Question: What happens when we receive the Eucharist? Answer: When you receive the Eucharist, you become a tabernacle or a vessel of the Lord. Jesus Christ truly resides within you – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. As such, there are many amazing spiritual effects that come from this experience: we receive grace from God that forgives us of our venial (or “lesser”) sins and strengthens … Continue reading
Question: Why do some women wear a veil at Mass? Answer: It has been a long-standing custom in the Church for a woman to wear a veil at Mass or in the presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. Although it seems to have gone out of fashion nowadays, there is certainly nothing that prevents a woman from continuing this practice, and it is a … Continue reading
Question: Where does Scripture say that Mary was conceived without sin? Answer: First, note the parallel between Mary and the ark of the Old Covenant: Both Mary (cf. Lk 1:39) and the ark (cf. 2 Sam 6:2) arise and go to Judah. Both Mary (cf. Lk 1:56) and the ark (cf. 2 Sam 6:11) reside for 3 months in their new locations. David leaps with … Continue reading
Question: What is the “fall of the angels”? Is this in Scripture anywhere? Answer: At the beginning of time the angels in heaven were given a choice: follow God or rebel against Him. That a resident of heaven would ever rebel against God is one of the great mysteries of our faith. At any rate, some of them decided to rebel and they were thus … Continue reading
Question: What does it mean that Mary was “assumed into heaven”? Is there any proof of this in Scripture? Answer: What this means is that Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed (or “taken up”) body and soul into heavenly glory. When you or I die, our soul goes to heaven (or hell), but our body remains in the dirt. Mary … Continue reading
Question: Can you explain the difference between “bowing down to” and “venerating” a statue or icon? Answer: There really isn’t a difference, as long as you understand that, when Catholics bow (or make some other act of affection such as kissing, touching, or embracing) they are not giving divine worship or adoration to an object, as if it were an idol. Instead, they are acknowledging … Continue reading
Question: How do I respond to someone who says that devotion to Mary takes the focus off of Jesus and detracts from our relationship with Him? Answer: A devotion to Mary is certainly not detrimental to our relationship with Christ. In fact, Marian devotion both flows from and leads to a relationship with Him. Marian devotion flows from a relationship with Christ in that, when … Continue reading