What is "sackcloth," as in the expression "sackcloth
and ashes"?
It is usually some coarse clothing material worn close to the skin to show contrition for sins or to practice penance. Sometimes it was made out of coarse animal hair and was called a "hairshirt." Sometimes the term is used figuratively or symbolically.
Reprinted from April 24, 1998
How should we reply to the non-Catholics who ask us, "Are
you saved?"
Christ died on the cross to save the human race and he is rightly called our Savior. Subjectively, however, we are not absolutely certain about the application of Christ's salvation to our individual souls nor about our personal perseverance in His grace. This is why the Bible tells us that we must "work out our salvation in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12). We must constantly pray for the gift of final perseverance in sanctifying grace. While we must fill up our saving faith with trust in the merits of Jesus and with charity, the notion of some Protestants that an emotional experience of personal salvation after making "Jesus our personal savior" signifies something authentic and salvific in religion is not true.
Reprinted from March 21, 1997
If the Catholic Church teaches something which I decide
is against my conscience, what should I do?
Conscience, to be correct and certain, must conform to objective moral norms. Authoritative teaching of the Catholic Church sets forth these moral norms in many matters. To knowingly follow an erroneous conscience, of course, contrary to the teaching of Christ's Church, is a sin. Every Catholic is obliged to form and educate his or her conscience according to the natural law, the divine revealed law, church law, and, in some instances, civil laws.
Reprinted from May 2, 1997
Are the souls of animals immortal?
No, they are not immortal. Animals do not have intelligent life, but only sensitive life. Even memory and instinct are material aspects of animal life. Also animals have no moral intuition, even when sometimes they have instincts or maternity, etc. Brute animals depend upon matter for their being and operations. When they die, their souls cease to exist, or, as the scholastic philosophers put it, they revert to the potency of primary matter.
Reprinted from May 2, 1997
What are the cardinal virtues?
They are prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. They are called cardinal from the Latin word "cardo" which means "hinge." All the moral virtues derive and depend on these four.
Reprinted from May 9, 1997
If God is everywhere, is God in Hell?
It is true that God is everywhere. His ubiquity includes the Hell of the damned. He is present there, however, only by His knowledge, power and justice. The absence of His love and mercy is due to the irrevocable will of the devils and the damned souls there. Being deprived of the presence of God is the most severe of the eternal torments of Hell. Human beings are created to be united to God in love. Everlasting frustration of this very purpose for existence, brought about by one's deliberate will, is part of the ghastly and horrible aspect of gehenna.
Reprinted from May 9, 1997