Posted on 03/30/2010 10:38:29 AM PDT by NYer
WASHINGTON, D.C., MARCH 29, 2010 (Zenit.org).- This Easter, thousands are planning to become Catholic, including a man who almost lost his life five times.
The U.S. bishops' conference shared the story of Jeremy Feldbusch, 30, from Blairsville, Pennsylvania, who is among the thousands preparing to enter the Church Saturday evening.
Feldbusch was in the armed services in Iraq, and on April 3, 2003, he was wounded with shrapnel from the conflict, which resulted in blindness in both eyes and traumatic brain injury.
He was expected to die shortly after, or if he lived, to sustain extensive brain damage. Doctors put him into a coma with a ventilator for six weeks in order to reduce brain swelling.
The medical professionals attempted to remove the ventilator five times, but on each attempt, Feldbusch "died" and had to be resuscitated. On the sixth try, he finally regained consciousness.
The patient, who had been baptized a Methodist, asked his father, "Why did God take my eyesight?"
His father replied with a different question, "Why did God let you live?"
The bishops' conference reported that through the process of rehabilitation, Feldbusch "began to think that things happen for a reason and resolved to spend his life helping other wounded service members."
He decided to enter the Catholic Church, and will be received on Saturday, the 7th anniversary of his life-changing injury in Iraq.
Growth
The conference press release noted that thousands more will join Feldbusch, with especially high numbers of new Catholics expected in the South and Southwest regions of the United States.
The Diocese of Dallas, Texas, is preparing to receive 3,000 new Catholics. Of these, 700 are catechumens (never before baptized) and 2,300 are candidates (already validly baptized into the Christian faith, but seeking full communion with the Church).
Also in Texas, the Archdiocese of San Antonio is reporting that 1,112 people will enter the Church. A good number of these are young people, who have already reached the age of reason, including 214 child catechumens and 124 candidates.
The Diocese of Forth Worth in that same state will welcome around the same number of new Catholics.
The Archdiocese of Atlanta is preparing for 1,800 new Church members, which is the largest group ever recorded for that region, the press release reported.
On the West Coast, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, which is the largest diocese nationwide, will receive 2,400 new members.
In Seattle, 682 people will be baptized into the Church, and 479 welcomed into full communion.
The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, will welcome 842 new Catholics.
Other dioceses who are expecting over a thousand new members are: Detroit, Michigan (1,225); Cincinnati, Ohio (1,049); Denver, Colorado (1,102); Arlington, Virginia (1,100); Washington, D.C. (1,150).
In the Archdiocese of Washington, 18 of those preparing to enter the Church are students from St. Augustine School, the oldest African American school in the nation's capital.
The conference communiqué noted that the Catholic Church, which is the largest denomination in the United States, with over 68 million members, has shown a 1.5% increase in membership numbers this past year.
“you don’t have the power like you did in the dark ages to burn people at the stake”
I didn’t want to step into this silly argument, but protestants had great fun torturing, and murdering Catholics too. Sometimes children foolishly hate their parents, and this protestant hatred being flung at their RC relatives is just as ignorant. And no, I’m not Roman Catholic.
oh i don’t doubt she exists. Heck the nuns who were lauded by Planned Parenthood for their support for the HC bill no doubt would be equally clueless about their Office, the Bible etc.
fish hawk:
Except tht quote you are referring to comes from Revelation, which is a reference to itself, i.e. do not detract from this “book”. As for calling no man Father, I see you are one of those Protestants that is falling back to that one.
St. Paul referred to many of his disciples as his children, for example Timothy (cf 1 Cor 4:17; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2) and in other places Timothy was referred to by St. Paul as his sone( 1 Tim 1:18; 2 Tim. 2:1). St. Paul claims that Timothy’s worth to him in the missionary work that St. Paul did was like a son to a father: “But Timothy’s worth you know, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel” (Phil. 2:22).
St. Paul referred to others as his children such as Titus (Titus 1:4) and Onesimus where St. Paul writes “whose father I have become in my imprisonment” (Philem. 10)
In all these cases, St. Paul was referring to his disciples as his “spiritual children” and thus he saw himself as their “spiritual father”. This theological concept of “spiritual fatherhood” is most clearly expressed by St. Paul in 1 Cor 14:14-15 where he writes “I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”
St. Peter’s writings express the same theologicl concept of spiritual fatherhodd as he refers to Mark as his son as he writes “She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark” (1 Pet. 5:13). In other letters or the New Testament, we see St. Paul referring to entire Churches as his “spiritual children” (Gal 4:19)
The Apostle John’s letters also embrace the theology of “spiritual fatherhood” as he referrs to the Church/Christians he is writing to as “my little children (1. John 2:1; 3 John 4) and he refers to men in these same congregations as “fathers” (1 John 2:13–14).
Christ himself told a rich man and the pharisees that keeping the commandments were necessary to inherit eternal life [with God’s Grace of course] and specifically cited “honor your father and mother” (cf Matt 19:19, Luke 18:20; Mark 7: 10-13). In other places in the NT, Abraham is referred to as “Father” and St. Paul refers to him as such in Romans Chapter 3 in that context at least 3 times.
I could go on and on, but the above post I think makes my point which is your interpretation of Christ “call no man father” is totally wrong, otherwise you make every Apostle a heretic. No, the more plausible interpretation is that Christ’s Father is the God of all history and the First Person of the Holy Trinity and the source of all things and Christ is eternally from the Father and thus can call God “Abba.”
The use of the word “father” in the contexts that Catholics and Orthodox Christians use it does not contradict what Christ is saying [if interpreted the in light of apostolic tradition) and in fact is expressed throughout the New Testament Epistles.
Precisely what I was getting at. Re read your remarks and notice that your words point toward a life that merits salvation because of the "fruit". This comes from that darkened teaching of Rome that fruit gains grace, rather than fruit being a result of grace. Pay close attention to how much you think you deserve heaven. That will be a tattletale as to whether you understand the Gospel or follow the gospel of Rome. I certainly pray that I can represent Christ alone, and I pray that you can escape representing Rome.
41And why seest thou the mote in thy brother's eye: but the beam that is in thy own eye thou considerest not? 42Or how canst thou say to thy brother: Brother, let me pull the mote out of thy eye, when thou thyself seest not the beam in thy own eye? Hypocrite, cast first the beam out of thy own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to take out the mote from thy brother's eye. 43For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit; nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit. 44For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape. 45A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 46And why call you me, Lord, Lord; and do not the things which I say? 47Every one that cometh to me, and heareth my words, and doth them, I will shew you to whom he is like. 48He is like to a man building a house, who digged deep, and laid the foundation upon a rock. And when a flood came, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and it could not shake it; for it was founded on a rock. 49But he that heareth, and doth not, is like to a man building his house upon the earth without a foundation: against which the stream beat vehemently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.
Well, I would if what I was saying was not in accord with Scripture. But, the Roman gang doesn't know the Book that they claim to have delivered, but they sure stamp their feet and pound their chests and yell, "Rome is right!"
So, go ahead, scream and yell. We will continue to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Rome will continue to present the gospel of Rome. Trust in the Vatican at your own peril OR read the Bible and pray that you are among the elect.
How true.
I wouldn't be too quick to swallow this story. It's standard anti-Catholic boilerplate. There's a rich history of clergy "deliverance from the dark cult of Rome" stories in their propaganda. It's rare that one can actually find a record of ordination or profession.
And hasn't it struck you that some of the other rhetoric bares a remarkable resemblance to such classics as The Priest, the Woman, and the Confessional or The Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk in the Hotel de Dieu?
The "Catholics don't know Scripture" meme is pretty common, and probably a result of the fact that we don't memorize chapter and verse numbers. But we are exposed, especially in the Ordinary Form, to three readings (O.T., Epistle, & Gospel) plus a Responsorial Psalm each Sunday, and, if hymns don't replace them, the Introit and Communion Scriptural Antiphons and Psalms as well. These are on a three-year cycle. Most of the rest of the prayers at Mass are direct quotations or paraphrases of Scripture as well. Then at daily Mass, there's a two-year cycle of Epistle and Gospel readings.
That's just Mass, of course. Those who wish may also recite the Liturgy of Hours, where the seven times of daily prayer consist mostly of psalms and short Scriptural readings, as well as commentary at the Office of Readings. At Lauds, Vespers, and Compline, there are the three great Gospel Canticles of Luke: the Benedictus, the Magnificat, and the Nunc Dimittis.
In keeping with the actual topic of the thread, as opposed to this side hijack into the realm of the irrational, I'll note that I am very much looking forward to singing Vidi Aquam at the Easter Vigil, after the new candidates are baptized, and the congregation renews its baptismal vows. The antiphon is from Ezekiel, and the verse from Psalm 117:
I saw water coming forth from the temple
on the right side, alleluia:
and all those to whom this water came
were saved, and shall say, alleluia, alleluia.V. Give praise to the Lord, for He is good:
R. For His mercy endureth forever.
In contrast, I find our separated brethren's grasp of Scripture to be quite selective.
I think you pinged the wrong person to that response.
I replied in support of your post at #58.
i know i am going to heaven, Christ died for my sins i know i”m going. that doesn’t mean i am absolved of bearing fruit on His behalf. what do you hope to gain with the nasty anticatholici vitriol that you spew here? if you hope to convince anyone that you are right and catholics wrong, you are failing, my brother. even non-catholics feel compelled to inveigh against you. pray for guidance, pray for Christ’s love to shine forth from you, because i am here to tell you, it’s sorely lacking. turn from your self-righteousness and seek God, that you might better serve Him
**The Archdiocese of Portland, Oregon, will welcome 842 new Catholics.**
I’ve been telling you that we are growing conservatives out here! Hooray!
**The conference communiqué noted that the Catholic Church, which is the largest denomination in the United States, with over 68 million members, has shown a 1.5% increase in membership numbers this past year.**
BTTT!
Well, I don't expect to convince anyone of anything...that is God's business. But, I am convinced that the RCC teaches an unbiblical gospel and I intend to keep saying that until I am unable.
Additionally, Christ threw over the tables of the moneychangers when He went into the temple and you might have thought this shocking behavior for the hand-wringing Jesus you envision. Further, he called the Pharisees, "the basement of an outhouse." when they strutted their fancy clothes and taught that men could find God from following the Mosaic Law. May want to read that Bible some more.
So, frankly, xsmommy, your words strike me as "nasty" and defensive for Rome. And apparently more concerned about protecting that organization than representing the truth of Jesus Christ. You may wish to look in the mirror for the one failing to love.
i will continue to pray for you.
That wasn't the issue...The issue was being baptized into Methodism...
But you are right...Any baby baptized would be rebaptized in a Baptist church because that trip to the sprinkler can as a baby means nothing...
It's not a Christian baptism until you first repent and then get baptized...
And I for you.
Now that’s a wise father.
In my experience, those of us with excellent fathers can see God the Father in a very special way. This is another reason fathers are so important. A great father teaches us we can trust the Father. A bad father hinders our ability to trust the Father.
God bless this young man and all our new converts!
Is this the royal we? Or the royal wee?
We've noticed a sizeable uptick in the antiCatholic postings this holy season. I appreciate that you continue to declare even more clearly which side you are supporting.
By your fruits are you known re: Ephesians 2:1-2.
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