I'm Moving!!

Alright folks, for all of you who had given me your ardent support by reading the posts here.. I thank You *applause please*. Now I'm moving to a new location at Wordpress.... No offence to the editors of blogspot, I have nothing against you guys, you have done a great job! Keep it up! :D I just wanted a fresh start, thus found my way over at WP. Please visit me at the address below, its not ready yet, give it a few days ya. Cheers!

The link can found at http://divinerhapsody.wordpress.com/.

Mad about something, think twice!

There was once a little boy who had a bad temper. One day, his father thought of an idea, and gave the little a bag full of nails. The father advised him that every time when he lost his temper, he should hammer a nail into the back of the fence, which besiege the house they live. The first day, the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learnt to control his anger (exhausted of all energy to flare up from hammering nails into the fence), the nuber of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled overtime.

The little boy discovered that it was easier to control his temper, than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally, the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and his father suggested that the little boy now pull out all the nails, one by one, for each day that he was able to control his temper. The days passed and the little boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone.

The father then took his little boy, precious son by the hand and led him to the fence, and he said, "you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same again. So when you are pissed, angry or flaring, saying things that hurt, will leave scars just like these holes here."

Anger leads to resentment. Scars are like cracks in the wall, which cannot be healed completely humanly/human works. No matter how much we make up, or allow time to pass, we can never fully heal the brokenness others have inflicted on us, or vice versa. Thus, when we realise we are nothing, and can be so fragile.... we sense the presence of someone greater above, who seem to understand our sufferings. And thus, we turn to this source of peace.

Left, Centre, Right??

Recently, the Vatican reaffirmed the centrality of the Catholic Church in the Salvific plan of God. In the Statement, the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith (CDF) describes the Protestant Churches not so much as to be called "churches", but ecclesial communities, and the Orthodox Churches not to be in full communion with the Catholic Church, and thus lack something in their condition as particular churches.

I wouldn't go into theological debates. If you want more information you can visit http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/
rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070629_responsa-quaestiones_en.html

However, I am not against the statement being issued. Not because I am a Catholic, but because of how rational and logical the statement is phrased.

It serves as a reminder for us Catholics of our stand in ecumenical dialogue. And mind you, this stand has never changed even since the era of the Protestant reformation in the 16th century.

I think that more Catholics either don't know or they forget about the stand of the Catholic Church. It is time for someone to speak up for the Chrch, and that will be the CDF. What happens when we declare officially our stand? People start criticising, issuing ego-crushing comments (uncalled-for comments), or slamming the Catholic Church. Is it wrong for us to state our official stand, or to serve a reminder for Catholics who are engaging in dialogue? Then so, why all these comments? Is it better to sweep things under the carpet, pretend there's nothing wrong, there's isn't any divisions, disagreements, differences between the 2 traditions(Catholic and Reformed), or is it better to explain our stand and clear any misunderstandings or misconstrue? Will this affect our relationship with each other? (that of course is based on how you interpret things)

I guess the mixed response from the Protestants stems from different views of authority than from the Catholics. While the former believes in Sola Scriptura, and Biblical authority, on the other hand, Catholics believes in the authority of Tradition, handed down by the Apostles and great Fathers/Popes of the Church, to this day. Scripture is part of Tradition.

Is our stand detrimental to the progress of Ecumenism?

In my opinion, I don't think so. Because logically speaking, ecumenism is never about comprising positions, being a yes-person and giving in to all sorts of differing opinions and descriptions of the Catholic faith. Ecumenism is not: I would like to make friends with you, and hence whatever you want, just speak your mind, I will talk to the Pope and we see how we can meets your wants.

I think its more an acknowledgement of similarities and DIFFERENCES that exist between differing traditions, and besides touching on the similiarities, we know that differences still persist, and an obstacle to UNTIY. We strive to unity, however, we respect our differences, and give each other space and freedom to lay out the tough topics at hand. In this way, we reach a greater understanding. An understanding that will help to reduce prejudice or detestation.

Ecumenism is also not equated to conversion. This is never the aim of Second Vatican Council. Instead it is to create a greater awareness of the Catholic faith, by presenting the faith to others and non-believers in a more accessible way, and possibly eradicate any myths,fables or misconception.

In conculsion, I personally feel that the CDC was right in proclaiming the centrality/primacy of the Catholic Church, partly is to ease confusion to non-believers who are seeking to know God through Christianity. And in this godless and post-modernistic world, someone has to proclaim the inconvenient and well-disliked truth against all odds, and that is the Catholic Church.