Posted on 05/05/2013 10:16:01 AM PDT by NYer
Are you saved?
Have you ever been asked this question? Has anyone ever told you that Catholics think they can work their way into Heaven?
The Catholic Church does not now, nor has it ever, taught a doctrine of salvation by works - that we can “work” our way into Heaven. And, the Bible does not teach that we are saved by “faith alone.” The only place in all of Scripture where the phrase “Faith Alone” appears, is in James 2:24, where it says that we are not justified (or saved) by faith alone. However, if works have nothing to do with our salvation, then how come every passage in the New Testament that talks about judgment says we will be judged by our works, not by whether or not we have faith alone? (See Rom 2, Matthew 15 and 16, 1 Ptr 1, Rev 20 and 22, 2 Cor 5, and many, many more verses).
If we are saved by faith alone, why does 1 Cor 13:13 say that love is greater than faith? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
As Catholics we believe that we are saved by God’s grace alone. We can do nothing, apart from God’s grace, to receive the free gift of salvation. We also believe, however, that we have to respond to God’s grace. Protestants believe that, too. However, many Protestants believe that the only response necessary is an act of faith; whereas, Catholics believe a response of "faith and works" is necessary, or, as the Bible puts it in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumsion is of any avail, but faith working through love." (Just as the Church teaches.)
St. Paul said he needed to work out his salvation with "fear and trembling." If anyone professed their faith in Jesus it was Paul. If he felt so assured of his salvation because of his faith alone in Jesus, why then would he be trembling, and have to work out his salvation?
So, the next time someone asks you if you are saved, the Catholic should reply:
As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5–8), but I’m also being saved (1 Cor. 1:8, 2 Cor. 2:15, Phil. 2:12), and I have the hope that I will be saved (Rom. 5:9–10, 1 Cor. 3:12–15). Like the apostle Paul I am working out my salvation in fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), with hopeful confidence in the promises of Christ (Rom. 5:2, 2 Tim. 2:11–13)." ♥
You have been proven wrong so many times on this I can't believe you still post stuff like this...
It most assuredly is true.We had to pay for “special Mass” for our departed loved ones to pray thier souls out of purgatory.
http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Purgatory
in this link it desribes paying priests to perform a special mass to pray youre family members from purgatory.
As recently as 3 years ago we paid Filipino priests in Philippines to pray for my wifes deceased family members to save thier souls from purgatory in thier catholic church.
Dont tell me it isnt true.
Wrong,Ive personally witnessed thousands of catholics praying to statues,icons,shrines etc.Ive seen them light candles and leave offerings in front of statues,and shrines.Ive seen them leave food and money offerings for statues.The Philippines is one of the largest catholic areas in the world and the priests there encourage this to maintain thier control over these people IMHO
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santo_Ni%C3%B1o_de_Ceb%C3%BA
Thousands of Filipinos worshiping a statue with the blessing of the pope
It seems some have adopted a God-like concept of themselves in which they believe that can speak, or in this case post, something into existence, ex nihilo. The Eastern Catholics phrase this best; 'religious art provides a window through which we can more clearly see the Divine'.
Peace be with you
Catholics do NOT worship statues or icons. This is your interpretation only.
As I said above, they remind of the saint, and we ask for them to pray for us.
Haven’t you ever asked anyone to pray for you?
What is so wrong for paying for only the candle?
We don’t pay for the prayer.
LOL!
So glad you said this was only your opinion. LOL!
Your interpretation does not make your interpretation correct.
The food is probably given to the poor.
Likewise, every Catholic Church has a CARITAS fund to help people out with food, the last $50.00 on a utility bill, whatever.
It is so sad that you think this is wrong, when really the poor are being served.
So, what do you have against the poor who beg?
I like that.
It certainly begs the question why non-Catholics have crosses in their churches, why they often have a distinctly religious architecture, why they have clerical robes for their clergy and choirs, why they rely on religious music and hymns to help settle and elevate their minds towards God, why the so very much appreciate the prose of their pastors and clergy but have so much disdain for the more Catholic forms of religious art.
Peace be with you
Where in any of my statemants did I say I was against the poor? Where did I say the poor couldnt beg? I said i was angry over my relatives being told to pay the priests money in order for the priests to hold a special mass to pray thier souls out of purgatory.
I also said offerring money,and food to statues was worshipping statues.My Bible says we should refrain from eating food that was offered to idols.You now try to claim that food offered to statues was given to the poor,,while ignoring the fact that offering the food in the first place was still worship.
Fact is,many catholics do in fact pray to,and worship,Mary and the Saints,and priests demand money for special mass to pray souls out of purgatory.
You were accused here of lying and making up your story about personal experiences of priests insisting on monetary payment before they would conduct Requiem Masses, or Mass for the intention of the repose of the soul, for deceased Catholics. One of my Mom's friends died not that long ago and she wrote a check out to her friend's local parish to make sure a certain number of Masses got said in memory of her friend. It most certainly IS done to help the dead get through "purgatory" and it certainly is a source of revenue for the Catholic Church.
Sympathy from those who ought to know better aside, anyone who asserts those falsehoods about the teachings of the Church waives any claims to a presumption of truthfulness.
Pray for those who feel compelled to apply the sins of any wayward priest or lay Catholic to all Catholics. The desire to believe the worst about any person or group is not a Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Peace be with you
You are still wrong, and as you stand watching your life flash in front of you at the moment of your death, you just might regret these statements indicting ALL Catholics.
Good night.
for youre consideration.
http://www.traditioninaction.org/religious/d014rp30Gregorian_Somerville.html
describing the gregorian mass to save souls from purgatory.
http://www.sspx.org/mass_stipends.htm
the cost of 800 dollars for 30day gregorian mass.
I have many more examples found easily using google.
whos lieing now?
The websites you site are not truly Catholic.
Unless Google directs you to either www.vatican.va or USCCB.org you are wasting your time and ours.
Peace be with you
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