In first video message, Pope Francis stresses unity: 'We are all children of God' [CNA]

[SpeakInSilence]

I’m going to say this to a lot of cradle Catholics who might not understand the frustration a convert might have, so I ask this question, “Did it matter I became Catholic?”

Because a lot of the grief I went through, and the family that felt like I was betraying our traditions, did it matter?

Every time I listen to the Pope, or a lot of Catholics on this forum I feel like I the sacraments don’t make a difference, being a Catholic doesn’t make a difference. I left a community for a Church that seems like it desperately trying be like those communities I left.

The Catechism and the Bible make it clear that only those who are baptized are children of God. We are all made in His image, but it’s through Jesus Christ we become children.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

I’m going to say this to a lot of cradle Catholics who might not understand the frustration a convert might have, so I ask this question, “Did it matter I became Catholic?”

Because a lot of the grief I went through, and the family that felt like I was betraying our traditions, did it matter?

Every time I listen to the Pope, or a lot of Catholics on this forum I feel like I the sacraments don’t make a difference, being a Catholic doesn’t make a difference. I left a community for a Church that seems like it desperately trying be like those communities I left.

The Catechism and the Bible make it clear that only those who are baptized are children of God. We are all made in His image, but it’s through Jesus Christ we become children.

You should be asking yourself on why you became Catholic?

Was it to feel part of a group, i.e. the Catholic religion, or to grow closer to Jesus Christ ?

If its the latter, Pope Francis words should inspire and not discourage you.

Jim

 

[AFerri48]

Maybe we should start focusing on what we agree on, rather than what sets us apart.

 

[LordHaveMercy]

I’m going to say this to a lot of cradle Catholics who might not understand the frustration a convert might have, so I ask this question, “Did it matter I became Catholic?”

Because a lot of the grief I went through, and the family that felt like I was betraying our traditions, did it matter?

Every time I listen to the Pope, or a lot of Catholics on this forum I feel like I the sacraments don’t make a difference, being a Catholic doesn’t make a difference. I left a community for a Church that seems like it desperately trying be like those communities I left.

The Catechism and the Bible make it clear that only those who are baptized are children of God. We are all made in His image, but it’s through Jesus Christ we become children.

This is so well said. Thank you for sharing. As a convert, I’ve felt the same way. Just be thankful you converted. Pray for those who have it in their heart to convert, but see videos like this and decide to stay where they are because they decide the barriers to conversion aren’t worth it when we’re told all we have to do is “believe in love.”

 

[SpeakInSilence]

You should be asking yourself on why you became Catholic?

Was it to feel part of a group, i.e. the Catholic religion, or to grow closer to Jesus Christ ?

If its the latter, Pope Francis words should inspire and not discourage you.

Jim

There is no “catholic religion”. Catholicism is not just one religion among others, there is no comparison. Of course I became Catholic to become close to Jesus, my father was a United Methodist minister; I felt extremely close to my family and tradition, I gave it up to be close to Christ in the Eucharistic.

But when Pope Francis makes statements like this I think to myself, am I anymore closer to Christ then when I was Methodist?

But if you believe Christ founded the Catholic Church as the One True Church, if you believe the Eucharist is truly the Real Presence of God, if you believe Hell is a real place then let me ask you a question.

Why are you satisfied with my family not getting the real presence of Christ? Why are you satisfied with my family not having the same relationship to Christ that you and I do through the sacraments?

Maybe its because you are a cradle catholic and always took being in the Church for granted?

Maybe you shouldn’t question people’s motivates for joining the Church?

 

[CompSciGuy]

Oh boy! It’s a coexist bumper sticker in video format!

 

[JimR-OCDS]

SpeakInSilence;

But when Pope Francis makes statements like this I think to myself, am I anymore closer to Christ then when I was Methodist?

Only you can answer this question.

But if you believe Christ founded the Catholic Church as the One True Church, if you believe the Eucharistic is truly the Real Presence of God, if you believe Hell is a real place then let me ask you a question.

Why are you satisfied with my family not getting the real presence of Christ? Why are you satisfied with my family not having the same relationship to Christ that you and I do through the sacraments?

I don’t have faith because of my own doing, but because Jesus Christ revealed himself and draws me to Himself.

Anything I have, was given to me from above.

I can only share what I have. I can’t mandate that others have faith. Faith comes from God, not from anything I expect others to hear and see from me. If they see Christ in me and are drawn to Him because of it, it is still Christ speaking to them, not me. To think otherwise is a sign of pride.

Maybe its because you are a cradle catholic and always took being in the Church for granted?

I left the Church when I was 18 and didn’t return until I was 26 years old. But it was Jesus Christ who revealed himself to me, which drew me back to the Church. Also, it was a Television Evangelists, Oral Roberts, who drew me to Jesus Christ, but again it wasn’t him, but Christ speaking through him. Christ brought me back to the Church.

Maybe you shouldn’t question people’s motivates for joining the Church?

I didn’t, question your motives for joining the church.

I asked you to question yourself.

Go back and read what I posted.

Jim

 

[SpeakInSilence]

SpeakInSilence;

Anything I have, was given to me from above.

I can only share what I have. I can’t mandate that others have faith. Faith comes from God, not from anything I expect others to hear and see from me. If they see Christ in me and are drawn to Him because of it, it is still Christ speaking to them, not me. To think otherwise is a sign of pride.

Jim

True, faiths comes through God and everything you have is a gift from God, but what you are saying sounds almost Calvinistic, like we have NO influence on the faith of ours.

Actually it does, a lot. What we say, do, and think have influence over others because a lot of the times we are the instruments of God. So Oral Roberts helped you with you faith, and helped you return to the Catholic Church? Great! I believe my methodism prepared me to be Catholic. But It would be scandalous however for you to think Oral Roberts is comparable to Mother Church, and rely on his teachings. Or for me to think John Wesley is comparable to the Popes.

It is our DUTY as Christians to proclaim the Kingship of Christ to all people. This is not prideful thinking. It is not prideful thinking that you are the way God converts, or sometimes dispenses his grace. The CCC 900 says, “Since, like all the faithful, lay Christians are entrusted by God with the apostolate by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, they have the right and duty, individually or grouped in associations, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all men throughout the earth”

I do not think “I convert” others, but the Catechism and the Bible make it clear that God uses me to convert.

I can only share what I have.

Did not God give you the sacraments, did not God give you His beautiful teachings through His Bride, The Church? Can you not share these things?

CCC 831.

Secondly, the Church is catholic because she has been sent out by Christ on a mission to the whole of the human race:310

All men are called to belong to the new People of God. This People, therefore, while remaining one and only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world and to all ages in order that the design of God’s will may be fulfilled: he made human nature one in the beginning and has decreed that all his children who were scattered should be finally gathered together as one. . . . The character of universality which adorns the People of God is a gift from the Lord himself whereby the Catholic Church ceaselessly and efficaciously seeks for the return of all humanity and all its goods, under Christ the Head in the unity of his Spirit.

Not the headship of Buddha, not the headship of Muhammad, but the headship of Christ. Christ only.

Once again, you sound like someone that has never lost anything in order to be Catholic.

 

[graciew]

True, faiths comes through God and everything you have is a gift from God, but what you are saying sounds almost Calvinistic, like we have NO influence on the faith of ours.

Actually it does, a lot. What we say, do, and think have influence over others because a lot of the times we are the instruments of God. So Oral Roberts helped you with you faith, and helped you return to the Catholic Church? Great! I believe my methodism prepared me to be Catholic. But It would be scandalous however for you to think Oral Roberts is comparable to Mother Church, and rely on his teachings. Or for me to think John Wesley is comparable to the Popes.

It is our DUTY as Christians to proclaim the Kingship of Christ to all people. This is not prideful thinking. It is not prideful thinking that you are the way God converts, or sometimes dispenses his grace. The CCC 900 says, “Since, like all the faithful, lay Christians are entrusted by God with the apostolate by virtue of their Baptism and Confirmation, they have the right and duty, individually or grouped in associations, to work so that the divine message of salvation may be known and accepted by all men throughout the earth”

I do not think “I convert” others, but the Catechism and the Bible make it clear that God uses me to convert.

Did not God give you the sacraments, did not God give you His beautiful teachings through His Bride, The Church? Can you not share these things?

CCC 831.

Not the headship of Buddha, not the headship of Muhammad, but the headship of Christ. Christ only.

Once again, you sound like someone that has never lost anything in order to be Catholic.

What do you see when you look at a person ?
In your simple wording if you wish…

 

[SpeakInSilence]

What do you see when you look at a person ?
In your simple wording if you wish…

Love, sometimes. Sometimes something far less, but I want it to always be love.

Which is why I want us to be one like the Son and Father.
John 17:21 RSV

that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me

I love my family, I love all the people I’ve ever met. I wouldn’t want anything less for them then the body and blood of Jesus Christ.

 

[zz912]

That being said, this video seems problematic to me in other ways. The imagery lends heavily to religious indifferentism.The actual published text is pretty banal and unobectionable (“That sincere dialogue among men and women of different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice.”), but the video gives too much credence to the idea that it’s impossible to discover the truth or attain to the certainty of faith in Jesus Christ, so we should all just try to love (forgetting the fact that each of those religions may have a different conception of what true love is).

Agreed on all points. The video is extremely problematic.

Videos like this and other unclear messages on ecumenism/dialogue/conversation/etc give an impression of indifferentism running through the Church. A video like this drives another wedge in the separation between the Church and many Protestant brothers and sisters. They see this video and think the Church believes other religions also lead to God.

 

[zz912]

I’m going to say this to a lot of cradle Catholics who might not understand the frustration a convert might have, so I ask this question, “Did it matter I became Catholic?”

Because a lot of the grief I went through, and the family that felt like I was betraying our traditions, did it matter?

Every time I listen to the Pope, or a lot of Catholics on this forum I feel like I the sacraments don’t make a difference, being a Catholic doesn’t make a difference. I left a community for a Church that seems like it desperately trying be like those communities I left.

The Catechism and the Bible make it clear that only those who are baptized are children of God. We are all made in His image, but it’s through Jesus Christ we become children.

I wish I could give this post 1,000 thumbs up!

I can barely control the frustration that builds when someone at the parish level wants to copy one of the particular Protestant churches in our area. I just look at them with the thought in my mind: “Why did I convert then? Why did I convert to the Church just to have you try and turn it into what I left???”

 

[CompSciGuy]

I’m going to say this to a lot of cradle Catholics who might not understand the frustration a convert might have, so I ask this question, “Did it matter I became Catholic?”

Because a lot of the grief I went through, and the family that felt like I was betraying our traditions, did it matter?

Every time I listen to the Pope, or a lot of Catholics on this forum I feel like I the sacraments don’t make a difference, being a Catholic doesn’t make a difference. I left a community for a Church that seems like it desperately trying be like those communities I left.

The Catechism and the Bible make it clear that only those who are baptized are children of God. We are all made in His image, but it’s through Jesus Christ we become children.

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:
These words perfectly describe my situation and feelings as well. It almost makes me wonder if I should have even bothered becoming Catholic at all and saved my father, a presbyterian minister, the pain of having lost a son to “romanism,” as he calls it. I wonder sometimes how the Church expects the world to take it seriously when it doesn’t appear to take itself seriously.

 

[CompSciGuy]

Agreed on all points. The video is extremely problematic.

Videos like this and other unclear messages on ecumenism/dialogue/conversation/etc give an impression of indifferentism running through the Church. A video like this drives another wedge in the separation between the Church and many Protestant brothers and sisters. They see this video and think the Church believes other religions also lead to God.

These are wise words. Also not only is it a stumbling block for Protestants and how they view the Church, it is also a stumbling block for unbelievers who interpret it in the same way, and thus are led to believe that the God and the Church do not require repentance and conversion.

We need to be careful of the messages we send to the world! Ecumenism at the expense of the great commission is a very dangerous thing.

 

[TCEL]

I always thought we were all children of God, but not that everyone is Christian. We are all His creatures that He died to save. That in no way means Christ is unnecessary for salvation; but I do believe Christ reaches out to us in mysterious ways. God is judge. I don’t see how this contradicts Christ’s necessity in any way. My family is a mix of Baptists, a Catholic revert, cradle Catholics, dissident Catholics, and hostile atheists. My closest friends in college were Protestant; one liberal and one conservative. In no way does this diminish my love for the Church or Christ-if anything, I realize just how necessary He is. Simultaneously, we are all his children in need of salvation. Again, there is no contradiction to me.

 

[Seamus_L]

 

[TCEL]

I wonder sometimes how the Church expects the world to take it seriously when it doesn’t appear to take itself seriously.

True. It’s hypocrisy of a different stripe. I’m not saying this about Pope Francis himself, lest I be misunderstood, but the general impulse we all may have to not own the faith.

 

[LordHaveMercy]

:clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:
These words perfectly describe my situation and feelings as well. It almost makes me wonder if I should have even bothered becoming Catholic at all and saved my father, a presbyterian minister, the pain of having lost a son to “romanism,” as he calls it. I wonder sometimes how the Church expects the world to take it seriously when it doesn’t appear to take itself seriously.

My mother was a United Methodist youth minister at the time of my conversion, and it felt terrible essentially saying “I’m leaving the religion you raised me in.” But I had to do it, I knew by then that the Catholic Church was the Church founded by Christ. It’s interesting that just on this forum, those of us with non-Catholic families, particularly if our family members hold a ministerial role in a non-Catholic body are most concerned about this message. I do wonder if people who make videos like these would say it was wrong for me to convert and that I’ve caused unnecessary division in my family. It doesn’t make me question my conversion, just makes me thankful that I didn’t see a video like this when I was trying to work up the nerve to step into a Catholic Church and tell my family I was converting.

 

[Genesis315]

We’ve heard it said that the Church grows by attraction and this is true. But sometimes it seems even our leaders can be confused about what this entails on our part. The words and actions that attract smiles and nods of approval from the world are not always the same as those that attract individuals to take up their cross and follow Christ. Sometimes they can even repel. The testimony of converts in this very thread bears witness to this.

 

[FollowChrist34]

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/i...ostleship_of_Prayer_Screenshot_CNA.jpgVatican City, Jan 7, 2016 / 04:40 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The Pope’s first-ever video message on his monthly prayer intentions was released Tuesday, highlighting the importance of interreligious dialogue and the beliefs different faith traditions hold in common, such as the figure of God and love.

“Many think differently, feel differently, seeking God or meeting God in different ways. In this crowd, in this range of religions, there is only one certainty that we have for all: we are all children of God,” Pope Francis said in his message, released Jan. 6, the feast of the Epiphany.

At the beginning of the video, a minute-and-a-half long, the Pope cites the fact that the majority of the earth’s inhabitants profess some sort of religious belief.

This, he said, “should lead to a dialogue among religions. We should not stop praying for it and collaborating with those who think differently.”

The video goes on to feature representatives of Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Judaism, who proclaim their respective beliefs in God, Jesus Christ, Allah and Buddha.

Later on, after the Pope affirms that all, regardless of their religious profession, are children of God, the faith leaders state their common belief in love.

Pope Francis closes the video by expressing his hope that viewers “will spread my prayer request this month: that sincere dialogue among men and women of different faiths may produce fruits of peace and justice. I have confidence in your prayers.”

An initiative of the Jesuit-run global prayer network Apostleship of Prayer, the video was filmed in collaboration with the Vatican Television Center (CTV) and marks the first time the Pope’s monthly prayer intentions have been featured on video.

The Apostleship of Prayer was founded by Jesuit seminarians in France in 1884 to encourage Christians to serve God and others through prayer, particularly for the needs of the Church. Since the late 1800s the organization has also received a monthly intention from the Pope. In 1929 an additional, missionary intention was added by the Holy Father, aimed at the faithful in particular.

Referred to on the organizations’ website as the Pope’s “universal” and “evangelization” intentions, this month’s prayer requests focus on Francis’ desire for Interreligious Dialogue and Christian Unity.

Francis offers his universal petition so that “sincere dialogue among men and women of different faiths may produce the fruits of peace and justice,” and expresses his evangelistic prayer that “by means of dialogue and fraternal charity and with the grace of the Holy Spirit, Christians may overcome divisions.”

The Apostleship of Prayer has called the new videos on the intentions “The Pope Video.” While there are two intentions, the videos are centered on the first, universal intention.

This month’s video also features old friends of the pontiff from his time in Buenos Aires. Namely, Rabbi Daniel Goldman, Fr. Guillermo Marco, a Catholic priest, and Islamic leader Omar Abboud.

Released on various social media sites such as YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, the video shows Pope Francis speaking in his native Spanish, with subtitles available in a total of 10 different languages.

Papal prayer intentions for the rest of the year are listed on the organization’s website, displaying themes close to Francis’ heart, such as prayers for creation, families in difficulty, small farmers, indigenous peoples, countries receiving refugees, an end to child-soldiers, solidarity and respect for women.

Full article…

:extrahappy: