Worth Revisiting: I AM DIVINE, YOU ARE DE BRANCHES

I AM DIVINE, YOU ARE DE BRANCHES by Fr. V. 

 

A couple of weeks ago I stumbles across a radio program to which I used to listen. It might be of some interest to you too so here is a link to the archived show. As you can see it is in three acts the last act (entitled Nuns Amok) is the one about which this post is concerned.

It recounts the destruction an order of Glenmary Sisters. Most interestingly for this program (which is not necessarily at all Catholic friendly) it traces their dissolution through the letting go of their vows one by one. First was obedience. They did not want to be answerable to “the Church”

ARE LUTHERANS RECEIVING REAL COMMUNION?

j linka Says:
April 28, 2010 at 12:52 am edit

I am Lutheran and know we are saved by believing in Jesus Christ. I have not read all of your replies carefully but feel you are saying that the Catholic Church does not believe we are receiving real communion in our own church. Is that the Catholic view?

FOR SOME REASON I AM UNABLE TO POST A REPLY. SO I WILL HAVE TO DO IT IN A POST
Dear J linka,
You may be receiving communion with the members of your church but you are not receiving the body and blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ because all Protestant denominations have lost apostolic succession and proper prayer for consubstantiation. This is not meant as a point of arrogance or pride but so that the Catholic Faithful can properly fulfill their obligation to attend a valid mass. Going to a Protestant communion service does not fulfill this obligation. However attending an Orthodox mass or SSPX mass when necessary b/c no alternative mass is accessible, can fulfill the obligation.

We believe that were are saved not merely by believing in Jesus but also by eating and drinking His flesh and blood as He tell us in:

John 6:48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.

The Lutherans along with all Protestants do not have a valid Eucharist because after the Protestant prayers it is still just bread and wine.

So, it is safe for you to partake of your Lutheran bread and wine b/c it is merely bread and wine. It only symbolizes Jesus.

You might find some other posts here interesting:
Eucharist p3
Eucharist p.2

Worth Revisiting: Predictions and Fulfillment

Predictions and Fulfillment

By Leon Suprenant | April 28, 2008

In last month’s column, I surveyed several writers who viewed the Sexual Revolution and predicted dire effects, and I concluded with the predictions of Pope Paul VI in his 1968 encyclical, Humanae Vitae. The Holy Father suffered greatly and was widely rejected for his statements, but the others experienced no such effects.  So, why was Pope Paul VI verbally crucified for his predictions while the others suffered no such consequences?

I think the reason why Pope Paul VI was vilified is that he spoke in the name of God and His Church.  He didn’t just offer personal opinion like the others.  He taught with authority: “Nonetheless the Church, calling men back to the observance of the norms of the natural law, as interpreted by its constant doctrine, teaches that each and every marriage act must remain open to the transmission of life” (Humanae Vitae, no. 11). 

The Sexual Revolution was in full swing in 1968.  Crazy theories about love, marriage, and sexuality abounded.  And here was the Pope teaching that marital contraception is “intrinsically dishonest” (no. 14).  Led by a handful of liberal priests, a revolution was organized within the Church against the teaching of Humanae Vitae, and it was quickly institutionalized.  The explicit teaching of our Savior that each of us must take up our cross daily was implicitly denied with regard to sexuality.

Today we are experiencing the consequences of this revolution. The Boston scandals (and they are not unique to Boston) are too widely known to be ignored; Pope Benedict XVI alluded to them several times in his recent visit to America.  One might ask:  Is there a connection between the sins of the vast majority of married Catholics who use unnatural forms of birth control and the sins of a very small minority of the clergy who

The Gospel of Mark as the Memoirs of Peter

 

Published Friday, April 25, 2008 by Taylor Marshall | E-mail this post

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The Church historian Eusebius quoted a fragment from Papias concerning the the origin and authorship of the Gospel of Mark in Hist. Eccl. (3, 39):

“And the presbyter said this. Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatsoever he remembered. It was not, however, in exact order that he related the sayings or deeds of Christ. For he neither heard the Lord nor accompanied Him. But afterwards, as I said, he accompanied Peter, who accommodated his instructions to the necessities [of his hearers], but with no intention of giving a regular narrative of the Lord’s sayings.

Wherefore Mark made no mistake in thus writing some things as he remembered them. For of one thing he took especial care, not to omit anything he had heard, and not to put anything fictitious into the statements.”

This is what is related by Papias regarding Mark.

SOURCE: http://cantuar.blogspot.com/2008/04/gospel-of-mark-as-memoirs-of-peter.html

2 YEARS LATER: Saint Peter Servant of His Brothers

Saint Peter, Servant of his Brothers

Canterbury Tales offers a good summary of why Catholics were so excited to greet their Holy Father in the faith last week, and why our allegiance follows him- as the inheritor of the Petrine ministry which Christ instituted for the Church- back to Rome:

“An investigation of the New Testament reveals that Peter is not just another apostle. Nor is he merely prima inter pares – first among equals. Rather, he is deeply conformed to the work and mission of Christ. He is, as we say, the vicar of Christ.

Peter’s name is mentioned 195 times in the New Testament – more than all the other Apostles combined.”

Mt 16:18 – Jesus: “on this rock (Peter) I will build my Church.”
Mt 16:19 – Jesus: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom…whatever you bind on earth is bound in heaven.”
Lk 22:32 – Jesus: Peter’s faith will strengthen his brethren
Jn 21:17 – Jesus: Peter is Christ’s chief shepherd who “feeds the sheep.”

Lk 24:34 – Peter is first apostle to see resurrected Christ
Mk 16:7 – angel sent to announce resurrection to Peter
Acts 1:13-26 – Peter oversees the election of Matthias
Acts 2:14 – Peter preaches the first apostolic sermon
Acts 3:6-7 – Peter performs the first apostolic miracle
Acts 8:21 – Peter excommunicates the first heretic
Acts 10:44-46 – Peter baptizes the first Gentile
Acts 15:7 – Peter presides over the first apostolic council
Acts 15:19 – Peter pronounces the first apostolic dogma
Gal 1:18 – Paul submits himself to Peter after his conversion

This family is always growing…join us! :)

SOURCE: http://vocatum.blogspot.com/2008/04/saint-peter-servant-of-his-brothers.html

LISTEN UP! Mike Aquilina

SOURCE: http://catholicaudio.blogspot.com/2008/04/mike-aquilina.html

Monday, April 21, 2008

Mike Aquilina

From Spirit Catholic Radio in Nebraska comes a series of programs from perhaps the foremost patristics scholar in America today. Mike Aquilina’s work has been rather exhaustive and he’s exceedingly good at making the early Fathers accessible. If you’ve ever been confronted by someone who claims that the Early Church wasn’t Catholic or that the Catholic Church was invented by Constantine (ala Dan Brown), be sure to be prepared by having listened to at least a few of these programs.

Mike is author or editor of more than a dozen books on Catholic history,

Where In The World Are You?

Fr Zuhlsdorf did this on his blog.

Even if you only read and do not leave comments, I would like to know where you call home. Leave a comment with the town and country.

Where in the world are you?

Roman Catholic Christians « Clark Bunch’s Weblog

Roman Catholic Christians « Clark Bunch’s Weblog

 

Loaves and Fishes: Natural Sharing or Supernatural Miracle?

Today, I heard a homily that claimed what really happened about the five loaves and two fish, is that bystanders took out food they were hiding under their cloaks and shared it. Jesus’ preaching inspired the melting of selfishness, and this was the true miracle according to this preacher. He went on to justify his reading that this was a miracle of sharing rather than a miracle of multiplication, because:

How many of us would go on a trip away from home for a couple of days without our credit card to provide food and lodging?
If we wouldn’t leave home without making plans for food and lodging then what makes us think these people, in the crowd with Jesus, made no provisions?
Were they any different that us? Therefore, Jesus changed their hearts and they shared all they had with each other. this is the true miracle.

This is appealing to people these days because we lack FAITH. We lack the Faith to believe that Jesus/God can do ANYTHING. So, those who subscribe to this interpretation hope to make the Gospel more palatable to modern men. But the above appeal to reason does not ring true for the following reasons:

1) This passage does not say anywhere that the people had been away from home for more than a day. So the above pastor built his rationale on a false premise. Of course, people then, just like us, make plans to provide for themselves on journeys. But there is nothing in the passage that indicates this was anything other than a day trip. And the parallel passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke indicate that the people could have gone into nearby villages for food and lodging.

Luke 9:12 “and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.”

But Jesus had other plans.

2) There is NO mention that Jesus performed a miracle of convincing people to share. And we would have to believe that the disciple were so stupid and out of touch with their culture that they had no clue the crowd were all hiding food under their cloaks.

3) But the Gospels do say,

Matthew 14:19 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.”
Mark 6:41 “and He kept giving them to the disciples to set before them; and He divided up the two fish among them all.

Luke 9: 16Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people.
John 6:11 Jesus then took the loaves, and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated; likewise also of the fish as much as they wanted.

There is not the whiff of a hint that this is not a supernatural miracle of multiplication of the loaves. The Gospels say Jesus gave the food to the disciples who gave it and kept giving it to the people. Not a single word about the people giving food to each other.

Only one miracle of Jesus is recorded in all four gospels–the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Even the miracles of raising the dead are not recorded in every Gospel. While sharing is a wonderful virtue, it just is not a supernatural miracle. Why was this miracle so important that every Gospel writer included it?

Because this was a prefiguring, on a small scale, of the Eucharistic sacrifice. This is the supernatural miracle of the multiplication of the body and blood of Christ for the faithful at every mass, every day of the year, around the whole wide world; the Mass, the source and summit of our Faith. John, purposely locates this story right before Jesus’ discourse on the necessity of eating His Flesh and drinking His blood in order to have Eternal life.

Bible Never Mentions Purgatory

Becca:Also the Bible never makes mention of Purgatory, it states in John 14:6 that “no one comes to the Father, but by me.”

BFHU:Of course we agree that Jesus is the Way to the Father. But you are basing your belief in Christ Alone on a Protestant tradition and not on the whole Bible. This is prooftexting.

Becca:Not by Purgatory,

BFHU: You might want to take a look at my post here–>Where is Purgatory is Scripture?

Becca:not by sacraments,

BFHU:How about the sacrament of:

Baptism:1 Peter 3:21Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you…

Eucharist: In order to attain eternal life:

John 6: 47“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.
48″I am the bread of life 49″Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.
50″This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.
51″I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” 52Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.
54“He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
55″For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.
56″He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.
57″As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.
58″This is the bread which came down out of heaven; not as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live forever.”

Becca:not by confession,
BFHU: Then why do you think Jesus gave the apostles the authority to forgive or not forgive sins? Why did He institute the sacrament of confession then?

John 20: 21 So Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23“If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

These men cannot pronounce forgiveness or not without audibly hearing a confession of sin.

Becca:not by works but by Christ alone do we get to heaven.
Your statement above flatly contradicts St. James:

James 2:14-25 14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?… faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and NOT by faith alone.

No One Can Pluck us Out of the Fathers Hand

Becca:Also when we as believers accept God’s gift of salvation we are sealed in His hand. This is made clear in John 10:29 “No one can pluck them out of my Father’s hand.”

BFHU:Of course no one else can pluck us out of God’s hand. But we have the free will to reject Him. How do you reconcile your belief in Once Saved Always saved with the following verses?

John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5″I am the vine; you are the branches. IF a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 IF anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 IF you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. … 10 IF you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends IF you do what I command. … Love each other.

Romans 11:22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, IF you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.

Hebrews 6:4-6 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, IF they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.

2 Timothy 2:12 IF we endure,we will also reign with Him;
IF we deny Him, He also will deny us;

Hebrews 10:26 For IF we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,

And there are many many other “IF’s” related to the promises of God. These warnings and those below are for a purpose. Those who believe that once you are saved you are always saved ignore hundreds of warning verses in the NT.

Matthew 24:13 But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.

This exhortation to endure to the end or overcome is repeated over and over again in Revelation.

Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

Why does the apostle say “fear and trembling” if there is no possibility of losing salvation?

1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

In context this prize is eternal life. If Paul mastered his body to avoid disqualification how much more should we?

Luke 8:12-14 Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. 14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.

2 Peter 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position.

Why the warnings NOT to FALL AWAY if it is not possible?

This I John verse supports the Catholic doctrine that there are two types of sin–mortal/deadly and venial. And many of Paul’s epistles also mention deadly sins which deprive one of attaining Heaven or eternal life. Through willful and full knowledge a person who commits a mortal sin/grave sin loses their salvation and is dead in their sin.

1 John 5:16 If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death There is a mortal sin; I do not say that he should make request for this.

Why Would a Born Again Believer Go to Purgatory?

Becca: I find it truly sad that you would think that your father who was a born again believer would be in a place like Purgatory.

BFHU: No need to be sad. Purgatory is a place where we are totally purified of all residual sin and reparation of sin, in order that we may enter into the Holy Presence of God. I want to be totally pure, don’t you? I don’t want to be a pile of dung for eternity that has been merely whitewashed, as Martin Luther opines.

It is a time when we, as St. Paul said,

Col 1:24 “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Becca:The Bible is very clear when it states that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” (2Cor.5:8).

BFHU:You will be shocked to know that you are actually misquoting scripture. No translation says what you have been taught it says. It does not make a doctrinal type statement that “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” The actual verse simply is making the statement that St. Paul is willing to be absent from his body (dead) because then he would be with his Lord.

2 Cor. 5:8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

If I say I am flying out of LA tomorrow and going to New York, that statement does not absolutely rule out a stopover in Denver. The Bible is just not a book of systematic theology. Colossians is a letter to a church. Doctrine is not systematically stated, only alluded to. Mutally understood but unwritten doctrine underlies what St. Paul writes here.

Holy Father Attacked….Again!

A Priest in California was put on Probation for abusing boys in Oakland. Because, at the time it was thought this disorder was curable, his Bishop allowed him to volunteer with youth ministry despite being suspended from clerical duties.

This priest then asked to be dispensed from the cerical state which would remove the promise of celibacy, thus removing a restraint.

At that time however, b/c so many priests were being dispensed from a lifelong promise of celibacy and priesthood, many married people were wondering why priests could be dispensed from their lifelong vows while they could not.

So as Pope John Paul II took over, dispensations from the clerical state were reduced to nearly zero. It was at this time that the Oakland Priest asked for a dispensation. This was his request it was not a punishment. His request was delayed as per Vatican policy of reducing the granting of these requests. All power and responsibility for protecting the faithful in the diocese of Oakland resided in its bishop. This was not the responsibility of the Vatican or Cardinal Ratzinger. Below is a synopis of the case from Fr. Z’s website linked above.
From Father Z’s blog What Does the Prayer Really Say
Some bullet points about the California case with which APs and others continue to try to smear Pope Benedict.

1.At the time, the CDF did not have competence in the cases of clerical pedophilia.
2.The case before the CDF concerned a request by a priest for a dispensation from the obligations of the clerical state.

3.It was not a punitive case or an appeal about a sanction.
4.The request was submitted by the priest and not the priest’s diocese of Oakland.
5.The CDF didn’t not grant immediate dispensations to men who were not at least 40 years old.
6.Once the CDF studied the case and the priest reached 40 years of age, the dispensation was granted.
There was no cover up.
7.If the Diocese of Oakland was pressing the Holy See to dispense this man so quickly, why did that same Diocese of Oakland permit the suspended priest to work as a volunteer with young people? The Holy See had nothing to do with that.
8.The AP and now all other MSM outlets who without hesitation or verification pick up the AP’s sloppy work, never bother to do background and ask basic questions about procedures and timing. They fail in the basics of curiosity, much less journalistic professionalism.

Why are they trying to smear Pope Benedict?

To shut him up or to cast into doubt what he has said and what he will say concerning moral issues.

For more information see Fr. Fessios article here–Let’s Get the Story Straight

FROM TWO YEARS AGO: Ronald Weinland Interview with James Whale (April 10, 2008) « Is It Really The End?

Ronald Weinland Interview with James Whale (April 10, 2008) « Is It Really The End?  Wrote two years ago:

Ronald Weinland Interview with James Whale (April 10, 2008)

April 12, 2008 · No Comments

First thing, can we all agree that James Whale’s jingle is quite good? Of course we can!

He are the key points from Ronald Weinland’s latest interview that he gave to James Whale of talkSport in the UK this past Thursday, April 10th:

• Second witness of Revelation will be announced April 17; he mentioned he’d do it in the sermon (which I assume will be on the 19th) and on his website (which I assume can be on the 17th itself)
• Again he stated the first trumpet of Revelation will be blown this coming April 17 (Thursday) and it will unfold over a period of 45 to 90 days (June/July)
• The second trumpet will leave no doubt in any ones mind because it will involve nuclear devices detonating in ports but not on land (third trumpet will involve nuclear devices in cities)
• The interval of 45 to 90 days between the first and second trumpets will be depend on people’s response/repentance
• Fifth trumpet will start the last revival of the European Union, which will be 10 nations merging with Germany as the power base (note: the UK will be suffering along side the USA/Canada and will not be part of the revived EU); they will attack the USA to prevent them from retaliating (on who?); the EU attacks because they will feel obligated to intervene
• A year and a month and a day later Russia and China will come together to start the first phase of the final war that leads to Armageddon (this must be the sixth trumpet)
• Sixth trumpet brings Russia and China together to destroy a third of the earth
• As one of the two end time witnesses in Revelation, Ronald declares that the Pope/Catholic Church, as the religious power, will finally kill him three and a half days before Christ returns
• Starting this coming April 17, the Pope/Catholic Church will become increasingly irritated at Ronald as he begins to speak out
• The Pope will be given some kind of special power on April 17 when he is in Washington D.C.

Personal Notes:

• Ronald reveals more openly the role of the Pope/Catholic Church in his prophecy
• He goes more indepth about the role of the EU/China/Russia than he normally does
• He stated that if by mid June it is not very clear that things are happening the way he predicts it will then he’ll no longer preach/be a prophet; however, this is a shorter period than the 45 to 90 days says the first trumpet will last for, but this is consitent with his last interview where he states that if by Pentacost (June 8th) its not obvious he step down
• When pressed by James, Ronald stated we’d see something in the news on Thursday, but he normally states it is the start of a process; Was this just a mistake on his Ron’s part? Or did he mean he’d release something?
• Interestingly, he seems to indicate that the first tradgedy will be only in the USA and its primary allies (Canada/UK/Austrailia); however, I thought the first trumpet covers the entire planet?

If you’d like to listen to the interview yourself then just go to:
http://www.the-end.com/author_interviews.asp

Ronald Weinland is a minister in the Church of God PKG. He has authored two end-times related books and claims to be one of the two witnesses of Revelation. For more information please visit his website.

• So two years later… How is this panning out?
• Did the Pope get special powers on April 17, 2008?
• Did the Pope/Catholic Church become increasing agistated by Ronald?
• Was there an attack by port in the last two years?
• An attack on land 45-90 days later?
• Russia & China got together one year, one month and one day after that?

I post dated this post two years… 

I also kept contributing to my retirement account.

On This day in Catholic History

This day in U.S. Catholic History

202 years ago today, the Holy See established three new dioceses of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia. The Baltimore diocese, already in existence, was elevated to the rank of archdiocese; and a fourth new diocese was established in Bardstown (now Louisville), Kentucky, for Catholics on the frontier.

John Carroll – Head of Baltimore See from November 6, 1789 – December 3, 1815. First Bishop of the hierarchy of the United States of America, first Bishop and Archbishop of Baltimore. b. Upper Marlboro, MD, January 8, 1735; d. Baltimore, MD, December 3, 1815. Archbishop Carroll was laid to rest in the Cathedral Basilica’s crypt.

The Origin of Colored Easter Eggs

I had always heard that the practice of dying eggs at Easter was originally a pagan practice along with the Easter Bunny related to fertility cults. That may be true of the Easter Bunny but not true about coloring Easter Eggs.

Eastern Orthodox Explanation of their Traditional Easter Greetings.

After pronouncing those most-sweet words, “Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!” and exchanging the kiss of peace, we give one another red eggs. The Egg is a sign of our blessed resurrection from the dead, whose pledge we have in Jesus Christ. So that you might understand how the egg is a token of our resurrection, imagine what happens to it after the chicken has incubated it for a few days: from out of it, a new creature emerges, a creature whose life had been hidden within its dead shell. In precisely like manner, the Giver of Life rose from the tomb, death’s abode; the time will come when, through the power of Almighty God, and in response to the Archangel’s sounding trumpet, our bodies will come out of the heart of the earth and will be clothed with incorruption. It is of this that the eggs we give one another remind us.

Eastern Orthodox Red Eggs

Do you know the origin of this custom? It is quite an ancient one. According to tradition, it began with Mary Magdalene. After the Lord’s Ascension, she came to Rome to preach the Gospel. Standing before Emperor Tiberias and saying,
‘Christ is Risen!” she presented him with a red egg. In those days, it was customary for poor people to give their friends, benefactors, the wealthy, and authorities, an egg on the New Year and on birthdays, as a sign of respect. Following Mary Magdalene’s example, early Christians began giving eggs to one another on the days celebrating Christ’s Glorious Resurrection. They passed that custom on to us.

But why did it become the custom to give one another red eggs? According to tradition, the following took place: On the actual day of Christ’s Resurrection, when everyone was convinced that Jesus Christ could not possibly rise from the tomb, a certain Jew was carrying a basket of eggs to market. Along the way, he met another Jew who said to him,

“So, friend, do you know what a miraculous thing has happened in our city Jerusalem? For Christ, Who died three days ago, has risen from the tomb, and already many have seen Him.” However, the Jew who was taking the fresh eggs to market said to him,

“No, I do not believe that Christ has been resurrected from the tomb. That would be just as impossible as to have white eggs suddenly turn red.”

And what happened? As soon as he had spoken those words, the white eggs in the basket suddenly turned red. That miracle so amazed him that he rushed to adopt the Christian Faith. News of that marvelous event soon spread among the faithful Christians, and in commemoration thereof, they began to exchange red eggs with one another. It was perhaps for that reason that Mary Magdalene presented Emperor Tiberius with a red egg.

Mary Magdalene With Oil and Red Egg

At the same time, the red color of the Paschal egg has a special significance. It would be no sin to assert that it represents the Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I wonder if Mary Magdalene gave Caesar the red egg because it signified the blood of Christ rather than the basket of eggs story>

There is another legend, less credible to me that as Mary Magdalene presented a white egg to Cesar saying, “Christ is risen from the dead!” Caesar exclaimed, “It is no more possible for Jesus to rise from the dead than for that egg to turn red.” Whereupon, the egg turned red and he converted. This sounds more like a confusion of the story above about the man with the basket of eggs, Mary Magdalene and Caesar you find on the internet and among those who confer goddess status on Mary.

Here is one Recipe for Red Easter Eggs