The Name ALLAH in Christian pre-islamic literature
The following lines are a free translation of Fr. Louis Sheikho’s (1895-1927) book “The Christian pre-islamic literature” (Al Mashriqm Beyrouth, second edition, 1989, pp. 158 – 163, and following). They prove scientifically, with an abundant documentation, that Jewish and CHRISTIAN Arabs (even pagans) were using the name ALLAH before Islam. Of course, for Jews and Christians, the Name designated and keeps designating the One and Only God. It goes without saying that our “Holy Trinity” is a ‘trine... Jan 25 2010
Saint Dominic and the Rosary
Saint Dominic was meditating on the life of the Lord Jesus. He also intended to honor the Virgin Mary, in the FRAMEWORK of the major EVENTS of the Savior's life. The Saint thought of the "Rosary" as a crown of roses on the head of the heavenly Queen.
At the time where the PSALTER was well memorized by many people, Saint Dominic thought of the illiterate. For such people in particular, and for the Faithful in general, the 150 "Hail Marys" were meant to remind of the 150 Psalms.
The Rosary - in Arabic-... Jun 22 2009
The plan of Salvation established by God
The Church celebrates as saints, only those who were with Jesus Christ or after Him. In fact, Jesus Christ completed the salvation of the world through his death and resurrection. Through his Passover he opened for us the door of His Father's House.
St. John the Baptist is the only saint of the Ancient Testament who is celebrated by the Church, but he knew Jesus Christ, believed in Him, showed Him present and died as martyr of the truth. Jesus said about John the Baptist: In truth I tell you, of all the children born to women,... Jun 19 2009
The date of Easter and of Lent
At the beginning, the Church, departing from Jerusalem, used to celebrate the Christian Passover, the Feast of the Lordly Resurrection three days after the Jewish Passover, Pessach, three days after the 14 of Nissan. Needless to say that every Sunday is the weekly celebration of Christ's Resurrection.
Soon, especially in the Nicea Council (325 A.D.) the Church was keen on distancing itself from the Jewish Passover and Calendar for the following reasons (at least):
1- the Jewish calendar- actually the Jewish year - is... Jun 19 2009
The holy personages of the Old Testament
The Church does believe in the Old Testament Books as revealed and inspired by God. But the personages, even the holy ones, are children of their time, mentality, milieu and pre-christian period, which means that the CHRISTIAN SPIRITUAL AND MORAL PERFECTION, incarnated in Christ, as Supreme Model (Mt 11 : 27 ff.) and, much less perfectly, in the Apostles after the Pentecost (For St. Paul, see see l Cor 11 : 1) was not available nor possible for them. Yet, for their time and milieu, they were holy people. For us, those holy personages were... Jun 19 2009
The Canaanite (Syro-phoenician) Woman | In Matthew 15 : 21ff; Mark 7 : 24 ff
Jesus is “gentle (sweet) and humble in heart” (see Mtt 11: 29) . This is his “normal policy and administration”. This time appears as an outstanding exception. His apparent rudeness with the Canaanite “female” – He is not gentle with the “Gentile” woman!- does shock us, at a first glance.
BUT , one has to bear in mind many elements:
The episode is related, both in Mtt and Mk, after a bitter criticism... Jun 11 2009
Church Teaching on Laity
(By Fr. Dr. Peter H. Madros)
Introduction
Laity constitutes the base of the Church . Implicitly, all the New Testament and Church documents presuppose and address "the people of God", from whom "the hierarchy" and "the clergy" spring (cf. Hebrews 5 : 1 ). The Lord Himself, the Blessed Virgin, the Apostles came from the people.
The Church's doctrine in general, and here about Laity, comes from Christ, the Apostles and the Tradition. Most of this teaching has been recorded in the New... Apr 11 2009
The Bible of the Catholic Church
(By Fr. Peter H. Madros)
Introduction about the designation
Such an expression might suggest that the Catholic Church had arbitrarily and "capriciously" decided about the written divine Word. As a matter of fact, the Church only followed – and does follow- the Tradition handed over to her by the Lord and the Apostles about the Books of the Old Testament, and the Tradition of the Apostles and the Fathers for the New. The details will be dealt with below.
The Written Word of... Mar 25 2009
