KNOW YOUR FAITH (KYF) FOR TODAY

128. Why is the Resurrection at the same time a transcendent occurrence?

While being an historical event, verifiable and attested by signs and testimonies, the Resurrection, insofar as it is the entrance of Christ's humanity into the glory of God, transcends and surpasses history as a mystery of faith. For this reason the risen Christ did not manifest himself to the world but to his disciples, making them his witnesses to the people.

Further reading: CCC 647, 656-657

129. What is the condition of the risen body of Jesus?

The Resurrection of Christ was not a return to earthly life. His risen body is that which was crucified and bears the marks of his passion. However it also participates in the divine life, with the characteristics of a glorified body. Because of this the risen Jesus was utterly free to appear to his disciples how and where he wished and under various aspects.

      

Further reading: CCC 645-646

130. How is the Resurrection the work of the Most Holy Trinity?

The Resurrection of Christ is a transcendent work of God. The three Persons act together according to what is proper to them: the Father manifests his power; the Son "takes again" the life which he freely offered (John 10:17), reuniting his soul and his body which the Spirit bring to life and glorifies.

      

Further reading: CCC 648-650

KNOW YOUR FAITH (KYF) FOR TODAY

117. Who is responsible for the death of Jesus?

The passion and death of Jesus cannot be imputed indiscriminately either to all the Jews that were living at that time or to their descendants. Every single sinner, that is, every human being is really the cause and the instrument of the sufferings of the Redeemer; and the greater blame in this respect falls on those above all who are Christians and who the more often fall into sin or delight in their vices.

Further reading: CCC 595-598

118. Why was the death of Jesus part of God's plan?

To reconcile to himself all who were destined to die because of sin God took the loving initiative of sending his Son that he might give himself up for sinners. Proclaimed in the Old Testament, especially at the sacrifice of the Suffering Servant, the death of Jesus came about "in accordance with the Scriptures".

     

Further reading: CCC 599-605, 619

119. In what way did Christ offer himself to the Father?

The entire life of Christ was a free offering to the Father to carry out his plan of salvation. He gave "his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45) and in this way he reconciled all of humanity with God. His suffering and death showed how his humanity was the free and perfect instrument of that divine love which desires the salvation of all people.

Further reading: CCC 606-609, 620

120. How is Jesus' offering expressed at the Last Supper?

At the Last Supper with his apostles on the eve of his passion Jesus anticipated, that is, both symbolized his free self-offering and made it really present: "This is my Body which is given for you" (Luke 22:19), "This is my Blood which is poured out..." (Matthew 26:28) Thus he both instituted the Eucharist as the "memorial" (1 Corinthians 11:25) of his sacrifice and instituted his apostles as priests of the new covenant.

      

Further reading: CCC 610-611, 621

121. What happened in the Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane?

Despite the horror which death represented for the sacred humanity of Jesus "who is the Author of Life" (Acts 3:15), the human will of the Son of God remained faithful to the will of the Father for our salvation. Jesus accepted the duty to carry our sins in his Body "becoming obedient unto death" (Philippians 2:8).

Further reading: CCC 612

122. What are the results of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross?

Jesus freely offered his life as an expiatory sacrifice, that is, he made reparation for our sins with the full obedience of his love unto death. This love "to the end" (John 13:1) of the Son of God reconciled all of humanity with the Father. The paschal sacrifice of Christ, therefore, redeems humanity in a way that is unique, perfect, and definitive; and it opens up for them communion with God.

      

Further reading: CCC 613-617, 622-623

123. Why does Jesus call upon his disciples to take up their cross?

By calling his disciples to take up their cross and follow him Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who are to be its first beneficiaries.

      

Further reading: CCC 618

124. In what condition was the body of Christ while it lay in the tomb?

Christ underwent a real death and a true burial. However, the power of God preserved his body from corruption.

"Jesus Christ descended into hell; 

on the third day He rose again from the dead."

Further reading: CCC 624-630

125. What is the "hell" into which Jesus descended?

This "hell" was different from the hell of the damned. It was the state of all those, righteous and evil, who died before Christ. With his soul united to his divine Person Jesus went down to the just in hell who were awaiting their Redeemer so they could enter at last into the vision of God. When he had conquered by his death both death and the devil "who has the power of death" (Hebrews 2:14), he freed the just who looked forward to the Redeemer and opened for them the gates of heaven.

      

Further reading: CCC 632-637

126. What place does the Resurrection of Christ occupy in our faith?

The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ and represents along with his cross an essential part of the Paschal Mystery.

Further reading: CCC 631, 638

127. What are the signs that bear witness to the Resurrection of Jesus?

Along with the essential sign of the empty tomb, the Resurrection of Jesus is witnessed to by the women who first encountered Christ and proclaimed him to the apostles. Jesus then "appeared to Cephas (Peter) and then to the Twelve. Following that he appeared to more than five hundred of the brethren at one time" (1 Corinthians 15:5-6) and to others as well. The apostles could not have invented the story of the resurrection since it seemed impossible to them. As a matter of fact, Jesus himself upbraided them for their unbelief.

Further reading: CCC 639-644, 656-657

Fr. Alia: When a Catholic Priest becomes a State Governor, can he celebrate mass again? Who then is the state's first lady?

These are the question that have been asked frequently and shall surface again. However, the Catholic Church is 2000+ years and everything that happens to her seems to be a repetition of history. This is the reason why the Codex Iuris Canonici, that is, the Code of Canon Law, of the Church took care of this kind of situation.

Precisely, the Code of Canon Law of the  Roman Catholic stops priests from doing anything unbecoming or foreign to the clerical state. The law prohibits diocesan priests and bishops from taking up public offices (Canon 285 § 2).

But then comes the question of what actually constitutes a public office? Being an aged and wise  institution, the Church in Can 285 § 3 states that Clerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of CIVIL POWER. Here, the clarity is made because these public offices include the office of the governor of Benue State, which Fr. Hycinth Alia just won under APC PARTY and has been declared the governor elect of Benue State, Nigeria. Therefore, he shall be involved in the exercise of civil power.

So, has he gone against the Law of the Catholic Church as a Catholic Priest?

In an article in Daily Post Nigeria dated May 21, 2022, written by  Fikayo Olowolagba, and titled: "Catholic Church Suspends Rev. Fr Hyacinth Alia Over Governorship Aspiration," it read:

"The Catholic Church, Gboko Area of Benue State had SUSPENDED REVD. FR. HYACINTH LORMEM ALIA FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY( Capital letters mine). This was disclosed in a statement signed by William Avenya, Bishop, Catholic Diocese of Gboko & Apostolic Administrator, See Vacante.

Revd. Fr. Alia was suspended for his involvement in politics and purchasing forms to contest for the position of the Governor of Benue State under the All Progressives Congress, APC.

The statement read: “May I begin by acknowledging and appreciating you for your commitment and dedication to the work of spreading the Good News of Christ. “I wrote to communicate to you the suspension of my priest, Revd. Fr. Hyacinth lormem Alia from public ministry after series of admonitions to him Ex Can. 1371, 2° CIC.

The Bishop continued: 

“The Mother Church does not allow her clerics to get involved in partisan politics on their own can. 285, 3 CIC. You are aware that my son, your brother and your priest has purchased the party forms to contest for the Office of the Governor of Benue State under the All Progressives Congress (APC), which is totally against our vocation. Therefore, to respond to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the Church in the Catholic Diocese of Gboko, I have suspended him from the exercise of sacred ministry.

The Catholic Bishop noted that the canonical suspension takes effect from the moment it is communicated to him and LASTS UNTIL HE CEASES FROM CONTUMACY."

Therefore?

You have to note the phrases in Capital letters: "SUSPENDED FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY... UNTIL HE CEASES FROM CONTUMACY." These phrases explain all your questions.

SUSPENDED FROM PUBLIC MINISTRY

This means that the Catholic Church has withdrawn the priestly faculties from Fr. Alia and therefore he can no longer celebrate mass publicly for others but he can still celebrate his private mass because he too should also pray and the mass remains the highest prayer; he can no longer hear confession unless in danger of death(can 986 § 2); he can no longer celebrate baptism, nor communion of the sick, nor extreme unction; and Matrimony (Christian Marriage), and what have you.

Yes, he can hear someone's confession in danger of death and that tells you that Fr. Alia remains a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek but the power to exercise that priesthood has been removed from him by the Church who made him a priest of Christ, because the church is the body of Christ the Head. That means that no one is actually an ex priest.

...LASTS UNTIL HE CEASES FROM CONTUMACY.

Contumacy points to disobedience which Fr. Alia is canonically guilty of. This entails that Fr. Alia remains suspended from exercising the sacred function of a Catholic Priest till the time he refrains from party politics, exercise of civil power, etc. Therefore, the moment Fr. Hycinth Alia evidently leaves party politics which includes the governorship throne even if in the next 1 to 8 years, etc, he is automatically reinstated to function as a Catholic Priest. 

Who then is the Benue State's First Lady?

We must all as Nigerians know what is constitutional and what is common. What is common doesn't necessarily become constitutional but what is constitutional is already presumed common.

The office of the first lady in Nigeria, whether in the State level or at the national level is unconstitutional but common. The executive governor or the president is not required by law to have an office of the first lady or the potential first gentleman. Therefore, Fr. Hycinth Alia, the governor elect of Benue State is not required by law to have a first lady.

This coincidentally saves Fr. Hycinth's priesthood from any structural or constitutional obstruction of coming back,  as we pray for him and long that he comes back to the priesthood.

Note Well: I write to portray only but the truth, irrespective of any prevailing sentiment.

Fada Henry Charles Umelechi