Fallen away Catholics must return in order to reach heaven

[PaulinVA]

Now you go to far, you seriously believe that people who do not have the sacraments have such a high likelihood of been saved, what about their mortal sins?

Well, the comment was actually more related to the Catholics in the pews with us. Since we know that Artificial Birth Control use among Catholics is very high, the pool of Catholics not in a state of mortal sin is very small, and since there are some protestants who are conservative and NPF users, well, do the math.

I don’t know about the whole Reconciliation thing. I do go regularly, but have problems with the catch 22 of those who can’t be absolved because there is no one in valid orders to absolve them go to hell even if they do believe. Christ died once for all.

 

[Leonius]

Well, the comment was actually more related to the Catholics in the pews with us. Since we know that Artificial Birth Control use among Catholics is very high, the pool of Catholics not in a state of mortal sin is very small, and since there are some protestants who are conservative and NPF users, well, do the math.

I don’t know about the whole Reconciliation thing. I do go regularly, but have problems with the catch 22 of those who can’t be absolved because there is no one in valid orders to absolve them go to hell even if they do believe. Christ died once for all.

Then you are not trusting in God enough, stop making judgements based on emotion and accept what God has revealed, it is God who makes Priests available to absolve who He wills, He already knows who is saved and who is not.

There’s a reason why its called the narrow path you know

 

[Gertabelle]

What good does it do to pray for somebody if you’re pretty sure they aren’t going to change their minds? Oh well, if I pray for them, it isn’t very intense. I don’t have much hope for them cause they’re stubborn. Them = my mom, my dad, my brother, my cousins, my whole family. I think I’m the only practicing Catholic left in my family. Sad.

Tracy

Tracy, If conversion were achieved through some human means, then you are right, there would be little hope and our prayers wouldn’t be worth much. But conversion is not a human endeavor. Conversion is a function of the Grace of God.

My son’s dad is a fallen-away Catholic who is now a third or fourth level Sufi. I make every sacrifice I can for the salvation of his soul. I place him, as it were, on the altar of every mass I attend. In human terms, I don’t see any way he will ever “revert.” Thanks be to God that his conversion will not be accomplished on human terms!!! So I pray and pray and go on praying…

If St. Monica had given into your way of thinking, our Church would never have been blessed with St. Augustine – talk about a hopeless case!!

Tracy, please pray for the salvation of your family. To do less may, in fact, be sin because you show yourself to think so little of the power of God working in the secret of people’s hearts.

Our efforts, our prayers truly are very little. But once given to God, they become infinite! Storm the gates of heaven with you prayers and see what happens

Gertie

 

[ac_claire]

I started another thread about this topic before realizing this one already existed. So I’m re-posting my last reply to the other thread here.]

Here’s specifically what I’m struggling with:

First, it is infallible dogma that outside of the Church there is no salvation.

Secondly, membership (ie: being inside the Church) is defined by Pope Pius XII in the encyclical Mytici Corporis:

Membership in the Church is defined like this: The members of the Church are those who have validly received the Sacrament of Baptism and who are not separated from the unity of the confession of the Faith and from the unity of the lawful communion of the Church. (Sent. certa.)

In light of that, how do we make sense of these other teachings? (The rest of my quotes are from the CCC.)

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.”

This does say that some Protestant Christians can be “accepted as brothers in the Lord,” but does that mean they are accepted as default members of the Church? Is this where the “certain but imperfect communion” comes in?

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.”

So according to this, Christ can use these Churches and ecclesial communities as a means of salvation. But is this in and of themselves, or are they only a means of salvation inasmuch as they lead a person to official membership in the Catholic Church?

838 “The Church knows that she is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but do not profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter.” Those “who believe in Christ and have been properly baptized are put in a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church.” With the Orthodox Churches, this communion is so profound “that it lacks little to attain the fullness that would permit a common celebration of the Lord’s Eucharist.”

Again, we’re back to “a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church”…Could this be enough to save a person? Is this what the Church is saying?

 

[Gertabelle]

Then you are not trusting in God enough, stop making judgements based on emotion and accept what God has revealed, it is God who makes Priests available to absolve who He wills, He already knows who is saved and who is not.

There’s a reason why its called the narrow path you know

Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!

Are you suggesting that God would keep someone from having access to confessing a mortal sin so that they’ll stay in mortal sin, because “He already knows who is saved and who is not”?! Are you aware of the heresy that would be?! Are you aware that such an action on God’s part would be to deny the free will He gave each person?!

“…priests to absolve who He wills…” And just what do you mean by that? Is it your contention that God doesn’t will to absolve any and all who repent? You make it sound like some people just aren’t worthy of His forgiveness, and that God would actually block someone’s path from returning to Him and His love? Are you out of your mind???

Or are you a Calvinist?

 

[Leonius]

Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!

Are you suggesting that God would keep someone from having access to confessing a mortal sin so that they’ll stay in mortal sin, because “He already knows who is saved and who is not”?! Are you aware of the heresy that would be?! Are you aware that such an action on God’s part would be to deny the free will He gave each person?!

“…priests to absolve who He wills…” And just what do you mean by that? Is it your contention that God doesn’t will to absolve any and all who repent? You make it sound like some people just aren’t worthy of His forgiveness, and that God would actually block someone’s path from returning to Him and His love? Are you out of your mind???

Or are you a Calvinist?

Nope I’m not saying that at all, I am actually saying the opposite, that if someone is to be saved God can and will provide them with the means

 

[Gertabelle]

Nope I’m not saying that at all, I am actually saying the opposite, that** if someone is to be saved God can and will provide them with the means**

I’m gonna have to disagree with you there. God provides ALL of us with the means, so that ALL might be saved. Your reasoning is backwards and borderline herectical.

 

[Muckdog]

Are we overlooking the most important question… Why, throughout history, have so many people left the church? I know many very angry ex-Chatholics. Most don’t even know why they are so angry with the Church. I was one for years and am still very cautious about my involement with the Church. Is the Church doing anything to reach out to these souls who are implicitly rendered spiritually homeless? Or is it best to smugly stand behind "only Catholics can enter the Kingdom of God?

 

[mlz]

Not so.

“There is one Universal Church of the faithful, outside of which there is absolutely no salvation.” (Innocent III ex cathedra, Fourth Council of the Lateran, 1215)

“Furthermore, we declare, we proclaim, we define that it is absolutely necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff.” (Boniface VIII ex cathedra, Unam Sanctam, 1302)

“[The Holy Roman Church] firmly believes, professes and preaches that all those who are outside the Catholic Church, not only pagans but also Jews or heretics and schismatics, cannot share in eternal life and will go into the everlasting fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels, unless they are joined to the Catholic Church before the end of their lives; … and that nobody can be saved, no matter how much he has given away in alms and even if he has shed his blood in the name of Christ, unless he has persevered in the bosom and the unity of the Catholic Church.” (Eugene IV ex cathedra, Council of Florence, 1442)

Your sister has lost Christ, not found Him. Be assured of my prayers for her.

I have honestly been looking at the Catholic faith but this scares me away. You honestly sound like some of my Evangelical brothers and sisters in Christ who claim to know who’s “saved” or “not saved”. It really makes me sad. I know that our Lord loves and cares for all who sincerely seek Him with an honest heart.
mlz

 

[ac_claire]

Are we overlooking the most important question… Why, throughout history, have so many people left the church? I know many very angry ex-Chatholics. Most don’t even know why they are so angry with the Church. I was one for years and am still very cautious about my involement with the Church. Is the Church doing anything to reach out to these souls who are implicitly rendered spiritually homeless? Or is it best to smugly stand behind "only Catholics can enter the Kingdom of God?

Is the Church doing anything to reach lost souls? Yes, the Church is busy being the Church, the pillar and foundation of Truth and keeper of the deposit of faith.

If you’re talking about active evangelizing, then yes…the Church evangelizes the lost. Is your point that Catholics need to evangelize more? If not, then what specifically do you suggest as far as “reaching out”?

 

[yellowbird]

Are we overlooking the most important question… Why, throughout history, have so many people left the church? I know many very angry ex-Chatholics. Most don’t even know why they are so angry with the Church. I was one for years and am still very cautious about my involement with the Church. Is the Church doing anything to reach out to these souls who are implicitly rendered spiritually homeless? Or is it best to smugly stand behind "only Catholics can enter the Kingdom of God?

I know my parish does. Every year on Christmas and Easter when it’s obvious that many fallen away Catholics are back with us for the day, my Priest literally BEGS them to call or come to the parish office so he can help them resolve their issues and become reconcilled back to the Church. He tells them how very precious they are to the body of Christ and how much we miss them when they aren’t with us. What more can he do except pray that they listen?

You’ve asked a good question though, why have people left? I think it’s that many weren’t taught what we believe and why… it’s easy to walk away from something you don’t fully understand…some have been hurt by people in the Church… some couldn’t live by the rules and went where it was easier.

 

[Leonius]

I’m gonna have to disagree with you there. God provides ALL of us with the means, so that ALL might be saved. Your reasoning is backwards and borderline herectical.

Yes God makes the means available to all I am not denying that, maybe I am not communicating this very well I know it is a subtle point.

The means are made available but their is not one means there are many and all are not made available at the same time, so in the beginning God offers the gift of Grace to men, this is done supernaturally if men reject this gift of Grace none of the other means will be offered, so for example if a person rejects God’s gift of Grace God will not then make a priest available to provide confession because there is no point the soul is not ready for that yet and does not require that means at that time. This is because internal supernatural grace is absolutely necessary for the beginning of faith and of salvation, it is the foundation of all the other means.

This does not in anyway take away the availability of salvation to all. All it means is that God provides what we need when we need it, He doesn’t necessarily provide it when we don’t need it or are not ready for it, or are not in a state to accept or use it. You cant put a roof on a house without first laying the foundations you see?

How else do you explain those places untouched by Christianity? They are so because the people are not ready to accept God’s grace in their hearts. When they are ready God will provide them with al the other means but to progress to those means they must first accept the foundational means. It is their choice and the means are available they just have to choose to want them. This works because God foresees the future free acts of the rational creatures with infallible certainty.

Christ died for all, the means of salvation are available to all if they so desire them, but all do not desire them and all will not be saved.

When we speak of the universality of Christ’s vicarious atonement we are referring to objective Redemption only. Christ made sufficient atonement for all men without exception. The subjective appropriation of the fruits of Redemption is, however dependent on the fulfilment of certain conditions by men themselves, these conditions are things such as on faith (Mk. 16:16) and on the observance of the Commandments (Hebr. 5:9; Peter 1:10).

So Christ’s atonement is both universal but also particular.

And this last bit is a dogma of the Church, now I realise it is subtle and so you might thing it is heresy but it is not it is actually the opposiite it is a dogma that must be believed by all Catholics:

“God by an Eternal Resolve of His Will, predestines certain men, on account of their foreseen sins, to eternal rejection.” (De fide.)

You see because God already knew they would be great sinners and would reject His gift of Grace. The heretical version of predestination is heretical because it taught a unconditioned predestination, that God picked who was saved and who was damned almost randomly, and that He desired their damnation in advance. This is not the case He decides on account of their foreseen sins which they will commit through their own free will during their life’s which He been omnipotent and outside of time already knows.

I will finish with two more dogmas of our Holy Faith.

The justification of an adult is not possible without Faith. (De fide.)
Besides Faith, further acts of disposition must be present. (De fide.)

 

[Deum_quaerens]

I started another thread about this topic before realizing this one already existed. So I’m re-posting my last reply to the other thread here.]

Here’s specifically what I’m struggling with:

First, it is infallible dogma that outside of the Church there is no salvation.

Secondly, membership (ie: being inside the Church) is defined by Pope Pius XII in the encyclical Mytici Corporis:

In light of that, how do we make sense of these other teachings? (The rest of my quotes are from the CCC.)

This does say that some Protestant Christians can be “accepted as brothers in the Lord,” but does that mean they are accepted as default members of the Church? Is this where the “certain but imperfect communion” comes in?

So according to this, Christ can use these Churches and ecclesial communities as a means of salvation. But is this in and of themselves, or are they only a means of salvation inasmuch as they lead a person to official membership in the Catholic Church?

Again, we’re back to “a certain, although imperfect, communion with the Catholic Church”…Could this be enough to save a person? Is this what the Church is saying?

Church dogma takes precedent over the Catechism, especially where the latter promotes the vague concept of “imperfect communion”, unheard of before the Council.

 

[Deum_quaerens]

I’m gonna have to disagree with you there. God provides ALL of us with the means, so that ALL might be saved. Your reasoning is backwards and borderline herectical.

So was St Francis Xavier “borderline heretical” when he preached to the Japanese that God had not sent them missionaries because they had not followed the law written in their hearts (Romans ii, 15)?

Leonius is right, and seemingly familiar with the Catholic teaching on predestination (not to be confused with predetermination) regarding salvation of the elect and free will. As St Alphonsus wrote in The History of Heresies and Their Refutation (bold emphasis mine): “Still we answer the Semipelagians, and say, that infidels who arrive at the use of reason, and are not converted to the Faith, cannot be excused, because though they do not receive sufficient proximate grace, still they are not deprived of remote grace, as a means of becoming converted. But what is this remote grace? St Thomas explains it, when he says, that if anyone were brought up in the wilds, or even among brute beasts, and if he followed the law of natural reason, to desire what is good, and to avoid what is wicked, we should certainly believe either that God, by an internal inspiration, would reveal to him what he should believe, or would send someone to preach the Faith to him, as he sent Peter to Cornelius. Thus, then, according to the Angelic Doctor, God, at least remotely, gives to infidels, who have the use of reason, sufficient grace to obtain salvation, and this grace consists in a certain instruction of the mind, and in a movement of the will, to observe the natural law; and if the infidel cooperates with this movement, observing the precepts of the law of nature, and abstaining from grievous sins, he will certainly receive, through the merits of Jesus Christ, the grace proximately sufficient to embrace the Faith, and save his soul.”

So St Leonard of Port Maurice, in his famous sermon “On the Little Number of Those Who are Saved”: “Brothers, you must know that the most ancient belief is the Law of God, and that we all bear it written in our hearts; that it can be learned without any teacher, and that it suffices to have the light of reason in order to know all the precepts of that Law. That is why even the barbarians hid when they committed sin, because they knew they were doing wrong; and they are damned for not having observed the natural law written in their heart: for had they observed it, God would have made a miracle rather than let them be damned; He would have sent them someone to teach them and would have given them other aids, of which they made themselves unworthy by not living in conformity with the inspirations of their own conscience, which never failed to warn them of the good they should do and the evil they should avoid. So it is their conscience that accused them at the Tribunal of God, and it tells them constantly in hell, ‘Thy damnation comes from thee.’ They do not know what to answer and are obliged to confess that they are deserving of their fate.”

 

[Bellus]

So if non-Catholics accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, serve Him diligently, accept His free gift of grace and love Him with all their heart, are you saying that person will be damned to hell? That’s not what the bible says.

 

[Leonius]

So if non-Catholics accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, serve Him diligently, accept His free gift of grace and love Him with all their heart, are you saying that person will be damned to hell? That’s not what the bible says.

It does say that those who pervert the Gospel will be. “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but His words shall never pass away;” and scripture says therefore, to corrupt these sacred words, though but in one single article, would be “. . . perverting the Gospel of Christ,” [Gal. 1: 7], a sin so grievous that the Holy Ghost, by His mouth, pronounces a curse upon anyone, though an angel from Heaven who shall dare to be guilty of it. “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema.”

The Bible is clear that outside of the Church of Christ, which is the Catholic Church there is no ordinary possibility of salvation.

1. The prophet Isaiah, foretelling the glory of the Catholic Church, says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that resisteth thee in judgement thou shalt condemn,” (Isa. 54: 17). “For the nation and the kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish,” (Isa. 60: 12). Here we see declared in express terms that all those who oppose the Catholic Church, and refuse to submit to her authority, shall be condemned by her, and shall perish. Our Saviour declares the same in still stronger terms, when He says to the pastors of His Church, in the persons of His Apostles, when He sent them to preach the Gospel, “And whosoever shall not receive you, NOR HEAR YOUR WORDS, going forth out of that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. Amen, I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgement than for that city,” (Matt. 10: 14, 15).
2. Our Saviour, after instructing us to admonish our offending brother in private, or before a few witnesses, concludes thus: “And if he will not hear them, tell the Church. And if he will not hear the Church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.” (Matt. 18: 17). The heathens are those who know not the true God, and who worship idols, and the very devils themselves, instead of God. The publicans were a class of people among the Jews odious for their crimes, and looked upon by all as abandoned by God, and given over to a reprobate sense. With these, then, all who obstinately resist the voice of the Church are classed and condemned by the mouth of Jesus Christ Himself.
3. Our Saviour, speaking of His Church under the figure of a flock, of which He Himself is the good shepherd, says: “And other sheep I have that are not of this fold; them also I must bring. And they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.” (John 10: 16). He is here speaking of those who were not then joined in communion with His Apostles and other disciples, and He calls them at that time “His sheep;” but to show there was no salvation for them in the state in which they then were, and unless they were united to the fold, He says, "them also I must bring, which shows that, according to the disposition of the Divine decrees, it was absolutely necessary that all who belong to Jesus Christ, all whom He acknowledges for His sheep, should be brought to, and united in communion with, that one fold, which is His Church.
4. In consequence of this, we are assured that, when the Apostles began to publish the Gospel, “The Lord increased daily together such as should be saved.” Or, as the Protestant translation has it, “The Lord daily added to the Church such as should be saved,” (Acts 2: 47); which points out in the strongest manner, by what God actually did, that the being added to the Church is a condition absolutely required by Him in order to be saved; and if that were so then, it must be so now, and to the end of the world; for the conditions of salvation, ordained at the beginning and revealed by Jesus Christ, cannot be altered by any other; and He has never made any new revelation to alter them Himself.
5. The Church is the Body of Christ, and all who belong to the Church are members of His body, and united with Jesus Christ the head; but those who are out of the Church are not members of His body, nor are they united with Christ the head. Now, speaking of His Church and her members under the figure of a vine, with its branches, He says, “I am the vine, you the branches. He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit; for without Me, ye can do nothing. If anyone abide not in Me, he shall be cast forth as a branch and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth.” (John 15: 5, 6). What Christ here says under the figure of a vine is equally true as to the members and the body; for no member separated from the body can do anything; it has neither life nor feeling, but falls into corruption: which expressly shows that if we be not united to the Church of Christ, whether we consider this Church as a body consisting of the head and members, or as a vine with its branches, we are not united with Christ, but on the way to perdition.

The Bible is also clear that it is necessary to have True Faith to be saved and what will be the fate of those who pervert the Gospels and teach false doctrines.

 

[Bellus]

What? I’ve read all of those scriptures numerous times. The Church is anyone who is a Christian. I’ve never read where the bible calls the church Catholic or any denomination. I won’t waste your time trying to convince you of my undying love and overwhelming grattitude to God my Father for the ultimate sacrifice of His Son so that I might not perish but have everlasting life. If I truly thought I was un-saved, I would not want to live. I have prayed diligently and have had God answer prayers. I have believed for many years and will never stop believing.

1. The prophet Isaiah, foretelling the glory of the Catholic Church, says, “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper, and every tongue that resisteth thee in judgement thou shalt condemn,” (Isa. 54: 17). “For the nation and the kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish,” (Isa. 60: 12).

What does this have to do with denomination, specifically Catholocism? It doesn’t even mention Catholocism or any religion. I am serving God, not a religion. I shall NOT perish. I SHALL be with my Father in heaven. My home is in heaven. This earthly home is just a temporary thing. No church/denomination can save me. Jesus did that. I’m not condemning the Catholic Church, merely saying that Christ saves, the church does not. The church is not a living, breathing entity that saves souls from eternal damnation. It is an institution designed to lead people to God and to teach them how to walk in His ways.

 

[daughteroftruth]

I have honestly been looking at the Catholic faith but this scares me away. You honestly sound like some of my Evangelical brothers and sisters in Christ who claim to know who’s “saved” or “not saved”. It really makes me sad. I know that our Lord loves and cares for all who sincerely seek Him with an honest heart.
mlz

“He who is not with Me is against Me.” Your problem isn’t with the Catholic Church, it’s with Jesus Christ Himself. She left the known truth of God for a convenient deception. She had a choice: God’s way or my way. If she doesn’t repent, there’s only one place for her. Sad, but that’s the way God has ordained it. If you find this difficult to accept, you need to take it up in serious prayer.

 

[Leonius]

What does this have to do with denomination, specifically Catholocism? It doesn’t even mention Catholocism or any religion.

The Scriptures make it clear that the Catholic Church is Christ’s Church, Christ did not found denominations he founded One Church, that Church is the Catholic Church.(John 10:16, John 17:21).

The One true Church of Christ:

*was founded by Jesus Christ Himself in Mt 16:18.
*would be built on Simon Peter, Mt 16:18.
*would be defended by GOD Himself, Mt 16:18-19.
*would have authority given by Jesus Christ, Mt 16:19,18:17-18.
*would be guided by the Holy Spirit who will dwell within it, Jn 14:15-17, Act 15:28,16:6.
*would be one and undivided, Mk 3:24-25.
*would have one fold and one shepherd, Jn 10:16.
*would have Priests, Bishops, and Deacons, 1Tim 3:1-13.
*must have the Holy Eucharist celebration, Jn 6:42-70, Act 2:42.
*must be found in all nations, Mt 28:19.
*must be found in all centuries, Mt 28:20.
*Jesus Christ said He would be with His Church every day, in every year, until the end of the world, Mt 28:20. This means no gaps in time.

It is Christ’s will that we all be one in one Church why do you not obey?

I am serving God, not a religion. I shall NOT perish. I SHALL be with my Father in heaven.

Then you are more certain of your salvation than even the Apostles,(1Cor 9:27)(Phil 2:12) such presumption of God’s mercy is offensive to Him and it is not biblical, Christ clearly says that if you do not do certain things, for example obey the commandments(Matt:19-17) you will not be saved no matter how much you say “Lord, Lord”.(Matt:7:21)

No church/denomination can save me. Jesus did that. I’m not condemning the Catholic Church, merely saying that Christ saves, the church does not. The church is not a living, breathing entity that saves souls from eternal damnation. It is an institution designed to lead people to God and to teach them how to walk in His ways.

Yes Christ saves, but He has chosen to do this through the Church, we can only be saved on Christ’s term’s not on our own. If you truly follow Christ why do you not obey His commandments? Why do you not believe in His whole doctrine? Why do you not honour Him in the Blessed Sacrament? Why do you not listen to those whom He has chosen to teach the Faith to us?(Luke 10:16)

Christ has solemnly declared that only those will be saved, who have done God’s will on earth, as explained not by private interpretation, but by the infallible teaching of the Catholic Church. “Not everyone” says Christ, “who saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doth the will of my Father, who is in heaven, he shall enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 7:21)

The will of the heavenly Father is that all men hear and believe His Son, Jesus Christ.

“This is my well beloved Son. Him you shall hear.”

Now Jesus Christ said this to His Apostles and to all their lawful successors:

“He that heareth you heareth me, and he that despiseth you despitheth me, and he that despiseth me, despitheth Him; the heavenly Father, that sent me,”

If you do not listen to Jesus Christ speaking to you through St. Peter and the Apostles, in their lawful successors you despise God the Father and you are not doing His will, you are doing your own will just like you are doing your own interpretation of scripture.

Not to believe all that Christ has said is to call Christ a liar(1 John 5:10), and that is an awful blasphemy.

Jesus Christ says: “Hear the Church.”(Matt 18:17) “No” said Luther and all the protestants, “do not hear the Church, protest against her with all your might!”

Jesus Christ says: “If anyone will not hear the Church look upon him as a heathen and a publican.” “No,” says protestantism.

Jesus Christ says: “The gates of hell shall not prevail against my Church.” “No” says protestantism the gates of hell have prevailed against the Church for a thousand years and more"

Jesus Christ declared St. Peter and every successor to St. Peter, the Pope to be His Vicar on earth. “No” say protestants, “the Pope is Anti-Christ”.

Jesus Christ says: “My yoke is sweet and my burden light.”(Matt. 11:30) "No said Luther and Calvin, “is is impossible to keep the commandments.”

Jesus Christ says: “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments”(Matt. 14:17) “No” said Luther and Calvin, “faith alone, without good works, is suficent to enter life everlasting.”

Jesus Christ says: “Unless you do penance, you shall likewise perish.” (Luke 3:3) “No,” said Luther and Calvin, “fasting, and other works of penance are not necessary for satisfaction of sin.”

Jesus Christ says: “This is my body.” “No” said Calvin, “this is only the figure of Christ’s Body”

Jesus Christ says: “I say to you, whoever shall put away his wife, and shall marry another, committeth adultery; and he that shall marry her that is put away, commiteth adultery.” (Matt 19:9) “No” say Luther and al protestants, to a married man, “you may put away your wife, get a divorce, and marry another.”

“And why call you me, Lord, Lord; and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46

 

[graceandglory]

I know my parish does. ** Every year on Christmas and Easter when it’s obvious that many fallen away Catholics are back with us for the day, my Priest literally BEGS them to call or come to the parish office so he can help them resolve their issues and become reconcilled back to the Church.** He tells them how very precious they are to the body of Christ and how much we miss them when they aren’t with us.

for your priest:



That brings tears to my eyes. Oh that more priests were like yours.