Expert: Sal - 10/8/2006

Question
Hi sal,

  I have a question to ask you? My mother's job is now making pillows and they are very cool we can creat what ever we want. We can make religious pictures or others like cartoons! They tranfer the art work on a digital machine and scan it then the process is to place the picture on the pillow fabric. She works in a place that makes banners ect. I was wondering that is it okay in the name of Jesus our lord to help do a fundraiser for the church with this idea I am an artist and I love to draw religious stuff. I was hoping to help raise donations an help my church I am an altargirl (crossbearer) and I love to help out as much as I can. This church is 101 years old and very warm welcoming. I was just curious will God and Jesus be happy? If I do that and not like that time when the pharisees were making Jesus's house a market! I dont want to do that I just want to help to keep the church going. and have money to help them keep on going! I also was curious what does it mean when you feel the presence of God in the church like a strong prensence where you can feel the holy ghost acsending among the church and the altar?

Thanks God bless  

Answer
Hi Jacqueline:

It would be great if you can make religious decorated pillows to raise funds for the church. It would not be like the Pharisees who were making money for themselves. They would not allow Roman money to be offered by the people in the Temple. So they would exchange the Roman money for Jewish money and in the process cheat the people by giving them less than they should have. For example, if they had $5 of Roman money the Pharisees would give them $2 of Jewish money. They would also tell the people who were bringing animals to offer as sacrifices that their animal was not acceptable to offer to God so they would sell them an "acceptable sacrifice" which, of course, was one of the Pharisees' animals for which they over charged them. So you see that your idea of raising funds for the church would not be like the Pharisees at all.

The feeling that you have of the Holy Spirit in the church is one of the many great things about the Catholic Church. The feeling you have is absolutely correct. The altar is visited by the Holy Spirit and many, many angels during the Mass.

Good luck and God Bless You,
Sal