[MUSIC] >> WELCOME ONCE AGAIN TO "FR. SPITZER'S UNIVERSE" AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH AND REASON. BOY CAN WE USE IT NOW! I'M DOUG KECK HERE, RESPONDING EACH WEEK WITH FATHER SPITZER. ALWAYS IMPORTANT THAT YOU EMAIL US YOUR QUESTIONS, CHECK US OUT ON FACEBOOK, TWEET US ON TWITTER, GO TO THE magiscenter.com AND OF COURSE, crediblecatholic.com WITH ALWAYS GREAT TEACHING MATERIALS. AS WE CONTINUE ON OUR TOPIC, BASED ON FATHER'S LATEST BOOK, CHRIST VERSUS SATAN IN OUR DAILY LIVES, THE COSMIC STRUGGLE BETWEEN GOOD AND EVIL. AND OF COURSE, FATHER SPITZER BOOK AVAILABLE THROUGH ewtnRC.com. ALSO, I WANT TO MENTION, AS WE MOVE INTO LENT, THE BOOK OF THE MONTH, MAKING A HOLY LENT, FR. WILLIAM CASEY AND ALSO, I WOULD MENTION, THE FOUR LAST THINGS FR. WADE MENEZES BOTH POPULAR PRIESTS HERE AT EWTN AS WELL. NOW, WE TURN TO FATHER SPITZER, OUR RENOWNED AUTHOR. LEAD US IN PRAYER IF YOU WOULD. >> IN T THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. HEAVENLY FATHER WE GIVE YOU THANKS FOR ALL OF THE BLESS BLESSINGS THAT YOU GIVE US AND ESPECIALLY IN LIVING IN THESE INTERESTING TIMES WITH A FAITH AND A CHURCH THAT HELPS AND SUPPORTS US. WE ASK YOU TO SEND YOUR HOLY SPIRIT DOWN UPON US TO INSPIRE, GUIDE, AND PROTECT US SO EVERYTHING WE DO IS BROUGHT TO FRUITION IN YOUR WILL, FOR THE GOOD OF YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR CHURCH, AND YOUR KINGDOM. THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD, AMEN. MARY, SEAT OF WISDOM, PRAY FOR US. ST. BLAISE, PRAY FOR US. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. >> AND VERY GOOD. WE'LL GET INTO OUR TOPIC MOMENTARILY BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THINGS HAPPENING IN THE WORLD. GET YOUR INPUT ON THAT AND THEN WE'LL GO OVER THE QUESTIONS SENT TO US OVER THE LAST WEEK OR SO. HERE'S A STORY AND YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH A GENTLEMAN NAMED DOCTOR CHAD PECK KNOLLED. PROFESSOR OF THEOLOGY THERE. AND HE HAD BROUGHT UP AN ARTICLE THAT PEOPLE CELEBRATE PRESIDENTT BIDENS CATHOLICISM. DEVOUT CATHOLICISM. AND SO, THEY CRITICIZED SUPREME COURT JUSTICE OF AMY CONEY BARRETT BECAUSE OF HER THINKING ON CERTAIN CATHOLIC PRINCIPLES. SO, LIBERAL THINKERS HAVE LONG FOLLOWED CATHOLICISM AS COMPETITIVE FAITH THAT NEEDS TO BE CO-OPT HAD, CONFINED. AND JOE BIDEN REPRESENTS THE MOST CONFUSING COME BATTLE OF THAT WHICH RHETORICALLY INSISTING, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHES WHATEVER THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TEACHES. WHAT'S YOUR TAKE ON THAT? >> THAT'S A PRETTY ASTUTE CONTENTION IN MANY CASE. COMPATIBLISM MEANS TO CO-OPT, THAT'S WHAT IT MEANS, CO-OPT AND OPPOSING DOCTRINE TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT REALLY BELONGS TO THE DOCTRINE THAT, LET'S SAY, IN THIS CASE, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, THAT IS IN OPPOSITION TO IT. AND FOR EXAMPLE, IF I WANT TO PROP BEGAN DYES SOMEBODY, MAYBE IN NAZI GERMANY, ALL I DO IS SAY, LOOK, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS OUT THERE PROTESTING WHAT WE'RE DOING. SO, WHAT WE JUST WANT TO SAY IS, WE'RE NOT AGAINST THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND HERE'S THE MAIN PART, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH REALLY ISN'T AGAINST US. WE HEAR THE SIMILARITIES BETWEEN US AND IF WE TAKE CATHOLICISM TO THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION, THEY ARE TOTALLY IN AGREEMENT WITH WHATEVER, THE NAZI PARTY OR WHATEVER THE CASE MAY BE. THIS HAS BEEN DONE AGE AFTER AGE AFTER AGE. AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK, OF COURSE, PERSECUTION WOULD ENSUE. SO, IF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH KEEPS CHALLENGING IT AND SAYING, OH, YOU ARE REALLY NOT US. YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTING US. NORMALLY, IN THE CASE OF ROME AND SEVERAL EMPERORS AND IN THE CASE OF NAZI GERMANY, ET CETERA, THE REGIME, POLITICAL REGIME IN POWER TURNED ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. SO, THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS TO INSIST THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SHOULD BE THE SPOKESMAN OF WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS SAYING. AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS NOT SAYING THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH RESPECT TO THE STAND ON ABORTION IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OR CATHOLIC TEACHING OR CATHOLIC DOCTRINE IN ANY WAY. AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS SAID VERY EXPLICITLY THAT THE DOCTRINE OF ABORTION AND THOSE AFFIRMATIVE AVIDLY-SPORTING IT, SUPPORTING IT UNDERMINING THE CULTURE OF THE WESTERN WORLD, THAT'S NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CATHOLIC CHURCH AND WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THAT. AND ANYBODY WHO TRIES TO TEST FROM THE INSIDE, WHATEVER IT IS, A PAPER, MEDIA OUTLET, GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, HIM OR HERSELF WHO TRIES TO SAY, WELL, TRULY I AM A DEVOUT CATHOLIC. IT'S SO CLEAR THAT THEY ARE AT ODDS WITH EVERYTHING THAT THE CHURCH HOLDS. THAT MEANS THAT JESUS CHRIST HOLDS, THAT OUGHT TO BE A MATTER OF CONCERN AND WE OUGHT TO CHALLENGE THAT AT EVERY TURN. THINK THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS TRYING TO DO THAT ADEQUATELY. I THINK THERE' SOME PEOPLE WITHIN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH TRYING TO MAKE PEACE WITH ADVERSE DOCTRINE. BUT BY AND LARGE, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OFFICIALLY IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THESE KINDS OF THINGS AND REALLY SOME OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE THAT AND SAY, NO, THAT'S NOT THE CASE. >> AND SEEMS LIKE, MAINLINE CHURCH'S TEACHINGS BEING INCREDIBLY IN SYNC WITH A LITE ON WHAT WE SHOULD BE. SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SOME SORT OF AGREEMENT ALMOST OVER THE FACT THAT WHAT THE SECULAR SOCIETY KIND OF BELIEVES IS SORT OF WHAT MOST MAINLINE LIBERAL CHURCHES, PRESBPROTESTANT CHURCH KIND OF H TODAY. >> WELL, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS NOT A MAINLINE CHURCH, THAT'S FOR SURE. BUT IT CERTAINLY REPRESENTS 25% OF THE POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, AND A GREATER POPULATION THROUGHOUT MANY COUNTRIES IN EUROPE AND ASIA. BUT THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE IS, YEAH, THERE ARE CHURCHES WHO CONFORM THEMSELVES TO A CERTAIN SET OF PARTICULAR IDEOLOGIES AND CERTAINLY THAT HAS NEVER BEEN THE CATHOLIC POSITION, AND NEVER WILL BE THE CATHOLIC POSITION BECAUSE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH BY AND LARGE NEVER LET THE SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT DICTATE WHAT IT SHOULD SAY. THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY, BY THE WAY, THE CHURCH HAS PAID DEARLY EVERY TIME THEY TOLD THE SECULAR ESTABLISHMENT, NO, YOU ARE NOT REALLY REPRESENTING US AND YOU ARE NOT REALLY REPRESENTING CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE AND TRUE OBJECTIVE MORAL DOCTRINE. YOU CAN'T DO IT, WE'RE AT ODDS WITH YOU. AND THAT ALWAYS GETS THE CHURCH IN TROUBLE WITH THE POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU GET HENRY II SAYING, NO ONE RID ME OF THIS PRIEST! NAMELY, PRIEST THOMAS BECKETT. SO, THE POINT I GET TO THERE, YEAH, I DON'T THINK IT'S EVER GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE CHURCH, CATHOLIC CHURCH. AND THINK WE TAKE THE MORAL TEACHING OF JESUS CHRIST WAY TOO SERIOUSLY AND AS A RESULT OF THAT DEFINITELY WILL BE IN OPPOSITION TO THE CURRENT POLITICAL REGYM IN SUPPORT OF ABORTION AND MANY OTHER THINGS THAT THE POLITICAL REGIME IS TAKING ON, NOT ONLY ABORTION BUT THE CULTURE OF DEATH. >> AND TALKING ABOUT THE MAIN LINE PROTESTANT CHURNS, SEEMS LIKE OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, THEY WENT FROM TOLERATING THE PROBLEMS IN THE SECULAR CULTURE TO THE POINT THAT THEY VIRTUALLY ENDORSE THEM TODAY. >> YEAH, I THINK OBVIOUSLY, THE EVANGELICALS HAVE BEEN RESISTANT TO A LOT OF THOSE CHANGES WITHIN THE PROTESTANT TRADITION. BUT THE MAINLINE PROTESTANT CHURCHES DO SEEM TO BE EXCEEDING, ACCEDING TO A LOT OF SECULAR IDEOLOGY AND IN THAT RESPECT, VERY DIVERGENT WHAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS DOING AND EVEN WHAT THEIR EVANGELICAL BROTHERS AND SISTERS ARE DOING. >> Doug: THAT'S RIGHT. VERY GOOD. LET'S GET ON TO QUESTIONS FROM SOME VIEWERS FROM THE PAST. AND THIS ONE, WE'RE PICKING UP FROM OUR LAST SHOW BECAUSE YOU PROMISED THAT YOU WOULD DO RESEARCH AND ANSWER THIS QUESTION. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE LIFE OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN. I HAVE BEEN READING THE MYSTICAL CITY OF GOD: LIFE OF THE VIRGIN MOTHER OF GOD. I KNOW IT IS NOT CONSIDERED DIVINELY INSPIRED LIKE THE BIBLE, BUT CAN IT BE CONSIDERED A RELIABLE RESOURCE ON OUR LADY'S LIFE? SHARON. SO, WE WANT TO REVISIT THIS, IT WAS A PRIOR QUESTION. >> HERE'S THE UPSHOT, THIS IS FROM VENERABLE MARY AGREDA. FIRST OF ALL, THIS IS PRIVATE REVELATION. NO CATHOLIC HAS TO BELIEVE PRIVATE REVELATION. HOWEVER, THE BOOK DOES ENJOY IMPRA MATURES, ONE FOR THE SPANISH EDITION AND ONE FOR THE ENGLISH EDITION. I LOOKED IT UP IN THE BOOK MYSELF AND THOSE IMPRATURS ARE CERTAINLY VALID. SO, THAT MEANS, NOTHING OPPOSED TO CATHOLIC DOCTRINE IN THAT BOOK. NOW, THAT BOOK HAS A LOT OF STORIES ABOUT MARY'S LIFE IN THERE. SOME OF THEM -- NONE OF THEM CONFLICT WITH SCRIPTURE. SOME OF THEM GO WAY BEYOND SCRIPTURE INTO AREAS THAT ARE, COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE VERIFIED THAT WE HAVE. AND NEVERTHELESS, IT'S BEEN GIVEN AN IMPRATURS. SO THAT CAN'T REALLY BE ASSESSED, THERE'S NO HISTORICAL DATA ASSESSING IT. HOWEVER, IF IT'S EDIFYING TO YOU, PRIVATE REVELATION AND ANYBODY CAN DOUBT ANYTHING IN IT. THERE'S NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT THERE'S NOTHING OPPOSED TO THE CHURCH. SO, IF YOU FIND IT EDIFYING, THEN PLEASE READ IT AND TAKE THE EDIFICATION THAT YOU CAN FROM IT. BECAUSE, I THINK, IT IS THERE TO SUPPORT YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE. WHETHER IT'S RELIABLE, TRUE, NO ONE CAN REALLY SAY. BUT WE'LL FIND OUT WHEN WE GET TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. >> Doug: RIGHT. VERY GOOD. AND ALSO, IF YOU RUN INTO CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TEACHING OF THE CHURCH AND YOUR INTRER INTERPRETATION OF THE WRITINS, THE INTERPRETATION OF THE CHURCH IS WHAT SUPERCEDES. >> ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. >> Doug: THE OTHER THING, PEOPLE SEE OTHER READINGS AND THEN THEY MAY SEE SOMETHING LIKE THE GNOSTIC GOSPEL, WHICH ARE DIFFERENT, IN A SENSE THAT THERE IS PROBLEMS WITH THEM, RIGHT? >> Father: FOUR BASIC PROBLEMS WITH THE GNOSTIC GOSPEL. FIRST OF ALL, GOESIC GOSPEL ARE GOSPEL MOSTLY WRITTEN AT THE YEAR 50AD AND MOST WELL AFTER 200AD. GNOSTIC GOSPEL. THEY ARE DONE BY ANONYMOUS WRITERS AND DONE BY CULTS, DONE BY IN THIS CASE, SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE. THEY HAD SOME SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE OR ENLIGHTENMENT. AND IF YOU READ THAT KNOWLEDGE AND SPECIAL ENLIGHTENMENT THE IMPLICATION IS, YOU WOULD BE MORE IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MORE INCLINED TOWARD THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. BUT IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THIS SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, DIDN'T BELONG TO THE GNOSTIC CULT, THEN YOU MIGHT BE AT A DISADVANTAGE, LET'S SAY. SO, THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT, THE CHURCH HAS CONDEMNED ALL OF IT. YOU CAN SEE THE PROBLEMS RIGHT AWAY WITH THE GNOSTIC GOSPEL. FIRST OF ALL, IS TOTAL EXAGGERATIONS IN THE GOSPEL OF THE INFANCY OF JESUS. THEY HAVE JESUS GOING AROUND AND TOUCHING CLAY PIGEONS ON THE WALL AND MAKING THEM FLY. AND JESUS GETTING MAD AT A CLASSMATE AND BASICALLY, CURSING HIM AND DOING DAMAGE TO THE POOR KID. AND JUST A VARIETY OF THINGS AND SO PREPOSTEROUS AND INCOMMENSURATE WITH OUR GOSPEL. AND THE SECOND THING IN THE GNOSTIC GOSPEL, YOU HAVE IMPLICATIONS WITH THE CANONICAL GOSPEL AND THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH. THAT'S THE MOST DANGEROUS AND PRAGMATIC PART. AND THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS WERE WRITTEN SO FAR AFTER THE TIME OF JESUS, OBVIOUSLY, THEY WERE BEING DONE WITH ANOTHER AGENDA IN MIND. AND THE AGENDA IS BASICALLY TO KEEP PEOPLE IN THIS GNOSTIC CULT, KEEPING THEM BELIEVING THEY HAVE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE. AND THE CHURCH TEACHES, NO, THE FOUR CANONICAL GOSPEL HAS ALL OF THE TRUTH YOU NEED AS TAUGHT BY THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. THERE'S NO OTHER CULT THAT HAS ANYTHING EXTRA OR ANYTHING EXTRA THAT GETS YOU INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES, WHAT YOU HAVE IN THE FOUR GOSPEL AND THE INTERPRETATION OF THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE CHURCH IS WHAT YOU NEED TO GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, AND OF COURSE, TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE THROUGH THAT KNOWLEDGE AND THAT CHURCH UNDER THE SACRAMENTS GIVEN. SO, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED. THE GNOSTIC GOSPEL ARE REALLY HILARIOUS, ACTUALLY TRULY OUT THERE. >> AND PICKED UP BY NEW AGE FOR YEARS. >> Father: OH, YEAH, YEAH. >> Doug: I WANTED TO BE SURE WE HAD A DISTINCTION BETWEEN THESE KIND OF THINGS. OKAY. HERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT OUR LADY. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, I BELIEVE IN THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER AS TAUGHT BY THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. HOWEVER I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IN THE WHOLE PLAN OF SALVATION. ERIC >> Father: WELL, ERIC, IN THE WHOLE PLAN OF SALVATION, MAYBE THE PERPETUAL VIRGINITY OF BLESSED MARY IS NOT THE TOP DOCTRINE, LIKE THE HYPOSTATIC UNION. BUT IT IS VERY IMPORTANT, IN A WAY. WHAT MARY IS POINTING TO, NOT ONLY IN OUR WORDS BUT HER WORDS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF CHASTE TEE AND IN MARRIAGE BY BEING FAITHFUL TO SPOUSES. SOME PEOPLE LIVE THAT OUT AND MYSELF, IN THE VOW OF CHASTITY THAT I TAKE, A VOW OF VIRGINITY IN A SENSE. BUT THERE'S A REAL POINTING TO THIS VIRTUE AS A WHOLE WAY OF LIFE. OF COURSE, IT'S A VIRTUE THAT'S NOT APPRECIATED IN THE 20TH OR 21ST CENTURIES, I'LL GRANT YOU THAT. BUT A VIRTUE THAT'S BEEN SHOVED ASIDE. BUT LOOK AT WHAT'S TAKEN PLACE IN THE WORLD SINCE THAT VIRTUE WAS SHOVED ASIDE. MASTERS AND JOHNSON, PUBLISHES THEIR WORK, BIRTH CONTROL PILL GETS OFF THE GROUND IN THE 1960'S AND THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION TAKES OFF. AND WHAT DO WE HAVE TO SHOW FOR PUSHING VIRGINITY AND CHASTITY ASIDE, MAKING IT A VER TABLE NON VIRTUE. WHAT DO WE HAVE TO SHOW FOR THAT? WELL, FIRST OF ALL, RAPES HAVE INCREASED BY A FACTOR OF 500 TIMES SINCE THE 1960'S. AND IT'S NOT JUST THE REPORTING OF RAPES, I ASSURE YOU. THE REPORTING OF RAPES HAS GONE UP TO 19%, NOT 600%. SEXUAL AGGRESSION HAS SKYROCKETED AND ALL OF THIS WAY OUTWEIGHS THE REPORTING DATA THAT MAYBE YOU WOULD HAVE TO SUBTRACT SOME OUT AND CERTAINLY IS NOT EVEN REMOTELY SIMILAR. THEN TO TOP IT ALL OFF, LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE SINCE THE 1960'S, AH, YES, DIVORCE UP TO 51% SINCE THE 1960'S. AND THAT'S AN IMPROVEMENT FROM SHOVING VIRGINITY ASIDE. LET'S LOOK AT OTHER THINGS. HOW ABOUT MARITAL FIDELITY, OH, THAT'S TRIPLED ALMOST. AND NOW WE HAVE GREAT THINGS LIKE, ASHLEY MADISON OR WHATEVER THESE WEB SITES ARE TO PROMOTE MARITAL INFIDELITY. AND WHAT A GREAT IMPROVEMENT. WHAT ABOUT REMARITAL -- PRE MARITAL SEX AND COHABITATION, THROUGH THE CEILING. AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW. IS COHABITATION GOOD PRIOR TO MARRIAGE, LOTS OF KIDS THINK THAT. YOU GET LOTS OF EXPERIENCE AND YOU SEE SEXUAL COMPATIBILITY AND ALL OTHER THINGS. IS IT REALLY GOOD? NO. THE LONGER YOU COMPANY HABITATE, THE GREATER THE DIVORCE RATE. AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE A THIRD VOLUME OF THE TRILOGY COMING OUT, PROBABLY AROUND JULY. AND ALL OF THESE STUDIES ARE IN IT. YOU CAN JUST LOOK AT THEM AND VI ALL OF THE STUDIES THERE. YOU CAN GO RIGHT TO THE WEB SITE, MOST OF THEM PUBLIC AND HAVE YOU TO GET FROM A JOURNAL NOT ON THE WEB BUT 90% OR MORE ON THE WEB. AND YOU LOOK AT THIS AND COHABITATION DOESN'T HELP A SINGLE THING. AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT GETS YOU INTO SLIDING INTO MARRIAGE INSTEAD OF A DEFINITE COMMITMENT. AND YOU HAVE GENDER SYMMETRIES, THE WOMAN GOES IN, EXPECTING IT TO HELP GET INTO THE MARRIAGE. AND THE MAN GOES INTO IT THINKING, I CAN HELP DELAY THE MARRIAGE. AND THE TWO THINGS CONFLICT WITH ONE ANOTHER. BY THE TIME YOU ARE FINISHED, COHABITATION? INCREASED FIGHTING, AND THE SENSE THAT MARRIAGE IS NOT WHAT ITS MADE OUT TO BE. PUBLIC COMMITMENT IS NOT THAT IMPORTANT. THAT THIS IS NOT REALLY A UNION OF TWO FAMILIES AND AN EFFORT TO BRING UP A FAMILY IN THE LOVE OF CHRIST, IN THE SALVATION OF THE LORD. BUT INSTEAD, IT'S A GREAT WAY OF COMBINING OUR BILLS, LIVING TOGETHER UNDER AN EASY ASSESSMENT. SO, MY POINT, WHAT I'M TRYING TO GET TO, COHABITATION IS NOT THE SOLUTION. WHAT'S GONE ON. YEAH, THERE'S BEEN A SEXUAL REVOLUTION, BIRTH CONTROL, ET CETERA. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, VIRGINITY IS PUSHED AWAY. AND THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION IS NOT ANYTHING VICK TO DO WITH YOU -- HAVING ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU, BUT IT'S HARD AS A CULTURE, IN THIS HYPERRER SEXUALIZED CULTURE FOR THE VALUE OF VIRGINITY. THE CHURCH IS BIG INTO IT AND THEY REALLY EMPHASIZE IT. AND POINT IN FACT, IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT VIRTUE BECAUSE IT POINTS TO THE VIRTUE OF CHASTITY. AND IT CERTAINLY POINTS AT THE END OF THE DAY NOT JUST TO THE VIRTUE OF CHASTITY BUT HOW NEEDED CHASTITY IS. WHETHER IT'S LIVED OUT IN MARRIAGE OR LIVED OUT BEFORE MARRIAGE IN TERMS OF VIRGINITY. IT REALLY MATTERS BECAUSE THAT LEADS TO THE FOLLOWING THINGS. THE MORE CHASTE WE ARE BEFORE AND DURING MARRIAGE, THE DIVORCE RATE GOES WAY, WAY DOWN. AND THE NUMBER OF PRE MARITAL PARTNERS. IF YOU HAVE ZERO PRE MARITAL PARTNERS, YOUR DIVORCE RATE OVERALL, IN TERMS OF LONG TERM MARRIAGE IS 4-5%. BUT THE MINUTE YOU GO UP OVER 3 OR 4 PARTNERS, IT JUMPS UP TO 30% AND I CAN'T PROVE CAUSATION BUT THERE'S CAUSATION IN THIS, ABSOLUTELY CAUSATION. AND THE POINT I'M TRYING TO MAKE, VIRGINITY SHOULD BE REALLY EMPHASIZED. MAYBE THAT'S NOT THE TERM TO USE WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO THE KIDS INITIALLY BUT TO TALK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF CHASTITY. WHAT'S SO IMPORTANT IN CHASTITY, IT MAKES MARRIAGES LAST LONGER, MORE STABLE. AND MAKES THE KIDS WHO COME OUT OF THE STABLE MARRIAGES IN MUCH BETTER, EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL AS WELL AS SHAPE. SO, AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS A MUCH BETTER WAY TO LIVE PLUS THE EMOTIONAL HEALTH. EVERY TIME YOU GO THROUGH A DIVORCE, THIS IS NOT EASY EMOTIONALLY. THIS IS NOT EASY SPIRITUALLY GOING THROUGH A DIVORCE. IT LEADS TO RIFT, DERISION AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU HAVE UNSTABLE PEOPLE, FAMILIES, ALL KINDS OF KIDS GROWING UP IN THE DIVORCE HOUSEHOLDS, IT HAS CULTURAL AND SOCIETAL EFFECT. AND ERIC, YOUR QUESTION IS REALLY GOOD. I KNOW I LAUNCHED OFF LIKE A ROCKET SHIP. BUT THE POINT IS, WE NEED THIS VIRTUE IN THIS CULTURE, CALL IT VIRGINITY OR CHASTITY AT THE TIME BEING, BECAUSE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT IF WE HAD A LOT MORE UNDERSTANDING TO CHASTITY, FIDELITY TO IT AND THE JESUS CHRIST, THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WHO REALLY HELPS US TO LIVE A LIFE OF CHASTITY. AND SHE DOES. THAT'S FOR SURE IN MY LIFE. SHE REALLY HELPS ME OUT. AND I WILL TELL YOU, IF WE HAD THAT SENSITIVITY IN THIS CULTURE TODAY, WE HAD A MUCH HEALTHIER CULTURE AND MUCH HAPPIER TEACHING AND MUCH MORE STABLE FAMILIES. AND FRANKLY, THINK THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE'D BE A LOT MORE RESPECTFUL AND MAYBE WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE SITUATIONS THAT WE HAVE CULTURALLY WITH ALL OF THE DIVISIONS WE HAVE TODAY. >> Doug: UNFORTUNATELY, SEEMS LIKE TRADITIONALLY, WE HAVE TO HIT BOTTOM IN A LOT OF CASES FOR US TO WAKE UP AND BOUNCE BACK UNFORTUNATELY. SEEMS TO TEND TO BE THE WAY IT WORKS. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING, THE INSIGHT OF THE WOMAN MENTALITY VERSUS THE GUY'S MENTALITY OF. I DIDN'T THINK OF THAT. >> IT'S AULD GENDER ASYMMETRY. AND IT DOESN'T HELP. RITE LEGAL HURTS THE MARRIAGE THAT COMES OUT OF IT. >> Doug: LET'S ASK ONE MORE QUESTION ABOUT THE ROSARY AND OUR LADY. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, I TRY TO PRAY THE ROSARY REGULARLY. I OFFER UP TO 5 ROSARIES PER DAY PRAYING FOR THE WORLD TO RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC. WOW! I AGREE! WOW! WHEN I MEDITATE ON THE MYSTERIES, MY MIND WANDERS IMMEDIATELY AND I FIND THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES TO BE DISTURBING. IS IT OK IF I PRAY THE ROSARY WITHOUT THE MYSTERIES? A CATHOLIC PROFESSOR I KNOW TOLD ME THE MYSTERIES WERE ADDED LATER, SO IT'S OKAY TO PRAY WITHOUT THEM, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE. BRIAN >> Father: BRIAN, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, ABOUT 50% OF THE ROSARIES THAT I SAY ARE WITHOUT THE MYSTERIES. I DON'T DO THE MEDITATIONS. AND FRANKLY, THE MAIN THING FOR ME WITH THE ROSARY IS CONNECTING WITH THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY AND THE THREE PERSONS OF THE TRINITY. FOR ME, I PUT THE EMPHASIS WHEN I SAY THE ROSARY ON THE DIVINE NAME, HOLY NAME OF MARY RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING. I JUST TAKE CONVERSATIONS TRAITION, HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE, I'M REALLY ADDRESSING OUR LADY RIGHT THERE, PRESENT TO ME. AND I REALLY WANT TO ADDRESS HER WITH BOTH RESPECT AND AFFECTION, HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE, THE LORD IS WITH THEE. I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE. AND GLORY BE TO YOU. I SAY, TO YOU, WHEN I SAY THE ROSARY, TO YOU HEAVENLY FATHER, LORD JESUS AND HOLY SPIRIT. I KNOW THAT'S NOT THE CORRECT WORDS OF THE PRAYER. BUT I PUT IT THAT WAY BECAUSE IT BRINGS THEIR PRESENCE TO ME. AND MY NATURAL RESPECT AS DIVINE PERSONS YET AT THE SAME TIME, THE NATURAL AFFECTION AND GRATITUDE THAT I HAVE TO THEM FOR EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE BEEN GIVEN. AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRAY THE MYSTERIES. YOU CAN FOCUS ON THE DIVINE NAMES AND LET THE REST OF THE WORDS FLOW OVER YOU, IN MARY'S HOLY NAME, AND LET THE REST OF THE WORDS FLOW OVER YOU. I TELL YOU, YOU WILL GET A REAL MYSTICAL COMMUNION JUST BY DOING THAT. AND JUST BY ACTUALLY PRAYING FERVENTLY THE WORDS TO MARY. WHEN YOU SAY, TO MARY, HAIL MARY, FULL OF GRACE! IT'S LIKE PRAISING HER. LIKE, THE LORD IS WITH THEE! BLESSED ART THOU AMONGST WOMEN. WHAT HIGHER PRAISE IS THERE? AND BLESSED IS THE FRUIT OF YOUR WOMB. I MEAN, YOU GIVE BIRTH TO THE SON OF GOD IN THE WORLD'S INCARNATION. WHAT HIGHER PRAISE CAN THERE BE. SO, THE POINT I GET TO, THIS IS PRETTY MYSTICAL IN ITSELF AND IT'S VERY, IN COMMUNION WITH THE LORD, BOTH IN RESPECT AND AFFECTION, VERY, VERY DEEP EVEN WITHOUT THE MYSTERIES. I ALSO LIKE TO PRAY THE MIST E REESE -- MYSTERIES, TOO. BUT I HAVE THE OPPOSITE VIEW. BUT I REALLY DO LIKE TO PRAY THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES. I TALK TO OUR LORD, JESUS, I AM TELLING HIM, THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS. THANK YOU FOR PAYING THE PRICE FOR MY SINS BY WHAT YOU ARE DOING HERE, THE DEFINITIVE PRICE THAT RELEASES US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. THANKS FOR THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE YOU ARE DOING HERE. EVEN AS HE IS BEING WHIPPED. BUT IT IS DISTURBING, NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING AND THAT PRAYER OF LOVE THAT YOU CAN SAY IN THE MIDST OF THAT, IF YOU ARE TALKING TO THE LORD AS YOU MEDITATE ON HIM GOING THROUGH THE TERRIBLE SUFFERINGS, THAT'S VERY MUCH A COMMUNION WITH THE LORD AS WELL. SO, I WOULD SAY THAT MAY BE A WAY TO DO THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES THAT WILL HELP YOU. >> Doug: YEAH, AND THAT WAS BRIAN. ABSOLUTELY, I THINK ONE THING TO MAKE SURE, BRIAN, THAT YOU ARE NOT PUTTING TOO MUCH OF A BURDEN ON YOURSELF THINKING, I HAVE TO PRAY FIVE ROSARIES. IF THAT'S WHAT'S HELPING YOUR SPIRITUAL AND WORKING WELL FOR YOU, THAT'S GREAT. BUT MAKE SURE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S A BURDEN THAT MAY BECOME A NEGATIVE THING IN YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE. >> Father: RIGHT. FIVE ROSARIES, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, YOU LAPPED ME THREE TIMES! MAYBE TWO TIMES A DAY I CAN DO THE ROSARY ON A REGULAR BASIS. BUT FIVE. YOU ARE AMAZING. >> Doug: ABSOLUTELY. AND ON THAT POINT, WE WANT TO TAKE A BREAK RIGHT HERE ON FATHER SPITZER. MUCH MORE AHEAD IN THE UNIVERSE AS WE CONTINUE WITH YOUR QUESTIONS AND THEN, THE TOPIC FOR TODAY. STAY WITH US. [MUSIC] [MUSIC] >> AND WE APPRECIATE YOU WITH US, WE'RE COVERING THE TOPIC AND THE LATEST BOOK OF FATHER SPITZER UP AT ewtnRC.com. WE TURN ONCE AGAIN OUT TO FATHER ON THE WEST COAST. LET'S GET TO THE NEXT QUESTION. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, I WATCH YOU AND DOUG EVERY WEEK AND HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT MY FAITH FROM YOU. I'M ASSUMIG THEY MEAN YOU, NOT ME! >> Father: OH, YOU TOO. >> Doug: WELL. WHY DO WE HAVE TO SUFFER AND DIE BECAUSE OF ADAM AND EVE'S SIN IN THE GARDEN? IT SEEMS A LITTLE UNFAIR FOR US TO PAY A PENALTY FOR THEIR SIN. >> Father: IT'S NOT JUST PAYING THE PENALTY FOR THEIR SIN. THE REASON, OBVIOUSLY, THEY USHERED THE NECESSITY INTO THE WORLD. AND NOW, DEATH, OF COURSE, THE PROPERTY OF PHYSICAL DEATH WAS CERTAINLY AROUND FOR 3.6 YEARS FROM MICROORGANISMS ALL THE WAY UP TO HUMAN BEINGS, BUT THE HUMAN BEINGS HAD THE COGNIZANCE OF DEATH. AND THAT'S WHAT COMES IN WITH ADAM AND EVE. NOT JUST THE PRESENCE, BUT THE COGNIZANCE OF DEATH THAT THEY HAVE. AND WHEN THAT TAKES PLACE, YOU MIGHT LOOK AT IT AND SAY, OH, YEAH, THAT'S A TERRIBLE THING. BECAUSE NOW WE FACE MORTALITY. WHAT HEIDEGGER WOULD HAVE CALLED BEING BEFORE DEATH. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE'S A GOOD SIDE TO THAT. IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO DIE. AND THE GOOD SIDE OF OF COURSE, HAVING JESUS CHRIST IN THE RESURRECTION, TO LOOK FORWARD TO, AFTER DEATH, THEN IF YOU LOOK AT IT, THEN DEATH COULD BE TURNED INTO SOMETHING GOOD. IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE, THEN DEATH WOULD PROBABLY BE A HORRIBLE PROPERTY. LIKE THE END OF IT ALL, THAT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS. AND WITH JESUS CHRIST AND THE RESURRECTION AND THE IDEA OF THE LIGHT OF LOVE THAT WOULD BE GIVEN TO US OVER IN ETERNITY, ONCE YOU HAVE THAT LOOK FORWARD TO, WHAT'S IT MAKE US DO? IT MAKES US GET OUR ACT TOGETHER. THAT'S WHAT IT DOES. AND THINK THAT'S THE PRIMARY VALUE. HERE'S THE REASON WE KIND OF NEED IT. GOD GAVE US FREE CHOICE AND HE'S NEVER GOING TO COMPROMISE THAT FREE CHOICE. OUR WHOLE LIVES, EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE HERE TO DO, RIGHT, IS ABOUT TAKING THAT GREAT GIFT OF FREE CHOICE AND ORIENTING IT TOWARDS GOD'S WILL, ORIENTING IT TOWARD THE GOOD THAT HE COMMANDS US TO DO FOR OTHERS AND FOR OURSELVES, FOR THE WORLD AND FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD. THAT'S WHAT THE WHOLE POINT IS. IF WE DON'T HAVE FREEDOM, THEN WE'RE NOT DETERMINING OUR CHARACTER. WHAT IT IS OR WHO IT IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BECOME. GOD GIVES US THAT FREEDOM AND WE'VE GOT THIS TASK, WE'RE SUPPOSED TO ORIENT THAT TOWARD GOOD RATHER THAN EVIL. TOWARD LOVE RATHER THAN SINFULNESS, LOVE, HATE, EGOCENTRICITY, AND NARCISSISM. WE'RE TO ORIENT OURSELVES TOWARD FREEDOM. NOW, WHAT DOES THAT SAY? THERE'S A TIME AT WHICH YOU GOT TO GET THE WORK DONE. THERE'S A POINT AT WHICH YOU ARE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. AN ULTIMATE POINT OF ACCOUNTABILITY. AND THAT IS WHAT ORIENTS OUR FREEDOM. THAT'S WHAT GETS US GETTING OUR ACT TOGETHER. THAT'S WHAT MEANS, WE CANNOT INDETERMINABLY DELAY OR PUT OFF THE DECISION THAT IS WE HAVE TO MAKE. IT'S THEIR CONFRONTING US, A BEING TOWARD DEATH. BUT IT'S A BEING TOWARD DEATH WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF RESURRECTION, THANKS BE TO GOD FOR CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD. SO, THE IDEA IS, THEN, ADAM AND EVE, THEY BRING THE COGNIZANCE OF DEATH INTO THE WORLD. AS THEY BRING IT INTO THE WORLD, IT'S A TERRIBLE THING. DEPRESSING THING. JUST SOMETHING THAT TAKES OUR BREATH AWAY. AND FOR MANY CENTURIES, THE JEWISH PEOPLE REALLY DIDN'T HAVE A SENSE OF RESURRECTION. NOW, OF COURSE, WITH THE PROPHETS, IT BEGINS AND SOME OF THE PSALMIST, IT BEGINS TO CREEP IN. AND BY THE TIME YOU GET TO THE FIRST CENTURY AND THE HELLENISTIC VIEW OF THE IMMORTAL SOUL AND -- >> WELL, LET ME ASK YOU THIS. YOU MENTIONED THAT POINT, AND OF COURSE, WE KNOW FROM THE SCRIPTURES WITH THE SADDUCEES VERSUS PHARISEES, IF THEY WEREN'T THINKING THERE WAS A RESURRECTION, WHAT DID THEY THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN OR DID THEY KNOW? >> WELL, THEY JUST THOUGHT THAT YOU DIED AND GO DOWN -- WELL, FIRST OF ALL. THERE WAS EVEN MAYBE THE WHOLE IDEA OF SHEOL, THE LAND OF SHADOWS, THE LAND OF THE DEAD. KIND OF A SHADOWY, DARK, MURKY KIND OF PLACE. AND THE SHADOWLANDS, AS IT WERE, WAS KIND OF THERE. BUT WAS IT THERE REALLY DURING THE TIME OF THE MOSAIC, THE TORAH, ET CETERA. WELL, I'M NOT SURE IT REALLY WAS. BUT THE IDEA OF SHEOL DOES COME ABOUT AND BY THE TIME YOU GET TO EIGHTH CENTUR B.C. THAT WAS A VIEW THAT HELD SWAY FOR A WHILE. BY AND LARGE, EVEN THE FAIR SAY CALL VIEW OF THE RESURRECTION IS THAT YOU WOULD BE IN THE SHADOW LANDS AS IT WERE, THE SHEOL UNTIL THE TIME OF THE SECOND COMING, THE SECOND JERUSALEM. AND THEN, YOU WOULD BE RAISED UP. SO, THERE WOULD BE ONE BIG HUGE RESURRECTION BUT LIKE A PHYSICAL RESURRECTION, NOT LIKE THE CHRISTIAN RESURRECTION BUT A SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION IN GLORY AND IN POWER, LIKE JESUS CHRIST'S GLORIFIED RESURRECTION. THAT KIND OF RESURRECTION WAS NEVER ENVISIONED, IT WOULD BE A HE RESUSCITATED CORPSE THAT HAPPENS AFTER THE SECOND COMING. THAT WAS THE PHARISAICAL VIEW. BUT THE SADDUCEES HARKENED BACK TO THE EARLIER TIMES, THE TORAH, THEY SAID, BASICALLY, NO, THERE'S JUST SHADOW LANDS AND THAT'S IT FOR YOU. THERE'S NOT REALLY A RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD. AND OF COURSE, JESUS CHANGES ALL OF THAT. HE SAYS, NO, THERE IS DEFINITIVELY A RESURRECTION, NOT JUST A PHYSICAL RESURRECTION BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A RESURRECTION IN GLORY AND POWER LIKE JESUS' OWN GLORIFIED BODY. SECONDLY, IT WILL HAPPEN IMMINENTLY, NOT JUST AT THE END OF TIME, THAT YOU WOULD BE RELEASED FROM THE SHADOWLANDS, BASICALLY, YOU WILL BE RELEASED FROM GOD, CALLED UPON YOUR DEATH, HAS YOUR PARTICULAR JUDGMENT. SO, FOR ALL INTENSIVE PURPOSES, THAT'S REALLY A RADICAL CHANGE. THAT BRINGS ABOUT A WHOLE NEW INTERPRETATION OF DEATH, GETTING BACK TO THE QUESTIONER'S QUESTION, YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE IDEA, WHAT'S THE POINT OF IT. WELL, DEATH IS, I GOT TO DID HE TELL MY -- I GOT TO GET MY ACT TOGETHER. I GOT TO GET TOGETHER AND MOVE IN THE OBEDIENCE, IN THE DIRECTION OF GOD. BECAUSE THERE'S ETERNAL CONSEQUENCES. LIFE IS NOT ALL THERE IS TO IT. THIS LIFE IS BUT A BLIP ON THE RADAR SCREEN COMPARED TO THE ETERNITY OF JOY THAT I COULD EXPERIENCE OR THE ETERNITY OF LOWLINESS, ALIENATION AND EMPTINESS IN THE LAND, NOT JUST THE SHADOWLAND, BUT THE LAND WHERE DOMINATION AND NARCISSISM OF THE DEVIL EXISTS, THE DOMAIN OF HELL. THAT'S CHRISTIANITY WHICH CERTAINLY PUTS THE GOOD SIDE OF DEATH THERE. AND ALSO, THE DARK SIDE OF DEATH, TOO. >> OKAY. LET ME GET ONE QUESTION IN. IT PLAYS OFF THE OTHER ONE. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, AT MASS, WE PRAY FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY AND LIFE EVERLASTING. WHEN EXACTLY IS THE RESURRECTION OF OUR BODY? DOES OUR SOUL STAY IN OUR GRAVE UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD OR DO WE GET TO JUDGMENT IMMEDIATELY AT DEATH? LILLIAN >> Father: WELL, LILLIAN THERE'S A PARTICULAR JUDGMENT THAT CERTAINLY DOES HAPPEN ON YOUR DEATH. AND WHEN THAT PARTICULAR JUDGMENT HAPPENS, THERE'S THREE PLACES THAT YOU CAN GO. THERE'S HEAVEN, OF COURSE, AND YOU CAN BE LIKE THE SAINTS. YOU CAN GO DIRECTLY TO HEAVEN OR, IN MY CASE, VERY LIKELY, I WILL BE HEADED TO PURGATORY. BECAUSE MY LEVEL MAY NOT BE PURIFIED. I CONTINUE TODAY TO BE MY USUAL IMPERFECT SELF TRYING TO STRUGGLE TO DO BETTER. BUT I'M THERE AND I NEED MORE PURIFICATION OF MY LOVE AND MY GOODNESS AND MY WILL TO BE DISPOSED TOWARD THE LORD. THAT'S A POSSIBILITY. AND OF COURSE, THERE'S THE POSSIBILITY THAT YOU COULD HAVE REJECTED THE LORD ALL TOGETHER. SO, THAT'S THE FIRST THING. BUT LET'S SUPPOSE THAT IN THE PARTICULAR JUDGMENT, YOU GO TO HEAVEN, ET CETERA, ET CETERA AND WHEN THE GLORIFIED BODY, I GUESS, WOULD OCCUR IN SOME PART PRIOR TO THE GENERAL RESURRECTION BUT I THINK IT'S BROUGHT TO ITS COMPLETION OF THE GENERAL RESURRECTION AT THE END OF TIME, MAYBE THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING ALONG THAT NATURE. BUT NO, YOU DON'T REMAIN IN YOUR GRAVE AND YOU JUST DON'T REMAIN IN A SHADOWLAND. GENERALLY, YOU ARE REMAINING IN ONE OF THREE DIRECTION, HEAVEN, PURGATORY, HELL. AND PURGATORY, YOU ARE REALLY MOVING IN THE DIRECTION OF HEAVEN. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HELL IF YOU ARE IN PURGATORY MOVING TOWARD HEAVEN. >> Doug: SINCE THE NEXT QUESTION IS ALSO CONNECTED, I'M GOING TO JUMP TO THAT. DEAR FATHER SPITZER, AFTER WE DIE, AND ARE HOPEFULLY IN HEAVEN, WE WILL HAVE A CLEARER UNDERSTANDING OF GOD. BUT SINCE OUR RESURRECTED BODIES ARE STILL HUMAN BODIES, WILL OUR COMPREHENSION OF THE GOD BE LIMITED TO THE INTELLECTUAL CAPABILITIES OF THAT BODY? MARY HELEN >> THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION, MARY HELEN, FIRST OF ALL, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BECOME LIKE GOD. WE'RE NOT ACTUALLY GOING TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND GOD AS GOD UNDERSTANDS HIMSELF. THAT HAPPENS IN TIMELESSNESS WITH AN UNRESTRICTED ACT OF UNDERSTANDING. SO, WE'LL ALWAYS BE FINITE, IN OUR COGNITION, SELF CONSCIOUSNESS, NEVER BE AN UNRESTRICTED ACT OF UNDERSTANDING, UNDERSTANDING OURSELVES. IT WOULD BE A RESTRICTED ACT OF UNDERSTANDING. WILL WE HAVE ADDITIONAL ENLIGHTENMENT OF UNDERSTANDING IN HEAVEN? ABSOLUTELY. LOTS OF COGNITIVE BLOCKS THAT WE HAVE NOW WILL NOT BE THERE IN HEAVEN. AND NOT ONLY IN THE MATTER OF SAYING, WHAT WE CALL INTELLECTUAL COGNITION, CAN I GRASP A FORMULA IN PHYSICS, MATHEMATICS OR SOMETHING OF THAT MATTER, BUT WE ALSO MIGHT HAVE THE REASONS OF THE HEART, KNOWLEDGE OF THE HEART, THE LAMENTATION OF THE HEART. WE'LL HAVE A PURIFIED LOVE. AND OUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY SEE ONE ANOTHER AS WE TRULY ARE, AND APPRECIATE ONE ANOTHER FOR THE TRUE, UNIQUELY GOOD, LOVABLE TRANSCENDENT MYSTERIES THAT WE ARE, WE'LL HAVE NO OBSTACLES TO THIS WHATSOEVER. WE'LL BE ABLE TO TRANS SKENT RIGHT INTO THE LOVABILITY OF OTHERS AS THEY UNIQUELY WILL PENETRATE INTO US, OUR MYSTERY. AND AT THE SAME TIME WITH THAT BEING PRESENT, WHEN HAVE YOU A PERFECT LOVE RELATIONSHIP, EVEN IF IT'S AMONGST JUST CREATURES, YOU HAVE AN UNCONDITIONAL LOVE RELATIONSHIP, AMONGST CREATURES, IT IS, LIKE, PHENOMENAL JOY. IT'S OVERWHELMING. AND YOU CAN ALWAYS REMEMBER THE TIMES WHERE YOU JUST CONNECTED WITH THE, WITH ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. AND I DON'T KNOW, IF YOU ARE AT A RESTAURANT OR FAMILY OCCASION, YOU KNOW, IT'S THIRD QUARTER IN THE MORNING AND SOME -- 3:00 O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING AND LOOKING AT HIS CLOCK AND EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM WAS SO CAPTIVATED, ENCHANTED, AND BY THE PURITY OF THE VISION, NOT BEING OBSESSED, THIS GUY THIS THIS, AND ALL OF THE EGOCENTRIC, NARCISSISTIC STUFF IS GONE. AND THAT ENCHANTMENT HAPPENS AND ENGAGEMENT, SUCH A DEEP LEVEL GOING TO 3:00 IN THE MORNING AND THE TIME CEASES BECAUSE OF THE JOY BEING PRESENT. IMAGINE THAT ON A BILLION TIMES LEVEL SCALE. THINK ABOUT THAT JUST FOR A SECOND. YOU CAN SEE, OH, IF THAT'S WITH ANOTHER CREATURE, WHAT'S IT LIKE WHEN YOU GET TO HEAVEN AND YOU GET TO SEE OUR LORD! AND YOU GET TO SEE THE FATHER, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, YOU KNOW, AS, IN THIS UNMITIGATED CONDITION. YOU WILL BE PURIFIED BY THE TIME YOU DID. YOU WILL BE IN SUCH ECSTASY, IT WOULD MAKESTER'SA'S -- SAINT THERESA'S ECSTASY LOOK LIKE NOTHING. NOT TO SAY ANYTHING AGAINST SAINT TERESA AND BY SO MUCH BEAUTY, GLORY, AND IT WOULD BE JUST OVERWHELMING TO US, IN THE SENSE OF COMPLETE FULFILLMENT. AND THEN TO EXPERIENCE THAT APPRECIATION OF THE DIVINE LOVE AND THE DIVINE PRESENCE, YOU GET TO SEE ALL THESE OTHER LITTLE ETERNITIES, ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND SO FORTH THAT ARE OUT THERE, ALL THE BLESSED IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN THROUGH THAT KIND OF GLORY EMANATING FROM THE LORD HIMSELF. JUST GOING THROUGH AND GIVING A WHOLE NEW LIGHT TO THE UNIQUE GOODNESS, LOVABILITY AND TRANSCENDENCE OF EVERY HUMAN MYSTERY, IT WOULD BE UNBELIEVABLE. THIS IS GOING TO BE -- A KID ONCE SAID TO ME IN CHURCH. I WAS TEACHING THERE. AND HE SAID, SEEMS LIKE TO ME, HEAVEN WOULD BE A BORING PLACE. AND I JUST SAID, WRONG! [LAUGHTER] I MEAN, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY WRONG. IT WOULD BE SO UNBELIEVABLE, THE JOY WOULD BE JUST SO OVERWHELMING. TIME WOULD STAND STILL. 3:00 IN THE MORNING, WHERE DID THE TIME GO? NO. ETERNITY. AND WHERE DID THE TIME GO IN COMPLETE ECSTASY WITH OUR LORD AND THE BLESSED IN HEAVEN. >> OKAY. LET'S SPEND THE LAST 10 MINUTES TALKING ABOUT THE TOPIC, [RAPID READING AND TALKING] AS AN OVERVIEW IN THE BOOK, CHAPTERS 5 AND 6, THE INTERIOR ATTITUDES FOR THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. WHY ARE THEY CALLED INTERIOR ATTITUDES. >> THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS FOCUS ON THE INTERIOR. WITH THE COMMANDMENTS, TELL US YOU BEHAVIORS TO AVOID. DON'T STEAL, DON'T KILL UNNECESSARILY OR UNJAMARCUS RUSSELLABLY. DON'T LIE OR BEAR FALSE WITNESS AGAINST YOUR NEIGHBOR. SO, T THOSE ARE KIND OF EXTERIOR BEHAVIOS AND SO FORTH. BUT THE DEVIL TELLS US, JESUS FOCUSED EVERYTHING ON THE BEATITUDES AND THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. HE FOCUSED THEM ON THE INSIDE. AND WE HAVE A SET OF INSIDE VIRTUES THAT WE WANT TO LOOK FOR. AND THERE'S A BUNCH OF INSIDE VICES, BAD WAYS OF CONCEIVING THINGS, WHAT'S COMING OUTSIDE OF THE HEART AS JESUS WOULD SAY, WE HAVE THE ATTITUDES INSIDE THAT WE HAVE TO REALLY CORRECT AND WATCH OUT FOR. THEY ARE THE THINGS THAT REALLY LEAD US TO BAD BEHAVIORS ON THE OUTSIDE AND VIOLATIONS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND SO FORTH. AND THE POINT OF COURSE, IS, EACH ONE OF THOSE THINGS FOCUSES ON ONE THING THAT'S ACTUALLY A GOOD THING, RIGHT? GLUTTONY FOCUSES NOT SO MUCH ON FOOD OR A GLASS OF WINE IS BAD. WHAT GLUTTONY IS SAYING, GOD, IF YOU OVEREXCEEDED, IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU HAVE IT TO EXCESS, THAT'S BAD AND GOING TO LEAD YOU AWAY FROM GOD, ABHORRENT BEHAVIORS, INDEED SINFUL IF YOU LET IT GET HOLD OF YOU. AT THE SAME TIME, LUST, TALKING ABOUT AN EXCESS OF SOMETHING WHICH IS GOOD. SEXUALITY IS MEANT FOR MARRIAGE, MEANT TO BOND TWO PEOPLE TOGETHER, AND BOND THE FAMILY TOGETHER IN THIS COMMITMENT, LIFT COMMITMENT AND THE CHRISTIAN VIEW IS SO BEAUTIFUL, SO DEEP AND SEXUALITY IS SO BEAUTIFUL AND SO DEEP. BUT THEN, LUST IS ALL ABOUT EXCESS, ABOUT THE WRONG WAY OF USING SEXUALITY. TURNING SEXUALITY INTO AN END IN ITSELF WHICH BECOMES OF COURSE, OBSESSIVE. ONCE YOU TURN SEXUALITY INTO AN END ITSELF, THEN THE OBJECT OF THE SEXUAL ENCOUNTER MATTERS NOT, THE PERSON OR THE HUMAN BEING, WELL, THAT'S IRRELEVANT, THE MAIN THING IS, I GET MY PLEASURE TODAY. AND OF COURSE, YOU HEAR THESE QUOTES FROM THESE KIDS THAT SAY, WELL, I FIND PORNOGRAPHY MORE SATISFYING THAN SEXUALITY. AND YOU LOOK AT THAT, AND YOU SAY, WELL, I COULD SEE HOW THAT HAPPENS IN A CULTURE LIKE OURS. BUT WAY UNTIL I GIVE YOU PORNOGRAPHY STATISTICS ON ONE OF THESE SHOWS. IT IS DOING HORRENDOUS THINGS TO OUR CULTURE. AND PEOPLE SAY, PORNOGRAPHY IS A VICTIMLESS SIN. YES, IN OUR CULTURE THEY SAY THAT, BUT IT IS NOT IN POINT OF FACT. IT LEADS TO STEEP INCREASES IN DEPRESSION, JUST TO A WHOLE HOST OF, THE DESTRUCTION OF EMOTIONAL INTIMACY IN MARRIAGE. WITH ADULTS. LITERALLY INTERRUPTS THE MAT MATURATION PROCESS, AND INCREASES SEXUAL VIOLENCE, INCREASES TEEN PREGNANCIES, SO FORTH AND SO ON. THE CORRELATIONS ARE JUST STUNNING OF WHAT PORNOGRAPHY IS DOING. AND BY THE WAY, IT'S THE FASTEST GROWING ADDICTION IN THE UNITED STATES I DIGRESS. LUST IS LETTING GO OF SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND PUT IT IN AN ABHORRENT DIRECTION. SO, SAME THING WITH GREED. MATERIAL GOODS ARE NOT A BAD THING. WE NEED THEM TO KEEP OUR FAMILY SAFE. WE NEED THEM FOR A SENSE OF SECURITY. WE NEED MATERIAL THINGS TOO FOR A SENSE OF SHELTER AND COMFORT, THINGS OF THAT NATURE, ALL GOOD IN THEIR PROPER PLACE. BUT ONCE YOU START TURNING IT INTO AN END IN ITSELF, THEN OF COURSE, YOU USE PEOPLE AND YOU GET TO THE POINT OF SCROAG, CHRISTMAS CAROL AND SAY, OH, CAN YOU GIVE US A CHRISTMAS DONATION FOR THE POOR. AND HE SAYS, I WILL NOT. I'M NOT GOING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF POOR PEOPLE IN THE WORLD. I GIVE TO THE PRISONS, DON'T I? I GIVE TO THE WORK HOUSES, DON'T I? AND OF COURSE, THEY SAY, WELL, PEOPLE WOULD RATHER DIE THAN BE IN THAT PLACE. AND SCROOGE SAYS HEARTLESSLY, LET THEM DIE AND GET RID OF THE SURPLUS POPULATION. I KNOW I DID THAT A LITTLE DRAMATIC THERE. BUT POINT IS, GREED HAS CORRUPTED THE SOUL. BECAUSE NOW IT'S THE MATERIAL GOOD T NATTERS -- MATTERS MORE THAN GOD, PEOPLE, AND THE POOR AND THE HOMELESS WHO ARE LOVED BY JESUS. OBVIOUSLY, TERRIBLE PLEE ABHORRENT. AND THE OBJECTIVE OF DEADLY SINS, JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. HE'S SAYING, WELL, NOT JUST THAT YOU SHOULDN'T KILL. DON'T GROW ANGER WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR. ANGER IS ONE OF THOSE DEADLY SINS. WHY IS THAT? BECAUSE ANGER LEADS TO HATRED. HATRED LEADS TO KILLING. AND CONTEMPT LEADS TO HATRED AND HATRED LEADS TO KILLING. SO, JESUS TELLS THOSE THINGS AND SAYS, YEAH, DON'T KILL. THAT'S A BAD THING. BUT HE WANTS TO GE BACK DEEPER, INTO THE HEART, INTO THE INTERIOR ATTITUDE BECAUSE HE SAYS, LOOK. YOU NEED TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE INTERIOR ATTITUDES. BECAUSE IF YOU LET GOOD, WHAT'S COMING OUT OF YOU IS A BEHAVIOR KILLING, BEHAVIOR ATTITUDE. AND THAT'S THE WHOLE POINT ON THE SERMON OF THE MOUNT. IT'S BEAUTIFULLY DONE. BETWEEN THE BEATITUDES AND I SAY TO YOU, YOU CAN SEE JESUS NOT SHIFTING THE FOCUS BUT PUTTING IN THIS NEW INTERIOR FOCUS THAT LATER, OF COURSE, IN THE SECOND AND THIRD CENTURIES GIVES RISE TO WHAT WE CALL THE EIGHT DEADLY SINS OR THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS. >> Doug: LET ME ASK YOU THIS. WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE SCROAJ, YOUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS CAROL. >> OH, I GOT TO SAY GEORGE C. SCOTT. I THINK HE WAS SO DESPICABLE, THE GUY YOU LOVE TO HATE. BUT AT THE END, HE'S THE KIND OF GUY YOU LIKE TO LOVE. THE TRANSFORMATION PART. I THOUGHT HE DID IT SO WELL. BUT THERE'S SO MANY GOOD SCROOGES OUT THERE. BUT THE ONE I LIKED WAS GEORGE C. SCOTT AND USUALLY THOSE ARE THE ONES IN PEOPLE THAT THEY REMEMBER. NOW, FOR THE GREED, SOT, LUST, VANITY, AND ARE THEY MORE COMMON TODAY? OR MORE THAN WHAT WE SAW BEFORE? OR WE SEE THEM MORE AND ARE THEY CELEBRATED TODAY? >> WELL, THAT'S THE POINT I'M MAKING. TODAY, THEY ARE CELEBRATED, TODAY, THEY ARE EXCUSED. TODAY, WE HAVE A CULTURE THAT LITERALLY, HOLLYWOOD -- I DON'T WANT TO BLAME EVERYTHING ON HOLLYWOOD -- BUT THEY HAVE THE CULTURE OF IDOLS. BUT AS YOU PUT IT SO BEAUTIFULLY, DOUG, IT'S A CELEBRATION. IT'S A NORMAL GECKO IN WALL STREET WRIT LARGE. GREED FOR A BETTER TERM, GENTLEMEN, IS GOOD. SO, HERE'S THIS DEVIL FIGURE, OUT THERE, TELLING PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR BUT TELLING THEM WHAT'S GOING TO CORRUPT THEM AND CORRUPTING THE PROTAGONIST, BUT WHO IS THIS KIND OF YOUNG STOCK BROKER WHO WANTS TO BE A GORDON GECKO, A TOTAL SUCCESS. AND HE'S CORRUPTING HIM SLOWLY BUT SURELY. FINALLY, WHEN GORDON GECKO GETS TO WHAT HE WANTS, NAMELY FOR BUD, THE POINT IS NOT JUST TO GET BUD'S FATHERS COMPANY, HE'S A BIG PERSON IN THE COMPANY AND TO SELL IT OFF FOR PARTS AND FIRE EVERYBODY. BUT IT WAS TO REALLY GET BUD TO BETRAY HIS FATHER. THAT WAS THE ICING ON THE CAKE FOR GECKO. AND IT'S THE MOMENT THAT BUD IS LOOKING AND HE GOES, I CAN'T DO THIS. BUT NOTICE HOW FAR GECKO GOT HIM ON THE PATH! I MEAN, HE GOT HIM SO FAR DOWN THE PATH, THAT HE WAS STEALING STUFF OUT OF PEOPLES' OFFICES AT NIGHT AND FEELING GOOD ABOUT IT. THE THINGS HE WAS DOING AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A CELEBRATION OF VICE AND THE DEADLY SINS AND ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA SAYS WHITE BECOMES BLACK AND BLACK BECOMES WHITE. THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO OCCUR. BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL BUY IN LIKE RECOMMENDATION INTO THAT VICE, NOT ONLY DOES IT DESTROY THEM AND BETRAYS THEIR OWN PARENTS AND THEN YOU PAY THE PRICE TO THE DEVIL. >> RIGHT. AND THE PRICE OF BOOST STAR AIRLINES IS GOING UP. SO, IF YOU CAN, GIVE US YOUR PRAYER AND ON YOUR WAY OUT, GIVE US A BLESSING. >> ABSOLUTELY. BOW YOUR HEADS AND PRAY FOR GOD'S BLESSING. MAY THE LORD OF WISDOM, CONSOLATION AND VIRTUE, AND LOVE TAKE HIS SPIRIT, INFUSE IT INTO YOUR BEING SO THAT EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO AND THINK AND SAY WILL COME ALIVE IN THE VIRTUES. COME ALIVE IN OBEDIENCE TO HIS WORD, COME ALIVE IN THE LOVE AND VIRTUE THAT LEADS TO THE HEALTH OF THIS WORLD, TO SALVATION FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU TOUCH. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FATHER, WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AND INVITE YOU ALL TO CHECK OUT FATHER'S BOOKS AND VIDEOS THROUGH EWTN RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE. WE'LL CONTINUE WITH THE SAME TOPIC NEXT WEEK. BIBLICAL MARRIAGE -- A BIBLICAL WAY OF PRAYING THE MASS AND DISCERNMENT OF SPIRITS IN MARRIAGE. FR. TIMOTHY GALLAGHER THANK YOU SO MUCH AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME AT FATHER SPITZER UNIVERSE, AT THE INTERSECTION OF FAITH AND REASON. BE WELL. [MUSIC]
