The California Collection/TheCaliforniaCollection.cdr/his075/cath.lzh/CATH.TXT

Text File | 1991-06-30 | 9KB | 185 lines

CUL:What is the Mass and other topics  by Bill Bennett

   ACCORDING to the OFFICIAL teaching of the Roman Catholic Church?

   Rather than listen to some RENEGADE Catholic Priest whose interests
are purely ecumenical (ie. get you into HIS building even if it means
DENYING his own churches DOCTRINES & DOGMAS), or listening to some well
intentioned, but misinformed neo-evangelical tell what HE THINKS the
Roman Catholic MASS is, we owe it to ourselves to KNOW what Roman
Catholic SOURCES

   "The sacrifice of the Mass is really the holy and living
representation and at the same time the unbloody and efficaious
oblation of the Lord's Passion and that blood-stained sacrifice which
was offered for us on the cross." "By the declaration of the Council of
Trent, Christ is recognized as the offering Priest, the Victim offered,
and the immolation in the sacramental order" (The Catholic
Encyclopedia, pgs 375 & 376, Imprimatur by Archbishop William E.
Cousins of the Diocese of Milwaukee - Nihil Obstat by Rev Richard J.
Sklba, S.S.L., S.T.D. - 1975)

   [Wm. Cousins is dead, but Dick Sklba is currently serving in the
Archdiocese of Milwaukee. You may remember Sklba's name in the
Milwaukee Journal in connection with official statements for the Church
concerning some of the "problems" with priests with AIDS and sodomizing
young boys and alcholism ...]

   What kind of language is used in the Mass?

   "The priest bows and says quietly: Lord God, we ask you to receive
us and be pleased with the Sacrifice we offer you with humble and
contrite hearts."

   "Next the priest stands at the side of the altar ans washes his
hands, saying quietly, 'Lord, wash away my iniquity; cleanse me from my
sin.'

   Standing at the center of the altar, facing the people, he extends
and then joins his hands, saying; 'Pray, brethren, that our sacrifice
may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.'

   People: 'May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands for the
praa≤d and glory of his name, for our good and the good of all his
church.'"

   [Celebrate The Mass Approved Text in accordance with the New
Liturgy, pgs. 28-30) Note: this is POST Vatican II, obviously because
it is in ENGLISH, not Latin. Of course this is a sacrifice for SINS -
in other words, Jesus' sacrifice wasn't 'complete' enough for sins, so
the priest offers 'him' again, and again and again...]

   MASS INTENTION

   "Mass intentions refer to the particular purpose for which a
specific Mass is offered. This may be to honor God or thank him for
blessings received. But technically a Mass intention means that the
sacrifice is offered for some person(s) living or dead. Also called the
application of a Mass, it pertains to the ministerial fruits of the
Mass. These fruits are both extensively and intensively finite in
virtue of the positive will of Christ. Other things being equal, the
more often the sacrifice is offered the more benefit is conferred."
(Pocket Catholic Dictionary John A. Hardon, S.J., pg 249) [The mass has
limited value, the more sacrifices the better. Jesus' singular
sacrifice is of infinite value, offered only once to confer 100% of its
saving power by simple faith of the recipient - with bother with
something of finite value when you can have the infinite? - TODAY!]

   To be REALLY current, The 1989 CATHOLIC ALMANAC says: ("The Most
Complete One-Volume Encyclopedia Of Catholic Facts and Information on
the Church" - as stated on the cover)

   EUCHARIST

   "The Holy Eucharist is a sacrifice..." Only a PRIEST can consecrate
bread and wine so they become the body and blood of Christ." (pg 225)

   [Thinking of going to Mass and taking part in 'communion' just to be
friendly or 'ecumenical' minded?]

   "Admission to the Eucharist in the Catholic Church, according to the
Directory on Ecumenism, 'is confined to particular cases of those
Christians who have a faith in the sacrament in conformity with that of
the church, ..."(pg 227) [in other words, you BETTER BELIEVE that host
and wine is the literal BODY & BLOOD of Jesus Christ before they let
you 'eat him'. While we're at it, here's some more definitions...]

   BAPTISM

   "Baptism is the sacrament of spiritual regeneration by which a
person is incorporated in Christ and made a member of his Mystical
Body, given grace, and cleansed of original sin. Actual sins and the
punishment due for them are remitted also if the person baptized was
guilty of such sins. The theological virtues of faith, hope and charity
are given with grace. The sacrament confers a character on the soul and
can be received only once." (pg 223) [in other words, the actions of a
3rd party SAVE the child, willing or unwilling - an example of
'irresistible grace?']

   CONFIRMATION

   "Confirmation is the sacrament by which a baptized person, through
anointing with chrism and the imposition of hands, is endowed with the
gifts and special strength of the Holy Spirit for mature Christian
living. The sacrament, which completes the Christian initiation begun
with baptism, confers a character on the soul and can be received only
once" "In 1975...Pope Paul had approved this English version of the
form of the sacrament: 'Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.'"
(pg 224) [Charismatic-Catholic dilemma...when DID they REALLY receive
the 'gift of the spirit'?]

   PENANCE

   "Penance is the sacrament by which sins committed after baptism are
forgiven and a person is reconciled with God and the church. Individual
and integral confession and absolution are the only ordinary means for
the forgiveness of serious sins and for reconciliation with God and the
Church" "The traditional words of absolution - 'I absolve you from your
sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit'..." (pg 226) [Details, details, they WANT to hear the details -
bear your secret sins to the priest, his absolution is temporary;
Jesus' absolution is eternal and free!]

   ANOINTING OF THE SICK

   "By the anointing with blessed oil and the prayer of a priest, the
sacrament confers on the person comforting grace; the remission of
venial sins, and inculpably orqnconfessed mortal sins, together with at
lest some of the temporal punishment due for sins; and, sometimes
results in an improved state of health." "Through this holy anointing
and his most loving mercy, may the Lord assist you by the grace of the
Holy Spirit so that, when you have been freed from your sins, he may
save you and in his goodness raise you up." (pg 227 & 228) [sorry,
Extreme Unction (Anointing of the Sick), doesn't mean you're freed from
the penalty of your sins, only the Blood of Jesus can cleanse us from
sin.]

   HOLY ORDERS

   Holy Orders is the sacrament by which spiritual power and grace are
given to constitute and enable an ordained minister to consecrate the
Eucharist, forgive sins, preform other pastoral and ecclesiastical
functions, and form the community of the People of God. Holy Orders
confers a character on the soul and can be received only once." (pg
228) [Despite this spiritual authority & grace, over 30% of priests
surveyed have given 'serious consideration' to leaving the Catholic
Church, and thousands of Catholic churches have closed for lack of
priests and laity to fill the pews; Alcoholism is ranked #1 problem
among priests today... homosexuality & sexual perversions not far
behind...]

   HOLY MATRIMONY

   "Christian spouses, in virtue of the sacrament of matrimony, signify
and partake of the mystery of that unity and fruitful love which exists
between Christ and his church. The spouses thereby help each other to
attain to holiness in their married life and by the rearing and
education of their children." "Catholics are bound by all marriage laws
of the Church. Certain natural laws, in the Catholic view, bind all men
and women, irrespective of their religious beliefs; accordingly,
marriage is prohibited before the time of puberty, without knowledge
and free mutual consent, in the case of an already existing valid
marriage bond, in the case of antecedent and perpetual impotence."
"Parents should regard as their proper mission the task of transmitting
human life and education those to whom it has been transmitted." (pg
223, 234 & 231) [If you marry in the Catholic Church, PLAN on having
children, that's what marriage is for. Some of the language on pg 231
on 'family planning' is perverse and not suitable for quotation.]

   ------

   As I said earlier, we have many voices that say they speak for
Catholicism, but they speak in ignorance of the Roman Catholic Church.
In those countries where Catholicism is in "power" the need to be
"ecumenical" and "accommodating" is nonexistant, evidenced by the March
stoning of 2 missionaries in Mexico by Roman Catholic mobs. To claim to
be a Roman Catholic and NOT hold to the official teachings of the
Catholic Church is typical of many Catholics that have no idea what
their Church teaches - and most couldn't care less. This smorgasbord
Catholicism (pick and choose what doctrines & dogmas you want) has been
well received by many people in America. The underlying purpose is the
same, to bring people back or keep them in the Church that claims to be
the ONLY REAL CHURCH of God.

   Bill Bennett