Posted on 02/09/2004 12:58:43 PM PST by Hermann the Cherusker
NOSTRA AETATE (Part II)
Declaration on the relation of the Church to Satan
In this age of ours, when men are are drawing more closely together and the bonds of friendship between different peoples are being strengthened, the Church examines with still greater care the relation which she has with Satan.
When God created the angels, He appointed Lucifer the "anointed Cherub" over paradise (Ezek 28:14). Since "the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable" (Rom 11:29), it follows that, by virtue of his original office, Satan shall forever enjoy a special place and dignity before God. Men always ought to show him respect therefore. Not even the Archangel Michael dared accuse him of wrongdoing (Jude 8-9). The Apostle James reminds us that Satan still possesses the virtue of faith, something that not even all men possess (see James 2:19; cf. 2 Thess 3:2). In fact, it was not Peter or any of the Apostles who first recognized and confessed Jesus' identity, but Satan and his demons (Mt 4:1ff.; 8:29; Mk 1:24). Satan has therefore retained a deep religious sense. This is especially apparent in his efforts to establish religious institutions all around the world through which men have been invited to explore the divine mystery of that One "who is in all" (Eph 4:6) and "who would have all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." (1Tim 2:4)
Sounding the depths of the mystery which is the Church, this Council remembers the spiritual ties which link the people of the New Covenant to Satan. This link is most poingnantly observed in Satan's angelic nature. The Church of Christ acknowledges that in God's plan of salvation the beginning of her faith and election is to be found in the angels who were the first of all God's rational creatures (cf. Job 38:7). She also professes that in the resurrection all Christ's faithful shall become "as the angels." (Mt 22:30).
Many of the early Fathers, including Origen, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Maximus the Confessor, Didymus the Blind and Evagrius Ponticus, speculated that Satan would one day be restored to his original place in Heaven. Ought the Church to share in this hope? Perhaps not, but does it not at least strike a resonant chord deep within the human spirit?
The Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy about Satan. She has high regard for his nature, office, dignity and faith. Although she differs with him on many points of doctrine, nevertheless he often relects a ray of that truth which enlightens all God's creatures. Let Christians, while witnessing to their own faith and way of life, acknowledge, preserve and encourage the spiritual and moral truths found within the person of Satan as well as his social and religious life and culture.
I`m surprised, however, that this was even considered as a preliminary draft of Nostra Aetate even by some mischievous modernist peritus.
Paul VI must have hit the roof when this was presented to him, especially because this particular issue wasn`t debated. Does anyone have any further information on the authenticity or falseness of this document?
And a pretty good one, I have to admit.
Yeah.. remember that jerk! LOL
I had mixed feelings about the war but could not for the life of me figure how anyone couldn't possibly feel bad about Saddamizer being in captivity and having his teeth checked.
That guy was in dire need of a swirly.
This is a parody of a similar document from Vatican II.
Excerpt:...
'...Religions, however, that are bound up with an advanced culture have struggled to answer the same questions by means of more refined concepts and a more developed language.
Thus in Hinduism, men contemplate the divine mystery and express it through an inexhaustible abundance of myths and through searching philosophical inquiry. They seek freedom from the anguish of our human condition either through ascetical practices or profound meditation or a flight to God with love and trust.
Again, Buddhism, in its various forms, realizes the radical insufficiency of this changeable world; it teaches a way by which men, in a devout and confident spirit, may be able either to acquire the state of perfect liberation, or attain, by their own efforts or through higher help, supreme illumination. Likewise, other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing "ways," comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites.
The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions. She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which, though differing in many aspects from the ones she holds and sets forth, nonetheless often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.
Indeed, she proclaims, and ever must proclaim Christ "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), in whom men may find the fullness of religious life, in whom God has reconciled all things to Himself.(4)
Never mind traditional worship, let's fly away somewhere or pet buddah's stomach.
Let me try to find it in scripture first so we can do this right though. Flying away can be dangerous (being so high up and all) so I want see what Jesus has to say about it first. I wouldn't want to make the Buddah angry either.
THE ROOTS OF ANTI-JUDAISM IN THE CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT NOSTRA AETATE: A MILESTONE...by Pier Francesco Fumagalli
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