Posted on 02/06/2010 8:21:23 PM PST by Salvation
This website surveys the origin and development of Roman Catholic Christianity from the period of the apostolic church, through the post-apostolic church and into the conciliar movement. Principal attention is paid to the biblical basis of both doctrine and dogma as well as the role of paradosis (i.e. handing on the truth) in the history of the Church. Particular attention is also paid to the hierarchical founding and succession of leadership throughout the centuries.
This is a set of lecture notes used since 1985 to teach the basis for key doctrines and dogmas of the Roman Catholic Church. The objectives of the course were, and are:
The course grew out of the need for the authors to continually answer questions about their faith tradition and their work. (Both authors are active members of Catholic parish communities in the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia. Dr. Robert Schihl was a Professor and Associate Dean of the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University. Paul Flanagan is a consultant specializing in preparing people for technology based changes.) At the time these notes were first prepared, the authors were spending time in their faith community answering questions about their Protestant Evangelical workplaces (Mr. Flanagan was then a senior executive at the Christian Broadcasting Network), and time in their workplaces answering similar questions about their Roman Catholic faith community. These notes are the result of more than a decade of facilitating dialogue among those who wish to learn more about what the Roman Catholic Church teaches and why.
The Catholic Response to "Are You Saved?"
The Catholic Christian answers this question in three stages or levels corresponding to the three meanings the words "saved" and "salvation" have in the Bible. (These meanings are found in the previous section, "Salvation: A Biblical Portrait." )
Catholic Christians can respond that they have been saved. This acknowledges the first meaning of "saved" and "salvation" in scripture--Jesus Christ, Savior, by whose act of salvation we are objectively saved--He died, rose from the dead, saved them from sin.
Catholic Christians can also respond that they are being saved. This acknowledges the second meaning "saved" and "salvation" have in scripture--the present experience, God's power delivering constantly from the bondage of sin.
Catholic Christians also respond that they will be saved, that they have hope and confidence that God will give them the grace of perseverance; that they will respond to it; and accept his gift of salvation until their death. This acknowledges the third meaning the words "saved" and "salvation" have in scripture--the future deliverance of believers at the Second Coming of Christ.
You say that as a true Catholic! Let the Vatican interpret!
As I stated earlier, good luck in your studies.
This statement is in one of the Gospels? Could you give a citation, please?
The formal definition of a sacrament is "outward sign of inward grace, instituted by Christ for our sanctification" (Catholic Encyclopedia: Sacraments)
Yes, the Creeds came about because of many heresies. They are very specific, especially the Nicene Creed.
Won’t you be happy when we can once again say, “Credo” — “I believe”?
Sure, here it is:
III. THE FINAL PURIFICATION, OR PURGATORY1030 All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.
1031 The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.604 The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:605
- As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.606
1032 This teaching is also based on the practice of prayer for the dead, already mentioned in Sacred Scripture: "Therefore [Judas Maccabeus] made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin."607 From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the Eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God.608 The Church also commends almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead:
- Let us help and commemorate them. If Job's sons were purified by their father's sacrifice, why would we doubt that our offerings for the dead bring them some consolation? Let us not hesitate to help those who have died and to offer our prayers for them.609
604 Cf. Council of Florence (1439): DS 1304; Council of Trent (1563): DS 1820; (1547): 1580; see also Benedict XII, Benedictus Deus (1336): DS 1000.
605 Cf. 1 Cor 3:15; 1 Pet 1:7.
606 St. Gregory the Great, Dial. 4, 39: PL 77, 396; cf. Mt 12:31.
607 2 Macc 12:46.
608 Cf. Council of Lyons II (1274): DS 856.
609 St. John Chrysostom, Hom. in 1 Cor. 41, 5: PG 61, 361; cf. Job 1:5.
And think of all the saints who fasted and were only sustained with the Holy Eucharist! The stories are amazing.
Only those souls who are completely pure will enter the realm of heaven.
Otherwise, souls will have a purifying period for their smaller/venial sins, yet know they are bound for heaven.
Otherwise at the moment of their death, they will know they are cast into hell.
Three destinations:
Pure — heaven
Slightly impure — Purgatory to redeem those impurities
Stained with grievous sin — hell.
Won’t you be surprised when you find out there is a Purgatory?
It’s in the Scriptures even though you won’t see the word, Purgatory.
Of course, one does not see the word Trinity either. Yet we believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
IMHO, Christianity doesn’t make living the saved life hard, rather our scarred thinking processes, consequential of sin in our life, tempts us to make our life difficult if we fail to remain in fellowship with Him.
Good post.
I expect to spend quite some time in Purgatory. If I’m lucky. :)
In 1 Cor 13, St. Paul says, “Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you...” That’s a big IF and it makes clear that St. Paul felt you could lose your salvation if you did not LIVE the word of God.
It may be easier for some to do than others. Not everything tempts the same people to the same degree, and not everyone has habitual sins as much as the next person.
But being both sinner and saint every day, having to fight off our old nature every day (Paul) and putting on the armor every day, still sinning and not even being aware, it is so easy and natural to do,
it is difficult to live a Christian life. The comfort we take in that we know we are forgiven when we genuinely are sorry and ask makes us unafraid to continue on, or feel we’ve hopelessly lost salvation.
Repentance is returning our face to Him, not feeling sorry.
He is the object of our faith.
He’s known every sin we would ever commit, so we don;t fool Him by being sorry and really meaning it, but rather our sin is simply missing the object He provides for us to aim at when we think and act. When we repent, we are returning to Him in our thinking, through faith in what Christ performed on the Cross.
Me too.
At least we will know we are bound for heaven. But the wait will be horrendous in my opinion.
Amen to that! We need to live it each and every day to the best of our ability.
Exactly right.
Like your tagline. Too many of us end up in that “stress” category.
You can help me wash dishes.
If you only went to Spanish liturgy, you would say “Creo”! Except maybe in Spain; the “Misa Flamenca” uses “Creemos,” “we believe,” and it’s an approved variant.
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