Church's statue of Mary appears to cry blood

Religion News ^ | Nov 28th, 2005 | Juliet Williams

[Smittie]

Why pray to what were once mere humans when the Living God exists? Because it's in the Bible?

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

The Bible also tells us that Jesus said that no one comes to the Father exect through him.

[SoothingDave]

Elders, yes; saints, yes; exclusive to being saints, NO. You need to ignore the rest of the bible to believe that sainthood is:

1. Exclusively limited to only a few.

2. Bestowed upon men by other men (priests if you must).

Believers who have given themselves to the Lord via His/His Son's death on the Cross, are righteous, worthy, holy, and saints in His eyes.

You need to discount much of His Word in order to think that priests can confer any kind of meaningful sainthood or that it is limited to those that other men have so designated, or limited in any finite way other than by believe in and love of God.

---

You should study Catholicism sometime, to dispell yourself of your ignorant notions.

Catholics believe neither that sainthood is "limited to only a few" nor do we believe it is conferred by men.

So, there goes your argument.

SD

[frogjerk]

I think that the binding and loosing is addressed to the Church, which is in fact the believers that comprise the Church. if you read it in context, it is telling you to do what you can to save others from themselves, but barring that possibility, be shed of them so they don't, through their bad activities, cause others to forego the Gift.

The Keys to the Kingdom and the binding and loosing is addressed to Peter alone, specifically in Matthew 16:18. This is what Catholics believe.

if you read it in context,

With all due respect The Catholic Church has been reading this in context for almost 2000 years and still comes to the same conclusion. But this is not the only reason the Catholic Church believes in the primacy of St. Peter, there are many other reasons as well.

This is what we believe.

[frogjerk]

Miracle explained. On to the next one.

Good explanation. Let's test your theory before we move on...lest we believe you have all of the answers...

[frogjerk]

What translation is this?

[MeanWestTexan]

Then you disagree with St. Paul, who very expressly stated that the beliefs I paraphrased are all that are truly important, and the rest chaf.

Romans 14 speaks to this issue plainly, as does 1 Corinthians.

[frogjerk]

I still don't see the word Trinity...

[MeanWestTexan]

Thanks! If you have any Orthodox-for-dummies references, I would be interested.

For all the evil and ill-tempered squabbling one sees in FreeRepublic about issues like this, the various Christian denominations agree on about 98% of things.

[GatorGirl]

So you follow all the other rules in the Old Testament to the letter too? Glad to hear it!

How's it going with those monthly new-moon sweet-smelling holocausts of bullocks, rams and lambs?

Seriously, the distinction is in the worship. Contrary to popular, yet ignorant, belief, Catholics do not worship statues!

[MeanWestTexan]

www.biblegateway.com

has all the major translations. Here is that passage from NIV (generally considered by linguist the most denominationally neutral and truest to the original language):

"This is the one who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ. He did not come by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the[a] Spirit, the water and the blood; and the three are in agreement."

You can get there more solidly with seperate passages that say "Jesus is God" and "God is the Holy Spirit", ergo "Jesus = Holy Spirit." (obviously paraphrasing here).

[Eagle of Liberty]

Of course, I am non-denominational and unencumbered by rituals and other idiosyncrasies that help delineate the various religions....

We are not encumbered by the presence of Mary in the Catholic Church. Mary is recognized in the Catholic faith, not worshipped. She is recognized as what she rightly is, Jesus' Mother. Read the Hail Mary and you may understand.

We make no apologies for recognizing those, like Mary, who have lived good lives and have done great things in God's eyes.

Agree or don't agree, that is your perogative. But you may want to learn more about the faith before you begin to question.

[frogjerk]

Then you disagree with St. Paul, who very expressly stated that the beliefs I paraphrased are all that are truly important, and the rest chaf.

I was referring to reasoning why/how Christ's nature was sinless...not stating it is more important.

[frogjerk]

Thanks, I know of biblegateway.com and have the Mozilla toolbar installed as well. It is a great site and I use it especially for searches and such. I use http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/ as my sources though. I just did not recognize the (TR) notation.

[SoothingDave]

You can get there more solidly with seperate passages that say "Jesus is God" and "God is the Holy Spirit", ergo "Jesus = Holy Spirit." (obviously paraphrasing here).

You think Jesus is the Holy Spirit?

SD

[MineralMan]

"Good explanation. Let's test your theory before we move on...lest we believe you have all of the answers..."

OK. These crying statue thingies have always been around. It's always something bogus. If the Christian deity wanted to do a miracle, it might want to think of something a little more impressive, doncha think?

[MineralMan]

"Substance has not been examined yet...
Now now...."

You're right. It hasn't. And do you suppose people will believe it when it has? People are falling at the feed of these oozing statues all over the world, explanations or not.

Some folks want to believe. In almost anything. Deities could do much more impressive things, I'd guess.

[MineralMan]

"IF it's cement."

Uh..says right in the article that it's made of concrete. I even quoted that line. Concrete statues frequently ooze red crap. It's the reinforcement in them.

Never mind. If folks want to believe that this is a miracle, no explanation will divest them of their belief. It's all silliness.

[Former Fetus]

Amen, brother!

[frogjerk]

I am skeptical like you but I would like more information.

If the Christian deity wanted to do a miracle, it might want to think of something a little more impressive, doncha think?

He did do something much more impressive and people still didn't believe...