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wonderinguser
Guest
Thank you, and thank God for you giving me these answers. Just what I needed. I got about 90% of my information from your answers. A couple weren’t clear, but thank you very much
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Thank you, and thank God for you giving me these answers. Just what I needed. I got about 90% of my information from your answers. A couple weren’t clear, but thank you very much
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wonderinguser
Guest
That’s fine. I’m new to this forum, I posted in two places for more likely answers. And I had to get off the internet. I can’t spend much time responding.
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wonderinguser
Guest
Thank you all for your answers, I am so so SO glad to have them! I feel like I understand further. Thank you thank you! Thank God for this forum, sorry if it seems overboard, but I could not get answers anywhere else. I asked a few Catholics I know, but they didn’t even know! They acted like the questions were strange, and didn’t know much about their own church… I wonder why.
Thank you thank you! Thank God for this forum, sorry if it seems overboard, but I could not get answers anywhere else. I asked a few Catholics I know, but they didn’t even know! They acted like the questions were strange, and didn’t know much about their own church… I wonder why.
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CopticChristian
Guest
What was not clear?Thank you, and thank God for you giving me these answers. Just what I needed. I got about 90% of my information from your answers. A couple weren’t clear, but thank you very much
Many Catholics go to Church, believe, don’t question and never ask. As you know there are many talents. Some teach, some feed, some clothe, all believe.
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CEM5
Guest
Hello wonderinguser,Thank you all for your answers, I am so so SO glad to have them! I feel like I understand further.
It is great that you are searching and finding answers to your questions. Wonderful!
It is God’s Holy Spirit, through Jesus, that calls everyone: sadly not everyone “hears” or “listens” to Him.May God bless you and continue to guide you, :heaven:
CEM
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Darran
Guest
vimeo.com/cceerpp/rosary
Just to throw it out there, which may have been answered already but is quite an informative video anyway.
God bless!
Just to throw it out there, which may have been answered already but is quite an informative video anyway.
God bless!
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PJM
Guest
This is a Church Practice meaning not doctrine and changeable. Men are called by God to the priesthood. PLEASE read Jn.15:16 and Mt. 19:9-12. The early church permitted marriage but discovered over time 1. The priest could grow much closer to Christ if single and 2. Married clerics were in competition with the wife and family, and not as able to serve both God and family fairly.
I don’t think you have a correct understanding here. While the ‘Hail Mary is often given for Sacramental Confession Pennance, it is ONE of MANY different options. And as a FYI; It is in the Bible in Luke 1 and 2. Most of it is lk. 1:26-35. Space does not permit me here to give all the specifics. PM me if you want more info?
GREAT QUESTION: Because Catholic Holy Communion REALLY is the Glorified Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. Because it is a Sacrament, because One has to fully understand and believe in the Real Presence, because one cannot receive Christ with unforgiving /unconfessed sins, and because it is reserve red BY CHRIST to the CC. [ALL Biblically supported].
Informed, practicing Catholics understand that because no-where in the Bible does God [permit or allow] more than One God, One Faith, One Church [Eph.4:17-, Eph. 2:18-22, Jn.10:16, and Mt. 16:18-19 short answer], ALL Salvation MUST and DOES Flow THROUGH the only Church and Faith founded by Jesus, today’s CC. Salvation while MUCH more difficult and uncertain is possible for other Christian faiths that HAVE NEVER been exposed to the Truth and even for non-Christians who have NEVER been exposed to Christ and His truths
GREAT QUESTION but requires a LONG reply. READ John 3:5. But there are possible exceptions as Baptism TAKES 3 valid form. Water, Blood and desire. And its waht God wants, not catholic belief.
Jesus Christ Instituted ALL of them. Baptism, Confession, Eucharist, and Confirmation explicitly and Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Final Anointing Implicitly.
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***NO, not if correctly understood. “Forbidden by Mt.6: 7” See Psalm 136: Repeats “For His Kindness endures forever” 26 TIMES ***
NOT just Catholics: EVERYONE. READ 1 Jn. 1:8-10, 1 Jn.5:16-17 and John 20:19-23. Nowhere does it say Catholics ONLY! FYI: The practice of using priest comes form the OT practice.
No, of course not. Nor is supposed to be. Read the final verses of John chapters 20 and 21.
Did YES! Why see the following teachings: Space demands brief reply’s. PM me for additional INFO. READ:2nd. Thess. 2:13-15, Rom.10:17, 2nd. Pet.1:16-21, 3:14-17, Mt. 13:14-17, 2nd. Tim. 3:16:17, Acts 8:29-32 and 1st. Tim. 3:15 WHY: the MANY THOUSANDS of DIFFERENT “Christian” faiths results in allowing everyone to believe what ever they want to believe and that I NOT What Christ taught.
***Can they; Absolutely. Faith and with is CORRECT understanding id a GIFT FROM GOD alone. And yes everyone ought to come of Mass with more GRACE.
As for the RCIA, (I think that’s what it’s called), why does the Catholic church require human approval and man-made process for you to be considered in that faith/religion?
Friend, I’m sorry you don’t understand what it is your saying here. RCIA = Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults. Logic, fairness and LOVE all require TEACHING at least the basics of Ones Faith before asking one to make a personal Covenant with God affirming such beliefs [which is one of the effects of Confirmation].
Oh, and you forgot “Graven Images”
NOT TRUE either.God Bless you, Pat
PM me for any follow up or greater detail***.
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maximus
Guest
You have touched upon a sad reality among most Catholics. However, you will discover that there are plenty of knowledgeable and zealous for the Lord and his word Catholics out there.Thank you all for your answers, I am so so SO glad to have them! I feel like I understand further.
Your initial questions read like something out of the typical stereotypes from Lorraine Boettner’s infamous and deceitful work " Roman Catholicism"; which I am surprised still makes head ways in 2011. Well, learn from this partner of yours why the have considered Catholicism and get a Catechism of the Catholic Church it is inexpensive and has enough scripture and Church Fathers cross references. If you desire to learn more, get ready for a 2 to 4 year journey reading about the whys of the Church.
God Bless
J
John_2029
Guest
Welcome to the journey.
I converted this past Easter. I was a member of an evangelical Protestant denomination for over 35 years.
Like you, I had many questions about Catholic doctrine and teachings. The other replies you have already received have made good suggestions about resources for learning more about the Church. I second the suggestion one of the other posters who suggested getting “Catholicism for Dummies”. It is a very clear explanation of Catholic doctrine and practices.
You may also want to contact your local Catholic parish and consider enrolling in their RCIA program. The initial several weeks consist of inquiry into the faith. There you can ask all the questions you like concerning Catholic doctrine and practices. There will never be any pressure to convert. The path into the Catholic Church must be freely chosen.
I’m sure that you will also get many answers to your questions here on CAF, but the best place to get them answered is in RCIA where you can focus on areas that concern you and get in-depth answers from the RCIA team and/or a priest or deacon.
Yours in Christ,
I converted this past Easter. I was a member of an evangelical Protestant denomination for over 35 years.
Like you, I had many questions about Catholic doctrine and teachings. The other replies you have already received have made good suggestions about resources for learning more about the Church. I second the suggestion one of the other posters who suggested getting “Catholicism for Dummies”. It is a very clear explanation of Catholic doctrine and practices.
You may also want to contact your local Catholic parish and consider enrolling in their RCIA program. The initial several weeks consist of inquiry into the faith. There you can ask all the questions you like concerning Catholic doctrine and practices. There will never be any pressure to convert. The path into the Catholic Church must be freely chosen.
I’m sure that you will also get many answers to your questions here on CAF, but the best place to get them answered is in RCIA where you can focus on areas that concern you and get in-depth answers from the RCIA team and/or a priest or deacon.
Yours in Christ,
E
EricFilmer
Guest
First of all, I think it would be better to “tweak” this by saying that RCIA is needed for full initiation into the Catholic Faith, rather than “to be considered.” What you said is not necessarily wrong, but I think it can give the wrong impression (someone may interpret that as saying that people have to first prove themselves worthy in order to become Catholic).
Secondly, when converts are fully initiated into the Catholic Faith (at Confirmation) they are required to promise to accept the doctrinal teachings of Catholicism. Out of a sense of justice, the Church cannot require people to make such a promise until they have had a chance to learn at least the foundational doctrines of the faith. This is one of the purposes that RCIA serves.
Thirdly, for what its worth, the modern RCIA program is an abbreviated version of what converts in the ancient Church went through. So, in this sense, it is a “time-honored” practice. I say it is an abbreviated version because, whereas an RCIA program takes about six months these days, it could take years in the ancient Church.
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promethius
Guest
I think to this all that can be said is Peace be with you! I will do my best to answer your questions (breifly though, since you have so many! If you want me to expound on any one of them, just let me know).
St Paul also writes that it is better if one should remain single for God, but if one burns with desire then he should get married. Christ tells the rich man that if he wants to become a disciple that he needs to surrender everything, even family. Thus we have the DISCIPLINE that priests are expected to be celebate, although there are exceptions (there are some married priests) and it may change one day such that there are married priests more commonly accepted.
Contrarily, the whole opening of the prayer is found in the bible. “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” is how the angel Gabriel greets Mary. “Blessed art though amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” is what elizabeth says to Mary.
Nevertheless, penance is a complex discussion, and it is actually rare that a penance is something so plain as saying X number of Hail Marys. Generally, penance is aimed at making you reflect on how your sin hurts God to help you avoid it again.
The bible says on pain of sin no one should present themselves for communion if they are not properly disposed, so non-catholics, as well as catholics, should not present themselves to communion for their own good
Also, the authority to institute the Eucharist is found in the bishops and, through the laying of hands, in the priests. Without a valid bishopric or priesthood, there can be no true presence in the Communion, so yes, a first Catholic Communion is the first time someone will have consumed the real Eucharist.
Only catholics will be saved, but it is possible that some protestants are catholic by virtue of their desire to seek and love God… in other words, some protestants will be saved by virtue of God extending sacramental grace to them through their want and honest seeking of Him, just as some catholics will not be saved because they reject his grace.
Yes and no. A person may have the sacramental grace of baptism extended to them by virtue of their DESIRE for purifying grace… so while a person may not have been PHYSICALLY baptised in water in this life, they MAY have been given baptismal grace by God because they honestly did not know that they needed to be baptised, or even though they knew it was not possible for them to do so.
The Bible!
Take out your bible. Flip to Mt 6:7. If it says “do not use vain repetitions” then take out your lighter and burn that heretical translation. If you look up the greek in which the bible was written, you will clearly see that the verse says “Do not BABBLE as the pagans”. That is entirely different than to say vain repetitions, and it is a biased translation supplanting the word of God in order to subvert catholicism. It is a dishonest copy which is untrue to God’s word.
The pagans believed that they could MAKE God do their will if they only met a requirement to pray long enough, so they would babble nonsense (not repeated prayers, literally babbling) for hours on end in order to force God to do their will. We catholics do not babble, and our repetition in the rosary is to clear our mind so that we can meditate on the life of Christ, not because we can FORCE God to do our will.
cont’d…
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promethius
Guest
The bible tells us that the authority to forgive sins has been given to men. Christ granted the apostles the ability to bind and loose sins, and St Paul exorts us to confess our sins to one another. St Paul also discusses the “Ministry of reconciliation”. This mirrors and fulfills the old testament of confessing to a levitical priest, although OUR confession is fulfilled in Christ and is therefore sufficient.
What doesn’t ever once appear in scripture? The idea that you should confess directly to God in private. There is no scripture anywhere that states that.
Yes and no. You have it backwards, everything in the bible is CATHOLIC based. The Catholic Synod of Hippo decided what went into the bible, and their criteria was that it agreed with the teachings of the catholic church. So out of literally tens of gospels and hundreds of epistles, they selected the 27 that held in line with the church (not the other way around).
The Bible is our book. Our authors wrote it, our bishops determined it’s canon. You cannot open a bible and treat it with authority without affirming the Catholic church’s authority in determining what gospels went inside.
Nope! We do, however, discourage the idea that a person has the ability to read the scripture and infallibly understand every word they read. In other words, one should read the scripture in light of 2,000 years of church teaching which translates the original interpretation and understanding of Christians down to us.
Christ died and rose again! Do you understand how and why that happened in great detail? No, certainly not. Parts of mass are SUPPOSED to be mysterious because God’s ways are so high above ours that we cannot understand everything, and the mass follows in that manner because the Mass is God’s way, not ours.
So said person would get a message and understand much of the mass, but they would also hopefully be awed by the mystery of God taking place right in front of them!
The question is, why doesn’t EVERY church demand that? What makes catholicism amazing is that it is a life-changing experience wherein one surrenders their will to conform to God’s will in learning about God’s church, living God’s sacraments, and following God’s commandments. We are also called to always grow closer to God, and the RCIA program starts that learning process as well as teaches us what catholics believe and why.
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CopticChristian
Guest
npatrol:
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