Expert: Fr. Michael - 12/14/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I am interested in learning mantras.
I need a list of short mantras and their meaning such as:
Kyrie eleison which is greek for lord have mercy.
Thank you so much.


ANSWER: "Mantra" is a Buddhist term and should be thoroughly avoided by Catholics.  What you seem to be referring to is known as an aspiration or ejaculation, a short religious utterance.  These are some that can be used as part of traditional Catholic prayer:

Adauge nobis fidem.  (Lk. 17:5)
Confirma hoc, Deus, quod operatus es in nobis. (Ps.
  67:29)
Credo, Domine, adiuva incredulitatem meam.  (Mk. 9:24)
Da gloriam Deo.  (Jn. 9:24)
Deus, propitius esto mihi peccatori.  (Lk. 18:13)
Domine, salva nos, perimus.  (Mt. 8:25)
Domine, salvum me fac.  (Mt. 14:30)
Domine, si vis, potes me mundare.  (Mt. 8:2)
Domine, ut videam.  (Lk. 18:41)
Fiat voluntas tua.  (Mt. 6:10)
Iesu, mitis et humilis corde, fac cor nostrum secundum [sicut] Cor tuum.  (cf. Mt. 11:29)
Miserere mei, Domine.  (Mt. 15:22)
Non nobis, Domine, non nobis, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. (Ps. 113:9)
Vade post me, Satana.  (Mt. 16:23)
Verumtamen non sicut ego volo, sed sicut tu.  (Mt. 26:39)


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your quick response.
I have 2 more questions.
I have a 20 year old son who has fallen away from the church. I have fasted meat and fish for 1 year and pray daily for him. I have others praying for him.
I think that as a parent that ensuring that my child journeys with God is the most important thing I can do.
Some people tell me that it will happen in Gods on time.
I believe that is true  for everything except salvation.
I believe that he never wants us the stray.
Do you think it is ever Gods will for a person to postpone salvation? I know that he can use your experiences to make you a better person, but I don't think he wants you to delay salvation for those experiences.
I keep praying for God to transform my son today.
I just don't believe that God's own time is to delay that.
I wonder if you think  it is possible that my son has not turned back to god because it is not in God's time.

second question:
He is dating a girl who is of bad character.
In a fit of anger at him she threw a candle and broke our TV.
This was 2 years ago.
she also called me and said she was not going to pay for it.
I told my son that she may not come to our house until she apologizes. ( her mom paid for the TV)
He thinks I am holding a grudge. I think I am setting an example of the need to right a wrong.
however, I also feel like I need to set an example of forgiveness. I told him that she is welcome after we reconcile. who is right on this?
(I do forgive her and pray for her.)

Thanks so much for your opinion.

Answer
1) To say that your son has "fallen away from the Church" implies that he accepted the Faith and has now turned his back on it.  That implies a knowledgeable and consensual denial of God's truth, apostasy, a gravely sinful state.  He is in grave peril of his immortal soul.  He could die of a heart attack or hit by a bus in an instant, in which case, because of his knowledgeable and consentual apostasy, he would most likely be lost for eternity.

Salvation is not a once-forever situation.  Salvation is offered, but we must work at it every day of our pilgrimage in this life.  It can be lost at any time by our rejection of it (apostasy) or by grave sin, which separates us from God for eternity.

2) In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Christ teaches us that before forgiveness must come contrition.  If the girl is unrepentant, you are fully just in refusing her admittance to your home.  Wrongful acts have their consequences.  She obviously hasn't learned that teaching of Christ.