What People Are Commenting
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Kazan, Three Baptisms & the USSR
Three Kinds of Baptism
I have enjoyed the readings on your website and thank you all for your good works.
However, I have a question. Where in the Bible does it say there are 3 Baptisms?
Jesus taught 1 Baptism. I have always believed that there is only one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one Shepherd, one Flock.
I have never heard of Baptism of blood and Baptism of Desire. Where did this come from?
Sincerely,
J.P.,
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TIA responds:
Hello J.P.
Thank you for your kind words on our articles.
When the Scripture reports the killing of the innocents (Mt 2:13-23), it is implicit that they were saved. It is a radical example of Baptism of Blood because those children, although they all died because of Our Lord, did not even have the chance to choose. Nonetheless, the Catholic Church, who is the true interpreter of the Sacred Scriptures, considers them as Saints and solemnly commemorates their feast on December 28.
When Dismas, the good thief, asked Our Lord to be with Him in Paradise and Our Lord stated he would be with Him in Heaven that same day (Lk 23: 39-43), Jesus Christ was confirming that a man can enter Heaven without having a Baptism of Water, but just a Baptism of Desire.
You have, therefore, the Baptism of Blood and the Baptism of Desire indirectly referred to in the Bible.
Cordially,
TIA correspondence desk
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Protestant Encounters
I have been wondering for some time about what response or reaction I should have when Protestants to whom I have spoken (e.g., our children’s piano teacher, a neighbor, or a former student) have said to me, “I’ll pray for you” or “I’ll keep you in my prayers.” They know that I am a Catholic, or at least not a Protestant of their sect. I don’t think I should say, “Thank you,” but honestly, I have not known how to respond or whether to just remain silent. It is awkward, for sure.
Also, just today, I was returning an item to a store, and the young woman cashier had an attractive Catholic medal on. I could see it had writing on it, but couldn’t quite make it out, so I leaned forward to see what it said. She noticed my attempt to read it and said, “It’s St. Dymphna." I impulsively said something like, “Oh, she is a really neat saint!” She responded with, "A friend of mine gave it to me as a gag gift. I’m definitely not Catholic …”
I didn’t know what to say, as I was kind of confused about why she would wear it yet seem to think so little of it. As I walked away, I silently said a Hail Mary for her conversion of heart, and apologized to St. Dymphna in the event that the cashier held some type of contempt for her.
What should one do in these types of situations??
Thank you for your consideration of my inquiry.
E.S., Ph.D.
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TIA responds:
Dear Dr. E.S.,
Thank you for sending us your questions.
Some suggestions of answers follow:
In the first case, with Protestants, when they say they will pray for you, you can answer: “I will pray to the Virgin Mary for you,” or “I will pray to the Mother of God for you.” This may act as holy water to exorcize the Devil and stop the ecumenical innuendo that Protestants try to establish when they say that they will pray for Catholics.
In the second case, if an analogous situation were to happen, you can say: “I will pray to the Virgin Mary to bring you to the Catholic Church for your spiritual benefit.”
We hope these proposals may help you.
Cordially,
TIA correspondence desk
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Russian Invasion of Ukraine
I received from a friend the news below, which I am passing on to you. The “great Putin,” as many stupid traditionalists say, had already shown his colors in the annexation of Crimea. Now, he is preparing to take another big part of Ukraine. It is a new USSR that he is building.
Keep up the good work
M.C.
'and only a miracle can save us'
Jonathan Luxmoore
July 17, 2015 - A Catholic Bishop in eastern Ukraine has said “only prayer and divine intervention” can now save his country from an expected Russian invasion, which risks dragging the rest of Europe into the conflict.
“It will be a miracle if Russia doesn't decide on a total invasion - the American intelligence services and NATO have warned we must be ready for such a scenario at any moment,” said Mgr Jan Sobilo, auxiliary bishop of Kharkiv-Zaporizhia. “If it happens, and Russia attacks Ukraine, this will be a Europe-wide, if not worldwide, problem. Millions of desperate refugees will have no prospect other than escape to the West.”
Speaking in Poland, Bishop Sobilo said a “real war” was now being waged in his diocese, adding that the aim of pro-Russia separatists was being served by the mass exodus of local inhabitants. The Bishop said Western aid often failed to reach those in need, while Catholic priests with parishes in rebel-held areas were being prevented from returning by the Ukrainian Army.
“Our pastoral work is now completely paralyzed, while in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, almost all priests have been withdrawn because of kidnap threats,” the 53-year-old Bishop said. “These areas are under special control, and everyone going there is suspected of acting for Russian special services. Although our priests aren't under such suspicion, they're subject to the same procedures as everyone else.”
The crisis in eastern Ukraine, where Russian-backed rebels have been battling government forces for the past year, was the main topic of the Pope’s June talks with President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly denied direct Russian involvement in the fighting. However, local church leaders have repeatedly accused Moscow of military intervention in the war, in which over 6.400 people were said to have died, and 16,000 been left wounded in a June United Nations report.
In his Lublin speech, Bishop Sobilo said, “At this moment, Ukraine's only defense is prayer - only this can halt an aggression which diplomatic efforts have been unable to restrain.”
Posted July 21, 2015
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The opinions expressed in this section - What People Are Commenting - do not necessarily express those of TIA
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Today, July 21, is the Feast of Our Lady of Kazan. Researching her, I learned from your site of the terrible betrayal of John Paul II, who handed over the holy Icon to the Russian schismatic Church.
Our Lady of Kazan is the patroness of Russia, and had been carried by generals into battles since the 13th century and is the symbol of Russian victory and liberty.
Our Lady of Kazan
JPII delivered the icon to Russia, hoping it would be the bait to catch his much-desired meeting with the schismatic patriarch Alexis II in Moscow. Of course, the schismatics took the miraculous Icon and then laughed at the Vatican, refusing a papal meeting in Moscow.
It seems opportune today to pray to Our Lady of Kazan, asking her intercession for the consecration of Russia to be made as Our Lady requested at Fatima and for the true conversion of Russia to the Catholic Faith. Then, she will again be Queen over a victorious and liberated Russia.
Our Lady of Kazan, pray for us and for the Russian people whom you love and protect.
R.R.