#approximatelyinfinity

[thepapists]

Was Jesus still God after his birth by Mary during his life on earth?

Yep!

“The unique and altogether singular event of the Incarnation of the Son of God does not mean that Jesus Christ is part God and part man, nor does it imply that he is the result of a confused mixture of the divine and the human. He became truly man while remaining truly God. Jesus Christ is true God and true man.” CCC 464 (emphasis added)

“The Church thus confesses that Jesus is inseparably true God and true man. He is truly the Son of God who, without ceasing to be God and Lord, became a man and our brother: ‘What he was, he remained and what he was not, he assumed,’ sings the Roman Liturgy.” CCC 469 (emphasis added)

[thepapists]

What is the difference between a nun and a sister? What about a monk, priest and a brother?

Nuns are cloistered, meaning they don’t leave their convent. Sisters aren’t cloistered, so they study or teach or do some other work outside their community.

It’s the same with monks and brothers (also known as friars): monks being cloistered and brothers/friars not. 

**All of the above terms refer to people who are in a religious order.

A priest is a man who has been ordained by a bishop, and he has the faculties to celebrate Mass, hear confessions, give homilies, etc. There are both diocesan (or “secular”) priests and religious priests. The religious priests are members of religious orders, and the diocesan priests are not. 

So, to be clear (with saint examples), a man could be simply a diocesan priest (St. John Vianney) OR a monk and a priest (St. Jerome*) OR a friar and a priest (St. Thomas Aquinas) OR simply a monk (St. Peter Damian) OR simply a friar (St. Francis of Assisi). 

*St. Jerome wasn’t in any established religious order, but he did live as a hermit, and he was the best example I could think of. So there.

[thepapists]

So I've been learning about Catholicism recently, I bought a catechism to deepen my understanding but the constant repetition I think is confusing me. Could you explain to me the Catholic doctrine of the Trinity? (nature, person procession... are things i'm interesting in learning about also) Thank You! :)

Hi, anon. That is a very complicated question, but I’m going to do my best to be fairly brief. But be aware that this is the GREATEST MYSTERY OF OUR FAITH. And it’s called a mystery on purpose: because it’s mysterious and we, as humans, can barely comprehend the immensity of God. Anything we can say about Him falls very, very short, but nevertheless I will do what I can.

Above is a commonly used illustration of the Trinity. As the caption says we believe in one God in three coequal and coeternal Persons who have one nature (divine). 

God, though One, is also three. God is, in Himself, a family, a Trinity of Persons. Also, the Father is not 1/3 of God but rather fully God, as are the Son and Holy Spirit.

And, as I’m sure you know, the second Person of the Trinity, the Son, took on our human nature in Jesus Christ without losing His divine nature. In this way, Jesus Christ is one (divine) Person with two natures (human and divine). True God and true man. 

I also want to point out that we use the names Father, Son and Holy Spirit (or, archaically, Holy Ghost) because those are the names that God has revealed to us. In fact, Catholics do not consider a baptism to be valid unless it was done “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Some people say, “Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier,” and although those terms may be accurate, they are not the names that God has revealed to man. Also, they focus on what God has done for us (i.e. what we get out of it) rather than Who God is. God was Father, Son, and Holy Spirit before He ever created the world. 

[thepapists]

My roommate recently had a miscarriage. Obviously this is a hard time for her, especially since this was the third time she has lost a child in this way. Are there any special prayers I can say for her and the soul of her child? God bless.

A simple google search uncovered these, and I’m sure you could find more!!

O God of love, source of life,hear our prayers for _____.Her baby died before it ever came to birth.The blessing of your lovewas torn from her body,leaving her empty and devastated.Comfort her now in her sorrow.Restore her hope for a child to come.Give her courage and new delightin the days ahead.In good time, grant her a new lifethat her soul may rejoiceand her body give birth;in Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

from http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Prayer/Prayers-Miscarriage-And-Infertility.aspx

And for the baby,

Dear God, Please hold my unborn child in your ever-loving embrace. Please let my child know that my love can't be erased. Please bless me on this earth and help to ease the pain. Please plant a seed within my baby's heart of sunshine, not of rain. Please help the days get easier and the nights go quickly by. Please hold my hand when I can't do anything- but cry. Please increase my faith so I believe my baby is with You. Please forgive me when my sadness makes me come completely unglued. Please let my baby know that there'll always be a place- within my heart, just for my baby, full of Divine Grace. And, when You call me Home to Your Kingdom up above- Please let me hold the baby- I never held... but, always loved. Amen.

-Ellen DuBoisfrom http://www.shelovesgod.com/library/poem.cfm?articleid=8450

I also looked up if any saints have a particular patronage. Saints Catherine of Siena, Catherine of Sweden, and Eulalia are the patron saints of miscarriage prevention, but I'm sure they'd still love to receive prayers for after a miscarriage. Also, St. Gerard Majella is the patron saint of mothers, and St. Rita is the patroness of infertility. 

I will also keep your friend and her baby in my prayers. 

[thepapists]

What is some proof that Jesus lived?

There is quite a bit of evidence, but probably the best source (besides the New Testament, if for some reason a person doesn’t count that as a bunch of historical documents, which they are) comes from a first-century Jewish historian known as Josephus. His most famous writings concern the first Jewish-Roman War, early Christianity, Judaism at that time, etc. Wikipedia has some pretty good articles about Josephus and his writings that mention Jesus. He also mentions John the Baptist and James, “the brother of the Lord.” 

Check out those articles, and I’m pretty sure Josephus’ works are available for free online if you want to read them yourself. 

Hope that helps! 

-Kayla

Edit: I also found this Wikipedia article about the historicity of Jesus, which is what you’re asking about. Hopefully it can point you to even more sources. :)

[thepapists]

I'd like some help on the subject of this comment defending the Vanderbilt situation: "Okay. Point 1: It's not about who wants to join, it's about who can join, and their basic rights. Point 2: It is feasible that a non-Christian would want to join a Christian club to learn more about the religion. Point 3: Saying that someone can't join something based on their religion is definitely discrimination, regardless of the purpose."

I go to Vanderbilt, and I've been here through the whole controversy.

The problem isn't that we wanted to restrict who could join. We don't, and we never have. The problem is that we want to restrict our leadership to only Catholics. We're a Catholic organization. I think it's perfectly reasonable to require that our leaders be Catholic so as to protect the integrity of our organization. Vanderbilt didn't agree, so we're no longer an official student organization.

We just keep doing what we've always done. This hasn't hurt us in the least. The only difference is that we've changed our name to "University Catholic." 

[etverbumcarofactumest]

Stealing Kayla's idea and turning my blog pink for Gaudete Sunday and the whole week.

[thepapists]

What are the rules for receiving the Eucharist after you sin?

Although it is encouraged to go to Confession after any type of sin, being able to receive the Eucharist depends on whether or not the sin was mortal or venial.

If you are in a state of grace (ie: have not committed a mortal sin), then you may receive communion. The Confiteor at the beginning of Mass (like any Act of Contrition) forgives all venial sins, as does receiving the Eucharist Itself. 

If you have committed a mortal sin, then you must not receive Holy Communion until after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance. (Receiving the Eucharist while in a state of mortal sin is in itself a mortal sin. It is a grave offence against the Blessed Sacrament.)

1 Corinthians 11:27-29: "Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself."