Mommy Life: All Saints Day

« Why God made moms - kids' answers | Main | Getting Into You by Relient K »

November 1, 2009 9:55 AM

All Saints Day

Found this at YouTube - not perfect, but it will give you food for thought for today. Helps me remember to always be willing to give my life for Christ.

Note to nonCatholics: We do not worship the saints, but they are role models and reminders - as well as part of the biblical "communion of saints" who can intercede for us just as our brothers and sisters still living on earth:

Love,

Posted in Catholicism | Permalink

Comments

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus". 1 Ti 2:5

[Then why do we ask our friends and family to pray for us, Deane? For Catholics - who believe the communion of saints includes both those believers on earth and those who've gone before us to heaven - asking the saints to pray for us is the same as sending out a prayer request in your church email or bulletin.]

Posted by: Deane | November 1, 2009 1:44 PM

For a beautiful essay on the saints, go visit the Anchoress blog at http://www.firstthings.com/blogs/theanchoress/2009/10/31/who-needs-the-saints-2/
She has one of the best explainations of the saints I have seen.

Posted by: melissa | November 1, 2009 5:13 PM

Really, Deane. Do you think we haven't heard that before, that we do not know the Bible, that we do not believe that Jesus is the mediator between God and man? And if you do believe those things of us, then you are either misinformed or haven't bothered to inform yourself at all. In either case, I highly suggest getting yourself some credible information about the Catholic Church. The Catechism would be a good place to start; pick up a copy at the bookstore or your library. If you have sincere questions about our faith, Barbara and many of her readers would be happy to answer them, but the minimalist nature of your comment suggests you don't want to have any real dialogue. Am I wrong? (I ask this in sincerity.)

Posted by: Marisa | November 1, 2009 5:23 PM

My grandfather would always crack me up with his comment of "With the Church being 2000 years old, you'd think the detractors would come up with better arguments instead of the same stuff over and over again."

Good video. Who did the song? (my type of genre- could see myself blasting it loudly when I needed a pick me up)

[Song by Casting Crowns.]

Posted by: Dirtdartwife | November 1, 2009 6:47 PM

Posted by: Marisa | November 1, 2009 6:59 PM

Speaking from a non-Catholic point of view--I think that we non-Catholics just don't understand all of the details that Catholics follow--it's not that we are disgusted with "you" but more that we just don't know where to get information.

Barbara has helped me immensely not to be so "scared" of Catholics and to respect the differences. :) So, please be patient with us--we're just trying to figure it all out. :) ~B

Posted by: B | November 1, 2009 11:09 PM

I WAS RAISED IN THE LUTHERAN CHURCH AND EVEN ATTENDED A LUTHERAN BIBLE SCHOOL. AS I HAVE AGED IN MY JOURNEY OF FAITH, I HAVE COME TO THINK OF "SAINTS" AS THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE ME, WALKING THE PATH THAT JESUS HAD LAYED OUT FOR THEM TO FOLLOW AND HAVE GIVEN OF THEMSELVES TO TELL THE STORY OF JESUS. I HEARD A SERMON ON PRAYER TODAY AND BASICALLY WHAT IT SAID WAS THAT MANY PEOPLE OVER THE YEARS HAVE PRAYED [MAKING IT PERSONAL] FOR ME AND THOSE PRAYERS STILL RESOUND IN HEAVEN. THE "SAINT" I KNOW THE BEST IS MY SWEET MOMMA WHO WENT HOME TO BE WITH JESUS IN 1997. SHE GAVE ME THE BEST GIFT A MOTHER COULD GIVE BESIDES LIFE AND IT WAS, WHAT IT MEANS TO KNOW AND LOVE JESUS. THERE ARE SAINTS IN OUR LIVES NOW AND THOSE WHO HAVE GONE BEFORE US. MY MOTHERS PRAYERS ARE STILL BEING HEARD IN HEAVEN FOR ME....THERE IS A CONTEMPORY CHRISTIAN SONG CALLED "THANK YOU FOR GIVING TO THE LORD" THIS SONG IS ABOUT ANYONE WHO GIVES OF THEMSELVES TO SHARE THE GOSPEL. FROM THOSE CLOSE AT HOME TO TEACHERS, PREACHERS AND FRIENDS. THE PATH TO JESUS HAS BEEN WALKED BY SOME FABULIOUS PEOPLE DOWN THROUGH THE AGES....PRAISE GOD FOR THESE FOLKS WHO HEARD THE CALL OF JESUS TO TELL HIS STORY...THERE IS MUCH MORE I COULD SAY..BUT TODAY I THANK GOD ESPECIALLY FOR MY MOTHER WHO GAVE ME JESUS.........REBECCA WOLD

Posted by: Rebecca Wold | November 2, 2009 1:09 AM

I'm almost hesitant to comment because I know on a web-site it's hard to read a person's tone. :) Please know that my comment is typed without a defensive posture...

I've not done a ton of Biblical research on either "side" on the issue of praying to saints, but one of my observations/questions regarding Barbara's comment on asking friends here or those who have gone before us to pray for us is this:

Is it a Biblical view point to assume that those in heaven can hear and respond to everyone who is asking for their prayers? It is my understanding that we do not become omnipresent when we arrive in heaven- we are still created beings, not God. So while I think that it is Biblical to believe that God does allow those in heaven to see events on earth and intercede, I don't know that they are almost God like in their ability to hear, process and intercede for hundreds or thousands of people at any given moment. I'd appreciate any Biblical evidence that might support that and certainly am open to a better understanding of that theology.

Asking a friend that is currently on earth and can surely hear and intercede seems different to me than assuming that those in heaven (besides God the Father, Son, and Spirit of course) can hear my particular prayer.

[Dear Louise, our priest spoke yesterday of Protestants' refusal to accept traditional Christian beliefs which were handed down through tradition from the early church. To those who say "if it's not in the Bible, I don't believe it," his question/answer is "What about the Trinity?"

Though we believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, Catholics do not believe that our only source of faith is the Bible. We believe in the apostolic succession as instituted by Jesus Himself, and we believe in the traditons of the early church, which was composed of those who knew Jesus.

Think about it. During the beginning of Christianity, there was no written word as we know it now. And for centuries, people couldn't read the word of God but were dependent on what was passed down through tradition. Do you think that suddenly with Martin Luther the true church began? I know I used to, but once I thought seriously about it I laughed at myself for thinking such a preposterous idea could be true - that God would allow his people to walk in darkness until the 15th century.

All I can say to critics of Catholicism and Catholic teaching is this: stop listening to the opinions and formulations and prejudice of your protestant/evangelical pastors and go to the source materials themselves. Read the early church fathers. Judge for yourself. While my own experience brought me back to the Catholic Church in obedience to a nudge by God, my husband was convinced through his own study - which has been the case with many, many formerly protestant seminarians whose studies led them to the conclusion that they were headed in the wrong direction unless they joined the church which is indeed directly descended from the early church.

I don't usually proselytize, but you asked. For anyone curious about my personal journey from 20 years of evangelicalism into becoming a grateful Catholic, scroll to the bottom of my category Catholicism and read up.]

Posted by: Louise | November 2, 2009 11:57 AM

I tried to post once today, and my computer started acting funny, so I am reposting. I do hope I do not end up double-posting, like I apparently did above. That was some kind of accident; I was not trying to swamp the comments. Sorry. :)

Anyway, B, I have all the patience in the world for those who are sincerely "trying to figure it all out." In fact, my husband was once such a person, back when we were dating. (And, no, contrary to what some think, I did not "make" him become Catholic; he did that on his own :) But I was willing to date and potentially marry a Protestant, so I have nothing against them as a group. However, a lot of Protestants ARE "disgusted" (as you say) with us.(Yes, some Catholics feel that way about Protestants, and that is wrong, too.) These Protestants' only sources of information have been anti-Catholic pastors, authors, Bible-study leaders, friends, etc. Even if they truly cannot figure out where to get better information, it would be nice if these folks would at least be willing to consider that perhaps their sources are biased or in error, but many are not willing to consider that possibility. These folks usually are not interrested in real dialogue; they have already made up their minds and don't want to be confused by the facts.
I think so much misunderstanding could be cleared up by earnest inquiry, sincere questions, and thoughtful answers. I love Louise's comment/question and Barbara's answer above. Would that all non-Catholic/Catholic conversations flowed that way.

Posted by: Marisa | November 2, 2009 8:40 PM

Barbara- Thanks for taking time to respond to my comment. I know you are so busy and I appreciate your time.

I totally agree that there is so much to learn from and emulate from church history and that there are "extra Biblical" practices that are edifying to both individuals and the Body. I guess that I feel strongly that when things aren't specifically mentioned in the Bible that the theological implications of them should be supported by Biblical evidence (or at least not contradicted.) Which is why I asked the question above- I just was wondering about the theological support for the idea I mentioned on our heavenly bodies. I'm confident that the Catholic church has a historical and Biblical reason for that belief and I would like to understand it, even if I happen to "land" in a different spot on the issue.

Since I don't desire to hijack your time or make you write a dissertation of your own view point on your own blog, I would appreciate it if you could recommend a resource that you feel does a good job of outlining the Catholic position on this matter. Then I can add it to the pile of books next to my bed. (I'm guessing most mom's with little ones have such a pile!)

Thanks!

Posted by: Louise | November 3, 2009 2:19 AM