Posted on 01/18/2012 3:19:15 PM PST by NYer
.- Pope Benedict XVI said today that achieving Christian unity requires more than “cordiality and cooperation” and that it must be accompanied by interior conversion.
“Faith in Christ and interior conversion, both individual and communal, must constantly accompany our prayer for Christian unity,” said the Pope to over 8,000 pilgrims gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall on Jan. 18.
The Pope’s comments mark the start of the 2012 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that runs until Jan. 25. It will be observed by over 300 Christian churches and ecclesial communities around the globe.
The Pope asked for “the Lord in a particular way to strengthen the faith of all Christians, to change our hearts and to enable us to bear united witness to the Gospel.”
In this way, he said, they “will contribute to the new evangelization and respond ever more fully to the spiritual hunger of the men and women of our time.”
The Pope explained that the concept of a week of prayer for Christian unity was initiated in 1908 by Paul Wattson, an Episcopalian minister from Maryland. One year later, he became a Catholic and was subsequently ordained to the priesthood.
Pope Benedict recalled how the initiative was supported by his predecessors Pope St. Pius X and Pope Benedict XV. It was then “developed and perfected” in the 1930s by the Frenchman Abbé Paul Couturier, who promoted prayer “for the unity of the Church as Christ wishes and according to the means he wills.”
The mandate for the week of prayer, the Pope underscored, comes from the wish of Christ himself at the Last Supper “that they may all be one.” He observed that this mission was given a particular impetus by the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) but added that “the unity we strive for cannot result merely from our own efforts.” Rather, “it is a gift we receive and must constantly invoke from on high.”
The theme for 2012 Week of Prayer – “All shall be changed by the victory of Jesus Christ our Lord” – was crafted by the Polish Ecumenical Council. Pope Benedict said it reflects “their own experience as a nation,” which stayed faithful to Christ “in the midst of trials and upheavals,” including years of occupation by the Nazis and later the Communists.
The Pope tied the victory the Polish people experienced over their oppressors to overcoming the disunity that marks Christians.
He said that the “unity for which we pray requires inner conversion, both shared and individual,” and it cannot be “limited to cordiality and cooperation.” Instead, Christians must accept “all the elements of unity which God has conserved for us.”
Ecumenism, the Pope stated, is not an optional extra for Catholics but is “the responsibility of the entire Church and of all the baptized.” Christians, he said, must make praying for unity an “integral part” of their prayer life, “especially when people from different traditions come together to work for victory in Christ over sin, evil, injustice and the violation of human dignity.”
Pope Benedict then touched on the lack of unity in the Christian community, which he said “hinders the effective announcement of the Gospel and endangers our credibility.” Evangelizing formerly Christian countries and spreading the Gospel to new places will be “more fruitful if all Christians together announce the truth of the Gospel and Jesus Christ, and give a joint response to the spiritual thirst of our times,” he explained.
The Pope concluded his comments with the hope that this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will lead to “increased shared witness, solidarity and collaboration among Christians, in expectation of that glorious day when together we will all be able to celebrate the Sacraments and profess the faith transmitted by the Apostles.”
The general audience finished with Pope Benedict addressing pilgrims in various languages, including greeting a group of men and women from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, before leading the crowd in the Our Father and imparting his apostolic blessing.
Why do you think it is that there are no squabbles, or big arguments from me or Cynical Bear or metmom or boatbums or mitch 5501 or marbren or Giovanna Nicoletta or presently no screen name or caww? Just as there are no squabbles or big arguments with you or narses, or D-fendr or rzman21? You are united in one body. We are united in one body. And you honestly believe that you and we are united in the SAME one body? You honestly believe that the HUGE scriptural differences that divide us still have us all together in ONE BODY? That the gospel you believ and the gospel we believe are the same gospel? That when you stand for your beliefs and we stand for our beliefs, we are in exact opposition to each other, yet we are still united in ONE BODY? That the RCC's ideas of "truth" and non-RCs hold the complete opposite meaning of "truth" and yet that somehow doesn't matter, because we are in ONE BODY?
There is nothing even remotely considered similar in our views. Now, how can that be, if we are in the SAME ONE BODY?
There is nothing even remotely considered similar in our views. Now, how can that be, if we are in the SAME ONE BODY?You are heretics.
Thank you for making my point.
Well, I don’t know why you felt the need to ping all those who had no part of this discussion, other than a possible back pat moment with pals or an invitation to pile on, but hey do what you have to do....
I think the reason there is no squabbles on these type threads, and admittedly they are the only ones with which I’m familiar, is because all you mentioned are united in one thing, opposition to the Catholic Church.
It’s understandable, considering what the Church is a represents and the chaos and confusion those outside of her find themselves caught up in.
The more I am here, the more the anger is revealed.
Ah well, enjoy your moment.
Your second mistake is saying that we are united in one thing, opposition to the Catholic Church. You couldn't be more wrong. We are united by believing the gospel of our salvation and being place by the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ. But you automatically think it's opposition to the CC that unites us.
Is it opposition to non-Catholics that unite you?
Your post is very telling. "Enjoy your moment"? I was asking you an honest question for an honest answer. It wasn't a game.
I'll address this from how I see it...The more I learn of Catholicism teachings the more I see they have moved far from the Gospel message....and are actually delivering something very different in it's place..... The message is one of bondage where Christ sets us free....the teachings are diametrically opposed to what Jesus himself stated we should not listen to or do.....the rituals and various other requirements mislead individuals and by doing so innocent people never reach the High calling of God in Christ Jesus....rather they fall under the law and devotion to a leader/Pope and it's Magisterium...all which oppose Christ's teachings via the traditions they claim as having the same authority as the scriptures...and that's a lie.
I could of course go on about having learned about catholicism..much right here from those who are catholics....the rest from the Vatican site....and that which it requires of it's members.
So I would therefore say that No...I do not see myself as in unity with most catholics and certainly not to their teachings....nor would I ever desire so...it's enough for me to agree with Christ that He is sufficient for me and trust Him for the teachings he would have me learn...always and ever confirmed by His written word...not by a group of men who claim to be His representation on earth...they are not.
It appears that "Protestantism" is just a junk-drawer category some people use for all the "not-Catholic" Christians. You certainly have not held back your obvious disdain for them. The thing is, Rzman, the faith I practice as well as many others here on this forum is not defined by what you say it is. In fact, I will put my faith up against yours compared to "ancient" Christianity any day. The ancient Christianity I follow is found in the Holy Bible and you can't get any earlier than that.
Christianity is exactly OPPOSITE from any and all other religions in the entire world. The word, religion, means "to bind back" and that is why there are literally thousands or millions of them. Religion is man's attempt to bind himself back to God. No matter if the end reward is called heaven or nirvana or happy-hunting-grounds, it is always what man must do to deserve it or merit it. Christianity is not what man does to bind himself back to God but what God has done to bind man back to him. Heaven is a free gift that we can do nothing to earn or deserve but it is offered by the grace of God and we acquire it by faith. So, if you believe that you get to heaven by faith PLUS anything else you do, then your religion is just like any other religion - just not Christianity.
So, I agree with you, at least, that Ecumenism is worthless especially if the Roman Catholic Church is driving it. Through the various "councils" and "Bulls", Rome has declared itself the only way to God, so naturally, if they want to be consistent, they MUST insist that anybody who wants to "play" must do so by their rules. "Our way or the highway", right? Any attempts to "resolve" the issues separating the Orthodox and Rome will, mark my words, only be possible when the East relents and submits to Rome. The schism has been going for over a millennium, there MUST be some reasons why it hasn't happened yet. If they're smart, they'll STAY separated.
Show the post where anyone said they denied the deity of Christ.
CynicalBear; metmom; Iscool; caww; boatbums; mitch5501; marbren; GiovannaNicoletta
And the other Catholics here are?
***Is it opposition to non-Catholics that unite you?***
No. It is love of Jesus, His church and our faith which is daily defamed by the calumny posted here as if truth.
innocent people never reach the High calling of God in Christ Jesus....rather they fall under the law and devotion to a leader/Pope and it’s Magisterium...all which oppose Christ’s teachings via the traditions they claim as having the same authority as the scriptures...and that’s a lie.
I’m sorry, did I ask you?
But, since you were pinged to pile on....
When a protestant is asked, “What is Truth?”, the answers will be an numerous and varied as there are protestants.
So,forgive me if the opinion of a protestant regarding the Church and truth is not one I care about.
Open to speculation? Seriously? You think if someone doesn’t say something you can speculate on what they believe? How preposterous.
>>Someone has influenced what they believe even if they do not choose to acknowledge that fact.<<
If it is supported by scripture and founded in God’s word what difference does that make? I can agree with someone on one topic but totally disagree on another. If one thing they believe agrees with scripture I will agree with that. If they have another believe that is not supported by scripture I will not agree with it. I will listen to anyone’s view. If it disagrees or can’t be supported by scripture I will not agree with that belief.
If it agrees with scripture what difference does it make who else agrees with it?
>>On just about any given thread, I can google one or two lines from some posts and immediately find a site with the exact wording.<<
Are you so afraid of just dealing with the issue? Many times beliefs of people that are held alike are worded the same because it’s truth. Attacking the messenger only makes your ability to discuss the issue look weak.
Thanks for the ping smvoice...
I have posted where I stand on the issue of Unity. And of course joining with the catholic church in their endevors for unity is not a consideration. They and others are leading a blind public the wrong way and many will follow that piper for they are willingly ignorant of what the scriptures speak. Catholics will follow because the Pope says to.
And thank you also for making very clear that there is a great gap between catholicism and the protestant faith....I sometimes think they can ignore the reformation but it’s basic purpose remains to this day..and perhaps even more necessary as the catholic church veers over the cliff it’s heading.
Those who believe that works are needed for salvation are NOT part of the body of Christ. They deny grace and deny the finished work of Christ on the Cross.
Gal. 2:21, I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
Rom. 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."
***Are you so afraid of just dealing with the issue? Many times beliefs of people that are held alike are worded the same because it’s truth.****
When have I ever been afraid to attack an issue. I nearly always respond, to the best of my ability.
I often google things in the form of a question so that I can learn more and see what others have to say regarding an interpretation of a certain verse.
I have said many times, I am not a scholar in Biblical studies, and I AlWAYS try to research things posted to me before I respond.
The same wording, by coincidence? Yeah, that’ the ticket.
Let’s see...narses, D-fendr;rzman21,you. Did you not read all the names? And also anyone else who may be interested in discussing this issue. You have the Catholic ping list, not me.
I fail to understand the infatuation with where information came from. Bottom line is “does it agree with and is it supported by scripture”. We are discussing beliefs here.
Those who believe that works are needed for salvation are NOT part of the body of Christ.
Faith in Christ is the only means to salvation.
Works are the fruits of true faith.
The two go hand in hand.
St. Paul is speaking here of the fact that before Jesus there was no law and no works that man could do to gain eternal life in heaven.
He is not speaking of the life/faith of a Christian who is called to and prepared for good works that glorify God.
It’s easy if one really concentrates....
Before Jesus, all the works of the law were useless.
After Jesus, grace leads us to faith which is manifested by works as a sign of true faith.
Why are you in a religion thread if you never ever discus scripture?
The catholic church should have turned back to God and the Scriptures when He sought them to do just that...they refused and since then til now they remain in the same darkness they've determined to stay in. Blind leading the blind.
The list which I copied from the post to me did not list those names. I copied and pasted all that were visible to me so if those others were included, my apologies, I didn’t see them.
I do not have a ping list and only ping those who are involved in specific conversations with me or who I may have mentioned or quoted in my post.
I have no need to ping others outside the conversation.
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