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To understand Bible, one must understand its nature, pope says
cns ^ | April 12, 2013 | Cindy Wooden

Posted on 04/13/2013 2:54:16 PM PDT by NYer

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Catholic faith is not centered simply on a book -- the Bible -- but on Jesus Christ, the Word of God made flesh, Pope Francis said.

"The sacred Scriptures are a written testimony to the divine Word," which came before the Bible and exceeds it, the pope said April 12 during a meeting with members of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, an international body of scholars that advises the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Commission members met at the Vatican April 9-12 to conclude work on a document about inspiration and truth in the Bible, which is likely to be published in the coming months.

Archbishop Gerhard Muller, prefect of the doctrinal congregation and president of the commission, told the pope the aim was to help people interpret the Scriptures "in accordance with the nature" of the Bible itself. The focus on "inspiration," he said, was an attempt to explain the divine origin of the Bible and the focus on "truth" was an attempt to describe what the Bible says "about God and his plan for salvation."

The archbishop said the commission recognized that when the church describes the Scriptures as being divinely inspired and true certain "challenges come from the Bible itself," including when passages seem to contradict scientific or historical evidence.

Another challenge, he said, is posed by "the violence in some passages" that seems to contradict basic Christian teaching and even phrases the Bible attributes directly to Jesus.

The point of the document, he said, is to help Catholics "overcome both fundamentalism and skepticism."

Pope Francis said the themes of biblical inspiration and truth are important not only for individual believers, "but for the whole church because its life and mission are based on the Word of God, who animates theology and inspires all of Christian existence."

Interpreting the Bible in an honest and authentic way means respecting its nature and recognizing its purpose, the pope said.

"The texts inspired by God were entrusted to the community of believers, the church of Christ, to increase the faith and guide the life of charity," he said. It is only with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and with full respect for the tradition and teaching of the church that the Scriptures' true meaning can be understood.


TOPICS: Apologetics; Catholic; Ministry/Outreach; Theology
KEYWORDS: bible; romancatholicism; scripture
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To: smvoice

21 posted on 04/13/2013 3:51:24 PM PDT by narses
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To: NYer

Perhaps this book will be everything its defenders seem to suggest at this time; and I, for one, pray that it is. But my concern is with Archbishop Gerhard Muller. He is a modernist of the first order who is responsible for earlier writings that have been read by many to suggest that the Consecrated Host is not the actual Body and Blood of jesus Christ, but only a “symbol”; and that the virginity of the Blessed Virgin was not to be understood as an unbroken “hymen”, but rather, a “spiritual virginity”. He never denied or explained his writings, and the only defense was offered by others who said his German was “mis-translated”. I don’t know, and maybe it was, and indeed, this may be different. But he and the others are modernists that stand by the heresies of Vatican II, so it would not surprise me to see them doubling down on this notion by trying to tell the gullible what the Bible really means “today” in this “modern” world.
I say be very very cautious.


22 posted on 04/13/2013 3:51:42 PM PDT by tomsbartoo (I'd go slow)
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To: narses

I know. Stick another wafer in and call it pleasing to God.


23 posted on 04/13/2013 3:53:26 PM PDT by smvoice (Better Buck up, Buttercup. The wailing and gnashing are for an eternity..)
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To: NYer

But it is asserted that Christ built His church on one flawed (as are we all) human being, rather than on the profound, foundational core of TRUTH which that flawed man has just finished confessing, namely, Who and What Christ is.


24 posted on 04/13/2013 3:53:53 PM PDT by Elsiejay
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To: Dutchboy88

Your interpretation of Scripture is not the Church’s and it is yours that is the innovation. Both purgatory and veneration of the Theotokos are thoroughly Biblical. Outside of Scripture, clear Marianisn appears by the mid-2nd Century, long preceding the canonization of the New Testament. Purgatory not only appeals to common sense and what we understand about God, but is in Scripture at 1 Corinthians 3:15 (that pesky Paul again). Also Jesus Parable starting at Matthew 18:22.

We’ve been discussing this stuff for 2000 years, not six months.


25 posted on 04/13/2013 3:56:14 PM PDT by Hilda
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To: BlueDragon
"So...you have something against cartoon cereal boxes?"

After all, the beret-thing is fairly cool.

And, our nourishing granola tastes better than their flakes of "OCSUI" (Our Cult's Screwed Up Interpretation).

26 posted on 04/13/2013 3:59:38 PM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: smvoice

By the way, not everything that happened is IN the Bible - some things are simply historical events. The evidence that Peter was in Rome and died there is overwhelming, and it IS mentioned in the Bible. Such as in John 21, where Jesus predicts Peter’s martyrdom. Or the fact that 1 Peter was written from “Babylon.”

There is also extra-biblical historical information, like the fact that the excavated Peter’s tomb. It had his name on it. And was precisely where the Church Fathers said it was.


27 posted on 04/13/2013 4:01:11 PM PDT by Hilda
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To: smvoice

Puerile stuff.

Quite apart from the incontestable scriptural justification and the received tradition of the apostles and disciples of Christ you may wish to read this and in particular the story of Bononillo. This will get you off form following the likes of Benny Hinn, Rev Jeremiah Wright; Rev. Schuller, Tammy Faye Baker, and every neighborhood local pastor who poses off theologians.

St. Anthony of Padua: Doctor of the Church, Patron of the Poor, Italy (1195-1231)

Feast day—June 13

St. Anthony was devoted to Jesus in the Holy Eucharist and Our Lady from his childhood, when he served Mass for his uncle who was a priest. St. Anthony is known for his defense of the Real Presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, miracles and conversions. Before his death, St. Anthony received the last Sacraments and said “I see my Lord.” He proclaimed:

“Upon the Altar there takes place the transubstantiation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. That Body which the Virgin begot, which hung upon the Cross and was placed in the sepulchre, which rose again the third day, and ascended to the right hand of the Father, this Body the Church today and everyday presents and distributes to her faithful. When the priest speaks the words: This is My Body, the essence of the bread is changed into the Body of Christ.”

“Anthony was a friend of St. Francis and became a Franciscan priest. He was a great preacher on the Real Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and told everyone he met about his love for Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. St. Anthony was also known as a great miracle worker who loved the poor and sick people very much. Wherever he went, St. Anthony performed many miracles to help feed the poor, heal the sick, and care for the needy. He is known as a great Doctor of the Church, patron of the poor, and finder of the lost.” (From our book Adoration for Children. See the Catalog section of our website for ordering information).

STORY of BONONILLO

There was a man named Bononillo who did not believe that the Eucharist is Jesus. He mocked of people who believed that, by the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Christ at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

One day, St. Anthony challenged the man, saying, “If the mule you often ride were to adore the true Body of Christ under the appearance of bread, would you believe in the truth of the Lord’s Sacrament?” Bononillo said “Yes.” So, they made a bet. In a few days they would place both the Blessed Sacrament and a pile of hay in front of the mule, to see what he would do.

Bononillo told everyone about the event. Because he wanted to make sure to prove that he was right and St. Anthony was wrong, he didn’t give the donkey any food for two days before the test. Of course, he thought, the mule will be so hungry that he will not even look at the Eucharist, but run straight to his food.

On the day of the test Bononillo led the donkey toward where St. Anthony was standing with the Blessed Sacrament, in front of a great crowd. When they were a few steps away from the Holy Eucharist, Bononillo placed a bag of hay under the mule’s nose, but the mule turned his head. The mule walked over to St. Anthony, and when he was close, bent his front legs as if to kneel in Adoration! Even Bononillo saw that the Sacred Host is really Jesus—Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity—and believed in Him.

St. Anthony loved Jesus in the Holy Eucharist very much, so he told everyone he met about His Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. (From our book Stories of the Eucharist).


28 posted on 04/13/2013 4:01:24 PM PDT by Steelfish (ui)
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To: Hilda

You are basing the entire doctrine of purgatory on one verse about the work of a man being tested by fire? Oh, Hilda, you folks need to talk about this a lot longer than 2000 years if you are going to get anything from the Scriptures.


29 posted on 04/13/2013 4:03:10 PM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: smvoice
"The bodily resurrection of Mary. Mary's sinlessness. Apostolic succession. The Catholic Church. Peter in Rome. Peter as 1st pope. Popes. Etc. Almost everything Rome believes and teaches is OUTSIDE the Bible. If she isn't ADDING to the Word of God for her beliefs, she is TAKING AWAY from the Word of God for her beliefs. Additions and abberations is putting it mildly."

Sounds like you were just getting warmed up...

30 posted on 04/13/2013 4:14:19 PM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: smvoice

My soul magnifies the Lord,
And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.
For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden,
For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with His arm:
He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree.
He has filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich He has sent empty away.
He has helped His servant Israel, in remembrance of His mercy;
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to His posterity forever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen

Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum,
et exsultávit spíritus meus
in Deo salvatóre meo,
quia respéxit humilitátem
ancíllæ suæ.

Ecce enim ex hoc beátam
me dicent omnes generatiónes,
quia fecit mihi magna,
qui potens est,
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericórdia eius in progénies
et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fecit poténtiam in bráchio suo,
dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui;
depósuit poténtes de sede
et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis
et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum,
recordátus misericórdiæ,
sicut locútus est ad patres nostros,
Ábraham et sémini eius in sæcula.

Glória Patri et Fílio
et Spirítui Sancto.
Sicut erat in princípio,
et nunc et semper,
et in sæcula sæculórum.

Amen.

She became the Mother of God, in which work so many and such great good things are bestowed on her as pass man’s understanding. For on this there follows all honor, all blessedness, and her unique place in the whole of mankind, among which she has no equal, namely, that she had a child by the Father in heaven, and such a Child . . . Hence men have crowded all her glory into a single word, calling her the Mother of God . . . None can say of her nor announce to her greater things, even though he had as many tongues as the earth possesses flowers and blades of grass: the sky, stars; and the sea, grains of sand. It needs to be pondered in the heart what it means to be the Mother of God.

(Commentary on the Magnificat, 1521; in Luther’s Works, Pelikan et al, vol. 21, 326)


31 posted on 04/13/2013 5:01:07 PM PDT by narses
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To: Dutchboy88

32 posted on 04/13/2013 5:02:16 PM PDT by narses
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To: narses

This is about the 4th time you have posted the same two pictures. Isn’t there anything available from Rome which actually defends their heresies?


33 posted on 04/13/2013 5:05:57 PM PDT by Dutchboy88
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To: Steelfish

The ox knoweth his Owner, and the ass his Master’s crib...


34 posted on 04/13/2013 5:10:07 PM PDT by blackpacific
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To: Dutchboy88; narses

narses may post the same pics over and over again because you whine in every Catholic topic thread the same way over and over again.

Isn’t there anything available in your head which actually defends your heresies?


35 posted on 04/13/2013 5:27:37 PM PDT by vladimir998
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To: Dutchboy88

No heresies to defend. We’ll leave defending heresies to the reformed.


36 posted on 04/13/2013 5:29:35 PM PDT by Hieronymus ( (It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged. --G.K. Chesterton))
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To: vladimir998; Dutchboy88; narses

Dutchboy88 uses God’s Word to prove his points. Scripture after Scripture is given to compare, study, and talk about. And you think cereal boxes are the RCC’s answer to studying God’s Word? The problem isn’t that you all are not given information. The problem is that you all do not seem interested in the information. It’s enough to suck down another wafer and call yourself “holy” I suppose. Cereal boxes may BE your only alternative.


37 posted on 04/13/2013 5:32:30 PM PDT by smvoice (Better Buck up, Buttercup. The wailing and gnashing are for an eternity..)
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To: smvoice

No, the problem is that casting pearls before swine is bootless. Few, if any of the oddball rabid anti-Catholic crowd here has ever shown any integrity, they hide the denominational preferences they have and rarely expose their real nuttiness, but it does come out.

Like:

“All of the Lent and Easter abomination is pagan and God clearly condemned it in scripture.”

“God doesn’t smile down on people who celebrate Easter.”

When you can at least embrace the basic tenents of the faith, then maybe there is room to have serious debate, until then laughter and scorn are about what the random heretics get from me.

Credo in Deum Patrem omnipotentem;
Creatorem caeli et terrae.

Et in Jesum Christum,
Filium eius unicum, Dominum nostrum;
qui conceptus est
de Spiritu Sancto,
natus ex Maria virgine;
passus sub Pontio Pilato,
crucifixus, mortuus, et sepultus;
descendit ad inferos;
tertia die resurrexit a mortuis;
ascendit ad caelos;
sedet ad dexteram Dei Patris omnipotentis;
inde venturus est
iudicare vivos et mortuos.

Credo in Spiritum Sanctum;
sanctam ecclesiam catholicam;
sanctorum communionem;
remissionem peccatorum;
carnis resurrectionem;
vitam aeternam. Amen.

In English:

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ,
his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
and born of the Virgin Mary,
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
he will come again
to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen


38 posted on 04/13/2013 5:40:49 PM PDT by narses
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To: vladimir998

:)

+


39 posted on 04/13/2013 5:41:21 PM PDT by narses
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To: smvoice
It’s enough to suck down another wafer and call yourself “holy”

3 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 So then, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup. 29 For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment on themselves. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep.

The meaning is plain to anyone who can read.

Since you're not mentioned in the Bible, I'm not interested in your fallible distortion, but rather, the infallible teaching of "the pillar and foundation of truth."

40 posted on 04/13/2013 5:43:41 PM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas
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