through the beautiful teaching of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Father and Doctor of the Church.

          Death trampled Our Lord underfoot, but he in his turn treated death as a highroad for his own feet.  He submitted to it, enduring it willingly, because by this means he would be able to destroy death in spite of itself.  Death had its own way when Our Lord went out from Jerusalem carrying his cross; but when, by a loud cry from that cross, he summoned the dead from the underworld, death was powerless to prevent it.

Outside the Church There Is No Salvation with Deacon Sabatino, Part Two

Part Two - March 20, 2012

 

Salvation - a reflection by Dcn. Sabatino - Part 3

In my last two posts, we considered the issue of salvation, as it is understood from both the Catholic and Protestant positions.  From the Catholic perspective, salvation consists in being made a sharer in God’s own life, and by this gift or grace, man is justified, or made right, in the eyes of God.  From the Protestant perspective, God’s grace is not something that justifies man interiorly, rather it is God’s declaration of justification.  In other words, God declares man to be justified, apart from any real interior justification of the soul.  Today, we will consider the reason for the Protestant position.  At the end of this week, we will consider the foundation for the Catholic answer.

Leader of the Copts in Egypt, Pope Shenouda, passes away

Pope Shenouda, the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Egypt, passed away on Saturday. He was the leader of a church that had seen much violence and oppression, and one of the strong voices calling for unity in the Church. For more, please see http://byztex.blogspot.com/2012/03/coptic-pope-shenouda-iii-has-reposed-in.html.

Salvation - a reflection by Dcn. Sabatino - Part 2

As I wrote previously, the fundamental point that divides Catholics and Protestants is the question of salvation.  Although issues about Mary, the Papacy, or the Eucharist may, in fact, be the most popular topics of debate, the issue of salvation and the related issues of justification and sanctification are the foundation for all that divides western Christendom.  If this is resolved, all other issues will fall away.  Again, for Catholics, salvation consists in God actually making us sharers in his own blessed life (cf. CCC, 1).  On the other hand, for Protestants, God saves mankind by divine fiat, declaring man to be justified in his sight, while ignoring the actual state of his soul. 

The fundamental reality that is at stake here is the nature grace; what is it, and how does it affect man’s life? 

The Mid-Point of our Journey

We are now at the middle of the great journey of Lent.  With the help of the wisdom of Saint Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, let us reflect upon our journey thus far, always keeping before our eyes the glorious day of the Resurrection of God.

Give thanks, Brethren, to the Divine Mercy Which has brought you safely halfway through the season of Lent.  For this favor they give praise to God, thankfully and with devotion, who in these days have striven to live in the manner which they were instructed at the beginning of Lent; that is, those who, coming with eagerness to the Church, have sought with sighs and tears, in daily fasting and almsdeeds, to obtain the forgiveness of their sins.

Biblical References from "Outside the Church" Presentation

For those who were scrambling to go from verse to verse or are wanting to revisit the Scripture reviewed, here are all the Bible references Deacon Sabatino referenced at the March 13, 2012 lecture on "Outside the Church: There Is No Salvation: Understanding Catholic Ecclesiology":

2 Peter 1:4
Jn 17:3
Jn. 14:6
1 Tim 2:5
Col. 2:9
Jn. 1:1
Acts 2:37-38
Rom. 6
Gal. 3:26
Jn. 3:1 – 5
1 Cor 12:12 - 27
Col. 1:24
Eph. 4:4 – 16

Also, as promised, here is the quotation from The Shepherd of Hermas:
"While I slept, brethren, a revelation was made to me by a very handsome young man, who said to me, 'Who do you think the old woman is, from whom you received the little book?'  I said, the Sibyl.'  'You are wrong,' He said: 'She is not.'  'Who is she, then?' I said.  'The Church,' he replied.  So I said to him, 'Why, then is she old?' 'Because,' he said, 'she was created the first of all things.  That is why she is old.  It was for her sake that the world was established.'”

"Outside the Church There Is No Salvation" with Dcn. Sabatino Carnazzo

Outside the Church There Is No Salvation: Understanding Catholic Ecclesiology
Rev. Deacon Sabatino Carnazzo
Tuesdays, March 13 & 20, 2012
Saint Ambrose Church Hall, Annandale, VA

Part One - March 13, 2012


Part Two - March 20, 2012

Salvation - a reflection by Dcn. Sabatino - Part 1

For Catholics, being challenged by our Protestant brethren with questions about our salvation can be unsettling, and even embarrassing.  Why is it that Protestants seem so sure of their salvation, while Catholics are left uncertain as to their eternal destiny?  The answer to this question, and ultimately the answer to our Protestant brethren, is that Catholic theology and Protestant theology diverge on this most important issue, forming the foundation for all further protests against Catholic teaching.  Ultimately, if this issue of man’s salvation is resolved, all other problems that exist between Catholic and Protestant theology will fall away.  Over the next couple weeks, we will consider this topic in some detail, working toward a Biblically-based, authentic Christian concept of salvation. 

Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving

Having entered upon the great and glorious journey of Lent, we again turn to the wisdom of Holy Mother Church.  Seated this week at the feet of our spiritual father in Christ, Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Father of the Church, let us gather jewels of knowledge, so that throughout these forty days, we may not be found lacking in the strength necessary to complete our pilgrimage.

There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains, and virtue endure: they are prayer, fasting and mercy.  Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives.  Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.

For upcoming event on March 13 - Suggested Reading

Deacon Sabatino has mentioned a few of the documents that will be used in his upcoming series on "Outside the Church There Is No Salvation: Understanding Catholic Ecclesiology."  Feel free to click on the titles below if you'd like to get a head start.


Dominus Iesus

Documents of the Council of Florence

Lumen Gentium

Happy reading, and we look forward to seeing you on the 13th. 

St. Antony with Abbot Joseph Lee

Saint Athanasius’ Life of Saint Antony of the Desert
Abbot Joseph Lee
Sunday, March 4, 2012
St. Michael Church Hall, Annandale, VA

Recent Speaker Joins Advisory Board; Praises ICC

“God is opening before the Church the horizons of a humanity more fully prepared for the sowing of the Gospel. I sense that the moment has come to commit all of the Church's energies to a new evangelization.”
(Blessed John Paul II, The Mission of the Redeemer #3)

"As a Deacon of the Church who has dedicated my life’s work to the New Evangelization, I am honored to commend the extraordinary work of the Institute for Catholic Culture. I have never encountered a more faithful
and fruitful New Evangelization Apostolate. If I could, I would replicate it in every Diocese in the United States. I am honored to serve as an advisor."
Deacon Keith Fournier, Editor-in-Chief, Catholic Online