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Darlene
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| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Tue Nov 14th, 2006 03:11 pm |
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Hello CH Family,
The other day I was praying the Most Holy Rosary and meditating on the Luminous Mysteries. When I began meditating on The Transfiguration, it made me think of the Communion of Saints. Jesus was talking to Moses and Elijah, who no longer lived on this earth. Is this an accurate understanding? I haven't seen this passage in Matthew 17 used in defense of the Communion of the Saints.
Darlene
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The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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CajunRick
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Posted: Tue Nov 14th, 2006 04:00 pm |
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Darlene wrote: Hello CH Family,
The other day I was praying the Most Holy Rosary and meditating on the Luminous Mysteries. When I began meditating on The Transfiguration, it made me think of the Communion of Saints. Jesus was talking to Moses and Elijah, who no longer lived on this earth. Is this an accurate understanding? I haven't seen this passage in Matthew 17 used in defense of the Communion of the Saints.
Darlene
Yes, that is a correct understanding. We believe in the ultimate unity of all who live in God's grace. We divide the Communion of Saints into three categories:
Church Militant: Those still traversing this "mortal coil". We are still working out our salvation "in fear and trembling". We can pray for ourselves and also for others, especially the souls in Purgatory.
Church Suffering: Those in Purgatory who are suffering because they are still outside of God's presence (called the Beatific Vision). They can no longer pray for themselves but can still pray for us, which is an unselfish act that aids in their purgation. They are in a state of unimaginable joy because their salvation is assured, and yet still "suffering" because of the knowledge that their own actions are keeping them from the Throne of the Most High God.
Church Triumphant: Those in heaven experiencing the Beatific Vision. They are in God's presence and have received the ultimate gift of Jesus' sacrifice. They no longer need prayer but can pray for us.
At the Transfiguration, Jesus was communicating ("praying") with Moses and Elijah, perhaps planning his descent to the dead to open the gates of heaven upon his death.
You can read more about the Communion of Saints in this Faith Fact from Catholics United for the Faith.
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Darlene
Member
| Joined: | Mon Oct 9th, 2006 |
| Location: | Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania USA |
| Posts: | 868 |
| First Name: | Darlene | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Christian, trusting His love and forgiveness |
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Posted: Wed Nov 15th, 2006 01:25 pm |
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Thanks Cajunrick,
It's always pleasant to get such a quick response. I have so many kettles on the stove, so to speak, in trying to undertand Catholicism. I just started reading "Meeting Mary" but then I get distracted in trying to understand another doctrine of the Church.
I'm just beginning to realize how deep and rich the doctrines of the Catholic faith are. So now when I put the Protestanism in focus and compare, it seems much more shallow. In saying that, I am not saying that Protestants are shallow. What I am saying is that I have only known a smidget of Christianity and now that the doors are opening up, I can't believe how much more there is to learn!
Leonna Choy put it very well the other day on the Journey Home episode. She said that before, when she was a Protestant, she lived way up in the branches of the tree. Now that she is a Catholic, she is part of the trunk.
Darlene
____________________
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. II Corinthians 13:14
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CajunRick
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Posted: Wed Nov 15th, 2006 01:46 pm |
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Darlene wrote: I'm just beginning to realize how deep and rich the doctrines of the Catholic faith are. So now when I put the Protestanism in focus and compare, it seems much more shallow. In saying that, I am not saying that Protestants are shallow. What I am saying is that I have only known a smidget of Christianity and now that the doors are opening up, I can't believe how much more there is to learn!
Fr. Mario Romero wrote an excellent book called Unabridged Christianity in which he answers most of the major Protestant objections to the Catholic faith. On Amazon, every reviewer has given it 5 stars out of 5. His format is unique in that each area begins with the Catholic teaching and then covers Protestant objections to that teaching. It sells for $12.95, but would be a bargain at twice the price.
Of course, his style is particularly friendly and engaging because he is a Cajun from South Louisiana, and we all know how wonderfully friendly and literate they are!
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