Wednesday, October 16, 2013

There is No Vicar of Christ for Me! -- Protestant Rejections of the Pope

Many "Catholic-want-to-be's" will often argue against the Vicar of Christ; the Pope. This is grounded in the patron saint, speaks of the head of the church and his importance:
general Protestant belief of Sola Fide. This has been argued through the ages. I believe that Bishop Sheen did a fantastic job in his "Life is Worth Living". Even my patron saint chimed in:

"Many are needed to plant and water what has been planted now that the faith has spread so far and there are so many people... No matter who plants or waters, God gives no harvest unless what is planted is the faith of Peter and unless he agrees to his teachings." -- St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr; Feast – December 29

I'm going to strictly speak from, again, my own faith past. As a recovering protestant, I've see faith traditions
that were very "fly by the pants". I can speak that this is reckless, scary and in cases of the extreme eternally deathly. We as Catholics have no idea how important, useful, and down right special it is to have something like the Catechism. Have a question of faith or tradition? YOU HAVE A REFERENCE TOOL. Just like this powerful tool, the Chair of Saint Peter is equally powerful and right. There aren't thousands of interpretations or leaders of the Church. There is one.

I'm not going to say that man isn't wrong and that the church hasn't struggled. Not in the least. But for me, it was a huge comfort to finally no longer get 8 answers to the same question. To not have a Pastor at my church preaching differently than the same denomination down the street. To not have a youth minister preach love and kindness and then to have meetings on what was wrong with other religions. That wasn't love nor universal.

There are some that will just steadfastly refuse the meaning of the our Lord and Peter's conversation. So be it. All we can do is try to educate; even if that agreement is to disagree. That said, we as Catholics should be thankful to God for our blessed Church, our Blessed Father and all the wonderful rules, traditions, and history from which we can richly take spiritual nourishment. Never be ashamed! Share often and widely.

Before I close I wanted to add another prayer I found while looking up various St. Thomas information. As a citizen of the United States, and with my patron I leave with a prayer of intercession to Saint Thomas Becket. Join me is praying for our nation as it struggles with it's current crisis:

Gracious Father, Saint Thomas was famed for his opulence and his status as the most powerful man in England second to the king. Everything changed when he became a priest to be consecrated archbishop. He completely turned his life around and began to live piously. He was soon opposing the king to defend the Church's rights. I ask him to pray for the conversion of our politicians today. O Lord, give them motivation to turn away from the love of money and prestige and to begin serving Your kingdom more than their earthly domains. Forgive them their sins and lead them to heaven. Saint Thomas, pray for us. Amen. -- wordbytes.org

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