The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against It - History Proves It

 I have heard so many individuals say bad things about the Catholic Church through the years. They are always saying something when a priest does something inappropriate.  The problem is they always forget to look at their own faith. Jesus said that there would be sheep in false clothing.

The Truth About Halloween And Being Catholic

 I am always hearing someone saying oh you like Halloween you are worshiping the Devil. Well one of my responses is what were you doing when you were young and going trick or treating on Halloween. Well as for myself I was having fun dressing up in some costume from a gorilla or maybe a pirate or maybe even a hobo. Was I thinking of Satan at all when doing this. No I was not , all I was thinking about was getting some free candy. Worshiping Satan never entered my mind. 
 I think people really need to understand what Halloween is all about. I am sure there are various people out there that do worship Satan on Halloween and that is their choice. I know from when I looked into it before I found that the people would dress up in costumes so that the devil could not recognize them and therefore they tricked the devil. The object of the jack o lantern was to light up the pumpkin with a scary face to frighten the devil away.
 Here is an excellent link to some information on Halloween in the catholic church  http://ucatholic.com/blog/the-catholic-origins-of-halloween/  


                 

The True Church - The Catholic Church

 After all these years I still hear the same garbage people spew about the Catholic Church. It just gets to me when I hear the things people say. One individual from a born again church made the comment that he does not associate with anyone that is living a sinful life. Of course he throws out a few pieces of scripture to try and prove his point. I guess he missed all those places in scripture where Jesus was with various people who were sinners.

 I myself spent a few years in the born again church and left it because of all the judging and bad mouthing that was going on. I can say that while I was in those churches as well as some protestant churches there was a holiness that was lacking. They seemed to more or less want to be entertained. I believe there is a time and place for a band or christian band to be playing. I am saying okay at a concert, but not during worship.

 I have read that in the last days many will be lead astray. They usually say that the catholic church is the one that will do this. I don't think this is correct and it seems that the shoe is on the other foot. I feel that those in the born again or Pentecostal churches are the one that will be lead astray in the last days, as well as many other denominations, such as the Jehovah Witness, Mormons and many others.

 I believe that when Jesus said you must eat my flesh and drink my blood he meant it. Just look at how the other apostles could not accept it, so they left. Jesus said if you do not do this, you will not be raised on the last day. I look at all these people and I realize that there will be millions of people that will not be raised due to their churches only believing it was just a symbol.

 We can not force someone to come to the Catholic Church. No, all we can do is talk to them and pray for them. Start your own blog, facebook page or blog and get the message of the Catholic Church out there.
      

The Wrong Things Going On During Mass

 Since I have come back to the Catholic Church I see a number of things going on during Mass that just don't seem right. Two of the biggest is this holding of hands during the praying of the Our Father. The other is the holding up of your hands when the priest is doing this. There are other things such as people going back and forth all over the place to give the sign of peace (shaking the persons hand and saying peace be with you). Now I can understand going over to someone who is elderly or handicapped and can not move, but going everywhere like your at some party is wrong. Other items would be not saying amen and bowing when you are receiving the Lord Body (Host) and Precious Blood (wine).
 These things seem to be happening everywhere. I have heard many reasons and the popular seems to be from people that came in to the church from other faiths. Apparently they could not give up their protestant or Pentecostal ways. First of all if it is not in the Rubrics ( rules of the Mass) or approved by the Pope and the Holy See, it should not be done. I have left a few Catholic Churches, because they were like attending a concert. I certainly did not go to mass to hear a whaling electric guitar solo, bass guitar jam or the drums being hammered out. The last time I saw this was when I was in a Pentecostal Church. I am not there to be entertained, no I am there to Worship God.
 I just do not see the holiness or sanctity of the Mass any more. When I was a youth back in the late 60s and early 70s there was a holiness that is just not there any more. I almost wonder if this isn't a plan by other faiths to try and slowly change the Catholic Church to their way of thinking. If you ask me it looks like it's working. Well as for me I clasp my hands during the Our Father, just as I was taught as a youth. If someone asks me why I do not follow the crowd, they may not get an answer they like. All you have to do is do some searching on youtube and you will see a multitude of videos put out by other faiths on saying things about the Catholic Church.
 I guess they never heard that the Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail.

My Favorite Bible Verse

                                                John Chapter 6  Verse 54

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying: How can this man give us his flesh to eat?53Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you shall not have life in you. 54He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed: and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, abideth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that eateth me, the same also shall live by me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead. He that eateth this bread, shall live for ever.

ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION, DOES YOUR FAITH THINK IT'S A SYMBOL OR DO THEY BELIEVE WHAT JESUS SAID.
 

Why Do Catholics Go To Confession

  Many people find it strange that we Catholics go to confession so many times during the year. In some other faiths they believe that once saved always saved. In other words if they sin they are automatically forgiven, because they have accepted Jesus as their personal savior. The problem with this is that it is not biblical. If you are looking for an excellent website with information about confession Click Here Now. Now there are many other excellent websites out there with awesome information. I would suggest checking out EWTN and Catholic Answers if you are looking for answers and help.
16                                           Matthew  Chapter 16: 16-19
16 Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”1717 Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.18 18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.19 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”


                                    John Chapter 20: 19-231919 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.
23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” 




As you can see it is clear in these few places in scripture that the power of forgiving sin was given to the Apostles.


Okay so how has confession changed through the years. Well confession in itself has not changed at all. The only difference is how and where we go to confession. In my day as a young child in the Catholic Church, we would go to the church on Friday and went in the confession booth. There were three booths, the priest was in the middle and two people on either side. It was dark and a screen separated you from the priest. He could not see you and you could not see him, maybe just a shadow. You said the act of contrition and confessed your sins. He gave you your penance to say, such as the Our Father and maybe some Hail Marys. He would also ask that you think about your sins. Next he would absolve you of your sins and say go and sin no more.
 In today's catholic church you can use a type of partition with a screen or you can sit face to face with the priest. Everything else is the same as it has been for a long time. My advise is to go to church and confession, then receive The Holy Eucharist.
  Just remember there will be those out that will try to destroy the Catholic Church in every way possible. Remember what Jesus said " the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" meaning the Catholic Church. Yes there are many many other faiths out there constantly trying to tear down the Church, but they have not and never will. I have a feeling that many of them will be quite surprised when they stand in judgement one day. They will not be raised on the last day according to the fact that they do not eat his flesh and drink his blood at Holy Communion. But this is for another day.

Stop Spreading The Lies About The Catholic Church

 Every time I turn around I hear more and more untruths about the Catholic Church. There is always someone spreading misinformation about the church. In fact I have a brother in the born again church and he does the same thing. I just read how he found out about information on why Catholics eat ham on Easter, in other words where it came from. Of course he got the information from another born again website. So I looked around and got the correct information and put it on facebook. Maybe one of these days something will sink in and wake him up.
 I spent a few years in the assembly of god church when I was first married. At first it was nice, but then the catholic bashing began. I found myself starting to do the same thing. Fortunately the Holy Spirit woke me up and my wife and I left that church. There are many excellent books for Catholics. We ended up in the Lutheran Church for quite a few years as our children were young. I did however decide over the Eucharist to leave that church and come back to the Catholic Church. My wife decided to all become Catholic by her own choice and my children became Catholic as well.
 I remember many times working at different jobs and the catholic misinformation would come up. I have had to correct several people as for the misinformation they had received. If we are trying to be like Jesus, then we should do what Jesus would do. He would not bash or cut someone down. No he would show love and understanding and rebuke when necessary, but no in a demeaning way. So my advise is to buy books written by Catholics and know the truth, then teach others. There are many excellent books on Catholic Traditions that will help. Spread the truth and not lies.

Do You Want The Bible Alone Or The Whole Truth

  I remember those days that I spent in the Assembly Of God Church where it was the bible alone. Well at the time I never realized what I was missing. I did how ever realize what was missing once I was out of that church. My wife, kids and I ended up in the Lutheran Church for quite a few years and I did see some of those things I was missing start to show up again. We did eventually go back to the Catholic Church and I was and am very happy to be sharing in all those sacraments I had missed so much.
  I have heard many people in the Catholic Church refer to it as the fullness of the faith. My only concern is what will happen to the people that are not in the Catholic Church. In other words as it says in John 6:54 whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him on the last day.
I know when I was deciding on what church had the whole truth I was not thinking of the Catholic Church. I did alot of searching through history and read various religious books. The funny thing is that I kept ending right back up at the Catholic Church. I happened to watch the journey home show on EWTN and heard them mention the Early Church Fathers. I read books and listened to all kinds of information. I came to the conclusion that the Catholic Church was and is the only true church.
                   

   The only thing I can say is you must set out on your own journey to find the truth. You will find many that will try to persuade you to follow their church or try to find ways to bring down the Catholic Church. Just remember as it says in the bible "The Gates Of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against It".


                  


                  

What Do Catholics Believe

 I have been in many situations where someone has made a totally incorrect statement about the Catholic Church. Yes I corrected the individual and they were very surprised at the misinformation they were given. You see the problem is that many people see with their eyes and don't know the facts. One common one is that we pray to the statues. Well no in fact the statue is merely a reminder of the person and what they did in their lives. Also when we are praying we are asking that individual to pray for us. Many people think that once your dead your gone. That is just simply not true, because it says in the bible to be absent from the body is to be present with Christ.
 So what should we do as Catholics to spread the truth about the Catholic Church and what we believe. I believe we should do just what is says in the Bible. We should put on the Armor of God. In other words we should find all the material written by Catholics and share it with others. This can be done through the building of websites, blogs, social media like facebook and twitter as well as many others. I believe if we all started to share the information, people and other faiths would have a better understanding of the Catholic Faith. They would also find out that we actually have more in common then they know.
 So start by purchasing various books on the Catholic Church and Catholic Faith. Start up websites and more blogs, then show the Love and Respect that Jesus wanted all of us to do. I believe that as others see what we believe and why we do it, they may be drawn into the church. I would suggest watching shows on EWTN such as The Journey Home. This is a show where many different individuals have left their churches to join the Catholic Church. It can be very interesting and a worthwhile experience. You will also learn some things you may not have known about your Catholic Faith.
 It's Time To Learn And Share Our Catholic Faith