The Catholicism Answer Book: The 300 Most Frequently Asked Questions

415 Pages·2007·1.48 MB·English

by  Kenneth Brighenti Ph.D. Rev.

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Why are priests called “Father”? What is a “Hail Mary”? Are angels real? If God is
all good, then why is there evil in the world? Creation or evolution: Which is it? CATHOLICISM
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Why does it seem like Catholics worship Mary? How do I get to heaven?
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Catholicism is one of the world’s largest and oldest religions. Its reach extends
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ANSWERBOOK
A across the globe, but the intricacies of the faith can be a source of confusion,
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even for devout Catholics. The Catholicism Answer Book is an accurate and O
authoritative reference—with Imprimatur—designed to answer your most
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common, confusing, controversial and worrisome questions about the
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Catholic faith.
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Written by noted Catholicism scholars Rev. John Trigilio Jr., Ph.D., Th .D.,
300
and Rev. Kenneth D. Brighenti, Ph.D., both Catholic priests, The Catholicism I The Most Frequently
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Answer Book provides insight into a number of issues, including:
A M Asked Questions
N (cid:2) God, the Trinity and Creation (cid:2) Mary, the mother of Jesus, and her
S The diff erent versions, translations role in salvation
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W and interpretations of the Bible The purpose and power of prayer A (cid:2)W hat are the “lost” or
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E Jesus, His origins, His family, His Life after death, the soul and where N “missing” books of the
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nature and what He was really like we spend eternity Bible?
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O (cid:2) Controversial moral issues (cid:2) Church history and common questions W (cid:2)W hy pray a rosary?
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(cid:2)W hat determines
K Written in an easy to read question-and-answer format, The Catholicism Answer Book gives you E
invaluable insight into the role, history and practice of the Catholic faith. R whether someone is
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named a saint?
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Rev. Fr. John Trigilio Jr., Ph.D., Th .D., a native of Erie, Religion $14.95 U.S./ $17.95 CAN/ £7.99 UK
ISBN-13: 978-1-4022-0806-5
Pennsylvania, is pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel ISBN-10: 1-4022-0806-5 O (cid:2)W hy are priests
(Marysville, Pennsylvania) and St. Bernadette Catholic
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Churches (Duncannon, Pennsylvania). He is the current
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president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, and also A K
E (cid:2)W hy can’t Catholics
cohosts two weekly television and radio series on the Eternal
Word Television Network (EWTN). divorce or remarry?
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Rev. Fr. Kenneth D. Brighenti, Ph.D., a native of New UP (cid:2)W hat is
Britain, Connecticut, is pastor of Saint Ann Catholic Church Trigilio,
(Raritan, New Jersey). He is the managing editor of Sapientia Brighenti excommunication?
magazine and cohosts the weekly TV and radio series on
REV. JOHN TRIGILIO JR., PPhh..DD..,, TThh..DD.. aanndd RREEVV.. KKEENNNNEETTHH DD.. BBRRIIGGHHEENNTTII PPhh..DD..
EWTN, Crash Course in Catholicism, with Father Trigilio. . .
WWWSOURCEBOOKSCOM Authors of the best-selling book Catholicism for Dummies
Susan Ashley, PhD
THE
Catholicism
Answer Book
The 300 Most Frequently Asked Questions
R . J T J ., P D, T D
EV OHN RIGILIO R H H AND
R K B , P D
EVEREND ENNETH RIGHENTI H
Copyright©2007byRev.KennethD.Brighenti,Ph.D.,andRev.JohnTrigilio,Jr.,Ph.D.
Coverandinternaldesign©2007bySourcebooks,Inc.
Coverphoto©Punchstock
Internalpermissions©ArtExplosion750,000
SourcebooksandthecolophonareregisteredtrademarksofSourcebooks,Inc.
Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedinanyformorbyanyelectronicor
mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case of
briefquotationsembodiedincriticalarticlesorreviews—withoutpermissioninwritingfromits
publisher,Sourcebooks,Inc.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the
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deringlegal,accounting,orotherprofessionalservice.Iflegaladviceorotherexpertassistanceis
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LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Brighenti,Kenneth.
TheCatholicismanswerbook:the300mostfrequentlyaskedquestions/KennethD.Brighenti
andJohnTrigilio,Jr.
p.cm.
Includesindex.
ISBN-13:978-1-4022-0806-5
ISBN-10:1-4022-0806-5
1. CatholicChurch--Doctrines--Miscellanea.2. Theology,Doctrinal--Popularworks. I.Trigilio,
John.II.Title.
BX1754.3.B752007
282--dc22
2006038963
PrintedandboundintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
VP 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
Nihil Obstat: Rev.Msgnr.James M.Cafone,M.A.,S.T.D.
Censor Librorum
December 20,2007
Imprimatur: Most Rev.John J.Myers,D.D.,J.C.D.
Archbishop of Newark
December 26,2007
Feast of Saint Stephen,Protomartyr
The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet
is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those
who have granted the Nihil Obstat and the Imprimatur agree with the content,
opinions or statements expressed.
Dedication
This book is dedicated to the former Josef Cardinal Ratzinger, now His Holiness
PopeBenedictXVI,theVicarofChrist,SuccessorofSaintPeter,BishopofRomeand
Servant of the Servants of God. He and Pope John Paul the Great were our heroes
during our seminary training and throughout our priesthood; to His Eminence
Francis Cardinal Arinze, Prefect of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the
Sacraments; to the Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades (Bishop of Harrisburg) and
Reverend Mother Angelica (Abbess and founder of EWTN), Mother Vicar
Catherine and all the Poor Clare Nuns of Perpetual Adoration at Our Lady of the
AngelsMonastery,Hanceville,AL;toRev.Fr.RobertLevis,PhD,forallhiswisdom,
knowledge,inspiration,counsel,advice,and most of all his holy example of priestly
pietyandstaunchorthodoxy;andtoallthefaithfulmembersoftheConfraternityof
Catholic Clergy.
InlovingmemoryofHisHolinessPopeJohnPaulIItheGreat,DoctorofLight,and
of JohnTrigilio,Sr. (father), Mary JoTrigilio (sister), MichaelTrigilio (brother) and
JosephTrigilio (brother)
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the following for their prayers and support throughout this
project:ourmothers(NormaBrighentiandElizabethTrigilio);father(PercyBrighenti);
our friends (Lou & Sandy Falconeri,Drs.Keith & Christina Burkhart,MD,Thomas &
BridgetteMcKenna,MichaelDrake,DougKeck,ColinDonnovan,StephenBeaumont,
Noah Lett, Michael Warsaw, Ned & Lee South, Sam Ranelli) and especially the
religious sisters and friars (Missionary Franciscans of the Eternal Word; Franciscan
Friars of the Renewal;Fathers of Mercy;ReligiousTeachers Filippini,VillaWalsh,NJ;
Discalced Carmelites Nuns of Erie, PA and Flemington, NJ; Dominican Nuns of the
Perpetual Rosary,Lancaster,PA)
Contents
Section One:Creed—Catholic Doctrine
Chapter 1:Who Is God? .................................................3
Chapter 2:Where in the Bible? ...........................................21
Chapter 3:Who Is Jesus? ................................................41
Chapter 4:What about Mary,the Mother of Jesus? ............................55
Chapter 5:Death,Judgment,Heaven,Hell ..................................69
SectionTwo:Why Seven Sacraments?—CatholicWorship
Chapter 6:Divine Grace.................................................85
Chapter 7:Baptism and Confirmation ......................................97
Chapter 8:Penance andAnointing ........................................111
Chapter 9:Holy Orders and Matrimony....................................125
Chapter 10:Eucharist and Communion ...................................145
Chapter 11:Sacramentals ..............................................157
SectionThree:WhichTen?—TheTen Commandments
Chapter 12:Moral Questions from a Catholic Perspective......................173
Chapter 13:Vice andVirtue.............................................183
Chapter 14:Sin ......................................................191
Chapter 15:Controversial Moral Issues ....................................197
Chapter 16:Honoring God..............................................207
Chapter 17:HonoringYour Neighbor......................................215
Section Four:Our Father—Our Prayer
Chapter 18:Prayer ....................................................227
Chapter 19:Our Father or the Lord’s Prayer ................................235
Chapter 20:Hail Mary .................................................245
Chapter 21:Piety and Devotions .........................................251
Section Five:Yesterday andToday:Church History and Common Questions
Chapter 22:Church History.............................................269
Chapter 23:This andThat ..............................................303
Index...............................................................387
About theAuthors ....................................................403
CCRREEEEDD—— Section 1
CC
AATTHHOOLLIICC
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OOCCTTRRIINNEE
THIS SECTION HANDLES QUESTIONS ABOUT CATHOLIC
TEACHINGS (DOGMAS AND DOCTRINE).
Chapter 1 WWHHOO IISS
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OODD
This chapter looks at questions about God, the Trinity, and Creation.
nQuestion 1. How do we know there is a God?
nQuestion 2. Is God male, female, or neither?
nQuestion 3. Why is the Holy Trinity not actually three gods?
nQuestion 4. Creation or evolution: which is it?
nQuestion 5. If God is all good, then why is there evil in the world?
nQuestion 6. Did God make the devil? And if he did, why?
nQuestion 7. What color (race) is God?
nQuestion 8. Did Creation actually take six days?
nQuestion 9. Do angels earn their wings?
nQuestion 10. If God created Eve from Adam’s rib, then why do men have the same
number of ribs as women?
nQuestion 11. What was the original sin?
nQuestion 12. Did God create alien life on other planets?
4 The CatholicismAnswer Book
Question 1. How do we know there is a God?
The most obvious question anyone asks a believer is “How do you know God
exists?” It’s a simple question that has both a simple and a complicated answer.
First, the easy part: faith is believing in something or someone you cannot see or
believinginwhatcannotbeproven.Inotherwords,faithdependsonnothavingany
evidence; otherwise, it would not be faith. So those who believe in God or in a
supremebeingaretakingthewordofothersorjusttrustingtheirowninstinctsthat
such an almighty divinity does exist. Many people, whether they are Jewish,
Christian, or Islamic, whether Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, or Protestant,
believe in God because they believe in the revealed Word of God, called Sacred
Scripture or the Bible.
A more complicated answer is that Catholic Christianity does believe you can
prove the existence of God. Reason can conclude that a supreme being exists and
is necessary, but only faith (believing what cannot or is not known) tells us that
thereisbutoneGod(monotheism).Judaism,Christianity,andIslambelieveinonly
one God, and Christianity is the only of the three to believe that there are three
Divine Persons in that one God.Human reason could never figure out the mystery
ofhowtherecanbethreepersonsbutnotthreegods.Faithisneededtobelievethat
doctrine,and some people never embrace that faith.
The fact that God exists can be known by reason alone,or it can be believed by
faith.TheancientGreeksandRomansusedphilosophy(logicandreason)centuries
before Christ to prove the existence of God or a supreme being. Saint Thomas
Aquinas was a Catholic philosopher and theologian in the thirteenth century AD
who used that same ancient reasoning to demonstrate the reasonableness of anyone
“knowing”that God exists,regardless of whether or not they have faith.He showed
thattheexistenceofGodcanbeprovedbyreason,butafterthat,oneneededsuper-
natural faith to believe the supernatural revelation about the nature of God (for
example,theTrinity).
Aquinas used five proofs to demonstrate that, using human reason alone, any
human being could know that there is a God.The first method is called motion.
This is not physical movement from point A to point B on a map or on a road. It
means moving from being purely potential to being actual. Philosophers call this
motion “potency into act.” So, for example, the sculpture of the Pieta done by
Michelangelo was potential until it moved into actuality once the artist began chis-
eling the stone.The finished product was first potential and then made actual,but
Who Is God? 5
not by itself.The artist was the“mover,” that is, the one who moved the“potential
Pieta”to become the“actual Pieta.” He did this by hammering away at the marble
until he finished.Were there no artist, then the potential sculpture would remain
potential forever. Only something already actual can move something else from
being potential to being actual.You and I were potential human beings until our
parents moved us into being actual once we were conceived.
Aquinas reasoned that the entire universe was potential (before the Big Bang)
until something or someone moved it from potency to act (from being a potential
universe to being an actual universe). Since everything has a beginning, then that
must mean everything was potential at one time. Only a “prime mover” or some-
thing always actual and never potential, could be considered a supreme being. If
God had a beginning,then there would have been a time when there was no God;
ifthatwerethecase,thenwhoorwhatwouldhavemovedHimfrombeingapoten-
tial God to being an actual God?Aquinas said reason compels us to discover there
must have always been something which always existed, the Prime Mover, who
moves everything from being possible to being real.
Ifyourheaddoesnothurtyet,holdon.Thesecondproofiscalledcausality.Every
crime sleuth from Sherlock Holmes to Lord PeterWhimsey to Miss Marple solves
themurdermysterybasedontheprincipleofcauseandeffect.Adeadbodyisfound
in the room with five bullet holes and a knife in the back. That is the effect.
Somethingandsomeone(themurderer)causedalivingpersontobecomeacorpse.
Bullets and knives do not kill people;people kill people.Causality is the underpin-
ning of science,logic,and most of our experiential knowledge.We see a burnt piece
of paper (the effect) and automatically reason that something or someone was the
source(thecause)oftheburning.Itisnothingmorethanconnectingthedots,soto
speak.Aquinasreasoned,therefore,thateveryeffecthasacause;otherwise,itwould
notexist.YouandIareeffects,andourparentsarethecauses.Healsoreasonedthat
every cause was in turn an effect of a previous cause. Grandma and Grandpa had
something to do with us, too, since without them (cause) they would have had no
children (effect) and without those children growing up to become our parents
(cause),there would have been no us (effect).
Therefore, if we reason backwards, like we did with motion, and deduce that
every cause must have had a previous cause, there must be a first cause like there
wastheprimemover.Thisfirstcauseisthecauseofallcauses.Ithadnocausesince
it has always existed.The Uncaused Cause,the Cause ofAll Causes and the Prime