Posted on 08/12/2010 3:10:34 PM PDT by armydoc
"Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother." "Love the Madonna and pray the rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today." "All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother."
(Excerpt) Read more at marypages.com ...
Matthew 23:3 says what it says, not what we would like it to say: it does not say, "Follow the Law of Moses." It says, "whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do." "They" are the scribes and Pharisees, who are called hypocrites for the rest of the chapter. What is the "therefore" there for? It cannot reasonably be denied that there is a connection with the S&P's sitting in Moses' seat and the requirement that what they bid be observed, even though they were hypocrites.
You are not going to like the answer, however.
It doesn't bother me one way or the other, as I'm not Christian. I'm interested in religious history, that's all.
Let me see... I have a Bible (God’s Word) in one hand, and a catechism in the other hand. Hmmmm... which one trumps the other?
I can sort-of “get it” when it comes to “respectful veneration”. But why waste your time when it could be better spent studying God’s Word and praying directly to Him?
A Catholic dictionary defines “venerate” as “to honor, admire, and regard with respect.” No mention of praying. Praying through anyone, dead or alive, is idolatry and blasphemy.
And frankly all those dark robed men in that photo give me zero comfort ....rather... looks pretty creepy to me. And just for your information...satan and his hoard can mimic and do what appears to be miracles...Therefore I will continue to walk my walk with Christ by faith.....not by what might be seen.You are correct regarding Satan. One must always be watchful, and not follow "what might be seen." The lives of saints, however, have been scrupulously gone over by the Catholic Church. I, myself, would not have sought out (so I hardly expect you to do so) the CC on my own. (I had too many sins they spoke strongly against and felt being a Missouri-Synod Lutheran was okay enough for me.) But the Eucharist ("the source and summit of the Christian life") was shown to me quite literally (through the hundreds of daily Mass attenders who partook in same), as I joined my boyfriend (for several months) on his daily journey to Mass.
Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish priest who died as prisoner 16670 in Auschwitz, on August 14, 1941. When a prisoner escaped from the camp, the Nazis selected 10 others to be killed by starvation in reprisal for the escape. One of the 10 selected to die, Franciszek Gajowniczek, began to cry: "My wife! My children! I will never see them again!" At this Father Kolbe stepped forward and asked to die in his place - his request was granted. As the ten condemned men were led off to the death Block of Building 13, Father Kolbe supported a fellow prisoner who could hardly walk. No one would emerge alive - Father Kolbe was the last to die ... Link.St. Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us ...No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends --John 15:13.The life of Fr. Maximilian Kolbe was spent wholly out of Love for the Eucharist and Our Lady. With tenderness he wrote of how Our Heavenly Mother always leads us to her Son, Let us give ourselves to the Immaculata ... This is the manner most perfect and pleasing to the Lord Jesus and brings great fruit to us ... --Link.
Let me see... I have a Bible (Gods Word) in one hand, and a catechism in the other hand. Hmmmm... which one trumps the other? ... why waste your time [regarding respectful veneration] when it could be better spent studying Gods Word and praying directly to Him? ... Praying through anyone, dead or alive, is idolatry and blasphemy.I have a monster head cold, your comment has loathsome leanings, and I've already quoted the CCC on idolatry, so I'm passing on this one, leaving more time to pray to (and for!) my dead mother [08-08-08].
Dear Mom ... You may or not know this, but our country is (as dad would say) "in deeper s**t than we can carry," and I ask you for your prayers, while we all continue to pray for your soul (and dad's too!) as well.St. Genevieve, please pray for "Murph" (and the whole world) ...
All of those religions (except Catholicism) are all divided among THEMSELVES, just like the Protestants, of which I assume you are one.
Example: Protestant, there is no such religion, they are divided in as many sects as there are Protestants, they are united in nothing. They can’t even agree if Jesus Christ is God , equal to the Father.The same goes with all the other religions.
Please post exactly what Vatican II said.
What a few Haitians do, does not change the Catholic Faith, doctrines, and hierarchy. It is one. Don't get too caught up in looking for bad examples. There are few good examples of Christians in this world. FEW.
My years have taught me that the litmus test of a REAL Christian is marriage and birth control. Real Christians stay married till death and have as many children as God sends. They don't use birth control. If I see a person who calls themselves Christian and is divorced and remarried, I know that they are hypocrites. If I see a couple with no children because they use birth control, I know they have not God's Grace.
How many Christians like that do you know?
I read every word and don’t read anywhere that non-Catholics can be saved, it does not say it. In stereotypical Vatican II language, it might sound like it says it to some people who want to hear that it says it, but it does not say it. IT CAN’T SAY IT. It is a dogma of the Church that EENS. There is no contrary dogma. There can’t be.
Holy bejesus...I’m doomed...the Katlicks say I can’t be saved...but of course I have a lot of company....
Thanks for the highlighting. My prior comment still stands, exactly as written. EENS is a clear dogma, there is no dogma that can contradict it, that is why Vatican II can’t come out and clearly say that non-Catholics can be saved.
You know better than the Catholic Encyclopedia, then?
You can certainly claim Catholics are one....but there is way more than a few in your memberships and churches which evidences otherwise....Thinking and saying you are one is very different than actually being one.
But I will say all who are Christians...in Christ Jesus...are one in the body of Christ just as it is written...no matter the church they attend... which even the catholic church agrees this is so.
Most all Catholics....these threads the exception... I have encountered definitely think a woman has the right to her own body and that to select abortion...as well as divorce and re-marriage. In fact those I have spoken with attend mass and church functions but do not believe their life choices are dependent on what Rome says...let alone the Bible. That is not to say there aren't Christians in the Catholic church for I do believe very well that there are. But my experiences with many is as stated here.
re: I see nothing in God's word that marriage nor birth control is evidence of one being a Christian or not. Rather a real Christian will evidence the fruit of His Spirit
The evidence of the Holy Spirit IS THAT THEY REMAIN MARRIED FOR LIFE AND HAVE ALL THE CHILDREN GOD SENDS THEM (not use birth control). If you think other wise, that you can divorce and use birth control, you are just fooling yourself, you are no Christian. There are FEW in this world.
There is much more involved in becoming a son of God than just receiving Christ. Remember that the 5 foolish virgins low on oil (Mat 25:1-13), the man who buried the one talent (Mat 25:14-30), the man without the wedding garment (Mat 22:2-14), and the many, that will say Lord, Lord (Mat 7:22), all made an effort, and still were all thrown to hell.
And if the just man shall scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1Peter 4:18)
Salvation is not a simple matter. Christ said that few will find it (Mat 7:14)
By their deeds you shall know them, if they are married for life and have not used contraceptives, they Christians, if not, they are false Christians on the road to perdition.
St. Augustine: If you wish to be a Catholic, do not venture to believe, to say, or to teach that [u][b]they whom the Lord has predestinated for baptism can be snatched away from his predestination, or die before that has been accomplished in them [/b][/u]which the Almighty has predestined. There is in such a dogma more power than I can tell assigned to chances in opposition to the power of God, by the occurrence of which casualties that which He has predestinated is not permitted to come to pass. [u][b]It is hardly necessary to spend time or earnest words in cautioning the man who takes up with this error against the absolute vortex of confusion into which it will absorb him[/b][/u], when I shall sufficiently meet the case if I briefly warn the prudent man who is ready to receive correction against the threatening mischief. (On the Soul and Its Origin 3, 13)
The dogma is clear and final:
Pope Eugene IV, Council of Florence, Cantate Domino, 1441, ex cathedra:
The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives; that the unity of this ecclesiastical body is of such importance that only those who abide in it do the Churchs sacraments contribute to salvation and do fasts, almsgiving and other works of piety and practices of the Christian militia productive of eternal rewards; and that nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.
I think you really need to study the Catholic Faith and meditate on the ordinary words in the dogmas on EENS, the faithful, Heretics, Jews, Pagans, and all human creatures and accept the reasonable fact that the Pontiffs who pronounced these decrees were perfectly literate and fully cognizant of what they were saying. If there were any need to soften or qualify their meanings, they were quite capable of doing so.
Being ex cathedra definitions, they must be taken literally, unequivocally, and absolutely. Hence, to attempt to modify or qualify them in any way is to deny them.
The doctrine says that only Catholics go to Heaven; all others are lost, that is, they do not go to Heaven, but to Hell. All who are inclined to dispute this dogma should have the good sense to realize that if this is not what the words of the definitions mean, the Church would never have promulgated such a position. To give any other meaning to these words is to portray the Church as foolish and ridiculous.
I will say again that God clearly states Salvation is in Christ alone and His finished work on our behalf....and certainly not in the doctrines of any specific church. Rather we become members of His body...His church...with Christ as head over all believers in every branch of Christian community...and the Vatican states that Christians are among those churches other than the Catholic Church alone as well. So adhereing to Catholic doctrine is not a requirement for Salvation...nor being a member of any specific church group....nothing in scripture supports your statement.
I do not support abortion and would find it very difficult to believe a Christian could carry this act through without ship-wreaking their faith. But there are many catholics who believe their reasons for allowing abortion does not exclude them from being a Christian regardless of catholic doctrine.
The evidence of being a Christian comes as the individual grows in the Grace and Knowledge of Christ....just as children make foolish decisions so too young Christians do as well...and they learn as they go until maturity in Christ. It is a lifetime of growth and allowing more and more of our life to reflect Christ as we yield those areas He chooses to change... to conform us to His image. But generally when one becomes a Christan there is evidence of changes in their life...but not always visible.
I see you likely adhere to what Rome teaches you should adhere to but there are many catholics who do not adhere to Rome. That is just reality.
A fallible ambigously article from an encyclopedia, written by one man, you make your own dogma, because that is what you want to hear.
A clear precise dogma, you deny, because it is not what you want to hear. "nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed blood in the name of Christ",
It's that simple!
The Holy Roman Church firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Church before the end of their lives; that the unity of this ecclesiastical body is of such importance that only those who abide in it do the Churchs sacraments contribute to salvation and do fasts, almsgiving and other works of piety and practices of the Christian militia productive of eternal rewards; and that nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and unity of the Catholic Church.
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