Ask a Catholic

[Fiosh]

Grace to you,

QUOTE(Matthitjah @ Dec 25 2006, 11:15 AM)

Grace to you,

QUOTE

through the sacrament of penance not only are sins forgiven, but graces are obtained.

So Grace is something that can be attained or merited by ones own efforts?

Peace,

Dave

Greetings Dave,

Grace, by definition, is unmerited. Grace is made available thru the Sacrament of Reconciliation, instituted by Jesus. The gift is offered. We must choose to accept it by receiving the Sacrament.

Peace to you,

Fiosh

Good answer sister, however this is not what the Poster was saying at all.

He is saying, and now you are joining him, in saying that the Sacraments of the Catholic Church Save.

Please give me Scripture pointing to this. Not Doctrine, Scripture.

He is saying that through penance, Grace is Obtained.

Yet my Bible says that Jesus Christ's Sacrifice was once and for all satisfying to God. He has obtained Grace for me, I need only accept it.

Peace,

Dave

Nope, I'm not saying "that the Sacraments of the Catholic Church Save". The RCC teaches that we are saved thru the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. What I am saying is that one way that Jesus makes grace available to us is thru the sacraments. (it's very late and I'm beat...I'll get the Scripture references for you tomorrow)

Peace,

F

Grace is a participation in the divine life. When we receive the Sacraments that divine life is dispensed to us thru the working of the Holy Spirit. We believe this because it is supported by Scripture and the tradition of the early Church.

"The Sacraments are a prime example of God's incarnational way of approaching and relating to mankind. God doesn't only share his life with us in an invisible or "spiritual" way, but also through things, persons, and events we can touch and experience with our senses." ( Dr. Alan Shreck, "Catholic and Christian")

Reference...

Acts 2: 37-38

I Cor 6: 11

Acts 8: 14-17

2 Cor 1: 21-22

Heb 6: 2

I Cor 10:16-17; 11:27-29

Acts 2: 38 "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit". ( The Holy Spirit's coming is connected to repentance)

Peace,

Fiosh

PS. My sister is visiting from out of state, so I've been spending time with her and my family. I wish I had more time to research your questions, but it's been a little busy.

[Fiosh]

I think somehow you will notice that Mary will be surrounded with her many offspring and descendants--you won't get near her! To me, it is the religious mind that cannot believe that Mary's womb was fertile for other children. Why wouldn't God allow her to be blessed with children with Joseph? It is a command that we be fruitful and multiply. Why not Mary and why not Joseph? Was there something wrong with Joseph that he would be forced to be childless?

I have given the scripture before about Mary's other children. I will not waste it here, as you seem bent on misinterpretation through rose-coloured religious glasses.

And I have explained that it is you who are misinterpreting Scripture.

God bless,

Fiosh

[Fiosh]

SORRY! SISTER

[Floatingaxe]

I think somehow you will notice that Mary will be surrounded with her many offspring and descendants--you won't get near her! To me, it is the religious mind that cannot believe that Mary's womb was fertile for other children. Why wouldn't God allow her to be blessed with children with Joseph? It is a command that we be fruitful and multiply. Why not Mary and why not Joseph? Was there something wrong with Joseph that he would be forced to be childless?

I have given the scripture before about Mary's other children. I will not waste it here, as you seem bent on misinterpretation through rose-coloured religious glasses.

And I have explained that it is you who are misinterpreting Scripture.

God bless,

Fiosh

Sorry, Fiosh, but I am not misinterpreting it one little bit. God would never ask Joseph to be childless and Mary's womb to not furnish her husband with children and heirs, according to God's first commandment.

[CSLewis]

Hello, I consider myself a part of the catholic (that is universal) church (though they still consider us heretics), and the liturgy is almost preserved in the Episcopal church. The doctrine of Mary appears without scriptural support - out of an Augustinian view of sexuality.

Matthew 1:25 "But he had no union until she gave birth to a son." (NIV)

It just appears that the perpetual virginity of Mary is a lie- I don't even know why it is important unless one holds the view that somehow sex is wrong. Which is not biblical. I think it would be wrong for Mary not to fulfill her covenant with Joseph and become one.

I love mass- there is a service every day at the local cathedral and on a particlarly rough day I will attend- and have met the Holy Spirit in prayer and worship.

But unless you are a confirmed catholic you are not supposed to partake communion. Now unless they consider themselves the only true church - and the rest of Christianity as heretical than this practice would be hindering God's children to eat at his table. I have a problem with this and I asked one of the elderly ladies if I could take communion and she said you really aren't supposed to but she wouldn't tell- so I took it.

You should be a baptized believer not a confirmed catholic.

ONE CHURCH ONE BODY MANY DENOMINATIONS.

peace

CSLewis

[TomPJr]

How could the Catholic church presume to have the authority to change the very word of God, by changing the Sabbath from the 7th day to the first? The Catholic Mirror, for the whole month of Sept. 1893, boldly proclaims that from Genesis to Revelation, the 7th day Sabbath is upheld with no change. It even chastises Protestants who observe Sunday. Yet The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine - 1946, says that Saturday is the Sabbath, and when asked why we observe Sunday, says "the Catholic church transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday."

You have been misinformed, sister kat---probably by anti-Catholic tracts or websites. Have you actually read the Catholic Mirror article?

Catholics keep holy the "Lord's day"(Sunday), as the Church has been doing since the beginning.

The Sabbath recalls creation---"therefore God blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it" Ex 20:11. Then, Jesus rose from the dead on the "first day of the week"(Matt 28:1), ushering in the new creation. Early Christians began to worship on "the Lord's day", or Sunday. The Catholic Church did not invent the practice, it simply follows the precedent set in the New Testament and the early Church.

Peace,

Fiosh

Yes, I've read the entire Catholic Mirror article. I have it here in font of me. Sept. 2, 9, 16. and 23. Are you denying that these, and the quote from the Catechism, are true Catholic statements?

You are also, saying that the Catholic dhurch follows tradition as well as the Bible if you are saying that "Catholics keep holy the Lord's day, Sunday, as the church has been doing since the beginning." Sunday keeping came gradually. In fact, both days were kept for several centuries in early Christian history.

Why is Sunday "the Lord's day"? Where in Scripture does it say that the first day is the Lord's day, and that we should keep it for that reason?

RE: Catholic Mirror

I can't comment on something I haven't read. Can I find those articles on line?

Why do you say: "both days were kept for several centuries in early Christian history" ? On what do you base this assumption?

Are you a Seventh Day Adventist? I ask because the false belief that the RCC changed the Sabbath to Sunday is one of their teachings.

RE: "Why is Sunday "the Lord's day"? Where in Scripture does it say that the first day is the Lord's day, and that we should keep it for that reason?"

Compare:

Mat 28:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

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Mar 16:2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

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Mar 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

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Luk 24:1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.

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Jhn 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

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Jhn 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.

WITH:

Act 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

The Bible does not waste words. They are repeated for emphasis.

Peace,

Fiosh

Do you realize that all those quotes above confirm the seventh day? They rested on the Seventh day, and continued their duties on the first.(otherwise they would have brought the spices and such on Saturday)

the last two scriptures you quoted above don't help your argument at all...

Jhn 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you. (This was because Jesus rose that day. He rested in the tomb on Sabbath. The desciples were in fear that the Jews would persecute them and accuse them of stealing the body. Jesus never changed the sabbath.)

WITH:

Act 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

(this has nothing to do with the sabbath! People break bread every day when they eat. It is another way to say whaen they came together to eat.)

[Guest Biblicist]

Hi Bib,

Re: priests

Catholic priests can trace their priestly anointing back to the Apostles. There is an unbroken line passed on from generation to generation. In the New Testament, you will find reference to the Apostles appointing successors by "laying on of hands". This is the basis for the Catholic priesthood.......and it is why they have more authority to forgive than you do.

In that case Pastors have the authority of forgiving sins on the same level as a Priest. For each Pastor is ordained by God and "appointed" to Minister by prayer and the laying on of hands.

RE: Jesus' "brothers"

The Greek word used for "brother" ---adelphos---as several meanings. We use the definition meaning close relative, friend, or Christian brother. That IS taking the word literally. Check it out for yourself in Strong's!

In each use of the word it is translated as it applies. In this case brothers, in others bretheren. When it means cousin it says cousin. Do you deny that Mary would not have been fulfilling her wifely duity to her husband by refusing him herself througout their marriage, thereby going against God's word and disobey God's order to be fruitful and multiply?

RE: idols

The RCC forbids idol worship. No one worships statues in my church. I give flowers to my mother---that doesn't mean I'm worshiping her.

Your mother is still alive, and Gods word says to honor your father and mother. Nowhere does Jesus teach us to pray in anyones name other than our Heavenly Fathers. Prayer to Mary or a saint is no different than to any other dead person.

RE: adding to Scripture

Using other sources to help you to understand Scripture and the practices of the Church is NOT "adding to Scripture" any more than using a study Bible or commentaries is.

RE: context

Yep!

John 20: 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. 13 The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit.

23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained."

Our context should be the whole of scripture, not just the parts that we wish to use to suit our own needs.

Peace,

F

[Guest Biblicist]

Dear Fiosh,

You have managed to answer these questions in relative calm. Which I commend you for.

What does the RCC teach about salvation? What do they say is required for admittance to the Kingdom of Heaven?

In His Mighty Grip,

Bib

In case you missed this question.

BUMP

[Kansasdad]

Dear Fiosh,

You have managed to answer these questions in relative calm. Which I commend you for.

What does the RCC teach about salvation? What do they say is required for admittance to the Kingdom of Heaven?

In His Mighty Grip,

Bib

In case you missed this question.

BUMP

"As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5

[Guest Biblicist]

"As the Bible says, I am already saved (Rom. 8:24, Eph. 2:5