samedi 28 octobre 2006
Catholic prayers
I had the opportunity a few months ago to go through a Handbook of Prayers that belonged to my devoutly Catholic friend and came across some interesting beliefs that I had not heard of before in my casual study of Catholicism. I want to pursue a deeper study of their doctrine because ecumenism has been gaining popularity in the last few decades and I have to admit that I'm hesitant about this movement and concerned that accepting conflicting doctrines without examination will have disastrous effects. I know of some Christians who are attracted to Catholicism and who have incorporated elements of it into their faith. I guess this and my interest in Quebec have led me to wonder more about what Catholics believe; I know that I have a long way to go before I have some semblance of their faith. That being said, here's a bit of what I found in that book:
Devotions to the Holy SpiritUhh.. this "bit" is larger than I thought. I'll have to write another post soon :)
- Holy and divine spirit! Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, your spouse, bring the fullness of your gifts into our hearts.
Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary (devotions to Mary take up 91 pages, devotions to Jesus take up 43)
- The Church's devotion to the Blessed Virgin is intrinsic to Christian worship. The Church rightly honours the Blessed Virgin with special devotion.
- Fourth Glorious Mystery: The Assumption - God has taken Mary, body and soul, to heaven; and the angels rejoice! ...The most blessed Trinity receives and showers honours on the Daughter, Mother and Spouse of God.
- Fifth Glorious Mystery: The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin - If you and I had been able, we too would have made her Queen and Lady of all creation.... The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit crown her as the rightful Empress of the Universe.
- Novena to the Immaculate Conception: Pope Pius IX formally instituted the celebration of the Immaculate Conception when he proclaimed this dogma on 12/8/1854. Affirming the constant faith of the church, he expressed in that definition, the exact meaning of the truth of Mary's Immaculate Conception: that she was conceived free from the stain of original sin.
(Note: There is a common misconception that the Immaculate Conception refers to the virgin birth of Jesus Christ (see: Incarnation) whereas the original doctrine is actually about Mary's sinless birth.)
Devotions during the Month of Mary
- May 18 - Mary the Co-Redemptrix: "It is with good reason that the popes have called Mary Co-Redemptrix." ...It can rightly be said that she redeemed mankind together with Christ.
- May 26 - Mary the Way to Jesus
- May 30 - Mary the Channel of Grace
Prayers for the Dead
- The Church prays for the dead and this prayer says much about the reality of the Church itself. It says that the Church continues to live in the hope of eternal life.
Libellés : theology-ish
