My Little Prayer

Written by Austin Akalanze


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Let me submit to your will, Presenting myself a vessel worthy- A tarbanacle pure and holy, A sanctuary tried and true For in You and by You, I consist Amen

Austin Akalanze is an Educator, poet and freelance writer and webmaster at http://www.power-profit-systems.com/pips.html


Stop Defending Your Faith

Written by Gary Shirley


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Recallrepparttar analogy ofrepparttar 126842 Church as a large ocean liner. Overrepparttar 126843 centuries, groups of people decide to mutiny for various reasons (heresy, apostasy and schism) and strike out on their own. Setting out in their lifeboats, they take various things they deem important. Agreement becomesrepparttar 126844 norm of faith rather than obedience. One eviscerates Holy Scripture and takes a couple Sacraments, another takes Scripture but no Sacraments, another keeps Catholic teachings but disallowsrepparttar 126845 authority ofrepparttar 126846 Pope and yet another decides Christ is not God. And on and on...

All these little lifeboats are now out and away. All refuse to come back despite our pleas fromrepparttar 126847 railing. They choose to chart their own course, beholden to no apostolic authority. They craft their own religion or “spin” Christianity to their liking. Everything they have comes fromrepparttar 126848 mother ship - mere fragments of Catholicism ripped fromrepparttar 126849 tapestry of Tradition.

Given their separation, can we guarantee their "safety?" No. Can we assert that they have allrepparttar 126850 means to salvation? No. Can we affirm that they are onrepparttar 126851 right track? We cannot. By leavingrepparttar 126852 bark of Peter, they traderepparttar 126853 fullness ofrepparttar 126854 faith for shadowy fragments and subjective interpretations.

Pope John Paul II reminds us thatrepparttar 126855 greatest sin ofrepparttar 126856 modern era is Christian disunity. He rightfully insists that we cannot changerepparttar 126857 world if we do not speak with one voice and love with one heart. The Church is a multitude of interrelated parts. Remove some ofrepparttar 126858 parts and it is no longer able to function properly. The Catechism reminds us to pray for all who belong in any way torepparttar 126859 People of God. Especially those who have an “imperfect communion” withrepparttar 126860 Catholic Church and those who “have not yet receivedrepparttar 126861 Gospel.”

Though longing to be one body of believers, we are called to honor and preserve God’s revelation intact. We cannot abridge our Sacred Tradition. The cultural notion that prompts celebration onrepparttar 126862 things we share in common can also dismissrepparttar 126863 things we do not. We must not sacrifice truth atrepparttar 126864 altar of ecumenism. Our goal is to entice everyone torepparttar 126865 warmth and safety ofrepparttar 126866 mother ship, not to join them inrepparttar 126867 lifeboats. Only when all are safely aboard will our task be complete.

Be proud to be a Catholic. Radiate that joy by encouraging others to discoverrepparttar 126868 majesty of Christ’s one true Church. Rememberrepparttar 126869 next time a challenge is issued, issue one of your own. Charitably respond by asking why anyone would be content with only a morsel ofrepparttar 126870 feast!



Gary Shirley, his wife, and three children are members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Kennesaw, Georgia, where Gary serves as catechist in the adult education program. Gary is an Archdiocese of Atlanta certified catechist (both PSR and RCIA) with 13 years teaching experience.


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