Catholics, Closer Relationship With Jesus

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Your post made me laugh (in a good way). Thanks for that, especially the end. And I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas as well. 🙂
 
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“Marp said:
Should I find answers to my question in Catholic theology or scripture. I am having trouble with the differences.
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Yes, you should find answers to your questions in Catholic theology and scripture.

You’re having trouble with the differences between what? Catholic theology and scripture? There are no differences.
 
I live in the southern United States, what might be called the deep deep South, and whilst I certainly have met Protestants that do have a close relationship with Jesus, I honestly feel that Catholics and Orthodox are more serious about theirs. We have something the Protestants don’t have, and that’s Jesus physically. I think, if the only way you can have a relationship with Jesus, Is Knowing him through God’s word, well that’s not necessarily a bad thing, but remember, Jesus is the word of God, the Bible is the written word of God, it’s one of those fun phrases, another one is the word church (like the Church verses a parish church), that has multiple meanings. I think, much like an atheist asking for evidence for God, people who say that you need to have a relationship with Jesus, are not specific enough on when they say that. I do in fact have a relationship with Jesus, I wouldn’t pray if I didn’t, I wouldn’t go to Mass if I didn’t, I wouldn’t read the Bible if I didn’t. I do believe that Jesus is my friend, because he laid down his life for me (John 15:13) but when there are Catholic bloggers saying that Jesus isn’t my friend, that is a little bit of a problem with developing a relationship with him. I also think, that oftentimes Protestants put that emphasis on Jesus, because they don’t have sacraments, or at least if they do they often times don’t think of them as that, so that relationship becomes their sacrament.
 
Yes. I have been reading the Bible., going to mass and praying the rosary with family and friends. I loved being Catholic but am worried about salvation. My aunt had a statue of Mary made with a scapular inside and there has been talk about what if the stauue cries. I cannot find anything in the Bible that would back up that thought only quite to the contrary.
 
Wow just saw your reply! Thanks! Yes we are in the same boat. Loving Catholic and reading the Bible. I cannot find reference in the Bible about the host being physical only remembrance. Can u help. Thanks
 
I think you should start a new thread to bring up your concerns about salvation in the Catholic Church. You’ll get more, and more focused responses without deviating from the OPs questions here.

Scripture references Jesus performing many miracles, and it does not limit what miracles he is capable of. I also think you should start a new thread to address any concerns you have about Mary, sacramentals, and any associated miracles. That must have been an expensive statue.
 
I’ve been a Protestant all my life up until this most recent July or so. Not everyone feels that, even if they profess it. I went on a mission trip during the summer of 7th grade, and on the last night before we went home, our youth pastor at the time made what was essentially an altar call for anyone who felt the call of Christ while also inviting any who felt “called to ministry” (read: preaching or otherwise teaching). Young impressionable me felt both, so I went up. I’m grateful for the first feeling, because it led me to the one true Church, but the first was just a mission trip high. Yes, it was so common we had a name for it.
Anyway, I still professed that I felt the call to ministry several years leader, and I was asked to preach to the youth and most recently (about April) to the whole church. But I hadn’t felt “the call” since a week after that trip. And I certainly didn’t feel any of the grace of consolation for more than a couple months at a time.
Don’t desire what the Protestants have. All they have is all I had: the Bible (or 91% of it) and prayer and misguided doctrines. There will still be genuine Christians there, but they’re vastly deprived of the true faith that you have.

Pax Christi, et Dominus vobiscum
 
TULIPed said:
Respectfully - it’s always been a head scratcher for me why the words “personal relationship” make you guys uncomfortable.
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Your post is good in noting that Jesus does refer to his followers as friends. He also calls his followers his mother and brothers (Luke 8:21, Matthew 12:49). To give a little cultural background here, as someone who grew up during the 70s and 80s in the post-Vatican II era, Catholic kids in religious education then were constantly reminded that Jesus loves us and is our brother and friend. I think my very first first-grade religion “textbook” (basically a picture book with bad primitive illustrations of a beardless, tan Jesus, which I pretty much dismissed immediately as fluff even at age 6) was called “Jesus, Our Brother.” This was totally different than how Catholics from previous generations had been taught to regard Jesus, which was with great reverence and always remembering they weren’t worthy to even be in His presence.

All this post-Vatican II Jesus is your Friend stuff was obviously an attempt to promote personal relationships with Jesus and much of the Church still constantly tries to promote them. However, the older people back in the day, and some devout Catholics now, feel that putting Jesus on the level of a buddy or brother is missing the important components of holy fear of God, and reverence, as well as not encouraging depth in appreciating the Godly nature of Jesus. Many of them think this causes people to regard Jesus as just some guy who did nice things, and if He’s your friend then your sins are no big deal because a friend would totally understand, and Adoration/ reverence towards the Host aren’t that important because Jesus is your buddy, etc.

Taken to extremes, Jesus your Friend becomes like “Buddy Christ” from Dogma. I personally think that movie is a humorous satire because it parodies what actually happened in the Church, but many people think it is extremely disrespectful, even blasphemous.

Some people also leave the Catholic Church because they feel that at the Protestant Church people have that “personal relationship” with Christ, mostly because those of us having a “personal relationship” with Christ at the Catholic Church aren’t talking about it all day long. When Catholics associate the words “personal relationship with Jesus” with Protestants and with people leaving the Catholic faith, this puts a negative spin on the concept.

So, while having a personal relationship with Jesus is not a problem for me and a lot of other Catholics and saints who managed to integrate this relationship into our Catholic practice just fine, it really sets other people off to talk about “my friend Jesus”. Which is likely another reason why many Catholics just stay quiet about their relationship with Jesus.
 
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When people ask me if I have a personal relationship with Jesus, I am like, “Totally!” Through the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church Christ established, I have the deepest and best relationship with Him possible. Looking at other Protestant denominations, I see their sincerity and their commitment to having Christ in their hearts. They tend to look at the Catholic Church as just rules and rituals: Very impersonal and cold. They claim that they aren’t being fed the Good News or that they didn’t know Jesus. However, as a Catholic, I don’t see how one couldn’t know Jesus. From the daily readings from Scripture at Mass, to the deepness and beauty of the Liturgy, and most of all, the Sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist. I don’t see how one could get more personal than that, being able to receive Christ, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
 
Makes a great deal of sense. Where we Protestants have much to learn from you guys is that Jesus - while our friend and brother - is first and foremost King of Kings and Lord of Lords. In the immoral words of C.S. Lewis, “He’s not a tame lion”. I have great respect and admiration for the reverence and seriousness with which Catholics approach Christ - and his Church.

Merry Christmas!
 
Well thanks you can definetly tell I am new to this and yes so many questions and so many threads to start. :). With reference to my first question is Catholic Theology in the Bible my concern is the scripture is John 14:16.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. With Jesus telling us that. Why as Catholic do we pray or ask the diseased to help us. When it states no one goes to the father except through me? Thanks in advance.
 
Marp said:
my concern is the scripture is John 14:16.
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. With Jesus telling us that. Why as Catholic do we pray or ask the diseased to help us. When it states no one goes to the father except through me?
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Hey there Marp! Welcome to the Forum!

As Catholics, we believe in the Communion of Saints. This belief is completely in line with Biblical teachings. We are told that we are all united in Christ, we are all branches and He is the vine. We are all one body in Christ. Thus, we are all connected to one another through, with, and in Jesus Christ. Thus, we should, as First Timothy 2:1 says, pray and intercede for one another because we are one Body and should be concerned for the good of one another. Since Christ has destroyed sin and conquered death, all of us, even the deceased are part of the Body of Christ. Their prayers and intercessions are especially powerful because they are before the throne of the Lord. Being so united to Him, we ask for their intercessory prayers on our behalf, not in a way that denies Christ’s intercession, but one that is perfectly in line with His and is totally dependent on His.

Hope this is helpful! Let me know if I can further clarify any questions about the Catholic faith. God Bless and Merry Christmas!
 
Hi Marp,
Welcome to CAF! I see people already giving you some good answers to your questions, which is great. Just wanted to suggest that maybe you could start your own thread with your questions rather than posting them in someone else’s thread on a different topic?

Board rules here say that we need to stay on topic in the threads. So please do stay and post your questions, but just make a new thread of your own. You can ask all your own questions in your own thread, you don’t have to make a new thread for each question.

God bless!
 
humbleseeker said:
Don’t let appearances fool you. I mean this with all charity, and as a former non-denominational myself, but Protestants must rely on emotion because they do not have Christ in the Eucharist. For me, it’s like comparing teenagers dating to a long married couple. Yes, the two teenagers are very affectionate, with lots of kissing and handholding, calling each other pet names with dopey expressions on their faces. Each thinks the other is perfect. That kind of emotion is cute and has its purpose, but is ultimately unsubstanable and unhealthy for a relationship…

…while it might seem that Protestants have a deeper relationship with Jesus because their worship services are more dynamic, it’s based on superficial emotions of how it makes you feel. Which isn’t the point of worship anyway. You don’t go to Mass to be entertained. You go to Mass to worship God and unite yourself with the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. No fog machine, no light show, no rock band or preacher with a relevant message will ever be able to match the intimacy of receiving Christ in the Eucharist. That you will only get in the Catholic Church.
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Cannot agree with this more. As an ex-protestant and one who spent years in the ND churches, I found just what you describe. True there are those who deeply love the Lord in non-Catholic groups and walk very close to Him, but a lot of what I found was superficial.

Are there Catholics who are the same, yes definitely, but you can never be closer to Christ on this Earth than when you are at Mass and partake of the Eucharist. There is no comparison.
TULIPed said:
Respectfully - it’s always been a head scratcher for me why the words “personal relationship” make you guys uncomfortable. Please allow me to use a verse that supports the idea of a “personal relationship…
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Whenever I hear the phrase “personal relationship” I think of the old song “Me and Jesus,” “we got our own thing going, we don’t need anybody to tell us what it’s all about”.

I prefer the phrase “sacramental relationship” because to me it shows that our drawing close to Jesus is through the sacraments. As I said above, you can’t get any closer to Jesus than through the Catholic sacraments, more specifically baptism.

The phrase personal relationship with Jesus came about in the 1800’s, so it is not something that is apostolic and from what I understand was meant to replace the sacraments.
 
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I know my sacraments as taught by the Catholic Church. I know hundreds of Catholics that have recieved the sacraments. There lives do not resemble a new life in Christ. Are they symbols of the works of Christ?
 
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