I am a former Catholic ask me anything

[Follow_Yeshua]

Okay. What specifically?

The Scapular Promise if you die wearing it you will not see hell fire.
Galations 1 (note how Paul repeats himself to show you important this is)
8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

The Rosary (It was brought to existence by a beautifull woman giving it to St Louis de Montfort
Galations 1:8-10
Matthew 6:7
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Co Mediatrix
Isaiah 42
8I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
I Timothy 2:5
5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

I have more. Remember I am not speaking of the real Mary who is in her grave and will be resurrected on the day of the Lord along with the other saints. Yes I believe in that you sleep until the heavens are no more.

The real Mary was a great Christian. Better than I can ever be.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Don’t know for sure but I do know they were well versed in the Prophets before them. As for me I can only go by the examples of Word of God. Thats all I have. Jehovah cannot be a liar so if something great contrasts his Word. I may not subscribe to it nor will I try to explain the reason for it.

The reason for my question is this: you appear to have rejected the teaching authority of the Church founded by Jesus, and I cannot expect you to have retained your faith in the Sacred Tradition of that Church.

Consequently, you are left with faith alone or sola scriptura.

Did any of the Apostles or any of the early church members practice sola scriptura?

If not, then what you are doing is not biblical.

 

[Timbothefiveth]

So what about matthew 16:18-19?

18:I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.

19"I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven."

I know I’m going to look confrontational, I’m not, it’s just that I just saw this:

Yes I believe in that you sleep until the heavens are no more.

Like I said, not trying to be confrontational, but wouldn’t that contradict the Gospel a bit?

Luke 23: 43Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

 

[Follow_Yeshua]

Then why does the scripture specifically state, “Baptism now saves you”?

So when Jesus saved the woman in Luke 7:50
where was the water? Was she submerged?

44And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
45Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
48And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

 

[Randy_Carson]

The Scapular Promise if you die wearing it you will not see hell fire.
Galations 1 (note how Paul repeats himself to show you important this is)
8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

The Rosary (It was brought to existence by a beautifull woman giving it to St Louis de Montfort
Galations 1:8-10
Matthew 6:7
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Co Mediatrix
Isaiah 42
8I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
I Timothy 2:5
5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

I have more. Remember I am not speaking of the real Mary who is in her grave and will be resurrected on the day of the Lord along with the other saints. Yes I believe in that you sleep until the heavens are no more.

The real Mary was a great Christian. Better than I can ever be.

Let’s begin with a few foundation issues, okay?

First, you do understand that the Catholic Church does not require any believer to accept any apparition of Mary, right?

Second, you do know that NONE of the things you have mentioned above are doctrines of the Church, don’t you?

Third, let’s take a look at what the Bible actually teaches regarding “vain repetition”, okay?

Matthew 6:7-8: Vain Repetition

Many non-Catholics believe that praying the rosary violates Jesus’ teaching about “vain repetition” found in His Sermon on the Mount:

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“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8)

Immediately after saying this, He went on to teach the crowd the following prayer:

"This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” (Matthew 6:9-13)

Jesus didn’t say, “You might want to say something like the following”…he said, “When you pray, say” and He gave us precise words that we should pray daily for our daily bread, and these words have been repeated for 2,000 years. Is this “vain repetition”? Hardly.

Matthew 26:43-44
43When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Jesus prayed a third time saying the same things he had said previously. Is this “vain repetition”? Hardly.

Revelation 4:8
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings.Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.”

The creatures keep saying the same thing over and over and over again - day and night. Is this “vain repetition”? Hardly.

(cont.)

 

[Randy_Carson]

Co Mediatrix
Isaiah 42
8I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
I Timothy 2:5
5For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Mary as Mediatrix Proved From Scripture

The Catholic Church recognizes Mary’s role in salvation history and invokes her under the title of Mediatrix. However, many people struggle to understand how Mary can have this role which they reserve for Christ alone, and they cite the following verse in support of their position:

1 Timothy 2:5-6
5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time.

Is this the complete picture of what the Bible has to say about the role of mediator? Let’s take a closer look at some verses which provide a bigger perspective on this important topic.

Hebrews 7:24-25
because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Here we see that Jesus “always lives to intercede” for “those who come to God through him.” The role of the mediator and the intercessor are synonymous; a mediator lives to intercede for others.

All Christians are called to be mediators or intercessors for one another because we are all members of Christ’s body as we see from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 1:22-23
“And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”

Paul referred to himself as a co-laborer with Christ when he wrote:

1 Corinthians 3:9
For we are God’s fellow workers.

Paul went further in his understanding of our responsibility as co-laborers with Christ when when he wrote:

Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church.

Is anything lacking from the perfect sacrifice that Christ offered upon the Cross? Paul clearly indicates that more is to be done and that he makes up what is “still lacking” in his own flesh.

2 Corinthians 1:6
If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation

Additionally, we know that we are called to share in the priesthood of all believers (cf. 1 Peter 2:5-9), and a priest, by definition, is called to be a mediator between God and men. Each of us is called to this role and to be a mediator or mediatrix for others before God.

Therefore, if we are all called to this role of mediator and intercessor for one another, how much more can this be said of Mary who said, “Yes” to God and brought Christ into the world?

Speaking of this, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

[967](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/967.htm’) By her complete adherence to the Father’s will, to his Son’s redemptive work, and to every prompting of the Holy Spirit, the Virgin Mary is the Church’s model of faith and charity. Thus she is a “preeminent and . . . wholly unique member of the Church”; indeed, she is the “exemplary realization” (typus) of the Church.

[968](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/968.htm’) Her role in relation to the Church and to all humanity goes still further. “In a wholly singular way she cooperated by her obedience, faith, hope, and burning charity in the Savior’s work of restoring supernatural life to souls. For this reason she is a mother to us in the order of grace.”

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[969](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/969.htm’) “This motherhood of Mary in the order of grace continues uninterruptedly from the consent which she loyally gave at the Annunciation and which she sustained without wavering beneath the cross, until the eternal fulfillment of all the elect. Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation . . . . Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix.”

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[970](javascriptpenWindow(‘cr/970.htm’) “Mary’s function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin’s salutary influence on men . . . flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation, depends entirely on it, and draws all its power from it.” “No creature could ever be counted along with the Incarnate Word and Redeemer; but just as the priesthood of Christ is shared in various ways both by his ministers and the faithful, and as the one goodness of God is radiated in different ways among his creatures, so also the unique mediation of the Redeemer does not exclude but rather gives rise to a manifold cooperation which is but a sharing in this one source.”

 

[Randy_Carson]

So when Jesus saved the woman in Luke 7:50
where was the water? Was she submerged?

Oh, I see…so, it’s okay to take a single incident and extract the false notion that baptism is unnecessary in direct contradiction of numerous other passages which declare that it is? Is that what the Bible teaches?

I don’t think so, but many people believe that baptism is merely a symbolic act that one performs before the community of believers as an outward sign of an inward decision to accept Christ as one’s “personal Lord and Savior”. Is this view biblical or does God view baptism differently? Let’s take a look:

Baptism is Related to Impartation of the Holy Spirit

Ezekiel 36:25-27
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

In this Old Testament passage, the prophet clearly speaks of the sacrament of baptism that was to come. Notice the elements: water is sprinkled, the person is actually made clean (not merely imputed to be or called clean), and they receive a new spirit along with the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel makes a connection between washing in Water and the receipt of the Spirit of God.

However, sometimes when the Old Testament is referenced, people will say, “Well, we follow the New Testament.” in an attempt to dismiss an Old Testament passage. They need to remember the following words from the New Testament:

2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Consequently, we can see that all of the Bible must be taken into account when we seek to understand doctrine.

Baptism Washes Away Sin

Acts 2:38-39
38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

At Pentecost, Peter told the crowd to “be baptized…for the forgiveness of…sins.” After that, “you will receive…the Holy Spirit”. Once again, we see the elements of Water and Spirit…just as Ezekiel prophesied. Note too, that this promise is for “you and your children” – a clear endorsement of infant baptism.

Acts 22:16
16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name. (Acts 22:16)

Baptism Makes Us Part of the Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:13
13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Galatians 3:26-27
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

Colossians 2:11-12
11 In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

Baptism Saves

Romans 6:3-4
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

1 Peter 3:18-22
18 For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19 through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison 20 who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Baptism Commanded by Jesus

John 3:5
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”

Some argue that in this verse, “born of water” refers to the placenta fluid of physical birth. However, there is no scriptural basis for this interpretation. Instead, as the references from Ezekiel and the New Testament passages make clear, the “water” connected with the Holy Spirit is the water of the sacrament of baptism – not that of physical birth. Jesus’ words, understood properly, tell us that unless one is “born of baptism and the Spirit” he cannot enter the kingdom of God. This point is underscored by the fact that Jesus and the disciples went out to baptize

Matthew 28:19
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

In this passage containing the very last instructions Jesus gave His disciples, we see how important baptism was to Him. He did not say, “Go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to accept me as their personal Lord and Savior and baptizing them as an outward symbol of this inward acceptance…”

From these passages, we can see that water baptism is connected very closely with the receipt of the Holy Spirit, that baptism washes away sin, that baptism saves us, and that baptism is commanded by Jesus. Therefore, baptism can hardly be viewed as a merely symbolic.

 

[Follow_Yeshua]

So what about matthew 16:18-19?

2 Samuel 22
32For who is God, save the LORD? and who is a rock, save our God?

Psalms 18
31For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?

Galations 2
7But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me (Paul,) as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

 

[Follow_Yeshua]

The reason for my question is this: you appear to have rejected the teaching authority of the Church founded by Jesus, and I cannot expect you to have retained your faith in the Sacred Tradition of that Church.

Consequently, you are left with faith alone or sola scriptura.

Did any of the Apostles or any of the early church members practice sola scriptura?

If not, then what you are doing is not biblical.

Is faith alone sola scriptura? I rejected the teachings of Mary. Why can’t I be a Catholic without that? Do I have to go along with the teachings of her?

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

My catholic baptism did not save me. I couldn’t logically comprehend the choice of choosing him in my honest opinion.

Well my friend it gives me no gratification nor do I seek attention to separate myself from my family members. It has great sadness.

What saved me was when I decided to rely on nor serve no other. I would not glorify any other name underneath the heavens other than Jesus the savior. Your right I do not have the Eucharist but I know by faith that his grace is sufficient and I will stand on his word that he will not leave me nor forsake me.

Faith is the evidence of the unseen. And that’s all I have
PM me and I will give you more detail if you like.

I can see you appear to be very busy on this thread so I will make my comments brief.

What have you replaced the True Presence of Jesus with by leaving the Sacraments from which Jesus himself instituted and gave the Church to administer?

See Matthew 28:18 when Jesus commanded and gave the power and authority to his Church to go out and baptise every nation and people

 

[PaulDupre]

Tha Marian apparitions you complain about are not even included in the deposit of faith. You can be a good Catholic without ever considering them or believing in them.

If you think otherwise, then you know nothing about the Church you left.

Wise up, brother,

 

[juliamajor]

he Rosary (It was brought to existence by a beautifull woman giving it to St Louis de Montfort
Galations 1:8-10
Matthew 6:7
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking
Quoting scripture is ok- but do you know what it meant when Paul wrote it?
Pagans had no written ‘liturgy’ everything was passed orally ,secretly usually in archaic languages.theRomans literally did not know what the words meant when they prayed- some of their rites came from the Etruscans whose language was lost.What was important to them( and other pagan religions) was form - not substance.As long as you said the prayers correctly (no stumbling or mis pronouncing allowed) it was ok, and these rites could go on for hours.-if you made one mistake,one error- you would have to start all over from the beginning! And you would repeat and repeat as long as it took.Nothing in that scenario fits the Rosary- we know the words being said,we know the mysteries contemplated,the repitition is to get into heart and brain that which is being thought about.It can lift you into a place where everything else fades away but your focus on the Lord-it is silly and insulting to even compare the pagan rites to the Rosary or the Jesus prayer or any repeated prayer-we know the form is useless withoutthe heart.

 

[Follow_Yeshua]

The Church does not ask you to “submit” to Mary as you seem to imply. If you were
“convicted”, I can quarantee that it was not the doing of the Holy Spirit. It was probably
one of the many faces of the Great Deceiver. Our Lord fulfilled the commandment to
Honor thy mother and Father perfectly. “And we are simply called to imitate Him.” (this
quote from “Catholic for a Reason II” by Scott Hahn & Leon J. Suprenant,Jr)
Know that you have my prayer on your journey. (…Home. Hopefully sooner rather than
later.)

Can you openly state that you choose not to honor Mary in the Catholic Church? I know you wouldn’t do that I’m just saying. If your answer would be no then you have to submit to Mary as a venerable entity by rule.

 

[PaulDupre]

Of course we honor Mary. We also honor the apostles, the martyrs and saints and all of those who have gone before us in the faith of Christ.

Don’t you?

BTW, I would not want to stand before my savior at the judgment seat and explain to Him why I refused to honor His mother.

Good luck with that.

 

[Follow_Yeshua]

he Rosary (It was brought to existence by a beautifull woman giving it to St Louis de Montfort
Galations 1:8-10
Matthew 6:7
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking
Quoting scripture is ok- but do you know what it meant when Paul wrote it?
Pagans had no written ‘liturgy’ everything was passed orally ,secretly usually in archaic languages.theRomans literally did not know what the words meant when they prayed- some of their rites came from the Etruscans whose language was lost.What was important to them( and other pagan religions) was form - not substance.As long as you said the prayers correctly (no stumbling or mis pronouncing allowed) it was ok, and these rites could go on for hours.-if you made one mistake,one error- you would have to start all over from the beginning! And you would repeat and repeat as long as it took.Nothing in that scenario fits the Rosary- we know the words being said,we know the mysteries contemplated,the repitition is to get into heart and brain that which is being thought about.It can lift you into a place where everything else fades away but your focus on the Lord-it is silly and insulting to even compare the pagan rites to the Rosary or the Jesus prayer or any repeated prayer-we know the form is useless withoutthe heart.

You used the word insulting that is not a good barometer of this thread. I’m sorry if I conveyed that. But why did It take an apparition to grant this prayer that institutes “Hail Holy Queen” our LIFE sweetness and HOPE. I’m sorry but I have no other Life or Hope other than Jesus.

 

[Follow_Yeshua]

Of course we honor Mary. We also honor the apostles, the martyrs and saints and all of those who have gone before us in the faith of Christ.

Don’t you?

BTW, I would not want to stand before my savior at the judgment seat and explain to Him why I refused to honor His mother.

Good luck with that.

I will be fine thanks.

 

[Randy_Carson]

Is faith alone sola scriptura? I rejected the teachings of Mary. Why can’t I be a Catholic without that? Do I have to go along with the teachings of her?

Sola scriptura is Latin for “Bible Alone”, and this was one of the so-called pillars of the Protestant “Reformation”.

Are you saying then that you are a Catholic who has problems with certain Marian doctrines?

 

[Randy_Carson]

Can you openly state that you choose not to honor Mary in the Catholic Church? I know you wouldn’t do that I’m just saying. If your answer would be no then you have to submit to Mary as a venerable entity by rule.

Why would we choose not to honor Mary? Honor is not worship; worship is due to God alone, but honor is not a violation of this. Even scripture says that all generations will call her blessed. Let’s go a little further, okay?

Jesus was a good Jew who obeyed the Law of Moses perfectly, and a key component of the Law is known as the Ten Commandments. The first commandment that deals with our relationships with others states, “Honor your Father and Mother.”

As a dutiful Jewish son who obeyed the law perfectly, Jesus fulfilled this commandment by honoring His Mother. The Hebrew word for “honor” actually means “glorify”. So, Jesus bestows glory on his mother, Mary.

At the annunciation, the angel of the Lord called Mary “full of grace”. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God declares that “from now on all generations will call [Mary] blessed”. Consequently, we honor Jesus’ mother in our own generation.

The Catholic Church was not the first to honor and glorify Mary - Jesus was. We simply obey the word of God which calls us to “be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly beloved children.” (Ephesians 5:1)

Finally, you have used the word “submit” in relation to Mary…what is it that you believe that Catholics believe in this regard?

 

[juliamajor]

You used the word insulting that is not a good barometer of this thread. I’m sorry if I conveyed that. But why did It take an apparition to grant this prayer that institutes “Hail Holy Queen” our LIFE sweetness and HOPE. I’m sorry but I have no other Life or Hope other than Jesus.

What are you talking about? that is not a reply to my message.do you understand the difference in quoting a scripture and knowing what it is really saying?Scripture was written at a specific time and place with a specific cultural identity.If you don’t take these aspects into consideration you’ll obtain scripture interpretation that has nothing to do with the reality of the verse.And there is always context to consider.
I see you lean to SDA and JW trains of thought.

 

[Randy_Carson]

You used the word insulting that is not a good barometer of this thread. I’m sorry if I conveyed that. But why did It take an apparition to grant this prayer that institutes “Hail Holy Queen” our LIFE sweetness and HOPE. I’m sorry but I have no other Life or Hope other than Jesus.

Mary is not our HOPE in the sense that Jesus is. Mary is our hope in that we long to be like her in her obedience to and faith in her Son, Jesus. On another level, we can say that Mary is our hope in that we know that she intercedes for us and that her prayers are powerful and effective.

But we have only one Savior, Jesus Christ. Mary knows this, the Catholic Church knows this. And now you know that we know it.

Another misconception cleared up.