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Muslims are Converting to Christianity in Record Numbers
National Catholic Register ^ | Patti Armstrong

Posted on 01/26/2018 1:04:07 PM PST by GoldenState_Rose

We are in a time of the first ever mass conversions of Muslims,” Father Mitch Pacwa SJ told me in a phone interview. “God is doing a mighty work among them.”

Pacwa said that mass conversions are happening even in very fundamentalist countries. There is rapidly growing number of conversions especially on the edges of the Muslim world in the western and southern parts of Africa, he said. “Africa is now growing predominantly Christian despite crackdowns,” Pacwa said.

Some of the noteworthy countries he mentioned include Iran, reported to have 3 million Christians, and Indonesia with reports of 2 million a year converting.

“In Mongolia, the president opened the country to Christians and there’s even an archbishop,” Pacwa said. “They built a Catholic school there too. If I was younger, I would have gone.” He said that the desire for a Western education was the impetus to open up the country to the Catholic Church.

There are even conversions happening in many strict Muslim countries, according to Pacwa. He did not want to go on record with particulars for fear of increased retribution. Mass conversions are also being reported among refugees that are filling up the Christian churches left empty by Europeans. Many wonder if those are authentic conversions or just a response to improving their chances for amnesty, but time will tell.

Signs of this conversion are showing up in the U.S. too, Pacwa said. “I was about to celebrate Mass at a Maronite church in San Diego and I said hi to a man who introduced himself as Achmad. I asked if he was a Christian. He said: ‘Yes, I was recently baptized.’ He said he from Morocco. Christians do not have the name Ahmad—that’s a form of Mohammad.”

(Excerpt) Read more at ncregister.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bornagain; catholicism; christ; christianity; conversions; convert; evangelism; god; holyspirit; islam; jesus; love; ministry; muslims; muslimsconverting; refugees; trinity
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To: bboop

We’re commanded to exercise discernment and beware of false teaching.

The ONLY way to evaluate it is to compare it to God’s word and then determine if it lines up.

That is judging something as to true or false.


401 posted on 01/29/2018 3:44:44 AM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: af_vet_1981
It is often a good idea to try to understand scripture from other scripture, when available.

Very surprising to hear a Roman Catholic make this statement.

402 posted on 01/29/2018 3:52:49 AM PST by ealgeone
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To: papertyger; Elsie

In the command to call no man father, Jesus was talking to the disciples about the religious leaders. That is the context.

The verses right before and right after His comment about about titles given to religious leaders, directed at those who were going to become religious leaders themselves. No way He suddenly switched gears and meant children with a parent without telling anyone and then switched back to the topic of religious leaders.

He was not talking about children and families and people calling their male parental unit *father*.

When you understand the context, you understand what Jesus meant and that the Catholic church has been demanding that its adherents disobey Him by calling their priests *Father*.

Catholics can make excuses and rationalize all day long, and it doesn’t change the fact that the church is wrong for giving that title to its priests.


403 posted on 01/29/2018 3:52:56 AM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: papertyger
John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
404 posted on 01/29/2018 3:53:54 AM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: x_plus_one; aMorePerfectUnion
Presentation of Blog posts suggesting same is disingenuous and needlessly argumentative.

And so you go to the Catholic's favorite authoritative source...... Wikipedia......

How hysterical......

405 posted on 01/29/2018 3:55:50 AM PST by metmom ( ...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith..)
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To: narses
The bigotry of the extreme proddies is just that, bigotry.

The overwhelming logic of your arguments surely will silence them here on FR!

--Catholic_Wannabe_Dude(Hail Mary)

406 posted on 01/29/2018 4:22:08 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Mark17
Where is that picture of the feet when you need it?



407 posted on 01/29/2018 4:24:19 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Mark17
To me, there is no thought or doctrine less important than that.

Maybe not doctrine; per se; but the sheer ARROGANCE of claiming to 'obey' GOD, and then absolutely REFUSING to do what their very own Book says!


Call no man father has the flip side of inserting Mother of GOD into their conversations as though it IS in the Bible!!

408 posted on 01/29/2018 4:28:12 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: af_vet_1981
Wonderful lists!

10 in one and 6 in another!

The Messiah was known to use hyperbole.

This is my body.

Seems like He used other literary devices a s well.

Too bad Rome get to do the choosing in 'interpreting' which ones are which.

409 posted on 01/29/2018 4:33:50 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Freee-dame
I have never even heard of it before now.

How can you have MISSED the many times that Catholic TEACHING on this subject has been posted on FR?

How could you NOT have 'seen' the various FR Catholic replies that have thoroughly debunked the various writings and quotes from so many Catholic authorities and even the 'blessed lady' herself?

410 posted on 01/29/2018 4:39:13 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: Freee-dame
I have never even heard of it before now.

There's been a LOT of replies in this thread between #36 and #379.

Surely you haven't SKIPPED over reading those; right?


 

Ambrose: …constantly pray ‘Open to us, O Mary, the gates of paradise, since thou hast its KEYS.

Anselm: It suffices, O Lady, that thou willest it, and our SALVATION is certain.

Antoninus: …souls protected by Mary, and on which she casts her eyes, are NECESSARILY JUSTIFIED AND SAVED. 

Athanasius: …And, thou, O Lady, wast filled with grace, that thou mightiest be the way of our SALVATION and the means of ascent to the heavenly Kingdom.

Bernadine: …all gifts, all virtues, and all graces are dispensed by the hands of Mary to whomsoever, when, and as she pleases. O Lady, since thou art the dispenser of all graces, and since the grace of salvation can ONLY come through thy hands, OUR SALVATION DEPENDS ON THEE.
(Leo XIII: Adiutricem populi, September 5, 1895) — [p. 19, no. 44]

Blosius: To the, O Lady, are committed the KEYS and the treasures of the kingdom of Heaven.

Bonaventure: …the gates of heaven will open to all who confide in the protection of Mary. Blessed are they who know thee, O Mother of God, for the knowledge of THEE is the high road to everlasting life, and the publication of thy virtues is the way of ETERNAL SALVATION . Give ear, O ye nations; and all you who desire heaven , serve, honor Mary, and certainly you will find ETERNAL LIFE.

She says, "He that shall find Me shall find life, and shall have salvation from the Lord.   "Qui me invenerit, inveniet vitam, et hauriet salutem a Domino."

Listen," exclaims St. Bonaventure on these words, "listen, all you who desire the kingdom of God: honor the most Blessed Virgin Mary, and you will find life and eternal salvation."  "Audite qui ingredi cupitis regnum Dei: Virginem Mariam honorate, et invenietis vitam et salutem perpetuam."-psalt. B.V.ps.48.

 

Ephem: …devotion to the divine Mother…is the unlocking of the heavenly Jerusalem.

Fulgetius: …by Mary God descended from Heaven into the world, that by HER man might ascend from earth to Heaven.

Guerric: …he who serves Mary and for whom she intercedes, is as CERTAIN of heaven as if he were already there…and those who DO NOT serve Mary will NOT BE SAVED.

Richard of Laurence: Mary, in fine, is the mistress of heaven; for there she commands as she wills, and ADMITS whom she wills.

 

“The Catholic Church has always and with justice put all her hope and trust in the Mother of God.”

(Leo XIII: Encyclical, Supreme Apostolatus, September 1, 1883.) — [p. 32, no. 104]



“... Yet our manner of praying to the Blessed Virgin has something in common with our worship of God so that the Church even addressed to her the words with which we pray to God: ‘Have mercy on sinners.’”

(Leo XIII: Encyclical, Augustissimae, September 12, 1897.) [p. 68; no. 302]

"Only She Can Help You"
by Father Nicholas Gruner, S.T.L., S.T.D. (Cand.)
In this letter introducing The Fatima Crusader Issue 38, Father Gruner discusses the growing lies and deception about Russia's errors and the consecration of that nation. He also reminds us that, while it is urgent that we be informed about and fight for Our Lady's cause, we must ask for Her help and intercession.

In the Fatima sanctuary, at the exact spot where Our Lady appeared, Father Gruner pays homage to Her while touching the original statue of Fatima. Father Gruner was recently graced with this rare opportunity since normally this sacred image is always protected by a glass covering which completely surrounds it all day long.

Mary Leads Her Servants to Heaven
by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
In this article taken from The Glories of Mary, Saint Alphonsus explains that there are countless souls in Heaven who are there now only because Mary, by Her powerful intercession, led them there. If a soul persists in true devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, She will certainly lead that soul to Heaven.

 



The Rosary
by Father Stefano Manelli, S.T.D.
It is greatly important that Our Lady insisted on the Rosary. When at Fatima She spoke of the salvation of sinners, of the ruin of souls in hell, of wars and peace, and of the future of our age. Our Lady indicated and recommended the Rosary as the prayer that saves, that brings peace, that preserves the faith.

Hail Mary, Full of Grace
by Father Stefano Manelli, S.T.D.
It is truly a treasure to have a strong devotion to Our Lady, for it is She who unites us to Jesus and brings us to Heaven, as this article explains.

Mary, Our Life, Our Sweetness, Our Hope
by St. Alphonsus de Liguori
St. Alphonsus de Liguori explains how Mary is our life, how She is our sweetness, and how She is our hope.

The historical record of the worship of Mary accumulated by St. Alphonsus de Liguori who wrote “The Glories of Mary” in the year 1745, which has been since translated into English and printed again and again and again with the full affirmation and imprimatur of the official Roman Catholic Church.  In this book there is the sum of all the glories of Mary which has been vouchsafe to the Roman Catholic Church and the Church itself calls upon all its constituents to give Mary that honor she is due.  She is identified as Mary, our Queen; Mary, our mother; Mary, our life; Mary, our sweetness; Mary, our hope; Mary, our help; Mary, our Mediatress; Mary, our advocate; Mary, our guardian; and Mary, our salvation.  It is said that Mary delivers us from hell, Mary delivers us from purgatory, and Mary leads us to heaven.  And it should be said that de Liguori, who collected all the Marion dogma and devotion, was himself one of the most celebrated and revered authorities in the Roman Catholic Church.  De Liguori was himself a cardinal in life, and a saint in death.

 

Jesus said "Without Me you can do nothing". In this crisis which looms ahead of us, Our Lady has told us that we need Her help, Her intercession. We must ask for Her help with the Rosary and the Scapular.

At Fatima, Our Lady told us very plainly that "Only I can help you". Today more than ever is this so true.

Pray the Rosary and sacrifice yourself for Our Lady.

I urge you to also make some sacrifices as Our Lady of Fatima asked us. For those who are able, do some fasting. If you can, abstain from meat by eating meat only during one meal a day. Try to do this for two days, even ten days or 30 days. Of course we should abstain totally from meat every Friday.

 

 Jesus and Mary — Our Hope

It is so urgent that we reach as many souls as possible before it is too late. Let us be of good cheer and remember the words of Jesus to each of us, "It's never too late to have recourse to Jesus and Mary." That is why it is so important to reach the many millions of souls who do not know this, and who do not know the grave dangers lying in wait for their souls.

No, we must never lose hope. Mary is our hope. She can obtain for us what we cannot by ourselves. Read what St. Alphonsus has to say regarding confidence in Our Lady's intercession in "Mary Leads Her Servants to Heaven". Father Manelli also reminds us of the importance of devotion to Our Lady. (See "Hail Mary, Full of Grace"). Our Blessed Mother tells us to turn to Her in confidence. She tells us repeatedly to ask Her intercession through the frequent fervent praying of the Rosary. (See "The Rosary"). She tells us we must pray the Rosary every day. She wants us to pray it many times a day.

 

http://fatima.org/crusader/cr38/cr38pg2.asp



"Blessed is he whose interior offers the Blessed Virgin Mary a place of repose." Devotion towards the Blessed Virgin remains in all who are the inheritance of Our Lord; that is to say, in all who will praise Him eternally in Heaven.

O, how many blessed souls are now in Heaven who would never have been there had not Mary, by Her powerful intercession, led them thither. I made that in the heavens there should rise light that never faileth. Cardinal Hugo, in his commentary on the above text of Ecclesiasticus, says in the name of Mary, "I have caused as many saints in Heaven through Her intercession, who would never have been there but through Her ."

...in the words of St. Ambrose, "Open to us, O Mary, the gates of paradise, since Thou hast its keys." "Aperi nobis, O Virgo coelum, cujus claves habes." Nay more, the Church says, that "Thou art its gate." 

 


 

St. Antoninus tells us "that this divine Mother has already, by Her assistance and prayers, obtained Heaven for us, provided we put no obstacle in the way."23

Hence, says Abbot Guerric, "he who serves Mary, and for whom She intercedes, is as certain of Heaven as if he was already there."24

St. John Damascene also says, "that to serve Mary and be Her courtier is the greatest honor we can possibly possess; for to serve the Queen of Heaven is already to reign there, and live under Her commands is more than to govern."25

On the other hand, he adds, "that those who do not serve Mary will not be saved; for those who are deprived of the help of this great Mother are also deprived of that of Her Son and of the whole court of heaven."26

 23.  "Coeleste nobis regnum, suo interventu auxiliis, et precibus, impetravit."—Paciucch. Sup. Salve Reg. exc. I.
 24. "Qui Virgini famulatur, ita securus est de paradiso, ac si esset in paradiso."
 25. "Summus honor, servire Mariæ, et de ejus esse familia; etenim ei servire, regnare est; et ejus agi frænis, summa libertas."
 26. "Gens quæ non servierit illi, peribit; gentes destitutæ tantæ Matris auxilio, destituuntur auxilio Filii et totius curi’‘ coelestis."— De Laud. B. M. I. 4.

Cardinal Hugo http://fatima.org/crusader/cr38/cr38pg3.asp 

 

 
 

411 posted on 01/29/2018 4:43:12 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: papertyger
...the complete failure of “Biblical” promises as you understand,...

Oh; all right then...


I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:13

412 posted on 01/29/2018 4:45:20 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: papertyger
Until then, it’s just another exemplar of the Revisionist’s mindless obsession with the completely illogical conclusion that they can prove their own validity by playing the part of the accuser.

Francis; just ignore what has been written here about you by 'faithful' Catholics.

They seem to be 'interpreting' your words in a way that you did not intend them to be.

413 posted on 01/29/2018 4:49:04 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: papertyger
I don’t know why Biblicists prefer leaning on “the letter,” rather than “the lesson,” but that will all be settled in due course.

I see your point: This is my body...

414 posted on 01/29/2018 4:50:23 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: papertyger
But far be it from me to argue with The Lord Jesus’ administrivia.

HMMMmmm...

415 posted on 01/29/2018 4:51:28 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: papertyger
What DID He say about it?

Don't let it go to waste!

Lick your finger!!



416 posted on 01/29/2018 4:53:52 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: x_plus_one
Official catholic dogmas does not recognize mary as coredemptrix.

Who ya gonna believe?

Some old 'official' somewhere or a genuwine apparition!?!?


 

“The Catholic Church has always and with justice put all her hope and trust in the Mother of God.”

(Leo XIII: Encyclical, Supreme Apostolatus, September 1, 1883.) — [p. 32, no. 104]



“... Yet our manner of praying to the Blessed Virgin has something in common with our worship of God so that the Church even addressed to her the words with which we pray to God: ‘Have mercy on sinners.’”

(Leo XIII: Encyclical, Augustissimae, September 12, 1897.) [p. 68; no. 302]

417 posted on 01/29/2018 4:58:00 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: x_plus_one
Official catholic dogmas does not recognize mary as coredemptrix.

Oh...
Wait...

You typed COredemptrix.


Just firget what I posted above.

418 posted on 01/29/2018 4:59:11 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: x_plus_one
Mary herself needed redemption and was redeemed by Jesus Christ.

Oh?

And just WHAT was she 'redeemed' from?

Surely not SIN!!!!

419 posted on 01/29/2018 5:00:29 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: ealgeone
Very surprising to hear a Roman Catholic make this statement.

What should one expect when so many of our GOODLY "taught the Catechism" folks make the claim that so MANY of Rome's members are so POORLY Catechized?

420 posted on 01/29/2018 5:02:40 AM PST by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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