Posted on 08/08/2016 2:14:55 PM PDT by NYer
U.S. Olympian Katie Ledecky is the world record holder in the 400-, 800- and 1500-meter freestyles, and the American record holder in the 500-, 1000- and 1650-yard freestyles.
In the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, she will compete in the 200-, 400-, and 800-meter freestyle. She has won Gold medals in the 2012 London Olympics and again in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
But before every race Ledecky, a faithful Catholic, offers a Hail Mary. “I do say a prayer – or two – before any race. The Hail Mary is a beautiful prayer and I find that it calms me.” she said.
In an interview with the Catholic Standard Ledecky said “My Catholic faith is very important to me. It always has been and it always will be. It is part of who I am and I feel comfortable practicing my faith. It helps me put things in perspective.”
The saints are alive.
Matthew 27
But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice, and gave up his spirit.
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x And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.* The earth quaked, rocks were split,
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y tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
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And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
TALKING WITH GOD AND HIS SAINTS
One of the most important activities for a Catholic is prayer. Without it there can be no true spiritual life. Through personal prayer and the communal prayer of the Church, especially the Mass, we worship and praise God, we express sorrow for our sins, and we intercede on behalf of others (1 Tim. 2:1–4). Through prayer we grow in our relationship with Christ and with members of God’s family (CCC 2663–2696).
This family includes all members of the Church, whether on earth, in heaven, or in purgatory. Since Jesus has only one body, and since death has no power to separate us from Christ (Rom. 8:3–8), Christians who are in heaven or who, before entering heaven, are being purified in purgatory by God’s love (1 Cor. 3:12–15) are still part of the Body of Christ (CCC 962).
Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matt. 22:39). Those in heaven love us more intensely than they ever could have loved us while on earth. They pray for us constantly (Rev. 5:8), and their prayers are powerful (Jas. 5:16, CCC 956, 2683, 2692).
Our prayers to the saints in heaven, asking for their prayers for us, and their intercession with the Father do not undermine Christ’s role as sole Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5). In asking saints in heaven to pray for us we follow Paul’s instructions: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone,” for “this is good and pleasing to God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1–4).
All members of the Body of Christ are called to help one another through prayer (CCC 2647). Mary’s prayers are especially effective on our behalf because of her relationship with her Son (John 2:1–11).
God gave Mary a special role (CCC 490–511, 963– 975). He saved her from all sin (Luke 1:28, 47), made her uniquely blessed among all women (Luke 1:42), and made her a model for all Christians (Luke 1:48). At the end of her life he took her, body and soul, into heaven—an image of our own resurrection at the end of the world (Rev. 12:1–2).
http://www.catholic.com/documents/pillar-of-fire-pillar-of-truth
This is the first place where your dissertation goes off course. Catholic is used rather than Christian. Immediately a distinction is made between two different groups. Sadly they really are two different groups. One group uses the bible, the other group believes the bible.
Yes, I try to present information from a Catholic perspective and teaching.
Your comment; “One group uses the bible, the other group believes the bible.” is a biased statement that I do not believe to be true.
Obviously there are many Catholics and non Catholics that could fit into either category. Many do not truly believe the Bible or the teachings of Jesus. For example, most non Catholics do not accept the words of Jesus that this is His Body and Blood and is needed for our salvation.
So for most non Catholics the Bible is subject to their personal interpretation (or group interpretation), which could be wrong.
While you want to make a distinction as a Christian rather than a Catholic, perhaps you should consider the history of the Church.
Jesus said his Church would be “the light of the world.” He then noted that “a city set on a hill cannot be hid” (Matt. 5:14). This means his Church is a visible organization. It must have characteristics that clearly identify it and that distinguish it from other churches. Jesus promised, “I will build my Church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). This means that his Church will never be destroyed and will never fall away from him. His Church will survive until his return.
Among the Christian churches, only the Catholic Church has existed since the time of Jesus. Every other Christian church is an offshoot of the Catholic Church. The Eastern Orthodox churches broke away from unity with the pope in 1054. The Protestant churches were established during the Reformation, which began in 1517. (Most of today’s Protestant churches are actually offshoots of the original Protestant offshoots.)
I truly hope that we all attain eternal life with Jesus. I find that opportunity in the Catholic Church (even with all the worldly and human faults that we have.)
Nice try but not buying. Catholics pray specifically to Mary. Some Catholic writings even push the position that if Christ isn’t answering your prayer go to Mary to it answered. That does not support your position.
I continue to notice Catholics get very evasive when called on these facts.
Mary cannot go around Christ. Any writings that push this position are not in accord with the clear teaching of the Catholic Church. This is defined in Lucem Gentium, Paragraph 60, which states:
“There is but one Mediator as we know from the words of the apostle, “for there is one God and one mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a redemption for all”. The maternal duty of Mary toward men in no wise obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows His power. For all the salvific influence of the Blessed Virgin on men originates, not from some inner necessity, but from the divine pleasure. It flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on His mediation, depends entirely on it and draws all its power from it. In no way does it impede, but rather does it foster the immediate union of the faithful with Christ.”
A lotta context.
The last supper was a yearly meal of rememberence of how GOD saves the Israelites.
Rome has made it into a ritual performed everytime something happens in church.
A little more context.
John said, "Behold; the Lamb of GOD, who takes away the sins of the world."
Jesus didn't say, "Whoa! Where's my fleece; Dude?"
Oh... Wait...
A little of this, some of that and more of sumpthin’ else and BINGO! you’ve got doctrine.
While Catholic church are the same as they were back in John's time.
Nice description of the waste of time that praying TO Mary is!
Well, there’s that shows the power of Christ and fostering the immediate union of the faithful with Christ part. Actually, meditating on the mysteries while praying the rosary has brought me into a wonderful intimacy with Jesus.
Yet those very writings are declared to be free of error!
I'm glad you acknowledge there is but one Mediator. The rest of Lucem Gentium is nothing but more obfuscation of the issue.
It's trying to declare something, Mary as Mediatrix, as not being Mediatrix in place of Christ.
There is either one mediator or not. It's either Christ or mary....it cannot be both as having Mary as Mediatrix goes against the Word itself.
Now, will catholics stop calling Mary Mediatrix??
Yet those very writings are declared to be free of error!
- Regardless, those writings are not in accord with what is written in Lucem Gentium (LG) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).
I’m glad you acknowledge there is but one Mediator. The rest of Lucem Gentium is nothing but more obfuscation of the issue.
- I am merely acknowledging what is written in Lucem Gentium. Sorry that you consider it to be obfuscation.
It’s trying to declare something, Mary as Mediatrix, as not being Mediatrix in place of Christ.
- Exactly! As stated in LG 602, “Mary is invoked by the Church under the titles of Advocate, Auxiliatrix, Adjutrix, and Mediatrix. This, however, is to be so understood that it neither takes away from nor adds anything to the dignity and efficaciousness of Christ the one Mediator.”
There is either one mediator or not. It’s either Christ or mary....it cannot be both as having Mary as Mediatrix goes against the Word itself.
- The Catholic understanding is that Mary is Co-Mediator in full cooperation with Jesus, who is the one Mediator.
Now, will catholics stop calling Mary Mediatrix??
- Mary will continue to be invoked as Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix in cooperation with Jesus, the one Mediator.
This is the Catholic doctrine. I realize you do not agree with it, but I am explaining it as best I can in response to your statement that Catholics tend to be evasive. Maybe it’s like that Jeep thing. Marian doctrine is a Catholic thing, those who aren’t Catholic wouldn’t understand.
I think, more precisely, those who are too immersed in the post-Baconian reductionist mindset won't understand and will have no patience with it.
- Regardless, those writings are not in accord with what is written in Lucem Gentium (LG) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).
Well, that leaves us in a quandary. A catholic has approved the writing and another catholic says they're not legit.
This is what happens when the catholic deviates from the written Word. There is no standard against to which to measure which of these statements is correct as far as a catholic is concerned. Are the writings, which were declared to be free from error, correct? Or the CCC or LG?
Fortunately for the Christian there is a standard and that is the Word.
There is no quandary. Go with the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is the authoritative exposition of the one and perennial apostolic faith, and it serves as a “sure norm for teaching the faith,” as well as a “sure and authentic reference text” for preparing local catechisms for a Catholic. It is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition, and the Church’s Magisterium, and serves as the standard against which any writings are measured.
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I'm afraid to ask....
You eat a Lamb of God. Passover thing, right?
It will be dismissed as private revelation meaning take it or leave it. Catholics always have an escape hatch when the non-Biblical things of Catholicism are brought to light.
Are not those Catholic bishops who approved the writing not under church authority? If “”tradition” has been handed down as Catholics claim why are the writings Mary not to be on par with that of the ccc?
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