Follow-up to: Confession: good for the soul (mind, body, spirit)...

Last September (2018) I wrote an article entitled: Confession: good for the soul (mind, body, spirit).. (see here confession is good for the soul).  Now, I'd like to refer to several verses in the Bible that indicate that Christ did indeed give the power to forgive sins to (sinful) men!  His Apostles (bishops, and, by extension priests).

If one takes even a cursory look at these verses, you will have to acknowledge that there is such a thing as confession and the forgiveness of sins (or the sacrament of Penance), keeping in mind that St. Paul talks about the ministers of Christ as the dispensers of the mysteries (sacraments) to the faithful.

First, we look at St. John 20; 22-23: And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained...

Second, in St. Matthew 18; 18.  Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.  Another strong indication that Christ gave His Apostles that enormous power!!

Now there are two other verses in St. Matthew 18; 21 and 22.  St. Peter is asking Christ how many times should "I" forgive someone that sins against me; seven times?  Christ tells St. Peter not seven times, but seventy times seven.

In other words, as long as someone asks for forgiveness they can (not must) be forgiven.

But why "can" and not must?

When we Catholics go to Confession, we have to meet certain requirements in order for the priest to grant us absolution, among these requirements is that we have contrition (we are sorry for committing that sin), and -- very important here -- we make a firm purpose of amendment not to commit that sin again.

Translation: just because someone asks for forgiveness of sins, doesn't mean that the mentioned sin will be forgiven.

I do realize that we all have weakened natures, that is why Christ gave the power to forgive sins in the first place.  He knew us then, and He knows us now.  He took on our human nature in the fulness of time that we have an avenue to stay, or come back to Him if we left His good graces.  Remember the Prodigal Son?  He squandered his fortune; led a morally terrible life, but when he returned home, his father saw that he was sorry for the way he had lived his life, and forgave him!

The forgiveness of sins is not something that falls from the sky, or a sin is forgiven because someone "accepts Christ as his/her personal Savior," no, it is more than that.  And I hope that these verses will help those non-Catholics see the real love of Christ in the Sacrament of Confession (Penance).

If there are any questions about what I wrote in this article, please comment and I'll try my best to answer you...

Pray for our country.

PS: all the verses were taken from the King James version of the Protestant Bible; copyright 1897.

Gene DeLalla

More money for ABORTION!!!!

Well, it didn't take long for the Demonrats to get their act together and again show their true colors: enemies of the pre-born.

Demonrat, "devout Catholic" N. Pelosi and that miserable anti-life Zionist, Schumer, have already added language in a bill that would end the so-called "government shutdown" by adding more of our taxpayer dollars to kill more babies.

More money for the wall?  Nope, but more money for the slaughter of God's gift to His creatures: the ability to be co-creators with Him.  How much longer will He allow this massacre to continue?  I don't know, but what I do know is that when He comes back some of these demons will die of pure fear, and rightly so, unless they repent.

Unfortunately, far too many "Catholics" have fallen for the easy way out, using contraception because of an "unplanned" pregnancy.  But even worse, they fall prey to the "right" to kill their pre-born just as any other pagan in the U.S.

Unless and until there is a real change of heart among these selfish individuals, conversion is out of the question, and that's why most will NOT be saved!

Pray for an end to abortion and pray for our country.

Gene DeLalla

My review of 2018, and what I feel will happen in 2019...

Sometimes I wonder that unless a nuke goes off in our neighborhood, do we really care about the events that will eventually affect all of us?

These events are ongoing; they are more than what the score of your favorite football team is on any particular Sunday or Monday night, or making sure you have a full tank of gas and a six-pack of Bud Lite for the upcoming weekend.

I think that far too many folks are not aware, or simply don't care about anything unless and until some catastrophic event does, in fact, hit them or their cherished family, but by that time, it might be too late.

That is not the way we should live our lives.  We have to be on guard and pay attention to what is really happening, not what the lamestream "news" is pounding into our collective heads on a daily basis.  And I dare anyone to try to decipher any real news from those masters of deceit; those demonic individuals that prey on, not only the innocent, but the lazy -- too lazy to investigate from alternative sources, what is really going on.  I guarantee that what you will find will -- or should -- scare you to near death.

What am I talking about?

Let us take a look at 2018...

For one, our duly elected president, Trump, has been under relentless attack for over two years now.  By not just by what passes for "news" from the hard Left media, but also from his own party: those in the deep state determined to stifle his pro-America agenda.

Mr. Trump is not perfect, but at least he recognizes God as the source of our strength and happiness, and not the size of a welfare check.

President Trump has also decided to take the heat so we might maintain our sovereignty against the horde of illegal invaders at our southern border, not to mention those that sneak across our northern border!

2018 was also another year of shame for the U.S. of A.  Why?  Because we continued to kill the pre-born at an unprecedented rate, with nearly 1/2 BILLION of our taxpayer monies going to Murder, Inc., aka: planned parenthood, every single year.

2018 also showed that our legal system of "justice" is completely broken.  How?  It seems to me that there is a two-tier-system: one for the elites, and one for you and me.

Liberal judges continue to throw roadblocks up to most of what Mr. Trump is attempting to do in order to increase the security of our country.  (Keeping in mind that the judiciary is separate from the executive branch, not superior to it.)  And here is where Mr. Trump has been horribly advised: he is the chief law enforcement officer of the entire nation; he has extraordinary powers that the Constitution grants a president in order to fulfill the duties of his office.  If a judge says: you can't do that!  He could say in  turn: try to enforce your order!  I'm going to do what I have to do as I swore on the Bible to do!

The Natural Law is continuously being violated by unjust laws or court decisions.  Remember, any man-made law or court decision that violates that very same Natural Law is automatically null and void.  This is not just my wishful thinking, it is enshrined in the common law of most civilized nations, as well in Church law.  Just read the Letter from a Birmingham jail, written by Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and see where he quotes two prominent Catholic saints: St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine, in enumerating what constitutes a just or unjust law.  If unjust, it is not to be obeyed!

Just try that the next time you explain to a judge that your appearance before him is unjust, and see what happens!!  (Remember that two-tier-system??)

2018 was another year that the so-called "federal reserve" continued to print paper money 24/7, 365 days a year, with nothing to back it up: no gold; no silver, just the "full faith and credit" of the U.S. government.  Does that make you sleep soundly at night??

There was -- and it carries over into 2019 -- the real possibility of what some might call a "civil war," coming soon to a neighborhood near you...  I'm not being extreme here, either.  Look at what has happened in some liberal cities across this country: demonstrate for your right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, and watch the radical Left physically attack you for being pro-life, pro-marriage, etc.  Sickening and sad, not to mention dangerous.

2018 was also a watershed for what is left of the "Catholic Church" -- in quotation marks because the new order church is only a façade; not real.  The scourge of homosexuality is rampant and has been for far too many years, yet this is nothing new.  Saints of antiquity had to purge the sodomites from the priesthood, going back over 1,000 years!   The gates of hell will never -- never! -- prevail against the real Catholic Church founded on the rock of St. Peter...

The question then must be asked: how long will law-abiding citizens put up with physical or economic threats to their well-being and that of their families?   This, I admit, is an opened-ended question that can only be answered on an individual basis: I can't answer that question for you or anyone.  But I know how much I can take, and what I will not tolerate when that tipping point is reached; then we'll see what happens...

2019...

With all that I just enumerated for 2018, also happen in 2019, or worse??   This will be answered shortly, perhaps in weeks or months.

This short article is not meant to sound grim or despairing, quite the contrary.  We must remember that we are not in complete control of our fate; that falls into the hands and will of God Almighty.  The very same God that the hard Left rejects in favor of the evil one.  In some cases, it is very plain to see just who embraces God, and who rejects serving Him in favor of the demon.  I think you all can figure out just who falls into which category...

And the key to real happiness is serving Him, not the passions and concupiscence of our weakened natures.  Is it easy?  No.  But remember what the great Apostle to the Gentiles, St. Paul, tells us in the Bible: you will not be tested beyond your ability to resist (temptation), and that God will provide the graces to remain an upright and moral person; man or woman or child -- above the age of reason.    

I say to anyone reading my article: remain vigilant and awake as you stand guard in the night; hope for the best under all circumstances with the help and grace of our good Lord.  I continue to hope that even the Elect will not be deceived...

Pray for our country...

Gene DeLalla

Update on Mr. David Knight's heart surgery..

Mr. David Knight's heart surgery was successful!  It was a long and dangerous procedure, but he is now in recovery!!   Thank our good Lord!  I will continue to update his condition.

Why have I asked for prayers for this man?  The answer is simple: there are few journalists that can be trusted these days, that's why.  Most of what we hear and read from the lamestream "news" are outright lies or distortions of the truth, so much so, that the truth is no longer recognizable, that's why.  Because his integrity is beyond question, that's why.  Because he is a Christian (at least he believes in Christ), that's why.

And because the Second great Commandment reads as follows: love thy neighbor, that's why...

Thanks to all who prayed for this man, but please continue to do so...

Gene DeLalla

Immediate prayers for Mr. David Knight...

As most of you know, when I end my articles, I always ask that all pray for our country; that hasn't changed, but today I'm asking for prayers for Mr. David Knight -- a good and decent man that reports the news fairly and accurately as opposed to the biased "news" of the hard Left.  This good man suffered a massive heart attack two days ago, and will undergo extensive surgery today in Texas.

Please pray for this upright man and his family...

God bless to all...

Gene DeLalla

If you read the Bible...

Then my previous post (What did Christ leave us?), talked about those stupendous events that led up to what was to become known as the Eucharist.  If you did read my post, you would see that I didn't use the word "Eucharist," not once.  So now, it is time to "call a spade a spade."

The bread and wine that is consecrated becomes the Eucharist for us to receive in Holy Communion.  You will also learn, if you don't already know, that the elements (or the "accidents") of the bread and wine remain for us to see -- but not touch!  But those elements are then transformed -- transubstantiated -- into what was done on that famous night at the Last Supper.

Remember, Christ is the One Who miraculously transformed those elements, not the Apostles, at least not then.  They were mesmerized beyond anything that we could imagine, after all, their Master just told them to do this in memory of Me.

Do what?

Exactly what He did!!!   Change the bread and wine into His body and blood.  So, the Apostles did do what Christ did after all, just not at the Last Supper.  They were the recipients of the new food that keeps one alive forever!!!

The Apostles were priests as well as bishops!  If you don't believe me, then read the Bible.  The office of priest goes way, way back to the early Old Testament, then, in continuum, into the New Testament.  It is mentioned in Acts, Chap. 1, and in 1 Timothy where St. Paul talks at length about the office of bishop and priest (St. Paul was both!).

But beware!  St. Paul is very specific about just who may receive the body and blood of Christ!  In 1 Corinthians, he tells us that if we eat this bread and drink this cup unworthily, we will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord!!!

Remember, in my post: What did Christ leave us?  I explained the whole scene about the many disciples leaving our Lord after He tells them unless they eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, they will have no life in them.  And most walked no more with Him, because they found that a hard saying?

So too, if that whole scenario was just a metaphor, then He would have said so, and called them back!  But He didn't.  Now, St. Paul is confirming that Christ really did mean what He said as proved in the previous paragraphs!!

And just who consecrates the piece of bread and the cup of wine into the Body and Blood of Christ?  Priests, and, by extension, bishops (however, it is a bishop that consecrates a man into the priesthood, not the other way around).

In conclusion, it is important to note that when I use a verse, or verses taken from the Bible, it would seem that I am being very selective in order to "prove" my points.  But, in reality, I take the whole of what is revealed in the New Testament in order to show some measure of continuity from the Old to the New Testament.  I do not take a verse or two out of context as so many do in order to support a belief system, or a "religion" that one can hardly recognize anymore as being Christian.

The world, the flesh and the devil is trying so very hard to deceive, even if possible, the Elect.  Don't be fooled: unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not have life (eternal life!) in you.  I don't know about you, but that shakes me to the bone!

God bless, and pray for our country.

Gene DeLalla  

PS: all the above info was taken from the King James version of the Protestant Bible, copyright 1897.

What did Christ leave us?

His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity!

What???

Wait a minute!  He ascended into heaven, so how could He leave us His very Body, Blood -- certainly not His Soul, and Divinity!!

These are not my suppositions, or opinions, but something that happened at the Last Supper...

Remember, He told His Apostles to "do this in memory of me"..

Do what?

Eat His Body and drink His Blood?  Whoa... What's that all about??

Are we cannibals?

Isn't that why many of His disciples walked no more with Him after He told them that..."unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you will have no life in you!..."

Remember too, that when He said the above, they "murmured" because "this is a hard saying, who can hear it?"

Now think for a moment: was Christ using a metaphor, or did He really mean that in order for us to have life in us, and be saved, we actually had to eat His flesh and drink His blood??

If He was using a metaphor, then He would have called back those disciples that left -- in disgust? -- and say that He really didn't mean, literally, that mankind had to eat His flesh and drink His blood, but He didn't.  He left them to their own devices.. We don't know what their final destiny was; did some come back after all?  We don't know.  But we do know that Christ didn't call them back!

What happened next??

He turned to the Apostles and asked them if they too would leave Him...

Simon Peter answered for the twelve: Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life...

The scene that I have just described is stunning!

Here is the Christ sent to redeem us, telling us that we have to eat His flesh and drink His blood in order to have life (eternal life!) in us!!??

Remember, that He was about to undergo His Passion; but He also told His followers that He would not leave them orphans, meaning that He would send the Paraclete to teach all things (that are not recorded in the Bible)…

But there was something else...

Let's go back to the Last Supper...

After He blesses the bread and wine (consecrates those elements), He tells the Apostles to do this in memory of Me...

Do what, exactly?

Bless (consecrate) any future bread and wine and eat (receive) His body and blood, especially, after He died and ascended...

His bloody sacrifice on Calvary, was to be repeated in an un-bloody manner -- not a different sacrifice, but the same -- IN AN UN-BLOODY MANNER; day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year, century after century, down to our present day, and into the future, until He returns...

Now, the question begs: where do you get His consecrated body and blood to eat and drink????

Do you get IT at the local Baptist church, or a Jewish synagogue?  What about a Mosque?

Just where do you get IT?

Believe it or not, you get IT in a Catholic Church, that's where.

My Catholic Church is open to all -- that's true ecumenism for you!  Come home and have life in you this Christmas!!

Peace on earth, to men of good will...

Pray for our country...

PS: most of my quotes are taken from the King James version of the Protestant Bible, copyright: 1897...

Gene DeLalla