Am I the only practicing Catholic on this forum??
- Thread starter M&M's Mommy
- Start date
Jess & Lizmo,
I'm stumped by your questions because I don't know where to begin
.
Catholicism is one of the largest religion which has a tradition that is ~2000 years old., so, in the limitation of this thread, it's imposible to portray it.
This Creed, however, sums up pretty well everything that we Catholics believe in.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He was born of the Virgin Mary ,
and became man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day He rose again
in fulfillment of the scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son,
Who is worshiped and glorified.
Who has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
I'm stumped by your questions because I don't know where to begin
. Catholicism is one of the largest religion which has a tradition that is ~2000 years old., so, in the limitation of this thread, it's imposible to portray it.
This Creed, however, sums up pretty well everything that we Catholics believe in.
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through Him all things were made.
For us men and our salvation He came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
He was born of the Virgin Mary ,
and became man.
For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
He suffered, died, and was buried.
On the third day He rose again
in fulfillment of the scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son,
Who is worshiped and glorified.
Who has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come.
I wasnt sure if you saw them...
but I do have one question... and Im not trying to start anything I promise... but what is the deal with Mary, I thought catholics prayed to her...and "she" was "important" one..
If you dont want to answer on this thread you can PM me
but I do have one question... and Im not trying to start anything I promise... but what is the deal with Mary, I thought catholics prayed to her...and "she" was "important" one..
If you dont want to answer on this thread you can PM me
Secondly, we believe that Jesus is Man.
He is fully God & fully man (not ... half & half
)Since Jesus' Devine & human nature cannot be separate, and Mary was His mother; therefore, we believe Mary is the Mother of God.
Please keep in mind that we do NOT worship Mary, but we pay most reverence to her because She was chosen by God himself to be His mother. As her son, I'm sure Jesus respected her, and loved her, and came to her for everything, so we believe we should, too.
We pray to Mary & all the Saints for their interventions. Basically, we ask them to pray to God for us, the same way a kid will go to their Mom and ask Mom to talk to Daddy for them..
There are a lot of teachings with regards to Mary. Some are not easy to understand because it's a matter of faith.
I'm a non-practicing Catholic, as is my father. My mother was extremely devout, and, due to her wishes, I was raised a Catholic. I was baptized in the Catholic Church, given my first communion in the Church, and confirmed by the Church. However, I don't practice anymore, as I don't agree with many of the Church's beliefs, such as how they're against sex before marriage, birth control, abortion, and homosexuality.
-Rosefern
-Rosefern
Aussie, I think as simple as a meeting with a priest may resolve this "problem" that you're having. The Church does not require that both parties have to be Catholic for the Sacrament of Matrimony to take place & the marriage be blessed. One person can be a Catholic while the other one is not.
When children are born they are accepted completely as members into their natural family. In the plan of God children are initiated immediately - through baptism - to share the life of grace by membership in the church, their spiritual family. Besides, the Church is the people of God. Who ever heard of a people without infants!
Everyone accepts the fact that parents bestow citizenship in an earthly nation upon their children when those children are born. Why, then, not bestow citizenship in the heavenly kingdom upon their children at the same time? Through baptism, we become members of the Church, citizens of God's kingdom. And that is the most important citizenship we can claim.
As for the orginial sin that are to be washed away through baptism, Catholics believe that humanity's "Separation from God" is the result of "original sin" from Adam and Eve, our first parents. Catholics believe we are born into "original sin," we inherit it. If original sin is the source of our damnation then we are born with it. We didn't choose to be born into humanity but we nevertheless received the grace of human life. Similarly, Catholics don't think babies have to consciously choose Baptism in order to receive its grace.
Who says you're not allowed to remain a Catholic? However, in order to received the Holy Communion, a person should be free from mortal sins & in full communion with the Church. Luckily for us, all sins can be forgiven through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as long as we want to be forgiven.
Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but i have the feeling that you don't really want to part with the Church just yet. Please give Her a chance to reconcile with you.
When children are born they are accepted completely as members into their natural family. In the plan of God children are initiated immediately - through baptism - to share the life of grace by membership in the church, their spiritual family. Besides, the Church is the people of God. Who ever heard of a people without infants!
Everyone accepts the fact that parents bestow citizenship in an earthly nation upon their children when those children are born. Why, then, not bestow citizenship in the heavenly kingdom upon their children at the same time? Through baptism, we become members of the Church, citizens of God's kingdom. And that is the most important citizenship we can claim.
As for the orginial sin that are to be washed away through baptism, Catholics believe that humanity's "Separation from God" is the result of "original sin" from Adam and Eve, our first parents. Catholics believe we are born into "original sin," we inherit it. If original sin is the source of our damnation then we are born with it. We didn't choose to be born into humanity but we nevertheless received the grace of human life. Similarly, Catholics don't think babies have to consciously choose Baptism in order to receive its grace.
Who says you're not allowed to remain a Catholic? However, in order to received the Holy Communion, a person should be free from mortal sins & in full communion with the Church. Luckily for us, all sins can be forgiven through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as long as we want to be forgiven.
Maybe I'm reading it wrong, but i have the feeling that you don't really want to part with the Church just yet. Please give Her a chance to reconcile with you.
Take birth control I am fixed and that is against doctrine. I would either follow it 100% or not at all. I can not follow it. I love some things but the majority I do not and as I have said I stopped believing in God so I won't go and be a hypocrite. I appreciate you at least not taking the high road with me and saying how you feel about the church and I am glad you find it what it is to you and it brings you peace.
You are not praying to Mary but asking for her intercession as she has been chosen as favored by God. In any prayer of intercession ultimately it is God who is granting you the 'favor' or gift. The documented miracles are generally through the intercession of a saint---so for example: I lose the use of my legs and I pray for Mary's intercession in that I may have use of them again. Then they are miraculously healed--I was praying 'to' (this is where this word gets used) Mary for her intercession but everyone is quite clear that it is God ultimately doing the healing work.
So basically you'r asking Mary to ask God to grant you what you want? And by having Mary on your side you think you'll have a better chance?
I'm just trying to understand. Since I was (still am) tought to pray to God. Talk directly with him, and having him talk back sometimes. Ask him directly for healings, words of wisdom, peace, help, understanding, anything. If he does do these things, by all means be greatful! But if he doesn't know that he does all things for the good of us who trust him, even if it's not in our timing.
I'm just trying to understand. Since I was (still am) tought to pray to God. Talk directly with him, and having him talk back sometimes. Ask him directly for healings, words of wisdom, peace, help, understanding, anything. If he does do these things, by all means be greatful! But if he doesn't know that he does all things for the good of us who trust him, even if it's not in our timing.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with what you've been doing. I pray directly to God, too. To me, praying is a conversation with God, and in doing so, maintain a relationship with Him, so I don't only pray when I needed something, but I pray also to tell him about my day, to praise Him, or to thanks Him for what I've already have. Granted that I pray harder & more often when I need something but then who wouldn't?
As for our venerence to Mary. We do nothing but follow what Jesus would have done himself. The "Having Mary on my side so I have better chance" is just a half-jokingly way of saying it.
As for our venerence to Mary. We do nothing but follow what Jesus would have done himself. The "Having Mary on my side so I have better chance" is just a half-jokingly way of saying it.
Infant Baptism Explained
I've never heard of a dead baby being Baptized.
Infant Baptism is a very mis-understood thing. I have a Pentecostal friend who's mother is upset because her kids weren't baptized at birth and the friend can't udnerstand why a baby would be baptized when they can't profess to be "saved". So, let me explain this as how I know and udnerstand it:
Infant Baptism is a way to welcome the infant into THE CHURCH, i.e. God’s community. A Baptized person is a member of the Body of Christ, the Church, with all the rights and responsibilities that it brings. In Baptism, it’s Christ himself who is doing the initiating, who welcomes the new members into his body.
We know the practice of infant Baptism goes way back into early Church history. In fact, it may have begun in New Testament times! There are several places in the New Testament in which Baptism is given to entire households, infants included! (See Acts 16:15, Acts 16:33, and 1 Corinthians 1:16.) Nowhere in the Bible does it prohibit infant Baptism.
In fact, Catholics aren’t the only ones to Baptize infants. Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Episcopalians (Anglicans) all Baptize infants!!! Most Christians throughout history –and even present-day Christians of many denominations—don’t agree that Baptism is only for adults. Infant Baptism goes back 400 years. The weight of Christian practice and Tradition for 600 years before that had no problem with infant Baptism.
Jesus says, of course, to let the little children come to Him, and says it’s children and those like them that will enter the kingdom of Heaven (see Matthew 19:14, mark 10:14, and Luke 18:16.) He’s NOT explicitly talking about Baptism here. But if you think about His words, He doesn’t seem to be saying that salvation is dependent on adult-like experiences that lead to the experiences of being “born again†either.
Early Church leaders and teachers, who knew of the practice of infant Baptism and had plenty of chances to condemn it, never condemned it! They obviously felt it was a practice consistent with the understanding of the faith and that the apostles had very recently taught them.
For them and for us Catholics, Baptism is a sacrament. It’s a ritual through which God really and truly acts. God shares HIS grace (His very life) through all of the sacraments, and Baptism is no different! Through Baptism, God forgives sins (original sin and others as well). We’re reborn as children of God. We’re joined to the new life Christ brings us through his resurrection.
A good way to think about this is to see how in Baptism we go down into water, just as Jesus descended into death and into the tomb. Our old selves die there, and with Christ we rise again out of the water, reborn into the new life. In addition, it also brings us into the Body of Christ –aka THE CHURCH, as I already pointed out earlier in this E-Mail.
My point to all this is: If MOST Christians from the earliest days of the faith believed that infants shouldn’t be excluded from Baptism then who are the modern fundamentalists and evangelicals to say they should?
God Bless!
I've never heard of a dead baby being Baptized.
Infant Baptism is a very mis-understood thing. I have a Pentecostal friend who's mother is upset because her kids weren't baptized at birth and the friend can't udnerstand why a baby would be baptized when they can't profess to be "saved". So, let me explain this as how I know and udnerstand it:
Infant Baptism is a way to welcome the infant into THE CHURCH, i.e. God’s community. A Baptized person is a member of the Body of Christ, the Church, with all the rights and responsibilities that it brings. In Baptism, it’s Christ himself who is doing the initiating, who welcomes the new members into his body.
We know the practice of infant Baptism goes way back into early Church history. In fact, it may have begun in New Testament times! There are several places in the New Testament in which Baptism is given to entire households, infants included! (See Acts 16:15, Acts 16:33, and 1 Corinthians 1:16.) Nowhere in the Bible does it prohibit infant Baptism.
In fact, Catholics aren’t the only ones to Baptize infants. Eastern Orthodox, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Episcopalians (Anglicans) all Baptize infants!!! Most Christians throughout history –and even present-day Christians of many denominations—don’t agree that Baptism is only for adults. Infant Baptism goes back 400 years. The weight of Christian practice and Tradition for 600 years before that had no problem with infant Baptism.
Jesus says, of course, to let the little children come to Him, and says it’s children and those like them that will enter the kingdom of Heaven (see Matthew 19:14, mark 10:14, and Luke 18:16.) He’s NOT explicitly talking about Baptism here. But if you think about His words, He doesn’t seem to be saying that salvation is dependent on adult-like experiences that lead to the experiences of being “born again†either.
Early Church leaders and teachers, who knew of the practice of infant Baptism and had plenty of chances to condemn it, never condemned it! They obviously felt it was a practice consistent with the understanding of the faith and that the apostles had very recently taught them.
For them and for us Catholics, Baptism is a sacrament. It’s a ritual through which God really and truly acts. God shares HIS grace (His very life) through all of the sacraments, and Baptism is no different! Through Baptism, God forgives sins (original sin and others as well). We’re reborn as children of God. We’re joined to the new life Christ brings us through his resurrection.
A good way to think about this is to see how in Baptism we go down into water, just as Jesus descended into death and into the tomb. Our old selves die there, and with Christ we rise again out of the water, reborn into the new life. In addition, it also brings us into the Body of Christ –aka THE CHURCH, as I already pointed out earlier in this E-Mail.
My point to all this is: If MOST Christians from the earliest days of the faith believed that infants shouldn’t be excluded from Baptism then who are the modern fundamentalists and evangelicals to say they should?
God Bless!