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To: vladimir998

You wrote:

“The Holy Spirit guides the Church,”

The Holy Spirit guides each believer, not an apostate church.

Your whole church is based on a couple of verses about Peter’s revelation that Jesus is the son of God and expaned it into a system that makes the bold and arrogant claim that their leader is infallible and that they have the power to ordain priests who are “alter Christos” - another Christ ???? The Bible warns us about people claiming to be another Christ !!

Add to that, these “priests” allegedly have the power to bring Jesus down from Heaven to become a peice of bread ??

Again your “church” has taken the words “do this in memory of me” and expanded it into this bizzare unbiblical ceremony where Jesus is sacrificed again, and again. WOW!

You quote Paul.

Yes I do, and you should read it again.

“Which is exactly why I trust the Church Christ sent, you know, the one you trusted to pick the New Testament books for you.”

You trust the church, but not Christ himself or his words.

“Find out what God says about the Queen of Heaven and worship of false Gods that your church has created of Mary.”

“Mary is not a goddess, nor a false goddess, nor to be mistaken with anyone or any figure in the Old Testament. Only someone hellbent - and I am very deliberately using that word - on damning the Mother of God (yes, Jesus is God and Mary is His mother) would try to compare her to a false goddess mentioned in the Old Testament centuries before she was born.”

You may not think Mary is a goddess, but your church believes and teaches that she should be treated like one.

Your church calls her the “Queen of Heaven” and proclaim that graces from God come only through her. Your church robs God of the glory that is ALL HIS. Your church also teaches that he is some tough guy and only can be appeased by Mary.

What did JPII say after he was shot “Mary help me, Mary help me, Mary help me.

Here is some Mary worhip from the catholic church.

Excerpts From
The Glories of Mary
St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Redemptorist Fathers, 1931
with Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur
Published on the Web with Permission

PRAYERS OF ST. ALPHONSUS

PRAYER OF CONFIDENCE IN MARY

Most Holy, Immaculate Virgin and my Mother Mary! To thee who art the Mother of my Lord, the Queen of the world, the Advocate, the Hope, and the Refuge of sinners, I have recourse today, I who am the most miserable of all.

I render thee my most humble homage, O great Queen, and I thank thee for all the graces thou hast conferred on me until now, especially for having delivered me from Hell, which I have so often deserved. I love thee, O most amiable Lady; and for the love which I bear thee, I promise to serve thee always and to do all in my power to make others love thee also. I place in thee all my hopes; I confide my salvation to thy care.

Accept me for thy servant and receive me under thy mantle, O Mother of Mercy. And since thou art so powerful with God, deliver me from all temptations; or rather, obtain for me the strength to triumph over them until death. Of thee I ask a perfect love for Jesus Christ. Through thee I hope to die a good death. O my Mother, by the love which thou bearest to God, I beseech thee to help me at all times, but especially at the last moment of my life. Leave me not, I beseech thee, until thou seest me safe in Heaven, blessing thee and singing thy mercies for all eternity. Amen. Thus, I hope. Thus, may it be.

DEDICATION OF ONE’S SELF TO MARY

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, I am not worthy to be thy servant. But moved by thy marvelous compassion and my own desire to serve thee, here and now, in the presence of my guardian angel and the whole court of Heaven, I choose thee as my Lady, Advocate, and Mother. I firmly purpose to love and serve thee always, and to do all I can to inspire others to love and serve thee.

O Mother of God and my own most compassionate Mother, I beseech thee, by the Blood which thy Son shed for me, to receive me into the number of thy servants as thy child and servant forever. Assist me in all my thoughts, words, and actions in every moment of my life, so that every step I take, every breath I draw, may be directed to the greater glory of my God.

Through your powerful intercession, may I never again offend my beloved Jesus. Help me to love and glorify Him in this life. Help me to love thee also, dear and beloved Mother, and to go on loving thee forever in the happiness of Heaven.

My Mother Mary, I commend my soul to thee now, and especially at the moment of death. Amen.

DEDICATION OF A FAMILY TO MARY

Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Queen and Mother, the refuge and consolation of all troubled souls! I kneel here before thee with my family and choose thee for my Lady, Mother, and Advocate with God.

I dedicate myself and all who belong to me to thy service forever. I beg thee, O Mother of God, to receive us into the company of thy servants. Take us under thy protection. Help us in life and at the hour of our death.

Mother of Mercy, I name thee Lady and Queen of my family and relatives, my interests and all my undertakings. Take charge of them; dispose of everything as it pleases thee.

Bless me and all my family. Never let any of us offend thy Son. In every temptation defend us; protect us in every danger; provide for us in the necessities of life; counsel us in doubt; comfort us in every sorrow, in every sickness, and especially in the final sorrow of death.

Never let the powers of Hell boast that they have enslaved any of those who here consecrate themselves to thee. Grant that we may all enter into Heaven to thank thee and, in thy company, to praise and love Jesus our Redeemer for all eternity. Amen. Thus, may it be.

PRAYER FOR PERSEVERANCE

QUEEN of Heaven, most Holy Mary, I was once a slave of sin, but now I consecrate myself to thee as thy client forever. I give myself to thine honor and service for the rest of my life. Do not reject me as I deserve, but accept me as thy servant.

I have placed all my hope in thee as my Mother. I bless and thank Almighty God, because in His mercy He has given me this confidence in thee. It is true that in the past I have shamefully fallen into sin; but I trust that, through thy prayers and the merits of Jesus Christ, I have been forgiven. But yet, my Mother, this is not enough. One fear I have which troubles me: that I may fall into sin again and lose the grace of God.

The dangers are constant; my enemies never sleep; and new temptations will assail me. O my Lady, protect me. Help me in the assaults of Hell, so I may never again offend thy Divine Son Jesus.

Let not the same thing happen again, that I lose my soul, Heaven, and God. This is the grace I beg of thee, O Mary; this is what I long for; obtain this grace for me through thy prayers. Amen.
Thus, I hope. Thus, may it be.

PRAYER FOR LOVE OF JESUS AND MARY

O MARY, of all creatures thou art the noblest, the purest, the holiest, the most sublime, the most beautiful. Oh, that all knew you, my Lady, and loved thee as thou deserveth!

I too, though I am a sinner, love thee, my most amiable Queen. And yet I love thee too little. I long to love thee with a greater and more tender affection, and it is thou who must obtain this grace for me. To love thee is a singular mark of predestination, a grace that God grants to those who are saved.

Then too, my Mother, I realize my great obligation to love thy Son; I see that He deserves an infinite love. Since thou desireth so much to see Him loved, obtain this grace for me -— a deep love for Jesus Christ.

I have no wish for earthly goods, for honors, for riches. I ask for that which thine heart desires far more, to love my God alone. Is it likely that thou wilt not help me in my desire, which is so pleasing to thee? Ah no, for even now thou art praying for me.

But I am consoled in thinking that so many Souls in Heaven and saintly people on earth love thee for thy goodness and beauty. Above all, I rejoice that God Himself loves thee alone, more than He loves all men and Angels together.

Pray for me, Mary; pray and never cease to pray until thou dost greet me in Heaven. There I shall possess my God forever . There too I shall possess my dearest Mother. Amen.

PRAYER FOR A HAPPY DEATH

Most Holy Mary, Mother all-good and all-loving, when I remember my sins and think of the moment of death, I tremble and scarcely know where to turn. But my hope is in the Blood of Jesus Christ and thy powerful intercession, O my loving Mother.

Comforter of the afflicted, be with me in that hour, console me in that great affliction. If even now the remorse over my sins, the uncertainty of pardon, the danger of relapse, and the rigor of Divine Justice so frighten me, how will it be with me then?

Ah my Lady, obtain for me before death comes a deep sorrow for my sins, true amendment, and fidelity to God for the remainder of my days.

And when at last the hour of death arrives, O Mary my hope, help me in that terrible anguish in which I will find myself. Strengthen me against despair over the remembrance of my sins, which the devil will call up before me.

Obtain for me the grace to call upon thee over and over in that dread hour, so that I may die with thy name and the name of thy most holy Son on my lips.Thou hast granted this grace to so many of thy clients. I too desire it and hope for it. Amen.

ASPIRATIONS FROM THE SAINTS AND HOLY MEN

Hail, most Benign Mother of Mercy. 1
Mother of God, remember me. 2
O Virgin and Mother, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me. 3
O Lady, grant that Jesus may never cast me off. 4
O Mary, may my heart never cease to love thee, and my tongue never cease to praise thee.5
O Lady, by the love which thou bearest to Jesus, help me to love Him. 6
O Mary, be graciously pleased to make me thy servant. 7
O Mary, I give myself to thee without reserve; do thou accept and preserve me. 8
O Mary, abandon me not until death. 9
Hail, Mary, my Mother. 10
Holy Mary, my Advocate, pray for me. 11
In thee from my whole heart I have placed my hope. 12
It is not possible, O Lady, that thou shouldst abandon him who has placed his hopes in thee. 13
Thou hast only to will our salvation, and then it is not possible that we should not obtain it. 14
Hail, Daughter of God the Father; Hail, Mother of God the Son; Hail, Spouse of God the Holy Ghost; Hail, Tem[le of the whole Trinity. 15

1. St. Alphonsus de Liguori
2. St. Francis Xavier
3. St. Philip Neri
4. St. Ephrem
5. St. Bonaventure
6. St. Bridget
7. St. Jane Frances de Chantal
8. St. Mary Magdalen de Pazzi
9. Father Spinelli
10. Father Francis Brancaccio
11. Father Sertoria Caputo
12. St. John Damascene
13. St. Bernard
14. St. Anselm
15. Simon Garcia

But in the end, anti-Catholics like yourself, have no other recourse than to slander Christians, Christ, His Church and even His mother. In that one post you did all of that.

Ceiling. Watch.


194 posted on 06/25/2009 6:23:27 AM PDT by Veeram ("Any fool (Liberal) can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do." ---Benjamin Franklin)
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To: Veeram
...the bold and arrogant claim that their leader is infallible...

Only in the very specific (and rare) circumstance of speaking ex cathedra on matters of faith. Catholics do not believe Benedict can do no wrong, that kind of concept is a common mistake and/or smear.

197 posted on 06/25/2009 6:31:08 AM PDT by Petronski (In Germany they came first for the Communists, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist...)
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To: Veeram
...“priests” allegedly have the power to bring Jesus down from Heaven to become a peice of bread...

By the power of the Holy Spirit the host becomes the body and the wine the blood of Christ, not the other way around, and not by the power of the priest alone.

198 posted on 06/25/2009 6:32:36 AM PDT by Petronski (In Germany they came first for the Communists, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist...)
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To: Veeram
...this bizzare unbiblical ceremony where Jesus is sacrificed again, and again.

The prayers are taken directly from Scripture. Christ is NOT sacrificed again and again, it is the same one sacrifice on Calvary re-presented at every Mass.

Your criticisms of the Catholic Church do not even describe the Catholic Church, but rather a grotesque caricature of what Catholics actually believe.

199 posted on 06/25/2009 6:35:26 AM PDT by Petronski (In Germany they came first for the Communists, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist...)
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To: Veeram
Here is some Mary worhip from the catholic church.

Not worship. Veneration, praise, not worship.

Oh, and Catholic Church is a proper noun, and should be capitalized.

201 posted on 06/25/2009 6:37:00 AM PDT by Petronski (In Germany they came first for the Communists, And I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist...)
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To: Veeram

WOW! I had no idea it went that far!

Respecting Mary is one thing, but those prayers are obscene!


221 posted on 06/25/2009 7:57:03 AM PDT by Mr Rogers (I loathe the ground he slithers on!)
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To: Veeram

You wrote:

“The Holy Spirit guides each believer, not an apostate church.”

Hence, the Holy Spirit has never once guided a Protestant sect.

“Your whole church is based on a couple of verses about Peter’s revelation that Jesus is the son of God and expaned it into a system that makes the bold and arrogant claim that their leader is infallible and that they have the power to ordain priests who are “alter Christos” - another Christ ???? The Bible warns us about people claiming to be another Christ !!”

Uh, no. Our Church is based on the central mystery of the Trinity, the incarnation of Christ, His death, resurrection and His issuing of the Great Commission. Verses in Matthew 16 show what Christ intended, but no verse in Matthew is the basis of the Church. Christ is.

The Catholic Church was founded by Christ, not Peter. The Catholic Church was founded by Christ, not some later scriptural exegete. The Church is the bride of Christ. Period.

“Add to that, these “priests” allegedly have the power to bring Jesus down from Heaven to become a peice of bread ??”

No, and no Catholic claims they do. Christ does not become a piece of bread - nor does any Catholic claim He does. When I see something like that from an anti-Catholic like yourself I am struck by how intensely erroneous anti-Catholics are in their understanding of something yet it never seems to stop them from posting examples of it. Christ does not become a piece of bread. The bread becomes Christ’s flesh. You apparently think that means the same thing - and that says quite a bit.

Ceiling. Watch.

“Again your “church” has taken the words “do this in memory of me” and expanded it into this bizzare unbiblical ceremony where Jesus is sacrificed again, and again. WOW!”

No. Jesus can’t be sacrificed again and again and no one is trying to do it. Again, we see that you do not understand even what the Mass is. Jesus was sacrificed ONCE. His sacrifice, however, was so momentous that it transcends time and space. That’s why Moses will be in heaven and not just believers standing at the foot of the cross! That sacrifice is the most pleasing sacrifice God ever receieved. And it is re-presented today in an unbloody form in honor and worship of the Father in Heaven. Also, the word translated as “do this in memory of me” is the Greek word anamnesis. You might want to learn about what that word means when coupled with sacrifices:

In support of this perpetual sacrifice, the word translated “memorial” or “remembrance” used at the Last Supper (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor.11:24-25) is the Greek word “anamnesis.” It is also used in the Septuagint in connection with sacrifice (Lev.24:7). “Anamnesis” translates the Hebrew word “azkarah,” which is used seven times in the OT in reference to sacrifice (Lev.2:2,9,16; 5:12; 6:15; Num. 5:26). It is also significant that “anamnesis” is only used four times in the NT, the fourth time appearing in Hebrews 10:3 also in reference to a memorial sacrifice. Hence, Jesus’ use of “anamnesis” in Luke 22:19 specifies the sacrificial dimension of the Eucharist. In effect, Jesus would be saying, “Whenever you do this, do it as a memorial sacrifice of me.” The use of “anamnesis” in Luke 22:19 is even more significant in denoting sacrifice since there was another Greek word Luke could have used for a non-sacrificial memorial (”mnemosunon,” cf., Mt.26: 13; Mk.14:9; Acts 10:4). http://www.catholicintl.com/epologetics/dialogs/eucharist/fcfc-eucharist3.htm

Ceiling. Watch.

“Yes I do, and you should read it again.”

I was right the first time.

“You trust the church, but not Christ himself or his words.”

Wrong. Trusting the Church - which Christ sent - is trusting in Christ and His words. The Church is Christ’s body. Do I need to point out where in Paul’s letters he says that? Try 1 Corinthians 12:12-14.

“You may not think Mary is a goddess, but your church believes and teaches that she should be treated like one.”

No, actually the Church has never taught that. This is EXACTLY what the Church teaches in Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 970 when quoting Lumen Gentium from Vatican II:

“No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source.”514

See that? NO CREATURE [and Mary is a creature and this paragraph is in the section on Mary] COULD EVER BE COUNTED ALONG WITH THE INCARNATE WORD AND REDEEMER.

That’s what the Church teaches...so do you care?

Ceiling. Watch.

“Your church calls her the “Queen of Heaven” and proclaim that graces from God come only through her.”

Because Christ is the king and He came through her. He is grace.

“Your church robs God of the glory that is ALL HIS. Your church also teaches that he is some tough guy and only can be appeased by Mary.”

That’s completely untrue. No one and nothing can appease God except for what he chooses. Mary is the greatest saint and the greatest of the saintly intercessors before Christ’s throne. That’s what we believe. We do not believe what you said. Do you even care to get it right?

“What did JPII say after he was shot “Mary help me, Mary help me, Mary help me.”

Because it was her feast day, he already knew the third secret of Fatima that talked about a pope being attacked and he was particularly devoted in his daily prayer life to the intercession of Mary.

“Here is some Mary worhip from the catholic church.”

No. None of it in any way, shape or form shows any dulia being given to Mary. This is another old Protestant canard to take The Glories of Mary and misrepresent what St. Alphonsus wrote as if it was about dulia when it was not. St. Alphonsus is now in heaven. I wish I could say the same for the anti-Catholics who repeatedly attack this saintly man.

Here’s the sort of thing from St. Alphonsus that anti-Catholics like yourself never post (gee, I wonder why):

All holiness and perfection of soul lies in our love for Jesus Christ our God, who is our Redeemer and our supreme good. It is part of the love of God to acquire and to nurture all the virtues which make a man perfect.

Has not God in fact won for himself a claim on all our love? From all eternity he has loved us. And it is in this vein that he speaks to us: “O man, consider carefully that I first loved you. You had not yet appeared in the light of day, nor did the world yet exist, but already I loved you. From all eternity I have loved you”.

Since God knew that man is enticed by favours, he wished to bind him to his love by means of his gifts: “I want to catch men with the snares, those chains of love in which they allow themselves to be entrapped, so that they will love me”. And all the gifts which he bestowed on man were given to this end. He gave him a soul, made in his likeness, and endowed with memory, intellect and will; he gave him a body equipped with the senses; it was for him that he created heaven and earth and such an abundance of things. He made all these things out of love for man, so that all creation might serve man, and man in turn might love God out of gratitude for so many gifts.

But he did not wish to give us only beautiful creatures; the truth is that to win for himself our love, he went so far as to bestow upon us the fullness of himself. The eternal Father went so far as to give us his only Son. When he saw that we were all dead through sin and deprived of his grace, what did he do? Compelled, as the Apostle says, by the superabundance of his love for us, he sent his beloved Son to make reparation for us and to call us back to a sinless life.

By giving us his Son, whom he did not spare precisely so that he might spare us, he bestowed on us at once every good: grace, love and heaven; for all these goods are certainly inferior to the Son: He who did not spare his own Son, but handed him over for all of us: how could he fail to give us along with his Son all good things? http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/695/On_the_Love_of_Christ_St_Alphonsus_Liguori.html

Ceiling. Watch.

And what I said still stands - all the more so now:

But in the end, anti-Catholics like yourself, have no other recourse than to slander Christians, Christ, His Church and even His mother. In that one post you did all of that.

Ceiling. Watch.


231 posted on 06/25/2009 8:54:28 AM PDT by vladimir998 (Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. St. Jerome)
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