. . . which was clear from your being touchy about hearing someone define envy, when you're obviously familiar with the word as a speaker of English. It's something Catholics do, even if everyone knows the everyday meaning of a word, to re-discover it anew by looking through the eyes of a Doctor of the Church like St. Thomas. Protestant scholars do it primarily with Biblical quotations. Denominations, like tribes, have their customs.
Catherine of Aragon was a brilliant and heroic woman—arguably a martyr for the sanctity of marriage, since Henry VIII kept her a prisoner in poor, unhealthy conditions that killed her pretty quickly after he took up with Anne Boleyn. Catherine was supported in her defense of her marriage to Henry, and the indissolubility of marriage in general, by a great many leading lights of that period, including Martin Luther. Of course, Luther went to his grave considering himself a Catholic. (For that matter, so did Henry.)
I would not be shocked if Catherine (Catalina) were canonized one day. She seems to have been selfless, holy, courageous, and clear-sighted in her grasp of what was at stake. You have chosen an excellent nom-de-plume—and perhaps an intercessor worth praying to.
Please note that I went to some pains to point out that I don't think the Catholic Church's wealth is the real reason for envy on the part of most Protestants, or indeed, Leftists. I think it's the Catholic Church's claim to having been established by Our Lord Himself, and for being the most reliable source of the truth. So yes, indeed—the Church makes a bold claim, and it's about Christ.
May God bless you in your every discernment.
The real CoA was a devout Christian woman who endured a load of pain and suffering with very little complaint, and who never lost her faith in God. I admire her. Note that I say Christian. The fact that she might have been Catholic, or Protestant, or from Mars doesn't matter to me.
"You have chosen an excellent nom-de-plume—and perhaps an intercessor worth praying to."
Never happen. Scripture states that we have one Intercessor. Catherine went to her heavenly reward, I presume, long ago. There's no need for an intercessor to the Intercessor.
" I think it's the Catholic Church's claim to having been established by Our Lord Himself, and for being the most reliable source of the truth. So yes, indeed—the Church makes a bold claim, and it's about Christ."
But that's been wrangled to death on the Religion forum, hasn't it? You have your view, and I disagree. We won't change each other's minds. The church the Lord established was not surrounded by gold and riches, but was founded in the homes of poor Jewish believers who were hunted for their beliefs. They had one focus---the cross of Christ.
As long as folks are brought to Christ, I don't care who does it----Catholics, Protestants---doesn't matter. The vital thing, the only thing, is their salvation through the grace of God through Jesus Christ.
But if it satisfies something in you to believe that Protestants feel some sort of envy for the Catholic church, that we are pining away, all covetous and piggy-eyed, over some imagined circumstance, then by all means, go ahead and do so. I guess it's important enough to you, or you wouldn't try so hard to explain it. A good Monday to you, SamuraiScot.