&&My concern for Catholics is that they do not study the Bible for themselves, they are not open to revelation, and they do not understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit, from what I have seen.**
Oh, my word!! Are you speaking in generalities here?
Haven’t you ever seen the Daily Mass Readings, First reading from the Old Testament, during the Easter season from the Acts of the Apostles, then a Psalm, then a reading from one of the letters of Paul, John or Peter or other letters, then a Gospel from Matthew, Mark , Luke or John.
In a three year cycle, we don’t cover then entire Bible, but we touch most of it.
Catholics, in my opinion, are more open to the revelation of the Eucharist by Jesus Christ than many non-Catholics. As for the Book of Revelation — Catholics can handle it. So why do you make that statement?
Your last point — the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The Mass includes two points where the Holy Spirit is called down. Have you attended a Catholic Mass? If not, how can you make these assertions.
The first calling down of the Holy Spirit is over the bread and wine that will immediately, through the consecration become the body and blood of Christ.
The second calling down of the Holy Spirt is over the congregation, the people of God.
Are you a charismatic, is that why you are saying these things?
Well, it has been my experience that the Catholics I know, do not read the Bible, know the Bile, or understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
How is that a generalization?
I am a person who reads the word of God, and has been transformed by the power of God, thru the ministry of the Holy Spirit, who points to the ways of our Lord (Jesus), by way of the blood of Jesus.
I have attended a Catholic Mass. I was not allowed to take communion, because I was told I was not a Christian-since I was not Catholic.
Since that time I have learned that Catholics do not study the Bible. I know this because often it has been confided to me that Catholics are told not to read the Bible for themselves, because they will not understand it- so they have to be told what to think.
I find that sad. If they love Jesus, they should read the Bible and fall in love, every day. WHY deny them the chance to curl up in bed, with the Bible, at the end of the day?
Or to wake up and find direction? And open their Bible and just read?
The Holy Spirit leads us into all understanding of the Word- and THAT is Biblical. John 16:12
So if they have Holy Spirit, as given to them by the Preist- then how is it that they do not have the power to understand what they read?
I just wish for the church to let the people go- and be free to discover God for themselves and have a personal relationship with Jesus...the author of salvation.
Because that is the only hope we have over the darkness. One word: Jesus.
Does that make me a “charismatic”?
The first calling down of the Holy Spirit is over the bread and wine that will immediately, through the consecration become the body and blood of Christ.
The second calling down of the Holy Spirt is over the congregation, the people of God.
Sad, sad, sad...You don't call down the Holy Spirit...No one can call down the Holy Spirit...
If this is Catholic teaching, it is just astounding how the ignorance about Christianity pervades the Catholic religion...