A young reader asks, “What is original sin?  If a newborn baby dies before being baptized, does it go to heaven? Does original sin keep you from going to heaven?” 

To get to heaven we must be in a state of grace when we die.  Original sin means two things: (1) the sin that Adam and Eve committed; (2) a consequence of this first sin, the shared guilt with which we are born on account of our being children of Adam and Eve.  The sin for them was voluntary, but for us is not.  Adam and Eve, having received holiness and justice from God, lost it not only for themselves but also for us.  In us it is not an act but a state, a lack of grace.  

The absence of sanctifying grace in the new-born child is the effect of original sin.  We receive this sanctifying grace through Baptism.  The Church teaches us that Baptism can be accomplished in three ways: water, blood, or desire.  That is, if a baby dies before being properly baptized in Church or by a priest or deacon, he can be baptized through the desire of his parents to have him baptized.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Remember 9/11.  Remember Pearl Harbor.  Remember the Maine.  Remember the Alamo.  We have a lot of things we have been forced to remember.  Sometimes we would just like to forget, especially the events of two years ago.  Here are a few things to remember.

“…but God remembered Noah.”

“I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and have remembered my covenant with Abraham.”

“Remember man that thou art dust.”

“Lord, remember me when you enter into your kingdom.”

“Do this in memory of me.”

Remember this: whosoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but whoever sows generously will also reap generously.”

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.  Let us not be silent with one another.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

The scribes and Pharisees are frequently the bad guys in the Gospels, but who were they? 

 The scribes were the professional interpreters of the Law in the Jewish synagogues.  The Law was revered as the precise expression of God’s will.  The daily life of every pious Jew was regulated in every detail. They were pious men who occupied themselves in studying the sacred literature and explaining it to the people. Many among them neglected the deeper and more spiritual aspects of the Law, and turned from being men of sacred letters to devoting their attention to quibbling over minor points of law. 

They must have been very annoying to live with.  The Pharisees were the most rigid defenders of the Jewish religion and traditions, especially against the invading Greeks, and later the Romans. They were fanatical in their devotion; many suffered martyrdom.  Owing to their heroic devotedness their influence over the people became great and far-reaching, and in the course of time they, instead of the priests, became the sources of authority in religious matters. In the time of Christ their power and prestige engendered arrogance and conceit, and led to a perversion in many respects of the conservative ideals of which they had been such staunch supporters.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 Imagine a mother whose son does everything wrong, from stealing to mocking his mother’s faith and her attempts to have him baptized.  He espoused heretical views and was contemptuous of her faith in Christ.  He ran away from her to live the dissolute life of the prodigal son, yet she pursued him.  Through her prayers and persistence, her son was finally baptized, and after that, became a bishop and one of the great philosophers of the Western world and the greatest theologian of the early church, writing treatises defending Her against heresy and paganism. August 26 is the feast of St. Monica.  Her son, St. Augustine has his feast on August 28.  St. Monica is the patroness of our Family Prayer Ministry which meets monthly to strengthen and support families through prayer.  Consider attending a meeting amid all the busy-ness of the upcoming school year.  Watch the bulletin for dates and times.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

The Feast of the Assumption is celebrated annually on the 15th of August.  An important day in our religion, it is the principal feast of the Blessed Virgin. This feast commemorates two events - the departure of Mary from this life and the assumption of her body into heaven. 

The Church's official doctrine of the Assumption says that at the end of her life on earth Mary was assumed, body and soul, into heaven. Some mistakenly believe Mary "ascended" into heaven, which is incorrect. It was Jesus who ascended into heaven, by his own power. But Mary was assumed or taken up into heaven by God. 

Pope Pius Xll, in 1950, defined that Mary "after the completion of her earthly life...was assumed body and soul into the glory of Heaven." Her body wasn't allowed to remain in a tomb, though there are claims by some cities about possessing her temporary tomb, notably Jerusalem and Ephesus. Relics of saints and those who gave their lives for the faith were jealously guarded and highly prized. Many cities claim the mortal remains of saints, both famous and little-known. But there are no places that ever claimed to have relics of  Mary.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Everybody knows the story of Galileo, the Italian scientist who was forced by the Church to recant his view that the earth travels around the sun.  

The Galileo case, for many anti-Catholics, is thought to prove that the Church is not infallible. They often cite the Galileo case as an example of the Church refusing to abandon outdated or incorrect teaching, and clinging to a "tradition." For Catholics, the episode is often an embarrassment. It shouldn’t be. 

The Church is not anti-scientific. Galileo would not have been in so much trouble if he had chosen to stay within the realm of science and avoided theology, but he felt compelled to answer the charge that his theory was contrary to certain Scripture passages, and therefore not true. He urged caution in not interpreting these biblical statements too literally. During this period, personal interpretation of Scripture was a sensitive subject. 

The Church had just been through the Protestant Reformation, and one of the chief quarrels with Protestants was over individual interpretation of the Bible. Galileo mocked the pope, who was actually his friend and benefactor. He also alienated the Jesuits, also among his supporters. 

The result was the infamous trial. The Catholic Church today acknowledges that Galileo’s condemnation was wrong, but we must be careful about judging such matters from the vantage point of the 21^st century.

* “and yet it moves.”

Michael G. Martin, M.D..

This expression is translated "What is this?" A substance named mannu was known in Egypt at that time.  Many scholars have identified the Biblical manna with the juice exuded by a variety of tamarisk plant when pricked by an insect, and known to the Arabs as mann es-sama, "gift of heaven". Others think the true manna was a lichen, Lenora esculenta, met with in Western Asia and North Africa. It easily scales off, and being carried away by the wind sometimes falls in the form of a rain. In times of famine it is ground and mixed with other substances to make a kind of bread.

  However, neither of these had all the properties described in the Exodus account, nor could they have furnished the large quantity of manna daily required by the Israelites. Manna may have been a natural substance, but the manner in which it was supplied was miraculous.  As a reminder to future generations, a vessel filled with manna was placed near the Ark of the Covenant.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 Thomas Aquinas is famous in Church History as a philosopher, doctor of the church, patron of catholic education, the theologian who presented the philosophy of Aristotle in Christian form. 

His Summa Theologica is a complete, scientifically arranged summary of Christian philosophy and theology.  Thomas was renowned for his piety, and spent his days in prayer, in between his studies and philosophizing.  He even had dinner with Louis IX, king of France once (yes, that Louis, our St. Louis).  However, he spent the meal in thought, not even noticing when the plates were changed.  Finally he announced that he had reached an important philosophical conclusion.  He was reproached by one of the priests at the table for not giving sufficient courtesy to his host, the king. Louis apparently took the matter in stride, bidding his servants to bring pens and paper to the monk so he could write down his thoughts.  The question "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" is associated with medieval theology of Thomas, although there is no evidence that he ever raised this question.

 Nowadays the question often appears when someone is ridiculing theologians, as arguing about trivial and esoteric matters. Thomas died in 1274 at the age of 49, and was canonized a saint of the church shortly afterward.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 Last week I spoke of St. Joseph, and how he possibly had children prior to his marriage to Mary.  

Recently in the news, it was announced that an ossuary dating to the first century A. D. was found that had the intriguing inscription, “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”.  This discovery created a sensation, among Catholics, Protestants, and non-Christians alike.  For Catholics, this may lend weight to the argument of those who believe that James was not a cousin of Jesus, but his brother.  For Protestants, it was a contradiction of an important Catholic doctrine, the perpetual virginity of Mary, but this does not follow.  Nowhere is Mary mentioned, and Church doctrine is not refuted even if the relic is genuine.  

For Jews, it is an object of curiosity, possibly a forgery, almost certainly an archaeological theft, but not much more. Although scholarly opinion is divided, the second part of the inscription (“brother of Jesus”) was added a century or more later, by whom, we do not know.  

The motives of such a person are inscrutable, and although greed cannot be ruled out, it is possible that the person in question either knew or had reason to believe what he added was true.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 The writings may be authentic, but cannot be authenticated.  There are apocrypha pertaining to both the Old and the New Testaments, and among the favorites are stories concerning St. Joseph. When forty years of age, Joseph married a woman called Melcha. They lived forty-nine years together and had six children, two daughters and four sons, the youngest of whom was James, the Less. A year after his wife's death, the priests of the temple wished to find a respectable man to espouse Mary, then twelve to fourteen years of age.  Joseph, who was at the time ninety years old, was among the candidates.  He was betrothed to Mary, and legend has it that Mary, although young, became as a second mother to James, who at the age of two, was distraught over the loss of his own mother.  

Joseph’s other children were older than Mary, and had families of their own.  These legends may hold a clue to the references in the New Testament as to Jesus' brothers and sisters.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 A few weeks ago selections for the parish council were made at Mass.  This was done in the same way that the apostles selected a replacement for Judas as one of the twelve.  Peter presented Justus and Matthias to the other apostles.  These two were apparently present during the entirety of Christ’s public ministry.  Matthias was chosen by lot.  

The Scriptures do not say what became of Justus, whose other name was also Judas, which can’t have helped his chances.  Also not stated is why both could not become apostles, but possibly they wanted to avoid the number 13, which was unlucky even back then.  

This process of choosing church elders came to be known as discernment, meaning that those who were meant to be chosen are discovered through the lottery process.     

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 The Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul is June 29.  As Peter was fleeing Rome during Nero’s persecution, he met Christ on the road, heading to Rome. 

 “Quo vadis?”, Peter asked. (“Where are you going?”).  Christ replied, “I am going to be crucified again.”  Ashamed, Peter returned to Rome, there to be crucified.  He requested to be hung upside down, deeming himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Christ. We all know the story of Saul, knocked from his horse by a vision of the crucified Christ, and asked “Why do you persecute me?”  

He changed his name to Paul, was accepted (with skepticism at first) into the Christian community, and became the author of the many letters that we read at Mass every day.  

He also was martyred during the reign of Nero, but by decapitation, a more humane and fitting execution for a Roman citizen. 

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Formerly the Feast of Corpus Christi (Body of Christ), we owe this solemnity (remember the difference?) to St. Juliana, an Augustinian nun from what is now Belgium, born in 1208.  

She had a vision of the moon with a dark spot in it which she interpreted as the church calendar missing a feast in honor of the Blessed Sacrament.  She prevailed on the local bishop, the future Pope Urban IV, to declare a local feast, which was later, during his reign as pope, extended to the entire church.  

It is celebrated separately from Holy Week, when the Blessed Sacrament was instituted, to emphasize the joy for the occasion as distinct and separate from the sorrowful mood of Holy Week.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 Trinity Sunday commemorates one of the central tenets of our faith, that God is three persons in one, certainly a mystery that people have struggled with throughout the history of the Church.  

St. Patrick used the shamrock with its three leaflets to illustrate the Trinity.  Three is a significant number in many stories in the Bible, from the three sons of Noah fathering the three great races of the world, to the three angels that visited Abraham, to tell him he and Sara would have a son, to Jonah, who spent three days in the belly of the great fish.  

In the New Testament, Jesus was tempted in the desert three times.  There were three transfigured, Peter denied Christ three times, three were crucified, Christ spent three hours on the cross, and rose from the dead in three days.       

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 Pentecost Sunday is the 50^th day after Easter, and a solemnity of the Holy Spirit.  The word “Pentecost” comes from the Greek meaning “fifty”, and has been called the Birthday of the Church.  

It used to be called White Sunday, signifying the color of the robes worn by all catechumens for the period between Easter and Pentecost.  The vestments now are red, because red signifies the fire of the Spirit come down upon the Church. 

What you may not know is that the Jews have a feast of Pentecost, known in the Old Testament as the Feast of Harvest of the Firstfruits", held 50 days after Passover, and also commemorating the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai that took place on the fiftieth day after the departure from Egypt.         

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

The Church year is full of celebrations of events and beliefs that hold great importance for Catholics. 

A solemnity is liturgical celebration of the most significant events, such as Christmas and Easter, while a feast is a liturgy celebrating events of lesser significance, considered less important only because they are not core Catholic beliefs. Immoveable feasts are those not dependent on the date of Easter in the year, while moveable feasts are those that do depend on the date of Easter.  

We have just celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension, and next week will celebrate Pentecost (another solemnity).  Today we celebrate the Visitation, an immoveable feast, because it depends on the Annunciation (a solemnity) on March 25, which in turn depends on the date we celebrate Christmas. 

By the way, the timing of the major Church holy days coincides with the solar cycle.  Christmas comes when the days are shortest, Easter, as the days lengthen and the earth brings forth new life, and Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended as tongues of fire on the apostles, when the sun has reached its peak in the sky, and days are the longest. 

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

My earliest memories of the rosary were of watching my grandmother fingering her beads, and mumbling her prayers while Notre Dame was playing football.  

She would alternate between prayer and imprecation depending on the course of the game.  When the Mass was in Latin, many people brought rosaries to church to pray.  

In catechism we learned the five Joyful Mysteries (based on the private life of Jesus), the five Sorrowful Mysteries (based on His passion), and the five Glorious Mysteries (based on His Resurrection and Ascension into glory).  These mysteries serve as meditations on Christ’s life on earth, with the recitation of prayers being a framework to encourage contemplation.  

Pope John Paul II has declared the time from October 2002 to October 2003 as the year of the rosary.  For this he has announced an addition to the rosary of the Mysteries of the Light, which reflect on His public life and ministry.  These include 1) His Baptism in the Jordan River 2) The Miracle at Cana 3) The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God 4) The Transfiguration 5) The Institution of the Eucharist.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 Recently, Bishop Clark confirmed two of my children, along with 51 other young people, at St. Louis.  I wonder how many of them noticed the little hat he wore that night.  Not the mitre, the pointed hat with tails that folds flat, but the little cap on the back of his head.  This is called a zucchetto, a skull cap, and may be worn by any of the clergy, although it is now uncommon for priests and deacons to wear one.  The pope wears a white one.  Cardinals wear red.  The bishop’s zucchetto is amaranth red, a kind of dark pink color. 

The mitre is traditionally worn by the bishops, but the pope also wears a mitre, being the bishop of Rome.  The bishop also carried his crosier, or staff.  This symbolizes his pastoral ministry and authority.  Speaking of our pastor, did you know that the word pastor is Latin for shepherd? 

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Mother Earth.  Mother Church.  Mother of God. 

Mothers give life.  Celebrations in honor of mothers are as old as humanity.  These feasts were usually held in the spring, as new life returned to the earth after the long winter.  In Christianity, the fourth Sunday in Lent (meaning “spring”, remember?), was set aside to honor the spiritual life the Church gives us to protect our souls from harm. Gradually, people began honoring their own mothers on this day as well, and the day became known as “Mothering Sunday”. 

Mother’s Day was first suggested in the United States by Julia Ward Howe, who also wrote the Battle Hymn of the Republic, as a national day of peace.  Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Mother’s Day a national holiday in 1914, after a certain Ana Jarvis led a campaign to have mothers honored on the second Sunday in May, which happened to be the day her own mother died.  It is celebrated in all 50 states, and in many countries around the world. 

Happy Mother’s Day to all the women who mother us throughout the year.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

When we sin, we must confess our sins and obtain forgiveness for them.  However, this does not remove the punishment we incur by sinning.  God and His Church provide us with indulgences as a means of canceling our debt.  

An indulgence is a remission of the temporal punishment due to sin, by prayer or performing acts of charity.  It is not the forgiveness of the guilt of sin; it supposes that the sin has already been forgiven. 

In the Sacrament of Baptism not only is the guilt of sin remitted, but also all  the penalties attached to original sin. In the Sacrament of Penance the guilt of our own sins is removed, but there still remains the temporal punishment required by Divine justice. This requirement must be fulfilled either in the present life or in Purgatory. To say that an indulgence of so many days or years is granted means that it cancels an amount of punishment in Purgatory, either for ourselves, or for the souls in Purgatory. 

As God alone knows what penalty remains to be paid, the Church makes the indulgence available by way of petitioning God to accept these works as satisfaction for the sins and in consideration to mitigate or shorten the sufferings of the souls in Purgatory.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Everyone has seen the Eucharistic ministers put leftover consecrated hosts in the tabernacle.  

On occasions where there are a large number of people, the celebrant needs to get extra from the tabernacle.  But what about the Precious Blood?  The consecrated wine may never be reserved, except for someone who is ill, and when this is done the blood of the Lord is kept in a properly covered vessel and is placed in the tabernacle after communion.  

The approved procedure for dealing with the precious blood that remains after a Eucharistic celebration is that it is to be consumed by the ministers immediately at a side table before the Prayer After Communion. 

The sacred vessels are then purified, or they may be covered and then purified after Mass.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Recent events have brought to mind thoughts of the Crusades, so I thought to devote several columns to Church history as it relates to our Catholic heritage.  

A crusade (from the Latin crux, crucis, cross) is, generally, a war undertaken because of a vow, and directed against an infidel, or nonbeliever. 

 Specifically, the Crusades were eight expeditionary wars, from the first in 1095 until the eighth in 1270.  Their purpose was to free the Holy Land from Moslem rule, and ensure that faithful Christians would be able to make pilgrimage to the Holy Sepulchre, the tomb of Jesus, unharmed.  The Byzantine Church that had split from the Church of Rome was also in grave peril from Islam, and sought to reconcile with Rome, unite forces, and drive the Moslems out of the Holy Land.  

Pope Urban II is remembered for his call for a Crusade.  “Deus le volt!” was the cry to arms.  “God wills it.”   

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Were you ever puzzled by the words of the Apostles’ Creed, “…He descended into hell, and on the third day He rose again…”?  I always thought this was a continuation of Christ’s time on the cross, i.e., He had to spend the weekend in hell.  I was recently set straight on this.*  Theologians distinguish several meanings of the term hell.  Hell in the strict sense, is the place of punishment for the damned.  This corresponds to the ancient Hebrew notion of Gehennah, or the fiery furnace of everlasting punishment.  Limbo was a place where those who died in original sin, but without personal mortal sin had to await the Savior to be released.  This corresponded to the Hebrew notion of sheol, or place of nothingness.  This included the Christian notion of purgatory, where the just, who die in venial sin or who still owe a debt of temporal punishment for sin, are cleansed before their admission to heaven.  Christ died for the forgiveness of sins of those who were merely born into original sin, and for those who repent of their sins.  Hell, as in Gehennah, is the permanent home of those who are unrepentant.  By the way, the Nicene Creed leaves this matter out, which would have been less confusing to me, except that it was spoken in Latin.

*Thanks to Rajiv Dewan.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 The Anointing of the Sick gives special grace to those experiencing the difficulties of illness or old age.  The sacrament is not to be given only at the point of death, nor is it given only once in one’s life, nor is it limited to a single time during a given illness, but may be given each time a Christian falls seriously ill.  He may receive the Anointing of the Sick when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.

The principal elements of the sacrament include anointing with holy oil, laying on of hands, and prayers over the sick person.  Unlike Baptism, which may be performed by anyone in an emergency, the Anointing of the Sick must be performed by a priest. The Holy Spirit gives to some a special charism of healing so as to make manifest the power of the grace of the risen Lord. But even the most intense prayers do not always obtain the healing of all illnesses. Thus St. Paul must learn from the Lord that "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…"  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

As a former “altar boy” (they’re called servers now), I remember the awesome responsibility of ringing the bells during the consecration.  You had to pay attention so you would ring them at just the right moments, and woe to the server who missed the important moment!  

Whatever happened to them?  The ringing of bells during the Eucharistic prayer is no longer required by the General Instruction of the Roman Missal. In a day when the people could neither see nor hear what the priest was doing, bells provided a "signal" that something important was about to happen. This need is no longer present. 

The Order of Mass shows an appreciation for the Eucharistic prayer as the one "great prayer" of priest and people. It is indeed the entire Eucharistic prayer which is consecratory. In order to foster an appreciation of this seamless character of the Eucharistic prayer, the ringing of bells is optional.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 We all know that the forty days are about fasting, abstinence, and penance, but did you know that you don’t have to abstain or fast on Sundays?  In fact, Sundays don’t even count as the 40 days before Easter, because on Sunday we commemorate Christ’s resurrection, which is something joyful and therefore exempt from the Lenten fast.  

St. Patrick’s Day on March 17 is for many a respite from the self denial of Lent, and although this is not an official church celebration, it has become a second Mardi Gras of sorts. And of course St. Joseph’s Day is on March 19, celebrated by many of Italian heritage with the traditional St. Joseph’s Day Table, replete with bountiful dishes and desserts.  Keep in mind that Easter is April 20 this year, and so only a month away.  

For those of you puzzling over my question from last week, Lent was late this year because the first full moon after the spring equinox will be on April 16, hence the late start of Lent.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 Why forty?  Noah’s flood lasted forty days and forty nights, and although there is no record of his being tempted, he did live among the wild animals.  The Israelites wandered in the desert for forty years after being freed from the bondage of Egypt, facing temptations of all sorts (and not always successfully), although there is no mention of their being bothered by wild animals.   

By the way, do you know why Lent started so late this year? (Hint: it has to do with the moon.) 

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 This column was inspired by my wife, who recently appraised and cataloged the contents of the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse and Chapel, and discovered many lovely, old silver, gold and  jeweled chalices.

The Holy Grail, one of the vessels used by Christ at His Last Supper, has been the object of curiosity and speculation since the days of the early church.  

Various countries and churches claimed to have the original, which was believed to have curative powers.  Most of the chalices (cups) and grails (plates) that were claimed to be the original were bejeweled, and made from precious metals.  This would appear unlikely, as Christ and his apostles had no property.  

In some of the legends, the Grail passed into possession of Joseph of Arimathea, and was used by him to gather the Precious Blood when Christ’s body was taken from the Cross.

 The word “Grail” comes from the French, meaning a vessel used at a meal, and some believe the term to come from the Spanish, "sang real" (kingly blood), from which it became identified with the chalice.  

The search for the Holy Grail figures prominently in the legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, and a Holy Grail refers now to something precious, highly sought after, but impossible to find.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

 This column was inspired by my wife, who recently appraised and cataloged the contents of the Sisters of St. Joseph Motherhouse and Chapel in preparation for auction.  As she worked in the Sacristy cupboards, she had the pleasure of discovering many lovely, old silver, gold and jeweled chalices, as well as tabernacles, icons, and relics.

The vessels used by Christ at His Last Supper to institute the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist became identified with the Chalice and the paten of the Eucharist. 

According to the existing law of the Church the chalice must be made either of gold or of silver, and in the latter case the bowl must be gilt on the inside.  

Before the chalice and paten are used in the Sacrifice of the Mass they require consecration. A bishop must perform the consecration.  

Further, if the chalice lose its consecration -- which happens for example if it be broken or perforated, or even if it has had to be regilt, it is necessary that it should be reconsecrated by the bishop before it can again be used.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is a little known illness in the United States.  Most American-born doctors have never seen a case, although physicians from non-Western countries have seen it in their native lands.  It is caused by a bacterium similar to that which causes tuberculosis, and it has been known since ancient times.  

It is a slowly progressive, relentless, ultimately fatal disease, although now treatable with antibiotics.  It is not as contagious as it was once feared to be, but its outward manifestations must have been terrifying indeed to ancient people, much as the AIDS epidemic has frightened us over the past 20 years.  The only course of action was to banish the unfortunate individual from society in hopes of containing the spread of the affliction. 

 Some looked it upon as a divine punishment, and the leprous individual was commanded to cry out that he was defiled and unclean. As long as the disease lasted, he had to live alone.  That Christ would stoop to touch such a person was shocking in those days, even more so than his habitual association with sinners, and a man who could cure leprosy was sure to draw a big crowd. 

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

We are in Liturgical cycle B, which means that the Gospels are largely taken from St. Mark.  Cycle A, last year, belongs to Matthew, and next year, cycle C will belong to St. Luke, (the only evangelist, by the way, who was not a Jew). 

 The Gospel of St. John does not have its own cycle.  If the first three Gospels are arranged in parallel columns, it is easy to note that there is a large amount of material common to all three.  Syn + opsis means literally “seeing together”, hence the term “synoptic” for these three similar Gospels.  In fact, only 68 verses of St. Mark’s Gospel are not found in the other two.  However, many events recorded by St. Matthew and St. Luke are not recorded by St. Mark.  For example, he says nothing of the infancy and the early life of Christ, while St. Matthew and St. Luke, who speak of them, do not as a rule narrate the same facts. This is why last week’s Gospel about the presentation of the child Jesus in the temple was taken from the Gospel of Luke, even though we are in St. Mark’s cycle.   

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Having just come through Advent and the Christmas season, we are now in Ordinary Time.  The Church year commences with the first Sunday of Advent.  Advent continues to December 24.  The Christmas season begins with the Christmas vigil, and continues until the Epiphany, January 6.  Ordinary Time begins the Sunday after January 6, and continues until Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent.  Lent continues until Holy Thursday, which is the beginning of the Easter Triduum, which lasts until Easter Sunday.  The Easter season comprises Triduum, and lasts 50 days, until Pentecost Sunday.  The cycle is completed with Ordinary Time again, which lasts until Advent begins the Church year all over again.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

Jonah is the fifth of the Minor Prophets of the Old Testament.  In the book which bears his name, the opening verse states that the word of the Lord came to Jonah to go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach repentance for the wickedness therein. But the Prophet, instead of obeying the Divine command, fled that he might escape the task assigned to him. He boards a ship, but a violent storm overtakes him, and on his admission that he is the cause of it, the crew throws him overboard. A great fish swallows him, and after a three day's in the belly of the monster, he is cast upon dry land. In Matthew, the Jews asked a sign that Jesus is the Messiah.  He answered that no "sign" would be given them other than the "sign of Jonah the Prophet. For as the Jonah was in the whale's belly three days and three nights: so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.”  

Michael G. Martin, M.D.

The Ark of the Covenant, mentioned in today’s first reading, is not a large boat, but rather a chest, made of wood, overlaid inside and out with pure gold. Upon it had been place two cherubim of beaten gold, looking towards each other, and spreading their wings.  (Does this remind you of our own tabernacle?) Moses was commanded to put into the Ark the stone tablets containing the ten commandments, a golden vessel holding some manna, and the rod of Aaron, which had blossomed.  The Ark signified God’s presence in the midst of his people.  The fate of the Ark is uncertain but Catholic tradition has considered the Ark of the Covenant a symbol of Christ in our midst.  The tablets signify His fulfillment of the law, the manna signifies the Bread of Life by which we are nourished, and the rod of Aaron reminds us that we are a priestly people.  Its military use is relevant in that Christ leads us in a victory over death, as the Ark lead the Israelite to victory over their enemies.   

Michael G. Martin, M.D. 

Today we celebrate the Baptism of Christ.  Some find it strange that Christ Himself was baptized.  Why would Jesus need to be baptized in the first place?  He had no original sin.  Technically, He didn’t need baptism, but it did symbolize His being one of us by observing the same forms and rituals we do.  By the way, do you remember the three types of baptism?  Baptism by water is the usual way.  But there is also baptism by blood, or martyrdom, and baptism of desire, in which a person dies before being baptized, but wished to be.  Who can baptize?  Anyone!  Although a priest or deacon usually performs the ceremony, anyone (Catholic or not) can baptize in an emergency.  What is important are the wishes of the person being baptized, or in the case of a baby, the wishes of the parents.  

Michael G. Martin, M.D. 

  Our venerable Christmas tree finds its roots in the prophecy of Isaiah that "there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse", and in the Gospel of Matthew who gives the family tree of Jesus from Abraham, through Jesse and David, to Joseph, the husband of Mary.

 Evergreen trees are traditional because they remind us of Moses' burning bush which was not consumed by fire, and of eternal life through Christ. The needles foretell of His crown of thorns. The angel on top is of course to commemorate the angel that appeared to the shepherds on the first Christmas. 

We place lights on the tree to remind us of the stars that shone on the night Christ was born, as well as reminding us that He is the light of the world. The round ornaments recall the apple eaten by Adam and Eve that led to our fall and eventual redemption. In days of old, cookies in the shapes of animals remind us of the animals that were present at His holy birth. The creche under the tree speak of His humble birth, and the gifts represent the gifts bestowed on us by God, especially of His own son. The wood of the tree would be used by St. Joseph and the young Jesus in their trade as carpenters. 

And let us not forget that Christ was crucified for us, nailed to a tree.

Michael G. Martin, M.D.