Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions. - GK Chesterton

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Catholics Work Their Way to Heaven?

As a former Evangelical it still boggles me how in the world Catholics get accused of attempting to "work their way to heaven".  This stereotype is just so wrong.  "Ok, ok, so the Catholic Church doesn't teach that anymore, but they used to", a peaceful Evangelical will claim.  "Yes, V2 changed a lot of old nonsense which we try to dissociate from now", replies the peaceful Catholic.  But this is just so wrong.  The Catholic Church NEVER taught such things.  Why do I bring this up again?  I was struck by a paragraph in the TLM mass that I attended yesterday.  Actually, I was struck by the whole thing, but this specific piece highlights my point.  As far as I know, this text was not invented in the 60s:
To us sinners also, Your servants, trusting in the greatness of Your mercy, deign to grant some part and fellowship with Your Holy Apostles and Martyrs with John Stephen, Matthias, Barnabas, Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia, and all Your Saints. Into their company we implore You to admit us, not weighing our merits, but freely granting us pardon. Through Christ our Lord.
for the full text: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/latinmass2.html
Posted by at 8:10 AM

3 comments:

  1. Well said.

    It is important to have faith in the Lord Jesus and to live life according to his teachings and example; it's not an either/or. Faith alone does not save, nor do works alone.

    ~Dr. K
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  2. In the above prayer, mentioned is made of the holy apostles and martyrs, fifteen in all. There represent the several orders and states of personages in the Church.
    St. John the Baptist is of the order of Prophets.
    St. Stephen of the order of deacons.
    St. Matthias of the order of apostles.
    St. Barnabas was a Levite.
    St. Ignatius of Antioch of the order of Bishops.
    St. Alexander was a martyr-Pope.
    St. Marcellinus of the order of Priests.
    St. Peter, the fellow-martyr with St. Marcellinus was an exorcist and is the order of Clerks.

    SS Pepetua and Felicitas are of the married states.
    SS. Agatha, Lucy, Agnes and Cecilia are all of the state of Virgin and St. Anaastasia is ranked among Widows.

    The saints mentioned are those who in Rome, the principal city of Christendom, were at all times held in great veneration.

    Hope this helps.
    ReplyDelete
  3. thanks for the additional info - there's so much to learn.
    ReplyDelete

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