Posted on 01/04/2011 4:22:02 AM PST by NYer
I do believe that Catholics can be as David was ‘a man after God’s own heart’.
But in my everyday world there are many who use the word Catholic like they use gloves in winter. Protection against the harshness of the elements. As in ‘where do you go to church’, the response would be “I’m Catholic”, like end of story, end of questioning. Somehow they are protected for life because of it, and additionally they don’t have to have a relationship with God and His Son, Jesus, because the priest and “Mother Mary” take care of that on their behalf. I always feel like people use the Catholic church as a wall that protects them from the wrath of God. But there are protestants who do the same with TV evangelists.
Those who have been adopted into the family of God should know the Father intimately, speaking with Him daily on their own accord.
At the rapture, I believe the church we attended will be like the husk on a planted seed, it falls away so the life inside can be revealed.
good point, however, I will submit that this is against the ECUSA which truly has lost it’s right to be called a Church any more. It is a pinkos club. And many ECUSA folks who have joined the reformed, pentecostals etc. will agree with that statement.
Or whatever Saint it's appropriate to praise in these situations.
well, priests are humans after all, with human failings. However, the good thing is that the priest ain’t quite the point of a mass — Christ is. So if the priest is a jerk, we ignore him and focus on the REAL presence, Jesus Christ
LOL!
How's it feel?
Was it you who posted the order of the Mass with its Scriptural citations? That was a very good explanation of the Bible basis of the Mass.
"If I’m going to reach Catholics," I thought, "I’ll need to know what they believe and how they support those beliefs."
Protestant apologists on this forum would do well to learn from this man. By and large, they DO NOT know what Catholics believe and teach, nor do they understand how Catholics support their beliefs. Consequently, most protestant apologetic on this forum is an utter waste of time. It is directed against strawmen, it is a supposed refutation of beliefs which Catholics do not hold.
Thank you, sir. Thank you very much!
Most of the Mass in fact is taken word-for-word from the Bible. If you sit down with a Missal and just go through you will find that not including the three Bible readings and Psalm that are in every Sunday Mass, all the major parts of the liturgy quote extensively from the Bible, as do the people's responses. I could go through the whole service line by line, but here's one example: the response of the people to "behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world" (which is itself a quote, John 1:29) is "Lord, I am not worthy to receive you [under my roof will be added in 2011] but only say the word and I shall be healed." Matthew 8:8.
The Church has encouraged Bible reading for years and years (about the time folks started being generally literate). In fact, the old Bible that belonged to my aunt-in-law has a proclamation in the front from Pope Leo XIII of a thirty-day indulgence for all who read and meditate devoutly on Sacred Scripture for half an hour. That proclamation was made in 1898.
I always have my iPhone in the pocket of my choir robe (with the sound turned off) with the entire Bible in English and Latin. But the readings for the day are in the pew in front of you. And there's Bible study every Wednesday night, every Wednesday morning before the work day begins, and two Bible classes on Sunday morning between Masses - one for the teenagers and one for adults. There's also a Men's Bible Study but I'm not sure when it meets.
And the bell ringing doesn't tell anybody when to stand or sit. What it tells you is when the priest elevates the Body and Blood of Christ. That is the summit and zenith of the Mass, Christ becoming present on the altar. At that point, everybody is already kneeling and has been since the Sanctus.
I am beginning to suspect that your brother-in-law is pulling your leg. I have occasionally myself seen how much a radical anti-Catholic can swallow, but I don't do it any more because they are so credulous that there's really no point.
The best thing for you to do is go talk to a priest and get the straight skinny. Relying on hearsay and what you think is happening when you don't know the program is probably not the best way to form an opinion.
Who is the Patron Saint of Strawmen anyways? St. Ray Bolger? Is he the Patron Saint of Tin Men? I forget. So many saints to keep track of. How do you do it?
Bravo!
Hmmmmm....I'll take that as a, "I don't know. I just guess."
Psssst. Here's a tip. Just pray to Jesus and you won't have to remember all those pesky names.
It's almost as if He has a direct line to The Big Guy.
Heresy, I know, but, hey, whattaya expect from a Protestant Apologist.
But I will say in my defense that (a) they were asking for it; (b) they started it; (c) they're no longer Christian anyhow.
Seriously, the implosion of the Episcopal Church needs to be noted and discussed, because it's a warning to mainline churches everywhere, showing what occurs when you turn from the worship of God to the worship of the Spirit of the Age. C.S. Lewis had it pegged 50 years ago, but I'm sure he is very sorry to see his prophecy come true.
Nearly everything we say at mass has its roots in Sacred Scripture. This guide will help you if anyone you know is in doubt about that. Catholics quote scripture all the time, and their actions are deeply scriptural. After all, scripture flowed out of the early Church. The Church came first, the New Testament and the canon of scripture second.And you, Tsqt, would you call that just empty ritual?
Greeting
Priest: In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matt. 28:19)
People: Amen (1 Chr 16:36)
Priest: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (2 Cor 13:13)
People: And also with you.
Liturgy of the Word
Penitential Rite
All: I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault. (Jas. 5:16) In my thoughts and in my words, (Rom. 12:16) In what I have done and what I have failed to do; (Jas 3:6) and I ask the Blessed Virgin Mary, all the angel and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God. (1 Thess 5:25)
Priest: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. (1 John 1:9)
People: Amen (1 Chr 16:36)
All: Lord have mercy. (Tb 8:4) Christ have mercy. (1 Tim 1:2) Lord have mercy.
Gloria
All: Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. (Luke 2:14)
Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, (Rev 19:6)
we worship you, (Rev. 22:9) we give you thanks, (Eph. 5:20)
we praise you for your glory. (Rev 7:12)
Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, (2 John 3)
Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world:
have mercy on us; (John 1:29)
You are seated at the right hand of the Father, receive our prayer. (Rom 8:34)
For you alone are the Holy One, (Luke 4:34)
You alone are Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ. (Luke 1:32)
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. (John 14:26)
[The Liturgy of the Word consists of four readings from Scripture: the first is typically from the Old Testament, the second a psalm, followed by a reading from one of the epistles. Finally, the Gospel is proclaimed during which the people stand out of respect for the Word. The chosen readings change daily.]
A Sermon on the readings follows.
(2 Tim 4:1-2)
Profession of Faith
All: We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, (Gen 14:19) of all that is seen and unseen. (Col 1:16) We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, (Luke 1:35) eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father. (Heb 1:3) Through him all things were made. (John 1:2-3) For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven: (John 3:13) by the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, (Matt 1:18) and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, (John 19:16) he suffered, died and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures. (1 Cor 15:3-4) He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:51) and is seated at the right hand of the Father. (Col 3:1) He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim 4:1) and his kingdom will have no end. (Luke 1:33) We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, (Acts 2:17) who proceeds from the Father and the Son. (John 14:16) With the Father and Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. (1 Peter 1:10-11) We believe in one holy, catholic and apostolic Church. (Rom 12:5) We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. (Acts 2:38) We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. (Rom 6:5) Amen
Liturgy of the Eucharist
[The gifts are brought to the altar. These include the bread and wine and the offering collected from the people.] (Malachi 3:10)
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. (Eccl. 3:13) It will become for us the bread of life. (John 6:35)
People: Blessed be God forever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness we have this wine to offer, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink. (Luke 22:17-18)
People: Blessed be God forever. (Ps 68:36)
Priest: Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father. (Heb. 12:28)
People: May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our sake and the good of all his Church. (Ps 50:23)
Eucharistic Prayers
Priest: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them up to the Lord. (Lam 3:41)
Priest: Let us give thanks to the Lord Our God. (Col 3:17)
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise. (Col 1:3)
Preface Acclamation
All: Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. (Is 6:3) Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. (Mark 11:9-10)
Eucharistic prayer
[There are four of these, based on ancient prayers of the Church. Eucharistic Prayer Two follows as an example:]
Priest: Lord, you are holy indeed, the fountain of all holiness. (2 Macc. 14:36) Let your spirit come upon these gifts (water and wine) to make them holy, so that they may become the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. Before he was given up to death, (Phil 2:8) a death he freely accepted, (John 10:17-18) he took bread and gave you thanks. He broke the bread, gave it to his disciples, and said: Take this all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you. When supper was ended, he took the cup. Again he gave thanks and praise, gave the cup to his disciples, and said: Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this is memory of me. (Mark 14:22-25) Let us proclaim the mystery of faith.
All: Dying you destroyed our death, rising you restored our life, Lord Jesus, come in glory. (Heb 2:14-15)
Priest: In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving bread, this saving cup. (John 6:51) We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your presence and serve you. May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor.10:17) Lord, remember your Church throughout the world; make us grow in love together with our Pope and our bishop, and all the clergy. Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again: bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence. (2 Macc 12:45-46) Have mercy on us all; make us worthy to share eternal life with Mary, the virgin Mother of God, with the apostles and with all the saints who have done your will throughout the ages. May we praise you in union with them, and give you glory though your Son, Jesus Christ. (2 Thes 1:4-5) Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, for ever and ever.
All: Amen. (Rom 11:36)
Communion Rite
The Lord's Prayer:
All: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. (Matt 6:9-13)
Priest: Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy keep us from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ. (John 17:15)
All: For the kingdom the power and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen
Priest: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles; I leave you peace, my peace I give to you. (John 14:27) Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever.
Priest: The peace of the Lord be with you always! (John 20:19)
People: And also with you!
[The priest then directs the people to exchange a sign, such as a handshake or a kiss, or a word of God's peace to one another.]
Breaking of the Bread
All: Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world: have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace. (John 1:29)
Communion
Priest: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper. (Rev. 19:9)
People: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed. (Matt 8:8)
[Communion is distributed to the faithful at the altar by the priest and lay ministers.] Dismissal Priest: Blessed be the name of the Lord. Now and forever. (Dan 2:20) May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. (Luke 24:51) Go in peace (Luke 7:50) to love and serve the Lord. (2 Chr 35:3)
[During the blessing the people make the Sign of the Cross, the traditional sign of the baptized and a public sign of their belief in the power of God.]
People: Thanks be to God. (2 Cor 9:15)
nah, you can do what we Catholics do “Praise the Lord! Thank you Jesus Christ for bringing more wonderful people to your Church”
ping to my post 57
Praise
(Christian Religious Writings / Theology) the extolling of a deity or the rendering of homage and gratitude to a deity
I never in my life heard a Catholic say "Praise to a Saint"
Never and I mean never heard " Praise Mary".
But may 2 Peter 3:18 to you!
And it's Praise Jesus and like the Angel and Holy Spirit Honored her it's Hail Mary!
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