Catholic Heresy (for the record)
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"In his remarks at the synod’s close, Pope Francis mocked “so-called traditionalists” for their “hostile rigidity.”
That is one way of putting it. Another is that traditionalists believe moral truth does not change, nor can Catholic doctrines be altered.
Even a pope cannot do that.
Should such be attempted, the pope would be speaking heresy. And as it is Catholic doctrine that the pope is infallible, that he cannot err when speaking ex cathedra on faith and morals, this would imply that Francis was not a valid pope and the chair of Peter is empty."
The Price of Papal Popularity - Patrick J. Buchanan - Official Website
That is one way of putting it. Another is that traditionalists believe moral truth does not change, nor can Catholic doctrines be altered.
Even a pope cannot do that.
Should such be attempted, the pope would be speaking heresy. And as it is Catholic doctrine that the pope is infallible, that he cannot err when speaking ex cathedra on faith and morals, this would imply that Francis was not a valid pope and the chair of Peter is empty."
The Price of Papal Popularity - Patrick J. Buchanan - Official Website
What does this have to do with the topic? The Pope hasn't "changed" anything.
Pat Buchanan’s Dishonesty
Not unsurprisingly, Pat Buchanan has teed off on Pope Francis, and he has done so dishonestly. His latest column will stand for many others of the same sort that mix distortion, assertion, misleading rhetorical questions, dishonest extrapolations, and selective quotation to attack the pope. These writers want to hit him and they don’t seem concerned to hit fairly. People who complained of how the media misrepresented Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI have no problem using the same methods on Francis. And sadly, many conservative Catholics revel in watching the Holy Father get hit.
I’ll give two examples from the column. First, Buchanan writes:
In his remarks at the synod’s close, Pope Francis mocked “so-called traditionalists” for their “hostile rigidity.”
That is one way of putting it. Another is that traditionalists believe moral truth does not change, nor can Catholic doctrines be altered.
What did Francis say? He spoke, early in his address, of “moments of desolation, of tensions and temptations,” the Synod fathers had faced, and then gave some examples:
♦ One, a temptation to hostile inflexibility, that is, wanting to close oneself within the written word, (the letter) and not allowing oneself to be surprised by God, by the God of surprises, [the Spirit]; within the law, within the certitude of what we know and not of what we still need to learn and to achieve. From the time of Christ, it is the temptation of the zealous, of the scrupulous, of the solicitous and of the so-called – today — “traditionalists” and also of the intellectuals...
read more:
Get your facts straight.
The Catholic bashing thread title and opening post is about Mary, asserting a recent post reformist invention about her, And I am defending the position that the Ark of the Covenant is not just a box. I have said more than once the thread should be deleted, and as long as it stays up I will continue to remain ON TOPIC.
Pat Buchanan’s Dishonesty
Not unsurprisingly, Pat Buchanan has teed off on Pope Francis, and he has done so dishonestly. His latest column will stand for many others of the same sort that mix distortion, assertion, misleading rhetorical questions, dishonest extrapolations, and selective quotation to attack the pope. These writers want to hit him and they don’t seem concerned to hit fairly. People who complained of how the media misrepresented Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI have no problem using the same methods on Francis. And sadly, many conservative Catholics revel in watching the Holy Father get hit.
I’ll give two examples from the column. First, Buchanan writes:
In his remarks at the synod’s close, Pope Francis mocked “so-called traditionalists” for their “hostile rigidity.”
That is one way of putting it. Another is that traditionalists believe moral truth does not change, nor can Catholic doctrines be altered.
What did Francis say? He spoke, early in his address, of “moments of desolation, of tensions and temptations,” the Synod fathers had faced, and then gave some examples:
♦ One, a temptation to hostile inflexibility, that is, wanting to close oneself within the written word, (the letter) and not allowing oneself to be surprised by God, by the God of surprises, [the Spirit]; within the law, within the certitude of what we know and not of what we still need to learn and to achieve. From the time of Christ, it is the temptation of the zealous, of the scrupulous, of the solicitous and of the so-called – today — “traditionalists” and also of the intellectuals...
read more:
Get your facts straight.
The Catholic bashing thread title and opening post is about Mary, asserting a recent post reformist invention about her, And I am defending the position that the Ark of the Covenant is not just a box. I have said more than once the thread should be deleted, and as long as it stays up I will continue to remain ON TOPIC.
And the temple of God was opened in heaven: and the ark of his testament was seen in his temple, and there were lightnings, and voices, and an earthquake, and great hail. And a great portent appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars; she was with child and she cried out in her pangs of birth, in anguish for delivery.
I left out the chapter and verse numbers intentionally. This is Rev. 11:19 and Rev. 12:1-2. They flow together and are of the same topic, for the verses are linked with the word “and”. Chapter and verse numbers did not exist in any Bible until the 13th century.
The woman who bore the Messiah is the Blessed Virgin. Some interpreters say the woman is Israel, but if you look at verse 17, “Israel” can only be inferred, because Israel did not bear Christian OFFSPRING; Israel rejected Christ and the Gospel message, and all references to the Jewish priestly lineage was destroyed in 70 A.D. This is a reference to Mary.
Rev 12:15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war ON THE REST OF HER OFFSPRING, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
The Mother of Christ becomes the Bride of Christ on Calvary wherein her free, faith-filled consent to God's salvific will is brought to its highest achievement. Stand­ing beside the Cross of Jesus, Mary receives in perfect faith and love the "infinite fruitfulness" flowing from the open wound in Christ's Heart. The new Eve receives the outpoured life and overflowing grace of the new Adam, intimately cooperating through her unrestricted fiat in his mission of redemptive love. (its not Catholics that leave Jesus out of the picture when discussing Mary)
The Bride of Christ becomes Mother of the Church from the seed of spiritual fruitfulness which the immaculate Bride received from her crucified Son: his Body given and his Blood poured out. As Mother, Mary gives birth to the Church, again and again, throughout the ages.
getting back to the OFFSPRING. Ever commentator worth his salt will tell you that these offspring are the Church. Furthermore, John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
God said “woman” in Genesis 3:15, and He said “woman” in Rev. 12: >> The only two places in scripture where you have a woman and a serpent. Genesis and Revelation, the beginning and the end of the Bible.
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home
Why did Jesus say "woman" in John 19:26, and not "mother"? It relates to Genesis and it relates to Revelation.
I left out the chapter and verse numbers intentionally. This is Rev. 11:19 and Rev. 12:1-2. They flow together and are of the same topic, for the verses are linked with the word “and”. Chapter and verse numbers did not exist in any Bible until the 13th century.
The woman who bore the Messiah is the Blessed Virgin. Some interpreters say the woman is Israel, but if you look at verse 17, “Israel” can only be inferred, because Israel did not bear Christian OFFSPRING; Israel rejected Christ and the Gospel message, and all references to the Jewish priestly lineage was destroyed in 70 A.D. This is a reference to Mary.
Rev 12:15 The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood. 16 But the earth came to the help of the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river which the dragon had poured from his mouth. 17 Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war ON THE REST OF HER OFFSPRING, on those who keep the commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus. And he stood on the sand of the sea.
The Mother of Christ becomes the Bride of Christ on Calvary wherein her free, faith-filled consent to God's salvific will is brought to its highest achievement. Stand­ing beside the Cross of Jesus, Mary receives in perfect faith and love the "infinite fruitfulness" flowing from the open wound in Christ's Heart. The new Eve receives the outpoured life and overflowing grace of the new Adam, intimately cooperating through her unrestricted fiat in his mission of redemptive love. (its not Catholics that leave Jesus out of the picture when discussing Mary)
The Bride of Christ becomes Mother of the Church from the seed of spiritual fruitfulness which the immaculate Bride received from her crucified Son: his Body given and his Blood poured out. As Mother, Mary gives birth to the Church, again and again, throughout the ages.
getting back to the OFFSPRING. Ever commentator worth his salt will tell you that these offspring are the Church. Furthermore, John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.
God said “woman” in Genesis 3:15, and He said “woman” in Rev. 12: >> The only two places in scripture where you have a woman and a serpent. Genesis and Revelation, the beginning and the end of the Bible.
John 19:26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! 27 Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home
Why did Jesus say "woman" in John 19:26, and not "mother"? It relates to Genesis and it relates to Revelation.
G
He said "woman" because of the association He was setting up between Mary and the disciple in the point He was making to the disciple ( who most agree was John ). The sentence 'And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.' gives explanation to what He was saying to the disciple -- 'look after her / take care of her'.
It is not any more complex - or complicated - than that.
If the woman in the following passage is Mary, please explain the verses in red:
Revelation 12:
[SUP]1[/SUP] And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: [SUP]2[/SUP] And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. [SUP]3[/SUP] And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. [SUP]4[/SUP] And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. [SUP]5[/SUP] And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. [SUP]6[/SUP] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [SUP]7[/SUP] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [SUP]8[/SUP] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. [SUP]9[/SUP] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [SUP]10[/SUP] And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. [SUP]11[/SUP] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. [SUP]12[/SUP] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. [SUP]13[/SUP] And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [SUP]14[/SUP] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. [SUP]15[/SUP] And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. [SUP]16[/SUP] And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. [SUP]17[/SUP] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Notice the words 'remnant of her seed'. ( In this context, this word necessitates that they actually "came from" her. )
Is it not true that Catholics believe that Mary did not have any other children besides Jesus?
That being true, who exactly is the remnant of her seed?
It is not any more complex - or complicated - than that.
If the woman in the following passage is Mary, please explain the verses in red:
Revelation 12:
[SUP]1[/SUP] And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: [SUP]2[/SUP] And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. [SUP]3[/SUP] And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. [SUP]4[/SUP] And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. [SUP]5[/SUP] And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. [SUP]6[/SUP] And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days. [SUP]7[/SUP] And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, [SUP]8[/SUP] And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. [SUP]9[/SUP] And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. [SUP]10[/SUP] And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. [SUP]11[/SUP] And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. [SUP]12[/SUP] Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. [SUP]13[/SUP] And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child. [SUP]14[/SUP] And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. [SUP]15[/SUP] And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. [SUP]16[/SUP] And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth. [SUP]17[/SUP] And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Notice the words 'remnant of her seed'. ( In this context, this word necessitates that they actually "came from" her. )
Is it not true that Catholics believe that Mary did not have any other children besides Jesus?
That being true, who exactly is the remnant of her seed?
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Now you want to dismiss the conversation. You cannot "celebrate" a mass without crucifying Christ. Is it in the liturgy or not? You cannot find an empty cross in the Roman Catholic church.
I have shown you from the scriptures that there is only one sacrifice of Christ. If as you say you believe that Christ is resurrected why do you still have Him nailed to a cross?
Something just isn't adding up. Fess up don't cover up.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
I have shown you from the scriptures that there is only one sacrifice of Christ. If as you say you believe that Christ is resurrected why do you still have Him nailed to a cross?
Something just isn't adding up. Fess up don't cover up.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Actually you can find an empty cross in Catholic Churches. Jesus is still nailed to the cross in churches for the same reason that He is mentioned in the bible. Once having read a bible passage what is the point for reading the same passage again? This same principal applies. We read in the bible in Paul's writings how you look in the mirror to see who you are but once you turned away you immediately forget what you saw. Perhaps there are those of us with short spans of attention or have a problem retaining information. Bibles exist also for those who have never read the word of God and crosses exist in church for the same reason and that is to transform and renew the mind and change our heart of stone into a heart of flesh.
I have not seen it in the forty or so odd years I have been around the catholic church. I've not seen in the catholic hospital nor have I seen it in the many homes of catholic's I have visited. I can only wonder if rome even authorizes any catholic icons without Christ on the cross.
The bible does not tell us to make any images of this sort so it's really a matter of conscience.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
The bible does not tell us to make any images of this sort so it's really a matter of conscience.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Is that your way of admitting that you re-crucify Christ every time you "celebrate" a mass?
Imagery aside does the catholic church teach that Christ is crucified every time a mass is performed?
The church teaches at the communion that you are actually eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ before He was crucified.
I don't think you are being honest with yourself.
I certainly find it hard to harmonize the mass with Hebrews Christ is one time sacrificed for sins a perfect eternal sacrifice better than the blood of goats and bulls that needed to be offered over and over again but still could not provide forgiveness of sin.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Imagery aside does the catholic church teach that Christ is crucified every time a mass is performed?
The church teaches at the communion that you are actually eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ before He was crucified.
I don't think you are being honest with yourself.
I certainly find it hard to harmonize the mass with Hebrews Christ is one time sacrificed for sins a perfect eternal sacrifice better than the blood of goats and bulls that needed to be offered over and over again but still could not provide forgiveness of sin.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
No, the Church does not teach that Christ is crucified at every Mass. It teaches that the crucifixion is made present for us, because we are in the presence of God and all of the heavenly host (including all of the saints also), rejoicing and sharing in the sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Also, the Church does not teach that we eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ pre-crucifixion, but that we eat the living body and drink the blood of our Lord resurrected, for transubstantiation is only possible through the transfigured, glorified, and perfect body of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I'm not saying this to get into a debate on transubstantiation, but to give you the true teaching of the Church.)
Also, the Church does not teach that we eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ pre-crucifixion, but that we eat the living body and drink the blood of our Lord resurrected, for transubstantiation is only possible through the transfigured, glorified, and perfect body of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I'm not saying this to get into a debate on transubstantiation, but to give you the true teaching of the Church.)
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You are couching your words. You cannot tell it like it is or you would be embarrassed. What does it mean that the crucifixion is made present? Made present is not generally accepted as a remembrance. Your wording betrays your intent to be literal and not figurative in the mass as to the crucifixion of Christ.
Christ ate the passover with His disciples pre-resurrection not post. His body was changed but His blood was taken to the altar in heaven where it made atonement for our sin. Not a single drop of Christ's blood was lost. The elements of the communion are symbolic and not literal in any case.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Christ ate the passover with His disciples pre-resurrection not post. His body was changed but His blood was taken to the altar in heaven where it made atonement for our sin. Not a single drop of Christ's blood was lost. The elements of the communion are symbolic and not literal in any case.
For the cause of Christ
Roger
Excellent.
Note that Catholics present the cross with Jesus still on it. I was hospitalized in a Catholic hospital a few years ago and that thing was on the wall of my room. I managed to get up and remove it. Indeed they do regard the sacrifice of Jesus pre-resurrection as primary. Jesus paid that price for the resurrection from the dead. No sacrifice is valuable unless the intended objective is met in sacrificing. No Jew would have in old times yielded up a prize red bull if there was doubt as to how that action was accepted by God.
The cross of Christ was emptied. However, there is a cross for us to bear, not hang upon it. The whole concept of focus upon Jesus' death falls short of true doctrine of Christ. It is the same problem with magnifying veneration of mother Mary, rather than all glory due to Jesus, the one sent by God. Mary was simply a human woman who was blessed to bear the earthly suit of the Christ of God. She is due the same honor of all mothers on earth, but was blessed above all. So was John the Baptist blessed as greatest of prophets. He was given a very specific task, to reveal the Christ among men. Whatever our ministry task might be, all glory must be given to Jesus, whom God the Father renders glory. The Son passes that glory back to the Father.
The weakness of men tends towards religion rather than relationship. Religion is a lame substitute for the real relationship desired by God towards mankind. Jesus desired relationship, and still does. Know Jesus today. Don't let the former Jesus in the flesh on that cross consume your devotion to the resurrected Jesus, the Christ of God, His anointed One. He moved on. He is equal with the Father, in Heaven.
To involve a dead woman of earth in worship is necromancy. Mary died. Her spirit had the same destination all other dead in Christ obtain. She is numbered among the many in Heaven. The cross symbol of Christ on it is what I call "Don't Stop at your Nehushtan." That is explained in Joshua making a stone memorial at the Jordan River commemorating their entrance into Caanan. One tribe (half of it) with another tribe of Israel stayed back to serve that rock pile. That action caused many weaknesses for Israel the nation. It caused division. The RCC is about division, not unification of Christians.
No wonder they want to mix pre-resurrection events with TODAY in Christ!
Note that Catholics present the cross with Jesus still on it. I was hospitalized in a Catholic hospital a few years ago and that thing was on the wall of my room. I managed to get up and remove it. Indeed they do regard the sacrifice of Jesus pre-resurrection as primary. Jesus paid that price for the resurrection from the dead. No sacrifice is valuable unless the intended objective is met in sacrificing. No Jew would have in old times yielded up a prize red bull if there was doubt as to how that action was accepted by God.
The cross of Christ was emptied. However, there is a cross for us to bear, not hang upon it. The whole concept of focus upon Jesus' death falls short of true doctrine of Christ. It is the same problem with magnifying veneration of mother Mary, rather than all glory due to Jesus, the one sent by God. Mary was simply a human woman who was blessed to bear the earthly suit of the Christ of God. She is due the same honor of all mothers on earth, but was blessed above all. So was John the Baptist blessed as greatest of prophets. He was given a very specific task, to reveal the Christ among men. Whatever our ministry task might be, all glory must be given to Jesus, whom God the Father renders glory. The Son passes that glory back to the Father.
The weakness of men tends towards religion rather than relationship. Religion is a lame substitute for the real relationship desired by God towards mankind. Jesus desired relationship, and still does. Know Jesus today. Don't let the former Jesus in the flesh on that cross consume your devotion to the resurrected Jesus, the Christ of God, His anointed One. He moved on. He is equal with the Father, in Heaven.
To involve a dead woman of earth in worship is necromancy. Mary died. Her spirit had the same destination all other dead in Christ obtain. She is numbered among the many in Heaven. The cross symbol of Christ on it is what I call "Don't Stop at your Nehushtan." That is explained in Joshua making a stone memorial at the Jordan River commemorating their entrance into Caanan. One tribe (half of it) with another tribe of Israel stayed back to serve that rock pile. That action caused many weaknesses for Israel the nation. It caused division. The RCC is about division, not unification of Christians.
No wonder they want to mix pre-resurrection events with TODAY in Christ!
Actually, I'm not couching. When the Passover was celebrated the youngest of the house would ask the eldest of the house, "Why do we celebrate this day in particular?" The eldest would respond, "We celebrate this day, for on this day, God saved ME from bondage." The Jews believed that in celebration of the Passover meal, they were made present with those who celebrated the First Passover and all Jews who celebrated the Passover since and future.
We are made present, meaning that through the power of God, we are made present to the sufferings and resurrection of Christ. You forget that God is eternal and lives in eternity as do all the saints and the heavenly host.
You wish to place God in time and wish to hear what you want to hear from us, instead of realizing we are saying what we believe fully and straightforwardly. Yet, you continue to believe in the conspiracy of it all.
Attack the Mass all you want. It is the uniting of all of the Body of Christ. For as we look upon the bread and wine taking in the body and blood of Christ, they who are in Heaven look upon Christ in His fullness and take in the spectacle of the His body and blood feeding and nurishing and calling in all of the Body of Christ.
You want it to be a symbol and yet ignore John 6. You twist that Scripture to mean what you want it to, because it is "a hard teaching." While we look upon Christ and echo, "But to whom shall we go Lord, for you have the words of life?"
We are made present, meaning that through the power of God, we are made present to the sufferings and resurrection of Christ. You forget that God is eternal and lives in eternity as do all the saints and the heavenly host.
You wish to place God in time and wish to hear what you want to hear from us, instead of realizing we are saying what we believe fully and straightforwardly. Yet, you continue to believe in the conspiracy of it all.
Attack the Mass all you want. It is the uniting of all of the Body of Christ. For as we look upon the bread and wine taking in the body and blood of Christ, they who are in Heaven look upon Christ in His fullness and take in the spectacle of the His body and blood feeding and nurishing and calling in all of the Body of Christ.
You want it to be a symbol and yet ignore John 6. You twist that Scripture to mean what you want it to, because it is "a hard teaching." While we look upon Christ and echo, "But to whom shall we go Lord, for you have the words of life?"
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1 Cor. 1:23- Paul preaches a Christ crucified, not just risen. Catholic spirituality focuses on the sacrifice of Christ which is the only means to the resurrection. This is why Catholic churches have crucifixes with the corpus of Jesus affixed to them. Many Protestant churches no longer display the corpus of Jesus (only an empty cross). Thus, they only preach a Christ risen, not crucified.
1 Cor. 2:2 - Paul preaches Jesus Christ and Him crucified. While the cross was the scandal of scandals, and is viewed by the non-Christian eye as defeat, Catholic spirituality has always exalted the paradox of the cross as the true tree of life and our means to salvation.
Phil. 1:29 - for the sake of Christ we are not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake. Growing in holiness requires more than having faith in God and accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. We must also willfully embrace the suffering that befalls us as part of God's plan. Thus, Christ does not want our faith alone, but our faith in action which includes faith in suffering.
Phil. 3:10 - Paul desires to share in Christ's sufferings in order to obtain the resurrection. Paul recognizes the efficacy of suffering as a means of obtaining holiness which leads to resurrection and eternal life. There is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday. Scripture Catholic - SUFFERING
Col. 1:24 - Paul rejoices in his sufferings and completes what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body. This proves the Catholic position regarding the efficacy of suffering. Is there something lacking in Christ's sufferings? Of course not. But because Jesus loves us so much, He allows us to participate in His redemptive suffering by leaving room in His mystical body for our own suffering. Our suffering, united with our Lord's suffering, furthers the work of His redemption.
(Vatican Radio) “Why do Christians exalt the Cross of Christ?” asked Pope Francis of pilgrims and tourists Sunday who had gathered beneath the window of his study for the midday Angelus. Because, he told them, that Cross on which Christ was nailed “is the source of the mercy of God that embraces the whole world”. It’s not just any cross, it is the source of our salvation.
And today – on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – the Pope said we should pray for Christians who are being persecuted and killed because of their faith in Christ. “This happens especially there where religious freedom is still not guaranteed or fully realized. It happens, however, even in well-to-do countries which, in principle, protect freedom and human rights, but where in practice believers, and especially Christians, encounter restrictions and discrimination. So today we remember them and pray especially for them”.
reflections before the Angelus prayer:
Dear brothers and sisters,
On September 14th the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Some non-Christian person might ask: why "exalt" the Cross? We can say that we do not exalt just any cross any or all crosses: we exalt the Cross of Jesus, because God’s love for humanity was revealed most in it. That's what the Gospel of John reminds us in today's liturgy: "God so loved the world that He gave only begotten Son" (3:16). The Father has "given" the Son to save us, and this has resulted in the death of Jesus and His death on the Cross. Why? Why was the Cross necessary? Because of the gravity of the evil which kept us slaves. The Cross of Jesus expresses both things: all the negative forces of evil, and all of the gentle omnipotence God’s mercy. The Cross would appear to declare Christ’s failure, but in reality marks His victory. On Calvary, those who mocked him said, 'If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross "(cf. Mt 27,40). But it was the opposite that was true: it was because Jesus was the Son of God, that He was there, on the Cross, faithful to the end to the loving plan of the Father. And for this reason God has "exalted" Jesus (Philippians 2.9), conferring universal kingship on Him.
So what do we see, when we look to the Cross where Jesus was nailed? We contemplate the sign of the infinite love of God for each of us and the source of our salvation. That Cross is the source of the mercy of God that embraces the whole world. Through the Cross of Christ the evil one is overcome death is defeated, we are gifted life, hope is restored. This is important: Through the Cross of Christ hope is restored. The Cross of Jesus is our only true hope! That is why the Church "exalts" the Holy Cross, which is why we Christians bless ourselves with the sign of the cross. That is, we don’t exalt crosses but THE glorious Cross of Christ, a sign of God’s love, our salvation and journey towards the resurrection. This is our hope.
The Pope also warned against considering the cross a sign "magic": "The Holy Cross .... is not a sign of 'magic'! Belief in the Cross of Jesus involves following Him on his path. Thus Christians collaborate in His work of salvation by accepting together with Him sacrifice, suffering, even death for the love of God and neighbor".
While we contemplate and celebrate the Holy Cross, we think emotionally of so many of our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted and killed because of their faith in Christ. This happens especially there where religious freedom is still not guaranteed or fully realized. It happens, however, even in well-to-do countries which, in principle, protect freedom and human rights, but where in practice believers, and especially Christians, encounter restrictions and discrimination. So today we remember them and pray especially for them.
Pope Francis
A crucifix is not an idol, it is a reminder of God's love. It ascends the mind in prayer, a prayer before a crucifix doesn't stop at a piece of wood or plaster, something anti-Catholics cannot or will not understand.
1 Cor. 2:2 - Paul preaches Jesus Christ and Him crucified. While the cross was the scandal of scandals, and is viewed by the non-Christian eye as defeat, Catholic spirituality has always exalted the paradox of the cross as the true tree of life and our means to salvation.
Phil. 1:29 - for the sake of Christ we are not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake. Growing in holiness requires more than having faith in God and accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. We must also willfully embrace the suffering that befalls us as part of God's plan. Thus, Christ does not want our faith alone, but our faith in action which includes faith in suffering.
Phil. 3:10 - Paul desires to share in Christ's sufferings in order to obtain the resurrection. Paul recognizes the efficacy of suffering as a means of obtaining holiness which leads to resurrection and eternal life. There is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday. Scripture Catholic - SUFFERING
Col. 1:24 - Paul rejoices in his sufferings and completes what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body. This proves the Catholic position regarding the efficacy of suffering. Is there something lacking in Christ's sufferings? Of course not. But because Jesus loves us so much, He allows us to participate in His redemptive suffering by leaving room in His mystical body for our own suffering. Our suffering, united with our Lord's suffering, furthers the work of His redemption.
(Vatican Radio) “Why do Christians exalt the Cross of Christ?” asked Pope Francis of pilgrims and tourists Sunday who had gathered beneath the window of his study for the midday Angelus. Because, he told them, that Cross on which Christ was nailed “is the source of the mercy of God that embraces the whole world”. It’s not just any cross, it is the source of our salvation.
And today – on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – the Pope said we should pray for Christians who are being persecuted and killed because of their faith in Christ. “This happens especially there where religious freedom is still not guaranteed or fully realized. It happens, however, even in well-to-do countries which, in principle, protect freedom and human rights, but where in practice believers, and especially Christians, encounter restrictions and discrimination. So today we remember them and pray especially for them”.
reflections before the Angelus prayer:
Dear brothers and sisters,
On September 14th the Church celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Some non-Christian person might ask: why "exalt" the Cross? We can say that we do not exalt just any cross any or all crosses: we exalt the Cross of Jesus, because God’s love for humanity was revealed most in it. That's what the Gospel of John reminds us in today's liturgy: "God so loved the world that He gave only begotten Son" (3:16). The Father has "given" the Son to save us, and this has resulted in the death of Jesus and His death on the Cross. Why? Why was the Cross necessary? Because of the gravity of the evil which kept us slaves. The Cross of Jesus expresses both things: all the negative forces of evil, and all of the gentle omnipotence God’s mercy. The Cross would appear to declare Christ’s failure, but in reality marks His victory. On Calvary, those who mocked him said, 'If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross "(cf. Mt 27,40). But it was the opposite that was true: it was because Jesus was the Son of God, that He was there, on the Cross, faithful to the end to the loving plan of the Father. And for this reason God has "exalted" Jesus (Philippians 2.9), conferring universal kingship on Him.
So what do we see, when we look to the Cross where Jesus was nailed? We contemplate the sign of the infinite love of God for each of us and the source of our salvation. That Cross is the source of the mercy of God that embraces the whole world. Through the Cross of Christ the evil one is overcome death is defeated, we are gifted life, hope is restored. This is important: Through the Cross of Christ hope is restored. The Cross of Jesus is our only true hope! That is why the Church "exalts" the Holy Cross, which is why we Christians bless ourselves with the sign of the cross. That is, we don’t exalt crosses but THE glorious Cross of Christ, a sign of God’s love, our salvation and journey towards the resurrection. This is our hope.
The Pope also warned against considering the cross a sign "magic": "The Holy Cross .... is not a sign of 'magic'! Belief in the Cross of Jesus involves following Him on his path. Thus Christians collaborate in His work of salvation by accepting together with Him sacrifice, suffering, even death for the love of God and neighbor".
While we contemplate and celebrate the Holy Cross, we think emotionally of so many of our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted and killed because of their faith in Christ. This happens especially there where religious freedom is still not guaranteed or fully realized. It happens, however, even in well-to-do countries which, in principle, protect freedom and human rights, but where in practice believers, and especially Christians, encounter restrictions and discrimination. So today we remember them and pray especially for them.
Pope Francis
A crucifix is not an idol, it is a reminder of God's love. It ascends the mind in prayer, a prayer before a crucifix doesn't stop at a piece of wood or plaster, something anti-Catholics cannot or will not understand.
Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34 - Jesus said, "if any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Jesus wants us to empty ourselves so that God can fill us. When we suffer, we can choose to seek consolation in God and become closer to Jesus.
Luke 9:23 - Jesus says we must take up this cross daily. He requires us to join our daily temporal sacrifices (pain, inconvenience, worry) with His eternal sacrifice.