Here is this week's installment of "Five Faith Friday" which contains five, faith-based things I found interesting and am sharing on Friday.
Which Article I Read --
"The Devil’s in More than the Details: How Satan is using The Virus to Destroy Charity." Don't just automatically throw the title of this article aside and refuse to click through. Give it a shot and hear how this author sees the Devil using the virus to destroy charity. What is charity? "Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God." (CCC 1822)
Which Quote I'm Reflecting On --
"Brothers and sisters, here is a question for you: Which to you seems the greater, the word of God or the body of Christ? If you want to give the right answer you will reply that God's word is not less than Christ's body. Therefore, just as we take care when we receive the body of Christ so that no part of it falls to the ground so, likewise, should we ensure that the word of God which is given to us is not lost to our souls because we are speaking or thinking about something different. One who listens negligently to God's word is just as guilty as one who, through carelessness, allows Christ's body to fall to the ground." -Saint Caesarius of Arles. Wow! How many of us daydream during Mass? How many of only hear the word of God during Mass? How many of us aren't even going to Mass (or watching online) right now because of the pandemic? All food for thought.
What I'm Reflecting On --
"Must Catholics Refuse a COVID-19 Vaccine Made With a Cell Line from an Abortion?" by Father Tad Pacholczyk of the The National Catholic Bioethics Center. The vaccine(s) is now out and I saw that the first patient in my area of town received it earlier this week. I know many people who plan to get it (and many people who refuse). My suggestion, if you are going to get one, is to make sure the ethical profile of the one you want to get is one that you can support ethically. Picking a "Poor" or "Very Poor" one when there are alternate options should be seriously thought through.
What News Was Exciting --
"Hungary defines family as having a mother and a father." Even putting aside natural law, it is science. Kids come from a mother and a father and thus a family consists of such. Good for Hungary though! It's fascinating to see the secular media spin this. The first two headlines on Google for it are "Hungary amends constitution to redefine family, effectively banning gay adoption" (NBC News) and "Hungary passes anti-LGBTQ law effectively barring same-sex couples from adopting" (CNN)
What I'm Reading --
"Marian Consecration for Children" by Carrie Gress. My oldest son (Lucas) is about to receive his first reconciliation and first communion so what better way than to consecrate him to Our Lady. I'm going through it with him and it is a really thoughtful book. It makes the faith accessible to children but without watering it down in any way. Besides learning more about Jesus and how to access him via Mary, we've also learned about St. Bernadette Soubirous, the sisters from Fatima, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, Little Nellie Organ, St. Therese, and St. Stanislaus. I highly recommend this book. Each of the 34 days has a lesson, reflection questions, facts, and prayers to go through and is a great way to consecrate yourself (and your child!) to Our Lady while spending some quality time together.
BONUS JOKE --
Question: How many syllables does the word "Gloria" have?
Catholic answer: 18
David Yingling started his weekly “Five Faith Friday” emails when the Coronavirus forced an end to his in-person “Pints & Prayers” gatherings, which he describes as “Men striving to deepen their faith over a cold one.” He’s a member of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Parish in Easton.
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