The Heavenly Elements of the Liturgy

"Christ said the words....consecrated the bread and wine into His Body and Blood and instructed the apostles to "DO THIS" in memory of Me....pretty clear and I see no symbolism there at all."

You do not see the enormity of the departure from His words? "Do this in MEMORY of Me" does not mean "So, have a guy in a bathrobe say words over a chalice and it will turn into my blood." Your group is manufacturing demonic associations with these simple words of Jesus. We will pray that God will remove the scales.

And, no, celibacy is not "voluntary". Every one of your sacerdotal gang has to swear that they are "married" to the organization and every "nun" is "married" to Jesus. That is such perversion, it is no wonder that pedophilia is rampant in the crowd. pope Alexander II (1061-73) would not discipline a "priest" who committed adultery with his father's second wife because he had not committed the "sin of matrimony". Your organization is lost in darkness.

I want to say that you (me and probably all of us on FR) are incompetent to make any interpretation of the Bible. We don't even know ancient languages or cultural background to seriously study for our own. Otherwise, this is completely unprofessional study.

The only reasonable thing to do in this situation is trust to an authority. To somebody who has proper professional background. If you are not an electrician, you call one if you want to repair something. If you do this on your own, despite your ignorance in such matters, most likely you make things even worse.

This is why when a Catholic read the Bible, search always for the interpretation of the church. Our scientists and theologians studies this text for many centuries. Their work cannot be compared to your own effort, being aware that you will change your mind on some issues few times during your life... (aka Protestants often change denominations, denominations change the doctrines as well)

With all due respect I doubt that you know any other language beside English. Otherwise you would be aware that even the best translator is unable to make EXACT translation. I will tell you, that I'm aware of several mistakes in Catholic translation to my native language. So what? Translations are for masses, because masses never learn ancient languages, this is simply better than nothing. INTERPRETATION ALWAYS MUST COME FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE.

"I want to say that you (me and probably all of us on FR) are incompetent to make any interpretation of the Bible."

The only reasonable thing to do in this situation is trust to an authority.

"With all due respect I doubt that you know any other language beside English. Otherwise you would be aware that even the best translator is unable to make EXACT translation."

Well, here are two more beauties. I have trained in Koine' Greek at a recognized university and have a degree in theology. Koine' Greek is the language used by the NT writers. But, that is not your biggest error. Your biggest error is that you claim no "EXACT" translation is possible, but yet you trust your "scientists and theologians" to provide you such work. Is their work "EXACT" or is it defective? How do you know? If your trust in their AUTHORITY is based on their interpretations, which came first, your blind trust or their AUTHORITY?

"INTERPRETATION ALWAYS MUST COME FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE."

If by this you mean (notice I have to interpret your words) that interpretations must come only from original languages, then you have no idea what you are talking about. If one of your "theologians" says, "Jesus means you should jump off a cliff here.", you must still take that phrase he interpreted into English and interpret it within your mind to mean something. You are now using your own personal interpretation technique to decide what the theologian's words mean. Otherwise, how do you know what he is getting at? The original languages are useful, very useful. But, it is the meaning of those phrases within our language that becomes what we understand. You do it all the time and so does everyone else.

But, curiously, what interpretations do you think I have made incorrectly?

This is another of those self-contradictory claims of the RCC cult followers. Apparently, you admit you are not competent to interpret the Scriptures. How then are we to believe YOU have the authority to decide that I am "incompetent"? You have viewed all of the interpretations of Scripture I have made and you, sitting in that seat of judgment because you are the AUTHORITY, have found them wanting?

My stance is not self-contradictory at all. This is not difficult to recognize somebody’s incompetence in some matters being incompetent as well. If you consider few centuries of Bible studies by Catholic theologians to mean nothing and your several (?) years of reading translations to mean everything THEN either you are genius or blinded by vanity… You cannot be trusted with that kind of attitude.

Well, here are two more beauties. I have trained in Koine' Greek at a recognized university and have a degree in theology. Koine' Greek is the language used by the NT writers.

If you know this language very well and cultural background as well then maybe you could make comments about Greek parts of Bible. Question arise, if you know this language so well why do you read translations at all? I has no sense for me…

But, that is not your biggest error. Your biggest error is that you claim no "EXACT" translation is possible, but yet you trust your "scientists and theologians" to provide you such work.

I don’t trust to their translations of Bible, I do trust that working together by so many centuries there were able to figure out correct interpretation from the original source.

Is their work "EXACT" or is it defective? How do you know? If your trust in their AUTHORITY is based on their interpretations, which came first, your blind trust or their AUTHORITY?

Why I trusts them? Because the church lasted for so long that it cannot be denied anymore that this is the church of the Christ. Their interpretation lasted for so long and will never change. While someday your exclusive interpretation will pass away with you, or you will change your mind on some issues, or hopefully you will join the Catholic church and save your soul.

(notice I have to interpret your words)

You speak English and I use its simple version, so it was not difficult.

If one of your "theologians" says, "Jesus means you should jump off a cliff here.", you must still take that phrase he interpreted into English and interpret it within your mind to mean something. You are now using your own personal interpretation technique to decide what the theologian's words mean. Otherwise, how do you know what he is getting at? The original languages are useful, very useful. But, it is the meaning of those phrases within our language that becomes what we understand. You do it all the time and so does everyone else.

First of all. Catholics don’t abide to what “one of our theologians say” but to the version accepted by the church.

You are confusing something. One talented person (theologian for example) is able to learn several languages. If group of competent people who studied the bible agreed on some interpretation then they can write about it in as much languages as they know. This is also up to them to use more simple language to be better understood by the masses. To prevent mistakes long time ago Catholic church started to use Latin and worldwide clergy (and many people from laity as well) was taught this language. Then a priest who knew Latin could read all the interpretations that he needed. Laity should be offered interpretation that doesn’t need to be interpreted anymore.

But, curiously, what interpretations do you think I have made incorrectly?

Every each when you disagree with Catholic teachings. If you are in fact so curios then I recommend you to read some catholic book that raise issues that you disagree. Protestants often think that they know Catholic stances but they never really bother to study it. If you have a problem with Catholic teachings on Mary then instead to raise this question on FR, you could read some good Catholic book. At least then you would have some perspective.

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