The First Commandment: You shall not make for yourself an idol

Vasyl Symyon | August 3, 2020

Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory Forever!

The Ten Commandments are the basis of our Christian morality and our moral behavior. The commandments are God’s divine laws, unchangeable, given for humanity’s sake once and forever. Therefore, the importance of explaining them, studying them and remembering them should be obvious to every Christian.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in my last article I explained the First Commandment in general as well as in its theological context (Who is my God?). In this article I will reflect on the second part of the First Commandment: You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth (Exodus 20, 2-5). We refer to this part of the First Commandment as Pastoral (How do I believe in my Lord?).

This part of the First Commandment strictly prohibits us from creating an idol of any kind. An idol is biblically defined as a created image or representation of a god used as an object of worship. An idol is something that distracts a person from our living God. Something that invites affection and passion. Something a person can serve, given the time or the money.

When a person makes an idol for himself, he overlooks — perhaps abandons — Almighty God. When a person creates, worships and serves an idol, he commits one of the greatest mortal sins — Idolatry, which can vary in kind. Continue reading →

A gift greater than one could imagine

Sister Barbara Jean Mihalchick | August 3, 2020

Glory to Jesus Christ!
Have you ever received a gift from someone that was way more than you could have expected from that person? What did it make you feel?

Continue reading →

Virtual Young Adult Retreat

David Donohoe St. Mary, Cleveland, Ohio | August 3, 2020

Even a global pandemic couldn’t stop a group of young adults from participating in a retreat.

The annual Young Adult Retreat was scheduled to be held from June 26 to 28 at the House of Prayer at the beautiful grounds of Mount St. Macrina in Uniontown, Pa.
Continue reading →

Thoughts For Our Day

Archpriest David M. Petras | August 3, 2020

The Anaphora of St. Basil is a complete proclamation of our faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are three components to this profession. The first is the mystery of the incarnation, that the Son and Word of God chose to take on the human nature for our salvation. The meaning of this mystery was expressed by quotations from Hebrews 1:3, the Letter to the Philippians 2:6 and the Old Testament prophecy of Baruch 3:38. Continue reading →

After lockdown, Italy’s bishops to seek new ways to engage parishioners

Carol Glatz Catholic News Service | August 3, 2020

VATICAN CITY — Italy’s bishops will need to help their communities participate more in parish life and return to taking part in the sacraments in ways that continue to respect evolving measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus, according to their conference leadership.
Continue reading →

WORLD NEWS (Catholic News Service)

Read the latest world news as reported by Catholic News Service. With headquarters in Washington, offices in New York and Rome, and correspondents around the world, CNS provides the most comprehensive coverage of the church today.

Bishops from Japan, U.S. call Catholics to work for nuclear disarmament
Source: CNS Published on 2020-08-03
Film director switches formats, writes book on grandpa's WWII heroism
Source: CNS Published on 2020-08-03
John Hume, who helped bring peace to Northern Ireland, dies at 83
Source: CNS Published on 2020-08-03
German author says retired Pope Benedict is 'extremely frail'
Source: CNS Published on 2020-08-03
Update: Is 2020 the year that gets young people to polls in bigger numbers?
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-31
Czerny: Pandemic made people grasp role of migrants as essential workers
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-31
Religious brother uses gifts as liturgical artist to heal wounds of racism
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-30
COVID pandemic should raise questions about faith, pope says
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-30
Archbishop: Mass burials common as Nigerians face daily violence
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-30
Faith leaders criticize Trump's plan to reject new DACA applicants
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-29
Parishes are not 'businesses' that can be led by anyone, cardinal says
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-29
U.S. data group: China hacked computers of Vatican, other church entities
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-29
German bishops continue debate over Vatican document on parishes
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-28
Caritas warns of rise in human trafficking amid pandemic
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-28
Italy: Controversial verdict may force legalization of assisted suicide
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-28
Regis Philbin dies; Catholic TV host logged 17,000-plus hours on tube
Source: CNS Published on 2020-07-27

An Explantation of the Byzantine Rite Liturgical Practice of Observing All Souls Saturdays

ETERNAL MEMORY! VIČNAJA PAMJAT’! ALL SOULS SATURDAY “The Holy Fathers were convinced that the commemoration of the departed by alms and sacrifices (Divine Liturgies) brings great comfort and benefit to them.” (SYNAXARION FOR MEAT-FARE SATURDAY) O Church, equally observed in … Continue reading →

	August 2020
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						1 Procession of the Cross Procession of the Cross August 1, 2020 Procession of the Venerable and Life-giving Cross. Commemoration of the SS. Seven Machabee Brothers, Martyrs, their names being Abim, Antonin, Gurius, Eliazar, Evseon, Alim, Marcell, and their Mother, Solomonia, and their Master, Eleazar, martyred 173 B.C. during the reign of Antiochus, son of Seleucius. See more details •
2 9th Sunday After Pentecost 9th Sunday After Pentecost August 2, 2020 1 Cor 3:9-17 Mt 14:22-34 See more details •	3 Isaacius & Others Isaacius & Others August 3, 2020 Our venerable fathers, Isaacius, Dalmatius, and Faustus. Isaacius died A.D. 368 in the reign of Valens, Emperor. He had predicted the death of Valens, the Arian, going into battle. This prediction fulfilled, Dalmatius and Faustus died in the reign of Theodosius the Great, Emperor (379-395). See more details •	4 Seven Youth of Ephesus Seven Youth of Ephesus August 4, 2020 SS. Seven Youth of Ephesus, Martyrs, their names being: Maximilian, Dionisius, Amblichus, Martin, Antonin, John, and Marcell. (Confer October 22.) St. Eudokia, Venerable-Martyr. See more details •	5 Eusignius Eusignius August 5, 2020 St. Eusignius, Martyr, an old soldier in the army of Constantine Chlorus, Emperor, who at the age of one hundred and ten years, refused to sacrifice to idols on command of Julian the Apostate, Emperor. He was scourged and beheaded as a Christian at Antioch in Syria A.D. 362. See more details •	6 Transfiguration of Our Lord Transfiguration of Our Lord August 6, 2020 The Transfiguration of our Lord, God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. By this manifestation of His Divine Glory, Jesus Who has just foretold His Passion to the Apostles, strengthened their Faith and prepared them for His sufferings and death. See more details •	7 Domitius Venerable Martyr Domitius Venerable Martyr August 7, 2020 2 Cor 1:12-20 Mt 22:23-33 See more details •	8 Emilian Bishop Confessor Emilian Bishop Confessor August 8, 2020 St. Emilian, Confessor, Bishop of Cyzicus, fearlessly denounced the Iconoclasts. He was brought before the Emperor Leo the Armenian, subjected to many indignities, and died in exile A.D. 820. SS. Eleutherius and Leonidas, Martyrs. See more details •
9 10th Sunday After Pentecost 10th Sunday After Pentecost August 9, 2020 1 Cor 4:9-16 Mt 17:14-23 See more details •	10 Lawrence Archdeacon Martyr Lawrence Archdeacon Martyr August 10, 2020 St. Lawrence, Archdeacon-Martyr, one of the most famous martyrs of Rome. He was a Deacon of the Pope St. Sixtus II. This holy deacon was tortured and in the end was roasted alive on a gridiron A.D. 258, under Emperor Valerian. See more details •	11 Euplus Martyr Euplus Martyr August 11, 2020 St. Euplus, Archdeacon-Martyr, endured death A.D. 304 during the reign of the Emperor Diocletian. He was put on the rack and bidden to worship Apollo, Mars, and Aesculapius. He replied that he adored only the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. See more details •	12 Photius & Anicetus Photius & Anicetus August 12, 2020 SS. Photius and Anicetus, Martyrs, suffered death A.D. 288 during the reign of Diocletian, Emperor. See more details •	13 Maximus the Confessor Venerable Maximus the Confessor Venerable August 13, 2020 Our Venerable father, Maximus, Confessor; died from totures A.D 662, in the reign of Constans II. His tongue torn out and right hand cut off, he died in prison. See more details •	14 Translation of the Relics Theodosius of the Cave Translation of the Relics Theodosius of the Cave August 14, 2020 Heb 13:7-16, Mt 11:27-30 See more details •	15 Dormition of the Theotokos Dormition of the Theotokos August 15, 2020 Holy Day of Obligation Phil 2:5-11 Lk 10:38-42 & 11:27-28 Dormition (Assumption) of the Theotokos. It is considered to be our Lady's greatest Feast. The Commemoration of her death and the Assumption of her body and soul into heaven was the occasion of special devotion in very early times. In Ephesus in was observed even in the first century. In A.D, 1950 Pope Pius XII define and promulgated the Assumption of the Theotokos to be a Dogma of the Church. See more details •
16 11th Sunday After Pentecost 11th Sunday After Pentecost August 16, 2020 1 Cor 9:2-12 Mt 18:23-35 See more details •	17 Myron Martyr Myron Martyr August 17, 2020 St. Myron, Martyr, who was seized by the imperial officers of Decius, Emperor, tortured and executed for the Faith A.D. 250 in Cyzicus on the Sea of Marmora. SS. Paul and Juliana, his sister, Martyrs in Palestine. Both patiently endured savage torture before being beheaded with other Martyrs under Julian the Apostate. See more details •	18 Florus & Laurus Florus & Laurus August 18, 2020 SS. Florus and Laurus, Martyrs. They were twin brothers and stone-cutters by trade, who for the Faith were put to death by drowning in a well A.D. 320 under the power of Licinius. See more details •	19 Andrew Apostle Andrew Apostle August 19, 2020 St. Andrew, the "First-called" Apostle, brother of St. Peter the Prince of the Apostles. He was a disciple of St. John the Baptist. Tradition has it that he was crucified on a cross shaped in the form of an X at Patras in Achiia (Greece) A.D. 60, under the reign of Nero, Emperor. See more details •	20 Samuel & Stephen, King of Hungary Samuel & Stephen, King of Hungary August 20, 2020 St. Samuel, Prophet, in the 11th century B.C. St. Stephen the First, Apostolic King of Hungary, died A.D. 1038. His Right Hand is miraculously kept intact. See more details •	21 Thaddeus Apostle Thaddeus Apostle August 21, 2020 St. Thaddeus, Apostle, one of the 70 Apostles, descendant of a Jewish Family in the city of Edessa, and was a disciple of St. John the Baptist-Precursor. He died in peace at Beiruth, in Palestine. SS. Bassa and her children, Theogonius, Agapius, and Pista (Fidelis), Martyrs, suffered death under one of Diocletian's colleagues about A.D. 304. See more details •	22 Agathonicus & Others Agathonicus & Others August 22, 2020 St. Agathonicus and with him: Zoticus, Theoprepius (which means "Grace of God"). Acindynus and Severianus, Martyrs, suffered death A.D. 304 during the reign of the Emperor Maximian. See more details •
23 12th Sunday After Pentecost 12th Sunday After Pentecost August 23, 2020 1 Cor 15:1-11 Mt 19:16-26 See more details •	24 Eutyches Bishop Martyr Eutyches Bishop Martyr August 24, 2020 St. Eutyches, Bishop-Martyr, disciple of John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist. See more details •	25 Return of the Relics of Bartholomew Return of the Relics of Bartholomew August 25, 2020 Return of the Relics of Bartholomew, Apostle. (Confer June 11.) St. Titus, Apostle. Titus was the favoured disciple of St. Paul and was his successor as the first Bishop of the Island of Crete. He died full of merits about the close of the first century. See more details •	26 Adrian & Natalie Adrian & Natalie August 26, 2020 SS. Adrian and Natalie, Martyrs, endured death A.D. 304 during the reign of Maximian, Emperor. See more details •	27 Poemen Venerable Poemen Venerable August 27, 2020 2 Cor 10:7-18 Mk 3:28-35 See more details •	28 Moses the Ethiopian Moses the Ethiopian August 28, 2020 Our venerable father, Moses, an African Negro of Abyssinia, styled the "Ethiopian Hermit." Our holy father, Augustine, Confessor and Bishop of Hippo in Africa. He is one of the greatest doctors of the Western Rite Church. He died A.D. 430. St. Anna, daughter of Phanuel. (See 3rd day of February.) See more details •	29 Beheading of John the Baptist Beheading of John the Baptist August 29, 2020 Acts 13:25-33 Mk 6:14-29 The Beheading of St. John, Glorious Prophet, Precursor and Baptist. He was beheaded by Herod Antipas at the instigation of Herodias. See more details •
30 13th Sunday After Pentecost 13th Sunday After Pentecost August 30, 2020 1 Cor 16:13-24 Mt 21:33-42 See more details •	31 Deposition of the Cincture of the Theotokos Deposition of the Cincture of the Theotokos August 31, 2020 Deposition of the Venerable Cincture of the Theotokos, translated from the See of Zela to Constantinople, A.D. 908. See more details •