Posted on 01/29/2007 6:45:51 AM PST by stfassisi
"It is finished!"
Five years ago, JP the Great wrote these words:
"...Resolute opposition to any legal or administrative measures that introduce divorce or that equate de facto unions -- including those between homosexuals -- with marriage must be accompanied by a pro-active attitude, acting through juridical provisions that tend to improve the social recognition of true marriage in the framework of legal orders that unfortunately admit divorce.
Material cooperation with divorce for judges
On the other hand, professionals in the field of civil law should avoid being personally involved in anything that might imply a cooperation with divorce. For judges this may prove difficult, since the legal order does not recognize a conscientious objection to exempt them from giving sentence. For grave and proportionate motives they may therefore act in accord with the traditional principles of material cooperation. But they too must seek effective means to encourage marital unions, especially through a wisely handled work of reconciliation.
Lawyers, as independent professionals, should always decline the use of their profession for an end that is contrary to justice, as is divorce. They can only cooperate in this kind of activity when, in the intention of the client, it is not directed to the break-up of the marriage, but to the securing of other legitimate effects that can only be obtained through such a judicial process in the established legal order (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 2383). In this way, with their work of assisting and reconciling persons who are going through a marital crises, lawyers truly serve the rights of the person and avoid becoming mere technicians at the service of any interest whatever..."
I agree, wholeheartedly.
Sounds Arminian to me.
"It is finished!"
Amen.
"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." -- 1 Corinthians 1:18
But who do YOU say performs the healings?
At BEST, and SAFEST, certainly, is to answer: "I do not know", because that is the truth - you do not know.
And because you do not know, it COULD indeed be demons, and therefore you must be properly cautious.
But it COULD be the Holy Spirit, too, in which case the Holy Spirit is performing this fountain of miracles, the only place like it, in a Shrine to MARY, where Marian apparitions are believed to have occurred 160 years ago.
If those healings ARE performed by the Holy Spirit, then the Holy Spirit's imprimatur, which is to say the approval of God, is on a place devoted to Jesus' mother, Mary, and that is a sobering lesson.
The moral: because you don't KNOW who is performing the healing miracles at Lourdes, do not mock Mary, and don't mock those who go to Mary's Shrine at Lourdes.
You need not take part in it yourself. You can entertain your doubts and hope that it isn't really a demon leading them all astray. But do not be led astray yourself by a demon of pride to assert positive knowledge about healing miracles when you really don't know who is doing them.
In the absence of certitude, given that the Holy Spirit is involved and blaspheming the Holy Spirit is a death sentence without reprieve, if you are uncomfortable with Lourdes and Mary, be thou silent. Do not participate, but do not mock either. You don't know enough to mock. And the penalty for being wrong in such a case is awful.
I tell people over and again the nobody gets a reward in heaven for mocking God's mom. There is no margin in it. None. And the price could be catastrophic, if you're wrong. Luther and Calvin were both piously respectful of Mary. That is the right answer. Don't pray to her, but don't use Mary as a "club" against Catholicism either. Because you don't know who is do those profuse healings at Lourdes.
You only know they are happening, and they are miraculous.
It's God or the Devil, that much is certain.
If you cannot tell, then be silent. There is safety in silence.
If you KNOW, then tell us.
"Now I am listless and a great example of listlessness."
I am unworthy, just so dam- unworthy to be in the presence of such lethargy, which is an enhanced listlessness. But you are too humble to mention that or even rank youself among the leaders of the torpid, apathetic and indifferent.
I put the back of my hand over my bowed forehead in your presence, oh listless one.
meiosis or mitosis?
Blah, blah, blah... no Scripture... blah, blah, blah.
1 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
Our Lady of Perpetual Thin Mints?
Eccl...Nothing under the sun is new,.....
*C'est la vie
And two months months after that, the ex-wife died of cancer, leaving everything to her new husband.
You got me all wrong! I have nothing but respect for the Mary of the Bible. It's the RCC circus that surrounds her to which I show callous disrespect.
L'Chaim!
So were Kreskin's telekinetic feats.
I counted eighteen references to scripture.
I hope this link will be helpful for you
http://www.marin.cc.ca.us/~don/Study/7read.html
That is correct... and I don't hesitate with "even" the Baptists!
>>>I have nothing but respect for the Mary of the Bible<<<
I don't think calling her 'Mary of the Perpetual Thin Mints' is very respectful.
Maybe that's just me.
"It's the RCC circus that surrounds her to which I show callous disrespect."
Well and good.
But who is doing the healings at Lourdes?
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