Posted on 01/18/2012 3:19:15 PM PST by NYer
.- Pope Benedict XVI said today that achieving Christian unity requires more than “cordiality and cooperation” and that it must be accompanied by interior conversion.
“Faith in Christ and interior conversion, both individual and communal, must constantly accompany our prayer for Christian unity,” said the Pope to over 8,000 pilgrims gathered in the Vatican’s Paul VI Audience Hall on Jan. 18.
The Pope’s comments mark the start of the 2012 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity that runs until Jan. 25. It will be observed by over 300 Christian churches and ecclesial communities around the globe.
The Pope asked for “the Lord in a particular way to strengthen the faith of all Christians, to change our hearts and to enable us to bear united witness to the Gospel.”
In this way, he said, they “will contribute to the new evangelization and respond ever more fully to the spiritual hunger of the men and women of our time.”
The Pope explained that the concept of a week of prayer for Christian unity was initiated in 1908 by Paul Wattson, an Episcopalian minister from Maryland. One year later, he became a Catholic and was subsequently ordained to the priesthood.
Pope Benedict recalled how the initiative was supported by his predecessors Pope St. Pius X and Pope Benedict XV. It was then “developed and perfected” in the 1930s by the Frenchman Abbé Paul Couturier, who promoted prayer “for the unity of the Church as Christ wishes and according to the means he wills.”
The mandate for the week of prayer, the Pope underscored, comes from the wish of Christ himself at the Last Supper “that they may all be one.” He observed that this mission was given a particular impetus by the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) but added that “the unity we strive for cannot result merely from our own efforts.” Rather, “it is a gift we receive and must constantly invoke from on high.”
The theme for 2012 Week of Prayer – “All shall be changed by the victory of Jesus Christ our Lord” – was crafted by the Polish Ecumenical Council. Pope Benedict said it reflects “their own experience as a nation,” which stayed faithful to Christ “in the midst of trials and upheavals,” including years of occupation by the Nazis and later the Communists.
The Pope tied the victory the Polish people experienced over their oppressors to overcoming the disunity that marks Christians.
He said that the “unity for which we pray requires inner conversion, both shared and individual,” and it cannot be “limited to cordiality and cooperation.” Instead, Christians must accept “all the elements of unity which God has conserved for us.”
Ecumenism, the Pope stated, is not an optional extra for Catholics but is “the responsibility of the entire Church and of all the baptized.” Christians, he said, must make praying for unity an “integral part” of their prayer life, “especially when people from different traditions come together to work for victory in Christ over sin, evil, injustice and the violation of human dignity.”
Pope Benedict then touched on the lack of unity in the Christian community, which he said “hinders the effective announcement of the Gospel and endangers our credibility.” Evangelizing formerly Christian countries and spreading the Gospel to new places will be “more fruitful if all Christians together announce the truth of the Gospel and Jesus Christ, and give a joint response to the spiritual thirst of our times,” he explained.
The Pope concluded his comments with the hope that this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will lead to “increased shared witness, solidarity and collaboration among Christians, in expectation of that glorious day when together we will all be able to celebrate the Sacraments and profess the faith transmitted by the Apostles.”
The general audience finished with Pope Benedict addressing pilgrims in various languages, including greeting a group of men and women from the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, before leading the crowd in the Our Father and imparting his apostolic blessing.
Catholicism mis-leads people and then entraps them. Most members who’ve been catholic and sought knowledge of catholicism have bought “knowledge” trumps all... a bait and switch game.
If they happen to be arrogant or highminded about themselves then the more they learn about catholicism the more they’re puffed up. It just goes with the territory of any organization where you “work” you’re way up the ladder of acceptance. Similar to FreeMasonary and other groups such as that...in fact many FreeMasons adhere to catholicism....and other groups such as Kights of Columbus and the like.
These individuals have a “need” to find acceptance by “passing” the next grade.
Post 579 is for you, too.
defending the indefensible at all costs, parroting your church's views for a cracker and a sip of wine.. bitter, envious, lost, deceived, desperate lemming, following deceitful workers with doctrines of devils, right over the edge of a cliff.
Ok.. that's integrity right there.
:)
enjoy!
Thank you.
I don’t know about voice of reason, but I pray that when I defend Christ’s Church here, it is with the words He would want me to use.
That is what I try to do, but it is not always easy to remain reasonable considering some of the calumny posted here daily.
Wow. Just wow.
Nothing personal though, D-fendr.
So, much for Christian unity.
And, further, when their individual views cannot withstand basic examination, why take them seriously?
The response to this question is to scream louder, be more foul, extreme, personal and profane in condemnation.
Resulting in even less reason to take them seriously.
You're my age then....
I remember the fallout when the mass went from Latin to English and they ***GASP!!!!*** turned the altar around!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have seen this happen with protestants, including you when you “read into” the appearance of Moses at the Transfiguration that his soul had been taken up to heaven and he was given a new body which is what appeared with Jesus.
And? That's not a matter of *interpretation*. That's a guess at an explanation of what was going on. Moses had died. I'm presuming he made it to heaven. Now he's standing on the mount talking to Jesus, in all appearances in a body. What other conclusion would you reach? He had to have had a new body since the old one was well rotted into the ground.
And besides, what difference to someone's salvation does that make? We'll find out when we get there exactly what happened. I've got way more pressing issues to deal with than explaining how Moses could appear on the mount and talk to Jesus.
God's moral law has not changed as God has not changed. We are still obligated to obey it, but we are free from the requirements of the Law in dealing with our sin.
Under the new covenant, the sin has been forgiven and we are free, free from the penalty of sin, free from the debt, free from the power of sin, free to chose to not sin.
mm:At one time the Catholic church did indeed teach that anyone not Catholic was going to hell.
And, this right here, is a prime example of poor catechism and understanding of what the Church taught, why she held that belief and what caused it to evolve to what the Church holds now, which is what I posted to in the post to which you responded.
When the Church taught this, all Christians belonged to the Church, and then came the protestant break. The first generations following the split were hostile, violent and ugly on both sides. Much of it was politics/national power, but that is no excuse.
Well, that teaching certainly never took very well because that mentality is still out there. That WAS what I was taught. Whether it was the official doctrine or not was apparently irrelevant. It was still being taught.
Matter of fact, I was told by a KoC higher up in the late 70's that I'd be going to hell for following the Bible.The mentality of those outside the church are going to hell was alive and well not all that long ago.
Now, the Church, as stated, recognizes that those Christians who are not in full communion with the Church, are Christians, fellow brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ.
And as you read these threads, you'll see that there are still Catholics who haven't gotten the message.
Wow. Just wow. INDEED. That you believe that because the name of Christ is mentioned, then a person MUST be a Christian.
You know, I am not the least bit surprise, or offended, when someone tells me that since I’m not a member of their denomination or religion that I’m going to hell.
I understand why they think that and well remember when I thought that way about non-Catholics.
The reason it’s not an issue is that any one person’s opinion about my eternal destination has NO effect on it at all. Their saying I’m not saved because I’m not __________, is irrelevant to me because I know that it’s not a denomination of church which saves but a person, Jesus.
That is a very important portion of that scripture reference. Here's another: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.................. I do not 'frustrate' the grace of God' : for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain
.....Galatians 2:20-21 It would then appear when one is trying to "earn" acceptance before God by what they do then they have basically not understood "grace"...nor the "forgiveness" they've been given. That Christ standing in the gap between God and man's sins against him is not enough...therefore have they really accepeted Christ's finished work? and if they have initially but then strive now to base their salvation on what they do then the cross is of no affect for them....at least that's how it appears.????
We refer to your own Catechism of the Catholic church.
Like here....
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2C.HTM
966 "Finally the Immaculate Virgin, preserved free from all stain of original sin, when the course of her earthly life was finished, was taken up body and soul into heavenly glory, and exalted by the Lord as Queen over all things, so that she might be the more fully conformed to her Son, the Lord of lords and conqueror of sin and death."506
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin is a singular participation in her Son's Resurrection and an anticipation of the resurrection of other Christians:
In giving birth you kept your virginity; in your Dormition you did not leave the world, O Mother of God, but were joined to the source of Life. You conceived the living God and, by your prayers, will deliver our souls from death.507
. . . she is our Mother in the order of grace
The Catholic church teaches that the prayers of Mary can deliver our souls from death.
That's official church teaching. You are obligated to believe it, are you not? Or is the CCC optional?
I’m not sure why you keep harping about what I think? When I post scripture you say you don’t care what I think. When I post quotes from the CCC you say you don’t care what I think. I don’t see you showing how the scripture I post is in error. There really isn’t much substance in your “I don’t care what you think” comments. Atheists don’t care what Christians think either.
Another in depth, well studied, well worded exegesis of scripture with clear understanding of God’s word. Well done! /s
Scripture is rather clear it seems to me.
Gal. 2:21, I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
Rom. 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."
I was just reading that they haven’t been able to find those missing people on that cruise ship but they dedicated the manpower and made the extra effort to find the statue of Mary and carefully as to not do damage remove it. No idolatry there tho.
On a thread calling for unity no less.
Archbishop Sheen said, “What we need is not a unity of religion, but of religious people.”
****That you believe that because the name of Christ is mentioned, then a person MUST be a Christian.****
Do not presume to profess what I believe about others.
****I’m presuming he made it to heaven. Now he’s standing on the mount talking to Jesus, in all appearances in a body. What other conclusion would you reach? He had to have had a new body since the old one was well rotted into the ground.****
IOW, reading into Scripture what is not there as Scripture says none of this about Moses.
****And besides, what difference to someone’s salvation does that make? We’ll find out when we get there exactly what happened. I’ve got way more pressing issues to deal with than explaining how Moses could appear on the mount and talk to Jesus.****
I didn’t say it does, merely pointing out that there is implicit things to be learned from the explicit things written of in Scripture.
****God’s moral law has not changed as God has not changed. We are still obligated to obey it, but we are free from the requirements of the Law in dealing with our sin.
****Under the new covenant, the sin has been forgiven and we are free, free from the penalty of sin, free from the debt, free from the power of sin, free to chose to not sin. ****
Under the new covenant, the only sin offering to God that is acceptable and redeeming is Jesus. There is no other way to be saved.
I’m curious though, what do you think is the consequence of choosing to sin?
****Well, that teaching certainly never took very well because that mentality is still out there. That WAS what I was taught. Whether it was the official doctrine or not was apparently irrelevant. It was still being taught.
Matter of fact, I was told by a KoC higher up in the late 70’s that I’d be going to hell for following the Bible.The mentality of those outside the church are going to hell was alive and well not all that long ago.****
There are poor Catholics and mean Catholics and Catholics who have no idea and just spout what they think the Church’s teachings are. As a whole we have all suffered greatly from those who think they know what they have no clue about and then proceed to proclaim it as if it is Truth.
It is unfortunate, but we are responsible to know or to shut up about what we do not know.
****And as you read these threads, you’ll see that there are still Catholics who haven’t gotten the message.****
There are Catholics here who have perceived some rather odd and heretical beliefs by others here which does call into question whether they truly believe what ALL Christians believe.
s
****The reason it’s not an issue is that any one person’s opinion about my eternal destination has NO effect on it at all. Their saying I’m not saved because I’m not __________, is irrelevant to me because I know that it’s not a denomination of church which saves but a person, Jesus.****
Which is exactly what the Church teaches. :)
Still more pretense of caring about Scripture from among those who bow down to and worship their, Most High and Holy Self.
Matthew 4:4 Who answered and said: It is written, Not in bread alone doth man live, but in every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God.John 21:25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did which, if they were written every one, the world itself. I think, would not be able to contain the books that should be written.
It's always interesting to see those who worship themselves and bow down to their Most High and Holy Self rather than to Jesus Christ pretend that Scripture is paramount. The facade of caring about Scripture is critical to hiding the true nature of their fantasy world where they made up their own religion, twisted and reinterpreted Scripture, and redefined words to fit their fantasy. Once they settle on an interpretation that suits their personal preconceptions and predispositions, they just train their pet talking parrots, "Holy" and "Spirit", to regurgitate each new interpretation they come up with and they can then claim they're being guided by the Holy Spirit. Were they the least bit honest they would have to admit that just based on John 21:25 they should acknowledge and believe what has been passed down to us from the Apostles as Tradition as well as that subset written down and complied into our Bible. At the very least, they would accept the entire Christian canon rather than the subset approved by the Pharisees.
If someone accepts Scripture as the Word of God, and Christ as The Word incarnate, then they cannot accept "Sola Scriptura". Of course, the fact is that what Scripture says makes no difference to those who knowingly revise Scripture to suit themselves because they worship The Most High and Holy Self, not Jesus Christ.
When they go still further and deny the deity of Christ by denying that His flesh and His blood are present in the Eucharist, they're simply affirming that they worship their Most High and Holy Self rather than Jesus Christ and doing it in a way no one can ignore.
Titus 3:9 but avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law. For they are unprofitable and vain.
Titus 3:10 A man that is a heretic, after the first and second admonition, avoid:
Titus 3:11 Knowing that he, that is such an one, is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned by his own judgment.
Those who continue to deny the deity of Christ can fool themselves however they like, but they should get used to the idea of hearing, "I never knew you" from the very Jesus Christ they deny is God.
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