Oh Silly Catholics...

I had a friend tell me that he didn't like how Catholics have statues all over the Church. He said that statues are not in the bible. I told him that statues are in the bible. He mad me laugh when he told me that if he was able to build a Catholic Church he would make it soooo beautiful but would not put any statues in it. Have you ever wondered why Catholics have Statues in the Church? Some people get mislead and think Catholics idolize statues. We don't.


Yes God commanded this (I am going to use KJV)


Exodus 20:4: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth"

We have to remember that Jews were commanded not to make graven images because they were a standard method of pagan worship. False gods. God didn't want use to worship any God but Him.

However God commanded in Exodus 25:18-22

18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat.
19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof.
20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.
21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.
and 1 Chronicles 28:18-19 18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.

And in 1 Kings chapter 7 Solomon made bulls and other images out of precious metals.
It is obvious to me that the Jews did not worship the cherubims and Solomon did not worship the bulls he had made. These images did not brake the command of God. Please note the difference. God didn't want us to worship them (which we don't). Ther're pure remembrance of the loved ones that walked with God. They are like a picture that you may have of a loved one that has passed. You may speak to that person and tell them that you miss and love them. Well that's what we do with saints.

Just like our crucifix, it's a visual reminder of the sacrifice of Jesus. This crucifix is no different from a painting or movie of the sacrifice of Jesus.

Please remember that Catholics only worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The one true Trinity. All the other's we honor because they were Jesus' followers who spread the word. We love them for that!

Blessings! 

-E

Why do Catholics confess their sins....

Have you ever wondered by Catholics confess their sins to a Priest?  I am sure every Catholic gets this question one time or another and I am sure some Catholics don’t know the answer or Biblical proof.  I was one of those.  To be honest I love with people ask me questions as to why Catholics do certain things because if I don’t know the answer I find it.  When I find the answer it always makes me love the Catholic Church that much more.  My love keeps growing and growing for the Church. 

There are plenty of times where I would pray and ask God to forgive me.  It felt good; however the feeling that I get when I go to Confession is overwhelming with sadness and ending in joy.  You see when I go I pray about my sins.  I reflect on my sins.  I think of everything that I have done that has been heavy on my heart.  I sit there in the Church looking at the crucifix and every time cry.   I cry because I see, know, and feel that Jesus died for me.  He took all the pain and suffering because I am a sinner.  I am human.  I sin.  I don’t care how Christian anyone feels on Earth, you are a sinner.  You cannot live a perfect life.  As I reflect, I cry because of every sin that I caused pain to others and myself.  He died for my sins.  This is an amazing feeling I get before I go to confession. 

By the time I am ready, I go and confess my sins to the Priest.  Once I confess my sins the priest will have kind words of encouragement to help me sin no more.  Then I hear the best words EVER:   “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”  It’s amazing how much weight is lifted from my shoulders.  I feel amazing.  I truly believe that I have been forgiven for my sins.  There are not words to explain it unless you experience it.  It’s a moment of peace.

Back to my question…have you ever wondered why Catholics confess their signs to a priest?   I have friends that tell me “but what about 1 John 1:9” 

Watch this video and see why we need to confess our sins!  Amen! God is Good!

The Truth About Mary

You have to watch this.  Watch it more then once to understand every part of this video.  You will see how beautiful Our Mother is!

Time to Wake Up

My weekend was very interesting!   My boy friend and I went to go visit some of his cousins.  After the visit, I thought really hard about my faith.  You see, his cousins converted to Catholicism a little over a year ago.  I was in awe of how much they love the faith and how much they knew.  One thing I always told myself was that I loved to be around people who convert to Catholicism because they study the faith so much to make sure this is what they really feel is their HOME.  All weekend long they talk about the faith and knew every answer.  They told me that they liked reading my blog.  I thought to myself, “well I haven’t written in my blog for a while”.  Then I realized that I felt happiest when I wrote blogs about my faith.  I felt then that God was calling me back to my blog.  You see I don’t know everything about my Catholic faith but I long to learn more and more about the Church.  I want to know everything.  Why we do things?  Why we have Love the people we love?  I want to WONDER why and I want to learn, because when I learn I love the Church more and more.  So keep me in your prayers.  I ask that God will guide me in the right direction, so that I can learn more about the faith that I love! 

1st of 2 Post "Why I hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

If you haven't already please watch the first video and then the second.  All I can say is WOW to the first video.  Really?  To the second Video...Thanks for the beautiful words.  

Power of Prayer

Have you ever wondered how much prayer can help? I have decided that I would like to start praying a novena for something that I need guidance for. I started looking up stories that people have of an impact on this prayer and how powerful it can be. Have you ever prayed the novena? Do you have recommendations on a certain novena I should pray? Any ideas would be helpful.

When I pray my novena I will not blog about it durning the process. I will blog about my experience after my prayer has been completed and let you know how I felt as I prayed it. I want to be completely focussed on my prayer.

Please keep me in your prayers as I will continue to keep you in mine! God Bless and Happy Friday!!

The Blessed Mother

Have you ever wondered how much you love your mother? I don't know what I would do without my mom. She is my heart and knows every single time I hurt without me even saying anything. I guess it's a gift that a mother has. So if I love my mother more than words, I wonder how much Jesus loves His mother? I mean I am talking about a Man that loves more than anyone in the world could ever love. Wow! Just thinking about the idea of how much He loves her makes me love His mother.


The Virgin Mary, pregnant with the Son of God at 14. I hold this women with the up most right respect. When I read the Bible I tear up reading the scriptures about His Mother.

40And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth.

41And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost:

42And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.

45And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. Luke 1:40-45

I love this scripture because it helps me understand that Mary is Blessed! That she is the "Mother of my Lord" What more do you need there? That "All generations shall call her Blessed"

This is one of my favorite verses: John 2:2–5


2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

4Jesus saith unto her, a Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.



This was one of Jesus' first miracles. He turned water into wine. Who was the person that ask Him of this? Yep that's right! His mother, which brings me to this commandment: Honor your Mother and Father. He honored His mother. Even though it was not his hour he still did as He was asked by His mother. Number 1 reason why I also pray to the Blessed Mother Mary! (Please don't get pray and worshiped confused) I know that I can go directly to God but it doesn't hurt to have more prayer, so I pray to Mary and ask her to pray for me because, of course, He will honor His mother. Correct?



What about this verse: John 19:25–27


25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his amother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene.

26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the adisciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy amother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

This was not John's mother, so why did Jesus say "Behold thy mother!"? Was it maybe because she is our mother, our Blessed Mother! ;)

I get the question all the time "Why do you pray for or to the dead" Did God promise us Eternal Life? Those people in Heaven are not dead. They are more a live than we ever could be here on Earth. They are holier than anyone on Earth could ever be because they are with our Lord. So My Blessed Mother is holy. She was the first one ever to receive God and she NEVER left His side.

O Jesus, Divine Master, I thank and bless Your most merciful Heart for having given us Mary most holy as your Mother, Teacher and Queen. From the cross You placed us all in her hands. You gave her a great heart, much wisdom and immense power. May all mankind know her, pray for her! May all permit themselves to be led by her to You, the Savior of mankind. I placed myself in her hands, as You placed Yourself. With this Mother I want to live now, in the hours of my death, and for all eternity.

Amen

http://www.marypages.com/PrayerstoMary.htm