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Chaldean Patriarch:"We your shepherds will stay with you to the end."
Rorate-caeli ^ | July 22, 2014

Posted on 07/23/2014 3:19:49 PM PDT by NYer

FULL TITLE: Chaldean Patriarch to Christians of Mosul:"We your shepherds will stay with you to the end." "Our suffering will be salvation to us and others."


I’ll start my speech by the Word of Christ, as His Word is the source of strength and salvation of us, the poor of this lost world: "There is no need to be afraid, little flock" (Luke 12:32).

Our present pain is associated with our Christianity and with the mystery of our Passover (i.e., Easter). Our suffering, if joined to the suffering of our Savior Jesus, "Man of Sorrows", will turn out to be a blessing and salvation to us and to others.
And the current challenges are faced with more faith, hope, and prayer and solidarity and wisdom. Be brave in front of what you are facing, do not be afraid: you have deep roots in Iraq, do not give up for frustration and despair, confident that, "all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52) and evil does not last! You are the small mustard seed, the Lord will not let you fall. He is with you today, tomorrow, and after tomorrow, and forever.

We are your shepherds and, with our full responsibility towards you, we will stay with you to the end, [we] will not leave you, whatever the sacrifices. I repeat: do not be afraid; stay strong as you are with your faith and your hope and love. We thank God for your safety, as, no matter what, your life has no price.

God’s blessing be upon you.


TOPICS: Catholic; Current Events; Moral Issues; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: iraq; iraqichristians; mosul
[Source: English translation made available earlier today at the Patriarchal website. Punctuation slightly altered.]
1 posted on 07/23/2014 3:19:49 PM PDT by NYer
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To: Tax-chick; GregB; Berlin_Freeper; SumProVita; narses; bboop; SevenofNine; Ronaldus Magnus; tiki; ...

Martyr prayers, Ping!


2 posted on 07/23/2014 3:20:33 PM PDT by NYer ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you." --Jeremiah 1:5)
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To: NYer

They are the real Iraqis not the Arabian colonists


3 posted on 07/23/2014 3:31:26 PM PDT by hecht (america 9/11, Israel 24/7)
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To: NYer

“Our present pain is associated with our Christianity and with the mystery of our Passover (i.e., Easter). Our suffering, if joined to the suffering of our Savior Jesus, “Man of Sorrows”, will turn out to be a blessing and salvation to us and to others.

Well said. As believers we are to stand for our Lord, no matter the cost. Even our lives are nothing compared to what it cost Christ to purchase us with His blood.


4 posted on 07/23/2014 9:07:22 PM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.)
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To: NYer

Somebody needs to give these folks some guns. They should not go down easily.


5 posted on 07/23/2014 9:26:41 PM PDT by PLMerite (Shut the Beyotch Down! Burn, baby, burn!)
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To: PLMerite

If they fight back, they are not martyrs.


6 posted on 07/23/2014 9:36:44 PM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.)
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To: reaganaut

Nah, instead they’d be heroes


7 posted on 07/23/2014 9:37:35 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: GeronL

no, they would just be dead.


8 posted on 07/23/2014 9:39:30 PM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.)
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To: reaganaut

“If they fight back, they are not martyrs.”

I wasn’t aware of the criteria for martyrdom. Maybe then we can just let them slaughter us all.


9 posted on 07/24/2014 12:15:12 AM PDT by PLMerite (Shut the Beyotch Down! Burn, baby, burn!)
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To: PLMerite
All who die by the way, whether by land or by sea, or in battle against the pagans, shall have immediate remission of sins. This I grant them through the power of God with which I am invested. O what a disgrace if such a despised and base race, which worships demons, should conquer a people which has the faith of omnipotent God and is made glorious with the name of Christ!

With what reproaches will the Lord overwhelm us if you do not aid those who, with us, profess the Christian religion! Let those who have been accustomed unjustly to wage private warfare against the faithful now go against the infidels and end with victory this war which should have been begun long ago.

Let those who for a long time, have been robbers, now become knights. Let those who have been fighting against their brothers and relatives now fight in a proper way against the barbarians. Let those who have been serving as mercenaries for small pay now obtain the eternal reward. Let those who have been wearing themselves out in both body and soul now work for a double honor. Behold! on this side will be the sorrowful and poor, on that, the rich; on this side, the enemies of the Lord, on that, his friends. Let those who go not put off the journey, but rent their lands and collect money for their expenses; and as soon as winter is over and spring comes, let hem eagerly set out on the way with God as their guide." Pope Urban II 1095

10 posted on 07/24/2014 9:10:04 AM PDT by defconw (Both parties have clearly lost their minds!)
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To: PLMerite

Have you ever read the accounts of Martyrdoms? They don’t fight back, they are willing to give their lives rather than deny Christ so yes it is a criteria.

I have said for years, I would not be surprised at all if I am killed or imprisoned for my faith and my ministry and having counted the cost of following Christ I accept that. Jesus said there would’d be days like this.

Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

John 15:18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Luke 6:22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!

I was doing my bible reading this AM (One year Bible reading plan) and this verse was in it. Paul is quoting Psalm 44:22

Romans 8:35-36

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

There are groups that help the persecuted believers, none involve guns.

http://www.persecution.com/

Fighting for political reasons is different, but dying for Christ is an honor for Christians.


11 posted on 07/24/2014 9:21:37 AM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.)
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To: defconw

Doesn’t make them martyrs, that is a statement of justified warfare. Not the same thing.


12 posted on 07/24/2014 9:22:58 AM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.)
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To: reaganaut

No offense, but I’ll stand with the Pope on this one. Besides which it just does not matter what we think. Only God knows. Good enough for me.


13 posted on 07/24/2014 9:25:48 AM PDT by defconw (Both parties have clearly lost their minds!)
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To: defconw

No offense but I will stand with the Bible not the Pope and that is what God thinks. Good enough for me.

BTW, the crusaders were not martyrs.


14 posted on 07/24/2014 9:35:54 AM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.)
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To: reaganaut

Whatever, there were no Protestants then so I don’t know why you are worried about it anyway. Just a bunch of Catholics being slaughtered in the Middle East right?


15 posted on 07/24/2014 9:41:54 AM PDT by defconw (Both parties have clearly lost their minds!)
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To: defconw

I am not anti-Catholic if that is what you are implying. I went to Catholic school as a kid, and as a Medievalist specializing in religous history have spent years reading and writing on Catholic church history, teachings, and Saints.

Poor attempt at a strawman there Def.

I have no issue bringing back the crusades, but they are crusades that doesn’t make them martyrs.


16 posted on 07/24/2014 10:44:51 AM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.)
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To: reaganaut
Was not saying you are anti-Catholic, just not sure you have a dog in this fight. I said I would stick with the Pope on this one. The Pope who was the Pope when it was going on.

You may of course have your opinion.

17 posted on 07/24/2014 10:53:44 AM PDT by defconw (Both parties have clearly lost their minds!)
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To: defconw

As a Christian I DO have a dog in this fight. And I will stick with the Bible over the Pope anyday.

Crusaders are crusaders, not martyrs.


18 posted on 07/24/2014 3:13:20 PM PDT by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.)
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