I want to understand the Catholic faith so....

KenAllan · Nov 27, 2015

ThomistColin, Catholicism teaches that Mary was assumed into Heaven. Show us where in the Scriptures where Jesus ever said "Mary was assumed" into Heaven!

ThomistColin, Catholicism teaches that Mary is our Mediator. Show us where in the Scriptures where Jesus ever said Mary was our Mediator!

Quoting from the Catholic Church is not allowed ThomistColin. It has to be in the Scriptures. Because if you quote from the Catholic Church and its not in the Scriptures proves its a man made Doctrine.

Tell me ThomistColin, where in the Scriptures did God say Mary can hear our Prayers and answer them?

You do know for Mary to hear the Prayers of everybody she has to have Omnipresence.

By attributing to Mary Omnipresence is making Mary a god. You do know ThomistColin that having other gods before you will keep you from entering into Heaven?

KenAllan · Nov 27, 2015

Not everybody on this World wants the Truth about God. Not everybody wants to follow God. Look at the Mormons and how they reject Jesus as God. Look at the Muslims and how they reject Jesus as God. Look at the Hindu's and see how they have rejected God.

This is nothing new. There will always be people who will reject God for a god of their choosing.

The Catholics today have made Mary their god and have distorted the Scriptures to justify their Worship of Mary as their god. No Catholic will ever be allowed to enter into Heaven as long as they follow Mary.

God has said, "many are called, but few are chosen". God want everybody to follow Him. Unfortunately because of our free will and sin nature, not everyone will follow God. Not even the Catholics.

Magenta · Nov 27, 2015

LonelyPilgrim said:

Another Roman Catholic LIE. The earliest Christian interpreters of Scripture barely mention Mary at all, and when they did, there was absolutely no connection between her and the song of Solomon made. It never ceases to amaze me how willing Roman Catholics are to lie and twist Scripture to support their heresies. I used to resist calling such Satanic, but the more I see of it, the more I realize how Satanic Roman Catholicism truly is: lies masquerading as truth. Of course even their pope says that Mary is more important than the earliest Christian interpreters of Scripture. How they have elevated her! Jesus did not elevate His earthly mother in any way at all, but RCs believe they are Biblically warranted to do so in many different ways that not only go well beyond Scripture, but even contradict and deny Scripture.

KenAllan · Nov 27, 2015

Prove it LonelyPilgrim! Shows us where in the Scriptures that God said the Song of Solomon 4:12 was about Mary! Show us book, chapter, and verse where God said this was about Mary!

I can tell you its not in the Scriptures. You will only find it in the teachings of the Catholics only.

Why LonelyPilgrim do you Hate God?
Why do you twist and distort what the Holy Spirit says?
Is it because you do not fear God?
Or is it because of your Hatred for the Word of God?

You LonelyPilgrim are a false prophet, a wolf in sheep's clothing, trying to deceive people into following Mary as their god just like you are doing.

Magenta · Nov 27, 2015

KenAllan said:

Oh, the RC will sing and dance around such questions, claiming it is not explicitly stated but only how it is to be correctly inferred from other Scriptures that have nothing at all to do with Mary... then out of the other side of their mouth they will claim there is no warrant for Sola Scriptura because it is not explicitly stated in Scripture.

KenAllan · Nov 27, 2015

Catholics HATE the Word of God! This is why they also hate the Doctrine of Sola Scriptura.

Its all about the Catholics being the chosen people. Its all about the Catholics telling us what the Truth is. Its nothing more then their Pride.

valiant · Nov 27, 2015

But from 8th century AD when they seceded from the Catholic church the Roman Catholics have always been right. You ask the Pope lol Of course not everyone agrees with him

Budman · Nov 30, 2015

Sorry it took so long to reply, Pilgrim. I spent the holiday with family.

Yet, the "means of salvation" are, supposedly, within the Catholic church alone. Perhaps you missed what I posted at the end of post #970:

Pope Eugene IV (1441) in his Bull "Cantate Domino" said: "The most holy Roman church firmly believes, professes, and preaches that none of those existing outside the Catholic church, not only pagans, but also Jews and heretics and schismatics, can have a share in life eternal, but that they will go into eternal fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless before death theyjoined with her - No one, even if he pour out his blood for the name of Christ, can be saved unless he remain within the bosom and the unity of the Catholic church."

Pope Boniface VIII in his Bull "Unam Sanctam" (1302) infallibly taught: "We are compelled in virtue of our faith to believe and maintain that there is only one Catholic church, and that one apostolic.Outside this church there is no salvation and no remission of sins - We declare, say, define, and pronounce that it is absolutely necessary for the salvation of every human creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff."

Pope Benedict XV in his Encyclical "Ad Beatissmi" (1914) said: "Such is the nature of Catholicism that it does not admit of more or less, but must be held as a whole, or as a whole rejected: This is the Catholic faith, which unless a man believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be saved."

Pope Innocent III at the fourth Lateran Council wrote: " There is but one universal church of the faithful, outside of which, no one at all can be saved."

If salvation can be obtained outside of the Catholic church, there would have been no need for them to proclaim what they did.

Okay, if that is true, can one who has been excommunicated by the Catholic church expect to go to heaven at death?

That verse from James has nothing to do with salvation, if it did, then what Paul wrote regarding salvation being a gift, and not of works, is a blatant contradiction. One's faith will be stagnant without works, but a person's salvation is never in question because it's based upon the finished work of Christ, and not our actions. Salvation is not probation.

The difference, is that the Catholic church teaches you must do certain "sacraments" to obtain the forgiveness of sins. Canon 3 from the Council of Trent teaches so.

That is rather ridiculous for you to say. Canons 9, 12, and 14 from the Council of Trent contradict you. Also, the Council of Florence (1438-43) Decreed that Purgatory is a punishment, where the departed must make satisfaction for sins.

The "Catholic Dictionary" (1951 edition) says of Purgatory:

"The place and state in which souls suffer for a while and are purged after death, before they go to Heaven, on account of their sins. Venial sins, which have never in life been remitted by an act of repentance or love or by good deeds, and grave sins, the guilt of which with its eternal punishment has indeed been removed by God after an act of repentance but for which there is still left a debt of temporal punishment due to his justice on account of the imperfection of that repentance, must be purged away after death by the pain of intense longing for God, whose blissful vision is delayed, and also, as is commonly taught, by some pain of sense inflicted probably by material fire."

And as for your claim that Penance/Purgatory have nothing to do with atonement, Pope Benedict XIV proclaimed:

"The faithful must be fully aware that sin and its eternal punishment are remitted by the Sacrament of Penance if one makes proper use of it; however the entire temporal punishment is very seldom taken away. This must be removed either by satisfactory works in this life or by the fire of Purgatory after death. The holy Council of Trent in session 6, chap. 4, and canon 30 of the same session teaches this under the heading de Justificatione."

- Encyclical of Pope Benedict XIV in Preparation for the Holy Year, 1749

Don't mistake the preaching of the truth with hostility.

KenAllan · Nov 30, 2015

How are we to have a civil, respected, and charitable discussion with the Catholics when they constantly call us liars?

How are we to have a civil, respected, and charitable discussion with the Catholics when they constantly refuse to show us where in the Scriptures are their Doctrines about Mary?

How are we to have a civil, respected, and charitable discussion with the Catholics when all they want to do is proclaim only they have the Truth and we have no Truth?

You will never have a respected, and charitable discussion with the Catholics because they are caught up in a Cult.

Budman · Nov 30, 2015

KenAllan said:

And yet, we must try, Ken. Keep in mind, Christ died for them as well. They are lost, but salvation is still available to them.

We ourselves were once blind.

God loves them, and desires that they repent and be reconciled. Please remember that.

epostle · Dec 5, 2015

LonelyPilgrim said:

You will know them by their fruits.
"I've been repeatedly called a liar, insulted, mocked, ridiculed, had my good-faith arguments ignored or dismissed, my faith and myself personally condemned" and what they don't understand is that Catholicism is not anti-Protestant. Ironically, some will insist Catholics are not Christians.
You will know them by their fruits.
I recommend your blog. You were an inspiration LonelyPilgrim, sorry to see you go.

epostle · Dec 5, 2015

Budman said:
Don't mistake the preaching of the truth with hostility.

epostle · Dec 5, 2015

Taking quotes out of context is not preaching the truth.
You have no historical context.

There was only one church in the 13th century, Protestantism had not yet been invented, so it is reasonable and logical, being only one church, that salvation is found within the Catholic Church. She was the only church on the planet. That is no longer the case and the matter was settled at Vatican II.

The Catholic Church recognizes sources of grace and the means to salvation found in other churches. Look up #817-9 in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The "No Salvation Outside the Church" was a 600 year old teaching that did not address what we have today, so the doctrine was reformulated to include all baptized Christians.

You are not preaching the truth, you are preaching a gross misrepresentation at the expense of Catholics.

KenAllan · Dec 6, 2015

Like I said before, you Heart is hardened towards God and His Truths epostle and in Vain you Worship God because God refuses to listen to your Prayers.

The Catholic Church in the 13th century was totally corrupted and did not follow God. This is why in the 1500's God took the power away from the Catholic Church and brought back His True Church the Protestants. This is why today the Catholic Church Worships and follows Mary as their god.

That which you pray to is your god epostle and praying the Hail Mary in front of a statue of Mary is Idolatry.

candlesflame · Dec 6, 2015

having been a catholic my parents polish hungarian religion for 62 years i became numb and then angry that a priest a nun or a pope told me how to pray through them when i wanted to pray to GOD , i didn't need a confessional, i needed a quiet spot alone with just my prayers going to God., only when i stepped away and quietly did my bible studies , did i understand i wasted 62 years of my life doing memorized rituals , Latin, now I prayed to God after accepting JESUS and looking forward to letting holy spirit into my life.we did not do bible study as catholic s we did dogma rituals studies ...what a waste...now with my bible studies i am a infant and child in Gods eye..but what a blessing it is to finally walk this path still not sure if its OK to underline passages in the Bible with a pencil but its the way i find today's message to me..today's lesson..

epostle · Dec 6, 2015

candlesflame said:

Sorry you have been so mislead, priests, nuns or the Pope do not interfere with your prayers to God, any more than the Protestant radio shows or ministers are obstacles to God. I think you are just angry.

What you mean is you don't need forgiveness. Anti-Catholics and Protestants get caught up with externals, focusing on the visible and not the forgiveness. You are letting them mislead you.

, Solitude and quiet time with God has always been encouraged by the Catholic Church.

, many private bible studies are available in the Catholic Church, but Christianity has always been communal, Protestantism is overly privatized. The whole bible is read aloud in a three year period. Sorry you weren't listening.

, That is not the essence of Catholicism

. Catholics do this all the time. We accept Jesus physically and spiritually. You missed this after 62 years?

I think you are just angry.

No priest in his right mind would forbid you to underline in your bible, its just wrong to vandalize church property in any church.

Chances are, you're already feeling a strange inner pull. No matter what anyone else tells you, the spiritual longing you feel is God trying to draw you back to himself. But God never forces. God only invites. Whether or not you return to the Catholic Church is a decision that only you can make.

There are as many reasons for coming back to the Church as there are people who left. While God is at the center of each person's decision to return, the circumstances are varied. Here are ten reasons that influenced the decision of other people to return to the practice of the Catholic faith:

Number 10: Because they want meaning in life.

In the hustle of today's busy lifestyles, lots of people suddenly realize that their lives have lost a sense of meaning or purpose. They begin to ask themselves, "What is my life all about?" Why do I do what I do?" There is widespread confusion in our culture with regard to morality and truth. The Catholic Church offers a beacon of light that gives meaning to our existence and leads to eternal life if we persevere.
Number 9: Because childhood memories surface.

Some people say childhood memories of feeling connected to God surface in later life. They begin to ask themselves, "Is it possible to recapture that simplicity of faith? Can I ever really believe that God is watching our for me?" The secularization of our society leads people away from the spiritual side of themselves. The Catholic Church offers BOTH religious and mystical experiences that feed the heart, the mind the body and the soul AS WELL AS an array of active lay ministries that interface and interact with the secular world in order to make it a holier world to live in.

Number 8: Because they made mistakes.

Some people become burdened with the weight of accumulated sin. They want to get rid of the guilt of having hurt others. They begin to ask themselves, "Will God ever forgive me? Is there any way I can start over with a clean slate?" You can always tell God that you're sorry, but through the sacrament of reconciliation you have a complete assurance of God's forgiveness. In addition, you are reconciled not only with God but with all the members in the Church, the Body of Christ, (CCC 1440) and given the grace to start again with that new slate. The favorite aspect I like about this sacrament, is that for all sins I confess to the Lord {the priest representing the Lord}, I am given extra graces not to commit those particular sins I confess again. I still may struggle, but Our Lord is there to continually assist me.

Number 7: Because they need to forgive others.

Some times people hold on to anger and resentment toward individuals who have hurt them deeply. Maybe it was a family member or friend. Maybe it was someone: a sister, priest or something, in the Church.

"Will God ever forgive me?"

Our modern culture condones and encourages anger and revenge. But hatred and bitterness are spiritual cancers that eat at the heart of a person. The Catholic Church provides the opportunity to seek God's help in forgiving others, even when the other person does not ask for forgiveness or does not deserve it. The ability to forgive is a gift that opens a person's heart more fully to God's love and peace.

Number 6: Because they want to be healed.

Some people carry deep spiritual wounds. They struggle with anger at God over bad things that happen -- a terminal illness, a debilitating injury, a broken relationship, mental or emotional problems, an act of violence against an innocent person, an unexplainable accident, some natural disaster, the death of a loved one or some other deep disappointment. The Catholic Church cannot change these situations or explain why they happened. But there are people in the Church who can assist in the process of spiritual healing and help you get on with your life.

Number 5: Because the Catholic Church has the fullness of truth and grace.

Many people who leave the Catholic Church are blessed by the experience of worshiping for a while in various Christian denominations. But some people come back when they realize that Catholicism has the fullness of truth and grace. The Catholic Church was not founded by a single reformer or historical movement. It is not fragmented by individual interpretations of Scripture. There are thousands of Christian denominations, but only one Catholic Church. This Church has been guided by the Holy Spirit and protected from teaching error on issues of faith and morals from generation to generation for some two thousand years. Our Lord Jesus promised: (foretold Isaiah 22:15-25) Matt 16:13-20; Matthew 18:15-18 (in this verse the word is church, not community); 1 Tim 3:15

Number 4: Because they want their children to have a faith foundation.

Some people return to the Catholic Church because they recognize that raising children in a culture that promotes "doing you own thing" can lead to disaster. Children need to experience the spiritual dimensions of life. They need a structured system of belief and a firm moral foundation that goes beyond human logic and reasoning. People return because they want a solid foundation upon which their children can build their lives.

Number 3: Because they want to be part of a faith community.

Many people seek a sense of belonging. But community is more than just friendly people, good sermons, and interesting activities. A Catholic Christian community is a group of people who gather around the person of Jesus Christ to worship God and live in the light of the Holy Spirit. Catholics come together at Mass, in the Sacraments, and in parish activities to pray, to celebrate joys,, to mourn losses, to serve others, to provide support, and to receive strength for daily life. A Catholic parish offers all of this - and much more - to people who recognize the importance of walking with others toward union with God.

Number 2: Because they want to help other people.

There are lots of opportunities within the secular world to volunteer. What's missing is the spiritual dimension that service within the Catholic Church provides. It's more than just a "feel good" activity. It's part of the "great commandment" (See Mark 12:28ff) to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. In reaching out to others, Catholic volunteers become instruments of God's love. The Catholic Church offers opportunities to touch the lives of people at home or around the world.

Number 1: Because they hunger for the Eucharist.

[The Eucharist is the number 1 reason that people come back to the Church.]

Many people come back to the Catholic Church because they feel an intense longing for the Eucharist. Sometimes it happens at a wedding, a funeral, a baptism, a First Communion, or a Confirmation. Sometimes it happens when people are alone or facing difficulties in life. They describe it as a deep hunger for the spiritual nourishment that comes when they receive the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. This hunger for the Eucharist triggers a recognition of the presence of Christ in other Sacraments, which draws them even more deeply into the practice of their faith. It is, without exception, the number 1 reason that people come back to the Catholic Church.

Most people discover that coming back to the Church is not an event as much as it is a process that involves a little pain, a little laughter, some thinking, some prayer, some discernment and a lot of letting go. "My actual return to full participation in a parish took about three years after I felt the first longing," one person admitted. And what do they get in return? The Catholic Church offers union with Jesus Christ:
- [*=left]in the Scripture
  [*=left]in prayer
  [*=left]in the community of others
  [*=left]in the Eucharist
  [*=left]and in the other Sacraments.
It offers spiritual support in good times and bad. It offers divine wisdom which is thousands of years old from people just like YOU who lived in each and every century throughout Christian history: 33AD, 100AD, 800AD, 1000AD, 1300AD, 1964AD and 2005AD. It offers meaning and purpose in this life and the promise of eternal life with Him after death for those who persevere to the end.You'll know you are home when you begin to feel a deep sense of peace.

AskACatholic.com - Top 10 reasons to come back to the Catholic Church

Budman · Dec 6, 2015

That's ridiculous. The Catechism says:

# 846 The Second Vatican Council's Decree on Ecumenism explains: 'For it is through Christ's Catholic Church alone, which is the universal help toward salvation, that the fullness of the means of salvation can be obtained.' Pg. 215

That's from the 20th Century, not the 13th. And the teaching that salvation can be obtained only through The Roman Catholic church has never been rescinded.

As a matter of fact, on May 7th, 2001, Pope John Paul II, speaking at the Greek-Melkite Cathedral of Damascus said that "you cannot be a Christian if you reject the Church founded on Jesus Christ." (Reported by the Catholic Information Network, 05/09/01)

Hmmmmmm, I wonder what Church he was speaking about?

And yet again, you know full well your "church" teaches, that without the Sacraments, (Eucharist, Confession to a priest, performing penance, etc.,) one's sins cannot be forgiven, and thus salvation cannot be obtained/maintained.

So stop being deceptive.

ThomistColin · Dec 6, 2015

Budman said:

Read the fullness of the Catechism. If you read the fullness of it, you will realize that the Catholic Church considers you and all Christians are part of the Catholic Church (the Universal Church). You are not in full communion with us, but you as a Christian are one of us as a Christian, thus you are part of the Church.

You can hem and haw and say how you don't agree and how you think that isn't true, except A) It is true and B) That's how it is. Like it or not, if you are a born again Christian who devotes his life to Christ and preaching Christ, we view you to be part of the Catholic Church.

Utah · Dec 6, 2015

epostle said:

Do Catholics serve Communion to non-Catholics? Answer: No.

Thus Budman's words stand true. Catholics are hostile separatists.

How them smiles working for you now, epostle?

fordman · Dec 6, 2015

Utah said:

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it you that said you were Catholic at one time? If so, you should know that what you state here is incorrect. There are, some exceptional circumstances under which other Christians may be permitted to receive holy Communion at a Catholic Mass.

For example, the Canon 844.4 of the Code of Canon Law says it can happen with the permission of the diocesan bishop, when a non-Catholic Christian in a case of grave necessity and no opportunity to approach a minister of his or her own community, asks to receive, is properly disposed and manifests the same belief about the Eucharist as Catholics do.

Non-Catholics can also receive holy Communion with the approval of Church authority, such as when members of Orthodox churches present themselves for Communion and are properly disposed."These churches, although separated from us," says the Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1399, "yet possess true sacraments, above all — by apostolic succession — the priesthood and the Eucharist, whereby they are still joined to us in closest intimacy."Guidelines published by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops extend this same permission to members of the Polish National Catholic Church.
　

Think I've just proved otherwise. However, because unity is not caused by sharing in the Lord’s Table any more than a marriage is caused by intercourse. For those who are out of full communion with the Catholic Church, the spiritual unity must happen first (by entering into full unity with the Church through the rites of initiation), just as those who are not married must be married before they can enter into bodily unity. In both cases, the physical unity naturally flows from the spiritual unity. Eucharist strengthens the unity of the Body of Christ, just as the marriage act strengthens the sacrament of matrimony. But we must do first things first.
　
　

Pax Christi

I want to understand the Catholic faith so....

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