Posted on 05/17/2007 10:08:04 AM PDT by Gamecock
Reading Francis Beckwith's interview with David Neff in Christianity Today, reminded me of how idyllic the Roman church can seem in the minds of those who embrace it (Click here: Q&A: Francis Beckwith | Christianity Today | A Magazine of Evangelical Conviction).
But then this news report appeared today which gives a much different picture of the supposed glories of Romanism (Click here: Pope to canonize first Brazilian saint - Yahoo! News).
All discussion of justification, the authority of Scripture, and reciting the Creed aside, the Pope is heading to Brazil to canonize Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvao, a Franciscan monk who is credited with 5000 miraculous healings. Over 1 million people are expected to be in attendance. The healings supposedly come as a result of swallowing rice paper pills prepared by the monk over two hundred years ago. According to the AP news report . . .
"The Vatican has officially certified the medical cases of two Brazilian women as divinely inspired miracles that justify the sainthood of Galvao. Both of these women spoke of their faith with The Associated Press, claiming that their children would not be alive today were it not for the tiny rice-paper pills that Friar Galvao handed out two centuries ago.
Although the friar died in 1822, the tradition is carried on by Brazilian nuns who toil in the Sao Paulo monastery where Galvao is buried, preparing thousands of the Tic Tac-sized pills distributed free each day to people seeking cures for all manner of ailments. Each one is inscribed with a prayer in Latin: `After birth, the Virgin remained intact. Mother of God, intercede on our behalf.'
Sandra Grossi de Almeida, 37, is one such believer. She had a uterine malformation that should have made it impossible for her to carry a child for more than four months. But in 1999, after taking the pills, she gave birth to Enzo, now 7. `I have faith," Grossi said, pointing to her son. I believe in God, and the proof is right here.'
Nearly 10 years before that, Daniela Cristina da Silva, then 4 years old, entered a coma and suffered a heart attack after liver and kidney complications from hepatitis A. `The doctors told me to pray because only a miracle could save her,' Daniela's mother Jacyra said recently. `My sister sneaked into the intensive care unit and forced my daughter to swallow Friar Galvao's pills.'"
So, if you "return home" to Rome, you get the whole ball of wax, including the beatification of saints who give out Tic-Tac size rice-paper pills which supposedly heal. And Pope Benedict XVI will be there to bless it all.
By the way, confessional Protestants affirm the historical evangelical doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, on account of Christ alone, and the full authority of Scripture. And yes, we even recite the Creed every Lord's Day and we use a biblical-text based liturgy which is quite similar to that described by Justin Martyr in the second century.
Too bad Dr. Beckwith didn't consider a confessional Protestant church before embracing Romanism. Now he's stuck with Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvao and his rice-paper healing pills.
Trouble is 1) I did not post this thread, and 2) I did not call anyone to join in. Your observation is inaccurate.
I will say a prayer for you and the others that you stop disobeying Christ and come home.
If you wish to say a prayer, may I suggest that God opens your eyes, if not to the truth, then to the accuracy of a post.
Could be they existed in parallel universes, like in Superman comix.
Um—I wasn’t thinking of me.
No, not me, too.
Tutus are a bit too-too for me.
Thanks anyway.
“If you wish to say a prayer, may I suggest that God opens your eyes, if not to the truth, then to the accuracy of a post.”
My eyes are open as well as my mind and soul to Christ. That is why I am Catholic. I do not rebel against Christ or his teachings.
LOL. That sounds just like some scene cut from "The Life of Brian." I'm still laughing at the image. Sword-fighting in floor-length robes, no less.
Well, if you're interested, here's an "excellent" and "authoritative" history which carries about as much weight as some of the RCC fables...
"Even the Catholic patron saint of travel, St. Christopher, was, by all accounts, a giant. Jacques de Voragine, in The Golden Legend, wrote of St. Christopher: "He was of gigantic stature, had a terrifying mien, was twelve coudees tall." A coudee is equal to or larger than the English foot. According to this ancient account, St. Christopher stood from 12 to 18 feet tall, a fact that was erased from church history. While Western icons don't picture St. Christopher as a giant, those of the Eastern churches do. His story, in brief, is that his name was originally Offro or Offerus and he was a giant of great strength, but of a sensitive nature, traveling in search of the greatest god.He was possibly of royal birth. His search eventually led him to a strange occupation as a human ferry, hiring out to literally carry people across rivers too deep for a normal human to cross. The legend has Jesus as one of his customers. Jesus blessed him and told him that he had carried on his shoulders all the sins of the world. He then asked St. Christopher to plant his great walking-staff in the ground. At once, a wonderful tree miraculously sprang up. This was not the first time Jesus made a living tree grow from a staff"
We have the photographs right here. Are you denying you're the man in the monocle and pork pie hat?
What do you take us for? Romanists?!?
And yet you guys seem real.
Maybe this is all a miraculous, healing apparition.
In which case, can I sell you on ebay? How much postage would you require?
Because Christ's resurrection is the only miracle men need since Calvary.
Is it not enough for you?
If you'd like to be pinged to our next ferocious battle, I'd be happy to alert you. (Bring towels; it gets rough.) 8~)
Oh, science knows how it works. It's called the power of suggestion.
Resist the superstition and fables. Scripture should be more than enough for our lifetimes.
I meant to mention to you earlier that it’s good and polite form on an internet chatroom to ping any person whom you are specifically referring to in a post, such as your #32 which references Gamecock.
Well, if you're interested, here's an "excellent" and "authoritative" history which carries about as much weight as some of the RCC fables...
BIBLE UFO CONNECTIONS
"Even the Catholic patron saint of travel, St. Christopher, was, by all accounts, a giant. Jacques de Voragine, in The Golden Legend, wrote of St. Christopher: "He was of gigantic stature, had a terrifying mien, was twelve coudees tall." A coudee is equal to or larger than the English foot. According to this ancient account, St. Christopher stood from 12 to 18 feet tall, a fact that was erased from church history. While Western icons don't picture St. Christopher as a giant, those of the Eastern churches do. His story, in brief, is that his name was originally Offro or Offerus and he was a giant of great strength, but of a sensitive nature, traveling in search of the greatest god.He was possibly of royal birth. His search eventually led him to a strange occupation as a human ferry, hiring out to literally carry people across rivers too deep for a normal human to cross. The legend has Jesus as one of his customers. Jesus blessed him and told him that he had carried on his shoulders all the sins of the world. He then asked St. Christopher to plant his great walking-staff in the ground. At once, a wonderful tree miraculously sprang up. This was not the first time Jesus made a living tree grow from a staff"
Another as valid as RC fables is the Book of Zelph, Another Testament to the Book of Mormon.
From the official Book of Zelph site:
Who Was Zelph?
Perhaps the greatest person in American History was Zelph, the great white Lamanite warrior, who was slain during the last great struggle between the Nephites and Lamanites. His remains were discovered by Joseph Smith and Company in 1834, but not much was known about him. He has remained a cult hero among faithful latter-day saints for nearly 170 years. Until now, Zelph's memory has been kept alive through fantastic urban legends told around campfires and in early morning seminary. These tales can finally be put to rest, because Zelph can now speak for himself. Zelph fans rejoice, for Zelph's records have been discovered!! We can now read Zelph's own words, written by his own hand, upon plates!!
The Coming Forth of The Book of Zelph
While pondering certain passages in The History of the Church, Volume 2, Josh Anderson came upon a passage that mentioned a great white Lamanite warrior named Zelph. This seemingly insignificant event would lead him on a journey to Zelph's final resting place. It was there, in a grove of trees, that Josh would come across the greatest archeological find since Joseph Smith purchased Abraham's writings from Michael Chandler. Josh was led to a hand cart overflowing with metal plates, which were the Lamanite records. He translated the abridgment of these plates, given to him by Zelph, into the Book of Zelph. For the entire story of the coming forth of the Book of Zelph, read Josh Anderson's testimony here.
A Timely Discovery
As archeological and DNA evidence appear to disprove the Book of Mormon, the Book of Zelph has come forward as a second witness to The Book of Mormon. The Book of Zelph fills in the scientific gaps of the Book of Mormon and explains the DNA controversy.
A Message from the Translator of This Work
"Thank you for taking the time to visit this site. Now that you have learned a little bit about Zelph, don't you want to learn more? I encourage you to take the next step and read the Book of Zelph, and then ask yourself if it really is true. If you read it and don't think it is true, re-read it and ask yourself again if you think it is true. If you have some dice, you may want to try Melph's promise, as outlined in the fifth chapter of Melph. In fact, you don't even need to read the book to do Melph's promise. For those who think it is not true, I issue the Book of Zelph Challenge. I promise you that if you do the things I tell you, you will eventually discover for yourself that the Book of Zelph is true. You can also read the inspiring personal testimonies of those who have read the Book of Zelph and know it to be true."
Sincerely,
Josh Anderson, Translator of The Book of Zelph
To know that the Book of Zelph is true:
"And I promise thee that if ye ask if this book be not true, and roll a pair of dice with a sincere heart, and desire exceedingly for the book to be true, yea, the dice shall reveal the truthfulness of this book unto thee." - Melph 5:4
Along those lines, ping to 186.
Wow. Is that serious or is it from a “Simpson’s” episode I missed?
Christopher mustah been a UFO abductee for genetic experimentation.
Be sure to place the Tic Tac next to the sliver of the True Cross, by the St. Christopher medal, directly perpendicular with the statue of St. Joseph buried upside down in your lawn, and behind the garden stature of MaryBlessedVirgin. Oh, and it wouldn’t hurt to put a Jesus bobblehead across from it.
That ought cure your arthritis and keep the bogeyman away!
Robo-Saint.
.The power of suggestion? What the heck is that?
Yes reading comprehension can be difficult. Words have meaning and it does get confusing if people fail to use proper terms. When people use the term "you" I should just take that to mean "one". Foolish me.
I assume then, based on your comment and my comprehension, that you are labeling all us Protestants as "Jihadist". At least it gives me great comfort to know that I'm not the only "Jihadist" on this thread. I was worried.
My eyes are open as well as my mind and soul to Christ. That is why I am Catholic. I do not rebel against Christ or his teachings.
That's very nice. I'm glad you keep the commandments. Your mother and you must be very proud of this fact. (I'm using "you" in the sense of "you"; not in the sense of "one".)
As for me, I rest upon His promise that He has atoned for my sin through His precious blood and I'm justified through His righteousness. Any work that is required has been completed and paid for by Christ my Lord.
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