The church's word

[skipbeat]

"Philip ran ahead and heard the man reading the prophet Isaiah. He said to him, 'Do you really grasp what you are reading?' 'How can I?' the man replied." -Acts 8:30-31


Like the Ethiopian eunuch, we need the Bible. "Faith comes through hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rm 10:17, our transl.). Without the Bible, we cannot hear God very well. "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism, 133, St. Jerome). Without the Scriptures, we will not live our Baptisms (see Acts 8:35-37) and recognize the risen Lord in the breaking of the eucharistic bread (Lk 24:31). We need the Bible to open us to repentance and renewal (see Neh 8:8-9). We need God's Word to be healed, for healing accompanies the proclamation of God's all-healing Word (Wis 16:12; Mk 16:20).

Like the Ethiopian eunuch, we need the Church, "the pillar and bulwark of truth" (1 Tm 3:15). The Lord used the Church to write the Bible. Without the Church, there would be no Bible. Without the Church, there would also be no clear understanding of and obedience to "certain passages" of the Bible which are "hard to understand" (2 Pt 3:16). Because "there is no prophecy contained in Scripture which is a personal interpretation" (2 Pt 1:20), we need the Church. Therefore, even people as intelligent as the Ethiopian eunuch need teachers like Philip sent by the Church to preach God's Word (Acts 8:31; 6:5; see also Rm 10:14-15).
If you love the Word, you will cherish the Church. If you love the Church, you will cherish her word.


Prayer: Father, may my Easter season and entire life be a liturgy of the Word and a liturgy of the Eucharist.

Promise: "If anyone eats this bread he shall live forever; the bread I will give is My flesh, for the life of the world." -Jn 6:51

Praise: Seven-year-old Dorothy prays daily for the pregnant mothers she knows, that they may have healthy children.


(((Taken from: One Body; One Bread)))

 

[jiggyfly]

I wonder how Abraham heard God?

 

[skipbeat]

"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:8-10)

Perhaps if we have faith, and obedience like Abraham in today's world..we too can hear the word of God. Nether-less the scriptures are God's love letter to us and to know the Father one must also be willing to know his words. Just my thoughts but hope this helps a bit.

 

[jiggyfly]

Hey Skipbeat, my question was rhetorical in regards to your earlier statement "Without the Bible, we cannot hear God very well. "Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ"".

Abraham never had a bible because it didn't exist, yet he is counted righteous because of his faith.

FYI the "church" had nothing to do with the writing of the old testament.

Seems much of your post is propaganda of the Roman Catholic religious organization.

 

[skipbeat]

Yes I'm Roman Catholic and thank you for your opinion.

 

[jiggyfly]

Your welcome.

 

[David777]

Hello skipbeat.

Do you pray to the blessed virgin?

 

[skipbeat]

Yes i do pray to Mary and i do hope this isn't another one of those "there is only one mediator between God and man".

 

[David777]

Hello skipbeat.

Just wondering what you make of the following skipbeat?

Alfonsus de Liguori (1696-1787) was a principal proponent of the Marianist Movement, which glorifies Mary. He wrote a book entitled The Glories of Mary which is famous, influential and widely read. In this book, de Liguori says that Mary was given rulership over one half of the kingdom of God; Mary rules over the kingdom of mercy and Jesus rules over the kingdom of justice. De Liguori said that people should pray to Mary as a mediator and look to her as an object of trust for answered prayer. The book even says that there is no salvation outside of Mary. Some people suggest that these views are extreme and not representative of Catholic Church teaching.

However, instead of silencing de Liguori as a heretic, the Catholic Church canonized him as a saint and declared him to be a “doctor of the Church” (a person whose teachings carry weight and authority). Furthermore, his book is openly and officially promoted by the Catholic Church, and his teachings have influenced popes.

Pope Benedict XV said of Mary that “One can justly say that with Christ, she herself redeemed mankind.”http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/False Religions/Roman Catholicism/mary_worship_a_study.htm#_ftn10 Pope Pius IX said, “Our salvation is based upon the holy Virgin... so that if there is any hope and spiritual healing for us we receive it solely and uniquely from her.”

 

[Chad]

Yes i do pray to Mary and i do hope this isn't another one of those "there is only one mediator between God and man".

Why is the bible wrong to say this? Where in the Bible does it show that Mary can hear your prayers and respond to them? Where does it say in the bible that she has special supernatural powers at all? Its not in the Word, sister. Please think about it for a minute.

John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Its very clear. What you are doing is idolatry whether you agree or not. Its man-made tradition. I would know as I grew up in a traditional catholic family, went to catholic school for 12 years as well.

*** ARTICLE ***

Mary: Recipient of Prayer

Catholic doctrine commands members to pray to the virgin Mary:

“By asking Mary to pray for us, we acknowledge ourselves to be poor sinners and we address ourselves to the 'Mother of Mercy,' the All-Holy One... May she welcome us as our mother at the hour of our passing to lead us to her son, Jesus, in paradise.” Pg. 644, #2677

It is imperative that you know whether these statements are from God or merely traditions of men. Therefore, we will examine each statement:

• Asking Mary to pray for us: A tradition of men, not found in the Bible.
• Mother of Mercy: Another tradition of men.
• Mary is the All Holy One: A tradition of men. We've already shown that God is the only “All Holy One.”
• Mary welcomes us at death: A tradition of men, not taught in the Bible.
• Mary leads us to Jesus: Another tradition of men, not found in God's Word.

Please understand, Catholic friend, God never said any of these things. They are all traditions that came from the minds of early Catholic leaders:

“From the most ancient times the Blessed Virgin has been honored with the title of `Mother of God,' to whose protection the faithful fly in all their dangers and needs...” Pg. 253, #971
​

That people should pray to Mary in their times of trouble is another tradition of men concocted by Catholic leaders of the past and handed down to Catholics today. Never does Jesus or anyone else in the Bible instruct people to pray to Mary.

Who should we pray to?


The Bible directly contradicts the Catechism by directing people to pray to God alone:

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3
“And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” Psalm 50:15

When trouble comes, call upon God, not Mary:

“Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer... In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.” Psalm 86:6, 7
“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” Psalm 91:15

Literally hundreds of Scriptures teach us to flee to God when trouble comes our way. Not a single verse encourages us to pray to Mary:

“But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble.” Psalm 37:39

“O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.” Isaiah 33:2

“Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.” Psalm 41:1

Should you cast your burdens on Mary?

“Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22

King David prayed all through the day... to God:

“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17

The psalmist proclaimed:

“The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

In the New Testament we read:

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6

Who will you pray to?


God's Word says pray to God. Catholicism would rather have you pray to Mary. Again, one must wonder why the Catechism demotes Jesus and exalts Mary. It seems the Catholic church does not want its members going to Jesus for anything. Yet, Jesus issued this invitation:

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Either the Bible is wrong, or Catholicism is keeping you away from the One who is ready and willing to meet your every need.

Conclusion


Here is another critical decision you must make. Will you follow the Catholic traditions of men and pray to Mary?

Or will you obey the Holy Scriptures and direct your prayers to God?
“As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.” Psalm 55:16

Should we pray to Mary?