Charity is the Catholic term for love. It means "to will the good of another as one's own." For more information, please go to the Charity Definition page.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Love Definition
Definition
Charity is the Catholic term for love. It means "to will the good of another as one's own." For more information, please go to the Charity Definition page.
Related Terms
Keep Pursuing
Charity is the Catholic term for love. It means "to will the good of another as one's own." For more information, please go to the Charity Definition page.
Related Terms
Keep Pursuing
Charity Definition
Definition
Charity is the Catholic term for love. It means "to will the good of another as one's own."
Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. - CCC 1822
Charity is the Catholic term for love. It means "to will the good of another as one's own."
Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. - CCC 1822
Related Terms
Additional Information
Here's what the Catechism has to say about Charity:
Jesus makes charity the new commandment. By loving his own "to the end," he makes manifest the Father's love which he receives. By loving one another, the disciples imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive. Whence Jesus says: "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love." and again: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
Fruit of the Spirit and fullness of the Law, charity keeps the commandments of God and his Christ: "Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love."
Christ died out of love for us, while we were still "enemies." The Lord asks us to love as he does, even our enemies, to make ourselves the neighbor of those farthest away, and to love children and the poor as Christ himself.
The Apostle Paul has given an incomparable depiction of charity: "charity is patient and kind, charity is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Charity does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Charity bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."
"If I . . . have not charity," says the Apostle, "I am nothing." Whatever my privilege, service, or even virtue, "if I . . . have not charity, I gain nothing." Charity is superior to all the virtues. It is the first of the theological virtues: "So faith, hope, charity abide, these three. But the greatest of these is charity."
The practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity, which "binds everything together in perfect harmony"; it is the form of the virtues; it articulates and orders them among themselves; it is the source and the goal of their Christian practice. Charity upholds and purifies our human ability to love, and raises it to the supernatural perfection of divine love.
The practice of the moral life animated by charity gives to the Christian the spiritual freedom of the children of God. He no longer stands before God as a slave, in servile fear, or as a mercenary looking for wages, but as a son responding to the love of him who "first loved us":
If we turn away from evil out of fear of punishment, we are in the position of slaves. If we pursue the enticement of wages, . . . we resemble mercenaries. Finally if we obey for the sake of the good itself and out of love for him who commands . . . we are in the position of children.
The fruits of charity are joy, peace, and mercy; charity demands beneficence and fraternal correction; it is benevolence; it fosters reciprocity and remains disinterested and generous; it is friendship and communion:
Love is itself the fulfillment of all our works. There is the goal; that is why we run: we run toward it, and once we reach it, in it we shall find rest.
CCC 1823-1829
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Eros Definition
Definition
Eros is one of many Ancient Greek word for "love." It means a love that desires to possess the beloved.
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The classic example of eros love is selfish love, or lust. It means a love that wants to own, possess, or control the object of its desire.
Eros is where we get the word "erotic" from.
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Eros is one of many Ancient Greek word for "love." It means a love that desires to possess the beloved.
Related Terms
Additional Information
The classic example of eros love is selfish love, or lust. It means a love that wants to own, possess, or control the object of its desire.
Eros is where we get the word "erotic" from.
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Philia Definition
Definition
Philia is one of many Ancient Greek word for "love." It means a brotherly love, a friendly love between relatives or acquaintances.
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Additional Information
The classic example of philia love in the "brotherly love" shared between comrades, teammates, or close friends.
Philia is where we get the name for Philadelphia, the slogan of which is "the city of brotherly love."
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Philia is one of many Ancient Greek word for "love." It means a brotherly love, a friendly love between relatives or acquaintances.
Related Terms
Additional Information
The classic example of philia love in the "brotherly love" shared between comrades, teammates, or close friends.
Philia is where we get the name for Philadelphia, the slogan of which is "the city of brotherly love."
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Storge Definition
Definition
Storge is one of many Ancient Greek word for "love." It means a familial affection, the duty-bound love you have for your family.
Related Terms
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Storge is one of many Ancient Greek word for "love." It means a familial affection, the duty-bound love you have for your family.
Related Terms
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Agape Definition
Definition
Agape is one of many Ancient Greek word for "love." It means a sacrificial love, a love that gives with no hope of return.
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Additional Information
The classic example of Agape love is the love that a parent has for an infant. It is completely selfless. There is no way the infant can give anything back to the parent.
And the quintessential example of Agape love is Jesus Christ on the cross, the ultimate sacrificial love.
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Agape is one of many Ancient Greek word for "love." It means a sacrificial love, a love that gives with no hope of return.
Related Terms
Additional Information
The classic example of Agape love is the love that a parent has for an infant. It is completely selfless. There is no way the infant can give anything back to the parent.
And the quintessential example of Agape love is Jesus Christ on the cross, the ultimate sacrificial love.
Keep Pursuing
Tuesday, October 6, 2015
My family and I got to celebrate Mass with Pope Francis in Philadelphia on September 27th.
It was so amazing to celebrate the Mass with millions of other Catholics.
It came time for Communion
I had read about the lessons the Church had learned over the decades from these large Masses
I had read about the logistical hurdles they had encountered in the Philippines when they celebrated Mass with 7 million people
And we were only seven blocks down Benjamin Franklin Parkway from the Pope
So in my mind, of course we would be able to receive communion.
Communion began and we watched on the big screens as it was distributed amongst the people in the central area
We waited patiently, praying, listening to the incredible music, and watching people recieve communion.
Ten minutes went by. No big deal. Logistics are hard in groups this big.
Twenty minutes went by. And we saw the yellow umbrellas coming down marking the ministers of communion.
But the umbrellas turned to the side and cut across the crowd fice blocks aherad of us.
They didn't keep coming down.
Another ten minutes passed.
For the first time, the thought crossed ym mind, maybe I wouldn't be able to receive communion today. Myabe they wouldn't make it this. It had already been thirty minutes.
Another ten minutes went by. Why weren't they using the central walkway that was already blocked off? They could easily transport the ministers down to the furthest ends and abck again in half this time if they had done that.
And then, a block ahead of us, the yellow umbrellas appeared. Relief, oh good, they are coming this way.
But wait, they stopped. Were they not coming any further?
I looked at the crowd, thousands of people packed shoulder to shoulder in front of us. It would take us twenty minutes jsut to et up there.
I looked my wife and told her I wanted to try and go. She agreed and I took her hand. We began to push forward, stepping around families, stepping over chairs, squeezing through spaces between people. We made the sidewalk, then the lamp, then an opening, then a curb, then more crowds.
Other people got the same idea and began to push forward with us. Large families, children, elderly, all pushing forward with us, trying to reach the five yellow umbrellas in front of us.
Then we reached a stopping point. All of the people who had pressed forward to reach the ministers had reached them. There was nowhere else to squeeze through. There were now hundreds of people waiting to get close enough to receive communion.
I found myself praying. Please don't let them run out. Please help my wife and I to receive your body and blood. Dear Lord please help me. I was too far away in the first round. And for a moment the crowd froze. The people who had received communion could not get out of the way because of the crowd of people wanting to receive.
TIme passed and nothign happened. I began to worry about the time. When did the ministers have to return?
THen we managed to make enough room for the people to squeeze by. They moved to the back and a new group surged forward. I was pressed against a street lamp missed opportunity to get close enough. I watched as the priest distributed communion.
One person in front of me moved out of the way and I took a step forward and was within arm reach. I help out my hand, hoping that I could receive communion and the priest would not think it vulage of me to be reaching out over the heads of many as I was.
He looked at me for a second. I thought I was going to have to wait. Then he gave me a communion.
I was so happy! I consumed the Eucharist and said a prayer in joy. I turned around, beaming to wife and swapped places with her. She was able to receive communion as well.
We hugged each other in our excitement. Then we rushed back to offer the rest of our family the chance to receive communion. They rushed off.
My wfe and I turned to each other absolutely glowing. We embraced. We had been able to receive communion. We closed our eyes and wept for joy.
We stayed glued together, in the middle of the crowd, hugging with tears streaming down our faces as we prayed in thanksgiving for ten minutes.
Finally, we broke apart and contuned beaming at each other.
The thought struck me. How odd we were acting. While I don't treat communion flippantly, when it it is available at every church in tiwn, multiple times a day, every day of the wekk, you know it is always there. You know you can always receive communion.
Now for the first time, there had been the smallest doubt for twenty minutes that I would be unable to receive the body and blood of Christ and it had been harrowing. I realized how much I longed for the Eucharist. How much I needed to have it. How important it was to me.
And being able to receive communion had been a moment of pure joy. I felt closer to Christ than I had felt since my son's baptism. I was so relieved. So happy.
I realized this was incredibly valuabel...to me...to my family...to the world.
If we only knew how God regards the Mass, we would risk our lives to attend a single Mass. - St Padre Pio
I was reminded of a quote from St. Padre Pio. It had never made sense in the past due to the extreme luxury I live in the United States. But, that small window where it had appeared I would not receive made it much more understnadable.
It's true.
Keep pursuing,
It was so amazing to celebrate the Mass with millions of other Catholics.
It came time for Communion
I had read about the lessons the Church had learned over the decades from these large Masses
I had read about the logistical hurdles they had encountered in the Philippines when they celebrated Mass with 7 million people
And we were only seven blocks down Benjamin Franklin Parkway from the Pope
So in my mind, of course we would be able to receive communion.
Communion began and we watched on the big screens as it was distributed amongst the people in the central area
We waited patiently, praying, listening to the incredible music, and watching people recieve communion.
Ten minutes went by. No big deal. Logistics are hard in groups this big.
Twenty minutes went by. And we saw the yellow umbrellas coming down marking the ministers of communion.
But the umbrellas turned to the side and cut across the crowd fice blocks aherad of us.
They didn't keep coming down.
Another ten minutes passed.
For the first time, the thought crossed ym mind, maybe I wouldn't be able to receive communion today. Myabe they wouldn't make it this. It had already been thirty minutes.
Another ten minutes went by. Why weren't they using the central walkway that was already blocked off? They could easily transport the ministers down to the furthest ends and abck again in half this time if they had done that.
And then, a block ahead of us, the yellow umbrellas appeared. Relief, oh good, they are coming this way.
But wait, they stopped. Were they not coming any further?
I looked at the crowd, thousands of people packed shoulder to shoulder in front of us. It would take us twenty minutes jsut to et up there.
I looked my wife and told her I wanted to try and go. She agreed and I took her hand. We began to push forward, stepping around families, stepping over chairs, squeezing through spaces between people. We made the sidewalk, then the lamp, then an opening, then a curb, then more crowds.
Other people got the same idea and began to push forward with us. Large families, children, elderly, all pushing forward with us, trying to reach the five yellow umbrellas in front of us.
Then we reached a stopping point. All of the people who had pressed forward to reach the ministers had reached them. There was nowhere else to squeeze through. There were now hundreds of people waiting to get close enough to receive communion.
I found myself praying. Please don't let them run out. Please help my wife and I to receive your body and blood. Dear Lord please help me. I was too far away in the first round. And for a moment the crowd froze. The people who had received communion could not get out of the way because of the crowd of people wanting to receive.
TIme passed and nothign happened. I began to worry about the time. When did the ministers have to return?
THen we managed to make enough room for the people to squeeze by. They moved to the back and a new group surged forward. I was pressed against a street lamp missed opportunity to get close enough. I watched as the priest distributed communion.
One person in front of me moved out of the way and I took a step forward and was within arm reach. I help out my hand, hoping that I could receive communion and the priest would not think it vulage of me to be reaching out over the heads of many as I was.
He looked at me for a second. I thought I was going to have to wait. Then he gave me a communion.
I was so happy! I consumed the Eucharist and said a prayer in joy. I turned around, beaming to wife and swapped places with her. She was able to receive communion as well.
We hugged each other in our excitement. Then we rushed back to offer the rest of our family the chance to receive communion. They rushed off.
My wfe and I turned to each other absolutely glowing. We embraced. We had been able to receive communion. We closed our eyes and wept for joy.
We stayed glued together, in the middle of the crowd, hugging with tears streaming down our faces as we prayed in thanksgiving for ten minutes.
Finally, we broke apart and contuned beaming at each other.
The thought struck me. How odd we were acting. While I don't treat communion flippantly, when it it is available at every church in tiwn, multiple times a day, every day of the wekk, you know it is always there. You know you can always receive communion.
Now for the first time, there had been the smallest doubt for twenty minutes that I would be unable to receive the body and blood of Christ and it had been harrowing. I realized how much I longed for the Eucharist. How much I needed to have it. How important it was to me.
And being able to receive communion had been a moment of pure joy. I felt closer to Christ than I had felt since my son's baptism. I was so relieved. So happy.
I realized this was incredibly valuabel...to me...to my family...to the world.
If we only knew how God regards the Mass, we would risk our lives to attend a single Mass. - St Padre Pio
I was reminded of a quote from St. Padre Pio. It had never made sense in the past due to the extreme luxury I live in the United States. But, that small window where it had appeared I would not receive made it much more understnadable.
It's true.
Keep pursuing,
Friday, September 25, 2015
Christianity is not, primarily, about ethics
The title of this post will seem ludicrous to many, if not most, practicing Christians in good standing with the Church today. And, I am embarrassed to say, I counted myself among their ranks only a few months ago.
Until, that is, I saw the video below from Bishop Robert Barron. This video struck me like a thunderbolt. I hope it will do the same for you.
Christianity is really about the Euangelion, the Good News, that Christ has risen from the dead and in so doing has turned the universe upside down. He has defeated death. A new life has been opened to us in the body of Christ. Now live that justified life.
This discovery is like a ray of light. It immediately makes sense. It is immediately recognizable as the Truth. This revelation is transforming how I approach my faith and how I share my faith. Thus, it transforming this blog where I explore my faith. Expect some large scale transformation in the coming months.
He is risen! Alleluia!
Keep Pursuing
Until, that is, I saw the video below from Bishop Robert Barron. This video struck me like a thunderbolt. I hope it will do the same for you.
Christianity is really about the Euangelion, the Good News, that Christ has risen from the dead and in so doing has turned the universe upside down. He has defeated death. A new life has been opened to us in the body of Christ. Now live that justified life.
This discovery is like a ray of light. It immediately makes sense. It is immediately recognizable as the Truth. This revelation is transforming how I approach my faith and how I share my faith. Thus, it transforming this blog where I explore my faith. Expect some large scale transformation in the coming months.
He is risen! Alleluia!
Keep Pursuing
Monday, April 13, 2015
Prayer to be More like Jesus
I found this beautiful prayer yesterday. It simply asks God to help us follow Christ's example.
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God, our Father,
You redeemed us
and made us Your children in Christ.
Through Him You have saved us from death
and given us Your Divine life of grace.
By becoming more like Jesus on earth,
may I come to share His glory in Heaven.
Give me the peace of Your kingdom,
which this world does not give.
By Your loving care protect the good You have given me.
Open my eyes to the wonders of Your Love
that I may serve You with a willing heart.
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