Trouble with anti-Catholic book/website

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"The combination of the prayers both of angels and saints is seen in the vision of St. John: “And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel” (Revelation 8:3-4).
As you can see here there is no direct intercession to an angel.
:confused: :confused: :confused: No? Let’s look at what this passage says again, shall we?

An angel came, and was given incense which is the prayers of ALL saints. The smoke of the incense, aka prayers of ALL the saints, ascended TO God FROM the angel.

Seems pretty cut and dried to me…🤷
 
So we agree that Elisha himself was not involved in this incident i.e. not prayed to for help?
Elisha lived a holy life consecrated to God. He lived it to his very bones, and even after he left his bones, the holiness he lived was testified through them.
Were the bones said to possess some special powers?
I think it would be more accrurate to say that God works through material objects to manifest His special powers to people.
"justasking4:
Again, in this case we see an angel stirring the waters. It does not look like any OT teaching nor do we see the NT promoting this.
Are you suggesting that there was no real healing power present?
Do we see this incident ever used as a way to get help in a time of need in the writings of the apostles or in the teachings of Jesus?
We see that certain places and objects were venerated as Holy, and that people gathered there, or used those objects to access the healing power of God.

God made us into sensual beings. We live in bodies in a tangible world, and God works through the physical to manifest the spiritual.
Do we see anywhere else in the teachings of Christ or in the letters of the NT any exhortation, teachings etc to depend on angels to help Christians?
Absolutely! Do you not depend on angels to help you? :eek:

Honestly, I wonder how some people get through life…
I’m familar with what the article you recommend but it falls short of having scripture support. Even though angels exist and have been used by God at times in the past OT that does not mean we are to pray to them. It may sound reasonable but Jesus nor His apostles ever taught any kind of an appeal to an angel or dead saint for help.
To an extent, you are right. They taught that the saints are alive inheaven, and are eager to help us. 👍
Although the passage in Revelation 8 appears to support prayers to angels it really doesn’t. Here is the passage from the article you recommended:
"The combination of the prayers both of angels and saints is seen in the vision of St. John: “And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel” (Revelation 8:3-4).
As you can see here there is no direct intercession to an angel.
What do you think is wrong about talking to an angel? Do you think that Mary was sinning for having a conversation with an angel?

Was Jesus sinning when he allowed the angels to comfort him?
 
Praying to the Holy Spirit is not found in the bible from my cursory read of it, and I have never heard of a non catholic object to praying to the Holy Spirit citing lack of biblical support for the idea.🤷
 
That is what I am doing-reading. You are not the first person to suggest I quit reading this–I received PMs that said the same as well. IF no one ever reads things that discuss other perspectives, then everyone stays the same. There is a Non-Catholic forum on this site.
You cannot have it both ways.
I have also had someone question whether I am REALLY a member of the Church because of some things I have said.
I have parroted some of the sites arguments but just the ones I think resonate some.
The key is SOME.
I do not want this to be about me. I would prefer to just discuss the issues and topics. And for the most part I have had all of them answered.
Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
It’s not a problem that you read the material. But if you can’t stand on the faith of truth and believe you have to read through all the anti-Catholic rhetoric out there, then at least be honest to work from the ground up and realize that this would take a lifetime, not a weekend warrior to accomplish. Show a little humility by admitting that you, most of us, are not equipped with the “tools” required to truly discern complete recognition of all that is needed to know the entire truth…blah blah blah blah blah blah… My point is faith does not come from knowledge or education…but rather through the Holy Spirit.

I’m saying be careful not to let you pride get in the way of God’s work. Don’t try to take God’s plan into your own hands. Learn, by realize the limits of education. You seem to be rejecting Sacred Tradition with the direction you’re headed. You would no longer be labeled “cafateria Catholic” but rather a “dissenting Catholic”…acting like “I KNOW BETTER”. Be very careful not to allow Satan to work within you. Satan is the Father of lies. He wants God’s children to stumble… I’m speaking from experience.
 
I’m familar with what the article you recommend but it falls short of having scripture support. Even though angels exist and have been used by God at times in the past OT that does not mean we are to pray to them. It may sound reasonable but Jesus nor His apostles ever taught any kind of an appeal to an angel or dead saint for help. Although the passage in Revelation 8 appears to support prayers to angels it really doesn’t. Here is the passage from the article you recommended:
"The combination of the prayers both of angels and saints is seen in the vision of St. John: “And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel” (Revelation 8:3-4).
As you can see here there is no direct intercession to an angel.
Yes there is - the smoke of the incense was the prayers (other people’s prayers that they had entrusted to him and prayed to him) that he was now offering to God.
 
=eucharisteo;4225437]Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
It’s not a problem that you read the material. But if you can’t stand on the faith of truth and believe you have to read through all the anti-Catholic rhetoric out there, then at least be honest to work from the ground up and realize that this would take a lifetime, not a weekend warrior to accomplish. Show a little humility by admitting that you, most of us, are not equipped with the “tools” required to truly discern complete recognition of all that is needed to know the entire truth…blah blah blah blah blah blah… My point is faith does not come from knowledge or education…but rather through the Holy Spirit.
I have made an “honest” attempt to discern the material through prayer–ie relying on prayer as well. As far as humility, I would suggest that berating–and that IS how you are coming across shows a lack of humility. You know what is actually not funny–I have spent the better part of a week emailing a–rapid fundamentalist who is quite a bit more respectful than you.
I have repeatedly tried to, and in PMs succeeded, in discussing facts. Why are you making this about me? Any information I gave about ME was to give background. Thats all.
I’m saying be careful not to let you pride get in the way of God’s work. Don’t try to take God’s plan into your own hands. Learn, by realize the limits of education. You seem to be rejecting Sacred Tradition with the direction you’re headed.
Pride? Buddy you could write a book on that. I most certainly have not rejected Sacred Tradition. I do question part of it. Part–that means a little.
You would no longer be labeled “cafateria Catholic” but rather a “dissenting Catholic”…acting like “I KNOW BETTER”. Be very careful not to allow Satan to work within you. Satan is the Father of lies. He wants God’s children to stumble… I’m speaking from experience.
Satan’s work within me. Thats just—great.:rolleyes:
 
Trust in the Church and keep your faith there as well.
I agree. C’mon, let’s face it, Satan wants a piece of all of us. I don’t think that he is singling you out, by any means. Here’s what I have found; faith is very much like a butterfly, a beautiful thing. But when you catch the butterfly and try to pull it apart to see what makes it work… well, you know the result. We humans very often suffer from a need to know too much. I used to question everything, I came to the Church from atheism, I needed to debunk everything. So I studied and probed and questioned. And I had a hole in my heart that only God and His Son and His Church could fill. He must have laid His hand on me, because I went from believing nothing, to believing everything that Jesus wants me to know through His Church. I have no more doubts. Jesus works through His Holy Catholic Church and I trust Him and his Church to carry me through. Don’t listen to the negative voices and the voices from the protestant side. They hate her because she is all that they wish they could be, One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic and guided by the Holy Spirit.
 
I have made an “honest” attempt to discern the material through prayer–ie relying on prayer as well. As far as humility, I would suggest that berating–and that IS how you are coming across shows a lack of humility. You know what is actually not funny–I have spent the better part of a week emailing a–rapid fundamentalist who is quite a bit more respectful than you.
I have repeatedly tried to, and in PMs succeeded, in discussing facts. Why are you making this about me? Any information I gave about ME was to give background. Thats all.

Pride? Buddy you could write a book on that. I most certainly have not rejected Sacred Tradition. I do question part of it. Part–that means a little.

Satan’s work within me. Thats just—great.:rolleyes:
You are obviously young. Sometimes we have to fall flat on our faces to learn our lessons. I thought I was sharing with you how I got wrapped up into fundamentalism. Of course the fundamentalist sounds nicer than me. But you have no idea what life awaits you. How about being constantly thumped over the head…afraid of god killing you in the end. I could write a book on this subject. My pastor even suggested I write a book. I have a very unique life experience. My in-laws are all fundametalist anti-Catholics. I lived through believing that everyone was going to hell except a few in the end. And Catholics, Baptists, Buhdists, Muslims, Methodists, etc. were all doomed to hell no matter how hard they tried because their prayers fell upon deaf ears. God does not hear their prayers. That’s how deep into this fundamental evangelical mindset I got. If anyone needs to be humble…it’s me. I know that. But I tried to share that with you and instead of listening…you’ve decided to get your answers from a fundamentalist rather than call CAF or you pastor. That is a sign that you really don’t want to believe anymore. I learned, the hard way, that that was my pride in the way. I’ve heard the same from a hundred different sources. Your pride is absolutely getting in the way. You just don’t want to hear that.

ALL of us have to be on watch against Satan. Don’t you read scripture?! You said that you don’t reject Sacred Tradition, yet you turn around in the same sentence and question part of it??? You answered your own question. I tried to give you some simple peaceful advice and you just bit my head off…that is not charitable. Charity is truth. My writing style may not please your pallet.🤷 I was just trying to help. My friend/priest [a good friend of mine from my seminary days] advised me not to cast pearls before swine. I hope that’s not what’s happening here. I thought you were earnestly asking for advice. I’m sorry, I misunderstood. You seem to already have what you want, now you’re just trying to find a way to shake loose. Break free of the chains that bind you…Catholicism. Sin. Let me guess…baptism, reconciliation, communion, annointing of the sick, confirmation, holy matrimony, holy orders. Which one of these are you having trouble with believing?

Peter warns against isolating ourselves with interpreting on our own. Christ established the Church, not the bible. You’re not listening to authority it seems. You are questioning the authority in something other than a respectful way. If you really want to know, then take the time and get the truth from those who will tell you the truth. You seem to be jumping in bed with the swine…lies and deceiptful tongues and misinformation built upon distrust and a lack of something… It sure isn’t charitable for this guy to be telling you his messed up theology. What’s really bazar is that you’re allowing yourself to buy into it. Call Fr. Serpa…as him…read orthodox Catholic materials. I know all about that world.

cont’d
 
cont’d

Both my wife and I have huge overly active anti-Catholic fundamentalists in our family. We have several …really…preachers, deacons, elders in our families. I can think of just 5 preachers without thinking. Deacons are even more and 2 elders…that I know of… an elder is a bishop where we come from. And believe me …they believe that you are definitely headed for hell just like my wife and me and the children now if we die without repenting from this Catholic heresy…apostacy is what they say. They accuse us of being pagan… along with Muslims as equal and just as lost. Is that the world you really believe God made for us to live in. It’s your life. Initially I believed you were honestly seeking truth and help. But now I believe you’re just looking for an excuse to jump ship. But I have no right to judge you and thus wish you well and pray for all Catholics that doubt to the point of breaking. Many of us have done a rotten job of educating the younger Catholics. I grew up in a really dysfunctional family with traditional Catholic on one side and anti-Catholic Protestants on the other. It’s a wonder I’m even Christian today, much more Catholic.

No…You have every right to drag me through the coals. I know I deserve death. I know I am a sinner… I know how despirate I am in need of salvation for the sins of my life. I’ve dedicated my spare time in trying to do some good by trying to show other struggling Catholics things I learned the hard way. But I’ve had to concede to the reality that sometimes people just need to fall on their face. I pray for you and I hope you pray for me. I am also praying for your new fundamentalist evangelical friend that is PMing you. We all need God’s mercy.

I think we’re done now… I am going to unsubscribe to this thread since it’s leading no where and pushing you away rather than helping you feel more stable. I’m not the best author you know. I’m great at math and science… put a calculator in my hand and I can design almost anything. I’m trying to learn to communicate more effectively and sometimes when I run across someone like you I feel that I’m failing so bad that my soul is in jeapardy. I do NOT mean to insult or do/say anything bad to you. I’m just a poor sinner trying to be a good neighbor.

Sorry about the length.

PAX Christi tecum
 
You flat do not get it and have read your situation into my situation. You assume so much. Of course I have spoken to Father about this.
I see why you want to talk about ME because all you talk about is YOU. Messed up. Way messed up.
I am getting there. I have some doubts. A lot better than I was two weeks ago.
 
You flat do not get it and have read your situation into my situation. You assume so much. Of course I have spoken to Father about this.
I see why you want to talk about ME because all you talk about is YOU. Messed up. Way messed up.
I am getting there. I have some doubts. A lot better than I was two weeks ago.
If I neglected it, may I now welcome you to CAF. You mentioned in your previous post that you had some doubts on Sacred Tradition. If it is not too far off the thread topic, can you say what they might be?

One of the most difficult things with online conversation, I think, is what you mention here above - avoiding making assumptions about others. I was participating on another thread where a member made all kinds of assumptions about what I think and believe. I wrote a response very much like what you wrote here. CAF is a great place to learn and grow. Glad you are here. 👍
 
On the website I linked–no need to give him free publicity–it talks about the Assumption of our Blessed Mother. Not the part about the Book of Revelation stuff. The quotes from the Catholic Encyclopedia itself showing what looks like to me a very underwhelming historical case. Do not bite my head off:o
 
On the website I linked–no need to give him free publicity–it talks about the Assumption of our Blessed Mother. Not the part about the Book of Revelation stuff. The quotes from the Catholic Encyclopedia itself showing what looks like to me a very underwhelming historical case. Do not bite my head off:o
It’s not up to us to try to re-do all of the research that the Magisterium has already done. It’s quite possible that evidence that used to be there is no longer available. But those who made the pronouncement are protected by the Holy Spirit, and they had the evidence that they needed to do so, or else they would not have done so.

What I don’t understand - and don’t take this personally; it’s just a thought that jumped into my head at this moment - what I don’t “get” is why, when a scientist makes a discovery (example, a couple of years ago when they realized that Pluto isn’t really a planet) nobody seriously questions it - we take science on faith, strangely enough - we believe their “magisterial” pronouncements, pretty much without question - even when they totally contradict their previous pronouncements, as in the case of Pluto.

But when it comes to matters of faith, all of a sudden, we need all this scientific proof, and, well, if it doesn’t make sense to “me” (the individual) personally, then somehow we think we have a choice to not believe it? 🤷

I just think it’s an interesting contrast, since in both cases, we are dealing with unchangeable data sets.
 
On the website I linked–no need to give him free publicity–it talks about the Assumption of our Blessed Mother. Not the part about the Book of Revelation stuff. The quotes from the Catholic Encyclopedia itself showing what looks like to me a very underwhelming historical case. Do not bite my head off:o
Mason, I see it this way.
The Assumption is a miracle, right? It’s the same type of miracle as happened to several people in the Old Testament, right?

Is there some reason that the Blessed Virgin might not qualify to have been assumed into heaven? I can’t find any, can you?

Weren’t there a lot of other miracles that happened to and around the apostles & the early church that we have extra-scriptural sources for believing? St. John’s rescue from being boiled in oil, Polycarp’s martyrdom, and a host of other such things.

One thing that I have pointed out again and again is that second only to Our Lord Himself, Mary is the most unique person in all of human history, and the little that the New Testament tells us about her supports that IMO.

Compare her to the prophets that were also taken up by the Lord. Her place and function as the Queen Mother of the Messiah pretty much makes them all look like Ned in the first reader.

This is why the Assumption makes perfectly good sense to me, and why I could pretty much care less whether anyone else (especially those outside of the church), disagree.

The fact that the Bible nowhere teaches that everything that we believe and practice as believers has to have its basis in the Bible is the other reason I accept it.

IMO, these people who attack Catholic teachings based on that premise are themselves in error and their whole system of theology is (IMO) a house of cards built upon a fundamental error that ultimately invalidates nearly all their other doctrines.

Oh, they get a few things right, (or half right), but as they say, “Even a stopped clock is right twice a day”. 👍
Hang in there my friend. 🙂
 
It’s not up to us to try to re-do all of the research that the Magisterium has already done. It’s quite possible that evidence that used to be there is no longer available. But those who made the pronouncement are protected by the Holy Spirit, and they had the evidence that they needed to do so, or else they would not have done so.
Shouldn’t you have knowledge from all and not just what the Magisterium says? Wouldn’t that be like asking a Chevy dealer if a Ford was any good?
 
Shouldn’t you have knowledge from all and not just what the Magisterium says? Wouldn’t that be like asking a Chevy dealer if a Ford was any good?
Have you researched all the writings of the early church? All their councils?

Do you even know who Polycarp and Ignatius of Antioch were and who they were friends and disciples of?

Asking most n-Cs about Christianity and its history is about like asking a ditch digger about rocket science. You’ll get answers, but would you really want to lay your life on the line based on what they tell you?

Same principle here…
 
Shouldn’t you have knowledge from all and not just what the Magisterium says? Wouldn’t that be like asking a Chevy dealer if a Ford was any good?
This is a false contrast, since whether you buy a Ford or a Chevy, you are still buying a car.

But taking advice from someone who disagrees with the Magisterium is a bit like asking an Amish guy which kind of car is better - you’re not likely to get anywhere productive, with that, because he considers cars to be evil.
 
I’m familar with what the article you recommend but it falls short of having scripture support. Even though angels exist and have been used by God at times in the past OT that does not mean we are to pray to them. It may sound reasonable but Jesus nor His apostles ever taught any kind of an appeal to an angel or dead saint for help. Although the passage in Revelation 8 appears to support prayers to angels it really doesn’t. Here is the passage from the article you recommended:
"The combination of the prayers both of angels and saints is seen in the vision of St. John: “And another angel came, and stood before the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer of the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar, which is before the throne of God. And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up before God from the hand of the angel” (Revelation 8:3-4).
As you can see here there is no direct intercession to an angel.
Actually… your statement at first does little more than “limit God” and His creations. That something does not specifically exist in scriptures does not negate anything. Fords, Edsels and Nuclear Powered Battle Ships don’t exist in scripture… Its a silly statement…but that’s how we view a “sola scripturist’s” quasi-justification of negation.

Actually, the Angel did intercede. He carried the prayers to God. Also, if you read the words you cited…with an unjaundiced eye you would see where your statement fails.

Two more articles for you to read…

newadvent.org/summa/3083.htm

newadvent.org/fathers/0322.htm

While you worship Paul and the Bible… we understand that there is far more to God than what is found between the covers of a book called the Bible. 😃 (Bluntly put but succinct!)

Oh, and if you take the time to read this one…it will clarify the issue for you on a “biblical/scriptural” level… 🙂

newadvent.org/cathen/08070a.htm

🙂 Need more…🙂
 
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