Catholic Doctrine is from Christ

Rk May 8, 2013 at 4:59 pm
So far, only having glanced over this, I spotted one thing very new

Very new TO YOU. Catholic Doctrine has been around from the time of the Apostles. It is Christ who taught Catholic Doctrine.

– that Catholics believe in initial justification and then increasing ‘justification’ (I suppose ‘sanctification’ is yet another thing)

You would be wrong. There is no such term as “initial justification” in the Catholic soteriology. Conversion is the beginning of Justification. Perhaps that is what you are confusing with the so-called “initial justification”. After conversion, one requests Baptism and is completely justified for the first time. If (or should I say, when) one commits sins after Baptism, then one must repent and ask forgiveness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and one is justified once more. This process of repeated washings by the grace of the Holy Spirit in the Sacraments continues throughout our life.

Sanctification is the process of adopting holy habits and becoming a more righteous individual and goes hand in hand with the process of justification.

This definitive and progressive justification (akin to protestant definitive and progressive sanctification?)

I don’t know anything about Protestant sanctification. But the Catholic Church teaches that we adopt holy habits and become holy as God is holy. As we add to our faith, knowledge and all good virtues, we make our election sure and attain to the heights of righteousness without which one will not see God.
Revelation 22:12-15
King James Version (KJV)
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

However, I have heard that the Protestants consider Justification only a forensic or legal thing where the creature is not truly changed.

But for the Catholic, we believe that the creature is new born when God washes Him in the waters of regeneration. And we believe our souls are truly cleansed in the fount of Sacramental confession. And that we become united to God in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist.

does explain to me why my Catholic friends are so relaxed about their own salvation when I had thought that catholic teaching would permit no such grounds.

I’m not sure what you mean by that? Perhaps you are comparing the Protestant preoccupation with salvation to the Catholic knowledge that God is our Judge. We are not preoccupied with judging our souls nor those of others because we trust in God and hope in Him. The Scripture says:

1 Corinthians 4:2-5
King James Version (KJV)
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

It seems a bit like ‘now you see it; now you don’t’ carrot and stick. To the wayward, the Church can say they will be judged on final works (other than as covered by confession/penance which will be sorted out in purgatory). For the nervous, Mother Church can remind them of their baptism and their initial but adequate justification.
I have put it crudely and I apologise, but the danger of this is that it produces ‘tightrope’ salvation based on a ‘tightrope’ state of mind of supplicant. It is not so much that God’s mercy overwhelms his justice, but that both hang in the balance and the supplicant must walk warily between Scylla and Charybdis.
In the case of my friends, perhaps they are nervous when with the priest and wayward out of church??? possible, surely

More likely, you don’t understand either Catholic soteriology nor Protestant. As for your friends, I don’t know them. If you don’t think they understand Catholic Doctrine, send them to the Catholic Church. But please don’t try to teach them anything about the Catholic Church yourself. Because it is obvious that you don’t understand the Catholic Teaching.

Sincerely,

De Maria

God's work is accomplished through us

DE MARIA June 8, 2013 at 1:34 pm

THE OLD ADAM June 8, 2013 at 7:14 am
The more that I interact on Christian blogs the more I realize that my pastor is right.
When I talk to him about people’s objections to the grace of God in favor of self-ascendant “Christian” schemes. he tells me, “The clay is baked.” He says, “why do you think Jesus told the disciples to dust off their sandals and leave?”

That is a false allegation. We neither separate the grace of God from His works accomplished through us, nor do we call it self ascendancy. It is you who describe it so. And it is this type of dishonesty which will prove your downfall.

In fact, it is you and all Protestants who practice so called, “self ascendancy ” since it is you who promote the idea of claiming your own salvation and thus usurping God’s authority to judge your soul.

Sometimes the clay is baked. And that’s it.
The older I get, the smarter my pastor gets.

Whether you are saved or not is God’s to decide. And God promised salvation only to those who obey His Son:
Hebrews 5:9
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

That means, keeping the Commandments:
John 14:21-24
King James Version (KJV)
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Alternatives to Toilet Paper

Hi, well, this is a departure from my usual theme.  But I thought this might be helpful for those of you who might be suffering through some of the unexpected consequences of the #Coronavirus pandemic.

Well, at least, I was caught by surprise.  Yesterday, I went shopping.  Something I rarely do, my wife takes care of that for the family.  Well, I went to one store, and they were apparently allowing people in the store one at a time.  A long line was forming.

I went to another store to look for a small bottle of hand sanitizer to replace the one I normally carry in the car.  And the store was cleaned out of hand sanitizer in every size.  At that point, I decided I'd leave the shopping to my wife.

So, I went home.  I turned on YouTube and saw several videos about toilet paper.  How it had now become a valuable, sought after commodity which was in high demand because of its short supply?  What?  Really?  Apparenly, China makes our toilet paper too?  Does China make everything?  I thought they only made cars and electronic equipment.

Anyway,  I went to wondering what I would do if toilet paper ran out in the entire US.

Well, my regular job takes me to out of the way places where my co-workers and I frequently run out of toilet paper.  We've had to get creative in order to achieve our toilet hygiene.  But I won't go into all of those, just the ones that are more realistic in a household, family situation.

a.  Baby wipes.  They work really well as adult wipes, also.  And, there is also a category called flushable wipes.  I normally don't flush them, though.  I'm afraid to clog up the toilet.

b.  Nasal tissue.  Yes, they wipe up boogers.  Then can also wipe up doodoo.  Just make sure you have a couple of them so that your fingers don't break through and get stained.

c.  Paper towels.  As you can see from the opening cartoon image.  That's a frequently used alternative.  I wouldn't flush them, though.  Just make sure to empty your garbage can, very frequently.

d.  If you're really desperate, newspaper.  This is what we used to use when I was young.  We lived in a barrio and the apartments had no toilets.  We had to go to the alley where there was a row of public toilets with squares of newspaper conveniently provided by the landlord, for those who had forgotten their toilet paper.  Ugh.

e.  Bidets.  Never heard of them?  These are the things that actually wash your hiney.  I understand they're not too popular in the US.   We don't have them.  But I googled "alternatives to toilet paper" and handheld bidets came up.  Here's a video.

Just from looking at that thing, I think you could save money by putting water in a spray bottle and using that as a temporary measure.

f.  Here's a list of other alternatives which I found on Google.

Well, here are some alternatives in case you really have to go.
Paper - If you're in a pinch, paper is an option. ...
Bidet - You've probably heard of these before. ...
Sponge - Hey, it was popular in the days of Ancient Rome. ...
Rags - Old rags are best. ...
Cotton balls.
Receipts - especially the ones that you would rather forget.


As you know, I normally don't write about things like this.  I hope it was helpful and that you enjoyed it.  And, if you have any other suggestions, share them in the comments.

 May God bless you and keep you and your loved ones healthy.

Sincerely,

De Maria

The Law and the Gospel

1. 
   DE MARIA May 9, 2013 at 12:12 pm

   RD May 9, 2013 at 1:39 am
   De Maria
   1. As you know, the word ‘Gospel’ means good news, and this good news relates to God’s plan of salvation.

   Correct.

   2. Paul however clearly distinguishes between gospel and law.

   Where?

   The command to love your neighbour is a command and as such it is law, the lex Christi. It is not the gospel; it is the law that drives us to the gospel

   The Law brings us to Christ. The Gospel is the Good News of Christ. But Christ did not dispense with the Ten Commandments. As it is written:
   John 14:21
   He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

   3. Nor is suffering the gospel, though it may be the means by which God disciplines His children

   Suffering with Christ is a very important part of the Gospel:
   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:

   By suffering and dying on the Cross, Christ gave us the lesson of how we will also go to heaven with Him. Again, it is written:
   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.

   4. The law is in essence what God demands from us; the good news of the gospel is essentially what God has done for us in Christ in the face of our failure to obey the law.

   The Gospel is the good news that God still loves us and still saves those who obey His Commandments. And He sent His only begotten Son to give us an example of how we can be saved through Him.

   Hebrews 5:9
   And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Love makes the world go round

1. DE MARIA May 8, 2013 at 6:25 pm

   RD May 8, 2013 at 5:05 pm
   The Gospel as Faith Working Through Love ???

   Correct.

   The Gospel is God’s (covenantal) love for his people;

   That is only part of the truth. The Gospel is also Jesus’ example to His people that they should follow in His steps:
   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:

   The Gospel is also God calling to His people:
   Matthew 9:13
   But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

   And the Gospel also shows the example of many who responded to God’s call:
   Acts 2:47
   Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

   And this is not all that the Gospel is, but only a short summary.

   it is not man’s love for his neighbor

   Yes, it is:
   Matthew 22:37-40
   King James Version (KJV)
   37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
   38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
   40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

   Love of God and love of neighbor is the complete Gospel. There is nothing else.

   though that should flow on and follow as indeed should man’s love for God We should surely not confuse cause and effect

   We haven’t.

   If we do, the outside world might well have a very big picture of the church but a very small picture of God – which I take it is not what we want

   God is love and love makes the world go round. If the world has a small picture of God, it is the world which will suffer for it. But we are not of the world:
   John 15:18-20
   King James Version (KJV)
   18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
   20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

   Sincerely,

   De Maria