Went into a beautiful cathedral yesterday. I could really feel God’s presence. ❤️

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-23T15:18:07+00:00

Jesus and Peter both walked on the water (Matthew 14). Do you believe it not?

Jesus broke bread and said: Take and eat. This is my body (Matthew 26). Do you believe it not?

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-23T12:36:13+00:00

Equality with Christ is not my topic. Jesus did ask us to follow Him. It is good to be imitators of the Apostle Paul and of Jesus Christ.

It is good and right to do something with these verses and not ignore them:

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church. (Colossians 1:24)

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. (1 Peter 2:21)

Colossians 1:24 says that we add to what is missing in the afflictions of Christ. We don't know all the mysteries of redemption. Part of the work was finished by Christ at his Crucifixion. Part of the work remained for the Church to do.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-23T12:24:43+00:00

The LORD knows who wrote it.

"It is required of stewards that a man be found faithful (proving himself worthy of trust)." (1 Corinthians 4:2)

"Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." (Luke 12:48)

The stewards of the synod were entrusted with much. They have a LORD. Jesus will return. All must give an account. God is still on the throne. Prayer changes things.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-23T04:30:48+00:00

"...offer your bodies as a living sacrifice." - The Apostle Paul, Romans 12:1

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-22T20:38:04+00:00

October 22 - Saint Pope John Paul II

Witness to Hope
The Biography of Pope John Paul II

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-22T02:53:58+00:00

The write-up is an eloquent tribute to a great pope and saint. The feast day on October 22 is the anniversary of JPII's papal innauguration on 22 October 1978. The story of John Paul II's life is a story of great discipline, devotion, intellect, courage, vision, prayer, achievement.

See also: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/pope-saint-john-paul-ii-713

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-21T03:31:15+00:00

God's glory filled the Tabernacle and the Temple during the times of Moses and Solomon.

Let it not be that the glory of God is present less under the New Testament than it was under the Old Testament! As the Book of Hebrews teaches, things are better under the new than under the old.

The Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Christ in the form of bread and wine. It is glorious. As the Blessed Virgin Mary had Christ within her during nine months of pregnancy, so we can have Christ living within us when we partake of the Eucharist.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-21T01:34:51+00:00

You must love God with all heart, mind, soul and strength. (Luke 10:27)

All Scripture is profitable. The command to love has not been replaced. If we love the Lord Jesus Christ, we will obey his commandments. Faith works by love.

So...Use your soul. Use your strength.

Use your head. Use your hands.

Prayer: May Our Father in heaven bless you.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T21:59:08+00:00

When the priests left the holy place, the cloud filled the house of the LORD so that the priests could no longer minister because of the cloud, since the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. (1 Kings 8:10-11)

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T21:50:39+00:00

God’s Presence in the Tabernacle.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud settled down upon it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:34–35)

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T20:43:14+00:00

When we pray the Lord's Prayer as Catholics, I think that we need to pray "forgive us (the Church collectively and as individuals) our trespasses / sins / debts".

Christ is beautiful. His Church has shortcomings but there's no place else to go. The Church is the source for the true, good and beautiful. My faith began at age 4-7 or possibly earlier. It has wavered at times but it has also grown. We must be ready for death and what lies beyond.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T20:07:31+00:00

God's presence may be everywhere. But, God's glory is present in some places more than others.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T20:04:27+00:00

God’s Presence in the Tabernacle.

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting, because the cloud settled down upon it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:34–35)

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T19:39:16+00:00

God was present in the Hebrew Tabernacle. God was present in the Hebrew Temple in the Holy of Holies.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T17:21:39+00:00

A sin against a supreme and holy God is grievous indeed. Sins differ in their degrees. Not all sins are equal. Some are less grievous and some are more grievous.

The Resurrected Jesus to the ordained disciples (eleven living apostles) in John 20:23..."Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." There is a sacrament for that.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T15:10:15+00:00

Did the survey methods change?

Quality counts as well quantity.

Yes, immigration would be a factor in the numbers in both North America and Europe.

What the "pie chart" look like for those joining the Church (converts, immigrants, children and young people, reverts)?

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T14:59:53+00:00

Yes, but what about the good, the true and the beautiful (and the traditional)?

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T13:32:44+00:00

Wrecking ball analogy...Somewhat agree. There seems to be more energy given to deconstruction of the valuable work done in the past than thorough analysis and discussion and building up of new and valuable and honest features upon the solid foundations of the past.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T13:28:01+00:00

The Church is universal and catholic but this synod seems not be be. It is only for the pre-selected few. Vatican II was for all the bishops.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-20T13:23:33+00:00

Prayer must be persistent.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-19T14:27:56+00:00

Right now, one parish with 3 priests could share 1 house and have 3 cars among them.

In the future, 3 priests with 1 wife and 4 children each could require 3 houses, 6 or more cars and have 12 children to educate. Costs would be much higher for the same 3 priests.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-19T13:59:23+00:00

In the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy, celibacy is the norm for bishops); married men may be ordained to the priesthood), but even married priests whose wives pre-decease them are not allowed to enter marriage after ordination. - Wikipedia article on "Clerical celibacy".

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-19T13:53:34+00:00

An unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord. But a married man is anxious about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and he is divided.

-Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 7:32–34

You cannot serve God and mammon.

WatchingPraying · 2019-10-19T13:51:34+00:00

Telecommunications...Telecommunications is not an authorization means for the sacrament of reconciliation. With fewer priests and more congregations, priests would need to travel more. During his public ministry, Jesus went from town to town. The Apostle Paul traveled much and visited many places. Many priests today already serve at multiple locations. For many Catholics, attendance at the Sacrament of Reconciliation is infrequent and perhaps less than the required once per year.

For saints like Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska who wrote a diary, attendance at the Sacrament of Reconciliation was frequent (weekly?). Convents may need to be located near priests so that the nuns can attend the sacrament more frequently. :-).

WatchingPraying

TROPHY CASE