REBLOGED from”somebodyloves me”

A Simple Path by blmaluso After watching the beautiful film about Mother Teresa’s  ministry and life, I was led to read “A Simple Path” to learn more about her faith. There is such simplicity in Mother Teresa’s total love and trust in Jesus that I cannot keep myself from being filled with the Holy Spirit as I read! I would love to share a beautiful  prayer with you.  It is one of the daily prayers that the sisters say each day.  May God bless you as you read:   Deliver me, O Jesus, From the desire of being loved, From the desire of being extolled, From the desire of being honored, From the desire of being praised, From the desire of being preferred, From the desire of being consulted, From the desire of being approved, From the desire of being popular, From the fear of being humiliated, From the fear of being despised, From the fear of suffering rebukes, From the fear of being calumniated, From the fear of being forgotten, From the fear of being wronged, From the fear of being ridiculed, From the fear of being suspected.   Wow!  Love is simple.  However, this completely selfless type of love and trust in Jesus only comes to our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. May God bless you and fill your heart with His love!

Purgatory: a Myth or a Fact? by Patrick Miron

Purgatory: Myth or Fact?

 Just a short time ago I responded to a fallen-away catholic, who wrote a post on his Blog [AS A FORMER Catholic no less], claiming that the Catholic Doctrine on Purgatory is not true; and just another lie taught by the CC.

 The basis of his claim lies in the fact that the term “Purgatory” is not in the bible and therefore MUST be another “Catholic invention”. 

Let’s first look at a few other terms that are common today, but which don’t appear in the bible: Which is by the way, a Catholic Book.

 Catholic

Protestant

Communion

Eucharist

Traunsbstanuation

Theology

Sacraments

Cardinal

Pope

Mass

Doctrine

Dogma

Pastor

Sinners Prayer & Altar calls

 And even the term “bible” are not found in Holy Writ. So that reason is clearly nullified. The Bible is a Catholic book, and the Catholic Church is a living, growing, and expanding entity. Not able to change the bible, but empowered to add new terminology that aids a fuller understanding. Mt. 16:18-19 “Binding and Loosening.”

 Each of these terms has a biblical foundation, even if by implication. But the existence of Purgatory is biblically grounded, and does have a solid biblical foundation, as will be shown.

 Why then do Protestants “harp” on this topic? Because it’s sellable! Because it’s not in the bible specifically, they seem to have some credibility on the issue. More so than claiming we Catholics “WORSHIP” Mary; which is also an error on their part. … And importantly because, in an absolute sense they must discredit Catholicism, in-order to gain some measure of creditability for their own man-made-beliefs.

 All lack of understanding stems from a lack of God’s grace; without which right understanding is impossible. This is further evidenced by the fact that unbelievers commonly deny realities that ARE in the bible; and are clearly, and precisely taught, but are misunderstood caused by right understanding being blocked due to diminishing grace from God. … One God, Faith and Church, the Eucharist and forgiveness of sin come to mind.

Because there is BUT One God; who logically can have ONLY One set of faith believes, and who choose only One Chosen people in the OT …  Leviticus 26:12 “I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people” & founded Only One Church. 

 Mt. 16:18-19 “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, {singular} and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.”

 These terms “binding and loosening” are terms of unlimited Powers and authority of Governance. Thus the church is empowered to create theological terms and definitions. John 17: 18-21 prove this quite clearly.

 Purgatory not being understood flows directly from one’s inability to understand [1] God; [2] God’s Bible, and the [3] Nature of sin itself. 2^nd. Peter 31:16-17 & 3: 14-17

 PURGATORY. {defined} “The place or condition in which the souls of the just are purified after death and before they can enter heaven. They may be purified of the guilt of their venial sins, as in this life, by an act of contrition deriving from charity and performed with the help of grace. This sorrow does not, however, affect the punishment for sins, because in the next world there is no longer any possibility of merit. The souls are certainly purified by atoning for the temporal punishments due to sin by their willing acceptance of suffering imposed by God. The sufferings in purgatory are not the same for all, but proportioned to each person’s degree of sinfulness. Moreover, these sufferings can be lessened in duration and intensity through the prayers and good works of the faithful on earth. Nor are the pains incompatible with great peace and joy, since the poor souls deeply love God and are sure they will reach heaven. As members of the Church Suffering, the souls in purgatory can intercede for the persons on earth, who are therefore encouraged to invoke their aid. Purgatory will not continue after the general judgment, but its duration for any particular soul continues until it is free from all guilt and punishment. Immediately on purification the soul is assumed into heaven. (Etym. Latin purgatio, cleansing, purifying.)”

[1] Unable to more-fully understand God’s Divine Nature, unbelievers fail to recognize God’s fervent Desire to be in a Personal Relationship with man, who alone can choose to [OR NOT TO], Know, Love, serve, Obey and Worship Him, as He commands. [Isaiah 43: verses 7 & 21] … God’s fervent desire, stems from a Divine Justice necessity to save as many souls as is possible, is missed because of other held faith- beliefs that seemingly nullify God having such a position. The nature of sin, and sin forgiveness, which effect God’s Judgment are also commonly not correctly understood.

Purgatory makes possible for Millions of souls [perhaps even Billions?] that otherwise are not perfect; but only “very good.”[yet die without unconfessed or unforiven Mortal sins, to in time, attain the Beatific Vision. {Meeting God “face to face.”}

1 John 5:16-17

BECAUSE God is perfect he can accept nothing less than a Perfect [or an after-death perfected] Soul in His Presence.

Matt.5: 4” You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”

Also missed is the fact that Purgatories necessity by overlooking that all sin has a secondary nature, what the Church terms a “public nature” /a “Temporal Punishment that all sin incur,”

because all sin hurts others besides the sinner. … God accepting only Perfect Souls insist that this debt be repaid in full prior to entry into heaven, and this debt exist even AFTER [and even IF] the sin has been sacramentally forgiven [John 20:19-23], 

 This is a bit complex, but the amount of repayment due to “temporal Punishment”, as well as our attempts to repay it while still on earth are concealed as Christ alone knows the amount of the debt, and the amount of credit He will accept and apply to this debt by our prayers, charity, and Indulgences. The Church exercising her Authority [John 17: 18 & john 20:21, Matthew 16:18-19] offers us the opportunity to MERIT  Indulgences  a separate topic and Lesson], that have the Power to wipe clean the debt completely until we sin again.

 [3]The last issue is the Bible itself.

 Lev.22: 21 “And when any one offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it.

 Rev. 21: 27 “But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”

 Mt. 5: 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.

 Matt.5: 48 “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

 Heb. 2: 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.

1 Cor. 3: 13-14 “each man’s work will become manifest; for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done if the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, [Purgatory] though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

 This is the short version. I suggest that we might think of Purgatory as a Sort of “Soul-Wash” that can perfect Souls who die in God’s Grace, but still have a debt caused by sin to repay. Only Souls that are Perfect; or that can be made-Perfect after death through Purgatory can enter into the Beatific Vision.

 God Bless you,

Patrick Miron

 

A succinct Refutation of Protestantism

A succinct Refutation of Protestantism 

In its simplest form, logic along with the God chosen term, ”MY” nullifies any and all Protestant claims of legitimacy as alternative faiths to Catholicism.  

“And Jesus came into the quarters of Caesarea Philippi: and he asked his disciples, saying: Whom do men say that the Son of man is? [14] But they said: Some John the Baptist, and other some Elias, and others Jeremias, or one of the prophets. [15] Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am?

[16] Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. [17] And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. [18] And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. [19]And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven. [20] Then he commanded his disciples, that they should tell no one that he was Jesus the Christ.”.. Quoted from the Catholic Douay Rheims Bible

…¹⁸And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. …. From the King James Bible:

http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/book.php?book=Matthew&chapter=16&verse=18

As a Catholic Apologist I have often come across Protestant claims that “the church did not make Peter the head of the Church,” or that Peter is not the “Rock”, or some similar position.

Eph. 2:20-22 “ [19] Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners; but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics {no longer without a home: singular} of God, [20] Built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: [21] In whom all the building, being framed together, groweth up into an holy temple {singular} in the Lord.[22] In whom you also are built together into an habitation of God in the Spirit.”

Let’s at least make the attempt to get past these common objectively, unprovable claims, and avoid there necessarily “defensible” positions and debates. Instead let’s apply “objective reason”; simple logic backed both by biblical accounts and secular history. Rather than being put on the defensive, let’s turn the table and become the challengers, rather than the defenders. After all truth is and must be singular per defined issue, as this one clearly is, and we Catholics have both God, and God’s Truth on our side. One might even ask: “if God did not give {“all of” implied}”the Key’s to heavens access to Peter” and the Catholic Church; to whom were they given? And where do they reside today? Certainly God could not have waited more than a Thousand years for the Protestant Reformation to make His salvation Truths known.

FACTS:

1. The Bible is a Catholic book. It was the Frist Fathers of the now termed “Catholic Church” that choose what Old Testament books would be included in the Bible. And it was Catholic Authors who Inspired and guided by God, wrote the entire New Testament. And it was Catholics who set the Canon of the Bible at 73; not 67 books.
2. All references to “church” or “churches” in every bible refer directly and exclusively to todays “Catholic Church” as no other “Christian” Churches or Faiths {semantics and heretics excluded} even existed until the Great Eastern Schism of 1054.
3. It is objectively indisputable that Christ, our God of the” Alpha and Omega”, the Great “I AM” {Exo. 3:14; Rev. 22:13} had but one Chosen people {Exo.6:7; Jn.13;14}, and this is “singular tense,” in both the Old and New Testaments.
4. It cannot be objectively refuted that Christ intended and in fact did found but “One Church.” … Note the explicit, precise term “MY” used in founding, in establishing His Church. Matthew 16:18; further this follows Christ own OT Tradition of just “One Chosen people.”
5. Both the Old and the New Testament’s, fully supported by historical data, clearly express GOD Teaching “MY Church.” … “Only One” … One God; One set of Faith beliefs; One Chosen people.
6. Even an “All-Mighty God” cannot hold contrary positions on singular-defined issues.
7. There exist no biblical, nor even an objectively provable secular justification for Protestantism which do, as they must; compete with God’s expressed desire for only One God, Faith and Church.

This is offered for reflection and discussion in a fraternal, and charitable manner. If you choose to respond, I will only discuss with written replies done with charity. I will not respond to any video clips.

God Bless you!

Patrick Miron

 

 

 

 

Awesome! From the “Somebody loves me blog”

A Love Letter to the World

October 28, 2014 by blmaluso Leave a comment

This morning as I was reading the Daily Bible Passage email that my dear friend sends me, this meditation touched my heart:

“I am poor and when I have nothing to give to the poor, I give them my soul, my heart, and my love, since love is worth much more than money offerings.”  –Blessed Piety of the Cross

As Christians, we are called to love our neighbor as ourselves.  We are called to look for ways we can provide comfort and hope to those who are in need.  Each person has a different  need…it could be shelter, food/water, clothing, employment, friendship, medical care, education, or a maybe a safe haven.

One need we all share, is the need to be truly  loved.

Each day, the Lord works through His Church, which is The Body of Christ.  We are His hands and feet…to spread The Good News of His saving love and mercy.   When we open ourselves to Jesus, and invite Him into our hearts, we become beautiful vessels of His Love spilling out onto a world in need.  When we are open to listen and hear  His Spirit calling to us, we will be led throughout our day to ways we can show love to each individual soul.  According to the blessings and ministry the Lord has entrusted us with, we learn to see the need and fill that need whenever it is in our power to do so,always sharing our very hearts and souls in the process.

However, there are times that we can not provide what is needed in the physical world, although we hunger to do so.  We must always remember that we have the light and love of Christ to share with each and every person we meet.  We have our hearts and souls to offer to the world and for the the world, through Jesus Christ.

This simple way of loving as Christ loves, can be clearly seen in the life of  Mother Teresa.  Only recently have I known her story, and my husband and I watched the film “Mother Teresa” (starring Olivia Hussey) last weekend.  Wow…my heart has never been so moved as to what it really means to love as Christ loves, and to follow His Voice in our lives.  The last scene of the movie touched me on a deep level, in the way it portrayed how the love of Christ is passed from person to person, from generation to generation.

I will leave you with one of Mother Teresa’s quotes:

“I’m a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world.”  

How amazing that the Lord would choose to invite us to be an instrument that writes His love letter!

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  Matt 25:35-40

³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”   Mark 12:30-31

Re posted from “A Catholic Working mom”

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Post : Lessons from the Joyful Mysteries
URL : http://danardoyle.wordpress.com/2014/10/26/lessons-from-the-joyful-mysteries/
Posted : October 26, 2014 at 2:24 pm
Author : danardoyle
Categories : Prayer

https://danardoyle.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/img_7229.jpg&h=199 Last Monday morning, after braving the Causeway traffic in both directions, I spent over 45 minutes on the phone with tech support regarding a computer problem. After nearly an hour with no satisfaction, I was beside myself. Looking out the kitchen window through the blinds I saw the wind blowing leaves from a maple tree into the pond. The dark clouds heralding the second wondrous cool front rolled in above the pine tops. Then I spotted it – my little statue of Mother Mary holding the baby Jesus in the back yard.

I put my rosary in my pocket, grabbed my comfy lawn chair and headed out the back door. I positioned my chair a few feet in front of the concrete image. Plopping myself down, I began to tell Mother Mary and Jesus my troubles. I spilled all of my concerns about my children. I told them about all of the things I had no idea how to handle. Still, the negative tapes continued to play in my head. Then, I pulled my rosary out of my pocket and began to pray. At first, I had trouble keeping my mind focused. Every time it would wander, I would open my eyes, look at the statue and center myself again. Once back on track, I would close my eyes and continue. By the time I had finished, I felt such incredible peace. My frustration was replaced by sweet serenity.

Since it was Monday, I meditated upon the Joyful Mysteries. As I thought about each one, I asked, “Mother Mary, what do you want to teach me through your life?”

As I pondered the Annunciation, I thought of the bold, courageous, faith-filled “Yes” she spoke to the Angel Gabriel – to God. She trusted God’s plan for her and for her child. She gave of her self completely without reserve – to be used by God for His Designs. Mary teaches us to trust the Father with His plan for our lives without hesitation. He made us. He loves us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. Who better to entrust the story of our lives to?

In the Visitation, Mary demonstrates love – a complete pouring out of self. Before Jesus was even born, Mary was putting others’ welfare before her own. Pregnant, and probably uncomfortable herself, she traveled a great distance to visit and to assist Elizabeth who was certainly having a difficult pregnancy with her advanced age. Through her example, Mary teaches us to prioritize our lives – God first, others second, then ourselves. Mothers instinctively do this. In fact, sometimes, we must be reminded to take care of ourselves so that we can continue to care for others!

Next, I meditated upon the Nativity. In my mind’s eye, I could see Mary swaddling her Baby in the recesses of the stable to keep Him warm. I could see her nursing Him, rocking Him and singing to Him – Mother Mary, attentive and gentle. She is not worried about what she doesn’t have in their most humble surroundings. The love she has for the sweet baby Jesus transcends their uncomfortable abode. We can put ourselves in this scene. Ask Mary to allow you to hold Jesus. Tend to Him; talk to Him; rock Him. Let Him know how much you love Him. Let His love envelop and transform you.

In the Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple, Mary and Joseph teach us obedience. According to the prescription of the Jewish law, they go to the temple to offer a sacrifice in thanksgiving to the Lord. They consecrate their child to God the Father. As parents, if we want our children to grow to be obedient and respectful of God the Father, we must model this from their earliest of days, just as Mary and Joseph did. We want to be grateful to God and generous with Him in return for His great generosity to us!

This last joyful mystery always plucks personally at my heartstrings. Once, when my oldest was eight, our family was in Disney World among the thick crowds lining up for the nighttime parade. My son was holding one of those light up spinning toys. Entranced by the toy, he followed another woman wearing a green backpack like myself deep into the moving crowd. It didn’t take long for us to experience complete panic. Our child was missing! Our party split up to look for him, and I was told to stay put in case he came back to the spot looking for me. He was gone for all of five minutes, but it seemed like eternity. Luckily a park employee helped him to locate us. I personally know Mary’s utter grief in discovering that Jesus was missing from their caravan. She suffered for three days not knowing where He was. Then, persisting in her search and in prayer, she and Joseph located Him in the Temple teaching the adults!

Where do we find Jesus? Do we recall that He is with us even when we are not in church? We can ask Mother Mary to bring us closer to Her son. She can help us “locate” him in the midst of our hectic modern lives. She will not fail to bring us into the safety of His Sacred Heart.

During October, this month of the rosary, I pray that you will rediscover the beauty of this meditative form of prayer. The Holy Family has so much that they want to teach us through the mysteries. May praying the mysteries of the rosary bring you God’s great peace!

Question: “How do we atone for sins?”

Hi Patrick,

How do we atone for the sin that we have committed? How does a none Catholic deal with this? How does a Catholic deal with this? I plan on official becoming Catholic this coming Spring but that doesn’t take care of NOW. If I die today, (crossing the street) will God take into account that I was trying to become Catholic and doing what needs to be done or will it not help at all? Do I need to see Fr. Edmond Kline, (Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Halstead) now and beg him to bring me into the Church today or can I wait till Spring?

Thank you for your help,

__________

You ask such beautiful and profound questions. THANKS!

Be at peace; the sincere desire to enter in the Church that Christ Founded, is in emergencies, the same as actually having accomplished that goal. So you’re covered.

Wait until RCIA, which is the normal, and required, manner for entry into the RCC. What I’m sharing with you is FAR more complete and thorough than what you will get there, even in a really good RCIA program, because in GREAT part I no longer have the time restrictions, the course faces. Usually RCIA runs from August {Back to School} to Easter, BUT the Pastor can change that schedule; even though EASTER is the best and most significant time to enter into the True Church of Christ.  … My program is a supplemental to RCIA, {that in my humble opinion; every RCIA member ought to take}.

Christ while on earth Instituted Seven Sacraments: {1} Baptism, {2} Eucharist, {3} Confirmation, {4} Confession /Reconciliation/ Penance, {5} Marriage, {6} Holy Orders, and {7} the Last Rites.

Betsy be SURE that Father Kline and the office {priest are super busy and may forget} is aware that you desire to be in the next RCIA Class. Just get a Sunday bulletin which will have all the contact information you need.

As an aside here: Once you enter into the RCIA program, please continue to ask me questions that may come up.

{A} -“SACRAMENT. A sensible sign, instituted by Jesus Christ, by which invisible grace and inward sanctification are communicated to the soul. The essential elements of a sacrament of the New Law are institution by Christ the God-man during his visible stay on earth, and a sensibly perceptible rite that actually confers the supernatural grace it symbolizes. In a broad sense every external sign of internal divine blessing is a sacrament. And in this sense there were already sacraments in the Old Law, such as the practice of circumcision. But, as the Council of Trent defined, these ancient rites differed essentially from the sacraments of the New Law, they did not really contain the grace they signified, nor was the fullness of grace yet available through visible channels merited and established by the Savior. (Etym. Latin sacramentum, oath, solemn obligation; from sacrare, to set apart as sacred, consecrate.)” From Father Hardon’s Catholic Distionary”. … Father was a Mentor to me

Five of these Sacrament’s hold the potential to accomplice in differing manners and degrees what you ask about.

1. Sin are forgiven in the manner specified and desired by Christ {God} in each of the following Sacraments:
3. {1} Which can as a Christian be received only one time. I assume you have been Baptized with water in the names of the Blessed Trinity? Mt. 28: 19-20 “Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.” And John 3:5  If you either have not been Baptized, it will be part of the RCIA Initiation Process. Father will ask you for “proof” of your Baptism and having mom’s testimony will be sufficient. If there are any doubts, you will be “re-baptized” conditionally {on the assumption that you may or many-not have been Baptized previously.

Sacramental Baptism removes BOTH All prior sins as well as ALL of the effects {“Temporal Punishment caused by those sins”}. So that if one should die after Baptism and have committed no further sin; such a Soul, being perfected like Christ can enter directly into heaven and the Beatific Vision.

 {2} Sacramental Confession/ Reconciliation/ Penance {all three terms while having slightly different meanings, apply correctly to this particular Sacrament.

Of all of the bible supported teachings; this is among the most critical, and most significant to one’s Salvation hopes, missed, not understood and wrongly treated by the Protestant community. And how very sad that is. Because Protestants presume a right not granted to them, and therefore not accepted by God** They presume to tell God how “H will” forgive their sins, rather than humbly listening to Christ Himself tell US how He will actually accomplish this task.

“Confession” This is the oldest and most common term for this sacrament which too was directly instituted by Christ. John 20:1-23 “Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples {Apostles} were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord, He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. {This means exactly what it says here: Christ gives to the Apostles, and through them His Church [singular] his own Godly Powers and Authority: READ Mt, 10:1-8 if in doubt} When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. [23] Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

Heb.5 Verses 1 to 6  “For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is bound to offer sacrifice for his own sins as well as for those of the people. And one does not take the honor upon himself, but he is called by God, just as Aaron was.”   John.15: 16 “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”

James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The fervent prayer of a righteous person is very powerful”

Matt.9 : 6 “But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he then said to the paralytic — “Rise, take up your bed and go home.” [8] When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. “  … See Mt. 10:1-8

Matt.10: 1 “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity” {both physical and spiritual}

Acts 17: 30 “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, [Jesus the Christ] and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.”

James 4: 7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind.” All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him”

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 Jn. 1: 9

Mt. 7: 21 “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.”

“I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD”; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin”. Psalm 32:5

“I confess my iniquity, I am sorry for my sin”. Psalm 38: 18

• The term “confession” refers precisely to the process that is an absolute need to confess our sins, personally and directly to a Catholic priest who has been chosen by Christ and empowered by Christ, to in HIS NAME, and with God’s own Power’s and Authority , determine IF ones sin ought to be, or ought NOT to be forgiven. It remains Christ who does it; BUT on the condition that the Catholic Priest gives God his permission, as the holder of all of the keys to heaven, granted to him by Christ, to forgive or not to forgive our sins. QUOTE: “When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: John 20:22-23 “Receive ye the Holy Ghost. [23] Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.”

“Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” James 5: 16

“Do not be ashamed to confess your sins”, Sir. 4:26

“When a man is guilty in any of these, he shall confess the sin he has committed” Lev. 5:5

he shall confess his sin which he has committed; and he shall make full restitution for his wrong Num. 5:7

“And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” Mt. 19: 17

Jn 20: 21-23 “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Heb. 3: 1 “Therefore, holy brethren, who share in a heavenly call, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession”

Mt. 16:19  DIRECT QUOTE: “I will give you {Alone ALL } the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

The term “reconciliation” describes the effects and benefit of this Sacrament. Man is reconciled with our God; our sins ARE forgiven and forgotten by God through his Catholic priest, so this then is the “KNOWN & ASSURED” way AND MANNER  to inner peace given by God to men who actually hear and then OBEY HIM. It is HIGHLY significant that in this teaching: John 20:19-23, that Christ tells us TWICE to be peaceful and assured: “Now when it was late that same day, the first of the week, and the doors were shut, where the disciples were gathered together, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them: Peace be to you. [20] And when he had said this, he shewed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.[21] He said therefore to them again: Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you. [22] When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost. [23] Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain; they are retained.” Jesus Christ does not mince his wrd; His intent, His ONLY Teaching on this issue critical to everyone salvation.**

• ** The Church, the Portal, and the ONLY portal of all salvation, as “all salvation mysteriously must and does flow through Her”; holds out the possibility of salvation outside her DIRECT embrace, to those who though NO FAULT {culpability} of their won, do not [or are not granted], the knowledge of Christ One Church and the absolute need to be joined to Her; the Catechism of the Catholic Church #’s 846 & 847; might yet conditionally attain their Salvation.
• The term “Penance” makes reference to penalty imposed by the priest in Confession to make us aware of the damage we have done to our souls, our relationship with God, to the Church and to society as a whole, as all sins have a “public nature” that affects others besides ourselves.

 In current times this is often very slight, and minimal, but sufficient to act as a reminder, once the priest is assured that we are truly repentant of our sinful actions.

 There is a “SEAL” of Confession that a priest may not under ANY circumstances, threats or promised rewards, reveal what is shared in the Confessional, without putting his own soul at GRAVE risk of eternal damnation. So serious is this that ONLY the Pope can personally override this; and I don’t think in the 2,000 year history of the Church that it has ever been done!

 While this sacrament DOES fully and exclusively remit ALL sins, it does not remove the “Temporal Punishment} caused by All son; attached to all sinful acts.

• This “Temporal Punishment” must then be repaid before one can enter into the Beatific Vision {Christ actual Presence}. This can be accomplished even after death; so long as the Soul DOES die in the “State of God’s Grace.” Meaning without the stain of unconfessed; and, or, unforgiven Mortal sin. John 5: 16-17
• “Temporal Punishment due to sin” is judged ONLY and directly by Christ Himself, who alone knows the amount of the debt, and to what degree He accepts payment thereof. So it is Christ alone who is the “bookkeeper” of this reality which nevertheless must absolutely be repaid to make the Soul Perfect; the necessity Christ sets to permit any Soul into His Divine and Perfect Presence.   

Lev.22: 21 “And when any one offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD, to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering, from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it. … Rev. 21: 27 “But nothing unclean shall enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”  … Mt. 5: 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny.  … Matt.5: 48 “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” … Heb. 2: 10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

The Church, holder of “all the key’s to heaven” is given the authority to make Temporal Punishment repayable while on earth through good works, charity, suffering offered up to God and Indulgences, which is a separate topic.

1. {3} Eucharist/ the Real Presence

       This too is a significant LOSS to the Protestant communities. The Dogma od the Real Presence, meaning that Jesus Christ in Person, is “truly, Really and Substanually present in Catholic Holy Communion [Also the Orthodox who have Direct Apostolic Succession, and all Seven Sacraments Validly; but NOT Licitly], are empowered by Christ and the Holy Spirit, to make Jesus Himself Present to us. This reality is testified to by Christ Personally and FIVE different authors of the New Testament: Mt.

Matthew 26: 26-28 “And whilst they were at supper, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke: and gave to his disciples, and said: Take ye, and eat. This is my body. And taking the chalice, he gave thanks, and gave to them, saying: Drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many unto remission of sins.”

MARK 14: 22-24 “And whilst they were eating, Jesus took bread; and blessing, broke, and gave to them, and said: Take ye. This is my body. And having taken the chalice, giving thanks, he gave it to them. And they all drank of it.  And he said to them: This is my blood of the new testament, which shall be shed for many.}

Luke 22: 19-21 “And taking bread, he gave thanks, and brake; and gave to them, saying: This is my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me. In like manner the chalice also, after he had supped, saying: This is the chalice, the new testament in my blood, which shall be shed for you.”

Paul 1 Cor.11: 23-29 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.  And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of me. In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me.  For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until he come. Therefore whosoever shall eat this bread, or drink the chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and of the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself: [to be worthy of the privilege]  and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of the chalice. For he that eats and drinks unworthily, eats and drinks judgment to himself

John from Chapter 6: 47-57 “Amen, amen I say unto you: He that believeth in me, hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, abides in me, and I in him.”

So it is really the denial of God Himself in person that is denied. That is not only a indescribable; discernable loss;  but puts there very Souls at risk.

This Gift of Christ Himself is:

FROM God the Father

Of God the Son

By God the Holy Spirit

And is the greatest of all possible protections against us sinning.

1. {4} “Marriage” and or “Holy Orders {the Catholic Priesthood} Depending on on’s Vocational call

If one is called by God to either of these vocations; God grants extra and special graces along with them to better enable one to live that vocation fully in accord with God’s expectations of that call. Additionally, special graces are offered to permit those to avoid and resist the always present temptation to sin. Especially those temptations associated with that vocation. Sin is always a freewill choice of man.

1. {5} “The Last rites”

Just as entry into the Only Faith and Church that is FULLY “God approved, guided and protected {Mt.16:15-19, John 17:11-26, Mt. 28: 16-20}; is given a means of necessary perfection, if one is to enter immediately upon death, into the intimate Union with Christ through the Beatific Vision; so too Christ and His Church, OFFER a means to leave this world, fully perfected and ready for heave for all eternity.  God’s Love and Mercy {the very reasons the Sacraments were instituted by Christ}, through this Sacrament of final anointing

James 5:14-15 “Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. [15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man: and the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.”

James 1:16-26 “[16] Do not err, therefore, my dearest brethren. [17] Every best gift, and every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of alteration. [18] For of his own will hath he begotten us by the word of truth, that we might besome beginning of his creatures. [19] You know, my dearest brethren. And let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger. [20] For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God. [21] Wherefore casting away all uncleanness, and abundance of naughtiness, with meekness receive the ingrafted word, which is able to save your souls. [22] But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. [23] For if a man be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he shall be compared to a man beholding his own countenance in a glass. [24] For he beheld himself, and went his way, and presently forgot what manner of man he was. [25] But he that hath looked into the perfect law of liberty, and hath continued therein, not becoming a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; this man shall be blessed in his deed.

[26] And if any man think himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man’ s religion is vain. [27] Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one’ s self unspotted from this world.”

James 2:24, 26 “Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith only?  For even as the body without the spirit is dead; so also faith without works is dead.”

What God was able to do “Justly and Fairly” in the Old Testament, can is no longer applicable to these New Covenant, New Testament times now under GRACE, {Romans 6:15} not only Law. Because God has given us SO very much more; He MUST expect more from us.

 Things like the “Sinners Prayer” and “Altar calls”, OSAS are all mortal men and quite recent innovations; NONE of which are God approved for sin forgiveness and hold are truly the possibility of ones’ salvation. Man CANNOT tell God how Hw will save them. Man MUST in humility listen and hear, and then ACCEPT and Do what God Commands. Amen.

 God Bless you,

 Patrick

Some thoughts by Mother Theresa

7 Steps to a Holier Life – by Mother Teresa

When we are stressed or feel overly burdened in life it’s usually because we’ve gotten our priorities out of order. Here are 7 of my favorite Mother Teresa quotes that will help. When read in this order, they are guaranteed to bring order and peace back to your life. Give them a try.

Step 1: Slow down.

“I think the world today is upside down. Everybody seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater development and greater riches and so on. There is much suffering because there is so very little love in homes and in family life. We have no time for our children, we have no time for each other; there is no time to enjoy each other. In the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world.”

Step 2: Make some room.

“If you are discouraged it is a sign of pride because it shows you trust in your own power. Your self-sufficiency, your selfishness and your intellectual pride will inhibit His coming to live in your heart because God cannot fill what is already full. It is as simple as that.”

Step 3: Open your eyes.

“Each one of them is Jesus in disguise.”

Step 4: Put great love into the small things.

“In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love.”

Step 5: Do not tire.

“Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired.”

Step 6: Remember – it’s faithfulness, not success.

“God doesn’t ask that we succeed in everything, but that we are faithful. However beautiful our work may be, let us not become attached to it. Always remain prepared to give it up, without losing your peace.”

Step 7: Leave the rest to Jesus.

“Be humble and you will never be disturbed. It is very difficult in practice because we all want to see the result of our work. Leave it to Jesus.”

 

– Radical tip: Give yourself 5 minutes each morning to re-read these again. It will change your life.

 

Here is a GREAT “take” on the ongoing Bishops Synod on the Family

Elizabeth Scalia had a posting on this on Patheos this week. I think a humane, loving idea (of God’s) – that we are flawed and only inch our way towards holiness – is being conflated with a completely different concept. Gradualism is the concept enshrined in George McDonald’s famous maxim: “God is easy to please but hard to satisfy”. He explains by describing the way a father is delighted by his baby’s first, faltering steps, but he won’t be satisfied until his child can walk with a firm step and run. Our Father in Heaven is pleased with every small effort towards holiness that we make, but He is not satisfied until we are truly holy. 

In the Synod, this beautiful concept is being perverted to mean that each person can aim for intermediate phases along a path to holiness, stopping to smell the roses for some indeterminate amount of time along the way, and get full marks for getting that far. For instance, we’re told that “cohabitating” (not living in sin, mind you) isn’t marriage, but if that’s as far as you can get at this time (maybe because you can’t afford that big fancy wedding you have your heart set on), well then, fine. That’s good enough. This is cruel and bigoted. It’s like telling a child from a poor background that he doesn’t have to take algebra, because after all, he’ll probably never need it anyway. What a crock.

 

So, as the evil one often does, he is leading people to sin by appealing to their own kind hearts. “See how they are hurting. Sob. Let’s relieve their distress by cutting them some slack.” The enemy is always quite content to use our kind instincts in order to lead us into perdition. The enemy cannot create, only pervert the good that God does. So, this is a case of looking at the great patience and gentle, persistent teaching of God and perverting it into a situation where couples are applauded for creating houses of straw for themselves. It’s crazy. I have no doubt it will be enshrined in their report. Lord help us

“Who is this Women?” by Matt Fradd

Post       : Who Is This Woman?
URL        : http://mattfradd.com/who-is-this-woman/
Posted     : October 15, 2014 at 5:08 am
Author     : mattfradd
Categories : Meditation

http://mattfradd.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/RNS_121112_Breastfeeding_4.jpeg

To believe that Jesus Christ is God, is to believe ipso facto that the creator of everything other than himself became a zygote; embryo; fetus (God the fetus . . . and you thought the infant of prague was weird), in the womb of a teenage Jewish girl.

It is to believe, to quote Augustine, that “Him whom the heavens cannot contain, the womb of one woman bore.” It is to believe that “She ruled our Ruler; she carried him in whom we are; she gave milk to our bread. ”

Pause your reading of this article for five minutes and consider the fact that God nursed at Mary’s breast. . . .

Who is this woman?

Hic taceat omnis lingua: Here let every tongue be silent.
Unique Relationship With Trinity
Your deepest identity, dear reader, is not your profession, nor is it your nationality, nor is it what anyone thinks about you save God. You are what you are before him and nothing else. Who are you? You are a son or daughter of God. One key difference between this woman and us is that she has a unique relationship with each person of the Blessed Trinity. Not only is she the daughter of God the Father, she is mother of God the son, and, in a profoundly mysterious way, the spouse of God the Holy Spirit.

Who is this woman?

Hic taceat omnis lingua : Here let every tongue be silent.
A Mystery
“What does it mean to be mother? What does it mean to be God? What does it mean to be Mother of God? To combine in a single phrase the most mysterious concept of the created order with the essential mystery of the uncreated (the one and triune God) is in a sense to confront oneself with the most startling mystery of “our theology”

Who is this woman?

Hic taceat omnis lingua: Here let every tongue be silent.
St. Louise De Montfort’s Prayer to Mary
Hail Mary, beloved Daughter of the Eternal Father! Hail Mary, admirable Mother of the Son! Hail Mary, faithful spouse of the Holy Ghost! Hail Mary, my dear Mother, my loving Mistress, my powerful sovereign! Hail my joy, my glory, my heart and my soul! Thou art all mine by mercy, and I am all thine by justice. But I am not yet sufficiently thine. I now give myself wholly to thee without keeping anything back for myself or others. If thou still seest in me anything which does not belong to thee, I beseech thee to take it and to make thyself the absolute Mistress of all that is mine. Destroy in me all that may he displeasing to God, root it up and bring it to nought; place and cultivate in me everything that is pleasing to thee.

May the light of thy faith dispel the darkness of my mind; may thy profound humility take the place of my pride; may thy sublime contemplation check the distractions of my wandering imagination; may thy continuous sight of God fill my memory with His presence; may the burning love of thy heart inflame the lukewarmness of mine; may thy virtues take the place of my sins; may thy merits be my only adornment in the sight of God and make up for all that is wanting in me. Finally, dearly beloved Mother, grant, if it be possible, that I may have no other spirit but thine to know Jesus and His divine will; that I may have no other soul but thine to praise and glorify the Lord; that I may have no other heart but thine to love Godwith a love as pure and ardent as thine I do not ask thee for visions, revelations, sensible devotion or spiritual pleasures. It is thy privilege to see God clearly; it is thy privilege to enjoy heavenly bliss; it is thyprivilege to triumph gloriously in Heaven at the right hand of thy Son and to hold absolute sway over angels, men and demons; it is thy privilege to dispose of all the gifts of God, just as thou willest.

Such is, O heavenly Mary, the “best part,” which the Lord has given thee and which shall never be taken away from thee–and this thought fills my heart with joy. As for my part here below, I wish for no other than that which was thine: to believe sincerely without spiritual pleasures; to suffer joyfully without human consolation; to die continually to myself without respite; and to work zealously and unselfishly for thee until death as the humblest of thy servants. The only grace I beg thee to obtain for me is that every day and every moment of my life I may say: Amen, So be it–to all that thou didst do while on earth; Amen, so be it–to all that thou art now doing in Heaven; Amen, so be it–to all that thou art doing in my soul, so that thou alone mayest fully glorify Jesus in me for time and eternity.

Amen.

Synonymous terms? “Redemption & Salvation”

Synonymous Terms?  …  “Redemption & Salvation”

The truth remains the truth even if no one believes or accepts it; and a lie remains a lie even if accepted by everyone. “  Cf. Archbishop Fulton Scheen

“Are you saved?”

This is the question so often asked by our Protestant Brethren. To their credit they desire to share the “Good News {the Gospel”} of God Almighty. But as Father John A. Hardon S. J. {my mentor-may he rest in peace.}, often quipped: “YOU can’t share what YOU don’t have.” And this dear friends applies even to those who are caught unaware of the biblical inadequacy of their faith beliefs ability to accomplish what they proudly proclaim as “God’s Truth.”

The Myths taught and eagerly accepted such as the “Sinners Prayer” http://www.bible.ca/g-sinners-prayer.htm; is but a recent innovation, made into a Doctrine by Billy Graham as he had to find a “quick and believable” way to save sinners within the timeframe of his radio and TV shows requirements, The Sinners Prayer was followed by another recent invention, caused by the same time restraints: http://www.biblicalstudies.com/bstudy/contempry/altar.htm

While in High School and studying the English Ligature of Shakespeare {more than 50 years ago} I recall a moment that has influenced my entire life. “TO THYSELF BE TRUE”, became the benchmark I have used as a guide to all that I would believe and accept. I  now offer that profound teaching to our Protestant Brethren. Please be open to God’s actual truth.  … Let us Pray! Our God is a God of extreme Mercy and Love; but he also has to be “just and fair.” No one attribute of God can, or has the power to make void, other Godly Attributes. And this dear friends is what violates what God actually wants, desires, taught and will accept for man’s Salvation. And it is this “Gospel”, this “Good News” that I wish to share now with you.

What you have been taught, what you have “brought into,” a correct term for “being SOLD something,” is and are mere man-made inventions. They are not God’s way, nor do they have the power and authority to accomplish what they profess they will. Many of the Leaders have taught this so long, and with such ardor, that have even convinced themselves that what they teach is true. It’s not.

Mark.4: 1-12 “[1] Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. [2] And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:

[3] “Listen! A sower went out to sow. [4] And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. [5] Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; [6] and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. [7] Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. [8] And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” … [9] And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

[10] And when he was alone, those who were about him with the twelve asked him concerning the parables. [11] And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; [12] so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven.”

Matthew 13: 11-15 11]{Jesus} Who answered and said to them: Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given. [12] For he that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall abound: but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away that also which he hath.[13] Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. [14] And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who saith: By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. [15] For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they have shut: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” End Quote

Father Hardon’s Catholic Dictionary

“RECONCILIATION. “ The act or state of re-establishing friendship between God and a human being, or between two persons. Reconciliation with God is necessary after a person has lost the divine friendship through grievous sin. It requires repentance on the part of the sinner and forgiveness of the “Mortal or deadly” 1 John 5:16-17} on the part of God. The willingness to be reconciled with another person is a necessary condition for obtaining God’s mercy”

 

Webster’s Dictionary: reconciled /reconciling

1 :  to restore to friendship or harmony <reconciled the factions>   settle, resolve <reconcile differences>

2 :  to make consistent or congruous <reconcile an ideal with reality>

3 :  to account for

 

“REDEMPTION”. “The salvation of humanity by Jesus Christ. Literally, to redeem means to free or buy back. Humanity was held captive in that it was enslaved by sin. {Concupiscence = a natural propensity towards sin} Since the devil overcame human beings by inducing them to sin, they were said to be in bondage to the devil. Moreover, the human race was held captive as to a debt of punishment, to the payment of which it was bound by divine justice.

On all these counts, the Passion of Christ was sufficient and superabundant satisfaction for human guilt and the consequent debt of punishment. His Passion was a kind of price or ransom that paid the cost of freeing humanity from both obligations. Christ rendered satisfaction, not by giving money, but by spending what was of the highest value. He gave himself, and therefore his Passion is called humanity’s Redemption. (Etym. Latin redemptio, a buying back, ransoming, redemption.)

{Inserted by Pat Miron} The freedom of the bondage, and damming effects of sin referred to here is the God imposed sin we know as “Original Sin” which can only be removed by valid Christian Baptism. John 3:5

Webster’s Dictionary: redemption

: the act of making something better or more acceptable : the act of exchanging something for money, an award

SALVATION. In biblical language the deliverance from straitened circumstances or oppression by some evil to a state of freedom and security. As sin is the greatest evil, salvation is mainly liberation from sin and its consequences. This can be deliverance by way of preservation, or by offering the means for being delivered, or by removing the oppressive evil or difficulty, or by rewarding the effort spent in co-operating with grace in order to be delivered. All four aspects of salvation are found in the Scriptures and are taught by the Church. (Etym. Latin salvare, to save.)

Webster’s Dictionary salvation

“in Christianity : the act of saving someone from sin or evil : the state of being saved from sin or evil  : something that saves someone or something from danger or a difficult situation

 

a :  deliverance from the power and effects of sin

b :  the agent or means that effects salvation

2:   liberation from ignorance or illusion

3:   a :  preservation from destruction or failure b :  deliverance from danger or difficulty”

 

From the Catholic Encyclopedia of Theological Terms

Salvation

http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/encyclopedia.php?lst=R

(Greek soteria ; Hebrew yeshu’ah ).

Salvation has in Scriptural language the general meaning of liberation from straitened circumstances or from other evils, and of a translation into a state of freedom and security ( 1 Samuel 11:13 ; 14:45 ; 2 Samuel 23:10 ; 2 Kings 13:17 ). At times it expresses God’s help against Israel’s enemies, at other times, the Divine blessing bestowed on the produce of the soil ( Isaiah 45:8 ). As sin is the greatest evil, being the root and source of all evil,

Sacred Scripture uses the word “salvation” mainly in the sense of liberation of the human race or of individual man from sin and its consequences. “ End Quote

1. INDIVIDUAL SALVATION

The Council of Trent describes the process of salvation from sin in the case of an adult with great minuteness (Sess. VI, v-vi).

“It begins with the grace of God which touches a sinner’s heart, and calls him to repentance. This grace cannot be merited; it proceeds solely from the love and mercy of God. Man may receive or reject this inspiration of God, he may turn to God or remain in sin. Grace does not constrain man’s free will.

Thus assisted the sinner is disposed for salvation from sin ; he believes in the revelation and promises of God, he fears God’s justice, hopes in his mercy, trusts that God will be merciful to him for Christ’s sake, begins to love God as the source of all justice, {and} hates and detests his sins.

This disposition is followed by justification itself, which consists not in the mere remission of sins, but in the sanctification and renewal of the inner man by the voluntary reception of God’s grace and gifts, whence a man becomes just instead of unjust, a friend instead of a foe and so an heir according to hope of eternal life. This change happens either by reason of a perfect act of charity{perfect contrition”& nothing less is acceptable} elicited by a well- disposed sinner or by virtue of the Sacrament either of Baptism or of Penance {sacramental confession}  according to the condition of the respective subject laden with sin. The Council further indicates the causes of this change. By the merit of the Most Holy Passion through the Holy Spirit , the charity of God is shed abroad in the hearts of those who are justified.

Against the heretical tenets of various times and sects we must hold

• that the initial graceis truly gratuitous and supernatural ;
• that the human willremains free under the influence of this grace;
• that manreally cooperates in his personal salvation from sin ;
• that by justificationman is really made just, and not merely declared or reputed so;
• that justificationand sanctification are only two aspects of the same thing, and not ontologically and chronologically distinct realities;
• that justification{MUST not does} excludes all mortal sin from the soul, so that the just man is no way liable to the sentence of death at God’s judgment-seat.

What has been said applies to the salvation of adults; children and those permanently deprived of their use of reason are saved by the Sacrament of Baptism.”  {Alone implied; conditional on either not sinning after the proper reception of Christian Baptism, or an external imposed inability to sin… lacking sufficient mental acumen

From the Catholic Encyclopedia of Theology  

http://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=9887

Redemption

“The restoration of man from the bondage of sin to the liberty of the children of God through the satisfactions and merits of Christ.  …

Redemption has reference to both God and man. On God’s part, it is the acceptation of satisfactory amends whereby the Divine honour is repaired and the Divine wrath appeased. On man’s part, it is both a deliverance from the slavery of sin and a restoration to the former Divine adoption, and this includes the whole process of supernatural life …   from the first {essential!}  reconciliation to the final salvation. That double result, namely God’s satisfaction and man’s restoration, is brought about by Christ’s vicarious office working through satisfactory and meritorious actions performed in our behalf.”

III. ADEQUACY OF REDEMPTION

Redemption is styled by the “Catechism of the Council of Trent” (1, v, 15) “complete, integral in all points, perfect and truly admirable”. Such is the teaching of St. Paul : “where sin abounded, grace did more abound” ( Romans 5:20 ), that is, evil as the effects of sin are, they are more than compensated by the fruits of Redemption. Commenting on that passage St. Chrysostom (Hom. X in Rom., in P.G., LX, 477) compares our liability to a drop of water and Christ’s payment to the vast ocean.  …

If It is true that; according to the axiom “actiones sunt suppositorum”, the value of actions is measured by the dignity of the person who performs them and whose expression and coefficient they are, then the theandric operations must be styled and are infinite because they proceed from an infinite person. …

From the adequacy and even superabundance of Redemption as viewed in Christ our Head, it might be inferred that there is neither need nor use of personal effort on our part towards the performance of satisfactory works or the acquisition of merits. But the inference would be fallacious. The law of cooperation, which obtains all through the providential order, governs this matter particularly.

It is only through, and in the measure of, our co-operation that we appropriate to ourselves the satisfactions and merits of Christ. When Luther, after denying human liberty on which all good works rest, was driven to the makeshift of “fiducial faith ” as the sole means of appropriating the fruits of Redemption, he not only fell short of, but also ran counter to, the plain teaching of the New Testament calling upon us to deny ourselves and carry our cross (Matthew 16:24 ), to walk in the footsteps of the Crucified ( 1 Peter 2:21 ), to suffer with Christ in order to be glorified with Him (Rom. viii, 17), in a word to fill up those things that are wanting to the sufferings of Christ ( Colossians 1:24 ). Far from detracting from the perfection of Redemption, our daily efforts toward the imitation of Christ are the test of its efficacy and the fruits of its fecundity. “All our glory “, says the Council of Trent, “is in Christ in whom we live, and merit, and satisfy, doing worthy fruits of penance which from Him derive their virtue, by Him are presented to the Father, and through Him find acceptance with God ” (Sess. XIV, c. viii)” End of Quote

Friends, I mentioned earlier that it is essential to one’s OWN Salvation; always a process, and never a single act or commitment on our part, to get careful and prayerful consideration to these facts of like; provable historically, biblically, theologically, logically {common sense: to thy self be true}, and Morally {God has to be good, fair and just}, and through the only Church that Christ presented with all of the Key’s to heaven and the Powers and Authority to exercise them, guided and guarded by Him.

Because there is Only One True God, there can be and is Only One True Faith. And Christ following the Tradition he set in the Old Testament of “One Chosen People’, continued in like manner to establish only One Church. That Church is historically, and biblically proven to be {again a common sense issue}, today’s Catholic Church{s}.  Mt. 10:1-8; Mt. 16:15-19; John 17:11-26; John 20:19-23; Mark 16:14-15; John 21:15-17; John Chapter 6, and Mt. 28:16-20, clearly, explicitly precisely, directly and exclusively to the Apostles through Peter. “As the Father sent ME; so too I Jesus choose to send YOU!” {Singular as is “Church” and “Faith” Eph. 4:1-7}… Evidence of the above facts.  Cf. Mt. 10:1-8; Mt. 16:18-19; Mt. 28:18; John 17:17 and John 20:21}.  It is morally impossible for God to have waited more than a THOUSAND years; for Wycliffe, Luther, Calvin, Wesleyan, Smith or anyone else to share the, what again must be singular truths of His faith. Another 

Almighty God in His Infinite Wisdom and as Man’s Creator, knowing well our propensity to sin, even mortally, unto death; exhibits prudence beyond man’s ability to comprehend, OFFERS man only two choices: Either I God am permitted to be in charge; or your totally in charge of your own salvation, having usurped my Authority over you. Do I God have the right to decide how you might be saved; or am I to listen to your foolish dictates on how I MUST save you. Think about it.

 

 

Ten Biblical Proof’s

1. Is 22:19-23: “I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open.”
3. 16: 18-19 “And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rockI will build my church, {singular} and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. {singular & “ever prevail against it”} [19] And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.” 
5. John 10: 1-5 “[1]Amen, amen I say to you: He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up another way, the same is a thief and a robber. [2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. [4] And when he hath let out his own sheep, he goeth before them: and the sheep follow him, because they know his voice. [5] But a stranger they follow not, but fly from him, because they know not the voice of strangers”
7. 2:16-21 “And might reconcile both to God in one body {means just one Faith and One Church} by the cross, killing the enmities in himself.[17]And coming, he preached peace to you that were afar off, and peace to them that were nigh. [18] For by him we have access both in one Spirit to the Father. {one set of Faith beliefs} [19] Now therefore you are no more strangers and foreigners; but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and the domestics of God, [20] Built upon the foundation of the apostles {singular}and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: [21] In whom all the building, being framed together, groweth up into an holy temple in the Lord. {singular}[22] In whom you also are built together into an habitation {singular} of God in the Spirit.”
9. Luke 10:16 “[16]He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that despiseth you, despiseth me; and he that despiseth me, despiseth him that sent me”
11. {Parts of} Isaiah 55: 1-11 “[1]All you that thirst, come to the waters: and you that have no money make haste, buy, and eat: come ye, buy wine and milk without money, and without any price.  [3] Incline your ear and come to me: hear and your soul shall live, and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, {singular} Behold I have given him for a witness to the people, for a leader and a master to the Gentiles. [5] Behold thou shalt call a nation,{singular} which thou knewest not: and the nations that knew not thee shall run to thee, because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel, for he hath glorified thee. [6] Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is near. [7] Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God: for he is bountiful to forgive. [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, saith the Lord. [9] For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts. [11] So shall my word be, which shall go forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall do whatsoever I please, and shall prosper in the things for which I sent it.” {singular}
13. Acts 20:26-30 “[26]Wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I am clear from the blood of all men; [27] For I have not spared to declare unto you all the counsel of God. [28] Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. [29] I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. [30] And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them”
15. Romans 1: 16-25 “16]For I am not ashamed of the gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first, and to the Greek. [17] For the justice of God is revealed therein, from faith unto faith, as it is written: The just man liveth by faith.{singular} [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and injustice of those men that detain the truth of God in injustice: [19] Because that which is known of God is manifest in them. For God hath manifested it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him, from the creation of the world, are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made; his eternal power also, and divinity: so that they are inexcusable. [21] Because that, when they knew God, they have not glorified him as God, {means AS He God desires} or given thanks; but became vain in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] For professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. .. [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie; and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” {Who do you choose to believe? Your pastor or your God?}
17. 2: 16-27 “16]From whom the whole body,{singular} being compacted and fitly joined together, by what every joint supplieth, according to the operation in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body, {singular} unto the edifying of itself in charity. [17] This then I say and testify in the Lord: That henceforward you walk not as also the Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, [18] Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their hearts.  [20] But you have not so learned Christ; [21] If so be that you have heard him, and have been taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus: [22]To put off, according to former conversation, the old man, who is corrupted according to the desire of error. [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind: [24] And put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth. [25] Wherefore putting away lying, speak; ye the truth every man with his neighbour; for we are members one of another. [26] Be angry, and sin not. Let not the sun go down upon your anger. [27] Give not place to the devil.”
19. Revelations 38:20 “Behold, I stand at the gate, [SINGULAR} and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, {SINGULAR} I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [21]To him that shall overcome, I will give to sit with me in my throne: as I also have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.” {Take note that each and every time the bible refers to “the Church or churches” it speaks directly of, and exclusively to today’s Catholic Church. WHY? Because no other church or Christian faith even existed until nearly 900 years after the bible was fully authored. “

A few final questions dear friend:

How is it possible for One God to hold more than just one set of Faith beliefs? It’s not! So then on what irrefutable evidence do you propose to prove that the faith and church you accept as the means of your personal salvation, is God’s One true Church, given the thousands of variant beliefs of Protestants and the fact that none of them existed until the 13^th to 17^th Century.

Are you now willing to take charge of your personal salvation the way God, and his bile and his one true Church desire you too? Pray much!

Patrick Miron