Of course, to label the Catholic Church as a “cult,” one must simply ignore the lives of the saints—people who have exhibited heroic virtue—often to a degree that is in itself manifestly miraculous. Singing hymns while being roasted alive—stuff like that. Then there are the prodigious works of charity in the lives of the saints—the invention of the hospital by Catholics, and the foundation of tens of thousands of hospitals and the self-giving of millions of lives (mostly women religious in service to the sick and the poor). And the out-and-out miracles—prodigious healings of illness, lost limbs, lost eyes, etc.
Cf. the life Saint Pius—Padre Pio.
Of course, to label the Catholic Church as a “cult,” one must simply ignore the lives of the saintsOf course, NOT to label the Catholic Church as a “cult,” one must simply ignore the Scriptures! Satan can perform miracles. Satan can certainly deceive! We see it in the massive display of wealth in Rome, where those riches are taken as a sign of Godliness or Holiness. They will burn and those that follow in those footsteps must answer to Him!
You can pray to dead people, but, like Joshua, "...as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." You can pray to Mary until the sun goes down, but" she's dead, Jim!: and so are they!!!
Joshua 24: Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”
19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”
Of course, to label the Catholic Church as a “cult,” one must simply ignore the lives of the saints—people who have exhibited heroic virtue—often to a degree that is in itself manifestly miraculous. Singing hymns while being roasted alive—stuff like that... And the out-and-out miracles—prodigious healings of illness, lost limbs, lost eyes, etc.
True!
I keep a picture of St. Dymphna [Patron of Victims of Nervous Disorders] at my computer so when the nuttiness online (or in the news in general) gets to be too much, I can call upon her name.
An excerpt: It was not long, however, until an unexpected cloud overshadowed the happy childhood of the beautiful girl. She lost her good mother by death. Many were the secret tears she shed over this bereavement, but at the same time she found great comfort in the Divine Faith which, though she was still of a tender age, already had taken deep root.
Dymphna's father, too, greatly mourned his deceased wife and for a long time continued prostrate with grief. At length he was persuaded by his counselors to seek solace in a second marriage. So he commissioned certain ones of his court to seek out for him a lady who would be like his first spouse in beauty and character. After visiting many countries in vain, the messengers returned saying that they could find none so charming and amiable as his own lovely daughter, Dymphna. Giving ear to their base suggestion, the king conceived the evil design of marrying Dymphna. With persuasive and flattering words he manifested his purpose to her. Dymphna, as may be expected, was greatly horrified at the suggestion, and asked for a period of forty days to consider the proposal. She immediately betook herself to Father Gerebran, who advised her to flee from her native country, and since the danger was imminent, he urged her to make no delay.
With all speed, therefore, she set out for the continent, accompanied by Father Gerebran, the court jester and his wife. After a favorable passage, they arrived on the coast near the present city of Antwerp. Having stopped for a short rest, they resumed their journey and came to a little village named Gheel. Here they were hospitably received and began to make plans for establishing their future abode at this place.
The king, in the meantime, having discovered Dymphna's flight, was fearfully angry, and immediately set out with his followers in search of the fugitives. After some time, they were traced to Belgium and their place of refuge was located. At first, Dymphna's father tried to persuade her to return with him, but Father Gerebran sternly rebuked him for his wicked intentions, whereupon he gave orders that Father Gerebran should be put to death. Without delay, his wicked retainers laid violent hands upon the priest and struck him on the neck with a sword. With one blow of the steel, the head was severed from the shoulders and another glorious martyr went to join the illustrious heroes of Christ's kingdom.
Further attempts on the part of Dymphna's father to induce her to return with him proved fruitless. With undaunted courage she spurned his enticing promises and scorned his cruel threats. Infuriated by her resistance, the father drew a dagger from his belt and he himself struck off the head of his child. Recommending her soul to the mercy of God, the holy virgin fell prostrate at the feet of her insanely raving father. Thus the glorious crown of martyrdom was accorded to St. Dymphna in the fifteenth year of her age, on the fifteenth day of May, between 620 and 640. The day of her death has been assigned as her feastday.
The records of Dymphna's life and death say that the bodies of the two martyred saints lay on the ground for quite some time after their death, until the inhabitants of Gheel removed them to a cave, which was the customary manner of interment in that part of the world at the time of the martyrdoms. But after several years had elapsed, the villagers, recalling their holy deaths, decided to give the bodies a more suitable burial. When the workmen removed the heap of black earth at the cave's entrance, great was their astonishment to find two most beautiful tombs, whiter than snow, which were carved from stone, as if by angel hands. When the coffin of St. Dymphna was opened there was found lying on her breast a red tile bearing the inscription:
"Here lies the holy virgin and martyr, Dymphna."
Dear sweet Dymphna, pray for us!
>>Of course, to label the Catholic Church as a “cult,” one must simply ignore the lives of the saints—people who have exhibited heroic virtue—often to a degree that is in itself manifestly miraculous.<<
Oh please. Muslims strap on bombs and yell alahu akbar in their “heroic virtue”. People have willingly given their lives for many cults throughout the ages.