Then He was not “just a good man…”

            A fourth distinguishing fact is that He does not fit, as the other world teachers do, into the established category of a good man.  Good men do not lie.  But if Christ was not all that He said He was, namely, the Son of the living God, the Word Of God in the flesh, then He was not “just a good man”; then He was a knave, a liar, a charlatan and the greatest deceiver who ever lived.  If He was not what He said He was, the Christ, the Son of God, He was the anti-Christ!  If he was only a man, then He was not even a “good” man.

But He was not only a man.  He would have us either worship Him or despise Him-despise Him as a mere man or worship Him as true God and true man.  That is the alternative He presents.  It may very well be that the Communists, who are so anti-Christ, are closer to Him that those who see Him as a sentimentalist and a vague moral reformer.  The Communists, have at least decided that if He wins, they lose; the others are afraid to consider Him either as winning or loosing, because they are not prepared to meet the moral demands which this victory would make on their souls.

If He is what He claimed to be, a Savior, a Redeemer, then we have a virile Christ and a leader worth following in these terrible times; One Who will step into the breach of death, crushing sin, gloom and despair; a leader to Whom we can make totalitarian sacrifice without loosing, but gaining freedom, and Whom we can love even unto death.  We need a Christ today, Who will make cords and drive the buyers and sellers from our new temples; Who will blast the unfruitful fig trees; Who will talk of crosses and sacrifices and Whose voice will be like the voice of the raging sea.  But He will not allow us to pick and choose among His words, discarding the hard ones, and accepting the ones that please our fancy.  Sheen, Bishop Fulton J. (p. 6-7)

How can anyone dismiss not only the existence of Christ but who and what He is and what He represents?  The questions Bishop Sheen poses cannot with any logic and reason be either dismissed or ignored.  The existence of Christ, in and of itself poses a dilemma to our moral compass whether we like it, want it, to or not.  History dictates this, the same as the existence of Hitler, Marx and Abraham Lincoln.  What Christ poses is a moral demand with authority that no world leader, political figure or vigilante did, can or will.

54” Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. 55 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. 56 For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. 57 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. 58 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. 59 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever.” (John 6:54-59)

4 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abide in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you the branches: he that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing. 6 If any one abide not in me, he shall be cast forth as a branch, and shall wither, and they shall gather him up, and cast him into the fire, and he burneth.” (John 15:4-6)

1 “Who hath believed our report and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? 2 And he shall grow up as a tender plant before him, and as a root out of a thirsty ground: there is no beauty in him, nor comeliness: and we have seen him, and there was no sightliness, that we should be desirous of him: 3 Despised, and the most abject of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity: and his look was as it were hidden and despised, whereupon we esteemed him not. 4 Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed.”  (Isaiah 53:1-5)

15 “Jesus saith to them: But whom do you say that I am? 16 Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answering, said to him: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona: because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”  (Matt 16:15-18)

43 “You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy. 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you: 45 That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have do not even the publicans do this?” (Matt 5:43-46)

Can anyone pose such moral demands without being sane and actually be who Christ says He is?  How could someone raise a dead man, and be insane, yet have not only twelve men follow Him and His teachings, but an entire society and in turn a “Holy Roman Empire?”  It would seem one would have to deny history in large blocks of decades or centuries in order to dismiss or attempt to dismiss such events.  We can however, ignore history.  We can dismiss in our own minds because we want to live according to our own moral demands or lack thereof…

In history and time, water will rise to its own level, figuratively speaking in order to determine what is real and authentic and/or not.  Would it not stand to reason in view of people like, Marx and Hitler, time and history with sound logic and reason determine both of them mentally disconnected based on their attempts to fulfill their twisted and sick ideology of reality and the world?  Does history look upon such figures in a favorable light, if to be followed and/or imitated?  Does not history demand the use of sound logic and reason in order to understand events that took place?  I would assert that if either Marx or Hitler were sane, with a sound moral compass, history and humanity would not view them as evil dictators, which killed people on mass scales, in order to control and manipulate society and the world…just ask any death camp survivor.

Would it therefore, not stand to reason, Christ was not insane nor a political figurehead or Satan?  Examples of people such as Catherine of Siena, Therese of Lisieux, Francis of Assisi, Padre Pio, Pope John Paul II, Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Pope Benedict and Thomas Moore, using sound logic and reason that followed the moral demands of Christ, are viewed with respect and admiration, to that of Hitler and Marx?  It is absurd to assert, not only is Christ insane but those that followed Him since 33 AD must also be insane?  As in scripture, the book of The Acts of the Apostles, taking place several years after the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ, when Peter and the other apostle’s of Christ were arrested and brought before the council for questioning;

34 But one in the council rising up, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, respected by all the people, commanded the men to be put forth a little while. 35 And he said to them: Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do, as touching these men. 36 For before these days rose up Theodas, affirming himself to be somebody, to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all that believed him were scattered, and brought to nothing. 37 After this man, rose up Judas of Galilee, in the days of the enrolling, and drew away the people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as consented to him, were dispersed. 38 And now, therefore, I say to you, refrain from these men, and let them alone; for if this council or this work be of men, it will come to nought; 39 But if it be of God, you cannot overthrow it, lest perhaps you be found even to fight against God.  (Acts 5:34-39)

It is with the freewill people dismiss the moral demands of Christ, choose to live according to their own moral compass, as it is fun, easy, and more importantly- such a life makes no moral demands.  However, I would assert no sound logic (and/or philosophical) assertion can attempt to rationalize that God does not nor cannot exist.  While many use and feed the ego in order to be seen in favorable light in the eyes of the world, it is power, authority, and prestige that drive the ego with pride and arrogance.  No one that is philosophically honest, looking for the objective truth, can dismiss the moral demands that Christ puts forth to us.  One can, however, choose to ignore such demands based upon the overriding desire to feed the ego and pride to be our own Gods.  “But He will not allow us to pick and choose among His words, discarding the hard ones, and accepting the ones that please our fancy.”  Sheen, Bishop Fulton J. (p. 7)

                                     References 

(1958). Sheen, Bishop Fulton J.  The Life of Chirst. New York: Sheed and Ward.

(2007). Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible, Retrieved from VulSearch  4.1.6.

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  If you were of the world the world would love its’ own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also.  But all this they will do to you on my account, because they do not know him who sent me.  If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.  He who hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.  (John 15:18-24)

Would it not stand to reason if the atheistic, hedonistic mindset of the world, did not hate Christ and simply “Agree to disagree” people such as Ayn Rand, Lady Gaga and others of the world not attempt to dispel, dismiss Christ, and His Church and go out their way to criticize, laugh and mock Him and His Church?

“In the most Biblical sense,

I am beyond repentance

Fame hooker, prostitute wench, vomits her mind

But in the cultural sense

I just speak in future tense

Judas kiss me if offenced,

Or wear an ear condom next time

I wanna love you,

But something’s pulling me away from you

Jesus is my virtue,

Judas is the demon I cling to

I cling to”

[Chorus]

“I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel

But I’m still in love with Judas, baby

I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel

But I’m still in love with Judas, baby…” Gaga (2011)

A fourth distinguishing fact is that He does not fit, as the other world teachers do, into the established category of a good man.  Good men do not lie.  But if Christ was not all that He said He was, namely, the Son of the living God, the Word Of God in the flesh, then He was not “just a good man”; then He was a knave, a liar, a charlatan and the greatest deceiver who ever lived.  If He was not what He said He was, the Christ, the Son of God, He was the anti-Christ!  If he was only a man, then He was not even a “good” man.

But He was not only a man.  He would have us either worship Him or despise Him-despise Him as a mere man or worship Him as true God and true man.  That is the alternative He presents.  It may very well be that the Communists, who are so anti-Christ, are closer to Him that those who see Him as a sentimentalist and a vague moral reformer.  The Communists, have at least decided that if He wins, they lose; the others are afraid to consider Him either as winning or loosing, because they are not prepared to meet the moral demands which this victory would make on their souls.

If He is what He claimed to be, a Savior, a Redeemer, then we have a virile Christ and a leader worth following in these terrible times; One Who will step into the breach of death, crushing sin, gloom and despair; a leader to Whom we can make totalitarian sacrifice without loosing, but gaining freedom, and Whom we can love even unto death.  We need a Christ today, Who will make cords and drive the buyers and sellers from our new temples; Who will blast the unfruitful fig trees; Who will talk of crosses and sacrifices and Whose voice will be like the voice of the raging sea.  But He will not allow us to pick and choose among His words, discarding the hard ones, and accepting the ones that please our fancy. Sheen, Bishop Fulton J. (1958, p. 6-7)  

It would seem Bishop Sheen’s words from fifty plus years ago asserts and/or reaffirms the words of Christ.  Would it not stand to reason those such as Ayn Rand and Lady Gaga, had/have to hate Christ?  If Christ was simply a crazy man, idiot or Satan himself, why would the world hate and mock Him?  It seems as Bishop Sheen said, “It may very well be that the Communists, who are so anti-Christ, are closer to Him that those who see Him as a sentimentalist and a vague moral reformer.  The Communists, have at least decided that if He wins, they lose; the others are afraid to consider Him either as winning or loosing, because they are not prepared to meet the moral demands which this victory would make on their souls.”  Sheen, Bishop. Fulton J. (1958, p. 7)  

If Christ did not make such high moral demands of the world, the world would not hate Him and simply “Agree to disagree,” perhaps that is too easy…? As Christ said, “If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would not have sin; but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.”  (John 15:24) As doing good and avoiding evil is far from easy or fun.  Would it not seem reasonable to assert, because few people are willing to give up the materialistic, hedonistic life and vainglory of the world to follow those demands find it easier to mock, laugh at and hate Christ?  Is it not easier to have fun, do what it is that makes us feel good, rather than let anyone tell us what we do is wrong, immoral and unethical?  I understand no one in the world, especially in the United States wants or likes anyone to tell them what to do, let alone how to live their lives according to any code of moral ethics.  As people are raised to be independent, do what they want, when and how they want in order to make themselves happy, regardless of any moral demands, no one wants to be told that what they are doing and/or saying is wrong and immoral.  Hence hating and mocking the source of their consternation, sin and guilt. 

I would assert that if something or in this case someone, God was not tugging on the internal “Ought” within the being/soul of Lady Gaga, she would not mock and hate Christ and all that He is and represents to humanity.  Would she not simply “Agree to disagree,” and move on?  Why is it that those that are denying the existence of God, yell for artistic license when it comes to mocking and hating Christ but will not tolerate, when those of us in The Church point out their actions and words are immoral and wrong…?  Perhaps they are neither prepared nor willing to meet the moral demands, which Christ calls us to, instead based upon their own moral compass deny the existence of God, hate and mock Christ.

                                               

                                                          References

(Gaga Lady 2011 Judas - "Judas")Gaga, Lady. (2011). Judas - "Judas" [Music CD]. United States: Interscope Records.

(Holy Bible Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition 1965) (1965) The Holy Bible Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. San Francisco: Ignatius Press.

(Sheen Bishop Fulton J 1958 Life of Christ)Sheen, Bishop, Fulton J. (1958). The Life of Christ. New York: Sheed and Ward.

“Patience is the marrow of obedience.” - Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue

“Do you recall when the devil wanted to frighten you with confusion?  He tried to show you that your life was a delusion and that you had neither followed nor done My will.  But you did what you should have done and what My goodness gave you strength to do-for My goodness is never hidden from anyone who wants to receive it.  By My Mercy and with humility you stood up and said,” ‘I confess to My Creator that My life has been spent wholly in darkness.  But I will hide myself in the wounds of Christ crucified and bathe in his blood, and so My wickedness will be consumed and I will rejoice with desire in My Creator.’  Benincasa, Catherine (of Siena) - The Dialogue (1980, p. 124-125)

At times Catherine was tormented by the doubt that perhaps her visions were the work of the devil, for it is written of him, that he can take on the likeness of an angel.  In her humility, she could not think that she was worthy to receive such special grace from God.  But her Bridegroom understood her doubt, and promised to teach her how she could always differentiate between visions set by Him and the mirages which the enemy of mankind could conjure up. 

“My visions are always accompanied at first by a certain amount of fear, but as they unfold they bring a growing feeling of security.  First comes bitterness, but later comes strength and consolation.  The vision, which comes from the devil, creates at first a feeling of security and sweetness, but they end in terror and bitterness.  My way is the way of penitence.  At first it seems hard and difficult to follow, but the further, you pursue it, the happier and sweeter it appears.  The way of the devil, on the other, is sweet and happy to begin with, but as the soul pursues the way of sin, it goes from bitterness to bitterness and the end is eternal damnation.  And because I am the Truth My visions always lead to a greater knowledge of the Truth, and it is of the greatest necessity that a soul gains knowledge of Me and of itself.  This makes the soul honour Me and despise itself, and that is the Meaning of humility.  Visions which comes from the devil make the soul which he visits’ proud, for he is the father of lies and of pride, and the soul is filled with vanity which is the core of all pride.” Undset, S. - Catherine of Siena (1954, p. 43-44)

The interior life or the soul, that which is given by and only by God at the moment of conception, as created by Our Most Holy Creator, strives and exists in utter and complete darkness the closer one walks with and to, God.  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 5:3)

The deeper or the further a soul walks with Our Most Holy Creator, it can see that it is with those souls such as Catherine of Siena and the like, the soul and/or being strives, lives and exists in utter darkness.  This darkness is not the darkness of depression anxiety, pain or confusion from not understanding the world.  This darkness comes from the light that is given to the humble soul that strives only to abandon itself to the will and desires of Our Most Holy Creator.  The depth of the love and desire that a soul has for its’ Creator is made aware of, only by the grace of its’ Creator.  The soul of the being that is lost in the love and desire to follow is yearning only for God and not of anything of the world.  The closer the soul grows and exists to its’ Creator, the more the darkness overcomes its’ being. 

"And because I am the Truth My visions always lead to a greater knowledge of the Truth, and it is of the greatest necessity that a soul gains knowledge of Me and of itself.  This makes the soul honour Me and despise itself, and that is the Meaning of humility."  Undset, S. - (1954, p. 43)

Based upon the examples of Catherine of Siena, John of The Cross, Padre Pio and Francis of Assisi it is easy to see where a soul can be led by the grace of God.  One can see with simplistic clarity what is from and of, God to that of the world.  It is here that one must fight against the desires of the world and simply accept them as what they are, and focus solely on the will of God and what He asks.  If one is NOT careful, one can and will easily fall into the desires of what the world deems to be right and true versus that of imitating Christ….

“Let every soul rejoice who suffers many troubles, because such is the road that leads to this delightfully glorious state.”  Benincasa, Catherine (of Siena) - The Dialogue (1980, p. 168)

The darkness that the souls embrace is not of the sin-folly of the world.  This darkness is the knowledge of the separation from and of its’ Creator.  As its’ Creator, I have created it as in all things and that soul that seeks only its’ Creator will be found in darkness in the sin-folly of the world.  The soul that despises itself because of the love it has and feels from its’ Creator, drives the soul deeper to seek only its’ Creator. 

The soul that sees with simplistic clarity Me, its’ Creator will strive to avoid sin and turn only to Me regardless of the suffering it is to endure.  Just as it was for My Son from the cross, the deepest darkest love My Son has for all humanity could not nor would not deter My Son from the cross.  It is in this self-hatred or despising of oneself the soul is drawn to Me in a very deep way and abandoned itself to Me and My will.  As its’ Creator to be wholly and willingly stripped of all that is of the world.  These souls, as My daughter Caterina spoke can only turn to My love and vast Mercy and trust only in such.  The stripping of such desires of the world and all of its’ emptiness drive the soul closer to Me hence, it is and was for My Son upon the Cross.  Nothing would or could deter such, as My Son accepted it as it was My will.  The love that is felt by such souls see themselves and accept only My will that they follow.  It is in that darkness that the entire being despises itself, in and of itself, to Me its’ Creator.  This soul sees it can do nothing but sin before My eyes and by My grace do all things.  This grace allows the soul to exist in this darkness without fear or being lost.

This soul knows only what it desires and seeks it yearns and desires only what is, of and from its’ Creator.  The darkened peace that is given to such souls by Me, its’ Creator can only feed upon this knowledge and with complete and total abandonment, find itself in My love.  This love that empowers the soul to follow with complete abandonment to and of its’ own will and desires, turns to what is only found in My infinite love and Mercy.  The complete and total abandonment of itself to Me, allows the soul to rest with patient-endurance without fear of the world.

The soul feels only the love of Me, its’ Creator and in Holy fear as it was spoken to Caterina, seeks to repent of its’ sins and place itself only in My bosom of love.  This soul in complete darkness and self-hatred will now see with simplistic clarity, Me its’ Creator and only then such sweetness.  The holy fear drives the soul to the depths of repentance in order to be given the grace to follow and continue to follow in My love, with peace and strength.  It is only through, with and in Me that the soul can have such graces to do such.  It is only in the darkness and the peace of blind confusion that the soul will simply will to follow in faith.  It is only here in the depths of such utter darkness, confusion and blindness that a soul will taste such sweetness of My vast love.  As a soul falls in holy fear of Me, I will bestow upon it the grace to follow and the strength to despise itself of what and who it is.  The soul along this path has given up all desires of the world’s emptiness.  There is little the world has that this soul finds solace.  The world’s eyes bear no such witness or mark upon this soul. 

The self-hatred has no place found in, of, and with the world.  It is this self-hatred that is given only by My grace and love.  The soul will seek nothing of the world to, in and of itself.  This soul is driven and motivated only by My will, its’ Creator.  Hence, as it was by My Son, no amount of abuse and words given would deter Him from such love.  This complete abandonment to and of himself as seen in, with and through the marks on His body.  The darkness of His peace that was given in the garden allowed such events to take place.  The soul that seeks such, finds solace only in, from and through Me, its’ Creator. It is here that all such souls can find Me. 

It is only in holy fear and repentance that a soul can let go of its’ pride in and of the world.  The grace that is given to such souls by Me will taste in time, this darkness in peace.  The letting go in order to find Me, the souls will with each step become more aware of it own nothingness.  It is here that the soul will begin to see its’ Creator.  All that is given to a soul that seeks such to the depths of this darkness is given by Me, according to My will and not the desires to fulfill the desires of the world.  The world will not nor cannot see such things.  Those souls that grasp in view of the world will not see nor understand the depths of darkness and peace of the self-hatred, despised soul.  The more the soul sees and desires the more the soul is given, by Me its’ Creator.  This soul comes to rest only in the fact that it has accepted it is nothing in My eyes, as but a created creature.  It is here the soul rests in darkness and can only see with simplistic clarity My will and what is, of and from Me.  All that is of and from the world is naught.  As it is given to such souls that desire, such it is here the sweetness of My love is felt and tasted.  Once the taste of such sweetness, there is nothing more the soul desires but only its’ Creator.  It is in this realization with each step into the darkness of My perfect love, the soul grows in holiness, its’ desire to repent and turn to Me.  The darkness that comes from such is given as long as or as short as the soul warrants.  However, the souls that follow in such darkness without fear but with holy fear and holy repentance come to accept this and follow without question.  The depths of such quiet darkness are not known but only by Me, its’ Creator and it is here, I give the soul what is needed in order to follow and do My will.  The soul that follows in blind faith walks in quiet pain and suffering but in sweetness of My love and Mercy.  All that is needed is given and the soul feels at home only with its’ Creator.

All souls seek such depths but few follow because of pride and self-willed desire.  It is this pride and self-willed desire that souls are lost of the world.  Too many souls seek the approval and authority of those of the world and not of and from its’ Creator.  The souls that are of the world will have darkness but not darkness that comes from Me its’ Creator.  That darkness is from the confusion and desires of the world.  As the soul seeks, it shall find.  The darkness of the world should not be confused with the darkness in which a soul finds, in following My will.  No soul that is of the world will find Me, its’ Creator.

                                                   References

(Catherine of Siena 1980 Dialogue)Catherine of Siena (1980). The Dialogue. New York: Paulist Press.

(Undset S 1954 Catherine of Siena)Undset, S. (1954). Catherine of Siena. New York : Sheen and Ward. 

Imitating Christ and following the teachings of His Church on this earth, is not about feelings...

            It seems that in culture and society through history people do and say things based upon what they deem right or wrong based only on feelings.  “If something feels good and makes me happy, I do it and when it no longer feels good or makes me happy, I quit.”  

In looking at this notion in terms of following the teachings and doctrines of the Church, as an example, abortion, artificial birth control, as well as supporting same sex unions blatantly contradict the Church.  While there are many so-called Catholics that take a more subtle stance, living their lives outside the teachings of the Church, while still calling themselves Catholic.  As a popular phrase that has been used at times, “Cafeteria Catholic” to describe those people that pick and choose the doctrines they choose to accept because it somehow fits their lives and happiness, while rejecting the doctrines that contradict their own manufactured beliefs.

“Dissent,” as defined (www.dictionary.com)   

3.) To disagree with or reject the doctrines or authority of an established church

2.) Christianity - to refuse to conform to the doctrines, beliefs, or practices of an established church, and to adhere to a different system of beliefs and practices

Based upon the idea that Christ established His One True Church upon this earth, with, through and on, Peter,  (Mt 16:18-19) 18 "And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven."

It would seem to me that Peter the rock, to which the keys were given, and the first Bishop of Rome (The Pope) has the authority to build His, (Christ’s) Church on this earth.  This one act establishes the handing of the keys to Peter, hence the authority from Christ to Peter, to loose and bind, accordingly; as history has deemed and has been written as such.  Starting with scripture the Church that was given by Christ to Peter, and according to The Catechism of The Catholic Church (CCC), supports and explains scripture and the authority given to Peter.

  

I. MORAL LIFE AND THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE CHURCH

2032 The Church, the "pillar and bulwark of the truth," "has received this solemn command of Christ from the apostles to announce the saving truth."[74] "To the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order, and to make judgments on any human affairs to the extent that they are required by the fundamental rights of the human person or the salvation of souls."

2033 The Magisterium of the Pastors of the Church in moral matters is ordinarily exercised in catechesis and preaching, with the help of the works of theologians and spiritual authors. Thus from generation to generation, under the aegis and vigilance of the pastors, the "deposit" of Christian moral teaching has been handed on, a deposit composed of a characteristic body of rules, commandments, and virtues proceeding from faith in Christ and animated by charity. Alongside the Creed and the Our Father, the basis for this catechesis has traditionally been the Decalogue, which sets out the principles of moral life valid for all men.

2034 The Roman Pontiff and the bishops are "authentic teachers, that is, teachers endowed with the authority of Christ, who preach the faith to the people entrusted to them, the faith to be believed and put into practice." The ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him teach the faithful the truth to believe, the charity to practice, the beatitude to hope for.

2035 The supreme degree of participation in the authority of Christ is ensured by the charism of infallibility. This infallibility extends as far as does the deposit of divine Revelation; it also extends to all those elements of doctrine, including morals, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, explained, or observed.

2036 The authority of the Magisterium extends also to the specific precepts of the natural law, because their observance, demanded by the Creator, is necessary for salvation. In recalling the prescriptions of the natural law, the Magisterium of the Church exercises an essential part of its prophetic office of proclaiming to men what they truly are and reminding them of what they should be before God.

2037 The law of God entrusted to the Church is taught to the faithful as the way of life and truth. The faithful therefore have the right to be instructed in the divine saving precepts that purify judgment and, with grace, heal wounded human reason. They have the duty of observing the constitutions and decrees conveyed by the legitimate authority of the Church. Even if they concern disciplinary matters, these determinations call for docility in charity.

2038 In the work of teaching and applying Christian morality, the Church needs the dedication of pastors, the knowledge of theologians, and the contribution of all Christians and men of good will. Faith and the practice of the Gospel provide each person with an experience of life "in Christ," who enlightens him and makes him able to evaluate the divine and human realities according to the Spirit of God. Thus, the Holy Spirit can use the humblest to enlighten the learned and those in the highest positions.

2039 Ministries should be exercised in a spirit of fraternal service and dedication to the Church, in the name of the Lord. At the same time, the conscience of each person should avoid confining itself to individualistic considerations in its moral judgments of the person's own acts. As far as possible conscience should take account of the good of all, as expressed in the moral law, natural and revealed, and consequently in the law of the Church and in the authoritative teaching of the Magisterium on moral questions. Personal conscience and reason should not be set in opposition to the moral law or the Magisterium of the Church.

2040 Thus a true filial spirit toward the Church can develop among Christians. It is the normal flowering of the baptismal grace, which has begotten us in the womb of the Church and made us members of the Body of Christ. In her motherly care, the Church grants us the mercy of God, which prevails over all our sins and is especially at work in the sacrament of reconciliation. With a mother's foresight, she also lavishes on us day after day in her liturgy the nourishment of the Word and Eucharist of the Lord.

As is it given by and from Christ to Peter the keys and such authority to build His Church, would it not stand to reason that nothing outside the parameters, doctrines and teachings of His Church, would be of/in Christ?  If Christ gave authority to Peter directly and Peter handed down that authority from Christ, through history to his successors, would it not make sense that such authority from the Church is the authority of Christ?  As from Christ, to Peter it is the authority given to the Church from Christ for such doctrines to be adhered to, in order to gain eternal salvation.

(Mt 7:22-25) 22 Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. 24 Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock.

Furthermore, would it not stand to reason that if a person picks and chooses what doctrines and teachings of the Church to accept and follow based upon their own self-willed desires, fall outside of the teachings handed down by Christ to Peter?  It would not make neither logical nor practical sense, if Christ gave Peter the keys and the authority to bind and loosen, while at the same time, allow individuals, based upon their own feelings and interpretations to determine what is right and wrong.

(2 Ptr 1:20) "Understanding this first that no prophecy of scripture is made by private interpretation."

(Gal 1:8-10) 8 "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach a gospel to you besides that which we have preached to you, let him be anathema. 9 As we said before, so now I say again: If any one preach to you a gospel, besides that which you have received, let him be anathema. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ."

The Catechism of The Catholic Church outlines as well, the idea of private revelation.   The idea that leads people to think and/or feel that some how when a person experiences what the church refers to as “Mystical Phenomenon” somehow falls outside or above the authority and parameters of the Church that what Christ gave to Peter with and through the keys.

THE PROFESSION OF FAITH - SECTION ONE

67 Throughout the ages, there have been so-called "private" revelations, some of which have been recognized by the authority of the Church. They do not belong, however, to the deposit of faith. It is not their role to improve or complete Christ's definitive Revelation, but to help live more fully by it in a certain period of history. Guided by the Magisterium of the Church, the sensus fidelium knows how to discern and welcome in these revelations whatever constitutes an authentic call of Christ or his saints to the Church.

Christian faith cannot accept "revelations" that claim to surpass or correct the Revelation of which Christ is the fulfillment, as is the case in certain non-Christian religions and also in certain recent sects which base themselves on such "revelations".

  

“We must put aside all judgment of our own, and keep the mind ever ready and prompt to obey in all things the true Spouse of Christ our Lord, our holy Mother, the hierarchical Church.”      --Saint Ignatius of Loyola

“Obedience unites us so closely to God that in a way transforms us into Him, so that we have no other will but His. If obedience is lacking, even prayer cannot be pleasing to God.”     – St. Thomas Aquinas

“He who is his own master is a scholar under a fool.”   –-St. Bernard

”He who follows his own ideas in opposition to the direction of his superiors needs no devil to tempt him, for he is a devil to himself.”    --Saint John Climacus

 Those people that the Church, of which Christ gave full authority to Peter, are deemed “Saints,” souls of which can be attributed miracles to and/or through, state themselves even though their lives were in some ways directly touched and/or guided by God, deemed obedience as they way in which a soul is to follow Christ.  It is not about feelings or personal revelations, thoughts or ecstasies, but rather simply choosing to submit ones wills, actions and words to the full authority of the Church and nothing more.  In the cases of blatant contradiction to the Church, abortion, artificial birth control and same sex unions, one can easily see people that use happiness and feelings as the benchmark to live their lives.  There are people as well, “Cafeteria Catholics” that pick and choose what doctrines to follow that call themselves “Catholic,” they also need to understand, following Christ is not about feelings and what makes them happy.

“God helps those who help themselves…”

Growing up in a Catholic home, this one phrase was used often, while at the time, I had no clue what it meant or where it came from.  What does it mean, and where is it in scripture?  It left me shaking my head, trying to wrap my brain around this.  It was not until the past seven years, I found that not only is it not scripture based, it was first attributed to an English Protestant, Algernon Sidney (January 1623 – December 1683).  He came up with the phrase in his, “Discourses Concerning Government.”  Later Benjamin Franklin was quoted (Poor Richards Almanac 1757) as saying it and some attribute the phrase to him.  Benjamin Franklin was a Deist as opposed to Algernon Sidney.  Benjamin Franklin did not attribute God to being involved in the day-to-day existence of the world, hence he did not believe in the Virgin Birth nor in any miracles accounted in scriptures. 

As the United States of America was founded on Protestant Doctrine and not Catholic, it is easy to see how and why mainstream America would pick up the phrase and use it.  As Protestants do not accept, nor like the idea of suffering- believing in “Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide.” (one is saved by scripture and faith alone).  Protestants do not accept the idea of poverty and suffering for and with Christ; as if we are all called to be happy and have a warm fuzzy feeling from the inside out, as we follow Christ.  Further, they believe that the journey with God is meant to be fun and make us happy, as Christ suffered and died once-and-for-all, so we do not have to nor should we.  As the phrase, “God helps those that help themselves,” God wants all of us to be happy, joyful all the time and God will help us obtain happiness, and to have and want such a life.  We should not suffer or experience the pain and anguish of life in a fallen world.  Therefore, when we are happy, do what makes us happy, and feel good, God is helping us obtain that happiness.  Hence, we are to help ourselves obtain what God deems we should have- according to our own feelings, thoughts and actions, which drives us to be happy.    

As a devout Catholic with a mixture of Franciscan and Carmelite spirituality; spending some years discerning the priesthood, I came across scipture passages that would seem contrary.  In addition, examples of lives of various people throughout the history of the Church (deemed saints), whom God led, guiding, completely and directly in their lives.  While, it is not necessary for one to accept and follow any private revelation of saints in order to remain in the parameters of the Church, it is by the manifestation of the fruits of such lives that one is able to see the hand of God in such people, and by their examples can lead or point us to Christ.

On the issue of Eternal Salvation, there are a few examples of scripture that would seem to oppose the idea of the phrase, “God helps those whom help themselves.”  Which I assert, as we are created in the image and likeness of God, created by Him and for a specific purpose, to do His will.  If we accept that, He created us and through/with/in Him, we can obtain Eternal Salvation as our end goal.  We must and should always strive to obtain that end goal, doing His will on this earth.

(Isaiah 25:4) ⁴ For you have been a refuge for the weak, a refuge for the needy in distress, a shelter from the storm, shade from the heat; for the breath of the pitiless is like a winter storm.

 (Isaiah 64:6) ⁶ There is no one to invoke your name, to rouse himself to hold fast to you, for you have hidden your face from us and given us up to the power of our misdeeds.

(Rom 5:6) ⁶ When we were still helpless, at the appointed time, Christ died for the godless.

(Rom 3:23) ²³ No distinction is made: all have sinned and lack God's glory,

(Rom 6:23) ²³ For the wage paid by sin is death; the gift freely given by God is eternal life in Chris t Jesus our Lord.

(Rom 5:8) ⁸ So it is proof of God's own love for us, that Christ died for us while we were still sinners

(II Cor 5:21) ²¹ so that as sin's reign brought death, so grace was to rule through saving justice that leads to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

(Matt 19:24-26) ²⁴ Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven.'   ²⁵ When the disciples heard this they were astonished. 'Who can be saved, then?' they said.  ²⁶ Jesus gazed at them. 'By human resources', he told them, 'this is impossible; for God everything is possible.' 

One can assert from the phrase, “God helps those who help themselves,” is to state that we must take action on a daily basis on the specific path in our daily lives.  While at the same time, looking at the book of Exodus it would seem God does provide in literal ways.

(Ex 16:12-15) ¹² 'I have heard the Israelites' complaints. Speak to them as follows, "At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have bread to your heart's content, and then you will know that I am Yahweh your God." ' ¹³ That evening, quails flew in and covered the camp, and next morning there was a layer of dew all round the camp. ¹⁴ When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the desert was something fine and granular, as fine as hoarfrost on the ground.  ¹⁵ As soon as the Israelites saw this, they said to one another, 'What is that?' not knowing what it was. 'That', Moses told them, 'is the food which Yahweh has given you to eat.

Furthermore, are examples of the writings of saints that led lives, which one can clearly see them as lights pointing us to Christ.

St. Faustina Kowalska,

“The Diary of Saint Maira Faustina Kowalska.”

  

#295

At that moment Jesus asked me, My child, how is your retreat gong?  I answered, “But Jesus You know how it is going.”  Yes, I know, but I want to hear it from your own lips and from your heart.  “O my Master, when You are leading me, everything goes smoothly, and I ask You, Lord, to never leave my side.”  And Jesus, Yes, I will be with you always, if you always remain a little child and fear nothing.  As I was your beginning here, so I will also be your end.  Do not rely on creatures, even in the smallest things, because this displeases Me.  I want to be alone in your soul.  I will give light and strength to your soul, and you will learn from My representative (priests) that I am in you, and your uncertainty will vanish like mist before the rays of the sun.

 #622

When I entered the chapel for a moment that same evening, to thank God for all the graces He had bestowed upon me in this house, suddenly God’s presence enveloped me.  I felt like a child in the hands of the best of fathers, and I heard these words: Do not fear anything.  I am always with you.  His love penetrated my whole being.  I felt I was entering into such close intimacy with Him that I cannot find words to express it.

#718

After Holy Communion, I heard these words: - You see what you are of yourself, but do not be frightened at this.  If I were to reveal to you the whole misery that you are, you would die of terror.  However, be aware of what you are.  Because you are such great misery, I have revealed to you the whole ocean of My mercy.  I seek and desire souls like yours, but they are few.  Your great trust in Me forces Me to continuously grant you graces.  You have great and incomprehensible rights over my heart, for you are a daughter of complete trust.  You would not have been able to bear the magnitude of the love, which I have, for you if I had revealed it to you fully here on earth.  I often give you a glimpse of it, but know that this is only and exceptional grace from Me.  My love and mercy know no bounds.

#732

Today, I heard these words: The graces I grant you are not for you alone, but for a great number of other souls as well…And your heart is My constant dwelling place, despite the misery that you are.  I united Myself with you, to take away your misery and give you My mercy.  I perform works of mercy in every soul.  The greater the sinner, the greater the right he has to My mercy.  My mercy is confirmed in every world of My hands.  He who trusts in My mercy will not perish, for all his affairs are Mine, and his enemies will be shattered at the base of My footstool.

St. Catherine of Siena (Doctor of The Church)

“The Dialogue – The Treatise of Divine Providence.”

“Open the eye of your intellect, and gaze into Me, and you shall see the beauty of My rational creature. And look at those creatures who, among the beauties which I have given to the soul, creating her in My image and similitude, are clothed with the nuptial garment (that is, the garment of love), adorned with many virtues, by which they are united with Me through love. And yet I tell you, if you should ask Me, who these are, I should reply” (said the sweet and amorous Word of God) “they are another Myself, inasmuch as they have lost and denied their own will, and are clothed with Mine, are united to Mine, are conformed to Mine.” It is therefore true, indeed, that the soul unites herself with God by the affection of love.

St. Catherine of Siena and St. Faustina both had to take the necessary actions (daily mass and receiving the sacraments) in order to see and find God and His will more clearly.  However, in both instances God revealed Himself to them in order to show them, what was asked of them.  They simply followed as He led them, through/in/with prayer, and the sacraments in and of the Church.  Clearly, we are not called to sleep 24/7 and do nothing when we have a husband/wife and children.  We cannot simply quit a marriage because it is not something we do not want at that moment in our lives.  We all have the obligation to walk the path in life to which we have chosen or that God calls us to walk.  As we are called to do God’s will and follow such, we have to take the necessary actions and/or steps to do such.  We must first seek God’s will and then allow Him to lead and guide us, graced with the freewill to do so.  By doing such we should strive to give ourselves completely to God; in body, mind, and soul- without fear, anxiety, or confusion, and not by striving to help ourselves to what makes us happy, in and of ourselves.  Perhaps a better phrase, "There is a time to pray and a time to act, when it is time to pray it is not time to act, and when it is time to act, it is not time to pray.”

A leap of faith?

In a conversation some time ago with a self-proclaimed, intelligent, atheist, who worked in the field of science, somewhere in Europe, as most, if not all conversations with atheists after finding out I am a devout Roman Catholic, turn to the issue of not being able to prove, scientifically that God exists, and how can anyone believe in something or someone that cannot proven scientifically to exist?


The assertion was made, not only that God did not exist but also love and emotions do not exist.  Emotions are nothing more than man made ideas, in order for us to cope with our existence. If one asserts, God and emotions do not exist, simply because they cannot be scientifically proven, how can we prove things exist based only on the scientific method? It is impossible to prove scientifically that time and history exists, as well as proving science itself exists. We can look at pictures, illustrations and read stories of events that took place throughout history, but we cannot assert to know exactly what took place beyond all doubt, hence prove such existence. We must rely upon what we deem to be reasonable assertions based upon recorded historical events, which do and can, lay claim to our intellect that such events can, did or could have actually taken place or exist and have existed.

As was posed to me to me, “So if I told you there was a copy of a DVD movie, orbiting around a planet in the Milky Way Galaxy, you would believe it?” To which I responded, “If you can lay claim to my intellect with some reasonable degree of certainty based upon recorded historical documentation that such did exist, I would have to be open to accepting such existing, in some way, shape or form. However, without any such evidence that assertion is absurd.”

Is it not generally, safely assumed and accepted, the Battle of Gettysburg took place during the American Civil War?  Is there not enough historical documentation to lay claim to our intellect that such an event took place? We can assert to some degree of certainty, which allows to lay claim to our intellect what took place in the Coliseum in the city of Rome actually happened.  Without seeing it first hand, let alone by scientifically proving what took place actually happened, is it not generally accepted as truth?  Is it not based upon recorded history what took place in the Coliseum we allow to lay claim to our intellect?

I assert that as atheists by choice overlook with self-proclaimed intelligence that the belief in God and Christ as utter non-sense, the historical recorded evidence that such existence of God can lay claim to some degree, on our intellect.  Do atheists universally choose to believe, against the historical documentation and evidence, God and Christ could not, nor does not exist without scientific proof take “a leap of faith?” Do atheists, not accept and hold beliefs of their own, things and events which cannot be scientifically proven, to exist and/or have existed or will exist? As a good friend of mine, a Devout Catholic, now in a religious order, once said to me, regarding the time in her life when she was having serious questions about God, “I once thought about becoming an atheist, but I do not have enough faith for that.”

The question I did not pose during my conversation with this person from Europe…, "If emotions such as love, anger and sadness are all man made concepts that we use to cope with our existence, where did such concepts and ideas come from?" How can a three-week-old infant come up with the concept of crying out of anger or frustration, because he or she wants to be fed? How does such an infant know what hunger or frustration is and in turn cry because he/she wants to be fed?  How can an infant come up with such ideas, as emotions let alone express these emotions based upon, "made up ideas?"

It would seem to me to be safer philosophically and scientifically for that matter, for atheists to stop the mental disconnects, jumping through hoops and word games, in order to justify their self-indulgent, lifestyles and self-proclaimed intellect.  Would it not be easier for atheists to state, they do not know or care whether God exists and simply choose to live such lives? However, if they did that would mean they would have to give up all claims to superior intellect, the pride and arrogance and accept and acknowledge that science is not, and cannot be, the end-all-be-all, benchmark of all that has existed, exists, and will exist.

As I accept and respect the vast fields of and in the science profession and for what it is, the means to which to measure, understand and explain the matter that exists in the material world, while understanding science cannot explain those things that exists outside of such.