July 30, 2010   Feast of St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor St. Peter was elected Bishop of Ravenna in 424 and distinguished himself as a great theologian through presentation of insightful sermons to his flock.   File:Our Mother of Perpetual Help.jpg

"It is no coincidence that our beloved savior declared the Holy Spirit to be the Advocate (Jn. 16:7) and that Christ Jesus' bride, the Catholic  Church, declares the Ever Blessed Virgin also to be our Advocate. In truth, the Holy Spirit and the Mother of God have an intimate spiritual union. The Holy Spirit acts through His spiritual spouse (Lk. 1:41-3, Acts 1:14; 2:1-3)."1

 

 

Michael J. Ruggiero, SFO

Master of Arts in Theology

Franciscan University of Steubenville

 

  1 Ruggiero, Michael. The Blessed Virgin Mary: Advocate for Humanity.  CES:NY 2010.  Copyright, 2010, Michael Ruggiero and CES.
Painting: "Our Mother of Perpetual Help."

                                                                                  

 

Click on "This Week's Gospel Message" to read Mr. Ruggiero's  teaching on Sunday's gospel reading!

 

 

 Remember to honor the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus! Click on "Great Prayers" for more information!  

Catholic Evangelization Society

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Catholic Evangelization Society  

"Professionally evangelizing the one, true faith since 2007!"    

      All glory alone belongs to Jesus Christ our savior, our heavenly Father, Creator, and the Holy Spirit, sanctifier: the Holy Trinity and undivided unity, a family of persons, our beloved Lord!

 God fulfilled his promise to Adam and Eve (see Gen. 3:15)! Through the offspring of the "Woman" - Jesus Christ, Son of Mary - Satan , death and hell have all been defeated and the opportunity for permanent union with God restored! 

Turn to Jesus Christ our Lord, through Mary, the "New Eve" and be transformed! 

 

All information on this website is protected by Copyright 2010. CES and Michael Ruggiero. All rights reserved.

 

 

CES provides authentic Catholic evangelization and theological instruction to build up the universal faith. Always obedient to the sacred Magisterium, our goal is to expand the Church of our beloved Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to bring all souls into commited union with God!

The Catholic Evangelization Society is an independent, professional evangelization company (not affiliated with any Diocese). Only professionally trained theologians, those who hold at least a Master of Arts in Theology from a Catholic University (or seminary) that willfully pledges obedience to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, teach and evangelize through the society.  

ALL are invited to embrace and cherish the full deposit of faith present in the Roman Catholic faith. Scroll down the page to learn how YOU can restore or deepen your union with Jesus Christ!

 

 The Institution of the Eucharist, by Joos van Wassenhoven Here's how YOU can obtain COMPLETE UNION WITH GOD AND BE ASSURED, ONE DAY, of attaining perfect transforming union with God in the state of being we call heaven:

Why We Need to Attain and Maintain A State of Grace: 

"Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the "eternal punishment of sin..." (paragraph 1472, Catechism of the Catholic Church).

 

What a "State of Grace" is: 

A "state of grace" is a certain union with God that a person receives when he or she is baptized in the Catholic Church (baptism removes the "stain of original sin" from our souls and restores our union with God to a certain degree )and refrains, ongoingly, from practicing any deadly sin and keeps, at least, the minimal demands of the Church: when he refrains from any grave thought, word or action that violates God's divine law, proves his faith genuine through good works, attends Mass every Sunday and on holy days of obligation (unless sick), receives the Holy Eucharist and attends sacramental confession as prescribed (at least minimally) by the Church.

 

(The goal for Catholic Christians is to remain in a state of grace and gradually grow in virtue (in the practice of charity). Further, to attain the ninth stage of holiness - transforming union with God.)  

 

 

What Must Occur for a Sin to be Mortal (Deadly):

For a sin to be deadly the substance of the thought, word or deed must be comprised of grave matter committed with full knowledge and complete consent.  

(See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1854-61 for more information).

 

The way to attain a state of grace, maintain it, and grow in virtue is as follows:

*(The Catholic Evangelization Society strongly recommends you read St. Francis DeSales' book "An Introduction to the Devout Life" as you embark on your journey toward holiness!)

1. Ask our Heavenly Father in the name of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ, for the grace (desire/help) to attain a state of grace and remain in it. Ask God for the grace (His undeserved gifts and help) to recognize sin and to stop sinning mortally.

2. Sincerely repent - willfully change your direction and thinking. Shun all mortal sin. Further, make a commitment to practice self-discipline and to walk away from mortal sin when tempted by saying a prayer (depend upon on God's grace - His undeserved help - in moments of temptation by praying your way through temptations. Click on the "Catholic Questions" page for more information about how to respond to temptation.) 

Every moral response to temptation contains a divine and human element - God's grace and our willful acceptance of it - cooperation with it. The key is to do your best to cooperate with God's grace, to do His will, not yours.  

3. Contact a devout local priest and schedule a time to make a good general confession. REMEMBER, all sin is committed not just against God, but also His Church! You need to see the Church's representative (a validly ordained priest) to receive forgiveness from the Church and absolution! If you're not Catholic, ask the priest how you can become a member of the Catholic Church (see "Restore Your Union..." to the right).

***Before your general confession, ask the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord and savior (in Jesus' name) to help you recall all of your past grave (mortal) sins. Before your confession confirm what sins were mortal in your past, pick up a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and read paragraphs 1852-1864!

Remember, every priest has heard every kind of sin so have no fear of going to confession. They've "heard it all before." Tell the priest you're making a general confession after having been away from the Church a long time and that you need his assistance. He'll help you through your confession.

4. After your confession, train yourself to see people as precious temples of God - His sons and daughters - not objects to be used for pleasure or monetary gain! Ask God to give you the gift of the "mind of Christ Jesus" - to think as He thinks! 

 5. Purge yourself from all affection for mortal sin:

*Start by reading/performing the meditations listed in St. Francis De Sales' book, "An Introduction to the Devout Life."

6. Embrace these spiritual practices:

a. ATTEND MASS DAILY IF POSSIBLE (receiving holy communion - the Holy Eucharist as long as you can do so worthily - see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1415, 1417, 1650-51).

b. Pray your Rosary daily without fail! Even if you can't say it all at once, complete 5 decades each day and give the grace you merit to our Blessed Mother! (She's your spiritual Mother and will help you!)

c. Do penance

If you can, without losing virtue (ie., losing your patience) abstain from meat or dessert two days a week or eat less (if you can afford to do so, especially during Lent, give the money you save to the poor - Catholic Relief Services' Rice Bowl drive each Lent is a wonderful cause or give it to your local Church's poor box or food bank). *Be sure, however, not to let your penance make you proud (esteem yourself too highly) and others miserable. Penance is only good if it helps you grow in virtue, especially charity!

Remember penance is an act of self-denial. It is the exterior manifestation (clear display) of an interior change of heart and mind. These actions prove we've changed our thinking about something and wish to strengthen ourselves spiritually against the sinful desires of our flesh! (ie., One may abstain from meat in order to remind himself that there's more to life than food, then take the money saved from the act of abstinence and give it to the poor as an act of charity - an act of self-denial for the welfare of others - to prove to God that he loves his neighbor.)

d. Adore our savior in the Most Blessed Sacrament - (give at least 1/2 hour each week to Eucharistic adoration if you are able. Remember, Jesus Christ our Lord is really present, His whole divine person - body, blood, soul, and divinity - in the Most Blessed Sacrament! It only looks and tastes like bread! He's there, a prisoner of love for love of you, so set some time aside to adore Him). 

e. Read your Bible constantly(interpret it, according to the 3 conditions listed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church - see paragraphs 112-114). *All Catholics should receive training in how to correctly read and interpret Scripture! Contact us and we'll show you how to enroll in our Biblical Studies I class!

 

f. Be obedient to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church.

g. Pick your company. Your friends are not your friends if they practice, joke about or think of base behavior.

h. As a rule, calmly ignore and don't examine bad thoughts and change your thought(s) when tempted. Even better, kiss the holy wounds of Christ reverently (in your mind or physically on the crucifix) and practice acts of love toward Him when you are tempted and distracted by bad thoughts. Now and again, cover yourself under the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ: make the sign of the cross and state "I cover myself under the precious blood of Jesus Christ my savior."

i. Go to confession at least once a month. You receive great grace - undeserved gifts and power - from Jesus through Mary to help you overcome sinful tendancies every time you make a good confession! Be sure to be perfectly sorry for your sins and resolve never to practice them again! Now and again renew your Baptismal promises - to reject Satan and all sin, and then renew your acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior through His one, true Catholic Church! Pledge to worship only the Holy Trinity and undivided unity - Father, Son - Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit!

Lastly, remember God loves you! He is there for you. If you should fall, know he still loves you, get up, repent, go to confession and try again! But NEVER settle for a life of mortal sin!

 God's commandments aren't suggestions: choose Him today in thought, word, and deed by keeping His commandments (praying your way through temptations) and practicing acts of charity - acts of self-denial for the welfare of others (you begin practicing charity every time you resist mortal sin!) In this way, you'll imitate God's own divine nature, grow in grace and achieve greater union with God!

 

 

 

Restore     

your 

 

 union  

     with

   God  

 

 

Picture: "Return of the Prodigal Son," by Rembrandt 

 Follow these conversion steps today and be restored to a state of   grace...and full communion with God and His Church:

1. You are loved by God and were given life for the purpose of living in union with Him and inheriting eternal life! Admit you're a sinner and need Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God as YOUR Lord and savior! Remember, God loves you and is merciful.

2Repent - be sorry for your sins, change your thinking  and direction - willfully show contrition for and firmly resolve never to practice sin...especially all mortal or deadly sin (to ignore, pray through and not yield to temptation).

 (See paragraphs 1852-61 of  the Catechism of the Catholic Church to gain an understanding of mortal sin and its effects on your relationship with God as well as your soul.)

3. Now confess Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior and willfully accept His sacrificial death as full payment for your sin debt! He is the Eternal Word of God who came into the world to die in atonement for the sins of humanity - our sins - to restore mankind to a certain union with God culminating in perfect union. 

4. ASK our loving, Heavenly Father - your Heavenly Father who loves you - in our savior Jesus Christ's name for the grace (the undeserved help) to not commit mortal sin, to help you grow in virtue and to help you think as He thinks!

5.  Admit you need the sacraments of the one, true Roman Catholic Church. They were instituted by Jesus Christ to automatically confer grace - to give all of the faithful His undeserved help and gifts.

6. Willfully choose to believe the Holy Eucharist (the host consecrated by a validly ordained priest) truly is the body, blood, soul and divinity (the divine person) of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Even though it retains the accidents - the appearance and taste of bread - once it is consecrated by the priest the substance is changed into the body and blood - the whole divine person - of our savior  (see Luke 24:30,35, 1Cor. 11:23-26 also the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1088 and1353).       

*(See paragraphs 1415, 1417, 1650-51 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Only validly baptized Catholics, who have gone to  sacramental confession, received absolution and live in a state of grace can receive the Holy Eucharist. There is an important spiritual reason for this: one must be free from the state of mortal sin and mentally prepared before he can worthily receive our Lord into his soul.) Respect Church teaching on the Eucharist! Only receive our Lord in a worthy manner for not doing so will negatively impact you spiritually.  (See 1 Cor.11: 27-30).        

7. If Catholic, ask our Blessed Mother and St. Joseph to guide you, to help you find a good parish. 

8. Keep in mind the Church's teachings on key moral matters:

a. With regard to contraceptive practice and disordered sexual behavior see the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 2370, 2351-2360.

b. With regard to Respect for Persons and their Goods see the Catechism, paragraphs 2402 -2437.

E-Mail us if you need assistance.

If you're not Catholic, BECOME CATHOLIC: ask our savior for the gift of Catholicism and follow the above steps for a Catholic, seeking to enter the Roman Catholic Church through its RCIA program.

E-MAIL US IF  WE CAN BE OF HELP!   

Our savior loves YOU and is the true beloved  King of your soul - He alone gave His life for you!

Discover the joy of living in union with God, in full communion with Jesus Christ!  Repent and seek HIM through His one, true Roman Catholic Church today!

"Praise the Lord, all nations,

Extol him all peoples,

For great is his steadfast love toward us;

and the faithfulness of the Lord

endures forever." 

(Psalm 117, RSV Catholic Edition, Oxford University Press, NY)

 

 Copyright, 2010. CES

and

Michael J. Ruggiero, M.A.

All rights reserved.

 

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Remember - E-mail us today if you need prayer or wish to be put on our prayer line! God loves you and we do too!

 

Copyright 2010, CES. All rights reserved.  

 

Catholic Evangelization Society