Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 198.  Thu 11-21-91 19:08  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Bryan Gardner
 Subject: Questions

+-
| Father
| I am in RCIA here in Richmond, Tx and have a few questions about some of
| the "trappings" of catholicism, I use that word only for lack of another,
| For example: Why is there a crucifix in the church as opposed to a bare
| cross?
| Why is the Catholic church the only Western Christian church to endorse
| Transsubstatiation(sic)?
| Is there a list of saints and patron saints printed somewhere?  What is
| the reason for cannonization?  What is the difference between a saint and
| a beautus(sic)
|  
| I thank you for your answers and your patience
|  
| Pax vobiscum
|  
| (At least I think thats right)
|  
| Bryan Gardner
|  
 
Dear Bryan,
 
Catholics use both the simple cross and the crucifix.  Please download
my message to Mark Pham (Nov 6, 1991) on /cons and Statues.
 
We preach Christ crucified (1st Cor. 1:23, 2:2).  We preach not only by
the written and spoken word but with all the media and all the arts.  A
picture, they say, is worth a thousand words, and so we find the crucifix
a vivid and compelling proof of God's great love for us, more so than the
bare outlines of a cross.
 
We profess the word and doctrine of transubstantiation to safeguard
the doctrine of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist
under the appearances of bread and wine.  Christ is made present in
this sacrament by the change of the whole substance of the bread into
His Body and of the whole substance of the wine into His Blood.  This
change is called transubstantiation.
 
Most non-Catholic Christians with roots in the Protestant movement do
not believe in the Real Presence; hence they do not accept
transubstantiation.
 
There are many collections of saints' names and saints' biographies.
Consult your Catholic bookstores.  If there are none of these near you,
write to me again and I'll make a shopping-list-by-mail for you.
 
Canonization is a solemn, infallible papal declaration that a certain
person is a saint, is in heaven, may be invoked and imitated, and
receive worldwide liturgical honors.  One purpose of canonization is to
ensure that people do not offer prayers to nor imitate persons whose
lives were not truly holy enough to serve as models and intercessors.
 
A blessed (beatus/beata) is a person who may receive liturgical honors
only in a particular place or by the members of a particular religious
congregation.  The decree of beatification is not infallible.  Beati-
fication is also in many cases one step below canonization.
 
Thank you for using this network.  Please come again.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                Father Mateo