Free Republic

When God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac (Genesis 22), there was no questioning on Abraham’s part about what was intended. He understood precisely what was involved in such a thing. There was wood to be gathered, an altar of stones to be constructed, the victim to be bound, and then the slitting of its throat with the gushing forth of blood, all consummated in the burning fires of the now-completed offering. What Abraham did was repeated in a variety of forms throughout the ancient world. Homer writes about Poseidon being absent from the Hellenic scene in order to...

<p>THE 150-year-old heart of a French priest is on a U.S. tour — a Roman Catholic relic with New York City as its latest stop.</p> <p>It was on display Saturday at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue, where both the faithful and the curious lined up to see the human organ behind glass. The Knights of Columbus fraternity is sponsoring the pilgrimage of the heart they say has miraculously never decomposed.</p>

Come on, you conservatives and Trumpists. Stop behaving like special snowflakes! Because when you complain, "I can't believe that President Trump signed that horrible omnibus bill!," you are descending into what I call the Women's Culture of Complaint. Yes, you are going along with what German sociologist Georg Simmel predicted would be a public square with a pronounced "feminine sensibility." The whole point of Donald Trump is that he is a man's man. That's why so many women dislike him; that's why we voted for him. Okay, so President Trump got out-Schumered on this one. And the wall ain't gonna...

Literal Bombs in Texas MSM Lying Bombs around the world Mrs Trump seated next to Atty Gen Sessions for Pres Trump's speech on combating opioid abuse.(3-19-18) Pres Trump stops by Manchester Fire Dept "Safe Station," where drug abusers can seek treatment without fear of arrest. Pres presented with firefighters helmet for casting spotlight on the Manchester Fire Dept's "Safe Station" program to give addicts a path to recovery. Welcome all you deplorables to this week's edition of the Dose! This is EVERYTHING TRUMP. Administration, family, frustrations, joys, winning! We welcome your research, your commentary, your personal OT sharing and...

                        As the Entrance procession draws to its close something rather unusual happens! Upon entering the sanctuary, (the part of the Church where the Altar and Tabernacle are located) the priest and deacon enter the sanctuary and kiss the altar as a sign of reverence and veneration. Many of us who go to Mass all the time may hardly notice this gesture. But to someone observing Mass for the first time this gesture may seem quite unusual and raise questions. Why kiss an altar? Where did this gesture come from and what does it mean? The significance of this kiss...

As Reformed churches worldwide prepare to celebrate the 500th anniversary on 10 July of the birth of Protestant Reformation leader, John Calvin, leaders of a global movement of Reformed churches have issued a statement calling on Christians to commemorate Calvin not as a saint but as a source of inspiration for responding to contemporary social and environmental concerns. In a statement released today by leaders of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) which represents 75 million Reformed church members, WARCs president and general secretary link commentaries by the 16th century lawyer and theologian to the current global economic crisis....

"Had we angels' eyes, we should see the earth as a vast field sown with seed for the resurrection. The death of Abel opened the first furrow, and, ever since, the sowing has gone on unceasingly the wide world over. This land of labour and of suffering, what treasures it already holds laid up in its bosom! And what a harvest for heaven, when the Sun of justice, suddenly darting forth His rays, shall cause to spring up as suddenly from the soil the elect ears ripe for glory! No wonder that the Church herself blesses and superintends the laying...

In the tradition of that greatest of all historic theological reflections, "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" we offer a similar conundrum, "How many statues can dance on the head of one veneration?" This has variously been proposed as "How many statues = 1 Veneration?" XS=1V S=IV/X These are thoughts destined to shatter the world of theology. Both the Theology of Statues and the Theology of Veneration breathlessly await the pronouncements of this thread. In short, you can contribute to this discussion by: 1. Solving the above equation. 2. Adding another (interesting) equation of your...

Origin of the Sacred Heart Badge Our Lord revealed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque "His wish for her to order a picture of the image of that Sacred Heart for people specifically to venerate and have in their homes and also small pictures to carry with them." She wrote this to her Superior, Mother Saumaise, on March 2, 1686. Thus was born the devotion of wearing the little Badges. St. Margaret Mary Alacoque always kept a badge with her and inspired her novices to do the same. She made many badges and often said this practice was very pleasing to...

Protestants call the worship we pay to Our Lady, Mariolatry. [In the preceding section, this charge has been fully answered.] The peculiar distinctive external worship of God is the offering of sacrifice. Those who have rejected the sacrifice of the Mass have retained nothing more than we offer to Mary and the saints. Consequently they are unable to perceive any distinction between what they regard as the external worship of God, and that which we render to Him in His saints – that is, a worship of prayer and praise. But we have a sacrifice, and are therefore able to...

March 25, 2005Good Friday of the Lord's Passion Psalm: Friday 15 Reading IIs 52:13--53:12 See, my servant shall prosper,he shall be raised high and greatly exalted.Even as many were amazed at him--so marred was his look beyond human semblanceand his appearance beyond that of the sons of man--so shall he startle many nations,because of him kings shall stand speechless;for those who have not been told shall see,those who have not heard shall ponder it. Who would believe what we have heard?To whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?He grew up like a sapling before him,like a shoot...

Honoring God's Work [Against Iconoclasm]By V. Rev. Fr. Dimitri CozbySt. Anthony the Great Orthodox ChurchSan Antonio, TX In the Orthodox Church we place great emphasis on the veneration of the Theotokos and other holy men and women. We also reverence icons of our Lord and of the saints. About twelve centuries ago a group called the “Iconoclasts” challenged the Church’s devotion to icons and her invocation of the saints. Their teaching was refuted at the Seventh Ecumenical Council, held in 787 in the city of Nicea. Each year, on October 11th or the Sunday following, we commemorate the work of...