Posted on 10/14/2013 8:07:03 AM PDT by haffast
(Vatican Radio) Thousands of pilgrims were in Saint Peter’s Square Saturday evening to join Pope Francis in venerating the original statue of Our Lady of Fatima.
The statue made its journey to Rome as the celebrations for the Feast of Our Lady Fatima, which is October 13. Pope Francis will preside over Mass on Sunday morning, and the recitation of the Rosary before the statue. He will then consecrate the world to Mary’s Immaculate Heart.
During the evening’s event, the Pope welcomed the statue, which was processed through Saint Peter’s Square, and led the faithful in reciting the Seven Sorrows of Mary. The Holy Father then offered a reflection which focused on the Blessed Mother’s faith, explaining that her “faith unties the knot of sin.” Sin, he says, is “is a kind of knot created deep within us,” and these knots “take away our peace and serenity.” It was Mary’s “yes” which “opened the door for God to undo the knot of the ancient disobedience.”
She is “the mother who patiently and lovingly brings us to God so that he can untangle the knots of our soul by his fatherly mercy.”
The Pope also reflected on how it was Mary’s faith that “gave flesh to Jesus.”
Believing in the Incarnation, Pope Francis continued, “means giving him our flesh with the humility and courage of Mary, so that he can continue to dwell in our midst.”
The Holy Father then reflected on Mary’s faith as a journey, saying how “she precedes us on this pilgrimage, she accompanies and sustains us.”
To say that her faith is a journey is to say that “her entire life was to follow her Son.” Mary understood that the journey of the faith passes through the Cross, from the time Herod sought to kill the newborn Jesus until his passion and death on the Cross.
“And when she received word that the tomb was empty, her heart was filled with the joy of faith: Christian faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Pope Francis concluded his address by turning to the statue of Our Lady of Fatima, saying: “we thank you for our faith, and we renew our entrustment to you, Mother of our faith.
Listen to Ann Schneible’s report: RealAudio - MP3
Common error. A lot of what Protestants believe is sort of a shadow of the Catholic Church but they don’t know it. Frequently when I’m listening to the local Christian radios, they are preaching on what is right now on the Catholic liturgical calendar. People think that the Immaculate Conception is some sort of biblical thing that applies to Jesus. haha. wrong. Look it up. As to what is and is not true, haha again, we can stay up all night saying yes, no, not true, true. Neither of us will convince the other. I’m going to bed.
But they’re like Democrats, Mercat. The facts don’t matter to them, it’s their belief that “saves” them.
That is I’m going to bed after I pray to Mary and the entire Communion of Saints including my parents and brother. I’m pretty sure my in laws are still struggling through Purgatory so I will pray for them but not to them. Oh, and I’ll probably find some time to worship and adore my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He’ll be the happy one in the middle of the entire bunch....
Didn't Jesus say "your faith has saved you?"
On the contrary...I am aware that the phrase applies to what the Catholic church believes about Mary.
However...Jesus is the only one of whom the term "immaculate" should be used.
Mary was not immaculate. Saying "yes" to God does not make one perfect. It only means you were granted faith to obey.
Well, he sure did. So go on and keep “sinning boldly!”
Thank you. The poster above seems to be cynical of the idea but Jesus did indeed say belief saves.
A Christ on a cross is OK, but that’s only half the story. Christ on the cross took care of the deficit of our sins. The other half is the risen Christ which is where the hyper part of the hyperniken power comes from. (For similar reasons I am not very enthused by the Baptist hymn “Power In The Blood.” OK, my sins are gone but now what?)
Anyhow, the power the traditional Catholics seem to think is coming from the cross and somehow earned by their suffering... which misunderstanding complicates their salvation experience more than it needs to be — actually comes from the risen Christ. They’ve theologized away the tetelosthai. Jesus was a redneck carpenter, though. He got-r-done with His blood to rebuild our souls from sin.
Still... if they’ve believed on Christ for personal salvation they are Christians. What’s bigger, sin or the promised completed grace of God? A ludicrous question. Christ is no more thrown off stride by saved Catholics than by any other stumbling Christian. The perfect plan works to a perfect end in all cases.
I think that’s a misrepresentation of Luther’s intent here. This was what to do in case of uncertainty and it meant to take the risk (I would add, of love to God) rather than worry about it, and trust the Lord to guide you to get it right.
of love to God => in love to God
Luther is easy to yank out of context. He spoke in hyperbolic terms. Evangelicals who have lived as spiritually experienced Christians can get past the extreme language to what was intended. (Also, they will recognize the presence of saved believers in the Roman Catholic church.)
LOL. Uh-huh. Got it. ;-)
Well, basically, we Crazy Evangelicals don’t view Luther as a Protestant Pope. Some immature evangelicals might (fewer today than in Luther’s time), basically carrying on the Roman Catholic model. Crazy Evangelicals are not intent on being “better Catholics.” They are Christians by trust, faith, belief in Jesus Christ. And yes this faith guides their works (everyone, Christian or not, does works, so the debate about faith vs. works is silly. the question here is what will the works BE, and they will be pursuant to what you believe in).
Typical liberal accusation. The first mass I attended was when I was 16 on a high school trip to WDC at the National Cathedral. What I remember most about that experience was the stern instruction that IF we students were not Catholic to NOT get in line to take communion.... we were not worthy with out a catholic stamp.
We that would need communion most were not allowed.
I married into a catholic family and I have been a keen observer of patterns. Two of my siblings likewise married into catholic families. All these family members are liberal democrats. Taxation is always the method to care for the poor and downtrodden.
Now I have no ill will to or for these people, but, when I observe their methodologies played out on a national scale, I can and will point out the left path taken at that proverbial split in the road.
I do not remember how many sprinklings of little ones I have attended, or weddings, or funerals, or communions, etc. so please you get over yourself and keep your unfounded accusations to yourself.
Mary has absolutely no role in the salvation of any person except for herself. Christ is the Savior and there is none other. Rome could claim tomorrow that Mary said this or that from and the whole bunch would swoon and swear up and down it was an infallible truth.
Well can we get out of the polemics long another to note that... a faith LIKE Mary’s will “untie the knot of sin” (more precisely, receive the grace that makes up for the deficit brought about by sin). She gave plenteous magnificats. So will we, if saved.
Argh... salvation does not mean freedom from typos.
another => ENOUGH
This trading of snot is not worthy of Christ, either of you!
Bump.
Christ became that one and for all time last required blood sacrifice for the remission of sin. Mary had nothing to do with that sacrifice. To puff up Mary as a deity, belittles the price that Christ paid. That does require the individual not a religious organization to repent. Only the flesh body of God With Us died... so the instant the flesh died the Spirit returned to the Maker that sent Him. However, for to explain to the unlearned, the flesh body was placed in the tomb, a guard was assigned and a stone was place to prevent access to that tomb.
Yet Peter says that while (this sign of Jonah, three days and three nights) in the tomb, Christ went to the spirits held prisoner since the days of Noah and salvation was offered to them first. This was not the action of a dead body.
There is no way according to the catholic dogma one can in a truth get three days and three nights as was declared by Christ Himself would be the sign, by claiming He was crucified on a Friday. It is fuzzy math totally and completely disregarding what was stated by Christ Himself.
Anyhow, the power the traditional Catholics seem to think is coming from the cross and somehow earned by their suffering... which misunderstanding complicates their salvation experience more than it needs to be — actually comes from the risen Christ. They’ve theologized away the tetelosthai. Jesus was a redneck carpenter, though. He got-r-done with His blood to rebuild our souls from sin.
Christ never complained when He, God With US perfect, was molested by the religious leaders who continually sought to kill Him... That is Written... I grow weary of the continual whining and bellyaching of so called persecution committed by the mean non-Catholics making life so nearly unbearable. But records are studiously kept for that so called persecution sure paves the road to saint hood by vote.
I think those Christians in Egypt and Syria have a better opportunity for that coveted status of sainthood than the American catholics. And since it is the Heavenly Father that keeps the only score-book that counts we won't know who has 'earned' that stature.
Yes, I said earned. God is not a union boss, He is the perfect judge and many are not going to like it when they discover just how wrong they were during this flesh journey.
Still... if they’ve believed on Christ for personal salvation they are Christians. What’s bigger, sin or the promised completed grace of God? A ludicrous question. Christ is no more thrown off stride by saved Catholics than by any other stumbling Christian. The perfect plan works to a perfect end in all cases.
What is that phrase show me your faith and I will see your works ..... Our 'good' deeds are the only thing(s) any of us can take with us when we return to face our Maker. My comments or rant as some of the thin skinned religious practitioners accuse have nothing to do with who is or is not saved.
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