So When Did Christianity Become the Official Religion?

by Jimmy Akin on February 26, 2012

in +Did You Know?

Did you know? The Roman Emperors Theodotius I, Gratian, and Valentinian II issued the Edict of Thessalonica on Feb. 27, A.D. 380. This decree encouraged adherence to Trinitarian Christianity. It is sometimes regarded as the act that made Christianity the “official” religion of the Roman Empire, but this is disputed. LEARN MORE.

Why Did Jesus Descend into HELL? Does the Bible Say Not to Wear Mixed Fiber Clothing?

by Jimmy Akin on February 26, 2012

in +Religion, Podcasts

Why does the Apostles Creed say that Jesus descended into Hell? Why would he do this? Wasn’t the Crucifixion enough? Did he have to suffer even more?

What did he do while he was “down there”? Did he preach to the dead? Which dead? Why? Do we have a second chance at salvation after death? What did the Church Fathers say about this? How about the teaching of the Church today?

Why does the Law of Moses say not to wear clothes made from two kinds of fibers? Can we wear cotton/polyesther blends? What’s the reason for this commandment? Who was bound by it? Does the commandment really forbid mixing any two types of fiber? Should we take this literally?

These are just some of the questions we answer in this week’s episode of the Jimmy Akin Podcast!

Click Play to listen . . .

or you can . . .

CLICK HERE!

. . . or subscribe another way (one of many ways!) at JimmyAkinPodcast.Com.
SHOW NOTES:

JIMMY AKIN PODCAST EPISODE 031 (02/26/12)

1) JIMMY MAKES AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE PODCAST

He needs your help raising funds to enable the podcast to help even more people, in more ways, by making transcripts of it available. If he can raise $3000 then he can keep the podcast going and provide *a year’s worth* of transcripts (52 episodes) at the same time!

Please visit www.JimmyAkin.com to learn more about this project and how you can help!

God bless you, and thank you for your generosity!

2) LUCIA ASKS WHY THE APOSTLES CREED SAYS THAT JESUS “DESCENDED INTO HELL.” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, AND WHY DID HE DO IT?

3) LUCIA ASKS ABOUT THE LAW IN THE OLD TESTAMENT THAT SAYS NOT TO WEAR CLOTHING WITH TWO KINDS OF FABRIC. ARE WE TO TAKE THIS LITERALLY?

ONLINE INFORMATION ABOUT THE LAW OF SHA`ATNEZ

Shatnez

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shatnez

Ask Rabbi Simmons: Clothing Worn by Jews

judaism.about.com/library/3_askrabbi_o/bl_simmons_clothing.htm

The Mysteries of Shaatnez

www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/381831/jewish/The-Mysteries-of-Shaatnez.htm

Clothing Mixtures: The Commandment of Shatnez

www.beingjewish.com/mitzvos/shatnez.html

THOMAS AQUINAS ON LAW

Summa Theologiae I-II (see questions 98-103)

newadvent.org/summa/2.htm

Today’s Music: Fresh Country Air (JewelBeat.Com)

WHAT’S YOUR QUESTION? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO ASK?
Call me at 512-222-3389!
jimmyakinpodcast@gmail.com
www.JimmyAkinPodcast.com

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www.SecretInfoClub.com
Copyright © 2012 by Jimmy Akin

Get the Jimmy Akin Cast app for Android at Amazon.com:

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Can You Help Me Help *MORE* People?

by Jimmy Akin on February 26, 2012

in +Religion, Podcasts

Dear Friend,

If you’re a regular reader of one of my blogs, or a Facebook friend, or if you encounter me in other ways, you know that I have a podcast–what you might think of as an Internet radio show.

Every week I sit down in my home studio and record a new episode. I do this because I believe in the show and because I believe in using the New Media to spread God’s word.

Since launching the program, I’ve received regular inquiries about whether there are transcripts available. People who listen to it find the content very valuable, but they recognize that it would be even better if there were written versions as well.

• Some people would like to refer back to particular parts of the show without having to listen to the whole thing.
• Some people would like to quote it in in email or through sites like Facebook for their friends, co-workers, and family.
• Some people have slow Internet connections that can’t handle the requirements of audio.
• Some people are deaf–or want to share it with those who are deaf.
• Some people aren’t comfortable working with audio and find using text much easier.

There are a host of reasons–and they are good ones!

The truth is: The show would be even more effective if it were available in text as well as audio format.

That’s why I’m writing this post today. I’d like to ask your help in taking the show “to the next level” by making it available in text format.

Unfortunately, there is a problem: How can I make this pay for itself?

You see, I do the show on my own time. Nobody is paying me, and I don’t charge for it. In fact, I pay in order to be able to present it. I pay for the equipment costs, the service providers that allow me to deliver the show, the music you hear on the show, and more. I also spend a lot of time on the program. Between researching each episode and editing it, I usually spend at least three hours preparing each one hour episode of the show.

I’d love to provide transcripts, but I need to find a way for the transcriptions to at least pay for themselves, and hopefully cover some of the additional costs of producing the podcast every week.

After researching the issue, I’ve determined that if I could raise just $3000, I’d be able to keep the podcast going and provide a year’s worth of transcripts.

That is not a huge amount of money!

• I know that there are some people in the show’s audience who could donate the whole $3000.
• Or three people who could donate $1000.
• Or six people who could donate $500.
• And there certainly are 30 people who could write $100 checks.
• And most definitely 100 people who could write $30 checks.

This is a very doable, very achievable amount. Or I think it is, based on my knowledge of my show’s audience.

And so I want to ask you to help me take the show to the next level.

I’ve already spoken with a transcription service (a good one–the kind that will be able to handle the technical terms from Catholic theology and the Bible that I use on the show). As soon as I’m able to raise the needed $3000, I will give them the “go order,” and we will begin producing a year’s worth of transcripts. For example, if we have the needed funding by episode 35 of the show then I’ll use it to produce transcripts for the next 52 shows (a whole year’s worth), which would carry us through episode 87!

Bear in mind that these will be transcripts of my own podcast–not my appearances on other radio shows or podcasts. (I’m not the rights-holder for those.)

Whether you can help by donating $3000, $1000, $500, $100, $30, $10 or some other amount, I hope that you’ll be able to help with this effort, because it’s really all about making the show more effective by making it available to more people, in more ways.

You can donate by Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover), by PayPal, or by check.

To donate by Credit Card or by Pay Pal, here’s all you need to do:

1) Click the “Donate” button below (or in the right hand margin of this page).

2) Enter the amount you want to donate and click “Update Total.”

3) Enter your Credit Card information or sign in to PayPal (if you have a PayPal account) and complete process.

HERE’S THE DONATION BUTTON (CLICK THIS . . .)

You can also mail a check to:

Jimmy Akin
9625 Mission Gorge Rd, Ste 2B (PMB 354)
Santee, CA 92071 

Thanks again, and God bless you for your generosity!

Your pal,

Jimmy

P.S. In the interests of full disclosure, I should point out that I am not a 501(c)3 organization, and so I’m afraid that I can’t offer you a tax deduction. You will, however, be helping to spread God’s word to people all over the world, and that should count toward having treasure in heaven.

The Church Year: Feb. 27, 2012

by Jimmy Akin on February 26, 2012

in +Religion, Liturgical Year

Today is Monday of the 1st week of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

Saints & Celebrations:

On February 27, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

In the Extraordinary Form, we celebrate St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, confessor, who died in A.D. 1862. It is a Class III day.

If you’d like to learn more about St. Gabriel, you can click here.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

Devotions to the crucified Crist contain many elements usually found in popular piety: hymns and prayers, acts such as the unveiling and kissing of the Cross, processions and blessing with the Cross. These can lead to the development of pious exercises often containing many valuable formal and material elements.

Devotion to the Cross, however, sometimes requires a certain enlightenment. The faithful should be taught to place the Cross in its essential reference to the Resurrection of Christ: the Cross, the empty tomb, the Death and Resurrection of Crist are indispensable in the Gospel narrative of God’s salvific plan. In the Christian faith, the Cross is an expression of the triumph of Christ over the powers of darkness. Hence, it is adorned with precious stones and is a sign of blessing when made upon one’s self, or on others or on objects.

The Weekly Benedict: Feb. 25, 2012

by Jimmy Akin on February 26, 2012

in +Benedict, +Religion

Here are this week’s items for The Weekly Benedict (subscribe here; get as ebook):

ANGELUS: Angelus, 19 February 2012

AUDIENCE: 15 February 2012

HOMILY: 19 February 2012: Holy Mass with new Cardinals

SPEECH: To the newly created Cardinals, their family members and pilgrims present at the Consistory (February 20, 2012)

All That Jazz

by Jimmy Akin on February 25, 2012

in +Did You Know?

Did you know? The very first jazz recording (“Livery Stable Blues”) was made by the Original Dixieland Jass Band on Feb. 26, 1917. LEARN MORE.

Prayers for Leah

by Jimmy Akin on February 25, 2012

in +Religion

I would like to ask for prayers for my colleague, Leah Darrow. Today at a speaking event she experienced an unexpected health issue and went to the emergency room. No word on what it is yet, but she has been admitted to the hospital. Thank you for your prayers and concern!

The Church Year: Feb. 26, 2012

by Jimmy Akin on February 25, 2012

in +Religion, Liturgical Year

Today is the 1st Sunday of Lent. The liturgical color is violet.

It is the 1st Sunday of Lent.

Saints & Celebrations:

On February 26, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

There is no special fixed liturgical day in the Extraordinary Form.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

Popular piety tends to anticipate the [ritual] veneration of the Cross. Throughout Lent, every Friday is observed, since very ancient times, as a commemoration of the Lord’s Passion and the faithful easily direct their devotions towards the mystery of the Cross.

They contemplate the crucified Savior, they sense more easily the great suffering which Jesus, the Holy and Innocent One, suffered for the salvation of mankind. They understand his love and the effectiveness of his redemptive sacrifice.

128. The various and numerous devotions to the crucified Christ acquire a special significance in those churches dedicated to the mystery of the Cross or where authentic relics of the true cross are venerated. The “invention of the Cross” in the early fourth century, and the subsequent diffusion throughout the Church of particles of the true Cross, gave notable impulse to devotion to the Cross.

And She Deserved It

by Jimmy Akin on February 24, 2012

in +Did You Know?

Did you know? Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England on Feb. 25, 1570 for schism and her persecution of English Catholics. LEARN MORE.

The Church Year: Feb. 25, 2012

by Jimmy Akin on February 24, 2012

in +Religion, Liturgical Year

Today is the Saturday after Ash Wednesday. The liturgical color is violet.

In the Extraordinary Form, the liturgical color for today is red.

Saints & Celebrations:

On February 25, there is no special fixed liturgical day in the Ordinary Form.

There is no special fixed liturgical day in the Extraordinary Form.

For information about other saints, blesseds, and feasts celebrated today, you can click here.

Readings:

To see today’s readings in the Ordinary Form, you can click here.

Or you can click play to listen to them:

Devotional Information:

According to the Holy See’s Directory on Popular Piety:

126. The existing divergence between the liturgical idea of Lent and the outlook of popular piety need not prevent an effective interaction between Liturgy and popular piety during the forty days of Lent.

An example of such interaction is to be seen in fact that popular piety often encourages particular observances on certain days, or special devotional exercises, or apostolic or charitable works which are foreseen and recommended by the lenten Liturgy. The practice of fasting, characteristic of the lenten season since antiquity, is an “exercise” which frees the faithful from earthly concerns so as to discover the life that comes from above: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (cf. Dt 8,3; Mt 4, 4; Lk 4,4; antiphon for the first Sunday of Lent).