THE GREAT OMISSION Many of us are excited to go about the Great Commission Jesus gave his disciples before he ascended into heaven. True, as lay people, we all have a certain duty to spread the faith, but not in the same way that the apostles originally did and their successors do. One of the best ways to help fulfill that Commission is to live in obedience to the gospel, to be baptized and to observe all things Jesus commanded. If we omit working to live out what the gospel demands of us (a lifelong project), then we defeat the purpose of the Church's spreading of the gospel. It is no less important for us to live the gospel than to preach it.

Why do Catholics often have a crucifix (with the Body attached) rather than a bare cross? Because, though Jesus is now risen, he suffered and died for our sins. We want to remind ourselves of that so we don't take Jesus' work for granted. It was the cost of our salvation. Even after his resurrection, he showed in his body the 5 wounds of the Cross for his disciples to see. With St. Paul, we continue that tradition today, portraying Christ and him crucified.

Don't be quick to disregard legitimate authority in the Church; it is (thanks be to God) not a democracy. 3 John 9–10 (ESV): "I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us."

Sometimes when I think of my former sins, I think, "Oh, aaargh, yuck -- what a goober! Evil b@st@rd!" But then I remind myself of God's great and tender mercy. His love is great to save a dork-and-a-half like me. We should focus on God's immense love without entirely forgetting where we came from -- and where we are even now, realistically, on our spiritual path. That's what humility is: keeping it real.

The song "Mary Did You Know?" does have some theological problems. Yet there is something good about it. This may not be well understood by certain Protestants, but it is a great example of mental prayer. "Mental prayer" is engaging the gospel story with our imagination. It includes seeing Mary and Jesus and others in our mind's eye, and interacting with them, asking them questions, reflecting on our own walk with Jesus and/or our Blessed Mother Mary, seeking their help or intercession. The heart that sings "Mary Did You Know?" or even Mercy Me's "I Can Only Imagine," is the heart that can pray the Rosary well, because the Rosary, too, is a combination of vocal and mental prayers. Whether Protestant or Catholic or Orthodox, take up the Rosary to encounter our Lord in your heart. 📿

I wonder how normie Catholics today would react if they witnessed the old Traditional Latin Mass said in ENGLISH, with all the old rubrics and gestures and music and traditions and high altars and statuaries in place -- the language being the only exception. Would they love it? Would they hate it?

It's a good habit to say "the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass" rather than just "Mass." Why? Right now, it is emphasized that Communion is a sharing of the Body of Christ as in a supper with fellow Christians. That is true, of course, but we can never forget that it is in the context of a true, literal Sacrifice. Remember the very first Passover. Yes, of course the Israelites were to eat the lamb in their households as part of their Passover meal. But there was no mistake that it was part of the *sacrifice* of the Passover. Jesus Christ is our Passover, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Drop a pic of your daily or regular prayin" #rosary in the comments. Here's mine.

When Jesus spoke from the Cross, "Behold, your mother," shoulld we believe it was an irresponsibly last-minute arrangement for Mary's fincial security? What about when he said, "Behold, your son"? He didn't call him "protector" or "provider" or "man of the house," but rather "son." Mother. Son. These are relational terms. We all stand at the foot of the Cross with John. Jesus gave Mary to us as our Mother. His Mom is now our Mom. She prays with us, for us, raising us as children of God. Don't neglect her, but honor her. Talk to your heavenly Mother. She loves you and will help you. 📿

Singing songs of praise in a "worship service" is not the highest form of worship. It's not even necessarily worship in all cases. Many contemporary love songs are at the same level of "praise," but do not constitute worship. What is real worship? Sacrifice. Hence, in continuity with ancient Israel's religion, we have the Holy *Sacrifice* of the Mass (a.k.a. "Divine Liturgy" in the East) -- forbidden to be offered to anyone other than God himself. It's not a re-sacrificing of Christ, but an unbloody, sacramental re-presentation of his once-for-all sacrifice -- making it present to us and applying its effects. (* Drums and guitars not required.)

It's okay to make artwork out of clay or whittled from wood or fashioned of metal. We see it everywhere. It doesn't somehow become an IDOL if *religious* art is carved or fashioned from these materials. The point of the Commandment is that we should have no other "gods" but the one, true God. Don't worship your Christian artwork, and you will be fine.

If the religious Jews of today oppose the kingship of Jesus Christ, then we should treat them just like infidels, heretics, and pagans. That is to say, we should love them, pray for them, and help them to convert and turn to Jesus.