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Is fasting an expectation for Christians?

...rt of the faith not only in the earliest of times, but even as ‘recently’ as the Reformation era. John Calvin, in his Institutes, wrote on the topic as it appears in his time the value of it was not being recognised by the Church: Let us say something about fasting, because many, for want of knowing its usefulness, undervalue its necessity, and some reject it as almost superfluous; while, on the other hand where the use of it is not well understood, it easily degenerates into superstition. Holy and legitimate fasting is directed to three ends; for we practice it either as a restraint on the flesh, to preserve it from licentiousness, or as a preparation fo...

Did St. Nicholas Really Slap Arius?

...er in the faith, and unbelieving onlookers, to assume that some acts of violence are OK and ‘approved’ by Jesus and the Church, and understanding the legendary aspect to this particular story about Saint Nick and Arius could help to alleviate that.   Further Reading Who was the real Santa Claus? | The Sacred faith: Timeless Truths for Modern Minds Let’s Stop Celebrating St. Nicholas Punching Arius| National Catholic Register (ncregister.com) Bishop Nicholas Loses His Cool ::: St. Nicholas Center (stnicholascenter.org) CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA: St. Nicholas of Myra (newadvent.org) Did St Nicholas of Myra / Santa Claus punch Arius at the Council of...

Great Lent: The Season of Fasting

...bout your faith, as it’s fairly unusual for people to hear of these days; just don’t go around advertising it or boasting, that’s all! Remember what Jesus says in Matthew 6:16-18 – go about your days as normal! As with the historical tradition: don’t fast on Sundays – this is because it is a day of celebration in remembrance of the resurrection; a “mini-feast day” as it’s known! Also, this is why and how the forty days “fits” from Ash Wednesday to Easter Saturday, by not counting the Sundays of Lent, otherwise it would be 46 days. Types of Fasts There’s a whole variety of different fasts which the Church has observed over the years (s...

Understanding the Ultimate Ransom

...er of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Our lives are marked by gratitude and humility, recognising that what we could never achieve by our means, Christ accomplished on our behalf. In conclusion, Psalm 49 calls us to acknowledge the futility of trusting in wealth (or anything, really) for redemption. This truth finds its fulfilment in the New Testament revelation of Jesus Christ as our ransom from sin and death. Through His sacrifice, we are offered eternal life, free from corruption, a gift we receive through faith. Let us continually celebrate and live in the light of this glorious redemption, knowing that our true wealth is found in Christ alone. Amen.   F...

Is Halloween a Pagan Holiday?

...It's that time of year when you begin to see various articles and debates online about Hallowe'en, and whether it's entirely pagan in origin and the Church "stole it"; or if it's something that Christians should even have any part in. Table of Contents Origins of the holiday Aren’t there pagan roots? What about “Trick or Treat”, costumes and pumpkins? In conclusion To some people, the answer is a straightforward “no”, while others say it falls into the realm of Christian freedom and personal discernment. But what about if you're unsure or somewhere in the middle of those two positions, how should you decide what is the right thing to do?...

Was Jesus worshipped in the New Testament?

...Often a claim from critics of the faith, and especially Muslims arguing against Christianity, is that Jesus wasn't thought of as God early on and more to the point, wasn't ever worshipped in the accounts of the New Testament. This is a very cursory look at a few places within the Gospels where Jesus was clearly worshipped, either by his followers or others he encountered, and didn't rebuke or correct people for doing something wrong. Worshiping Jesus: 1. Matthew 14:33 - The Proclamation of Divinity And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” In the aftermath of a storm on the Lake of Galilee which Jesus calmed with a...