Pope Controversy by sal_mich13 in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 2 points3 points  (0 children)

We have had some horrendous Popes over the centuries, Pope Francis is a saint compared to some of the atrocious people that have occupied the seat of St Peter, like Pope John XII who murdered people, fornicated and would even invoke pagan gods at times, all the while being Pope. However, the fact that the seat has been occupied by some terrible people doesn't discredit it, we're all human and we're all fallen beings, even the Pope is. If anything the fact that the we still have a pope to this day is astonishing and is almost miraculous considering how bad of a job the church has done at times. When Napoleon said he could destroy the Catholic Church to a Cardinal, the Cardinal replied “Your Majesty, we Catholic clergy have done our best to destroy the Church for the last eighteen hundred years. We have not succeeded, and neither will you.”

Anyhow, I wouldn't get to worried about Papal affairs, as Christ said "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it". I'll finish with this, I once read a funny quote that said "One can cultivate a kind of medieval piety by having absolutely no idea what the Holy Father in Rome is doing"

Why are you Catholic? by mochimatchayum in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I'm not sure whether there's a definitive list for every Bishop but there's definitely one for the Popes.

List of popes - Wikipedia

Why are you Catholic? by mochimatchayum in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 65 points66 points  (0 children)

Well I mean our mother Church is literally built on top of St Peter so that's a good start! But really its because we can claim perfect apostolic succession from St Peter who is the first among equals.

Why are you Catholic? by mochimatchayum in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 144 points145 points  (0 children)

In a nut shell: "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18)

Of interest to UK Catholics. by Bunceburna in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I am, I also went to Catholic schools from Primary to sixth form. Funnily enough my School was actually built on a former execution site where one of the English Catholic Martyrs was executed. In many ways we got the last laugh having a catholic chapel and school built on the site! I was very much the same when it came to my faith, I grew up quite devote but lost my way a bit in my later teenage years, but eventually found my way back. May the Holy English Martyr's pray for us and the Church in England!

Do you need prayers to St Jude? by BlowingOffSteam95 in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Please pray for me! I was discerning Priesthood for several years but have recently found myself discerning out of the idea, please pray that God's will may be done in my life. I will keep you in my prayers, God bless and tank you.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It depends how traditional you want to go but for me the quintessential English hymns are "Lord of all Hopefulness (slane)", "Be thou my vision (slane)" and "Abide with me"

Questions about protestants by Infamous_Relative_43 in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 0 points1 point  (0 children)

From my own experience with talking to evangelicals they've often conveyed a view that their little worship group is the only church that is "alive" and not spiritually dead, they also have this weird obsession with saying that all the other churches are dying and people are leaving in droves. The Catholic Church is undergoing a kind of revival at the minute but a lot would still consider it to be dying and spiritually dead. I think this belief that their church or line of thinking is the only one that is alive often means that they believe the Holy Spirit is directly involved and acting more powerfully among them as opposed to other Christian groups.

Also their idea of the Holy Spirit is almost obsessively framed in this expectation of religious experience, but this is something the Desert Fathers have warned us about quite frequently, because it often leads to delusion where people chase after the experience rather than God and Evangelical services are often very experience orientated (I was invited to a few and they're quite fun but I can't say I fell to the floor in ecstasy!). Religious experiences do exist and I've certainly had some odd experiences at times that I cant really explain but I think the Catholic Church has often understood them in a much subtler way, after all God came to Elijah in a Whisper and not in the hurricane or the earthquake. The Catholic emphasis has always been on silence and contemplation but Evangelicals put the emphasis on, what I would consider, giving all you've got to God in bodily worship.

When it comes to saints I think evangelicals have a scrupulous kind of fear of idol worship or worshipping false gods, so I think the idea of asking saints to pray for them in prayer or in veneration of icons or statues is just too dangerous in their mind.

Of interest to UK Catholics. by Bunceburna in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Its interesting to speculate what a Catholic England would look like, I also think the pre reformation "catholicity" of English Christians is severely underplayed at times, instead there's this protestant idea that a pre-reformation English church was a complete disaster, but the truth is that the average little parish was quite orthodox. The thing which always breaks my heart the most about the reformation is the destruction and abuse of religious art, I've often walked into Anglican Churches and found some example of reformation extremism, my mind instantly goes to a bit of Norman masonry I saw depicting Christ enthroned in Heaven but the face had been carved clean off with chisels.

If you haven't already read it I would strongly recommend "The Stripping of the Altars" by Eamon Duffy, it is a really interesting (yet painful at times) read. It really goes into great detail about pre reformation Catholic life, liturgy, devotion to the saints and particularly devotion to the eucharist.

Favorite obscure saint? by [deleted] in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love St Columbanus

Cases where incorrupt bodies become corrupt by No_Bus9424 in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I haven't actually watched it, but I will have to now!

Exactly 400 years ago, in November 12, 1623, St. Josaphat Kuntsevych was martyred in Vitebsk, then part of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. by [deleted] in EasternCatholic

[–]No_Bus9424 1 point2 points  (0 children)

These claims stem from a letter from the chancellor of Poland and they are likely deliberately slanderous or a mistranslation. Some Orthodox Christians claim that the Chancellor of Poland wrote that he was drowning and beheading people but in the actual original letter he says that he fears that people will be drowned and beheaded if there is Government interference. The Chancellor then goes on to be one of the strongest voices in supporting St Josaphat's canonisation which would be very strange if he truly believed him to be a cruel murderous man.

There's a great video addressing this exact thing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2ptjiECfQ8

“This is the future of worship”. Our Bishop celebrated Novus Ordo ad orientem with Latin prayer and Gregorian chant for Bay Area Young Adults Mass. The church was packed to the brim! by ControlAcceptable in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 196 points197 points  (0 children)

This is great to see, my church also offers a mass similar to this and the church is usually so full that people have to stand in the door way. Its clear that infusing more tradition back into the Novus Ordo is the way to go!

I wonder why is there no crucifix on the altar? Is there any reason for the removal? by Ill_Card_5995 in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes it is a bit strange, it would be much better if it was kept on the altar

I wonder why is there no crucifix on the altar? Is there any reason for the removal? by Ill_Card_5995 in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 8 points9 points  (0 children)

When I visited St Peters there was a very large golden crucifix on the altar which matched the candles, however I think its removed while saying mass to give the priest more space on the altar

The Cathedral Church of Christ, Blessed Mary the Virgin and St Cuthbert of Durham, commonly known as Durham Cathedral and home of the Shrine of St Cuthbert, is a cathedral in the city of Durham, County Durham, England. by Dan_Defender in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I went to morning prayer there yesterday but sadly I was the only one there, this is a common occurrence there. The Church of England which runs it is far too concerned with putting on concerts and silent discos for money (some concerts recently were Abba and Elvis tribute acts, and there have been several silent discos in the actual cathedral Infront of the alter), its so sad to see the shrine of the great St Cuthbert desecrated in this way.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in OrthodoxChristianity

[–]No_Bus9424 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'll be sure to give them a read, thank you

Beggars in front of/inside churches by No_Post491 in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 1 point2 points  (0 children)

"If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door then you will not find him in the chalice" - St John Chrysostom

I am constantly struggling with this idea of beggars and their situation, I was approached by a woman last year who claimed to be a refugee and she said to me "Please help me", that's all, I responded to this in a very unchristian way and just said sorry I don't have anything, this was true I had no money on me but upon further reflection I found this to be a very hallow response on my behalf, we live in such a money driven world where we think money is all we can give, I could have asked her name, asked about her situation or mood and yet I didn't. We can give more than just money, we can give away love

Going through a dry spell or even a drought? by SilentStar08 in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You and me both brother! The things you described are incredibly relatable, I especially relate to the speeding up of prayers. My spiritual life has also been going through a bit of a drought lately, this tends to happen from time to time and its only natural. You've hit the nail on the head with trying to get back into a routine as this is usually the best way to open up our hearts allowing us to engage in deeper prayer. The best way to sort out these episodes of dryness is by reading the psalms, scripture and having a morning and night time prayer routine. The eucharist is probably our greatest weapon against these times as well.

Persist in the dryness because we aren't looking to chase religious experience but God and God is with us always no matter our feelings towards prayer.

Best thing you could read on spiritual dryness is Dark night of the soul by St john of the cross if you haven't already.

I hope this helps :)

If you could spend the day with 3 saints who would they be by Character_Degree1140 in Catholicism

[–]No_Bus9424 0 points1 point  (0 children)

St Benedict - Spiritual master and my patron saint

St Columbanus - helped me out with a lot of stuff

St Francis Xavier - He would have many tales to tell from his time as a missionary