The Priesthood, Old and New (explained by a Baptist Sunday School and Bible study teacher)

Catholic Exchange ^ | June 15, 2009 | Sonja Corbitt

[franky8]

Your being harsh.

From Catholic Encyclopaedia:

“Regarding the day, year, and manner of Our Lady’s death, nothing certain is known. The earliest known literary reference to the Assumption is found in the Greek work De Obitu S. Dominae. Catholic faith, however, has always derived our knowledge of the mystery from Apostolic Tradition. Epiphanius (d. 403) acknowledged that he knew nothing definite about it (Haer., lxxix, 11). The dates assigned for it vary between three and fifteen years after Christ’s Ascension. Two cities claim to be the place of her departure: Jerusalem and Ephesus. Common consent favours Jerusalem, where her tomb is shown; but some argue in favour of Ephesus. The first six centuries did not know of the tomb of Mary at Jerusalem.

The belief in the corporeal assumption of Mary is founded on the apocryphal treatise De Obitu S. Dominae, bearing the name of St. John, which belongs however to the fourth or fifth century. It is also found in the book De Transitu Virginis, falsely ascribed to St. Melito of Sardis, and in a spurious letter attributed to St. Denis the Areopagite. If we consult genuine writings in the East, it is mentioned in the sermons of St. Andrew of Crete, St. John Damascene, St. Modestus of Jerusalem and others. In the West, St. Gregory of Tours (De gloria mart., I, iv) mentions it first. The sermons of St. Jerome and St. Augustine for this feast, however, are spurious. St. John of Damascus (P.G., I, 96) thus formulates the tradition of the Church of Jerusalem:

St. Juvenal, Bishop of Jerusalem, at the Council of Chalcedon (451), made known to the Emperor Marcian and Pulcheria, who wished to possess the body of the Mother of God, that Mary died in the presence of all the Apostles, but that her tomb, when opened, upon the request of St. Thomas, was found empty; wherefrom the Apostles concluded that the body was taken up to heaven.”

For Pope Pius XII:

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02006b.htm

“Pope Pius XII headed a vast underground of priests, religious, and laity throughout Italy to serve as a pipeline to save Jews and Gentiles alike from the Nazi government. It is believed that Pope Pius XII aided more than 1,500,000 refugees, including Jews, throughout the war.

“It is an abominable slander” he said, “to spread blame that belongs to Hitler and the Nazis to a pope who was a friend of the Jews.-—”

“Rabbi David G. Dalin, a professor of History, says that not only did Pope Pius protect and defend the Jews during World War II, but that there has been a tradition of papal support for Jewish people since at least the fourth century—a claim that flies in the face of much modern speculation.”

Spells out the misconceptions!

[Citizen Soldier]

From "Catholic Answers" web site - Michelle Arnold

"Pope Pius XII, in Munificentissimus Deus, does not define that the Blessed Virgin died, only that she "completed the course of her earthly life" (MD 44). Only the specific definition of the Assumption in paragraph 44 of Munificentissimus Deus is the infallible proclamation; the rest of the document is commentary. Although many theologians believe that the Virgin Mary did die, the Church is officially silent on the matter. That Mary was assumed into heaven does not mean that she could not have died, anymore than Jesus' Ascension meant that he could not have died. The Assumption means that, after Mary's earthly life was over, her body and soul were glorified and raised into heaven. If she died, then her body was not allowed to corrupt in the grave but was reunited to her soul and assumed into heaven by God. This reunion and glorification of body and soul is the resurrection of the body that all of us look forward to at the end of time." I hope that answers it for the freeper. This is an excellent site to seek catholic answers.

[Petronski]

So, it’s a secret?

No. Do your own research.

Or you don’t know which Roman Emperor decided that Mary never died?

It is an absurd question.

[Petronski]

And Pius, the Nazis' favorite Pope, had the final word.

Pius XII saved 860,000 Jews from the Holocaust.

860,000

[franky8]

Thank you!

http://www.marypages.com/IncorruptBodies.htm

This link indicates the in-corrupt bodies of several Saints

As we know that, “All things are possible with God”. People question the “Assumption” and the same people question the Blessed Mother about her being Blessed. Why don’t they accept Mary’s Magnificat:

“For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.”

It is right there in the Bible for them to read

[Citizen Soldier]

There is a paperback book I am sure you can get at a catholic bookstore on catholic apologetics devoted to defending Mary ($5.95 is what I paid) by Father Frank Chacon and Jim Burnham "Beginning Apologetics 6" I have an interest in apologetics ever since I converted and constantly have to defend my beliefs now to my family and friends. In it they write on pgs 24-26 many, many defenses of her assumption going back to the 2nd century, I highly recommend this book.

Also, as far as purgatory I have an excellent 18 page article from the website "Planet envoy" by Patrick Madrid called "Purgatory: God's Emergency Room for Sinners" which is linked to Catholic Answers when you look up answers about it.

[franky8]

Thank you. I watch Madrid quite often of EWTN

[Dr. Eckleburg]

We have direct access to the Father through His Son. We no longer need to go through other men to gain access to God. That is what our precious Savior accomplished on the cross.

Thanks for letting me chime in—as a former Catholic, I am grateful that we can rely on the authority and inerrancy of Scripture—God’s very word—rather than on the traditions and words of men.

A belated but appreciative AMEN!

[Cronos]

Johnny Schmuckfodder used to be a Calvinist, but now, look, he is a Catholic.

yeah -- he left a cult and came to Christianity!