Posted on 04/11/2014 1:56:58 PM PDT by NYer
“We too are tempted, we too are the target of attacks by the devil because the spirit of Evil does not want our holiness, he does not want our Christian witness, he does not want us to be disciples of Christ. And what does the Spirit of Evil do, through his temptations, to distance us from the path of Jesus? The temptation of the devil has three characteristics and we need to learn about them in order not to fall into the trap. What does Satan do to distance us from the path of Jesus? Firstly, his temptation begins gradually but grows and is always growing. Secondly, it grows and infects another person, it spreads to another and seeks to be part of the community. And in the end, in order to calm the soul, it justifies itself. It grows, it spreads and it justifies itself.”
Turning to the bible, the Pope recalled how Jesus’s first temptation by Satan was almost ‘like a seduction.’ Satan told Jesus to throw himself down from the Temple so that all the people will see that he is the Messiah! And warned the Pope, when the devil is rejected, he grows and comes back stronger than before. Jesus himself noted this in the gospel when the devil went around looking for companions and with them returned to Jesus. Satan got involved with Jesus’s enemies and what seemed at first like a calm trickle of water turned into a flood of water. In this way, the temptation grows, infects others and justifies itself. As an illustration, the Pope recalled how when Jesus preached in the synagogue, his enemies belittled him by saying “but isn’t this the son of Joseph, the carpenter, the son of Mary. He never studied so with what authority can he speak?
“We have a temptation that grows: it grows and infects others. For example, let’s look at gossip: I’m a bit envious of this or that person and at first I’m just envious inside and I need to share it and go to another person and say: “But have you seen that person?’.. and this gossip tries to grow and infects another and another… This is the way gossip works and all of us have been tempted to gossip! Maybe not one of you, if you’re a saint , but I too have been tempted to gossip! It’s a daily temptation. And it begins in this way, discreetly, like a trickle of water. It grows by infecting others and in the end it justifies itself.”
Pope Francis concluded by urging people to be vigilant and not to give in to that initial temptation and thus allow it to spread to others and justify itself.
“We are all tempted because the law of our spiritual life, our Christian life is a struggle: a struggle. That’s because the Prince of this world, Satan, doesn’t want our holiness, he doesn’t want us to follow Christ. Maybe some of you might say: ‘But Father, how old fashioned you are to speak about the devil in the 21st century!’ But look out because the devil is present! The devil is here… even in the 21st century! And we mustn’t be naïve, right? We must learn from the Gospel how to fight against Satan.”
I Agree.
But the NSA/IRS will be after the Pope for criminal threats.
I thought the predominant view of the RCC was amillennial.
Francis ought to know... He just met with the devil.
Rome, Italy - It has come to our attention that the liberal media is writing that our Pope referred to Satan. This is a misunderstanding of the translation.
We sincerely try, using Google Translate, to get our Great Pope's words translated properly and swiftly. Unfortunately, the poor quality of Google Translate and the mainstream media bias conspire to thwart our efforts. We apologize sincerely and perpetually for this misunderstanding!
The evil press reported our Great Pope said, "Maybe some of you might say: ‘But Father, how old fashioned you are to speak about the devil in the 21st century!’ But look out because the devil is present! The devil is here… even in the 21st century!"
He actually said, "Maybe some of you might say: ‘But Father, how old fashioned you are to still eat deviled ham in the 21st century!’ But look, the devil isn't present in deviled ham! Deviled ham is just a name. We continue to use it even in the 21st century!"
Thank you.
Satan was not available for comment.
He was on vacation with michelle.
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Okay how many read this as “Pope Francis: Santa exists and how to fight him”?
I don’t want discuss if the Rapture theory is correct or not, but does the Catholic church teach it?
Not me. And is that your real thought on the matter?
With respect to the rapture, Catholics certainly believe that the event of our gathering together to be with Christ will take place, though they do not generally use the word "rapture" to refer to this event
The Apostle Peter, writes, "But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. . . . Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace" (2 Pet. 3:8–14). ref
You don’t have to be Hal Lindsey to believe that Satan is alive and well on Planet Earth.
I haven’t posted my real thought on the matter. I have a little dyslexia to go along with my sense of humor. Thank goodness you don’t appear to be afflicted by either.
I believe that is a satisfactory answer, if they are able to make it into that time frame. That is what the popular Rapture Theory interferes with.
Then why don't you post your real thoughts on the matter? You may not entertain as many people as you think.
Okay how many read this as “Pope Francis: Santa exists and how to fight him”?
Lure him to a trap with cookies?
;-)
Well off the top of my head I would say the dead in Christ shall rise first to join the living to be caught up in the heavens to meet Christ. But as far as a "secret" rapture - not Biblical. Every eye will see.
Does it not say in the bible that Christ is coming here, on Earth?
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