Pope John Paul II's blood to be relic in Polish church

AP ^ | 02/01/2011 | MONIKA SCISLOWSKA

[RnMomof7]

A vial containing blood drawn from Pope John Paul II shortly before he died will be installed as a relic in a Polish church soon after his beatification later this year, an official said Monday. Piotr Sionko, the spokesman for the John Paul II Center, said the vial will be encased in crystal and built into the altar of a church in the southern city of Krakow that is opening in May. The exact date of the opening is not yet known, but it should be shortly after John Paul's beatification at the Vatican on May 1........... "It was the cardinal's proposal," Sionko said. "He is of the opinion that this is the most precious relic of John Paul II and should be the focal point of the church." .........

"The idea of displaying the pope's relics has met with some reservations, even inside the Catholic Church. "The tradition of relics comes from medieval practices of teaching the Bible through images and symbols," said the Rev. Krzysztof Madel, a Jesuit priest in Nowy Sacz who has publicly questioned the usefulness of displaying John Paul's blood. "But in today's rationalized world the message should rather come through teaching about someone's life." After John Paul's death, some Polish officials said they hoped John Paul's heart would be removed from his body and returned to his homeland for burial. However, church officials dismissed any possibility of dismembering the body, saying the age had passed for that practice. Dziwisz said Friday that he has always been against dividing of the body, but that "relics have always existed and will always exist."

[blue-duncan]

“Who did Jesus command His followers to pray to?”

There is no warrant in the scriptures for prayers to anyone other than God the Father. He is God and He is called Lord and Jesus, Paul and John address prayers solely to Him.

In the economy of the Trinity, He is the executive.

[metmom]

Doesn't look like any Catholic church I've been in. Perhaps you could explain why the Catholic church does not abide by the direct teachings of Jesus taht He so clearly spells out here.

You do know that the Catholic Bible says this, don't you?

http://www.drbo.org/chapter/48016.htm

Mark 16 [14] At length he appeared to the eleven as they were at table: and he upbraided them with their incredulity and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them who had seen him after he was risen again. [15] And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

[16] He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned. [17] And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues.

[18] They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. [19] And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God. [20] But they going forth preached everywhere: the Lord working withal, and confirming the word with signs that followed.

[editor-surveyor]

There is no reason whatsoever to suspect that the information at that link is anything but factual.

You’re just attacking because you don’t like the facts.

[editor-surveyor]

None of the examples you gave were of praying.

They were Christ’s planned miracles.

These days miracles come not by request, but by the opportunity to glorify God.

[Revolting cat!]

Just like DDT, and now Bill Gates & Co., Rome will prevail over the mosquitos, like it or not!

[editor-surveyor]

>> “If you would not pray to Jesus or the Holy Spirit and call them blasphemy and sin, then you do not admit that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are God.” <<

.
You’re adding in your deceptive extras again! - Strawman debate.

Stop putting words in people’s mouths.

[MarkBsnr]

There is no warrant in the scriptures for prayers to anyone other than God the Father. He is God and He is called Lord and Jesus, Paul and John address prayers solely to Him.

In the economy of the Trinity, He is the executive.

Firstly, there are prayers addressed to Jesus in the NT; I have addressed that several times. Secondly, you have just preached modalism, condemned a millennium and a half ago. Nice going.

[MarkBsnr]

Doesn't look like any Catholic church I've been in.

That's because it's one of yours.

Perhaps you could explain why the Catholic church does not abide by the direct teachings of Jesus taht He so clearly spells out here.

Jim Jones tried it and failed along with everyone else in his cult. You guys wanna try cyanide too? Lemme know a few days ahead of time and I'll be there with a video camera.

[MarkBsnr]

None of the examples you gave were of praying.

Each one was a prayer to Jesus directly. What else would they be?

These days miracles come not by request, but by the opportunity to glorify God.

Mumbo jumbo. Try it in English.

[MarkBsnr]

Stop putting words in people’s mouths.

English ones, you mean? I don't speak in tongues.

[Revolting cat!]

He is the executive.

You got it. Not only that! In a nutshell, he is pro-active, he does the heavy lifting, results-driven, thinking outside the box, on a fast track to empowerment, He's got a game plan, plays hardball synergies, in a Win-win total quality situation!

[editor-surveyor]

Prayers are to God above, Jesus was physically present; you’re doing your standard twisting.

[editor-surveyor]

>> “English ones, you mean? I don’t speak in tongues.” <<

.
When your false christ comes, you probably will.

[editor-surveyor]

That’s him on the right...

[Revolting cat!]

Some think that G_d reads their anti-Catholic gibberish on some obscure Internet forum. Thank God, God was invented before Internet.

[Quix]

Oh.

Thanks for the clarification.

Given the chronic INSTITUTIONALIZED slitheriness . . . it’s often hard to tell.

[daniel1212]

I would have to say there are refs to praying to / communicating with the Lord Jesus*. But as He that sees Jesus sees the Father, (Jn. 12:45) though they are two different persons having the same nature, so one is effectively praying to the Father when praying to Jesus, but who is the only and entirely sufficient Heavenly intercessor (btwn God and man, who ever liveth to make intercession for us. (Heb. 7:25)

That is His earned privilege and unique Divine ability**, and there is neither warrant, instruction (our Father, not mother) or example of anyone anywhere in Scripture praying to the departed in Heaven except to the Lord, expect pagans. God is a God of separation and boundaries, Christ being the heavenly mediator, while all actual interaction btwn created Heavenly being and those on earth was an actual personal encounter either in heaven or on earth.

All attempts to find Scriptural warrant for praying/addressing departed saints in glory must attempt to extrapolate them of human interactions, ignoring the limitations of such and conspicuous lack of instruction or example or warrant for such a basic practice, and which presupposes a overcoming (the evidence against it) need and or advantage, as well as a Divine attribute for those addressed, and is contrary to sufficiency of Christ and relational intimacy a believer is enabled in Christ, with direct, immediate and bold access into the holy holies, in which man communes with the Lord of glory, (Heb. 10:19-22) not more men.

*—————————
“Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” (1 Corinthians 1:2)

“At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:13-18)

“And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” (Acts 7:59)

Likely:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?” (Romans 10:13-14)

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)

“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18)

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;” (1 Timothy 2:5)

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Here is a comprehensive compilation of most all prayers in the Bible, which link i hope no one will find intrusive. May we praise the Lord, and pray to Him. http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/BIBLE-PRAYERS.html

[Natural Law]

"There is no warrant in the scriptures for prayers to anyone other than God the Father.

No doubt most of but not all of our Sola anti-Catholic Friends will concede that Jesus Christ is the Lord. It is proclaimed directly and indirectly numerous times through the Bible and is even included in the writings of St. Paul:

Philippians 2:11 - and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 10:9 - If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

Now, in direct contrast to the heresies professed on this thread that go beyond mere YOPIS are we instructed to pray to the Lord? In the words of Sara Palin; “you becha”.

Exodus 8:8 - Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the LORD to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

Exodus 8:29 -Moses answered, “As soon as I leave you, I will pray to the LORD, and tomorrow the flies will leave Pharaoh and his officials and his people. Only let Pharaoh be sure that he does not act deceitfully again by not letting the people go to offer sacrifices to the LORD.”

Exodus 9:28 - Pray to the LORD, for we have had enough thunder and hail. I will let you go; you don’t have to stay any longer.”

Exodus 10:17 - Now forgive my sin once more and pray to the LORD your God to take this deadly plague away from me.”

1 Samuel 12:19 - The people all said to Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king.”

1 Kings 8:44 - “When your people go to war against their enemies, wherever you send them, and when they pray to the LORD toward the city you have chosen and the temple I have built for your Name,

Jeremiah 29:7 - Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Jeremiah 37:3 - King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehukal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: “Please pray to the LORD our God for us.”

Jeremiah 42:2 - Jeremiah the prophet and said to him, “Please hear our petition and pray to the LORD your God for this entire remnant. For as you now see, though we were once many, now only a few are left.

Jeremiah 42:4 - “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will certainly pray to the LORD your God as you have requested; I will tell you everything the LORD says and will keep nothing back from you.”

Jeremiah 42:20 - that you made a fatal mistake when you sent me to the LORD your God and said, ‘Pray to the LORD our God for us; tell us everything he says and we will do it.’

Acts 8:22 - Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord in the hope that he may forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.

Acts 8:24 - Then Simon answered, “Pray to the Lord for me so that nothing you have said may happen to me.”

[daniel1212]

I am sure you can provide the content, as many do, as long as you provide the source, and usually the link, esp. for something copyrighted,

[Quix]

AHHHHHH, MORE documentation that

RC'S SIMPLY DO NOT BELIEVE GOD'S WORD!

AS this statistic documents:

only 26% of [Roman et al] Catholic believers strongly agree that the Bible is totally accurate in all that it teaches,

http://peacebyjesus.witnesstoday.org/RevealingStatistics.html#Sec4

Being a Proddy, it is easy for me to BELIEVE THE BIBLE

when it declares that

ALMIGHTY GOD KNOWS WHEN

--every sparrow falls

and ALMIGHTY GOD

--has the hairs of my head numbered;
--knows the secrets and intents of my heart;
--knows my thoughts afar off;
--knows every motive of every action--including of typing every letter, word, phrase and sentence;
--knows my down sittings and my uprisings;
--knows my end from my beginning;
--knows every thought, every feeling, every deed of mine and the whys of every one.


However, given that the RC's are of the silly notion that THE INSTITUTION wrote the Bible 300+ years after the fact . . . or they sound like it . . . it is easy to see why they might not believe it or even know what it says--as your post indicates.