MikeLigalig.com

This song has been playing in my ipod on repeat... 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=108tw9YKKQ8#

Damn. Why do i miss you so much?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V4UHMoZaYQ#noexternalembed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5LFP-n7-SQ#

hahaha! kuyawa si bossing !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oItlK2LB1ks#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhiPq9bU_L4#

shouldn't be too expensive. 2-3 thousand pesos for general services.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKVq-P3z5Vg#ws

Quote from: czarprince on December 31, 2012, 10:11:10 AM
Pretty much expensive. Safe in a different way. I think this is one alternative of nicotine addiction besides the looming sin tax bill.

This is effective because the nicotine level is decreased in increment, until the patient's threshold diminishes. Better this than the actual cigarette because this one does not have the tar , which causes the transformation of respiratory epithelia, which is responsible for the development of cancer.

You have the benefits of nicotine , without the negative effects on the pulmonary system. This is what we recommend as a dosing method for patients who want to cease smoking effectively.

You're right. We, all people from different walks of life, should try our best to be honest and truthful. When we start to fail to live by our principles, is the moment we falter from our own selves and our own calling.

Deep.

Quote from: chicogon on January 05, 2013, 03:41:31 PM
And believe it or not some doctors have fattened bank accounts just by this practice... is that a myth? LoL

It is a sad fact that many of my fellow doctors have succumbed to this. It is disappointing to know that money can even alter the principle of a man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuvtoyVi7vY#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEnUhjmwjlI#ws

Quote from: chicogon on January 05, 2013, 03:11:56 PM
I'm not only careful, I also don't believe them. I know better. My cousin end up giving me the C24/7 for free hehehe. Next time he offered it for free I declined...

Good choice, Fr. Roel.

Quote from: chicogon on January 05, 2013, 03:11:56 PM
I'm not only careful, I also don't believe them. I know better. My cousin end up giving me the C24/7 for free hehehe. Next time he offered it for free I declined...

Here in the hospital, we are so used to these pharmacy reps chasing doctors. We call them "doctor chasers". hahaha. They try to sell doctors their new products and offer "perks" so that the doctor can endorse the drug to their patients.

It is funny because there are even pharm reps who try to persuade M.Ds to endorse non-FDA supported drugs.

ka bu ang!

Quote from: chicogon on January 05, 2013, 03:09:04 PM
Great info!

You're welcome. I attended a medical conference by Varian Medical Systems in Rosemont, Illinois on November -- regarding this. I was witness to these new surgical procedures. Gamma Knife can be used by not only radiology oncologists, but also pulmonologists and general surgeons treating precancerous or cancerous epithelia. Quite awesome.

Quote from: Lollapalooza on January 05, 2013, 10:10:20 AM
Based pod ni siya sa story sa usa ka principal nga naa'y cyst sa iyang ovary. According to her, naga take ni siya ug MX3 capsule. Instead na ma lessen ang cyst, nanaghan na nuon ug nahimong acute myoma. April last year nagpa opera siya sa iyang myoma. Wala siya miangay sa MX3. Depende ra man gud na tao. Ako dili ko moangay ana. Ang naka angay sa ako kay kaning sa AIM GLOBAL nga C24/7.

A cyst, histologically speaking, is a tissue undergoing metaplasia, which is a form of pathological growth. Your friend's cyst developed into a myoma because the cyst was not excised. Your friend should not put the "blame" on the drug, but rather, should have talked to a radiology oncologist to have the benign cyst surgically removed.

We can do this now so easily with the use of a new non-invasive surgical method called Gamma Knife.

Any metaplastic tissue , a cyst for example, if untreated will become neoplastic. Tissue pathology starts from: Normal --> Hyperplasia --> Metaplasia --> Anaplasia --> Neoplasia (Cancerous).

Quote from: chicogon on January 05, 2013, 01:17:09 PM
Inom sad ko anang 24/7 sa Aim Global, mora ko ni Ms Isles no stones left unturned. I read its description it's only food supplement and does not claim curative capabilities. Mga tawo as well as mga marketers - sama sa ig-agaw nako nga niapil sa network - who constantly promote the myth-part of it kay every time they sell you something they invoke on those. "feel good" stories. Mabuang jud hinoon ka or ma guilty ka esp. kung imong health status is: tiki na lay wa mopirma sa imong death certificate, bwahahaha!!!

Pa bantay lagi sa mga pharmaceutical marketers. Be careful of anyone who knows of a drug that can "cure all things". Most likely, what they say is unsupported.

There is no such thing as a "cure all" drug. 

Quote from: islander on January 05, 2013, 11:02:04 AM
well, while some doctors have indeed credited mx-3 with curative powers, my own niece who's a doctor had this to say: there are those who depend only on mx-3 while their diseases that need immediate surgery get worse. 

that's why i've always believed in inclusive treatments, from alleged myths like those in siquijor (i've tried those, and they work as faith healing works), homeopathy, acupuncture, science and medicine, diet, and prayers.  no stone is left unturned.  kun naay motutho, sugot lang gihapon koh.

indeed. as a clinician, its always good to acquire modern medical intervention. however, in this modern era, I think it is also important for clinicians to educate their patient(s) on the effects of naturopathic , homeopathic substitutes; the positive and the negative consequences of forgoing modern medical treatment.

physicians need to do a better job in educating their patient(s) on these drugs that are unsupported by the FDA.

So cute!

I'm at work typing notes. Our departmental secretary is very talkative today, hapit ko na wa ug concentration because she talks too much. haha. I had to tell her , "O, I'll talk to you later after my rounds. I can't talk right now." I hope she didn't talk it personally.

Thank goodness it is a Friday. I wanna de-stress tonight.  

Quote from: Lollapalooza on January 03, 2013, 08:42:06 AM
You're welcome Bran! Fun with friends, yeah but not that much. I was suffering from a fever on Dec. 24 -25 tapos nag attend ng 2-day seminar on 26 - 27, then nagka trouble akong stomach kay contaminated ang nainom nako nga water on the 28th up to 31(not lbm more like amoebiasis).. but in the end, Lord never leave by my side, I feel better now and I did celebrate my New Year with my family with happiness and full of love.. ^__^  Kumusta pod Bran?

I'm glad that you're feeling much better, Jenneth. Its always good to look at the bright side of things despite the challenges that come at us unexpectedly. I'm glad that you were able to enjoy the warmth of your family during the Holidays.

Quote from: Pikoy on December 31, 2012, 04:14:18 PM
HAppYYYY nEwwwwwww YEarrr! ! ! !

wElCOmE 2013!! 

colorful kaayo !

Happy New Near, Bai Piks, Michael Ortega Ligalig, Jenneth, Mr. Daray, Fr. Roel, Ate Ging, Ate Ethyl, Isles, Bai Bugsay, Sir BolBuhol, Sir Way Nada, Mr. Chonks, Bai Hubag, Bai Votives, Bai Wardiflex, Bai Vhinz, Brod Vince, and everyone else ! May the Lord Our God Grant all of You a Blessed and Prosperous New Year!

Brothers and Sisters, please also join me in congratulating our founding member, Mr. Michael Ortega Ligalig, a Happy and Blessed Marriage. May the Lord Our God grant him and his lucky wife a beautiful and successful marriage. May God Bless You both!

Welcome to Tubag Bohol !

haha home base diay?

he he he, put one of angel locsin, instead. please.

Quote from: islander on January 03, 2013, 01:36:37 PM
sorry, lorenz.  i didn't go there.  valencia may be my mother's home, but it was never mine.

Where did you go?

Quote from: hubag bohol on January 03, 2013, 07:43:02 PM
Sim to yo!

Ha ha ! Happy New Year, too !

he he he, mao ba?

Quote from: Lollapalooza on January 03, 2013, 08:34:31 AM
i'm already home.. hehehee no need to go for a vacation..

You're so lucky!

Quote from: Lollapalooza on January 03, 2013, 08:28:55 AM
Welcome home sa mga tanang nanguli ug nagbakasyon ^__^

Salamat Kaayo for the warm welcome, Jenneth. I hope your Christmas Break and New Years was Awesome !

Did you do anything fun , thrilling over break?

Quote from: chicogon on January 03, 2013, 03:16:12 AM
Good to hear from you, regards from your family and the ampalaya thing. Besides being a good boy aw patient diay I love the thought of bodily miracles which science and medicine haven't discovered yet hahaha...

he he he , believe it or not, those do happen. the fancy word we use to explain the unexplainable is "idiopathic".

How was Valencia, Isles?

Was home from 20th of December till the 1st of January.

Amen.

I woke up this morning to the sound of my alarm clock beckoning me to get ready for work. When I checked my cell phone, however, I read the text message my beloved Mommy Liza sent me at 5:47 AM, "Happy you made it back safe to Chicago, ondoy. Daddy and I miss you and Angel already. "

I could not help but cry. A mother's love truly is unconditional.

Good Morning Fr. Roel,

It's so good to read your entry here. Thank You for the Happy New Years text message, btw. During my drive around with my father, I had conveyed to him your fraternal regards. My dad was keen to knowing how you are doing and we both laughed at the stories I told him about how we met up in Bohol back in 2010. He told me to tell you, "Kummusta Roel! Mag kita ta pohon sa Bohol!" I told dad that maybe someday we all could meet up at my family residence in Tagbilaran (father's side). My family would like to meet you, btw. My Ante Beth, my Mammy Wella, Uncles Roger and Ray, as well as my aunts who do ask about you.

Back to the topic and notion of health -- my friend Albert and i were talking about the health benefits of certain vegetables. Albert is a Radiology/Oncologist resident. We were talking about the benefits of ampalaya, which actually has potent HMGCoa inhibitors, which has the same effects as the Cholesterol Lowering drugs called "Statins" eg. Atorvostatin, Simvastatin. There is a beautiful biochemical cycle that affects the chemistry of the body , the health of the body. The intake of green leafy veggies, and fiber helps in not only reducing cholesterol levels, but protecting GI health. Which in turn, affects the entire body.

May this year be prosperous , health-filled, and blessed for you, Fr. Roel. Hoping you're doing great !


Keep me in your prayers.


Sincerely Yours,
Bran Lorenz

Happy New Year, BolBuhol!

Mr. Delaguna,

Please accept my condolences. May you be conforted in knowing that life does not end in this world, but continues on to the next. Let us pray that the soul of Mr. Aumentado will be granted entry into the Kingdom of Heaven. Through the intercession of Mother Mary, all the Angels and Saints in Heaven, May Christ Have Mercy on his soul.

After a non-stop 14 hour drive from Cherry Hill, New Jersey to Chicago, Illinois, we arrived here at 1:00 AM. I went to bed at around 2:30 AM, and now am back to work. My Christmas Break was blessed and everything I could have prayed for. There at home I was able to enjoy the sweet simplicities of family life again, far from the reaches of hospital duties and Chicago repertoire. A group of my old school friends and I were able to catch up by venturing on our traditional favorite -- Sushi Buffet-- at Tomosushi in Glassboro, New Jersey. My good friend Lee, Brian, and John shared laughs and dispensable jokes about each other -- ahh, like the good ole' days. Who could enjoy brotherly cameraderie without the traditional bottle of wine -- or two. haha! We enjoyed two bottles of Moscato and Reisling ! Sake, too !

On the 28th, I met up with my good friend Albert, a childhood friend of mine from Iloilo and who is also a Medical Doctor. We met up at Dumont, New Jersey and together took the Bus to New York City. In New York we met up with with some mutual friends. Went to a very nice restaurant in the Soho district of Manhattan, NYC. Then went bar hopping in around the upper east side and lower east side of Manhattan. It was nice.

It was a beautiful Christmas Break.

How was everyone's?

Thank You for the kind blessings and moment of reflection, Votives. My wish is that we all enjoy the blessings of a Prosperous New year ! God Bless !


Sincerely,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OiYDUEu3i8#ws

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=al03sLKrVSQ#ws

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSsjkopDjC4#

Quote from: wardiflex on December 23, 2012, 10:52:26 AM
maajong pasko sa tanan...

Merry Christmas to you as well, Bai Wardiflex!

Quote from: islander on December 21, 2012, 10:57:07 AM
Merry Christmas, Lorenz!

Dear Isles,

Thank You so much !! Please accept my belated Christmas Greetings! I hope and pray that you had a blessed Christmas with family and friends. Warm and Loving Regards from my family to yours.



Sincerely,
Lorenz

I am writing this entry at home in New Jersey. No words can describe the feeling of being home with family. Am so very happy.

Quote from: bagets on December 21, 2012, 09:47:16 PM
as they said..home is where the heart is..merry Christmas doc

Thank You, Bai Bags! Please accept my belated Christmas Greetings!

Rest In Peace, Mr. Aumentado. Extending my condolences to the Aumentado Family.

In the spirit of Christmas, as we remember the birth of Christ, let us remember to let go the anger, grudges, and hostilities we have. Christ commands us to be perfect like our Heavenly Father. So let peace, hope, faith and love reign in our hearts.
---

“‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord."
â€" Leviticus 19:18

Getting ready now. Going to gas up my Mitsubishi Montero and then load up and heading out. Mo larga kami around 9 pm, hopefully, maluuy ang Ginoo, we will arrive home tomorrow afternoon.

Sending my love to all of my family and friends. To everyone here in Tubag Bohol Dot Com, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas ! God Bless !


Sincerely,
I remain,
Dr. Lorenzo

By the Grace of God, I hope to be home for Christmas.

Will you be home for Christmas?

What is your Christmas wish?

What does Christmas mean to you?

Say goodbye to "warm" American-Russo Relations.

Zechariah’s objection was that "I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years." But as a religiously educated Jew and a priest of the temple, he knew that Abraham and Sarah, the founding patriarch and matriarch of the Jewish people, had been granted a son late in life. By asking for another sign, he demonstrated a lack of faith that God could and would provide.

Mary’s question was entirely different. It implies that she was not expecting to have marital relations with Joseph, because otherwise she would have assumed that the pregnancy would take place within her upcoming marriage, and so she needs information about how it is possible for a woman to have a baby without having had relations with a man. After Gabriel explains that the Holy Spirit would accomplish the task, she accepts without further question.




Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/why-was-zechariah-punished-for-his-lack-of-belief-while-mary-wasnt

Why was Zechariah punished for his lack of belief, while Mary wasn't?

Answer:


First, pointing out the truth is not judgmental. Here are a few more examples of what does not constitute being judgmental:

     1) It is not judgmental to make a moral appraisal of whether a person’s actions are sinful or whether the person is likely culpable for them.
     2) It is not judgmental to have a negative emotional reaction to what is objectively evil.
     3)It is not judgmental to bear in mind that a person you have forgiven has committed harmful actions in the past and may commit them again in the future.

One way to avoid being judgmental is to avoid making rash judgments.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

Quote To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way: "Every good Christian ought to be more ready to give a favorable interpretation to another’s statement than to condemn it. But if he cannot do so, let him ask how the other understands it. And if the latter understands it badly, let the former correct him with love. If that does not suffice, let the Christian try all suitable ways to bring the other to a correct interpretation so that he may be saved" (CCC 2478, cf. St. Ignatius, Spiritual Exercises 22).

Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/is-it-judgmental-to-point-out-someones-error

In a discussion with a non-Catholic, I pointed out that his beliefs were incorrect or unfounded according to Catholic Church teaching. He accused me of being judgmental. But failure or refusal to accept the truth could have eternal consequences. What constitutes being judgmental?

Answer:


God does love us unconditionally in that he loves us even in our sins. But he cannot love our sins. He cannot love evil. He will always forgive us if we repent. To love him back, we must be free to choose to love him or not. Love cannot be programmed or forced. To love him is the greatest thing we can do for ourselves. But we can choose to not love him. Our choice to not love him does not diminish his unconditional love. But it certainly diminishes ours!



Answered by: Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.


Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/is-gods-unconditional-love-without-limit

Question:


Recently in RCIA, the subject of unconditional love of God came up. I asked if it was the Catholic position that God loves us unconditionally in certain earthly matters (material blessings upon wicked and righteous alike), but not in salvation. Most of the class tried to correct me. What is the Catholic position?

Quote from: TUBAGBOHOL.com on December 07, 2012, 09:34:27 AM
What do you think?
Is Life a Marathon?

In the scriptural sense, yes, it is.

Refer to 1 Corinthians 9:24, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."

also,

The Saints in Heaven cheer us as we run in this race called life. Please refer to Hebrews 12: 1, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

No. "To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God’s merciful love means remaining separated from him forever by our own free choice" (CCC 1033). But it is important to understand what constitutes a mortal sin and the ways mortal sin can be forgiven.

In order for a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be met: (1) The sin must have grave matter, (2) one must have adequate knowledge that it is a grave offense, and (3) one must commit the offense with deliberate consent (CCC 1857â€"1859). If one of these conditions is not met, the sin will be venial, not mortal.

There are two kinds of sorrow for sin: contrition and attrition, which are called also perfect contrition and imperfect contrition. Perfect contrition does not mean the perfect degree of contrition, but the perfect kind of contritionâ€"that is, sorrow for sins based on charity, or supernatural love of God. Imperfect contrition is sorrow for sin based on anything other than charity (such as being sorry for our sins because we fear the punishment of hell and God’s wrath).

Perfect and imperfect contrition are not mutually exclusive. A person can have both at the same time. Both perfect and imperfect contrition assume the resolve to sin no more. Even with this resolve, it is possible to commit the same sin in the future. What is important is that at this moment in time we make a firm resolution to turn away from mortal sin.

Under normal circumstances, for a mortal sin to be forgiven, it must be confessed in the sacrament of penance. If the penitent has perfect or imperfect contrition for his sin, confesses all his mortal sins since his last good confession, resolving not to commit the sin again, and receives absolution from the priest, his mortal sins are forgiven.

What happens if confession to a priest is impossible, and one is close to death or in danger of dying? Provided a person, finding himself in this situation, has perfect contrition for his mortal sins, and resolves not to sin again and receive sacramental confession as soon as possible, his mortal sin is forgiven. Imperfect sorrow is not contrition under these circumstances.




Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/is-it-possible-for-a-person-with-a-mortal-sin-still-on-his-soul-to-die-and-go-to-heav

Is it possible for a person with a mortal sin still on his soul to die and go to heaven?

At the last moment it may be possible to repent. But some people die so quickly that they may not have that moment. If a person dies as God’s enemyâ€"which is what we are in mortal sinâ€"then he goes to hell by his own choice. Most of us have had a lifetime to choose him.


- Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.

Retrieved from: http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/do-those-who-die-in-mortal-sin-get-a-second-chance-to-repent

Do those who die in mortal sin get a second chance to repent?

Answer:

God is perfectly merciful in that he perfectly displays the virtue of mercy. This means that he is merciful to the right people, at the right time, to the right degree, with the right motive, and in the right circumstances. But some people and some circumstances are not the right ones. It is not appropriate to forgive a person's sins when he is defiant and unrepentant. It may be appropriate to continue trying to lead him to repentance, but it is not fitting for him to be forgiven even before he has admitted he was wrong.

God is perfectly merciful in the sense that he is merciful in the best way, not in the sense that he forgives every single sin people commit. Some sins (those of which people have not repented) are not appropriate to forgive, so God's mercy is the very thing that prevents him from forgiving them.


Retrieved from:

http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/how-can-god-be-merciful-if-he-punishes-people

Quote from: Lollapalooza on December 20, 2012, 02:42:54 PM
Thanks Bran.. This is her mom, Maymay...Shawei ang official name aning among puppy..

he he he! that's just so adorable!

May the Good Lord welcome all of them into His Kingdom in Heaven.

I'm getting ready for my drive home tonight. Working today then, as soon as i clock out at 9 pm, deretso mo drive back to New Jersey.

A Merry Christmas to you, Hubag !

Quote from: bugsay on December 19, 2012, 10:31:48 PM
nadawat na nimo akong gi pid-iks

Bai Bugsay,

Mo balik ka sa atua karong Pasko?

I don't think Bai Bugsay will get that. Kani sigoro ang Christmas gift ni Bugsay kai pwede ni i-drive-ahan sa Valencia.

Quote from: Lollapalooza on December 17, 2012, 10:43:34 AM
My new baby... no name yet.. naghunahuna pa ko.. She's a month old now..

hahaha! so cute!!

This is how the old Catholic Encyclopedia defines the sin of presumption:

QuoteIt may be defined as the condition of a soul that, because of a badly regulated reliance on God’s mercy and power, hopes for salvation without doing anything to deserve it, or for pardon of his sins without repenting of them.

One wonders how sincere a person’s love for God is when he is so readily willing to sin simply because God is forgiving. God cannot be fooled. He reads hearts and knows our sincerity. To decide to sin is to offend God. To decide to sin because one knows that he can be forgiven is to sin twice. It is to use God, reducing him to a utility at the service of our whim. It is to laugh at his passion and death.

I suggest adapting this prayer from the Divine Mercy Chaplet: "Eternal Father, I offer you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and for protection against this temptation. For the sake of his sorrowful passion, have mercy on me and on the whole world."



Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/what-is-the-sin-of-presumption

What is the sin of presumption?

The obligation to tithe (i.e., to give 10 percent of one’s gross income) was binding only on the Jews. Jesus fulfilled the Mosaic law (Matt. 5:17), so even Jews are no longer bound by it. But this doesn’t mean we’re not obligated to support the Churchâ€"we areâ€"but there is no longer a specific percentage required.

Scripture provides insight on how Christians should give:

QuoteOn the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper. (1 Cor. 16:2)

The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:6â€"7)

There is no mandatory requirement to give a specific amount of money or percentage of our income. We should each decide for ourselves how much to give and then do so in the true spirit of giving a gift.




Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/do-i-tithe-10-percent-of-my-gross-income-or-10-percent-of-my-net-income

Do I tithe 10 percent of my gross income or 10 percent of my net income?

Though we don’t find the word abortion mentioned in any biblical text, we can deduce from Scripture, not to mention natural law, reason, Church teaching, and patristic witness that abortion is intrinsically evil. On abortion, consider these Scripture passages: Job 10:8, Psalms 22:9-10, Psalms 139:13-15, Isaiah 44:2, and Luke 1:41.

In addition:

Genesis 16:11: Behold, said he, thou art with child, and thou shalt bring forth a son: and thou shalt call his name Ismael, because the Lord hath heard thy affliction.

Genesis 25:21-22: And Isaac besought the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and he heard him, and made Rebecca to conceive. But the children struggled in her womb...
Hosea 12:3: In the womb he supplanted his brother, and as a man he contended with God.
Romans 9:10-11: But when Rebecca also had conceived at once of Isaac our father. For when the children were not yet born, nor had done any good or evil (that the purpose of God according to election might stand) . . .

The truth that these verses tell is that life begins at conception. Rebekah conceived a childâ€"not what would be or could be a child. Note James 2:26: ". . . a body apart from the spirit is dead. . ." Since the soul is the principle which gives life to the body, then a child carried in the womb of its mother has a soul because it is alive. To kill it is murder.




Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/where-in-the-bible-does-it-say-that-abortion-is-wrong

My friend contends that the Bible can't be used to argue against abortion because nowhere in the Bible does it state that abortion is wrong and that life begins at conception. How do I respond?

Answer:



Idolatry is worshiping a statue as a god. His mother-in-law is certainly not doing that. I don’t know how she explained it to him (she may have expressed herself badly or he may not have been listening), but based on the description of her explanation you have given, what she is doing at most would be superstitious, not idolatrousâ€"unless she worships the statue as some kind of flower goddess (not likely!).

Bottom line: If she thinks the statue is a god, it’s idolatry; if she thinks it is not a god but has intrinsic power, it’s superstition; if she thinks the statue has no intrinsic power and by placing the statue she is asking Mary to pray that God will bless her garden, it’s prayer.



Retrieved from:
http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/was-this-an-example-of-idolatry

Recently a Fundamentalist accused me (and Catholics in general) of idolatry because his mother-in-law (who is Catholic) put a statue of Mary in her garden to "help her flowers grow." What do I tell him?

i finished it at 2:00 pm. the time is now 2:58.

it was a 4 hour lecture. took 10 minute breaks in between each hour. i spent my breaks posting here on tb. haha.

Answer:


They're wrong. Look up Numbers 5:17, where a ritual is being described and the text says, "[A]nd the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel and take some of the dust that is on the floor of the tabernacle and put it into the water."

This shows that holy water not only has a basis in the Bible, but that it has been around since the days of Moses. Holy water was used for numerous Old Testament ceremonies that involved ceremonial sprinklings and washings. Today we are not bound to perform those ceremonies, but the fact holy water was used at all proves that it is not a superstitious or invalid practice.


Retrieved from:

http://www.catholic.com/quickquestions/which-bible-verses-support-the-use-of-holy-water

Are there Bible verses I can cite to support the use of holy water? Fundamentalists say holy water is a superstition that has no basis in the Bible.

You might start by saying that although the ancient Christian practice of venerating the relics of saints, especially martyrs, can be abused in a superstitious way by some who misunderstand the purpose of relics, it is not itself in any way superstitious.

A relic is an object, such as a piece of clothing or, more commonly, a piece of bone from a saint's body, which has spiritual value because it belonged to one of God's saints. The Bible records many accounts of the value of relics and even episodes of miraculous events connected with them. "People brought to [Jesus] all who were sick and begged him that they might only touch the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed" (Mt 14:35-36; cf. Mk 6:56; Lk 8:43-44). It was not uncommon for ordinary objects, like the tassel on the Lord's cloak, to have miraculous characteristics. Look also at Acts 5:15, where even Peter's shadow could cause miraculous healings.

Regarding the relics of saints, especially martyrs (about whom the Bible says, "Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his holy ones" [Ps 116:15]), look at 2 Kings 13:21:

QuoteElisha died and was buried. At the time, bands of Moabites used to raid the land each year. Once some people were burying a man, when suddenly they spied such a raiding band. So they cast the dead man into the grave of Elisha and everyone went off. But when the man came in contact with the bones of Elisha, he came back to life and rose to his feet.

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Is veneration of relics condemned by the Bible?

Sts. Paul, Peter, Charles Lwanga, Maria Goretti, and Agatha

Answer:



No one prays to dead saints, because those in heaven are more alive than we are. The Lord is God of the living, not of the dead. The fervent prayer of a righteous man is very powerful (Jas 5:16). Those in heaven are surely righteous, since nothing unclean can enter heaven (Rv 21:27). Those in heaven are part of the Mystical Body of Christ and have not been separated from us by death, but surround us as a great cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1). They stand before the throne of God and offer our prayers to him (Rv 5:8 ) and cheer us on as we run the good race. Intercession among members of the body of Christ is pleasing to God (1 Tm 2:1-4) and even commanded by him (Jn 15:17). Those in heaven have a perfected love, so how could they not intercede for us? Christ is the vine, and we are the branches; if we are connected to him, we are inseparably bound together as well. Can the eye say to the hand, "I need you not"? Neither are we to say we don’t need the prayers of our brothers and sisters (alive here or in heaven), because salvation is a family affair.




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What is the biblical reason Catholics pray to dead saints for intercession?

The Fathers of the Church are so called because of their leadership in the early Church, especially in defending, expounding, and developing Catholic doctrines. For the first two centuries, most of these men were bishops, although in later years certain priests and deacons were also recognized as Fathers.

The list includes such notables as: Clement of Rome (d. A.D. 97), Ignatius (d. 110), Polycarp (d. 155), Justin Martyr (the Church’s first major lay apologist; d. 165), Irenaeus (d. 202), Cyprian (d. 258), Athanasius (d. 373), Basil (d. 379), Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386), Ambrose (d. 397), John Chrysostom (d. 407), Jerome (d. 420), Augustine (d. 430), Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444), Pope Leo the Great (d. 461), and Pope Gregory the Great (d. 604).

The Church demands four major characteristics to be exhibited in the life and works of an early Church leader if he is to be considered a Father of the Church. These are antiquity, meaning that he lived before the eighth century (the death of St. John Damascene [cir. A.D. 750] is generally regarded as the close of the age of the Fathers); doctrinal orthodoxy; personal sanctity; and approval by the Church.



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