What I would talk to God about.

[knighttt]

I believe if you and I pursue God sincerely, we wind up in the same place. Before you have a conversation, one must speak a mutual langauge. Many things are often lost in the best of translations. Where is God found? Where is HIs Father;s house? To paraphrase C.S. Lewis: Either Jesus is God, a lunatic, or one the most evil imposters who has ever lived. There are only three choices. You must choose. The Lord says in The Apocalypse, “If you were cold or hot, I could stand you, but because you are neither I vomit you out…” You must be on fire with the love of God or be zealous in defending HIM against every evil impersonation. Peace and may God be with you.

 

[reb108]

Either Jesus is God, a lunatic, or one the most evil imposters who has ever lived. There are only three choices. You must choose.

Well, there are other choices. Jesus on the cross could have been a bilocation-type of divine being and the real Jesus was somewhere else. Sor Maria de Agreda was in her cell in Spain. She bilocated to Texas and appeared before the Indians. She admits that at first they captured, tortured and shot her with arrows. But her real self was in Spain unharmed. Who did the Indians actually touch and kill? There is a similar example of this. But I am not trying to prove anything but comment on your “only three choices” statement. Also, Jesus could easily be Lord Nityananda, directly. Or Jesus could be an expansion of Lord Nityananda. Just as His two disciple, who were walking with this figure of Jesus, didn’t recognize who was really with them because Jesus had changed His form (an expansion). Or Jesus could be an direct expansion of God, or even God Himself. To me, the point is that Jesus is as good as God. I accept Him as non-different from God. But both Jesus so many others speak of The Father or as Jesus said, His Father. Yet, Christians seem bent on limiting God to the # 3. You know…God can only have one Son. So, is God impotent? We are made in His image but what, we are superior because we can have many many sons??? Look, this is not an argument. I am just not into this axiom that there are only 3 choices. I feel more comfortable hanging my hat upon the peg that tells me, with God all things are possible. And I am in very good company here.

Today I started reading The Life of St. Gemma Galgani by Father Germans. It has started out really profound. I am now thinking that a lot of my problem is that I am trying to understand certain things from such an inferior platform that I would do myself better to just love God and work on improving that. St. Gemma, Sor Maria, Haridas Thakura, and so many great personalities (Mary) were full of love of God; effortlessly it seems. From their platform of love, they did and spoke about things, and had reasoning that for me, but in the most-vague way, can barely appreciate. Anyhow, I feel very blessed to have this new book to read.

 

[knighttt]

Brother…I sense your sincerity, but some things to dwell on. In the beginning of The Gospel of St. John we read, “In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God…” Any metaphor to explain The Most Holy Trinity is fraught with peril, but let me hazard a try. Imagine THE FATHER as a MIND, who upon thinking of Himself sees His Son, The WORD. The WORD speaks forth what the MIND has willed and everything, however macro, nano, or invisible is made by this WORD, in deference, but in unity with the MIND, co-equal in all things. The FATHER (MIND) loves the SON (WORD) and the SON (WORD) loves the FATHER (MIND) and the LOVE (HOLY LOVE) that exists between both of them is THE HOLY SPIRIT, co-equal to The Father and The Son, who responds to The FATHER’s PLAN and The SON’s work by keeping alive all that is by HIS MIGHTY HANDS. Anything alive has a soul, but only men (and angels) have an immortal soul. Jesus made you, according to the Father’s plan, while The Holy Spirit keeps you alive. Before you die, you will know the truth and be given the opportunity to accept or reject The Truth. That moment may be now, or even mystically, miraculously, in that split moment before you are judged. If you die invincibly ignorant you will be judged by your adherence to the Corporal Works of Mercy (please google them, they are something all men can agree on). The Saints are great, but pursue Mary (Our Lady) fervently. A saint once said that if you know someone who does not pray, or does not have a natural affection for Our Lady, you’re talking to a damned person. So, by induction one can certainly say if one prays, and loves Our Lady, how much further on the road to salvation we are! God Bless you!!!:juggle::heaven:

 

[reb108]

Brother…I sense your sincerity, but some things to dwell on. In the beginning of The Gospel of St. John we read, “In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God…” Any metaphor to explain The Most Holy Trinity is fraught with peril, but let me hazard a try. Imagine THE FATHER as a MIND, who upon thinking of Himself sees His Son, The WORD. The WORD speaks forth what the MIND has willed and everything, however macro, nano, or invisible is made by this WORD, in deference, but in unity with the MIND, co-equal in all things. The FATHER (MIND) loves the SON (WORD) and the SON (WORD) loves the FATHER (MIND) and the LOVE (HOLY LOVE) that exists between both of them is THE HOLY SPIRIT, co-equal to The Father and The Son, who responds to The FATHER’s PLAN and The SON’s work by keeping alive all that is by HIS MIGHTY HANDS. Anything alive has a soul, but only men (and angels) have an immortal soul. Jesus made you, according to the Father’s plan, while The Holy Spirit keeps you alive. Before you die, you will know the truth and be given the opportunity to accept or reject The Truth. That moment may be now, or even mystically, miraculously, in that split moment before you are judged. If you die invincibly ignorant you will be judged by your adherence to the Corporal Works of Mercy (please google them, they are something all men can agree on). The Saints are great, but pursue Mary (Our Lady) fervently. A saint once said that if you know someone who does not pray, or does not have a natural affection for Our Lady, you’re talking to a damned person. So, by induction one can certainly say if one prays, and loves Our Lady, how much further on the road to salvation we are! God Bless you!!!:juggle::heaven:

Hmmm. Please let me give what you have written here ample time to understand and some good moments to dwell upon all the good meaning you have conveyed to me. Thank you. And also forgive me for not being able to instantly grasp things of such importance but rest assured that I will not rest until I come back and send a decent reply. Thank you for your blessings. All glories to Jesus Christ.

 

[reb108]

Dear Knighttt……I have been reading over your comments and sorting through what you have written I count at least 8 points being made. I am placing my comments in CAPS, only to help indentify us. I read somewhere that CAPS mean you are shouting. Please, I am not shouting. (some caps are yours).

1…Brother - I sense your sincerity, but some things to dwell on. YOU MIGHT SENSE THAT I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT A SPIRITUAL DOMAIN IN FACT EXISTS, BUT I AM NOT SINCERE. HMMMM…I SINCERELY RECEIVE GREAT PLEASURE READING ABOUT GOD AND HIS BELOVED SERVANTS. TO USE A METAPHOR, MY SINCERITY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP.

2…In the beginning of The Gospel of St. John we read, “In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God.” Any metaphor (symbolic of something else) to explain The Most Holy Trinity is fraught with peril, but let me hazard a try. MY PERSONAL OPINION ON THIS MATTER IS USELESS. I AM IN TOTAL DARKNESS. ONLY THE DIVINE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD OR HIS DEVOTEE HAS ANY INTEREST WITH ME.

3…Imagine THE FATHER as a MIND, GOD IS MIND who upon thinking of Himself sees His Son, The WORD. The WORD speaks forth what the MIND has willed and everything, however macro, nano, or invisible is made by this WORD, in deference, but in unity with the MIND, co-equal in all things. The FATHER (MIND) loves the SON (WORD) and the SON (WORD) loves the FATHER (MIND) and the LOVE (HOLY LOVE) that exists between both of them is THE HOLY SPIRIT, co-equal to The Father and The Son, who responds to The FATHER’s PLAN and The SON’s work by keeping alive all that is by HIS MIGHTY HANDS.

AFTER APPROACHING 40 YEARS OF STUDY, I FIND TWO SCHOOLS OF DIVINE KNOWLEDGE THAT ATTRACT ME. I ENJOY SEEING THEIR SIMILARITIES. THEY ARE BOTH FULL OF BEAUTIFUL STORIES OF THE LORD.

I KIND OF LOOK AT IT LIKE THIS: YES, THE FATER IS THE SOURCE OF ALL AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN, AND HE HAS A HOLY MIND. DURING A DIVINE MOMENT, CHRISTIANITY WAS CREATED. IT WAS THUS POPULATED BY COUNTLESS CREATURES, WHOSE ONLY DESIRE IS TO GLORIFY AND LOVE JESUS, SOME THROUH HIS MOTHER, WHILE OTHERS, THROUGH DIFFERENT MEANS (PRAYER,ETC.). THANKFULLY, I AM VERY FOND OF MARY.

I GUESS I LOOK AT CHRISTIANITY AS A BEAUTIFUL AND DIVINE MINISTRY. I BOW DOWN TO IT. BUT AS I SAID, I PAY THE DEEPEST RESPECT TO TWO SCHOOLS OF DIVINE REALITY.

THE SECOND ONE I LOOK AT AS THE DEFAULT STATE OF THE FATHER, HIS DOMAIN, HIS ACTIVITIES, HIS DIVINE ASSOCIATES, ETC. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THE GLIMPSE INTO THIS WORLD THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN TO ME.

4…Anything alive has a soul, but only men (and angels) have an immortal soul. Jesus made you, according to the Father’s plan, while The Holy Spirit keeps you alive. I BELIEVE IN AN IMMORTAL SOUL. I BELIEVE THAT GOD KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT US. I ALSO KNOW MANY CHRISTIANS WHO INFLICT HORRIBLE SUFFERINGS, TERROR AND DEATH UPON THE DEER AND OTHER CREATURES THEY RUTHLESSLY PURSUE DURING HUNTING SEASON. WITHOUT MERCY ON ALL GOD’S CREATURES, WHAT ARE WE, REALLY?

5…Before you die, you will know the truth and be given the opportunity to accept or reject The Truth. That moment may be now, or even mystically, miraculously, in that split moment before you are judged. NOT SURE WHAT TO SAY ABOUT THIS. I KNOW THE TRUTH THROUGH THE MERCY OF JESUS AND KRSNA, AND THEIR DEAR MOST SERVANTS WHOSE ONLY PURPOSE IS TO HELP PRESENT THIS TRUTH. I ACCEPT BOTH.

6…If you die invincibly ignorant you will be judged by your adherence to the Corporal Works of Mercy (please google them, they are something all men can agree on). I DON’T THINK THIS IS ALL THAT CAN BE SAID, HERE. IF A PERSON HAS PERFORMED SOME DEVOTIONAL SERVICE, THAT SERVICE TO GOD IS UN-DESTROYABLE AND IS AN ETERNAL BLESSING AND BENEFIT. IF ONE SIMPLY APPRECIATES THE SERVANTS OF GOD, THAT IN ITSELF IS A BLESSING AND CAN PROTECT ONE FROM ALL SORTS OF DANGERS. AND MOST AUSPICIOUS IS THE HOLY NAME OF CHRIST. GOD’S HOLY NAME EVEN IF CHANTED ONE TIME IS ALL POWERFUL AND ALL AUSPICIOUS. AN IGNORANT MAN DOES NOT NEED TO KNOW HOW A VACCINE WORKS. ALL HE HAS TO DO IS TAKE IT. THE CHEMISTRY IS THERE. THE BENEFIT IS THERE. SO IT IS WITH THE HOLYNAME OF CHRIST. IF AN INVINCIBLY IGNORANT PERSON SIMPLY UTTERS THE NAME CHRIST, HE IS BLESSED. THE HOLY NAME IS MOST AUSPICIOUS AND IT IS NON-DIFFERENT FROM GOD, THE FATHER.

***Corporal Works of Mercy are those that tend to bodily needs of others. In (Matthew 25:34-40, in the The Judgment of Nations six specific Works of Mercy are enumerated, although not this precise list — as the reason for the salvation of the saved, and the omission of them as the reason for damnation. The last work of mercy, burying the dead, comes from the Book of Tobit.[3][4]

1. To feed the hungry.
2. To give drink to the thirsty.
3. To clothe the naked.
4. To harbour the harbourless.[7] (also loosely interpreted today as To Shelter the Homeless)
5. To visit the sick.
6. To visit the imprisoned (classical term is “To ransom the captive[8]”)
7. To bury the dead.** *

7…The Saints are great, but pursue Mary (Our Lady) fervently. A saint once said that if you know someone who does not pray, or does not have a natural affection for Our Lady, you’re talking to a damned person. NICELY SAID.

8… So, by induction one can certainly say if one prays, and loves Our Lady, how much further on the road to salvation we are! God Bless you!! ALL GLORIES TO MARY. ALL GLORIES TO ST. JOSEPH, HER BELOVED SPOUCE.

 

[reb108]

Wanting to comment on my own thread, as I mentioned, I have started reading, The Life of St. Gemma Galgani. I just read on page 32 at the top, "The love of God increased without measure in this young girl’s heart, as did her ceaseless ardent yearning, until it took the form of an all-engrossing desire of suffering. About that time, in 1896, she thus expressed herself: 'I began to feel another strong desire, an insatiable longing for suffering and to be able to share my Savior’s pains…every day I besought Jesus to let me suffer much. ‘Yes, my Jesus…I wish to suffer, and to suffer greatly for Thee.’"

I am sorry. I just do not get this. I would ask Jesus to explain this to me. But let me first ask out-loud, is this like a parent who out of love for their child, wants to suffer INSTEAD of the child suffering? But Gemma is saying she wants to “share” in Jesus’ suffering, not spare him.

Obviously I don’t have any love except for myself. Anyhow, this is one thing I would want to speak to God about.

 

[knighttt]

I’ve had the priviliege to spend several hours discussing the sublime with individuals of many diverse backgrounds. I consider myself so honored again by your presence.
I’m reminded that St. Augustine, catechized by his uncle, St. Ambrose, took 15 years to give up his concubine and mother of his son. He is famous for saying, paraphrasing, “God make me chaste, but not yet…” To these struggles, of which we are all familiar, The Lord says is is better we pluck out our eye (metaphorically) then to go into hell with two eyes, etc…The point is something we believe is so important to us, even seemingly good, can be an obstacle to Heaven
I’ve had the opportunity, three such occasions come to mind, to discuss with three different individuals, at different times, elements of Catholicism to folks who were not, one Wiccan, one Muslim, another, an Atheist. After answering every objection of their’s sufficiently, I thought, they gave me the root of all their objections. For one their mother had been married 4x, for another their family would disown them, and yet another, with no family, protested that her live-in boyfriend and her were the only ones they had and nearly all their friends were practicing homosexuals… The point is we often give intellectual reasons for things that have everything to do with matters of the heart. To this The Lord says he who does not love me more than mother, father, husband, wife, son, daughter, brother, or sister is not worthy of me.
Jesus could have chosen any relationship (teacher/student; general/soldier; Master/slave, etc…) he wanted to portray His relationship with His Church. He chose Bridegroom and Bride. If you enter a Cathedral or Basillica, you will see four pillars surrounding The Altar, forming a canopy around The Holy of Holies. They are bed-posts. It is the marital bed. The Passion of the Christ is not really the butchering some would have us dwell on exclusively, but The Lord not giving up His Spirit (“It is Consummated…”) until he had provided for His Bride exceedingly. For those of us who are/were married we all know the joy of an exceedingly provided for Bride (wink). Frequency (devotion) arises in the Bride (Church) and the fruit of that marital union are children (converts, baptisms, vocations, etc…) The more beautiful (Holy) The Bride (The Institutional Church) the more The Bridegroom (Jesus) desires her thus bringing forth more of as described above. As we all know, fidelity to one’s Bride trumps whatever another mistress may provide. If one loves both, one loves neither.
If you have two mothers, fathers, wives, or Gods you may as well have a thousand of each. All you’re really doing is hurting your real mother, father,wife, and Lord. Read how jealous the God of Israel is for his people and the punishments for Israel’s harlotry.
Peace, my brother. DEAR MOST, HOLY, MERCIFUL, AND LOVING TRINITY, I LOVE YOU, ADORE YOU, GLORIFY YOU, AND BLESS YOU FOR YOUR HOLY NAME, YOUR HOLY WILL, AND YOUR SACRED AND EUCHARISTIC HEART PRESENT IN THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS, IN THE MOST HOLY SACRAMENT OF THE ALTAR AND FOR THE GRACES AND PRIVILIGES YOU MAKE THE MATER DEI, THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY WITH, AND FOR THE HONORS AND VIRTUES YOU CROWN THE HEAD OF THE HOLY FAMILY, THE TERROR OF DEMONS, AND THE PATRON OF A HOLY DEATH, GOOD SAINT JOSEPH WITH. AMEN.

 

[reb108]

If you have two mothers, fathers, wives, or Gods you may as well have a thousand of each. All you’re really doing is hurting your real mother, father,wife, and Lord. Read how jealous the God of Israel is for his people and the punishments for Israel’s harlotry.

The problem, as I see it, is that your view of God, His creation, the creation, and His creatures is too narrow. There is only one God. Out of God has come all of this. There is a spiritual world and a material world. And worlds below and in between. There is God. And there are other divine beings. God is the original candle. He sort of bilocates. Behold Jesus, a second candle. Different from God, but at the same time not different. The Christian system only seems to allow God to bilocate one time. Why the limitation? Just because you don’t read about it in the Holy Bible, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. Our beloved Jesus Christ said that what we (Christians) now know is so limited. And yet there is such an ardent demand to accept that God is only capable of one son. Please, nothing wrong with that. Jesus is more than capable of delivering perfection. One good son is perfectly capable of guiding you home. It doesn’t take two. But I am telling you, my friend, there is a lot more, and what is wrong with that? Jesus says there is.

 

[knighttt]

Faith is a gift. Only God knows the heart of each of us and rewards/chastises accordingly. It’s really the quality way you use the gift more than how long you have had it. The Lord says “The first shall be last and the last shall be first…” The Lord says, in his Good Shepherd discourse, that he is The Good Shepherd, His sheep know His voice, and He knows His sheep. The Lord says He is The Gate and all that have come before Him are liars and thieves. The problem with polytheism, is that with a plethora of “gods”, you can manufacture whatever belief system you like. God is then made to serve you as opposed to you serving God. The first idolatry, we all can relate to, is to make a god of our own ideas, preferences, and justifications.
The suffering St Gemma Galgani is undergoing is a purging of herself to be fully in union with God. It is an interior immolation, so every part of her, the bad and the good, are reduced to nothing so God can fill her entirely. It is also entering into the Passion described earlier. Lastly, it is a spiritual motherhood that gives life to souls who would have been lost. The last protest of The Lord on The Cross was “I thirst…” It was a prayer to The Father for more gifts (grace) to be showered on His Bride (The Church), but also a request of His Bride to accept suffering as a means of delivering souls to Him, souls He Thirsts for, like a mother in labor. I’m not sure why suffering is the means of Redemption, but it most certainly is.

 

[aragonjohn1]

Brother…I sense your sincerity, but some things to dwell on. In the beginning of The Gospel of St. John we read, “In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God…” Any metaphor to explain The Most Holy Trinity is fraught with peril, but let me hazard a try. Imagine THE FATHER as a MIND, who upon thinking of Himself sees His Son, The WORD. The WORD speaks forth what the MIND has willed and everything, however macro, nano, or invisible is made by this WORD, in deference, but in unity with the MIND, co-equal in all things. The FATHER (MIND) loves the SON (WORD) and the SON (WORD) loves the FATHER (MIND) and the LOVE (HOLY LOVE) that exists between both of them is THE HOLY SPIRIT, co-equal to The Father and The Son, who responds to The FATHER’s PLAN and The SON’s work by keeping alive all that is by HIS MIGHTY HANDS. Anything alive has a soul, but only men (and angels) have an immortal soul. Jesus made you, according to the Father’s plan, while The Holy Spirit keeps you alive. Before you die, you will know the truth and be given the opportunity to accept or reject The Truth. That moment may be now, or even mystically, miraculously, in that split moment before you are judged. If you die invincibly ignorant you will be judged by your adherence to the Corporal Works of Mercy (please google them, they are something all men can agree on). The Saints are great, but pursue Mary (Our Lady) fervently. A saint once said that if you know someone who does not pray, or does not have a natural affection for Our Lady, you’re talking to a damned person. So, by induction one can certainly say if one prays, and loves Our Lady, how much further on the road to salvation we are! God Bless you!!!:juggle::heaven:

At one point I’d like to talk to God about His face and ask a few questions

Thank you for insights

God bless You

 

[reb108]

The problem with polytheism, is that with a plethora of “gods”, you can manufacture whatever belief system you like. God is then made to serve you as opposed to you serving God. The first idolatry, we all can relate to, is to make a god of our own ideas, preferences, and justifications.
The suffering St Gemma Galgani is undergoing is a purging of herself to be fully in union with God. It is an interior immolation, so every part of her, the bad and the good, are reduced to nothing so God can fill her entirely. It is also entering into the Passion described earlier. Lastly, it is a spiritual motherhood that gives life to souls who would have been lost. The last protest of The Lord on The Cross was “I thirst…” It was a prayer to The Father for more gifts (grace) to be showered on His Bride (The Church), but also a request of His Bride to accept suffering as a means of delivering souls to Him, souls He Thirsts for, like a mother in labor. I’m not sure why suffering is the means of Redemption, but it most certainly is.

Your problem with polytheism is a valid concern. You also say, “that God is then made to serve you as opposed to you serving God.” Now, that might be the case in some systems which embrace polytheism, but when applied to the Vaishnava followers of Lord Chaitanya, that is way out in left field. A.C. Bhaktivedanta, the greatest champion of Mahaprabhu (great master)…of Lord Chaitanya, said in his introduction to the Bhagavad-gita (Song of God) that #1, the only opinion that counts is God’s and that #2, if you do not think you are the servant of God, then you are insane. Bhakti yoga (loving devotional service to God) is the entire message. Yes, faith is a gift and I have faith that Lord Chaitanya is not cheating me. Absolutely. Just this past Christmas Eve I had 22 guest over to my little man-cave of sorts and half of them were Vaishnava Priests, the others devout Christians. We all gathered to worship Jesus. (Can’t seem to embed the video I took of this, but here is the YouTube link: youtu.be/fbFOo9WUr4U)

So we can and do get along just fine. I never tell anyone to stop being a Christian. That would be spiritual suicide and the greatest error. But to dismiss the teachings of Lord Chaitanya as backwoods idolatry is simply not taking the best road. I live near a lake. To go to town I can take the simple road and it does exactly what is needed: delivers me to Walmart. Or I can take River Rd, and it also delivers me to Walmart. To never take River Rd would be such a shame, as it show you such beauty and an entirely new dimension. Actually, I take both. One going down and one coming back home. Of course, the road is not the goal, but getting to town. Spiritually speaking, the best road is to embrace the Holy Name.

Turning for a moment to St. Gemma, you are right in regards to her and the countless number of Catholic Saints who have suffered for Christ. I love reading their beautiful stories. And I feel myself associating with them through the books about them. Especially everyone should read, The Life of St. Gemma Galgani by Father Germanus. Here is a book overflowing with her own words. I hold her book close to my heart and feel great love for both her and God. I cannot wait to read some more. Hmmm. Sadly I have to get ready for work.

Where as a devotee of Lord Chaitanya would in times of great trials turn more fervently to the Lord’s Holy Name for solace, St. Gemma was consumed with the desire to suffer along with Christ. I still don’t get it but I am trying to be patient and open. You have to be open. And how can I get it? She actually loves God. I am a faker. So how can I possibly understand? Then one day I read about St. Francis of Copertino. He walked up to the altar to say Holy Mass. His heart bursting out of love for his Jesus. And he, too, wanted and did suffer. And what happened? His feet gently left the stone floor he was standing on. In front of Blessed Mary. And the people saw. And I saw from the pages of his book. And I hold that book dear as well. All glories to Lord Jesus Christ.

 

[GaryTaylor]

Or I can take River Rd, and it also delivers me to Walmart. To never take River Rd would be such a shame, as it show you such beauty and an entirely new dimension. Actually, I take both. One going down and one coming back home. Of course, the road is not the goal, but getting to town. Spiritually speaking, the best road is to embrace the Holy Name.

Yet you can’t take both at the same time.

How many River Roads are there, which is best? In order to know which master has the best brew, you must empty the cup first of one, then fill it with the other.

 

[emdadjut]

The question is what God is, How can we feel Him?
God i nothing but a great feelings by oneself. He is with all the ingredients of the world; the largest or the smallest, with the doctor and with the patient in the same time.

 

[rinnie]

Catholics teach that the Royal Road to Perfect Love (of God) is to suffer always; to pray always. Look around you: there are different religions, different houses of worship. Majestic Vedic temples, massive cathedrals, little white churches: Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, Mormon. You name it. You enter. You become one. You belong. You follow and you offer your soul. Each is a different roller-coaster with its own route, its own set of thrills. Lord Chaitanya taught that the Royal Road to perfect love is to chant and dance sweetly the Holy Names of God, and to feast on Holy Prasadam (Eucharist) . Yes, suffering is there; austerity is there; rules and regulations are there. They are given for our own good. Follow and be blessed. Differences do not necessarily mean one side is condemned. I wish I could talk to God face-to-face. I would ask Him about Catholics. I would ask Him about the Vaishnavas. I want to know more. If you haven’t noticed, Catholic saints are fantastic. They give their all. They push themselves unbelievably hard. They enter nirvana. Crippled nuns, cloistered nuns, Franciscan Monks; they float in space; the bilocate; they make the blind see; they raise the dead; they see Jesus; they talk to His Divine Mother. Mary bent over and handed Her Child to Saint Agnes. When the saint’s ecstasy broke, in her hand she discovered the little gold chain and cross that the Child was wearing around His neck: the one she was holding onto so firmly in her trance. She didn’t want to give the Child back to His Mother. Sor Maria gave Indians in San Angelo, Texas rosary beads she had taken from her convent in Agreda, Spain. A Chief gave his rosary to a Spanish Padre. The year was about 1620. But she had never stepped a foot outside the village where she was born. 500 years ago a great devotee sat in Vrindavan, India and in his ecstasy he sat boiling milk for Krishna. The milk began to overflow and in horror he reached out with his hands to push the milk back into the pot. This jolted him back to reality. A bird was singing. He then noticed that his hands were burned from the boiling milk. He had to wrap them in a cloth to hide them from everyone. But they knew. Yes, I would like to talk to God.

I truly talk to him everyday. Especially many times in my mind.

I know he is with me all the time, Especially when I want to do the wrong thing, and there is this voice deep deep down inside of me saying, If you love me keep my word. Another wards don’t even try it, you know better!

 

[rinnie]

The question is what God is, How can we feel Him?
God i nothing but a great feelings by oneself. He is with all the ingredients of the world; the largest or the smallest, with the doctor and with the patient in the same time.

What is God to you, how do you feel him?

God to me is my Father and my best friend, and my whole being of life.

How I feel him is in his great mercy, When I confess my sin, he forgives me, When I feel sad he lifts me up and gives me hope. It comes from deep inside of my Soul. That is where I know he lives and is a part of my whole being.

When I look at the cross and see the suffering, I don’t see anymore the great suffering and pain we caused him. I see now a God who loved me so much that he felt I was worth that death, In my heart I will never live to ever feel worthy of it, but the great love I feel, makes this world alot easier to live through. It shows me that no matter what goes wrong or suffering I can feel, his was greater and suffering brings great joy in mysterious ways.

So sometimes it is in my great suffering I feel him, and knowing that suffering will end, great joy will come, I also share in that great Joy with him, when it does come.

 

[knighttt]

Me, too!!! :yup:

 

[reb108]

At work today I was reading more from The Life of St. Gemma Galgani and felt that after such a long time struggling to understand why so many (if not all) of the Catholic Saints desired to suffer as part as their personal path to salvation, that I made a breakthrough. The book is extraordinary because St. Gemma actually lived rather recently, and plus the author (her spiritual director) lets St. Gemma speak for herself (from her writings and his notes about what she said to him). For starters, when St. Gemma would “see” Jesus hanging on the cross, her experience wasn’t theoretical or “supposing how He must of looked,” but instead, she actually saw Him there, via some mystical vision/gift. So for her, it was 100% real what she saw. She also became painfully aware of her sins. Not, “gee, I wish I hadn’t have done that,” but an all consuming sorrow, and here is the key point…knowing in her total being that part of what Jesus was suffering was directly due to her sins. So if I am getting this right, she desired to suffer for her sins, and in this way, paying the price herself and therefore, not adding to Jesus’ immense suffering, in anyway whatsoever. Anyhow, I am pretty excited about finally grasping this whole self-inflicted suffering thing. I would appreciate your comments about what I have just said.

 

[reb108]

Yet you can’t take both at the same time.

How many River Roads are there, which is best? In order to know which master has the best brew, you must empty the cup first of one, then fill it with the other.

As you say, you cannot take both at the same time. But that doesn’t mean only one way exists from the lake to Walmart. By the way, there is only one River Rd., plus, I know that both Hwy. 306 and River Rd. will get you to town, but via vastly different routes. My wife can prepare me a drink with a little flavoring into it and give it to me to sample. My daughter, at the same time, wanting me to taste her flavoring-mix, can hand me a different cup. I don’t need to empty one. I can take a sip of both, but using a material example, not at the same time. But I can try both and love both.

All I have done is to choose my time to listen to what is being said about God. My parents didn’t believe in God. I was left on my own. At first I tried to figure God out on my own but that didn’t work. The only thing that has brought me real satisfaction is to listen to authority. What could possibly be the value of my confused opinions? And then, even with “authority” I had to discriminate. Finding an honest and true authority is a blessing. You know, one who is not cheating you. I work at a resort. Sometimes there will be two staff members on duty and a stranger will ask in front of us both, how to get to town? Ok, so we live here and we are both honest and good authorities. I blurt out, "Take River Rd,’ whereas John says at the same time, “Take 306.” Both perfect answers.

Again, agreed, you cannot take both roads at the same time. But you can know both routes and you can appreciate both. Is this not so? And you can travel both. But I am not talking about blacktop roads. Can I love my wife and my daughter at the same time? Can you love your mother and your father at the same time, or can your heart only love one at a time? I spent 5 years fully, 100% +, as a full time “Hindu monk.” And I love Krishna. And I love Radha, and Nityananda, and Sri Adwaita, and I I love and honor just as many wonderful people in that religion as you will find in Catholic History. Then, some years ago I reached my hand into a box full of Catholic books and have since read dozens, including my on-going effort to read the Mystical City of God. That’s on the back burner right now because it is very deep. As I said, St. Gemma has my full attention right now. The point is, I love Krishna and I love Jesus. At the same time. There is no conflict.

 

[knighttt]

You mentioned going to work, so let me try one more time. You go to work. You’re very talented. Everyone knows the author of the work is you by it’s quality it’s attention to detail, and it’s precision. When you go to pick up your pay, your missing 9/10 of it! You protest, but your employer says he distributed the rest of your pay to many other fine people, similar to you, not you, but similar enough. After all, why should you get all the credit? The Holy Trinity should get all the “pay” due them! God shouldn’t have to share the adoration due him for any combination of creatures. You seem to have a sweet tooth for much of the mystical phenomena in Catholicism, so when you get a chance to, check out the following. (Just google) The Shroud of Turn (burial cloth of Jesus science still can’t explain); The Tilma of Our Lady of Guadeloupe (science still can’t explain 500 years later); The Incorruptibles of The Church (Saints’ whose bodies have not decomposed. Check out St. Bernadette of Our Lady of Lourdes (Not only is she beautiful, but being dead 150 years, she looks like she’s sleeping); Eucharistic Miracles (Hosts that have changed into the visible body and blood of Christ, Science has studied each occurence, In every instance the flesh is from the Heart and the Blood is always “AB”. These miracles have taken place hundreds of years apart from each other. Also, no corruption in the miracles even after hundreds of years. If you like prophecy from mid 19th century to the end of time, check out the prophecy of Our Lady of Lasalette to the little Melanie the shepherdess. Then see How the prophecies of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917 Portugal and in Akita Japan in the 1970’s (all Church approved) reinforce what she said and how worried she is for humanity. In Akita, she shed tears of blood saying The Father was preparing a chastisement, unprecedented in the history of the world, because of unrepentant sin; And finally the most famous “Bi-locating” mystic in the history of the Church, having died only 50 years ago, is St. Pio of Petracina “Padre Pio”. Only priest ever to have The Stigmata, mystic, prophet, healer, and reader of hearts in the confessional. Once in confession, he moaned when a woman was contrite about an abortion she had had. Knowing Padre Pio’s reputation for sanctity she was justifiably concerned about his exasperation. Padre Pio told her, “Yes. my daughter, I know that you are sorry, and God will forgive you. It;s just that your son was to be a Pope…” God Bless you and courageously seek, no matter the cost.!

 

[reb108]

You mentioned going to work, so let me try one more time. You go to work. You’re very talented. Everyone knows the author of the work is you by it’s quality it’s attention to detail, and it’s precision. When you go to pick up your pay, your missing 9/10 of it! You protest, but your employer says he distributed the rest of your pay to many other fine people, similar to you, not you, but similar enough. After all, why should you get all the credit? The Holy Trinity should get all the “pay” due them! God shouldn’t have to share the adoration due him for any combination of creatures.

You seem to have a sweet tooth for much of the mystical phenomena in Catholicism, so when you get a chance to, check out the following. (Just google) The Shroud of Turn (burial cloth of Jesus science still can’t explain); The Tilma of Our Lady of Guadeloupe (science still can’t explain 500 years later); The Incorruptibles of The Church (Saints’ whose bodies have not decomposed. Check out St. Bernadette of Our Lady of Lourdes (Not only is she beautiful, but being dead 150 years, she looks like she’s sleeping); Eucharistic Miracles (Hosts that have changed into the visible body and blood of Christ, Science has studied each occurence, In every instance the flesh is from the Heart and the Blood is always “AB”. These miracles have taken place hundreds of years apart from each other. Also, no corruption in the miracles even after hundreds of years. If you like prophecy from mid 19th century to the end of time, check out the prophecy of Our Lady of Lasalette to the little Melanie the shepherdess. Then see How the prophecies of Our Lady of Fatima in 1917 Portugal and in Akita Japan in the 1970’s (all Church approved) reinforce what she said and how worried she is for humanity. In Akita, she shed tears of blood saying The Father was preparing a chastisement, unprecedented in the history of the world, because of unrepentant sin; And finally the most famous “Bi-locating” mystic in the history of the Church, having died only 50 years ago, is St. Pio of Petracina “Padre Pio”. Only priest ever to have The Stigmata, mystic, prophet, healer, and reader of hearts in the confessional. Once in confession, he moaned when a woman was contrite about an abortion she had had. Knowing Padre Pio’s reputation for sanctity she was justifiably concerned about his exasperation. Padre Pio told her, “Yes. my daughter, I know that you are sorry, and God will forgive you. It;s just that your son was to be a Pope…” God Bless you and courageously seek, no matter the cost.!

Yes, the nectar of the Divine Realm of God is mighty sweet and might irresistible. And you are right, I am a complete sucker for it. Over half of the items you list I am very familiar with. Except I have not read much about St. Pio of Petracina. Guess I should.

I understand your first point about God and proper credit. Your example is good.