ChristineES said:
I know very little about the Catholic Church, except what I see on TV. These questions are just curiosity of things I have seen on TV or observed from a few Catholics I have known. They are not meant to be offensive or to make fun.
No offense for sincere questions no matter for sincere questions even if the subject has touchy implications in this forum.
Question 1- What is the criteria of becoming a Saint? Do you believe that people called saints are more holy than other people?
There are actually two related ways the word saint is used. We on earth are considered "saints" when we are in the state of grace. We are in communion with those in heaven.
The other way in which the word "saint" is used is for those who were "saints" on earth according to the definition above and are definitively stated by the Church to have persevered in saintedhood and attained the heavenly glory. They are in heaven. They are of course holier right now than us on earth because they are in heaven and therefore are perfectly holy. Were they in this life? Not always. Augustine for instance had a rather sinful life early on. But he overcome sin by the grace of God perhaps to a greater degree than some in this life. It should be noted that the list of those who are "saints" in the Church is most definitely not a complete one. It is simply a list of those whom the Church knows went above and beyond the normal virtue and it showed in their bearing great fruit. St. Francis Xavier for instance converted nearly one million people in a day when it had to be done the old fashion way. No media.
One is declared a saint after the Church has undertaken a througough investigation of their life and have deemed it of heroic virtue and also through an intercession to them, someone has had a miraculous cure from some ailment or injury. I think it requires two such miracles. This is a confirmation of the Churches judgement.
Question 2-What does it mean when I see a person "crossing" themselves? It seems that are touching their head and each shoulder. Father Mulcahy on MASH did it before he prayed. What does it signify?
It is an expression of our belief in the Trinity and an affirmation of our baptism. We touch the forehead and say "in the name of the Father", our chest and say "and of the son", and our shoulders and say "and the Holy Spirit". It is a blessing usually at the end of prayer or when we enter a church.
Question 3- Why don't Catholics eat meat on Friday? I never understood that. (When I was in High School and in the Navy we had some Catholics who only ate fish for lunch on Friday).
It is a lesser form of fasting than an all out abstaining from all food, generally done during the lenten season, which reflects Christ's 40 days in the desert. We abstain from meat because it is good and denial of it is a denial of the good things of this life as is fasting of all food, acknowledging our total dependance on God in our weakness during the fast. Other forms of fasting including no food are practiced as well in Catholicism. Another common form is giving up some food or drink that you have a particular liking for.
Question 4- What exactly are Last Rites? Does this NEED to be done when someone is dying? I also got this from MASH with Father Mulcahy?
Last rights is for when people are sick and in danger of death. It is a sacrement in the Catholic Church (i.e. an outward sign of an inward grace. Death is a trial for all and so the Church is given this sacrement of mercy to bestow grace upon the dying to strengthen them in this severe trial. It is a sacrement of hope in the resurrection. Evidence for it is seen in James letter.
James 5
[14] Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord;
[15] and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
I will leave your last question for others as I guess I have not payed that much attention. I don't watch alot of TV.
Hope that helps.
Blessings
