Posted on 02/28/2008 7:52:41 AM PST by Alex Murphy
A picture of the Virgin of Guadalupe sits next to a steam iron that casts a similar image on a wall in a Cathedral City home.
Yet the Catholic Church almost never deems a likeness of the Virgin Mary on an object as a miraculous apparition.
Nor have they, nor will they, in this case.
But if a reflection from an iron on the wall gets people to go to church, at least it's accomplishing some good.
I believe you were the first RC poster who explained that defending your church is defending your faith. As a Baptist we don't look at these things that way. I think you might have been looking at what I posted as a slam on your church, but I never said anything about your church. I didn't see a priest there, or some church official making a pronouncement.
I think it is sad because all the answers are available in Scripture and anyone who falls down to pray to a reflection on the wall is terribly misguided.
Alex apparently scours heaven and Earth searching for any news article about Catholics acting silly, and posts them on FR. Of course, the MSM shares (albeit for different reasons) his desire to make Catholics look silly, so he finds a story almost like clockwork.
Surely the author is mistaken.
"I believe that miracles exist, and that that is what is happening,"
What ever happened to a "sign from God"? Why must everything be a miracle today?
The couple concluded that one of the Virgin's wishes was that they attend Mass more frequently. They used to go to church about once a month. Now they attend Mass every week.
Though they go to church more wrinkled, they go more often. Good news.
Meanwhile, Blanca Villa keeps her closet light on 24 hours a day ... I'm afraid that if I turn the light off the whole night, the image won't be there anymore."
Oh ye of little faith. I think that their faith will fade as this image fades.
oh good grief
>> I believe you were the first RC poster who explained that defending your church is defending your faith. <<
Knowing Campion, I doubt this is a fair description. Not false, just not fair. Catholics are obliged to defend the magisterium of the Church. Most seem far too ready to concede wickedness on the historical actions of people within the Church to be fair to the people who are criticized.
A lot of things can simply be inferred. Usually those inferences are pretty accurate.
I think it is sad because all the answers are available in Scripture and anyone who falls down to pray to a reflection on the wall is terribly misguided.
Maybe they're simply hungry for some evidence of a power greater than themselves.
Alex, these are simple people with a simple faith. They believe in miracles in a country where people don’t anymore. These sorts of articles are written to make the Roman Church look foolish, but it only looks foolish in the eyes of secularized sophisticates. In Orthodoxy, being a fool for Christ is regarded as being a holy state.
This is an example of a gentle, loving sort of faith that this country could use more of as it could use more people who are in church every week if for no other reason. Sadly, our government encourages Mohammedanism instead.
“I think it is sad because all the answers are available in Scripture and anyone who falls down to pray to a reflection on the wall is terribly misguided.”
“Maybe they’re simply hungry for some evidence of a power greater than themselves.”
With all due respect:
Looking in the mirror should suffice since God created mankind and our existance in fact is among the best evidence of something greater than ourselves...just a thought...
Blessings to both of you...
“I think it is sad because all the answers are available in Scripture and anyone who falls down to pray to a reflection on the wall is terribly misguided.”
“Maybe they’re simply hungry for some evidence of a power greater than themselves.”
With all due respect:
Looking in the mirror should suffice since God created mankind and our existance in fact is among the best evidence of something greater than ourselves...just a thought...
Blessings to both of you...
Wonderful perspective, wish I had thought of it.
>Maybe they’re simply hungry for some evidence of a power greater than themselves.
What I find sad is that they cannot see God and His work within the change to their lives as evidenced by their spiritual rebirth. As a born again believer, I can always look back at the earlier life, unregenerate and unforgiven, and compare my old self to the new, and see the miracle in the change and throw myself at His feet in utter thankfulness. I always have the evidence within my heart, where the Spirit dwells.
Instead, these poor people cannot see God in what you would describe as the miracle of the Mass, or any of the other sacramentalism as the miracle that continues them in their spiritual journey. They seek something else, beyond the church that supposedly is supplying them with the stuff of Grace, and start looking at shadows and lights on the walls.
So true.
Amen!
This is so powerful. If we can't see the change maybe it's because none occurred?
I am praying all is going well.
I think it is sad because all the answers are available in Scripture and anyone who falls down to pray to a reflection on the wall is terribly misguided.
Maybe they're simply hungry for some evidence of a power greater than themselves.
As long as said Power didn't create the universe in six days less than six thousand years ago . . . eh, Campion?
This is an example of a gentle, loving sort of faith that this country could use more of as it could use more people who are in church every week if for no other reason. Sadly, our government encourages Mohammedanism instead.
Oh, the "simple people" apologia. You know, Bible-thumping rednecks are "simple people" too, but Catholics and Orthodox never cut them any slack. Instead they demean, insult, and laugh at them merely for believing in the factual accuracy of the events recorded in the book your own churches claim to regard as sacred.
Where are the "simple" Catholics and Orthodox on Free Republic? All the "simple" people here are Fundamentalist Protestants, and you Catholics and Orthodox seem to take great pleasure in being too intellectual to believe your own sacred books . . . until it suits your convenience to do so, in which case the "simple people" card comes out.
You're far from being a "simple person," aren't you, Kolokotronis?
You know, ZC, it's hard to remain sympathetic for you when you keep on posting like this.
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