Expert: Charlie B - 11/11/2007

Question
Dear Charlie,

                I have been born and raised in a Catholic home. Where my family is religious and my grandparents taught me everything I know about faith in God, saying the novena's, praying the rosary, devotions to the saints honoring God. I am spanish descent of Puerto Rican race. I have a strong belief in God now then I ever did.

Is the Thanks giving holiday Biblical in a way after all we pray on thanks giving and give thanks of what we are thankful for?

Also My other questions are:What are the Holy Days of Obligation in the United States how do we celebrate them?  How can I celebrate more effectively in Advent season my mom said she likes the Idea of the Advent wreath and candles on the table as a decor and for religious matters too is this a good Idea?  I feel like it is, being a catholic and all is great I am pleased that I am a catholic but by all means why does the non catholic religion attack our faith for and caling us false even the religion of the antichrist it hurts me even the JW'S known as Jehovahs witness claimed that we catholics were the ones who beaten up the Lord on his passion. We didnt even do that there making a big fuss about us. Parissees and Saducees were the ones doing such a thing even the Roman government that doesnt mean nessesserally us catholics were the blame Jesus founded the catholic church through Peter. I say non catholics should keep there beliefs and comments to themselves seriously! We are in a Holy war what is so holy about it nothing!Anti-Christians pretend that they want some sort of "let's all get along" Christianity, but what they really want is for it All To Go Away. This sort of slanted news article is just an attack on all Christians. Divide and conquer.The current Pope is one that you can respect, even when you disagree with him. He’s going to be far better for his church than any other recent Pope.

really do wish Christians would stop fighting among themselves.

We have a common enemy that is threatening us with annialation and all we are doing is splitting ourselves up into smaller and smaller pieces. We are Jews spiritually! view all Christians as my brothers/sisters and I really do hate family fights and fighting on who's religion is best.

I don’t think Chist would like it either.18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.Jesus said He is the builder and it is His Church. He did not command the Apostles to go out and build their churches for Him. A huge distinction with an eternal significance. Many say that we made Mary Goddess of Heaven and that we worship saints and the pope! Come on I tell the non catholic folk get with the program Catholics do not worship saints. They pray for the ‘intercession’ of saints, which is basically asking saints to pray for us, too.

Non Catholic folks statements are a common slur of Catholics along with the also incorrect statement that the catholic religion worships the Pope. Please I laugh every time they say soming arrogant like that even saying that us catholics are brainwashed that is a lie! I just want to make my self clear: To the Catholics Jesus is about love faith joy and everylasting peace we look at him as a way of life and worship him as God of heaven and Earth!

Heck, I’m Catholic and I think there are a lot of lost souls in Catholicism trying to know which way is which.(To attack one section of Christianity in this day and age, is to waste time.) Yup, in fact Jesus was Jewish not Catholic but he founded catholicism through St. Peter. Hey, I wasn’t the one who stated my Church was perfect. If you are the leader of a religion and are going to throw rocks at all the others, then just be prepared to receive some your way... Jesus said to us people if thou has not sin throw a rock at the sinner but every one has sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God so why dont the non catholic religions just back off from mocking us right Charlie?

What would non-Catholics tell you about the Catholic Church? Why then, do some non-Catholic sects attack the Catholic Church.....Pope says Catholic Church only true church General – Faiths. Is this true Charlie Catholics believe it is not out of the realm of God's mercy to save non-Catholics.As a Catholic, I find this line of attack insulting, dont you think? Well happy thanks giving and I hope to hear from you.  

Answer
Jacqueline,
You ask some very good questions.  First of all, thanksgiving is not a "biblical holiday", but rather a national holiday.  You can go to http://www.crewsnest.vispa.com/thanksgivingusa.htm to learn about the basic story of how the Thanksgiving holiday got its start in the US.  Not mentioned in the story is the simple fact that the pilgrims who had the first Thanksgiving feast were also grateful to God for His love and generous help in giving them such a bountiful harvest.  That is why we continue today to offer prayers of Thanksgiving to our Lord...for His great goodness and love that He bestows on us daily.  We could say that Thanksgiving is Biblical in that it is always good and even our duty to give God thanks and praise.

From here I will address your question on why we as Catholics are persecuted in this country.  First of all, there is a lot of ignorance about the Catholic faith in this country.  It is still amazing to me what people think we believe which is unfortunate.  Secondly, this is a mostly Protestant country.  Remember that Protestant comes from the word "protest" which is exactly what Martin Luther did when he left the Catholic Church...he was protesting against the Church.  Now at the time, he had some good points because there were some changes that needed to be made.  Sadly, he ended up splitting the Church instead of lovingly and patiently pointing them out. He became part of the problem instead of the solution.  The whole attitude of the Catholic Church being "wrong" and misguided is still very pervasive today among our Protestant brothers and sisters.  For more information on the Protestant Reformation, you can go to http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12700b.htm and http://mb-soft.com/believe/txc/counterr.htm  

The Holy Days of Obligation in the US are as follows:
Tuesday, January 1, 2008 – Mary, Mother of God –
IS a day of obligation in 2008.

Sunday, May 4, 2008 – the Ascension of the Lord –
IS a day of obligation because it is a Sunday

Friday, August 15, 2008 – the Assumption of Mary –
IS a day of obligation.

Saturday, November 1, 2008 – All Saints –
NOT a day of obligation

Monday, December 8, 2008 – the Immaculate Conception of Mary –
IS a day of obligation because it is the patronal feast
of the United States of America

Thursday, December 25, 2008 – the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) –

ALWAYS a day of obligation

Thursday, January 1, 2009 – Mary, Mother of God –

IS a day of obligation.

Advent:  The Advent wreath is a wonderful way to celebrate or prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ.  Other ideas can be found in these websites:   http://www.catholicculture.org/liturgicalyear/activities/index.cfm?action=list&f... http://www.fisheaters.com/customs.html#advent, and http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/novena/immaculate.htm

As Christians we are called to love one another even in the face of persecution.  The best thing that we can do as Catholics is to know our faith well so that we can lovingly respond to our persecutors.  Then we must pray for them that God will bless them with the truth.

Finally, I have to give my bride of 21 years credit for this answer to your question; sorry it took 21 days to answer it!

God bless you and merry Christmas,

Charlie Breeding