Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => Fighting Errors in the Modern World => Topic started by: Viva Cristo Rey on January 13, 2022, 11:31:38 PM
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Douay-Rheims Bible (https://www.biblehub.com/drb/matthew/5.htm)
But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
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Forgive them, Lord, they know not what they do.
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Forgive them, Lord, they know not what they do.
sometimes they do know what they do, but we must forgive and pray for them anyway.
It IS hard. I think it is the hardest thing God tells us to do.
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Douay-Rheims Bible (https://www.biblehub.com/drb/matthew/5.htm)
But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
I like real world examples of any teachings, so here are some examples of those that persecuted and calumniated us: Stalin, Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Castro, the Vatican II popes and progressivist bishops and priests, Biden, Soros, Fauci, Gates.....
1) Praying for their conversion and enlightenment is praying for them. Which is what our Lord did for Caiphas, Judas, and Pontius Pilate.
2) After they are dead? I don't think the "pray for them that persecute and calumniate you" applies to them after they are dead because it is too late for conversion.
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sometimes they do know what they do, but we must forgive and pray for them anyway.
Forgive them, yes, of course. But, pray for what? THAT is the question.
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This is a prayer that my family says every day after the rosary:
The approved prayer given by Our Lord to Sister Mary of St Peter against ʀɛʋօʟutιօnary men:
“Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and all the instruments of His Holy Passion that Thou mayst put division in the camp of Thine enemies, for as Thy beloved Son hath said, “a kingdom divided against itself shall fall.”
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sometimes they do know what they do, but we must forgive and pray for them anyway.
It IS hard. I think it is the hardest thing God tells us to do.
That's actually it, though. They truly do not know that they will actually go to hell for their actions (either through malice, ignorance or disbelief) and that they are offending the Good Itself reflected in the apparent goods they enjoy.
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Douay-Rheims Bible (https://www.biblehub.com/drb/matthew/5.htm)
But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:
I think that anyone who is honest with themself would agree. Reciting the Pater Noster several times (e.g. during the Rosary) is a continual reminder that we have been forgiven much and are required to reciprocate forgiveness towards others accordingly.
Personally, I see this as something dynamic and not static. That is to say that as we strive to know God and walk with him, our capacity to forgive will inevitably grow.
I have a real struggle with selfishness, and I realize that I fall short of what is required of me. However, I also recognize that as long as I willingly submit to Christ, he will continue to work in me.
This may not sound comforting to those who are really struggling with such an issue, but the work of Christ in our souls must not be measured purely in time, but with a willingness to be docile and to change what He has revealed to us. The key is not closing your heart and will to him!
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Here is a sort of general prayer (you can change 2021 to 2022). We should all be glad to pray for our enemies' conversion, because Our Lord shed His Precious Blood for them, plus the world would be a better place if they did convert. But for those who won't convert ... they're better off dying before they dig themselves into an even deeper place in hell, so the second part of this prayer is also praying "for" them, in a way.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ws52QMk.png)
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Here is a sort of general prayer (you can change 2021 to 2022). We should all be glad to pray for our enemies' conversion, because Our Lord shed His Precious Blood for them, plus the world would be a better place if they did convert. But for those who won't convert ... they're better off dying before they dig themselves into an even deeper place in hell, so the second part of this prayer is also praying "for" them, in a way.
(https://i.imgur.com/Ws52QMk.png)
I like it. A nice balance between mercy and justice. I'll try to remember to add it to my intentions.
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It is hard to forgive. We don't forget the hurt, and that can be good. But to forgive, IMO, I say, God I need you, for to forgive is divine, and I need you to help me. I take my concerns to the cross.