Posted on 08/05/2010 8:17:53 AM PDT by markomalley
oops...sorry...thanks for the heads up.
And then the Church grew up. I suppose one might say "and then all the dirty sinners showed up" instead but that sounds like one of the reasons people were complaining about Jesus in the first place.
I understand the longing for a smaller, purer, more intimate congregation far from the madding crowd but the Church is a hospital for sinners, not a political action committee for puritans.
The early settlers built shacks and sod homes, then the nation grew up and people could afford bricks.
I know, I know, we all want to go back to a simpler time in some way or another. We're all looking for a golden age in the past. I struggle with that constantly. Primitivism is heretical though, you don't put a teenager back in a crib just because his voice changes... or for any other reason for that matter.
As my philosophy teacher from undergraduate would have said, “Not so. Not so”.
Honor of Mary and worship of Jesus Christ are not mutually exclusive activities.
The office of Queen does not take away from the office of the King, it actually helps in the administration.
I never said Faith rests on philosophy, rather Faith, when combined with philosophy produces a most excellent Sacred Theology.
I have never met a Catholic who had a deep devotion to Our Lady who was not also profoundly Christocentric. What did she say to us at the wedding feast of Cana? “Do whatever He tells you.” The only exception I can think of, and I am in the know on this, being a lifelong Catholic, are the ones who gravitate towards private so-called “marian” apparitions in the quest for secret knowledge, or knowledge of the future. But these folks are led by a lust for divination, and not by holy Faith.
Well stated by both you and Blackpacific!
All the noise and crazy sounds of modern life. It helps to get away to be alone with our Lord.
I do devotionals before I go to Church. The Catherdals or Churches are that solitude that Jesus would seek at times. When I go into my Church I put my hand in water which reminds me of my baptism. Then bless myself of the very words of baptism. Then I walk and pass a stained glass window that depicts the original Baptism of Christ. Oh! How the Holy Spirit is so alive and sweet an tender to my inner most being! Then all is one with me. Oh precious Jesus! And it goes on and on!
I literally walk past the living Gospel of stained windows with God's light (The Sun)from his creation streaming through to my very soul. Which is understood by any speaking people because it is a picture not a language. A pictures is a thousand words as stated at times.Also in a thousand languages to be told from the stained glass stories. Which are so beautiful at times. Showing and reminding me of the Great stories of faith to live even today.
God blesses this so much its earth shattering. I am transported to a God plane. When I see Our Jesus on the cross. I am lifted too. Here is a God Man Who acted like this to visual say I love you this much to open his arms stretched to hug. To Die for you and me! What a God! Then it goes on and on. How beautiful!
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
7 He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:
8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;
12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
14 for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. 15 As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
16 the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
17 But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-
18 with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
20 Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
22 Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
True wisdom in you! Well stated.
As would be said in my church, do we want to install a stained glass window, or should we spend the money on outreach? Our policy has always been that if someone wants to donate money for a stained glass window, they can do so outside of the parish budget (and it has happened a few times).
The parish itself is not going to cough up half a million dollars to install a pipe organ (and that’s cheap for an organ) just because it looks pretty and sounds a little better than the electric one we’ve been using since we walked out of ECUSA.
Sorry, I actually noticed it too late, after I’d posted........
And at the same time build a beautiful soul for Christ within you.
10-4 SISTER!
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