Subject: "Once Saved Always Saved" |
Bible Note: Hi Brian, 956. "The intercession of the SAINTS. 'Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness.... They do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus.... So by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped.'[LG 49; cf. 1 Tim 2:5 .] Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life.[St. Dominic, dying, to his brothers.] I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth.[St. Therese of Lisieux, The Final Conversations, tr. John Clarke (Washington: ICS, 1977), 102.]" [From the Catholic Catechism] This is a "teaching" of the Catholic Church. It's catechism is used for teaching both child and adult about Catholicism. Q: What are the Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church? A: There are four Marian dogmas: 1) Divine Motherhood - Council of Ephesus 431 2) Mary's Virginity a) Virginal Conception through the Spirit - Baptismal symbols since 3rd century. b) Perpetual Virginity (virginal birth and no other children) - Baptismal symbols since 4th century (first in eastern church) 3) Immaculate Conception (Mary's freedom from original sin) - Puis IX, 1854 4) Mary's Assumption (body and soul) into heaven - Pius XII, 1950 [From "Marian Library/International Marian Research Institute", Dayton, Ohio -- a Catholic organization.] The dates in the above information tells you when those "dogmas" were officially accepted by the RCC. Some are not biblical truth. They were inspired by the many "apparitions of Mary" though... and incorporated into the Church doctrine. Yet, as I said, many disagree with the New Testament... the actual written "apostolic teachings". A PRAYER by Pope John Paul II: Our Lady of the Millennium, Mother of the Redeemer with great joy we call you blessed. In order to carry out His plan of salvation, God the Father chose you before the creation of the world. You believed in His love and obeyed His word. The Son of God desired you for His Mother when he became man to save the human race. You received Him with ready obedience and undivided heart. The Holy Spirit loved you as His mystical spouse and He filled you with singular gifts. You allowed yourself to be led by His hidden and powerful action. On the eve of the third Christian Millennium. we entrust to you the Church which acknowledges you and invokes you as Mother. To you, Mother of the human family and of the nations, we confidently entrust the whole of humanity, with its hopes and fears. Do not let it lack the light of true wisdom. Guide its steps in the ways of peace. Enable all to meet Christ, the Way and the Truth and the Life. Sustain us, O Virgin Mary, on our journey of faith and obtain for us the grace of eternal salvation. O clement, O loving, O sweet Mother of God and our Mother, Mary! -- written by Pope John Paul II Daily prayers by Pope John Paul II: Through you God's holy people, his Church on earth, appeals for light and strength in its pilgrimage of faith. You have gone before us on the same journey and are now glorified in heaven. Be for us who are still on that journey of faith a true Star of the Sea, leading us to the presence of your Son where he sits at the right hand of the Father, enthroned in glory. More by same author: Take from all our hearts the selfishness that sours relationships and keeps us centered only on ourselves. Give us hearts aflame with charity and filled with love. Make us, like the apostle John who was commended to your care, loving children of our heavenly Father, conscious always of your maternal presence in our lives. You said: To these people, the Church presents Christians who have gone before us and Mary, as role models. Not as figures to be worshipped, but role models. Because of a child's relation with their own mother, sometimes it is easier for the child to relate to the mother of Jesus - which in turn, gently brings the child in Jesus' world. So either the Pope is still in need of Mary to bring him into Jesus' world, or he actually thinks Mary can change hearts, guide people, enable people to meet Christ, lead people to Christ, and he wants to entrust the Church to her... the church who acknowledges her and invokes her; and he believes she can sustain her children and OBTAIN THE GRACE OF ETERNAL SALVATION for them?? The Pope's Mary seems to be able to do everything that God can do. The real difference is that God's Word says that God is the ONLY person who can do those things. For myself, I'll believe God's Word is true before that of any man. God bless. |