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thecatholicbozo · 13 days

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The Unity of Charity (Demons Hate this One Weird Trick)

"We must also take into account that at the time of our change of life we declare perpetual warfare against the devil. Now there is nothing he fears so much as the unity of charity. For if we give away all we possess for God's sake - this the devil does not fear, because he himself possesses nothing. If we fast, he has no fear of our action because he does not use food himself. If we make long watchings, again he is not alarmed, for he himself never slumbers. But when we are united in brotherly love, then he is intensely affrighted - because we hold firmly here upon earth the treasure that he thought light of keeping in heaven." "So it is that Holy Church, described as an army in battle array, inspires terror, because as the enemy fears at the sight of the battleline well-ordered & compact, so in the same way the devil trembles when he beholds persons of spiritual life armed with the weapons of virtue living together in the unity of concord. He grieves most deeply in his defeat when he fails to break through their ranks and separate them by discord. Hence it is written of our Lord: "Hus place is in peace... there hath he broken the powers of bows, the shield, the sword, and the battle." We see then that concord shatters all the weapons of the evil one."

-Hugh of St. Victor, in his commentary upon Chapter I of the Rule of St Augustine

#christian #christianity #spiritual life #catholic #catholicism #christian unity #spiritual warfare #faith

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biblebloodhound · 7 months

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Dealing with Opposing Views (Romans 14:1-12)

Unity doesn't just happen; it must be pursued, worked on, and maintained.

Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s…

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lawrenceop · 2 years

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HOMILY for Pentecost Sunday 2022

Ecumenical Vespers at Our Lady Help of Christians

“Do all you can to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds you together. There is one Body, one Spirit, just as you were all called into one and the same hope when you were called. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, and one God who is Father of all, over all, through all and within all.” (Ephesians 4:3-6)

Between the Ascension and Pentecost, the disciples of Jesus gathered with Mary and, in the upper room, they prayed in preparation for the gift of the Holy Spirit. So today, as disciples of the Risen Lord Jesus, we gather here under the patronage of Our Lady Help of Christians, and we pray for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, of that promised Paraclete who Jesus said would “teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (Jn 14:26) For, all too often, we have forgotten the unity for which Christ prayed, forgotten the forgiveness and charity which he demonstrated. And so we ask the Holy Spirit to bring these good things to mind, and to teach us again all that the Lord first taught us and handed on to his apostles, all that he showed to his first disciples. Thus we pray, as a people baptised into Christ, to be led by the Holy Spirit who we believe will “guide you into all the truth” (Jn 16:13). Let us, therefore, be led deeper into Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (cf Jn 14:6). For this is the principal work of the Holy Spirit: to grace us with those virtues and gifts of Christ that would deepen and intensify our following of Christ; that would refashion us, as Christians, more fully into the image and likeness of Christ; that would sanctify us.

Hence Pope St John Paul II said that, as Christians called into deeper unity in Christ, we “proceed along the road leading to the conversion of hearts guided by love which is directed to God and, at the same time, to all our brothers and sisters, including those not in full communion with us. Love gives rise to the desire for unity… If we love one another, we strive to deepen our communion and make it perfect… When Christians pray together, the goal of unity seems closer. The long history of Christians marked by many divisions seems to converge once more because it tends towards that Source of its unity which is Jesus Christ.” (Cf Ut unum sint, 21, 22)

For me, coming from an Evangelical Protestant background, and as the only Catholic convert from a devout Bible-believing, God-fearing, Christ-centred family, these statements from St John Paul II are very pertinent. For love does inspire in me a desire for unity, a desire to teach and preach my Catholic faith to my family so as to deepen our dialogue, and a desire for conversation and fellowship so that we can find a broader understanding of the many truths we hold in common as Christians. Above all, I appreciate the times we pray together as a family, for in prayer and in song, we converge on Christ and on the holiness that comes from him through the power of the Holy Spirit.

So last Wednesday, on the feast of one of the first apologists and martyrs of our Christian faith, St Justin, my aunt and uncle came to visit me at St Dominic’s – their first time inside a Catholic church. Now in their seventies, they are both senior pastors of one of the largest Pentecostal churches in Malaysia, and they also have a tremendous openness to the riches of our Catholic tradition, and an openness to hearing me speak about the Catholic Faith and philosophy. For example, my aunt loved hearing about St John Paul II’s theology of the body, and she lamented the loss of reverence and awe in Evangelical churches. My uncle discussed with me aspects of Biblical archaeology as we toured the British Museum, and we talked about the challenges of preaching in our current cultural contexts, ways of deepening the discipleship of our congregations, and the pastoral complexities we faced. In short, we spoke as equals, as disciples of the Lord Jesus seeking to make him known and loved in our world today. And this, I believe must be our focus, for this, too, is what the Holy Spirit comes to empower us to do.

For me, the visit of my aunt and uncle to St Dominic’s is a sign of hope that our ecumenical aims are as alive as ever, and indeed, how could they not be, since it is the Lord Jesus himself who desires that we be one, and since it is his Spirit who leads us into all truth? All we need, is to be more sensitive to the promptings of grace, we need, as St John the Baptist said, to decrease so that Christ can increase in us. We need, in other words, to each seek holiness, and so to seek a deeper conformity with Christ, converging on charity. So as St Paul says, “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience, forbearing one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” (Col 3:12-14)

Over the past few days, leading up to Pentecost Sunday, we have had the celebrations of a few martyrs, beginning as I have said, with St Justin Martyr whose writings of dialogue and debate still inform us. Yesterday, the Dominican Order honoured our protomartyr, St Peter of Verona, whose example of Christian forgiveness and love as he died moved his killer, Carino, to conversion and repentance; he became a Dominican lay brother, and is now regarded as a Blessed. And on Friday, we celebrated the Martyrs of Uganda, St Charles Lwanga and his companion martyrs, among whom were nine Anglicans. Together as Christians, they witnessed with their blood, to their common Christian faith – a witness to the dignity of the human person, the sanctity of marriage and sexual love, and the freedom of conscience against the tyranny of the political and civic powers of the day.

We owe it to our countrymen and to the future of our society to preach and teach and witness to the Gospel with fidelity, albeit with the meekness and patience and forbearance spoken of by St Paul. So the same brave witness of the Ugandan Martyrs and the charity of St Peter Martyr or the penetrating insights of St Justin are demanded of us, even required of us, in our time and in our nation. Although in Britain we may not, as yet, need to lose our lives for the Faith – even as countless Christians throughout the world are already being violently persecuted and martyred day after day – nevertheless, we will need to shed tears, sweat, and even some blood for the sake of the Gospel. Of this we can be sure, for as Christianity is forgotten or even forsaken by our peers, so we Christians shall become, like our Lord and Master, a sign of contradiction. Pope Francis has therefore spoken of “an ecumenism of blood” that will unite us Christians in our time. For, again, the Holy Spirit is at work to unite us against those who would oppose love, and truth, and the Gospel in its fullness.

So, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we will need to bear witness to the truth of the human person, the truth of God’s creation, the truth of Christ our Saviour who sets us free (cf Jn 8:32). The Accuser seeks to divide us and so to conquer us; the Enemy would sift us like wheat (cf Lk 22:31) which is why on this Pentecost day, and indeed every day, we must pray the Holy Spirit to unite us, and hold us together, and cause in our hearts a convergence on Christ who alone is our peace, our unity, and our hope. So, we pray: Come, Holy Spirit, come and lead us into all truth. Come, O Spirit of Truth, and bring to remembrance the words of the Incarnate Word. Come, O Love Divine, and enkindle in us the fire of charity so that we would give our all for the salvation of souls.

To this great end may Our Lady, the Help of Christians, pray for us and come to our aid.

#Christian unity #convergences #charity #holiness #martydom #ecumenism

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bvthomas · 2 months

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Rekindling 'First Love' in Faith

Summary: The biblical admonition to the Ephesian church about abandoning their ‘first love’ serves as a poignant reminder for believers to maintain the primacy of spiritual devotion. This ‘first love’ refers not to a mere emotional beginning but to the prioritization of Christ in every aspect of life. Over time, even the noblest pursuits can overshadow this fundamental commitment. The Ephesian…

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#1 Corinthians #believers&039; community #biblical teachings #Christ&039;s love #Christian unity #Ephesian church #Ephesians #first love #practical faith #rekindling faith #spiritual devotion #spiritual growth

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readersmagnet · 3 months

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Spiritual Warfare Through Christian Unity by Bill McCracken

"Spiritual Warfare Through Christian Unity" by Bill McCracken is a spiritual guide that emphasizes the importance of unity in the face of spiritual battles, urging believers to recognize the common enemy—Satan and his demons. Rooted in biblical truths, the book unveils Jesus' "starter kit," empowering believers with tools like truth, righteousness, and peace.

Let's unite against the true enemy. Grab a copy at www.spiritualwarfarethroughchristianunity.com.

#Bill McCracken #Spiritual Warfare Through Christian Unity #ReadersMagnet #spiritualwarfare #christian unity #spiritual growth #christianity #bible #prayer #worship #faith #hope #love

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daily-praise · 3 months

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Today’s Reflection:

Today as we celebrate Christian unity we recall in today's gospel a prayer of Jesus in which he is praying for unity, but not just any unity, but a unity based on mutual respect and love, the same love that the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit share equally. For this is the foundation for all love — respect and unity — which Jesus prays that his followers, which include all of us, will join with the Trinity in a united way through love and respect for all we meet. Yet, with all of this said, we must remember that unity takes work and God gives to us what we need, for he gives us grace, which comes to us through the Holy Spirit, in order, for us to stand united in our faith which gives to us a sense of hope for through unity of faith we bring true meaning of unity in the prayer Jesus is praying.

Today’s Spiritual Links for January 18, 2024

National Eucharistic Review Today’s Mas Readings Today’s Reflection Rosary Liturgy of the Hours New American Bible Non-Scriptural Reading Prime Matters

#Daily Praise #Catholic #Prayers #Christian Unity

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watchigtbj · 4 months

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Video: Wiseman Harry Responds to BBC Documentary on Prophet TB Joshua

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#BBC Documentary #Christian Community #Christian Unity #Discernment #Discipleship #Faith #Featured #Gospel Truth #Prophet Response #Religious Narratives #TB Joshua #The SCOAN #Wiseman Harry

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shiningthelightministries · 4 months

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The Doctrine Of Unity - Bible Study - Shining The Light Ministries - Th...

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givingchrist · 9 months

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The Unity of Christians

As you drive down the street in a country where Christianity is legal, you may see a bewildering variety of Christian churches. Not only is there Roman Catholic, Baptist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and other major divisions, there are also subdivisions of each. I am a Lutheran pastor, part of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (which is not just located in Missouri). I was not aware of how many…

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#1 Corinthians 10:17 #Christian unity #John 17 #Lord&039;s Supper

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biblepreacher · 11 months

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Unity & Creeds

Are creeds “good” and useful for building Christian unity? Some Christians cherish their creeds, while others are leery of them, but why this difference, especially between Christians who all profess to accept the principle of Sola Scriptura? Are creeds effective guards against compromise and heresy in the Church? Are they useful for upholding essential Christian unity? Or do they simply…

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#Christian maturity #Christian unity #confessions #confessions of faith #creeds #No creed but the Bible #Unity

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tucsonjefe · 1 year

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Sunday Supernaturally: You Are the Body

February 5, 2023 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Romans 12:4-5 ESV Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 ESV Whether we know it or not, whether we like to or not, we are connected to one another. It is…

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#SundayBlessing #christian ministry #Christian unity #Church

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desiringnothingness · 1 year

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Unfortunately, I need to stop calling Protestants “heretics” and “schismatics” after reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) this morning.

The sin of schism and rejecting the seat of St Peter as established by Jesus belongs to certain political and religious leaders who died centuries ago, along with those within the Church who committed sins of scandal that led to Luther’s protests in the first place (like the Renaissance Popes). (See CCC 817 “…in subsequent centuries much more serious dissensions appeared and large communities became separated from full communion with the Catholic Church—for which, often enough, men of both sides were to blame…”) This would also apply to the Orthodox, because they schismed from the Catholic Church in the 11th century.

Regarding current believers in the variety ( edit) of Protestant denominations, or the various Orthodox Churches, see CCC 818-819. For example 819 begins “However, one cannot charge with the sin of the separation those who at present are born into these communities [that resulted from such separation] and in them are brought up in the faith of Christ, and the Catholic Church accepts them with respect and affection as brothers…”

CCC 821 lists various things that Catholics can do to help restore unity, like common prayer, fraternal knowledge, dialogue, and collaboration with those raised in communities that schismed centuries ago.

Still, we can reject certain personal interpretations of the Bible that are clearly inadequate, or in the case of the Westboro Baptists, possibly demonic.

#catechism of the catholic church #protestant vs catholic #orthodox vs Catholic #Catholic unity #catholic #christian unity #schism #reformation #great schism

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biblebloodhound · 11 months

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For the Common Good of All (1 Corinthians 12:4-13)

Spiritual gifts are designed by God to be acts and words of service, dispersed for the benefit of others. Yes, they are meant for us to enjoy them. Yet, they are not meant solely for personal satisfaction.

There are different spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them. There are different ways of serving, and yet the same Lord is served. There are different types of work to do, but the same God produces every gift in every person. The evidence of the Spirit’s presence is given to each person for the common good of everyone. The Spirit gives one person the ability to speak with wisdom. The…

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martyschoenleber · 1 year

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Serving the Community through Existing Associations

How can we show the world the unity in so much of the diversity of our Christian expression in the fractured culture that we live in? How can we work harder at forging that unity without theological compromise of our convictions? What might be some practical things that local groups of Christians leaders could do to show more unity and create more conversations around the gospel? Here’s some…

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#Apostle&039;s Creed #Christian Unity #Clergy Associations #Unity

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she-is-the-blackbird · 2 years

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Wonderful news!

After a whole year of thinking about it. I have returned to the Catholic church and went to mass today. :) I really needed it, I didn't think I would have gotten so emotional, but I did. I hope our Earthly father, St. Joseph heard me today. :)

I need some fatherly advice and guidance.

#Catholic #coming home catholic #return to the catholic church #baby catholic #catholicism #call to catholicism #christian unity #christian inspiration #St. Joseph #Jesus' Dad

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readersmagnet · 4 months

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Spiritual Warfare Through Christian Unity by Bill McCracken

Drawing from bible scriptures and the Word of God, "Spiritual Warfare Through Christian Unity" by Bill McCracken exposes the spiritual forces fueling division and the power of unity to overcome them. He explores God's blueprint for a cohesive church and equips believers with spiritual armor to stand united against divisive forces.

Find strength and resilience in unity. Grab a copy at www.spiritualwarfarethroughchristianunity.com.

#Bill McCracken #Spiritual Warfare Through Christian Unity #ReadersMagnet #spiritualwarfare #christian unity #spiritual growth #christianity #bible #prayer #worship #faith #hope #love

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