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AlegreFe
Guest
EMPTY is the operative word here. Two beams of wood crossing is just that, some wood on the wall.
- Status
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KarenNC
Guest
This is similar to the ones that I described as being the common depiction pre-1000. Wish I could find an image online that matched the one I saw in the history book, but haven’t been able to do so yet.
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KarenNC
Guest
Thank you AlegreFe. You have given a very good illustration of the attitude that I was describing as a polytheist one toward statues of the Gods, natural elements such as trees, waterfalls, etc as well. Not that we are worshipping Jesus through them, but that we do not believe that the Gods are bound or defined by them or exist merely in that physical form.
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AlegreFe
Guest
No one was ever “crucified” the way that Christ was. His Blood that He shed means something to us. Our lives are possible because of Jesus dying on the cross. I don’t mean our current lives here on earth, I mean our eternal lives. And yes, His resurrection makes our eternal lives possible. BUT, there is no resurrection without the crucifixion. No Cross, no Crown. No Easter Sunday without Good Friday. His Crucifixion is more important than you think. Please don’t downplay the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ.
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AlegreFe
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AlegreFe
Guest
As long as you Worship the ONE Trinitarian God, there can be no mistakes. If you have a crucifix to remind you of Christ’s Passion and Death you will not be condemned, so no mistake there. There is nothing of which you should be afraid. There is nothing wrong with praying in front of a crucifix as long as you know you are not praying directly to that “image” on the wall. Try it,
you might like it. 
Jesus won’t hate you for doing that. In fact, He’ll love you for it. Not that He doesn’t love you already! 
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cubalibre
Guest
Kitty Chan replied:
"So if I understand you then you follow the same Catholic things they do in America. Im NOT testing you just curious, I think this is another area for everyone to learn understanding. Would the mass be similar? What would be different? Just simple examples. Because I really dont know and I find it interesting. What you said about Jesus being the same is quite true. "
You can go to any Catholic Mass in the world and it will be the same if it is in the Latin rite. The structure and the prayers, the readings from the Bible, the receiving of the Eucharist are all the same.Even though the language would be different, (French, Spanish, Vietnamese, etc) you would understand because the prayers and the structure of the Mass are identical. There are several rites within the Catholic church that are not Latin, ie, Chaldean, Maronite etc. The prayers are different but all believe and practice the identical faith passed on by the apostles. Christian symbols and practices have been adopted by other religions. In Cuba the Santeria religion incorporated the names of many Catholic saints as cover names for their African gods. This is not Catholicism. The use of images to remind us of our faith goes back to the very first Christians (Catholics of course). You can see drawings of the Virgin Mary and Jesus in the Catacombs of Rome dating to the first decades after the resurrection. Of course images were used in Judaiism as well. After the reformation many Protestants went on rampages destroying religious art, statues all over Europe. Beatiful expressions of faith were lost. Catholicism spans many cultures and 2000 years of history. I remember the first time I read the Didache (an instructional manual for Christians dating to the late first century). It was describing how they celebrated their worship. It was very similar to the modern Mass today.
Saludos, cubalibre
"So if I understand you then you follow the same Catholic things they do in America. Im NOT testing you just curious, I think this is another area for everyone to learn understanding. Would the mass be similar? What would be different? Just simple examples. Because I really dont know and I find it interesting. What you said about Jesus being the same is quite true. "
You can go to any Catholic Mass in the world and it will be the same if it is in the Latin rite. The structure and the prayers, the readings from the Bible, the receiving of the Eucharist are all the same.Even though the language would be different, (French, Spanish, Vietnamese, etc) you would understand because the prayers and the structure of the Mass are identical. There are several rites within the Catholic church that are not Latin, ie, Chaldean, Maronite etc. The prayers are different but all believe and practice the identical faith passed on by the apostles. Christian symbols and practices have been adopted by other religions. In Cuba the Santeria religion incorporated the names of many Catholic saints as cover names for their African gods. This is not Catholicism. The use of images to remind us of our faith goes back to the very first Christians (Catholics of course). You can see drawings of the Virgin Mary and Jesus in the Catacombs of Rome dating to the first decades after the resurrection. Of course images were used in Judaiism as well. After the reformation many Protestants went on rampages destroying religious art, statues all over Europe. Beatiful expressions of faith were lost. Catholicism spans many cultures and 2000 years of history. I remember the first time I read the Didache (an instructional manual for Christians dating to the late first century). It was describing how they celebrated their worship. It was very similar to the modern Mass today.
Saludos, cubalibre
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leonie
Guest
Hi Sandy, I do have a Catholic homeschool group as well. But, my Catholic group doesn’t have many children in my older children’s age group. So, we are doing this one as well. My Catholic group is heavy on elementary age kids.Why are you in this “ecumenical” Homeschool group instead of a strictly CATHOLIC Homeschool group? I don’t see anything wrong with that but if you feel uncomfortable there then why be there?
If I were in that group with my daughter I guess I would be kind of gladthat some moms there are uncomfortable with having Catholics there. hehehe
I guess since you’re already there you can just “preach” your faith by being a “silent” witness by showing love to everyone there. Saint Francis said to only use words when necessary.
I am happy though, because I’ve discovered that my kids had some prejudices about Protestants–isn’t that ironic? Since we hang out with Catholics so much, they hadn’t spent much time with Protestants.
Plus, the moms in this group are so warm and loving. It’s been a real blessing. My Catholic friends are also warm and loving, but more reserved. I think it is a cultural thing.
Another benefit is that it is making me learn more about how Catholics are perceived by devout Protestants. And, I’m learning how to explain my faith.
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Kitty_Chan
Guest
:clapping:
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Kitty_Chan
Guest
You are pulling bits of conversation out of a longer conversation, you should perhaps reread the thread and it will make better sense. This is from a conversation discussion crufixes crosses and basically symbols of faith. We also discussed the pentagram.This makes me laugh, sorry but it does. Obsessed?!! Ha! Us having Jesus portrayed in our homes is NOT an obsession. And we don’t use those images to WORSHIP God. We Worship God during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. We don’t NEED those images to Worship. We have Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. He is present right there at the Altar during the Mass.
You most likely do NOT know what Catholics mean when we say we Worship God. Catholics Worship God the way the Saints and Angels Worship God in Heaven. In fact, when Catholics are at Mass, we are actually in Heaven with all the Angels and the Saints.
As far as your statement if our images were taken away if that would “crumble our faith,” that in no way would ever happen. We don’t have our faith because of those images. We have our Faith because of the Grace of Jesus Christ who died on the Cross to Save us. Sure we have these images but they are only reminders. We have Jesus in our Hearts already but it doesn’t hurt to have His images on our walls and even in our wallets and in our cars. Obsession?!not lauging anymore. Sorry but that was offensive. And that “stuff” is not just stuff the way you say it is. Those images of Christ and those crucifixes in my home are very important to me and my family. They are not the be all and end all of my faith but they are there for my family to remember and also to enjoy, just as we have family pictures on our walls. Jesus Christ, Mary and Joseph are all part of my family too along with different saints as I also have statues of different saints, St. Joseph, St. Therese, Infant of Prague, Our Lady of Fatima, Our Lady of Lourdes, Our Lady of Grace,… etc.
I’m sure you have little nick nack figurines in your house and pictures of different things in your home, family portraits on your wall, perhaps some oil paintings? Do you have a collection of nick nacks? Perhaps it’s an obsession.
Okay, I think I’ve calmed down now.
Peace! :hug1:
Please note I said would it crumble OUR faith. This was not a attack on catholics but a challenge to all christians. If our safe little crosses and bibles and churches were not there. Would we crumble? How much do the symbols represent what we need? It was a challenging question not a attacking one. Im sorry if you took it that way.
If you wanna get to it protestant christians have a good amount of symbols just hit any christian bookstore. Thats what we were speaking about.
Hope its all clear to you now, I would not want any further misconceptions to bloom.
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changing
Guest
I have a good friend who asked me about the crucifix during a conversation about what he did not understand (or rather, misunderstood) about Catholicism.
He explained that he thought we placed MORE emphasis on the death than on the resurrection. When I explained that we must not forget the importance of His death and its role in the resurrection, he suddenly understood. Said “wow - i never realized that was what it meant.”
He explained that he thought we placed MORE emphasis on the death than on the resurrection. When I explained that we must not forget the importance of His death and its role in the resurrection, he suddenly understood. Said “wow - i never realized that was what it meant.”
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Kitty_Chan
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changing
zactly
zactly
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Zirconia
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leonie
Guest
I wonder if it is a cultural difference as well. I understand that some Protestants don’t have a theology of redemptive suffering. The Crucifix reminds us that we must pick up our cross and imitate Jesus.
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Joe_Kelley
Guest
The crucifix reminds me that if I get through Good Friday, God will get me through Easter.
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awantz
Guest
I have never seen one. Do you know where I could get ahold of one?
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awantz
Guest
I agree. I wouldn’t have Christ on the cross either if I want to portray Jesus as risen. I have that second picture. It has been in my family for years.Well as far as remembering Christ’s resurrection, my mom has Crucifixes all over her house but she also has a cross with Jesus Christ Risen, only one. You can click on the pic to see it on their website. She doesn’t have this exact one but it’s what I found online.
catholicfamilygifts.com/ProductImages/cross-crucifix/10281.jpg
I don’t know… I think the concept is kind of strange. If I want to portray Jesus Christ risen, I wouldn’t have Him on the cross,but that’s just me. I have pictures of Jesus all over. I have the Divine Mercy image, Sacred Heart image and this famous one;
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/ImageofJesus.jpg
I also have “Ecce Homo” but that was before He was Crucified.
http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i85/Alegre-Fe/Ecce-Homo.jpg
Wow, that’s beautiful. Both the image and His Love for us!
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AlegreFe
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JKirkLVNV
Guest
No, actually, some Catholic scholars believe that the upright part of the Cross probably was a permanent installation in an execution area and that possibly the Lord only carried the crossbeam (which would have still been far to heavy for Him in His weakened state). Even if that WAS the case, He would have still been crucified on a cross, once the horizontal piece was affixed. Either way, the Church is correct, of course.
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AlegreFe
Guest
Oh, awantz I see you just saw my post. LOL We posted almost at the same time.- Status