Why I'm Catholic

Discussion in 'Religion & Philosophy' started by Felicity, Aug 21, 2011.

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  1. Felicity

    Felicity Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    First: I'd really appreciate it if those who just want to say nasty things about others' beliefs because they think they are clever or are simply rude and crass individuals...please pass on this thread. All others are welcome--including those who don't agree or see things differently. Basically, I'm asking people to not be jerks. I'm also asking for non-jerks to wholly ignore jerks who might ignore this request. Thanks in advance.



    ~~~~~


    There are lots of reasons why I am Catholic--primarily (and in a nutshell) Grace--but one of the reasons is in today's Gospel reading at Mass.


    Gospel Mt 16:13-20

    Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi and
    he asked his disciples,
    "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"
    They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,
    still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets."
    He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
    Simon Peter said in reply,
    "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
    Jesus said to him in reply,
    "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.
    For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
    And so I say to you, you are Peter,
    and upon this rock I will build my church,
    and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
    I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
    Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;
    and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
    Then he strictly ordered his disciples
    to tell no one that he was the Christ.




    I believe that church whom Christ built is the Catholic Church based on the writings of the Early Church Fathers, and what Jesus said here--how it relates to historical Judaic beliefs and how it would have been understood by the Apostles.
     
  2. Ezra

    Ezra New Member

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    I can't make it to mass today. I am visiting family and just so happen I come down with some sickness =/

    But I agree with the statement I qouted. This is true. I love reading the Early Church Fathers because it gives proof the Catholic Church is not just made up out of thin air, which some seem to think.

    I converted to Catholicism because of the holyness and the spirit of the mass. The respect given and the glorious feeling.

    To say comepletly why I converted away and then back would take a whole alot of explaining. And not something I usually do. I see it as Jesus brought me back and opened my eyes. Once I came back my eyes opened much more to the truth of Catholicism and the Trinity. It truly is a beautiful religion and has helped me grow. But from studying Judaism, I can say that it is correct to say the Catholic church relates to Judaic beliefs and traditions, including some still used, such as liturgy.
     
  3. dixiehunter

    dixiehunter Banned

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    I will say this about the Catholic faith.....they are Strick and Firm on many issues....

    That's Awesome!

    And that I Respect, and Admire a whole lot about them.

    Thus, the reason so many have left the Catholic Church. They just cannot take the heat in the kitchen.
    The truth hurts....Guilty minded, self minded, hipocrits.
     
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  4. Bishadi

    Bishadi Banned

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    what i like about the catholic church is that the current pope has come to terms realizing he is the last Pope to walk the earth.

    Another part is the miles and miles of book shelves. I will ask nicely, please do not destroy the literature.


    i will await to mention what i dont like

    but to be fair, i was born into catholicism and have roots very deep within my family line. For example; there is a gold chalise that my gggrandfather donated to the holy cross (notra dame) somewhere. I did not see it on the shelves at notra dame's gallery of gold (a room to the left of the alter), but it has his wife's name (grandma) upon the bottom "kathryn".... (they did send me a copy of a ledger showing the donation as being true but they could not share were it is now)

    if any can locate it, i would love to hold it some day

    and if any want to see an awesome site, go to notra dame and look around

    someday, i would like to see the place as a shelter for the needy

    what an awesome campus.
     
  5. Felicity

    Felicity Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    That's the "Grace" I referred to. I "converted" (it's not technically conversion since I was Baptized in another Christian denomination) in my late teens and I had no idea what I was doing--but Grace made me stick to it (though there have been times I "fell away") and when I was ready, I was shown that I was given a monumental gift in my entering into the Catholic Church.

    I hope you feel better soon!:sun:
     
  6. Felicity

    Felicity Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Where did he do that? Are you referring to the Saint Malachy prophesies?

    No worries. Catholics like books.:mrgreen:
     
  7. Ezra

    Ezra New Member

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  8. Ezra

    Ezra New Member

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    Thank you. May God bless you
     
  9. Felicity

    Felicity Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I think there is speculation that Petrus Romanus wouldn't be officially a pope elected by a conclave...but anyway, the 111 pope was the last one listed and then Petrus Romanus was added later. There is no prophesy that says PR follows immediately upon the 111th. Also--there are a lot of blanks in that prophesy, and a lot of loose associations. I'm not buying it at this point.
     
  10. Ezra

    Ezra New Member

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    I don't really buy into the prophecy either. I think its interesting, and worth a look at a few times. Just like the Prophecy of St. Nilus.

    http://www.fisheaters.com/nilus.html
     
  11. Felicity

    Felicity Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Malachy numbering also includes anti-popes, so I'm not sure how it all works out as Benedict XVI is #111 ???


    I hear the St. Nilus prophecy is a fake--not around before the 50s.
    http://southern-orthodoxy.blogspot.com/2005/01/spooky-doxy.html



    I always quadruple check things on the net....




    .
     
  12. Ezra

    Ezra New Member

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    YEah I know. I herd, that is why I only see these things as interesting, not as article of belief.
     
  13. Anobsitar

    Anobsitar Banned

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    I took a look now because I was inquisitive. My result in short words: Bernard of Clairvaux knew Malachy and he said that Malachy spoke in his prophecies not about popes.

    Not to forget: I'm a catholic because I am born as a catholic and I hope you will soon feel better.

    http://youtu.be/Y4Jv57P_cyg
     
  14. Iolo

    Iolo Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Felicity - Sancta smplicitas and so on. The great thing is to keep from reading to much history or textual criticism.
     
  15. Ezra

    Ezra New Member

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    Hmm I never read what Berbard said. But will look into it anyway.

    Thank you. GOd bless
     
  16. Anobsitar

    Anobsitar Banned

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    Is this 'critics' and/or why do you say so?

    http://youtu.be/MAEIrp4MFBE
     
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  17. Iolo

    Iolo Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I have heard the arguments based on the Petrine text so often that it is automatic to me to ask whether - say - the Borgias were seen by Jesus as suitable to look after his flock, or whether, say, the destruction of Constantinople by RC looters was planned by God, let alone the Crusades in general. It is worth looking carefully into how the Biblical text was established too, and to ask just when certain bits got in. I quite accept that the Popes were inevitably human: my question is whether anyone who had ever read the New Testament seriously could regard most of them as Christian. And as a British person I know rather too much about the way they have historically treated us to be enthusiastic.
     
  18. Felicity

    Felicity Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I don't know what this means. Please explain with more context.
     
  19. Anobsitar

    Anobsitar Banned

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    I also did not read it - I just got this information in the German Wikipedia. But I have a very great respect for Bernard of Clairvaux. I don't think this so called prophecy is really important. A prophecy with a negative message is only interesting if it shows a way how to change the situation so the negative effect will not happen.

    http://youtu.be/HCTJeT2i9QU
     
  20. saintmichaeldefendthem

    saintmichaeldefendthem New Member Past Donor

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  21. Felicity

    Felicity Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    My response to that is that is is Jesus' Church, not the popes. Popes are men who are prone to the effects of sin as we all are. The Church, however, is something that is transcendent and is protected (as Jesus promised) from the "gates of hell" prevailing. That doesn't mean there is no sin in the Church (there are human beings in the Church, so no sin would be a foolish assumption). It means, though, that sin cannot win.
     
  22. Felicity

    Felicity Well-Known Member Past Donor

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  23. Felicity

    Felicity Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    I want to give them a chance to repent and reconcile. :mrgreen:





    Catholic in the broad sense--those with Apostolic authority through the sacrament of Holy Orders, agreed.
     
  24. Anobsitar

    Anobsitar Banned

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    Borgias? Sancta simplicitas? ... Confusing. The expression "sancta simplicitas" has something to do with a pure heart. Not the education of a person is able to make someone holy - the heart that is open for gods message is very important.

    Ah: You like to "criticize" the catholic church with a lot of negative energy. Now I understand.

    I know - there were lots of very young people very enthusiastic when they attacked nearly in a kind of war their own mothercountry England some weeks ago. All this people never had heard only a little about god and the christian faith in this country under the government of professional atheists. Afterwards all officials overreacted and the chinese government was pleased about the lots of extremistic and radical opinions of nearly all politicians in Great Britain how to reduce all freedom worldwide. Nothing new under the sun that the catholic church is responsible for every desaster in Great Britain. And if it is not the catholoc church then it is Europe. If it is not Europe, then it is the USA. If it is not the USA it is Israel, Arabia, India or ...

    http://youtu.be/gP-DYiJfw6g
     
  25. Anobsitar

    Anobsitar Banned

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    Yes - I would say it is very catholic in the best sense of this word. No one with a sensible soul who hears this - even if he is understanding nothing at all of the text and the 2000 years of history behind this text - will stay outside. It's like an open door - a welcome. A way from one side of the rainbow to the other side.

    http://youtu.be/K7IsLbtlj_c
     
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