Articles of the Month

All  Catholics,  especially  single  Catholics, should  dress appropriately  for  Mass  and other  Church  functions.

     All Catholics should make it a good habit of dressing appropriately and modestly for Mass and other Church functions.  Having said this, there are still many Catholics, especially single Catholics, who try to get away with dressing in shorts and flip flops, halter tops, short skirts, short dresses, tight jeans and pants, revealing shirts and blouses, etc.  What do you think Jesus, Our Almighty Father and Our Blessed Mother thinks about this growing problem?  Well, we can certainly learn from the way Our Blessed Mother wears her clothes.  Of course, we don't live in ancient times but She was, and still is, the embodiment of modesty and humility in the wear she carried Herself and dressed in Her time.  In fact, Our Blessed Mother has the authority to wear whatever She likes and, in fact, She has appeared many times in our modern world as still wearing the same type of modest clothing She wore when She was here on earth.  
     What is Our Blessed Mother trying to teach us by doing this?  Well, She is trying to convey to men and women that we owe everything to God and to Our Lord Jesus.  We owe Them respect, praise and worship.  We should also respect ourselves in the way we dress and carry ourselves in this world.  We should not try to entice or tempt others with the way we wear our clothes especially while we are attending Mass because to do so is distracting others from the respect, praise and worship that is due to God and to Our Lord Jesus alone.  Even while we work, play and relax, we should still adhere to modest dress because our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit.  Wearing revealing clothes cheapens our bodies and does not give honor to God or to the Holy Spirit within us.  
     Well, you may be saying, "Well, I'm trying to attract the opposite sex so that I can eventually find a husband or wife."  By wearing nice-fitting clothing and modest wear, we show to future boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands and wives that we have respect for our bodies and souls and that we are not willing to reveal what we have to every person that comes by.  Believe it or not, many future boyfriends or girlfriends may be saying to themselves, "If she or he shows her or his body to people, she or he is probably going to continue revealing their bodies even after we get married!"  Would you want to go out or marry someone who reveals their body to the world?  Besides, Our Almighty Father and Our Lord Jesus wants us to find good and holy spouses.  It is better to find a spouse that takes care not to offend God or Our Lord Jesus and we should take care not to offend Them ourselves.
    Believe it or not, the Vatican does not allow anyone to come into their Church with anything but appropriate clothes.  There are guards outside of the Church who constantly turn people away if they are wearing shorts, short skirts, flip flops, etc.  Why should other Catholic Churches do any less?  If the Pope does not allow it in his Church, why should we allow it in our Catholic Churches?  So, if Catholics see this type of inappropriate wear in their Church, by all means, please remind parishioners to dress appropriately for Mass and other Church functions.  After all, God and Our Lord Jesus is at the altar watching everyone that comes in and sees the type of clothing they wear to Mass.  Eventually, we will all be judged by our deeds, by what we have done and not done.  Let us dress our very best for Our Heavenly Father and for Our Lord Jesus.  We owe Them everything. 
     Let us show honor to God, Our Lord Jesus and to the Holy Spirit by wearing modest clothing from this point on and also remind teenagers and other youths to do so.  When we dress nicely for Mass, we are showing a good example to the next generation of Catholics.  May God bless you for trying everything to live up to His laws and Commandments.  Take care.

Tattoos  are  becoming  very popular.  What  does  the  Bible say  about  them?

    
     Many Catholics, especially young Catholics, do not realize that Our Almighty Father said, "Do not lacerate your bodies for the dead, and do not tattoo yourselves.  I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:28)  This is a direct order by God Himself to people.  Even though this scripture is in the Old Testament, Our Heavenly Father's words should never be ignored and they are still true today--even in our modern world.  People do not realize that they are defacing their bodies when they tattoo themselves, no matter how small the tattoo may be.  Tattoos have become commonplace in our world, especially among young people.  They think it's the fashion and since they think everyone is also tattooing, they want to be known as "cool" too and in fashion.  What's wrong with being "different" and keeping your flesh clean, pure and un-stained?  Somehow, being innocent, pure and respectful of God's Laws  and of one's body has become odd and old-fashioned.  I'm sure the people in Sodom and Gomorrah treated their bodies in the same disrespectful way and felt that people were "odd" when they didn't want to follow in their ways.  Look what happened to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah!
     Catholics and, in fact, all Christians have to stand apart from this secular society which is heading in the wrong direction, far from Our Lord Jesus and far from Our Heavenly Father.   Many people do not seem to care what they do to their bodies and it is a shame.  What type of example is this current society giving to the youth and future generations?  This current society is showing children and the youth that it's okay to graffiti your body like people do on walls-to write anything you want on it, to sleep with anyone you like, to live with boyfriends/girlfriends, have children out of wedlock, etc.  This is damaging our children's minds and the youth of today.  Catholics are supposed to be mature, holy, innocent, restrained, self-disciplined, be willing to stand out as a believer and disciple of Our Lord Jesus Christ and evangelize the Word of God and the laws of the Catholic church to all people.   This is the example we must give to all children and youths that we come in contact with and we must demonstrate these virtues by becoming living examples of virtue and love of God and Our Lord Jesus.
    So, what do you do if you already have a tattoo on your body and feel that you have made a mistake?  Well, you can have it removed and discourage everyone you know not to tattoo their bodies because it goes against God.  Many people who got tattoos on their bodies later regretted their tattoos and  learned about the scripture verse which was mentioned above.  They eventually have their tattoos removed and tell their family, nephews, nieces, friends, acquaintances, and the children not to deface their bodies and to learn to have respect for God and the Holy Spirit that dwells within each person.  
     Unfortunately,  the youth of today likes to imitate and follow the latest fashion trends.  Whenever teenagers or young adults express a desire to get a tattoo to you or to do any other damage to their bodies, please read the above Scripture passage to them and tell them that God and Our Lord Jesus expects every person to honor Them and to keep holy one's body because the Holy Spirit dwells within us.  And, it would not do any harm to take them to see a priest so that he can explain what it means to be a true Catholic Christian in today's world.  May God bless and keep you and make you strong to withstand the temptations of the devil and of today's world.