Saint Cyprian of Carthage ( aprox. AD 258 ) "...there is no salvation outside the Church..." Saint Cyprian of Carthage ( aprox. AD 258 ) "...he can no longer have God for his Father, who has not have the Church for his mother..." Many thanks to the priests at Saint Hyacinth Church in Chicago, Illinois, for their kind permission to use this copyrighted photograph of the inside of the church.

Why be Catholic? Because your salvation depends on it.

Church

DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH LUMEN GENTIUM 14. ..This Sacred Council wishes to turn its attention firstly to the Catholic faithful. Basing itself upon Sacred Scripture and Tradition, it teaches that the Church, now sojourning on earth as an exile, is necessary for salvation. Christ, present to us in His Body, which is the Church, is the one Mediator and the unique way of salvation. In explicit terms He Himself affirmed the necessity of faith and baptism(124) and thereby affirmed also the necessity of the Church, for through baptism as through a door men enter the Church. Whosoever, therefore, knowing that the Catholic Church was made necessary by Christ, would refuse to enter or to remain in it, could not be saved. . .

CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH RESPONSES TO SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE DOCTRINE ON THE CHURCH

THE PONTIFICAL BIBLICAL COMMISSION THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THEIR SACRED SCRIPTURES IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE

PASTORAL CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD GAUDIUM ET SPES PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI ON DECEMBER 7, 1965

Ioannes Paulus PP. II Centesimus annus To His Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate the Priests and Deacons Families of Men and Women religious all the Christian Faithful and to all men and women of good will on the hundredth anniversary of Rerum Novarum 1991.05.01

DECREE AD GENTES ON THE MISSION ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II REDEMPTORIS MISSIO On the permanent validity of the Church's missionary mandate 1990.12.07

PRINCEPS PASTORUM ENCYCLICAL OF POPE JOHN XXIII ON THE MISSIONS, NATIVE CLERGY, AND LAY PARTICIPATION NOVEMBER 28, 1959

ADDRESS OF JOHN PAUL I TO A GROUP OF BISHOPS FROM THE PHILIPPINES ON THEIR «AD LIMINA » VISIT Thursday, 28 September 1978 Dear Brothers in Christ

ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI TO THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLENARY ASSEMBLY OF THE PONTIFICAL COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA Clementine Hall Saturday, 20 January 2007 Your Eminences, Dear Brothers in the Episcopate,

IOANNES PAULUS PP. II REDEMPTORIS MATER On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church 1987.03.25

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION CATECHESI TRADENDAE OF POPE JOHN PAUL II ON CATECHESIS IN OUR TIME INTRODUCTION Christ's Final Command

APOSTOLIC LETTER A CONCILIO CONSTANTINOPOLITANO I OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II TO THE BISHOPS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH FOR THE 1600TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST COUNCIL OF CONSTANTINOPLE AND THE 1550TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COUNCIL OF EPHESUS My dear brothers in the Episcopate,

EVANGELII NUNTIANDI APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION OF HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI TO THE EPISCOPATE, TO THE CLERGY AND TO ALL THE FAITHFUL OF THE ENTIRE WORLD Venerable brothers and dear sons and daughters: health and the apostolic blessing.

Ioannes Paulus PP. II Sollicitudo rei socialis To the Bishops, Priests Religious Families, sons and daughters of the Church and all people of good will for the twentieth anniversary of Populorum Progressio 1987.12.30

CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON DECEMBER 4, 1963

DECREE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF THE EASTERN RITE ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON NOVEMBER 21, 1964

Church is . . .the place where the Spirit flourishes. . .
Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition, AD 215

The Catholic Church has Jewish roots, and is the mystical body of Christ ( Acts 9:4-5 ) ( Romans 12: 4-5 ) ( 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27 ) ( Colossians 1: 18-24 ) ( John 10: 1-18, The Sheepfold.) ( Apocalypse 21, The New Jerusalem. ) ( Ephesians 5, The Bride. ) ( 1 Peter 3: 18-22, The ark of Noe. ) ( Mark 16:16, Necessary for Salvation. Some may be members connected in desire, even if they do not know the Church through no fault of their own. They receive Grace through the Church.)
The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ. It's head is Jesus Christ. It's members are the faithful. It's soul is the Holy Spirit. It's life is Grace ( Luke 10:16 ) ( Acts 5:12-42 ). [See my Grace page.]
The Church, founded by Jesus Christ, has four marks: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. **********************************************************************

A case of observe all not either or
By Frederick Pogorzelski

The Bible (CCC105, 120-121,124,128) does say all (NAB)(Matthew 28: 19-20) ...Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age. . .
We are called to accept not only Scripture but the establishment and authority of Christ's Church. We are called to ...observe all...

This includes both faith and works, both Scripture and Sacred Tradition, both faith and reason, and both the Faith and my faith. We must maintain and exercise habitual grace - that is: a lifestyle pleasing to God. The initial grace given at Baptism (Titus 3:5) (1 Peter 3:21) (Acts 2:38) (Acts 22:16) (John 3:5) (Galatians 2:19; 6:15; 3:28) can be lost. . . .If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearless prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries. Anyone who rejects the Law of Moses is put to death without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace? . . .(NAB)(Hebrews 10:26-29).

We must continue in faith and grace. We are free creatures and can reject the gift of grace, redemption, and salvation (John 3:18) (John 12:48). God, in scripture, speaks of a general plan of predestination or salvation. There are an abundant number of scripture verses that warn against a rash presumption of assurance of individual salvation.
Here is a sample: (Matthew 7:21-23), (Matthew 24:12-13), (Luke 8:13), (John 12:47-48), (John 15:6), (Acts 20:29-30), (Romans 11:20-22), (Romans 2:6), (Titus 1:16), (1 Corinthians 4:5), and (Hebrews 3:12-14).

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Jewish Festivals 2006-2012

Date	Month	Festival	Modern Date
			2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012
1&2	Tishri	Rosh Hashanah	Sep 23, 24	Sep 13, 14	Sep 30, Oct 1	Sep 19, 20	Sep 9, 10	Sep 29, 30	Sep 17, 18
10	Tishri	Yom Kippur	Oct 2	Sep 22	Oct 9,	Sep 28	Sep 18	Oct 8	Sep 26
15	Tishri	Sukkot	Oct 7, 8	Sep 27, 28	Oct 14, 15	Oct 3, 4	Sep 23, 24	Oct 13, 14	Oct 1, 2
23	Tishri	Simchat Torah	Oct 15	Oct 5	Oct 22	Oct 11	Oct 1	Oct 21	Sep 9

Click here to read more.

Hebrew Holiday Prayers

Hanukah Prayers

Baruch ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melech ha'olam.
Asher kidshanu be'mitzvotav ve'tzivanu le'hadlik ner shel Hanukah.
Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe,
Who has sanctified us by Your commandments, and commanded us to kindle the light of Hanukah.
Click here to read more.

Hebrew Prayers

These Hebrew prayers are a people's response to God. All glory and honor are Yours almighty and merciful God, now and forever! Amen.

Ka-dosh, Ka-dosh, Ka-dosh Adonai tz'va-ot, m'lo chol ha-a-retz k'vo-do.
Holy, Holy, Holy is the God of all being! The whole earth is filled with Your glory!
Click here to read more.

The Five Types of Sacrifice

Holocaust ( Whole Burnt Offering ). Lv. 1:1-17. An unblemished male animal ( not a wild animal, but one you had to put money and work into ) or a bird.

Later was added the gift ( minah ) of cereal, flour mixed with oil and wine. Lv 2:1-16. Offered for the sin of the offender. Only a small portion was burnt. The majority went for support of the priests. Click here to read more.

Christians, Jews, Muslims Breaking Bread Together

Interfaith Dinner - Islamic Foundation, Villa Park

Catholics, other Christians, and Jews were all invited to an interfaith dinner by the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago two days before Thanksgiving. Each night at Sundown during Ramadan, Muslims celebrate a breaking of the fast ( iftar ) and a festive dinner is given for friends and family. The Chicago area Muslim community has expanded on this tradition and for the past five years, hosted a large inter-faith dinner for scores of guests from other faiths. This year, Cardinal George and at least 100 Catholics took part in the event. Click here to read more.

Dialogue with Islam and several other short articles by Frederick Pogorzelski Click here to read more.

Bibliography and Recommended Resources.