Expert: Sal - 2/17/2007

Question
Dear Sal,

         Thank you for praying for me. About sunday now many of those so called christians like mormons,Lutherans, new christians and so on? They claim saturday to be the holy day and not sunday. While we the correct church of God claim that Sunday to be the seventh day the sabbath day of God. Are we catholics right? An what about our view of Lent is this right too and how we celebrate Easter and all the other holy days? Now how do you know God is present in the catholic church I mean do you feel him in the building when the priest blesses it? Did God ever say for woman to be nuns and for girls and boys to be altar servers is that correct too. Do you also think that maybe I made a mistake thinking about becoming a nun but then realizing that I am called to married life instead? An is the Holy spirit supposed to be a male not a female? Because I was told by some people that I am and I am a bit sceptic about it I just feel like a regular girl just with a heart of God meaning I just have a love for others in need of God's mercy. Were those people wrong and if so why did they say it to me?

Answer
Dear Jacqueline:

Saturday was the Holy day for the Jews. Sunday is the Holy day for Christians. The Holy day was changed by Jesus when he rose from the dead on Sunday. This change was passed on by the Apostles. The Bible shows us that in New Testament times the Christians had already begun to worship together on Sunday (see Acts 20:7 & 1 Corinthians 16:2). In the Book of Revelation St. John refers to “the Lord’s Day” which was the common term among Christians for Sunday.

I know that Jesus is present in the Holy Eucharist because the Catholic Church infallibly teaches this truth. It does not depend on how I feel. Also Jesus clearly teaches that he would be really present in the bread and wine in the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel.

God did not directly say that woman may become nuns or that children may be altar servers. Those truths came through the Catholic Church which does speak with God’s authority.

I do not see it as a mistake that you thought that you might be called to become a nun. We all have to determine what God truly wants for our lives. One may be called to be a nun another may be called to the married life and still another may be called to be a celibate layperson.

The Holy Spirit is God and God is spirit. God is referred to as male as is the Holy Spirit. However, they are not biologically male or female. Jesus chose to reveal them as male in order to indicate God’s fatherhood over us as his children. He chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to represent motherhood to his children. All this clearly shows that we are a family, the family of God.

I’m not real sure what your last question was. Are people saying that you may be the Holy Spirit? Obviously you are not or you would certainly know it. I have no idea why they would be saying such a thing to you. Perhaps they simply meant that you “have the Holy Spirit” in you. This would make more sense.

God Bless You,
Sal