That said, this is to netmil(name removed by moderator):
You wrote:
If you do not see an Imprimatur on any writings about a private revelation, you are not to read it, let alone promote it.
I reiterate: I am a new Catholic. I must say your tone takes me aback when I hear it from long-term Catholics like yourself. Your roots may be sunk deep, but new Catholics like me are still growing rootlets. Our roots can be quickly uprooted by peremptory words as yours. (Many of my Catholic friends tell me that such cold tones by catechists turned them off to the faith for years; but by the Grace of God and the Warmth of His Love, they are back in the Church)
Reread what you have written. I think your imperious, cold tone may shock even yourself. Listen, God is about LOVE. Let us live that LOVE with one another. Words are powerful, let us speak with LOVE.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” Unfortunately, a lot of Christians present more of an image of a noisy gong or a clanging symbol than the love of Christ. It does not matter how lofty our words or how eloquent our speech. It doesn’t matter how much spiritual wisdom we can proclaim nor how many Bible verses we can quote. What really matters is how much love we show others. Jesus has called us to a life of service, a life of caring for others, a life of loving the helpless and encouraging the hopeless.
It is a sad fact that we Christians can sometimes become very arrogant about our theology and very self-righteous about our good works. How many times have you heard one group of Christians look down their noses at the way another church believes or how another church worships! Paul is saying that all arrogance and self-righteousness is nothing but noise and clanging. If we want to make sweet music, we must learn how to have love for others."
Thank goodness, Our Lord used loving words and his gentleness in correcting the new lambs as they were coming into the fold in his day! May I suggest a more kind and charitable approach as Jesus’?
I am not challenging here. I want to learn. Can you give me references to back up your statement: “If you do not see an Imprimatur on any writings about a private revelation, you are not to read it, let alone promote it.”
Lourdes was not immediately recognized. Fatima was formally recognized only 13 years later, while Guadalupe delayed 200 years. Does that mean that all of those millions of people who were reading news releases, magazine articles, and books about those apparitions before they were recognized – COUNTLESS MANY Catholics included – were in violation as you imply and should not have read those writings? Perhaps yourself included if you were reading about Juan Diego before his sainthood?
As far as your statement about false worship: before you EVEN insinuate that I am worshiping Mary. It is latria that I offer to God and God alone; He and only He is to be worshipped – and who I worship. It is hyperdulia (veneration) that I offer Our Lady. You don’t know me. Please go to confession for calumny and slandering someone who do not know!.
By careful not to fall into the trap of maintaining some pharaisical sense of power as an arbiter of right and wrong without a loving hand. You may be siding with the Devil when you turn tender young babes in the Faith away with your actions and words.
You are my sister in Christ. I love you and I will not sit back and allow you to continue to hurt new ones like me or threaten our fledging faith when we are seeking to know, love and serve Our Lord. God bless you and may your heart be softened by His Love. I wish you sweet music…
In your sig you write: “To Jesus through Mary. I love my Parish!” I am happy that you do, will you love someone who is not in your parish? Will you love me?
You also write in your sig: “It is better to be hated for who you are, than be loved for who you’re not.” I would prefer to love you for the Christian soul that you are that He is waiting to receive in heaven one day soon.
**
To Alison.**
I knew we were meant to be friends! I love seeing and feeling your warm and gentle heart through your words. There are no accidents; God brought us here together. God bless you, dear one!
And now back to the thread:
Yes, this is a wonderful tradition. May the Holy Spirit guide your saint to you!
May God bless each and every one of you future saints in Catholic Answers. This is a wonderful place that God has made to help us help each other to holiness and sainthood.
