A
Aramis
Guest
It was deemed an incomplete statement of faith by TWO councils (Nicea and Constantinople). I profess the faith of the councils of the Church.
Note: Incomplete but not erroneous.
- Status
Note: Incomplete but not erroneous.
P
planter654
Guest
P
planter654
Guest
I rather say I am subject to the authority of my Creator given all my nothingness, yes, my complete surrender to God accepting his precious gift, saying “yes” to him. Surrendering to God for his works to be accomplish in me. His will,His desire for me. “Glorify” thy self, thy works, in me oh heavenly Father.
Yes! I rather be “called” and strive to “become” … “a very little child of God”… who has “chosen” the Catholic Church who serves thee to worship and praise thy Holy Name. To seek guidence, counsel, repent of my sin and offer my penance, obeying “your laws and commandments”.
Remember there is NO one NO one on the “face of the earth” that knows…the thoughts of God! That is why even the Catholic Church is still studying, learning, changing etc.
God Bless all for we are all God’s children.
Yes! I rather be “called” and strive to “become” … “a very little child of God”… who has “chosen” the Catholic Church who serves thee to worship and praise thy Holy Name. To seek guidence, counsel, repent of my sin and offer my penance, obeying “your laws and commandments”.
Remember there is NO one NO one on the “face of the earth” that knows…the thoughts of God! That is why even the Catholic Church is still studying, learning, changing etc.
God Bless all for we are all God’s children.
P
planter654
Guest
Remember what Jesus said to Barnabas in the temple when he ask Jesus serve justice on their enemies who were killing those who believed, what was Jesus answer to him. Far better for YOU that YOU pray for them! Pray rather then judge them, better for you to do so than to bring judgement on to yourself for your own salvation. For all are in need of forgiveness.
So I pray also for the Catholic Church and all the elect whom God has chosen, has given a job to do, to serve him. That God will Bless them with his abundant grace, give them strength and the wisdom, knowledge, understanding needed to serve.
God Bless …a little child of God.
So I pray also for the Catholic Church and all the elect whom God has chosen, has given a job to do, to serve him. That God will Bless them with his abundant grace, give them strength and the wisdom, knowledge, understanding needed to serve.
God Bless …a little child of God.
M
marymol
Guest
The concerns in O.P’s post about our brethren who have become lukewarm or in mortal sin - no longer caring to do His Will as revealed through The Church and to be part of the lifegiving Vine … seems they are legitimate.
Ones heart can grieve over so much at stake …and those groanings themselves become prayers …
"Those who are not against Me are for Me " - our Lord’s words …
and in that sense , there are possibly many , even in The Church - East and West , who are not able to accept all her teachings …just as there are children who are not able to …yet Mother Church, can hold them all in her Merciful Heart …
The Divine Mercy prayers and Novena ( www.thedivinemercy.org)
express this desire of our Lord - for us in The Church , His Holy priesthood , to be intercessors for all His children …
The thirst for souls … can be a blessing!
Blessings !
Ones heart can grieve over so much at stake …and those groanings themselves become prayers …
"Those who are not against Me are for Me " - our Lord’s words …
and in that sense , there are possibly many , even in The Church - East and West , who are not able to accept all her teachings …just as there are children who are not able to …yet Mother Church, can hold them all in her Merciful Heart …
The Divine Mercy prayers and Novena ( www.thedivinemercy.org)
express this desire of our Lord - for us in The Church , His Holy priesthood , to be intercessors for all His children …
The thirst for souls … can be a blessing!
Blessings !
L
Leese
Guest
Hi there,
I’m a new convert so pardon me if I come across too theoretical. But at the same time, it may be helpful to recount the literal meaning of “Catholicism” before talking about it emotionally and approaching it from the practical aspect. Hope you won’t be confused
Liturgically, being Catholic means subscribing to the idea of Catholicism being the “original” doctrine of faith due to its “apostolic” nature - i.e traceable to the apostles of Christ. The other denominations were offshoots. The word “Catholic” itself means “universal” i.e a Greek celebrating mass would be able to celebrate the same service in Colombo even if the language is different. Such is the one-ness of the faith.
What sets Catholics apart from non-Catholics are the traditions and certain beliefs. E.g, Protestant crosses do not carry the image of Jesus. Protestants also believe that faith alone is enough to save us from sin while Catholics believe in both faith and good deeds (James 2: 14-26).
Catholicism DOES have many rituals which puts off many… However, being a child of God means obedience without complaint and fear of being labelled “goody-two-shoes”. If we “choose” which parts we want to believe/adopt, then we are not really living the faith, are we? We are only exercising our free will - choosing what we “feel like” - when we ought to be doing what is asked of us.
[At this point, no Catholic should ask us “But what if these are not rituals God, but Man, wants?” because that would mean the Catholic is not even a believer.]
To be Catholic, therefore, is to observe what Catholics ought to observe - abstinence from fish every Friday, fasting on Ash Wednesday, attendance of obligatory masses. Look at your own family - if eating homemade fruitcake right after Midnight Mass with the extended family is a century-old tradition that makes your family unique, would you drop it just like that?
Equally important, to be Catholic is to fulfill our duty of Mission with the gifts of the Holy Spirit sealed within us at Confirmation because faith would be dead without service to the neighbour.
We therefore have a Mission in regard to cradle Catholics who go astray: to bring them back to the Father. We need to understand with compassion that their apathy points to the role of their parents as “priests” (thus, faith leaders) in the family which is the basic church. And whether (a) they have done their best to imbue the love and peace and life of Christ into their children; and (b) whether untoward circumstances hampered such efforts.
My husband is a cradle Catholic who skipped church for years to play snooker. Yet I have seen the way God works to convert him ever since he joined me in the last few RCIA lessons. Truthfully, I never had to nag him for this to happen. I prayed, not very well, in fact, but I also shared with him what I learnt in class. He had never touched the Bible before but today, reads it daily. In fact, we both teach Sunday School at our parish and he loves bonding with the kids.
God listens and I believe it is to God’s glory that 2 silly sheep returned to His fold, not just one.
The point I’m trying to make is this: I think that your friends are waiting to be reawakened to their faith. And maybe you’ve been called in your own simple way to touch them.
The Bible states that the Father is more eager to find that one lost sheep than to know He still has 99 safe sheep. (Matthew 18;12-14). It also tells us that equipped with knowledge, we can admonish our friends and instruct them (Romans 15:14). Finally, Colossians 3:12-16 tells us how we should behave always - with compassion, humility and patience - because we too are humans and imperfect.
So while I agree one does not need to ‘say anything’ to chastise these people lest one appears self-righteous, I also believe it depends on what one chooses to say and how.
One good way to evangelise without ‘evangelising’ is to pray for them, as you already are. Another is to show them by example of your living. If your life is God’s message, then you are already doing your part as a missionary
God bless you and your family.
Leese, Malaysia.
I’m a new convert so pardon me if I come across too theoretical. But at the same time, it may be helpful to recount the literal meaning of “Catholicism” before talking about it emotionally and approaching it from the practical aspect. Hope you won’t be confused
Liturgically, being Catholic means subscribing to the idea of Catholicism being the “original” doctrine of faith due to its “apostolic” nature - i.e traceable to the apostles of Christ. The other denominations were offshoots. The word “Catholic” itself means “universal” i.e a Greek celebrating mass would be able to celebrate the same service in Colombo even if the language is different. Such is the one-ness of the faith.
What sets Catholics apart from non-Catholics are the traditions and certain beliefs. E.g, Protestant crosses do not carry the image of Jesus. Protestants also believe that faith alone is enough to save us from sin while Catholics believe in both faith and good deeds (James 2: 14-26).
Catholicism DOES have many rituals which puts off many… However, being a child of God means obedience without complaint and fear of being labelled “goody-two-shoes”. If we “choose” which parts we want to believe/adopt, then we are not really living the faith, are we? We are only exercising our free will - choosing what we “feel like” - when we ought to be doing what is asked of us.
[At this point, no Catholic should ask us “But what if these are not rituals God, but Man, wants?” because that would mean the Catholic is not even a believer.]
To be Catholic, therefore, is to observe what Catholics ought to observe - abstinence from fish every Friday, fasting on Ash Wednesday, attendance of obligatory masses. Look at your own family - if eating homemade fruitcake right after Midnight Mass with the extended family is a century-old tradition that makes your family unique, would you drop it just like that?
Equally important, to be Catholic is to fulfill our duty of Mission with the gifts of the Holy Spirit sealed within us at Confirmation because faith would be dead without service to the neighbour.
We therefore have a Mission in regard to cradle Catholics who go astray: to bring them back to the Father. We need to understand with compassion that their apathy points to the role of their parents as “priests” (thus, faith leaders) in the family which is the basic church. And whether (a) they have done their best to imbue the love and peace and life of Christ into their children; and (b) whether untoward circumstances hampered such efforts.
My husband is a cradle Catholic who skipped church for years to play snooker. Yet I have seen the way God works to convert him ever since he joined me in the last few RCIA lessons. Truthfully, I never had to nag him for this to happen. I prayed, not very well, in fact, but I also shared with him what I learnt in class. He had never touched the Bible before but today, reads it daily. In fact, we both teach Sunday School at our parish and he loves bonding with the kids.
God listens and I believe it is to God’s glory that 2 silly sheep returned to His fold, not just one.
The point I’m trying to make is this: I think that your friends are waiting to be reawakened to their faith. And maybe you’ve been called in your own simple way to touch them.
The Bible states that the Father is more eager to find that one lost sheep than to know He still has 99 safe sheep. (Matthew 18;12-14). It also tells us that equipped with knowledge, we can admonish our friends and instruct them (Romans 15:14). Finally, Colossians 3:12-16 tells us how we should behave always - with compassion, humility and patience - because we too are humans and imperfect.
So while I agree one does not need to ‘say anything’ to chastise these people lest one appears self-righteous, I also believe it depends on what one chooses to say and how.
One good way to evangelise without ‘evangelising’ is to pray for them, as you already are. Another is to show them by example of your living. If your life is God’s message, then you are already doing your part as a missionary
God bless you and your family.
Leese, Malaysia.
M
Markstorm
Guest
Excellent post, Leese. You may want to make a slight correction: Friday entails abstinence from meat, not from fish.
L
Leese
Guest
Thanks Markstorm for the alert! How could I have made such a mistake - I would be horrified if anyone began eating meat every Friday after reading that email, haha.Happy New Year!
L
Leese
Guest
Hi there,
I’m a new convert so pardon me if I come across too theoretical. But at the same time, it may be helpful to recount the literal meaning of “Catholicism” before talking about it emotionally and approaching it from the practical aspect. Hope you won’t be confused
Liturgically, being Catholic means subscribing to the idea of Catholicism being the “original” doctrine of faith due to its “apostolic” nature - i.e traceable to the apostles of Christ. The other denominations were offshoots. The word “Catholic” itself means “universal” i.e a Greek celebrating mass would be able to celebrate the same service in Colombo even if the language is different. Such is the one-ness of the faith.
What sets Catholics apart from non-Catholics are the traditions and certain beliefs. E.g, Protestant crosses do not carry the image of Jesus. Protestants also believe that faith alone is enough to save us from sin while Catholics believe in both faith and good deeds (James 2: 14-26).
Catholicism DOES have many rituals which puts off many… However, being a child of God means obedience without complaint and fear of being labelled “goody-two-shoes”. If we “choose” which parts we want to believe/adopt, then we are not really living the faith, are we? We are only exercising our free will - choosing what we “feel like” - when we ought to be doing what is asked of us.
[At this point, no Catholic should ask us “But what if these are not rituals God, but Man, wants?” because that would mean the Catholic is not even a believer.]
To be Catholic, therefore, is to observe what Catholics ought to observe - abstinence from meat every Friday, fasting on Ash Wednesday, attendance of obligatory masses. Look at your own family - if eating homemade fruitcake right after Midnight Mass with the extended family is a century-old tradition that makes your family unique, would you drop it just like that?
Equally important, to be Catholic is to fulfill our duty of Mission with the gifts of the Holy Spirit sealed within us at Confirmation because faith would be dead without service to the neighbour.
We therefore have a Mission in regard to cradle Catholics who go astray: to bring them back to the Father. We need to understand with compassion that their apathy points to the role of their parents as “priests” (thus, faith leaders) in the family which is the basic church. And whether (a) they have done their best to imbue the love and peace and life of Christ into their children; and (b) whether untoward circumstances hampered such efforts.
My husband is a cradle Catholic who skipped church for years to play snooker. Yet I have seen the way God works to convert him ever since he joined me in the last few RCIA lessons. Truthfully, I never had to nag him for this to happen. I prayed, not very well, in fact, but I also shared with him what I learnt in class. He had never touched the Bible before but today, reads it daily. In fact, we both teach Sunday School at our parish and he loves bonding with the kids.
God listens and I believe it is to God’s glory that 2 silly sheep returned to His fold, not just one.
The point I’m trying to make is this: I think that your friends are waiting to be reawakened to their faith. And maybe you’ve been called in your own simple way to touch them.
The Bible states that the Father is more eager to find that one lost sheep than to know He still has 99 safe sheep. (Matthew 18;12-14). It also tells us that equipped with knowledge, we can admonish our friends and instruct them (Romans 15:14). Finally, Colossians 3:12-16 tells us how we should behave always - with compassion, humility and patience - because we too are humans and imperfect.
So while I agree one does not need to ‘say anything’ to chastise these people lest one appears self-righteous, I also believe it depends on what one chooses to say and how.
One good way to evangelise without ‘evangelising’ is to pray for them, as you already are. Another is to show them by example of your living. If your life is God’s message, then you are already doing your part as a missionary
God bless you and your family.
Leese, Malaysia.
I’m a new convert so pardon me if I come across too theoretical. But at the same time, it may be helpful to recount the literal meaning of “Catholicism” before talking about it emotionally and approaching it from the practical aspect. Hope you won’t be confused
Liturgically, being Catholic means subscribing to the idea of Catholicism being the “original” doctrine of faith due to its “apostolic” nature - i.e traceable to the apostles of Christ. The other denominations were offshoots. The word “Catholic” itself means “universal” i.e a Greek celebrating mass would be able to celebrate the same service in Colombo even if the language is different. Such is the one-ness of the faith.
What sets Catholics apart from non-Catholics are the traditions and certain beliefs. E.g, Protestant crosses do not carry the image of Jesus. Protestants also believe that faith alone is enough to save us from sin while Catholics believe in both faith and good deeds (James 2: 14-26).
Catholicism DOES have many rituals which puts off many… However, being a child of God means obedience without complaint and fear of being labelled “goody-two-shoes”. If we “choose” which parts we want to believe/adopt, then we are not really living the faith, are we? We are only exercising our free will - choosing what we “feel like” - when we ought to be doing what is asked of us.
[At this point, no Catholic should ask us “But what if these are not rituals God, but Man, wants?” because that would mean the Catholic is not even a believer.]
To be Catholic, therefore, is to observe what Catholics ought to observe - abstinence from meat every Friday, fasting on Ash Wednesday, attendance of obligatory masses. Look at your own family - if eating homemade fruitcake right after Midnight Mass with the extended family is a century-old tradition that makes your family unique, would you drop it just like that?
Equally important, to be Catholic is to fulfill our duty of Mission with the gifts of the Holy Spirit sealed within us at Confirmation because faith would be dead without service to the neighbour.
We therefore have a Mission in regard to cradle Catholics who go astray: to bring them back to the Father. We need to understand with compassion that their apathy points to the role of their parents as “priests” (thus, faith leaders) in the family which is the basic church. And whether (a) they have done their best to imbue the love and peace and life of Christ into their children; and (b) whether untoward circumstances hampered such efforts.
My husband is a cradle Catholic who skipped church for years to play snooker. Yet I have seen the way God works to convert him ever since he joined me in the last few RCIA lessons. Truthfully, I never had to nag him for this to happen. I prayed, not very well, in fact, but I also shared with him what I learnt in class. He had never touched the Bible before but today, reads it daily. In fact, we both teach Sunday School at our parish and he loves bonding with the kids.
God listens and I believe it is to God’s glory that 2 silly sheep returned to His fold, not just one.
The point I’m trying to make is this: I think that your friends are waiting to be reawakened to their faith. And maybe you’ve been called in your own simple way to touch them.
The Bible states that the Father is more eager to find that one lost sheep than to know He still has 99 safe sheep. (Matthew 18;12-14). It also tells us that equipped with knowledge, we can admonish our friends and instruct them (Romans 15:14). Finally, Colossians 3:12-16 tells us how we should behave always - with compassion, humility and patience - because we too are humans and imperfect.
So while I agree one does not need to ‘say anything’ to chastise these people lest one appears self-righteous, I also believe it depends on what one chooses to say and how.
One good way to evangelise without ‘evangelising’ is to pray for them, as you already are. Another is to show them by example of your living. If your life is God’s message, then you are already doing your part as a missionary
God bless you and your family.
Leese, Malaysia.
C
CatholicChick
Guest
I must say what you said here was brilliant! It summed up what a real Catholic is in a nutshell!
Thanks!
L
LaLucia
Guest
Apryl, I think that you are too observing and critical of other people attending church. It is none of your business what other people do in church as long as they are doing what is right for them. You know knowing about them. That lady could have just confessed her sins right before she received holy communion. It was really none of your business if she had or not done that.
I was born a Culteral Catholic into a Catholic family and no matter what I have done in my life I have always been a Catholic in my soul. I have always felt it strongly in my heart and God has never abandoned me and never will because he told me so. I strongly believe in God and I am also a devoted Catholic who attends Mass every Sunday and I try to stay in God’s grace.
Nobody has the right to tell me how Catholic I should be because that is my business between me and God.
My advise is to just pray for us and keep silent on who you think is a good Catholic and who is not.
Please keep the stones on the ground because that is not your job to judge us Catholics. Only God can judge us and he is a forgiving God.
I was born a Culteral Catholic into a Catholic family and no matter what I have done in my life I have always been a Catholic in my soul. I have always felt it strongly in my heart and God has never abandoned me and never will because he told me so. I strongly believe in God and I am also a devoted Catholic who attends Mass every Sunday and I try to stay in God’s grace.
Nobody has the right to tell me how Catholic I should be because that is my business between me and God.
My advise is to just pray for us and keep silent on who you think is a good Catholic and who is not.
Please keep the stones on the ground because that is not your job to judge us Catholics. Only God can judge us and he is a forgiving God.
A
Apryl
Guest
I’m so sorry that I’m late getting back to this. Maybe that was a good thing!
You, of course have a right to your opinion, but what I did was pose a question. It’s my question, and I would like to have an answer. I would hope that those on these boards would help to answer the question, and take it in the spirit in which it was offered.
But it is important that what is done in church is not self-regulating. What I do in church can NOT be what ‘feels good to me’ and that be the end of it.
Which was why I posed the question.
You don’t see the judgement in your post? I sure do. But remember: God didn’t say simply to not judge… but rather, KNOW that the measure by which you measure others will be used to measure YOU. We are also taught to admonish the sinner… there are many more passages that tell us that to ignore the wrongs of others does nothing to benefit them, or us.
While you say you are a devoted Catholic, I would hope that your devotion isn’t set by simply your standards. If you are in mass every Sunday, I hope that you are listening to what is being told to you by way of the Priest in his homily.
Every one has stones. Some are used to hurt others. Others are used to build things. I hope that we can both build with our stones, rather than hurt.
L
LaLucia
Guest
Hi Apryl, you made the statement, “We are also taught to admonish the sinner”. What sinners do you want to admonish in your life? I am not interested in telling people that they are sinners and admonish them. If I see a crime I will call the police.
I will not judge people on their sins.
I will not judge people on their sins.
Q
quiet52
Guest
Exhorting someone about their sins does not mean we’re judging them – we are loving them and want them to be in union with our Lord. If someone’s shacking up with someone outside of marriage, for example, society tells us to “mind our own business” – and tells us we are in the wrong if we say something. But Scripture tells us not to look away, but to love our sinning brothers and sisters and encourage them to return to righteousness – to walk with Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
It is one thing to judge an action, and another to judge a person. We can remind someone we love that their actions are wrong.
Also, when we profess the Nicene Creed during mass, we profess that we believe in the “One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church” – we profess that we agree with all her teachings.
Same thing when we profess the Apostles’ Creed – “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church…” – part of what we are professing is that we believe that Jesus’ Advocate the Holy Spirit will continue to guide His Church.
It is one thing to judge an action, and another to judge a person. We can remind someone we love that their actions are wrong.
Also, when we profess the Nicene Creed during mass, we profess that we believe in the “One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church” – we profess that we agree with all her teachings.
Same thing when we profess the Apostles’ Creed – “I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church…” – part of what we are professing is that we believe that Jesus’ Advocate the Holy Spirit will continue to guide His Church.
A
Apryl
Guest
I take it that you don’t like what I said? What exactly is your agenda? what is your point?
This is my point: I would like to know what it is that makes a person a Catholic, and what makes a person not a Catholic.
If you have an answer, I’d love to hear it. If you do not have an answer, let’s discuss something else?
Can we do that?
L
LaLucia
Guest
I am too busy doing charity work to keep this discussion open. I don’t time to talk anymore. Peace
- Status