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WORLD DAY OF PEACE 1 JANUARY 2005 DO NOT BE OVERCOME BY EVIL BUT OVERCOME EVIL WITH GOOD

REDEMPTORIS MATER On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church 1987.03.25

CHRISTI MATRI ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PAUL VI ON PRAYERS FOR PEACE DURING OCTOBER SEPTEMBER 15, 1966 To His Venerable Brothers the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops and other Local Ordinaries in Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See.

MENSE MAIO ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PAUL VI ON PRAYERS DURING MAY FOR PRESERVATION OF PEACE APRIL 29, 1965 To His Venerable Brethren the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Local Ordinaries who are at Peace and in Communion with the Apostolic See.

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE OF POPE JOHN XXIII December 23, 1959 To urge the world to remove from the path of peace the obstacles put there by the malice of men.

ROSARIUM VIRGINIS MARIAE OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF JOHN PAUL II TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY AND FAITHFUL ON THE MOST HOLY ROSARY

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM DIGNITATIS HUMANAE ON THE RIGHT OF THE PERSON AND OF COMMUNITIES TO SOCIAL AND CIVIL FREEDOM IN MATTERS RELIGIOUS PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON DECEMBER 7, 1965

Islam Catholic Dialogue

DECLARATION ON THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS NOSTRA AETATE PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON OCTOBER 28, 1965
2 “enter with prudence and charity into discussion and collaboration with members of other religions.”

THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS NOSTRA AETATE PROCLAIMED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON OCTOBER 28, 1965

********************************************************************** Catholic Church Dialogue with Islam
By Frederick Pogorzelski"Today more than ever, we need
to pray
for the light to know the will
of God . . .
for the love to accept the will
of God . . .
for the way to do the will
of God . . ."
Mother Teresa

"A smile must always be on our lips
for any child to whom we offer help,
for any to whom we give companionship or medicine.
It would be very wrong to offer
only cures;
we must offer to all
our hearts."
Mother Teresa

These twelve items below reflect my opinion: On dialogue with Islam and non-Christian religions.
We should find common ground, and then move on up together, to the moral higher ground.
I can see common ground between our Catholic Faith and the Faith of Islam.
Here are some examples:

(1.) God, One and Only God
(2.) God, self sufficient, everything depends on God
(3.) Go d is Merciful
(4.) Man must have faith
(5.) Man must have the obedience of faith. This means to listen to,
and submit to the word of God. Man submits to God.
(6.) Man at loss in this life and needs God
(7.) Man does righteous deeds
(8.) Man counsel each other of truth
(9.) Man counsel each other of patience, justice, peace
(10.) Man prays in God’s Name
(11.) Man respects and honors the Virgin Mary
(12.) Man respects, honors, and encourages truth wherever he find it.

"We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace,
we need love and compassion.
Let us radiate the peace of God
and so light His light and extinguish all hatred and love of power in the world
and in the hearts of men."
Mother Teresa

"Every human being comes from God.
We all know what is the love of God for us.
Whatever we believe, we know that if we really want to Love,
we must learn to forgive.
We must radiate God's Love."
Mother Teresa

"In Yemen, which is entirely a Muslim country,
I asked one of the rich people to build a Masjid there.
People needed a place to pray,
I said to him.
They are all Muslim brothers and sisters.
They need to have a place where they can meet God."
Mother Teresa

**********************************************************************The Catholic Church has Jewish Roots. Jerusalem to Rome.The Catholic Church has Jewish (CCC50-73) roots, and is the mystical body of Christ ( Acts 9:4-5 ) ( Romans 12: 4-5 ) ( 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27 ) ( Colossians 1: 18-24 ) ( John 10: 1-18, The Sheepfold.) (Apocalypse 21) ( Ephesians 5, The Bride. ) (1 Peter 3: 18-22, the ark of Noe.)
(Mark 16:16, Necessary for Salvation. Some may be members connected in desire, even if they do not know the Church through no fault of their own; they receive grace through the Church.)
The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ. It's head is Jesus Christ.
It's members are the faithful. It's soul is the Holy Spirit.
It's life is Grace ( Luke 10:16 ) ( Acts 5:12-42 ).
Catholic: (1.) from the Greek katholikos “universal” – it is worldwide; for men and women of all kinds.
(2.) The Church has doctrinal completeness; that is God’s whole revealed Truth.
(3.) Infallible (CCC92, 891) preserved from error, as our Lord promised (Matt 16:18; 28:20). (John 14:25-26; 15:26-27) divine protection on matters of faith and morals concerning the universal Church.
(see: sensus fidei CCC92)
Infallibility: “The gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church whereby the pastors of the Church, the pope and bishops in union with him, can definitively proclaim a doctrine of faith or morals for the belief of the faithful…” (CCC891) (See: Lumen Gentium, 25) (Acts 15:28 The Holy Spirit speaks with the Apostles) (Luke 10:16 Apostles speaks with voice of Christ) Infallibility extends as far as the deposit of divine Revelation itself.The pope is infallible on ex-cathedra (from the chair of Peter) statements, of which their have been very few in the history of the Church. This is very specific and limited power.The Pope is not a perfect human being in all matters (Gal. 2:11-14) (1 Peter 5:3)

Jerusalem to Rome:
(NAB)(Acts 28:14) “…and thus we came to Rome…”
(NAB)(1 Peter 5:13) “The chosen one at Babylon, sends you greetings, as does Mark, my son." [Babylon was a code name for pagan Rome; not the Catholic Church. (See: Rev. 14,8; 17,5 ) The book of Revelation uses a style of language, or literary form, which is highly symbolic language. Therefore, it is not to be taken literally.]

["Mark my son." Traditionally, a prominent disciple of Peter at Rome.]

It is the unanimous testimony of early Christian Tradition that Peter having been at Jerusalem, and then Antioch, finally came to Rome where he was crucified.

Tertullian (160 A.D. -225 A.D.) “Rome, from which there comes even into our own hands the very authority of the apostles themselves. How happy is its church, on which apostles poured forth all their do ctrine along with their blood! Where Peter endures a passion like his Lord! Where Paul wins his crown in a death like that of John [the Baptist]!”

**********************************************************************Man is not the Arbitrator of Life
By Frederick Pogorzelski(See: Evangelium Vitae by Pope John Paul II)

Artificial contraception is sin. Man was not empowered by God to be the arbitrator of life - to cause abortion - or to use artificial contraceptives. Artificial contraceptives often kill a human person within the first few hours of his or her life. A person is not a “something” or a “specimen.” From the moment of conception, a person is “somebody” made in God’s image and likeness. A person is unique; has great potential; has transcendent rights, and dignity. (Isaiah 49:1-5). Artificial contraception violates the commandment of love of others (John 13:34-35; 15:12-17) and the commandment "thou shall not kill.” Teaching, selling, or using artificial contraception (methods) is sin; an abuse of human freedom. It is a wrongful encroachment of, and violation of God’s sacred domain. Loss of the sight of God, leads to an appeal to pride and self. Then, claiming to be "progressive" or "modern" the sinner, then claims "rights" not given by God. Having loss sight of God, and using appealing terms like "personal choice," the person then commits the ultimate abuse of freedom in breaking the commandment “thou shall not kill.” This is separation from God, and with it comes the radical possibility of, an eternity in hell (Luke 3:16-17) (2 Thess. 1:6-9) ( Matt. 25: 41,46) for the unrepentant. The Church prays, leaving judgment to Almighty God.Cooperation with a Moral Evil is Sin
By Frederick Pogorzelski The seriousness of the sin, of cooperation with a moral evil, depends on many facts, and may be classified as either: "formal cooperation" or "material cooperation" with a moral evil. We have a right or a duty to disobey an unjust law.
[For example: In Montgomery Alabama, (1955) a Black women Rosa Parks, by law, had to sit in the back of a city bus and stand if a white person needed a seat. Rosa Parks courageously refused to give up her seat to a white man. She was arrested. The unjust law, discriminated, based on race or color, and was eventually changed. Rosa Parks has been called the “mother of the civil rights movement.”]

Sin and evil has primordial roots, (its echoes) in the disobedience of Adam and Eve:
(Genesis 3:5) "you will be like God".

God has allowed us to cooperate with Him, within marriage, on the gift of new life. Artificial contraception is a rejection of the gift of God; not trusting that God loves us and knows what is best for us. Sin can be the love of oneself, even to the contempt of truth; contempt of God. Sin and evil has primordial roots, (its echoes) in the disobedience of Adam and Eve: (Genesis 3:5) "you will be like God".
Incredulity: “The willful refusal to assent to revealed truth, or even the neglect of truth.” If an individual is obstinate (Exodus 33:5) or incredulous God will assist that individual on his or her individual judgment day to acknowledging absolute Truth. “. . .every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.. .” (Romans 14:11).Once again - Truth is a Matter of Life and Death Eternally-so Choose Life.

**********************************************************************A case of “observe all” not “either/ or”
By Frederick Pogorzelski The Bible (CCC105, 120-121,124,128) does say "all" or “everything”(NAB)(Matthew 28: 19-20) "...Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." We are called to accept not only Scripture but the establishment and authority of Christ's Church. We are called to "...observe all..."

This includes both faith and works, both Scripture and Sacred Tradition, both faith and reason, and both the Faith and my faith. We must maintain and exercise habitual grace - that is: a lifestyle pleasing to God. The initial grace given at Baptism (Titus 3:5) (1 Peter 3:21) (Acts 2:38) (Acts 22:16) (John 3:5) (Galatians 2:19; 6:15; 3:28) can be lost. “If we sin deliberately after receiving knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains sacrifice for sins but a fearless prospect of judgment and a flaming fire that is going to consume the adversaries. Anyone who rejects the Law of Moses is put to death without pity on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Do you not think that a much worse punishment is due the one who has contempt for the Son of God, considers unclean the covenant-blood by which he was consecrated, and insults the spirit of grace?”(NAB)(Hebrews 10:26-29).

We must continue in faith and grace. We are free creatures and can reject the gift of grace, redemption, and salvation (John 3:18) (John 12:48). God, in scripture, speaks of a general plan of predestination or salvation. There are an abundant number of scripture verses that warn against a rash presumption of assurance of individual salvation.
Here is a sample: (Matthew 7:21-23), (Matthew 24:12-13), (Luke 8:13), (John 12:47-48), (John 15:6), (Acts 20:29-30), (Romans 11:20-22), (Romans 2:6), (Titus 1:16), (1 Corinthians 4:5), and (Hebrews 3:12-14).

**********************************************************************The Mass[Please read this book: The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn] The Mass (CCC1352) as the highest form of prayer. The Mass as heaven on earth, where a ministerial priest (CCC1536, 1547, 1554) offers sacrifice (CCC2099, 1357, 1544) on an altar (CCC1182, 1383). The Mass is a representation or re-enactment of the “once for all” sacrifice that Christ made on Calvary. Our way of giving thanks and praise is with “worship pleasing to God in reverence and awe. For our God is a consuming fire,“(Hebrews 12:28-29)(NAB)
In the event of grave or mortal sin, and in order for the “once for all” sacrifice to be applied to us we have a sacrament of reconciliation.
[Please take the time to refer to Council of Trent, Sixth Session. Justification, on the fallen and their restoration Chapters XIV – XVI.]

**********************************************************************

DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH RESPONSES TO SOME QUESTIONS REGARDING CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THE DOCTRINE ON THE CHURCH

**********************************************************************People in imperfect union with the Catholic Church - that is:
People in Protestant churches or
of Non-Christian Faiths
or people who through no fault of their own,
who have not accepted or perhaps never even heard of the Catholic Church can still be saved.
God has perfect justice and mercy. (Of course though, this does not mean that one church is as good as another, or that one religion is as good as another.)
By Frederick Pogorzelski Many Protestant churches, and various groups, trying to stay orthodox; yet trying to appease the culture and bias of the times, fragment under all the pressures. Yet, many people in these churches can still be saved because the will of God is for "all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of truth" (1 Tim. 2:4). Those who because of "invincible ignorance", or because they did not have the opportunity to knowingly accept the graces of salvation won by Christ, can also be saved because of the presence of the Church in the world (1 Cor. 7:12-16).
Because the Sacraments do not bind God, He makes the grace of salvation available to all in ways unknown to us. This "Baptism of Desire" (CCC 1258-60, 1281) and the grace of salvation is given to one who dies without explicit knowledge of Christ, but would have embraced the truth had it been presented.Your salvation depends on the Catholic Church. There is no salvation outside the Church. The Catholic Church is the one True Church. (Some denominations have no real historical or theological foundation. They have their “own story,” or the recent story of their founder. It is not a Holy Spirit guiding and causing cascading divisions (diabolic - conflicting rules of faith) (2 Peter 3:16) in these other denominations.
Only the Catholic Church has Jesus Christ as its founder; it is one Church, guided by the Holy Spirit of Truth. Other denominations may be in imperfect union with the Catholic Church. Individuals within these denominations can be saved.Individuals who through no fault of their own, who never heard of Jesus Christ and His Church, can also be saved. By a “Baptism of Desire” (or “Blood Baptism” as in the case of martyrs) they can receive grace through the Church and be saved. God is love. God has perfect justice.

**********************************************************************The Order or Manner of Christ’s Priesthood Melchizedek: From the Hebrew meaning "King of righteousness” was King of Salem (Gen.14:18-20) who, on Abraham's return with the booty taken from the four kings, "bringing forth bread and wine, for he was the priest of the most high God, blessed him", and received from him "the tithes of all"Christ is: "a priest forever according to the order of Melchisedech" (Psalm 109:4) (Hebrews 7:6) order or manner (Gesenius), not after the manner of Aaron.Hebrews 5:4-6) “…No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by God, just as Aaron was. So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father. "And he says in another place, "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

**********************************************************************The Father’s Plan for Salvation.“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will…”(Ep.1:3-5)(NAB)

A few Early Church Fathers on Obedience in Salvation.

"...Therefore, brethern, by doing the will of the Father and keeping the flesh holy, and observing the commandments of the Lord, we will obtain eternal life..." (Second Clement approx. 150 A.D.).

"...To believe in Him is to do His will..." (Irenaeus approx. 180 A.D.).