Thanks to the Insight Scoop blog I now have something to look forward to to read in March! This would make a perfect birthday gift for me *cough*.
"Without Jesus, we do not know what 'Father' truly is. This becomes visible in his prayer, which is the foundation of his being. A Jesus who was not continuously absorbed in the Father, and was not in continuous intimate communication with him, would be a completely different being from the Jesus of the Bible, the real Jesus of history… In Jesus' prayer, the Father becomes visible and Jesus makes himself known as the Son. The unity which this reveals is the Trinity. Accordingly, becoming a Christian means sharing in Jesus' prayer, entering into the model provided by his life, i.e. the model of prayer. Becomng a Christian means saying "Father" with Jesus, and thus becoming a child, God's son—God—in the unity of the Spirit, who allows us to be ourselves and precisely in this way draws us into the unity of God. Being a Christian means looking at the world from this central point, which gives us freedom, hope, decisiveness, and consolation."
Pope Benedict XVI
This has been quite a busy week in the Church. Saturday the Summorum Pontificum, the Pope's motu proprio encouraging wider use of the old Latin Mass was released and today a new clarification from the Vatican about the Doctrine of the Church.
The document answers five questions which has been raised about the doctrine. It is rather short so I will post the answers from the official English translation which can be found on the Vatican website
First Question: Did the Second Vatican Council change the Catholic doctrine on the Church?
The Second Vatican Council neither changed nor intended to change this doctrine, rather it developed, deepened and more fully explained it.
This was exactly what John XXIII said at the beginning of the Council. Paul VI affirmed it and commented in the act of promulgating the Constitution Lumen gentium: "There is no better comment to make than to say that this promulgation really changes nothing of the traditional doctrine. What Christ willed, we also will. What was, still is. What the Church has taught down through the centuries, we also teach. In simple terms that which was assumed, is now explicit; that which was uncertain, is now clarified; that which was meditated upon, discussed and sometimes argued over, is now put together in one clear formulation". The Bishops repeatedly expressed and fulfilled this intention.
Second Question: What is the meaning of the affirmation that the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church?
Christ "established here on earth" only one Church and instituted it as a "visible and spiritual community", that from its beginning and throughout the centuries has always existed and will always exist, and in which alone are found all the elements that Christ himself instituted. "This one Church of Christ, which we confess in the Creed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic […]. This Church, constituted and organised in this world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him".
In number 8 of the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen gentium ‘subsistence’ means this perduring, historical continuity and the permanence of all the elements instituted by Christ in the Catholic Church[8], in which the Church of Christ is concretely found on this earth.
It is possible, according to Catholic doctrine, to affirm correctly that the Church of Christ is present and operative in the churches and ecclesial Communities not yet fully in communion with the Catholic Church, on account of the elements of sanctification and truth that are present in them. Nevertheless, the word "subsists" can only be attributed to the Catholic Church alone precisely because it refers to the mark of unity that we profess in the symbols of the faith (I believe... in the "one" Church); and this "one" Church subsists in the Catholic Church.
Third Question: Why was the expression "subsists in" adopted instead of the simple word "is"?
The use of this expression, which indicates the full identity of the Church of Christ with the Catholic Church, does not change the doctrine on the Church. Rather, it comes from and brings out more clearly the fact that there are "numerous elements of sanctification and of truth" which are found outside her structure, but which "as gifts properly belonging to the Church of Christ, impel towards Catholic Unity".
"It follows that these separated churches and Communities, though we believe they suffer from defects, are deprived neither of significance nor importance in the mystery of salvation. In fact the Spirit of Christ has not refrained from using them as instruments of salvation, whose value derives from that fullness of grace and of truth which has been entrusted to the Catholic Church".
Fourth Question: Why does the Second Vatican Council use the term "Church" in reference to the oriental Churches separated from full communion with the Catholic Church?
The Council wanted to adopt the traditional use of the term. "Because these Churches, although separated, have true sacraments and above all – because of the apostolic succession – the priesthood and the Eucharist, by means of which they remain linked to us by very close bonds", they merit the title of "particular or local Churches", and are called sister Churches of the particular Catholic Churches.
"It is through the celebration of the Eucharist of the Lord in each of these Churches that the Church of God is built up and grows in stature". However, since communion with the Catholic Church, the visible head of which is the Bishop of Rome and the Successor of Peter, is not some external complement to a particular Church but rather one of its internal constitutive principles, these venerable Christian communities lack something in their condition as particular churches.
On the other hand, because of the division between Christians, the fullness of universality, which is proper to the Church governed by the Successor of Peter and the Bishops in communion with him, is not fully realised in history.
Fifth Question: Why do the texts of the Council and those of the Magisterium since the Council not use the title of "Church" with regard to those Christian Communities born out of the Reformation of the sixteenth century?
According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called "Churches" in the proper sense.
Like all documents stating the Churches Doctrine this will raise some eyebrows and I'm sure there will be tons of articles about how "intolerant' it is to call yourself the "true" Church.
I'm glad that the Vatican is not afraid of speaking the truth, after all only the Truth will set us free.
It is finally here! It seems I'm the last person in the Catholic blog world to get the new book by our Pope Jesus of Nazareth
I have already started to read it. The forward was wonderful, as it goes into different methods of biblical interpretations. The introduction was superb and now that I have finished reading the first chapter I am even more excited. If I wasn't so tired I would continue reading today however I will stop here and take some time to absorb what I have already read.
This book is a great meditation on the Person of Jesus. The "real" Jesus, the Jesus of the Gospels, who is man and God. I don't remember last time I have been this excited about a book!
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy.
Amen.
Saint Augustine
This is one of my favourite prayers to the Holy Spirit. It was with me ever since my reversion to the faith. Ever since I started to pray it I noticed some big changes in my life. Holy Spirit truly does transform lives.
Not everyone can have a spiritual director. Someone to talk to about spiritual things. Our inner lives are so important that it is unfortunate that there is such a lack of qualified people to guide us. Our God however did not leave us orphans. He send us His Spirit. He Is our most wonderful spiritual director. All it took for me was to trust Him. Every book I've picked to read early on in my study of faith happened to be solid in its orthodoxy. This can't be a coincidence especially since my early book shopping was done in secular book stores, and there were tons of "Christian sounding" books which knowing what I know now would be very negative to my faith. I can only guess that The Holy Spirit was there with me and with each book was trying to teach me something new.
Holy God, Most Blessed Trinity, thank You for your gift of the Holy Spirit my Counselor, my Comforter, my Teacher, my God. Amen
The bus is an interesting place. I often find that when I'm reading a Christian book, people notice me and sometimes start talking to me. One time I've been reading "Salvation is from the Jews" by Roy H. Schoeman and several people started talking to me and asking me questions about the book and its contents.
I often get asked if I am a Christian and what my book is about. Sometimes people tell me to watch what I'm reading, they do this as they hand me a little pamphlet which tells me what to do to be a good Christian. It's interesting to see what these pamphlets contain. Each denomination has its own idea of what is required to be "saved". I sometimes wonder what would happen if two Christians of different denominations met on a bus and exchanged each other's pamphlets. Which one is right? Will they both point to the same bible and try to argue their case?
The question of authority has always been an important one for me in my faith journey. Very early on I realized that the doctrine of "bible alone" does not make any sense at all, and is in fact not found anywhere in the bible. The bible doesn't tell us what books belong in it. (Not counting the index, of course, since that is not part of the bible. heh.) Why do we include books like Gospel of St. John and not Gospel of St. Thomas? Questions like that cannot be truly answered by any "bible only" Christian. The answer, however, is very simple and biblical. It is not the bible that is the pillar and foundation of truth is it the Church of God, just like St. Paul says in 1 Tim. 3:15.
It was the Church which is guided by the Holy Spirit who decided which books of the bible are inspired and which are not. This is an extremely important point, because if anyone accepts the authority of the bible, they must accept the authority of the Church, and to accept that is to stop being a "bible only" Christian. The Church was entrusted the mission to evangelize the entire world. It does this by its sacraments and its teachings found both in the bible and its living Tradition (2 Thess. 2:15, 1 Cor. 11:2).
Perhaps next time I'm handed a little pamphlet I will in return give the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is a bit bigger, it has more content, all of it food for the soul. The biggest reason why I am Catholic is because it is the only Church who has the authority from Christ. Authority I believe before I believe anything in the bible. With St. Augustine I say If you should find someone who does not yet believe in the gospel, what would you [Mani] answer him when he says, ‘I do not believe’? Indeed, I would not believe in the gospel myself if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so
The akathist is one of the most ancient ornces or collection of prayers in the Byzantine Church. It is a prayer of veneration, thanksgiving and petition. "Akathist" means standing because it is an expression of profound joy in recognizing the honor being paid to Our Lord, Our Lady, or the saint who is being venerated. An akathist, therefore, is prayed standing.
(From Byzantines.net)
This particular akathist is especialy beautiful and fitting in this time of lent. I am including a pdf version of it for those of you who want to pray it yourself
Jesus, God, Eternal Love, Who was pleased to save us who are born of earth!
Jesus, Infinite Mercy, Who didst come down here to us fallen creatures!
Jesus, Who was clothed in our flesh and didst destroy the dominion of death by Thy death!
Jesus, Who dost deify us with Thy Divine Mysteries!
Jesus, Who hast redeemed the whole world by Thy Cross and Passion!
Jesus, Son of God, remember us when Thou comest in Thy Kingdom!
Akathist Hymn to the Divine Passion of Christ