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To: vladimir998
“I don’t know how anyone can “claim” a person as their own.”

Perhaps you do not understand the communion of saints well enough to understand it. We do.


Who is "we" in the above statement ? Surely you're not saying that only you are a believer in Jesus and are in the communion and others who are believers but are not in your denomination are out of it. I hope you're not saying that.

“How is it possible to do that ?”

He’s family. We claim him. I could post more words, but it’s the very idea that you don’t get.


Well, explain it to me so that I can get it because I surely don't get how you can claim St. Patrick as your own.

That would be as odd as some Republican claiming Ronald Reagan as his own and then denying others the same claim simply because he does not belong to the GOP.

“Are we supposed to ask St. Patrick himself ?”

No.


If not, how then can you know that he belongs solely to you and not to others who share his faith ?

“This statement is as odd as claiming St. Peter or St. Paul is yours or even Jesus Himself is yours or mine.”

St. Peter is ours too. St. Paul is ours too. And yes, Jesus is ours too. I don’t doubt that a man outside of the Church can know them, can love them and want to be with them, but we actually have them. They are in the communion of saints.


You seem to be saying that he who does not belong to your denomination or church but believes in Jesus and His words cannot claim St. Paul, Peter or Jesus as his own. On what basis do you make such a claim ??

Quite frankly we feel a kinship with them that most non-Catholics (other than our Orthodox brethren) don’t. We are one family.

Well, good for you, but I ( who am not Roman Catholic ) feel as much kinship with St. Patrick on the basis of the faith we share as well. I see no reason why you should claim him solely as your own. If I share Patrick's faith, I am his brother in Christ am I not ?


10 posted on 03/17/2010 7:12:03 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind

You wrote:

“Who is “we” in the above statement ?”

Catholics.

” Surely you’re not saying that only you are a believer in Jesus and are in the communion and others who are believers but are not in your denomination are out of it. I hope you’re not saying that.”

I am not in a denomination. I never have been. I never will be. And only those who are in sacramental communion with the Body of Christ can know Christ in the fullest sense.

“Well, explain it to me so that I can get it because I surely don’t get how you can claim St. Patrick as your own.”

I don’t think any amount of explaining will work. You deny the communion of saints. Perhaps you should read up on that.

“That would be as odd as some Republican claiming Ronald Reagan as his own and then denying others the same claim simply because he does not belong to the GOP.”

I don’t see that as odd at all when you consider that RR was a GOP member and leader. Now, it would be odd for a Democrat to claim RR as his own - especially if he were pro-abortion, a taxer and spender and wanted us to be weak compared to our foreign enemies. Protestantism teaches things that are not in keeping with traditional, historic Christianity.

“If not, how then can you know that he belongs solely to you and not to others who share his faith ?”

We are the only ones who share his faith. He was not a Protestant. He was not a Baptist Protestant. He was Catholic. He and I could share the same the Eucharist, live under the same pope, under the same bishop, etc. He shares none of that with you. St. Patrick and I would even share the same liturgical language - Latin. We could even communicate with one another while you would - most likely - be unable to do so.

“You seem to be saying that he who does not belong to your denomination or church but believes in Jesus and His words cannot claim St. Paul, Peter or Jesus as his own. On what basis do you make such a claim ??”

Christ is ONE. He has only ONE bride. It is not your sect. The bride is the Church.

“Well, good for you, but I ( who am not Roman Catholic ) feel as much kinship with St. Patrick on the basis of the faith we share as well.”

You don’t share a faith with St. Patrick. You only say you do. He was consecrated bishop. You don’t believe in consecrating bishops. He taught his people to hold to the sacraments - as seen in the abiding tradition that Celtic Christians (Catholics) held to. Protestants do none of that. None of it.

“I see no reason why you should claim him solely as your own. If I share Patrick’s faith, I am his brother in Christ am I not ?”

You do not share St. Patrick’s faith. You reject it. You cannot reject it and share in it at the same time.


11 posted on 03/17/2010 8:19:35 PM PDT by vladimir998 (Part of the Vast Catholic Conspiracy (hat tip to Kells))
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