Do you find Catholics a bit "strange"?

[PJM]

When I was in the conversion process my biggest hangups were on birth control (I could understand the pill since it can act as an abortafacient but couldn’t understand barrier methods being banned) and praying to the saints and to Mary. Coming from a protestant background, I found those to be the most difficult to reconcile.

Yes as Do a GREAT many

But difficulty does not override the essential Truth that God and GOD alone demands; commands;makes possible the absolute Sovereign-RIGHT to dictate ALL life & death issues.

It’s as simple to comprehend as counting to 5

[1] God’s RIGHT and the RCC teachings are solidly biblical:

Genesis 4:1 The man had intercourse with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. ‘I have acquired a man with the help of Yahweh,’ she said.

Birth is Controlled by God
John.1 Verses 12 to 14: “But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. “

Romans 1: 26-32 “For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural, and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in their own persons the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a base mind and to improper conduct. They were filled with all manner of wickedness, evil, covetousness, malice. Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity, they are gossips,
Though they know God’s decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them but approve those who practice them.”

Eph.5: “Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man, or one who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

Rev.22: 15 “Outside [in hell] are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.”

As taught here; sexuality is granted by God for the purpose of procreation!

Gen. 1:28 “And God blessed them, [Adam and Eve] and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

[2] Pregnancy is God controlled. Even every “unprotected sexual intercourse” does NOT result in a pregnancy. WHY: Because God’s in charge!

AGAPE BIBLE STUDY: www.agapebiblestudy.com

Question: How many Old Testament women can you recall who were barren but later, by the will of God, gave birth to men who had an important impact on salvation history? Name the women and their sons

Answer:
Sarah was barren prior to the birth of Isaac (Gen 11:30; 21:1-3).
Rebekah was barren prior to the birth of Jacob/Israel (Gen 25:21-26).
Rachel was barren prior to the birth of Joseph (Gen 29:31; 30:22-23).
Manoah’s wife was barren prior to the birth of the Judge Samson (Judg 13:1-7, 24).
Hannah was barren prior to the birth of the Prophet Samuel (1 Sam 1:1-5, 19-21).

In each case the bareness of the mother was reversed by God’s intervention. It is by God’s divine will that sons were born from these women’sons who played an important role in God’s plan of salvation:

[3] Contraception is a very recent man-made innovation & now a multi-BILLION $ industry. It’s in mass-origin is within the past 50 years or so:shrug:

[4] Ecclesiasticus 15:18
Before man is life and death, good and evil, that which he shall choose shall be given him:

[5] Gen.38: 6-10 “And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. Then Judah [the Father of both sons] said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his**; so when he went in to his brother’s wife he spilled the semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother. And what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he slew him also”** This dear friends is GOD’s opinion and worth on contraception. BOTH physical death and Eternal Hell!

Man cannot with impunity dedicate to God what WE WANT!

God must be Fair & Just & make Judgments based on HIS MORAL LAWS: Amen!

SUFFERING
Take Up your Cross and Follow Me
Phil.2: 8 “And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross Luke.9 :23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.Mark.8: 34 And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Luke.9: 23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.** Luke.14: 7 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”**

Patrick

God Bless you; PRAY and seek God’s assistance:thumbsup:

PJM

 

[PJM]

As a Catholic, I find the Catholic willingness to tolerate being wronged a bit strange. Heck, most people/denominations would take far less abuse and keep coming back for more.

For example, when the ‘Wymenpriests’ folks are banned from their parishes, they inevitably are welcomed and allowed the use of the nearest Episcopal, ChurchofChrist, Methodist or some other facility to pretend in their performance. Any other church would consider that aiding and abetting and send out a strongly worded letter and perhaps cut ties. Catholics, nah, just turn the other cheek over and over.

My friend, did you mean NOT tolerated"?

I don’t understand your point? [Nor do I from great personal experience] agree that we Catholics" are intolerant of abuse.

Might SOME be; sure; ALL; no

God Bless you,

Patrick

 

[PJM]

As a Catholic who spent her adult years in protestant denominations and non-denominations, I really didnt have any contact with Catholics except my own non-practicing Catholic family members. I did work with an ex-Catholic who bashed Catholics and non-Catholic Christians equally. Now that I am back in full communion with the Catholic Church, I do find Catholics ‘a bit strange’, on one noticeably different aspect from my non-Catholic Christian friends. Whereas my friends are heavily into the Bible, studying God’s word, I find Catholics going out of their way to avoid it. I find that strange. Isnt God’s word, God’s word? If it is one of the three legs that sustains The Church aside from the Magisterium and Tradition, why avoid it? That aspect alone is what my non-Catholic Christian friends do not understand and what makes them label Catholics as not Christian. Because they have no idea why someone calling themselves a Christian is Biblically illiterate.

First WELCOME HOME DEAR FRIEND:thumbsup:

Having been personally associated with Catholic religious education in various forms for 30+ years now; I find your experience to be rather unusual in CURRENT [not past] times.

Every parish I know of [as a former retail manger we were relocated frequently] has one or more Bible study programs. Perhaps when one priest has multiple parishes this may not be as regular as when a Pastor is assigned to a single parish?

I know of Priest, Deacons and Religious, as well as qualified laity who conduct such regularly.

This is NOT to dismiss your point which I shall now address.

Prior to the 16th Century [thank you Martin Luther] & the reformation; the RCC held a position that laity [uninformed and untrained] were not to presume a right to read AND SELF_INTERPRET the bible: These passages are the foundation for that position.

2Peter 1: 19-21
And we have the more firm prophetical word: whereunto you do well to attend, as to a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: [20] Understanding this first, that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation. [21] For prophecy came not by the will of man at any time: but the holy men of God spoke, inspired by the Holy Ghost.

[Douay bible-explanation]

[20] No prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation: This shews plainly that the scriptures are not to be expounded by any one’s private judgment or private spirit, because every part of the holy scriptures were written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost, and declared as such by the Church; therefore they are not to be interpreted but by the Spirit of God, which he hath left, and promised to remain with his Church to guide her in all truth to the end of the world. Some may tell us, that many of our divines interpret the scriptures: they may do so, but they do it always with a submission to the judgment of the Church, and not otherwise.** End Quotes**

“Whenever something is good it does not depend on us getting our way, but on God getting His way, and whether we do God’s Will depends on us [humbly] loving God. Moreover to love God we must [actually] know God, [not just know OF God].” Bread of Life booklet January 9, 2016”[Mt 7:21]

**2nd. Peter 3: 14-18 **
“Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen”

The PRUDENCE [a Gift of the HS] is evident in this position; when we look at the effects of not having a prudent discipline in place; as we wonder about the thousands of differing faiths, churches and beliefs in the non-Catholic- Christianity communities; who advocate self bible instruction.

ALSO, in the course of the RCC’s 3 year reading cycle; those Catholics Blessed to be able to attend daily Mass will in a three year period be exposed to ALL of the Teachings of the Bible. I’m 71 and have been so blessed and have in addition having read the bible multple times, have had it READ to me multiple times

YOU’RE POINT THOUGH IS STILL VERY VALID. Not nearly enough Catholics take advantage of the opportuniyes offered to them. And that dear friend is very SAD

God BLESS you! & thanks for sharing a very good point!

Patrick

 

[PJM]

Why fish? I mean, come on, fish? Fish is basically a vegetable. Ban fish.

BECAUSE IT IS A SACRIFICE

SUFFERING
Take Up your Cross and Follow Me

Phil.2: 8 “And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross Luke.9 :23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me**.Mark.8: 34** And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.** Luke.9: 23 **And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke.14: 7 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

To be clear on this meaning:

It means that if we choose NOT to carry the burdens God places in our path [AND the RCC speaks for God: Mt. 16:18-19; Jn 17:17-20 & Mt 28:19-20]; cannot enter into heaven.

The presumption by many that God has already DONE all the necessary suffering to merit our salvation is an UNTRUTH.

God Bless you and thanks for sharing,

Patrick

 

[PJM]

No stranger than the rest of us.

I find Catholic funerals a bit strange and somewhat cookie-cutter and impersonal compared to what am used to, but I would imagine that Catholics would find the ones I am used to as strange in other ways. I guess it’s just a matter of what of you’ve been raised in and are accustomed to.

On the other hand, I find more I have more in common with Catholics on many issues than I do with secular liberals.

Great Post, thanks!

God continued Blessings my friend,
Partick

 

[PJM]

Why do Catholics bury a statue of St. Joseph in their yard when they want to sell their house? Thanks.

I do KNOw and its DUMB!

NOT an approved RCC taught practice

Thanks for sharing,
Patrick

 

[PJM]

I"m 52 Catholic all my life, and have never heard of such a thing until I came on this website.

I’m 71 and my dad used to advocate this practice & he was a VERY devout Catholic too.

Still a DUMB practice;

Love ya dad!

Patrick

 

[PJM]

Actually, I find many protestant communions to far stranger, at least in worship style, etc. , than I do Catholics.

JOn

Thanks Jon!

Continued Blessings,

Patrick

 

[PJM]

I would say very strange. If you are a true practicing Catholic, the more practicing you are, the stranger you will be, so much so you are practically living in an alien world.

For example, you will want to receive the Sacraments, until you will be doing / going for it on a daily basis.

You would also try to go for Confession nearly on a weekly basis.

The reason why you will be doing this is because you love or long to be in full communion with Jesus with his divine Body and Blood.

You want to always be in a state of grace, free from the burden of sin, thus you’ll be going for Confession whenever you commit sins.

Then because you are very conscious that now you are carrying Jesus within you, you would try to avoid engaging in all activities that would not make Jesus as the Number One in your life. You are practically becoming so surreal, that you are living in this world but you are not of the world anymore.

I do not know what could be stranger than that.

AWESOME POST:thumbsup:

Thanks,

Patrick

 

[AKDee]

I read something yesterday that makes me agree with the people here that said the strangest things they hear are from other Catholics.

There was an article online yesterday about the lines being blurred between laity and the priesthood and the comments were really intolerant. There were some (I assume) SSPX people there who don’t find anything valid unless it’s in Latin and fully traditional, and then a number of people who absolutely objected to girls being allowed to be altar servers or the very concept of extraordinary Eucharistic ministers. It’s not that I disagreed completely with the article- the lines probably are being blurred- although I did disagree that it was about women “demanding” higher positions and more about women stepping up when vacancies weren’t being filled by priests or men. But some of the comments were incredible. While in a perfect world perhaps only priests or deacons should do all these things, but when there are a shortage of priests and deacons it sounded like they would prefer such things didn’t get done (including Holy Communion).

 

[RebeccaJ]

Do you find Catholics a “bit strange?”

WHY do Catholics Do THAT?

or WHY Do Catholics Believe THAT?

or WHY do Catholics Act like that?

With charity plesse

I recently visited the San Diego basilica where it as explained that someone was healed from a near death illness by digging up a corpse and putting it in bed with the ill person. I said to the person visiting with me, that Catholics do weird things. Really, the things we do with corpses and dead people parts is very strange!

 

[Tommy999]

I recently visited the San Diego basilica where it as explained that someone was healed from a near death illness by digging up a corpse and putting it in bed with the ill person. I said to the person visiting with me, that Catholics do weird things. Really, the things we do with corpses and dead people parts is very strange!

Is this true? Somehow it doesn’t pass the “smell test” for me, no pun intended.

 

[Padres1969]

BECAUSE IT IS A SACRIFICE

SUFFERING
Take Up your Cross and Follow Me

Phil.2: 8 “And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross Luke.9 :23 And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me**.Mark.8: 34** And he called to him the multitude with his disciples, and said to them, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.** Luke.9: 23 **And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. Luke.14: 7 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

To be clear on this meaning:

It means that if we choose NOT to carry the burdens God places in our path [AND the RCC speaks for God: Mt. 16:18-19; Jn 17:17-20 & Mt 28:19-20]; cannot enter into heaven.

The presumption by many that God has already DONE all the necessary suffering to merit our salvation is an UNTRUTH.

God Bless you and thanks for sharing,

Patrick

True not eating meat is a sacrifice. But then eating only vegetables on Friday would also be a sacrifice, more so than limiting one self to fish. I think the question being asked was really why fish specifically are allowed on those Lenten Fridays.

 

[andrewstx]

True not eating meat is a sacrifice. But then eating only vegetables on Friday would also be a sacrifice, more so than limiting one self to fish. I think the question being asked was really why fish specifically are allowed on those Lenten Fridays.

In Eastern Catholic and Orthodox churches eating fish is a treat during fast days. Basically fast day diets tend to be vegan. Maybe e get fish or twice during Great lent.

The rest of the time during fasts meat fish, dairy, eggs, oil, and wine are all forbidden.

 

[openmind77]

Do you find Catholics a “bit strange?”

WHY do Catholics Do THAT?

or WHY Do Catholics Believe THAT?

or WHY do Catholics Act like that?

With charity plesse

I always thought the Catholic prohibition of contraception as a bit strange.

Why would God care whether you use NFP or artificial means? The two seem to me the same as far as God is concerned, except that second one is more reliable.

This question becomes especially important in light of the new Zika virus.

 

[Reuben_J]

I always thought the Catholic prohibition of contraception as a bit strange.

Why would God care whether you use NFP or artificial means? The two seem to me the same as far as God is concerned, except that second one is more reliable.

This question becomes especially important in light of the new Zika virus.

I think the Catholic concept on contraception is more on the physical – to use the body for its intended purpose. Thus abstaining is allowed as the body is not used or being used without preventing it from doing what it is intended to.

The body is an important aspect of human being, not just the soul. God lives in the body and it is holy.

As for Zika virus – this has got nothing to do with any method of contraception. It is about common sense – listen to what your doctor tells you. Catholic position is to abstain (from sex) if it is for a specific reason.

Of course other religions have their own stand on this issue which may be different.

 

[PJM]

I recently visited the San Diego basilica where it as explained that someone was healed from a near death illness by digging up a corpse and putting it in bed with the ill person. I said to the person visiting with me, that Catholics do weird things. Really, the things we do with corpses and dead people parts is very strange!

You’re speaking of Saintly RELICS; termed “Sacraments”

They are meant to lead one CLOSER to Jesus. The STORY of the dead “body” [one supposes] unbured is VERY strange. PERSONALLY I doubt its veracity:shrug:

God Bless,
Patrick.

 

[PJM]

Is this true? Somehow it doesn’t pass the “smell test” for me, no pun intended.

I DOUBT IT!

 

[PJM]

True not eating meat is a sacrifice. But then eating only vegetables on Friday would also be a sacrifice, more so than limiting one self to fish. I think the question being asked was really why fish specifically are allowed on those Lenten Fridays.

WHICH THEN GET’S INTO THE ARENA OF WHO’S IN CHARGE:shrug:

GOD in His brilliance only gives us two choices:

One right

One Wrong

Either we PERMIT [our call] God to run our lives OR

We assume that responsibility IN TOTAL for ourselves. The responsibility cannot be split

So dear friend, WHICH choice will you make

God Bless you,

Patrick

Isaiah 55:6-10

[6] Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is near. [7] Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God: for he is bountiful to forgive. [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, saith the Lord.** [9] For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts. **[10] And as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return no more thither, but soak the earth, and water it, and make it to spring, and give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater

Deuteronomy 26:17
Thou hast chosen the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways and keep his ceremonies, and precepts, and judgments, and obey his commandments:thumbsup:

God Bless you,

Partick

 

[PJM]

I think the Catholic concept on contraception is more on the physical – to use the body for its intended purpose. Thus abstaining is allowed as the body is not used or being used without preventing it from doing what it is intended to.

The body is an important aspect of human being, not just the soul. God lives in the body and it is holy…

GREAT question: Why Does the RCC TEACH against Birth Control?

NOTE BECAUSE OF THE NECESSARY LENGTH OF MY REPLY THE ANSWER IN ON 2 CONSECUTIVE POST;

Being the quest for your answer by reading POST # 39 of this STRING; then come back to THIS reply for the balance of the answer

REPLY:

It really does center on who’s in charge of our lives. NOT recognized or acknowledged is that GOD IS; EVEN WHEN WE WISH THAT HE WASN’T.

Factually

It is [or ought to be] common knowledge that:

Sex is reserved MORALLY for married couples [a man- & his wife]

And tha NOT every "unprotected]"sexual act automatically results in a pregnancy

WHY is that? It is because God has built into man-women intimacy HIS OWN method of Birth-Control. [The NATURAL method]

Logically

It ought to obvious that God CREATED His own method for Birth Control for at least ONE very easy to understand reason.

That REASON being that GOD desires; DEMANDS his Sovereign RIGHT as our Creator the the only sustainer of ALL life forms; Both life and death issues; ALL of them are God’s EXCLUSIVE domain.

Catechism: #2335 Each of the two sexes is an image of the power and tenderness of God, with equal dignity though in a different way. The union of man and woman in marriage is a way of imitating in the flesh the Creator’s generosity and fecundity: “Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.” All human generations proceed from this union.

Bionically

#1652 “By its very nature the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the procreation and education of the offspring and it is in them that it finds its crowning glory.”

Children are the supreme gift of marriage and contribute greatly to the good of the parents themselves. God himself said: “It is not good that man should be alone,” and “from the beginning [he] made them male and female”; wishing to associate them in a special way in his own creative work, God blessed man and woman with the words:** “Be fruitful and multiply.**” Hence, true married love and the whole structure of family life which results from it, without diminishment of the other ends of marriage, are directed to disposing the spouses to cooperate valiantly with the love of the Creator and Savior, who through them will increase and enrich his family from day to day.

#2366 Fecundity is a gift, an end of marriage, for conjugal love naturally tends to be fruitful. A child does not come from outside as something added on to the mutual love of the spouses, but springs from the very heart of that mutual giving, as its fruit and fulfillment. So the Church, which is “on the side of life,” teaches that “it is necessary that each and every marriage act remain ordered per se to the procreation of human life.” "This particular doctrine, expounded on numerous occasions by the Magisterium, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage a

PLEASE SEE NEXT POST FOR THE BIBLE & HISTORICAL REASONS