Posted on 09/06/2009 3:50:15 PM PDT by NYer
If that were true, it would necessarily be true that many protestants have judgmental, un-Christian attitudes about Catholics.
But I don't believe your claim. The vast majority of protestants are NOT anti-Catholic bigots. Just the rotten few who make hateful claims such as the one you cite.
But prior to Vatican 2, the Catholic Church rejected all of us Protestants as Christian, and even now barely tolerates the idea that some Protestants might be followers of Christ.
Baloney.
I said "of course it would."
I’m sorry but you and I feel differently about that. You don’t turn your back on the Lord simply because you leave a church. Now I know the eucharist is important in your life, but it’s not salvific. The Lord CAN be real to you even without it, by prayer, spending time alone with Him and getting to know Him, by praising Him, reading His Word.
Thank you BlackElk for your wonderful response. No, we will not agree theologically, but we can still be Christian brother/sister. Love and blessings, Mary
No, you don’t care. I hope that carelessness doesn’t lead you in the wrong direction at the time of your death. I pray for you.
No, to Catholics there IS a difference. Too many feel the Church is their salvation. I hope you do not.
Mindreading en masse now, I see.
Hey, I’m honing my talents. wink, wink.
Not caring about your misapprehensions about the meaning of the Crucifix could cost me my soul?
That's some hardcore hubris there, mare.
We have all of this in the Catholic Church ... and ... we have the Lord, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Henry Hardinge Menzies, an architect, tells a story:
A Protestant was visiting a Catholic church accompanied by his Catholic friend, and after entering, he was admiring the beauty of the architecture and decorations. He was particularly impressed with the altar and the tabernacle on top which was surrounded by angels and many candles. He asked his Catholic friend, “And what’s in that box there on the table?” The Catholic replied, “Jesus Christ himself is really present in that box. Our faith tells us that.” There was stunned silence. Finally the Protestant said, “If I believed that, I would crawl down this aisle on my knees!”
— Henry Hardinge Menzes, God in a Box
What would you give to be in the physical presence of our Lord?
We do NOT believe the eucharist is the physical presence of the Lord. We have His spiritual presence in our services all the time; you can feel it. But if you find comfort in it, then what can I say? I’m glad for you. I feel His presence in my home, in my church...
No, it’s not that, it’s the heresies in your church that will lead you wrong, Petronski.
And since there are none, I'm cool.
You avoided my question: What would you give to be in the physical presence of our Lord?
What do you believe IS the physical presence of the Lord?
You really believe that and I feel badly for you.
Excellent, Mr. Rogers. Thank you.
There is another story, of a Muslim. When it was explained that the wine and bread were really Jesus, God in the flesh, he called the Priest a liar.
“If that were truly God, no one would ever turn their back on it, or leave it”.
But Jesus told us He would NOT be physically present anymore, and in return the Holy Spirit would come to us. And the Holy Spirit would act in His place, teaching and helping ALL believers at once, as though each believer had Jesus standing next to him physically.
OK, that isn’t a direct quote. But “7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” says we are better off without the physical presence of Jesus, for the Holy Spirit will come.
“26But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”
There is a reason the early Christians spoke of the Holy Spirit as the “Vicar of Christ”. And if you believe the Holy Spirit is God, then you don’t worry about Jesus not being here physically, for God is with you.
In fact, “23Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
If God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are with you always, what is the problem?
Good points. I have the indwelling Holy Spirit as my guide and my teacher and my comforter. Jesus is NOT here in the flesh any longer but one day He will be. We see through a glass dimly but one day we will see Him face to face.
Recall the topic of this thread is Catholics are coming home. This discourse began when you suggested that Catholics do not suffer by leaving the Church. I pointed out to you that they deny themselves the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. To this, you replied that you do not believe the Eucharist is the real presence of the Lord.
Your disbelief does not alter reality. Jesus said: "This is my Body; This is my Blood; DO THIS..." For 2,000 years, Catholics have followed His command. To which you respond: I do not believe it is your Body, I do not believe it is your Blood and I will not DO THIS, Lord, as you commanded.
Like the disciples of old, many today find ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’ (John 6:60), and walk away. But the Sacrament He instituted at the Last Supper remains vitally alive today. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?" (1 Cor. 10:16). Even scientists acknowledge this to be true flesh and blood.
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" (John 6:53). That is what we as Catholics do. If you choose to ignore or disagree with the words of our Lord, that is your choice. Meanwhile, we continue to pray that Catholics will come home.
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