St. Augustine Commentary on Gospel for Today (Mark 2: 23-28)

Today's Gospel is from Mark 2:23-28 and is as follows:

23 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?" 25And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26how he entered the house of God, when Abi'athar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" 27And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; 28so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath."

One commentary on this passage from a Catholic Church Father is from St. Augustine of Hippo, who lived in the 4th and 5th centuries. He wrote:

"The Lord, therefore, who is the Lord of the Sabbath, and who made man, and not the Sabbath for man, has power to do what He will with His own, and to dispense with the observance of the Sabbath, in order to do good to man. For He Himself is the true rest of the faithful, in whom we cease from our own works, as the Apostle says (Heb. 4:10), and are refreshed by the works of God."

In this commentary, St. Augustine emphasizes that Jesus, as the Son of Man and Lord of the Sabbath, has the authority to disregard the Sabbath laws in order to help people. He also references Hebrews 4:10, which states that the faithful will find rest in Jesus, rather than in the observance of the Sabbath.

Five Young Catholic Saints

These are not necessarily the youngest Catholic saints but they are saints who were very young when they died. Please let me know in the comments if there are any you believe should be included.

St. Maria Goretti: Maria Goretti was born in Italy in 1890 and was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 1950. She is one of the youngest saints in the Catholic Church, having died at the age of 11. Maria was murdered by a neighbor who attempted to rape her, and her story of forgiveness and mercy toward her attacker moved many people. Her canonization was largely due to her remarkable forgiveness and her unwavering faith in the face of death.

St. Francisco Marto: Francisco Marto was born in Portugal in 1908, and was canonized by the Catholic Church in 2017. He was one of the three children who received the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima in 1917. Francisco Marto passed away on April 4, 1919, at the age of 10. He died from pneumonia which he contracted after his health had been weakened by the harsh conditions of the apparitions and by the prolonged fasting that he and his siblings had undertaken at the request of Our Lady of Fatima. Francisco is remembered for his devotion to the Virgin Mary and his willingness to suffer in union with Jesus.

St. Jacinta Marto: Jacinta Marto was born in Portugal in 1910, and was canonized by the Catholic Church in 2017. She was also one of the three children who received the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima in 1917. The canonization process for Jacinta Marto began many years after her death, specifically it began in the 1940s. The Diocese of Leiria-Fátima opened the Cause for canonization of Jacinta Marto and her brother Francisco Marto in 1946, and it was later transferred to the Holy See in 1952. Jacinta Marto was beatified on 13 May 2000, and canonized on 13 May 2017 by Pope Francis.

Saint Agnes: Saint Agnes was a young Christian martyr who lived during the 4th century in Rome. According to tradition, she was martyred at the age of 12 or 13 for refusing to renounce her faith in Jesus Christ. She is considered one of the youngest saints in the Catholic Church and is a patron saint of young girls.

Saint Tarcisius: Saint Tarcisius was a young Roman martyr who lived during the 3rd century. He was a deacon and was martyred at the age of 12 or 13 while protecting the Eucharist from being desecrated by a group of Roman pagans. He is considered one of the youngest saints in the Catholic Church and is a patron saint of altar servers.

Here are some AI Images of St. Tarcisius:

I hope you enjoyed this article! I would love to hear your comments!

What is Binding Prayer from a Catholic Perspective?

What is Binding Prayer from a Catholic Perspective?

From a Catholic perspective, binding prayer is a form of prayer that is used to bind or restrict the actions of an individual, group, or entity that is believed to be causing harm or committing evil acts. This type of prayer is often used to combat spiritual oppression or to protect oneself or others from negative influences. It is typically a specific, powerful and direct form of prayer, often used in exorcism or deliverance ministry. It is believed to have a supernatural power to bind the devil and his agents and protect the person or people being prayed for. It is usually led by a priest or other spiritual leader.

What Saints are Associated with Binding Prayer?

Several Catholic saints have spoken about the power of binding prayer. One notable example is St. Padre Pio, who was known for his strong devotion to the power of prayer and his ability to perform spiritual healing. He encouraged the use of binding prayers to combat the influence of evil spirits and to protect oneself and others from negative influences.

St. Francis of Assisi, is another example, he was known for his deep devotion to God and his ability to cast out evil spirits. He is said to have used binding prayers as part of his spiritual practices, to protect himself and others from the influence of the devil.

Additionally, St. Michael the Archangel is often invoked in binding prayers, as he is considered to be a powerful defender against evil and a protector of the Church.

What is the connection between Fr. Chad Ripperger and Binding Prayer?

Fr. Chad Ripperger is a Catholic priest, theologian, and exorcist who is known for his teachings on spiritual warfare and the use of binding prayers. He is a member of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter and has written several books and given numerous talks on the topic of spiritual warfare and the use of binding prayers.

Fr. Ripperger emphasizes the importance of understanding the nature and power of evil spirits, and the role of binding prayers in protecting oneself and others from their influence. He also stresses the importance of a strong spiritual foundation and a deep relationship with God in order to effectively use binding prayers.

Fr. Ripperger's teachings and writings on spiritual warfare and binding prayer have been widely popular among catholic circles, and he is considered a leading expert on this topic.

What are some binding prayers that Fr. Ripperger might use?

I don't have specific binding prayers that Fr. Chad Ripperger might use, but in general, binding prayers used by exorcists and those who practice spiritual warfare include the use of holy water, the Sign of the Cross, and the names and titles of God, Jesus, and the saints to invoke their protection and power against evil spirits.

One common binding prayer that is used in Catholic Church is the "St. Michael the Archangel Prayer" it goes like this:

"St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen."

Another example of a binding prayer is the "Prayer to Rebuke Evil" which goes like this:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, I command all evil spirits to leave me and to leave this place. I bind you, Satan and all your minions, and command you to leave me alone and to leave this place alone, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

It is important to note that binding prayers should only be used by those who have been trained in spiritual warfare and have the authority to use them, such as a Catholic priest or other spiritual leader.

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I hope you found this information on binding prayer helpful! I want to acknowledge the help of Internet sources in collecting this information including Al. I read through the information and it all sounds legitimate. Please comment any questions you may have and God bless!

Information: What is the Catholic Church's Stance on Abortion?

Most people are aware that the Catholic Church opposes abortion. If you were not aware of this, now you are! Let's get into some of what I found online concerning this topic. Please feel free to send along questions or to ask for clarification!

A popular internet program generated the following response:

The Catholic Church is opposed to abortion, viewing it as a grave moral evil. The Church teaches that human life is sacred from the moment of conception and that every human being has a right to life. The Church also teaches that abortion is a grave sin and that those who participate in it, whether directly or indirectly, are morally responsible for the death of the unborn child. The church also teaches that there are no circumstances that can justify an abortion, and it is a grave sin which incurs automatic excommunication. The Church also encourages alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, and supports programs and organizations that provide assistance to pregnant women in need.

I would consider this to be an accurate representation of the Church's position. 

I went on to ask this system the Church's position on abortion in the case of rape. Here's what it had to say:

The Catholic Church teaches that every human life is sacred from the moment of conception and that abortion is always gravely immoral. However, the Church also recognizes that the circumstances surrounding a pregnancy, such as rape, can be very complex and difficult. In the case of rape, the Church teaches that the sin is committed by the rapist and not the victim. Therefore the victim of the rape cannot be held morally responsible for an unwanted pregnancy resulting from the rape.

The Church encourages compassion and pastoral care for victims of rape and their families, and recognizes that the decision to continue or end a pregnancy in such circumstances can be a difficult one. However, the Church also stresses that there are alternatives to abortion, such as adoption, that should be considered and supported. The Church also encourages all who have been involved in an abortion, whatever the circumstances, to seek forgiveness and healing through the sacrament of Reconciliation.

Again, not a bad response. I like how it adds many things about compassion and that the Church understands the situation is difficult. This is very true. The Catholic Church isn't just a law-giving entity, it's the Church established by Christ to give not only moral direction but also the Love of God to the Children of God.

One issue I had with the response was that there may be some level of confusion in the way that the answer is phrased that might make people think in the case of rape, the Church's position on abortion somehow changes, which it doesn't. It would be just as opposed.

One thing I often think about when it comes to abortion in the case of rape is that people often speak as though the abortion will somehow nullify the rape or erase its effects. The truth is the rape took place and it's horrendous and terrible, but whatever happens after that will not change the fact that it occurred and the woman must endure this. It's a very sad and difficult situation and having an abortion will not change that.

Something I also often say is that if you cannot justify killing a 1 year old for a particular reason, then you cannot justify killing an unborn child for that same reason. If both are human then the same considerations must apply. However, if the unborn child is not human then no justification is required.

Please attach any questions you may have!

Friday the 13th, January 2023: What is the Significance from a Catholic Perspective?

I was doing some research on Friday the 13th to discover its significance and why it's considered an unlucky number. Here's what I found:

Friday the 13th is considered by some to be an unlucky day because of a combination of the superstitions surrounding the number 13 and the fact that it is a Friday. The fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia and the fear of Fridays falling on the 13th day of the month is called paraskevidekatriaphobia.

The origins of the superstitions surrounding Friday the 13th are not entirely clear, but it is believed to have roots in ancient cultures and religions. In Christianity, Friday is associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, which may have contributed to the belief that Fridays are unlucky. However, there is no direct connection between the two superstitions and Catholicism.

I also tried to find out why the number 13 itself is considered unlucky by some:

The origins of the superstition surrounding the number 13 are not entirely clear, but it is believed to have roots in ancient cultures and religions. One theory is that it is related to the number of guests present at the Last Supper, where Jesus and his 12 apostles were present, and the subsequent betrayal by one of the apostles, Judas. This event was considered unlucky and the number 13 became associated with bad luck.

Another theory is that the number 13 is associated with the number of full moons in a year and the 13th full moon was considered unlucky.

Additionally, In Norse mythology, the number 13 is associated with Loki, the god of chaos and mischief, which may have contributed to the belief that the number 13 is unlucky.

However, it's also worth noting that superstitions are often passed down through generations and therefore it's hard to trace their origin with certainty.

It seems to have uncertain origins from several possible sources but one that we seem to hear often is its association with the Last Supper (which occurred on a Thursday) and Friday on which Jesus Christ was crucified.

If you have any other information or theories, please post them in the comments!

I just want to mention that as Catholics we are not to place any value in superstitions and they are prohibited, even though they remain popular. Someone who adheres to them isn't necessarily committing evil, but we should be cognizant of them. Here's what I found about that:

The Catholic Church does not condone or promote superstitions. In fact, the Catholic Church teaches that superstitions are irrational and can lead to a lack of faith in God. The Church teaches that faith in God should be based on reason and revelation, rather than on superstitions or luck.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that "superstition is a deviation of religious feeling and of the practices this feeling imposes. It can even affect the worship we offer the true God, e.g., when one attributes an importance in some way magical to certain practices otherwise lawful or necessary. To attribute the efficacy of prayers or of sacramental signs to their mere external performance, apart from the interior dispositions that they demand, is to fall into superstition."

Additionally, the Catholic Church encourages Catholics to be guided by reason and faith, and to avoid relying on luck or superstition. The Church teaches that true faith in God is based on trust in God's love and providence, and that this trust should be reflected in a person's actions and attitudes.

In summary, the Catholic Church does not condone or promote superstitions, it teaches that faith in God should be based on reason and revelation and that superstitions are a deviation of religious feeling and practices.

I hope you found this article useful. Please let me know if you have any questions! 

The only known child of a Doctor of the Church

From my research, I could only find one instance of one of the 36 Doctors of the Church who had a child. The Doctor is St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the 4 original doctors and he had a son named Adeodatus.

St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the most well-known and influential Church Fathers, had a son named Adeodatus, who was born to Augustine's partner before Augustine converted to Christianity. Adeodatus was born in 372 AD and died young, around the age of 17.

Augustine wrote about Adeodatus in his Confessions, which is an autobiography that covers Augustine's spiritual journey from his youth to his conversion to Christianity. In the book, Augustine talks about the love he had for his son and how he struggled to reconcile his love for Adeodatus with his desire to follow the celibate life of a Christian priest. He said that Adeodatus was a source of joy for him, and that his birth had been a sign of God's grace.

Adeodatus was highly intelligent and well-educated, and Augustine took great pains to provide him with the best education available. According to some accounts, Adeodatus may have been considered a prodigy, and Augustine mentions that his son was able to read and write at a very young age and was highly interested in philosophy.

Although Adeodatus died young, he made a lasting impression on Augustine, who wrote fondly of him in his Confessions, and considered him a reminder of the beauty of God's grace in his life.

Is anything known of Adeodatus's mother?

The identity of Adeodatus's mother is not entirely clear. Augustine never mentions her by name in his writings and what little is known about her comes from a few passing references in his works. According to his own writings in his Confessions, Augustine had a relationship with a woman, who is not named, before his conversion to Christianity and Adeodatus was born from this union. It is not clear whether the woman was a wife, a concubine or a partner in a informal union. But it is believed that she was not a Christian and Augustine did not live with her after his conversion.

Why aren't there more children of Doctors of the Church?

The title "Doctor of the Church" is a recognition given by the Catholic Church to certain saints who have made significant contributions to the development of theology and doctrine. Typically, these individuals have been priests, bishops, or monks who were actively involved in the Church and made important contributions to theology through their writings, teachings, or leadership.

There are 4 female doctors of the Church including St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Teresa of Lisieux, and St. Hildegard of Bingen. Obviously none of them were clergy. The two Teresas were nuns, St. Hildegard was an abbess, and St. Catherine was a lay person who was a member of the 3rd order Dominicans.

Other than the women, it seems all the Doctors of the Church have been clergy: priests, bishops, or popes.

Full Text of Pope Francis's Homily for Pope Benedict's Funeral Mass Celebrated Today

You can find the full text of the homily here: https://aleteia.org/2023/01/05/francis-homily-for-benedicts-funeral-full-text/

Rest in Peace Pope Benedict XVI: My thoughts on the former pontiff

It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. I'm glad he had a long life where he was able to contribute much to the world. However, it is still very sad that he passed away.

I found out this news this morning as I was just getting up. He passed away at 9:34am in the Mater Ecclesia Monastery in Vatican City where he had been living for many years. As of right now, funeral arrangements are still underway. Obviously Pope Francis will be in attendance, but the date and times are currently unknown.

I really came to admire Pope Benedict. He spoke with clarity and precision, but also with love and kindness. He wasn't a robot, in fact, he was quite human and loving. Unfortunately the media insists on placing people into well-defined boxes, and thus portrayed Benedict as some arch-conservative that never smiles. Admittedly, he did have a big act to follow coming after Pope John Paul II, however, I think he was unduly smeared in public perception.

One thing I liked about Pope Benedict is that he was an intellectual. He was a theologian and scholar, long before he became pope. He was well-known in the academic world. I appreciate this trait because we need clarity now more than ever. Morality in our world is something that cannot be taken for granted. People take terms that have long been well-understood and distort their meaning to fit their own evil desires. That's why we need a clear-speaking and precise pontiff who will guide the people.

As mentioned though, Pope Benedict wasn't just providing information, he was inspiring and wrote beautiful works, including his encyclical "God is Love".

People probably assumed that when Benedict retired in 2013 that he would not have much time left. Every few months we would hear health updates and it would make you wonder how he was doing, but he always seemed to pull through. 95 is a great age to reach. It's interesting that Queen Elizabeth was just a little older (96) when she passed away, also this year. I wonder how often it happens that a pope and a British monarch die in the same year. Randomly, I also recall Betty White died on this date last year. Apparently the most common day of death if January 1. I don't think the deaths of Betty White and Pope Benedict are related, however.

I am curious about what to expect when it comes to Pope Benedict's funeral. When will it be, who will be in attendance, what will the actual ceremony look like? All interesting things to think about.

Most of all, let's pray for the repose of the former pope's soul. May he rest in peace.

Pope Benedict has died at the age of 95

It is with great sadness that I announce the death of Pope Benedict XVI. He is the oldest person who was ever pope. This is not to be confused with "oldest pope" as Benedict retired at the age of 85, making him the 4th oldest pope at the end of the papacy.

Joseph Ratzinger, who became Pope Benedict, had a long and distinguished academic career before being elected pope in 2005.

He was born in Germany in 1927 and studied theology at the University of Munich and the Higher School of Philosophy and Theology in Freising. After ordination to the priesthood in 1951, he continued his studies and earned a doctorate in theology in 1953.

Ratzinger began teaching theology at the University of Bonn in 1959 and later held positions at the University of Münster, the University of Tübingen, and the University of Regensburg. In 1977, he was appointed to the chair of dogmatic theology at the University of Regensburg, where he served as dean of the faculty of theology from 1984 to 1989.

In 1981, Ratzinger was appointed as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, a position he held until his election as pope in 2005. He also served as a member of the International Theological Commission from 1969 to 1981 and as its president from 1981 to 1985.

Throughout his academic career, Ratzinger was known for his scholarship on the theology of the Church Fathers, the history of dogma, and the relationship between faith and reason. He is the author of numerous books and articles on these and other topics, and his work has been widely respected in the Catholic Church and beyond.

After retiring from the papacy, Pope Benedict led a quiet life in a monastery. He will be greatly missed. He provided great insight into the faith and he was a truly great man!

Is Pope Benedict the oldest person to ever have been pope?

Summary:

Pope Benedict is oldest person to have ever been pope at 95 years of age. He is the fourth oldest pope when papacy ended.

Full article:

Pope Benedict XVI is currently the oldest person to have ever served as pope. As of 2021, Pope Benedict XVI is 95 years old. He was born on April 16, 1927, and he served as pope from April 19, 2005, until his resignation on February 28, 2013. At the time of his resignation, he was 85 years old, which made him one of the oldest popes in history. However, he has continued to live and age since his papacy ended, and as a result, he is now the oldest person to have ever served as pope.

However, he was only the 4th oldest pope at the time his papacy ended. Most popes' papacy ends at their death, which was not the case with Benedict. Here are the top five oldest popes at the end of their papacy:

Here are the five oldest popes at the time their papacies ended, listed in order from oldest to youngest:

Pope Clement X: Clement X served as pope from 1670 to 1676 and was 89 years old when he died.

Pope Leo XIII: Leo XIII served as pope from 1878 to 1903 and was 93 years old when he died.

Pope Pius IX: Pius IX served as pope from 1846 to 1878 and was 85 years old when he died.

Pope Benedict XVI: Benedict XVI served as pope from 2005 to 2013 and was 85 years old when he resigned.

Pope John Paul II: John Paul II served as pope from 1978 to 2005 and was 84 years old when he died.

What's the difference between the Octave of Christmas and the 12 Days of Christmas?

We sometimes hear of both an octave of Christmas as well as the 12 days of Christmas. Here's a good explanation I found which distinguishes the two!

The octave of Christmas refers to the eight days from December 25th, the day of Christmas, to January 1st, the feast of Mary, Mother of God. The 12 days of Christmas, on the other hand, are the twelve days from December 25th to January 6th, which includes the octave of Christmas as well as the three days before it.

In the Catholic Church, the octave of Christmas is a time of great celebration and rejoicing, as it marks the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. During this time, there are often special Masses and other liturgical celebrations held in honor of the birth of Jesus.

The 12 days of Christmas, on the other hand, are a time of celebration and reflection on the meaning of the birth of Jesus, as well as a time to prepare for the coming of the Epiphany, which celebrates the manifestation of Jesus as the savior of the world. The 12 days of Christmas are traditionally a time of feasting, gift-giving, and merriment, and are often celebrated with special holiday traditions such as caroling and the singing of Christmas carols.

Overall, the octave of Christmas and the 12 days of Christmas are both important times of celebration and reflection in the Catholic Church, and both are marked by special liturgical and cultural traditions.

Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist will remain with the Faithful

Over the past several months, the Archdiocese of St. John's has been under bankruptcy protection as a result of lawsuits from the sex abuse scandal which occurred in the diocese in the 30s, 40s, and 50s. The diocese was ordered by the court to put all of its assets up for sale. All churches were up for sale and the bidding was open to the general public.

In response to this, several groups of parishioners and others banded together to repurchase these structures, lands, and other facilities. We haven't heard back about all of them yet. Bids were closed around 10 days ago.

The Basilica Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is the mother church of the diocese of St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador. It was built almost 170 years ago and at the time was the largest church building in North America. To this day, it has remained a historical and religious place central to the identity of the province.

In amazing news, a group known as the Basilica Heritage Foundation was the successful bidder for the Basilica, as well as several adjoining buildings, including a school, a large hall, and a skating rink. There had been news that a Toronto real estate developer had also put in a bid.

Over the past several months, parishioners have alternately gathered in 3 churches in the diocese for 12 hours of adoration each Thursday. This occurred along with various other forms of prayer throughout the area and in private.

These prayers have proven fruitful, thanks be to God. The landmark church will remain with parishioners to be used for worship. This is wonderful news.

We are anticipating news on all the other churches and properties which were open to bids as well. Let's hope and pray that this entire restructuring results in greater faith than ever and in a reconciliation of the Church to those affected negatively by people within the Church.

TV Commercials have become hotbeds of radical leftwing propaganda

I had the displeasure of watching ordinary TV today and it's really becoming very over-the-top, especially when it comes to commercials. There is such a huge push on sexual immorality. The crazy thing is that the commercials don't even reflect how our society is currently going which is bad enough. The commercials present an absolute dystopia, far worse than it already is.

Let me explain a little. Almost any commercial featuring "couples", be it married couples or other, features at least one if not several gay couples. You would think from watching these commercials that 50% of people are in a gay couple. It does not reflect reality at all.

But it goes further than this. Drag queens, transsexuals, and others now feature prominently in a large percentage of commercials. I was watching one where there was a man wearing makeup and feminine clothing eating a taco. The commercial was for Taco Bell. Can we not eat fast food without being overloaded with these bizarre and immoral characters? Mark Dice has produced several videos documenting these types of advertisements.

Another commercial I saw featured two gay men and went on about their feelings for one another. It was a commercial for eHarmony. Whether it's a commercial for Ritz, M&Ms, or almost anything else, there is a strange obsession with featuring couples in immoral relationships.

One thing you will rarely see is a white heterosexual married couple. Try it sometime. I have absolutely no issue with interracial relationships, but I just find it odd that they would go so much out of their way to avoid showing what is probably the most common form of couple in the country.

It just annoys me that you can't sit down and watch a TV show without being exposed to endless propaganda by Leftwing extremists who want nothing but to absolutely destroy families and our society. Why do Ritz and Oreos have to be political anyway? They're just junk food. Do they have to make some political statement when promoting junk food? How is transgenderism in any way related to sugar cookies?

I don't know where to turn anymore. For the most part, I record shows I want to watch and then just skip through the commercials. That's why after not seeing them for a while it has become obvious how extreme they have become.

At some point I might just stop watching TV altogether.

Consecration of Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

I just returned from our cathedral where the archbishop, along with the Pope in Rome at 5pm Rome time consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was very well attended. Every second pew is off-limits and with this limitation the large cathedral-basilica was full of people.

It was a holy and blessed time and showed that all bishops from around the world are joining together along with the Holy Father to pray for peace in that troubled part of the world.

The archbishop spoke about how we must live out peace in our own daily lives and that this was our real way of contributing peace to the world as a whole. This is better than vaguely "hoping" for peace in the world. We must be instruments of peace.

To that end, we invoked the intercession primarily of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as sung the prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi asking that we be instruments of God's peace in the world.

Let us all pray that these prayers may deliver Russia and Ukraine from war and the world in general.

Can Catholics FAST on a Feast Day or Solemnity? e.g. Solemnity of the Annunciation

Please pay close attention to the question I am asking: 

Can Catholics fast on a feast day or solemnity?

I ask you to pay attention because it's a question for which an answer is very difficult to find! Whenever I search for it on Google, it inevitably brings up the minimum requirements for fasting in the Church. It seems very few people ask about the permissibility of fasting on a feast day.

Most of the questions revolve around whether one is permitted to forego fasting on a particular day.

So, again I ask: can Catholics fast on a feast day or solemnity? In other words, are Catholics even permitted to fast on a feast day? It is wrong, inadvisable, etc? Let's talk about it.

Although I could not find a direct answer in the Catechism or in the Code of Canon Law regarding this, I was able to find some other sources which address this question.

St. Francis of Assisi
On a particular blog, I found a quote by St. Francis of Assisi. The version found there states:

When the question arose about eating meat on Christmas Day, because it fell on a Friday.  St. Francis replied to Brother Morico, "You sin, Brother, calling the day on which the Child was born to us a day of fast. It is my wish," he said, "that even the walls should eat meat on such a day, and if they cannot, they should be smeared with meat on the outside."

Saint Francis of Assisi
Celano, Second Life
Chapter CLI

From this quote, it seems clear that one of the Church's greatest saints was greatly opposed to fasting on a solemnity.

Catechism and Code of Canon Law:

These two sources, rather than discuss whether one is permitted to fast on a feast or solemnity instead lays out fasting requirements and indicates that fasting is not required on these days:

Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday.

So Canon 1251 addresses whether one is obligated to abstain from meat on a Friday which is also a feast or solemnity, but it doesn't address whether one is allowed to fast on such a day or if it would be wrong.

Is it advisable to fast on a feast day?

Unless I hear otherwise, I am a proponent of avoiding fasting on a solemnity or feast day even if it's on a Friday during Lent. By fasting on such a day, it seems we are missing the point. Jesus himself fasted for 40 days and nights but also tells people that fasting at certain times would be inappropriate.

Matthew 9 (14-15): The Question About Fasting.

14

g Then the disciples of John approached him and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast [much], but your disciples do not fast?”

15

Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Feasts and Solemnities are times of celebration and joy, very similar to Sundays during the year. Although Lent is a penitential time, there are glimmers of joy even in this season, and we should not neglect those.

I feel that this is also partially about obedience. Sometimes pride can sneak into our fasting efforts. Some people may continue to fast on these celebratory days just to show they are able to or to "challenge" themselves. But again, I feel this is the wrong approach. Fasting is about growing spiritually closer to Jesus Christ our Savior. It's not about some personal achievement or accomplishment.

Today is the feast of the Annunciation, a day on which Mary was proclaimed to be the Mother of God. It is truly a time of great celebration and joy. To fast and deny ourselves on this day would seem inappropriate.

I would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section!

I hope you continue to have a blessed Lenten season!

Supreme Court nominee doesn't know what a woman is

Sadly, this isn't satire. Ketanji Jackson-Brown is the nominee to become the next Supreme Court Justice of the United States. She's being interviewed as part of her nomination hearing. She was asked by a Ms. Blackburn yesterday what a woman is. She couldn't answer. She refused to answer. She said she can't answer because she is not a biologist.

Again, no, this is not some sort of joke. It wasn't more complicated than this. You can see the clip or read the transcript. A nominee to the highest court of the United States was asked to define "woman" and she was unable to. She isn't seeking a job at Wendy's. She will be responsible for interpreting the Constitution of the United States and she can't even say what a woman is. Does she know what a house is, or a cat? Maybe she can't tell you what a tree is because she's not a botanist. Perhaps the concept of a computer eludes her because she's not a computer scientist.

How can anyone expect a person like this to offer an objective analysis of a law? Court cases can involve hundreds of documents, and tens of thousands of words. Will she claim ignorance for the definition of every word that crosses her path? How would one even be able to do his or her job with this type of constraint? Court cases would be reduced to absurdity.

I checked a recent Supreme Court case that came up and looks like was resolved today. A man was convicted of murder in Texas at a convenience store and was sentenced to be executed. He wanted to have his pastor present who would offer prayers and be there during the execution which is currently not allowed. Okay, so this case goes to Jackson-Brown.

She might ask what is a pastor and what are prayers? I'm not a theologian.
This happened in Texas. What is Texas? I'm not a cartographer!
What's a convenience store? I'm not a city planner or architect!

Things would quickly get pretty untenable.

We all know why this is happening. Crazy leftwing ideology. She is trying to appease these people but she is putting the entire country at risk. If we cannot agree on the most basic terms such as man, woman, person, etc, what's the point of even having a Supreme Court?

You may be asking what this has to do with Catholicism. Well, I think we have to proclaim the truth in public. Truth is not a subjective thing that changes as time goes on. A woman is a woman, two X chromosomes, has female reproductive organs, etc. Everyone always knew what a woman was, it was the furthest thing from controversial. But now this basic truth of our humanity is being attacked and people, like a potential supreme court justice, are pleading ignorance on this issue.

More than ever we must stand up for the truth and proclaim it when it makes sense to do so.

"Instead of fasting from food, fast from..." and other nonsensical phrases

Something I've heard a lot in recent years is the expression that goes something like "This Lent, instead of fasting from food, fast from criticizing others (or judgment, meanness, anger, etc - the list goes on).

They may also say what to feast on, such as love, kindness, etc.

There is nothing wrong with this except the unnecessary contrasting of fasting from food with fasting from other actions and activities. They are hardly mutually exclusive concepts, as though you must choose one or the other.

In fact, fasting from food helps us in fasting from other vices which is why we are told to do so. If fasting itself had no beneficial effects or in fact makes us more judgmental, angry, jealous, etc, then why would Christ have implored us to do so? Remember, Jesus doesn't say if you fast, he says when you fast. Fasting is presupposed to the point where not only does he not have to tell people to do it or start doing it, he tells people how to do it correctly and points out those who do it wrong.

I find it highly misguided and inappropriate in our current time to set up this false dichotomy when speaking to people in our current era who have generally neglected fasting almost completely. When people do "fast", it is usually the mildest form of it. I once heard a woman say that she is fasting from one particular type of chocolate bar during Lent. Not chocolate in general, but one specific bar, such as Peanut Butter M&Ms or something. I'm sure St. Francis of Assisi is looking down from heaven in awe of this level of self-denial.

I don't say these things in order to toot my own horn or say that I'm superior. I won't even mention what I may or may not be doing during this or other Lents. One of my prompts in writing this comes from my own reflection that we should make Lent a little more strenuous than usual so that we can grow spiritually during this season of penance. My point is that in an era where the practice of fasting has almost completely vanished, it seems odd that priests and others would implore us to leave behind fasting from food and to choose other sacrifices instead.

In my readings, I've been looking at what some Christians undertook as fasting for many centuries. They would give up all meat and animal products, many would only eat one meal a day after 3pm (and sometimes later). During Holy Week itself, many would subsist on bread and water alone. These practices weren't considered extreme and unusual, they were the norm in many places and for many people. In that bygone era, perhaps it would have made sense to remind these people to fast from other vices as well, or to even warn people not to go too far so as to damage their health. But such warnings seem almost silly in our time. It would be like speaking at an obesity conference and telling participants to focus on eating enough.

On the level of communication itself, we live in a time of imprecision. People throw around terms interchangeably without attempting to be precise. In my opinion, this has had the effect of rendering people less able to express specific ideas and has damaged theological and philosophical discussions. My point in mentioning this is that we shouldn't be using the term "fasting" in reference to things other than food. It's unnecessary and confusing. The English language especially has a very wide vocabulary and resorting to a specific word for use in other purposes seems unnecessary. It also waters down the concept of fasting. If fasting can mean refraining from not only food, but anger or jealousy or rudeness, then it takes away the idea that fasting from food is necessary and helpful. People start to believe that fasting from anything is the equivalent. The truth is Jesus specifically mentions fasting many times. He doesn't lump it together with various other practices. This highlights its importance.

Instead of "fast from anger", just say practice patience. Instead of "fast from criticism" say show mercy or show compassion. Instead of "fast from rudeness", perhaps say "show meekness". Not only is it more accurate, it is phrased in the positive. We don't just fast from pride, we pray for an increase in humility, for example.

Leave fasting as its own separate category. There are many spiritual fruits to be gained from this practice and watering it down is not the right thing to do in this era. Fasting is not an end in itself but rather a means to an end. By denying our bodies, we can focus more on the spiritual and growing closer to God.

This Lent, let's "fast" from watering down concepts and finding the easy ways out. I hope you have a blessed and fruitful Lent in anticipation of Christ's death and glorious resurrection and ascension at Easter.

Happy Lent Everyone

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. What are you all going to do? Try to challenge yourselves. When Easter rolls around, you want to be proud of what you've accomplished in terms of penance as well as growing in spirituality and holiness. Don't let this Lent go by without making a big effort. God bless!