Free Republic

What is Piety and How Does the Modern Diminishment of it Spell Doom for Us? By: Msgr. Charles PopeIn the modern world, the word “piety” has come to be associated with being religious. And while it does have religious application, its original meaning was far wider and richer. The English word “piety” comes from the Latin pietas, which spoke of family love and by extension love for one’s ancestors,  one’s country, and surely God. Cicero defined pietas as the virtue “which admonishes us to do our duty to our country or our parents or other blood relations.”For the ancient Romans,...

The following is notes taken by a member of Joel Osteen's church on a day a substitute was preaching. That's not really the point. What is the best worship experience you ever had? For me, I can think of a few: 1. The Cincinnati Billy Graham Crusade in Jul 2002. Third Day and Gaithers sang. Third Day was clearly led by the Spirit. Graham gave a simple sermon about the prodigal son that touched thousands of hearts. The simplicity of the message and appeal stunned me. An amazing event. 2. The year I was ordained Deacon in our denomination, the...

What Righteousness looks like…Romans 2 Posted on July 31, 2010 by billrandles (God)Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life, But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,indignation and wrath,(Romans 2:6-8) The Infinite, personal God of the Bible, is going to judge the world in Righteousness. The standard is absolute perfection, it could be no less. “The Righteousness that he requires, is the righteousness his righteousness requires him to require…”(anon). Put aside the...

"All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity. And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? Or do we imagine that we no longer need his assistance? I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth-that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the Ground without his...

As I have noted in several brief commentaries in the past three weeks since the election of Pope Benedict XVI, each Catholic must pray fervently for the Successor of Saint Peter. We are neither pessimists (sad idiots) or optimists (happy idiots). Catholics are called to grow in the Supernatural Virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity with every beat of their hearts, consecrated as they must be to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Although we must be concerned about the state of the Church in her human elements at present, we have to understand that...