Posted on 12/11/2014 7:59:05 AM PST by Slings and Arrows
In his weekly address at the Vatican late last month, Pope Francis issued a remarkable statement that’s sure to come as welcome news to anyone who’s ever lost a beloved pet. According to Francis, the promise of an afterlife applies not only to believers, but to all animals as well.
"The Holy Scriptures teach us that the realization of this wonderful plan covers all that is around us, and that came out of the thought and the heart of God," Pope Francis said, as quoted by Italian news site Resapubblica.
The Pope then went on to say that “heaven is open to all creatures, and there [they] will be vested with the joy and love of God, without limits.”
Pope Francis’s stance on animals stands in contrast to that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, who despite reportedly being a cat lover, said that animals’ existence was limited to their time on Earth. But Francis isn’t the first pontiff to take an animal-friendly approach to ideology. As newspaper Divisione la Repubblica notes, Pope John Paul II held a similar position, saying animals had a “divine breath.”
This isn’t the first time that Francis, who adopted his papal name in honor of the patron saint of animals, St. Francis of Assisi, has spoken out on behalf of nonhumans. In his first homily as pope, Francis articulated mankind’s role in serving not only the divine, but in all creatures born from it:
“The vocation of being a ‘protector,’ however, is not just something involving us Christians alone; it also has a prior dimension which is simply human, involving everyone. It means protecting all creation, the beauty of the created world, as the Book of Genesis tells us and as St. Francis of Assisi showed us. It means respecting each of God’s creatures and respecting the environment in which we live."
After that hamburger or steak you had for dinner last week, do you think the steer that provided it will be happy to see you?........LOL!
Thank You
No, tat’s the lone ranger.
CC
I’ve never had the honor of having a dog, but I would say it’s heaven, so dogs and cats get along.
Moliere, is that you?
CC
I’ll bet you’ll have a few questions for Alice.
I’m so sorry.
You will see him again, though.
I hope so.
Thank You
Obscure pop music reference.
+1
CC
Me, I think that Schopenhauer was too optimistic.
It's the oldest one in The Book.
But no cheetahs.
Cheetas never prosper.
CC
I’m so sorry.
Isaiah 65:25 is taking the idea out of its context.
Here is a larger sample:
22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy
the work of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain,
nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the Lord,
they and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
and dust will be the serpent’s food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
...............................
As the earlier passages speak, we see mention of life on earth. Man’s length of life is compare to the life of a tree. Trees live long time in most cases, but they are not eternal.
People will enjoy the works of their hands. This looks like having satisfying and rewarding jobs.
There is mention of offspring from generation to generation. We know that in heaven there is neither marriage no given in marriage.
This chapter is speaking about the earthly reign of Jesus here on this Earth, and the benefits of the curse of sin being lifted to some degree because of our hearts being turned to Him.
I’m not sure that devious little punk will make it.
;-D
Indeed they do, in spite of "dog breath" having a rather bad reputation.
AS for me, I refuse to go to a heaven where I will not be surrounded by my pets who've gone before. Period.
LOL!
Amen.
Animals did not and cannot sin, therefore have no need of salvation.
Thank You.
It’s time.
He’s now deaf, just about blind, can barely walk and seems confused but he’s still my good boy.
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