[MUSIC] >> Doug: AND WELCOME TO FR SPITZER'S UNIVERSE AT THE VERY BUSY INTERSECTION OF FAITH AND REASON. SO MANY PEOPLE GO THERE THESE DAYS IN SEARCH OF TRUTH. I'M DOUG KECK. OF COURSE FR SPITZER IS THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THIS PARTICULAR UNIVERSE. BUT IF YOU WANT TO ASK HIM SOME QUESTIONS, YOU NEED TO EMAIL US OF COURSE AND YOU CAN ALSO CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK AND SEND US QUESTIONS THAT WAY. TWEET US ON TWITTER. FOR ALL THINGS FR SPITZER, THERE'S THE MAGIS CENTER WEBSITE OF COURSE AS ALWAYS. THERE'S ALSO crediblecatholic.com WHICH IS WHAT WE'RE WORKING THROUGH OF COURSE. AND THIS WEEK, JESUS' INTENTION AT THE LAST SUPPER. AND ALWAYS AS WE DO, BOOK OF THE MONTH, ADVENT REFLECTIONS, MEDITATIONS FOR A HOLY ADVENT PUBLISHED BY EWTN, BASED ON REFLECTIONS DONE BY VARIOUS PRIESTS AND BISHOPS FROM THE U.K. THERE'S A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT I DID GO THROUGH ewtnRC.com IS THE PLACE TO CHECK OUT EVERYTHING THAT'S ACTUALLY CATHOLIC. AND YOU CAN GET IT FROM US! BY PURCHASING FROM THE RELIGIOUS CATALOG, YOU ARE SUPPORTING MOTHER ANGELICA. AND FATHER SPITZER, AS WE TURN TO YOU, WE HAVE TO KEEP THIS. >> YOU HAVE BEEN OUT AND ABOUT. >> YES, I WENT TO THE BISHOP'S CONFERENCE AND LOTS OF THINGS HAPPENING. >> NOW IF YOU WANT TO START US OFF WITH PRAYER. >> HEAVENLY FATHER, WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR YOUR MANY BLESSINGS TO US, PARTICULARLY THE BLESSING OF THE MINISTRY AND WE ASK YOU TO HELP US, DEAR LORD, INSPIRING TO EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE AVAILABLE IN YOUR CHURCH AND KINGDOM, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN. MARY, SEAT OF WISDOM AND VENERABLE FULTON J. SHEEN, PRAY FOR US. >> AMEN. >> IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. >> SHOUT-OUT FOR ALL OF THE NEW YORKERS COMING UP. AND WE WANT TO BE SURE THAT YOU KNOW THAT COVERING THIS, DECEMBER 21, THAT SAT. YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IT COMING UP IN A FEW WEEKS. WE'RE WORKING WITH PETER GAGNON, AND MARK HOLMES WORKING FEVERISHLY TO PUT TOGETHER THAT PARTICULAR EVENT. LOOK FOR THAT INFORMATION COMING SOON. I'M SURE THERE'S PLENTY OF OTHER FULTON SHEEN RELATED PROGRAMMING COMING FROM EWTN PRIOR TO AND THEN AROUND THAT BEATIFICATION HAPPENING IN PEORIA. INTERESTING, THAT I ENTERING THE FOURTH FALL AND RISE OF THE CHURCH IN WHICH OUR GREAT TEST IS GOING TO BE QUOTE UNQUOTE THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD. AND THESE ARE MARVELOUS DAYS, HOWEVER IN WHICH TO BE ALIVE. I THANK GOD THAT I LIVE IN THESE DAYS BECAUSE THESE ARE THE DAYS OF TESTING. JUST TO REMIND PEOPLE, HE SAID THAT 45 YEARS AGO! A AND IT WAS JUST PROPHETIC BEYOND BELIEF. >> AND THE HOLY FATHER, PRESENTLY IS IN THAILAND AND JAPAN AS WELL. OUR COVERAGE OF THE EVENTS COMING TO YOU FROM THOSE LOCATIONS BEGINNING TONIGHT AT 9:30PM EASTERN. AND THAT'S TONIGHT ON EWTN WE COVER THE POPE WHEREVER HE TRAVELS. NOW, WE'LL GET INTO THE TOPIC OF WHAT WERE JESUS' INTENTIONS AT THE LAST SUPPER. AND LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING. THE HEADLINE, CHURCH OF CANADA MAY DISAPPEAR BY 2040 SAYS NEW REPORT. SO, HERE'S A STUDY THAT HAS COME OUT. AND THIS IS BASED ON CHURCH STATISTICS FROM 1961 TO 2001 USING FIVE DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES. AND I KNOW YOU ARE INTERESTED IN METHODOLOGIES SO I MENTION THAT. BUT THEY SAY MEMBERSHIP IN THE ANGLICAN CHURCH -- IN CANADA -- FELL FROM THIS NUMBER TO 367,000 IN 2017. SO, TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CHURCH. QUITE HONESTLY, YOU QUITE EVER RARELY HEAR ABOUT IT UP IN CANADA AND MAYBE YOU KNOW WHY NOW. >> WELL, THE ANGLICAN CHURCH IS DROPPING AT A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT RATE AN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CANADA. BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS ALSO DROPPING ALONG THE SAME LINES THAT THE PUGH SURVEY INDICATED, 40% AMONGST MILLENNIALS AND GenZ'S SAME AS IN THE UNITED STATES. AGAIN, OUR WHOLE INSTITUTE, THIS crediblecatholic.com AND magiscenter.com, EVERYTHING WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS TO GET TO THE STUDENTS TO, THE MILLENNIALS AND THE GEN Z'S BEFORE THEY LEAVE THE CHURCH BUT ALSO, THEIR BELIEF IN GOD. SO THAT'S OUR MISSION. AND CANADA IS AS EFFECTED AS WE ARE IN THE U.S. >> AND THERE WAS A COMMENT IN THE PARTICULAR ARTICLE FROM RELIGIOUS NEWS. IN THE FUTURE, CANADIAN ANGLICAN WILL BE CALLED TO BE FAITHFUL INTEREST, AND INSTEAD OF A VORTEX OF A NEGATIVE DECLINE. WITHOUT BECOMING THE CENTER OF THE VORTEX, WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING, DO YOU THINK? >> Father: WELL, I THINK NOW AMONGST THE ANGLICAN CHURCH, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY ARE HAVING SUCH A PRECIPITOUS DROP BUT I CAN TELL YOU AMONGST FAITHS IN GENERAL, ESPECIALLY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM FOR MILLENNIAL AND GEN Z'S, THE PERCEIVED DICHOTOMY BETWEEN FAITH AND SCIENCE. THAT'S THE MAJOR PROBLEM. BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF EVIDENCE IN SCIENCE NOT ONLY POINTING TO GOD IN THE BEGINNING OF THE UNIVERSE, FINE TUNING OF THE CONSTANTS IN THE UNIVERSE, TO POINT TO A SOUL, A TRANS-PHYSICAL SOUL WHICH WILL SURVIVE BODILY DEATH AND EVEN TO POINT TO JESUS, AND JESUS' RESURRECTION, LIKE THE SHROUD OF TURIN, THERE'S A TON OF EVIDENCE OUT THERE TO STOP THE PROBLEM. AND WE JUST ENCOURAGE READERS, PLEASE, GO TO crediblecatholic.com. IF YOU ARE LIVING IN UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA OR CANADIAN, CLICK ON THE WEB SITE, crediblecatholic.com, CLICK ON THE SEVEN ESSENTIAL MODULES FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE. IT WORKS. AND WE HAVE A 97% POSITIVE RATING FROM THE STUDENTS SAYING IT HELPS THEM TO FEND OFF DOUBTS AND MAINTAIN THEIR FAITH. AND THE FIRST FIVE MODULES, THE EVIDENCE FOR GOD, THE EVIDENCE FOR JESUS, THE EVIDENCE FOR THE SOUL, THE EVIDENCE FOR THE CHURCH, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THEY LOOK AT THE MODULES. BECAUSE IF THEY DO, THINK IT WILL REALLY SOLIDIFY THEIR FAITH. AND THE MEAN AGE WHICH THIS IS OCCURRING, ACCORDING TO THE KARA, APPLIED RESEARCH STUDY AT GEORGETOWN, THEY SAY THE MEAN AGE MAKING THEIR DECISION TO BAIL OUT, NOT ONLY OF THE CHURCH, BUT TO BAIL OUT OF GOD IS 13! SO, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE MADE A MIDDLE SCHOOL CURRICULUM WHICH, PLEASE, SHOW THIS TO YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS. 13 IS THE AGE, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. THIS IS WHEN IT'S HAPPENING. YES, OF COURSE, THEY ARE GOING TO WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE OUT OF THE HOME AND WHEN THEY GET TO COLLEGE AND THEY ARE 18, 19-YEARS-OLD. THAT'S WHEN THEY WAIT TO DECLARE IT. BUT THEY ARE BEGINNING THE DECISION MEAN AGE 13-YEARS-OLD. HAVE YOU TO GIVE THEM THE EVIDENCE ASAP. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. SO, PLEASE, PLEAS, PLEASE, GO TO crediblecatholic.com. CLICK ON THE RED BUTTON, SEVEN ESSENTIAL BUTTONS. IT'S ALL FREE. WATCH THE MODULES WITH YOUR KIDS. JUST LITTLE 5 MINUTE VIDEOS THAT YOU WATCH. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. AND NUMBER 2, THE PROBLEM OF SUFFERING. NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. THEY DO NOT SEE THAT THERE'S A GOOD SIDE TO SUFFERING. KIDS THINK THAT OTHERWISE. AND SUFFERING ENABLES US TO OPEN OUR HEARTS TO GOD MUCH MORE DEEPLY. JUST LOOK AT OUR OWN LIVES. WHEN DO WE TURN TO GOD MOST DEEPLY? WHEN DO WE HAVE THAT DEEPENING OF OUR FAITH, ET CETERA. IT ALWAYS OCCURS RIGHT DURING THE TIME OF SUFFERING. SUFFERING ALSO ENABLES US TO EMPATHIZE AND BE COMPASSIONATE WITH PEOPLE. AND SUFFERING ALSO REALLY ELEVATES OUR HUMILITY, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF OUR ARROGANCE, PRIDE, SUPERFICIALITY. SUFFERING DOES A LOT OF GOOD AS EVERY SAINT HAS TESTIFIED AND CERTAINLY JESUS HAS TESTIFIED. AND ABOVE ALL, OFFER IT UP. THERE'S SO MUCH MERIT IN DOING THAT FOR THE PEOPLE WE KNOW THAT ARE IN NEED. THAT'S A SECOND PROBLEM. AGAIN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SIXTH AND SEVENTH OF THOSE 7 ESSENTIAL MODULES AT crediblecatholic.com, THE 6 AND 7 DEAL WITH THAT PROBLEM, WHY WOULD AN ALL-LOVING GOD ALLOW SUFFERING AND HOW TO USE YOUR FAITH FOR SUFFERING WELL. THAT'S THE SECOND PROBLEM. THE THIRD PROBLEM. BIG TIME PEER PRESSURE. SO, WHAT HAPPENS IS, THE KID GOES TO SCHOOL. HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY EVIDENCE. HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY RATIONALE FOR SUFFERING WHY GOD ALLOWS THIS SUFFERING, SO HE'S GOING DOWN THERE, ALMOST LIKE, QUACK QUACK-POW-AND GOES INTO THE SCHOOL. AND SOME KID ASSAULTS HIM. OR EVEN A TEACHER, EVEN A WELL MEANING SCIENCE TEACHER OR WELL MEANING WHATEVER. SO, WHAT HAPPENS, THAT KID COMES RIGHT INTO THE CLASSROOM AND INTO HIS PEER GROUP. AND HE'S BEING ASSAULTED. HE'S ACCUSED OF NEEDING A CRUTCH, OF BEING NAIVE, NOT KNOWING ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT SCIENCE HAS DONE TODAY. AND THAT KID HAVING NO RESPONSES IS JUST BOWLED OVER. AND HE SUCCUMBS OR SHE SUCCUMBS TO THE PEER PRESSURE. WE HAVE TO COVER THAT. AND THE FOURTH AREA, PEER PRESSURE REGARDING MORALITY AND MORAL RELATIVITY, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION. WE HAVE TO GIVE THE RATIONALE, WHY DOES THE CHURCH TEACH? WHY DID JESUS -- NOT THE CHURCH! BUT WHY DID JESUS TEACH SEXUAL ASSAULT OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE, NOT JUST SOMETHING MORALLY WRONG BUT IT'S GOING TO MESS YOU UP, SPIRITUALLY WRONG, AND EMOTIONALLY WRONG. WHY DID HE TEACH THAT. NOW, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF REASONS FOR THIS. WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER A WHOLE NEW CURRICULUM ON SPIRITUAL AND MORAL CONVERSION. IT'S NOT UP YET ON THE WEB SITE, crediblecatholic.com. BUT OUR OBJECTIVE IS TO GIVE A RATIONALE. WHY DID JESUS TEACH THIS AND USING CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOLOGICAL STATISTICS. WHAT HAPPENS TO THAT? NUMBER OF PRE MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS YOU HAVE EFFECTS THE LONGEVITY OF THE MARRIAGE AND WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN IT, WE HAVE SOLID STATISTICS ON THIS. IT'S A BIG NEGATIVITY. NOW, THE LENGTH OF TIME THAT YOU ARE IN, FOR EXAMPLE, A COHABITATION SITUATION, THE LONGER THE COHABITATION, AGAIN, NEGATIVELY EFFECTS NOT ONLY THE LONGEVITY OF THE MARITAL RELATIONSHIP BUT HAPPINESS WITHIN THE RELATIONSHIP. AND OF COURSE, THEY ARE DIRECTLY RELATED. ALSO, IT UNDERMINES RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. NOW, IT'S SOME REALLY GOOD STATISTICS OUT THERE, THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE BASICALLY ENGAGED IN COHABITATION AND SEXUAL RELATIONS ARE KIND OF, THEY KNOW THE TENSION BETWEEN THAT AND THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, WITH JESUS. AND THEY BEGIN TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM THE CHURCH AND SO FORTH. WHEN THEY DO THAT, ESSENTIALLY, THEY LEAVE THEMSELVES OPEN TO ALL KINDS OF CULTURAL TEMPTATIONS WHICH ARE REALLY, YOU KNOW, FROM PORNOGRAPHY, HONESTLY TO A VARIETY OF OTHER THINGS THAT ARE JUST NOT HEALTHY. SO, WE HAVE TO JUST BEGIN TO TALK VERY RATIONALLY ABOUT THESE KIDS, WHY THIS IS NOT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S HARMLESS. PORNOGRAPHY LOOKS LIKE ITS VICTIMLESS. SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS, AND LOTS OF SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE MARRIAGE LOOK LIKE THEY ARE HARMLESS. TO THEM. TO THEM. BECAUSE OF THE CULTURAL INDOCTRINATION. IT'S NOT HARMLESS NOR VICTIMLESS. IN FACT, IT'S TERRIBLY DESTRUCTIVE BETWEEN FUTURE RELATIONSHIPS. LOOK AT THE CORRELATION OF DIVORCE AND POST SEXUAL REVOLUTION, THE RELATIONSHIPS IN MARRIAGE. IF THAT DOESN'T CLUE YOU IN THAT MARRIAGES ARE NOT LASTING, FAMILIES ARE BEING TIPPED OVER. I MEAN, THERE HAS TO BE A COMMITMENT TO THE FAMILY, TO THE MARRIAGE, A COMMITMENT TO LEVEL THREE AND FOUR, AS I CALL IT. YOU KNOW, TO GOD. OF COURSE, THE COUPLE THAT PRAYS TOGETHER, STAYS TOGETHER. AND WE HAVE GREAT STATISTICS TO VALIDATE THIS. WE SHOULD BE TELLING THAT TO EVERYBODY. >> Doug: ISN'T THE PROBLEM WITH THAT, THE FACT THAT THESE ARE STATISTICS TODAY, PEOPLE WANT TO BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE EITHER NOT TRUE. THEY ARE RELIGIOUSLY BIASED OR AS PART OF THAT, FOR YOU TO POINT IT OUT MEANS THAT SOMEHOW YOU ARE A BIGOT OR YOU ARE DISSING SOME GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW THAN YOURS. >> Father: WELL, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, THESE ARE THE STATISTICS FROM THE CENTER OR DISEASE CONTROL, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY. I MEAN, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. YOU KNOW, THE SPIRITUAL LIFE STATISTICS, VIS-A-VIS PRAYER, LONGEVITY OF MARRIAGE THEY CAME FROM SEVEN SECULAR UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. >> THEN WHY DON'T YOU EVER HEAR ABOUT THEM? YOU DON'T HEAR ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE COUNTER -- >> RIGHT. OH, YEAH, THEY ARE COUNTER TO THE PRESS AND THE CULTURE THERE. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN I READ THE ANTI-COHABITATION ARTICLE IN THE "NEW YORK TIMES", I NEARLY FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR. AND I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT WAS PUBLISHED THERE. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A WELL-DONE ARTICLE. I FORGET THE NAME OF THE LADY WHO DID IT, IT WAS FIVE OR SIX YEARS AGO. BUT IT PUBLISHED THE STATISTICS AND TALKED ABOUT WHY KIDS DO IT. AND SHE TALKED ABOUT WHY IT REALLY ISN'T AN AID TO A FUTURE MARRIAGE, BUT INSTEAD IT'S A DETRIMENT. ET CETERA. BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT ARE ALL OVER. SECULAR STUDIES ARE BEING DONE AND UNFORTUNATELY, THE PRESS DOES NOT PUBLISH THAT. IT'S JUST LIKE IN THE SHROUD OF TURIN THING. DOCTOR TRISTIN CASA BIANCA AND HIS TEAM DISPROVED THAT 1988 CARBON DATING THROUGH STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE STRATIFICATION VARIEGATION IN THE SAMPLE. I MEAN, CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE. THAT SAMPLE THAT WAS TAKEN PROBABLY HAD A MIXTURE OF THREADS, IN OTHER WORDS, THE WEAVING OF A MUCH LATER THREAD AFTER THE FIRE THERE, WITH THE LINEN, THE ACTUAL SHROUD THREADS ET CETERA. NOW, IT'S NOW BEEN DISPROVEN. RIGHT? SO, WHAT DO YOU SEE ABOUT THIS STUDY THAT DISPROVES THAT THIS SUPPOSEDLY PEER-REVIEWED STUDY FOR THE 1988 CARBON DATING. YOU SEE MICROSCOPIC PRINT, MAYBE ONE SECULAR JOURNAL AND YOU SEE IT COVERED BY SOME CATHOLIC NEWSPAPERS. PERIOD. BUT THIS IS A REALLY FIRST CLASS STUDY. IT TOOK TRISTIN CASA BIANCA AFTER 30 YEARS OF INFORMATION OF FREEDOM REQUEST FROM THE BRITISH MUSEUMS TO FINALLY GET THE RAW DATA FROM THE SAMPLE. FINALLY, THE GUY GETS IT AND DISPROVES THE 1988 CARBON DATING AND FINALLY, WE HAVE THE EVIDENCE, NO, NO PUBLICATION. SO, I LOOK AT IT AND I GO, WELL. READ THE CATHOLIC PRESS. THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE A CATHOLIC PRESS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. READ IT. THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE IT. BECAUSE THE SECULAR PRESS IS JUST PLAIN NOT GOING TO COVER IT. >> Doug: RIGHT. AND THAT'S WHY WE HAVE TO PUT THE MATERIAL OUT. THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE ewtn.com, crediblecatholic.com, AND CNA AND ALL OF THE OTHER GOOD OUTLETS OUT THERE THAT YOU CAN TRUST. SO, LET'S GET TO THE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TACKLE OUR TOPIC OF JESUS' INTENTION AT THE LAST SUPPER. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, I AM CURRENTLY DISCERNING MY VOCATION WHICH INCLUDES THE PRIESTHOOD. WHAT ARE SOME STRATEGIES THAT YOU WOULD RECOMMEND IN GOING THROUGH THIS DISCERNMENT? THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT PROGRAM,JOSH, FROM MAINE. >> Father: JOSH, FROM MAINE, THE NUMBER ONE THING TO DO IS GET A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR IF YOU DO NOT HAVE ONE. YOUR SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR CAN GUIDE YOU IN YOUR REFLECTION AND IN YOUR DISCERNMENT. AND YOU NEED A GUIDE BECAUSE SOMETIMES SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS COME AT YOU, BOTH POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE. OVERLY POSITIVE AND OVERLY NEGATIVE. IT'S HARD TO SORT IT ALL OUT. AND OF COURSE, BOY, THE MINUTE YOU START DISCERNING THAT, YOUR ENEMY, THE DEVIL IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE TRYING TO INFLUENCE YOU ADVERSELY. SO, I CAN SAY THAT WITH GREAT CERTAINTY. HERE'S WHAT I RECOMMEND. NUMBER ONE. GET A SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, A GOOD ONE THAT YOU REALLY TRUST. GET THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR. AND SECOND THING, LISTEN TO THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR IN TERMS OF THE GUIDANCE THAT HE IS GIVING YOU. NUMBER THREE. YOU GOT TO DISCERN WITHIN YOURSELF WHETHER YOU ACTUALLY FEEL A CALL TO CERTAIN GENERAL THINGS. RIGHT? CERTAIN PEOPLE NEED THAT KIND OF REINFORCEMENT FROM ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, ON A VERY INTIMATE LEVEL, AND THEY NEED TO GIVE THEMSELVES TO SOMEBODY ON A VERY INTIMATE LEVEL. YOU KNOW, I WOULD CALL THAT A DEPTH PERSON. SO, YOU GO REALLY DEEP WITH A SPECIFIC WIFE AND YOUR KIDS AND YOU GET REINFORCEMENT FROM THEM. YOU GIVE YOURSELF TO THEM. AND THEY ARE YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. PRIEST DOESN'T DO THAT. PRIEST GOES WITH BREADTH. ESSENTIALLY, JOSH, WHAT YOU SEE IS, DO YOU HAVE A CALL TO BE SERVING A LOT OF PEOPLE? OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN BE COMMITTED TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS, GOOD FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, LOVED ONES. YOU CAN BE COMMITTED TO THEM IN A SPECIAL WAY AS A PRIEST. BUT GENERALLY, WE DON'T HAVE THAT NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. THE PEOPLE THAT WE ARE TALKING WITH, WHO ARE IN FRONT OF US, WHO HAVE NEED OF US SPIRITUALLY AND TEMPORALLY, THEY ARE OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY AT THE MOMENT. AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY OF THE MOMENT. SO, DO YOU FEEL MORE CALLED TO THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND TO THE PERSONS THAT YOU ARE SERVING. DOES THAT, IS THAT YOUR FIRST PRIORITY, HOW YOU SENSE IT? OR DO YOU REALLY SENSE, NO, I REALLY WANT TO COMMIT MYSELF TO A SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL WHO ALSO WILL COMMIT HERSELF TO ME. SO, THAT WOULD BE THE IDEA OF THAT. SO, YOU GOT TO FIGURE, THE HOLY SPIRIT IS VERY CONSISTENT IN THE CALLING. HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU THE GRACES OF THE CALL TO PRIESTHOOD. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF OTHER QUESTIONS THAT YOU SHOULD REALLY ANSWER. AND THE LAST THING THAT YOU NEED TO REALLY DO, IDENTIFY WHERE YOU WANT THAT PRIESTLY VOCATION. >> Doug: RIGHT. >> Father: DIOCESAN VOCATION, IN A SPECIFIC AREA. RIGHT? SO YOU PICK OUT SAGINAW MICHIGAN OR WHEREVER IT IS THAT YOU LIVE. AND YOU PICK THAT. AND YOU SAY, DO I WANT TO SERVE THERE, AROUND MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, THIS IS THE PLACE I GREW UP, I WANT TO STAY HERE. OR, DO YOU WANT TO BECOME A RELIGIOUS AND MAYBE, LIKE, IF YOU ARE A JESUIT RELIGIOUS, THE WORLD IS BASICALLY YOUR FIELD. DOMINICAN. YOU COULD BE ASSIGNED TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES INSTEAD OF A SPECIFIC DIOCESE. OR DO YOU WANT TO JOIN A MONASTERY? DO HAVE YOU A MORE CONTEMPLATIVE VOCATION RATHER THAN ACTIVE VOCATION? YOU HAVE TO DO THAT WITH YOUR SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR, LOOK AT THE CHARISMS AND SEE YOUR CALL AND DISCERN IT IN LIGHT OF THAT. JUST REMEMBER, JOSH, YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO GET AN ABSOLUTE -- WELL, RARELY. SOMETIMES YOU DO, THOUGH, LIKE ST. PAUL AND OTHERS, YOU GET THE CALL! BASICALLY, WHO ARE YOU, SIR? I AM JESUS! AND YOU ARE REALLY HARMING ME. I GOT IT. ! SO, THERE'S THE CALL. NOW, MOST OF US DO NOT GET THAT KIND OF A DEFINITIVE CALL. MOST OF US GET A CALL THAT CARRIES OVER THE COURSE OF TIME. THAT CERTAINLY HAPPENED TO ME. THINGS BEGAN TO HAPPEN IN MY JUNIOR, SENIOR YEAR OF COLLEGE. I COULDN'T STOP. THERE WAS FIRST OF ALL, I THOUGHT, BOY, MY RELIGION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IN MY WHOLE LIFE. WHAT AM I GOING TO DO HERE. SO THEN I THOUGHT, OH, I'LL BE A DEACON, PERMANENT DEACON. I'LL GET MARRIED, BE A DEACON, HAVE A FAMILY. THAT'S THE WAY I'LL DO IT. AND MY MOTHER SENT ME THIS MATERIAL ON A PERMANENT DEACON. AND I THOUGHT, I CAN CALM DOWN, I DON'T HAVE TO DISCERN THIS IN ONE DAY. THEN I'M TALKING OUT OF CHURCH, I SEE THE PAMPHLET ON PRIESTHOOD AND I READ THAT WHOLE DARN THING FROM COVER TO COVER. I LOOKED AT EVERY SINGLE PICTURE, EVERY SINGLE WORD AND IT WAS JUST LIKE EMBLAZONED IN MY MIND. AND WHY AM I FEELING THIS. BUT YOU KNOW HOW GOD WORKS. SLOWLY BUT SURELY, HE GETS TO YOU. AND FINALLY, I HAD TO ADMIT TO MYSELF, YOU KNOW, GEE, THINK I NEED TO BE A PRIEST. I'M NOT GOING TO GET LET OFF THE HOOK. SO, IT'S GRADUAL AND IN MOST CASES, IT'S GRADUAL. QUICK FOR SOME. >> WELL, LOOKING AT MAPS FOR BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, I COULD SAY, WHY AM I LOOKING AT MAPS OF BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA. OKAY. I FOUND OUT LATER I THINK WHY THAT OCCURRED. >> Father: YEAH, YEAH, I KNOW WHY THAT OCCURRED. [LAUGHTER] >> Doug: HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, I LOVE YOUR SHOW AND ALL THE TEACHINGS YOU PROVIDE. MY QUESTION IS I KNOW THE BIBLE SPEAKS OF GOD'S TIME BEING DIFFERENT FROM OURS, LIKE IN 2 PETER WHERE IT MENTIONS 1000 YEARS IS BUT A DAY TO GOD, SO I WAS WONDERING DOES THAT MEAN IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT CHRIST SPENT MORE THAN JUST THE RECOGNIZED EARTHLY HOURS OF DAYS IN HELL WHEN HE DIED OR COULD HE HAVE SPENT YEARS IN HELL, IN HIS TIME. SINCERELY, MICHAEL FROM SARASOTA, FLORIDA. OBVIOUSLY, ISSUE OF THE WORD HELL AND WHAT THAT MEANS, ET CETERA. >> Father: SURE. WELL, MIKE LET'S START WITH THAT POINT THAT DOUG MENTIONED. WHAT'S THE WORD HELL. IT DOES NOT MEAN THE PLACE OF THE DAMNED. THAT'S NOT, IN THAT CONTEXT. NOW, IN THE FIRST CENTURY JUDAISM, THE TERM THAT'S TRANSLATED AS HADES, IN GREEK, WHICH WE TRANSLATE INTO HELL. THAT HEBREW TERM IS SHEOL AND THAT'S THE REALM OF THE DEAD, WHERE GOOD PEOPLE GO, WHERE BAD PEOPLE GO WHEN THEY DIE. SO, THERE WAS NOT BEEN A JUDGMENT YET. IT'S LIKE A RESTING PLACE FOR THE DEAD. THAT'S CALLED SHEOL. AND THE EARLY CHURCH TOOK THAT PLACE, THE RESTING PLACE OF THE DEAD, THE GOOD DEAD AND THE BAD DEAD. AND THEY TOOK THAT TERM AND THEY BASICALLY SAID, JESUS DESCENDED INTO THE REALM OF THE DEAD. DON'T THINK INTO THE REALM OF THE DAMNED. HE DESCENDED INTO THE REALM OF THE DEAD AND WHAT DID HE DO? HE CALLED UP EVERY ONE WHO WAS WORTHY, NOT JUST THE PROPHETS BUT PEOPLE WHO WERE TRYING TO FOLLOW THE LORD, ACCORDING TO THEIR CONSCIENCE, RELIGION, RIGHT? HE CALLS THOSE PEOPLE INTO THE SAINTHOOD, RIGHT INTO THE REDEMPTION WHICH HE WROUGHT ON THE CROSS. WHEN HIS ACT, COMPLETE SELF GIFT IS COMPLETED ON THE CROSS, HE DESCENDS INTO THE REALM OF THE DEAD WHICH IS CALLED HELL, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, RIGHT, THAT TRANSLATION OF HADES AND SHEOL. HE GOES IN THERE, AND HE CALLS UP THE GOOD INTO THE DOMAIN OF HEAVEN AND THEY BECOME SAINTS JUST AS WE DO. NOW, WITH RESPECT TO THE TIME, WE KNOW THAT JESUS' RESURRECTION TAKES PLACE ON THE THIRD DAY AND WE SAY, DID HE SPEND THE WHOLE TIME THERE IN THE REALM OF THE DEAD. WE REALLY DON'T KNOW, JOSH. HE MAY HAVE SPENT A SPLIT SECOND IN THE REALM OF THE DEAD. BECAUSE JESUS NOW BEING COMPLETELY GLORIFIED AS HE GOES INTO THE REALM OF THE DEAD, I CAN TELL YOU RIGHT NOW, HE DIDN'T NEED MORE THAN A SPLIT SECOND TO FIGURE OUT WHO IS GOING UP AND WHO IS STAYING IN THE REALM. SO, OF COURSE, THE POINT IS, HE KNOWS. SO IT COULD HAVE BEEN A SPLIT SECOND AND IT COULD HAVE BEEN, FOR ALL WE KNOW, THREE FULL DAYS. BUT MY SUSPICION IS THAT IT WAS NOT THREE DAYS. I THINK WHAT HAPPENED THERE WAS A SPLIT SECOND, HE MAKES THAT JUDGMENT, THAT DECISION AND HE'S GLORIFIED IN THE DOMAIN OF THE FATHER. AND HE SPENDS HIS TIME, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, TIME, HIS HUMAN APPERCEPTION, GLORIFIED HUMAN APPERCEPTION WITH THE FATHER AND COMES TO BE WITH THE APOSTLES ON THE THIRD DAY WHEN HE APPEARS TO THEM BOTH AT THE CLOSED ROOM, AND LATER AT THE SEA OF GALILEE. >> Doug: RIGHT. AND IN FACT, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT JESUS' INTENTION AT THE LAST SUPPER, YOU BRING UP THE WHOLE COLLAPSE OF TIME THAT IS INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL. OKAY. WE GOT ONE MORE QUESTION HERE. LET'S SLIDE THIS IN HERE. FATHER, I WAS STRONG IN MY FAITH WHEN MY KIDS WERE YOUNG, UNTIL THE OLDEST WAS 9. AFTER THAT, I FELL AWAY. NOW, IN THE LAST 5 YEARS, I HAVE REALIZED I WANT TO COME HOME. I HAVE BEEN GONE OVER 35 YEARS. MY COURAGE IS WEAK, WHAT HAVE I MISSED, HAS CONFESSION CHANGED? THAT'S THE QUESTION. CAN YOU ASK A PRIEST TO HELP YOU WHEN YOU KNOW YOU HAVE MESSED UP A LARGE PART OF YOUR LIFE AND HAVE A LONG CONFESSION TO MAKE? ELAINE. >> Father: ELAINE, ABSOLUTELY. FIRST OF ALL, YOU WANT TO MAKE A CONNECTION WITH YOUR PRIEST. YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL HIM YOUR NAME OR ANYTHING OF THAT NATURE. YOU CAN DO THAT ANONYMOUSLY. YOU MAY JUST WANT TO SAY ON THE PHONE. GEE, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ANONYMOUS CONFESSION. IN OTHER WORDS, IN A CONFESSIONAL. THAT'S THE SAME. WHERE YOU GO TO THE CONFESSIONAL. AND YOU SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN ANONYMOUS CONFESSION, WOULD I BE ABLE TO MEET YOU AT THE CHURCH ON SATURDAY AT 4:00 OR WHATEVER A CONVENIENT TIME IS FOR YOU AND FOR THE PRIEST, TO GET TOGETHER. LET HIM KNOW, I HAVE A LOT THERE. AND I NEED SOME HELP. I HAVEN'T BEEN TO CONFESSION IN 35 YEARS. BUT I WOULD DO, ELAINE, THE ESSENCE OF CONFESSION HAS NOT CHANGED THAT MUCH. BASICALLY, THERE'S A BLESSING AT THE VERY BEGINNING FROM THE PRIEST. WHAT YOU DO BEFORE YOU GO INTO THE CONFESSIONAL, YOU MAKE AN EXAMINATION OF YOUR CONSCIENCE. YOU CAN HELP YOURSELF. AND THERE'S A COUPLE OF REALLY GOOD EXAMINATIONS OF CONSCIENCE THAT ARE OUT THERE. I KNOW THAT CATHOLIC ANSWERS HAS A VERY GOOD ONE. AND IN FACT, I THINK THAT EWTN HAS A VERY GOOD ONE. >> Doug: I'M SURE WE DO. >> Father: EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE. SO, JUST PUT DOWN CATHOLIC EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE. I WOULD RECOMMEND THE CATHOLIC ANSWERS ONE OR THE EWTN ONE. THERE'S SEVERAL OTHERS. BUT LOOK THEM OVER, TAKE A LOOK AT THESE EXAMINATION QUESTIONS, AND JUST GET A HEAD START ON IT, ELAINE. WHEN YOU HAVE THAT HEAD START DONE, MAKE THE APPOINTMENT FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE YOU GO AND LOOK FOR THE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE. JUST GET THAT ON THE CALENDAR. DON'T WASTE ANY TIME. THEN HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU A DATE AND TIME. YOU MEET HIM IN THE CONFESSIONAL BOX, HE DOESN'T HAVE TO SEE YOU. YOU JUST SAY, I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS. AND HE MAY DO IT, LIKE, A HALF HOUR BEFORE THE REGULAR CONFESSIONS START OR 20 MINUTES OR WHATEVER. AS OFTEN HAPPENS. AND HE CAN HELP YOU RIGHT THROUGH IT. AND IF YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF PREPARATION FROM THE EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE, THAT'S GOING TO HELP. BUT ALL YOU REALLY NEED TO DO IS SAY WHAT YOUR SERIOUS SINS ARE TO THE BEST THAT YOU CAN REMEMBER. DON'T GET WORRIED IF YOU DON'T COUNT IT EXACTLY. JUST SAY, MANY TIMES, I DID X. I DON'T REALLY REMEMBER THE NUMBER OF TIMES. BUT IN 35 YEARS, I DID IT MANY TIMES. AND SO, TRYING TO GET EXACT THINGS, SOMETIMES IT'S JUST IMPOSSIBLE UNLESS YOU HAVE A PHOTOGRAPHIC MEMORY. AND THE KEY THING AFTER THAT, HE'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE ACT OF CONTRITION. REPEAT AFTER ME AND I'VE DONE THIS MANY, MANY TIMES IN CONFESSIONAL. 0 MY GOD, I'M HEARTILY SORRY. AND THEN YOU REPEAT IT. AND THEN YOU JUST GO THROUGH THE ACT OF CONTRITION. >> Doug: USUALLY IT'S POSTED RIGHT THERE IN THE CONFESSIONAL. >> Father: THAT'S RIGHT. OFTEN ENOUGH, AT THIS POSTED AND IF NOT, THE PRIEST WILL TAKE YOU THROUGH IT LINE BY LINE. ONCE THAT'S DONE, HE'S GOING TO GIVE YOU ABSOLUTION. AND I'M TELLING YOU, ELAINE, WHEN YOU GO THROUGH THAT ABSOLUTION AND YOU HEAR, I ABSOLVE YOU FROM ALL OF YOUR SINS, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. YOU ARE GOING TO LEAVE THAT CONFESSIONAL. I'M TELLING YOU! YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON A HIGH. >> 35 YEARS LIGHTER! THAT'S WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE. >> Father: RIGHT. 35 YEARS LIGHTER. ABSOLUTELY. IT WILL BREAK THE GRIP OF THE DEVIL ON YOU, PUTTING YOU ON THE PATH OF SALVATION. GO TO MASS AGAIN. DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR COURAGE. HAVE COURAGE AND SET THE APPOINTMENT WITH THE PRIEST. AMEN. >> Doug: AMEN. WE'LL TAKE A BREAK AND WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK AFTER THIS. MUCH MORE WITH FATHER SPITZER, GETTING INTO THE TOPIC AND MAYBE A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS. THERE'S MUCH MORE AHEAD. STAY WITH US. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> Doug: THANKS FOR STAYING WITH US HERE ON "FR. SPITZER'S UNIVERSE" AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH AND REASON. WE RETURN TO FATHER SPITZER OUT ON THE WEST COAST, CHRIST CATHEDRAL CAMPUS, OUR STUDIO OUT THERE. AND WE TALKED IN THE BEGINNING ABOUT PEOPLE WITH REASON, AND THE ISSUES WITH THEM, BECAUSE OF SCIENCE. HERE'S KIND OF AN INTERESTING QUESTION. LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT. HOW DOES ONE FEEL THE PRESENCE OF GOD, I'M A BELIEVER IN MY CATHOLIC FAITH INTELLECTUALLY. SPIRITUALLY IT DOES NOTHING FOR ME. I SPEND TIME ALONE, IN CHURCH, AND DID NOTHING HOW DOES ONE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. THIS IS BYRON PERRY, OAKVILLE, ONTARIO, CANADA. >> Father: BYRON, GREAT QUESTION. THREE QUICK POINTS. NUMBER ONE, DO NOT OVEREMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF FEELINGS. FEELINGS HAPPEN AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT. AND YOU WILL RECOGNIZE THEM AS YOU PURSUE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE MORE DEEPLY. YOU WILL SEE THEM. BUT YOU CAN'T CONTROL THE FEELINGS GOD GIVES CONSOLATION AND GOD GIVES DESOLATION. I'M GOING TO DESCRIBE THAT IN A LITTLE BIT, IN A SECOND. BUT THE SECOND POINT NEEDS TO KNOW, GOD COMMUNICATES IN OTHER WAYS BESIDES FEELINGS. LET'S GO THROUGH A FEW OF THE WAYS. NUMBER ONE WAY, GOD COMMUNICATES RIGHT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND. AND I'M TELLING YOU, YOU GET THESE LITTLE IDEAS AND THEY START GERMINATING IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND. SUDDENLY, HAVE YOU A SENSE OF, SOMETHING NEEDS TO HAPPEN. YOU HAVE A SENSE OF, I OUGHT TO GO IN THE CHURCH IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE CHURCH FOR 10 YEARS. GOD DOESN'T WANT TO EVER GO CONTRARY TO YOUR FREEDOM. HE NEVER IS GOING TO FORCE YOU TO DO ANYTHING. HE'S VERY SUBTLE AND WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO IS PLANT LITTLE THOUGHTS, NOT FEELINGS NECESSARILY, BUT THOUGHTS IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND HIS INTEREST IS TO MOVE YOU IN YOUR FREEDOM. THAT'S THE FIRST INTEREST. AND THOSE THOUGHTS GO IN THE BACK OF YOUR MIND. BUT YOU HAVE TO BE RECEPTIVE TO THE THOUGHTS. THEY ARE GOING TO COME UP, THEY ARE GOING TO BE SUBTLE. YOU HAVE TO RECEIVE THEM AND YOU THINK, I BETTER DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT. AND THAT'S, YOU GOT TO MOVE IT FROM, I GOT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT, TO PUTTING IT ON YOUR CALENDAR. SO, THAT'S THE FIRST THING, OR JUST DOING IT, GETTING IT DONE. THAT'S THE FIRST THING. GOD ALSO, BRIAN, CAN USE NEGATIVE FEELINGS TO GET US TO DEEPEN HIS -- OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. WHAT DOES HE DO? HE CAN WAKE YOU UP, I CALL IT MY 2:00 TO 3:00 WAKE-UP CALL! LET'S SUPPOSE I'M DOING SOMETHING REALLY STUPID OR I JUST HEARD, I'M GETTING OFF THE RAILS AGAIN. RIGHT? WHETHER YOU KNOW IN MY SPIRITUAL LIFE, I'M GETTING LAX OR I'M JUST CUTTING CORNERS IN VARIOUS AREAS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA. OR WHATEVER. IT COULD BE SOMETHING MUCH MORE SERIOUS. YOU KNOW, IF A PERSON IS JUST DECIDING THAT THEY ARE JUST NOT GOING TO MASS OR THEY ARE GETTING INTO A LIFESTYLE THAT'S GOING TO MORALLY UNDERMINE THEM AND OPEN THEM TO THE INFLUENCE OF THE DEVIL. RIGHT. IF THAT'S THE CASE, GOD GENERALLY IS GOING TO GIVE YOU FIRST A NIGHTMARE OR TWO. WHAT HAPPENS IS, WHO KNOWS, YOU WAKE UP FROM THE NIGHTMARE AND THE NIGHTMARE, MAYBE MARY WILL BE CRYING OR IN THE NIGHTMARE, YOU WILL BE DROPPING INTO, LIKE, A PIT THAT'S GOING, SEEMS ENDLESS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. OR WHATEVER. IT COULD BE KIND OF A NIGHTMARE. AND SO THOSE NEGATIVE ONES, WHEN YOU GET ONE OF THOSE THINGS AND GOD SEEMS TO BE ALMOST PRESENT IN IT, AND YOU GET THIS SENSE, THAT GOD IS NOT GIVING YOU THE NIGHTMARE TO SCARE YOU. HE'S GIVING YOU THE NIGHTMARE BECAUSE HE LOVES YOU! HE WANTS YOU TO GET OUT OF WHATEVER YOU ARE IN. OR THE BLESSED MOTHER WANTS YOU TO GET OUT OF WHATEVER YOU ARE IN. WHEN YOU GET THAT NIGHTMARE, YOU GOT TO RESPOND. YOU GOT TO THINK, OKAY. WHAT IS IT, LORD. IT'S TIME FOR PRAYER. WHAT IS IT, LORD, THAT YOU ARE CALLING ME TO. WHERE DO I NEED TO MAKE A CHANGE IN MY LIFE. OR SOMETIMES YOU KNOW ALREADY WHERE YOU HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE. OFTEN, SOMETHING HAPPENS TO ME, I KNOW WHEN I HAVE TO MAKE A CHANGE IN MY LIFE AND I SAY, OH, I GOT TO DO THIS, THAT, AND I MAKE BABY STEPS. ALWAYS THE BABY STEPS. WHAT ABOUT BOB. SO, WHY DO WE WANT TO DO THAT? BECAUSE WE WANT DOABLE THINGS WHERE WE CAN START TO MAKE A CHANGE. REMEMBER, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE 1,000 PERCENT TURNAROUND OVERNIGHT. THAT AIN'T GOING TO HAPPEN. THINK OF THINGS THAT YOU CAN START DOING NOW AND START A PLAN FOR HOW YOU ARE GOING TO AMPLIFY THAT IN THE FUTURE. THAT'S ANOTHER WAY THAT GOD COMMUNICATES. A THIRD WAY THAT GOD COMMUNICATES. HE JUST SENDS PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE, PROGRAMMED INTO YOUR LIFE. LIKE I SAID, I WAS WALKING OUT OF SAINT ALOYSIUS CHURCH ONE DAY AND I SEE THE LITTLE BOOK RACK ON PRIESTHOOD. WHY DID I PICK IT UP? WHY DID I READ IT FOR AN HOUR COVER TO COVER? WHY DID I DO THAT? BECAUSE GOD WAS LITERALLY DRAWING ME OVER TO THAT THING. YOU KNOW, OF COURSE, THE WHOLE TIME I'M LOOKING AT IT, I'M GOING, OH, MY GOSH, I'M GOING TO BECOME A PERMANENT DEACON. BUT OF COURSE, THE WHOLE TIME I'M BEING DRAWN RIGHT INTO THE PRIESTHOOD. SO, THE WHOLE POINT, GOD CAN USE DESIRE, NUMBER ONE, TO DRAW YOU INTO SOMETHING. AND SOMETIMES HE BRINGS A PERSON INTO YOUR LIFE INSTEAD OF A BOOK. SOMETIMES A PERSON IS SAYING SOMETHING AND THIS KIND OF OVERWHELMING DESIRE COMES OVER YOU, A DESIRE TO LISTEN. AND YOU ARE SAYING THIS PERSON IS SAYING SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT. AND YOU ARE LETTING IT MATTER TO YOU. ORIGINALLY, YOU MIGHT HAVE BLOWN IT OFF. BUT THAT'S GOD TRYING TO OPEN YOU UP. HE'S TRYING TO FILL YOU WITH THAT SENSE OF DESIRE BUT YOU HAVE TO MOVE ON IT. HE WON'T FORCE YOU. SO, THE POINT OF COURSE IS, IF THAT DESIRE COMES OVER YOU, DON'T SAY NO. YOU JUST GOTTA SORTA SAY, OKAY, LORD, I SEE IT. I HAVE THE DESIRE AND WHAT CAN I DO BETTER TO FOLLOW YOU. SO THAT'S ANOTHER WAY IN WHICH HE COMMUNICATES. AGAIN, DESIRE HAS FEELING INVOLVED IN IT BUT IT REALLY ISN'T FEELING. IT'S MORE THAN THAT. IT'S BEING DRAWN TOWARD SOMETHING WITH A SENSE OF EXPECTATION OF HOPE AND FULFILLMENT IN IT. AND THAT IS GOD, THE EXPECTATION OF HOPE AND FULFILLMENT. THAT'S A THIRD WAY THAT GOD WORKS THROUGH FEELINGS. BUT JUST LASTLY, TO CONCLUDE IT FOR YOU, THE FOURTH AREA IS, GOD CAN USE FEELINGS AND HE USES BOTH NEGATIVE FEELINGS AND POSITIVE FEELINGS. I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE NEGATIVE FEELINGS. BUT HE ALSO DOES USE POSITIVE FEELINGS AS WELL. NOW, FIRST OF ALL, THINK IT WAS BYRON, RIGHT, YOU ARE LIVING WITH A WHOLE LOT OF SPIRITUAL CONSOLATION THAT YOU DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE. SO, THE FIRST POINT THAT YOU HAVE TO CONSIDER IS, WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF GOD TURNED OFF THE SPIRITUAL CONSOLATION THAT YOU WERE FEELING RIGHT NOW? YOU DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE IT. IT'S LIKE A RADIO THAT'S GOING OFF. MY MOM HAD RADIOS GOING OFF EVERYWHERE IN THE HOUSE. IF YOU TURNED OFF THAT RADIO, THE SILENCE WOULD BE DEAFENING. WELL, IF GOD TURNS OFF WHAT I CALL THE ORDINARY, EVERYDAY CONSOLATION THAT HE GIVES YOU, THAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T EVEN RECOGNIZE BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THE RADIO PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND, IF HE TURNED THAT OFF BYRON YOU WOULD BE IN A STATE OF DESOLATION INSTANTLY. YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE TO STAND. WOULD YOU HAVE LONELINESS AND OPPRESSION AND SO PROFOUND, YOU WOULDN'T KNOW WHERE YOU WERE STANDING. AND REMEMBER THIS, WHEN YOU ARE SAYING, I'M NOT FEELING ANYTHING. NO, YOU ARE NOT FEELING EXTRAORDINARY CONSOLATION BUT YOU ARE FEELING A WHOLE LOT OF ORDINARY CONSOLATION, IF GOD TURNED THAT OFF, THE SILENCE WOULD BE DEAFENING, THE SILENCE WOULD BE PROFOUND. SO, GOD IS GIVING YOU THAT CONSOLATION ALL THE TIME. >> Doug: LIKE A LOT OF TIMES, YOU SAY YOU DON'T KNOW YOU HAD SOMETHING UNTIL IT'S MISSING. AND THEN YOU REALIZE, OH, THERE WAS A LOT MORE THERE THAN I REALIZE THE. SO, THE LAST 10 MINUTES OR SO, LET'S GET INTO JESUS' INTENTION AT THE LAST SUPPER. YOU SAY THE INTENTION IS NOT ONLY TO GIVE US HIS BODY AND BLOOD, BUT HIS WHOLE SELF CRUCIFIED AND RISEN, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, HEALS AND TRANSFORMS OUR HEARTS AND LEADS US TO ETERNAL LIFE WITH HIM. WHY IS THIS, THE IDEA OF EMPHASIZING HIS INTENTION IMPORTANT? >> Father: BECAUSE WE MISUNDERSTAND, IN THIS 21ST CENTURY, THIS CULTURE, WE MISUNDERSTAND WHAT HIS INTENTION WAS. WE LOOK AT THAT AND WE GO, GOSH, HE'S GIVING US HIS BODY AND BLOOD. OH, THAT SEEMS LIKE CANNIBALISM OR SOMETHING TO ME. AND THEY GET ALL DOWN A DIFFERENT ROUTE AND SO FORTH. SO, WE GOT TO, FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS GET INTO JESUS' MIND, AND IN HIS HEART. WHAT DID HE MEAN? WHAT WAS HE INTENDING FOR US? THE GIFT OF HIS BODY AND BLOOD IS HIS REAL BODY AND BLOOD GIVEN ON THE CROSS. NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT. WE BELIEVE IT, I CERTAINLY THINK IT HAS BEEN VALIDATED AND SEVERAL EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES, PARTICULARLY THE BUENOS AIRES ONE IN 1978, OVERSEEN BY POPE FRANCIS. AND I TOTALLY BELIEVE THAT IT'S HIS REAL BODY AND BLOOD CRUCIFIED ON CALGARY. I CAN TALK MORE ABOUT THAT IN A MOMENT. AND AS WE RECEIVE THAT INTO US, WE RECEIVE NOT ONLY THE FORETASTE OF HIS GLORIFICATION, BUT HIS RISEN BODY IS THE BASIS, THE SUB STRAIT FOR THE WHOLE MYSTICAL BODY. WE CALL IT THE MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST. PAUL CALLS IT THE BODY OF CHRIST. SO, WHEN WE RECEIVE HIS BODY AND BLOOD, INTO US, HIS BLOOD AND BODY AND BLOOD INTO US, WE'RE INTEGRATED INTO THE WHOLE MYSTICAL BODY. WE'RE PART OF THE CHURCH, PART OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. WE'RE NOT ESCHATOLOGICALLY PART OF THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS, BUT WE'RE UNITED WITH THE SAINTS AND THE BODY OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH, WITH ALL OF THE SAINTS AND ANGELS, AND YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE GRACES, CAN JUST LITERALLY PLUG INTO US. AND IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE. WE TAKE ADVANTAGE. GO TO CHURCH, IF WE'RE ACTIVE IN THE PARISHES, WE'RE GOING TO THE EUCHARIST, TO RECONCILIATION, IT'S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO US. SO, WE'RE PLUGGED INTO THAT. THAT'S THE SECOND BENEFIT. GET THE FORETASTE OF HIS GLORIFICATION INTEGRATED INTO HIS MYSTICAL BODY. WE ABSOLUTELY CAN SENSE WHEN EASTER IS COMING, WHEN CHRISTMAS IS COMING. WE CAN SENSE IT SPIRITUALLY NOT JUST, OH, GOOD, MATERIALISTIC CHRISTMAS IS COMING AND I'LL GET THE PRESENT I'LL GET. NO, SPIRITUALLY CHRISTMAS IS HERE, I'M WITH THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS. AND I'M ATTENDING, REJOICING IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN AND CAN EXPERIENCE. THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THESE LITTLE MYSTICAL EXPERIENCES IN CHRISTMASTIME, EASTER TIME AND LENT, EVEN THE PROFOUND REPENTANCE AND SO FORTH. THE MAIN THING, THAT'S THE SECOND ONE. BUT THE THIRD GRACE THAT COMES FROM THE HOLY EUCHARIST AND WHAT JESUS INTENDED. HE REALLY DID WANT TO GIVE US HIS UNCONDITIONAL ACT OF LOVE. AND THIS IS WHY WE SAY, OFFER IT UP. WHAT JESUS WAS DOING ON THE CROSS WAS OFFERING UP HIS BODY AND BLOOD. YES, HIS BODY, PHYSICAL BODY, RISEN BODY. ALL OF THAT IS PRESENT. INDEED, EVEN HIS DIVINITY IS PRESENT. BUT THAT'S AN UNCONDITIONAL ACT OF LOVE. REMEMBER WHAT IT SAYS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN. THERE IS NO GREATER LOVE THAT A MAN CAN HAVE THAN TO GIVE HIS LIFE, HIS WHOLE SELF FOR HIS FRIENDS. WHAT JESUS IS SAYING THERE IS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IS MY GIFT OF SELF, MY BODY AND MY BLOOD, MY WHOLE SELF, MY WHOLE LIFE GIVEN OVER FOR YOU. LISTEN TO THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS. THIS IS MY BODY GIVEN FOR YOU. GET IT? THIS IS MY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. MY WHOLE SELF. RIGHT? THE WORD BODY IS TRANSFORMED BY SELF, THIS IS MYSELF GIVEN FOR YOU. THAT'S JUST LIKE JOHN'S DEFINITION OF LOVE RIGHT THERE. THIS IS MY UNCONDITIONAL LOVE FOR YOU. HERE IT IS. SO, WHY DOES HE WANT TO GIVE US THIS UNCONDITIONAL LOVE? TO BREAK THE GRIP OF EVIL AND THE SPELL OF EVIL OVER YOU. YOU RECEIVED THAT EUCHARIST, IT'S THE WORST THING THAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE DEVIL. SAME THING WITH THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION. YOU GET ABSOLUTION, IT'S THE WORST THING THAT HAPPENS TO THE DEVIL BECAUSE HIS GRIP IS BROKEN BY THE SHEER GIFT OF GRACE AND SHEER GIFT OF LOVE BY JESUS CHRIST. HE CAN'T STAND THAT! IT'S A LOVE THAT HEALS YOU, BY THE WAY. IT'S A LOVE THAT REDEEMS YOU BY THE WAY. AND IT'S AN UNCONDITIONAL ACT OF LOVE. NOT JUST SOME SORT OF STATIC LOVE. IT'S LIKE A DYNAMIC LOVE THAT'S REACHING INTO YOUR HEART TRANSFORMING YOU INTO THE VERY IMAGE, VERY HEART OF JESUS CHRIST. AT THE VERY SAME MOMENT, IT'S HEALING YOU FROM ALL OF THE PROBLEMS OF PAST SINFULNESS. SO, LITERALLY, IT'S AN ANTIPILL TO THE DEVIL, A HEALING PILL FOR YOU AND A TRANSFORMATION PILL, YOUR TRANSFORMATION INTO THE HEART OF CHRIST. SO, THAT'S WHY HE'S GIVING US THIS UNCONDITIONAL ACT OF LOVE. DO YOU THINK FOR A SECOND THAT JESUS CANNOT HEAL, JUST LIKE THAT, WITHOUT THE RIGHT OF ABSOLUTION, RIGHT THERE IN JOHN 20:20. DO YOU THINK THAT JESUS CANNOT HEAL PAST THE PROBLEMS OF PAST SIN AND THE REAL DEFECTS OF PAST SIN THROUGH THE HOLY EUCHARIST, INSTANTLY. HIS UNCONDITIONAL ACT OF LOVE IS INSTANT. DEVIL'S GRIP IS FINITE. AND BAMMO. THEN YOU GET THAT GRACE. AND WHAT DID HE HAVE IN MIND? THIS IS WHAT HE HAD IN MIND, THIS IS NOT CANNIBALISM. THIS IS AN UNCONDITIONAL ACT OF LOVE. THIS IS A GIFT OF HIS RISEN BODY. THIS IS AN INTEGRATION INTO THE CHURCH. THIS IS HIS MEANS OF TRANSFORMING US IN HIS HEART THIS. IS WHAT HE INTENDED. AND OF COURSE, YOU SAY, WELL, I THINK THAT'S, YOU KNOW, SPITZER, JESUS. WELL, IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THAT, PLEASE, STUDY THE SCRIPTURAL EVIDENCE FOR ONE SECOND. HERE'S WHAT YOU DO. GO TO crediblecatholic.com. crediblecatholic.com. CLICK ON THE BIG BOOK. THEN CLICK ON VOLUME 9. GO TO CHAPTER 1. PLEASE. LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE. I HAVE THE EVIDENCE FROM NUMEROUS AUTHORS, AND THIS IS NOT SPITZER WAXING ELOQUENT. THESE ARE GOOD HISTORICAL EXEGETES LOOKING INTO THE MINDSET OF FIRST CENTURY JUDAISM. JESUS SAYING IT AS THE MESSIAH, SON OF GOD, HE'S SAYING THIS KNOWING THAT HIS FATHER IS IN THE COLLAPSE OF TIME, SAYING THIS THAT HE KNOWS THAT HIS RISEN BODY OF THE FUTURE IS GOING TO BE GIVEN TO THE APOSTLES. THIS IS THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE THAT HE HIMSELF SAYS IN JOHN'S GOSPEL THAT HE IS OFFERING TO YOU. BELIEVE ME, I AM NOT JUST SUPER IMPOSING THIS, YOU KNOW, SPITZER, THE BLOVIATOR. THIS IS DEFINITELY WHAT A GOOD HISTORICAL EXEGETE THINK IS HAPPENING. AND I'M SORRY OUR PROTESTANT BRETHREN DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. NOW, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, EVEN MARTIN LUTHER'S WAVERING ON THIS, HE REALLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT JESUS WAS DOING. HE HAD A VERY GERMANIC, AND THEREFORE GREEK VIEW OF WHAT AMNESIS MEANT AND WHAT THE PROPHETIC WORD MEANT. SO, I'M NOT IN ANY WAY TRYING TO BE ARROGANT. WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, LOOK AT IT SERIOUSLY. >> WHEN YOU SAY GREEK VIEW, IS THAT UNDERSTANDING THE HEBREW MENTALITY. >> THAT'S CORRECT. >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE FIRST CENTURY VIEW DID NOT HAVE MERELY ABSTRACT UTTERANCE >> Father: THAT'S CORRECT. THAT'S CORRECT. AND THE SAME THING WITH AMNESIS, REMEMBER THIS. DO THIS IN MEMORY OF ME. THAT IDEA OF THE MEMORY. AND THE GREEK WAY OF LOOKING AT MEMORY, YES. THAT MEANS CALLING TO MIND. THAT'S NOT WHAT A FIRST CENTURY JEWISH PERSON WOULD HAVE THOUGHT AT ALL. A FIRST INDUSTRY JEWISH PERSON, ESPECIALLY MESSIANIC PROPHET, SON OF GOD, LIKE JESUS, WHAT WOULD HE HAVE THOUGHT. HE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT MEMORY TRANSLATED AMNESIS IN GREEK. THAT WORD MEANT RELIVING IT SO THAT THE PAST WOULD COLLAPSE INTO THE PRESENT MOMENT AND THAT PRESENT MOMENT WOULD HAVE THE FULL EFFICACY, FULL GRACE THAT WAS THERE WHEN JESUS GAVE HIS BODY AND BLOOD TO HIS DISCIPLES AT THE LAST SUPPER. THAT'S WHAT HE INTENDED. THAT'S HOW A SEMITE WOULD LOOK AT IT. AND THAT'S HOW CERTAINLY HOW THE MESSIAH WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT IT. AND CERTAINLY HOW THE MESSIAH, WHO IS THE SON OF GOD AND WAS THE SON OF GOD WOULD HAVE LOOKED AT IT. SO, ALL WE HAVE TO SAY IS, YOU REALLY NEED TO LOOK AT THE HISTORICAL EVIDENCE. IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO. IF YOU DO, YOU WILL NOT DOUBT THE REAL PRESENCE OF JESUS IN THE EUCHARIST. AND YOU WILL STOP THIS SILLY KIND OF GERMANICIZED, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THIS NOT WITH ARROGANCE, BUT I SAY RUDOLPH BOLTON AND COMPANY. THEY JUST MISUNDERSTOOD AND GAVE DEFINITELY A GREEK INTERPRETATION NOT ONLY TO ST. PAUL, BUT TO THE GOSPEL THEMSELVES WHICH I THINK WAS VERY UNWARRANTED. BUT A STUDENT OF RUDOLPH WENT AGAINST HIM, WROTE AGAINST HIM AND WROTE THAT JESUS, THE NEW TESTAMENT THEOLOGY, VOLUME 1. JUST READ THAT BOOK, ESPECIALLY THE BOOK OF THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS OF JESUS. AND THEN, FOLLOW, I MEAN, IT'S REALLY A VERY IMPORTANT AND GOOD HISTORICAL BOOK. HOW A JEWISH MESSIANIC PROPHET WOULD LOOK AT THE EUCHARIST. AND BY THE WAY, HE WAS A LUTHERAN. HE DEPARTS SIGNIFICANTLY FROM LUTHER AND FROM BOLT MON, HIS MENTOR, HIS INFLUENCER. SO, I WOULD JUST LEAVE IT AT THAT AND I WOULD SAY, THIS SAINT A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT -- THIS IS A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT BOOK TO READ. GO TO crediblecatholic.com. BIG BOOK. VOLUME 9. CHAPTER 1. THE EVIDENCE IS RIGHT THERE. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT STUFF. IT IS THE SPIRITUAL PATHWAY TO SALVATION CANNIBALISM. HARDLY CALLING IT TO MIND AS A SYMBOLIC RITUAL. HORRID. IT'S JUST A 0, A NOTHING BURGER. SO, FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES, SHTICK WITH GOOD SOLID EXEGETES LOOKING AT IT FROM HER METICAL POINT OF VIEW AND NOT JUST WORLD POINT OF VIEW. >> NOW, FATHER, CAN YOU GIVE US YOUR BLESSING ON THE WAY OUT OF THE DOOR >> Father: ABSOLUTELY. BOW YOUR HEADS AND PRAY FOR GOD'S BLESSING. MAY ALMIGHTY GOD SEND HIS HOLY SPIRIT DOWN UPON YOU AND INSPIRING YOU INTO THE MENTALITY OF JESUS, INTO THE HEART OF JESUS, INTO THE LOVE OF JESUS, HELP YOU TO KNOW NOT ONLY THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST BUT HOW IT IS LEADING YOU AND INDEED HOW YOU CAN FEEL AND DESIRE THAT MOVEMENT THAT HE GIVES YOU AND HOW YOU CAN FEEL AND SENSE THE BREAKING WITH EVIL THAT COMES THROUGH THIS MOST WONDERFUL GIFT THAT HE HAS GIVEN US, THE GIFT OF PEACE AND TRANSFORMATION. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. >> Doug: THANK YOU, FATHER, SO MUCH, AS WE SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AND CONTINUE ON THE TOPICS. INTENTION AT THE LAST SUPPER, WHAT WAS OUR LORD THINKING. WELL, FR. SPITZER IS HELPING US TO FIGURE THAT OUT. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK. AND OF COURSE, ALL OF YOU WATCHING HERE AT EWTN DON'T FORGET CATCH THIS SHOW ON YOU TUBE, AND ON ewtn.com. WE'LL HAVE THE SPECIAL ADVENT REFLECTIONS, SPECIAL INTERVIEW WITH ALAN HOPE'S. LOOK FOR THAT. AND LOOK FOR THE COVERAGE OF THE POPE BEGINNING THIS EVENING, WEDNESDAY, RUNNING THROUGH THE WEEKEND, BETWEEN THAILAND AND JAPAN. AND EWTN IS GOING TO COVER ALL OF THAT. AND DON'T FORGET ALL OF THE FATHER SPITZER MATERIALS AVAILABLE THROUGH THE EWTN RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE AS WELL AS ON crediblecatholic.com AND magiscenter.com. WITH THAT BEING SAID, ONCE MORE, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AT THE BUSY INTERSECTION OF FAITH AND REASON. [MUSIC]
