Traditional subject would be Coronation of the Virgin. I posted one at 99, here's another:
The Coronation of the Virgin
Francesco di Giorgio Martini
1472-73
Tempera on wood, 337 x 200 cm
Pinacoteca Nazionale, Siena
Posted on 06/17/2008 7:55:24 AM PDT by NYer
When I was in law school, I had a classmate named Barry (not his real name). At the time, I was not practicing the faith and by no means was a paragon of virtuous living. Despite my own low standards, I thought Barry’s carousing lifestyle crossed the bounds of propriety. He even confided to me that while he was home one weekend he made his girlfriend procure an abortion, because he was not willing to take responsibility for his actions.
One day, months later, Barry out of the blue told me, “It’s time for a revival.” It was only then that I learned that he was a part-time preacher who from time to time would go barnstorming through Missouri and Arkansas, inviting people to become “saved.”
I was shocked. I admitted that I had no room to talk, since in my estimation I was no longer a Catholic or even a Christian. Even so, the disparity between Barry’s faith and his ongoing debauchery confused and scandalized me. He eventually explained that I had to learn to separate faith from daily life. I told him–with less refinement and charity than I’d use today–what I thought of a religion I could test drive but not take home. My burning intuition was that a religion that did not affect who I was and how I lived was not worth my time.
An analogous situation arises today in the context of funerals. As many of us know, the dominant mindset is that the deceased is “in a better place,” and thus the funeral rite itself becomes nothing other than a mini-canonization.
Assuredly we entrust the deceased to the mercy of God, who alone judges hearts. We also must console those who are mourning, offering them solid grounds for hope that their departed loved one is indeed with the Lord. In this regard, it is entirely fitting to recall the good deeds and accomplishments of the deceased to buoy our hope in his or her resurrection.
Yet the current trend goes even further. Our contemporaries assume the deceased is in heaven, so the only real concern is helping friends and family cope with the temporal loss. This approach effectively does away with the need to pray and offer sacrifice for the deceased, which Scripture describes as a “very excellent and noble” practice (cf. 2 Mac. 12:43; Catechism, no. 1032). It also derails a teachable moment: The reality of death affords all of us the opportunity to consider our own mortality and thus seek to be in right relationship with God. An objective observer at many funerals today could easily conclude that it really doesn’t matter how one lives, because everyone’s eternal fate seems to be the same.
Both my encounter with Barry and the experience at many funerals today reflect the error of presumption, which takes many forms (cf. Catechism, no. 2092). One form of presumption is the timeless heresy of Pelagianism, which holds that happiness is attainable by merely human effort, without the necessity of grace. This is manifested today by those who place all their hope in technological progress. Another example of presumption, commonly seen at funerals, is the attitude that in the end God will forgive us irrespective of our cooperation with grace. Following this view, heaven is the inevitable and more or less universal sequel to this life.
Christian fundamentalism is yet another form of presumption. Granted, Barry’s case is an extreme example of the “once saved, always saved” mentality. Most Bible Christians would be aghast at Barry’s lifestyle. Further, they rightly affirm in the midst of our largely secular and indifferent society the centrality of our faith in Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4:12; 1 Cor. 3:11). Even so, the necessity of a “born again” experience is often explained in a way that leaves no room for human freedom. Once “saved,” the individual can’t “lose” his salvation, even through mortal sin. (Click here for CUF’s FAITH FACT entitled “Persevering to the End: The Biblical Reality of Mortal Sin.”)
“When will I come to the end of my pilgrimage, and enter the presence of God?” This antiphon, taken from Monday Morning Prayer, Week II in the Liturgy of the Hours, summarizes the proper attitude of the Christian in this life. This attitude can be summed up in one word: hope.
Traditional subject would be Coronation of the Virgin. I posted one at 99, here's another:
From my experience with the “once saved” crowd is that when a person gets saved, it is done, finished and as often happens, when that person goes back into a sinful lifestyle, they say that he was never truly saved. So my question has always been: Then how can you know?
This was very confusing. Where does it say to pray for the dead? Please explain.
You selected out of context: “Their presence is very real and palpable that one can almost feel their comforting embrace. One is at peace with the world; nothing else matters. It is a prime time for reflection and relaxation in God and in the Blessed Mother’s presence.”
Yet this is what I wrote:-
The Holy Rosary - (see posts #58+#77)- when you check out the link in #58 you’ll see further scriptural meditation on this beautiful gift.
Reciting the Holy Rosary is like being brought to the Blessed Mother’s side and together we implore her Son’s mercy and grace. It allows us to experience the depth of Jesus Christ’s love for us. Their presence is very real and palpable that one can almost feel their comforting embrace. One is at peace with the world; nothing else matters. It is a prime time for reflection and relaxation in God and in the Blessed Mother’s presence.
If what you posted was all I wrote then you’d have a case but as that’s not the case you don’t - includes reading #58&77. I challenge you to say the Rosary for a week and see what happens Iscool. :) It won’t hurt as it’s ALL scriptural. Many Protestants are now saying it - see #58
“Learning more about your religion all the time”
If you read the Holy Bible then you’re learning about my religion every day.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2023171/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1777686/posts
“Their presence is very real and palpable that one can almost feel their comforting embrace. One is at peace with the world; nothing else matters. It is a prime time for reflection and relaxation in God and in the Blessed Mother’s presence.”
Ok, so I overstated my case and can see why you would take it out of context. I am inclined to get a little overzealous at times. :)
“Thank you, chase, for the post. It’s good to see the verses here and my prayer is that people truly believe them and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation. We can all recite verses but does it just become a habit or do you really believe what they say and are you trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation? I appreciate your sending me these.”
You’re welcome. Yes, Jesus died on the Cross for our sins giving us an abundance of salvation. I also believe we can lose that salvation through mortal sin. A question for you Mary - Catholics have been baptized therefore all Catholics have been “born again”. Are you “born again”? I mean the way the Holy Bible understands it?
We don’t worship the Blessed Mother and I know some Protestants persist in believing otherwise despite evidence to the contrary. As this forum has a wealth of information w/ linkage proving the contrary I won’t dwell on it unless there’s something specific….suffice to say Christ must particularly approve of our going to Him through His Blessed Mother, because He chose to come to us through her.
“I know the other poster isn’t making fun of Mary. He pokes at what some Catholics have made of her.”
Mary, I didn’t think he was making “fun”. We explained to him that the Holy Rosary was embedded with Sacred Scripture yet he continued his “pokes”. I believe he recites his ‘verses’frequently and it’s become a bad habit.
Blessings
Is there a difference between believing in and believing on? I am unfamiliar with the term "believe on." Where does that come from?
Baptism doesn’t save anyone. I was born again when I asked the Lord Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Saviour, THEN I was immersed/baptized. I was baptized as an infant but I wasn’t a believer then. When I became a believer, I was baptized. The Bible does say to ‘believe and be baptized.’ That’s what I did. All Catholics are NOT born again. All Protestants are NOT born again. It’s a matter of receiving Christ, not being baptized as a baby.
I’m going through Jesus Christ. Mary is not my intercessor or my Mother. I respect and honor her for being God’s chosen vessel, but I won’t go any further than that.
Blessings, and have a good weekend. Mary
I’ve heard it both ways and am not particularly concerned one way or the other which one is used.
“Baptism doesn’t save anyone. I was born again when I asked the Lord Jesus Christ to be my Lord and Saviour, THEN I was immersed/baptized. I was baptized as an infant but I wasn’t a believer then. When I became a believer, I was baptized. The Bible does say to ‘believe and be baptized.’ That’s what I did. All Catholics are NOT born again. All Protestants are NOT born again. It’s a matter of receiving Christ, not being baptized as a baby.”
I asked for biblical ref. Mary so I could gain some insight as to why 3/4 of the Christian world disagrees with you. Have you ever read where the Sacred Scriptures came from?
Here’s an article on Infant Baptism:
http://www.catholic.com/library/infant_baptism.asp
“I’m going through Jesus Christ. Mary is not my intercessor or my Mother. I respect and honor her for being God’s chosen vessel, but I won’t go any further than that.”
Glad you don’t believe that when we kneel before the statues of Our Holy Mary and the Saints that we’re “worshiping” them as gods and goddesses as that myth was first inspired by mohammed!
What I do find odd is that one can say “Pastor Jim led me to Christ” but one can’t say “Mother Mary led me to Christ”.
“Is there a difference between believing in and believing on? I am unfamiliar with the term “believe on.” Where does that come from?”
Very astute pickup.
Because Mother Mary didn’t have anything to do with my salvation. I honor her as my saviour’s mother, but she is not mine. I believe she would be astonished and dismayed at what has happened to her memory. She would absolutely hate being put on a pedestal.
” Yes; full access to searchable scripture, to the writings of the Fathers, and to the catechetical material on the Internet is a severe blow to the wobbly edifice of Protestantism, of which it is not likely to recover.
When my wife became ready to convert from Protestantism, she decided to give her Baptist pastor a chance. He gave her two books. One was a guide to the writings of the Church fathers that carefully avoided citing the most Catholic-sounding passages from St. Ingatius, while taking issue with some peripheral matter in the adjacent chapters. The other was a brief overview on the history of the Early Church, that — miracle of miracles — did not support his claim that there have always been a Baptist Church anyway. A half-hour with Google was all I needed to make salad of these two.”
Sorry I missed this post annalex. Well done. :} EWTN and radio are also great for dispelling the many lies spread throughout the centuries. I believe that’s why there’s a surge of conversions going on - the Truth will out. This article is sort of similar to what you’ve mentioned - I know the muhammadans have/do spread the Constantine myths against us, in fact, they take no prisoners and include ALL Christians. What I didn’t know was that some Christians did as well...albeit in a different way...ironic:
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2002/0201fea3.asp
“Because Mother Mary didn’t have anything to do with my salvation.?
Neither did Pastor Jim.
“She would absolutely hate being put on a pedestal.”
How do you know? She crushed the head of satan and that’s good enough for me. I guess when she said “People will call me Blessed” you won’t take her on her invitation and call on her? Do you ask “Pastor Jim” or any of the congregation at church to pray for you Mary?
I ask people who are alive and breathing. And still standing here on earth.
I am very surprised that is a term that was "heard" and not actually scriptural.
I’ve read it before in scripture. Depends on the version I imagine.
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