Pope approves Archbishop Sheen's heroic virtues, step toward sainthood

the Holy Bible recognizes ALL Christians as saints. No exceptions are shown ever.

If all christians are saints, then that body includes the likes of Hitler. Do you really believe that Hitler is a saint?

To make sainthood into a sports star status demeans the power of the Gospel of Grace that makes all true believers into saints. THAT is an amazing miracle!

It was an analogy; I guess you missed the point. Like secularist children look up to sports stars, Catholics look up to those who have been declared saints. Their examples offer encouragement to strive harder against oppressors. Does that wording make more sense?

"I simply pointed out that the Holy Bible recognizes ALL Christians as saints."

Scripture and Sacred Tradition both affirm that Holy is as Holy does.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." - Matthew 7:21

Peace be with you.

“If all christians are saints, then that body includes the likes of Hitler. Do you really believe that Hitler is a saint?”

A Christian is someone who has entrusted himself to the Gospel of grace - this is never alone. The new life of Christ always produces a godly life, marked by works. All Christians are saints, as the Holy Bible addresses them.

I see no confirmation of godliness or good works in the life of Hitler, maybe you do?

“Your understanding is apparently crippled by the limitations of English. A saint is a holy person, and the term saint is derived from the Latin word “Sanctus” meaning holy. It is not an office, it is an adjective. A saint is one recognized by the Church as holy.”

My understanding is affirmed when I read the Greek New Testament, the language it was written in - and which predates the Latin translation.

The Scriptures call all believers saints - holy ones.

Peace to you too.

"My understanding is affirmed when I read the Greek New Testament, the language it was written in - and which predates the Latin translation."

Are you reading Greek or are you using a concordance? I ask because the majority of the Protestant concordances were constructed by attempting to tie the King James translation to the original Koine Greek manuscripts.

St. Jerome based the Catholic definition of Saint on the Latin equivalent of the Koine Greek "Hagios" which means a Holy person. That is all that the Church affirms when it recognizes a person as a saint (holy).

I'm not sure where you are going with this argument because to advance it you will have to make an argument that none of those recognized as saints by the Catholic Church are holy and I don't think that is what you are contending.

Peace be with you

“Are you reading Greek or are you using a concordance? I ask because the majority of the Protestant concordances were constructed by attempting to tie the King James translation to the original Koine Greek manuscripts.”

I read NT Greek. I also know how to use tools. Since I am not a protestant, I’m not sure where you are going with that.

“I’m not sure where you are going with this argument because to advance it you will have to make an argument that none of those recognized as saints by the Catholic Church are holy and I don’t think that is what you are contending.”

I don’t have an argument. Nor did I argue that anyone was or wasn’t a saint. I stated the reality of who God recognizes as a saint - ALL believers who have entrusted themselves to the Gospel of Grace. No more or no less. Please reread my first post, if you are interested. I said it clearly there.

Peace back at ya.

“Unfortunately too, these proceedings add criteria that fly in the face of the clear teaching of the Holy Bible as to what a true saint is”

It’s always amazed me that protestants put down all things Catholic, but still believe (and attempt to interpret)that Catholic document known as the Holy Bible.

“It’s always amazed me that protestants put down all things Catholic, but still believe (and attempt to interpret)that Catholic document known as the Holy Bible.”

1. Not Protestant.
2. Either the Holy Scriptures are inspired by God, or they are not.
3. I simply pointed out the fallacy of the procedure in the face of Holy Scripture.
4. Finally, I do not believe the Holy Scriptures are a Catholic document-they are a God document.

To know history is also to become Catholic. We, along with the Orthodox are the only Churches that stretch right back to Christ and the Apostles. The true faith has literally been handed from the apostles to their successors the bishops through the laying on of hands. We have a living Tradition of cherished teachings and memories going back to Christ himself.

Sadly the upheaval of the 16th century led to the Protestant denominations of today which were largely severed from history and Tradition. Sola Scriptura! (Scripture alone!) the cry went up, as if Scripture could be divorced from the Church, and sacred history that gave it birth. An immense and ahistorical rupture severed many Christians from their sacred inheritance.

Today there are often claims by many in the Protestant denominations that some Catholic teaching or another is either unbiblical or was invented in the Middle Ages or later. But to study history puts the lie to this claim and to read the Fathers of the Church is to enter a very Catholic world. To read the Fathers throws opens a door to the earliest centuries of the Church stretching back to as early as 100 AD a the very close of the Apostolic age. It is almost like a seamless garment. As the last Book of Scripture was being written around 90 AD, the first letters and documents of the Fathers began being circulated among the faithful. They cast light on the earliest history of the Church and we discover that world to be Catholic, a world wherein sacraments are on glorious display along with Scripture, a world where in authority and unity are insisted upon, a world of Bishops, Priests, Deacons and of the Popes. Protestant imaginings of the Church simply do not stand the test of history which testifies overwhelmingly to things Catholic.

http://blog.adw.org/2009/10/to-study-history-is-to-become-catholic/

“To know history is also to become Catholic.”

I know and have read history and do not believe what you wrote is true. Neither is it the focus of this thread.

I’ll pass and let the thread continue on topic.

Protestants have as their sole rule of faith the written Word of God, which we find in Sacred Scripture. The Catholic Church has as its sole rule of faith, the entire Word of God, as it is found in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

All of the Word of God was at one time passed on orally...Sacred Tradition. Eventually, some of Sacred Tradition was written down...this became Sacred Scripture, which is written tradition. However, Scripture itself tells us that not all of the things that Jesus said and did were written down. And listen to what Paul says about “tradition”:

2 Thes 2:15, “So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by letter.” Traditions! Traditions taught by word of mouth, in other words, oral tradition, and traditions taught by letter. Traditions which they are being told to “stand firm and hold to”. Sacred Scripture and

1 Cor 11:2, “I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I have delivered them to you.” The Corinthians are being commended by Paul because they maintain the traditions that he passed on to them. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

2 Tim 2:2: “and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” What we have here in 2 Timothy is an instance, in Scripture, of Paul commanding the passing on of oral tradition.

1 Thes 2:13, “And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the Word of God, which is at work in you believers.” So, they received as the Word of God that which they heard, not simply that which they read in Scripture.

In other words, the Bible clearly supports the Catholic Church’s teaching that the Word of God is contained in both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.

Dear NKP_Vet,

You seem to want to argue about something that is off topic. I have no desire to argue.

As a NON-Protestant, I am not concerned about Protestant beliefs. I leave that to you.
Believe whatever you wish. It is your right and I am not trying to change your mind.
You will, however, have to find someone else to argue with about those issues - perhaps
a protestant?

Further, I am not interested in simple copy and paste interactions. I like to discuss things
with others who are doing the thinking and responding from their own thoughts and examination of
the issues. I realize too much of that happens online, but it doesn’t compel my participation
or attract me.

I made a simple observation up-thread. It was on-topic. That is all.

Blessings to you.

"Since I am not a protestant,"

Participation in any of these discussions often requires that we read between the lines and consider the perspective or theological context of the participants. Not doing so would require many pro forma disclaimers and disclosures. That said I am interested in how you define Protestant and how you consider your specific belief set or denomination to be non-Protestant.

Peace be with you

I’m not sure what the attraction is in going off topic. I guess it you post an article, we could discuss it.

Here it comes across as an ad hominem attack instead of a discussion about the topic.

"Here it comes across as an ad hominem attack instead of a discussion about the topic."

I wouldn't call my inquiry completely off topic, I simply consider it administrative overhead. It was in no way intended to be ab ad hominem.

For example, when one uses the words Grace, Salvation, Faith, Saint, etc, it is important to know their particular perspective in order to understand the point they are trying to make. These seemingly simple terms mean significantly different things to different people. I unambiguously state that I am a Latin Rite Catholic. I don't know why anyone would be reluctant to proclaim their particular flavor or denomination.

Peace be with you.

I am only interested in what “saint” means to God, who inspired its use. The rest is human error... As I pointed out up-thread.

"I am only interested in what “saint” means to God, who inspired its use. The rest is human error... As I pointed out up-thread."

That's nice, but you aren't talking to God in these threads, you are attempting to communicate with His creatures. If you want to commune with God, you don't need Free Republic or a PC to do it, if you want to communicate with other persons, you need words and a language.

There exists in human thought and reason a very direct relationship between ideas and words. In most forms of communication, words are essential to the specific expression of ideas. Language is a preexisting assumption or collective agreement on the matching of words with specific ideas. When you cloak your meanings in vague assertions of a self possessed inerrancy that you deny anyone else then you have effectively closed off communication. If that is your desire then I will no longer respond and will leave you to your tree falling in the forest exercise.

Peace be with you.

“When you cloak your meanings in vague assertions of a self possessed inerrancy that you deny anyone else then you have effectively closed off communication. If that is your desire then I will no longer respond and will leave you to your tree falling in the forest exercise.”

I think in every post you made to me on this thread, you have included an ad hominem attack or innuendo. I never respond to those because I’m commanded to love you in actions. I have done so.

I am not inerrant - ever - nor claim to be. The Scriptures are inspired by God and inerrant in the original manuscripts. This was another ad hominem attack from you.

The Bible clearly, in many places through the Apostles, addresses all Christians as saints (Gk, “holy ones”). That is a fact. It isn’t my opinion... and it isn’t vague in the slightest. Anyone objective can read it in multiple places in the Holy Bible. I posted the same up-thread, but you failed to address it after many posts. Your call. I acknowledge you have the right to respond however you wish. I also have the right not to play games as a substitute for a discussion.

Since you suggest you will no longer respond, and in light of your previous responses, I affirm that seems a good plan. To make it easier for you to keep your word, I will do the same.

I wish you the best.

No arguing here. I just stand up for God’s Pilgrim Church on Earth. You say you’re not Protestant. You’re certainly not Catholic, so no need for me to discuss any type of faith matters with a non-believer. Have a nice day.

Vultus Christi

Venerable Fulton J. Sheen

By

Father Mark

on June 29, 2012 8:18 PM |

In a private audience yesterday with the Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints, Cardinal Angelo Amato, His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI approved the "heroic virtue" of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, thereby officially opening the well-loved radio and television preacher's cause for canonization.

When Fulton J. Sheen was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria, Illinois in 1919, he promised to make a Holy Hour each day before the Most Blessed Sacrament. He remained faithful to his promise for the entire sixty years of his priesthood. It was during his Holy Hour that he learned to listen to the voice of Our Lord and abandon himself to the love of His Heart. Archbishop Sheen was a tireless promoter of the daily hour of Eucharistic adoration, particularly among priests. Concerning this practise, he wrote:

I keep up the Holy Hour to grow more and more into His likeness... Looking at the Eucharistic Lord for an hour transforms the heart in a mysterious way as the face of Moses was transformed after his companionship with God on the mountain.

The Holy Hour is not a devotion; it is a sharing in the work of redemption. 'Could you not watch one hour with Me?' Not for an hour of activity did He plead, but for an hour of companionship.

The purpose of the Holy Hour is to encourage deep personal encounter with Christ. The holy and glorious God is constantly inviting us to come to Him, to hold converse with Him and to ask such things as we need and to experience what a blessing there is in fellowship with Him. One of the by-products of the Holy Hour was the sensitiveness to the Eucharistic Presence of Our Divine Lord.