Separate school systems across Canada aren’t relics from a long-ago time of French-English tensions. They’re the result of moral genius in Constitution making, argues Convivium contributor Brett Fawcett.

BRETT GRAHAM FAWCETT

As Canadians, we don’t appreciate the moral genius of our Constitution enough.

This is obvious every time there is an attack on Catholic separate schools and school boards in Canada. The arguments have the grating predictability of rusty clockwork: funding a certain religious system violates the separation of church and State; it is unfair to fund a single religious system; it’s a waste of money etc. 

Why does Section 93 of the Constitution Act protect “any Right or Privilege with respect to Denominational Schools”? Opponents usually claim it was little more than a calculated bit of political pragmatism. According to this account, the French in predominantly English areas were anxious about their status about minorities and feared that Anglos would try to squash their culture. In order to reassure them into agreeing to join the new nation, the Fathers of Confederation promised to ensure their schools would get government funding and their culture and language would have protection against hostile English-speaking majorities.  

It follows, therefore, that as French Canadians are in large part no longer Catholic today (Quebec has abolished its own Catholic school system), the presence of this protection in our Constitution is a clumsy anachronism, a cynical political concession that has long outlived whatever strategic usefulness it may have once had.

It is no surprise that a country this ignorant of its history, and this dismissive and lacking in pride in its Constitution, is constantly in the grips of an identity crisis. But this kind of bad historicizing about Canada’s culture, history, and Constitution has real-world consequences for our schools and our students, as the current controversy over the Theodore case in Saskatchewan demonstrates. There, on the basis of the idea that separate schools were only ever meant to educate Catholic students (an odd reading of Section 17 of the Saskatchewan Act), Justice Donald Layh of the Queen’s Bench has declared that non-Catholic students are ineligible to receive public funding to attend Catholic schools. 

This will be a huge blow to Catholic schools in Saskatchewan, and will have implications for Alberta and Ontario. It would send a Constitutional and financial shockwave across the country’s education.

The record about this needs to be set straight, and now. The fact is that the authors of these Constitutional provisions would have seen all such modern proposals as an open attack on religious liberty, and would have mourned that more of their descendants wouldn’t have immediately recognized it.

Section 93, protecting publicly funded “Separate or Dissentient” schools, reflected the unique Canadian genius, which includes a rejection of American individualism and a more communitarian vision of religious liberty. In this regard, the personal history of its chief author, Thomas D’Arcy McGee, is of key importance if we want to understand why it was written.

McGee, a Catholic from Ireland, had originally come to Boston, expecting to find a more peaceful society than the one he had left behind, torn apart as it was by religious violence. America had a First Amendment protection for religious liberty: here, he was sure, there would be no more room for religious bigotry and hatred.

What he found left him surprised and disappointed. Despite its “melting pot,” which purported to burn off all the cultural distinctives and make all its citizens co-equal American citizens regardless of creed, McGee encountered plenty of bloodstained No-Popery and Know-Nothing-ism.

To his further surprise, when he went to Canada, he discovered that, even though it was a country governed by openly Protestant Orangemen, there was more genuine social harmony and cohesion between them and the Catholic elements of society than he had seen in the States. The reason for that was a precursor to the multiculturalism of today: The Protestants and Catholics acknowledged the blunt fact of their religious differences and found ways to co-exist. Thus, as a result of the 1774 Quebec Act, the Catholic Church in Lower Canada had certain privileges, and consequently, French Catholics were willing to pledge loyalty to a monarch who was also Supreme Governor of the Church of England.  

All of this openly breached the sacrosanct American principle of “separation of church and State.” Yet it led to genuine religious liberty and religious co-existence. (Indeed, much as the Catholics and Protestants may have distrusted each other, they were willing to unite and form a nation over their shared fear of disappearing into that American melting pot to the South.) 

McGee became a convert to the communitarian Canadian vision of political order, and, as a Member of Parliament, campaigned for the passage of Upper Canada’s Scott Act of 1863. This, along with the earlier Taché Act of 1855 (based on a draft bill written by the Catholic bishops), guaranteed that Catholic citizens had a right to fully publicly-funded schools which they could run. 

The Scott and Taché Acts were passed in response to the project of Superintendent of Schools and former Methodist minister Egerton Ryerson, who first imposed the “common” or “mixed” schools on Upper Canada. His vision for these schools was for them to be doctrinally neutrally and non-sectarian but to teach a generic Christian morality. This would assimilate all students into the same shared cultural values. (He had the same goal in mind when he wrote a report proposing the idea of residential schools.)

To Ryerson’s chagrin, the Catholic community announced it could not send its children to these schools. Their faith and their conscience held that all subjects must be taught with reference to God: the tenets of Catholicism needed to permeate all parts of the schools. (This remains a binding part of Catholic teaching.)

Bishop Charbonnel of Toronto informed Ryerson that Catholic parents “ask not to be compelled to send their children to houses of education against which they have conscientious objections.” Moreover, Charbonnel demanded that the State recognize the Church’s “right, so sacred and inalienable,” granted by Jesus to the Apostles right before His Ascension, to evangelize the world through teaching (“the mission of instruction"). This wasn’t just about parents’ right to Catholic education for their children.It was also about the Church’s right to evangelize the world. 

Ryerson grudgingly allowed for Catholic schools, but they were only partly funded by the government. Teacher salaries, the cost of textbooks, etc. had to be paid for out of the pockets of Catholic parents who wanted these schools—parents who additionally had to pay taxes to maintain public schools. Ryerson did not hesitate to announce that he was hoping this would force these schools to wither out and die. “I believe the fewer of these Separate Schools the better,” he announced.

There were at least two offenses here. One was in forcing Catholics to financially support a school system their consciences opposed. The other was the prohibitive cost of having to pay for the maintenance Catholic schools when their resources were already being sapped by unjust taxation. It is not much good to say that Catholics are “free” to have their own schools when unjust laws make this a financial impossibility for them.

McGee took to the House with a petition full of thousands of Irish names demanding more just school laws. Education, he insisted, was a religious liberty issue, for it “is a religious question. It concerns the mind, the spirit, the immortal soul, as well as the perishable body...The Catholics— the petitioners — assert in the most solemn manner that they cannot in conscience divorce religious from secular instruction in schools which they support. Are you to be judges for them as to what their consciences ought to determine in this matter?” 

No, this would not be a “religious liberty” issue in an American context. Ryerson, as well as later opponents of separate schools, would openly and proudly espouse American culture as their model, something we might be more cautious of today. But McGee recognized that a just society that was authentically dedicated to religious liberty would ensure that Catholics had these educational rights.

In words with a prophetic ring, McGee went on to warn that imposing a single secular education system was the policy of totalitarianisms like the “scrap-iron” empire of Prussia, and that removing choice in education would overthrow “the moral magistracy of parents”.

The Scott Act was passed, and the Irish-born Catholic McGee, along with the Scottish-born Protestant Alexander Tilloch Galt, went on to draft Section 93 to protect the rights of that legislation. The article’s provenance should definitively refute any claim that this was a compromise between “English and French” rather than between “Catholic and Protestant.” 

But using questionable methods of legal interpretation, the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council still allowed Catholic separate schools to be closed in Manitoba and New Brunswick, using the argument that they were not protected by explicit legislation at the time those provinces entered Confederation. Parents who wanted their children to attend Catholic schools would have to pay for it themselves alongside public school taxation. In New Brunswick, many Catholics refused to pay this tax, leading to riots.

To avoid this happening in the new Prairie provinces, Section 17 of the 1905 Alberta and Saskatchewan Acts unambiguously protected “any right or privilege with respect to separate schools”. But if these schools cannot be shuttered, other means have been found to weaken them, and thus to weaken religious liberty. The Theodore decision from the Queen’s Bench is a partial throwback to the Ryerson model: non-Catholic parents who want their children to receive Catholic “dissentient” schooling must pay for it out of pocket, while still being taxed for the “mixed” or “common” schools.

This has gone to the Court of Appeals, which, at the moment, has reserved a ruling. Catholic teachers and students everywhere in Canada wait with bated breath to know what their future will be.

In the meantime, citizens need to learn why our Constitution is written the way it is, and why it matters. And we need to be ready to let our politicians and government know that we know, and that they should, too.

When the preamble to the Charter says that Canada was founded upon principles that recognize “the supremacy of God,” it is probably alluding to principles like this. When Section 29 of the Charter affirmed that separate school rights remained intact, it is not contradicting Section 2’s endorsement of religious liberty. It is strengthening it.

For more information visit the PACE website at paceredeemer.ca and the PACE Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/parentsforcathed/

Or email to pace@redeemer.ab.ca

Stand up for Catholic Education. Click on the following link PACE Petition Supporting Catholic Education to sign the petition: http://chn.ge/2BgSirP

Dear Parents, 

Catholic schools in Alberta are strong and growing and we are seeking your help to keep it that way. We represent approximately 25% of publicly funded schools in Alberta educating over 180,000 children across the province. We are a community of faith that work together to foster a love for Christ and to ensure our children get to know and understand God’s love for them. Alberta is currently seeing the emergence of a vocal public-school lobby advocating for one publicly funded school system. That would eliminate the choice that parents have to send their children to Catholic schools. How can your show your support? Sign our electronic petition today! 

Please help to protect our right and choice for a publicly funded Catholic school system. We currently have over 3200 signatures on our petition and our goal is to reach 10,000 before the anticipated provincial election. We invite you to share this link with your friends and family to help us spread the word. PACE (Parents Advocating for Catholic Education) will present the petition to our MLA at the end of February. It takes less than 5 minutes to have a voice and show your support. Let’s stand together and show our solidarity for the excellent faith-based programming that we currently offer and value. On behalf of PACE, thank you for your support. 

Mariette Moss, Associate Superintendent 

Direct: 403-995-4841 

Christ The Redeemer CATHOLIC SCHOOLS | 1 McRae Street, Box 1318, Okotoks, AB T1S 1B3 

www.redeemer.ab.ca 

Welcome back to the exciting 2019-2020 school year with Edmonton Catholic Schools!  Our theme for this year, Walking Together in the Light of Christ, provides us with a beautiful image of the learning and relationships that your children experience daily as part of their Catholic educational journey.  The verse of scripture shared above, which will guide us throughout the year, comes from a passage in the gospel of Matthew where Jesus is telling his disciples what the role of his followers is to be.  He tells them, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-14).  In Jesus’ time, salt was vital not only to improve the taste of food, but also to preserve it.  He is telling his disciples that they are, through their actions, to enhance and preserve the lives of others.  Those actions should serve as an example for others, as a light to guide their way in this world. In turn, when we let our light shine before others so that they can see and emulate our good works, we give glory to God.  Our wonderful journey this year will help lead our students to become  salt and light for the world. 

As we live out our mission to provide a Catholic education that inspires students to learn and that prepares them to live fully and to serve God in one another, we have established our District Plan for Continuous Growth 2019-2022 to guide the work of our schools. We begin with our faith foundation as a Catholic school district, followed by five goals that focus on teaching, learning, and student experiences.  I invite you to visit our website to learn more about our goals and the key strategies that we will be implementing to achieve them by clicking here. 

Edmonton Catholic School District Goal:  Live and enhance the distinctiveness of Catholic education. 

• Goal One:  ECSD students are successful. 

• Goal Two:  ECSD supports First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students’ success. 

• Goal Three:  ECSD respects diversity and promotes inclusion. 

• Goal Four:  ECSD has excellent teachers, and school and school district leaders.  

• Goal Five:  ECSD is well governed and managed. 

New to our work this year is the establishment of our Catholic Identity Plan, which is an appendix to the District Plan for Continuous Growth.  This plan provides us the framework to better understand, articulate, and live our Catholic identity as members of the Body of Christ. 

I wish each one of your families an exciting and rewarding year where you experience the abundant joy that comes from walking together in the light of Christ with your school community! 

Sincerely, 

Joan Carr 

Superintendent 

Voting as Catholics: 2019 Federal Election Guide

Like all citizens, Canadian Catholics have the responsibility to participate in the federal election, which has been called for October 21.

The 2019 Federal Election Guide, prepared by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), offers a reflection on key ethical and moral issues that voters, especially Catholics, may want to consider, such as:

• respect for life 

• concern for the weakest among us

• religious freedom and freedom of conscience.

• solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

• support for families

• funding for education, healthcare, housing

• action on human trafficking

• care for the environment

The Guide has been formatted for online sharing and includes hyperlinks directing the reader to further resources on various issues important to Catholics.

December 17, 2012

JOHN ACHESON

SPECIAL TO THE WCR

The passage of a new Education Act by the Alberta Legislature affords the opportunity for the Catholic community to give pause and to reflect on the great gift of Catholic education that we have here in Alberta. This is a gift that gives the Catholic communities of Alberta the right to organize and run their own Catholic schools – and this with full funding from the province.

Catholic schools are not a gift that we should take for granted, for there is always the danger that we could lose them. This is not a concern without substance because we have seen this occur in both Newfoundland and Quebec.

While we have stronger constitutional protection for our schools in Alberta than in those other provinces, this is not an absolute guarantee that they will continue. Their demise, if this were to occur, would result not so much from legislative changes but because we, as a Catholic community, would let them go or because they would lose their distinctive identity.

Much could be said about both the external threats and the more serious internal threats but let it be said for now that we must remain vigilant regarding our Catholic schools.

But why, why do we need these schools?

We need Catholic schools because we live in a society in which a tacit atheism prevails. This society is marked, in many quarters, by self-absorption, secularism and consumerism. In and of themselves, none of these sociological phenomena are harmful or intrinsically evil. They become problems when they are manifested in their extremes.

When they do become extreme they are socially, physically and spiritually damaging – for us as adults but more so for our children. We can be assured that this conclusion is supported by empirical research and is not only a reflection of Church teaching.

PUSHING GOD ASIDE

Because these phenomena are so pervasive in our society, it is argued that the Church needs Catholic schools more today than when we were an immigrant church. Anne Graham (evangelist Billy Graham's daughter) gives support to this argument by offering a response to the question, Why does God let happen all the terrible things that are occurring in our society?

The answer is that we shouldn't be surprised because for years we have been telling God to get out of our schools, get out of our government, get out of our families and get out of our lives.

We have seen this manifested in our society in a variety of ways:

• Some individuals said we shouldn't have prayer in our schools. Society said, OK.

• Someone said don't read the Bible in school – the Bible which says don't kill, don't steal, love your neighbour. Society said, OK.

• Some childhood specialists said we shouldn't discipline our children because it will damage their self-esteem and if teachers do it they should be sued. Society said, OK.

• Someone said let our daughters have abortions and give our sons condoms and we don't have to tell their parents. Society said, OK.

• Some elected official said it doesn't matter what we do in private as long as the economy is good. Society said, OK.

• The entertainment industry said let's make shows and music that promote profanity, violence and illicit sex. Society said, OK.

• Some said that the unborn are not really human beings so it is OK to kill them. Society said,OK.

• Advertisers say that it is good to accumulate all kinds of stuff that we don't need while others are starving and while we are desecrating are environment. Society said, OK.

When we see all this and similar capitulations it is obvious that we need institutions that will be countercultural and who will say, "No, these things are not OK."

Catholic schools are well-positioned to be countercultural on such matters.

COUNTERCULTURAL MANDATE

They have a mandate to be countercultural, they have historically been countercultural, and they must have the courage to remain countercultural in the future.

These are among the reasons our children and our society need Catholic schools. This great gift therefore indeed requires the continuing attention of all in the Catholic community. If we are not careful and are not prepared to stand up for them we could lose our schools and our Church would lose a great resource.

(John Acheson, PhD, is a trustee of Edmonton Catholic Schools.)

http://www.wcr.ab.ca/Columns/Columns/entryid/3420

The Catholic Church was established by Jesus Christ to continue proclaiming His message on the meaning of life and on how to live our lives to the fullest, as well as to provide opportunities for growth and love. Catholicism is steeped in 2,000 years of faith and devotion to Jesus Christ and His message of love and salvation for all people.

At the core of the Catholic faith is the belief in one God, who exists in three distinct yet inseparable persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. This triune God is the creator and sustainer of the universe and is characterised by infinite love, mercy, and justice.

Catholics believe that God’s grace, a divine gift that enables spiritual growth and salvation, is imparted through seven sacraments instituted by Jesus Christ.

parracatholic.org/learn/our-faith 

These are the core tenets of Catholicism that all Catholics should know.

• Commandments of God

  • The Ten Commandments of God

  • The Two Great Commandments

• Precepts of the Catholic Church

• The Seven Sacraments

• Fruits of the Holy Spirit

• Gifts of the Holy Spirit

• 7 Deadly Sins and 7 Heavenly Virtues

• Holy Days of Obligation

• Additional Information

Commandments of God

The Ten Commandments of God

I. I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.

II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

III. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.

IV. Honor your father and your mother.

V. You shall not kill.

VI. You shall not commit adultery.

VII. You shall not steal.

VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

IX. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

X. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

The Two Great Commandments

You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength; you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

To love God, our neighbor, and ourselves, we must keep the commandments of God and of the Church, and perform the spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

These two commandments contain the whole law of God.

Precepts of the Catholic Church

The Precepts of the Church describe the minimum effort we must make in prayer and in living a moral life. All Catholics are called to move beyond the minimum by growing in love of God and love of neighbor:

I. Attendance at Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation

II. Confession of serious sin at least once a year

III. Reception of Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter season

IV. Observance of the days of fast and abstinence

V. Providing for the needs of the Church

Precepts of the Church | Loyola Press | Precepts of the Catholic Church | beginningCatholic.com | Precepts of the Catholic Church | Relevantradio.com

The Seven Sacraments

The traditional definition of a sacrament is this: “A sacrament is a visible sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.” Within this definition there are three important statements:

A visible sign:
An action is performed by a minister (usually a priest). For example, when a baby is baptized in the church the priest pours water over its head and at the same time says the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” That is a visible sign.

Instituted by Christ:
The Lord Jesus Christ instructed His church to offer the seven sacraments to His followers. For example, His directive to His disciples in Matthew’s Gospel (28/19), “Go then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples; baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

To give grace:
Grace is God’s free gift of Himself as the controlling influence in our life and the decisions we make once we have committed ourselves to Him in faith.

Sacraments of Initiation (These sacraments lay the foundation of every Christian life)

Baptism
In Baptism we receive new life in Christ. Baptism takes away original sin and gives us a new birth in the Holy Spirit. Its sign is the pouring of water.

Confirmation
Confirmation seals our life of faith in Jesus. Its signs are the laying on of hands on a person’s head, most often by a bishop, and the anointing with oil. Like Baptism, Confirmation is received only once.

Eucharist
The Eucharist nourishes our life of faith. Its signs are the bread and wine we receive—the Body and Blood of Christ.

Sacraments of Healing (These sacraments celebrate the healing power of Jesus)

Penance
Through Penance we receive God’s forgiveness. Forgiveness requires being sorry for our sins. In Penance we receive Jesus’ healing grace through absolution by the priest. The signs of this sacrament are our confession of sins and the words of absolution.

Anointing of the Sick
This sacrament unites a sick person’s suffering with that of Jesus and brings forgiveness of sins. Oil, a symbol of strength, is the sign of this sacrament. A person is anointed with oil and receives the laying on of hands from a priest.

Sacraments at the Service of Communion (These sacraments help members serve the community)

Matrimony
In Matrimony a baptized man and woman are united with each other as a sign of the unity between Jesus and his Church. Matrimony requires the consent of the couple, as expressed in the marriage promises. The couple and their wedding rings are the signs of this sacrament.

Holy Orders
In Holy Orders men are ordained as priests, deacons, or bishops. Priests serve as spiritual leaders of their communities, and deacons serve to remind us of our baptismal call to help others. Bishops carry on the teachings of the apostles. The signs of this sacrament are the laying on of hands and anointing with oil by the bishop.

Note: The sacraments that can be received only once are Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders.

The Seven Sacraments of the Church | Catechism of the Catholic Church  | The Seven Sacraments | Loyola Press

Fruits of the Holy Spirit

“Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:17-20)

This passage in Matthew’s Gospel helps us to understand the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, which are the observable behaviors of people who have allowed the grace of the Holy Spirit to be effective in them. The tradition of the Church lists 12 fruits:

• Charity

• Generosity

• Joy

• Gentleness

• Peace

• Faithfulness

• Patience

• Modesty

• Kindness

• Self-control

• Goodness

• Chastity

Fruits of the Holy Spirit | Loyola Press

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

In the Book of Isaiah 11:2-3, the Gifts of the Holy Spirit are described. In the passage the gifts are considered ones that the Messiah would have possessed. Through Jesus, we also receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Wisdom helps us recognize the importance of others and the importance of keeping God central in our lives.

Understanding is the ability to comprehend the meaning of God’s message.

Knowledge is the ability to think about and explore God’s revelation, and also to recognize there are mysteries of faith beyond us.

Counsel is the ability to see the best way to follow God’s plan when we have choices that relate to him.

Fortitude is the courage to do what one knows is right.

Piety helps us pray to God in true devotion.

Fear of the Lord is the feeling of amazement before God, who is all-present, and whose friendship we do not want to lose.

Gifts of the Holy Spirit | Loyola Press

7 Deadly Sins and 7 Heavenly Virtues

The Roman Catholic church recognizes the Seven Capital Virtues as opposites to the Seven Capital Sins or the Seven Deadly Sins.

SIN <==> VIRTUE
Lust (excessive sexual appetites) <==> Chastity (purity)
Gluttony (over-indulgence) <==> Temperance (self-restraint)
Greed (avarice) <==> Charity (giving)
Sloth (laziness/idleness) <==> Diligence (zeal/integrity/Labour)
Wrath (anger) <==> Forgiveness (composure)
Envy (jealousy) <==> Kindness (admiration)
Pride (vanity) <==> Humility (humbleness)

The Seven Deadly Sins

LUST – An insatiable need for sex or things of a sexual nature. This includes thoughts, desires, and actions. If this need is unfed, it can lead to masturbation, rape, and even bestiality. Lust is fed by any of the aforementioned means or viewing pornography.

GLUTTONY – Over-indulgences of anything to the extreme, usually food or drink. Alcoholism is considered part of Gluttony.

GREED – Greed is the need for material possessions or material wealth. If this need is unfed, a Greedy person may even resort to hoarding their goods, theft, robbery, or obtaining any material possessions by means of trickery, violence, deception, or manipulation. Greedy people usually are easy to bribe, or will take any bet or do anything for a dollar.

SLOTH – Sadness, depression, or the inability to feel joy. Sloth is often confused with Gluttony. Those who suffer from depression to an extreme usually have thoughts of or plans for suicide. Many times, Sloth can lead to another sin: Wrath. Those who have lost or lack love, usually fall into a deep state of Sloth.

WRATH – Extreme anger, rage, hatred, or a need for vengeance or revenge. People who suffer with Wrath issues will often resort to taking the law in their own hands if they feel the justice system has failed them. To feed the need of Wrath, they may even turn to physical abuse of themselves or others, murder, or even genocide. Wrath usually is a need to do harm to others. Dante described Wrath as “love of justice perverted to revenge and spite” according to the Wikipedia.

ENVY – The need to have better or be better than others. The need to have the goods of others. Wanting what others have for yourself. Many times, someone with extreme envious needs may turn to voyeurism to feed the need to see what others have that the envious want.

PRIDE – Once considered a need to be the most beautiful, Pride can also mean a need for public acceptance in all acts. Pride can also be a need to be more important than others. Those who suffer with Pride issues, usually fail to give due complements to others, but instead fish for complements for them selves. They find ways to be better than those around them and usually have a “One Up” story. Pride is said to be the original and most deadly of the seven sins, leading straight to damnation.

The Seven Heavenly Virtues

CHASTITY – Courage and boldness. Embracing of moral wholesomeness and achieving purity of thought through education and betterment.

ABSTINENCE – Constant mindfulness of others and one’s surroundings; practicing self-control, abstention, and moderation.

LIBERALITY – Generosity. Willingness to give. A nobility of thought or actions.

DILIGENCE – A zealous and careful nature in one’s actions and work. Decisive work ethic. Budgeting one’s time; monitoring one’s own activities to guard against laziness.

PATIENCE – Forbearance and endurance through moderation. Resolving conflicts peacefully, as opposed to resorting to violence. The ability to forgive; to show mercy to sinners.

KINDNESS – Charity, compassion, friendship, and sympathy without prejudice and for its own sake.

HUMILITY – Modest behaviour, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one’s own self. Modest behaviour, selflessness, and the giving of respect. Giving credit where credit is due; not unfairly glorifying one’s own self.

Holy Days of Obligation

The Holy Days of Obligation are the days other than Sundays on which we celebrate the great things God has done for us through Jesus and the saints.

On Holy Days of Obligation, Catholics attend Mass. Every Sunday, the Lord's Day, is recognized as a holy day of obligation and Catholics are bound to participate in Holy Mass on Sunday or at an anticipated Mass on Saturday in the late afternoon or evening. They have also abstain from unnecessary works, "which hinder the worship to be rendered to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s day, or the suitable relaxation of mind and body." (Canon 1247 of the Code of Canon Law). 

There are 10 Holy Days of Obligation in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church:

• Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother Of God - January 1

• Epiphany - January 6

• Solemnity of St. Joseph - March 19

• Ascension of Our Lord

• Corpus Christi, the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ

• Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul - June 29

• Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Into Heaven - August 15

• All Saints Day - November 1

• Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary - December 8

• Christmas, the Nativity of Our Lord - December 25

Ref: Holy Days of Obligation, Liturgical Calendar, Most Important Solemnities & Feasts | Holy Days of Obligation | Calendar-12.com

Additional Information

• The Vatican (The Holy See)

• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

• Catechism of the Catholic Church

• Supreme Knights of Columbus – Our Faith

• The Spirit of Catholicism

• EWTN Catholicism Site

• Relevant Radio

• The Beatitudes

• The Great Commandment and New Commandment

• Theological and Cardinal Virtues

• Works of Mercy

• I Believe – A Summary of Basic Catholic Beliefs

• Loyola Press Catholic Beliefs

• Marks of the Church

Ref: derryknights.org/catholicism 

Catholic Beliefs and Practices to strengthen and renew your faith life

References to the Catechism of the Catholic Church are indicated by CCC

God’s Two Great Commandments
The basis of all law (your rule of life) rests on two commandments:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind…You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37,39). (CCC 2055, 2083)

The Ten Commandments
These are an extension of the two great commandments. The first three tell you how to love your God; the rest show you how to love your neighbor. (CCC 2084-2557)

1. I am the Lord your God. You shall not have strange gods before me. (CCC 2084-2132)
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. (CCC 2142-2159)
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. (CCC 2168-2188)
4. Honor your father and your mother. (CCC 2197-2246)
5. You shall not kill. (CCC 2258-2317)
6. You shall not commit adultery. (CCC2331-2391)
7. You shall not steal. (CCC 2401-2494)
8. You shall not bear false witness against you neighbor. (CCC2464-2503)
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. (CCC 2514-2527)
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods. (CCC 2534-2550)

The Seven Sacraments

Sacraments of Christian Initiation (CCC 1210-1212)
• Baptism (CCC 1213-1284)
• Confirmation (CCC 1285-1321)
• Eucharist (CCC 1322-1419)

Sacraments of Healing (CCC 1420-1421)
• Penance (Reconciliation) (CCC 1422-1498)
• Anointing of the Sick (CCC 1499-1532)

Sacraments at the Service of Communion (CCC 1533-1535)
• Holy Orders (CCC 1536- 1600)
• Matrimony (CCC 1601-1666)

Precepts of the Church
Some duties expected of Catholic Christians today include the following. (Those duties traditionally mentioned as Precepts of the Church are marked with an asterisk.) (CCC 2041-2043)

• To keep holy the day of the Lord’s Resurrection: to worship God by Participating in Mass every holy day of obligation; * to avoid those activities that would hinder renewal of soul and body, for example, needless work and business activities, unnecessary shopping, and so forth. (CCC 1166-1167, 1389, 2174-2188)
• To lead a sacramental life: to receive Holy Communion frequently and the sacrament of penance regularly- minimally, to receive the sacrament of penance at least once a year (annual confession is obligatory only if serious sin is involved); *. (CCC 1389) – minimally, to receive Holy Communion at least once a year, between the first Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday or, for a just cause, at another time during the year. (CCC 1389, 2042)
• To study Catholic teaching in preparation for the sacrament of confirmation, to be confirmed, and then to continue to study and advance the cause of Christ. (CCC 1309, 1319)
• To observe the marriage laws of the Church; * to give religious training (by example and word) to one’s children; to use parish schools and religious-education programs. (CCC1601-1658)
• To strengthen and support the Church; * to strengthen and support one’s own parish community and parish priest; to strengthen and support the worldwide Church and the Holy Father. (CCC 1351)
• To do penance, including abstaining from meat and fasting from food on the appointed days. *(See Pages 51 to 52 of this Volume.) (CCC1438)
• To join in the missionary spirit and apostolate of the Church. (CCC 2044-2046)

Holy Days of Obligation
Holy days of obligation are special feasts on which Catholics who have reached the age of reason are seriously obliged, as on Sundays, to assist at mass and to avoid unnecessary work. (CCC 2043, 2180, 2698) Serious reasons excuse us from these obligations.
In the United States these days are:

January 1 Mary, Mother of God
forty days after Easter Ascension Thursday
August 15 Mary’s Assumption
November 1 All Saints’ Day
December 8 Mary’s Immaculate Conception
December 25. Christmas
(In Canada, Christmas and Mary, Mother of God are holy days. Others formerly specified have either been make nonobligatory or transferred to the following Sunday.)

Regulations for Fast and Abstinence
“All persons who have completed their fourteenth year are bound by the law of abstinence; all adults are bound by the law of fast up to the beginning of their sixtieth year.” (“The completion of the fourteenth year means the day after one’s fourteenth birthday. The beginning of the sixtieth year means the obligation ceases at midnight between the fifty-ninth birthday and the next day.”) (See the Code of Canon Law, 1252.) The Law of abstinence forbids the eating of meat. The law of fasting allows only one full meal and two lighter meals in the course of the day and prohibits eating between meals. (CCC 1438, 2043)

In the United States, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence; all other Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence only. Some form of penance is especially encouraged on all Fridays throughout the year. (Catholics living in Canada should consult their parish priests about Canadian regulations.)

Pregnant Women and people who are sick are not obliged to fast. Others who feel they are unable to observe the laws of fast and abstinence should consult a parish priest or confessor.

Fast and abstinence are recognized forms of penance. By doing these and other penance, we can realize that interior change of heart that is so necessary for all Christians. (CCC1434-1437)

Beatitudes
The beatitudes are a summary of the difficulties to be overcome by faithful Christians and the rewards that will be theirs if they are loyal followers of Christ (Matthew 5:3-10). (CCC1716-1717)

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (CCC544)
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (CCC1720,2518)
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (CCC 2305-2306)
Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Corporal (Material) Works of Mercy
Here are listed the corporal works of mercy-the actions by which we come to the material aide of our neighbors in Christ. (CCC 2443-2447)

• To feed the hungry.
• To give drink to the thirsty.
• To clothe the naked.
• To visit the imprisoned.
• To shelter the homeless.
• To visit the sick.
• To bury the dead. (CCC 1681-1690,2300)

Spiritual Works of Mercy
• To admonish the sinner.
• To instruct the ignorant.
• To counsel the doubtful.
• To comfort the sorrowful.
• To bear wrongs patiently.
• To forgive all injuries.
• To pray for the living and the dead. (CCC 958, 1032)

The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1830-31)
• Widsom
• Understanding
• Counsel
• Fortitude
• Knowledge
• Piety
• Fear of the Lord

The Fruits of the Holy Spirit (CCC 1832)
• Charity
• Joy
• Peace
• Patience
• Kindness
• Goodness
• Generosity
• Gentleness
• Faithfulness
• Modesty
• Self-control
• Chastity

The Seven Capital (“deadly”) Sins (CCC 1866)
• pride
• avarice
• envy
• wrath
• lust
• gluttony
• sloth

Ref: stapostle.org/explore-faith/catholic-beliefs-and-practices 

Core Beliefs Practices and Attitudes of the Catholic Faith

Each statement below is a core belief of the Catholic faith.

1. All humans were created to live in perfect harmony with God and with one another.

2. Original Sin deprived the human race of our original holiness and justice.

3. God worked to restore humanity’s relationship of love and trust through a series of covenants, especially through Jesus.

4. Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins and the restoration of the relationship of love and trust between God and humankind.

5. The Holy Spirit has been at work from the beginning of creation to the present day.

6. God has revealed himself to be Trinity, that is, the mystery of one God in three Divine Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

7. Christ established the Catholic Church on the foundation of the Apostles.

8. The Bible is a source of God’s revealed truth.

9. The baptized who have put their faith in Jesus Christ as their savior will find their eternal reward in Heaven.

10. Catholics celebrate Seven Sacraments that form the basis of their worship, or communal prayer, together.

11. The Seven Sacraments were instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church to make the love of God real and present in the world.

12. The Eucharist is the heart of the Church’s life.

13. Catholics keep the Lord’s Day (Sunday) holy by attending Holy Mass and resting from work.

14. Catholic worship follows the Liturgical Year, which marks the events and mystery of Christ’s life.

15. Catholics place a strong emphasis on living a moral life.

16. Catholics defend the dignity of all human life and oppose any practices that threaten the sanctity of human life.

17. The Church is responsible for transforming society by working for justice.

18. Catholics honour holy women and men of faith who have preceded them.

19. Catholics recognize that God is present to, in, and through all creation—the natural world, people, communities, and events.

20. Catholics place their trust in the essential goodness of the human person, who is made in the image of God.

21. Catholics rely on both faith and reason to grow in their understanding of God, and believe that reason can lead us to faith.

22. Catholics believe that conflicts between religion and science are a result of not fully understanding one or the other.

23. Catholics believe that the fullness of truth resides in the Catholic Church but that other religions can share in aspects of the truth.

24. Catholics emphasize community life and communal worship.

25. The Catholic faith deeply respects the diversity of cultures in the world and is committed to proclaiming Jesus’ message to all. (Your name) takes responsibility for nurturing (his or her) faith through the Church, especially by participating in the sacraments.

26. Catholics respect and embrace a wide variety of prayer forms.

smp.org/Saint Mary’s Press (The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth)

What does it mean to be saved? And what does the Church teach about salvation?

As sin is the greatest evil, being the root and source of all evil, Sacred Scripture uses the word "salvation" mainly in the sense of liberation of the human race or of individual man from sin and its consequences. The Church teaches that salvation to eternal life is God’s will for all people, and that God grants it to sinners as a free gift, a grace, through the sacrifice of Christ.

Our salvation doesn’t come from our own efforts. It begins with God, who always takes the initiative. So any Catholic understanding of salvation must be firmly rooted in the fullness of God’s revelation in Jesus and the salvific work of his life, death, and resurrection.

So what does Jesus’ life reveal to us about our salvation? How are we saved?

thejesuitpost.org/catholic-101-how-are-we-saved 

The Salvation of Mankind

Salvation is deliverance from spiritual death and enslavement by sin. God provides salvation for all who believe and accept His free offer of forgiveness. Mankind’s only hope of redemption from the fallen sinful state is through the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son – blood that was shed as Jesus died on the cross. [the account of the crucifixion of Jesus is recounted by four of His contemporaries: (Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23, and John 19)].

njschoolofministry.com/fundamental-truths 

Ref: newadvent.org | stapostle.org/teachings-on-salvation 

A Guide to Spiritual Growth and Faith Formation

Daily Prayer and Reflection

Attend Holy Mass Regularly

Study the Bible and the documents of the Catholic Church.

Spend time with Jesus.

Engage in Faith Formation Programs

Read Catholic Literature

Seek Spiritual Guidance

Go to Confession once a month

Pray 5 minutes daily

Do one Act of Mercy each day

Pray the Rosary

Find a good Catholic Community to join or at least a few good Catholic friends to encourage you on

Find a way to volunteer in the Parish

Cultivate thankfulness

catholicsteward.com | amadorcatholic.com/10-ways | catholicnewsagency.com/catholic-practices 

THE SIX TRUTHS TO BE KNOWN AND BELIEVED BY ALL

1) There is one God who created, preserves, and governs all things.

2) God is a just Judge, who rewards the good and punishes the wicked.

3) In God there are three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

4) The Second Person, Jesus Christ, became man and died on the cross to save us.

5) The soul of man is immortal.

6) Grace is necessary for salvation.

THE FIVE FORMS OF PRAYER

1) Adoration & Worship

2) Petition and Intercession

3) Thanksgiving

4) Contrition

5) Praise

THE 4 MARKS OF THE CHURCH

One (Unity)

Holy (Sanctity)

Catholic (Universality)

Apostolic (traced back to the Apostles sent by Christ into the world to spread the Gospel - as we

also are today)

THE 3 LEVELS OF REVERENCE WE GIVE TO THOSE IN HEAVEN

1) The reverence we give to saints and angels as the servants and friends of God (Dulia)

2) The reverence we give to the Virgin Mary as the Mother of God, the most exalted of all

creatures, and the Queen of Heaven (Hyperdulia)

3) The reverence and supreme worship we give to God alone (Latria)

THE 3 PILLARS OF THE CHURCH'S AUTHORITY

Sacred Scripture

Sacred Tradition

Living Magisterium (Pope and bishops)

THE HOLY EUCHARIST (HOLY COMMUNION)

1) The bread and wine of the Eucharist becomes the true transubstantiated body and blood of Christ. It is not a mere symbol.

2) The Eucharist is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Christ Jesus.

3) The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Catholic Faith.

4) Communion is by definition to be in union with God and with His Church, to be one in faith.

5) To receive Communion, a person must be a practicing Catholic in the state of grace, and have fasted for one hour from food and drink prior to Mass (Water and medicine permitted)

6) Only an ordained Catholic priest, in the person of Jesus Christ, the High Priest, can transform bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

THE THREE EMINENT GOOD WORKS or SPIRITUAL PRACTICES

Prayer, Fasting, Alms-giving

THE THREE EVANGELICAL COUNSELS (Vows taken by most religious in order to more perfectly serve the Church)

Voluntary Poverty, Perpetual Chastity, Obedience

THE SEVEN CAPITAL SINS AND THEIR OPPOSING VIRTUES

1) Pride – Humility

2) Covetousness – Liberality

3) Lust – Chastity

4) Anger – Meekness

5) Gluttony – Temperance

6) Envy – Brotherly Love

7) Sloth – Diligence

THE FOUR CONDITIONS FOR FORGIVENESS OF MORTAL SIN

(Venial sin can be forgiven outside of confession merely through contrition & amendment)

On the part of the Penitent: Contrition, Confession, and Satisfaction (penance & amendment)

On the part of the Confessor: Absolution

THE 6 SINS AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT

Presumption of God’s mercy, Despair, Resisting the known truth, Envy at another’s spiritual good, Obstinacy in sin, Final Impenitence

THE FOUR SINS THAT CRY OUT TO GOD FOR VENGEANCE (as taken from Scripture)

1) Murder

After Cain murdered his brother Abel:

“The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the

ground.” (Genesis 4.10)

2) Sodomy (homosexual sins)

“And the Lord said, ‘The outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is

exceedingly grave.’” Genesis 18:20

3) Oppression of the poor, especially widows and orphans

“Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry.” (Exodus 22.22-23)

4) Defrauding workers of their wages

“Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.” (James 5.4)

THE NINE WAYS OF BEING AN ACCESSORY TO ANOTHER’S SINS

1) By Counsel

2) By Command

3) By Consent

4) By Provocation

5) By Praise or Flattery

6) By Concealment

7) By Taking Part in the sin

8) By Silence

9) By Defending the evil

ON MORTAL & VENIAL SIN FROM THE CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 

1854 Sins are rightly evaluated according to their gravity. The distinction between mortal and venial sin, already evident in Scripture, became part of the tradition of the Church. It is corroborated by human experience. 

1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him. Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.

1856 Mortal sin, by attacking the vital principle within us – that is, charity – necessitates a new initiative of God’s mercy and a conversion of heart which is normally accomplished within the setting of the sacrament of reconciliation. 

1857 For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must together be met: “Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.”

THE 3 DUTIES OF THE ORDAINED PRIESTHOOD (based on Christ’s role as prophet, priest and king.)

To teach, sanctify, and govern

THE 3 PARTS OF THE CHURCH

The Church Militant (Christians on Earth)

The Church Suffering (Christians in Purgatory)

The Church Triumphant (Christians in Heaven)

MARRIAGE LAWS OF THE CHURCH

- Not to marry someone non-Catholic or unbaptized (unless permission is granted from the Bishop)

- Not to marry someone within close relation

- Not to marry outside of the Catholic Church (unless permission is granted from the bishop and a priest is present to bless the marriage)

- Not to marry without two witnesses

- Not to solemnize marriage at forbidden times

“Love the Fight Not the Fall: Sometimes we may feel overwhelmed. Slowly but surely, we may tire of our defects and their effects. The constant, on-going battle to follow Christ may slowly wear us down. The path to perfection in the virtues is surely full of rewards, but it has its share of wear-and-tear. But it does not matter if we fall a thousand times, as long as we love the fight and not the fall. It therefore makes no sense to despair, especially when we fight with Christ on our side. The effort of a prolonged battle can please Christ more than an easy and comfortable victory. Christ reminds us: He will suffer greatly, be rejected and killed, and everyone who wants to be his disciple must take up his cross and follow him.” – Father Paul Hubert, LC

“If the churches ever did reunite, it would have to be into something that was as sacramental and liturgical and authoritative as the Roman Catholic Church and as protesting against abuses and as much focused on the individual in his direct relationship with Christ as the Evangelicals, as charismatic as the Pentecostals, as missionary-minded as the old mainline denominations, as focused on holiness as the Methodists or the Quakers, as committed to the social aspects of the Gospel as the social activists, as Biblical as fundamentalists, and as mystical as the Eastern Orthodox.” - Peter Kreeft (Convert to Roman Catholicism; author of over eighty books on Christian philosophy, theology and apologetics)

stjparish.com 

The Catholic spiritual practice of Purity of Heart is one of the most important spiritual disciplines we can and should make use of. The Catholic cognitive discipline of purity of heart monitors and detects disordered and evil thoughts, capturing them and deleting them as hostile to growth in holiness. Saint Paul says: “We take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ” -that is, obedient to the Christian law of charity (see 2 Cor. 10:5). Our goal, then, is to detect and weed out thoughts (movements of our heart) that are opposed to growth in holiness.

By the practice of purity of heart we keep a very careful watch over all the thoughts being presented to our mind and over all the affections and passions being presented to our heart. By this careful watch, we almost immediately intercept and delete the thoughts and affections which violate purity of heart. Thus, as a very simple example, should I suddenly feel the desire to gossip about someone, I check out this movement of my heart, examine it, and ultimately suppress or delete it since it violates purity of heart. Or, as another example, should I suddenly feel swelling up in my heart ill-will towards a certain person, the practice of purity of heart obligates me to take a close look at this movement of my heart, and to mortify it, and to replace it with Christian charity and forgiveness. Gradually, by steadfastly and diligently practicing purity of heart, our heart becomes cleaner and cleaner. What do we want more in our lives than purity of heart? 

Purity of heart is a mechanism of introspection whereby we carefully look at our thoughts and affections, even moment by moment, to place them under Christ’s law of charity. As soon as we observe that our mind or affections are tending in a sinful direction, we immediately mortify such thoughts or affections, giving them no chance of growth within our souls.  Its sort of like we’ve installed security software in our brain that immediately detects and deletes bad stuff (God’s given us the software and all we have to do is learn how to use it!!). 

What an amazing purifying tool at your immediate disposal for growth in holiness: the practice of purity of heart! Its like an ongoing, perpetual examination of conscience that keeps all the junk out of our hearts and mind.

“For the oftener we confess, the more we purify ourselves, the grace proper to this sacrament being purity of conscience. Thus, every confession, besides the increase of habitual grace and of the gifts, imparts also a fresh sacramental grace, that is to say, a new title to receive from God  both actual  graces and the aids necessary for emancipating ourselves more and more from sin.” (Father Lallemant, The Spiritual Doctrine)

catholicstrength.com 

Why is virtue important in the Christian life?

The Christian moral life is one that seeks to cultivate and practice virtue. “A virtue is an habitual and firm disposition to do the good. It allows the person not only to perform good acts, but to give the best of himself” (CCC, no. 1803). An effective moral life demands the practice of both human and theological virtues.

Human virtues form the soul with the habits of mind and will that support moral behaviour, control passions, and avoid sin. Virtues guide our conduct according to the dictates of faith and reason, leading us toward freedom based on self-control and toward joy in living a good moral life. Compassion, responsibility, a sense of duty, self-discipline and restraint, honesty, loyalty, friendship, courage, and persistence are examples of desirable virtues for sustaining a moral life. Historically, we group the human virtues around what are called the Cardinal Virtues.

archspm.org/faith-and-discipleship