Posted on 10/22/2011 1:21:35 PM PDT by NYer
Catholics get a bad rap for thinking we somehow “merit” or “earn” our own sanctification (and salvation) through “works” that we do. But that’s a misunderstanding of what the Catholic Church actually teaches. Our sanctification (our being made holy) happens only by the Grace of God. But it does require a response on our part. We must cooperate with it. This submission to and cooperation with God’s Grace, Catholics call a “work” and it takes various forms.
Some identify this response to God’s grace as a kind of “saving” or “justifying” faith (a faith that produces or is accompanied by works of conversion, hope and charity) as opposed to a “work” – something we do. Such a position is reconcilable with Catholic teaching once we understand each side’s terminology. On the other hand, I think it’s confusing to refer to this cooperation with and submission to God’s Grace as simply “faith alone” – which is one reason Catholics don’t refer to it that way (and probably one reason the Bible says we are “not” saved by “faith alone” – James 2:24).
Anyway, here Fr. Barron speaks a little bit about some of these sanctifying practices of the Church and what we mean by “Purgatory” (an extension of that sanctification) in the super-natural sense.
What the Church means by purgatory? - Watch You Tube Video
This exclusive preview clip was from CATHOLICISM, Episode X: WORLD WITHOUT END: THE LAST THINGS.
Explore the Churchs conviction that life here and now is preparation for an extraordinary world that is yet to come a supernatural destiny. Father Barron presents the Catholic vision of death, judgment, heaven, hell and purgatory as he journeys to Florence, Ireland and Rome.
The vision of the Church sees beyond this world and invites us to consider a world without end. Father Barron shows how this vision is supported by the mystery and truth of the Resurrection of Jesus.
View exclusive preview clips from all episodes of the CATHOLICISM series coming out in Fall 2011.
'authorized by WHOM'?
..."you know, the infallible decree that these men are infallible..they're the authorized authority..of..infallible..authority..."
We have the Apostolic interpretation handed down by Jesus Christ and it's called the scriptures...You may have heard of it...
I am SO greatful to God that He led me to the Catholic Church. I cannot imagine attending a so-called Bible church that cannot discern the meaning of “Depart from me I never knew you,” because those lost souls did not feed the hungry, clothe the naked visit the sick and imprisoned, simply because they totally misunderstand Christ’s words. It almost seems to me like a deliberate misunderstanding, however, I cannot think anyone is that ignorant.
Maybe if you all sat and read the passage aloud to yousrselves.
Thomas A found that??? Any one who read the scripture before Thomas A knew that...Logic is no proof, or truth...If you have truth, you have no need for logic...
When one traces Scripture backward toward its ultimate source they will find the Episcopacy of the Catholic Church as one of the fundamental contingencies in the chain.
Got a few hundred million bible believers who have traced the scriptures to their ultimate source and didn't see your Catholic religion anywhere...In fact, it was so NOT found, that a Reformation was the result of it...
The irony is that to be a Protestant one must simultaneously both accept AND reject the authority of the Catholic Episcopacy that compiled the Canon of the Scripture.
The scripture compiled the Catholic religion and the Catholic religion compiled the scripture...Yup, uh huh...Keep 'em comin'...They're gettin' funnier by the minute...
Isn't the Catholic religion the one that believes in Limited Atonement, or No Atonement At All???
It seems one has to become a Protestant to forget much of the ancient wisdom. All of these theological concepts are predicated upon a comprehension of the Latin and the Mediterranean cultures they were constructed upon.
"Purgatory" quite simple means a place where "purgation" or purification takes place. Both have their roots in the simple language of common people.
Theological purging is a common theme in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Roman and Mediterranean culture purgation, or a purification, was a very common practice in food preparation (snails, titmice, etc.) in which the contents of the digestive tract was cleansed prior to cooking and eating for obvious reasons. Similarly, purgation was a common treatment for many illnesses. Anyone who has had a child with their stomach pumped knows it is still a valid medical practice. Purgation was a long held practice for funerary purgation throughout the ancient world and even today modern embalming uses similar practices. The purgation of criminals was even commonly attempted with sulfur and onions. So, to a Catholic, like first or second century Christian, the concept of purgatory is not alien or foreign and is actually well grounded and understood.
Well I can believe that...It was the Apostle Paul who was wrong...
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9
It is what you understanding of what faith is that causes dependence on works. Even Devils and Demons have faith that God exists. They also encourage people to do good works to deceive those who fall for it to think its they (the people who are doing the good works) who are good. An example of what the faith that saves means one could compare faith in the dollar. If you truly have faith in the dollar you will hold on to that dollar with faith that it will buy the things you want. If you do not have faith in the dollar you will exchange that dollar for something you think will retain value to purchase things you want or need such as gold for instance.
Faith that saves is consistent, ongoing reliance on Jesus as our salvation. What that faith produces are actions that stem from a changed heart. Those actions are proof or evidence that our faith is real. Dependence on works for salvation proves that we did not have faith that the sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient for our salvation. On the other hand, if we dont have the actions described, it proves that what faith we had wasnt real.
Why did you leave out the key to the verse...MY BROTHERS...And you claim you know what the verses mean??? Who you trying to kid, yourself??? There wasn't a Christian in the bunch...
One can't understand what Jesus is talking about if one leaves out half of what he said..
Do you realize how insulting the term "RC" is to a Catholic?
The term came into common use in the subjugation of English, Scottish, and Irish Catholics precisely because it was homophone of "arse". That continues to be the reason it is still used by many anti-Catholic Freepers, but I ask you not to use it because I really believe you are better than that.
I agree completely.
Dependence on works for salvation proves that we did not have faith that the sacrifice of Jesus was sufficient for our salvation. On the other hand, if we dont have the actions described, it proves that what faith we had wasnt real.
Again, I agree. Where I hae a problem with your post is that Devils and Demons encourage people to do good works. As Christ said, "A house divided against itself cannot stand" Matthew 12:25 when He Himself was accused of doing a good work (casting out demons) by the power of the devil. It can't happen that good works come from devils and demons. At the root of every good work is faith in Christ, trust in God, and desire to please Him.
So you would say then that Obamas wanting to feed the poor comes from his true and abiding faith in Jesus?
God made is simple on purpose......
1 Corinthians 1 18For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
Do YOU think Obama wants to feed the poor? I think he wants to feed the poor the same way that Hitler wanted to make sure every Jew had a job (in the labor camps) and a place to sleep (In the camp barracks). Where Obama’s impulses come from is not mine to say, although I despise him. God will judge Obama, don’t you think? I will leave it to Him.
These people as you stated were purging the flesh...They purged to get the rot of disease off their bodies...And you equate their plight to the plight of modern day Catholics...
There is no way to purge our bodies of sin until Jesus does it in the resurrection...
We Christians are separated from our bodies...There is absolutely no reason to purge our fleshy bodies after we die...
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Our soul does not need purging...We are separated (from our flesh) onto Jesus Christ...
This seems to sum up your entire understanding of the issue...Mediterranean purging practices...God doesn't care about your purging practices...No matter how much you purge in Italy, Turkey or your supposed purgatory, your corrupted body is still going into the ground...
Your intellectual knowledge of historical hygiene in the Middle east has nothing to do with God, Salvation or eternity...
You would do well to dwell on Romans 8:9 and figure out what to do with it...
Hello, you apparently missed the first six words of NL’s post: “Theological purging is a common theme.”
It doesn't at all hurt my cause and makes my job a lot easier...LOL...
My contention, and scripture says, that not all good works are the result of true salvidic faith in Jesus. Your contention seems to be and the RCC teaching is that works are needed for salvation. Jesus was saying to the goats that works had nothing to do with salvation because even though they did good works it wasnt because they had faith in Him. He after all, He said I never knew you. So the good works they did hadnt come from a faith in Him.
Nope...Didn't miss a thing... Of course the bible talks about the purging of the flesh, but for what purpose???
We as Christians are not in the flesh...
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