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More on Apologetics from Bob Stanley’s
“The Catholic Treasure Chest”
Background sculpture of Pope Paul VI Hall reflects the tortured, twisted, uninspired “New Theology” promoted by the post-Vatican II Catholic Church.
Monstrous Post Vatican II sculpture – allegedly of the Resurrection
serves as a back drop for the Pope Paul VI Hall in the Vatican
Similar ugly art at Chicago’s Holy Name Cathedral
Editor’s note: Unfortunately, there’s plenty more where this came from, at churches and basilicas all around the world. What are these guys (Church leaders) thinking? Or is this simply a reflection of their decrepit, modernist souls? And why do Catholics even allow this type of spiritual blight, in their places of worship?
Seen on the web: In the “world” the pauper is a nobody, lower than everyone else, but in a Catholic Church he is just like everyone else and he gets to be surrounded by all the wealth of beauty that others experience every day.
Posted by mk on Monday, May 7, 2012 8:05 AM (EST):
Someone (Maybe Dorothy Day?) once said that all that lavishness was the great equalizer. It didn’t matter if you were poor, orphaned, black, white, a leper…no matter who you were, what circumstances you came from, when you walked into a Catholic Church, you were experiencing what it felt to be a “King”. Even a pauper could experience great art, music, etc. In the “world” the pauper is a nobody, lower than everyone else, but in a Catholic Church he is just like everyone else and he gets to be surrounded by all the wealth of beauty that others experience every day.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: That he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons.
And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: Abba, Father.
Therefore, now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God. (Galatians 4:4-7)
By virtue of our baptism, we become adopted sons and daughters of God … co-heirs with Jesus Christ to all that is good … on Earth and in Heaven … including the Catholic Church.
The richness of the Catholic Church properly reflects the richness of our faith … and also gives us some sense of the infinite beauty and Heavenly majesty of the one, true God … to whom we belong. – Doug
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple
(Click on picture to enlarge)
The Old Testament Book of Numbers, Chapter 30, makes specific provisions for consecrated, perpetual virgins, under the Law of Moses.
According to those biblical provisions, a girl could be consecrated solely to God (as a perpetual virgin) at a young age (typically around three years old) … and even in that consecrated state, the virginal person could later choose to marry … while continuing to remain a virgin … for life.
All that was necessary was the informed consent of the potential husband. Once the husband agreed, the woman’s permanent virginal status was absolutely and undeniably confirmed … the vow now binding on both parties … typically, under pain of death.
Submitted by Doria2
Who would have “thunk” it? Late artist Andy Warhol was a devout Byzantine Catholic.
| By | Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) s |
This review is from: The Religious Art of Andy Warhol (Paperback)
In The Religious Art Of Andy Warhol, art historian and curator Jane Dillenberger explores the sources and manifestations of the controversial pop-artist’s spiritual side as revealed through his work. Especially his Skill paintings, the Warhol prints based on Renaissance religious artwork, his Cross paintings, and the large Warhol series based on “The Last Supper”. Warhol grew up on a Slovakian ghetto of Pittsburgh and experienced the elaborate and colorful rituals of the Byzantine Catholic Church. These influences also included his devout mother with whom he lived some forty of his fifty-eight years. The Religious Art Of Andy Warhol is a “must” for all Warhol fans, as well as students of 20th century American art.
When Is Stupidity A Sin?
Carpenters, shoemakers, peasants, manual workers are guided by common sense. They have no pretension to have the key to wisdom. They do not raise questions the answer of which is above their capacities (Ps 130). The blue-collar worker is very unlikely to have any illusions about the quality of his work: If a carpenter makes a set of drawers that does not close, he knows he has done a bad job. If the food prepared by a cook is unpalatable, the culprit knows that he should go back to cooking school. If a tailor makes a suit that is much too tight for the person who has ordered it, he knows that he is a bad tailor. If a car does not work after a mechanic made repairs, the customer cannot be mistaken in telling him that he is a bad mechanic. Blunt, tangible results are more eloquent than words. The punishment is on the tailcoat of the fault.
Things are very different in the religious, spiritual, intellectual, and artistic spheres. These are domains in which we find both the greatest accomplishments and the greatest aberrations. Recall St. Augustine writing in his Confessions that when he joined the Manichean sect, he “swallowed” the greatest nonsense one can imagine. He writes: “I was led on to such follies as to believe that a fig tree wept when it was plucked . . . . If some ‘saint’ ate this fig — proving, forsooth, that it was picked not by his but by another’s sinful hand — then he would digest it in his stomach, and from it he would breathe forth angels!” (III, 10). Only a very humble man can share with us the stupidity he swallowed when young; most of us would choose not to mention it. Here was one of the greatest minds of all times, and nevertheless he too could fall into the hands of religious charlatans.
Why do Catholics Idolize religious figurines when is clearly stated in The Ten Commandments not to?
Q: Why do Catholics Idolize religious figurines when is clearly stated in The Ten Commandments not to?
4 ‘You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth.
5 ‘You shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God and I punish a parent’s fault in the children, the grandchildren, and the great-grandchildren among those who hate me;
For those who don’t mind explaining facts to me, the 4th commandment states:
” ‘You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth. ”
So why have it in your church or home?
A: Jesus perfectly fulfilled and set aside the entirety of the old law. Then on Pentecost, the Holy Spirit presided at the birth of the Church, which replaced it.
No more Old Covenant. No more Old Law.
The Beatitudes are to the New Covenant what the Ten Commandments were to the Old Covenant.
New Covenant Christians are now under grace … not law. And that’s a good thing, too … because the law was never capable of saving a soul.
Old Law – Fulfilled and Set Aside By Jesus Christ
Thanks to Jesus, New Covenant Christians know precisely what God looks like, so there’s no danger of our worshiping anyone or anything else.
Also, please note that in Old Testament times, God commanded many types of graven images to be made and used, for his own sacred purposes.
Since Jesus remains the head of the Church, and he personally gave the Church the power to bind and loose, on earth and in heaven, it was long ago officially decided that sacred art and statuary pose no obstacle to the authentic Christian faith.
In fact, sacred art and statuary have been used for practical catechesis, since long before the average citizen was even able to read.
Thanks to the Catholic Church, every Christian now has a very good idea what Jesus really looks like … while Jesus himself remains the flesh image of a heavenly thing … something which apparently breaks God’s very own commandment.
Go figure!
Catholic Apologetics
The “discipline” of Catholic apologetics goes all the way back to Christ’s “Great Commission” … and it has absolutely nothing to do with being sorry!
Mat 28:18 And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.
Mat 28:19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations: baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.
Rather, the term “apology” is derived from the Greek, and it means “to give an account”.
It was St. Peter who later provided a bit more specific direction, on the subject:
1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord Christ in your hearts, being ready always to satisfy every one that asketh you a reason of that hope which is in you.
1Pe 3:16 But with modesty and fear, having a good conscience: that whereas they speak evil of you, they may be ashamed who falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
In the first verse, Peter tells us to be ready to provide a complete explanation for what we believe.
In the second, he cautions us not to boast about it!
While there’s a number of different definitions for the term, apologetics, I prefer this one.
Catholic Apologetics:
The theological art, science, and discipline of defending the doctrines, beliefs, and practices of the Holy Catholic Church, through a careful and detailed explanation of the Church’s various historical, factual, logical, and supernatural characteristics, as well as its’ basis in absolute truth.
And …
The practical art, science, and discipline of presenting, explaining, and justifying the Catholic faith to atheists, agnostics, deists, skeptics, critics, pagans, believers, unbelievers, politicians, judges, the ignorant, the arrogant, and the confused.
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