I must commend you for showing this high level of reverence to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, and recalling May, month devoted to her by the Church's faithful.

As for your reluctance to participate, I also understand. Not all are granted by Our Lord the special charism of speaking out orally for the Holy Faith (Santa Fe, a little Spanish lingo there.) Yet you'll do so perfectly well interiorly; with a prayer offered up for the conversion of sinners.

I also intended if possible, to lay off this argument at least for now. I don't like to pour it on non-stop. The reason I did it yesterday was to get some obstinate friends up to snuff on these hard questions about Catholic devotion to Jesus' holy mother. Many carry around some really curious misconceptions about it. As for the thread having been diverted a ways; so what ? Give a good soul the choice between Rosie O'Donnell and the Holy Virgin, and Rosie is quickly dismissed from our thoughts. --Seems a no-brainer to me.

misterbill,

Actually, there are many true believers who came out of the Catholic church and many who are still in it and will one day come out.

People are greatly helped by reading sites. Not everyone posts.

Debra...

metaphor

We know; because every chance Jesus got, He stressed to His followers the urgent matter of complete, unwavering faith in Him. He knew that when they would at length be confronted with this REVEALED TRUTH,

Many would find it too hard to take. (People just like you.) FAITH is the requisite condition for believing something that we don't understand.

The wafer, as you refer to it, is Jesus' living, aware and real Body; not bread. It is before us under the APPEARANCE of bread. Same with His Blood; it exists mysteriously under the same appearance as before consecration. but it's no longer wine. It shares the same properties, but is changed into His blood, which was shed for us on the cross. In case you still rebel against this truth, read the words of Paul in 1 Cor 11-- passages that challenge you to BELIEVE. If you do not believe the words of Jesus Christ, reading them in the Bible you treasure so much;

DON"T CALL YOURSELF A BELIEVER.

.

Bassndude, at my church (which is a evangelical family integrated one), we partake every week and we too take it very seriously.  Each is asked to be sure of their faith and for parents to disern with their children on their taking of the elements.

face piles of trials with smiles

Here's an enlightened protestant. He believes in the Lord's Supper.

I know some sects (despite denying the Church) are faithful in small things. Thank God they still believe in Baptism.

Your sect applies only a figurative meaning to the reception of bread and wine, Dude. Not the true and real presence of Jesus in this mystery. It's a symbol of his Body and His Blood, for you.

In any case; nothing real is accomplished, since there isn't an ordained, true priest at your consecration. You have no ties at all to the holy priesthood as ordained by Christ's apostles. The so-called reformation abolished them.

You once did; when you were Catholics in the past. Now your church is an autonomous free-lance make believe church. In fact, you value only the Bible. But I concede that even so-- many a good soul will be saved out of your number, despite the misleading doctrines of your ministers of the past. Soon I trust (in God) all of us will be reunited once more; before the end.

Yesterday I failed to notice this post. Hope I can answer now, if Chief wants to read.

"Tumbler, you mentioned "Holy Eucharist"- the mass (not Biblical you know that) --" Reply: Yes, it's certainly supported by scripture in John Chpt 6, and 1 Cor 11 by the apostle Paul. Look it up.

" --is a sacrifice, and one of the 7 sacraments (again not Biblical) that Catholics must pursue. Reply: All seven are acts made sacramental by the words of Jesus Christ. I can quote the text of each one, if you wish. They are sacraments because Christ instituted (taught us) all of them personally.

Infant Baptism, Confirmation, Annointing of the sick, Penance, Holy matrimony and Priesthood. Not all of "faithful" Catholics can pursue all 7, because Holy matrimony and Priesthood are contradictory. So, the maximum is 6. By the way, without the sacraments, the "faithful" Catholics cannot function as a church." Reply: --The Church functions perfectly because her Founder is perfect; He's GOD, 2nd Person of the Trinity. CHRIST established the Church as well as the sacraments. He gave them the power of dispensing His GRACE, merited by His death on the cross. If you have no genuine sacraments, you have no access to grace as He saw fit to give it.

"The final question: if ever a catholic complies with the 7 sacraments, will she/he get to heaven when she/he dies? If the answer is "hope so" or "don't know", then the religion is false and vain...Reply: Your opinion in this materr isn't the teaching of Christ, who specifies for all mankind what WILL and what WON'T bring His grace down to you and me. And, without His grace nobody will be saved, period. No matter WHAT. Answering your overall inquiry: The faithful soul who has the sacraments and believes in Jesus Christ Our Savior will go to everlasting life and there reign with HIM forever after. Jesus has PROMISED it !

"The Bible says, "Search the Scripture for in them you'll find eternal life"- which eternity you prefer? Eternal life in hell or eternal life in heaven..." Reply: That is at least relatively true. But what if you and your brethren learn to see the text in a different aspect than the teachings of the apostles ? --They aren't here to save you from ignorance and erroneous interpretations. Such as you show me above, disputing what is definitely proved in the Bible, Christ's offering of the Eucharist (For just one blatant instance of human error.)

I clarify: They ( Christ's apostles) aren't here to save you from ignorance and erroneous interpretations. But they ARE in the Catholic Church, in their successors the bishops. And in Peter's successor, the Pope. You would like to think that's not scriptural ? But it really MUST be; or else Jesus Christ misled and deceived His Church, when He promised to be with her "all days, even to the end of the world." And when He promised Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. He did NOT place the keys of the kingdom of heaven in your Bible. He only entrusted them to the apostles. And the Catholic Church is the Church of the apostles; there is no other.