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“Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain. By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone” (Proverbs 25:14).

This Sunday’s Gospel about the rich man and Lazarus contains some important teachings on judgment and Hell. We live in times in which many consider the teachings on Hell to be untenable. They struggle to understand how a God described as loving, merciful, and forgiving could assign certain souls to Hell forever. Despite the fact that the Doctrine of Hell is taught extensively in Scripture as well as by Jesus Himself, it does not comport well with many modern notions and so many people think that it has to go.The parable addresses some of the modern concerns about Hell. Prior...

September 25th 2022 Sunday of week 26 in ordinary time Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green First readingAmos 6:1,4-7 ©Woe to those who live in luxuryThe almighty Lord says this:Woe to those ensconced so snugly in Zionand to those who feel so safe on the mountain of Samaria,those famous men of this first of nationsto whom the House of Israel goes as client.Lying on ivory bedsand sprawling on their divans,they dine on lambs from the flock,and stall-fattened veal;they bawl to the sound of the harp,they invent new instruments of music like David,they drink wine by the bowlful,and use the finest oil...

The debate about who created evil is an important one, since atheists and skeptics use the existence of evil in their arguments against theism. To begin with, Christians are told we must believe what the Bible tells us. Even a popular children's song has in its lyrics these words,“Jesus Loves Me this I know, for the Bible tells me so"If it is incumbent upon Christians to believe what the Bible tells us, then we can start with the first verse of the Bible that says,“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)So, if God created everything,...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Religion Forum threads labeled “Prayer” are closed to debate of any kind.

NEW ORLEANS — A unanimous ruling by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans blocking the Biden administration’s transgender mandate “is a major victory for conscience rights and compassionate medical care in America,” said the attorney who represented the plaintiffs in the case. “Doctors cannot do their jobs and comply with the Hippocratic oath if the government requires them to perform harmful, irreversible procedures against their conscience and medical expertise,” said Joseph Davis, counsel at Becket, a Washington-based religious liberty law firm. Davis made the remarks about the court’s Aug. 26 ruling permanently blocking a U.S. Department...

Pope Francis establishes the Populorum Progressio Fund, and tells members of the former Foundation that the Synodal journey must help the Church become more “Samaritan,” comforting, and engaging in order to “touch the wounds of Christ’s suffering flesh in His people.”In view of upcoming changes sparked by the reform of the Roman Curia, Pope Francis invited members of the Populorum Progressio Foundation, in the words of Benedict XVI, to remain faithful to the principles “that have distinguished your commitment to the dignity of every human being and the fight against poverty.” Founded by Pope St. John Paul II in 1992,...

A conservative member of Parliament hailed the rule as 'the first pro-life move' since Hungary legalized abortion in 1956.BUDAPEST (LifeSiteNews) – Hungary’s government has issued a decree that requires doctors to show women seeking an abortion “the factors indicating the presence of the vital functions of the embryo.” According to reports, this means that women would have to listen to the sound of the heartbeat of the unborn baby. In a statement on Monday, September 12, the Ministry of Interior said that “nearly two-thirds of Hungarians associate the beginning of a child’s life with the first heartbeat,” and that modern...

Originally appearing on Ria.ru, this article covers the unique tradition of Russian gold mining corporations to build a church after every major successful business venture. As it is machine translated, we apologize in advance for any errors.At the end of August in the Tenkinskiy district of the Magadan region, on the territory of the gold-mining company JSC "PAVLIK" the church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was consecrated. It is the second largest church in the region. Lev Ryzhkov, a correspondent of RIA Novosti visited the ceremony and saw with his own eyes how gold miners live and work in the...

Economy of Francesco Covenant: ‘Building an economy of the Gospel’Young economists and Pope Francis endorse a Covenant to improve the global economic system to better the lives of all people, as the result of the 3-day Economy of Francesco event in Assisi.As the Economy of Francesco entered its final day on Saturday, Pope Francis joined thousands of young people from around the world to undersign a Covenant, represented by a young woman from Thailand, Lily Ralyn Satidtanasarn.The declaration marks the culmination of the work of the 3-day event, and fulfills the Pope’s invitation to young economists, entrepreneurs, and changemakers to...

Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time Luke 9:43b–45 Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus predicts his being handed over to men—that is, his crucifixion. Here is the point I want to make: we are meant to see on that cross our own ugliness. What brings Jesus to the cross? Stupidity, anger, mistrust, institutional injustice, betrayal, denial, unspeakable cruelty, fear. St. Peter puts it with disquieting laconicism: the Author of life came and you killed him. In the light of the cross, all of the vermin are revealed. This is why we speak of the cross as God’s judgment on the world. So...

"So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns." "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." "To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen. (Written to the Romans from Corinthus, and sent by Phebe servant of the church at Cenchrea.)" Revelation, Chapter 17 1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and...

Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. Ephesians 4:31 Anger and rage can do more harm to those those who practice it, than it does to the person the anger is targeted at. How many times have we witnessed someone so full of anger and rage that they end up doing something that only hurts themselves. I readily admit that for many years I walked with anger in my heart for those who did me wrong or hurt my loved ones. I chose to sin and be angry, rather...

Does it matter how we treat others? What does my neighbor’s suffering have to do with me? Can I continue living in comfort while bypassing those around me who are in misery? These are questions that the Readings for this Sunday raise, and to which they provide uncomfortable answers. Let’s read and let the Holy Spirit move us outside our comfort zone. 1. The First Reading is Amos 6:1a, 4-7: Thus says the LORD the God of hosts: Woe to the complacent in Zion! Lying upon beds of ivory, stretched comfortably on their couches, they eat lambs taken from the...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Admits: A "DIFFERENT Church" Is Emerging From SynodA "different church" is emerging from the synod process, Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary general of the Vatican synod, revealed to AmericaMagazine.org (21 September).He had spoken to Francis after the Amazon Synod about married priests, Grech said. Francis replied, "Do you know why I did not accept this proposal? Because I felt that there was no discernment during the synodal assembly."At the time, however, Benedict XVI also intervened and defended celibacy. Asked if Francis' response was "not a rejection", Grech replied, “We need time!"

Bergoglio Uses Bad Knee as Excuse to Duck Out of Commitmentsunusual confession. (Rome) Does Pope Francis have an ideologized knee which dislikes certain journeys? This ironically meant question is being discussed among Vaticanists and bloggers. What is meant by this is whether Francis' knee problems increase before certain trips in order to prevent them.Francis' knee problems worsened when, for example, he was supposed to go to Florence last spring, meaning that he would only have had to travel a relatively short distance within Italy. An exact program was coordinated with the Holy See and organized down to the last detail....

“Jesus answered, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, “You must be born again”’” (John 3:5–7). Jesus answered Nicodemus’s objection by elaborating on the truth He introduced in verse 3: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” “Water” and “Spirit”...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Müller reveals Consistory speech on “unlimited power of the papacy,” says this view “contradicts the entire Catholic tradition” The following article is translated from an interview published on September 23, 2022 by InfoVaticana (here).German Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Cardinal Müller, former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has granted an interview to InfoVaticana. The Cardinal responded to the questions of this media without beating around the bush and entered fully into the questions raised about the recent consistory of cardinals held in Rome at the end of August and about the dramatic situation...

Pray For The Peace of JerusalemMatthew 5 Salt and Light 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your...

September 24th 2022 Saturday of week 25 in ordinary time St. Ignatius of Loyola Church, Zwierczyn, PolandReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Green First readingEcclesiastes 11:9-12:8 ©Remember your creator in the days of your youthRejoice in your youth, you who are young;let your heart give you joy in your young days.Follow the promptings of your heartand the desires of your eyes.But this you must know: for all these things God will bring you to judgement.Cast worry from your heart,shield your flesh from pain.Yet youth, the age of dark hair, is vanity. And remember your creator in the days of your youth, before...