Today's Mass readings (infant baptism / Paul's persecution / Satan is condemned)

[distracted]

**Tu (5-19) **

Acts 16:22-34:

The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake. About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.

Ps 138: Your right hand saves me, O Lord…

St. Jn 16:5-11: Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”

*This 1st psg shows again that babies were probably (undoubtedly) baptized.

Satan (the ruler of the world) is condemned… *

 

[cheeto1]

usccb.org/nab/051909.shtml

The first reading starts out funny because it says the crowd joined in on the attack
on Paul and Silas. But wait a minute, they were just at a women’s prayer group,
who’s attacking them? A whole story is left out, if you want to see it, read Acts 16:16-20. They are being attacked for driving out a demon! I also note that they were
stripped. Never are we told that they were given anything to wear after this. Did
they have to pray and sing in the jail together not wearing clothes? Also I note that
they told the jailer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be
saved”. Did they just know that his household would believe too, or is the household
saved whether they believe or not?

“The LORD will complete what he has done for me;” – I ask that He will, anyway…

I am totally baffled by these comments on sin, righteousness, and condemnation.
Some people think they should read the book of John first when embarking on a
study of the Bible, I think they should read it last. It is by far the most difficult book
to understand. You can say the words, but, they are too general to get the meaning
from. The book of John has fewer examples, stories, and teachings than the other
gospels, and replaces it with all kinds of mysterious talk. I will call it the spiritual
gospel.

 

[distracted]

hmmm… i don’t know… I like being Catholic so i can hear the Word as the Church says i should hear it because left to myself, i would not know where to start or whatever…

are you Catholic?

just wondering about your spiritual background…

 

[cheeto1]

hmmm… i don’t know… I like being Catholic so i can hear the Word as the Church says i should hear it because left to myself, i would not know where to start or whatever…

are you Catholic?

just wondering about your spiritual background…

Gosh, I wonder what I sound like?
I am Catholic. I have not been another religion, or ever even wanted to.
My spiritual background…well… I am embarrassed to admit it, but I once thought
that God wasn’t real. But, that turned out not to be true. And you know what?
That is such a big trick that God is not real. He is real, and not only that, He
wants us to do good and live right. So never let anyone say you are acting to
good or too holy, because that would be impossible. It is such a big trick!!
But I am not fooled, not anymore. You don’t know how nice it is to know that God
is real.

 

[AlegreFe]

Acts 16:22-34: The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake. About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.

This 1st psg shows again that babies were probably (undoubtedly) baptized.

I’ve used those verses for infant baptism in the past. I love that reading. Chances are that there were babies and/or children in that household. So how can anyone say that infant baptism is wrong. You don’t even have to be a direct believer to be baptized. Your sponsor or parent need to believe though. Just like it says in the reading. If the head of the household believes then all get baptized. And the way we have it now is that when those babies get older they can get confirmed and speak for themselves as far as their faith. They decide on whether to continue with the Catholic Church. If so they proclaim they believe in Jesus and accept all He has for them and they renounce Satan for themselves. If they were brought up right in the Church the way it’s supposed to be done, no doubt they will continue to be Catholic and stay in the Church.

 

[cheeto1]

Well, let’s talk about infant baptism a little bit. Isn’t it funny that the ones who
were baptised as infants go on to confirmation and “speak for themselves”?
But the ones who disagree with all they were baptised into, never seem to show
up and speak for themselves in the opposite direction. They just don’t show up
at all. Ever, sometimes. What about their baptism? What does it mean?
When someone is baptised as an infant, is there a time limit to “speak for themselves?”, where now their baptism would no longer be a saving one until they
finally do decide to confirm their faith?

distracted, do not be offended by my questions. I am not questioning our faith.
I firmly believe that all the answers to every question of faith is to be found in the
Catholic Church. I feel that safe to ask any question…

 

[distracted]

Gosh, I wonder what I sound like?
I am Catholic. I have not been another religion, or ever even wanted to.
My spiritual background…well… I am embarrassed to admit it, but I once thought
that God wasn’t real. But, that turned out not to be true. And you know what?
That is such a big trick that God is not real. He is real, and not only that, He
wants us to do good and live right. So never let anyone say you are acting to
good or too holy, because that would be impossible. It is such a big trick!!
But I am not fooled, not anymore. You don’t know how nice it is to know that God
is real.

yes i DO!!!

when i was very young i used to think the same thing… but the weird thing is, i was benefitting from all the good things God had done for me and yet never saw that it was His doing… but then, what can i say…? I was YOUNG… nuf said…

anywya, i feel sorry for people who dont have what we Catholics have… Mass, the Real Presence…

this woman i know, when i complained about the Church i go to (long story) said something about it being time to find anther Church… but she is Baptist so i think she meant another as in NOt Catholic… i told her i could go to this one but dont’ understand the priest because he’s a foreigner… She couldn’t understand why i would consider going if can’t hear “sermon”… but i told her (uncomforably) that all the angels & saints participate @ the Mass… so even if can’t hear homily… it is a good thing… something to that effect… I dont’ know what she thought, just got quiet &/or changed subject…

anyway… i kinda “knew” you were Catholic… but… can’t recal right now but seems you said something to cause me to wonder… just can’t recall WHAT…

anyway… I’m like you, never considered being something else. … even when was “out there” in the world, going to this or that other church… never once did i say anything bad about the Church… or officially wnt to leave it… and now that i am thoroughly catechized… which didn’t happen till “late in the game”… I understand more fully WHY i love the Church…

the only thing i don’t like about the Church is that it doesn’t teach its own members the Faith… and that cost me a LOT!!! (me + others)… (Very long, terrible story )…

God bless…

 

[distracted]

I’ve used those verses for infant baptism in the past. I love that reading. Chances are that there were babies and/or children in that household. So how can anyone say that infant baptism is wrong. You don’t even have to be a direct believer to be baptized. Your sponsor or parent need to believe though. Just like it says in the reading. If the head of the household believes then all get baptized. And the way we have it now is that when those babies get older they can get confirmed and speak for themselves as far as their faith. They decide on whether to continue with the Catholic Church. If so they proclaim they believe in Jesus and accept all He has for them and they renounce Satan for themselves. If they were brought up right in the Church the way it’s supposed to be done, no doubt they will continue to be Catholic and stay in the Church.

even when i was confirmed i did NOT know what i was doing… no one explained antyhin to me abaout Confirmation… just went through the motions… but oh well… didn’t seem to hurt me

i wish i had been catechized years ago… before i made all those horrendous mistakes i made when i (more/less) believed that OSAS nonsense… Knowing the true teachings of the Church could have/ would have saved me from a LOT of Hell… and i do NOT use the word Hell lightly… sometimes Hell comes to Earth… In fact, as you may know, a pope once said that it was revealed to him that Satan had asked God for a century to destroy His Church… .and he chose the 20th century…

We don’t need the pope’s revelation to show us this… Lenin, Stalin… Hitler… roe v Wade …

now the most pro-abortion senator of all is president…

anyway… i suppose i digress…

but evil is like a lot of dominoes standing up and when one gets knoced down…

so… again, i don’t use the word Hell lightly… there is a lot of hell in this world…

& again, the RCC could have saved me and many others from it… just wish the Church taught her members better… (Vatican II !!! )

 

[cheeto1]

I think a really great idea would be to have catechism for families. When our priest
at my old church saw all the catechism kids, he said, “who are these kids? I’ve
never seen them at mass”. Instead of dropping kids off for catechism, why not have
the whole family learn together?

 

[AlegreFe]

even when i was confirmed i did NOT know what i was doing… no one explained antyhin to me abaout Confirmation… just went through the motions… but oh well… didn’t seem to hurt me.

I know there are some bad catechists, but I can’t imagine that it wasn’t explained to you at all. Some kids just don’t pay attention in class. It’s very frustrating knowing that there are kids who are lazy and don’t want to participate. Then later they make the excuse that it wasn’t explained to them; excuses, excuses!

i wish i had been catechized years ago… before i made all those horrendous mistakes i made when i (more/less) believed that OSAS nonsense…

Perhaps things were explained to you but you chose not to pay attention in class. It’s like a mother telling a child to eat his vegetables because it would make him strong. The child won’t listen to his mother. Then later as they get older they find out that vegetables are good for your health and then wonder why mother never told them. :whacky:

Knowing the true teachings of the Church could have/ would have saved me from a LOT of Hell… and i do NOT use the word Hell lightly…

Perhaps the same thing would have happened no matter what you knew. I think the better thing to know is they “why” of everything the Church teaches. Then on top of that, I believe a class in apologetics would be a lot better then just “catechism” class alone.

sometimes Hell comes to Earth… In fact, as you may know, a pope once said that it was revealed to him that Satan had asked God for a century to destroy His Church… .and he chose the 20th century…

I absolutely believe that hell comes to earth. But in the same token, I also believe we can have our Purgatory right here on earth! I love that!

We don’t need the pope’s revelation to show us this… Lenin, Stalin… Hitler… roe v Wade …

That’s right!

now the most pro-abortion senator of all is president…

Yes, and it’s horrible!

… just wish the Church taught her members better… (Vatican II !!! )

The Church has no problem teaching the faith. It’s the members IN the Church that have problems. And what about Vatican II? Nothing wrong with VII!! It’s what people interpret from VII that is really bad & totally wrong. All these liberal Masses taking place with “liturgical dance” and “clown masses” and other such nonsense. It’s really sad but it makes me angry & upset too.

 

[AlegreFe]

I think a really great idea would be to have catechism for families. When our priest at my old church saw all the catechism kids, he said, “who are these kids? I’ve never seen them at mass”. Instead of dropping kids off for catechism, why not have the whole family learn together?

Yes, I agree. I’ve thought that for a long time now. I wouldn’t doubt that it goes on in some Parishes. It would be sort of a refresher for the parents and it might just perk up their spirits, literally, so their faith can get a boost after a long time being dormant.