"And now he is sleeping on a mattress of letters! That's why I sleep well: it is the grace of God. I always sleep six hours. And I pray," Francis said.The obvious polemical point is that the pope is engaging in 1st commandment idolatry here, by trusting in Joseph and worshiping him, rather than only praying to God.
But the practical note is this: do you trust in God as much as this alleged vicar of Christ trusts in Joseph? I think that's a high bar. It's easy to let our troubles stress us. We must instead be, as Peter tells us, "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7)
Similarly:
Psalm 11:1 In the Lord put I my trust: how say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.
Psalm 32:10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
Psalm 37:5 Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 91:2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
Psalm 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.
And so on. There are many more such verses.
Hi Turretinfan,
ReplyDeleteAs I assume you understand the Catholic paradigm between adoration and veneration, along with saintly intercession, how is it that you believe the Bible verses quoted refute this position? Not one of them precludes the request of a living person being trusted to intercede with God on one's behalf.
I can trust you to pray for me, and share my concerns with you, but that doesn't mean I worship you. So I think you are setting up a false dichotomy.
God bless,
Josh
"by trusting in Joseph and worshiping him"
ReplyDeleteFrancis may have been breaking the first commandment but when you added your own conclusion "by trusting in Joseph and worshiping him", you know knew you were breaking the commandment that says "thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor" for Francis never said he worshipped Joseph. You see, you are not even better than Francis.
Dozie
"The obvious polemical point is that the pope is engaging in 1st commandment idolatry here, by trusting in Joseph and worshiping him, rather than only praying to God."
ReplyDeleteThis sentence demonstrates the problem, as two separate things are conflated: "prayer" and "worship."
"Prayer" does not equate to "worship," and nowhere does the Bible make such a claim.
The etymology of the English word "prayer" reveals that it comes from the Latin "precari," which means "to ask earnestly, to beg, to beseech."
The ancient Jews, in their public worship, recited the psalms and called upon inhabitants of Heaven other than God. In fact, the Jewish people still do. They even called upon inanimate objects. That does not make the Jews worshippers of those beings/things they were addressing.
Psalm 148:2: "Praise ye him, all his angels. Praise ye him, all his hosts."
Psalm 103:20: "Bless the Lord, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."
Saint Paul advises Christians to pray the psalms (Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19). In doing so, a person speaks to the angels.
In addition, Sacred Scripture tells us that men would entreat the favour of "the queen" who stands at the right hand of the throne of God.
Saint Paul tells us that Psalm 45 is addressed to Christ (Hebrews 1:8). Christ's throne is in Heaven (Revelation 4:2, Hebrews 1:13). There is a "queen" who stands at the right hand of the throne of Christ (Psalm 45:9).
People will invoke the favor of this "queen," (Psalm 45:12) and She shall be praised forever (Psalm 45:17).
It is not difficult to figure out who the "queen" is, nor is it difficult to figure out who fulfills the biblical prophecies in Her regard (Luke 1:48).
Addressing oneself to Saint Joseph is no different from addressing oneself to the angels, which is completely "biblical."
DJR