- The Real Presence of Jesus Christ - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Blessed Eucharist.
- True devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God.
- The Pope, Successor of Peter, Vicar of Christ, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Servant of the Servants of God.
+A novena for the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI begins today, I have a link in my sidebar or click here.
I too will remain Roman Catholic, it is part of me and who I am. I think my church first priority is to protect its children, not the reputation of our universal church. By doing the right thing now, we can become stronger and the true church God meant us to be.
ReplyDelete..........:-) Hugs
There is only one reason I'm Catholic (concerning that I took the really long road to get here)--
ReplyDeleteIt is the summation of everything.
Nothing is left out, you are not left with the sense that "what am I missing?? There must be more" which is what I experienced in the various Protestant churches I experienced. In the Muslim faith God is very far away...in the Catholic faith Jesus is right here present with us in the Blessed Sacrament and in the Real Presence of the Eucharist. We can come to Him --Father God--as Abbba, Father, Papa, as little children..and we have the saints, angels, and the Blessed Mother on our side as well..and plus being a Secular definitely takes me to the "next level" if youwill in prayer, study, and contemplation.
No matter what happens in the world, I will always be Catholic.
Sara
P.S. Thanks Terry for directing toward the novena for the Holy Father..I will join everyone in participating...
ReplyDeletePPS Every please remember me in your prayers as I have a big Engineering presentation that I will be giving Tuesday 9 am Mountain Time...
Sara
Three Reasons: Me, too!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terry. I sent the Novena info on to our members.
Sara: Prayers from here.
tERRY--Thank you for the Novena. I have been praying for him, for a while. I like what Hilaire Belloc said: "The Catholic Church is a thing of which a man never despairs or is ashamed." How can anyone fail to be proud of Pope Benedict. His moral courage is breathtaking. Love your reason, Terry. In the last year, I have been re-made by the Eucharist. He has given me a new heart. Sara--I will say special prayers for you. All the best.
ReplyDeleteTerry,
ReplyDeleteMy three reasons are:
1.ditto
2.ditto
3.ditto
God bless Benedict, our Holy Father!
May Our Lady place him in the folds of her mantle!
Saint Michael archangel protect him!
Pax et Bonum,
Anthony
Anthony! Happy Easter! I'm so sorry I haven't been in touch - I'm terrible about responding to emails and keeping up with correspondence. Please forgive me.
ReplyDeleteTerry
Other than the reasons you mentioned, I remain Catholic because in this tradition, I'm forced to confront with EVERYTHING life throws at me every second, in a Catholic/ mystic content (mysticism for me means mystery of God). There is also something elusive about the Catholic faith. Something that is not unlike Caravaggio's "Supper at Emmaus." The sense that Christ is revealed not just in those places we expect to see Him, but also in some other place right before my eyes. He is, like the Christ in "Supper at Emmaus", hidden in plain view and my limited capacity can't see Him, but feels His presence in intermittently.
ReplyDeleteLike St. Augustine was aid, "Oh God, you seek those who hide from you and you hide from those who seek you."
I hope I don't sound weird.
Nope - you don't sound weird at all Tom. You sound very close to God.
ReplyDeleteTom--I completely get it and, no, you do not sound weird. I am made to think of Thompsons'The Hound of Heaven--
ReplyDeleteThe Hound of Heaven
I fled Him down the nights and down the days
I fled Him down the arches of the years
I fled Him down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind, and in the midst of tears
I hid from him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped and shot precipitated
Adown titanic glooms of chasmed fears
From those strong feet that followed, followed after
But with unhurrying chase and unperturbed pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat, and a Voice beat,
More instant than the feet:
All things betray thee who betrayest me...
Amen!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terry.
ReplyDeleteMaria-
I've heard of this poem before. I LOVE those first three lines:0) Thanks for reminding me:0)
Tom--You will love it. He was a drug addict--opium. Homeless really until he was rescued by people who saw his talent. The poem is so stunningly beautiful that it will bring you to tears. It was sort of a family favorite. My Father could quote long passages from heart.
ReplyDelete