Steve Ray: Are you born again? A Catholic Response

Rebuttal of Michael Taylor's article, "Which "Cup" Did James and John Drink?"

Rebuttal of Michael Taylor's article, "Which "Cup" Did James and John Drink?"

Introduction

When Jesus told James and John that they would drink the cup that he would drink and undergo the baptism that he would undergo (Mark 10:38-39), what did he mean?  Most commentators take a straightforward approach:  Jesus was saying that they would suffer and die in a way comparable to their master, since the “cup” and the “baptism” to which Jesus was referring was his own death at the hands of his persecutors (Mark 14:32-42; Matthew 26:36-46; Luke 22: 40-46; John 18:11).  Support for this interpretation is found in subsequent apostolic history, including the only scriptural account of the martyrdom of an apostle, namely, James the brother of John (cf, Acts 12:2).  

So far, so good.

A significant minority of commentators, 

Why are they significant to Michael Taylor, I wonder?  I'm forced to conclude it is simply because they agree with his opinion and disagree with Catholic Doctrine.

however, believe that Jesus has a different “cup” in view, and by extension, a different “baptism” (See appendix A below).  The rest of this article will give several arguments in favor of the view that a different cup/baptism is in mind.  Before we do, let’s take a closer look at the text itself to see what the scriptures are saying.  

That's why I'm here.  To rebut those arguments.

Here is Mark's version (Mark 10:35-45):
And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36 And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37 And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38 Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39 And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant,but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Here is Matthew's version (Matthew 20:20-28):

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the case for why a “different” cup/baptism may be in view.

Ok.

1.   Jesus would have been wrong!
When Jesus asks James and John, "Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" (Mark 10:38), his rhetorical question expects “no” as an answer.  

This is simply your assumption.  As I see it, Jesus asked a question in order to obtain a confession of faith.

If this isn't obvious from the very nature of the question, then it should be from the immediate context.  For he has just told the brothers (their mother, in Matthew's version),"You do not know what you are asking" (Mark 10:38; Matthew 20:22).

He explained that very clearly.  He says that they don't understand where His authority on the matter of seating in heaven extends:
Matt 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: <b>but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.</b>

In other words, they understand that the cup and baptism entail sacrifice.  But do not understand that sitting at His right and left is for the Father to decide.

Amazingly, James and John answer, “We are able” (Mark 10:38).  But are they truly able?  If they are, then we are forced to the conclusion that Jesus' initial assessment of the brothers' ability to undergo the same cup/baptism was simply wrong.  

No, no.  We are forced to conclude that your assessment of what was going on is wrong.

But how likely is it that Jesus would have failed to properly discern their readiness, willingness and/or ability to face what Jesus himself was to face?  

Highly unlikely.  However, Jesus was only pressing for a confession of faith as He does frequently.  See these examples:

Mark 10:18
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Obviously, here, Jesus wants the young man to say, "because I believe that you are God.  That is why I call you good."  But the young man doesn't get it.

Here, however, Martha does get it:

John 11:26-27
King James Version (KJV)
26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Therefore, when Jesus told them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized" (Mark 10:39), he may very well have a different cup/baptism in mind. If so, then the initial expectation behind his rhetorical question would still be well-founded, and the problem of Jesus making a bad discernment would not arise.

The context leads most people to a very different conclusion.  You said so yourself in the opening paragraph.  The so-called "significant minority" is only significant to those who discard the Traditions of Jesus Christ.

2.   Jesus would have been hypocritical!
If Jesus has the same cup/baptism in mind throughout Mark 10:38-39, then he would have been guilty of gross hypocrisy.  After all, Jesus himself prays three times for the cup to be removed (cf, Mark 14: 39-41).  But if the same cup/baptism is in view throughout, then it seems that Jesus would have been willing to allow James and John to drink of the cup that he prays to have removed!   One would think that, at a minimum, Jesus would have prayed that they be spared the same cup.  But one finds no such prayer recorded in scripture.   Alternatively, if Jesus had a different cup/baptism in view, then no such problem arises in the first place.

Non sequitur.  If Jesus had been spared the cup, then it follows that everyone would have been spared the cup since we are His body.

3.  A cup of wrath for James and John?
The most probable scriptural background for the “cup” that Jesus mentions is the “cup of wrath” mentioned primarily in the prophets 

That only makes sense for those who read Scripture on the basis of Scripture alone.  And we don't.  Catholics understand that Scripture was not written in a vacuum.  The New Testament, in fact, is written by the Church, based upon the Sacred Traditions  which Jesus commanded the Church to Teach.

 (Psalm 11:6; 75:7, 8: Isaiah 51:17, 22; Jeremiah 25:15-16, 27-29; 49:12; 51:57; Lamentations 4:21; Ezekiel 23:31-34; Habakkuk 2:16; Zechariah 12:2; see also Job 21:20 Psalm 60:3; Isaiah 63:6; Obadiah 1:16).  

Having said that, you also, in typical Protestant style, simply dumped a bunch of verses in front of us with the assumption that you had understood them correctly.  Lets see if that is true.

Psalm 11:6
King James Version (KJV)
6 Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup.

Jesus is not wicked, so this doesn't apply.

Lets look at the word, "cup" and how it is used here.  It is prefaced by the word, "their".  "Their" is a clear reference to the wicked.

But what about "cup"?  In Scripture, we see this statement:
Matthew 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

That makes sense to me.  They were judged wicked and worthy of punishment.  Thus, their cup, their judgment, their fate, was fire and brimstone.

Psalm 75:7
King James Version (KJV)
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

Whaddaya know, this confirms that, in these verses at least, cup does not refer only to cup of wrath, but to God's judgment, good or bad.  Their fate as decided by God.

Psalm 75:8
8 For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

Note this.  Here, the cup of God's judgment contains both good and evil.  The wine is good and the mixture is good.  But the dregs, the residue, is bitter and reserved for the wicked.

So, the "cup" refers to God's judgment, good or bad.  The fate of the good is to drink of the wine.  The fate of the wicked is to soak up the dregs.

If you read the rest of the verses, you will find that they all refer to the same thing.  God's judgment.  Most of them are specifically speaking about God's judgment that evil doers will be punished.  Nonetheless, we can see that the word "cup" does not necessarily refer to God's wrath.  But to the fate of the individual:

Psalm 16:5
The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

Here, lot and cup mean the same thing.  Fate.  We all, in fact, hope for salvation.  And salvation is in our Lord.

1 Corinthians 2:9
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

 I hope I have proven then, that cup as "fate" or "judgment" is the most probable understanding of that which Jesus making reference when He was speaking to the Apostles.

Psalm 23:5
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Psalm 73:10
Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

Psalm 116:13
I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord.

Jeremiah 16:7
Neither shall men tear themselves for them in mourning, to comfort them for the dead; neither shall men give them the cup of consolation to drink for their father or for their mother.

So, if cup does not refer to wrath but to fate, what is the cup of which the Apostles will drink?

The cup of self sacrifice for the sake of the Church:
Acts 5:41
And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

In fact, there really is no other plausible scriptural background for the "cup," and anyone who says otherwise is forced to consult extra-biblical sources to find a suitable cup, such as the "cup of death" mentioned in some of the Targums (e.g., Targum Neofiti of Deuteronomy 32:1).  That said, of the 17 verses with metaphorical uses of the word "cup" in the Old Testament, the overwhelming majority (14 verses by my count) are negative uses which refer to God's wrath or judgment upon Israel or the nations.  And in no case does the "cup" ever refer to the persecution of an individual or to the death of a martyr. 

But if the "cup" is the OT cup of wrath (what other cup can it be?), how likely is it that Jesus would have expected the sons of Zebedee to undergo divine wrath and judgment?  If he did, then at best they had a “taste” of the cup and it would be most unlikely that they drank it to the "dregs" (cf, Isaiah 51:17) as Jesus did.  Therefore, if the “cup” Jesus drank was the cup of wrath, then it is unlikely that the same cup is in view for James and John.

As I hope I have proven, that is merely presupposition and faulty reasoning.  The cup to which Jesus refers is the common fate of all Christians, to take up our cross and suffer with Christ:
Romans 8:17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Galatians 2:20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

4.  The Eucharistic cup as the most immediate fulfillment.
When Jesus tells James and John they will drink his “cup,” the very next time a “cup” is mentioned is at the Eucharist (Mark 14:23; Matthew 26:27), and there we are explicitly told that "they all drank of it," thereby giving an immediate fulfillment to his prediction in Mark 10:39.  

Further, when we compare the account of James' and John's request to the wording we find at the Eucharist, we find remarkable parallels besides the word "cup."  For example, Jesus ends his discourse in Mark 10:45 with these words:  "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Compare this to the  language used at the Eucharist in Mark 14:24: And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many."  In light of the strong parallels between Jesus' discourse with James and John and the Institution of the Eucharist, it seems quite likely that these passages were intended to be mutually interpreting. 

That leads to the very Catholic conclusion that all Christians are called to give their life "as a ransom" for many:
1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

5.  What kind of baptism?

Most commentators believe that the “baptism” to which Jesus refers was an immersion in tribulation leading to his death.   As reasonable as this suggestion sounds, there is no clear analogue for this understanding of baptism in scripture.  The only OT passage that would come close to this understanding of baptism is the Septuagint (LXX) version of Isaiah 21:4: "My heart wanders, and transgression overwhelms (baptizes) me; my soul is occupied with fear" (English translation of the Septuagint).  But even here, baptism is not an equivalent term for physical death, and there is otherwise no indication that either Mark or Matthew had this verse in mind.   

In the NT, baptism is sometimes compared to death (Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12).  But the converse isn’t true:  death is never a metaphor for baptism, unless Mark 10:38-39 is the sole exception to this rule. 

There is, however, a baptism that Jesus received that he also gives to his disciples.  When Jesus was baptized by John (Mark 1:9-11; Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3: 21, 22), he was also baptized with the Holy Spirit .  We are told in several places that it is Jesus himself who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Mark 1:8; Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; John 1:33; see also Acts 2:3; Malachi 3:2). It therefore is possible that Jesus is referring to Christian baptism that, heretofore, has not been instituted, but which will be at Pentecost.  Further, if the “’cup” is the Eucharist, then the suggestion that the “baptism” is Christian baptism would seem all the more likely. 

Putting it all together:  When Jesus tells James and John that they will drink his cup and undergo his baptism, he may very well be speaking of the sacraments of initiation in which we participate in the death of Christ.  For both the “cup” (the Eucharist) and baptism unite us in Christ’s death and resurrection.  "The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ?" (1 Corinthians 10:16).  "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:3).

Michael, here exemplifies the "either/or" mentality of the Protestants.  As Catholics, we believe that the Scriptures are pregnant with meaning and may contain several, non-contradictory, meanings.  For instance, we understand that because Mary is the mother of Jesus, she is also the Mother of God (Jesus is God) and the Mother of the Church (the Church is the body of Christ).

So, baptism can be a reference to baptism by fire as well as a reference to baptism of blood. without contradicting Christ's meaning.

6.   Whose cup did the brothers drink?

If the cup that Jesus says the brothers will drink is a reference to their own martyrdom, then James and John would have drunk their own cup, not Jesus'.  In other words, the traditional interpretation that sees the cup as a "cup of death" or as persecution or individual martyrdom can hardly be squared with the precise wording of scripture:  "The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized" (Mark 10:39).  "You will drink my cup" (Matthew 20:23).

Jesus is clear that James and John will drink Jesus’ own cup and undergo his own baptism.  Yet if both the cup and baptism refer to their individual martyrdoms, then it would be inaccurate to say that they drank Jesus’ cup and not their own.  

Alternatively, if Jesus is talking about the Eucharistic cup, then clearly they drank of Jesus’ cup. And if he is talking about Christian baptism, then clearly they experienced this at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit fell upon them, and therefore the wording of Jesus' prediction would be in complete harmony with subsequent history.

We all share in Christ's cup just as we all share in His cross.  We are the body of Christ.

In the rest of the article, Michael makes several straw men arguments and then knocks them down.  He never, however, realizes that his own arguments are made of straw.  I believe I have effectively refuted his errors.  The link to his article is above for any who are interested in reading it.

Justification according to Scripture

Justification by faith apart from works and Justification by faith and works are seamlessly combined in the Catholic Sacramental System.

Justification by faith apart from works succinctly describes the Sacraments of Baptism,
Reconciliation, Confirmation, Anointing and Eucharist.

The Catholic Church teaches that the Sacraments are Works of God: 

740 These "mighty works of God," offered to believers in the sacraments of the Church, bear their fruit in the new life in Christ, according to the Spirit. (This will be the topic of Part Three.)

987 "In the forgiveness of sins, both priests and sacraments are instruments which our Lord Jesus Christ, the only author and liberal giver of salvation, wills to use in order to efface our sins and give us the grace of justification" (Roman Catechism, I, 11, 6).

These Sacraments impart grace to the extent of one's faith: The Church teaches that the effect of a sacrament comes ex opere operato, by the very fact of being administered, regardless of the personal holiness of the minister administering it.[3] However, a recipient's own lack of proper disposition to receive the grace conveyed can block the effectiveness of the sacrament in that person. The sacraments presuppose faith and through their words and ritual elements, nourish, strengthen and give expression to faith.[4]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacrame...atholic_Church

Justification by faith and works is the preparation of man for the reception of grace in the Sacraments: 

2001 The preparation of man for the reception of grace is already a work of grace. This latter is needed to arouse and sustain our collaboration in justification through faith, and in sanctification through charity. God brings to completion in us what he has begun, "since he who completes his work by cooperating with our will began by working so that we might will it:" Indeed we also work, but we are only collaborating with God who works, for his mercy has gone before us. It has gone before us so that we may be healed, and follows us so that once healed, we may be given life; it goes before us so that we may be called, and follows us so that we may be glorified; it goes before us so that we may live devoutly, and follows us so that we may always live with God: for without him we can do nothing. http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2001.htm

An adult who converts to the faith of Jesus Christ, must justify himself in preparation for the Sacraments by performing works worthy of penance. He performs these good works by exercising faith in God. Just as we exercise our muscles, this strengthens his faith making him more open to receive the sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit which transforms him according to his faith. He is then sent out again to continue doing the works which God prepared for him from the beginning of time and continue to exercise and enlarge his faith so that he becomes more open and properly disposed to receive more Sanctifying grace which is imparted by the Sacraments.

Which is completely consistent with Scripture which says, only doers of the law will be justified (Romans 2:13) apart from the works of the law (Romans 3:28).

May God bless you.

Sincerely,

De Maria

John Fraysier - Deep in Scripture

Douay Genesis 34

Book Of Genesis Chapter 34
Dina is ravished, for which the Sichemites are destroyed.

[1] And Dina the daughter of Lia went out to see the women of that country. [2] And when Sichem the son of Hemor the Hevite, the prince of that land, saw her, he was in love with her: and took her away, and lay with her, ravishing the virgin. [3] And his soul was fast knit unto her, and whereas she was sad, he comforted her with sweet words. [4] And going to Hemor his father, he said: Get me this damsel to wife. [5] But when Jacob had heard this, his sons being absent, and employed in feeding the cattle, he held his peace till they came back.

[6] And when Hemor the father of Sichem was come out to speak to Jacob, [7] Behold his sons came from the field: and hearing what had passed, they were exceeding angry, because he had done a foul thing in Israel, and committed an unlawful act, in ravishing Jacob' s daughter, [8] And Hemor spoke to them: The soul of my son Sichem has a longing for your daughter: give her him to wife: [9] And let us contract marriages one with another: give us your daughters and take you our daughters, [10] And dwell with us: the land is at your command, till, trade, and possess it.

[11] Sichem also said to her father and to her brethren: Let me find favour in your sight: and whatsoever you shall appoint I will give. [12] Raise the dowry, and ask gifts, and I will gladly give what you shall demand: only give me this damsel to wife. [13] The sons of Jacob answered Sichem and his father deceitfully, being enraged at the deflowering of their sister: [14] We cannot do what you demand, nor give our sister to one that is uncircumcised, which with us is unlawful and abominable. [15] But in this we may be allied with you, if you will be like us, and all the male sex among you be circumcised:

[16] Then will we mutually give and take your daughters, and ours: and we will dwell with you, and will be one people: [17] But if you will not be circumcised, we will take our daughter and depart: [18] Their offer pleased Hemor, and Sichem his son: [19] And the young man made no delay, but forthwith fulfilled what was required, for he loved the damsel exceedingly, and he was the greatest man in all his father' s house. [20] And going into the gate of the city they spoke to the people:

[21] These men are peaceable and willing to dwell with us: let them trade in the land, and till it, which being large and wide wanteth men to till it: we shall take their daughters for wives, and we will give them ours. [22] One thing there is for which so great a good is deferred: We must circumcise every male among us, following the manner of the nation. [23] And their substance, and cattle, and all that they possess, shall be ours: only in this let us condescend, and by dwelling together, we shall make one people. [24] And they all agreed, and circumcised all the males. [25] And behold the third day, when the pain of the wound was greatest, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, the brothers of Dina, taking their swords, entered boldly into the city, and slew all the men:

[26] And they killed also Hemor and Sichem, and took away their sister Dina, out of Sichem' s house. [27] And when they were gone out, the other sons of Jacob came upon the slain; and plundered the city in revenge of the rape. [28] And they took their sheep and their herds and their asses, wasting all they had in their houses and in the fields. [29] And their children and wives they took captive, [30] And when they had boldly perpetrated these things, Jacob said to Simeon and Levi: You have troubled me, and made me hateful to the Chanaanites and Pherezites, the inhabitants of this land: we are few: they will gather themselves together and kill me; and both I, and my house, shall be destroyed.

[31] They answered: Should they abuse our sister as a strumpet?

Now that you've asked the fake Catholics, would you like a response from a devout Catholic?

Lutero:

When you were Catholic, what was the reason they taught you to say the HM repetitively? Was there something special to be achieved or received for saying it 5 times or 10 times of whatever? I remember my Catholic friends having to say a certain number of HM and OF for penance. Do you know what the point of saying a certain number of HM's?

Now that you've asked the fake Catholics, would you like a response from a devout Catholic? Or is this one of those straw man competitions where you guys make up as many lies as you can about Catholicism and then pretend they are true?

Sincerely,

De Maria

Apologetical Rosary - Why do we believe in the Pope?

The Apologetical Rosary

You can use
this learning Rosary
when you're exercising
on a treadmill. Just put your
smartphone on the 
book ledge and read along 
as you exercise.

Use the little checkbox

to keep track of your progress.

See the examples below:

*********************

Intention:
By praying this decade, 

may God open our hearts
and minds
to a fuller understanding
of the Doctrines of the Catholic Church.

With the Crucifix
make the Sign of the Cross.

And, since this is

a learning prayer,

let us make the 

Triple Sign:

May the Word of God

be ever on my mind

 (touch the crucifix to your forehead

then your nose

then your your left cheek

then your right cheek) 

On my lips

(touch your nose

your chin

the left corner of your mouth

then the right corner of your mouth)

and in my heart

(cross your heart)

In the name

of the Father,

of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit

(Finish with 

the regular sign 

of the Cross 

i.e. forehead, chest, shoulders)

and still on the Crucifix
pray the Apostle's Creed:

I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived
 by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
 suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified,
died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell;
the third day
He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God,
the Father almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge
the living and the dead.
 I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
 the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting.
Amen.

On the first big bead
pray the Our Father:

Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

On the next three beads
pray three Hail Mary's:

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

For faith:
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith
it is impossible
to please him: ....

Hail Mary...

For hope:
Romans 8:24
For we are saved by hope:....

Hail Mary...


For love:
Romans 13:10
....love is the fulfilling of the law.

Hail Mary...

On the next big bead
 pray the Glory Be:

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

************************************

Why do we believe
in the Pope?

Because
Jesus Christ appointed
a shepherd, one man
to oversee His Flock

John 21:17
He saith unto him 
the third time, ….
 Feed my sheep. 

still on the big bead:

Our Father...

First:

Scripture says that
Jesus is the Rock

1 Corinthians 10:4
And did all drink
the same spiritual drink:
for they drank
of that spiritual Rock
that followed them:
and that Rock was Christ.

Hail Mary...

Second:

Scripture says that
Jesus, the Rock
 gave Simon
the name, "Rock"
(Peter means Rock).

Matthew 16:18

18 And I say
also unto thee,
That thou art Peter, 
and upon this rock
I will build
my church;
and the gates of hell
shall not prevail
against it.

Hail Mary...



Third:

This is to signify
that Peter stood 
in place of
Christ on earth

Matthew 16:19
19 And I will
 give unto thee
the keys of the
 kingdom of heaven:
and whatsoever
thou shalt bind
 on earth
shall be bound
 in heaven:
and whatsoever
 thou shalt loose
 on earth
shall be loosed
 in heaven.

Hail Mary...



Fourth:

This is not 
new. God had
in the past
appointed Moses

Exodus 19:9
And the Lord said
 unto Moses,
 Lo, I come unto thee
 in a thick cloud,
that the people may hear
when I speak with thee,
and believe thee for ever. 

Hail Mary…



Fifth:

Peter is the one 
which Jesus 
appointed 
Shepherd 
over His flock

John 21:17

17 He saith unto him
the third time,
Simon, son of Jonas, l
ovest thou me?
Peter was grieved
because he said
unto him the third time,
Lovest thou me?
And he said unto him,
Lord, thou knowest
all things;
thou knowest
that I love thee.
Jesus saith unto him,
Feed my sheep.

Hail Mary...



Sixth:

Peter is the one
to whom Jesus 
gave the coin
which Jesus was
supposed to pay

Matthew 17:24
24 And when they
were come to Capernaum,
they that received
tribute money
came to Peter,
and said,
Doth not your
master pay tribute?...
27 Notwithstanding,
lest we should
offend them,
go thou to the sea,
and cast an hook,
and take up the fish
that first cometh up;
and when thou hast
opened his mouth,
thou shalt find
 a piece of money:
that take, and
give unto them
for me and thee.

Hail Mary...

Seventh:

Peter is the one
for whom Jesus 
prayed, that his 
faith would hold
the church together

Luke 22:31-32

31 And the Lord said,
 Simon, Simon, behold,
Satan hath desired
to have you,
that he may sift
you as wheat:

32 But I have
prayed for thee,
that thy faith fail not:
 and when thou
art converted,
strengthen thy brethren.

Hail Mary...

Eighth:

Peter is the one
who acted as
the leader
before Pentecost

Acts 1:15-17

15 And in those days
Peter stood up
in the midst of
the disciples,
and said, ...
16 Men and brethren, ...

Hail Mary...

Ninth:

Peter is the one
who acted as 
the leader
during Pentecost

Acts 2:14

14 But Peter,
standing up with
the eleven,
lifted up his voice,
and said unto them,
Ye men of Judaea,
and all ye that
dwell at Jerusalem,
be this known
unto you, and
 hearken to my words:

Hail Mary…



Tenth:

Peter is the one
who acted as 
the leader
after Pentecost

Acts 15:7

7 And when there
had been much disputing,
Peter rose up,
and said unto them,
Men and brethren,
ye know how that
a good while ago
God made choice
among us,
that the Gentiles
 by my mouth
should hear the word
of the gospel,
and believe.

Hail Mary...



On the next big bead

Glory Be...

 **************************************************************

To conclude:

HAIL, HOLY QUEEN, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve;
 to thee do we send up our sighs,
 mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
 and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
 O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy
 of the promises of Christ.

On the Crucifix,
end with  the Sign of the Cross:

**********************

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Journey Home - John Fraysier

Scott Hahn: The Hour is Coming

Genesis 33

Book Of Genesis Chapter 33
Jacob and Esau meet: Jacob goeth to Salem, where he raiseth an altar.

[1] And Jacob lifting up his eyes, saw Esau coming, and with him four hundred men: and he divided the children of Lia, and of Rachel, and of the two handmaids: [2] And he put both the handmaids and their children foremost: and Lia and her children in the second place: and Rachel and Joseph last. [3] And he went forward and bowed down with his face to the ground seven times until his brother came near. [4] Then Esau ran to meet his brother, and embraced him: and clasping him fast about the neck, and kissing him, wept. [5] And lifting up his eyes, he saw the women and their children, and said: What mean these? And do they belong to thee? He answered: They are the children which God hath given to me thy servant.

[6] Then the handmaids and their children came near, and bowed themselves. [7] Lia also with her children came near, and bowed down in like manner, and last of all Joseph and Rachel bowed down. [8] And Esau said: What are the droves that I met? He answered: That I might find favour before my lord. [9] But he said: I have plenty, my brother, keep what is thine for thyself. [10] And Jacob said: Do not so I beseech thee, but if I have found favour in thy eyes, receive a little present at my hands: for I have seen thy face, as if I should have seen the countenance of God: be gracious to me,

[11] And take the blessing, which I have brought thee, and which God hath given me, who giveth all things. He took it with much ado at his brother' s earnest pressing him, [12] And said: Let us go on together, and I will accompany thee in thy journey. [13] And Jacob said: My lord, thou knowest that I have with me tender children, and sheep, and kine with young: which if I should cause to be overdriven, in one day all the flocks will die. [14] May it please my lord to go before his servant: and I will follow softly after him, as I shall see my children to be able, until I come to my lord in Seir. [15] Esau answered: I beseech thee, that some of the people at least, who are with me, may stay to accompany thee in the way. And he said: There is no necessity: I want nothing else but only to find favour, my lord, in thy sight.

[16] So Esau returned, that day, the way that he came, to Seir. [17] And Jacob came to Socoth: where having built a house, and pitched tents, he called the name of the place Socoth, that is, Tents. [18] And he passed over to Salem, a city of the Sichemites, which is in the land of Chanaan, after he returned from Mesopotamia of Syria: and he dwelt by the town: [19] And he bought that part of the field, in which he pitched his tents, of the children of Hemor, the father of Sichem for a hundred lambs. [20] And raising an altar there, he invoked upon it the most mighty God of Israel.

Jewish roots of Catholicism - Brian Robbins - Deep in Scripture

Jewish roots of Catholicism - Journey Home - Brian Robbins

Sorry, I guess its been removed.  But, you can still buy it, here.

Highlights of the discussion:

At 34:30, Mr. Robbins says:
34:30
the jewish roots to the faith which are really started exploring in earnest as a
34:34
be became a believer are extraordinary
34:38
and and if it's OK me talk a little bit about
34:41
just even Jesus and the Jewish calendar
34:45
because it's really striking….



35:28
exactly its like well that's a perfect segue to this
35:32
so if you go back to the Hebrew Scriptures
35:36
God told Israel, told the Jews that the first
35:40
month of the year was to be the month we now call Nissan
35:44
which is the month in which the Passover occurs and he told them that
35:47
Why? because as I indicated the exodus from Egypt the redemption
35:51
 from slavery is the single most important
35:55
historical act in Judaism so that was supposed to be the first day of the month
35:59
that's how important it was and in the month Nissan for the Passover holiday
36:03
on the 10th of the month we're supposed to take an unblemished lamb
36:08
you were supposed to inspect it to make sure that it was unblemished
36:12
and the 14th day of Nissan you were supposed to slaughter the lamb
36:15
and consume the entire sacrifice and the reason for this was that it was
36:19
commemoration of the actual exodus
36:21
when they slaughtered the lamb and put the blood on the lintels and
36:25
the doorpost in order to stop the angel of death from coming into Jewish homes
36:29
so what happens with Jesus? Jesus comes into Jerusalem
36:33
if you do the math ultimately you will see, on the 10th day Nissan
36:36
he's declared by Pontius Pilate to be without blemish
36:39
he is crucified on the 14th of Nissan and we consume the sacrifice in the
36:43
Eucharist
36:45
parallels would not have been lost on a Jewish audience but they're too often lost
36:49
today
36:50
but it gets better what's the very next thing in the jewish calendar
36:54
it's called the festival of firstfruits it's the first day
36:57
following the first Sabbath of the Passover okay
37:00
what is it? it's a grain offering to the Lord which if its acceptable would render
37:04
the rest of the offerings to be acceptable
37:07
well Jesus was crucified on a Friday that was the Sabbath
37:10
of the Passover from Friday to Saturday first fruits was Sunday
37:14
he arose and was resurrected on Sunday firstfruits
37:17
and in fact his resurrection is described in Scripture as the
37:20
firstfruits
37:22
pointing to the resurrection that will be for the rest of us in the in the
37:24
future
37:25
again how his life is following just in the life and death of our resurrection
37:30
Jesus following the Jewish calendar
37:32
but it gets better the very next Jewish
37:35
holiday is Shavuot is fifty days from the Passover
37:39
it is a commemoration of Moses coming down from the mountain with the Ten
37:43
Commandments
37:44
the law written in the fingers of God in stone
37:47
okay when you read the story of ah-
37:51
Moses giving the laws in the Ten Commandments you remember the golden
37:54
calf
37:55
most people forget people who are interested in Scripture that he came down
37:58
twice
37:59
he came down with the Ten Commandments he smashed the first set because the Jews had been
38:03
worshiping the idol of the calf
38:06
and as a result of which Moses said who's with me
38:09
and the Levites raised their hands and they said I want you to slaughter its terrible your
38:12
brothers and sisters who
38:13
engage in this terrible idolatry and said three thousand people lost their
38:17
lives
38:18
well now let's go look at the Christian calendar
38:22
Pentecost is the same day as Shavuot
38:25
on Pentecost what happens the law is written in our hearts
38:30
instead instead of by the finger of God on the stone it's the new covenant
38:33
Jeremiah 31 31 talks about the day a new covenant will be given
38:38
which is different from the law of Moses for the law will be written in our hearts here it
38:41
is on the same day and you know what it says
38:43
3,000 people came to faith on that day, the parallel is unmistakable it
38:47
cannot be coincidence and again this is from a Jewish perspective
38:52
showing that this is the greater fulfillment of
38:55
the things that happened in the past but the most exciting part is yet
38:58
to come because very interestingly in the jewish calendar there's a long gap those
39:04
holidays happen in quick succession
39:06
and there's a very long gap  until you get to the fall festivals which is Rosh Hashanah
39:10
followed by Yom Kippur followed by the Feast of Tabernacles
39:14
Rosh Hashanah is known as the Jewish New Year everyone says Happy New Year
39:19
but in Scripture its known as the feast of the trumpets
39:23
and one of the reasons its known as the Jewish New Year even though its the seventh
39:26
month of the year
39:27
the Jews keep different calendars its the seventh month in terms of festivals
39:30
because
39:31
God said the first month had to be Nissan as it started it's the first month
39:34
for purposes of the secular calendar
39:36
it's because in the Babylonian exile it was the month of the Babylonian New Year
39:40
Jewish New Year it's really the feast of trumpets which is very messianic the Talmud
39:44
 talks about
39:45
 Rosh Hashana the trumpets being a sign of the coming of the Messiah
39:49
so I would look at that and say that's pointing to the second coming of Christ
39:52
Jesus turned to the leadership of israel
39:56
when he was about to be crucified said you will not see me again until you
40:00
the leadership of Israel says, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
40:04
okay this is gonna dispel dual covenant theology
40:08
you will not see me again until you say blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
40:11
Rosh Hashana is looking forward to the blowing of the trumpets what happens
40:15
during Rosh Hashanah
40:16
its starts a period of 10 days of law a period
40:19
of deep reflection and praying for the forgiveness of sins that's what Jews do
40:23
today
40:24
leading up to Yom Kippur which is the day of atonement
40:27
and I believe that that is looking forward from an eschatological perspective that is
40:31
looking forward to the day when the trumpets are blown
40:33
Jesus returning the Jewish nation as a collective
40:37
comes to recognize mourn for the one whom they have pierced  Zechariah 12:10
40:41
as the prophecy goes call on the name of the Lord
40:44
their sins will be forgiven which would be the fulfillment in the Jewish
40:46
calendar on the day of atonement
40:48
and the Feast of Tabernacles interestingly enough in the hebrew scriptures describe
40:52
as in the end times a day when Jew and Gentile together will worship the Lord
40:58
and that'll be the day when finally Jew and Gentile are united
41:02
in Christ become ahad together ahad that means one finally uniting
41:05
in Christ and all this will fulfill the greater prophecy
41:09
of the bringing together of the lost ten tribes of Israel
41:13
because Israel was twelve tribes
41:16
and when we see Judaism today Jews today we're really talking about Jews Judah
41:21
that's one of the twelve tribes the 10 northern tribes
41:24
split off after Solomon's son was a bad king
41:28
and they were conquered by the Assyrians and they disappeared into the
41:31
Gentile nations and have been lost
41:34
the two southern tribes Judah andt Benjamin were conquered by the Babylonians the
41:37
Babylonian exile to read the book of
41:39
Daniel but that exile only lasted fifty years
41:43
and they they were restored and that's who the Jews are today
41:47
God promised to reunite the twelve tribes and no one knows how
41:50
this is the great mystery we can unlock it Paul in Romans says
41:54
after the full allotment of Gentiles comes in all
41:57
Israel will be saved how you gonna recover the lost ten tribes of Israel by
42:01
preaching the gospel to the world
42:02
and in with the Gentile nations comes all Gentile believers Jewish
42:06
believers whether you knew you were to senator him Isaac Jacob or not or that
42:10
distinction
42:11
and finally all become one in Christ so to me
42:14
christianity is the for fulfillment…..

Note from De Maria:

Mr. Robbins also said:
43:58
and Jesus told the Pharisees that
44:01
they said no we are not blind so he said well because you say you can see
44:06
and deny me you have guilt if you had been blind you would be without guilt
44:09
he turns to them if he had not put his miracles for you to see we would have not guilt
44:12
but he performs his miracles and we have guilt
44:16 G
God also says he desires that all all all mankind be saved
44:20
that's his desire and  elsewhere tells us that he super nationally
44:23
blinded Israel in large part

At 44:20, he says that God supernaturally blinded Israel, but it sounds a bit arbitrary.  That  is not the case.  God simply OBEYED what the Jews themselves commanded.  They said:

Matthew 27:25

Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

In so saying, they admitted and incurred the guilt of the murder of Jesus Christ and implicated even their children.  

Does this mean that they are condemned?  No.  It simply means that they, for the most part, will not partake of the grace of Jesus Christ while they live.  However, if they obey the Commandments, God will judge them on the Last Day and they will be saved.  See also Advantage of the Catholic and What is the advantage of Catholicism.

The Apologetical Rosary - Ten examples of indulgences in Scripture.

The Apologetical Rosary

You can use
this learning Rosary
when you're exercising
on a treadmill. Just put your
smartphone on the 
book ledge and read along 
as you exercise.

Use the little checkbox

to keep track of your progress.

See the examples below:

*********************

Intention:
By praying this decade, 

may God open our hearts
and minds
to a fuller understanding
of the Doctrines of the Catholic Church.

With the Crucifix
make the Sign of the Cross.

And, since this is

a learning prayer,

let us make the 

Triple Sign:

May the Word of God

be ever on my mind

 (touch the crucifix to your forehead

then your nose

then your your left cheek

then your right cheek) 

On my lips

(touch your nose

your chin

the left corner of your mouth

then the right corner of your mouth)

and in my heart

(cross your heart)

In the name

of the Father,

of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit

(Finish with 

the regular sign 

of the Cross 

i.e. forehead, chest, shoulders)

and still on the Crucifix
pray the Apostle's Creed:

I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived
 by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
 suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified,
died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell;
the third day
He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God,
the Father almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge
the living and the dead.
 I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
 the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting.
Amen.

On the first big bead
pray the Our Father:

Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

On the next three beads
pray three Hail Mary's:

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

For faith:
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith
it is impossible
to please him: ....

Hail Mary...

For hope:
Romans 8:24
For we are saved by hope:....

Hail Mary...


For love:
Romans 13:10
....love is the fulfilling of the law.

Hail Mary...

On the next big bead
 pray the Glory Be:

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

************************************

Here are ten examples
of indulgences
in Scripture.
There are many
throughout
the Old and
New Testaments

Indulgences are applied
to us by our prayers
or sacrifices for one
another.

2 Macc 12:
[45] And because he
considered that they
who had fallen asleep
with godliness,
had great grace
 laid up for them.
[46] It is therefore
a holy and wholesome
thought to pray
for the dead,
that they may
be loosed from sins.

still on the big bead:

Our Father...

First:

Because of the
mother's faith
her child was
made whole

Matthew 15:22-28
22 And, behold,
a woman of Canaan
came out of the
 same coasts, and cried
unto him, saying,
Have mercy on me,
O Lord, thou son
of David; my daughter
 is grievously vexed
with a devil.
23 But he answered
her not a word.
And his disciples came
and besought him,
saying, Send her away;
 for she crieth after us.
24 But he answered
and said, I am not
 sent but unto the
lost sheep of the
house of Israel.
25 Then came she
and worshipped him,
saying, Lord, help me.
26 But he answered
and said, It is not meet
to take the children's
 bread, and to
cast it to dogs.
27 And she said,
Truth, Lord: yet the dogs
 eat of the crumbs
which fall from
their masters' table.
28 Then Jesus answered
and said unto her,
 O woman, great is thy faith:
be it unto thee
even as thou wilt.
And her daughter
was made whole
from that very hour.

Hail Mary...

Second:

Because of the 
father's faith
the child was
cured

Mark 9:17-27
17 And one of the
 multitude answered and
said, Master, I have
brought unto thee
 my son, which hath
 a dumb spirit;….
22 And ofttimes it hath
cast him into the
 fire, and into the waters,
 to destroy him:
but if thou canst do
any thing, have compassion
 on us, and help us.
23 Jesus said unto him, If
thou canst believe,
all things are
possible to him
that believeth.
24 And straightway
 the father of the
child cried out, and
said with tears, Lord,
I believe; help thou
 mine unbelief.
25 When Jesus saw
that the people came
 running together, he rebuked
 the foul spirit, saying
unto him, Thou dumb
and deaf spirit, I
charge thee, come out
of him, and enter
no more into him.
26 And the spirit cried,
 and rent him sore,
and came out of him:
and he was as
one dead; insomuch that
many said, He is dead.
27 But Jesus took him
by the hand, and
lifted him up;
and he arose.

Hail Mary...



Third:

Because of the
faith of his friends
Christ forgave 
his sins

Luke 5:
17 And it came to pass
 on a certain day,
as he was teaching,
that there were Pharisees
and doctors of the law
sitting by, which were
come out of every
 town of Galilee,
and Judaea, and Jerusalem:
and the power of
 the Lord was present
 to heal them.
18 And, behold, men brought
in a bed a man
which was taken
with a palsy: and
they sought means
to bring him in,
and to lay him
before him.
19 And when they
could not find by
what way they might
 bring him in because
of the multitude, they
 went upon the housetop,
 and let him down
 through the tiling
with his couch into
the midst before Jesus.
20 And when he saw
their faith, he said
unto him, Man, thy sins
 are forgiven thee.

Hail Mary...



Fourth:

Because of his 
mother's love
Christ raised 
him from the dead

Luke 7:12-15
12 Now when he came
nigh to the gate
of the city, behold,
 there was a dead man
 carried out, the only
 son of his mother,
and she was a widow:
and much people
of the city was
with her.
13 And when the Lord
saw her, he had
compassion on her,
and said unto her,
Weep not.
14 And he came and
touched the bier: and
they that bare him
stood still. And
 he said, Young man,
 I say unto thee, Arise.
15 And he that was
 dead sat up,
and began to speak.
And he delivered him
 to his mother.

Hail Mary…



Fifth:

Because of her
father's faith
she was raised 
from the dead

22 And, behold, there cometh
one of the rulers
of the synagogue,
Jairus by name; and
when he saw him,
 he fell at his feet,
23 And besought him greatly,
 saying, My little daughter lieth
 at the point of death:
 I pray thee, come
and lay thy hands
on her, that she may
be healed; and
she shall live.
24 And Jesus went with him;….
35 While he yet spake,
there came from the
 ruler of the synagogue's
house certain which said,
 Thy daughter is dead:
why troublest thou the
Master any further?
36 As soon as Jesus
heard the word that
was spoken, he saith
unto the ruler of
the synagogue,
Be not afraid,
only believe….
he taketh
the father and the mother
of the damsel, and
 them that were with him,
and entereth in where
the damsel was lying.
41 And he took the
damsel by the hand,
and said unto her,
Talitha cumi; which is,
 being interpreted, Damsel,
 I say unto thee, arise.
42 And straightway
the damsel arose,
 and walked; for she
was of the age
of twelve years.

Hail Mary...



Sixth:
Because of his
master's faith
this servant was
healed from afar

Matthew 8:5-13
5 And when Jesus was
entered into Capernaum,
there came unto him
a centurion,
beseeching him,
6 And saying, Lord,
my servant lieth at home
 sick of the palsy,
grievously tormented.
7 And Jesus saith unto him,
I will come and heal him.
8 The centurion answered
and said,
Lord, I am not worthy
 that thou shouldest come
under my roof:
but speak the word only,
 and my servant s
hall be healed…..
10 When Jesus heard it,
he marvelled, and said
 to them that followed,
Verily I say unto you,
 I have not found so
great faith, no, not in Israel….
13 And Jesus said unto
 the centurion, Go thy way;
 and as thou hast believed,
so be it done unto thee.
And his servant was
 healed in the
selfsame hour.

Hail Mary...

Seventh:

By the faith
of St. Peter
this young lady
was raised 
from the dead

Acts 9:40
But Peter put them
all forth, and kneeled down,
and prayed; and turning
 him to the body said,
Tabitha, arise. And
she opened her eyes:
and when she saw
Peter, she sat up.

Hail Mary...

Eighth:

By the faith
of Sts. Peter
and John, 
the cripple was
healed.

Acts 3:1-12

3 Now Peter and John
went up together into
the temple at the
 hour of prayer,
being the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man
lame from his mother's
womb was carried,
whom they laid daily
 at the gate of the
temple which is
called Beautiful,
to ask alms of them
that entered into the temple;
3 Who seeing Peter and John
 about to go into
the temple asked an alms.
4 And Peter, fastening his
eyes upon him
with John, said, Look on us.
5 And he gave heed
unto them, expecting to receive
something of them.
6 Then Peter said, Silver
and gold have I none;
but such as I have
give I thee:
In the name of
 Jesus Christ of Nazareth
rise up and walk.
7 And he took him
by the right hand,
and lifted him up:
 and immediately his feet
and ankle bones
received strength.

Hail Mary...

Ninth:

St. Paul
suffered for
the Church

Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice
in my sufferings
 for you, and
fill up that which
 is behind of the
afflictions of Christ
in my flesh for
his body's sake,
which is the church:

Hail Mary…



Tenth:

And, in the
Old Testament
a woman was given
a child by 
the faith of Elisha
and that same 
child was raised 
to life by the 
mother's love
and Elisha's intercession

2 Kings 4
17 And the woman conceived,
and bare a son
at that season that
 Elisha had said unto her,
according to the time of life.
18 And when the child
was grown, it fell on a day,
that he went out
to his father
to the reapers.
19 And he said
unto his father,
My head, my head.
And he said to a lad,
Carry him to his mother.
20 And when he
had taken him, and
brought him to
his mother, he
sat on her knees
till noon, and then died.
21 And she went up,
 and laid him on
the bed of the
man of God,
and shut the door
upon him, and went out…..
25 So she went and
came unto the man of God
 to mount Carmel. ….
27 And when she
came to the man of God
 to the hill,
she caught him
by the feet:
but Gehazi came
near to thrust her away.
And the man of God said,
 Let her alone;
for her soul is vexed
within her: and
the Lord hath hid it f
rom me, and hath not told me.
28 Then she said,
Did I desire a son
 of my lord?
did I not say,
 Do not deceive me?...
30 And the mother
of the child said,
As the Lord liveth,
and as thy soul liveth,
 I will not leave thee.
And he arose,
and followed her….
32 And when Elisha
was come into the
house, behold, the child
was dead, and laid
upon his bed.
33 He went in therefore,
 and shut the door
upon them twain,
and prayed unto the Lord.
34 And he went up,
 and lay upon the child,
and put his mouth upon his mouth,
 and his eyes upon his eyes,
and his hands upon his hands:
 and stretched himself
upon the child; and
the flesh of the
child waxed warm.
35 Then he returned,
and walked in the house
 to and fro; and went up,
and stretched himself
 upon him: and the
 child sneezed seven times,
and the child
opened his eyes.
36 And he called Gehazi,
and said, Call this Shunammite.
 So he called her.
And when she was
come in unto him,
he said, Take up thy son.

Hail Mary...



On the next big bead

Glory Be...

 **************************************************************

To conclude:

HAIL, HOLY QUEEN, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve;
 to thee do we send up our sighs,
 mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
 and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
 O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy
 of the promises of Christ.

On the Crucifix,
end with  the Sign of the Cross:

**********************

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Apologetical Rosary,Where is Purgatory in Scripture?

The Apologetical Rosary

You can use
this learning Rosary
when you're exercising
on a treadmill. Just put your
smartphone on the 
book ledge and read along 
as you exercise.

Use the little checkbox

to keep track of your progress.

See the examples below:

*********************

Intention:
By praying this decade, 

may God open our hearts
and minds
to a fuller understanding
of the Doctrines of the Catholic Church.

With the Crucifix
make the Sign of the Cross.

And, since this is

a learning prayer,

let us make the 

Triple Sign:

May the Word of God

be ever on my mind

 (touch the crucifix to your forehead

then your nose

then your your left cheek

then your right cheek) 

On my lips

(touch your nose

your chin

the left corner of your mouth

then the right corner of your mouth)

and in my heart

(cross your heart)

In the name

of the Father,

of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit

(Finish with 

the regular sign 

of the Cross 

i.e. forehead, chest, shoulders)

and still on the Crucifix
pray the Apostle's Creed:

I believe in God,
the Father Almighty,
Creator of Heaven and earth;
and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son Our Lord,
Who was conceived
 by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
 suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified,
died, and was buried.
He descended into Hell;
the third day
He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into Heaven,
and sitteth at the right hand of God,
the Father almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge
the living and the dead.
 I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy Catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
 the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting.
Amen.

On the first big bead
pray the Our Father:

Our Father,
Who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy Will be done,
on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

On the next three beads
pray three Hail Mary's:

Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now,
and at the hour of death.
Amen.

For faith:
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith
it is impossible
to please him: ....

Hail Mary...

For hope:
Romans 8:24
For we are saved by hope:....

Hail Mary...


For love:
Romans 13:10
....love is the fulfilling of the law.

Hail Mary...

On the next big bead
 pray the Glory Be:

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

************************************

Where is Purgatory
in Scripture?

Purgatory is not

directly explained

in Scripture.  

But it is 

strongly implied 

throughout.

still on the big bead:

Our Father...

First verse:

Purgatory is the doctrine
that a soul must
be cleansed of all
sin before it
enters heaven.

Revelation 21:27
27 And there shall
in no wise enter into it
any thing that defileth,
neither whatsoever
worketh abomination,
or maketh a lie:
but they which are written
in the Lamb's book of life.

Hail Mary...

Second:

Only those whose
spirits have been 
made perfect
will enter the 
Kingdom of Heaven

Hebrews 12:22-23
22 But ye are come
 unto mount Sion,
and unto the city
of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem....
23 To the general assembly ...
and to the spirits of
 just men made perfect,

Hail Mary...



Third:
In Purgatory,
the souls of just men
are purified by fire.

1 Corinthians 3:15
15 If any man's work 
shall be burned, 
he shall suffer loss: 
but he himself shall be saved; 
yet so as by fire.

Hail Mary...



Fourth:
There is a 
Spiritual Prison
about which 
Scripture speaks

1 Peter 3:19
By which also he went
and preached unto
the spirits in prison;

Hail Mary…



Fifth:
Where Satan 
punishes the
imprisoned soul

Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things
which thou shalt suffer:
 behold, the devil
shall cast some of you
into prison,
 that ye may be tried;
 and ye shall have tribulation ten days:
 be thou faithful unto death,
and I will give thee a crown of life.

Hail Mary...



Sixth:

Jesus also mentions
a prison from which 
one will not be released
until he pays the 
last penny

Matthew 5:25-26
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly,
whiles thou art in the way with him;
lest at any time the adversary
deliver thee to the judge,
and the judge deliver thee
 to the officer,
and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee,
Thou shalt by no means come out thence,
till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Hail Mary...

Seventh:

Suffering to expiate
sin is a Biblical
Doctrine and 
the basis of 
Purgatory

1 Peter 4:1
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered
 for us in the flesh,
 arm yourselves likewise
with the same mind:
for he that hath suffered
in the flesh
hath ceased from sin;

Hail Mary...

Eighth:

The purification
of our spirits
begins in this life

1 Peter 1:7
That the trial of your faith,
 being much more precious
 than of gold that perisheth,
though it be tried with fire,
 might be found unto praise
and honour and glory
 at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Hail Mary...

Ninth:

We must suffer
to expiate our sin
even after 
we have been forgiven

2 Samuel 12:
13 And David said unto Nathan,
I have sinned against the Lord....

Even after David was forgiven
he still suffered all the curses
which were pronounced
against him for his sin:

The sword never departed his house
his children turned against each other
and against him and the child born of
his adultery, died.

2 Sam 12: 13....And Nathan said unto David,
The Lord also hath put away thy sin;
 thou shalt not die.
14 Howbeit, because by this deed
 thou hast given great occasion
to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme,
 the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

verse

Hail Mary…



Tenth:
Unless we suffer
we will not inherit
the Glory with
Jesus

Romans 8:17
And if children,
then heirs; heirs of God,
and joint-heirs with Christ;
 if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be
 also glorified together.

Hail Mary...



On the next big bead

Glory Be...

 **************************************************************

To conclude:

HAIL, HOLY QUEEN, Mother of Mercy,
our life, our sweetness and our hope!
To thee do we cry,
poor banished children of Eve;
 to thee do we send up our sighs,
 mourning and weeping in this vale of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
thine eyes of mercy toward us,
 and after this our exile,
show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
 O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy
 of the promises of Christ.

On the Crucifix,
end with  the Sign of the Cross:

**********************

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please pass it on to a friend.

See also:

Prayer Menu