Catholic Online Forum

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Do you know what the virtue of Faith is? Could you explain this gift you have been given to others? See: http://renewthechurch.wordpress.com/

After you read this article linked above, I'd be grateful for your comments, on this thread or at the link. Thanks.

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MariaChristi

Maria, my personal experiences over the years are all the same:

People say something like, "I wish I had faith like you do." And I respond, "it's not always easy".

That alone appears to strengthen them in some way.


Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Dear Mary,

Thanks for your reply. I guess, our answers may vary according to the person who asks us to explain. If someone is a Catholic, for instance, and wants to grow in the Gift of Faith received in Baptism, your answer that "its not always easy" may be enough to strengthen them. In times of trial, our own faith may seem very weak to us and another's encouragement can keep us looking to God to increase the little faith we have.

When someone has never been baptized, but is searching, or someone has lost faith by turning away from God and is seeking repentance or is seeking to justify his/her own atheism, are we prepared to explain why we remain faithful?

Are we ready to share Jesus in Whom we believe? We are living in the midst of a culture of death, and we need to let our light shine. (Mt 5:16)If anyone reading this thread is interested in reaching out to those seeking Absolute Truth in their lives, you may want to read:

http://renewthechurch.wordpress.com/201 ... -gentiles/

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MariaChristi

My Faith is a gift received .I am thankful to be born a Catholic.The inspiraton to grow in my Faith comes from the Holy people in real life and on the Internet.
Threats to my Faith come from relatives and friends who dilute the a faith with sin
I need people around me to grow in Faith
This seems more important than mere personal prayer
I am no Eucharistic person .I last received Holy communion a month ago.
Thanks for your support on the internet

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Simon

Dear Simon,

Thanks for your reply. My Faith too is a gift received. I was baptized when I was about two weeks old, and I am very grateful to God and to my parents for the supernatural life I received at Baptism as well as the natural life into which I was born. I agree with you too, that the Faith we share with others helps to grow our own faith. I believe God created us all with different gifts in order that we may both give and receive from others all He has given us and thus build up the Body of Christ.

I wonder, however, what you meant in saying: "This seems more important than mere personal prayer". If you are considering "mere personal prayer" as "merely saying words" then of course, living faith and sharing that faith is more. But true prayer is something far more valuable and important than anything if we define it as St. John Vianney did: "Prayer is nothing other than union with God." The Catechism of the Catholic Church also says in paragraph 2652:

Were you unable to receive Holy Communion due to conditions in India? I read in your profile that the Forum you are most interested in is the one on "Modern Martyrs" and the thread on which you are most active is the one on "3 Christians killed in India and 13 churches burned".

I would like to continue our conversation on this thread, and hope you will reply again. I too am grateful for the support of the Faithful on the internet. Did you have time to check the two links on this thread? I'd be happy to read any comments to them here or on the blog entries themselves. Thanks again with prayers.

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MariaChristi

The motto of this Forum is "Faith seeking understanding' which is why I am here. I am not content with Faith without understanding
My problem is that in the real world I find it difficult to discuss and deepen my Faith.Prior to the advent of the internet I had to be content with a few books .The St Paul Bookstore was 50kms from my house .
India is a huge country and the part I am from (goa) is safe for Catholics in that we make up 25% of the population
It was therefore my duty to post all that happened in 2008 to Christians in more dangerous parts of the country
These were South Kanara and Orissa
I was amply rewarded for my efforts as I stayed in South Kanara this year and saw for myself what a vibrant community it is inspite of it being a minority. Check this retreat centre www.dccmulki.in

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Simon

Yes but for me the problem is that catholic values dont flow in society
For example illegal mining has been going on for years ,no one seems to care about the environment except the Church authorities

http://www.goachronicle.com/goa/current ... ning-in-sc

Claude Alvares is a member of the European Parliament

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Simon

Simon, thank you for posting your retreat center for us...it's a joy to see it and even more, all the people, as well.


Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Dear Simon,

Thanks for your response, and for the link to the retreat center. I agree that none of us can be content without continually seeking to understand more of what our faith really means and how we can live faith-filled lives. St. Augustine wrote well of himself and all of us that our hearts are restless until they rest in God. The internet has been a blessing for me also. Not only am I able to keep in touch with many Catholic Christians all over the world, (I belong to three Catholic Forums) but also I am able to access so many spiritual treasures. The writings of the saints, Church history, the teachings of the Church from our current and past Popes, so much is now available to me, without buying more books.

Hopefully, as we feed our minds, nourishing them on God's Truth, we are seeking at the same time, true conversion of heart whereby we make charity our aim, and put all our hope in God. Faith without works, faith that is not rooted in charity is fruitless. St. Paul reminds us that if we have faith so as to move mountains, but have not charity, it profits nothing. I believe that the charity in your heart moved you to post all the happenings to Christians in the more dangerous parts of your country. Doing the Truth in love is very important: faith works through charity. The retreat center looks as if the minority of Christians are gathered in a vibrant community, seeking the Lord inspite of being a small number of the total population. Some time ago, Pope Benedict XVI said that Catholics in the world may become a minority, but if that minority remains faithful to all Christ has taught through Scripture, Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church then God is honored by those few. Jesus asks in the Gospel: "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

In the beginnings of Christianity, the blood of the martyrs was like seed, bringing forth abundant conversions. Only God knows what the future holds for this world of current darkness. The culture of death wars against the culture of life. So many who bear the name "Christian" remain asleep, like the drowsy disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane -- while the Lord suffers. In my country of the USA, I am astounded by the numbers of Catholics confused and uninformed. We have two presidential candidates: one is Pro-Life and the other is the most pro-abortion president in our history. The choice should be very clear but the Catholic vote is split in some states. It is unthinkable that infanticide is tolerated -- yet it is!!! God help us to turn the tide here and in the world.

Thank you for your every prayerful effort to speak and to do God's Truth, lovingly. You and your country are in my prayers, please keep me and my country in yours. Let us both, by God's Grace continue to pray for all those in most need of His Mercy, and do whatever we can to help others to understand better God's Loving Will for all His children.

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MariaChristi

"Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

This is faith and the formula.

Hear the word, do as he askes. When we show our trust in Him without seeing,
he confirms with us through the Holy Spirit in our heart and faith grows.

If you want faith, do what God simply tell us to do. Our cup then overflows.

If you want more faith , do more of what he askes.

Talk with Him he will always listen. A little prayer creates rivers of flowing
water.

Everything He askes us to do is always for our best interest.

We must first hear, believe and do, then receive.

it is generally not receive first, do, hear and believe.

pray is the single most effective way to grow faith because it creates
a dialog between you and Him who created the entire universe and the
laws it all hangs on.

Pray and believe, He loves to send His blessed assurance.

IHS

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Aaron Tremblay M.I.
Knight of the Immaculata

The retreat centre is at Mulki which is about 30kms from Mangalore where anti Christian riots broke out in 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Chris ... _Karnataka

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Simon

Simon, I greatly admire what you and your friends are doing.


Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

This centre is around 600 kms south from where I live.It is a different state ,that has less than 10 % christians.There are Hindu temples everywhere.There is also a Hindu pilgrim centre Udupi.More christians are found along this coast than interior areas.From what I understand conversions took place just 300 years ago .The music, if you listen to the audio ,is indian music
Since I speak the same language (konkani) I could understand things perfectly.
I do admire the priests who would have been the prime targets if things had got worse in 2008.

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Simon

Simon, this is so beautiful and encouraging...who knows how many similar groups are also living for, "that they may all be one..."


Mary

_________________
"Those who encounter the Risen Jesus
and entrust themselves docilely to him have nothing to fear.
This is the message that Christians are called to spread
to the very ends of the earth." Benedict XVI

Dear Aaron,

Thanks for your response. I am happy to see that you are a Knight of the Immaculata. I first consecrated myself to Jesus through Mary using the method of St. Louis De Montfort learned from his treatise, "True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary." Having renewed this Consecration, for many years with love and gratitude, I then "met" St. Maximilian Kolbe and having read about him and his Act of Consecration, I also wanted to use this Saint's words to consecrate myself in a new way. For me the Act of Consecration by St. Maximillian Kolbe seemed to "complete" the Act of Consecration by St. Louis de Montfort. It seemed to give me a new "evangelistic, apostolic" thrust to my more personal consecration. I now renew both forms of Consecration often.

Faith is a gift which must be nourished. We need, as you have said, to listen to God's Word and pray that we might both hear His Truth and do His Truth lovingly. I believe that Mary is (as the Popes have called her) "Star of the New Evangelization". As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us in paragraph 971, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is "intrinsic" to Christian worship. We simply cannot do without her! She is a "nourishing mother" who brought Jesus into this world by God's plan. She laid Him in a manger which was a feeding trough at Bethlehem (House of Bread). Jesus was born of Mary's flesh and became Heavenly Food for us. Bread of Angels, He nourishes us in His Word and in His Sacrament. "We believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary..." (profession of faith in the Creed)

Mary, Mother of our Faith, Mother of the Church, and Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us. Intercede for us that our faith may grow as yours did on this earth.

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MariaChristi

Well my comments are from the heart and I am not trying to be logical

The first comment is that if you were to come to States like Karnataka in India you would face a lot of persecution.There is real anger towards white missionaries .And you would face more persecution because you have worked with poor something that high caste Hindu brahmins simply don't do
I cannot understand your blog and that makes me very happy ,hope some day I can stretch my lazy self(SLOTH)
You stand in sharp contrast to "Gay"/abortion 'rights" supporter Obama.
I initially had thought that most Americans would be like you but I know that I was merely dreaming and there are too many who think that they are so smart that they can forget Christianity.
It is really a blessing to know you

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Simon

This was the theme of Blessed John Paul II visit to India in 1986.
I am one with all at Holy Mass,one when reading or listening to Holy People.
I cannot read Scripture because the Devil has put it in to me that it is out of this world.
Unforgiveness is something that breaks my unity with others.So does sin thoughI am unaware of its consequences

PS I never get bored of John Lennon's IMAGINE

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Simon

Dear Simon,

Thanks for your reply. Let us continue to pray for one another, and for all those in most need of His Mercy.

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MariaChristi

The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all leavened.
Christ changes societies .There is resistance for a reason.Karnataka has a rich tradition which they are rightly proud of.Their music and cuisine and handicrafts are in a league of their own.Many would not understand how Christianity could supersede or displace their culture.Never mind that a majority of students at prestigious catholic institutions are Hindus .It hurts and hurts bad.
But change there must but organised cowardly attacks on churches by anti social elements(goondas) are a a real shame.At the same time the victims feel helpless as the govt supported the perpetrators.

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Simon

deleted -sorry-link did not work

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Simon