hyperdulia again Posted July 16, 2003 Share Posted July 16, 2003 (edited) Steven: What does it mean to be a Christian? Mary Frances: To be a Christian is to believe that Christ (The Eternal Son of the Father) came to the earth and died not only for the sins of humanity in general (as the saying goes even the demons believe that), but died for your sins in particular. To be a Christian is to know that you are both crucifier and redeemed all at once. Steven: How can you be crucifier and redeemed at the same time? Mary Frances: When we sin we become guilty of indifference to His cross; but when we receive the Sacraments especially Baptism (the gate by which all other Sacraments become available to us and the sacrament which removes both temporal and eternal punishment from actual sins and original sins), Penance (the Sacrament that restores the Baptized when they fall into mortal sin and that gives those who are not in mortal sin the graces needed to not fall), and most importantly the Eucharist (the Body, blood, soul, and divinity of Our Lord—it nourishes us the way nothing else can). Steven: That is very true about the Sacraments and about mortal sins of the Baptized rendering them guilty of indifference to His cross, but it does not answer the earlier question. How can we be crucifier and redeemed in the same instant? Mary Frances: We are guilty of indifference even when we commit venial sins, especially when those venial sins are committed intentionally and while knowing they are venial sins, but we are none-the-less redeemed while guilty of venial rather than mortal sins. That redemption, however, involves a trip to purgatory. Steven: So, being a Christian is to know that you are un-worthy, but that you are still being redeemed by God, because of His Infinite Mercy? Mary Frances: Yes, and when one stops thinking that they are un-worthy or when one stops thinking that one is being redeemed, whether conceit or despair leads one to think thusly, one should stop and re-evaluate their Christianity in general, and their Catholicity in particular. ------------------------------------------- Whadda ya think? Edited July 16, 2003 by hyperdulia again Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasJis Posted July 16, 2003 Share Posted July 16, 2003 Kreeft used a similar dialogue with Chris and Sal. I'm not a theologian, but "unworthy piece of trash' sounds a bit rough and a little Calvinistic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyperdulia again Posted July 16, 2003 Author Share Posted July 16, 2003 lol...perhaps...i think self-loathing is good though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anna Posted July 16, 2003 Share Posted July 16, 2003 I'm not a theologian, but "unworthy piece of trash' sounds a bit rough and a little Calvinistic. Blessed Mary of Agreda repeatedly refers to herself in Mystical City of God as a vile wormlet. Not even worthy enough to be a full-fledged worm! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
God Conquers Posted July 17, 2003 Share Posted July 17, 2003 piece of trash is more Lutheran. He thought we were all snow-covered piles of dung. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyperdulia again Posted July 17, 2003 Author Share Posted July 17, 2003 I think that's kinda right, do I need to re-catechize myself? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
God Conquers Posted July 17, 2003 Share Posted July 17, 2003 haha! No. Just know that our unworthiness is only in comparison to Jesus, who is perfection personified. We can by saved. And besides, did God create us to be trash or piles of mushy mud pie? I think not. He created us for His (and our own because of His) Glory! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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