Posted on 12/27/2008 6:02:01 PM PST by Steelfish
Here's what one of the greatest Anglican converts to Catholicism and a towering intellectual and theologian of his time wrote:
Cardinal Newman, 1848: "To me, nothing is so consoling, so piercing, so thrilling, so overcoming, as the Mass, said as it is among us. I could attend Mass for ever, and not be tired. It is not a mere form of words, – it is a great action, the greatest action there can be on earth. It is not the invocation only, but, if I dare to use the word, the evocation of the Eternal. He becomes present on the altar in flesh and blood, before whom angels bow and devils tremble."
This is probably true...of course, he was writing regarding the Latin Mass.
Of course. But the miracle of transubstantiation is what matters.
The quote from Cardinal Newman is beautiful. Thank you for posting it.
I heard a woman on EWTN about two years ago telling how she and her husband became Catholics. They visited a number of churches to learn about them, and they often drove by the Catholic church in their quest. She became very curious about what people did there. Finally, she decided to see for herself. She was confused by the people standing, sitting, kneeling and lining up to receive Communion, but she persisted in her visits to try to understand.
After several weeks of Masses, a nun asked her if she would like to visit the Eternal Adoration room. She had no idea what that was, but accepted the invitation. When she realized that the Host was on display, and the people were sitting or kneeling there silently soaking in the actual presence of the Lord, she was totally awed.
She told her husband, “They have Jesus there. And they have him at Mass EVERY day.” She kept repeating, “THEY HAVE JESUS THERE,” in a voice of great joy. How often we Catholics forget the miracle of Communion.
Is there more of this quote on the web? It would be nice to read it in its entirety.
Just posot the url.
She told her husband, “They have Jesus there. And they have him at Mass EVERY day.” She kept repeating, “THEY HAVE JESUS THERE,” in a voice of great joy. How often we Catholics forget the miracle of Communion.
I realize you guys claim your religion is NOT the religion of a book, but for those out in LurkerLand who understand the Bible to be the word of God, take heed...These are the words of Jesus Christ:
Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before.
Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
The next time ANYONE sees the presence of the Lord Jesus, He will be coming in the clouds with power and great glory...And NOT until then...
What a beautiful story. Wow!
I am currently in my third year of sponsoring converts and catechumens in RCIA and a recurring theme is the Eucharistic miracle. People, despite themselves and their preconceptions are sure of the sacramental presence of Christ, and their longing for Him leads them to RCIA.
***I realize you guys claim your religion is NOT the religion of a book, but for those out in LurkerLand who understand the Bible to be the word of God, take heed...These are the words of Jesus Christ:***
My dear Iscool. Someone has been giving you the wrong information about the Catholic church. It is based entirely on the Bible, including the words of Jesus Christ. Of course, the Bible is the word of God. And the Biblical citations you included ARE taught to us. Peace be with you.
“She told her husband, “They have Jesus there. And they have him at Mass EVERY day.” She kept repeating, “THEY HAVE JESUS THERE,” in a voice of great joy.”
Reminds me of the report of the envoys of Prince Vladimir of Kiev whom he had sent out to investigate the religious practices of the Germans, Bulgars and the Greeks at Constantinople in 987.
“When we journeyed among the Bulgars, we beheld how they worship in their temple, called a mosque, while they stand ungirt. The Bulgarian bows, sits down, looks hither and thither like one possessed, and there is no happiness among them, but instead only sorrow and a dreadful stench. Their religion is not good. Then we went among the Germans, and saw them performing many ceremonies in their temples; but we beheld no glory there. Then we went on to Greece, and the Greeks led us to the edifices where they worship their God, and we knew not whether we were in heaven or on earth. For on earth there is no such splendour or such beauty, and we are at a loss how to describe it. We know only that God dwells there among men, and their service is fairer than the ceremonies of other nations. For we cannot forget that beauty. Every man, after tasting something sweet, is afterward unwilling to accept that which is bitter, and therefore we cannot dwell longer here.”
“People, despite themselves and their preconceptions are sure of the sacramental presence of Christ, and their longing for Him leads them to RCIA.”
No doubt we should be thankful for every convert to The Faith. And yet, MD, if the priests stood on the front steps of the churches and handed out 100 dollar bills to everyone who would come in, the churches would be filled to overflowing. In a fallen world, offering God just doesn’t have the same effect.
It's interesting why some have their chain yanked and others don't. (I'm too tired to be coherent this AM).
I was asked a few years ago to meet a person who sort of kind of thought she ought to convert from the Pepsicola Church to the Roaming Catlick. So we talked about this and that until she said that she was just persuaded that Christ was somehow present in the Tabernacle. At that point I asked her whyever, if she was so persuaded, she did not join right away. I guess it turned out that she just needed someone to say that. She took the next available RCIA class.
So I guess, in a way, she's evidence for what you are saying. She knew that the Church was, as you say, "offering God," but she still needed some prodding to get moving.
“Roaming Catlick.”
I thought it was “Calflick”!
And a blessed Feast of the Nativity to you and yours, MD!
I believe Calflik is more Southern, while Catlick is kind of Northeastern. And then there’s “Cattlelick,” which I consider excessively formal.
A blessed season of Hope to you dear brother in Christ.
That interpretation is as silly as claiming John 10:8 proves Moses was a false prophet.
See...we have better hats!
“A blessed season of Hope to you dear brother in Christ.”
Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
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