Catholics: Can you explain why God does this?

[KathleenGee]

Didn’t Joseph Smith say that the present church is an abomination and its believers corrupt…this is the foundation of Mormonism…it indirectly refers to the Catholic Church.

We are taught that Christ died for all, that God has no favorites, that He loves all of us. But Christ Himself instituted only one Church.

 

[peary1]

I did study somewhat…

I asked a question to a Mr. Fades, a former Mormon, referring to another thread and post about authentic Mormon beliefs.

I have worked with Mormons and found them wonderful people and I had a sharing with some of them which surprised us that we had some common ground and perceptions.

The Mormon Church is constantly updating its materials, and it is good to dialogue. It is just that it invalidates anything happening after the Apostles and this alone is an issue.

I guess they’re a good lot…for a nonChristian sect.

 

[onenow1]

What would be the LDS answer? Am I correct in saying that they too believe to be the one true Church?

My answer would be that He is sovereign. He does what He wants.

God bless

Also Omniscient knows everyones deepest thoughts from the Heart.

Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world have Mercy on us .

Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world have Mercy on us.

Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world grant us Your Peace.

The Catholic Church prays the above prayer every day, in all the CC Churches of the world for the world all inclusive.

Malachi 1: 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.

Peace and God Bless
onenow1

 

[KathleenGee]

If their creed is what I am beginning to think it is, then yes, Mormon is the correct name.

But God loves them the same as us. And when we do an act of love for God alone…there is grace and I wonder if the Mormons have such prayer…

 

[kikkichan]

Annie B,

Hi. and merry Christmas! (Still 10 more days)

I’m curious about what you’re getting at. You explain that God answers the prayers of his children simply because they are His children and He loves them. (I believe that makes perfect sense–When my prayers are answered, it’s not because of God’s love, nor 'cause I earned it!).

You also ask about what Catholics ‘think’ as if Catholics have a sense of having some monopoly to having prayers answered; and since they don’t—what do they think about it.
(Am I reading too much into this?)

Meanwhile, I am a Catholic and I think that “God answering the prayers of people in other denominations and religions” is fine! (Not that , God considers my or other Catholics’ opinions on this matter ) Also, I expect it, I’ve often asked for prayers from people who don’t profess to be Catholic and have been very grateful to them.

Meanwhile, I don’t think that people outside the ‘Catholic’ Church are “so wrong”. And even if I did, that would impact in no way God’s choice to answer any who pray to Him. I think we all were made with an inborn need to pray to Him. And this is in fact what the Catholic Church teaches. (Of course I fall far short in fulfilling this inborn need.)

But this is just me talkin!
–kc

Incidentally, the RCC is one of several ‘Catholic’ churches. So I suspect that when you say the RCC you’re referring to the ‘Catholic Church’
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches

I am just wondering what the Catholics here think of God answering the prayers of people in other denominations and religions? If the RCC is the one true church, then why would He see fit to answer the prayers of those of other churches and religions? If everyone outside of the RCC is so wrong, why does God bless them? Maybe He sees past the lines of division of faiths and chooses to bless His children because they are His children! Do we only bless our children if the love us? NO! We bless them and care for them because they are our children and it is our place in life to care for them
Annie

 

[kikkichan]

Annie B,

sorry, slight typo

I’m curious about what you’re getting at. You explain that God answers the prayers of his children simply because they are His children and He loves them. (I believe that makes perfect sense–When my prayers are answered, it’s because of God’s love, not 'cause I earned it!).

–kc

 

[fhansen]

I believe Our Lord look at a person heart and not the religion,

Sure-and our faith says as much-but most of us wouldn’t deny that it’s important what a religion has to say about what God wants us to have in our hearts. Otherwise there’d be no reason for revelation. We can be grateful that He’s revealed Himself and established a Church for the purpose of proclaiming that good news.

 

[Annie_B]

I wonder why some people assume that when they get what they want, it’s at the approval (and answered prayers) of God. Maybe sometimes when you (universal you) get what you want, it’s not what God wants.

Good luck or “success” isn’t always evidence of God’s approval. Ever wonder if he’s just looking the other way (for now), and your “success”, which you might see as answered prayers, is actually leading you in the wrong direction?

I think of all the “successful” people who probably thought that God was on their side.

On the original question. God hears all prayers. Check the Catechism.

Answered prayer isn’t about getting what you want. It is about answers and sometimes the answer is “NO”

Annie

 

[RebeccaJ]

Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world have Mercy on us .

Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world have Mercy on us.

Lamb of God you take away the sins of the world grant us Your Peace.

The Catholic Church prays the above prayer every day, in all the CC Churches of the world for the world all inclusive.

Malachi 1: 11 For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.

Your thoughts reminded me of this from Spe Salvi…

1. Saint Augustine, in a homily on the* First Letter of John*, describes very beautifully the intimate relationship between prayer and hope. He defines prayer as an exercise of desire. Man was created for greatness—for God himself; he was created to be filled by God. But his heart is too small for the greatness to which it is destined. It must be stretched. “By delaying [his gift], God strengthens our desire; through desire he enlarges our soul and by expanding it he increases its capacity [for receiving him]”. Augustine refers to Saint Paul, who speaks of himself as straining forward to the things that are to come (cf. Phil 3:13). He then uses a very beautiful image to describe this process of enlargement and preparation of the human heart. “Suppose that God wishes to fill you with honey [a symbol of God’s tenderness and goodness]; but if you are full of vinegar, where will you put the honey?” The vessel, that is your heart, must first be enlarged and then cleansed, freed from the vinegar and its taste. This requires hard work and is painful, but in this way alone do we become suited to that for which we are destined26]. Even if Augustine speaks directly only of our capacity for God, it is nevertheless clear that through this effort by which we are freed from vinegar and the taste of vinegar, not only are we made free for God, but we also become open to others. It is only by becoming children of God, that we can be with our common Father. To pray is not to step outside history and withdraw to our own private corner of happiness. When we pray properly we undergo a process of inner purification which opens us up to God and thus to our fellow human beings as well. In prayer we must learn what we can truly ask of God—what is worthy of God. We must learn that we cannot pray against others. We must learn that we cannot ask for the superficial and comfortable things that we desire at this moment—that meagre, misplaced hope that leads us away from God. We must learn to purify our desires and our hopes. We must free ourselves from the hidden lies with which we deceive ourselves. God sees through them, and when we come before God, we too are forced to recognize them. “But who can discern his errors? Clear me from hidden faults” prays the Psalmist (*Ps *19:12 [18:13]). Failure to recognize my guilt, the illusion of my innocence, does not justify me and does not save me, because I am culpable for the numbness of my conscience and my incapacity to recognize the evil in me for what it is. If God does not exist, perhaps I have to seek refuge in these lies, because there is no one who can forgive me; no one who is the true criterion. Yet my encounter with God awakens my conscience in such a way that it no longer aims at self-justification, and is no longer a mere reflection of me and those of my contemporaries who shape my thinking, but it becomes a capacity for listening to the Good itself.
2. For prayer to develop this power of purification, it must on the one hand be something very personal, an encounter between my intimate self and God, the living God. On the other hand it must be constantly guided and enlightened by the great prayers of the Church and of the saints, by liturgical prayer, in which the Lord teaches us again and again how to pray properly. Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, in his book of spiritual exercises, tells us that during his life there were long periods when he was unable to pray and that he would hold fast to the texts of the Church’s prayer: the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the prayers of the liturgy27]. Praying must always involve this intermingling of public and personal prayer. This is how we can speak to God and how God speaks to us. In this way we undergo those purifications by which we become open to God and are prepared for the service of our fellow human beings. We become capable of the great hope, and thus we become ministers of hope for others. Hope in a Christian sense is always hope for others as well. It is an active hope, in which we struggle to prevent things moving towards the “perverse end”. It is an active hope also in the sense that we keep the world open to God. Only in this way does it continue to be a truly human hope.

 

[RebeccaJ]

The LDs answer is simple; there is some truth in every church and ALL PEOPLE are children of God - reagardless of church affiliation or baptismal status - and therefore a loving Heavenly Father blesses all his children!

Annie

This is not the full answer. I wasn’t here a week and a LDS person told me God does not answer my prayers, why? Because I left your religion so your god left me. Other LDS elude to this sort of thing for all non-mormons.

 

[KathleenGee]

Rebecca,

Your sharing here gave me the impression many in it are in bondage…

The One, True God is bigger than all of us.

 

[Marie5890]

I think the original question posted by Annie was based on a false premise.

That Catholic believe that God only answers the prayers of Catholics? Do I have that right?

I have never met any one, Catholic, Mormon, Prodestant or otherwise, who believed that God ONLY answers the prayers of those from their denomination.

All believe that God answers prayers regardless of church affliliation.

I have had God answer my prayers, both as a Mormon, as an agnostic, and as a Catholic.

So I dont understand the motive behind the original question.

 

[graceandglory]

I am just wondering what the Catholics here think of God answering the prayers of people in other denominations and religions? If the RCC is the one true church, then why would He see fit to answer the prayers of those of other churches and religions? If everyone outside of the RCC is so wrong, why does God bless them? Maybe He sees past the lines of division of faiths and chooses to bless His children because they are His children! Do we only bless our children if the love us? NO! We bless them and care for them because they are our children and it is our place in life to care for them
Annie

---

“He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good,
and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” *
Matthew 5:45**

 

[wmscott]

I am just wondering what the Catholics here think of God answering the prayers of people in other denominations and religions? If the RCC is the one true church, then why would He see fit to answer the prayers of those of other churches and religions? If everyone outside of the RCC is so wrong, why does God bless them? Maybe He sees past the lines of division of faiths and chooses to bless His children because they are His children! Do we only bless our children if the love us? NO! We bless them and care for them because they are our children and it is our place in life to care for them
Annie

Annie B, I want to post to you what the Catholic Church teaches about other Christian religions.

818 “However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] **and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers . . . . All who have been justified by faith in Baptism are incorporated into Christ; they therefore have a right to be called Christians, and with good reason are accepted as brothers in the Lord by the children of the Catholic Church.” **

819 “Furthermore, many elements of sanctification and of truth” are found outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church: "the written Word of God; the life of grace; faith, hope, and charity, with the other interior gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as visible elements."Christ’s Spirit uses these Churches and ecclesial communities as means of salvation, whose power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ has entrusted to the Catholic Church. All these blessings come from Christ and lead to him, and are in themselves calls to “Catholic unity.”

This the Church’s teaching and as such how can one come to the conclusion that God would not hear and answer the prayers of people in other denominations and religions?

There is a lot about the Catholic Church that’s misperceived or understood in a completely false light. Many and I do mean many non-Catholics do not understand that. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a wonderful source of information on just what the Catholic Church teaches. It can be found here at this link.

 

[Highwayhound]

I have had God answer my prayers, both as a Mormon, as an agnostic, and as a Catholic.

So I dont understand the motive behind the original question.

Yes, what is the motive in asking the question?

Is it to get people to think? Is it to stick one’s tongue out at others? Is it to gain a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith?

I would be curious to know the OP’s original intent.

God bless

 

[Marie5890]

Yes, what is the motive in asking the question?

Is it to get people to think? Is it to stick one’s tongue out at others? Is it to gain a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith?

I would be curious to know the OP’s original intent.

God bless

Let’s turn the question around and ask Annie the same thing according to the LDS faith.

Mormons believe that theirs is the only one and true church of Christ. The only one that has the right to exercise authority in His name and to perform saving ordinances.

Yet Mormons, too, believe that God DOES answer the prayers of those other than
‘just’ Mormons.

Why is that, Annie?

And why do you think the Catholic response would be any different from the Mormon one??

 

[Ignatius]

forums.catholic-questions.org/images/buttons_khaki/viewpost.gif
If everyone outside of the RCC is so wrong, why does God bless them?

The Catholic Church does not teach that everyone outside of The Catholic Church is wrong. Quite the contrary if you check The Catechism of The Catholic Church, you will find that section ccc 819 tells us that those outside of the confines of The Catholic Church may have many elements of truth and Sanctification.
You have been given some seriously defective misinformation in this regard. I suggest that you go back to the person who tried to feed you this lie and make them substantiate their polemics from an authentic Catholic source.
And perhaps the next time someone trys to feed you a load like that you can do a little fact checking before swallowing it your self and then propagating the falsehood.

 

[Annie_B]

This is not the full answer. I wasn’t here a week and a LDS person told me God does not answer my prayers, why? Because I left your religion so your god left me. Other LDS elude to this sort of thing for all non-mormons.

Whoever said that to you was WRONG! Not all LDS have it right and not all have it wrong - just like any other church. There will always be those who say something as if it were doctrine when in reality it is not!

Annie

 

[Annie_B]

The Catholic Church does not teach that everyone outside of The Catholic Church is wrong. Quite the contrary if you check The Catechism of The Catholic Church, you will find that section ccc 819 tells us that those outside of the confines of The Catholic Church may have many elements of truth and Sanctification.
You have been given some seriously defective misinformation in this regard. I suggest that you go back to the person who tried to feed you this lie and make them substantiate their polemics from an authentic Catholic source.
And perhaps the next time someone trys to feed you a load like that you can do a little fact checking before swallowing it your self and then propagating the falsehood.

I am not propagating anything and I did not “swallow” anything… I merely asked a question that stemmed from some (many) experiences I have had with some catholics - both here and other places.

Annie

 

[Annie_B]

To all who have posted: I merely asked a question looking for some (name removed by moderator)ut from the Catholics here. I was not trying to challenge anything or criticizes your beliefs. I am sorry that some have taken offense at the question. Most replies have been thoughtful and informative, others have appeared to be by those who may have been offended. I appreciate all the answers. I will leave this thread now, as it appears there may be a leaning towards argument rather than answers.
Thanks for posting -
Annie