1. The Sri Lankan Christians killed this Easter are martyrs; therefore, they are all in heaven. A much better place than where they were.
It is this certainty in Catholic teaching that martyrs are surely in heaven that made early Christians desire martyrdom. The certainty that they are martyrs and, therefore, will go straight to heaven is proven by St. Thomas of Aquinas in five articles in the Summa 'On martyrdom,' and Origin's 'Exhortation to Martyrdom.'
The basis for their martyrdom.
First, they were persecuted or killed out of pure hatred for the Church. Evidently, the martyrs had done nothing wrong towards their killers. They don't even know each other and have never met each other. And their killers had no valid reasonable reason for killing them except for an imagined fantasy.
Secondly, the martyrs were performing a 'good work' as defined by theology; either corporal or spiritual.
Thirdly, they were persecuted or murdereded.
The first two qualifies them for martyrdom. The third is a further confirmation that they are truly martyrs.
2. Further proof that they are martyrs is that their persecutors would fall under those punished by God for such heinous acts as described in the book written by Lactantius 'The persecutors of the Church,' wherewith God would punish them with a bad death here on earth and eternal damnation in hell.
In this book, Lactantius gave a list of all the known persecutors of the Church and how they ended their lives here on earth.
3. Lenten Season.
The Sri Lankan martyrdom coincided with the Lenten Season ending with Easter. The circumstances are identical to what happened to Christ during Holy Week. Christ was totally innocent, but He was accused unjustly, judged unjustly and killed unjustly. But He rose on the third day, Easter Sunday.
The martyrs were equally treated in the same way. They were accused unjustly, judged unjustly and killed unjustly like their Lord and Master. And on Easter Sunday they arose in heaven.
4. Only God decides who will be a martyr.
Nobody can volunteer to be a martyr. Martyrdom is an exclusive club and membership is decided by God alone. Martyrdom forgives all past sins and is a sign of the highest degree of love thus martyrs don't even pass purgatory. They go straight to heaven.
All Christians know that, so many chose martyrdom as the surest way to go to heaven. But only to discover that they cannot be because they are not chosen. St. Teresa of Avila tried it when she was a young girl but was not able to go too far because she was not chosen by God. St. Francis of Assisi tried it too, and almost converted the sultan instead. No one can be a martyr unless chosen by God. Only God knows the state of the soul of men that will qualify for martyrdom. And it is God's direct Will to chose someone as a candidate for martyrdom.
Martyrdom is not a victory of evil over good. It is the way that God fools the devil into doing evil so that a much greater good can come out of it. The greater good is the spiritual growth of the true Catholic Church.
Christ is, of course, the first martyr. He was not martyred by the Jews. He died by the Direct Will of the Father. Thus so goes with the Sri Lankans and Nigerians. So when someone is martyred, it is because God has chosen them to die and go directly to heaven.
5. The Church grows through the blood of martyrs.
The blood of martyrs is what makes the Church grow in a time when no one preaches the right doctrine of salvation, like now. It is the only alternative to a non existing evangelization. This means, nobody is evangelising properly today, so martyrdom is the only way in which the Church can grow. People are martyred so that the Church may spiritually grow.
6. Non - bloody martyrs.
Red martyrdom is reserved by God, Himself, for a few. But there is 'white martyrdom.' We have to be martyrs, i.e. witnesses, to Christ. White martyrdom is spiritual red martyrdom in accordance to the words of Christ who said; 'unless you hate your life.' They are the 'confessors' in the Church. Monastic life is 'white martyrdom.'
So it is fit to describe certain people as 'martyr,' i.e. white martyrs. St. John the Evangelist is both a white and red martyr. The Holy innocents are red martyrs. Cardinal Pell had been aptly described as a white martyr. Archbishop Vigano will probably be a red martyr, courtesy of the Vatican.
7. Summary
So the Catholics in Sri Lanka killed by a bomb last Easter are martyrs. When they died they went straight to heaven to behold the Beatific Vision. The same goes to those Catholic in Nigeria and in many Middle East countries. They fulfill the three elements of martyrdom as described by St.Thomas of Aquinas and Origin. And their martyrdom can be reconfirmed if their persecutors die an awful death here on earth and if they are now in the depths of hell. The former can be confirmed. We can check the latter after the General Judgment.
Monday, April 29, 2019
The SRI LANKA martyrs, HOLY WEEK AND EASTER.
1. The Sri Lankan Christians killed this Easter are martyrs; therefore, they are all in heaven. A much better place than where they were.
It is this certainty in Catholic teaching that martyrs are surely in heaven that made early Christians desire martyrdom. The certainty that they are martyrs and, therefore, will go straight to heaven is proven by St. Thomas of Aquinas in five articles in the Summa 'On martyrdom,' and Origin's 'Exhortation to Martyrdom.'
The basis for their martyrdom.
First, they were persecuted or killed out of pure hatred for the Church. Evidently, the martyrs had done nothing wrong towards their killers. They don't even know each other and have never met each other. And their killers had no valid reasonable reason for killing them except for an imagined fantasy.
Secondly, the martyrs were performing a 'good work' as defined by theology; either corporal or spiritual.
Thirdly, they were persecuted or murdereded.
The first two qualifies them for martyrdom. The third is a further confirmation that they are truly martyrs.
2. Further proof that they are martyrs is that their persecutors would fall under those punished by God for such heinous acts as described in the book written by Lactantius 'The persecutors of the Church,' wherewith God would punish them with a bad death here on earth and eternal damnation in hell.
In this book, Lactantius gave a list of all the known persecutors of the Church and how they ended their lives here on earth.
3. Lenten Season.
The Sri Lankan martyrdom coincided with the Lenten Season ending with Easter. The circumstances are identical to what happened to Christ during Holy Week. Christ was totally innocent, but He was accused unjustly, judged unjustly and killed unjustly. But He rose on the third day, Easter Sunday.
The martyrs were equally treated in the same way. They were accused unjustly, judged unjustly and killed unjustly like their Lord and Master. And on Easter Sunday they arose in heaven.
4. Only God decides who will be a martyr.
Nobody can volunteer to be a martyr. Martyrdom is an exclusive club and membership is decided by God alone. Martyrdom forgives all past sins and is a sign of the highest degree of love thus martyrs don't even pass purgatory. They go straight to heaven.
All Christians know that, so many chose martyrdom as the surest way to go to heaven. But only to discover that they cannot be because they are not chosen. St. Teresa of Avila tried it when she was a young girl but was not able to go too far because she was not chosen by God. St. Francis of Assisi tried it too, and almost converted the sultan instead. No one can be a martyr unless chosen by God. Only God knows the state of the soul of men that will qualify for martyrdom. And it is God's direct Will to chose someone as a candidate for martyrdom.
Martyrdom is not a victory of evil over good. It is the way that God fools the devil into doing evil so that a much greater good can come out of it. The greater good is the spiritual growth of the true Catholic Church.
Christ is, of course, the first martyr. He was not martyred by the Jews. He died by the Direct Will of the Father. Thus so goes with the Sri Lankans and Nigerians. So when someone is martyred, it is because God has chosen them to die and go directly to heaven.
5. The Church grows through the blood of martyrs.
The blood of martyrs is what makes the Church grow in a time when no one preaches the right doctrine of salvation, like now. It is the only alternative to a non existing evangelization. This means, nobody is evangelising properly today, so martyrdom is the only way in which the Church can grow. People are martyred so that the Church may spiritually grow.
6. Non - bloody martyrs.
Red martyrdom is reserved by God, Himself, for a few. But there is 'white martyrdom.' We have to be martyrs, i.e. witnesses, to Christ. White martyrdom is spiritual red martyrdom in accordance to the words of Christ who said; 'unless you hate your life.' They are the 'confessors' in the Church. Monastic life is 'white martyrdom.'
So it is fit to describe certain people as 'martyr,' i.e. white martyrs. St. John the Evangelist is both a white and red martyr. The Holy innocents are red martyrs. Cardinal Pell had been aptly described as a white martyr. Archbishop Vigano will probably be a red martyr, courtesy of the Vatican.
7. Summary
So the Catholics in Sri Lanka killed by a bomb last Easter are martyrs. When they died they went straight to heaven to behold the Beatific Vision. The same goes to those Catholic in Nigeria and in many Middle East countries. They fulfill the three elements of martyrdom as described by St.Thomas of Aquinas and Origin. And their martyrdom can be reconfirmed if their persecutors die an awful death here on earth and if they are now in the depths of hell. The former can be confirmed. We can check the latter after the General Judgment.
It is this certainty in Catholic teaching that martyrs are surely in heaven that made early Christians desire martyrdom. The certainty that they are martyrs and, therefore, will go straight to heaven is proven by St. Thomas of Aquinas in five articles in the Summa 'On martyrdom,' and Origin's 'Exhortation to Martyrdom.'
The basis for their martyrdom.
First, they were persecuted or killed out of pure hatred for the Church. Evidently, the martyrs had done nothing wrong towards their killers. They don't even know each other and have never met each other. And their killers had no valid reasonable reason for killing them except for an imagined fantasy.
Secondly, the martyrs were performing a 'good work' as defined by theology; either corporal or spiritual.
Thirdly, they were persecuted or murdereded.
The first two qualifies them for martyrdom. The third is a further confirmation that they are truly martyrs.
2. Further proof that they are martyrs is that their persecutors would fall under those punished by God for such heinous acts as described in the book written by Lactantius 'The persecutors of the Church,' wherewith God would punish them with a bad death here on earth and eternal damnation in hell.
In this book, Lactantius gave a list of all the known persecutors of the Church and how they ended their lives here on earth.
3. Lenten Season.
The Sri Lankan martyrdom coincided with the Lenten Season ending with Easter. The circumstances are identical to what happened to Christ during Holy Week. Christ was totally innocent, but He was accused unjustly, judged unjustly and killed unjustly. But He rose on the third day, Easter Sunday.
The martyrs were equally treated in the same way. They were accused unjustly, judged unjustly and killed unjustly like their Lord and Master. And on Easter Sunday they arose in heaven.
4. Only God decides who will be a martyr.
Nobody can volunteer to be a martyr. Martyrdom is an exclusive club and membership is decided by God alone. Martyrdom forgives all past sins and is a sign of the highest degree of love thus martyrs don't even pass purgatory. They go straight to heaven.
All Christians know that, so many chose martyrdom as the surest way to go to heaven. But only to discover that they cannot be because they are not chosen. St. Teresa of Avila tried it when she was a young girl but was not able to go too far because she was not chosen by God. St. Francis of Assisi tried it too, and almost converted the sultan instead. No one can be a martyr unless chosen by God. Only God knows the state of the soul of men that will qualify for martyrdom. And it is God's direct Will to chose someone as a candidate for martyrdom.
Martyrdom is not a victory of evil over good. It is the way that God fools the devil into doing evil so that a much greater good can come out of it. The greater good is the spiritual growth of the true Catholic Church.
Christ is, of course, the first martyr. He was not martyred by the Jews. He died by the Direct Will of the Father. Thus so goes with the Sri Lankans and Nigerians. So when someone is martyred, it is because God has chosen them to die and go directly to heaven.
5. The Church grows through the blood of martyrs.
The blood of martyrs is what makes the Church grow in a time when no one preaches the right doctrine of salvation, like now. It is the only alternative to a non existing evangelization. This means, nobody is evangelising properly today, so martyrdom is the only way in which the Church can grow. People are martyred so that the Church may spiritually grow.
6. Non - bloody martyrs.
Red martyrdom is reserved by God, Himself, for a few. But there is 'white martyrdom.' We have to be martyrs, i.e. witnesses, to Christ. White martyrdom is spiritual red martyrdom in accordance to the words of Christ who said; 'unless you hate your life.' They are the 'confessors' in the Church. Monastic life is 'white martyrdom.'
So it is fit to describe certain people as 'martyr,' i.e. white martyrs. St. John the Evangelist is both a white and red martyr. The Holy innocents are red martyrs. Cardinal Pell had been aptly described as a white martyr. Archbishop Vigano will probably be a red martyr, courtesy of the Vatican.
7. Summary
So the Catholics in Sri Lanka killed by a bomb last Easter are martyrs. When they died they went straight to heaven to behold the Beatific Vision. The same goes to those Catholic in Nigeria and in many Middle East countries. They fulfill the three elements of martyrdom as described by St.Thomas of Aquinas and Origin. And their martyrdom can be reconfirmed if their persecutors die an awful death here on earth and if they are now in the depths of hell. The former can be confirmed. We can check the latter after the General Judgment.
Friday, April 19, 2019
THE 'MANDATUM' OF Maundy Thursday.
1. The commands of Christ.
To merit everlasting life, we must love God. To love God we must obey His commands.' This is the love of God that you keep His commandments.'
The commandments of Christ are laid down in the whole of the Liturgical season from Advent to Christ the King. It's first instalment is from Advent to Easter. The second instalment is from Pentecost to Christ the King.
These commandments are repeated during the three cycles of the Liturgical season, Cycle A, B and C. Perfect Faith means keeping these commands in mind and treasuring them in one's heart. So the zealous soul cannot forget any among the more than 80 commands of Christ. These are all found in the Gospels.
2. Summary of the commands.
But every now and then, after the Gospels enumerate a few commands, it summaries the commands. Today, Maundy Thursday, Christ summarises all His commands. He knew He will be crucified soon and will soon return to the Father, so He completes His instructions on what must we do to have everlasting life. And then, summaries all His commands into one command; the celebration today is referred to as 'mandatum' i.e. 'the command.' Here Christ gives a summary of all His commandments and reduces it into one command; symbolically to wash each others feet.
3. How Christ teaches.
Whenever Christ teaches He follows three steps.
First; He performs the command He will teach. Like in today's Gospel, He washed the feet of His Apostles. People learn better if they see the teacher perform the act He is teaching rather than just hear how to do the act. The example of the teacher is more effective than his teaching.
Secondly, He commands His listeners to do the same. 'Just as I have done, do ye likewise.' Christ tells His listeners not only to listen to the teaching but to put it into practice. To listen and to act on what they have learned. St. James wrote, he who hears a command but does not act on the command commits sin. But he who listens and obeys is like the wise man who built his house on rock.
Thirdly, Christ explains how this washing should be done.
Christ gave His apostles a command, to wash each other's feet. This is supposed to summarise all His commands and, therefore, if obeyed is sufficient for salvation. Christ said so in today's Gospel. 'If you wash each other's feet, you shall be blest on earth as in heaven.'
The washing can be physical or spiritual. Natural washing is what everybody can do; wash the feet. Christ was referring to spiritual washing of the feet of one's neighbour and this consist of three acts. The first two are for everybody while the third is for priest only.
We wash each others feet, first, by forgiving all our enemies, those who have sinned against us. Not those who have hurt us because they correct our sins or prevent us from doing evil. Our enemies are those who have sinned against God and against us. Secondly, by praying for our enemies. Forgiving our enemies does not necessarily take away their sins. We must pray for them that God may give them the grace to be repentant, which will forgive their sins. The third can only be done by priests, i.e. to absolve the sins of our the enemies.
The above 'mandatum' or command is a summary of all the commands of Christ. He who obeys this command obeys all the commands of Christ and, therefore, worthy to have everlasting life.
4. Added lesson.
The Gospel gives us this command; to wash each other's feet. The three acts that make up washing of our neighbour's feet are the highest forms of Charity which make them sufficient for the salvation of our souls. But Christ adds a lesson. Though Christ had washed the feet of His apostles, not all were clean. And here Christ shows His divinity to His apostles in that He knew the secrets of men. 'One of you will betray Me.'
Even after Christ had done many spiritual favours for Judas, still he betrayed Christ. How can this be? 'That Scriptures may be fulfilled.' The deeper reason lies secret in God's heart.
The added lesson is this; even if you forgive your enemies, even if you pray for your enemies, even if you absolve your enemies.......doing these will make you worthy of everlasting life.....but your neighbour might not still go to heaven because of his free will. Thus was the case of Judas.
5. Thus Christ concludes.
If you obey this command, you will be blessed. If you wash the feet of one with perfect Faith, that would be like washing, also, My feet. And if you wash My feet, then you have, also, washed the feet of My Father.
Remember 'washing the feet of our neighbour' is in fact 'loving one's neighbour with the highest form of Charity. Thus washing the neighbour's feet is tantamount to loving your neighbour, loving Christ and loving the Father......the requirement to attain everlasting life.
To merit everlasting life, we must love God. To love God we must obey His commands.' This is the love of God that you keep His commandments.'
The commandments of Christ are laid down in the whole of the Liturgical season from Advent to Christ the King. It's first instalment is from Advent to Easter. The second instalment is from Pentecost to Christ the King.
These commandments are repeated during the three cycles of the Liturgical season, Cycle A, B and C. Perfect Faith means keeping these commands in mind and treasuring them in one's heart. So the zealous soul cannot forget any among the more than 80 commands of Christ. These are all found in the Gospels.
2. Summary of the commands.
But every now and then, after the Gospels enumerate a few commands, it summaries the commands. Today, Maundy Thursday, Christ summarises all His commands. He knew He will be crucified soon and will soon return to the Father, so He completes His instructions on what must we do to have everlasting life. And then, summaries all His commands into one command; the celebration today is referred to as 'mandatum' i.e. 'the command.' Here Christ gives a summary of all His commandments and reduces it into one command; symbolically to wash each others feet.
3. How Christ teaches.
Whenever Christ teaches He follows three steps.
First; He performs the command He will teach. Like in today's Gospel, He washed the feet of His Apostles. People learn better if they see the teacher perform the act He is teaching rather than just hear how to do the act. The example of the teacher is more effective than his teaching.
Secondly, He commands His listeners to do the same. 'Just as I have done, do ye likewise.' Christ tells His listeners not only to listen to the teaching but to put it into practice. To listen and to act on what they have learned. St. James wrote, he who hears a command but does not act on the command commits sin. But he who listens and obeys is like the wise man who built his house on rock.
Thirdly, Christ explains how this washing should be done.
Christ gave His apostles a command, to wash each other's feet. This is supposed to summarise all His commands and, therefore, if obeyed is sufficient for salvation. Christ said so in today's Gospel. 'If you wash each other's feet, you shall be blest on earth as in heaven.'
The washing can be physical or spiritual. Natural washing is what everybody can do; wash the feet. Christ was referring to spiritual washing of the feet of one's neighbour and this consist of three acts. The first two are for everybody while the third is for priest only.
We wash each others feet, first, by forgiving all our enemies, those who have sinned against us. Not those who have hurt us because they correct our sins or prevent us from doing evil. Our enemies are those who have sinned against God and against us. Secondly, by praying for our enemies. Forgiving our enemies does not necessarily take away their sins. We must pray for them that God may give them the grace to be repentant, which will forgive their sins. The third can only be done by priests, i.e. to absolve the sins of our the enemies.
The above 'mandatum' or command is a summary of all the commands of Christ. He who obeys this command obeys all the commands of Christ and, therefore, worthy to have everlasting life.
4. Added lesson.
The Gospel gives us this command; to wash each other's feet. The three acts that make up washing of our neighbour's feet are the highest forms of Charity which make them sufficient for the salvation of our souls. But Christ adds a lesson. Though Christ had washed the feet of His apostles, not all were clean. And here Christ shows His divinity to His apostles in that He knew the secrets of men. 'One of you will betray Me.'
Even after Christ had done many spiritual favours for Judas, still he betrayed Christ. How can this be? 'That Scriptures may be fulfilled.' The deeper reason lies secret in God's heart.
The added lesson is this; even if you forgive your enemies, even if you pray for your enemies, even if you absolve your enemies.......doing these will make you worthy of everlasting life.....but your neighbour might not still go to heaven because of his free will. Thus was the case of Judas.
5. Thus Christ concludes.
If you obey this command, you will be blessed. If you wash the feet of one with perfect Faith, that would be like washing, also, My feet. And if you wash My feet, then you have, also, washed the feet of My Father.
Remember 'washing the feet of our neighbour' is in fact 'loving one's neighbour with the highest form of Charity. Thus washing the neighbour's feet is tantamount to loving your neighbour, loving Christ and loving the Father......the requirement to attain everlasting life.
THE 'MANDATUM' OF Maundy Thursday.
1. The commands of Christ.
To merit everlasting life, we must love God. To love God we must obey His commands.' This is the love of God that you keep His commandments.'
The commandments of Christ are laid down in the whole of the Liturgical season from Advent to Christ the King. It's first instalment is from Advent to Easter. The second instalment is from Pentecost to Christ the King.
These commandments are repeated during the three cycles of the Liturgical season, Cycle A, B and C. Perfect Faith means keeping these commands in mind and treasuring them in one's heart. So the zealous soul cannot forget any among the more than 80 commands of Christ. These are all found in the Gospels.
2. Summary of the commands.
But every now and then, after the Gospels enumerate a few commands, it summaries the commands. Today, Maundy Thursday, Christ summarises all His commands. He knew He will be crucified soon and will soon return to the Father, so He completes His instructions on what must we do to have everlasting life. And then, summaries all His commands into one command; the celebration today is referred to as 'mandatum' i.e. 'the command.' Here Christ gives a summary of all His commandments and reduces it into one command; symbolically to wash each others feet.
3. How Christ teaches.
Whenever Christ teaches He follows three steps.
First; He performs the command He will teach. Like in today's Gospel, He washed the feet of His Apostles. People learn better if they see the teacher perform the act He is teaching rather than just hear how to do the act. The example of the teacher is more effective than his teaching.
Secondly, He commands His listeners to do the same. 'Just as I have done, do ye likewise.' Christ tells His listeners not only to listen to the teaching but to put it into practice. To listen and to act on what they have learned. St. James wrote, he who hears a command but does not act on the command commits sin. But he who listens and obeys is like the wise man who built his house on rock.
Thirdly, Christ explains how this washing should be done.
Christ gave His apostles a command, to wash each other's feet. This is supposed to summarise all His commands and, therefore, if obeyed is sufficient for salvation. Christ said so in today's Gospel. 'If you wash each other's feet, you shall be blest on earth as in heaven.'
The washing can be physical or spiritual. Natural washing is what everybody can do; wash the feet. Christ was referring to spiritual washing of the feet of one's neighbour and this consist of three acts. The first two are for everybody while the third is for priest only.
We wash each others feet, first, by forgiving all our enemies, those who have sinned against us. Not those who have hurt us because they correct our sins or prevent us from doing evil. Our enemies are those who have sinned against God and against us. Secondly, by praying for our enemies. Forgiving our enemies does not necessarily take away their sins. We must pray for them that God may give them the grace to be repentant, which will forgive their sins. The third can only be done by priests, i.e. to absolve the sins of our the enemies.
The above 'mandatum' or command is a summary of all the commands of Christ. He who obeys this command obeys all the commands of Christ and, therefore, worthy to have everlasting life.
4. Added lesson.
The Gospel gives us this command; to wash each other's feet. The three acts that make up washing of our neighbour's feet are the highest forms of Charity which make them sufficient for the salvation of our souls. But Christ adds a lesson. Though Christ had washed the feet of His apostles, not all were clean. And here Christ shows His divinity to His apostles in that He knew the secrets of men. 'One of you will betray Me.'
Even after Christ had done many spiritual favours for Judas, still he betrayed Christ. How can this be? 'That Scriptures may be fulfilled.' The deeper reason lies secret in God's heart.
The added lesson is this; even if you forgive your enemies, even if you pray for your enemies, even if you absolve your enemies.......doing these will make you worthy of everlasting life.....but your neighbour might not still go to heaven because of his free will. Thus was the case of Judas.
5. Thus Christ concludes.
If you obey this command, you will be blessed. If you wash the feet of one with perfect Faith, that would be like washing, also, My feet. And if you wash My feet, then you have, also, washed the feet of My Father.
Remember 'washing the feet of our neighbour' is in fact 'loving one's neighbour with the highest form of Charity. Thus washing the neighbour's feet is tantamount to loving your neighbour, loving Christ and loving the Father......the requirement to attain everlasting life.
To merit everlasting life, we must love God. To love God we must obey His commands.' This is the love of God that you keep His commandments.'
The commandments of Christ are laid down in the whole of the Liturgical season from Advent to Christ the King. It's first instalment is from Advent to Easter. The second instalment is from Pentecost to Christ the King.
These commandments are repeated during the three cycles of the Liturgical season, Cycle A, B and C. Perfect Faith means keeping these commands in mind and treasuring them in one's heart. So the zealous soul cannot forget any among the more than 80 commands of Christ. These are all found in the Gospels.
2. Summary of the commands.
But every now and then, after the Gospels enumerate a few commands, it summaries the commands. Today, Maundy Thursday, Christ summarises all His commands. He knew He will be crucified soon and will soon return to the Father, so He completes His instructions on what must we do to have everlasting life. And then, summaries all His commands into one command; the celebration today is referred to as 'mandatum' i.e. 'the command.' Here Christ gives a summary of all His commandments and reduces it into one command; symbolically to wash each others feet.
3. How Christ teaches.
Whenever Christ teaches He follows three steps.
First; He performs the command He will teach. Like in today's Gospel, He washed the feet of His Apostles. People learn better if they see the teacher perform the act He is teaching rather than just hear how to do the act. The example of the teacher is more effective than his teaching.
Secondly, He commands His listeners to do the same. 'Just as I have done, do ye likewise.' Christ tells His listeners not only to listen to the teaching but to put it into practice. To listen and to act on what they have learned. St. James wrote, he who hears a command but does not act on the command commits sin. But he who listens and obeys is like the wise man who built his house on rock.
Thirdly, Christ explains how this washing should be done.
Christ gave His apostles a command, to wash each other's feet. This is supposed to summarise all His commands and, therefore, if obeyed is sufficient for salvation. Christ said so in today's Gospel. 'If you wash each other's feet, you shall be blest on earth as in heaven.'
The washing can be physical or spiritual. Natural washing is what everybody can do; wash the feet. Christ was referring to spiritual washing of the feet of one's neighbour and this consist of three acts. The first two are for everybody while the third is for priest only.
We wash each others feet, first, by forgiving all our enemies, those who have sinned against us. Not those who have hurt us because they correct our sins or prevent us from doing evil. Our enemies are those who have sinned against God and against us. Secondly, by praying for our enemies. Forgiving our enemies does not necessarily take away their sins. We must pray for them that God may give them the grace to be repentant, which will forgive their sins. The third can only be done by priests, i.e. to absolve the sins of our the enemies.
The above 'mandatum' or command is a summary of all the commands of Christ. He who obeys this command obeys all the commands of Christ and, therefore, worthy to have everlasting life.
4. Added lesson.
The Gospel gives us this command; to wash each other's feet. The three acts that make up washing of our neighbour's feet are the highest forms of Charity which make them sufficient for the salvation of our souls. But Christ adds a lesson. Though Christ had washed the feet of His apostles, not all were clean. And here Christ shows His divinity to His apostles in that He knew the secrets of men. 'One of you will betray Me.'
Even after Christ had done many spiritual favours for Judas, still he betrayed Christ. How can this be? 'That Scriptures may be fulfilled.' The deeper reason lies secret in God's heart.
The added lesson is this; even if you forgive your enemies, even if you pray for your enemies, even if you absolve your enemies.......doing these will make you worthy of everlasting life.....but your neighbour might not still go to heaven because of his free will. Thus was the case of Judas.
5. Thus Christ concludes.
If you obey this command, you will be blessed. If you wash the feet of one with perfect Faith, that would be like washing, also, My feet. And if you wash My feet, then you have, also, washed the feet of My Father.
Remember 'washing the feet of our neighbour' is in fact 'loving one's neighbour with the highest form of Charity. Thus washing the neighbour's feet is tantamount to loving your neighbour, loving Christ and loving the Father......the requirement to attain everlasting life.
Monday, April 08, 2019
5th SUNDAY of LENT. -- JUSTICE and MERCY -The Woman caught in adultery.
1. The word 'mercy' have been over used these days.
A book on 'Mercy' was written by Cardinal Kasper. Bergoglio had started a new church of 'mercy' described in his book. Everything is done because of 'mercy.' We have the devotion on 'Divine Mercy.' And we have that now popular phrase 'who are we to judge,' demanding that mercy be shown to gays. There are missionaries of mercy who will absolve serious sin even if there is no repentance.
The only thing wrong about it is that the word is wrongly defined and used erroneously. Though using the word 'mercy' they really mean a thousand other things, instead.
2. Mercy according to St. Thomas of Aquinas.
St. Thomas wrote that Justice and mercy must always go hand in hand; because mercy is a part of justice and, is in fact, the perfection of justice. Mercy cannot be separated from Justice because justice without mercy is great injustice, while mercy without justice is great unmercifulness or pure hatred.
We shall put aside describing these two virtues and concentrate on the necessity that these two virtues must always be together otherwise it is no virtue but a terrible vice.
Separate the two and you will have neither justice nor mercy.
3. God's actions
St. Thomas wrote that God's actions always contained the elements of justice and mercy; from His creation of nature to his creation of man. He, also, wants all men to see to it that their actions contain the elements of justice and mercy all the time. And this is the lesson learned in today's Gospel.
4. The sinful woman.
The Lenten season reminds us of two Gospel persons; one the publican who prayed well and the sinful woman about to be stoned by the Jews. Both are presented to us by the Liturgy for our imitation because of their act of repentance.
While the Liturgy presents to us the example of the publican in his right attitude while praying, the story of the sinful woman teachers us the importance of justice and mercy in Christ that we must imitate in dealing with the sins of our neighbours.
5. Christ is just and merciful.
The statement 'whom am I to judge,' has become so popular we see it printed in T-shirts in New York that people think it is a Gospel verse. Well, no. Christ would never say such a thing, as the Gospel for today shows. Let us see what Christ would have said if He were in that plane.
6. Christ acts, first, with justice and, then, with mercy.
The Pharisees have never learned from their past lessons, and so were trying to trap Christ to say something like 'whom am I to judge,' since Christ was known to the crowd as 'merciful.' The Scribes and the Pharisee never really knew Christ. They never knew Him because they never believed in Him.
Christ acts with justice. They presented a woman caught in adultery before a crowd and asked Christ; Moses commands that she should be stoned to death. What do you say? And Christ looked at the Pharisees and demanded Justice. He said justly; 'the law says she must be stoned to death, go ahead and stone her.
Christ acts with mercy. Christ did not come to destroy and kill. He came to save by giving life. So Christ immediately adds mercy to His justice and says; 'but let him who is without sin cast the first stone.' He acted with mercy towards the woman.
7. He writes on the ground with his fingers. A moment of retreat for repentance. Now, Christ acts with justice and mercy towards the Pharisees and the crowd. With justice by demanding that they repent. With mercy, by letting go unpunished.
Many have been wondering what He wrote. Really nothing. He was freezing the ball, giving the Pharisees and the crowd time to go into their souls to see that they, also have sinned, and probably have committed greater sins than the woman before them. His writing on the ground was a way of telling them; 'take your time to repent and, when you are through, go away.' And true enough, they all left one by one starting with the eldest, who probably have committed the most serious sins. They had repented, and went away unpunished; which is the lesson of Lent.
8. The trap. Mercy without justice as taught in the plane. And which the Pharisee hoped Christ would answer.
The Pharisee were expecting Christ to say; 'whom am I to judge? No, let her go to continue to do what she wants. God is kind and will always forgive her. God is so good He will never send her to hell. In fact, God is so merciful He might even abolish hell. St. Thomas writes that this is not mercy and this is what a heretic would say. Proof? Christ did not say these. He said what a God would say.
The Scribes and the Pharisee were hoping to accuse Christ for going against the Law by saying the above. All the above is in truth going against the Law of God. And that would be the end of Christ.
If on the other hand Christ say, 'go and stone her to death.' Then Christ would appear very cruel and that, also, will be His end as the Saviour of mankind.
He did neither. He would never do both because He is just and merciful at the same time. And God will not say neither of the above. The statement 'whom am I to judge' can only come from a man who is not imitating Christ because he does not have Faith in Christ. If he had Faith he would never say that in a plane or anywhere else.
Christ observed justice! No exception. All must obey the law. Christ, also, observed mercy; but let no sinner punish another sinner. Let the sinless punish the sinner. Yet, Christ, the sinless, neither punished her.
9. The mercy of Christ towards the woman.
The mercy of Christ go hand in hand with His justice. He, now, looks at the sinful woman with mercy. 'Where are they who accuse you. Didn't they condemn you?'
'No man, Lord. No man!' No man! And the whole institutional Church is condemning McCarrick, Cupich, Dolan, Maloney, OMalley.
And they are condemning Donald Trump of collusion with Russia when they, themselves are colluding with the devil. And the Philippine bishops are accusing Philippine President Duterte for killing drug addicts. When through their ignorance and negligence in instructing the people in the Faith, they are, worse, killing souls.
Why are so many men acting without justice and mercy? Hasn't Christ talked to them? No, because they have not read what Christ wrote in the ground of the human heart. Because Christ is not around in the institutional Vatican church; they are ignorant of the fact that in God, justice and mercy go together.
Christ shows His mercy towards the woman saying, 'neither do I condemn you.'
Now Christ looks at the woman with justice; ' go and sin no more. Otherwise worse thing will happen to you.' Go and sin no more today. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month. Today, sin no more. Otherwise..........a threat to do justice.
When the man in the plane said; 'who am I to judge?' His actions after trip shows he wants to leave gays alone to continue in their gayness. That they could be pleasing to God because it is not their fault; it is the genes. That God is so merciful they will forgiven. And, in fact, God is so good He will send no one to hell. He, probably, had abolished hell.
Well, St. Thomas wrote that this is not what Christ said to the woman. That was not the mercy of Christ because it is divorced from justice. That is pure hatred because it is sending souls to hell.
A book on 'Mercy' was written by Cardinal Kasper. Bergoglio had started a new church of 'mercy' described in his book. Everything is done because of 'mercy.' We have the devotion on 'Divine Mercy.' And we have that now popular phrase 'who are we to judge,' demanding that mercy be shown to gays. There are missionaries of mercy who will absolve serious sin even if there is no repentance.
The only thing wrong about it is that the word is wrongly defined and used erroneously. Though using the word 'mercy' they really mean a thousand other things, instead.
2. Mercy according to St. Thomas of Aquinas.
St. Thomas wrote that Justice and mercy must always go hand in hand; because mercy is a part of justice and, is in fact, the perfection of justice. Mercy cannot be separated from Justice because justice without mercy is great injustice, while mercy without justice is great unmercifulness or pure hatred.
We shall put aside describing these two virtues and concentrate on the necessity that these two virtues must always be together otherwise it is no virtue but a terrible vice.
Separate the two and you will have neither justice nor mercy.
3. God's actions
St. Thomas wrote that God's actions always contained the elements of justice and mercy; from His creation of nature to his creation of man. He, also, wants all men to see to it that their actions contain the elements of justice and mercy all the time. And this is the lesson learned in today's Gospel.
4. The sinful woman.
The Lenten season reminds us of two Gospel persons; one the publican who prayed well and the sinful woman about to be stoned by the Jews. Both are presented to us by the Liturgy for our imitation because of their act of repentance.
While the Liturgy presents to us the example of the publican in his right attitude while praying, the story of the sinful woman teachers us the importance of justice and mercy in Christ that we must imitate in dealing with the sins of our neighbours.
5. Christ is just and merciful.
The statement 'whom am I to judge,' has become so popular we see it printed in T-shirts in New York that people think it is a Gospel verse. Well, no. Christ would never say such a thing, as the Gospel for today shows. Let us see what Christ would have said if He were in that plane.
6. Christ acts, first, with justice and, then, with mercy.
The Pharisees have never learned from their past lessons, and so were trying to trap Christ to say something like 'whom am I to judge,' since Christ was known to the crowd as 'merciful.' The Scribes and the Pharisee never really knew Christ. They never knew Him because they never believed in Him.
Christ acts with justice. They presented a woman caught in adultery before a crowd and asked Christ; Moses commands that she should be stoned to death. What do you say? And Christ looked at the Pharisees and demanded Justice. He said justly; 'the law says she must be stoned to death, go ahead and stone her.
Christ acts with mercy. Christ did not come to destroy and kill. He came to save by giving life. So Christ immediately adds mercy to His justice and says; 'but let him who is without sin cast the first stone.' He acted with mercy towards the woman.
7. He writes on the ground with his fingers. A moment of retreat for repentance. Now, Christ acts with justice and mercy towards the Pharisees and the crowd. With justice by demanding that they repent. With mercy, by letting go unpunished.
Many have been wondering what He wrote. Really nothing. He was freezing the ball, giving the Pharisees and the crowd time to go into their souls to see that they, also have sinned, and probably have committed greater sins than the woman before them. His writing on the ground was a way of telling them; 'take your time to repent and, when you are through, go away.' And true enough, they all left one by one starting with the eldest, who probably have committed the most serious sins. They had repented, and went away unpunished; which is the lesson of Lent.
8. The trap. Mercy without justice as taught in the plane. And which the Pharisee hoped Christ would answer.
The Pharisee were expecting Christ to say; 'whom am I to judge? No, let her go to continue to do what she wants. God is kind and will always forgive her. God is so good He will never send her to hell. In fact, God is so merciful He might even abolish hell. St. Thomas writes that this is not mercy and this is what a heretic would say. Proof? Christ did not say these. He said what a God would say.
The Scribes and the Pharisee were hoping to accuse Christ for going against the Law by saying the above. All the above is in truth going against the Law of God. And that would be the end of Christ.
If on the other hand Christ say, 'go and stone her to death.' Then Christ would appear very cruel and that, also, will be His end as the Saviour of mankind.
He did neither. He would never do both because He is just and merciful at the same time. And God will not say neither of the above. The statement 'whom am I to judge' can only come from a man who is not imitating Christ because he does not have Faith in Christ. If he had Faith he would never say that in a plane or anywhere else.
Christ observed justice! No exception. All must obey the law. Christ, also, observed mercy; but let no sinner punish another sinner. Let the sinless punish the sinner. Yet, Christ, the sinless, neither punished her.
9. The mercy of Christ towards the woman.
The mercy of Christ go hand in hand with His justice. He, now, looks at the sinful woman with mercy. 'Where are they who accuse you. Didn't they condemn you?'
'No man, Lord. No man!' No man! And the whole institutional Church is condemning McCarrick, Cupich, Dolan, Maloney, OMalley.
And they are condemning Donald Trump of collusion with Russia when they, themselves are colluding with the devil. And the Philippine bishops are accusing Philippine President Duterte for killing drug addicts. When through their ignorance and negligence in instructing the people in the Faith, they are, worse, killing souls.
Why are so many men acting without justice and mercy? Hasn't Christ talked to them? No, because they have not read what Christ wrote in the ground of the human heart. Because Christ is not around in the institutional Vatican church; they are ignorant of the fact that in God, justice and mercy go together.
Christ shows His mercy towards the woman saying, 'neither do I condemn you.'
Now Christ looks at the woman with justice; ' go and sin no more. Otherwise worse thing will happen to you.' Go and sin no more today. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month. Today, sin no more. Otherwise..........a threat to do justice.
When the man in the plane said; 'who am I to judge?' His actions after trip shows he wants to leave gays alone to continue in their gayness. That they could be pleasing to God because it is not their fault; it is the genes. That God is so merciful they will forgiven. And, in fact, God is so good He will send no one to hell. He, probably, had abolished hell.
Well, St. Thomas wrote that this is not what Christ said to the woman. That was not the mercy of Christ because it is divorced from justice. That is pure hatred because it is sending souls to hell.
5th SUNDAY of LENT. -- JUSTICE and MERCY -The Woman caught in adultery.
1. The word 'mercy' have been over used these days.
A book on 'Mercy' was written by Cardinal Kasper. Bergoglio had started a new church of 'mercy' described in his book. Everything is done because of 'mercy.' We have the devotion on 'Divine Mercy.' And we have that now popular phrase 'who are we to judge,' demanding that mercy be shown to gays. There are missionaries of mercy who will absolve serious sin even if there is no repentance.
The only thing wrong about it is that the word is wrongly defined and used erroneously. Though using the word 'mercy' they really mean a thousand other things, instead.
2. Mercy according to St. Thomas of Aquinas.
St. Thomas wrote that Justice and mercy must always go hand in hand; because mercy is a part of justice and, is in fact, the perfection of justice. Mercy cannot be separated from Justice because justice without mercy is great injustice, while mercy without justice is great unmercifulness or pure hatred.
We shall put aside describing these two virtues and concentrate on the necessity that these two virtues must always be together otherwise it is no virtue but a terrible vice.
Separate the two and you will have neither justice nor mercy.
3. God's actions
St. Thomas wrote that God's actions always contained the elements of justice and mercy; from His creation of nature to his creation of man. He, also, wants all men to see to it that their actions contain the elements of justice and mercy all the time. And this is the lesson learned in today's Gospel.
4. The sinful woman.
The Lenten season reminds us of two Gospel persons; one the publican who prayed well and the sinful woman about to be stoned by the Jews. Both are presented to us by the Liturgy for our imitation because of their act of repentance.
While the Liturgy presents to us the example of the publican in his right attitude while praying, the story of the sinful woman teachers us the importance of justice and mercy in Christ that we must imitate in dealing with the sins of our neighbours.
5. Christ is just and merciful.
The statement 'whom am I to judge,' has become so popular we see it printed in T-shirts in New York that people think it is a Gospel verse. Well, no. Christ would never say such a thing, as the Gospel for today shows. Let us see what Christ would have said if He were in that plane.
6. Christ acts, first, with justice and, then, with mercy.
The Pharisees have never learned from their past lessons, and so were trying to trap Christ to say something like 'whom am I to judge,' since Christ was known to the crowd as 'merciful.' The Scribes and the Pharisee never really knew Christ. They never knew Him because they never believed in Him.
Christ acts with justice. They presented a woman caught in adultery before a crowd and asked Christ; Moses commands that she should be stoned to death. What do you say? And Christ looked at the Pharisees and demanded Justice. He said justly; 'the law says she must be stoned to death, go ahead and stone her.
Christ acts with mercy. Christ did not come to destroy and kill. He came to save by giving life. So Christ immediately adds mercy to His justice and says; 'but let him who is without sin cast the first stone.' He acted with mercy towards the woman.
7. He writes on the ground with his fingers. A moment of retreat for repentance. Now, Christ acts with justice and mercy towards the Pharisees and the crowd. With justice by demanding that they repent. With mercy, by letting go unpunished.
Many have been wondering what He wrote. Really nothing. He was freezing the ball, giving the Pharisees and the crowd time to go into their souls to see that they, also have sinned, and probably have committed greater sins than the woman before them. His writing on the ground was a way of telling them; 'take your time to repent and, when you are through, go away.' And true enough, they all left one by one starting with the eldest, who probably have committed the most serious sins. They had repented, and went away unpunished; which is the lesson of Lent.
8. The trap. Mercy without justice as taught in the plane. And which the Pharisee hoped Christ would answer.
The Pharisee were expecting Christ to say; 'whom am I to judge? No, let her go to continue to do what she wants. God is kind and will always forgive her. God is so good He will never send her to hell. In fact, God is so merciful He might even abolish hell. St. Thomas writes that this is not mercy and this is what a heretic would say. Proof? Christ did not say these. He said what a God would say.
The Scribes and the Pharisee were hoping to accuse Christ for going against the Law by saying the above. All the above is in truth going against the Law of God. And that would be the end of Christ.
If on the other hand Christ say, 'go and stone her to death.' Then Christ would appear very cruel and that, also, will be His end as the Saviour of mankind.
He did neither. He would never do both because He is just and merciful at the same time. And God will not say neither of the above. The statement 'whom am I to judge' can only come from a man who is not imitating Christ because he does not have Faith in Christ. If he had Faith he would never say that in a plane or anywhere else.
Christ observed justice! No exception. All must obey the law. Christ, also, observed mercy; but let no sinner punish another sinner. Let the sinless punish the sinner. Yet, Christ, the sinless, neither punished her.
9. The mercy of Christ towards the woman.
The mercy of Christ go hand in hand with His justice. He, now, looks at the sinful woman with mercy. 'Where are they who accuse you. Didn't they condemn you?'
'No man, Lord. No man!' No man! And the whole institutional Church is condemning McCarrick, Cupich, Dolan, Maloney, OMalley.
And they are condemning Donald Trump of collusion with Russia when they, themselves are colluding with the devil. And the Philippine bishops are accusing Philippine President Duterte for killing drug addicts. When through their ignorance and negligence in instructing the people in the Faith, they are, worse, killing souls.
Why are so many men acting without justice and mercy? Hasn't Christ talked to them? No, because they have not read what Christ wrote in the ground of the human heart. Because Christ is not around in the institutional Vatican church; they are ignorant of the fact that in God, justice and mercy go together.
Christ shows His mercy towards the woman saying, 'neither do I condemn you.'
Now Christ looks at the woman with justice; ' go and sin no more. Otherwise worse thing will happen to you.' Go and sin no more today. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month. Today, sin no more. Otherwise..........a threat to do justice.
When the man in the plane said; 'who am I to judge?' His actions after trip shows he wants to leave gays alone to continue in their gayness. That they could be pleasing to God because it is not their fault; it is the genes. That God is so merciful they will forgiven. And, in fact, God is so good He will send no one to hell. He, probably, had abolished hell.
Well, St. Thomas wrote that this is not what Christ said to the woman. That was not the mercy of Christ because it is divorced from justice. That is pure hatred because it is sending souls to hell.
A book on 'Mercy' was written by Cardinal Kasper. Bergoglio had started a new church of 'mercy' described in his book. Everything is done because of 'mercy.' We have the devotion on 'Divine Mercy.' And we have that now popular phrase 'who are we to judge,' demanding that mercy be shown to gays. There are missionaries of mercy who will absolve serious sin even if there is no repentance.
The only thing wrong about it is that the word is wrongly defined and used erroneously. Though using the word 'mercy' they really mean a thousand other things, instead.
2. Mercy according to St. Thomas of Aquinas.
St. Thomas wrote that Justice and mercy must always go hand in hand; because mercy is a part of justice and, is in fact, the perfection of justice. Mercy cannot be separated from Justice because justice without mercy is great injustice, while mercy without justice is great unmercifulness or pure hatred.
We shall put aside describing these two virtues and concentrate on the necessity that these two virtues must always be together otherwise it is no virtue but a terrible vice.
Separate the two and you will have neither justice nor mercy.
3. God's actions
St. Thomas wrote that God's actions always contained the elements of justice and mercy; from His creation of nature to his creation of man. He, also, wants all men to see to it that their actions contain the elements of justice and mercy all the time. And this is the lesson learned in today's Gospel.
4. The sinful woman.
The Lenten season reminds us of two Gospel persons; one the publican who prayed well and the sinful woman about to be stoned by the Jews. Both are presented to us by the Liturgy for our imitation because of their act of repentance.
While the Liturgy presents to us the example of the publican in his right attitude while praying, the story of the sinful woman teachers us the importance of justice and mercy in Christ that we must imitate in dealing with the sins of our neighbours.
5. Christ is just and merciful.
The statement 'whom am I to judge,' has become so popular we see it printed in T-shirts in New York that people think it is a Gospel verse. Well, no. Christ would never say such a thing, as the Gospel for today shows. Let us see what Christ would have said if He were in that plane.
6. Christ acts, first, with justice and, then, with mercy.
The Pharisees have never learned from their past lessons, and so were trying to trap Christ to say something like 'whom am I to judge,' since Christ was known to the crowd as 'merciful.' The Scribes and the Pharisee never really knew Christ. They never knew Him because they never believed in Him.
Christ acts with justice. They presented a woman caught in adultery before a crowd and asked Christ; Moses commands that she should be stoned to death. What do you say? And Christ looked at the Pharisees and demanded Justice. He said justly; 'the law says she must be stoned to death, go ahead and stone her.
Christ acts with mercy. Christ did not come to destroy and kill. He came to save by giving life. So Christ immediately adds mercy to His justice and says; 'but let him who is without sin cast the first stone.' He acted with mercy towards the woman.
7. He writes on the ground with his fingers. A moment of retreat for repentance. Now, Christ acts with justice and mercy towards the Pharisees and the crowd. With justice by demanding that they repent. With mercy, by letting go unpunished.
Many have been wondering what He wrote. Really nothing. He was freezing the ball, giving the Pharisees and the crowd time to go into their souls to see that they, also have sinned, and probably have committed greater sins than the woman before them. His writing on the ground was a way of telling them; 'take your time to repent and, when you are through, go away.' And true enough, they all left one by one starting with the eldest, who probably have committed the most serious sins. They had repented, and went away unpunished; which is the lesson of Lent.
8. The trap. Mercy without justice as taught in the plane. And which the Pharisee hoped Christ would answer.
The Pharisee were expecting Christ to say; 'whom am I to judge? No, let her go to continue to do what she wants. God is kind and will always forgive her. God is so good He will never send her to hell. In fact, God is so merciful He might even abolish hell. St. Thomas writes that this is not mercy and this is what a heretic would say. Proof? Christ did not say these. He said what a God would say.
The Scribes and the Pharisee were hoping to accuse Christ for going against the Law by saying the above. All the above is in truth going against the Law of God. And that would be the end of Christ.
If on the other hand Christ say, 'go and stone her to death.' Then Christ would appear very cruel and that, also, will be His end as the Saviour of mankind.
He did neither. He would never do both because He is just and merciful at the same time. And God will not say neither of the above. The statement 'whom am I to judge' can only come from a man who is not imitating Christ because he does not have Faith in Christ. If he had Faith he would never say that in a plane or anywhere else.
Christ observed justice! No exception. All must obey the law. Christ, also, observed mercy; but let no sinner punish another sinner. Let the sinless punish the sinner. Yet, Christ, the sinless, neither punished her.
9. The mercy of Christ towards the woman.
The mercy of Christ go hand in hand with His justice. He, now, looks at the sinful woman with mercy. 'Where are they who accuse you. Didn't they condemn you?'
'No man, Lord. No man!' No man! And the whole institutional Church is condemning McCarrick, Cupich, Dolan, Maloney, OMalley.
And they are condemning Donald Trump of collusion with Russia when they, themselves are colluding with the devil. And the Philippine bishops are accusing Philippine President Duterte for killing drug addicts. When through their ignorance and negligence in instructing the people in the Faith, they are, worse, killing souls.
Why are so many men acting without justice and mercy? Hasn't Christ talked to them? No, because they have not read what Christ wrote in the ground of the human heart. Because Christ is not around in the institutional Vatican church; they are ignorant of the fact that in God, justice and mercy go together.
Christ shows His mercy towards the woman saying, 'neither do I condemn you.'
Now Christ looks at the woman with justice; ' go and sin no more. Otherwise worse thing will happen to you.' Go and sin no more today. Not tomorrow, not next week, not next month. Today, sin no more. Otherwise..........a threat to do justice.
When the man in the plane said; 'who am I to judge?' His actions after trip shows he wants to leave gays alone to continue in their gayness. That they could be pleasing to God because it is not their fault; it is the genes. That God is so merciful they will forgiven. And, in fact, God is so good He will send no one to hell. He, probably, had abolished hell.
Well, St. Thomas wrote that this is not what Christ said to the woman. That was not the mercy of Christ because it is divorced from justice. That is pure hatred because it is sending souls to hell.
Sunday, April 07, 2019
Saturday in Lenten Weekday. THE PHARISEES vs THE SOLDIERS.
1. Listeners
There were always two kinds of listeners during the preachings of Christ; the believers and the unbelievers. And the Gospel for today tells us the reason why some believed while others do not believe.
2. The issue on the Messiah.
The issue in today's Gospel was important; whether Christ was the Messiah or not. Those who did not believe were the Pharisees who have read the Scriptures and knew many facts about the coming Messiah. Those who believed were the soldiers who knew nothing about the Messiah.
3. The confusion of the Pharisees
The Pharisees were confused because Scriptures states that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem since he would descend from King David. But they see Christ coming from Nazareth so they thought that He could not be the Messiah because His origin did not conform with Scriptures.
Christ, in fact, conformed with Scriptures in that He really was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Nazareth. The Pharisees could have easily corrected their error if they simply asked Christ why there seems to be a confusion with regard with His origin. But they did not ask because they were not really interested in the truth. They were out to trap and arrest Christ.
Their evil intention is what prevented them from believing in Christ; they were not interested in the truth. They were motivated by their hatred of Christ and were out to find reason to arrest Him.
4. The right reaction of the soldiers
The soldiers who were sent by the Pharisees to arrest Christ turned out to be the believers. And this is in a situation where Christ did not perform any miracle. He simply spoke words of wisdom. And they believed.
When the solders returned to the Pharisees, they were asked why they had not arrested Christ. They answered; 'never man spoke like this man. Keep in mind the soldiers did not see any miracle. They only heard the words of wisdom.
The same thing with us all. We do not need the great miracles performed before by Christ to be able to believe in Him. We have His Words of wisdom written down in Divine Revelation.We can be awed that no other man have ever spoken that way. They were words of wisdom. They love the truth and love to learn.
5. The importance of 'Love of learning.'
Entrance into the monastery before depended on one condition; that the candidate had a 'love for learning.' The candidate does not enter the monastery with knowledge or with Faith. He entered with nothing except with a 'love for learning.' This is what opens them to the workings of grace to become believers.
6. The Love to know who is Jesus Christ, is the basis of Faith that leads to Charity. This love to learn who is Christ is the seed that grows into Faith and enables a soul to have Faith in Jesus Christ that leads to the salvation of their souls.
7. Today, the world in such a state that mankind is faced with many worldly distractions that occupy their minds. Thus there is no space in their minds for spiritual matters and no place in their hearts to love to know Christ. For this reason, like the Pharisee, the world does not know Christ.
The leaders of the Church are interested more in global warming, in migrants, in befriending pagans, tolerating perverts, satisfying their lust, doing what they like, etc. There is no desire and no efforts exerted to know Christ as God and man. In their ignorance they will not ask questions. Thus the world is in total darkness, just like on Good Friday.
This present state of the world had been described by St. Bonaventure. And the priest who studied this treatise and made it into a thesis believe it is occurring right now. He is Joseph Ratzinger. He wrote the problem in the Church today as 'a crisis of Faith, in his 'Ratzinger Report. That was the problem of the Pharisee in today's Gospel.
There were always two kinds of listeners during the preachings of Christ; the believers and the unbelievers. And the Gospel for today tells us the reason why some believed while others do not believe.
2. The issue on the Messiah.
The issue in today's Gospel was important; whether Christ was the Messiah or not. Those who did not believe were the Pharisees who have read the Scriptures and knew many facts about the coming Messiah. Those who believed were the soldiers who knew nothing about the Messiah.
3. The confusion of the Pharisees
The Pharisees were confused because Scriptures states that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem since he would descend from King David. But they see Christ coming from Nazareth so they thought that He could not be the Messiah because His origin did not conform with Scriptures.
Christ, in fact, conformed with Scriptures in that He really was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Nazareth. The Pharisees could have easily corrected their error if they simply asked Christ why there seems to be a confusion with regard with His origin. But they did not ask because they were not really interested in the truth. They were out to trap and arrest Christ.
Their evil intention is what prevented them from believing in Christ; they were not interested in the truth. They were motivated by their hatred of Christ and were out to find reason to arrest Him.
4. The right reaction of the soldiers
The soldiers who were sent by the Pharisees to arrest Christ turned out to be the believers. And this is in a situation where Christ did not perform any miracle. He simply spoke words of wisdom. And they believed.
When the solders returned to the Pharisees, they were asked why they had not arrested Christ. They answered; 'never man spoke like this man. Keep in mind the soldiers did not see any miracle. They only heard the words of wisdom.
The same thing with us all. We do not need the great miracles performed before by Christ to be able to believe in Him. We have His Words of wisdom written down in Divine Revelation.We can be awed that no other man have ever spoken that way. They were words of wisdom. They love the truth and love to learn.
5. The importance of 'Love of learning.'
Entrance into the monastery before depended on one condition; that the candidate had a 'love for learning.' The candidate does not enter the monastery with knowledge or with Faith. He entered with nothing except with a 'love for learning.' This is what opens them to the workings of grace to become believers.
6. The Love to know who is Jesus Christ, is the basis of Faith that leads to Charity. This love to learn who is Christ is the seed that grows into Faith and enables a soul to have Faith in Jesus Christ that leads to the salvation of their souls.
7. Today, the world in such a state that mankind is faced with many worldly distractions that occupy their minds. Thus there is no space in their minds for spiritual matters and no place in their hearts to love to know Christ. For this reason, like the Pharisee, the world does not know Christ.
The leaders of the Church are interested more in global warming, in migrants, in befriending pagans, tolerating perverts, satisfying their lust, doing what they like, etc. There is no desire and no efforts exerted to know Christ as God and man. In their ignorance they will not ask questions. Thus the world is in total darkness, just like on Good Friday.
This present state of the world had been described by St. Bonaventure. And the priest who studied this treatise and made it into a thesis believe it is occurring right now. He is Joseph Ratzinger. He wrote the problem in the Church today as 'a crisis of Faith, in his 'Ratzinger Report. That was the problem of the Pharisee in today's Gospel.
Saturday in Lenten Weekday. THE PHARISEES vs THE SOLDIERS.
1. Listeners
There were always two kinds of listeners during the preachings of Christ; the believers and the unbelievers. And the Gospel for today tells us the reason why some believed while others do not believe.
2. The issue on the Messiah.
The issue in today's Gospel was important; whether Christ was the Messiah or not. Those who did not believe were the Pharisees who have read the Scriptures and knew many facts about the coming Messiah. Those who believed were the soldiers who knew nothing about the Messiah.
3. The confusion of the Pharisees
The Pharisees were confused because Scriptures states that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem since he would descend from King David. But they see Christ coming from Nazareth so they thought that He could not be the Messiah because His origin did not conform with Scriptures.
Christ, in fact, conformed with Scriptures in that He really was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Nazareth. The Pharisees could have easily corrected their error if they simply asked Christ why there seems to be a confusion with regard with His origin. But they did not ask because they were not really interested in the truth. They were out to trap and arrest Christ.
Their evil intention is what prevented them from believing in Christ; they were not interested in the truth. They were motivated by their hatred of Christ and were out to find reason to arrest Him.
4. The right reaction of the soldiers
The soldiers who were sent by the Pharisees to arrest Christ turned out to be the believers. And this is in a situation where Christ did not perform any miracle. He simply spoke words of wisdom. And they believed.
When the solders returned to the Pharisees, they were asked why they had not arrested Christ. They answered; 'never man spoke like this man. Keep in mind the soldiers did not see any miracle. They only heard the words of wisdom.
The same thing with us all. We do not need the great miracles performed before by Christ to be able to believe in Him. We have His Words of wisdom written down in Divine Revelation.We can be awed that no other man have ever spoken that way. They were words of wisdom. They love the truth and love to learn.
5. The importance of 'Love of learning.'
Entrance into the monastery before depended on one condition; that the candidate had a 'love for learning.' The candidate does not enter the monastery with knowledge or with Faith. He entered with nothing except with a 'love for learning.' This is what opens them to the workings of grace to become believers.
6. The Love to know who is Jesus Christ, is the basis of Faith that leads to Charity. This love to learn who is Christ is the seed that grows into Faith and enables a soul to have Faith in Jesus Christ that leads to the salvation of their souls.
7. Today, the world in such a state that mankind is faced with many worldly distractions that occupy their minds. Thus there is no space in their minds for spiritual matters and no place in their hearts to love to know Christ. For this reason, like the Pharisee, the world does not know Christ.
The leaders of the Church are interested more in global warming, in migrants, in befriending pagans, tolerating perverts, satisfying their lust, doing what they like, etc. There is no desire and no efforts exerted to know Christ as God and man. In their ignorance they will not ask questions. Thus the world is in total darkness, just like on Good Friday.
This present state of the world had been described by St. Bonaventure. And the priest who studied this treatise and made it into a thesis believe it is occurring right now. He is Joseph Ratzinger. He wrote the problem in the Church today as 'a crisis of Faith, in his 'Ratzinger Report. That was the problem of the Pharisee in today's Gospel.
There were always two kinds of listeners during the preachings of Christ; the believers and the unbelievers. And the Gospel for today tells us the reason why some believed while others do not believe.
2. The issue on the Messiah.
The issue in today's Gospel was important; whether Christ was the Messiah or not. Those who did not believe were the Pharisees who have read the Scriptures and knew many facts about the coming Messiah. Those who believed were the soldiers who knew nothing about the Messiah.
3. The confusion of the Pharisees
The Pharisees were confused because Scriptures states that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem since he would descend from King David. But they see Christ coming from Nazareth so they thought that He could not be the Messiah because His origin did not conform with Scriptures.
Christ, in fact, conformed with Scriptures in that He really was born in Bethlehem but grew up in Nazareth. The Pharisees could have easily corrected their error if they simply asked Christ why there seems to be a confusion with regard with His origin. But they did not ask because they were not really interested in the truth. They were out to trap and arrest Christ.
Their evil intention is what prevented them from believing in Christ; they were not interested in the truth. They were motivated by their hatred of Christ and were out to find reason to arrest Him.
4. The right reaction of the soldiers
The soldiers who were sent by the Pharisees to arrest Christ turned out to be the believers. And this is in a situation where Christ did not perform any miracle. He simply spoke words of wisdom. And they believed.
When the solders returned to the Pharisees, they were asked why they had not arrested Christ. They answered; 'never man spoke like this man. Keep in mind the soldiers did not see any miracle. They only heard the words of wisdom.
The same thing with us all. We do not need the great miracles performed before by Christ to be able to believe in Him. We have His Words of wisdom written down in Divine Revelation.We can be awed that no other man have ever spoken that way. They were words of wisdom. They love the truth and love to learn.
5. The importance of 'Love of learning.'
Entrance into the monastery before depended on one condition; that the candidate had a 'love for learning.' The candidate does not enter the monastery with knowledge or with Faith. He entered with nothing except with a 'love for learning.' This is what opens them to the workings of grace to become believers.
6. The Love to know who is Jesus Christ, is the basis of Faith that leads to Charity. This love to learn who is Christ is the seed that grows into Faith and enables a soul to have Faith in Jesus Christ that leads to the salvation of their souls.
7. Today, the world in such a state that mankind is faced with many worldly distractions that occupy their minds. Thus there is no space in their minds for spiritual matters and no place in their hearts to love to know Christ. For this reason, like the Pharisee, the world does not know Christ.
The leaders of the Church are interested more in global warming, in migrants, in befriending pagans, tolerating perverts, satisfying their lust, doing what they like, etc. There is no desire and no efforts exerted to know Christ as God and man. In their ignorance they will not ask questions. Thus the world is in total darkness, just like on Good Friday.
This present state of the world had been described by St. Bonaventure. And the priest who studied this treatise and made it into a thesis believe it is occurring right now. He is Joseph Ratzinger. He wrote the problem in the Church today as 'a crisis of Faith, in his 'Ratzinger Report. That was the problem of the Pharisee in today's Gospel.
Thursday, April 04, 2019
HOW GOD SUSTAINS THE EXISTENCE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
1. The Catholic Church.
God instituted the Catholic Church for the salvation of souls. To be saved one just have to enter the Catholic Church. Entering the Catholic Church requires two stages, one through human effort, the other through the work of God's grace. The human effort consists in acquiring the virtue of penance. God's work is His granting the soul the gift of Faith, a supernatural virtue.
Two virtues are needed to be saved; the first is the natural virtue of penance, the other is the supernatural virtue of Faith. There is no other way to heaven except through the Catholic Church and this way leads through Hope and Charity.
So why does God raise the traditional religious orders like the Benedictine, Dominican, Augustinians, etc ? Those who enter religious orders like the Benedictines or Augustinians entered those order simply to attain the salvation of their souls. But this can be attained simply by entering the Catholic Church. So do they have to join an order if their goal is identical, to save their souls. Isn't that duplicating the means to the end. God does not duplicate unnecessarily. God will not raise an order for the salvation of souls if the Catholic Church that already exist can help attain the same goal. It would be a waste of time to raise up saints and a waste of time for the saint to establish an order.
2. SO WHY many new orders.
Why does God raise up saints to establish religious orders wherewith souls wishing to save their souls enter? Because in that time and place, the Church have disappeared in that locality. St. Benedict was in Rome, the seat of the Catholic Church, when he was inspired to start the Benedictine order. Why? As history narrates, Rome was so corrupt that the Church in Rome no longer had the four visible marks of the true Church described in the Nicene Creed. It was for this reason that Benedict left Rome to be a hermit and eventually gathered monks to form communities. Note the steps.
First, God inspires a man to leave the world whose prince is Satan, otherwise it would be next to impossible for him to know the way to salvation.
Secondly, he went to a cave to be a hermit. The hermitical life is the fastest way to reach the perfection of Faith and acquire the beginnings of Charity. This is the contemplative life wherewith God infuses knowledge and wisdom on how souls can attain their salvation.
Thirdly, then he gathered monks to live in community to teach them how to attain the four visible marks of the Church, namely, One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. There in a Benedictine community we have a minuscule Catholic Church established by God through a man, St. Benedict.
Fourth, they would eventually convert to Catholicism the entire Europe.
3. Continuing the existence of the Church.
For the Catholic Church to continue to exist as it passes through different generations is fraught with much danger due to original sin. Since the Church travels over two railways, the natural and the supernatural, a defect in the natural due to original sin can derail the supernatural level.
And so from Christ and the Apostles, it was already difficult to trace the next generation of Catholics. It seems that in one of two generations the Church can disappear.
4.. This happens every time in history.
Christ abandoned the Chosen race to transfer His Church to the Gentiles. The bridge was the apostles.
Note that the Catholic Church easily deteriorates after one generation. After the Apostolic community, very few Holy Bishops succeeded the apostles. Heretical monks, priests and bishops followed thus causing the Church to deteriorate.
So before the Church disappears from the face of the earth, God raised up saints to re-establish the Church when and where He can find humble souls that will believe. God preaches to them directly.
Where did St. Benedict or St. Francis of Assisi or St. Dominic learn the Faith? Directly from God. God does this in times of crisis in the Faith. Then from that small Church, the monastic community, as in Jerusalem, it spreads worldwide through Europe. The same with St. Francis of Assisi's community and with St. Dominic's community.
But the spread of the Church was, only, as long as when the saints raised by God was alive. When the saint dies, the Church around the world would again deteriorate. And so the cycle God taking away the Church from unfaithful servants and transferring it to faithful servants continue.
5. The obligation to sustain the Faith.
God did not mean it to happen this way. His Divine Providence was such that Popes, bishops, priests, brothers, nuns, Catholic parents and adults are supposed to maintain the Faith. What God does as a Divine Intervention are, ordinarily, done by existing true Catholics, which the above are supposed to be. But what if the Pope, cardinals, bishops, priest and as a consequence the parents are not able to maintain the Faith. Then God intervenes in the history of men. An intervention nobody notices because it is the spiritual aspect of salvation. God choses men and women and command them, as in the Gospels, 'tell no men.' So it is difficult to find them unless one is truly seeking God as St. Benedict describes those who will be the bridge from the unbelieving church to the believing church.
6. Since it will be a continuation of the original Church established by Christ, the new community must be exactly identical with the original Church of Christ; it must be a continuity.
Note that religious orders were founded as beginnings of small groups who just wanted to save their souls. Nothing fancy, nothing extraordinary. They, almost look like a small family desirous to go to heaven, just like the Holy Family. And that precisely is what makes them the nucleus that will eventually grow to be the Catholic Church in this world; and the bridge through which Christ abandon's an unfaithful church and transfer to a new humble, obedient church.
7. We cannot find the Catholic Church today.
Vatican II in writing the constitution on the Church could not finish it on time because they could not describe the Church since they could not find it to describe it. This is the Vatican Council II and they were in the Vatican. How come they could not find the Catholic Church to describe it? Because the Vatican Church no longer had the four visible marks of the true Church enumerated in the Nicene Creed. Yet 'Lumen Gentium' was based on the writings of St. Robert Bellarmine, the same author of the 15 Marks of the true Church. None of the marks could be found in the Vatican Church. How could have they missed those signs.
Pope Benedict, in his book 'Ratzinger Report' wrote his suspicion that the institutional Catholic Church was no longer Catholic in the chapter 'Crisis in the Church.' What other crises can there be in the Church than the crisis of Faith, i.e. that it is no longer Catholic in Faith. Guided by the writings of St. Bonaventure he felt he should look for a bridge from the unfaithful vineyard to the new vineyard with faithful workers. During all his 'Ad Lumina' visits, he used to ask all the bishops if they have seen such a bridge, without saying it in those words.
St. Bonaventure, the 'Seraphic Doctor' described it and thought St. Francis of Assisi was one. Pope Benedict thought that since the same crisis that occurred on Good Friday is happening today, there must be another bridge today. St. Basil described it. Grignon de Montfort, too, described it. And the original founders of the European Union based the reconstruction of Europe on the idea of this bridge as shown in their flag, but Satan staged a coup and took over the project.
8. They are leaving the institutional Catholic Church.
Today, the 'crisis of Faith' Joseph Ratzinger wrote in his Ratzinger Report, has become terminal 5th degree cancer. And seriously thinking Catholics are leaving the institutional Church that has become Protestantilized. No soul can be saved in a Protestant church. They should really abandoned ship since Pope Benedict had already described this as a sinking ship.
But don't leave the Catholic Church. Just leave the Protestantilized church, look for the bridge and transfer to the new vineyard, which is exactly the true Church of Christ. It cannot disappear from the face of the earth until the end of time. It is still there.
9. How do you look for the true Church.
John Newman in his 'Lead, kindly light' writes that we don't look for Him. He looks for us. And He looks for a kind of person. St. Benedict writes in his Holy Rule; 'One who truly is seeking God.' He is the humble and obedient man.When God finds him, God gives him the infuse theological virtues that makes him a bridge.
Look for that treasure humility and God will show you His Church.
God instituted the Catholic Church for the salvation of souls. To be saved one just have to enter the Catholic Church. Entering the Catholic Church requires two stages, one through human effort, the other through the work of God's grace. The human effort consists in acquiring the virtue of penance. God's work is His granting the soul the gift of Faith, a supernatural virtue.
Two virtues are needed to be saved; the first is the natural virtue of penance, the other is the supernatural virtue of Faith. There is no other way to heaven except through the Catholic Church and this way leads through Hope and Charity.
So why does God raise the traditional religious orders like the Benedictine, Dominican, Augustinians, etc ? Those who enter religious orders like the Benedictines or Augustinians entered those order simply to attain the salvation of their souls. But this can be attained simply by entering the Catholic Church. So do they have to join an order if their goal is identical, to save their souls. Isn't that duplicating the means to the end. God does not duplicate unnecessarily. God will not raise an order for the salvation of souls if the Catholic Church that already exist can help attain the same goal. It would be a waste of time to raise up saints and a waste of time for the saint to establish an order.
2. SO WHY many new orders.
Why does God raise up saints to establish religious orders wherewith souls wishing to save their souls enter? Because in that time and place, the Church have disappeared in that locality. St. Benedict was in Rome, the seat of the Catholic Church, when he was inspired to start the Benedictine order. Why? As history narrates, Rome was so corrupt that the Church in Rome no longer had the four visible marks of the true Church described in the Nicene Creed. It was for this reason that Benedict left Rome to be a hermit and eventually gathered monks to form communities. Note the steps.
First, God inspires a man to leave the world whose prince is Satan, otherwise it would be next to impossible for him to know the way to salvation.
Secondly, he went to a cave to be a hermit. The hermitical life is the fastest way to reach the perfection of Faith and acquire the beginnings of Charity. This is the contemplative life wherewith God infuses knowledge and wisdom on how souls can attain their salvation.
Thirdly, then he gathered monks to live in community to teach them how to attain the four visible marks of the Church, namely, One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. There in a Benedictine community we have a minuscule Catholic Church established by God through a man, St. Benedict.
Fourth, they would eventually convert to Catholicism the entire Europe.
3. Continuing the existence of the Church.
For the Catholic Church to continue to exist as it passes through different generations is fraught with much danger due to original sin. Since the Church travels over two railways, the natural and the supernatural, a defect in the natural due to original sin can derail the supernatural level.
And so from Christ and the Apostles, it was already difficult to trace the next generation of Catholics. It seems that in one of two generations the Church can disappear.
4.. This happens every time in history.
Christ abandoned the Chosen race to transfer His Church to the Gentiles. The bridge was the apostles.
Note that the Catholic Church easily deteriorates after one generation. After the Apostolic community, very few Holy Bishops succeeded the apostles. Heretical monks, priests and bishops followed thus causing the Church to deteriorate.
So before the Church disappears from the face of the earth, God raised up saints to re-establish the Church when and where He can find humble souls that will believe. God preaches to them directly.
Where did St. Benedict or St. Francis of Assisi or St. Dominic learn the Faith? Directly from God. God does this in times of crisis in the Faith. Then from that small Church, the monastic community, as in Jerusalem, it spreads worldwide through Europe. The same with St. Francis of Assisi's community and with St. Dominic's community.
But the spread of the Church was, only, as long as when the saints raised by God was alive. When the saint dies, the Church around the world would again deteriorate. And so the cycle God taking away the Church from unfaithful servants and transferring it to faithful servants continue.
5. The obligation to sustain the Faith.
God did not mean it to happen this way. His Divine Providence was such that Popes, bishops, priests, brothers, nuns, Catholic parents and adults are supposed to maintain the Faith. What God does as a Divine Intervention are, ordinarily, done by existing true Catholics, which the above are supposed to be. But what if the Pope, cardinals, bishops, priest and as a consequence the parents are not able to maintain the Faith. Then God intervenes in the history of men. An intervention nobody notices because it is the spiritual aspect of salvation. God choses men and women and command them, as in the Gospels, 'tell no men.' So it is difficult to find them unless one is truly seeking God as St. Benedict describes those who will be the bridge from the unbelieving church to the believing church.
6. Since it will be a continuation of the original Church established by Christ, the new community must be exactly identical with the original Church of Christ; it must be a continuity.
Note that religious orders were founded as beginnings of small groups who just wanted to save their souls. Nothing fancy, nothing extraordinary. They, almost look like a small family desirous to go to heaven, just like the Holy Family. And that precisely is what makes them the nucleus that will eventually grow to be the Catholic Church in this world; and the bridge through which Christ abandon's an unfaithful church and transfer to a new humble, obedient church.
7. We cannot find the Catholic Church today.
Vatican II in writing the constitution on the Church could not finish it on time because they could not describe the Church since they could not find it to describe it. This is the Vatican Council II and they were in the Vatican. How come they could not find the Catholic Church to describe it? Because the Vatican Church no longer had the four visible marks of the true Church enumerated in the Nicene Creed. Yet 'Lumen Gentium' was based on the writings of St. Robert Bellarmine, the same author of the 15 Marks of the true Church. None of the marks could be found in the Vatican Church. How could have they missed those signs.
Pope Benedict, in his book 'Ratzinger Report' wrote his suspicion that the institutional Catholic Church was no longer Catholic in the chapter 'Crisis in the Church.' What other crises can there be in the Church than the crisis of Faith, i.e. that it is no longer Catholic in Faith. Guided by the writings of St. Bonaventure he felt he should look for a bridge from the unfaithful vineyard to the new vineyard with faithful workers. During all his 'Ad Lumina' visits, he used to ask all the bishops if they have seen such a bridge, without saying it in those words.
St. Bonaventure, the 'Seraphic Doctor' described it and thought St. Francis of Assisi was one. Pope Benedict thought that since the same crisis that occurred on Good Friday is happening today, there must be another bridge today. St. Basil described it. Grignon de Montfort, too, described it. And the original founders of the European Union based the reconstruction of Europe on the idea of this bridge as shown in their flag, but Satan staged a coup and took over the project.
8. They are leaving the institutional Catholic Church.
Today, the 'crisis of Faith' Joseph Ratzinger wrote in his Ratzinger Report, has become terminal 5th degree cancer. And seriously thinking Catholics are leaving the institutional Church that has become Protestantilized. No soul can be saved in a Protestant church. They should really abandoned ship since Pope Benedict had already described this as a sinking ship.
But don't leave the Catholic Church. Just leave the Protestantilized church, look for the bridge and transfer to the new vineyard, which is exactly the true Church of Christ. It cannot disappear from the face of the earth until the end of time. It is still there.
9. How do you look for the true Church.
John Newman in his 'Lead, kindly light' writes that we don't look for Him. He looks for us. And He looks for a kind of person. St. Benedict writes in his Holy Rule; 'One who truly is seeking God.' He is the humble and obedient man.When God finds him, God gives him the infuse theological virtues that makes him a bridge.
Look for that treasure humility and God will show you His Church.
Tuesday, April 02, 2019
THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN
1. Two persons were praying.
One went to hell; the other went to heaven. What? A person praying can go to hell. Yes. That is what the Gospel states.
People of different faiths are praying. Catholics pray, too. But if you pray wrongly, you can go to hell. We must pray rightly. Christ showed its importance by showing how the apostles insisted that they be taught how to pray. Most people pray as if they are merely talking to God as when they talk to other humans. No, no, no.
In prayer you are talking to God. That makes a lot of difference. Christ showed how. And Pope Benedict XVI summarised Christ's teaching in a little book on prayer.
2. The virtue of Penance consists of three activities to acquire it; namely Prayer, Fasting and Good works, ....prayer is the most important.
Prayer is the main body of Christian asceticism. Fasting and good works are the wings, St. Augustine writes. The three elements are important; but prayer is the most important. If the devil wanted to destroy the Catholic Church, he would just destroy the prayer life of the Church and the Church will be gone. Or at least, make them pray like the Pharisees. And they will all go to hell.
But the devil cannot do that because when a Catholic prays well he prays with Christ. And the devil will not be able to do anything about that.
The devil does not, really, have to do anything today because most Catholics, already, pray like the Pharisees.
3. The Pharisee prayed wrongly.
The Pharisee prayed; on the one hand, he begun to enumerate his good works. He fasted, performed good works and he was actually praying. He did good things. Christ should have praised him but Christ condemned him instead, because of the second thing he did.
He was praying; but he was not praying but merely talking to himself. On one hand, he was praising himself in his prayer, fasting and good works.
When a Christian prays, fast and performs good works, he must attribute his ability to do these things to God who is the author of all good things. Nobody can do these without the grace from God. For the Pharisee to attribute these activities to himself is to steal praises that is due to God, and this is serious sin. That is one bad things for the Pharisee.
On the other hand the second thing he did that was bad was that he looked down at the sinfulness of the tax collector and said; 'lord it is good that I am not that like that man.' He looked down with pride on his neighbour because he was a sinner. He had no love of neighbour which means he had no love of God either.
4. Recent events shows that Catholics pray like this despicable Pharisee.
Like the Pharisee, most Catholics look and praise themselves in their prayers, fasting and good works. And, indeed, they do these great things. They go to Mass, they contribute to the US Bishops funds for abortion, family planning and support of migrants. And they probably fast.
And they write splendid articles in defense and in explaining the teachings of the Catholic Church. They have love for Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
What makes them despicable is that they looked down on sinners like McCarrick, Cupich, Dolan, Baldiseri, OMalley, and many other bishops and priest known to be perverts, probably, like that tax collector and say in their minds; 'it is good I am not like those pervert.' Ok, they are sinners and perverts but that is between them and God. Our obligation is to render fraternal correction which most of Catholics cannot do due to their own lack of Charity. We must not look down on others because of their sins.
We are not like the tax collector. But more like those Jews who were ready to stone the woman caught in adultery. These bishops and priest were caught in the act, just like the woman. And we have verbally stoned them. At least the Jews did not. 'Let the one without sin cast the first stone.' How many of us have sat down to think we have sinned, and refrained from joining the world outcry. The world has Satan as its prince. Satan will make us condemned the sinner caught in the act. Note how entire governments are doing it, acting like atheists and pagans.
Those bishops and priests were caught in the act. And we stone them and exposed them in the media. Get thee behind me, Satan. You are not acting according to God. 'Let the man without sin cast the first stone. ' Look at the avalanche of stone hurled at these sinners. By whom? By those who will get greater punishment from God.
Christ asked the woman. 'Woman, where are they who condemned you.' There lord, there lord, there lord. Was she pointing at you and you and you? Woe to you.
5. The tax collector prayed rightly.
Let us not pray like the Pharisee and like most of Catholics today. Let us pray like the tax collector.
He did not look at his achievements in prayer, fasting and good works....though he had done much good. He looked at his former and present sins. He did not look at the sins of others. Thus Christ justified him.
His attitude can be described as humble and that pleased Christ who said; 'learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.' This, indeed is a rare sight this day, a man praying like the tax collector. Not even in contemplative orders because when they pray they feel proud in belonging to these highly praised contemplative orders. They often look down on others, like the Democrats, politicians, Hollywood neurotics and megalomaniac millionaire like Soros. Oh boy, it is good I am not like them, Whoaaaa! Hold it. Don't do it. Don't say it. Stick to your own sins.
"My sins are always before me.' says the penitential psalm of David. Today is Lenten Season. Keep all your sins and only your sins before the eye of your mind. Never mind the sins of those US bishops and priests.
That will make you humble....just like the tax collector. And justified in the eyes of Christ. Nothing else is important.
One went to hell; the other went to heaven. What? A person praying can go to hell. Yes. That is what the Gospel states.
People of different faiths are praying. Catholics pray, too. But if you pray wrongly, you can go to hell. We must pray rightly. Christ showed its importance by showing how the apostles insisted that they be taught how to pray. Most people pray as if they are merely talking to God as when they talk to other humans. No, no, no.
In prayer you are talking to God. That makes a lot of difference. Christ showed how. And Pope Benedict XVI summarised Christ's teaching in a little book on prayer.
2. The virtue of Penance consists of three activities to acquire it; namely Prayer, Fasting and Good works, ....prayer is the most important.
Prayer is the main body of Christian asceticism. Fasting and good works are the wings, St. Augustine writes. The three elements are important; but prayer is the most important. If the devil wanted to destroy the Catholic Church, he would just destroy the prayer life of the Church and the Church will be gone. Or at least, make them pray like the Pharisees. And they will all go to hell.
But the devil cannot do that because when a Catholic prays well he prays with Christ. And the devil will not be able to do anything about that.
The devil does not, really, have to do anything today because most Catholics, already, pray like the Pharisees.
3. The Pharisee prayed wrongly.
The Pharisee prayed; on the one hand, he begun to enumerate his good works. He fasted, performed good works and he was actually praying. He did good things. Christ should have praised him but Christ condemned him instead, because of the second thing he did.
He was praying; but he was not praying but merely talking to himself. On one hand, he was praising himself in his prayer, fasting and good works.
When a Christian prays, fast and performs good works, he must attribute his ability to do these things to God who is the author of all good things. Nobody can do these without the grace from God. For the Pharisee to attribute these activities to himself is to steal praises that is due to God, and this is serious sin. That is one bad things for the Pharisee.
On the other hand the second thing he did that was bad was that he looked down at the sinfulness of the tax collector and said; 'lord it is good that I am not that like that man.' He looked down with pride on his neighbour because he was a sinner. He had no love of neighbour which means he had no love of God either.
4. Recent events shows that Catholics pray like this despicable Pharisee.
Like the Pharisee, most Catholics look and praise themselves in their prayers, fasting and good works. And, indeed, they do these great things. They go to Mass, they contribute to the US Bishops funds for abortion, family planning and support of migrants. And they probably fast.
And they write splendid articles in defense and in explaining the teachings of the Catholic Church. They have love for Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
What makes them despicable is that they looked down on sinners like McCarrick, Cupich, Dolan, Baldiseri, OMalley, and many other bishops and priest known to be perverts, probably, like that tax collector and say in their minds; 'it is good I am not like those pervert.' Ok, they are sinners and perverts but that is between them and God. Our obligation is to render fraternal correction which most of Catholics cannot do due to their own lack of Charity. We must not look down on others because of their sins.
We are not like the tax collector. But more like those Jews who were ready to stone the woman caught in adultery. These bishops and priest were caught in the act, just like the woman. And we have verbally stoned them. At least the Jews did not. 'Let the one without sin cast the first stone.' How many of us have sat down to think we have sinned, and refrained from joining the world outcry. The world has Satan as its prince. Satan will make us condemned the sinner caught in the act. Note how entire governments are doing it, acting like atheists and pagans.
Those bishops and priests were caught in the act. And we stone them and exposed them in the media. Get thee behind me, Satan. You are not acting according to God. 'Let the man without sin cast the first stone. ' Look at the avalanche of stone hurled at these sinners. By whom? By those who will get greater punishment from God.
Christ asked the woman. 'Woman, where are they who condemned you.' There lord, there lord, there lord. Was she pointing at you and you and you? Woe to you.
5. The tax collector prayed rightly.
Let us not pray like the Pharisee and like most of Catholics today. Let us pray like the tax collector.
He did not look at his achievements in prayer, fasting and good works....though he had done much good. He looked at his former and present sins. He did not look at the sins of others. Thus Christ justified him.
His attitude can be described as humble and that pleased Christ who said; 'learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.' This, indeed is a rare sight this day, a man praying like the tax collector. Not even in contemplative orders because when they pray they feel proud in belonging to these highly praised contemplative orders. They often look down on others, like the Democrats, politicians, Hollywood neurotics and megalomaniac millionaire like Soros. Oh boy, it is good I am not like them, Whoaaaa! Hold it. Don't do it. Don't say it. Stick to your own sins.
"My sins are always before me.' says the penitential psalm of David. Today is Lenten Season. Keep all your sins and only your sins before the eye of your mind. Never mind the sins of those US bishops and priests.
That will make you humble....just like the tax collector. And justified in the eyes of Christ. Nothing else is important.
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