Posted on 12/27/2011 8:24:19 PM PST by RnMomof7
Rome, Italy, Dec 8, 2011 / 04:28 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the biblical description of a “woman clothed with the sun” in his remarks at Rome's Spanish Steps on the 2011 Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
“What is the meaning of this image? It represents the Church and Our Lady at the same time,” the Pope told the crowd assembled before the nearby statue commemorating the 1854 definition of Mary's Immaculate Conception. “Before all, the 'woman' of the apocalypse is Mary herself.”
The 12th chapter of the Biblical Apocalypse – also known as the Book of Revelation – describes the glorification and persecution of “a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
Though not named, this woman is described as the mother of the Messiah. In poetic language akin to the Bible's other prophetic books, Saint John says she faced the threat of “a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,” and “fled into the desert where she had a place prepared by God.”
Pope Benedict, offering white roses in his traditional yearly act of Marian veneration, gave listeners his insight into the connection between the Virgin Mary and the Church – portrayed in the Apocalypse through the single image of the sun-clad woman.
“She appears 'clothed in sunlight,' that is, clothed in God,” observed the Pope. “The Virgin Mary is in fact completely surrounded by the light of God and lives in God … The 'Immaculate One' reflects with all of her person the light of the 'sun' which is God.”
“Besides representing Our Lady, this sign personifies the Church, the Christian community of all times,” he continued.
The Church, he explained, is “pregnant, in the sense that she carries Christ” and “must give birth to him to the world.”
“This is the labor of the pilgrim Church on earth, that in the midst of the consolations of God and the persecutions of the world, she must bring Christ to men.”
Because the Church continues to bring Jesus into the world, Pope Benedict said, it “finds opposition in a ferocious adversary,” symbolized in scripture by the “dragon” that has “tried in vain to devour Jesus,” and now “directs his attacks against the woman – the Church – in the desert of the world.”
“But in every age the Church is supported by the light and the strength of God,” the Pope said. “She is nurtured in the desert with the bread of his word and the Holy Eucharist.”
“And in this way, in every tribulation, through all of the trials that she finds in the course of the ages and in the different parts of the world, the Church suffers persecution, but comes out the victor.”
Pope Benedict said the Church should not fear persecution, which is bound to arise, but will be defeated.
“The only pitfall of which the Church can and must be afraid is the sin of her members,” he warned, highlighting the key difference between the Church and the woman who is its prototype.
“While in fact Mary is immaculate – free from every stain of sin – the Church is holy, but at the same time marked by our sins.”
While sinless herself, Mary remains in solidarity with the Church struggling against sin.
“That is why the people of God, pilgrims in time, turn to their heavenly mother and ask for her help,” explained Pope Benedict.
He stressed the world's need for the hope brought by the “woman clothed with the sun” – “especially in this difficult moment for Italy, for Europe and for different parts of the world.”
“May Mary help us to see that there is a light beyond the veil of fog that appears to envelop reality,” he declared.
“For this also we, especially on this day, never cease to ask with filial trust for her help: 'O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to you.'”
It's not fear, although I don't think you'll believe me when I tell you this time again.
It's to not give Catholics the opportunity to label and pigeon hole everyone and think they have us all figured out. And because our identity is in Christ, not a denomination. The place I go to worship is incidental to my salvation. I can go to any one of several local churches which preach out of the Bible and it's just a matter of preference for that particular day.
What we believe is found in Scripture; that is salvation is by grace through faith in Christ and that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
It's that simple and that's all that counts. The other things that sometimes cause denominational division are incidentals and anyone who makes more of them than they should to cause division is wrong.
Ouch - we think and we think deeply
who suggested to you that Catholics can’t think for themselves?
I am not hiding my faith. My faith is in Christ. I freely and openly admit that.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
It is not bigotry to expose lies and duplicity and immorality and corruption.
Tell me how Christlike the Catholic church sanctioned and run Inquisition was. No Catholic is in any position to point fingers about bigotry and hatred considering their church history.
The other things that sometimes cause denominational division are incidentals and anyone who makes more of them than they should to cause division is wrong.Female clergy, queer clergy, divorced clergy, sanctioned queer "weddings", sanctioned divorce, abortion and euthanasia. All just "incidentals" eh?
Sorry, you hid those "denominational divisions" for a reason as you bash, often with falsehoods, the Catholic faith. Why?
Catholics are told what they must believe under threat of eternal damnation by their leadership.
Dissent is not allowed.
They are told that the Catholic church will interpret Scripture for them and that they are incapable of doing it themselves.
And as a Catholic I was taught that you never, EVER, dared to question what you were taught or told by a priest or nun. Just who did you think you were to question THEM?
It is not bigotry to expose lies and duplicity and immorality and corruption.When you use lies and duplicity instead of truth and charity it most certainly is not Christian.
metmom - a good confession and reception of the eucharist will soothe your anguish.
“Dissent is not allowed.”
Not true and you have been told that, again and again. Why tell falsehoods about the Catholic Church? How does that benefit anyone?
metmom - a good confession and reception of the eucharist will soothe your anguish.Indeed. There is nothing to fear in the confessional. The fear is meeting Our Lord with mortal sin unforgiven because we try to hide it from Him.
*sometimes*
Try reading comprehension lessons.
You won’t look so much like a fool when you post to something other than what a person said.
So snarky comments, evasions and word games are OK as long as you are attacking the Catholic Church? Falsehoods too? How very odd.
Good for a re-post....powerful verse.
2Ti 4:3 .....For the time will come when they will not
endure sound doctrine;
but wanting to have their ears tickled,
they will accumulate for themselves teachers
in accordance to their own desires,
2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth
and will turn aside to myths.
We live in an age of lies....therefore if one does not know the truth of Gods word as He intends it to be known, and not as false teachers determine...then myths, false religions, pagan beliefs, and all sorts and manner of that which opposes the things of God will flourish more and more...and be believed.
Isaiah 6:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
I am secure in Christ. I have nothing to fear.
Reproving, correcting and instruction against false teachings diametrically opposing God’s clear instructions aren’t word games nor evasions, nor an attack against the catholic church. Playing victim is the diversion and the game .
n: Not true and you have been told that, again and again. Why tell falsehoods about the Catholic Church? How does that benefit anyone?
Yeah. Right.
You mean like this? And there's plenty more where that came from. That's just one topic.
http://history.hanover.edu/texts/trent/ct06.html
CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema.
CANON II.-If any one saith, that the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, is given only for this, that man may be able more easily to live justly, and to merit eternal life, as if, by free will without grace, he were able to do both, though hardly indeed and with difficulty; let him be anathema.
CANON III.-If any one saith, that without the prevenient inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and without his help, man can believe, hope, love, or be penitent as he ought, so as that the grace of Justification may be bestowed upon him; let him be anathema.
[Page 45] CANON IV.-If any one saith, that man's free will moved and excited by God, by assenting to God exciting and calling, nowise co-operates towards disposing and preparing itself for obtaining the grace of Justification; that it cannot refuse its consent, if it would, but that, as something inanimate, it does nothing whatever and is merely passive; let him be anathema.
CANON V.-If any one saith, that, since Adam's sin, the free will of man is lost and extinguished; or, that it is a thing with only a name, yea a name without a reality, a figment, in fine, introduced into the Church by Satan;let him be anathema.
CANON VI.-If any one saith, that it is not in man's power to make his ways evil, but that the works that are evil God worketh as well as those that are good, not permissively only, but properly, and of Himself, in such wise that the treason of Judas is no less His own proper work than the vocation of Paul; let him be anathema.
CANON VII.-If any one saith, that all works done before Justification, in whatsoever way they be done, are truly sins, or merit the hatred of God; or that the more earnestly one strives to dispose himself for grace, the more grievously he sins: let him be anathema.
CANON VIII.-If any one saith, that the fear of hell,-whereby, by grieving for our sins, we flee unto the mercy of God, or refrain from sinning,-is a sin, or makes sinners worse; let him be anathema.
CANON IX.-If any one saith, that by faith alone the impious is justified; in such wise as to mean, that nothing else is required to co-operate in order to the obtaining the grace of Justification, and that it is not in any way necessary, that he be prepared and disposed by the movement of his own will; let him be anathema.
CANON X.-If any one saith, that men are just without the justice of Christ, whereby He merited for us to be justified; or that it is by that justice itself that they are formally just; let him be anathema.
[Page 46] CANON XI.-If any one saith, that men are justified, either by the sole imputation of the justice of Christ, or by the sole remission of sins, to the exclusion of the grace and the charity which is poured forth in their hearts by the Holy Ghost, and is inherent in them; or even that the grace, whereby we are justified, is only the favour of God; let him be anathema.
CANON XII.-If any one saith, that justifying faith is nothing else but confidence in the divine mercy which remits sins for Christ's sake; or, that this confidence alone is that whereby we are justified; let him be anathema.
CANON XIII.-If any one saith, that it is necessary for every one, for the obtaining the remission of sins, that he believe for certain, and without any wavering arising from his own infirmity and disposition, that his sins are forgiven him;let him be anathema.
CANON XIV.-If any one saith, that man is truly absolved from his sins and justified, because that he assuredly believed himself absolved and justified; or, that no one is truly justified but he who believes himself justified; and that, by this faith alone, absolution and justification are effected; let him be anathema.
CANON XV.-If any one saith, that a man, who is born again and justified, is bound of faith to believe that he is assuredly in the number of the predestinate; let him be anathema.
CANON XVI.-If any one saith, that he will for certain, of an absolute and infallible certainty, have that great gift of perseverance unto the end,-unless he have learned this by special revelation; let him be anathema.
CANON XVII.-If any one saith, that the grace of Justification is only attained to by those who are predestined unto life; but that all others who are called, are called indeed, but receive not grace, as being, by the divine power, predestined unto evil; let him be anathema.
CANON XVIII.-If any one saith, that the commandments of God are, even for one that is justified and constituted in grace, impossible to keep;let him be anathema.
[Page 47] CANON XIX.-If any one saith, that nothing besides faith is commanded in the Gospel; that other things are indifferent, neither commanded nor prohibited, but free; or, that the ten commandments nowise appertain to Christians;let him be anathema.
CANON XX.-If any one saith, that the man who is justified and how perfect soever, is not bound to observe the commandments of God and of the Church, but only to believe; as if indeed the Gospel were a bare and absolute promise of eternal life, without the condition of observing the commandments ; let him be anathema.
CANON XXI.-If any one saith, that Christ Jesus was given of God to men, as a redeemer in whom to trust, and not also as a legislator whom to obey; let him be anathema.
CANON XXII.-If any one saith, that the justified, either is able to persevere, without the special help of God, in the justice received; or that, with that help, he is not able; let him be anathema.
CANON XXIII.-lf any one saith, that a man once justified can sin no more, nor lose grace, and that therefore he that falls and sins was never truly justified; or, on the other hand, that he is able, during his whole life, to avoid all sins, even those that are venial,-except by a special privilege from God, as the Church holds in regard of the Blessed Virgin;let him be anathema.
CANON XXIV.-If any one saith, that the justice received is not preserved and also increased before God through good works; but that the said works are merely the fruits and signs of Justification obtained, but not a cause of the increase thereof; let him be anathema.
CANON XXV.-If any one saith, that, in every good work, the just sins venially at least, or-which is more intolerable still-mortally, and consequently deserves eternal punishments; and that for this cause only he is not damned, that God does not impute those works unto damnation;let him be anathema.
CANON XXVI.-If any one saith, that the just ought not, for their good works done in God, to expect and hope for an eternal recompense from God, through His mercy and the merit of Jesus Christ, if so be that they persevere to the end in well [Page 48] doing and in keeping the divine commandments; let him be anathema.
CANON XXVII.-If any one saith, that there is no mortal sin but that of infidelity; or, that grace once received is not lost by any other sin, however grievous and enormous, save by that of infidelity ;let him be anathema.
CANON XXVIII.-If any one saith, that, grace being lost through sin, faith also is always lost with it; or, that the faith which remains, though it be not a lively faith, is not a true faith; or, that he, who has faith without charity, is not a Chris taught; let him be anathema.
CANON XXIX.-If any one saith, that he, who has fallen after baptism, is not able by the grace of God to rise again; or, that he is able indeed to recover the justice which he has lost, but by faith alone without the sacrament of Penance, contrary to what the holy Roman and universal Church-instructed by Christ and his Apostles-has hitherto professed, observed, and taugh;let him be anathema.
CANON XXX.-If any one saith, that, after the grace of Justification has been received, to every penitent sinner the guilt is remitted, and the debt of eternal punishment is blotted out in such wise, that there remains not any debt of temporal punishment to be discharged either in this world, or in the next in Purgatory, before the entrance to the kingdom of heaven can be opened (to him);let him be anathema.
CANON XXXI.-If any one saith, that the justified sins when he performs good works with a view to an eternal recompense;let him be anathema.
CANON XXXII.-If any one saith, that the good works of one that is justified are in such manner the gifts of God, as that they are not also the good merits of him that is justified; or, that the said justified, by the good works which he performs through the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ, whose [Page 49] living member he is, does not truly merit increase of grace, eternal life, and the attainment of that eternal life,-if so be, however, that he depart in grace,-and also an increase of glory;let him be anathema.
CANON XXXIII.-If any one saith,that,by the Catholic doctrine touching Justification, by this holy Synod inset forth in this present decree, the glory of God, or the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ are in any way derogated from, and not rather that the truth of our faith, and the glory in fine of God and of Jesus Christ are rendered (more) illustrious; let him be anathema.
The confessional is not Scriptural.
You can go right to God instead of some man who can’t do anything for you anyway.
Snarky comments, falsehoods, evasions and wordgames are neither Christian nor correction.
They identify the poseurs as enemies of the truth. That posters here engage in that behavior, hide their own denominations as they attack others is amazing.
What is more amazing is that they then cloak themselves in the label of “Christian”. Truly amazing.
Then why do Catholics engage in them?
They identify the poseurs as enemies of the truth. That posters here engage in that behavior, hide their own denominations as they attack others is amazing.
Jesus is the truth, His Word is truth. That's all we ever refer back to.
I don't list a denomination because I don't belong to one and have not been baptized into one except the Catholic one which was done to me as an infant. And I don't recognize that the RCC has any claim on me anyway. They don't own me. They didn't purchase my redemption for me. I don't answer to them, I answer to Christ.
My identity is Christ, not a denomination.
I have nothing to hide. I've made my theology perfectly clear and anyone who wants can go back through my posting history and see it. Any Scripture I post is in blue or red for the words of Christ.
Go there to see what I believe. It's not hidden.
We are fallen men - therefor we must go through a man
Please I beg you - go to your bible
Read John 20:23
Also Matthew 18:18
Read and pray very hard
We do not have the distractions and confusions which mans traditions create within the "Body of Christ" as believers. His Word, and this thru and by His Spirit who teaches us and unites us, is the source we have in common and bears witness to each of us that we are His.
Most here are seekers of the truth and many know it. But it is when we see falsehoods and that which opposes what God clearly instructs that you can expect and know it will be challenged...and that in obedience to the calling we have as His sons and daughters.
You are aware this area of debates will get heated and remarks will spark...lively debates are healthy and good to get to the truth when it is being avoided and or opposed....the Apostles did so as did the followers of Christ.
The moderators have been very clear if it is too much for some then the devotional threads are there for them. Perhaps you'd be more comfortable there.
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