bye...
Posted on 12/27/2011 8:24:19 PM PST by RnMomof7
Rome, Italy, Dec 8, 2011 / 04:28 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the biblical description of a “woman clothed with the sun” in his remarks at Rome's Spanish Steps on the 2011 Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
“What is the meaning of this image? It represents the Church and Our Lady at the same time,” the Pope told the crowd assembled before the nearby statue commemorating the 1854 definition of Mary's Immaculate Conception. “Before all, the 'woman' of the apocalypse is Mary herself.”
The 12th chapter of the Biblical Apocalypse – also known as the Book of Revelation – describes the glorification and persecution of “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
Though not named, this woman is described as the mother of the Messiah. In poetic language akin to the Bible's other prophetic books, Saint John says she faced the threat of “a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,” and “fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.”
Pope Benedict, offering white roses in his traditional yearly act of Marian veneration, gave listeners his insight into the connection between the Virgin Mary and the Church – portrayed in the Apocalypse through the single image of the sun-clad woman.
“She appears 'clothed in sunlight,' that is, clothed in God,” observed the Pope. “The Virgin Mary is in fact completely surrounded by the light of God and lives in God … The 'Immaculate One' reflects with all of her person the light of the 'sun' which is God.”
“Besides representing Our Lady, this sign personifies the Church, the Christian community of all times,” he continued.
The Church, he explained, is “pregnant, in the sense that she carries Christ” and “must give birth to him to the world.”
“This is the labor of the pilgrim Church on earth, that in the midst of the consolations of God and the persecutions of the world, she must bring Christ to men.”
Because the Church continues to bring Jesus into the world, Pope Benedict said, it “finds opposition in a ferocious adversary,” symbolized in scripture by the “dragon” that has “tried in vain to devour Jesus,” and now “directs his attacks against the woman – the Church – in the desert of the world.”
“But in every age the Church is supported by the light and the strength of God,” the Pope said. “She is nurtured in the desert with the bread of his word and the Holy Eucharist.”
“And in this way, in every tribulation, through all of the trials that she finds in the course of the ages and in the different parts of the world, the Church suffers persecution, but comes out the victor.”
Pope Benedict said the Church should not fear persecution, which is bound to arise, but will be defeated.
“The only pitfall of which the Church can and must be afraid is the sin of her members,” he warned, highlighting the key difference between the Church and the woman who is its prototype.
“While in fact Mary is immaculate – free from every stain of sin – the Church is holy, but at the same time marked by our sins.”
While sinless herself, Mary remains in solidarity with the Church struggling against sin.
“That is why the people of God, pilgrims in time, turn to their heavenly mother and ask for her help,” explained Pope Benedict.
He stressed the world's need for the hope brought by the “woman clothed with the sun” – “especially in this difficult moment for Italy, for Europe and for different parts of the world.”
“May Mary help us to see that there is a light beyond the veil of fog that appears to envelop reality,” he declared.
“For this also we, especially on this day, never cease to ask with filial trust for her help: 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.'”
Oh now you’ve gone and done it. The discombobulated explanation I have seen on that is nothing less than laughable.
Just like a catholic not to recognize that the scriptures self-interpret, if you simply read them aloud.
“Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”
Much more fun to let a Nicolaitano in a skirt to fuzz-up your understanding.
That’s excellent. Great find.
We really don’t need new revelation. We have enough to keep us busy for a long time simply with what God has already given.
That’s a very good point to keep in mind when dealing with the likes of the New Apostolic Movement that appear to be promoting that kind of thing.
I can’t tell you how many Pentecostal leaning Christians I know are big on this new thing of someone has a *word* from God for us.
I think we see evidence of this exact same "heart veil" on this forum just about every day.
Happy New Year!
Yes...and by that, for whatever reason, the Lord has not lifted it. We should pray more about this. Sometimes I think I set too high expectations for those who are still in the dark. What seems so obviously clear to us they are kept from knowing and seeing....and we wouldn't know either were it not for the Lord removing the veil from our eyes.
Happy New Year to you as well....am hopeful the nation is is given opportunity to once again turn to God this next year...but with that wonder if it's just seriously too late. Many are fighting to regain our Christian Heritage.
The Holy Spirit enlightens a person, not by giving an added content of knowledge,... but by mysteriously operating on his heart so that he can see the revelation ‘already given’.
The image used in Scripture is of removing a veil. In 2 Corinthians 3:15 Paul says of the unbelieving Jews,.....
...“But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.”.... He continues, ....“Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away”... (2 Cor. 3:16).
The truth was there before them all the time, only they were prevented from seeing it.
Now that there cracked me right up..."Cereal" was the clincher!... LOLROTF
That’s excellent. Great find.
Yes, I think so too...many other excellant articles by various authors on that site as well. Interesting one on Homosexuality....states a Homosexual can become a Christian, but a Christian cannot be Homosexual...and other such articles.
The word you translate "prelates" does not mean PRIEST..(one that offers sacrifices)The greek word is
hēgeomai
1) to lead a) to go before
b) to be a leader
1) to rule, command
2) to have authority over
3) a prince, of regal power, governor, viceroy, chief, leading as respects influence, controlling in counsel, overseers or leaders of the churches
4) used of any kind of leader, chief, commander
5) the leader in speech, chief, spokesman
2) to consider, deem, account, think
Nothing there about sacrifices..nothing there that indicates a priesthood.. BECAUSE there was NO PRIESTHOOD in the NT church
I have given you the greek text.. I have not argued scripture.. The Holy Spirit knows greek..if he wanted to tell the church it was to have a priest He would have said it..
Elders are leaders.. not priests..the scripture you tried to proof text with says not one word about priests
Youngs LITERAL Translation reads
Hbr 13:17Be obedient to those leading you, and be subject, for these do watch for your souls, as about to give account, that with joy they may do this, and not sighing, for this [is] unprofitable to you.
The only way Rome can justify the priesthood in the NT church is by twisting language to make words say what they do not
There was no priesthood in the NT church because the priesthood was a type of Christ.. He was both the lamb and the priest on that cross .. offering himself ... and then God destroyed the priesthood only to have Rome bring it back ...
13:17 Πείθεσθε τοῖς ἡγουμένοις ὑμῶν καὶ ὑπείκετε αὐτοὶ γὰρ ἀγρυπνοῦσιν ὑπὲρ τῶν ψυχῶν ὑμῶν ὡς λόγον ἀποδώσοντες ἵνα μετὰ χαρᾶς τοῦτο ποιῶσιν καὶ μὴ στενάζοντες ἀλυσιτελὲς γὰρ ὑμῖν τοῦτο...Look it up
Look at the word "prelates" and how what they claim was common usage back when Plato was still in diapers is appropriate but on the other hand insist that the definition of the word "pray" shouldn't be from the same time period they like for "prelates". For the word "pray", they want others to believe that a very recently applied definition not in common usage until after 1900 is the correct definition.
So we see that by their own arguments they have to admit they think Scriptue says whatever they want it to say, that the use of the word "prelates" proves there was an established priesthood, or that by the same standards they use for the word "prelates", praying to Mary and the Saints isn't the same as prayers to Christ.
Funny how they always contradict themselves when they start thier little game of, "that's what Scripture says, but that's not what it means". They truly are examples of Fractal Wrongness.
Regards
When you get done laughing, can you please give us an answer about those two verses in I Peter about the "Priesthood of the believers"? Could this possibly be one of your own "that's what Scripture says, but that's not what it means" reinterpretation dealies?
I know I've asked you this at least three or four times now whenever you bring up your diatribe about "Protestants" committing the "sin of Core" by teaching the "heresy of the Priesthood of all believers", but either you can't or won't explain why that doctrine is from Peter, himself. Which is it?
Has Quix been banned?
Anyone know what happened?
I know plenty here didn't like Quix but there's no denying he loved God,he loved God's Word and he loved God's children.I didn't agree with everything bro' Quix posted but I have a healthy respect for the candor he displayed and I will miss him here greatly.
*ALL* things work together...Grace and peace to you Quix,see you soon!
Or even the last one about alien bibles etc.
Well in all fairness I can understand FR not wanting that image and I think that maybe,in time,Quix will understand that as well.
true. We are conservatives, not alien conspiracy theorists.
I am a child of God
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.