Catholic Info
Traditional Catholic Faith => The Sacred: Catholic Liturgy, Chant, Prayers => Topic started by: Canuk the Lionheart on March 26, 2012, 04:02:57 PM
-
I was talking to my Salvation Army friend about the Faith and Church history again today. He has come to see the very likely possibility that the Catholic Church is Church founded by Christ. He also seems to understand the doctrine -and need for Purgatory, along with the Sacrament of Penance, and to a certain extent Holy Orders. Could you pray fervently for the graces he needs to embrace the Faith.
Also if anybody could offer me advice on how to respond to Protestant assumptions and questions, I would be most grateful.
-
God reward you for your efforts Canuk! I will keep him in my prayers today as well!
Are you speaking about apologetics, or just everyday assumptions people have?
-
Thank you s2srea, either would be helpful. My friend is relatively well acquainted with Scripture and theology; advice on how to explain the Real Presence, and the Priesthood would be very helpful!
-
Well, for starters, this may be a good resource. (Thank you OraProMe)
http://www.olrl.org/apologetics/
and linked from the above site:
http://www.catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/index.htm
Secondly, I find when engaging protestants, you cannot 'skip ahead'. You cannot speak on the Real Presence, for example, without discussing the priesthood first, and even then after showing the examples of sacrifice in the Old Testament, how Christ himself instituted the Sacrament, etc. Make sure you cover your base with our religion first, before you move into complex issues.
With protestants, you already agree: There is a God; He's spoken through the Prophets; Christ is his son. Thats about it. Your real, next step, is not moving on from there, but going over again on what it means that Jesus Christ is God.
If you have access to the book, "This is the Faith (http://www.amazon.com/This-Is-Faith-Complete-Explanation/dp/0895556421)", by Ripley, I would highly encourage you to get it because of he is so careful to make sure he explains the Faith, in Order. Its sort of a readable Catechism.
-
Prayers for your friend's conversion, Canuck. :pray:
I would offer advice, though it appears s2s has already offered you some good advice.
-
:pray:
-
If your friend is already well read in Scripture, you could try introducing him to the early Fathers, to show how the earliest Christians read Scripture. This was the universal Faith of the ancient Church was, even in the generation immediately after the Apostles, or even during their lifetimes, many of whom had heard the Apostles preach.
Since you speak of the Real Presence, St.Ignatius of Antioch (circa 110 A.D.) is typical,
Take note of those who hold heterodox opinions on the grace of Jesus Christ which has come to us, and see how contrary their opinions are to the mind of God ... They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which that Father, in his goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes.
This shows that the early Christians took Our Lord (Jn 6:53-58) at His word. He repeated it very clearly and very plainly for them and for us. The Holy Eucharist is the sacrifice of the Messianic dispensation that Malachi foresaw (Mal 1:11-12) offered by Gentiles universally.
Will pray. :pray:
-
Excellent point Nishant- can you, or anyone, recommend a good book on with Church Father's readings?
-
Fisheaters website (not the forum) is great:
http://www.fisheaters.com/responses.html
-
:pray:
-
:pray:
-
Excellent point Nishant- can you, or anyone, recommend a good book on with Church Father's readings?
Hi, Rhea. There are many good books, but Jurgens' volume is a reasonable compilation. It includes little input from the author, mostly quotes from the Fathers, and is fairly comprehensive in the issues it deals with.
http://www.amazon.com/Faith-Early-Fathers-Vol-1/dp/0814604323
The book is relatively modern, though. If you prefer earlier writers, as I do, especially on the subject of the Papacy in the early Fathers, two excellent authors are Fr.Adrian Fortescue and Don John Chapman.