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The Russian Ministry of Culture has refused to allow a new French-Dutch drama about a 17th-century lesbian nun to be shown in Russia. Benedetta, co-written and directed by Paul Verhoeven, is loosely based on the 1986 book Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy, about Benedetta Carlini (1591-1661), a Catholic abbess and mystic who was found guilty of having relations with one of her nuns and stripped of her rank and imprisoned. The film is entitled Temptation in Russian. “There is a scene of provocative content in the film, which is regarded as a violation of...

Lead us not into temptation… (Luke 11)God forgives sins. He is good and generous and has paid the price that we might be able to ask him for forgiveness and receive it by faith. Part of The Father’s agenda regarding sin is not only that we might be cleansed and forgiven, but that we might be a forgiving people. It is basic discipleship to learn that all sins can be forgiven and that we must love and forgive others as we have been forgiven. But the LORD wants to take us farther than those two steps, for it is his...

We are all hopeless sinners who live in a corrupted body that is continually under attack by powers under the control of the ruler of this World. (John 14:30) Both Christians and atheists face the same temptations. While aheists could careless about the destination of their souls, they are still tempted to do stupid things that can harm them and those around them. Christians however, can often times worry incessantly about their soul due to the temptations of this World. So if, you as a Christian, are constantly under attacks by the Evil one's minions, then how can you be...

An attractive young woman on a flight from Ireland asked the Priest by the name of Andre beside her, 'Father, may I ask a favor?’ 'Of course child. What may I do for you?’ 'Well, I bought my mother an expensive hair dryer for her birthday. It is unopened but well over the Customs limits and I'm afraid they'll confiscate it. Is there any way you could carry it through customs for me? Hide it under your robes perhaps?’ 'I would love to help you, dear, but I must warn you, I will not lie.’ 'With your honest face, Father...

Possession is not the "most common" or "dangerous" aspect of the demonic realm but temptation is, according to an exorcist ordained and trained by the Catholic Church. When many consider demonic possession, images come to mind from films such as "The Exorcist" and other examples from popular culture. Yet, the greater way the devil works is through temptation to commit evil, said Father Francois Dermine, a priest who has been an exorcist for more than 25 years, in a recent interview with Catholic News Agency. “The most common manifestation of the demonic is temptation, which is much more significant than...

A few weeks ago an Indiana mother wrote a letter to the Notre Dame University school newspaper, asking women not to wear leggings to Catholic mass. After sitting behind a group of girls in church with her four sons she wrote: I was ashamed for the young women at Mass. I thought of all the other men around and behind us who couldn’t help but see their behinds. My sons know better than to ogle a woman’s body — certainly when I’m around (and hopefully, also when I’m not). They didn’t stare, and they didn’t comment afterwards. But you couldn’t...

Posted on March 9, 2019March 9, 2019 by Msgr. Charles Pope The Gospel Train Reaches Temptation Station - Stay on Board, Children! A Homily for the First Sunday of Lent There’s an old gospel song tradition that speaks of the Christian life as a ride on the “gospel train.” The gospel train is not always an easy ride with perfect scenery, but you’ve gotta get your ticket and stay on board.Mysteriously, the train sometimes passes through difficult terrain, but just stay on board! On His way to glory, Jesus faced trials, hatred, and even temptation (yet without sinning).Today the...

If you regularly check the headlines, then you may have read about the Vatican's efforts to revise a particular verse in what is commonly called "The Lord's Prayer." Led by Pope Francis, Rome wants to change the wording of a long-standing translation that has brought a mixture of comfort and confusion to many. The verse in question can be found in Matthew 6:13 and Luke 11:4, and in the eyes of the Pope and the leaders of the Roman Catholic institution, they believe that "lead us not into temptation" should be reworded to something like "abandon us not when...

Moves to change the wording of the Lord's Prayer used by Catholics around the world appear to be gathering pace as the Italian Bishops' Conference has submitted a new version to the Vatican for approval. At issue is the wording of the line usually rendered in English as 'and lead us not into temptation'. Pope Francis last year took issue with that, saying it was wrong to imagine God could tempt people to do wrong and that it was 'not a good translation'. 'A father does not lead into temptation, a father helps you to get up immediately,' he said...

In Genesis Three we see the Temptation of the first Adam, (along with his wife).There is much to learn in the account, about the nature of the adversary, human psychology, and the power of well crafted lies to seduce us. In Matthew Four we have another temptation narrative, that of the ‘last Adam’. The Lord Jesus Christ had been baptized and affirmed by the very voice of God, and anointed with the Spirit of God, when he was “led” of the Spirit out into the wilderness. It was time to engage in the Spiritual conflict. He is tempted as a...

“Men are visually stimulated and unwanted stimulation should meet the basic definition of assault,” Shoesmith said, asserting that women who dress in a suggestive manner are “guilty of indecent visual assault on a man’s imagination, which does cause mental anguish and torment.” “When a man sees a naked or partially dressed woman, a chemical reaction happens in his brain,” he continued. “Neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin are released, giving him an involuntary surge of pleasure. Notice the word ‘involuntary’ … Men are in a state of constant sexual assault by women who either don’t understand the severity of what they...

Five Good Things That Can Come from Temptation Msgr. Charles Pope • May 2, 2017 • Temptation is something that every human person experiences. At times we may wonder why God permits it. Why does He allow moral and spiritual dangers to afflict us? Could He not prevent every temptation that confronts us? And if He can, why does He not? Is He just setting us up for failure?There are many mysterious aspects of God’s will, to what He prevents and what He allows. However, there are some explanations that at least partially address the presence of temptation in...

Three Teachings on Temptation Msgr. Charles Pope • March 7, 2017 • Sunday’s Gospel about the temptation of Jesus in the desert by Satan evokes several questions. The answers I propose are not intended to be a theological treatise, but rather a pastoral reflection. I. Why does God permit temptation? God does not permit any evil or problem unless it can serve some greater good. In the case of temptation, He permits it because it summons us to love Him while giving us the freedom to reject or accept that call. God seeks sons and daughters who can love...

Archdiocese of Washington The Gospel Train Reaches Temptation Station -- Stay on Board, Children! A Homily for the First Sunday of Lent Msgr. Charles Pope - February 13, 2016 - "Jesus Tempted in the Desert" by Jaci XIII is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0There's an old gospel song tradition that speaks of the Christian life as a ride on the "Gospel train." The Gospel train is not always an easy ride with perfect scenery, but you've gotta get your ticket and stay on board.Mysteriously, the train sometimes passes through difficult terrain. But just stay on board! On his way to...

Satan, it would seem, does not act in an arbitrary manner to tempt us. Rather, he is more of a master hunter who carefully sets traps, or a skilled fisherman who, having studied our behavior chooses just the bait he thinks most effective. He’s calculating, and clever.Sadly most of us, by comparison, are far less calculating and clever in seeking to avoid temptation and sin. We seem more often to engage in the wishful thinking that no trouble will befall us, and our strategy seems to live more with dumb luck. Would that we were as ingenious in holiness as...

Temptation as a Form of Martyrdom – A Meditation on a Writing of St. Ambrose By: Msgr. Charles PopeTemptation is a universal human experience. And because it’s so directly associated with sin, many too easily equate being tempted with sinning. But temptation is not the same as sin. If it were, how could the Scriptures say to us that Jesus was tempted in every way we are and yet was without sin? (Heb 4:15) Hence, the simple experience of temptation is not sin. It is true, however, that our past indulgence in sin can make us more susceptible to temptation.However, properly understood,...

Some Strategies for Overcoming Temptation By: Msgr. Charles PopeThis is part two of an article on temptation. See yesterday’s post for part one.How can we overcome temptation?Remote Battles are Essential! When people ask about overcoming temptation they most often have in mind what to do “in the moment” of temptation. But if we focus merely on the moment of temptation we are missing the bulk of the work that needs to be done. For in order to become more successful in withstanding temptation, a strong foundation needs to be established. There is much “remote” work to be done such...

What Is Temptation, Why Does God Permit It, and What Are Its Sources? By: Msgr. Charles PopeI will be on the Catholic Answers radio show today (Monday, March 23) at 6:00 PM Eastern Time. The topic will be temptation: what it is and how to avoid and overcome it.  I’ve assembled some notes in preparation and I’ll present them (in two parts) in the blog. Today’s post focuses on what temptation is, why God allows it, and what its sources are. Tomorrow I’ll present the second half of the notes, which center on how to avoid and overcome temptation.What is Temptation? A seminary teacher of mine once defined...

The Night Prayer of the Church as a “Rehearsal for Death” By: Msgr. Charles PopeSome years ago I was addressing a group of young adults at a “Theology on Tap” gathering. I was asked by an attendee of some ways to avoid temptation. Among the things I offered was to meditate frequently on death, especially at night before going to bed. The bar got very quiet and everyone looked at me as though I had just been speaking Swahili. “What did he just say?…Could you repeat that?” Perhaps my remarks were the right answer but the wrong answer at...

Satan at His Most Subtle: A Reflection on the Temptations and Traps of the Pious By: Msgr. Charles PopeWhat is temptation? Temptation is the work of Satan to drag you to Hell. And Satan can read you like a book and play you like piano. Do not exaggerate his power, but do not underestimate it either.Some of his subtlest work is done in the area of religious observance. There, he can cloak himself quite easily in the lamb’s clothing of piety, but, wolf that he really is, distort it, either through excess or defect, thereby destroying you with what...