12/30/2014
Did You Know?

A few Catholic facts and Scripture references:

“Father”

A Catholic priest is considered a “spiritual father” and the Church instructs its members to address him as “father.”

And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Matthew 23:9

Repetition

Prayer beads are used by a number of denominations, including Catholic and Muslim, to count how many times they say a certain prayer.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Matthew 6:7

Hail Mary

Prayer beads are often used to record the number of times the “Hail Mary” is recited.

Mary full of grace,

the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women,

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,

for thou hast borne Christ the Saviour,

the Deliverer of our souls.

It asks for the intercession of the Virgin Mary, which leads us to the next topic.

Mediator

By the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Vatican Council 1962-1965, Mary is called the Mediatrix, among other names.

Taken up to heaven she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation. ... Therefore the Blessed Virgin is invoked in the Church under the titles of Advocate, Helper, Benefactress, and Mediatrix" (Lumen gentium, 62).

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

I Timothy 2:5


And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;

For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Matthew 26:27-28

Some Catholic churches do not offer the wine to the parishioners during the Communion service. The wafer is given to the people and the priest drinks the wine. Or oftentimes the people are given the option of taking wine with the wafer, teaching that it is not necessary to have both. 


Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

Ephesians 1:1

(and many other Scriptures that call the living believers, saints.)

Catholic doctrine states that saints cannot be living.


Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

I Timothy 4:1-3

There’s a lot to these Scriptures. First of all, many Catholics forbid eating meat on Friday, which is why you see signs around town saying, "Fish Fry Friday." Further, Catholics forbid priests from marrying. This is in stark contrast to I Timothy 3. 


This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.

A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;

(For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

I Timothy 3:1-5