Catholics, Closer Relationship With Jesus

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But…Jesus Himself calls us His friends.

John 15: 12-17

“Friend” does not imply equal status. I have plenty of friends that are in a superior position to me that I must obey (e.g., work supervisor, organ teacher, priest, etc.). But I also feel comfortable and safe talking to these people and consider them my friends.

Also, a true friend does tell me the uncensored truth of when I’m doing right or wrong. To this day, my best friend from childhood is someone I go to for the truth about my beliefs or actions–she will not mince words if she thinks I’m on the wrong path! But she talks to me in love and kindness, and she helps me to be better and have more holy attitudes or actions.
 
Thanks I just read that verse. He does clearly distinguish a friend from a servant since the servant “does not know his masters business” and Jesus emphasizes that he is teaching us what God the father taught Jesus, so clearly Jesus seems to be very open and transparent with us where he got his teaching. So yes I agree its not a master relationship and there is an element of friendship to Jesus in that sense, that he is not cold and distant from us. It is more intimate than a master who just tells us what to do but doesn’t tell us why. However, Jesus does seem more than a friend since that verse does say “I command you” which my friends dont do. So he’s between a friend and a master, sort of a leader who is warm and intimate and who tells you why what he’s telling you to do is important yet at the same time is deadly earnest and tells you that you must do what he wants if you want eternal life.
 
StephenBales said:
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.
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Ok, thanks. What are their misguided doctrines?
 
There are religious sisters of various orders that you can talk with. It has been very helpful for me to have these holy friendships. You can do a search online and see where you are lead.
Everything is grace, and asking here for what you desire is maybe the Holy Spirit speaking to you, for most certainly Jesus wants you closer too. Pray and ask…when we align our will with God’s will, he will answer.
Peace
 
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That’s a catch-all, primarily I mean their denial of the sacraments, their ecclesiology (or lack thereof), their soteriology, etc. All that which distinguishes them from the Catholic Church, essentially.
 
Yes, this is an excellent description! Wonderful!

I definitely disagree with people who claim that Jesus is their “good buddy” or “pal” or someone that they can just “chill with.” I think that’s much too casual for the Master of the Universe.

But I agree that Jesus is a leader who is warm and intimate. That’s just perfect. I also like the word “tender.”

I keep thinking of teachers I had that I loved–they were kind, but very firm and strict, and I felt perfectly safe when they were in charge of the class. The teachers I didn’t feel safe with were the ones who let everyone just do their own thing and who tried to be one of the class rather than a leader.

I think that King David wrote such a good description of Jesus as a “Shepherd.” someone Who cares for His sheep. My dad (R.I.P.) and grandpa (R.I.P.) were farmers, and I’ve seen both of them cry when animals were seriously sick or injured and had to be put down. They named their animals (I’ve seen some farmers who put name plates over the milking stalls and in the bull pen!), and they used the names when they milked the cows or fed the bull. To me, that’s a beautiful picture of how Jesus treats us when we process forward to receive Him in Holy Communion. We are not just a herd of anonymous sheep, but His friends.

Thanks for the lovely thoughts. It’s been a terrible day for me.
 
Peeps said:
I think that King David wrote such a good description of Jesus as a “Shepherd.” someone Who cares for His sheep. My dad (R.I.P.) and grandpa (R.I.P.) were farmers, and I’ve seen both of them cry when animals were seriously sick or injured and had to be put down. They named their animals (I’ve seen some farmers who put name plates over the milking stalls and in the bull pen!), and they used the names when they milked the cows or fed the bull.
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Wow that’s amazing metaphor. Yes the farmer is also between a master & friend since clearly your Grandpa & Dad loved the animals and didn’t treat them like objects yet at same time were leaders and guided them when needed to farm. They sound like great men. Prayers for you, hope you have great rest of day
 
My Spiritual Director was a religious sister but she recently passed away.
 
Wow finding my way around here, followed your name and came across this subject. Heck I never even heard about fog machines and all that stuff. Can u praise and worship with those things present? Our Catholic Church has some great dynamic music and pulls down screens, huge acrylic cross hanging from center, cost around a million. Holy Family Inverness Il. Do those things change worship? A lot to make reference to. The host is served as remembrance of not true flesh and blood. Do all churches have same doctrine or are they private’s to pick and choose?
 
If it is a Catholic Church, it is in substance true flesh and true blood. What do you mean by “serve” it? How is that done?
 
Luke 22:19. Our priests at my church always says rememberance and never bring up that communion being real Jesus in wafer and true blood in wine. Whereas my brothers parish St. Thomas in Crystal Lake does. Are they both right? Thanks
 
The Catholic Church position is that only Catholic Churches and Orthodox Churches have “valid Eucharist”. “Valid Eucharist” means that following consecration, the host and wine are transubstantiated into Jesus’ real body and blood. A Catholic who is in some part of the world where no Catholic church is available is permitted by the Catholic church rules to receive Holy Communion at an Orthodox church.

The Catholic Church teaches that Protestant churches do not have valid Eucharist, meaning that their communion is not Jesus’ real body and blood, and Catholics are not permitted to receive communion at those churches. Some Protestant churches present their “communion” as just symbolic, and nobody thinks they are truly consuming Christ’s body and blood; instead they just think they are consuming bread/ crackers and wine/ grape juice as a symbol. Other Protestant churches believe that their holy communion is truly the body and blood of Jesus, even though Catholics disagree.
 
Questions questions questions… so many rules to follow and break. I think in my heart I am at the last supper doing this in remembrance of what He did for me. Am I sinning and what are my Catholic consequences. Thanks.
 
Mary Pat, are you Catholic? You say you are in some of your responses, but a few of your questions and how you phrase your wording when describing doctrine lead me to believe otherwise. It might help answer your questions if we knew your background.
 
I assumed Marp wasn’t Catholic in view of the questions asked and the fact that her profile states “Follower of Jesus Christ” which on CAF is usually shorthand for “Christian but not Catholic”
 


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Catholics, Closer Relationship With Jesus

Spirituality

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.
 
I am 65 almost all Catholic Ed. Sent our children to Catholic Ed. Mass every Sunday. Last 5 years reading the Bible and I never questioned any of it and probably never studied doctrine. I cannot remember ever believing I was eating the flesh and blood of Christ. Reading my Bible Christ comes alive. So do I fit under being a Protestant? I am willing to accept the new definition. Just asking questions. Jesus is known for asking questions and I have so many.
 
As some people have said before, it would be good if you started your own question thread. We’re happy to address your questions, but when you post them in other people’s threads about a different topic, it “derails” their thread and that’s against the rules of the forum.
 
Sorry I was answering a question. I probably answered it with too many sentences. Yes My faith in God breaks too many Christian doctorines. Don’t want to say too much because I am responding incorrectly but first and foremost my quest in life is to follow Christ Catholic would be second but maybe doctrine says I am not at all Catholic. Am I pretending? Responding to comments.
 
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