Posts Tagged ‘catholic’

Some Clarification on the Blessed Mother and Catholic belief

Posted: December 9, 2010 by datechguy in catholic
Tags: , , ,

I think this is an opportune time to instruct non-Catholics on Marian and saintly prayer.

Here is the best online summary I’ve found:

* “It is forbidden to give divine honour or worship to the angels and saints for this belongs to God alone.”
* “We should pay to the angels and saints an inferior honour or worship, for this is due to them as the servants and special friends of God.”
* “We should give to relics, crucifixes and holy pictures a relative honour, as they relate to Christ and his saints and are memorials of them.”
* “We do not pray to relics or images, for they can neither see nor hear nor help us.”

True devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort also addresses this:

14. With the whole Church I acknowledge that Mary, being a mere creature fashioned by the hands of God is, compared to his infinite majesty, less than an atom, or rather is simply nothing, since he alone can say, “I am he who is”. Consequently, this great Lord, who is ever independent and self-sufficient, never had and does not now have any absolute need of the Blessed Virgin for the accomplishment of his will and the manifestation of his glory. To do all things he has only to will them.

15. However, I declare that, considering things as they are, because God has decided to begin and accomplish his greatest works through the Blessed Virgin ever since he created her, we can safely believe that he will not change his plan in the time to come, for he is God and therefore does not change in his thoughts or his way of acting.

16. God the Father gave his only Son to the world only through Mary. Whatever desires the patriarchs may have cherished, whatever entreaties the prophets and saints of the Old Law may have had for 4,000 years to obtain that treasure, it was Mary alone who merited it and found grace before God by the power of her prayers and the perfection of her virtues. “The world being unworthy,” said Saint Augustine, “to receive the Son of God directly from the hands of the Father, he gave his Son to Mary for the world to receive him from her.”

The Son of God became man for our salvation but only in Mary and through Mary.

God the Holy Spirit formed Jesus Christ in Mary but only after having asked her consent through one of the chief ministers of his court.

That last part is significant. In the sermon for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception Fr. Bob noted that the Angel Gabriel referred to Mary as “full of grace” even before the actual incarnation. That is very important.

When we give devotion to saint we invariably ask the to pray for us. (just as a friend might ask you to pray for them). Consider the actual words of the Hail Mary:

Hail Mary Full of Grace the Lord is with thee, Blessed art thou among women…

Direct Biblical quote, no problem there.

…and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

That would also go without saying for any Protestant. No problem there.

Holy Mary; Mother of God…

Again simple fact. Mary is Holy, no question about that, and she is the Mother of Christ who IS God so no question there either.

…Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amem

Pray for us sinners. That says it all. We ask through this prayer that the one who was full of grace even before the Holy Spirit came upon her, the single person closest to Christ to pray for us.

If that doesn’t make sense I’d like to know what does.

Historic Catholic News: Marian Appriation in Green Bay Official

Posted: December 9, 2010 by datechguy in catholic
Tags: ,

Now this would be worth a trip to Green Bay:

A shrine in the town of Green Bay is one of only a handful in the world — and the sole location in the United States — officially designated as a place where the Virgin Mary appeared.

David Ricken, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Green Bay, announced today his official approval of the Marian apparitions at the Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help in Champion.

Ricken’s decision makes the shrine the first and only site in the United States of an approved apparition of the Virgin Mary. The designation puts it in the same category as other famous Marian apparition sites such as Lourdes, France; Guadalupe, Mexico; and Fatima, Portugal.

For those who are not familiar with Catholic belief. Such a finding means that the apparition is credible and not in conflict with Catholic belief. Belief is not mandatory for a Catholic, but such belief would be consistent with Catholic doctrine.

The Anchoress is delighted as was my mother when I told her.

Expect the media to pass this one by.

The fruits of repentance Faith and works

Posted: December 5, 2010 by datechguy in catholic
Tags: , ,

Today’s Gospel brought up an important point about how Christianity works

In those days John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea(and) saying, “Repent, 3 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: “A voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.'”

John wore clothing made of camel’s hair and had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. At that time Jerusalem, all Judea, and the whole region around the Jordan were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees 7 coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand. He will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” Matt 3:12

Note What John the Baptist specifically says in verses 7-8. Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. Good fruit, that sounds a lot like good works to me.

Just as important is verse 9, And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

If you look at the philosophy of Once saved always saved it seems to bear a great resemblance to this. After under that philosophy there IS no consequence for sinful actions.

And the consequences? Verse 10 makes it pretty plain. Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

This connects an action and a specific reaction. What I find so interesting is that this is pretty much what Christ himself says over (Luke 13:1-9) and over (Matthew 25:31-46) and over (Matthew 13:36-43) again.

One has to be careful when declaring their own salvation loudly. It is very easy to deceive one’s self, it is impossible to deceive God. Much better to always strive toward it.

Vigil for all Unborn Life in Worcester Mass

Posted: November 29, 2010 by datechguy in abortion, catholic, local issues
Tags: , , , , ,

I attended the event at St. Paul’s Cathedral of St Paul last night and the Vigil was incredible.

Three bishops, dozens of priests over 450 people from all over the Diocese and a first rate choir and spectacular music election accompanied a night of solemn prayer and adoration not only for unborn life but for the souls of those who have acted against innocent life, to wit:

Lord, you are love and mercy itself.

Draw all who have acted against innocent human life to repentance and forgiveness and heal them through an outpouring of grace

We often forget it is those who offend life and aid Abortion who are in fact in the most danger. Their actions end the lives of others but they also harm souls most notably their own. We should never neglect to pray for all those involved from Planned Parenthood and naral et/all for their souls are at risk and it a terrible thing to fall under the judgment of a just God.

I must admit I was shocked and disappointed that the Cathedral was not full. It’s not every day the Pope asks you do something. Would it have been that hard for Catholics in the diocese to show? My friend, poet and theologian Jim Marley (Who will be one of my Christmas Guests on DaTechGuy on DaRadio) has had cancer twice, is walking on crutches and is constantly in incredible pain yet he was there struggling to stand when possible and forced to sit when he could not. Where were the students of Holy Cross in Worcester? Where were the student and faculty from Anna Maria College whose president assured me two years ago that my comments suggesting they have forgotten their Catholic identity were incorrect? Apparently it is only remembered when raising money from the faithful.

Secondly I was surprised when I looked at the back of the Bulletin of the Cathedral of St. Paul in Worcester. There are 15 advertising spots. 3 are blank. How is it that the Cathedral in the 2nd largest city in New England can’t manage 15 ads in their bulletin?

I’m sure the media will give this story of people praying worldwide for life all the attention it gives the count for the annual right to life march, which is almost none.

 

 

 

 

Older Entries
Newer Entries