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INTRODUCTION
What Is Apologetics?
The word “apologetics” comes from the Greek verb, which means, “to defend”. It consists of the listing of the reasons for holding a particular belief. [1]
Why study Apologetics?[2]
Those who do not yet have the Gift of Faith, have an obligation to learn, as best they can, the Truths found in The Catholic Church and the reasons (the logic) behind them. Faith is a free Gift from God but the scary part is that we must “ask to receive, seek to find, knock for the door to be opened”.[3] All must be converted.[4] There is no neutral ground. Those who are not with Him are against Him. Those who do not gather, scatter![5]
Those who already have the Gift of Faith, also have an obligation to learn, as best they can, the Truths found in The Catholic Church and the reasons (the logic) behind them. First to know how to defend their Faith when It is attacked by “friends”, relatives, “teachers”, etc. Second to be able to teach other Catholics how to defend the Faith. Failure to learn can lead to tepidity (lack of fervor), and then even to loss of the Gift of Faith! Third out of Charity, to help those who do not yet have the Gift of Faith, to find It.
“Faith” is truly a Gift!
It has been said, that for those who have the Gift of Faith, no proof is necessary and for those who don’t have the Gift of Faith, no proof is sufficient! Catholics, well trained in Apologetics, can win all the debates with our non-Catholic friends. Yet, very few are converted by losing a debate!? The problem in these cases is likely in the heart, rather than in the mind. Until the heart is disposed to seek out and love Truth, the mind will not (is not allowed to) recognize Truth.[6] Sometimes they like to throw out many questions but have no interest in listening to answers. While points of Doctrine are explained, their minds
are instead focused on the next question. Hence the Catholic is led to skip from question to question and not allowed to go into any depth. I don’t think this phenomenon is out of malice but more out of habit. For Liberals, “Truth” is determined by how they feel, more than based on logic or reason. If possible, don’t allow the subject to be changed too quickly. Always resist losing your temper. These poor souls need our sympathy more than our anger. Anger usually occurs in those who are losing the debate. It is a defense mechanism, a substitute for logic and reason. Faith is a Gift for those who love Truth. The heart is often softened by prayer and kindness. We must therefore; both teach and pray, for those whom we may influence. The most important of the two is Prayer.
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THE SOUL OF THE APOSTOLATE
We must all strive to grow in Sanctity (Holiness). Not only for our own sakes, but also out of Charity for those for whom we pray and may influence. The Holier we are, the more effective our prayers will be.[7] We must literally live like Saints. Really! Only Saints go to heaven and the only alternative to Sainthood is eternal damnation! An excellent book on the importance of personal Sanctity is “The Soul of The Apostolate” by Dom Chautard a Cistercian monk who lived in the late 1800s. Some of the points he makes in it are:
1. “If God calls me to apply my activity not only to my own sanctification, but also to good works, I must establish this firm conviction, before anything else, in my mind: Jesus has got to be, and wishes to be, the life of these works.”
2. Our efforts, by themselves, are nothing, absolutely nothing. “Without Me you can do nothing.”[8]
3. “If my works should spring from pride and self-satisfaction, from confidence in my own talents, from the desire to shine, they will be rejected by God: for would it not be a sacrilegious madness for me to steal, from God, a little of His glory in order to decorate and beautify myself?”
4. God will not bless the works of those who will not pray.
5. “A short but fervent prayer will usually do more to bring about a conversion than long discussions of fine speeches.”
6. Everyone must first offer his own soul. Then will it be permitted us to procure the same joy for others.
7. A lack of interior life is the source of all my faults, all my troubles, my dryness, my fits of disgust, and my bad health.
8. “For you can be sure that the extent to which you yourself are able to live on the love of Our Lord will be the exact measure of your ability to stir it up in other people.”
We could go on and on with thoughts from this great book but I think you get the idea. The first and most important step in effective Apologetics is personal Sanctity.
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PLEASE PRAY FIRST
PLEASE PRAY FIRST
Bruno May 1983
Some Souls, are steeped in Apathy, Spewed from His mouth, He said they’d be!
Some Souls were raised in deep confusion. Victims of false teachers in great profusion!
Some Souls however, shout profane Cheers: “We’ve finally got teachers that tickle our ears!”
Some Souls who find themselves in error. Lift up their voice in Humble Prayer:
“Oh Lord, oh Lord, have pity on me! Please soften my heart, please let me See!”
Almighty God in His Infinite Mercy, Clears the minds of those that are truly thirsty.
So pray poor Soul! Please pray FIRST! THEN, study this TRUTH for which you thirst.
“Oh Lord, oh Lord, have pity on me! Please soften my heart, please let me See!”
Comments about these Notes:
Almost all of the data contained in these “Notes” has been taken from the many good books on the subject under consideration. These “Notes” will help the student to obtain the general idea of not only the basic Truths of the Catholic Faith and the logic behind them, but also the objections to various Catholic Doctrines and The Church’s defense of them. These Notes, however are just a summary, an outline, an introduction to the various Doctrines and their defense. The student is encouraged to look up the many references in order to cover the various subjects in more detail.
Biblical references are taken from the Douay-Rheims Version. This is the official English translation for Catholics from St. Jerome’s Vulgate. Students using other versions of the Bible, may therefore be hit with a confusion spike when trying to look up some of the references, since there could be significant differences. The following table of differences may be helpful if difficulty is encountered in this area. In some instances, passages have been changed or deleted to support a change in belief! Also refer to Chapter III: “Holy Scripture and Apologetics” for a more detailed discussion of these Biblical alterations.
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SOME DIFFERENCES OFTEN FOUND BETWEEN
THE DOUAY-RHEIMS BIBLE
AND OTHER VERSIONS OF SCRIPTURE
The Book of JOSUE is sometimes called JOSUA. I KINGS is sometimes called I SAMUEL.
II KINGS is sometimes called II SAMUEL. III KINGS is sometimes called I KINGS.
IV KINGS is sometimes called II KINGS. I ESDRAS is sometimes called EZRA.
I PARALIPOMENON is sometimes called I CHRONICLES. TOBIAS is sometimes called TOBIT.
II PARALIPOMENON is sometimes called II CHRONICLES. OSEE is sometimes called HOSEA.
II ESDRAS is sometimes called NEHEMIAS OR NEHEMIAH. MICHEAS is sometimes called MICAH.
JEREMIAS is sometimes called JEREMIAH. ECCLESIASTICUS is sometimes called SIRACH.
ABDIAS is sometimes called OBADIAH. JONAS is sometimes called JONAH
.
HABACUC is sometimes called HABAKKUK. SOPHONIAS is sometimes called ZEPHANIAH.
AGGEUS is sometimes called HAGGAI. ZACHARIAS is sometimes called ZECHARIAH.
MALACHIAS is sometimes called MALADCHI.
CANTICLES OF CANTICLES is sometimes called SONG OF SONGS.
In PSALMS, Chapter numbers are sometimes one greater after Chapter 10.
In the New Testament, St. John’s APOCALYPSE is sometimes called REVELATIONS.
The Vulgate was translated into Latin from the ancient Greek writings, which in turn came from ancient Hebrew writings. When Christ referred to Scripture, it was the Greek text He used. In the 6th or 7th Century, Jews that rejected Christ, rewrote the Old Testament, leaving out some of the books. This Hebrew version is sometimes used. Many of the differences between the Douay-Rheims Bible and others, can be traced to whether the ancient Greek was used of if they came from the more Modern Hebrew version. Some of the differences were due to outright Scripture mutilation by those who didn’t like what IT said.
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[1]. College Apologetics, Fr. Alexander, Ch. I p3.
[2]. “And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one Shepherd.” John 10:16.
[3].”Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.” Matt. 7:7-8.
[4].”And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matt. 18:3; “Be penitent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19!
[5]. “He that is not with me, is against me: and he that gathereth not with me, scattereth.” Matt. 12:30; Luke 11:23.
[6]. The hard of heart are blinded so that they will not understand and be saved. They will not even accept miracles! They love the Glory of men. John 12:37-48 and Acts 28:25-27. The lustful, proud, worldly will have their foolish hearts darkened. Rom. 1:21-32. The wicked will not understand. Dan. 12:2-10. The sensual will not understand. 1Cor.2:14. The lukewarm will be vomited out of His mouth. Apoc. 3:16.
[7]. “...and pray one for another, that you may be saved. For the continual prayer of a just man availeth much.” James 5:16.
[8]. “I am the vine; you are the branches; he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
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