#bishopBarron

[verwalter-des-umhangs]

Online Book Stores! Hardcover ISBN: 9781728373010, Softcover ISBN: 9781728373003, eBook ISBN: 9781728372990 Buy Now! Online Book Retailers!

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[yourcatholicmuse]

The Butterfly

From a young age I have always loved butterflies. I think they are so beautiful and I am nostalgic for them in the midst of the winter. I admire the life cycle of a butterfly from fat caterpillar to the cocoon to the emergence of wings. I so love Jesus but sometimes the difference between Him and me is so staggering that I can’t believe He loves me as fully and perfectly as He does. There’s a…

[bldgrelationshipwgod]

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us - Bishop Barron https://www.youtube.com/@BishopBarron https://youtu.be/T0YV1YqaUEw

[eli-kittim]

Should Our Prayers Be Offered to Jesus or to the Saints?

By Author Eli Kittim

The Communion of Saints

Intercession of the saints plays a crucial role in the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox churches. This practice is derived from the Catholic creed of the Communion of saints. The said doctrine holds that dead saints pass instantly into the divine presence and therefore have a sort of fiduciary power in helping others to procure favors and blessings. This is not unlike Shinto, a Japanese religion that incorporates the worship of ancestors. In fact, the Christian patron saints that act as intermediaries between God and humans, interceding for trade, agriculture, health, and so on, are reminiscent of the Greek pantheon of demigods (The Twelve Olympians) in which each deity was responsible for a particular aspect of life. In this sense, the church adopted a form of pagan polytheism. The specific dedications and remembrances of saints in the Catholic, and especially in the Orthodox, churches have been highly developed to such an extent that the entire liturgical year is devoted to and structured around the so-called calendar of saints, in which each day pays homage to a particular saint(s) (i.e. feast day). Not to mention the ancient preoccupation with saints' relics and the lucrative pilgrimages that have been designed for such worship.

Do the Saints in Heaven Pray for the People on Earth?

Much to our dismay, saints in heaven don’t pray on behalf of earthlings. Rather, these martyrs pray for God to avenge their blood (Rev. 6.9-10 NRSV):

When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under

the altar the souls of those who had been

slaughtered for the word of God and for the

testimony they had given; they cried out

with a loud voice, ‘Sovereign

Lord, holy and true, how long will it be

before you judge and avenge our blood on

the inhabitants of the earth?’

Similarly, “the prayers of the saints” in Rev. 5.8-10 are solely directed to Jesus, praising him for his extraordinary feats. They’re not about helping John Doe, back on earth, with his financial woes, or Jane Doe with her marital breakdown. Rev. 5.8-10 reads:

When he had taken the scroll, the four living

creatures and the twenty-four elders fell

before the Lamb, each holding a harp and

golden bowls full of incense, which are the

prayers of the saints. They sing a new song:

‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to

open its seals, for you were slaughtered and

by your blood you ransomed for God saints

from every tribe and language and people

and nation; you have made them to be a

kingdom and priests serving our God, and

they will reign on earth.’

Incidentally, the so-called “saints” in Rev. 5.8 are not an elite, hierarchical class of people worthy of worship. That’s a misnomer. On the contrary, all who are *born-again* in Christ are called “saints” (cf. Rom. 1.7). Remember, not even angels are allowed to be worshipped in God’s kingdom (see Rev. 19.10), let alone departed spirits.

Is Praying to Saints Biblical?

Over against the intercessory prayer of saints is Deut. 18.11 which explicitly forbids those who consult the dead (cf. Isa. 8.19). That’s precisely why, in the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31), the rich man’s intercessory-prayer request is denied!

Sometimes Catholic and Orthodox writers will point to Old Testament accounts in which patriarchs or prophets enlisted the help of an angel (e.g. Gen. 48.16; Zech. 1.8-11). But they fail to mention that the said angel is typically associated with the angel of the Lord, which is traditionally viewed by Christian commentators as the Pre-Incarnate Son (cf. Gen. 16.7; Exod. 33.14; Jer. 1.4). Furthermore, conversing with an angel is not the same as praying to an angel. Yet in defense of intercessory prayer of heavenly beings, Catholic writers often point to the Annunciation as a case in point. But again, Mary’s conversation with Gabriel does not involve an intercessory prayer request, nor an act of prostration or worship.

The Catholic commentariat has also presented several examples from the New Testament to make their point. For instance, they cite Rev. 8.3, namely, the prayers of the saints that rise up before God. However, the context of this eschatological verse is God’s wrath that is poured out upon the earth, not an answer to our prayers (Rev. 8.3-5):

Another angel with a golden censer came

and stood at the altar; he was given a great

quantity of incense to offer with the prayers

of all the saints on the golden altar that is

before the throne. And the smoke of the

incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose

before God from the hand of the angel.

Then the angel took the censer and filled it

with fire from the altar and threw it on the

earth; and there were peals of thunder,

rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an

earthquake.

Human Intercession versus Intercession of saints

The fact that there is a body of Christ (“a cloud of witnesses” Heb. 12.1) is not an invitation or a request to worship them. Catholic scholars have confused the issue even further. They cite various instances in the New Testament in which Paul commands Christians to pray for him (e.g. 2 Cor. 1.11). Or they’ll cite the example of Timothy who commands Christians to pray for one another (1 Tim. 2.1). However, praying “FOR” someone and praying “TO” someone are two completely different things. To pray “for” (or on behalf of) a living person is one thing. To pray “to” a dead person is quite another. In the first case, you’re simply praying *for* the living (human intercession) and asking God to help them in their time of need. However, praying *to* a deceased saint for help is a different matter altogether. Now, you are praying not to God but *to* a dead saint (Intercession of Saints) to help a living human being. As a result, the saints have gained so much power that they have become intercessors between heaven and earth. It’s true that Paul and Timothy instructed Christians to pray for the betterment of others. But that’s not the same as praying to dead saints for help, grace, and blessings.

Although Protestant denominations accept human intercessory prayer for the living (cf. Rom. 15.30), they deny the intercession of the dead on behalf of the living. Similarly, Reformed theologians acknowledge that the “communion of saints" comprise all who are in Christ, including the departed. Nevertheless, in their view, invocations of the departed spirits of saints constitute a transgression of the First Commandment (see Deut. 5.7): “You shall have no other gods before me.”

On the Importance of Developing a Personal Relationship with Christ

The Catholic and Orthodox mindset is that God is not in competition with his creation (Robert Barron), and that although Christ is humanity’s mediator via the cross (1 Tim. 2.5), he’s not necessarily accessible as our 24-7 prayer advocate on a minute-by-minute basis. He has partners and associates that work under him, much like a high-end law firm in New York. But the so-called “managing partner” (i.e. Law firm CEO) at the top is usually inaccessible. Hence the need for the intercessory prayers. They argue that turning to the saints for help is not in competition with Jesus Christ since God has many partners and friends and is the ultimate source of all living things.

But this represents a distortion of Biblical revelation. The multiple attestations of the New Testament are all about Jesus. They feature Jesus as the leading figure, who is the hero of the story, and without whom we cannot be saved. It is the story of the creator who enters creation. He is the one “through whom he [God] also created the worlds” (Heb. 1.2). John’s gospel attests of his divinity: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (1.1). Paul declares: “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col. 2.9). And without the shedding of his blood there can be no New Testament, much less a church (cf. Heb. 9.17, 22). Phil. 2.10-11 concludes:

so that at the name of Jesus every knee

should bend, in heaven and on earth and

under the earth, and every tongue should

confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the

glory of God the Father.

In Mt. 28.18, the Matthean Jesus exclaims:

All authority in heaven and on

earth has been given to me.

In Rev 1.8, Jesus is equated with God Almighty:

‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’

says the Lord God, who is and

who was and who is to come,

the Almighty.

In Isaiah chapter 42 verse 8, God says:

I am the Lord, that is my name; my glory I

give to no other, nor my praise to idols.

With Jesus’ extraordinary credentials and qualifications, why should we consult the spirits of dead men? The point is that Jesus is everything to regenerated Christians. He’s constantly on their mind. Born-again Christians are madly in love because of what Jesus has done for them, namely, he has made them *fully alive,* while their cup is running over with love, peace of mind, and perpetual bliss! Hence, there’s a fire of love for Jesus that burns inside every born-again-Christian’s heart. So, your focus should not be diluted on secondary figures and causes. Rather, your attention must be concentrated on Christ alone, if you are to “be transformed by the renewing of your minds” (Rom. 12.2). That’s because there is only *one* mediator (not two or three) between God and humanity——“the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2.5). Therefore, when religion tries to seduce you into chasing after idols, you must run the other way.

Is the Intercession of the Saints Blasphemy?

Dr. Edward Sri——theologian, author, and prominent Catholic speaker who appears regularly on EWTN——wrote a paper entitled, “What Does the Bible Say about Praying to Saints?” The article concludes as follows:

How to Grow in Fellowship with the Saints 

1. Pick a few saints that you want to get to know. 

2. Read their writings and learn about their lives. Fill your mind with their stories and their example. 

3. Talk to those saints, every day. Share your weaknesses with them and ask them to walk with you in your difficult times. Don’t just ask them to pray for you…invite them to be with you in every part of your life.

This borders on blasphemy. The point of Sri’s exhortation is that instead of developing a personal relationship with Jesus, we are encouraged to develop an intimate relationship with a beloved saint of our choosing. In other words, the aforesaid article is strongly urging people to devote themselves to someone other than Christ (in fact, a departed spirit) and to focus all their energies on the said saint. It is a clever, if not demonic, deception to remove our focus away from Christ under cloak of religion (2 Cor. 11.14):

And no wonder! Even Satan disguises

himself as an angel of light.

——-

[huffle200]

[wakingeve]

The massive rose windows of the medieval Gothic cathedrals were not only marvels of engineering and artistry; they were also symbols of the well-ordered soul. The pilgrim coming to the cathedral for spiritual enlightenment would be encouraged to meditate upon the rose of light and color in order to be drawn into mystical conformity with it. . . What would he or she see? At the center of every rose window is a depiction of Christ (even when Mary seems to be the focus, she is carrying the Christ child on her lap), and then wheeling around him in lyrical and harmonious patterns are the hundreds of medallions, each depicting a saint or a scene from scripture. . . The message of the window is clear: When one’s life is centered on Christ, all the energies, aspirations, and powers of the soul fall into a beautiful and satisfying pattern. And by implication, whenever something other than Christ—money, sex, success, adulation—fills the center, the soul falls into disharmony. . . Jesus expressed this same idea when he said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and the rest will be given unto you” (Mt 6:33). When the divine is consciously acknowledged as the ground and organizing center of one’s existence, something like wholeness or holiness is the result. . . Don’t live your life on the rim of the circle, but rather at the center. Focus on that reliable, unchanging point where Christ resides. #bishopbarron #wordonfire #rosewindows #lentenmeditations #souljourney #letthelightin #gothicinspiration #notredame #beauty #wonder #encounterGod #cathedrals #sacredspace #WakingEve https://www.instagram.com/wakingeve/p/BwVykKPHa7q/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tf772xxmuf5y

[revolutionoftenderness]

“There are so many other ways of knowing the world that aren’t reducible to the scientific method. A great danger we face today is the attenuation of all those other forms of knowing [poetic, philosophical, spiritual] because of the dominance of the scientific form.”

~ Robert Barron

[unknown artist]

#scientism #knowledge #bishopbarron

[pursuingthedivine-blog]

https://youtu.be/KYXPIy3MzoM

[mburaglia]

#bishopbarron #Knowyourrealtor #MBuraglia #REALTOR® #REALTORS® #EliteRealEstateGroup #larealestate #realtor #entrepreneur #realtorlife #realestate #realestateagent #realestatebroker #ocrealestate #ocrealtor #larealtor #businessman #business #wealth #chef #businessbuilder #buyrealestate #realtors #mindset #before5am #foundr #pizza #lahabra #whittier#radio (at Elite Real Estate Group ʀᴇᴀʟᴛᴏʀ, Mario Buraglia) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo3NtUuDwuG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1aof6dtd9hr9t

[standardoftrust]

“When you’re seeking God…“✝️ #spirituality #bishopbarron #godisgood #catholic #quote #quotes

[yourcatholicmuse]

Water in the Desert: My Thoughts on the Benedict Option

My take on the #BenedictOption.

So recently I have been reading some great articles written in response to the “Benedict option” one from Bishop Baron and another from R.R. Reno over at First Things. In summary, the “Benedict Option” is the idea that Christian communities should withdrawal from mainstream culture and focus on strengthening both individual and faith community relationships with Jesus Christ. I am incredibly…

[margaritarocoevanswritesagain]

#happy #catholic #retreat #i #met @bishopbarron 😊#wow #inspiring #blessed #la #ca #cathedral #love #peace #Jesus #Yeshua #bless #family #children #friends #ny #israel #lax #seattle #pdx #world #usa #travel #culture #faith #us https://www.instagram.com/p/BsKj4jcAGxE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=8v1u7hk80zfp

[faithandfabric]

Hi there! I missed out on #fridayintroductions again this week, but seeing as how today is #igquiltfestday1 as well as #marchmeetthemaker, it seemed like the perfect day to pop into your feed and say hi (HI!)! I'm Jen Frost from Faith and Fabric, a Christian quilt pattern and fabric design business. I love sharing the beauty of our faith by creating gorgeous quilts, like that plush stack I'm leaning on. The attraction of Christian quilts is that they are both functional and faith-fuelling; as you walk past a Pentecost banner on your wall or cuddle under the warmth of an Easter cross quilt, you have - even for a moment - a reconnection with our Creator and an appreciation for the beauty that art can bring. @bishopbarron is often quoted as saying "lead with the beautiful", and it's this beauty - and goodness - that I try to bring to each design. #CSLENTIPJ Included in this post are a few examples of work in this post, but we'll be looking more at them throughout the month as #IGquiltfest continues. When I'm not in my sewing room (which doubles as our homeschool room, so we're in here *a lot*), I'm often found in our garage gym - while quilting is my favorite past time, working out is a huge outlet for me. I started running track in high school (though admittedly never took it as seriously as I should have), got involved in triathlons in college, and joined the tri team here in San Diego after moving down here where I raced for many years. Once I got the competition bug out of my system, I fell in love with the classes from both @lesmills and @barretherapy, and (due to C0vid) now take both out in the garage. Nothing is as uplifting as a good sweat! So how about you? What's your outlet? (at San Diego, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CL4QNqGDtwE/?igshid=1l6xqxpo96ihb

[johnnyloueydelightsus]

Reposted from @bishopbarron St. Margaret of Scotland, holy queen and the Pearl of Scotland, pray for us! (at Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/CHqZQeYDiZq/?igshid=1xesl3hvums31

[brandonacox]

I favorited a tweet...

St. Lorenzo Ruiz, the first canonized Filipino martyr, pray for us! pic.twitter.com/FmNcAWlfsX

— Bishop Robert Barron (@BishopBarron) September 28, 2020

from http://twitter.com/BishopBarron