Posted on 09/03/2014 6:36:07 AM PDT by NKP_Vet
A little six-year-old Protestant boy had often heard his Catholic companions reciting the prayer “Hail Mary.” He liked it so much that he copied it, memorized it and would recite it every day. “Look, Mommy, what a beautiful prayer,” he said to his mother one day.
“Never again say it,” answered the mother. “It is a superstitious prayer of Catholics who adore idols and think Mary a goddess. After all, she is a woman like any other. Come on, take this Bible and read it. It contains everything that we are bound to do and have to do.” From that day on the little boy discontinued his daily “Hail Mary” and gave himself more time to reading the Bible instead. One day, while reading the Gospel, he came across the passage about the Annunciation of the Angel to Our Lady. Full of joy, the little boy ran to his mother and said: “Mommy, I have found the ‘Hail Mary’ in the Bible which says: ‘Hail full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women.’ Why do you call it a superstitious prayer?”
On another occasion he found that beautiful Salutation of St. Elizabeth to the Virgin Mary and the wonderful canticle MAGNIFICAT in which Mary foretold that “the generations would call her blessed.” He said no more about it to his mother but started to recite the “Hail Mary” every day as before. He felt pleasure in addressing those charming words to the Mother of Jesus, our Savior.
When he was fourteen, he one day heard a discussion on Our Lady among the members of his family. Every one said that Mary was a common woman like any other woman. The boy, after listening to their erroneous reasoning could not bear it any longer, and full of indignation, he interrupted them, saying:
“Mary is not like any other children of Adam, stained with sin. No! The Angel called her FULL OF GRACE AND BLESSED AMONGST WOMEN. Mary is the Mother of Jesus Christ and consequently Mother of God. There is no higher dignity to which a creature can be raised. The Gospel says that the generations will proclaim her blessed and you are trying to despise her and look down on her. Your spirit is not the spirit of the Gospel or of the Bible which you proclaim to be the foundation of the Christian religion.”
So deep was the impression which the boy’s talk had made that his mother many times cried out sorrowfully: “Oh my God! I fear that this son of mine will one day join the Catholic religion, the religion of Popes!” And indeed, not very long afterwards, having made a serious study of both Protestantism and Catholicism, the boy found the latter to be the only true religion and embraced it and became one of its most ardent apostles.
Some time after his conversion, he met his married sister who rebuked him and said indignantly: “You little know how much I love my children. Should any one of them desire to become a Catholic, I would sooner pierce his heart with a dagger than allow him to embrace the religion of the Popes!”
Her anger and temper were as furious as those of St. Paul before his conversion. However, she would change her ways, just as St. Paul did on his way to Damascus. It so happened that one of her sons fell dangerously ill and the doctors gave up hope of recovery. Her brother then approached her and spoke to her affectionately, saying: “My dear sister, you naturally wish to have your child cured. Very well, then, do what I ask you to do. Follow me, let us pray one ‘Hail Mary’ and promise God that, if your son recovers his health, you would seriously study the Catholic doctrine, and should you come to the conclusion that Catholicism is the only true religion, you would embrace it no matter what the sacrifices may be.”
His sister was somewhat reluctant at the beginning, but as she wished for her son’s recovery, she accepted her brother’s proposal and recited the “Hail Mary” together with him. The next day her son was completely cured. The mother fulfilled her promise and she studied the Catholic doctrine. After long preparation she received Baptism together with her whole family, thanking her brother for being an apostle to her.
The story was related during a sermon given by the Rev. Fr. Tuckwell. “Brethren,” he went on and said, “the boy who became a Catholic and converted his sister to Catholicism dedicated his whole life to the service of God. He is the priest who is speaking to you now! What I am I owe to Our Lady. You, too, my dear brethren, be entirely dedicated also to Our Lady and never let a day pass without saying the beautiful prayer, ‘Hail Mary’, and your Rosary. Ask her to enlighten the minds of Protestants who are separated from the true Church of Christ founded on the Rock (Peter) and ‘against whom the gates of hell shall never prevail.’”
Didn't you get the Memo?
It's up to 50,000 or 80,000 or some such by now!
True the Bible came about how you said...but these same fathers expected that the books be studied, referred to, used as sources for doctrine, reproof, and teaching. They didn’t expect that these books be disregarded when tradition or temporal/political expediency contradicted the teachings in those books!
Do you not think that the Holy Spirit might not have also been a factor in how those works were chosen and arranged? What is He..chopped liver?
I see what you mean...
Ephesus,
Smyrna,
Pergamon,
Thyatira,
Sardis,
Philadelphia
and Laodicea.
Look!
Over THERE!
Where do you get this false information? A pamphlet, peprhaps[sic]? A preacher who hates Catholicism?
The Bible y'all claim the Catholic church wrote and canonized.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Why don't you believe what the Bible teaches?
Yeah...what you said also!
Little snippets is the basis for most Catholic doctrine, since it cannot be found in Scripture.
Thus they invent *sacred tradition* and cherry pick a couple Scripture verses to slap onto it to give it a sense of authenticity, and call it *truth* and *divine revelation*.
What a joke, a Catholic complaining about Prots using *snippets* of Scripture.
The Holy who?
What is He..chopped liver?
Just about to some. After all, we keep being told to thank the RCC for the Bible.
A lot of great learned folk...sat approving of the crucifixion as well.
A lot of great learned scholars sit back and approve of the hollowing out of the American way of life “for the greater good!”.
Smart people are always messing things up. A lot of smart people got together and killed a half a billion folks in the last century with bombs, guns, contrived famines, diseases, ect.
It was interesting that Paul said that “ not many who are what the world calls wise are actually called to Christ.” Christ praised the Father that he reveal his hidden truths to babes and not to the wise of this world. Why, I’m not sure but I suspect that many who seem to have a devilish wisdom or unnatural genius may have been specifically augmented...but not necessarily by God. Such “wise” men always seem to be at the base root of every evil under the sun.
I thought I read there still is a Church presence in Philadelphia(Alesir now.. in Turkey)!
The locusts have no king...yet they march out in bands laying waste...Proverbs.
Christians aren’t locusts but we are commanded by one central authority ultimately by the Holy Spirit. It will be a shock when we all learn just how much God was in control...in spite of our “squabbles”!
Islam is growing very quickly, with lots of crazy western converts added by the day. Quantity does not equal quality. Like islam today in many places, the RCC was the only game in town for a 1,000 years and there were harsh consequences if you wanted to leave the collective, often resulting in your toasty departure from the Earth at the order of the RCC in direct violation of the Law of Love and the example of Jesus.
I find it amusing the obsession that RCC folks have with Luther, like he is some sort of pope of protestants. I only have one Savior, and one Heavenly Father. I respect Luther’s courage and appreciate him standing up against Catholic hegemony and apostasy. But he is no more relevant to my daily worship than any other theologian. Earthly titles or accomplishments, legends or superstitions, have no bearing on my faith. There is only one Rock, only one certainty in this world. (Matthew 7:24-27, Ephesians 5 & 6)
For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. Matthew 7:13-14
There was no “unbroken” chain because there is, and has always been ONE HEAD of the TRUE Church! Read the Book of Acts without your Roman glasses on. There were disputes and splits throughout the early years that the Gospel was preached. Even Paul laments, “This you know: All those in Asia have turned away from me.” 2 Timothy 1:15. This was towards the end of his ministry when churches were abandoning the simplicity of the Gospel, turning to pagan rituals, ceremonies, and traditions that have no place in the Church, where Believers SHOULD worship in Spirit and Truth, enjoying the freedom from religious bondage in Christ. (John 4:21-23, Galatians 5:1) The challenges of this early apostasy can be seen in religion today, and throughout history.
What religion became is exactly what Paul argued against in Galatians and Colossians - the beggarly elements, the rudiments of the world - all the manmade rituals, ceremonies and traditions taken from the Old Covenant and the pagan world that have no place in the Church. It seems those two books were largely ignored by those intent to build a temporal religion, instead of expanding the Body of Christ.
Should it be surprising that once the Bible was translated, printed, and distributed to the people, Believers began departing Rome? As more folks studied God’s Word for themselves, there were further splits from denominations that continued many of Rome’s errors, or had drifted away from the Truth of God’s Word.
I don’t care what Church one attends. I’m not here to pimp any congregation. I want people studying God’s Word for themselves, not what some man thought about it in 1346. He is dead. Christ is alive. God’s Word is alive. The Holy Spirit is given to every Believer to help you understand and receive revelation from His Word. (Psalm 119:130, John 14:26, 16:13, 1 Peter 2:2-3)
BTW, God is not impressed by quantity either. He is simply looking for faith in Him/His Word:
“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:19-20
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of those whose heart is perfect toward him. 2 Chronicles 16:9
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7
There are the Protestants, Catholics, the Orthodox and all their various sects, congregations, and their traditions...and there is the real Church of Jesus...drawn and separated from the tares found from all the aforementioned traditions of the Christian faith. The real Christians worship God in spirit and in truth...(no matter what “sect” they might come from) and Christ’s real church, his real Bride consists of such folk!
When Christ rules out of Jerusalem, it won’t be from a Catholic perspective, there will be no religious sectarian splits. His saints will have come from all tribes and tongues and from all former religious sects and creeds. We will all be one in him and He in us!
There is a “snippet” of Enoch to be found in the book of Jude. I’ve read thru Enoch...it reads like a book where some of the passages are inspired and some not. It reads like a premise of an “Ancient Aliens” episode. It’s like one of those ‘hands off’ full truth to be revealed later books...like the type that Daniel and John were told would be kept sealed until the “last days”. You can’t just dismiss Enoch especially since Jude apparently sources some of Enoch... but the early church fathers left the book out for a reason and we need to respect that.
Wow! “No matter what sect they come from”! Seriously? Rev. Moon, Rev. Jeremiah Wright? Christ instructed His disciples to “Go Teach….” They were to teach ONE truth that had the authority conferred on Peter and his successors in One Church. Not multiple truth or their variations often times in clear conflict with one sect to the next. We don’t have a cafeteria selection of truths.
As I have stated previously, no Catholic should use such an argument for anything. Such an argument cannot be found in Church teaching.
I pray that our Lord, Jesus continue to love, guide you both and protect you and your families in the days to come. (Said in sincerity.)
Nah, it’s a mosquito buzzing around your head.
Thank you.
Excellent and fact laden post...
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