Without the authority of Catholic Church, how is an average pastor's interpretation of the Bible more valid or binding than that of Bart Ehrman's?
Please stay respectful for people's positions.
If you’re a new Catholic, you’ll probably notice that Luke 1:28 is often translated as “highly favored,” while Catholic translations traditionally say “full of grace.”
**The Greek word is κεχαριτωμένη (**kecharitōmenē), a perfect passive participle related to charis, meaning grace. The perfect form points to something completed with an ongoing result.
So Gabriel isn’t merely saying, “God likes you” or “you’ve been favored.” The wording describes Mary as someone who has been graced and remains in that state of grace.
That doesn’t mean this one word proves every Marian doctrine by itself. But it does show why Catholics have traditionally seen something significant in Gabriel’s greeting.
So when you hear “Hail, full of grace”, remember: that’s not just a random Catholic wording. There is real Greek behind it.
When I was younger I used to attend to Mass, got baptised, and made my first communion, not because I believed, but because it was the normal thing to do in my town. Eventually I stopped going to mass because my mother started to think it's a waste of time.
Now, after being atheist the mayor part of my life, I have found God and I will to join the catholic church. I would really love to start attending to Mass again and receive the sacraments.
The problem is that I don't know when Mass is in my town, I tried to go Sunday afternoon and found the church closed, then I tried going Sunday morning but it was also closed, so I asked someone when Mass is and they told me that it's usually Sunday morning but recently Mass was not being held. At first I thought it was because the priest was on vacation but a couple weeks have passed and its still the same, does anyone know what should i do?
Also, i don't know whats necessary to receive the sacraments, what do i have to do?
Im from a small town in Spain if it helps. Sorry for bad english.
I’m an Spanish 16 yo boy (sorry for English mistakes)
A long time ago I became friends with 4 girls because they treated me well when I had almost no one and since then they became very important to me and about a year ago I fell in love with one of them and I know that she loves me although probably not as a boyfriend but as a good friend and it turns out that this girl has a somewhat jealous and controlling boyfriend who does not like her to get together with other guys and many times despite being a long-distance teenage relationship he embitters her many nights with his messages and calls of jealousy and I am also afraid that I will take her away from me not only as a couple but as a friend because she is very important to me and now I don't know what to do because despite everything they are still together and I don't know what to do with all this I don't know why or how I should pray, I don't know if I should get away from her, I don't know if I should be disowned to be just a friend or if I should still trust and pray for her love because as St. Paul says to the Corinthians, love is patient and endures everything but he also says that it doesn't seek its own happiness and I don't know what I should do for her, for me and with God
I’ve been thinking about Eastern Orthodoxy as a Catholic. But I can’t get over the bump of the Papacy, even going as far as to make a slideshow proving the papacy, historically and scripturally. But that only seemed to strengthen my belief in the papacy. Any one think they can help?
I hope my question doesn't upset anyone. I am a cradle Catholic who lost my faith when I became an adult. For 35 years I was an agnostic who desperately wanted to believe. I asked everyone with faith to pray for me to believe.
About six months ago I had a powerful dream in which I got the message that I would find faith not in my own comfort (through belief) but through comforting others. It felt extremely real, and I think that important message of service to others is consistent with Catholicism.
So I now believe in God and feel incredibly happy about that. I went to Mass for the first time in probably thirty years and got a lot out of it.
Is it ok that I don't know what my specific beliefs are other than a general belief in God as a loving creator? I love Jesus, but I can't say for sure if he is the son of God, or if the trinity is real, etc. I think there is a lot I won't understand in this life, but I also think God loves us all and would not reject a person who isn't sure about the details.
Again, I know there are many Catholics who feel the details are critical. I really want to be part of my Church's community and I don't want to be dishonest. I'd need to go to confession before really particicpating, and maybe that is a place to explore this question. Thanks to anyone who has a helpful response.
On the edge of converting to Catholicism before finding out about nostra atate. I was raised by a Non-Denominational dispensationalist family/ churches. I left to get away from that idea and also finding out about the church fathers. The thought of people having special status over their blood is repulsive to me.
Furthermore it doesn’t clarify that they need to explicitly accept Christ. Every answer I get is basically “You’re a Nazi”. For this reason I am strongly considering converting to Greek Orthodox Christianity. Also church fathers and early saints strongly thought supersessionism. I was looking into SSPX then they got excommunicated.
Looking in between the lines it’s not just the “restricting” of Latin mass which in itself is ridiculous, but the Latin mass has a prayer to help the Jews lift their curse and find Christ. Nostra atate has immense spiritual problems if not straight errors that people just blindly ignore.
If I can reject nostra atate and still be in communion I will probably go to FSSP
The eye through which I see God, is the same eye through which God sees me. 👀
Meister Eckhart
God is not something outside of us.
First I wanna say that I don’t think this is a question of salvation. So I think it’s ok to have differing opinions.
That being said, I understand the idea of praying with them. But it's never sat right with me. That will always include praying 'with' someone that isn't on this Earth. And the Bible says not to do that.
Also anyone who believes and follows Christ is called a saint. So why ask for those who aren't on this Earth for prayer?
“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?”
James 4:6-12 ESV
"To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 1:7 ESV (1 Corinthians 1:2 ESV/Ephesians 1:1 ESV)
"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth."
1 Timothy 2:5-7 ESV
“In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
John 16:23-24 ESV
“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:14-16 ESV
“The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”
Hebrews 7:23-25 ESV
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.”
Colossians 3:5-6 ESV
“and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?”
1 Corinthians 10:4-16 ESV
““All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.”
1 Corinthians 10:23-24 ESV
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”
1 Corinthians 10:31-33 ESV