The Richness of the Catholic Church

The Catholic Church is so deep and rich, that there's no way to explain all of it in one blog.  Protestants will never know what we know unless they really take the time to learn.  Trying to explain Catholicism to a Protestant is like trying to explain calculus to a first-grader.  They just are not ready for it.  This is why it takes about a year for someone to officially become a Catholic.  The history goes back far - all the way to Jesus. Catholics (and the Orthodox) were the only Christians for 1500 years.  The only Christians. And that's what we called ourselves. We didn't have to start using the term "Catholic" until Protestants wanted to call themselves Christians, too.  (The term "Catholic" was first used by Ignatius of Antioch in the 100s AD).  There are so many layers to our faith.  Everything revolves around and is only for Jesus Christ  If you are interested in learning, use real Catholic sources to learn about the following: 

The Bible (the true history)

The Church Fathers/ Apostolic Fathers

The Magisterium

Christ's real presence in the Eucharist

Churches/ Cathedrals/ Basilicas

Dioceses

Parishes

Catholic schools/ CCD

Feast days

Solemnities

Holy Days/ Eves

Adoration

Processions

Liturgy/ Liturgical year

Candles

Stained glass windows

Relics

Incense

Vestments

The Crucifix

Stations of the Cross

Statues/ Paintings

Hymns

Gregorian chants

The Mass

Daily Mass

Sunday Mass

The weekly collection

Apostolic Succession

Priests/Pastors

Nuns/ Sisters

Monsignors

Bishops

Archbishops

Cardinals

Popes 

The Vatican

Rome

The Roman Catholic Church vs. the 7 Non-Roman Catholic Churches

Traditional Catholics

The Catechism

Eucharistic miracles

Healing miracles

Other miracles

Visions of Saints, Angels, Jesus, Mary

Mother Mary/ Our Lady of:

• Fatima
• Lourdes
• Knock
• La Salette
• Akita
• Guadalupe
• Mount Carmel
• Medjugorje

Saints/ Patron Saint of...

The Blessed and the Venerable

Incorruptibility

Sacramentals

Holy Water

The Rosary

The Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Scapular

The Sacrament of Baptism

The Sacrament of Reconciliation

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

The Sacrament of Confirmation

The Sacrament of Marriage

Second Vatican Council

RCIA

The Mass

The beautiful Catholic Mass is celebrated every weekday and five different times for Sunday.  It looks pretty much the same today as it did almost 2000 years ago.  Embedded in the sacred pages of God’s divine word is a blueprint with which God’s holy people, the Church, can construct a form of worship that is truly pleasing to the Lord. The Mass and the Bible are inseparable, and together they orient the Catholic faithful toward the destiny to which all humans are called: heaven.

In case you are wondering why we observe the Sabbath day on Sunday, rather than Saturday as the Jewish people do, passages of Scripture such as Acts 20:7, 1 Corinthians 16:2, Colossians 2:16-17, and Revelation 1:10 indicate that, even during New Testament times, the Sabbath is no longer binding and that Christians are to worship on the Lord’s day, Sunday, instead.

The Mass is the sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the sacrifice of his life that He gave for us, made once and for all on the hill of Calvary, outside of Jerusalem, around the year 30. The Mass that we participate in, as Catholic Christians, is the same sacrifice, now made present to us, today. When we attend Mass, we obey the command of Jesus at the Last Supper, “Do this in memory of me.” And from that first Easter Sunday night, the disciples of Jesus would meet, once a week, on a Sunday, to do what Jesus had done. In imitation of his actions at the Last Supper, the priest, who acts in the person of Jesus, takes bread, says a blessing, breaks the bread, and gives it to us for Communion. In the same manner, the priest takes the cup of wine, says a blessing, and gives it to us to take

The Mass has been the central prayer of the people of God, the Church, for almost two thousand years. Since the time of the Last Supper, Christians have been asked to gather together once a week to celebrate the Lord’s Supper as commanded by Jesus. The language of the Mass, originally celebrated by Jesus and the Apostles, was Aramaic. Then later the prayers of the Mass were in Greek, and later in many other languages of the ancient world: Syriac, Coptic, Latin, etc.

Throughout the history of Christianity the format and prayers that have been used for the Mass have changed and evolved, from Masses in the homes of the early Christians (with everyone sitting or reclining at tables) to the Masses in the larger buildings of ancient Rome called basilicas. For many years, the language of the Mass was Greek, and from the end of the 300's, and throughout the 400's, parts of the Mass were read in Latin, which was the common language of the people of the time.

With more and more persons participating in the Mass, there was no longer any room in the home, even larger homes, so after the emperor Constantine gave Christians the right to practice their religion publicly, the emperor or others built buildings made for the larger gatherings. The churches of the time had no pews – everyone stood for the whole Mass. There was a stone bench at one end, called the apse, where the bishop and other priests sat. The bishop would preach, sitting down, from this bench. 

The Mass began with readings from the Hebrew Scriptures (now called the Old Testament) and then other readings from the letters of Paul or the other apostles. The bishop, or presiding priest, would comment on the readings, applying the message of the readings to Christian life. This was called the homily. Bread, wine and water were brought in, and the bishop or presiding priest prayed a Prayer of Thanksgiving, asking God to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. People came to Communion standing, with hands outstretched, and received the Sacred Host in their hands, and then drank from the chalice. At the end of the Mass, another prayer was prayed, and the congregation was dismissed.

Here is a layout of the Mass Catholics celebrate every day (and 5 times for Sunday).  There are 4 main hymns sung throughout Mass (Entrance, Offertory, Communion, and Recessional), plus the Gloria, Psalm, Holy Holy Holy, Our Father, Agnus Dei and many of the responses are also sung at certain Masses.  Scripture is cited more than 100 times:

The Mass is the Holy Word of God.  Hebrews 8:2 7:25 8:3a,b, Revelation 5:6

INTRODUCTORY RITES

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit:  Matthew 28:19

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all/ And with your Spirit:  (Ruth 2:4, 2 Timothy 4:22, Judges 6:12, Luke 1:28, 2 Corinthians 13:13, 1 Peter 1:3)

The Confiteor:  Nehemiah 9:2, Leviticus 5:5   I confess to almighty God (Jas 5:16), and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned (1 Chr 21:8), in my thoughts and in my words (Psalm 19:15), in what I have done and in what I have failed to do (Jas 3:5; Jas 4:17), through my own fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault (Jas 5:16); therefore I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God (1 Thess 5:25).

Gloria:    Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will (Lk 2:14). We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you (Rev 7:12), we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father (Rev 19:6). Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father (2 Jn 3), you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us (Jn 1:29); you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father (Rom 8:34), have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One (Lk 4:34), you alone are the Lord (Ps 83: 19; Rev 15:4), you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ (Lk 1:32) with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen (Jn 14:26).

LITURGY OF THE WORD (Ex 24:7)

Old Testament Reading

Psalm Reading (singing)

New Testament Reading 

Alleluia ("God be praised"): Ps.113-118, Rev 19:1-9 Nehemiah 8:5 (stand for the Gospel) 6:6-7

Gospel Reading 

Homily

Profession of Faith / Nicene Creed (Romans 10:9-10):   We believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth (Gen 14:19), of all things visible and invisible (Col 1:16). I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God (Jn 1:18), born of the Father before all ages (Lk 1:35), God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father; through him all things were made (Jn 1:1-4). For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, and became man (Jn 3:13), and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man (Mt 1:18). For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate (Jn. 19:16); he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures (1 Cor. 15:3-4). He ascended into heaven (Lk 24:51) and is seated at the right hand of the Father (Col 3:1). He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1), and his kingdom will have no end (Lk 1:33). I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father (Jn 15:26) and the Son, who with the Father and the Son he adored and glorified (Jn 14:16), who spoken through the Prophets (1 Pet 1:10-11). I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church (Mt 16:18). I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Eph 4:4-6), and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come (Rom 6:5). Amen.

LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST 

Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation (1 Chr 29:10; Ps 89:53; Rom 9:5) for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth (Jas 5:7) and work of human hands, (Qo* 3:13), it will become for us the bread of life (Jn 6:35). Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you: fruit of the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink (Lk 22:17-18).

Blessed be God forever (cf. Ps. 68:36).

Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father (cf. Heb. 12:28).

May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his Church (cf. Ps. 50:23)

Gen 14:14-16, Hebrews 5:10 (sacrifice of thanksgiving)

Daniel 3:39-40 (sacrifice, spirit be received)

Leviticus 30:18-21 (hand washing)

Rev 5:8 (incense)

The Lord be with you; And with your spirit; Lift up your hearts; We lift them up to the Lord (Lam 3:41).

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God (Col 3:17).

It is right and just (Col 1:3).

It is truly right and just, our duty and salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Father most holy, through your beloved Son (Col 1:13), Jesus Christ, your Word through whom you made all things (Jn 1:3), whom you sent as our Savior and Redeemer, incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin (Gal 4:4; Mt 1:18; Lk 1:26-35). Fulfilling your will and gaining for you a holy people (1 Peter 2:9), he stretched out his hands (Is 65:2; Rom 10:21) as he endures his Passion, so as to break the bonds of death (2 Tim 1:10) and manifest the resurrection. And so, with the Angels and all the Saints we declare your glory, as with one voice we acclaim …

Holy Holy Holy:  Isaiah 6:3, Rev 4:8    Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God hosts (Is 6:3; Rev 4:8). Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Mt 21:9; Mk 11:9-10). Hosanna in the highest (Is 6:3)

Eucharistic Prayer I:     

To you, therefore, most merciful Father, we make humble prayer and petition through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord (Eph 5:20): that you accept and bless these gifts, these offerings, these holy and unblemished sacrifices (2 Macc 1:26), which we offer you firstly for your holy catholic Church. Be pleased to grant her peace, to guard, unite and govern her throughout the whole world, together with your servant Francis our Pope, and N. our Bishop, and all those who, holding to the truth, hand on the catholic and apostolic faith (Jn 17:21; Acts 2:42).

Remember, Lord, your servants N. and N. and all gathered here, whose faith and devotion are known to you. For them, we offer you this sacrifice of praise or they offer to for themselves and all who are dear to them: for the redemption of their souls, in hope of health and well-being, and paying their homage to you, the eternal God, living and true (Ps 106:4-5; Heb 13:15).

In communion with those whose memory we venerate, especially the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, mother of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ, and blessed Joseph, her spouse, your blessed apostles and martyrs, Peter and Paul, Andrew, and all your saints; we ask that through their merits and prayers (1 Tim 2:1), in all things we may be defended by your protecting help. (Mt 1:2-16; Lk 16:9; 1 Cor 12:12, 20f; Rev 5:8).

Therefore, Lord, we pray: graciously accept this oblation of our service, that of your whole family; order our days in your peace, and command that we be delivered from eternal damnation and counted among the flock of those you have chosen (Acts 20:28).

Be pleased, O God, we pray, to bless, acknowledge, and approve this offering in every respect (Gen 4:4); make it spiritual and acceptable, so that it may become for us the Body and Blood of your most beloved son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

On the day before he was to suffer, he took bread in his holy and venerable hands, and with eyes raised to heaven to you, O God, his almighty Father, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples says: Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my Body, which will be given up for you (Mt 26:26-28).

In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took this precious chalice in his holy and venerable hands, and once more giving thanks, he said the blessing and gave the chalice to his disciples saying: Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is my Blood, the Blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me (Mt 26:26-28).

The mystery of faith (1 Tim 3:16).

When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again. (1 Cor. 11:26)

Therefore, O Lord, as we celebrate the memorial of the blessed Passion, the resurrection from the dead, and the glorious ascension into heaven of Christ, your son, our Lord, we, your servants and your holy people, offer to your glorious majesty from the gifts that you have given us, this pure victim, this holy victim, this spotless victim (1 Pet 1:18-21), the holy Bread of eternal life and the chalice of everlasting salvation (Jn 6:54).

Be pleased to look upon these offerings with a serene and kindly countenance, and to accept them, as once you were pleased to accept the gifts of your servant Abel (Gen 4:4) the just, the sacrifice of Abraham, our father in faith (Gen 22:12), and the offering of your high priest Melchizedek (Gen 14:18), a holy sacrifice, a spotless victim (1 Pet 1: 19).

In humble prayer we ask you, almighty God: command that these gifts be borne by the hands of your holy Angel to your altar on high in the sight of your divine majesty (Rev 8:3-4), so that all of us, who through this participation at the altar receive the most holy Body and Blood of your Son, may be filled with grace and heavenly blessing (Eph 1:3).

Though we are sinners, we trust in your mercy and love. Do not consider what we truly deserve, but grant us your forgiveness (Ps 25:7).

Through him you give us all these gifts. You fill them with life and goodness, you bless them and make them holy (Ps 104:27-28).

Our Father (Mt. 6:9-13)

Deliver us, Lord, from every evil and grant us peace in our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. (Jn 17:15).

Through him, and with him, and in him (Rom 11:36), O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:3), all glory and honor is yours (Eph 3:20-21; Rev 4:11), for ever and ever. Amen.

Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: I leave you peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the faith of your Church, and grant us the peace and unity of your kingdom where you live and reign for ever and ever (Jn. 14:27). The peace of the Lord be with you always (cf. Jn. 20:19).  Let us offer each other the sign of peace (Rom 16:16; 1 Cor 16:20; 2 Cor 13:12; 1 Thes 5:26; 1 Pet 5:14).

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.  Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.  Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem.  (Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us…Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace )(cf. Jn. 1:29)

May this mingling of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ bring eternal life to us who receive it (Jn 6:54).

Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world (Jn 1:29). Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9).

Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed (Mt 8:8; Lk 7:6-7).

Communion:  The Body of Christ/ Amen.  The Blood of Christ/ Amen.

The Lord be with you; And with your spirit (Ruth 2:4).

May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Lk 24:51).

Go in the peace of Christ (Lk 7:50). Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord (Mk 16:15). Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life (1 Cor 10:31; 1 Pet 4:11).

Thanks be to God (2 Cor. 9:15).

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*cf - short for the Latin: confer/conferatur, both meaning "compare"

*Qo - Qo is defined as the abbreviation of Qohelet from the Hebrew Bible which translates into Ecclesiastes, a book of teachings by Solomon in the Old Testament.

References:  

https://stjosephscharlton.com/mass-history-story

https://aleteia.org/2017/08/12/who-says-catholics-dont-hear-the-bible-at-mass/

The 3-Legged Stool

 

The History

Catholicism began in 33 AD.  Jesus made Simon the foundation of his Church - changing his name to Kephas (Peter), which literally means "rock" - thus beginning something which I am proudly part of today.  Peter was the first head of this new church, as he is the spokesperson of the apostles, the first to enter the empty tomb, and always listed first in the Bible.  At Pentecost, he and the apostles were given the fire and ability to spread Jesus's message all over the world.  All of the apostles were teachers and they taught their followers the true words of Jesus:  His words on the mountain, His words at the last supper, His words on the cross - and His words to them individually, as a group, or even just overheard.  Jesus's words and traditions were repeated everywhere the apostles and their followers went.  Many were written down, some were just retold and re-enacted.  Those that were written down were gathered a few hundred years later and put together by other Catholics to become our New Testament.  Peter's successor, one of his students and followers, was the next one to hold the keys to the kingdom. 

Peter was crucified in Rome and is buried right where St. Peter's Basilica is.  After Peter's (and Paul's) death in around 64 AD, a Roman named Linus was his successor.  There is an unbroken line of Peter's successors that still continues after 2000 years.  We call these men the fathers of our church - originally "pappas" (in Greek), from which we get the word "pope".   Here is a list:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_popes#Chronological_list_of_popes

Every day at our beautiful Catholic mass, we do what the apostles and their successors did with their followers from right after Pentecost: we profess our faith and praise in Jesus, read and reflect on the Holy words of Jesus, the adventures and letters of the apostles who followed Him, and the words of the ancient scriptures Jesus followed, and we recreate the words and actions of Jesus at his last supper with the apostles before his crucifixion.  Every Catholic mass everywhere in the world read the same readings on any given day and say the same words in whatever language they are speaking.   Jesus is there with us at every mass and is the bread and wine we receive - just as He said He would be.  "Recalling these words of Jesus, the Catholic Church professes that, in the celebration of the Eucharist, bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest. Jesus said: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. . . . For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink" (Jn 6:51-55). The whole Christ is truly present, body, blood, soul, and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine—the glorified Christ who rose from the dead after dying for our sins. This is what the Church means when she speaks of the "Real Presence" of Christ in the Eucharist." (usccb).

Clement of Rome's letters (or "epistles") were widely read in the Early Church.  His was the earliest epistle from a Church Father outside the New Testament.  Clement was consecrated by Peter and was said to be a leading member of the church in Rome in the late 1st century.

Ignatius of Antioch was a student of the apostle John.  Before he was martyred in Rome, he wrote letters which included the topics of ecclesiology (the study of Christianity's leadership, polity, discipline, & destiny), the sacraments, the role of bishops, and the incarnation of Christ.

Polycarp of Smyrna was another student of the apostle John and was a Christian bishop in Smyrna (now Turkey).  He is among the earliest Christians whose writings survived.  He authenticated a lot of Christian teachings through his connection with the apostle John.  He condemned any heresy.

Beyond the first century, there are many Greek, Latin, Syriac, & Desert Church Fathers who continued the oral traditions of the apostles and defended the Church from heresy and false teachings.  They were bishops, scholars, council members, theologians,  prolific writers, and apologists.  Most of these men carried on the sacred traditions and words of the apostles way before the books of the Bible were put together in the 4th century.  

The Catholic mass is pretty much the same as it was with these early Church Fathers.  The doctrine and dogma of the Catholic Church have remained virtually unchanged since the first century.  A specific order and arrangement of our mass came from St. Gregory in around the year 604 AD.  St. Paul's account of the Eucharist predates the Gospels.  St Paul's account reads:

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread, and giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: This is My Body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of Me.

In like manner also the chalice, after He had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in My Blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of Me. For as often as you shall eat this Bread, and drink the Chalice, you shall show the death of the Lord, until He come.

      Therefore whosoever shall eat this Bread, or drink the Chalice of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the Body and of the Blood of the Lord. [1 Cor: 11: 23-27]

These are the words said in our mass today.  It identifies the Eucharist with the Passion.  We have been commanded to celebrate the Eucharist in Jesus's memory.  And the Catholic Church has done that unceasingly for 2000 years.

The Dream

My maternal grandparents were my Catholic rock.  They were devout Catholics, never missing a week of mass.  Grandpa taught me the Our Father and the Hail Mary when I was about 6 years old and told me that when I couldn't get to sleep, to use that time saying my prayers.  He was my Confirmation sponsor and I couldn't have been more proud of that.  Grandma kept a small figure of the infant Jesus on her dresser and a beautiful portrait of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in her hallway next to the kitchen.  She always sang the songs at mass and I loved listening to her.  I enjoyed going to mass with them.  One of the parishes we went to had a little gift shop and after mass, Grandma would buy me a little booklet of the lives of the saints.  Every now and again they would have another issue and I eventually acquired all 4 of them.  As an adult, I bought the same lives of the saints stories in a complete book and I treasure it to this day.

They passed away about 15 years ago (within a year of each other).  It has left a huge hole in my heart and I miss them very much.  One night about 5 years later I had a very profound and detailed dream about them:

It started out where I was sitting in what seemed like a small classroom.  The walls were chain-link fence and there was a stairway going up one side.  I was at a small desk, the kind you see in a college classroom - open on one side.  I remember having a feeling of anticipation and not really even noticing anyone else around me - and there definitely were others in the room at desks, too.  I also didn't notice what was outside through the chain-link walls.   Then a figure came halfway down the stairs and called my name.  I had the sense she was female, but I don't remember her having a face.  She wore a hooded robe and seemed to be floating slightly off the ground.  It was a very friendly and calming presence and I had no fear.  I immediately got up and followed her up the stairs.  At the top of the stairs, there was a long hallway that we walked along.  Every 10-15 feet or so on both the left and right sides was an archway leading into a room or sorts.  I saw the archways, but the insides of each room were completely black.  It was as if I was not meant to see inside a room that wasn't meant for me.  The blackness of each room was framed with an open, heavy red curtain - almost theater-like.  We walked down the hallway, side-by-side.  She still had no face and seems to float along.  Then she turned toward me and said, "Would you like to see your grandparents?".  I remember excitedly saying, "YES!", not expecting to hear that.  We came to one of the archways and the figure pointed and told me to go ahead inside.  I walked into the blackness and it immediately brightened up to reveal a room, similar to a hotel room with a large bed in the middle.  Grandpa walked right over to me, smiling.  He must have been 50 years younger than I remember him.  He looked great.  His hair was dark and he had a small mustache and a hat on.  We hugged and I remember feeling so happy and crying.  Grandma was sitting on the bed and looked a bit nervous.  I went over to her and we hugged.  I had a feeling she wasn't sure where she was.  Neither of them spoke a single word.  Then I remember feeling as if it was time for me leave them and I walked out of the room back into the hallway.  When I looked back into the room, all I saw was the blackness again.  I was alone.  I started to walk down the hallway some more and I came to a huge open bright room that reminded me of a cafeteria, with empty round tables and sturdy chairs.  No one was here either.  I looked up and saw that the very high ceiling had a huge square cutout - almost as large as the room itself.  Attached to the edges of the open ceiling was a heavy rope net, as big as the hole and hanging down from it.  I remember thinking that the net was there to catch someone who was falling into the room.  I remember feeling a great urge to know what that ceiling opening led to.  I walked to the middle of the room, stood on a table and reached up to try and grab the net.  Looking up at the opening, I saw a very dark, starry night sky and felt a breeze.  As I tried looking closer, I woke up.

My dreams are never this vivid and detailed - and long.  I felt different when I woke up - as if I had just come back from a journey.  My mind felt confused, I was breathing heavily, and I remembered every single detail.  I grabbed a piece of paper and a pen and choppily wrote down what I remembered.  I told my mom about it later and she believes I actually did have a visit with my grandparents.  

When I thought it would be an interesting blog topic to write about, I didn't even need that paper (no idea where it could be after 15 years anyway) because in thinking about it just now, I still remember every single detail.  As a matter of fact, in the blog just now, I wrote down all the things about that dream I remember - down to what I was feeling, what the walls looked like, and more about the robed figure.  These are things I had never written down or told anyone before.  

So take from it what you will.  I believe my consciousness went somewhere else.   I have been comforted by it, knowing my grandparents are still together and live on, somewhere beyond this world, and that they still love us and will be there when it's our time to move on. 

 

The Bible

I started reading the Bible again a few weeks ago.  I always have it by me for reference and comfort, but every 7 years or so, I get the urge to just read it through.  I just got the Great Adventure Bible and I absolutely love it.  It is a complete Revised Standard Bible with all 73 books.  This RSV is said to be the clearest, most accurate, and most beautiful translation of the Bible in English.

The Great Adventure Bible (and Jeff Cavins) lays out a great way to read the Bible.  You read all the "narrative" books first and then go back and read the rest of the books where they will now be in context with the books you already read.  I love that idea.  This Bible also gives you further explanations about what was going on in that time period and how certain things connect with other things.  It also comes with maps and a timeline, in relation to each book of the Bible, which really helps me understand when everything was taking place.  I prefer this Bible to all others.  Even though the Catholic mass liturgy uses the New American Bible (NAB) (which I also like), the Vatican prefers the Revised Standard Version (RSV), using it for all their documents issued in English.  Also, the RSV is based on the Masoretic texts, which is the authoritative Hebrew and Aramaic text of the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible.  The books of the New Testament were written in Koine Greek - or maybe that was translated from Aramaic or Syriac/Hebrew.  No one is 100% sure. 

I agree with Jimmy Akin that "Sacred Scripture is not just the revealed written word of God, but a thoroughly Catholic work, intimately connected with the Church from the earliest centuries.  The Bible cannot exist apart from the Church.  In its origins and its formulation, in the truths it contains, in its careful preservation over the centuries and in the prayerful study and elucidation of its mysteries, Scripture is inseparable from Catholicism.  This is fitting since both come from God for our salvation.  I take pride in this gift that God gave the world through the Church.  We are the original 'Bible Christians'",  Bishop Thomas J. Olmstead reminds us that "the teachings of the Catholic Church have Sacred Scripture as their base and that it is the Catholic Church that has preserved this treasure for humanity down through the centuries".  

Even the roots of the 1611 King James Bible are almost entirely Catholic, despite the fact that the translation was often viewed as a highpoint of Protestant European culture.  If it had not been for the Catholics of the 1500s and the original Bibles that came from Catholic priests, there would be no King James Bible.  The KJV writers actually mimicked and copied Catholic priests.  There was a whole exhibition about that called the "Verbum Domini" (Word of the Lord).  Btw, King James was not a theologian and honestly had no authority in biblical matters at all.  He was prompted to produce a "better" English Bible and he made sure the one that was produced lined up with the Church of England's ideals and beliefs.  

What I'm really excited about in reading the Bible again, this time not only with guidance and a laid-out plan of understanding, but reading it in a contemplative way I just learned more about, called "Lectio Divina".  It is a way of immersing yourself into Scripture very personally and reflecting prayerfully on God's words.  The Christian form of Lectio Divina was first introduced by St. Gregory of Nyssa (330-395 AD) and encouraged by St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547 AD), who was the founder of the Benedictine order.  The four steps of Lectio Divina are:  

1. Read - read slowly and pay attention
2. Meditate - listen to the inner message of the Scripture, delivered by the Holy Spirit
3. Pray - prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together, for we speak to Him when we pray and we hear Him when we read.
4. Contemplate - hearing the Word of God and focusing on His presence in a silent, attentive mode. 

Lectio Divina helps us hear specifically and individually from God through Scripture, guided by the Holy Spirit, and deepens our relationship with Him.  Also, it's satisfying, enjoyable, and relaxing.  

Here are some BIBLE FACTS (taken from another page):

# The Bible is a Catholic book because the Catholic Church decided which books to include in the Bible in the Synod's of Hippo (393 AD) and confirmed it at Carthage (397 A.D).

# The Canon recognized by the Catholic Church for the past fifteen centuries (73 books) was specified in the Council of Laodicea in 367 A.D.

# The non-Catholic scholar Peter Flint, who translated the Dead Sea Scrolls, tells us that there was no Bible until the 300's when the Catholic Church infallibly decided on what books belong there. Before that, there were hundreds of letters and the Septuagint.

# Even the word Bible is not in the Bible. It came from the Greek word "biblos" ( "Βίβλος" ) which means the inner bark of the papyrus, paper-reed, from which paper was originally made, in Egypt. The Latin form "Biblia" spelled with a capital letter, came to mean "the Book of Books," "The Book" by way of pre-eminence, the inspired Book, etc. The Holy Scriptures were first called the Bible by St. Chrysostom, the Catholic Archbishop of Constantinople, in the 4th century.

# Canon of Scripture:
The Canon of Scripture simply means the authentic collection of those writings declared to have been inspired by God. They are called canonical, whereas those writings that were rejected as uncanonical were called apocryphal, which means not of Divine origin, not inspired.

# The Bible alone theory is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches us and shows us that the Church came FIRST before the Bible. After all, what books did Jesus write? None! Jesus deliberately chose NOT to write. Instead, He chose to establish a Church to teach in His name!

# The early Christians did not own a Bible since the printing press wasn't developed until the 1500s. Even after the printing press was developed, many Christian could not afford to own a Bible.

# The apostles did not read from the New Testament, which was yet to be written, instead, they taught by "word of mouth" and by tradition, as shown in the following verses:

(2 Thes. 2:15) - So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter.

(2 Tim. 2:2) - and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.

# JESUS stated that the final authority is the church in Matthew 18:15-17.
Matt 18:15 But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother.
Matt 18:16 And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.
Matt 18:17 And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican.

# Nowhere in the Bible does it state that the "Bible" is the only authority for Christians?

# For more than 1,400 years the Church taught the members by Tradition because the bible was printed only around the 1440s by Johannes Gutenberg.

Bible Timeline:
-> 33AD (Catholic Church founded)
-> 397AD (Bible Canonized by the Catholic church)
-> 1440AD (First Bible printed)

1440 - 33AD = 1400 + years of oral tradition

The first mass-produced printed book was the Bible, a version based on the Latin edition from about 380 AD.. The Bible was printed at Mainz, Germany by Johannes Gutenberg from 1452 -1455.

# Bible states that we must look to the Church for the proper interpretation. After all, the Bible cannot interpret itself, can it? Let look at some verses that show us that private interpretation is frowned upon.

(2 Peter 1:20) - First of all, you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation,

(2 Peter 3:16) - speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.

(Acts 8:30-34) - 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this:

# Catholics never outlawed the reading of the bible. They outlawed certain editions of the bible that were translated incorrectly by reformers.

# Catholic and Protestant Bibles both include 27 books in the New Testament.

Protestant Bibles have only 39 books in the Old Testament, however, while Catholic Bibles have 46.
The seven books included in Catholic Bibles are Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch. Catholic Bibles also include sections in the Books of Esther and Daniel which are not found in Protestant Bibles. These books are called the deuterocanonical books. The Catholic Church considers these books to be inspired by the Holy Spirit.

# Martin Luther, on his own and without any authority, ripped seven books out of the Old Testament and claimed they were not Sacred Scripture (hence being put in an appendix).

# Martin Luther also wanted to rip out of the Bible several New Testament books too -- such as James, Hebrews, and Revelations.

# One of the reasons that Luther ripped out books of the Old Testament is because some of those books helped to explain some Catholic doctrines. The reason why he wanted to rip out of the Bible the Book of St. James is because it contradicted his personal and heretical view about justification, said justification was by faith alone. NOWHERE does the Bible say that, so Luther added the word to Romans 3:28 in his German Translation.

# In fact the ONLY place in the New Testament where the words "faith alone" appear is in the Book of St. James where James says that we are "not saved by faith alone" (James 2:24). This was the reason Luther wanted to get rid of the book of James. This man was not just arrogant but evil in his desire to conform the Bible to his personal, and heretical, opinions. James 2:24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith

# In addition Martin Luther added to the Bible words that do not exist in the Greek extant manuscripts. When Martin Luther was confronted about why he was messing with the Bible, he arrogantly replied, "Because my will is good enough."

Why Always an Argument?

If anything even slightly Catholic is posted somewhere where there are some Protestants, an argument will always ensue - from them.  I don't get it.  Why is their opinion "right"?  Why do they do this only with Catholics?  Why not argue with the other 40000+ other Protestant denominations who you know you disagree with somewhere?  Why not tell Muslims and Jews how "wrong" they are? Why only us?  Just because you are called Protestants doesn't mean you must always feel the need to protest the Catholics all.the.time.  We are not you and do not want to be you.

I think I will start posting this response from now on...

You are not Catholic and we are.  We believe Jesus speaks to us in many more ways than the Bible alone.  We believe in apostolic tradition and the early church fathers.  We believe in intercessory prayer with saints, who are those we aspire to be like, who we believe are alive in heaven, who hear us when we pray, pray with us and for us, and bring our prayers to Jesus. We believe Jesus and his mother have appeared to many of us giving us new prayers and words of wisdom, and performing documented and proven miracles. We love our cathedrals, icons, pictures, and statues that represent who we worship or venerate, just as a photo in your wallet or phone represents someone YOU love.  Stop trying to make us be like you.  You broke away from us because there were things one man and some of his followers didn't agree with. Then over the next 500 years, more than 40,000 other protesting denominations were created because no one can agree with anyone else.  We're fine with who we are - yes, even after 2000 years.