Posted on 06/19/2014 6:04:16 AM PDT by EBH
In a brief, two-and-a-half minute YouTube video entitled “Mass”, the well-known Catholic public speaker paints a powerful picture of what a privilege it is to attend Mass in freedom and how this can be so easily taken for granted.
On one hand, Stefanick recalls a recent text from a friend of his in Irag: “Please pray for our church, where all the people are held captive by terrorists.”
A few hours later, another text followed: “Lord have mercy.” Shortly thereafter, everyone in that Catholic Church – men, women and children – were gunned down and killed.
On the other hand, at Mass that same weekend back in the States, grateful for his safety and freedom to worship, Stefanick couldn’t help but notice a kid in the back pew playing video games the whole time.
“It really struck me that 7,000 miles away from us, a whole Church load of people had given their lives to be where he was.”
Amid beautiful footage of a Eucharistic procession and intense music, Stefanick poses the question: “What did they see that he was missing?”
It’s something Meriam Ibrahim, a Catholic Sudanese woman who faces a death sentence for allegedly abandoning Islam and not denouncing her Catholic faith, has seen.
It’s something the persecuted Catholics in Syria, Jordan, Kenya and a host of other Middle Eastern and African countries have seen and witnessed with their lives.
It’s something that Catholics around the globe have seen throughout the centuries; something they have been willing to risk their lives for “since the birth of the Church,” Stefanick says.
“What are all these people seeing at Mass?” Stefanick asks.
“If you’re not seeing it, you’re missing something pretty amazing.”
Although Stefanick never says it explicitly, he is prodding the viewer to consider the Eucharist. The video concludes with a bible verse from Luke 22:19 – “He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, ‘This is my body given for you do this is remembrance of me.’”
Catholic doctrine teaches that the bread and wine, once consecrated at Mass, actually become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. This radical belief has been worth the cost of everything for countless Catholics throughout history.
Stefanick’s short video calls us out as Catholics: What do we see at Mass? And are we willing to die for it?
Maybe I don’t get out enough, but this is the first article where I have seen Meriam Ibrahim regain the title Catholic. Everywhere else I have seen the media label her a Christian.
The patience of the saints is terrifying to those who are in darkness.
Already posted.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/3169317/posts
Meanwhile, it remains to be see whether US Christians will even take to the streets in significant numbers to protest the clear violation of the First Amendment embodied in the HHS mandate.
So far, it looks like folks will just grumble on the Web and kiss the 1st Amendment goodbye.
Our little camp had its own PRIEST and who celebrated daily Mass every morning at 9:00 A.M.
One of the larger clubhouse rooms was the "church." It was over there where I began attending DAILY MASS. I still do today, thanks to my SAUDI boss. But, that's another story.
The SAUDIS appreciated the Christian need for Christian services. We also had a Protestant minister (and wife) who led a Friday (Muslim holy day) service AND an Anglican priest who visited once a week for the six Anglicans on camp.
Not ALL Muslim countries are as bad as Iraq and Iran.
, “Amen, Amen, I say unto you; except you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood you shall not have life in you.” John 6:54. Instead of watering down His statement Christ drives home what He is proclaiming to His audience, “He that eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, hath everlasting life; and I will raise him up on the last day. For My Flesh is meat indeed, and My Blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, abideth in Me, and I in Him.” John 6:55-57.
Twelve times does Christ tell his audience that He is the “Bread come down from Heaven” and in four consecutive sentences Jesus uses the double phrase “to eat My Flesh and drink My Blood.” Hence His meaning is unmistakably clear.
He confirms His power and authority, saying, “As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth Me, the same also shall live by Me.” John 6:58. But this doctrine of the Teacher staggered the stiff-necked Jews who began to quit Christ. “Many therefore of His disciples hearing it, said: ‘This saying is hard, and who can hear it?”’ John 6: 61. “After this many of His disciples went back; and walked no more with Him.” John 6:67.
And receiving the Eucharist unworthily is a grave sin.
If it were only symbolic, it COULD NOT BE a grave sin.
Sorry didn’t see it...lousy search function ....sigh.
It’s worth watching twice.
That’s OK. I didn’t see the other posting, and I appreciate yours. (even if it does make me want to weep.)
Being relatively new to the Catholic Faith, I get a chill when I receive Communion. One of my prayers is that it never becomes “commonplace” to me. I too notice people at Mass who act like they would rather be someplace else. But most seem to be happy for the opportunity to worship. I may mention this to my Priest. He should bring this up in his homily that we are blessed to be able to attend Mass without the threat of a car bomb or a grenade being rolled down the center aisle. One other prayer I say is that if-when the day comes, I am able to find the strength of Faith not to deny Christ. Vivat Jesus!
Worshiping The Lord should NEVER be 'commonplace'. It should be rightly regarded as both a solemn duty and a great privilege ... never to be taken for granted.
Worshiping The Lord should ALWAYS be 'commonplace'. It should permeate everything we do. Our entire lives should give witness to our Faith in Christ.
I am a returning Catholic and understand what you mean. I often find it very difficult not to shed a few tears.
I am sure the people around me think it a bit melodramatic, but I cannot help it. It is truly humbling to receive the Eucharist.
“Since there were so many Christians there the company provided men of the cloth for Christian services.”
I thought ALL Christian religious practices were banned in Saudi Arabia.
In the 1920s Mexican Catholics had to rise up in arms to fight a secular anti-Catholic Government. Priests and nuns were killed and faced the worst punishments for their faith. The Christos War is worth studying—we may well be forced into the same thing in our once free land. If such a war started—whould you fight-—or hold services in private—would you hide a priest in your home if it could mean your death? Would you just abandon your faith—or change to a feel good Government Approved Church?
You could add that it was a secular COMMUNIST anti-Catholic government ...
I thought ALL Christian religious practices were banned in Saudi Arabia.
Lol. They are.
However, the Arab mind doesn't work in the same way your mind works. [My husband figured THAT one out in about 5 minutes over there. He was SO smart!] The Saudis NEED Western technology and Westerners, so they accommodate us with what WE need over there.
The Saudis have a very DIFFERENT attitude about work.
The Saudi men who DO go to universities DON'T work on the wells as that is not honorable work.
They are only BOSSES. That is "honorable" work.
Being a chauffeur, taxi driver or anything like that and/or a store owner is also considered "honorable." NOTHING else is "honorable" work.
If you really knew their lifestyle and past history that would be no surprise for you.
God IS important to them, especially since MECCA is there, so they accept that WE need and want God as well. SO they have three "special teachers" over there for us in each of the three/four American-inhabited "camps."
By calling the priest, vicar and reverend "special teachers" and using large rooms as churches" EVERYONE is happy. It's hypocritical but there ya go.
We DON'T need a church to celebrate Mass or to attend an Anglican or Protestant service.
I acquired the habit of DAILY MASS on our camp because my Saudi boss OVER RODE my pain-in-the-neck CATHOLIC Indian co-worker who told me that I was NOT allowed to take off the time for Mass and he was going to "tell on me."
I continued to go to daily Mass, making up the 22 minutes at lunch ... and he finallyTOLD on me.
My boss, Mohammad Hussein, said the following to Harry, while I stood and listened: "Harry, God is number one. There is always time for God. Cloudmountain can go to pray whenever she wants."
I don't know WHOSE jaw dropped farther or faster, Harry's or mine, but from that day onward I attended our 9:00 A.M. daily Mass, WITH my Saudi boss's permission.
It got to be a habit, one I continue TODAY at home.
“If you really knew their lifestyle and past history that would be no surprise for you.”
It is no surprise to me and I know plenty of Saudis. So, when you say, “The Saudis NEED Western technology and Westerners, so they accommodate us with what WE need over there” I wonder about this (albeit these aren’t Westerners):
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Catholic-priest-arrested-and-expelled-from-Riyadh-5869.html
http://timothyandtitus.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/living-in-secret-as-a-catholic-in-saudia-arabia/
http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/10/saudi-arabia-islamic-religious-police-arrest-catholics-for-attending-a-mass/
I don't believe this at all. SOMETHING else happened. The ONLY reason there are priests (or other men of the cloth) there is because the SAUDI GOVERNMENT allows them to be. So, arresting people for going to Mass is just a stupid headline put up by some media bent on making trouble.
It won't be the first time.
============================================
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Catholic-priest-arrested-and-expelled-from-Riyadh-5869.html
Ditto for this priest. More stupid headlines aimed at PROVOKING. Priests can't get into the KINGDOM without specific permission as "special teachers."
http://timothyandtitus.wordpress.com/2011/04/10/living-in-secret-as-a-catholic-in-saudia-arabia/
Ditto for this. ============================================
We lived there for five long years so I know of what I speak. Occasionally there ARE stupids who break the Saudi laws by, for example, selling alcohol to Saudis. Those idiots go to prison, after the government has sent the wife home. So idiots smuggle in drugs. Those fools did the crime...now they do the time.
How long were YOU there?
YOU are the provocateur here. What is YOUR agenda, I wonder.
“I don’t believe this at all.”
Does that matter?
“SOMETHING else happened.”
R-I-G-H-T. Sure. http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2013/February/Saudis-Arrest-Ethiopian-Christians-for-Worshipping/
“The ONLY reason there are priests (or other men of the cloth) there is because the SAUDI GOVERNMENT allows them to be. So, arresting people for going to Mass is just a stupid headline put up by some media bent on making trouble.
It won’t be the first time.”
Sure, often. Not always. http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/15754
“How long were YOU there?”
Never said I was.
“YOU are the provocateur here.”
Nope.
“What is YOUR agenda, I wonder.”
Truth.
“
But, THAT would take some humility. :o)
Number one of the seven deadly sins: PRIDE.
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