Beware the false notion that just because two people use the same word, they mean the same thing.

Kenny S. R. Costa

Background

This problem has come up a lot for me, especially in university where very complicated ideas are often communicated in what at first seems very simple and easy language.

As an illustration of what I mean, I’ve often been thrown off in Women’s Studies classes, where when they discuss the maleness of society, what my conception of male was, is completely different than what they presuppose it to be. Hence what at first seems illogical to my understanding is only so because I have not yet learned how they use the word and understand its meaning.

Sometimes the only way out is through

Kenny S. R. Costa

Background

This is one I say all the time, and just assumed it was up on the website already. I usually say it to myself when I’m facing a large task I don’t want to do, such as a law school assignment. I tell myself this so that I use the hatred of the assignment to fuel me to do it, so I don’t have to worry about it anymore.

The only way to get rid of a large task sometimes is to actually do it. sometimes the only way to deal with an obstacle is to tackle it head on.

I posted it here, cause I thought it might be useful to some that find themselves in my position with protestant friends.

*****

So I’ve looked it over in my Catechism and looked through other Catholic documents. Unless my communication skills are seriously lacking… essentially what I said is what the Catholic church believes.

• Fellow Christians who have been baptized are part of the body of Christ, are brothers and are Christian,
• BUT those communities of believers who don’t have bishops or priests, because they don’t have apostolic succession and so cannot celebrate in the transformation of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ are not ‘Churches’ but are referred to as ‘ecclesial Communities.’

You’ll see it throughout the Vatican II Documents references to Churches and ecclesial Communities. The documents stresses the need for unity among Christians, and the need to reach out to each other. In fact, reference to Christ and our common baptism are found throughout, and are thought to be the source of hope for further unity.

Vatican II Council Document on Ecumenism… (DECREE ON ECUMENISM -UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO: Vatican Website)

“all who have been justified by faith in Baptism are members of Christ’s body, and have a right to be called Christian, and so are correctly accepted as brothers by the children of the Catholic Church.” (Sec. 3)

“Whenever the Sacrament of Baptism is duly administered as Our Lord instituted it, and is received with the right dispositions, a person is truly incorporated into the crucified and glorified Christ, and reborn to a sharing of the divine life, as the Apostle says: "You were buried together with Him in Baptism, and in Him also rose again-through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead". (Col. 2, 12; cf. Rom. 6, 4)

Baptism therefore establishes a sacramental bond of unity which links all who have been reborn by it. But of itself Baptism is only a beginning, an inauguration wholly directed toward the fullness of life in Christ. Baptism, therefore, envisages a complete profession of faith, complete incorporation in the system of salvation such as Christ willed it to be, and finally complete ingrafting in eucharistic communion [the sharing of the transformed body and blood among the faithful at mass].” (sec 22)

Later Clarification… (Vatican Website)

FIFTH QUESTION

“Why do the texts of the Council and those of the Magisterium since the Council not use the title of “Church” with regard to those Christian Communities born out of the Reformation of the sixteenth century?

RESPONSE

According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders [don’t have priests and bishops], and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery [the transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus Christ][19] cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called “Churches” in the proper sense[20].”

Thinking about it further, I think the confusion might come down to us using the same words to mean different things. I’m assuming that when you spoke, the brotherhood of Christ, being part of the body of Christ, and being part of the church were all the same thing, whereas the Catholic Church would have a more nuanced view of the matter and see differences between them.

I guess when it comes down to it, speaking personally I look at the faith of yourself and other members of CLF and a see a real love and yearning for Jesus Christ. Its something I find very admirable and beautiful, and there are moments when I do feel that the Holy Spirit is with us in those meetings or in our discussions. I don’t want to make anyone feel less of a Christian, that was never my intention. I guess I have to be very careful with word, and for our next meeting maybe just sit back and listen to the discussion.

I guess I don’t mind talking about differences per say, because I’m trying to learn about how my brothers and sisters from different faith traditions see the lord, and trying to see the holy spirit at work in all our lives. And from my readings of the Catholic faith, this is something my church feels as well.

“Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches[Greek Orthodox and others] and ecclesial communities [Protestants] as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him,²⁷⁵ and are in themselves calls to "Catholic [in this sense universal] unity."²⁷⁶ Catechism of the Catholic Church – Paragraph 819 (Vatican website)

Kenny S. R. Costa

There is no great difficulty in asking a question; rather what is difficult is finding the passion required to answer it.

A good day’s work requires a good nights rest

Kenny S. R. Costa

Background

Put simply, Last night I went to bed around 3:00 am, woke up at 8:00 am, and was so exhausted throughout the day that I couldn’t pay attention in class,a nd when I got home, slept for four hours. Essentially, I did nothing with my day, because I have been going to be bed late for the past few days. The quote above is something I hope I will take to hart to prevent this from happening in the future.

Why is it the most ideological people I’ve ever met call themselves Realists?

Kenny S. R. Costa

I cannot wait till the day comes when they invent the cordless water hose!

Kenny S. R. Costa

Background

Essentially, all it means it that sometimes you just want the impossible! I remember when I worked for my father watering flowers, and the hassle and mess of water hoses when watering flowers at a major mall. I remember wishing at the time, if only I could have a water hose nozzle all on its own that sprayed water, how much simpler life would be. I’ve grown up alittle since then, but everyone once in a while, you become overwhelmed at something, and just want to impossible in order to solve it. That’s when I tell myself another saying.

Sometimes the only way out is through…

• For those of you wondering, this one small feature is the reason why I decided to move over to blogspot. I just thought that the ability to allow people to type in and potentially bookmark kennycosta.com was well worth the change.

I should start publishing shortly, but for those of you that want to see my work in progress, as I get used to the new blogspot software, head over to kennycosta.com and check it out.

It is almost quaint to look at these old essays. They are of much lower quality now, as these were made in my first two years of University, before I began any honours courses. Still to deny them would be to deny what I was and how I became what I am today.

I have left the website directory, and changed it all to `Wordpress` look for now, until I figure out how to upload the orginal HTML website. I hope you enjoy, and feel free to comment on the old essays and articles.

Old Webpage Archives

Kenny S. R. Costa
May 11th, 2009
upon completing his reading of ‘The life of Thomas More’ by Peter Ackroyd

In case your wondering, the vast majority of the time, I’m listening to podcasts about philosophy, history, reglion etc, or lectures on the same topics. Lately I’ve also been getting into audiobooks, as the Manitoba elibary now has MP3 audiobooks that you can take out.