Romans Chapter 10

[puppylove]

Last week, while grieving of the loss of my mother, I was visited by a non-denominational individual. I told her I was having troule with the death of my mother. I wanted a sign she was ok. The woman said she didnt believe in signs. I was quite shocked. She later came to me with her Bible opened to Romans 10 and asked me to read this passage with her. As she read it, she asked me if I ever recited those words? I told her I dont know? She asked me if I wanted to be saved and I could be right now if I wanted to recite those words? Well me as a cradle and practicing Catholic wasn’t about to do this. I told her I was sure we recited this in church at some point and that I was a practicing Catholic and planned on remaining that way, for now. You see, lately I have fallen back in my old habits and ways and need to want to find myself back into the church completely. It’s hard when I go to mass with a toddler who is almost 4. She is really active and wont stop misbehaving in church so I have to sit in the “cry” room with her. Funny that for my mother’s funeral she was really good sitting in the congregation. We buried my Mom on a Saturday and most of my siblings and Dad along with the grandchildrenl went to 4 o’clock mass Saturday evening after the berevement lunch. She sat with her godfather and his wife and she was the perfect angel. We sat a fews rows ahead of them. This past Saturday I tried to sit in the congregation with my Dad and my 17 year aold daughter, but she was misbehaving so I left and went sit in the back of the church as the “cry” room was full. I cannot even listen to what is going on in mass because I am constantly correcting my toddler. I hate to not bring her to church, but am I sinning if I don’t? Also I want to know about this Romans passage. Whats the take on it in the Catholic church. Im tired of these non-demonational people telling me what I should know.

 

[Soutane]

Last week, while grieving of the loss of my mother, I was visited by a non-denominational individual. I told her I was having troule with the death of my mother. I wanted a sign she was ok. The woman said she didnt believe in signs. I was quite shocked. She later came to me with her Bible opened to Romans 10 and asked me to read this passage with her. As she read it, she asked me if I ever recited those words? I told her I dont know? She asked me if I wanted to be saved and I could be right now if I wanted to recite those words? Well me as a cradle and practicing Catholic wasn’t about to do this. I told her I was sure we recited this in church at some point and that I was a practicing Catholic and planned on remaining that way, for now. You see, lately I have fallen back in my old habits and ways and need to want to find myself back into the church completely. It’s hard when I go to mass with a toddler who is almost 4. She is really active and wont stop misbehaving in church so I have to sit in the “cry” room with her. Funny that for my mother’s funeral she was really good sitting in the congregation. We buried my Mom on a Saturday and most of my siblings and Dad along with the grandchildrenl went to 4 o’clock mass Saturday evening after the berevement lunch. She sat with her godfather and his wife and she was the perfect angel. We sat a fews rows ahead of them. This past Saturday I tried to sit in the congregation with my Dad and my 17 year aold daughter, but she was misbehaving so I left and went sit in the back of the church as the “cry” room was full. I cannot even listen to what is going on in mass because I am constantly correcting my toddler. I hate to not bring her to church, but am I sinning if I don’t? Also I want to know about this Romans passage. Whats the take on it in the Catholic church. Im tired of these non-demonational people telling me what I should know.

For every Scriptural citation used to “prove” that belief in Christ and his sacrifice are sufficient for salvation,I can provide you with others saying that one must work out one’s salvation with fear and trembling and that it’s necessary to persevere unto the end and that Faith without works is dead.
If you’re worried about Mom don’t be-pray,Jesus,I trust in you".This woman believes in the false comfort and heresy of OSAS.We must participate in our Salvation.Belief goes much further than acknowledgement.In order to be saved we must pick up our Cross and follow Him and persist.

 

[puppylove]

Thank you so much for your kind words. I believe! Just a little freaked out when I lost my father in law in November totally unexpectingly and then my mother on March 19. Although we knew she had lung cancer, alzheimers and heart disease, 3 weeks before her death she appeared ok and surviving. We actually thought the heart disease would take her, but NO. She went downhill and died such a horrible way. Basically she suffocated in her own fluid that engulfed her lungs from the lung cancer. That’s the hard part for me. I wasnt there when she breathed her last breath, but was told it was ugly and she probably didnt want me to see it. I am having a hard time with her death as the other 3 siblings are glad to see her not suffering. Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t want to see her suffer, but I love her so much it’s unbearable to know I won’t see her again on earth. My Dad is also taking it very hard. He is regretting how rough he got with her when she was sick. He has a short temper and he would get upset when she didn’t do what he knew was best for her like eat, take her medication, etc. He is very regretful now and went to see our pastor today.

What is OSAS?

 

[Agatina]

Dear Puppy,
It is very difficult to cope with loosing your mother! You need to be gentle with yourself.
You will be in my prayers for comfort & peace.
This is a good time to pull closer to Jesus. He will be with you anyway as you grieve. His own words in the beatitudes are “Blessed are those who mourn for they Shall be comforted”. He won’t go back on His own words. You will be comforted.
OSAS means Once Saved Always Saved.
I don’t see what that has to do with you at this time or any other time. Your friend wants to convert you.
Our Lady of Sorrows will be close to you too. Jesus dear mother knows how you grieve and she will help you.
About your little daughter; she may be picking up on your tension about her behavior in church. If you get ready for church in a calm manner and don’t rush and get there early and maybe walk around and look at the flowers or the statues or something peaceful & lovely it may help. She needs to feel the calmness also. Pray for help with her to Our Lady.
I had a difficult-in-church daughter, too. Looking back I realize I was very uptight about her behavior and I wish I had been calmer.
God Bless You, dear. You and your daughter are in my prayers.
Agatina

 

[promethius]

Peace be with you, Puppylove. Losing your mother is always a terrible thing, and I echo what the previous poster said about the simple prayer “Jesus, I trust in you.”

As to your situation with the protestant interupter… in your shoes I would cast them out of your house and life permanently. To use your berievement to try and sucker you away from the catholic church… does this person not have ANY shame whatsoever?

Her reference to Romans 10 is a lame duck anyway. The nicene creed is spoken at every mass. Further, confession of Christ is more than simply SAYING it, it is the profession of faith… something that most protestant churches lack in a formal aspect. Her telling you you can say that and be saved is totally insufficient compared to the proclaimations of faith by catholics, and she’s basing her theory on OSAS heresy anyway.

What is OSAS?

OSAS: the idea that once you profess belief in Christ and have faith that you are always saved no matter what. You could murder someone and you’d still be auto-saved. Anyone who falls away from the church after believing is just stated as “not having enough faith in the first place, so their conversion never counted.”

OSAS is hog-wash, feel-good “theology” that isn’t worth the ink to write it down.

 

[Soutane]

Romans chapter 10 is often used to justify OSAS.which I guarantee the lady was leading the OP towards.Remember she wanted to "know"that her Mom was alright.OSAS is the supposed “guarantee”.It goes without saying that this woman was proselytizing and the OP is quite aware of that.

As i said:trust in Jesus.In ALL things.

 

[promethius]

I had a difficult-in-church daughter, too. Looking back I realize I was very uptight about her behavior and I wish I had been calmer.

This is true too. Lord knows I’m a stickler for orthodoxy in the mass, but I can’t help but smile when I see children in worship… even if they’re playing with a (quiet) toy or crying babies.

 

[NHInsider]

For every Scriptural citation used to “prove” that belief in Christ and his sacrifice are sufficient for salvation,I can provide you with others saying that one must work out one’s salvation with fear and trembling and that it’s necessary to persevere unto the end and that Faith without works is dead.
If you’re worried about Mom don’t be-pray,Jesus,I trust in you".This woman believes in the false comfort and heresy of OSAS.We must participate in our Salvation.Belief goes much further than acknowledgement.In order to be saved we must pick up our Cross and follow Him and persist.

Out of Christian charity, let’s give this purported comforter the benefit of the doubt, shall we?

Romans 10: 9-13

for, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. For the scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, enriching all who call upon him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

So, presuming that Puppylove’s mother was a practicing Catholic, she has often, over the course of her lifetime, confessed with her mouth that Jesus is Lord - we say it every Sunday in the creed if nothing else. And if she believed the promises of God in her heart - that Jesus died for her and was raised up, all those thing we profess as Catholics - then in the opinion of the visitor, her salvation was secure and unquestionable. This could be offered to Puppylove as a comfort, that she did not need to worry about her mother’s soul.

Obviously the Scripture means more by “believe in the heart” than just intellectual assent, because we know that a heart that is committed to the Lord will result in “doing the works planned for us” as the Apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians. And while we do not know what Puppylove’s mother’s life was like, God does, and we trust to His mercy.

I am not naive enough to think that this person wasn’t trying to convert our sister in her hour of weakness and grief, but I believe she can still take comfort in this without jeapordizing her faith!

Meanwhile - I’m a big believer in bringing children to Mass, but 4 is a difficult age and Puppylove needs to be able to just rest in the Lord at Mass for a while. Don’t be afraid to leave her with a sitter for a few weeks. Let her know that Mass is special and important, and when she’s ready and “big enough” to sit quietly and let Mommy pray, you’ll be happy to bring her to church again, and then try again in a couple of months when you’re feeling stronger. If nothing else, in a while she’ll be 5, and 5-year-olds are generally really eager to please (as compared with 4-year-olds, who are generally giant balls of rebelliousness).

 

[puppylove]

Thank you so much for those comforting words my brothers and sisters. I know what I must do now and I will NEVER leave the Catholic Church for another church for as long as I shall be on this earth…even more so now since my mother has met her reward. I know in my heart my mother would be hurt if I did, but that isn’t the reason anyway. Actually my sister and her husband went to church last Sunday for the first time in ages in respecting my mother’s wishes. Just one other brother who says he doesn’t get anything out of the Catholic church needs to be reminded, like my Dad told him, its not what you get out of it, but what you put into it! I told this to my non-denomoniatial friend who tried to sway me the other day. She also told me that she respected the fact that I was raised Catholic. No I wasn’t just raised Catholic, I am a practicing Catholic, just wasn’t a very good one in the past couple of years. I prayed the rosary last night for the first time in about six weeks. I couldn’t sleep either and so I had to end up taking medication. Please continue to keep my mother in your prayers.

Hugs, Lori

 

[convert999]

Please accept my sympathy in the loss of your mother, and also for the unfortunate encounter with the OSAS person. I am ashamed to say that I was once among their number, and I can assure you that her appearance was not strictly for condolence purposes. We were always taught that the best time to “present the Gospel” to the “unsaved” was immediately after a loved one had died, because they would be seeking the very assurance we offered. We operated under the assumption that Catholics lived in mortal fear of Hell, and would jump at the chance to experience the “guarantee of Heaven.” Now that I am (almost) Catholic (11 days and counting) I know that these so-called conversions were strictly emotional and that we were practicing heresy. You are in no condition to try arguing with these people - they take classes, they quote Scripture out of context. Take refuge in Jesus and take it easy on yourself! You’re in my prayers. Debbie

 

[puppylove]

Thank you convert999.

I will never leave the Catholic church, which is the one true church that Jesus himself started:
“And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18

 

[jeaniemarie]

puppylove - please accept my deepest sympathies on the loss of your mother. I pray God’s comfort and peace to be with you now and in the coming days, weeks, and months.

Regarding your 4 year old: my parents had 4 children in 5 years. They joke that for years no one in our parish knew they were married to each other because they were never at the same Mass. We were not taken to Mass until we were able to sit through it quietly. For us that was pretty young - we had “be still and eyes in front” drilled into us.

At one church I went to I worked with pre-schoolers and some of them were just not capable of sitting still for any length of time. They weren’t “bad” - they just didn’t understand the concept of sitting still.

I agree with the poster above who mentioned getting a babysitter. You really need to be able to tend to yourself spiritually during that one hour of the week, especially during this very difficult and painful time of your life.

Have a blessed Easter.