**I am deeply moved in my soul at every mass.**
I am too. Actually shocked to see blind leaders of the blind crucify Him afresh.
Everybody has emotions. Not everybody has been filled with Holy Ghost. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory. It is a supernatural experience.
On Pentecost, people were thought to be drunk, so powerful was the effect. And it wasn't because there was so many different languages being spoken at the same time. I've walked through an airport and heard several languages spoken in a congested area.
Simon the sorcerer offered the apostles money for the power to give souls the Holy Ghost. What did he see and hear, people saying "I accept the Lord as my personal savior"? I think it was much, much more than that.
There are three accounts in the book of Acts where people spoke in tongues when receiving the Holy Ghost. The most unruly member, the tongue, yielding to God's Spirit.
I fought it for years, meanwhile clinging to traditions that were passed down by blind leaders of the blind.
Nyer posts stories of people 'crossing the Tiber', as if that makes a case for Roman Catholicism. It just proves to me that their walk with God became reliant on seeing and partaking in a religious ceremony.
Jesus commanded his apostles to preach repentance and remission of sins beginning at Jerusalem. Peter followed that command, ordering convicted hearts to "repent and be baptized EVERYONE of you in the NAME of Jesus Christ, for the REMISSION of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
Jesus said: He that believeth on me as the scriptures hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
AFTER partaking in the last supper Jesus told his disciples that he would not leave them comfortless, saying, "I will come to you", and "At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you".
What day? The day they are filled with the Holy Ghost, aka 'Christ in you, the hope of glory'.
For many years I settled for conviction, and emotion, coupled with ceremonies that had been approved by religious leaders. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is not emotions. It is God making his presence known.
Wonderful post. Thanks.
Here's your dilemma: If it is just a piece of bread and a chalice of wine, then how exactly are they crucifying Christ? But if it is really Christ's body and blood, then the Catholics are right about the Eucharist.
-A8