March 16, 2004

 

Subjects:

Ashes

[10/Feb/2004:21:35:32] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: Hi Father, i need to find out about the recieving of ashes on the forehead does it mean from ashes from the ground to ashes we shall return or does it mean when we recieve them our sins are absolved?
[10/Feb/2004:21:35:53] <Father Phillip> hey
[10/Feb/2004:21:36:02] <Father Phillip> it means, mostly, the former
[10/Feb/2004:21:36:08] <Father Phillip> but it doesn't mean the latter
[10/Feb/2004:21:36:20] <Father Phillip> receiving ashes is called a "sacramental"
[10/Feb/2004:21:36:42] <Father Phillip> and it does NOT have the effect of absolving our sins
[10/Feb/2004:21:36:48] <Father Phillip> it's just a symbol
[10/Feb/2004:21:36:52] <Father Phillip> mostly of what you said
[10/Feb/2004:21:37:07] <Father Phillip> but also of the "grimniness" of sin
[10/Feb/2004:21:37:11] <Father Phillip> make sense?
[10/Feb/2004:21:37:34] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: yes, thanks Father
[10/Feb/2004:21:37:41] <Father Phillip> sure, delighted to try to hellp
[10/Feb/2004:21:37:46] <Father Phillip> it's what we're here for!
[10/Feb/2004:21:37:47] <Father Phillip> :-)
[10/Feb/2004:21:37:58] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: great

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"Rapture"

[10/Feb/2004:21:40:35] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: Father what is the churches stand on the rapture?
[10/Feb/2004:21:40:53] <Father Phillip> well, the Church really doesn't have a "stand" on the idea of the rapture
[10/Feb/2004:21:41:12] <Father Phillip> i suppose as Catholics it's ok to believe in that concept
[10/Feb/2004:21:41:39] <Father Phillip> but it's certainly NOT an official teaching of the Catholic Church that coincides with what i've popularly heard talked about as the rapture
[10/Feb/2004:21:41:46] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: i think it was man made and is unbiblical
[10/Feb/2004:21:42:09] <Father Phillip> while i'd probably prefer to say "human constructed" -- i tend to agree with you
[10/Feb/2004:21:42:26] <Father Phillip> we can read most anything we want into the Scripture
[10/Feb/2004:21:42:57] <Father Phillip> and i think that a lot of faithful good people have needed to believe that the Scripture says something that they can construe as the rapture
[10/Feb/2004:21:43:20] <Father Phillip> but i don't really see the usually cited Scriptures as saying what i hear talked about as the rapture
[10/Feb/2004:21:44:38] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: right i hear these other religions speak of post or pre tribulation and certain people being raptured up and the rest being left behind to suffer when they say one in every three will be raptured up
[10/Feb/2004:21:44:54] <Father Phillip> yep
[10/Feb/2004:21:45:03] <Father Phillip> i've heard a lot of those kinds of things over the years
[10/Feb/2004:21:45:13] <Father Phillip> and it's ok, i guess, for them to believe that if they need to
[10/Feb/2004:21:45:22] <Father Phillip> but it's not what we as Catholics believe

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Ecumenism

[10/Feb/2004:21:45:32] <Father Phillip> one correction, though
[10/Feb/2004:21:45:49] <Father Phillip> the people who tend to say those kinds of things are NOT "other religions"
[10/Feb/2004:21:45:57] <Father Phillip> they are other kinds of Christians
[10/Feb/2004:21:46:02] <Father Phillip> but not other religions
[10/Feb/2004:21:46:12] <Father Phillip> other religions are hindu, buddhist
[10/Feb/2004:21:46:14] <Father Phillip> stuff like that
[10/Feb/2004:21:46:18] <Father Phillip> understand?
[10/Feb/2004:21:46:31] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: sorry your right my mistake
[10/Feb/2004:21:46:36] <Father Phillip> no apologies needed
[10/Feb/2004:21:46:46] <Father Phillip> we just need to be careful with our use of words
[10/Feb/2004:21:47:09] <Father Phillip> don't want people to get the idea that we Catholics think Protestants or whatever aren't really Christians
[10/Feb/2004:21:47:17] <Father Phillip> because we believe that they definitely are!
[10/Feb/2004:21:47:18] <Father Phillip> :-)
[10/Feb/2004:21:48:03] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: i just get tired of other christian denominations saying Catholics are anything but christians in their beliefs
[10/Feb/2004:21:48:23] <Father Phillip> it's an opportunity for you and me (and all other Catholics) to grow in grace
[10/Feb/2004:21:48:24] <Father Phillip> :-)
[10/Feb/2004:21:48:33] <Father Phillip> listen to the Gospel this Sunday at Mass
[10/Feb/2004:21:48:39] <Father Phillip> Jesus talks about this idea
[10/Feb/2004:21:49:01] <Father Phillip> you are blessed when people speak ill of you on account of the Gospel
[10/Feb/2004:21:49:05] <Father Phillip> that kind of thing
[10/Feb/2004:21:49:18] <Father Phillip> we just don't want to fall into the small-minded trap
[10/Feb/2004:21:49:37] <Father Phillip> that some of our sisters and brothers in Christ may have gotten into in the ways they perceive us!
[10/Feb/2004:21:49:42] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: i understand and agree
[10/Feb/2004:21:49:46] <Father Phillip> good person!
[10/Feb/2004:21:49:47] <Father Phillip> :-)
[10/Feb/2004:21:50:45] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: thanks again Father and God bless and keep up the good work
[10/Feb/2004:21:50:50] <Father Phillip> please say a prayer for me
[10/Feb/2004:21:50:58] <Father Phillip> i need all the prayers i can get!
[10/Feb/2004:21:51:01] <Father Phillip> be well!
[10/Feb/2004:21:51:03] <Father Phillip> and blessings!
[10/Feb/2004:21:51:48] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: yes Father i will and always do for the priesthood especially in these troulbed times
[10/Feb/2004:21:52:01] <Father Phillip> yep, there are some real troubles out ther
[10/Feb/2004:21:52:02] <Father Phillip> e
[10/Feb/2004:21:52:03] <Father Phillip> but then
[10/Feb/2004:21:52:10] <Father Phillip> there are wonderful folks like YOU
[10/Feb/2004:21:52:18] <Father Phillip> and that makes up for all the troubles
[10/Feb/2004:21:52:22] <Father Phillip> cya!
[10/Feb/2004:21:53:22] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: Thanks Father but you and others in the preisthood are my true heros and inspiration
[10/Feb/2004:21:53:24] <Father Phillip> hey,
[10/Feb/2004:21:53:27] <Father Phillip> get outta here!
[10/Feb/2004:21:53:29] <Father Phillip> :-)
[10/Feb/2004:21:53:32] <Father Phillip> (but thanks!)
[10/Feb/2004:21:54:02] <Father Phillip> rhbilliot: sure Father goodnight

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