Following The Truth: Ten Facts Most Catholics Don’t Know (But Should!) (Catholic or Open)

CE.cpm ^ | July 9th, 2010 | Gary Zimak

[Salvation]

Ten Facts Most Catholics Don’t Know (But Should!)

July 9th, 2010 by Gary Zimak

Every time I hear someone claim to be an “ex-Catholic”, a sense of sadness comes over me.  In just about every case, people leave the Catholic Faith due to a lack of understanding.  After all, if Catholics truly believed that they were members of the one, true Church founded by Christ (and necessary for their salvation), nobody would ever leave!  In an effort to help clarify what the Catholic Church teaches, I have compiled a list of 10 important facts that every Catholic should know.  More than simply Catholic trivia, these are important concepts that can help us to better understand and defend our beliefs.  In no particular order, these items have been compiled based upon my work at Following The Truth and my own study of the Catholic Faith.

1. Women Will Never Be Priests – Often incorrectly lumped in with the subject of married priests, this is a doctrine that has been infallibly decided and will not change.  In 1994, Pope John Paul II issued an Apostolic Letter, Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, in which he declared once and for all that “the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.”  Unlike the issue of married priests (which could possibly change), women’s ordination is an impossibility that will not happen.  It is not a “glass ceiling” or the Church’s attempt to hold back women.  Instead, it is an infallible recognition that men and women have different roles and that Christ instituted a male priesthood.

2. Fridays Are Still Days Of Penance – Ask almost anyone and they will tell you that Catholics are no longer required to abstain from meat on Fridays throughout the year.  However, the current Code of Canon Law (CIC) states that, with the exception of solemnities, “All Fridays through the year and the time of Lent are penitential days and times throughout the entire Church.” (CIC 1250)  Furthermore, “Abstinence from eating meat or another food according to the prescriptions of the conference of bishops is to be observed on Fridays throughout the year unless they are solemnities.” (CIC 1251)  In the United States, the bishops have declared that it is permissible to substitute some other form of penance, but we are still urged to fast from “something” in remembrance of the Lord’s death on the cross.

3. The Bible Is A Catholic Book – Did you ever wonder how the Bible came into being?  A little known, but easily documented fact is that the books of the Bible were compiled by the Catholic Church.  For many years after Christ ascended into Heaven, there was debate about which scriptural writings were inspired by God.  The canon of Scripture (the books of the Bible) was first formally decided at the Synod of Rome in 382.  This decision was upheld at the Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397).  At these Catholic Church councils, the same 46 Old Testament and 27 New Testament books that appear in today’s Catholic Bibles were declared to be inspired by God.  As a side note, approximately 1200 years after this decision was made, Martin Luther and the Protestant reformers removed 7 books from the Old Testament.  As a result, most Protestant Bibles are still missing these 7 books.

4. The Mass Is The Same Sacrifice As Calvary – The biggest mistake that many Catholics make is treating the Holy Mass as “just another church service”, similar to those held by other religions.  In the Mass, Christ’s Sacrifice on the Cross is made present, its memory is celebrated and its saving power is applied.  The Council of Trent teaches that Christ left a visible sacrifice to His Church “in which that bloody sacrifice which was once offered on the Cross should be made present, its memory preserved to the end of the world, and its salvation-bringing power applied to the forgiveness of the sins which are daily committed by us.”  When we attend Mass, we are mystically transported to Calvary, where we can unite ourselves with the Lord’s Sacrifice to the Father!

5. Annulments Are Not Catholic Divorces – Unlike the legal process known as “divorce” (in which a marriage is terminated), a declaration of nullity (annulment) states that a valid marriage never existed.  This decision is based upon the finding that on the day that marriage vows were exchanged, some essential elements were lacking.  This process is completely in conformity with the Catholic teaching regarding the indissolubility of marriage.  Incidentally, the granting of an annulment does not render children illegitimate.

6. In Vitro Fertilization Is Morally Unacceptable – Many Catholics suffering from infertility utilize this process in the hopes of conceiving children, while remaining unaware that the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) declares it “morally unacceptable”(CCC 2377).  In the Vatican Instruction, Donum Vitae, the Church states “…in conformity with the traditional doctrine relating to the goods of marriage and the dignity of the person, the Church remains opposed from the moral point of view to homologous ‘in vitro’ fertilization. Such fertilization is in itself illicit and in opposition to the dignity of procreation and of the conjugal union, even when everything is done to avoid the death of the human embryo.”

7. There Is No Salvation Outside Of The Catholic Church – Originally stated by St. Cyprian, the Latin axiom “Extra Ecclesiam nulla salus” reminds us that there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church.  This dogma was declared at the Fourth Lateran Council and is a source of confusion for Catholics and non-Catholics alike.  According to the Catechism, all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is His Body.  It does not mean that non-Catholics cannot achieve salvation.  Individuals who are unaware that the Catholic Church is the one, true Church may still achieve salvation through the merits of the Church, despite their lack of knowledge.

8. In An Emergency, Anyone Can Baptize – Although the ordinary ministers of Baptism are bishops, priests and deacons, anyone can baptize in an emergency, even a non-baptized person.  This extraordinary decision can be attributed to the necessity of Baptism for salvation and the Church’s desire to make it readily available to all.

9. Hell And Purgatory Still Exist –  Contrary to the belief of many Catholics, the Church still teaches that “the souls of those who die in a state of mortal sin, descend into hell, where they suffer the punishments of hell, eternal fire” (CCC 1035)  Furthermore, “all who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation, but after death they undergo purification, so to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” (CCC 1030)  This purification process, formally declared by the Church at the Councils of Florence and Trent, is known as Purgatory.

10. Catholics Don’t Worship Mary And The Saints – Many Catholics are confused about the role of the Blessed Mother and the Saints.  Should we pray to Mary and the Saints or should we go “right to the top” and pray to God?  In a nutshell, the Catholic Faith teaches that we must worship God alone.  Mary and the Saints are to be honored, not worshipped.  However, their intercession can be extremely powerful and emulating their virtues can put us on the road to Heaven.

While the above list only scratches the surface of the robust Catholic Faith, it provides a glimpse into the depth of Catholic teaching.  Further explanation on these and other topics can be found by examining the Code of Canon Law and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, both of which can be found online at the Vatican website (www.vatican.va).  Not only will studying the teachings of the Catholic Church enable us to better defend her when challenged, it will help us to become closer to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who founded our Church 2,000 years ago.

[Not gonna take it anymore]

Oooh, colored fonts, we are so blessed. I see that as usual the posting of color, and bold print, ad nauseum, is still the only way that some can make it seem as if their arguments have merit.

[johngrace]

It is from new software. Just single a word then look up by google. I am posting because some of our well intended Indy brethren go to a "william webster' website.

This guy is either dumb or purposely taken the early Church fathers out of context. What ever the intention of this man, he is almost always takes everything out of context from a early church father. I had a book that showed this too. I would read in amazing wonder when this site was shown. Then go back to my early church fathers books.

[cothrige]

If Mary or the Saints can "interceed" for us, then Christ's Work on the Cross was obviously left undone, eh?

So you don't pray for others? You don't pray for sick people, or family members, or fellow believers? If you did that would be interceding on their behalf and would meant that Christ's work is then left undone. Is this really what you believe?

[Hegewisch Dupa]

Nicely said! Now if Mary and other Saints HAD to intercede for us, there would be a problem. The fact that souls in Heaven CAN do so really shouldn’t be such a shock, at least not to good God-fearing peoples...With Christmas coming you gave the gift of wisdom; bless ya for it and let’s hope it’s not taken back....

[surroundedbyblue]

Woo Hooo!!!!!!!!!

I love this. A very blessed Advent to you!

[Hoosier Catholic Momma]

If anything, the font size, color and repetition just make me speed up and skip to the next post.

Now if they threw in some sparkles and dancing angels, maybe I would be convinced and run from the evils of the Catholic faith after 39 years. </s>

[Heart-Rest]

Any who deny Christ in any way are of the Enemy. Asking anyone but Christ to be your "intercessor" before God the Father is to explicitly deny the Truth of Jesus Christ.

Question for you - when Mary made intercession to Jesus for the young couple at the wedding feast at Cana (John 2:1-11), did Jesus know they were out of wine before Mary interceded and told him about it? (The answer, I believe you will agree, is "yes".) However, did that stop Him at that time from allowing Mary's intercession, or make him not act on her request?

If Mary or the Saints can "interceed" for us, then Christ's Work on the Cross was obviously left undone, eh?

Remembering that you weren't even here yet, and hadn't started sinning yet (at the time Christ was crucified), was Christ's Crucifixion appllied to you and your sins yet? In your own system of beliefs, is your own belief/acceptance needed (i.e., your own self-intercession), or does God's work alone cover you in any case, and save you irregardless, without any self-intercession at all on your own part?

Knock it off. Christmas is coming.

Do you know why Christmas is celebrated when it is, and who picked that date? (Hint: "Christ's Mass".) (Have a Blessed Christmas, by the way.)

[Gargantua]

I pray to Jesus to intercede for them, as the Bible tells us to. No need to be obstinate and ridiculous. Or is there...?

[GOP Poet]

Excellent point and example. Thank you and God bless you.

[Gargantua]

LMFFACAO!!!!

[Quix]

I think I understand your perspective, Bro.

However, it doesn't wash, with me.

It's a chronic fall-back rationalization that many RC's use on FR on a long list of doctrinal/dogmatic/behavioral customs etc. within the Vatican system.

It's somewhat akin to the Teaparty saying to OThuga--THAT'S NOT IN THE CONSTITUTION!

What does OThuga care about the Constitution except when he wants to use it for some manipulative, denial ridden purpose.

The facts are that the Ferraro devotional was compiled from TONS of RC stalwarts, leaders, stars, etc. from many hundreds of years worth of increasingly blasphemous Marian idolatry.

That spirit, attitude, meme, mentality, construction on reality has been deeply rooted and growing in the Vatican system for a very long time.

White-washing it; molly-coddling it; excusing it; rationalizing it away just doesn't cut it. It's dishonest.

I don't doubt that many RC's don't think things through far enough to realize that it's dishonest. That doesn't alter the dishonesty of it.

Neither does it wash to claim that's just flowery metaphorical language of no theological consequence beyond providing a warm fuzzy for those seeking to fantasize leaning on Mary's bosom in a great fit of comforting idolatry.

It just doesn't wash.

There's adoration, veneration, WORSHIP wayyyyy beyond anything God's priorities allow for ANYONE other than God the Father, Son and Spirit.

It promotes a list of hideous doctrines fabricated out of thin air from hell that seduce folks away from their proper exclusive focus on Christ in such matters of spiritual life.

I'd prefer to be more warmly mild and charitable toward you in response because I respect your Christianity and trust God with your priorities on such scores. However, the high priority of speaking the truth in Love requires candor on the above.

I wish you God's best this CHRISTmas, nevertheless. And, certainly I care for you deeply.

[Quix]

Nice dodge of the very incriminating

words

in the examples.

[Heart-Rest]

Christ was very explicit about how we should pray

Yes, Christ told us to pray the "Our Father". Do you ever say any other prayers than the words of the "Our Father" from the Bible? Or do you just stick to the words Christ explicitly taught others to say in the Bible?

You surely don't mean to question if Jesus died for all our sins, or to imply that He saved only those alive during His brief time on Earth walking as a man?

Of course Christ died for everyone's sins. But do you believe everyone will be saved (contrary to what Jesus said)? Does something else have to be done first on our human side before that salvation is effective for each individual?

You needn't try to question or corner me on this. If you have a sincere question, do what I do. Refer to Jesus' teaching as recorded in the Bible. If you have an insincere question, don't ask it. That vile act urinates on His will for us all.

(My questions are all very sincere. Did you get that last line you used there from the Bible?)

[cothrige]

I pray to Jesus to intercede for them, as the Bible tells us to. No need to be obstinate and ridiculous. Or is there...?

If a friend of yours is sick, you intercede by praying for them, and this is a virtue and even a Christian duty. Okay, so far so good. But, if the Blessed Virgin prays for that same person that you did, her act is not a virtue. It has now become blasphemy which denies the work of Christ. How do you manage that kind of tortuous reasoning? Do you believe that the saints graduate from virtue and charity?

[GOP Poet]

Nice dodge of the very incriminating words in the examples.

There were no incriminating words nor examples to dodge.

[FamiliarFace]

I’ve heard of LMAO, and even LMFAO, but I am wondering what your version LMFFACAO means.

[Quix]

There were no incriminating words nor examples to dodge.

p.32
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[Quixicated emphases below]
.
Mary is crowned Queen of heaven and earth, dispenser of all graces . . . .

p32
.
4 - She became Queen of Purgatory, where she exercises her power as mediatrix in behalf of these suffering souls. .

UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

She has NO power as any sort of special mediatrix. Any such construction on reality is fabricated out of thin air from seductive urgings from hell.

.
5 - She became Queen of us sinners, to assist us through the dangers of this life and to help us in difficulties. .

UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

She has NOT been assigned any such role. The assertion is UNBiblical and blasphemous. That is HOLY SPIRIT'S ROLE.

.
6 - She became the ruler of hell, that trembles at her slightest gaze and is defeated by her power. .
UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

Ascribing to her roles, abilities and powers of the God-head is BLASPHEMOUS. There is not a shred of Biblical evidence that she has been given any role over hell to the slightest degree whatsoever.

Having done her task 2033 odd years ago well, I'd think Christ would have insured she had nothing whatsoever to do to bother about hell in the least degree. Sheesh what an idiotic idea.

.
"Just as a rock extracted from earth will precipitate into the abyss, so will man, left without Mary's help, quickly slide toward hell." --Richard of St Victor .

p37
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Sacred Heart of Jesus, Thy kingdom come; Thy kingdom come through Mary! --Partial Indulgence .

UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

Mary has nothing whatsoever to do with the "Sacred Heart of Jesus."

She didn't create it. Christ was BEFORE MARY--HINT!

She is not the gatekeeper on Christ's heart!

She doesn't dispense portions of it for so many toe kisses, indulgences or rosary repetitions. It's not her turf.

p41
.
"Mary is the tree of life to those who grasp her, and he is happy who hold her fast." --Prov. 3:18 .

UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

May God have mercy on such OUTRAGEOUS BLASPHEMY!

First y'all want to pretend that Peter is the Rock though all of Scripture asserts otherwise.

Now y'all pretend that MARY is THE Tree of Life!?

What an outrageously blasphemous farce from the throne room of hell! Words are inadequate to protest sufficiently. Not her turf.

p43
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1 - "Hail Mary, beloved daughter of the Father, Mother of the Divine Son, Spouse of the Holy Spirit, complement of the most august Trinity!" .
AS THOUGH CREATED MAN COULD ADD ANYTHING TO THE TRINITY! What unmitigated Ashteroth-Mary-Goddess-Cult-Worship UNBiblical blasphemous lunacy!
.
UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

It's like each additional blasphemy is more OUTRAGEOUS than the one before!

Now y'all have Mary elbowing her way into The Trinity! The only proper response to that assertion in one's group would be sackcloth and ashes in REPENTANCE for daring to imagine or think such a thing! And instead of hiding in shame over such, y'all parade it and exalt over such hideousness.

And worse, y'all seem to think GOD APPROVES of such idolatrous blasphemy! It boggles my mind. What rubberized 'Bibles' and history texts has hell seduced y'all with? Sheesh!

p45
.
6 - To her was granted grace greater than that conferred upon all others, 'that she might vanquish sin in every respect.'
.
[Qx: I guess Christ's vanquishing sin was unnecessary--or ineffectual without Mary's assistance?] .

UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

May God have mercy on such OUTRAGEOUS BLASPHEMY!

Vanquishes sin in every respect? Take a hike, Christ. Domineering Mummy has taken over your post, position & exclusive role! All the suffering and bloodshed was for naught. All ya needed was Magnificent Magical Mummy to carry the ball and win the day! /sarc

Again, words are inadequate to protest with.

p46
.
7 - "Mary is the dawn of God because, just as the dawn marks the end of darkness and the beginning of day, so Mary indicates the end of vices and the beginning of virtue."
.
[Qx: I guess Christ's conquering on The Cross and HIS conquering trip to hell were unncessary? Perhaps Ashteroth-Mary could help Him get His money back on the ticket to hell. /sar] .

.
9 - God loved Mary so much that He gave her the keys to His heart. 'No one can go to God without Mary drawing him.'
.
.
[Qx: I guess Holy Spirit has been relegated to a 'Walter Mitty' role as spouse of Mary? That's SOME POWER to cancel & take over HOLY SPIRIT'S role to draw men to God!] .

UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

May God have mercy on such OUTRAGEOUS BLASPHEMY!

Again words are inadequate to even scream in protest.

HOLY SPIRIT'S EXCLUSIVE ROLE IS DRAWING INDIVIDUALS TO GOD.

God made abundantly clear that speaking against The Father or the Son could be forgiven but not speaking against Holy Spirit.

And the above is FAR FAR FAR WORSE than speaking against Holy Spirit--it is utterly displacing Him.

What abject horrific hideousness from hell.

p47
.
4 - "Mary, trusting in the word of the angel, destroyed the sin Eve committed by trusting in the serpent.'
.
[Qx: Evidently, she beat Christ to the job of vanquishing sin! Or maybe she ordered Him to retire early in the interest of her Ashteroth-Mary !CONTROL! compulsions? /sar] .

UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

May God have mercy on such OUTRAGEOUS BLASPHEMY!

Mary did not destroy a sub atomic particle's worth of sin. Not her turf. NO ONE ELBOWS CHRIST OUT OF HIS ROLE. NO ONE. AND LEAST OF ALL ANY CREATED BEING. What idiocy!

.
5 - "She desired the safety of everyone, went in search of it, and obtained it; it was also through her that this salvation was wrought."
.
.
[QX: What an unnecessary waste of precious Blood and suffering on THE CROSS!!!/sar] .

UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

May God have mercy on such OUTRAGEOUS BLASPHEMY!

NO SALVATION WAS WROUGHT THROUGH MARY WHATSOEVER. Not her turf--ever. She had a narrowly defined role and filled it well. Fini.

She also did not choose self-aggrandizing spiritual adventures to go gallavanting off achieving on her own or otherwise. She is filling precisely and only the Heavenly role GOD HAS ASSIGNED to her. Multiple reports describe that as teaching aborted babies/children the ways of God. Period.

p47
10 - "As Noah's Ark saved all the animals that entered it, so Mary saves all the souls that entrust themselves to her care."
.
[Qx: Sounds like Ashteroth-Mary just bumped Jesus to the end of the God-head line-up--in terms of function & usefulness. /sar]

p50
8 - "If she were not so holy as she is, how could God appoint her to be the ladder of Paradise, the advocate of the world, meatrix between HIm and us?" .
[Qx: Ladder, Super-lap; Super-orbed nurturance of Heavenly milk and goodies; Queen of Heaven; Queen of hell; Ark; Does Ashteroth-Mary also do windows? /sar] .

UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

May God have mercy on such OUTRAGEOUS BLASPHEMY!

Souls entrusting themselves to her care vs the care of Jesus The Christ are eternally endangering their souls.

p50
4 - "By becoming Mother of God, Mary belongs to the order of hypostatic union; hence she participates IN the infinite sanctity of God." UNMITIGATED BLASPHEMOUS FARCE, FALSEHOOD.

May God have mercy on such OUTRAGEOUS BLASPHEMY!

OUTRAGEOUS TO THE MAX.

NO CREATED BEING earns such a position. God does NOT share His Glory with any created being in anything remotely like that fashion or degree.

Any mentality that could even fantasize, imagine, dream, hallucinate such nonsense as the above is extremely out of touch with God's priorities, God's character and God's Word.

And all my words above are putting it extremely mildly and gently compared to what's warranted.

[frogjerk]

A text without a context is a pretext.

I would need to see the book that was printed in 1964 that you mention and read it for myself to see the context of which you are referring. I cannot find this book's content online so I would like to be sure you are stating and quoting things correctly. After all, this is the Internet.

[Bigg Red]

Thanks for the ping.