The Catholic Faith is full of beauty, subtlety, and nuance. Sometimes, that can lead to confusion, however. Two thousand years of history and tradition is bound to result in many questions over both Catholic practice and belief.
The questions below are drawn from my Friday "Reader Question" series. They are presented in reverse chronological order, so that the most recent is always at the top.
If you have a question that you would like featured in this series, send me an e-mail. Please put "QUESTION" in the subject line and note whether you'd like me to address it privately or on the Catholicism blog.
A Time to Fast, A Time to Feast (August 15, 2008)
The Reader's Question:I've read on some Catholic websites about a day of fasting and prayer to stop the war between Russia and Georgia. I'd like to participate, but they're suggesting that we fast on the Feast of the Assumption. Is it appropriate to fast on a feast?The Question Restated: Is fasting ever inappropriate?
Where Should a Baptism Take Place? (August 8, 2008)
The Reader's Question:I am wondering if a baptism performed outside of the actual church building--for example, in a private home by an ordained Roman Catholic priest--is recognized by the Church?The Question Restated: Does it matter where a baptism takes place?
Just Words? (August 1, 2008)
The Reader's Question:As a life-long Catholic, I have often prayed the rosary but lately have wondered how this prayer form complies with the guidance that says to avoid repetitive, wordy prayers. In my readings, I have seen references from time to time to this type of false prayer.The Question Restated: Did Christ warn against repetitive prayer? What should we do when we find a particular type of prayer spiritually unfruitful? Why do many parishes no longer recite the rosary publicly?Praying the rosary is at times difficult for me as the repetition seems to be more of a penance than communion with the Lord. And of course the rosary seems to have disappeared in our new modern parishes. Is this why?
Neither Jew Nor Greek (July 25, 2008)
The Reader's Question:I am an African-American, and I was wondering whether it matters what race you are in order to be Catholic. Do you have to be a certain race in order to convert to Catholicism?The Question Restated: Are there any ethnic or cultural preconditions for becoming Catholic?
Praying the Our Father at Mass (July 18, 2008)
The Reader's Question:What does "it" say (if anything) the faithful should do during the Lord’s Prayer at Mass? I looked briefly in the GIRM [General Instructions of the Roman Missal] and in the Sunday missal, and I could not find anything. Do you know if this may change in the future?The Question Restated: Does the Church tell us what we should do while saying the Our Father during Mass?
Are Scapulars Just for Catholics? (July 11, 2008)
The Reader's Question:Are scapulars solely for Catholics? Also, what are the requirements/requests associated with the Saint Michael the Archangel scapular?The Question Restated: What is a scapular, why do people wear them, and who can wear one?
Apostolic Succession and the Western Schism (July 4, 2008)
The Reader's Question:I have a question regarding Apostolic Succession. It is said it was never interrupted since Jesus, St. Peter the first pope, until now. With the occasion of the Western schism between 1378 and 1417, when there were two popes in the Church, was the Succession also maintained?The Question Restated: What is apostolic succession, and has it always been maintained?
What Are the Types of Ordination? (June 27, 2008)
The Reader's Question:Have you ever heard of a type of priestly ordination called "Promised"? The pastor of our local parish recently resigned, and I've heard that he only had a "promised" ordination.The Question Restated: Are there different types of ordinations?He said Mass for years, and heard Confessions, and performed all of the sacraments (to my knowledge). I know he said Mass since I attended dozens of his Masses.
How Do We Know Who the Popes Were? (June 20, 2008)
The Reader's Question:I'm trying to better understand Catholicism, particularly the list of popes since Peter. Can you tell me how the Catholic Church came up with the list you have printed on your website? I see that Linus is listed under St. Peter. Is he listed in the Bible? Where? I see that the books of Chronicles list a lot of genealogy, and I wonder if the Bible mentions any successor/genealogy to St. Peter.The Question Restated: Where does the list of popes come from, and how do we know that it is correct?
The Order of the Sacraments (June 6, 2008)
The Reader's Question:I am confused about the reader question from Friday May 16, 2008. Regarding the part about going to Confession before First Holy Communion: We never had a first Penance until 4th grade and First Holy Communion was in the 2nd grade. It wasn’t possible to go to Confession first. That didn’t come for a couple more years. Have they changed the way this is done?The Question Restated: Should a child receive the Sacrament of Confession before his First Holy Communion?
