Priests are a gift from the Heart of Christ, Pope Benedict says

CNA ^ | 6/13/2010

[markomalley]

Vatican City, Jun 13, 2010 / 10:58 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Thousands of pilgrims and faithful gathered at noon Sunday in St. Peter’s Square to pray the Angelus with the Holy Father. Before the prayer, he said that the fruits of the recently ended Year for Priests could never be measured, but are already visible and will continue to be ever more so.

“The priest is a gift from the heart of Christ, a gift for the Church and for the world. From the heart of the Son of God, overflowing with love, all the goods of the Church spring forth,” proclaimed Pope Benedict XVI. “One of those goods is the vocations of those men who, conquered by the Lord Jesus, leave everything behind to dedicate themselves completely to the Christian community, following the example of the Good Shepherd.”

The Holy Father described the priest as having been formed by “the same charity of Christ, that love which compelled him to give his life for his friends and to forgive his enemies.”

“Therefore,” he continued, “priests are the primary builders of the civilization of love.”

Benedict XVI exhorted priests to always seek the intercession of St. John Marie Vianney, whose prayer, the “Act of Love,” was prayed frequently during the Year for Priests, and “continues to fuel our dialogue with God.”

The pontiff also spoke about the close of the Year for Priests, which took place this past week and culminated with the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He emphasized “the unforgettable days in the presence of more than 15,000 priests from around the world.”

The feast of the Sacred Heart is traditionally a “day of priestly holiness,” but this time it was especially so, Benedict XVI remarked.

Pope Benedict concluded his comments by noting that, in contemplating history, “one observes so many pages of authentic social and spiritual renewal which have been written by the decisive contribution of Catholic priests.” These were inspired “only by their passion for the Gospel and for mankind, for his true civil and religious freedom.”

“So many initiatives that promote the entire human being have begun with the intuition of a priestly heart,” he exclaimed.

The Pope then prayed the Angelus, greeted those present in various languages, and imparted his apostolic blessing.

[RnMomof7]

Faith in Christ for what? What did Christ accomplish on the cross for men..?

[Natural Law]

Note that you reference St. Irenaeus. Does that mean that you fully accept his teachings including his significant contributions to Mariology and his assertion that Mary is the co-recapitulator?

[RnMomof7]

I just was pointing out that the catholic church picks and chooses what they want from the ECF and disregards that which does not support their doctrine..

[RnMomof7]

faith that obeying the laws of the church and receiving the sacraments will save you?
Faith in Christ and loving your brother.

But missing mass is a mortal sin and sends a Catholic to hell if not confessed in a confessional ...seems to me that is faith in the church

BTW who is your brother?

[Natural Law]

"I just was pointing out that the catholic church picks and chooses what they want from the ECF and disregards that which does not support their doctrine."

No, you made a (false) assertion that the Early Church Fathers supported Sola Scriptura and proceeded to demonstrate that Protestants pick and choose what they want from the ECF and disregards that which does not support their doctrine. I want to thank you for looking foolish to prove my point.

[RnMomof7]

No, you made a (false) assertion that the Early Church Fathers supported Sola Scriptura and proceeded to demonstrate that Protestants pick and choose what they want from the ECF and disregards that which does not support their doctrine. I want to thank you for looking foolish to prove my point.

Nice try NL..But we, unlike the catholics do not use the ECF to support our doctrine nor do we develop our doctrine from their writings.

"There is, brethren, one God, the knowledge of whom we gain from the Holy Scriptures, and from no other source. For just as a man, if he wishes to be skilled in the wisdom of this world, will find himself unable to get at it in any other way than by mastering the dogmas of philosophers, so all of us who wish to practice piety will be unable to learn its practice from any other quarter than the oracles of God. Whatever things, then, the Holy Scripture declare, at these let us look; and whatsoever things they teach, these let us learn; and as the Father wills our belief to be, let us believe; and as He wills the Son to be glorified, let us glorify Him; and as He wills the Holy Spirit to be bestowed, let us receive Him. Not according to our own will, nor according to our own mind, nor yet as using violently those things which are given by God, but even as He has chosen to teach them by the Holy Scriptures, so let us discern them."
- Hippolytus, Against Noetus, ch 9

"For how can we adopt those things which we do not find in the holy Scriptures?"
- Ambrose (On the Duties of the Clergy, 1:23:102)

Sola Scriptura !!

[Alamo-Girl]

Perhaps you could elaborate a bit about

” . . . the image of man in the revelation, i.e. that he has a role in it.”

That’s not precisely clear to me.

It refers to the metaphor I used at post 873.

Receiving spiritual insight from that vantage point, man is inseparable from God in Scripture. Or to put it another way, man's works facilitates God's will and therefore God's will could not be done without man's willful participation.

More to the point in this sidebar, from that vantage point, man cannot be saved by God alone. He must do something of his own free will for that to be the result.

This point usually comes to foreground when the discussion turns to Mary. Her will (consent) stands apart from God's will and thus she is venerated as a "co." Or as some suggest, Christ could not have come in the flesh without her consent.

Those of us looking at the diamond from the opposite facet, seeing the Light and no images of men, shudder at such claims. We do not perceive man's works as facilitating God's will but rather as evidence of His will being done.

In the case of Mary, we call her blessed not because of anything she did of her own free will, e.g. her consent - but rather because God chose her. If she had not consented, God would nevertheless have seen His will done.

And to the point at issue, we would say no one and no thing can thwart the will of God.

Remember the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God, and [there is] none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: - Isaiah 46:9-10

The former might point to the murder of children when Moses and Jesus were physically born as evidence of the belief that the will of God can be thwarted. The latter would point to the very same passages as evidence that the will of God cannot be thwarted.

Likewise, the former might point to the Noah flood or the rebellion of the Israelites as evidence of the belief that the will of God can be thwarted. And the latter would point to the very same passages as evidence that the will of God cannot be thwarted.

The former might theorize that mankind could kill itself off and thus thwart the will of God, i.e. prophecies yet to be fulfilled would not be fulfilled. The latter would counter that God would prevent such a thing because His will is revealed in those very same prophecies.

Bottom line to me is that those on both sides are sincerely testifying to what they actually see in the words of God.

But it is the same Light - God - and the same diamond - Scripture.

I thank God for the spiritual ears and eyes He has given me, that I do not perceive images of men in the diamond. Because of that discernment, I have His blessed assurance:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

And I testify that no thing and no one can thwart the will of God.

God's Name is I AM.

[Natural Law]

"Nice try NL..But we, unlike the catholics do not use the ECF to support our doctrine nor do we develop our doctrine from their writings."

Make up your mind. It seems to me that your problem isn't with the source material used by Catholics, it is about the Catholics. The only thing Protestants are consistent and unified on is a blind "four legs good, two legs bad" opposition to anything Catholic.

Protestants denounce Catholics for following the traditions of the Early Church Fathers and then claim that they are somehow special when they are forced to admit that do follow them in violation of Sola Scriptura. Protestants denounce the use of any non-scriptural sources and then boast of when they do use them in violation of Sola Scriptura.

[boatbums]

There is no logic in this post. It is a perfect example of reductio absurdum fallacious reasoning.

Perhaps you should go back and read the post, in context. My post was concerning the absurdity in thinking "good works of love" did NOT include the commandments of God since they were part of the Hebrew Law.

I don't think you can name one "Protestant" denomination that teaches a Christian just has to believe in Christ as savior and then can go live as he pleases with no obligation to live in obedience to God. There is a great difference in teaching salvation by grace through faith without works and teaching salvation by grace through faith and works.

You must ask yourself the question, "What is "believing" in Christ? What does "trusting" in Christ mean?". I know that the early Christians understood that their good deeds added nothing to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. He paid the penalty for sin, he made propitiation, he redeemed us, he said, "It is finished.". My contention, and I think the others on this thread, as well, is that if we are relying on our own works to save us in any way, then we are not really putting our trust in Christ. Saving faith is that total surrender to God's grace. The realization that nothing I do can earn or merit my salvation. It is ALL of Christ, not me. He deserves all the glory and when compared to his sacrifice for me, my efforts are filthy rags. That is the point - in what do you place your trust? Christ's blood or your own merits through "good works"? To rely on our own efforts to play a part in our salvation is not really trusting in Christ.

I think we may talk past each other some time and I am saddened that hearts and minds close up. The devil is delighted when we become proud and put each other down. Non-believers look and see no love or care and get turned off to learning about Christianity. Let's not give him the satisfaction.

[rbmillerjr]

ugg...let me put some shades on so I can read this rainbow of words.

ahh..there we go...

sigh, the usual gibberish.

[RnMomof7]

Make up your mind. It seems to me that your problem isn't with the source material used by Catholics, it is about the Catholics.

I made up my mind 30 years ago when I left Rome and her doctrines

Protestants denounce Catholics for following the traditions of the Early Church Fathers and then claim that they are somehow special when they are forced to admit that do follow them in violation of Sola Scriptura. Protestants denounce the use of any non-scriptural sources and then boast of when they do use them in violation of Sola Scriptura.

At least you admit you follow SOME OF THE TEACHINGS of the early church fathers ..

"We use Scripture to answer heresy and preceive that it is power and truth."
- Basil the Great

“Let the inspired Scriptures then be our umpire, and the vote of truth will be given to those whose dogmas are found to agree with the Divine words.”
- Gregory of Nyssa (d.ca, 395) “On the Holy Trinity”, NPNF, p. 327

Sola scriptura

[Dr. Eckleburg]

The Goats are condemned, not because they did not work, but because that work was not done to the glory of God.. They did the works of the natural man...

The God pleasing works were not self serving works to earn or secure their salvation or for the approval of men. They flowed out of the heart of Christ as works HE HAD ORDAINED for them before the foundation of the world

They were not sheep because they did the work that God had ordained for them, they did the work because they were the sheep

A judgment of works..... but that judgment actually happened before the works, because they were not good "trees" to begin with (sheep)

So the works do not make one good, but they tell us the condition of the the relationship with God.

Christ NEVER knew them, they were never saved then lost. HE NEVER knew them. They pleaded their case on works. BUT their fruit was rotten to the core, because its roots were not in Christ

AMEN, RnMom!!!! THAT is the Gospel of our salvation; the unmerited redemption we have been given by a merciful God through the righteousness of Jesus Christ alone.

May all Christians know the expansive joy your post points toward -- that we are loved not for anything we have done or bargained for or worked for or negotiated or were owed. Instead, God "named us" and "called us according to His purpose" and "loved us before we loved Him," "before we could do anything good or evil" -- for His glory and good pleasure and purposeful determination of all that exists.

"Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified." -- Isaiah 60:20-21

[Dr. Eckleburg]

I made up my mind 30 years ago when I left Rome and her doctrines

Amen!

The difference between the historic, orthodox Christian view of the church fathers, and that of Rome is that the former knows no one and nothing is perfect and inerrant except God and His holy word, while the latter picks and chooses among church fathers and pronounces some of their statements as "infallible" and others...not so much.

[Natural Law]

"I made up my mind 30 years ago when I left Rome and her doctrines."

Every one of your corroborating quotes is from a Catholic and even then you misrepresent or have misinterpreted what they say. No where in any of those sources or in the Scripture does is say ONLY Scripture. That is a Protestant confabulation.

I have to question the motivations of those failed Catholics who spend so much of their time and energy attacking the Church like some kind of jilted ex-lover. It is an unhealthy preoccupation and is very revealing that they would spend so much time trying to reduce the Church instead of elevating God. It is the reason that the anti-Catholics have to come to Catholic threads to pick fights and spread slanders. Catholics for the most part don't give a damn about what is said on Protestant and other such goofy theology threads, preferring instead to concentrate on the truth.

[boatbums]

the work of my hands, that I may be glorified

Awesome posts!! Thank you. It is the Lord of lords, the King of kings, the creator and sustainer of the universe that deserves ALL the glory. It is rightfully his and his alone. He is just being honest about it!

[RnMomof7]

You do not know what sola scriptura means ,you just show your lack of understanding

I have to question the motivations of those failed Catholics who spend so much of their time and energy attacking the Church like some kind of jilted ex-lover.

I was not a failed Catholic..I was a very successful one LOL..Educated in catholic schools through college, served on church committees, taught CCD, Lectored, gave talks on Catholic women's retreats....But then I was found by one I had not sought

My salvation testimony

[RnMomof7]

Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified." -- Isaiah 60:20-21

Wonderful scripture

[Iscool]

Salvation by Grace thru faith without works was revealed

We know that's your interpretation of Scripture. That's what's under discussion.

That's what your religion teaches you, that we put our own spin on the scripture but any Lurkers out there with a 6th grade education on up can easily read the scriptures and and see that your religion has duped them out of their salvation...

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Salvation by grace thru faith was kept locked up while Israel was under the Law...

Eph 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Eph 3:3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Eph 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
Eph 3:6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Now it could be that you just don't understand that...Don't get it...Before I was saved, I would never have 'gotten it'...

There's a number of reasons why people would not get this information and have to invent something that was more to their liking and understanding...The scripture tells us:

2Co 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

And then Israel has been blinded, not by the God of this world but by the God of creation:

2Co 3:12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
2Co 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
2Co 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
2Co 3:15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.

Oh, the riches you guys are missing out on by ignoring the epistles...I pray that you will allow God to open your eyes to the scriptures...

[Natural Law]

"You do not know what sola scriptura means..."

That is attempting to mind read and is in violation of forum rules. It's also a poor use of the old "you don't get it" argument.

"I was not a failed Catholic.."

If one walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck one is a duck.........anyone with that much invective towards the Catholic Church is a failure.

[Iscool]

I'm sure you must have read that Christ calls for a radical conversion, not just a "faith declaration".

Nope...haven't read that...Know why??? Cause it's not there...

A faith declaration??? Folks that have turned to Jesus by faith have not made a declaration...Well maybe to you guys they have since you don't seem to understand the principal...

These people have turned to Jesus, to trust Him for their eternal destiny...It's not a flesh thing...It comes from deep within a man's spirit...

But I must assume that since you don't seem to grasp this that the Catholic formula is a 'faith declaration' PLUS good deeds...

We don't do a 'radical conversion'...We are not required to make a radical conversion...Jesus makes the radical conversion...And sometimes it's not so visible to other sinning Christians...

And in that heart there better be charity.

More law, eh??? You guys can't seem to get away from the law...

I don't have to do anything to be a child of God other than believe in His Son, call on His Son and confess His Son...Jesus will do a good work in me...