"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:18)
Why Confession?
Short Answer: Jesus
told the Apostles that they can absolve sin on Earth. ( It is a bit
funny, Protestants say ''Sola Scriptura,' but you can find the
Sacraments in the bible)
Conversation: If you are
honest, you can surely admit that we keep many 'sins' or transgressions
to ourselves. And we even hide many from OUR OWN SELVES! We humans are
very much wired to protect our selves. Protect that which we love.
Protect that which angers us. Protect us from that which scares us.
What scares us more than telling a priest ( a man in cloth) what we have
done to others, the ones we love, and ourselves. It is a very
vulnerable moment.
The practice of Reconciliation is a bit to do
with courage. Imagine that you have passed away. You face Jesus, and
He will tell you your sins. Would you be ready for that? Isn't that
much more scary than telling a priest? We are very aware we deceive
ourselves, and there is no time left for deception or question. We are
told to go to confession so we can be confident. It is a gift to which
we can not give ourselves. With this confidence, can we have a bit more
peace in our hearts when we meet our judge. This should not be taken lightly. The sacraments bring us closer to God through the Holy Spirit and prepare us for the moment we are to be judged. If you do not feel you are ready to meet Jesus, you are (probably,surely) not. Then open your heart to the reality of confession in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the sacred sacrament of Confession. The protest against
Reconciliation, in its roots, is the very protest of man against God.
We put everything in earthly terms. We tell ourselves, ''Why do I have
to tell a priest what I have done?'' What we should say, ''If I can not
tell a priest what I have done, will I be honest enough to face my
judgement?''
I would like to suggest some ways we deceive ourselves
in maybe two ways of many: 1) We want forgiveness more than we are sorry
for our sins. We seek forgiveness and peace and not really have
sorrow. 2) We obstruct truth, we purposely forget, we tell ourselves
that things are Ok despite the feelings or perception of others. We
project little problems to our actions because we justify things to
ourself. ''No, I shouldn't be sorry, because I was only angry because
they made me angry. OR Well, I really didn''t truly mean what I said,
so they may be mad, but I know what I truly feel. OR I didn't lie. I
just didn't think they needed to know my business.''
Aside from us
deceiving ourselves, I think it is worth the discussion to mention how
we are social creatures, and how our faith is to lived outwardly towards
others. Jesus said,'' Love your neighbors as yourself.'' In
Reconciliation we can meet this requirement by being honest with our
neighbors and sharing our transgressions bravely and confidently with a
neighbor in body, but a neighbor in spirit through a priest. The more
we give the more we receive, the more we give up our pride and
insecurity and confess our transgressions, the more we receive a
communion with the Holy Spirit and with others! When we live out our
faith, our faith is also growing outwardly, and thus our faith is
inviting our neighbors into our faith. What love for neighbor can be
better than inviting the community into your faith. Don't be fooled, we
are social creatures, we are to live socially, and we are to pray
socially, and we are to live out our faith socially.
The more we
put into society, the more we get out. The more we put into faith, the
more we get out. Reconciliation is a call for outward faith. A faith
that says, do not hide your religion within, live it out, even when you
sin. Forgiveness is one of the greatest aspects of love. When we
confess, we should not be afraid, we should honor the love of God. It
is the way we are to live. Honor God, trust in His words, when His
priest absolve our sin, we should leave confident that our souls are
healed that we no longer face our past, but move onward with a but more
strength in spirit.
ANOTHER'S COMMENTARY
http://voices.yahoo.com/defending-catholic-faith-confession-218027.html
Why should I believe that a priest has the power to forgive my sins? Why
can't I just tell my sins to Jesus in private without confessing them
to a priest? What is the purpose of Reconciliation anyway? There are
many difficult questions when discussing Confession, also known as the
Sacrament of Reconciliation. But Jesus does give us the answer within
the Bible and we can look to his powerful words to give us clues as to
why the Sacrament of Reconciliation exists.
First, however, we
should think about why we need the Sacrament of Reconciliation and
penance. Reconciliation, or confession, of our sins is necessary to know
absolutely, 100% for sure that our sins that we commit here on Earth
are forgiven. Sure, we could confess our sins in the privacy of our own
homes in our hearts to God, but there are a couple complications to that
process. First, how often would we truly use this practice? One could
go years without actually confessing sins to God in their own heart.
Confessing one's sins with a priest helps us to make the sacrament real.
Second, when and if we do confess our sins in our heart instead of
within the confines of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, is one really
sure that he or she is cleansed of that sin? When one enters the
confessional, however, and goes through the Sacrament of Reconciliation
with the priest, he or she is absolutely certain that their sins are
forgiven.
The Gospel of John has Jesus' words that institute the
sacrament of Confession. Jesus commissions his disciples in Chapter 20,
verses 22 and 23, to go out and forgive sins in this power of His name.
Jesus says, "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins
you retain are retained." This verse is pretty much self-explanatory
because it gives Jesus' apostles the power to forgive sins. It is the
basis for the Sacrament of Confession. Jesus passed the authority on to
his Apostles, and this power has been conferred on to priests, bishops,
and popes all throughout the ages.
In Jesus' words we find that
He gave his Apostles the authority to forgive sins, and through that,
established the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This sacrament, which gives
us assurance that our sins are erased completely, has blessed the
Catholic Church for many ages, and will continue to be a source of
powerful healing for ages to come!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Personal Relationship
FOR MY WIFE.
IN UNITY OF TWO LIVES FOR ONE SACRED BLESSING OF DEVOTION
I recently told my wife that Faith in Jesus is like that of a husband-wife. It is not enough just to 'know you have a husband,'' but to believe your husband will behave and live as a husband.
This is for my wife of which whom I have a personal relationship and a certain calling.
That’s to say, we don’t criticize the experience, the sincerity, the heartfelt religious zeal or the undoubted energy and love for Christ that most Evangelicals present. The problem we have is not that this experience is highly subjective and emotional, but that sometimes this is all it is. Because it is highly subjective the “Jesus” the Evangelical has a personal relationship with may simply be a projection of his own desires, his own culture or the values, goals and dreams of his own context.
Furthermore, because the religious experience is pleasant he may only seek the “Jesus” experience that makes him feel good. This sometimes leads Evangelicals on an endless quest for the church or the religious experience that promises to give them the same wonderful “relationship with Jesus” that they had before.
Catholicism (and mature Protestantism) says there is more to this than your emotions. Don’t trust your emotions only. The real Jesus is bigger and more dangerous than your pleasant emotional experiences. Remember you must take up your cross and follow him if you would be his disciple.
Catholicism also insists that there is an objective truth and reality that strengthens and validates the personal experience of Jesus. The Church, the Catechism, the lives of the saints, the Scriptures, the sacraments–all these are the solid, sure and secure objective aspects to the faith which ground and make real the “personal relationship with Jesus”.
This is why, in the end, Catholics should be happy for the faithful to have “a personal relationship with Jesus” but that relationship is made solid and real and substantial by day by day commitment to prayer, the sacraments and the works of mercy. So do Catholics “have a personal relationship with Jesus”? Of course. Every time we go to confession we go down on our knees, repent of our sins and accept the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and vow on to sin again. Do we receive Jesus by faith? Of course. Every time we go to Mass we begin by asking forgiveness, repenting of our sins, we read the Bible, affirm our faith and then come forward for the “altar call” when we receive Christ not only into our hearts, but into our mouths and stomach. In these ways and many more we re-affirm and re-experience our “personal relationship with Jesus” but this is done so through the normal routine of Catholic religious life. Sometimes there are wonderful experiences associated with these things. Many times there are not.
Finally, the best way to think about this is marriage. It’s great to fall in love. It’s wonderful to have those feelings and emotions of passion and affection. All of that leads to a wedding. But a marriage is the daily grind–the hard work of love. Marriage is “for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part”.
Same with the “personal relationship with Jesus” and it’s no mistake therefore that Jesus calls the church his “bride” and that he is the “bridegroom” and there is so much nuptial imagery in the Bible. This is what our relationship with Christ is like. We’re married to him, and marriage is full of hard work and sacrifice, but it is also full of love, and life and ultimate glory.
IN UNITY OF TWO LIVES FOR ONE SACRED BLESSING OF DEVOTION
I recently told my wife that Faith in Jesus is like that of a husband-wife. It is not enough just to 'know you have a husband,'' but to believe your husband will behave and live as a husband.
This is for my wife of which whom I have a personal relationship and a certain calling.
A Personal Relationship with Jesus
For an Evangelical Christian the “personal relationship with Jesus” has very little to do with the Church, the sacraments or any external, objective verification of the religious experience. Consequently, while this sort of conversion experience and lifestyle is to be welcomed, Catholics also have some criticisms of it. We don’t criticize it for what it is. We criticize it for what it isn’t.That’s to say, we don’t criticize the experience, the sincerity, the heartfelt religious zeal or the undoubted energy and love for Christ that most Evangelicals present. The problem we have is not that this experience is highly subjective and emotional, but that sometimes this is all it is. Because it is highly subjective the “Jesus” the Evangelical has a personal relationship with may simply be a projection of his own desires, his own culture or the values, goals and dreams of his own context.
Furthermore, because the religious experience is pleasant he may only seek the “Jesus” experience that makes him feel good. This sometimes leads Evangelicals on an endless quest for the church or the religious experience that promises to give them the same wonderful “relationship with Jesus” that they had before.
Catholicism (and mature Protestantism) says there is more to this than your emotions. Don’t trust your emotions only. The real Jesus is bigger and more dangerous than your pleasant emotional experiences. Remember you must take up your cross and follow him if you would be his disciple.
Catholicism also insists that there is an objective truth and reality that strengthens and validates the personal experience of Jesus. The Church, the Catechism, the lives of the saints, the Scriptures, the sacraments–all these are the solid, sure and secure objective aspects to the faith which ground and make real the “personal relationship with Jesus”.
This is why, in the end, Catholics should be happy for the faithful to have “a personal relationship with Jesus” but that relationship is made solid and real and substantial by day by day commitment to prayer, the sacraments and the works of mercy. So do Catholics “have a personal relationship with Jesus”? Of course. Every time we go to confession we go down on our knees, repent of our sins and accept the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and vow on to sin again. Do we receive Jesus by faith? Of course. Every time we go to Mass we begin by asking forgiveness, repenting of our sins, we read the Bible, affirm our faith and then come forward for the “altar call” when we receive Christ not only into our hearts, but into our mouths and stomach. In these ways and many more we re-affirm and re-experience our “personal relationship with Jesus” but this is done so through the normal routine of Catholic religious life. Sometimes there are wonderful experiences associated with these things. Many times there are not.
Finally, the best way to think about this is marriage. It’s great to fall in love. It’s wonderful to have those feelings and emotions of passion and affection. All of that leads to a wedding. But a marriage is the daily grind–the hard work of love. Marriage is “for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death do us part”.
Same with the “personal relationship with Jesus” and it’s no mistake therefore that Jesus calls the church his “bride” and that he is the “bridegroom” and there is so much nuptial imagery in the Bible. This is what our relationship with Christ is like. We’re married to him, and marriage is full of hard work and sacrifice, but it is also full of love, and life and ultimate glory.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Hosts of Host
I do not seek, but I have seen
I do not pray, but I have recited
I do not long, but I have acquired
These are the lies of my soul
These are the lies which lie within
I am a creature of distaste
As much as one of habitual sin
It is not only in trust I beckon
It is not only in fault I repent
When I was unaware
You a friend
When I was weary in my own tent
You never departed
And you sent
The Holy Host
The host of hosts
The ghost of the most
The genius within
Lies not within my sight
Lies not within my words
Lies not within my gatherings
For you are Light
For you are the word
For you are communion
The communion of grace
The promise of peace
The host of our hungry souls
I do not pray, but I have recited
I do not long, but I have acquired
These are the lies of my soul
These are the lies which lie within
I am a creature of distaste
As much as one of habitual sin
It is not only in trust I beckon
It is not only in fault I repent
When I was unaware
You a friend
When I was weary in my own tent
You never departed
And you sent
The Holy Host
The host of hosts
The ghost of the most
The genius within
Lies not within my sight
Lies not within my words
Lies not within my gatherings
For you are Light
For you are the word
For you are communion
The communion of grace
The promise of peace
The host of our hungry souls
Jesus' Sacrifice Promised in All Ages
Much of the Bible makes one think...... We only need Faith and Jesus taught to be suspicious of the 'high priest'
That Faith alone, I reflect on in my blog ''Does God only Demand Faith?''
And the faith that is often promised to salvation, is not one of 'faith in existence' but 'faith in His message and His promise'
So to have True Faith, we need to understand His 'promises'
It is like a husband and a wife..... A wife does not need to have faith that her husband is her husband, she knows he is her husband, She has the paper to prove it..... BUT it is the faith she ahs that he ''will behave and live as a husband' ... That is the Faith that Jesus and the Bible speaks to when they say... that we will be saved in Faith..... Faith in the promise!!
THERE IS NO ACCIDENT THIS VERSE IS NEARLY ALWAYS READ AT A MARRIAGE!
1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Back to the mission of Jesus and the Church
Here is a striking statement by Jesus:
New International Version (©1984) Matthew 28: 20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
He obeys and commands us to His teachings, and He promises to be with us at the end.
Was Jesus suspicious of the 'high priest?'' YES!
So what happened to the ''high priest'' of whom he was suspicious?
To simplify the Church, we know Jesus came to bring a new covenant with Him as the mediatrix of our Faith. Jesus said there was no longer use fo the Temple to make sacrifices because Jesus is the sacrifice. In Jesus' sacrifice, we STILL experience the sacrifice in the Eucharist. Jesus promised the Eucharist. So the role of the priest is different, not to accept sacrifices, but to do as Jesus said and give us Jesus in the Body and Blood of Jesus. The Eucharist is the HEART OF THE NEW COVENANT.
When one understands the promise of the Eucharist! and understands that he said ''I am with you always, to the very end of the age'' one can hopefully have faith in the priest.
If there was no Ressurection and there is no promise of Eucharist. There is no Church. Simple as that.But He did ressurrect! He did promise to be present with us to the end of ages in the Eucharist!
But we do not stop there, we need to do as He ''commanded'. Jesus was baptized we were baptized. Jesus defined marriage, we must live by those descriptions of marriage. And here are all Seven Sacraments which are in the Bible.
Baptism
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Gospel of John 3:5
"Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father who sent me, even so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them,"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. "
Gospel of John 20:21-23 Holy Matrimony
He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
Gospel of Matthew 19:4-6
Holy Orders"for I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Anointing of the Sick
"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
James 5:14
So, four of the sacraments is shown in the Bible outside of the Gospel. But we must remember Matthew 28 : 20.
New International Version (©1984) Matthew 28: 20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
So it is to be trusted in Faith, that the Apostles did just that. That they taught us was what Jesus commanded, and when then are to carry that teaching as True to Jesus' teachings.
That Faith alone, I reflect on in my blog ''Does God only Demand Faith?''
And the faith that is often promised to salvation, is not one of 'faith in existence' but 'faith in His message and His promise'
So to have True Faith, we need to understand His 'promises'
It is like a husband and a wife..... A wife does not need to have faith that her husband is her husband, she knows he is her husband, She has the paper to prove it..... BUT it is the faith she ahs that he ''will behave and live as a husband' ... That is the Faith that Jesus and the Bible speaks to when they say... that we will be saved in Faith..... Faith in the promise!!
THERE IS NO ACCIDENT THIS VERSE IS NEARLY ALWAYS READ AT A MARRIAGE!
1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Back to the mission of Jesus and the Church
Here is a striking statement by Jesus:
New International Version (©1984) Matthew 28: 20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
He obeys and commands us to His teachings, and He promises to be with us at the end.
Was Jesus suspicious of the 'high priest?'' YES!
So what happened to the ''high priest'' of whom he was suspicious?
To simplify the Church, we know Jesus came to bring a new covenant with Him as the mediatrix of our Faith. Jesus said there was no longer use fo the Temple to make sacrifices because Jesus is the sacrifice. In Jesus' sacrifice, we STILL experience the sacrifice in the Eucharist. Jesus promised the Eucharist. So the role of the priest is different, not to accept sacrifices, but to do as Jesus said and give us Jesus in the Body and Blood of Jesus. The Eucharist is the HEART OF THE NEW COVENANT.
When one understands the promise of the Eucharist! and understands that he said ''I am with you always, to the very end of the age'' one can hopefully have faith in the priest.
If there was no Ressurection and there is no promise of Eucharist. There is no Church. Simple as that.But He did ressurrect! He did promise to be present with us to the end of ages in the Eucharist!
"I am
the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this
bread, he will live forever;and the bread which I shall give for the
life of the world is my flesh. The
Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us
his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will
raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood
is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he
who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down
from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this
bread will live forever."
Gospel of John 6:51-58 But we do not stop there, we need to do as He ''commanded'. Jesus was baptized we were baptized. Jesus defined marriage, we must live by those descriptions of marriage. And here are all Seven Sacraments which are in the Bible.
Baptism
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Gospel of John 3:5
"Now
when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word
of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for
them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen
on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord
Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy
Spirit."
Acts of the Apostles 8:14-17
"I am
the living bread which came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this
bread, he will live forever;and the bread which I shall give for the
life of the world is my flesh. The
Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us
his flesh to eat?" So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will
raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood
is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he
who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down
from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this
bread will live forever."
"for
I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord
Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had
given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Gospel of John 6:51-58
Confession"Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father who sent me, even so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them,"Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. "
Gospel of John 20:21-23 Holy Matrimony
He answered, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, `For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder."
Gospel of Matthew 19:4-6
Holy Orders"for I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
1 Corinthians 11:23-25
Anointing of the Sick
"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."
James 5:14
So, four of the sacraments is shown in the Bible outside of the Gospel. But we must remember Matthew 28 : 20.
New International Version (©1984) Matthew 28: 20
and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
So it is to be trusted in Faith, that the Apostles did just that. That they taught us was what Jesus commanded, and when then are to carry that teaching as True to Jesus' teachings.
Monday, February 18, 2013
Real Story -Augustine and the Eucharist
In the video below, a 'catholic' named Garry Wills claims St. Augustine didn't believe in the substantiation of the Eucharist: follow the link.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/423715/february-11-2013/garry-wills
It has been said that Augustine DID question the presence when he first converted, but as this quotes show he grew in his understanding and belief.
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/423715/february-11-2013/garry-wills
It has been said that Augustine DID question the presence when he first converted, but as this quotes show he grew in his understanding and belief.
- St. Augustine, Sermons, [227] A.D. 391-430:
... I promised you, who have now been baptized, a sermon in which I would explain the Sacrament of the Lord's Table, which you now look upon and of which you last night were made participants. You ought to know what you have received, what you are going to receive, and what you ought to receive daily. That Bread which you see on the altar, having been sanctified by the word of God, is the Body of Christ. That chalice, or rather, what is in that chalice, having been sanctified by the word of God, is the Blood of Christ. Through that bread and wine the Lord Christ willed to commend His Body and Blood, which He poured out for us unto the forgiveness of sins. If you receive worthily, you are what you have received.
- St. Augustine, Sermons, [272] A.D. 391-430:
What you see is the bread and the chalice; that is what your own eyes report to you. But what your faith obliges you to accept is that the bread is the Body of Christ and the chalice the Blood of Christ. ... How is the bread His Body? And the chalice, or what is in the chalice, how is it His Blood? Those elements, brethren, are called Sacraments, because in them one thing is seen, but another is understood. What is seen is the corporeal species, but what is understood is the spiritual fruit. ... `You, however, are the Body of Christ and His members.' If, therefore, you are the Body of Christ and His members, your mystery is presented at the table of the Lord, you receive your mystery. To that which you are, you answer: `Amen'; and by answering, you subscribe to it. For you hear: `The Body of Christ!' and you answer: `Amen!' Be a member of Christ's Body, so that your `Amen' may be the truth.
- St. Augustine, Explanations on the Psalms, [33, 1, 10] A.D. 392-418:
`And he was carried in his own hands [3 Kgs 20:13 LXX? corrupted].' But, brethren, how is it possible for a man to do this? Who can understand it? Who is it that is carried in his own hands? A man can be carried in the hands of another; but no one can be carried in his own hands. How this should be understood literally of David, we cannot discover; but we can discover how it was meant of Christ. For Christ was carried in His own hands, when, referring to His own Body, He said: `This is My Body.' For He carried that Body in His hands.
- St. Augustine, Explanations on the Psalms, [98, 9] A.D. 392-418:
And adore the footstool of His feet, because it is holy [Psalm 98:9, LXX 99:9]. . .In another place in the Scripture it says: `The heavens are my throne, but the earth is the footstool of My feet' [Isa 66:1] Is it the earth, then, that He commands us to adore, since in this other place the earth is called the footstool of God's feet? . . . I am put in jeopardy by such a dilemma (Anceps factus sum): I am afraid to adore the earth lest He that made heaven and earth condemn me; again, I am afraid not to adore the footstool of My Lord's feet, but because the Psalm does say to me: `Adore the footstool of My feet.' I ask what the footstool of His feet is; and Scripture tells me: `The earth is the footstool of my feet.' Perplexed, I turn to Christ, because it is He whom I seek here; and I discover how the earth is adored without impiety, how without impiety the footstool of His feet is adored. For He received earth from earth; because flesh is from earth, and He took flesh from the flesh of Mary. He walked here in the same flesh, and gave us the same flesh to be eaten unto salvation. But no one eats that flesh unless he adores it ; and thus it is discovered how such a footstool of the Lord's feet is adored; and not only do we not sin by adoring, we do sin by not adoring.
- St. Augustine, Explanations on the Psalms, A.D. 392-418, [98, 9]:
`Unless he shall have eaten My flesh he shall not have eternal life. [John 6:54-55]' [Some] understood this foolishly, and thought of it carnally, and supposed that the Lord was going to cut off some parts of His Body to give them ... But He instructed them, and said to them: `It is the spirit that gives life; but the flesh profits nothing: the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life' [John 6:64]. Understand spiritually what I said. You are not to eat this Body which you see, nor to drink that Blood which which will be poured out by those who will crucify Me. I have commended to you a certain Sacrament; spiritually understood, it will give you life. And even if it is necessary that this be celebrated visibly, it must still be understood invisibly.
- St. Augustine, The Trinity, [3, 4, 10] A.D. 400-416:
Paul was able to preach the Lord Jesus Christ by means of signs, in one way by his letters, in another way by the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood; for when we speak of the Body of Christ and of His Blood, certainly we do not mean Paul's speaking, nor his parchments nor his ink, nor the meaning of the sounds issuing from his tongue, nor the signs of letters written on skins. By the Body and Blood of Christ we refer only to that which has been received from the fruits of the earth and has been consecrated by the mystical prayer, and has been ritually taken for our spiritual health in memory of what the Lord suffered for us.
- St. Augustine, 172,2, circa 400 A.D.:
For the whole Church observes this practice which was handed down by the Fathers: that it prayers for those who have died in the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, when they are commemorated in their own place in the sacrifice itself; and the sacrifice is offered also in memory of them on their behalf.
- St. Augustine, "Homilies on the Gospel of John", 26, 13, 417 A.D.:
O Sacrament of piety! O sign of unity! O Bread of love! He who desires life finds here a place to live in and the means to live by. Let him approach, let him believe, let him be incorporated so that he may receive life. Let him not refuse union with the members, let him not be a corrupt member, deserving to be cut off, nor a disfigured member to be ashamed of. Let him be a grateful, fitting and healthy member. Let him cleave to the body, let him live by God and for God. Let him now labor here on earth, that he may afterwards reign in heaven.
- St. Augustine, The City of God, 10, 5; 10,20, c. 426:
The fact that our fathers of old offered sacrifices with beasts for victims, which the present-day people of God read about but do not do, is to be understood in no way but this: that those things signified the things that we do in order to draw near to God and to recommend to our neighbor the same purpose. A visible sacrifice, therefore, is the sacrament, that is to say, the sacred sign, of an invisible sacrifice. . . . Christ is both the Priest, offering Himself, and Himself the Victim. He willed that the sacramental sign of this should be the daily sacrifice of the Church, who, since the Church is His body and He the Head, learns to offer herself through Him.
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Does God only demand Faith?
Please read my previous post on Salvation outside the Church before you read this where I evaluate the Protestant ''Sola Fide'' ( By Faith Alone)
SOLA FIDE
I am sure it has been examined before, but nowhere I have seen. But I recently considered the story of Adam and Eve.
If all we need is FAITH? Then why was Adam and Eve ever punished? They did not need faith, they knew God. Faith is that gift where we do not yet fully know God, but we believe in His word which has been revealed through various apostles and disciples, and in Jesus himself.
Lucifer himself was in Heaven. Yet he fell.
God has a will. That implies that he is demanding us to something, and it makes little sense to say 'faith alone' when those that had known Him were punished.
Lucifer, Adam and Eve did not follow God's Will. They chose their own will, and their disobedience did not satisfy God so He punished them.
If we seriously examine this, we see that God does demand something in us. The ''faith'' that we are asked to have is in His Will, not necessarily a ''belief in Him.'' As Adam & Eve and Lucifer surely 'believed he existed.' They knew Him.
We are to have faith in what He wants for us, and not believe He exist and have faith that this is enough for Him.
I heard once of a vision of Heaven where people were walking around praying and singing. They were not ski diving, watching TV, or doing any of those pleasurable things we know in this material world. They were praying and singing in His glory, worshipping Him.
God calls us to worship Him in Body, Heart, Soul and Mind. After the age of sin after the fall of Adam and Eve, we see incest and murder in the Bible even at the time of Abraham, the patriarch of the One True God.
Let's continue to evaluate this call to do God's Will. Abraham believed in God, but that wasn't enough. God tested His faith in doing what God asked of Abraham, by almost sacrificing his only son. But God intervened before the death, and God loved Abraham for believing in his will, not only believing in his existence.
But the understanding of who God was was still not clear. God came to Moses to give him a covenant of the 10 commandments. In these commandments, God called the chosen people to find a way to His will. He called them to stop the various sins and to have faith in the 10 commandments. To have faith that this is what God wants us to do in worshiping Him.
Then let's go to Mary. The wonderful, best human who was not Christ himself. God did not only ask Mary to have belief that Jesus would be His only Son, but to give in to the will of God., and she did it so perfectly that she said said a resounding YES to the call of God.
Lastly, consider Jesus's mission. What mission did Jesus have to the Jews who believed in the One God if Jesus did not want to present a new covenant. A new covenant that is a new promise to salvation. What sense does it make to have a message where salvation is promised in ONLY FAITH in Jesus Christ? What sense was it for Jesus to present Himself to the world whent they believed in the one true God? If Jesus' only mission was revelation, why was He not presented when God presented Himself to Abraham and Moses? Because Jesus' mission was more than revelation of existence, but a revelation of ''the way'' at a moment in God's great plan when He was ready to reveal this to the world.
Jesus said he was''the Way'' and he was also ''the Light.'' The way is a direction. A direction to God's Will. The light is the vision to see His way. Or maybe, in another way, to have faith in the guiding light along the way?
Only knowing God is not enough, He calls us to worship Him and to live yb His covenant to us.
Otherwise there was never a need for Jesus for the Jews who already believed in God. They had a belief, but Jesus presented the ''Truth'', or the true way through the Light.
One way, One promise to salvation through His teachings.
Happy Lenten season!
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Breathe into me Holy Spirit, That all my thoughts may be holy. Move in me, Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Attract my heart, Holy Spirit, that I may love only what is holy. Strengthen me, Holy Spirit, that I may defend all that is holy. Protect me, Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. PRAYER TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: Spirit of wisdom and understanding, enlighten our minds to perceive the mysteries of the universe in relation to eternity. Spirit of right judgment and courage, guide us and make us firm in our baptismal decision to follow Jesus' way of love. Spirit of knowledge and reverence, help us to see the lasting value of justice and mercy in our everyday dealings with one another. May we respect life as we work to solve problems of family and nation, economy and ecology. Spirit of God, spark our faith, hope and love into new action each day. Fill our lives with wonder and awe in your presence which penetrates all creation. Amen.
appendage::: We often get caught up in thinking of the Good as what we enjoy. Our fovorite ice cream, our favorite tv show, our zest for life in romance and adventure.
But let us remember, what did our caveman anscetors enjoy? Very little, they barely enjoyed a bathe. But they were not removed from the Truth of ''the way''in their nature. Their nature is still ours, but they were long from the awareness we have today.
Despite living in so much despair, they still were human. Maybe we can understand what is Good if we think about these long anscetors. That praising and worshiping is Good. If they knew nothing, but to say thank you then that may have been a great Good of their time, to express happiness towards others despite their raw existence. Any thankfulness must have been one of the greatest prayers and signs of humbleness in God's eyes.
It is wonderful to be Thankful when we are given something. God gave life, we owe it to Him to live up to His demands to express sincere thanksgiving.
Salvation ''Outside the Church''
But Jesus was saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what
they are doing." And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among
themselves. (Luke 23: 34)
I want to clarify something...
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS THE ONE TRUE CHURCH AS RESTATED BY VATICAN II.
THOSE WHO 'KNOW' THE CHURCH THROUGH BAPTISM OR CONVERSION, AND FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH, ARE PROMISED SALVATION.
THOSE BORN IN FAITH, ARE NOT TO LEAVE FAITH, THEY RISK DAMNATION.
THOSE BORN AS NON-CATHOLICS ARE OPEN TO SALVATION THROUGH THE JUDGEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST, BUT ARE NOT PROMISED SALVATION.
Let me make this clear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ONLY GOOD STANDING CATHOLICS ARE PROMISED SALVATION
I am writing in context of the ''no salvation outside the Church'' doctrine.....
It is a message to Catholics... Because the crux of the doctrine came at a time when there was a French Bishop who tried to call himself Pope.... and the Pope wrote then pronounced that those ''outside of the Church'' do not receive salvation..... the Church is the 'Bride of Jesus'.... and anyone who 'KNOWS' the Church and rejects it... then they are ''outside of salvation''
PROTESTANTS, JEWS, MUSLIMS, OTHERS....It is the doctrine of the Church that they are not PROMISED salvation.....
But even though they are 'outside the church'... it is seen as 'innocent ignorance' ..and in their Human Dignity and their conscience they are allowed to go where they believe they are lead.....
So what Vatican II did, was give them the respect of Human Dignity to discern their life... but try to dialogue with them and pray they are inspired by the Holy Spirit to bring them into the True Church....... Towards the promised salvation
......... After Vatican II, a pastoral not doctrinal congression, the Church does not do the action of converting, but the Church places trust in the Holy Spirit to convert the Open Hearts......
So dialogue has been a HUGE effort of the papacies after Vatican II.....hence all the traveling by John Paul II
SO in regards to the other faiths.... they ARE NOT PROMISED salvation, they are simply left to Jesus as their judge .... which is seen in the fact that the Church only recognizes those in heaven as Saints.. and never making any claim to the souls who were damned..... as Jesus is the Judge, not the Church...... but the Church followers are promised salvation.
THAT IS THE NEW COVENANT... THE PROMISED SALVATION TO CATHOLICS....
I can only suspect... MY TWO CENTS, NOT THE CHURCHES.....but the rest are left to the mercy of Jesus... which is a great mercy..... so the knowing that we are to 'Love creation and others'' and not DENY creation and its beauty in God... I think is the 'hope' of non-catholics...... but their is nothing promised... it is Jesus' judgement to make.
REMEMBER: On the cross Jesus said, '' Forgive them FATHER, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO'' concerning his crucifiers
ALSO:
JESUS IS LEFT TO JUDGE
Jesus as judge to non-belivers....
because judging assumes a divine prerogative; final judgment belongs to God alone, and those who seek to judge others now will answer then for usurping God's position (see also 6:12-15).
BUT THE CHURCH STILLS IS BOUNDED IN CHRIST, SO WHO LEAVES THE CHURCH LEAVES CHRIST!
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Let's pray to the Holy Spirit for the conversion of all humanity, especially those who have turned away from Christ's Church.
Prayer to St. Monica for Fallen Away Catholics
Eternal and merciful Father, I give you thanks for the gift of Your Divine Son who suffered, died and rose from the dead for all mankind. I thank You also for my Catholic Faith and ask Your help that I may grow in fidelity by prayer, by works of charity, and by Penance and the Holy Eucharist.
You gave St. Monica a spirit of selfless love manifested in her constant prayer for the conversion of her son Augustine. Inspired by boundless confidence in Your power to move hearts and by the success of her prayer, I ask the grace to imitate her constancy in my prayer for (N) who no longer share(s) in the intimate life of your Catholic family. Grant through my prayer and witness that (she/he/they) may be open to the promptings of the HOLY SPIRIT to return to the loving union with Your people. Grant also that my prayer be ever hopeful and that I may never judge another, for you alone can read hearts. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
I want to clarify something...
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS THE ONE TRUE CHURCH AS RESTATED BY VATICAN II.
THOSE WHO 'KNOW' THE CHURCH THROUGH BAPTISM OR CONVERSION, AND FOLLOW THE TEACHINGS OF THE CHURCH, ARE PROMISED SALVATION.
THOSE BORN IN FAITH, ARE NOT TO LEAVE FAITH, THEY RISK DAMNATION.
THOSE BORN AS NON-CATHOLICS ARE OPEN TO SALVATION THROUGH THE JUDGEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST, BUT ARE NOT PROMISED SALVATION.
Let me make this clear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ONLY GOOD STANDING CATHOLICS ARE PROMISED SALVATION
I am writing in context of the ''no salvation outside the Church'' doctrine.....
It is a message to Catholics... Because the crux of the doctrine came at a time when there was a French Bishop who tried to call himself Pope.... and the Pope wrote then pronounced that those ''outside of the Church'' do not receive salvation..... the Church is the 'Bride of Jesus'.... and anyone who 'KNOWS' the Church and rejects it... then they are ''outside of salvation''
PROTESTANTS, JEWS, MUSLIMS, OTHERS....It is the doctrine of the Church that they are not PROMISED salvation.....
But even though they are 'outside the church'... it is seen as 'innocent ignorance' ..and in their Human Dignity and their conscience they are allowed to go where they believe they are lead.....
So what Vatican II did, was give them the respect of Human Dignity to discern their life... but try to dialogue with them and pray they are inspired by the Holy Spirit to bring them into the True Church....... Towards the promised salvation
......... After Vatican II, a pastoral not doctrinal congression, the Church does not do the action of converting, but the Church places trust in the Holy Spirit to convert the Open Hearts......
So dialogue has been a HUGE effort of the papacies after Vatican II.....hence all the traveling by John Paul II
SO in regards to the other faiths.... they ARE NOT PROMISED salvation, they are simply left to Jesus as their judge .... which is seen in the fact that the Church only recognizes those in heaven as Saints.. and never making any claim to the souls who were damned..... as Jesus is the Judge, not the Church...... but the Church followers are promised salvation.
THAT IS THE NEW COVENANT... THE PROMISED SALVATION TO CATHOLICS....
I can only suspect... MY TWO CENTS, NOT THE CHURCHES.....but the rest are left to the mercy of Jesus... which is a great mercy..... so the knowing that we are to 'Love creation and others'' and not DENY creation and its beauty in God... I think is the 'hope' of non-catholics...... but their is nothing promised... it is Jesus' judgement to make.
REMEMBER: On the cross Jesus said, '' Forgive them FATHER, FOR THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO'' concerning his crucifiers
ALSO:
JESUS IS LEFT TO JUDGE
Jesus as judge to non-belivers....
because judging assumes a divine prerogative; final judgment belongs to God alone, and those who seek to judge others now will answer then for usurping God's position (see also 6:12-15).
BUT THE CHURCH STILLS IS BOUNDED IN CHRIST, SO WHO LEAVES THE CHURCH LEAVES CHRIST!
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Let's pray to the Holy Spirit for the conversion of all humanity, especially those who have turned away from Christ's Church.
Prayer to St. Monica for Fallen Away Catholics
Eternal and merciful Father, I give you thanks for the gift of Your Divine Son who suffered, died and rose from the dead for all mankind. I thank You also for my Catholic Faith and ask Your help that I may grow in fidelity by prayer, by works of charity, and by Penance and the Holy Eucharist.
You gave St. Monica a spirit of selfless love manifested in her constant prayer for the conversion of her son Augustine. Inspired by boundless confidence in Your power to move hearts and by the success of her prayer, I ask the grace to imitate her constancy in my prayer for (N) who no longer share(s) in the intimate life of your Catholic family. Grant through my prayer and witness that (she/he/they) may be open to the promptings of the HOLY SPIRIT to return to the loving union with Your people. Grant also that my prayer be ever hopeful and that I may never judge another, for you alone can read hearts. I ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
(Copied) 10 MIsconceptions of the Church
Having recently published our misconceptions list about Islam, I
promised a commenter that I would also publish a list of misconceptions
about the Catholic Church – of which there are millions. With this list
I am honoring that promise. I have taken ten of the most believed or
written about misconceptions about Catholics or the Church and debunked
them (with evidence wherever possible). I certainly hope that you all
find it interesting and readable.
Misconception: The Church discourages Bible reading
The very first Christian Bible was produced by the Catholic Church – compiled by Catholic scholars of the 2nd and 3rd century and approved for general Christian use by the Catholic Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397). The very first printed Bible was produced under the auspices of the Catholic Church – printed by the Catholic inventor of the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg. And the very first Bible with chapters and numbered verses was produced by the Catholic Church–the work of Stephen Langton, Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury.
At every Mass in the world everyday, the Bible is read aloud by the priest. In the traditional Mass there is one reading from the general body of the Bible (excluding the gospels), and two from the Gospels. In the modern Catholic Mass, there are two readings from the general body of the Bible and one from the Gospels. All Catholic homes have a Bible and the Bible is taught in Catholic schools (as is its perennial tradition).
This myth has come about because Bibles were often locked away in Churches in the past, but that was not to prevent people having access – it was to prevent them being stolen. These were hand written Bibles which were incredibly valuable due to scarcity. Furthermore, people think the Church forbade people from reading the Bible by putting it on the Index of Forbidden Books, but the Bibles placed on the Index were Protestant versions (lacking 7 books) or badly translated versions – the most famous of which is the King James Version which Catholics are not supposed to use.
Misconception: Catholics worship Mary and are, therefore, committing idolatry
In Catholic theology there are three types of worship – one of which is condemned in the Bible if offered to anyone but God:
1) Latria – this is adoration which is given to God alone – giving this type of worship to anyone else is considered to be a mortal sin and it is the idolatry condemned in the Bible.
2) Hyperdulia – this is a special type of worship given to Mary the Mother of Jesus – it is only given to her and it is not considered to be idolatory as it is not adoration, merely reverence.
3) Dulia – this is the special type of worship given only to the saints and angels – it is also not idolatrous as it, too, is a form of reverence.
The distinction was made by the 2nd Council of Nicaea in 787 AD. The council was called to condemn the people who claimed that it was idolatrous to have statues and images of saints. The canons of the Council can be read here.
Just to clarify: “Latria is a Latin term (from the Greek ???????) used in Orthodox and Catholic theology to mean adoration, which is the highest form of worship or reverence and is directed only to the Holy Trinity.” – there are lower forms of worship (as is implied here). A Catholic who may kneel in front of a statue while praying isn’t worshipping the statue or even praying to it, any more than the Protestant who kneels with a Bible in his hands when praying is worshipping the Bible or praying to it. The images of saints (whether it be in statue form or painting) serves as a reminder of the holiness of the person depicted.
Misconception: Catholics aren’t Christians
In fact, Catholics are the first Christians. When reading over the early Christian writings, you can see clearly that their doctrines and teachings are the same as the Catholic Church today. You hear of Bishops, virgins living in community (nuns), priests, confession, baptism of infants, the Bishop of Rome as head of the Christian religion, and reverence for the saints. Here are some comments by the early Church fathers who were, in many cases, the apostles of the Biblical apostles:
Misconception: The Pope is infallible in all things
Roman Catholics believe that only under certain circumstances is the pope infallible (that is, he can not make a mistake). The Catholic Church defines three conditions under which the Pope is infallible:
Misconception: The Catholic Church is opposed to science and rejects evolution
In fact, may great scientific advances have come about through Catholic scholarship and education. The most recent and interesting case is that of Monsignor Georges Lemaître (pictured above, center) a Belgian priest who proposed the Big Bang theory. When he proposed his theory, Einstein rejected it, causing Monsignor Lemaître to write to him: “Your math is correct, but your physics is abominable.” Eventually Einstein came to accept the theory.
Also, unlike many of the American Protestant or evangelical religions, the Catholic Church does not reject the theory of evolution. Right from the early days of the theory, the Church remained mostly silent on the issue. The first public statements specifically regarding evolution came from Pope Pius XII who said: “The Church does not forbid that…research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter.”
In 2004, a Theological Commission overseen by Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) issued this statement: “According to the widely accepted scientific account, the universe erupted 15 billion years ago in an explosion called the ‘Big Bang’ and has been expanding and cooling ever since. [...] Converging evidence from many studies in the physical and biological sciences furnishes mounting support for some theory of evolution to account for the development and diversification of life on earth, while controversy continues over the pace and mechanisms of evolution.”
Catholic Schools all around the world (including the US) teach scientific evolution as part of their science curriculum.
Misconception: Indulgences let you pay to have your sins forgiven
First of all we need to understand what an indulgence is. The Catholic Church teaches that when a person sins, they get two punishments: eternal (hell) and temporal (punishment on earth while alive, or in purgatory after death). To remove the eternal punishment of hell, a person must confess their sins and be forgiven. But the temporal punishment remains. To remove the temporal punishment a person can receive an indulgence. This is a special “blessing” in which the temporal punishment is removed if a person performs a special act such as doing good deeds or reading certain prayers.
In the Middle ages, forgers who were working for disobedient Bishops would write fake indulgences offering the forgiveness of sins (removal of eternal punishment) in exchange for money which was often used for church building. Popes had been long trying to end the abuse but it took at least three centuries for the sale of indulgences to finally end. True indulgences existed from the beginning of Christianity and the Church continues to grant special indulgences today. Wikipedia has an excellent and honest article on the abuse of indulgences from the Middle Ages. You can read it here. Here is a BBC article on a new indulgence granted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.
Misconception: Emperor Constantine invented the Catholic Church in 325 AD
In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine announced toleration of Christianity in the Edict of Milan, which removed penalties for professing Christianity. At the age of 40 he converted to Christianity and in 325 he convened the first ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Because of the importance of this council, many people believe that Constantine created the Church, but in fact there had been many councils (though not as large) prior to Nicaea and the structure of the Church already existed. Constantine was at the council merely as an observer and the Bishops and representative of the Pope made all of the decisions. Before the council of Nicaea, priestly celibacy was already the norm, baptism of infants was practiced (as were all 7 sacraments), and the structure of priests and Bishops was already 300 years old.
Misconception: Catholic Priests can’t get married
This has appeared on a previous list, but it is well worth including it here as well. In order to clear this one up, we need to first understand the nature of the Catholic Church. Within the universal Church there are sections (also called churches but not in the sense that they are separate) – the most common one is, of course, the Roman (or Latin) Catholic Church. Then there is the Eastern Catholic Church (not to be confused with the Orthodox which is a different religion). Both of these churches fall under the jurisdiction of the Pope and all believe the same doctrines. There are a lot of differences between the two groups but these are all in matters of style of worship and certain rules. In the Eastern Church, priests are allowed to be married – but a married priest can’t become a Bishop.
It also happens that occasionally in the Latin Church, pastors who convert from other religions such as the Church of England are allowed to become priests even though they are married, so married priests can be found in all parts of the Roman Catholic Church. Pictured above is a Greek Catholic priest and his wife. Don’t believe me? Here is proof. And here is more proof.
Misconception: The Church added books to the Bible
The Catholic version of the Old Testament differs from the Protestant version in that the Catholic edition contains seven more books than Protestant Bibles. These “extra” books are the reason that many people consider the Church to have added to the Bible, but in fact these books were considered the official canon (list of books) by all Christians until the Protestant reformation during which Martin Luther (leader of the revolution) removed them. Interestingly some of these books contain affirmations of Catholic doctrines which Luther rejected. The reason that the Catholic Church uses the Greek edition is because the apostles used it exclusively in their preaching.
Luther decided to use the Jewish Masoretic canon (circa 700 – 1000 AD) instead of the Apostolic canon. The seven books he removed were: Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, and Baruch. While initially wanting to remove at least one book (The Epistle of James, because it contradicts Luther’s teaching that faith alone is needed for salvation [James Chapter 2]) from the New Testament, Luther ultimately decided to keep the Catholic New Testament in full.
Interestingly, Hanukah is mentioned only in 1 and 2 Maccabees, which is not included in either the Jewish or Protestant versions of the Old Testament.
Misconception: The Papacy is a medieval invention
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, and from the beginning of Christianity he was considered the head of the Church. This fact is alluded to in many of the early Church documents and even in the Bible itself: “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter [Greek for "rock"]; and upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Peter was the first Bishop of Rome and he led the Church until his death in 64 AD, at which point St Linus became the second Pope. St Irenaeus mentions him here:
10
Discourage Bible Reading
Misconception: The Church discourages Bible reading
The very first Christian Bible was produced by the Catholic Church – compiled by Catholic scholars of the 2nd and 3rd century and approved for general Christian use by the Catholic Councils of Hippo (393) and Carthage (397). The very first printed Bible was produced under the auspices of the Catholic Church – printed by the Catholic inventor of the printing press, Johannes Gutenberg. And the very first Bible with chapters and numbered verses was produced by the Catholic Church–the work of Stephen Langton, Cardinal Archbishop of Canterbury.
At every Mass in the world everyday, the Bible is read aloud by the priest. In the traditional Mass there is one reading from the general body of the Bible (excluding the gospels), and two from the Gospels. In the modern Catholic Mass, there are two readings from the general body of the Bible and one from the Gospels. All Catholic homes have a Bible and the Bible is taught in Catholic schools (as is its perennial tradition).
This myth has come about because Bibles were often locked away in Churches in the past, but that was not to prevent people having access – it was to prevent them being stolen. These were hand written Bibles which were incredibly valuable due to scarcity. Furthermore, people think the Church forbade people from reading the Bible by putting it on the Index of Forbidden Books, but the Bibles placed on the Index were Protestant versions (lacking 7 books) or badly translated versions – the most famous of which is the King James Version which Catholics are not supposed to use.
9
Idolatry
Misconception: Catholics worship Mary and are, therefore, committing idolatry
In Catholic theology there are three types of worship – one of which is condemned in the Bible if offered to anyone but God:
1) Latria – this is adoration which is given to God alone – giving this type of worship to anyone else is considered to be a mortal sin and it is the idolatry condemned in the Bible.
2) Hyperdulia – this is a special type of worship given to Mary the Mother of Jesus – it is only given to her and it is not considered to be idolatory as it is not adoration, merely reverence.
3) Dulia – this is the special type of worship given only to the saints and angels – it is also not idolatrous as it, too, is a form of reverence.
The distinction was made by the 2nd Council of Nicaea in 787 AD. The council was called to condemn the people who claimed that it was idolatrous to have statues and images of saints. The canons of the Council can be read here.
Just to clarify: “Latria is a Latin term (from the Greek ???????) used in Orthodox and Catholic theology to mean adoration, which is the highest form of worship or reverence and is directed only to the Holy Trinity.” – there are lower forms of worship (as is implied here). A Catholic who may kneel in front of a statue while praying isn’t worshipping the statue or even praying to it, any more than the Protestant who kneels with a Bible in his hands when praying is worshipping the Bible or praying to it. The images of saints (whether it be in statue form or painting) serves as a reminder of the holiness of the person depicted.
8
Non-Christians
Misconception: Catholics aren’t Christians
In fact, Catholics are the first Christians. When reading over the early Christian writings, you can see clearly that their doctrines and teachings are the same as the Catholic Church today. You hear of Bishops, virgins living in community (nuns), priests, confession, baptism of infants, the Bishop of Rome as head of the Christian religion, and reverence for the saints. Here are some comments by the early Church fathers who were, in many cases, the apostles of the Biblical apostles:
Bishops: For it will be no light sin for us, if we thrust out those who have offered the gifts of the bishop’s office unblamably and holily. — Pope St Clement, Letter to the Corinthians 1, A.D. 96.
The Papacy: “[From] Ignatius . . . to the church also which holds the presidency, in the location of the country of the Romans, worthy of God, worthy of honor, worthy of blessing, worthy of praise, worthy of success, worthy of sanctification, and, because you hold the presidency in love, named after Christ and named after the Father” (St Ignatius, Letter to the Romans 1:1 [A.D. 110]).
Holy Communion: “This food we call the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except one who believes that the things we teach are true, and has received the washing for forgiveness of sins and for rebirth, and who lives as Christ handed down to us. For we do not receive these things as common bread or common drink; but as Jesus Christ our Savior being incarnate by God’s Word took flesh and blood for our salvation, so also we have been taught that the food consecrated by the Word of prayer which comes from him, from which our flesh and blood are nourished by transformation, is the flesh and blood of that incarnate Jesus.” — St. Justin Martyr, “First Apology”, A.D. 148-155.
Infant Baptism: “Baptize first the children, and if they can speak for themselves let them do so. Otherwise, let their parents or other relatives speak for them” (St Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition 21:16 [A.D. 215]).
Confession: “[A filial method of forgiveness], albeit hard and laborious [is] the remission of sins through penance, when the sinner . . . does not shrink from declaring his sin to a priest of the Lord and from seeking medicine, after the manner of him who say, “I said, to the Lord, I will accuse myself of my iniquity.” ” (Origen, Homilies in Leviticus 2:4 — A.D. 248)From these quotes it is obvious that the practices of the modern Catholic Church are the closest to the practices of the apostles and early Christians. It should also be said that the majority of historians accept that the Catholic Church was the first Christian Church as it is verifiable from ancient texts.
7
Totally Infallible
Misconception: The Pope is infallible in all things
Roman Catholics believe that only under certain circumstances is the pope infallible (that is, he can not make a mistake). The Catholic Church defines three conditions under which the Pope is infallible:
I. The Pope must be making a decree on matters of faith or moralsThis means that when the Pope is speaking on matters of science, he can make errors (as we have seen in the past with issues such as Heliocentricity). However, when he is teaching a matter of religion and the other two conditions above are met, Catholics consider that the decree is equal to the Word of God. It can not contradict any previous declarations and it must be believed by all Catholics. Catholics believe that if a person denies any of these solemn decrees, they are committing a mortal sin – the type of sin that sends a person to hell. Here is an example of an infallible decree from the Council of Trent (under Pope Saint Pius V – 16th Century):
II. The declaration must be binding on the whole Church
III. The Pope must be speaking with the full authority of the Papacy, and not in a personal capacity.
If anyone denies that in the sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist are contained truly, really and substantially the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ, but says that He is in it only as in a sign, or figure or force, let him be anathema.The last section of the final sentence “let him be anathema” is a standard phrase that normally appears at the end of an infallible statement. It means “let him be cursed”. The most recent pronouncement that can be seen as falling under Papal Infallibility was when Pope John Paul II declared that women could not become priests.
6
Anti-Science
Misconception: The Catholic Church is opposed to science and rejects evolution
In fact, may great scientific advances have come about through Catholic scholarship and education. The most recent and interesting case is that of Monsignor Georges Lemaître (pictured above, center) a Belgian priest who proposed the Big Bang theory. When he proposed his theory, Einstein rejected it, causing Monsignor Lemaître to write to him: “Your math is correct, but your physics is abominable.” Eventually Einstein came to accept the theory.
Also, unlike many of the American Protestant or evangelical religions, the Catholic Church does not reject the theory of evolution. Right from the early days of the theory, the Church remained mostly silent on the issue. The first public statements specifically regarding evolution came from Pope Pius XII who said: “The Church does not forbid that…research and discussions, on the part of men experienced in both fields, take place with regard to the doctrine of evolution, in as far as it inquires into the origin of the human body as coming from pre-existent and living matter.”
In 2004, a Theological Commission overseen by Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) issued this statement: “According to the widely accepted scientific account, the universe erupted 15 billion years ago in an explosion called the ‘Big Bang’ and has been expanding and cooling ever since. [...] Converging evidence from many studies in the physical and biological sciences furnishes mounting support for some theory of evolution to account for the development and diversification of life on earth, while controversy continues over the pace and mechanisms of evolution.”
Catholic Schools all around the world (including the US) teach scientific evolution as part of their science curriculum.
5
Indulgences
Misconception: Indulgences let you pay to have your sins forgiven
First of all we need to understand what an indulgence is. The Catholic Church teaches that when a person sins, they get two punishments: eternal (hell) and temporal (punishment on earth while alive, or in purgatory after death). To remove the eternal punishment of hell, a person must confess their sins and be forgiven. But the temporal punishment remains. To remove the temporal punishment a person can receive an indulgence. This is a special “blessing” in which the temporal punishment is removed if a person performs a special act such as doing good deeds or reading certain prayers.
In the Middle ages, forgers who were working for disobedient Bishops would write fake indulgences offering the forgiveness of sins (removal of eternal punishment) in exchange for money which was often used for church building. Popes had been long trying to end the abuse but it took at least three centuries for the sale of indulgences to finally end. True indulgences existed from the beginning of Christianity and the Church continues to grant special indulgences today. Wikipedia has an excellent and honest article on the abuse of indulgences from the Middle Ages. You can read it here. Here is a BBC article on a new indulgence granted by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007.
4
Emperor Constantine
Misconception: Emperor Constantine invented the Catholic Church in 325 AD
In 313 AD, Emperor Constantine announced toleration of Christianity in the Edict of Milan, which removed penalties for professing Christianity. At the age of 40 he converted to Christianity and in 325 he convened the first ecumenical Council of Nicaea. Because of the importance of this council, many people believe that Constantine created the Church, but in fact there had been many councils (though not as large) prior to Nicaea and the structure of the Church already existed. Constantine was at the council merely as an observer and the Bishops and representative of the Pope made all of the decisions. Before the council of Nicaea, priestly celibacy was already the norm, baptism of infants was practiced (as were all 7 sacraments), and the structure of priests and Bishops was already 300 years old.
3
Priestly Celibacy
Misconception: Catholic Priests can’t get married
This has appeared on a previous list, but it is well worth including it here as well. In order to clear this one up, we need to first understand the nature of the Catholic Church. Within the universal Church there are sections (also called churches but not in the sense that they are separate) – the most common one is, of course, the Roman (or Latin) Catholic Church. Then there is the Eastern Catholic Church (not to be confused with the Orthodox which is a different religion). Both of these churches fall under the jurisdiction of the Pope and all believe the same doctrines. There are a lot of differences between the two groups but these are all in matters of style of worship and certain rules. In the Eastern Church, priests are allowed to be married – but a married priest can’t become a Bishop.
It also happens that occasionally in the Latin Church, pastors who convert from other religions such as the Church of England are allowed to become priests even though they are married, so married priests can be found in all parts of the Roman Catholic Church. Pictured above is a Greek Catholic priest and his wife. Don’t believe me? Here is proof. And here is more proof.
2
Modified Bible
Misconception: The Church added books to the Bible
The Catholic version of the Old Testament differs from the Protestant version in that the Catholic edition contains seven more books than Protestant Bibles. These “extra” books are the reason that many people consider the Church to have added to the Bible, but in fact these books were considered the official canon (list of books) by all Christians until the Protestant reformation during which Martin Luther (leader of the revolution) removed them. Interestingly some of these books contain affirmations of Catholic doctrines which Luther rejected. The reason that the Catholic Church uses the Greek edition is because the apostles used it exclusively in their preaching.
Luther decided to use the Jewish Masoretic canon (circa 700 – 1000 AD) instead of the Apostolic canon. The seven books he removed were: Tobit, Judith, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus, and Baruch. While initially wanting to remove at least one book (The Epistle of James, because it contradicts Luther’s teaching that faith alone is needed for salvation [James Chapter 2]) from the New Testament, Luther ultimately decided to keep the Catholic New Testament in full.
Interestingly, Hanukah is mentioned only in 1 and 2 Maccabees, which is not included in either the Jewish or Protestant versions of the Old Testament.
1
Medieval Papacy
Misconception: The Papacy is a medieval invention
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, and from the beginning of Christianity he was considered the head of the Church. This fact is alluded to in many of the early Church documents and even in the Bible itself: “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter [Greek for "rock"]; and upon this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18). Peter was the first Bishop of Rome and he led the Church until his death in 64 AD, at which point St Linus became the second Pope. St Irenaeus mentions him here:
The blessed apostles, then, having founded and built up the Church, committed into the hands of Linus the office of the episcopate [office of Bishop of Rome]. Of this Linus, Paul makes mention in the Epistles to Timothy [2 Timothy 4:21]. To him succeeded Anacletus [third Pope, pictured above]; and after him, in the third place from the apostles, Clement [4th Pope] was allotted the bishopric. — Against the Heresies, 180 ADSt Irenaeus goes on to mention another six Popes and the various tasks they undertook during their reigns – such as the imposition by Pope Linus of the rule that women cover their heads in Church (a rule which, though often ignored, still exists today).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)