He Was an Evangelical Christian Until He Read Aquinas

National Catholic Register ^ | December 24, 2006 | TOM WEHNER

[Ramcat]

Thanks for this post.
Merry Christmas

[wagglebee]

They are the people I was referring to in Post #6 (I messed up and posted it without the quote), I meant those who will "tell us otherwise" about the Blessed Mother.

[aruanan]

Evangelical Christian performer,

I grew up in the Presbyterian church.

What's so evangelical about Presbyterianism?

[Nihil Obstat]

Thus Eve sought in the fruit and did not find there all the things that she desired, but the Blessed Virgin finds in her fruit everything that Eve desired. For Eve desired three things from the fruit. The first what the devil falsely promised her, that they would be as gods, knowing good and evil. You will be, that liar said, like gods, as is read in Genesis 3:5. And he lies because he is a liar, and the father of lies. Eve was not made like God when she ate the fruit, but unlike, because by sinning she receded from God her salvation and was expelled from paradise.

But this is what the Blessed Virgin and all Christians find in the fruit of her womb, because by Christ they are united with and made like unto God. 1 John 3:2: when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him just as he is. The second thing that Eve desired in the fruit was pleasure, because it is good to eat; but she did not find it and immediately knew that she was naked, and felt sorrow. But in the fruit of the Virgin we find sweetness and salvation. John 6:55: he who eats my flesh has life eternal. Third, the fruit of Eve was beautiful in appearance, but more beautiful is the fruit of the Virgin on whom the angels desire to gaze. Psalm 44:3: Thou art beautiful above the sons of men; this is because he is the splendor of his Father's glory.

Eve could not find in her fruit what no sinner can find in his sin. Therefore, what we desire, we should seek in the fruit of the Virgin. Here is a fruit blessed by God, because he has so filled him with every grace that it comes to us by showing him reverence. Ephesians 1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing on high in Christ. By the angels, Apocalypse 7:12: Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength to our God. The Apostle, Philippians 2:11: and every tongue should confess that the Lord Jesus Christ is in the glory of God the Father. Psalm 117:26: Blessed is he that comes in the name of the Lord.

So therefore is the Virgin blessed, but far more blessed is the fruit of her womb.

Wow, thanks for posting. "Lost, all lost in wonder, at the God thou art"

[ArrogantBustard]

Are you sure you aren't confusing the "National Catholic Register" and the "National Catholic Reporter"? They are very different publications.

[Nihil Obstat]

very different publications

National Catholic Register (good) - http://www.ncregister.com/

National Catholic Reporter (bad) - http://www.natcath.org/

[ELS]

And he asked the question, “How full of grace would the mother of Jesus Christ be?” This is the only time an angel has accorded a human being this kind of honor. I found it such a poignant, thoughtful question, beautifully stated and in no way idolatrous.

It was completely, profoundly Christ-centered. And it made me consider Mary as the singularly most Christ-centered person who has ever lived. Not just in her head and in her heart, but literally, in her womb.

I just grabbed the book, I bought it, and went out and read it to my wife in the car, and we both looked at each other ... and now this was Aquinas, the guy who was to blame for the Reformation … I find out that he’s not an idolater. This guy is truly a Church father. And what he had to say about Mary, well, I devoured it.

We sat there in the parking lot of Border’s and I read it to Shelley, and in unison we said to each other, “We’re Catholic.”

St. Thomas Aquinas, through his writings, has converted many souls to Catholicism.

[trisham]

I read Nietzsche

*************

There was recently another thread in which the author warned against the evil influence that Nietzsche has had in this world.

[Campion]

National Catholic Register == good, orthodox, published in Connecticut by the Legionaries of Christ, I'm a proud subscriber and think it's the best Catholic paper out there.

National Catholic Reporter == bad, heterodox, published in Kansas City by a bunch of lefty "spirit of Vatican II" modernists, but nevertheless sometimes has some good stuff, especially if written by their Vatican correspondent, John Allen.

Don't fret: it's a very easy to confuse the two.

[Campion]

See immediately above; Alex is confusing the good NCR with the bad NCR.

[markomalley]

National Catholic Register? Do you know how many times Catholic FReepeers have castigated me for posting NCR material, because it's considered liberal, biased and unreliable?

BWA HAHAHAHA

Big difference between the National Catholic Register and the National Catholic Reporter.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

[adiaireton8]

With theology like that he would have just as easily been pulled into Islam or Mormonism if they had got to him first.

Aren't you one of those "but for the grace of God there go I" guys? It seems to me that the doughnut man isn't saying anything less than St. Augustine's "You have made us for yourself, Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you." I guess even the great St. Augustine may therefore have been sucked into Islam or Mormonism if they had go to him first.

-A8

[snarks_when_bored]

Speaking plainly can be accomplished without potty language. Once those words are used, your points are lost to those who take offense.

If you'd like, I'll Freepmail your removed post so you can reword it.

RM, here is a link to some definitions of the word to which you took exception:

Link

"A stupid, mean or contemptible person" is, I think, an accurate description of a jihadi.

<rant>

I do take your point, but wish to point out that delicacy of language is often a necessary casualty of war. Scatologically accurate characterization of an enemy is an important aspect of motivating good people to fight that enemy. Partly because the New York Times-types are too multiculturally brainwashed to understand this, we're losing a war that we should be winning.

</rant>

Best regards...

[Larry Lucido]

[defconw]

I have never heard of Rob Evans, but the "hole in your heart" thing goes back to the teachings of St. Augustine, one of my all time favorite Saints.

[Gamecock]

BWAHHAAA!

[LiteKeeper]

Puzzling and disturbing

[isaiah55version11_0]

ping

[AnAmericanMother]

St. Thomas Aquinas, through his writings, has converted many souls to Catholicism.

"Thomas, thou has spoken well of me. What dost thou desire?"

"Only Thee, Lord!"

[ELS]

Great image!

The two primary books consulted during the Council of Trent were the Bible (of course) and the Summa Theologica.