"Abusing the Sacraments".In his article, Father Bedard asks what is the point of baptizing a child who will not he raised in a household of faith. As disturbing as it may be for a priest to see parents without the proper disposition requesting Baptism, one must reflect on the power of the sacrament itself and the risk incurred by denying it to a child. The Catechism of the Catholic Church The Catechism of the Catholic Church, or CCC, is an official exposition of the teachings of the Catholic Church, first published in French in 1992 by the authority of Pope John Paul II. states: "the fruit of Baptism ... is a rich reality that includes forgiveness of original sin original sin, in Christian theology, the sin of Adam, by which all humankind fell from divine grace. Saint Augustine was the fundamental theologian in the formulation of this doctrine, which states that the essentially graceless nature of humanity requires redemption " and "birth into the new life by which man becomes an adoptive a·dop·tive adj. 1. a. Of or having to do with adoption. b. Characteristic of adoption. 2. Related by adoption: son of the Father, a member of Christ and a temple of the Holy Spirit (#1279)." Consider how many are engaged in spiritual battles or will face death without these gifts. The virtue of charity and the power of prayer may draw the parents back to the Church but denying Baptism to their child will probably distance them, and worse still, leave their child more vulnerable in our hedonistic he·don·ism n. 1. Pursuit of or devotion to pleasure, especially to the pleasures of the senses. 2. Philosophy The ethical doctrine holding that only what is pleasant or has pleasant consequences is intrinsically good. society. What can we do, then, to foster respect for the sacraments? We must make Jesus the centre of our parish lives, spiritually and physically. Where Eucharistic Adoration Eucharistic adoration is a practice in the Roman Catholic and in Anglican Churches, in which the Blessed Sacrament is exposed to and adored by the faithful. When this exposure and adoration is constant (that is, twenty-four hours a day), it is called perpetual adoration. is strong, Jesus transforms lives and vocations flourish. He is still in the boat with us, but we must acknowledge His powerful presence. Our unbelief, like that of the skeptics in Nazareth, prevents Christ from working miracles in our midst. How many walk mindlessly past the tabernacle--so often relegated to the side of the church--without a thought for our God and Saviour Who dwells there? Only when we turn to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament with trusting hearts will things change for the better. North York North York Former city (pop., 2001: 608,288), southeastern Ontario, Canada. In 1998 it joined the cities of Etobicoke, Scarborough, Toronto, and York and the borough of East York to become the City of Toronto. North York became a borough in 1967 and a city in 1979. , ON |
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