Ash Wednesday

[Walter]

I think in the context of the day, in which the Church was struggling against the Judaizers in regards to how Gentiles were to be received (as seems to be the background of many of Paul's epistles), these seem to be JEWISH days that Paul is referencing.

Certainly, there may be an application to those observing Christian holidays, if those are doing so for show, out of habit, or subconsciously trying to score brownie points with God. However, I don't see anything particularly wrong with a day set aside, at the beginning of Lent (which commemorates Christ's fasting in the wilderness) to be reminded of our mortality: "Remember, O Man, from dust thou art and to dust thou wilt return". I see the Church's Liturgical calender being a wonderful teaching aid for growing in the faith as one meditates on the life and work of Christ (and remembers those who have been sanctified by Him), particularly when combined with the Scriptures specific to those days.

Those of us who follow the 'Daily Office' find it to be a 'wonderful teaching aid for growing in the faith' as well. Your Book of Common Prayer has a lectionary for those who pray using the 'Daily Office'. I think the BCP is one of the 'gems' of your church.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I think in the context of the day, in which the Church was struggling against the Judaizers in regards to how Gentiles were to be received (as seems to be the background of many of Paul's epistles), these seem to be JEWISH days that Paul is referencing.

Certainly, there may be an application to those observing Christian holidays, if those are doing so for show, out of habit, or subconsciously trying to score brownie points with God. However, I don't see anything particularly wrong with a day set aside, at the beginning of Lent (which commemorates Christ's fasting in the wilderness) to be reminded of our mortality: "Remember, O Man, from dust thou art and to dust thou wilt return". I see the Church's Liturgical calender being a wonderful teaching aid for growing in the faith as one meditates on the life and work of Christ (and remembers those who have been sanctified by Him), particularly when combined with the Scriptures specific to those days.

Frankly I have moved away from church liturgical calendar's, rosaries, Holy Days of obligations, St Blaise Blessings of the Throat, Saints feast days, Lenten fasts, high masses, confessional boxes, holy water sprinkling, 1st Fridays, May songs honoring Mary, Rote Prayer, Palm Crosses, Saints feast days, sacrificial masses, Purgatory, Masses for the dead, Infant Baptisms, Grotto's, scapulars, Sacraments, Extreme Unction.....all are apostate & unnecessary.

 

[Doubting Thomas]

Frankly I have moved away from church liturgical calendar's, rosaries, Holy Days of obligations, St Blaise Blessings of the Throat, Saints feast days, Lenten fasts, high masses, confessional boxes, holy water sprinkling, 1st Fridays, May songs honoring Mary, Rote Prayer, Palm Crosses, Saints feast days, sacrificial masses, Purgatory, Masses for the dead, Infant Baptisms, Grotto's, scapulars, Sacraments, Extreme Unction.....all are apostate & unnecessary.

You just might be painting with too broad a brush, but...okay. :smilewinkgrin:

 

[Doubting Thomas]

Those of us who follow the 'Daily Office' find it to be a 'wonderful teaching aid for growing in the faith' as well. Your Book of Common Prayer has a lectionary for those who pray using the 'Daily Office'. I think the BCP is one of the 'gems' of your church.

Indeed. :thumbs:

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

You just might be painting with too broad a brush, but...okay. :smilewinkgrin:

More to the point....I know longer use the same brand of paint altogether!:laugh:

 

[Doubting Thomas]

More to the point....I know longer use the same brand of paint altogether!:laugh:

Gotcha...good one!

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

More to the point...the witness says,, it is you I love above all since one can know and still not love. Remember, He is a jealous God & so He comes 1st before mere tradition. May God bless those who struggle with making Him Lord above all.

... says the self-appointed Judge of all ...

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

The Paschal Mystery is the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.

Here you have it, another of those weak and beggarly first principle nogods superstitiously adored, worship, hung on to for the salvation of one's soul.

The Roman Catholic "Paschal Mystery" is blasphemous idolatry. Catholicism has not changed one bit; it still and more than ever is just what the Reformers used to call it, the anti-Christ!

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

I think in the context of the day, in which the Church was struggling against the Judaizers in regards to how Gentiles were to be received (as seems to be the background of many of Paul's epistles), these seem to be JEWISH days that Paul is referencing.

Most probably yes, since them Jewish bigots not from recently just loved to worship them strangers' nogods, especially lord Sun, just like they.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

I think in the context of the day, in which the Church was struggling against the Judaizers in regards to how Gentiles were to be received (as seems to be the background of many of Paul's epistles), these seem to be JEWISH days that Paul is referencing.

Certainly, there may be an application to those observing Christian holidays, if those are doing so for show, out of habit, or subconsciously trying to score brownie points with God. However, I don't see anything particularly wrong with a day set aside, at the beginning of Lent (which commemorates Christ's fasting in the wilderness) to be reminded of our mortality: "Remember, O Man, from dust thou art and to dust thou wilt return". I see the Church's Liturgical calender being a wonderful teaching aid for growing in the faith as one meditates on the life and work of Christ (and remembers those who have been sanctified by Him), particularly when combined with the Scriptures specific to those days.

GE:

Most valuable statement! Proof black on white of the Roman Catholic substitutionary dogma. 'Ash Wednesday' --- THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH CHRIST'S 'BONE-DAY' !!!

Thank you for the information and revealing of another papal atrocity.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

"BONE-DAY"

... knew of 'bone-yard' where American planes of war are 'stationed' and 'inventoried' in the desert somewhere ... ?

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

The Paschal Mystery is the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.

Thats what I thought.... why is it referred to as a mystery? was it not foretold?

 

[Walter]

Thats what I thought.... why is it referred to as a mystery? was it not foretold?

I am sure TS could answer this much better than yours truly. I'm still learning these terms. The paschal mystery... HOW could Jesus die and rise again? What effect did each part of this action have? Why? What is His ascension? To where? How long? on and on.

I believe it is a mystery in the same way that the Trinity is a mystery. Mysteries are subject to meditation and deep intellect. You're SUPPOSED to think about them and try to understand them. They're called mysteries because they are questions which ultimately cannot be answered in the long run, so they provide endless tract of ground to meditate on the spiritual meaning behind them. Sure we can give analogies and so on, but no one can fully explain it.

You can spend thousands and millions of words pulling out more and more of it and still not fully plumb the depths or even getting your metaphorical arms around it.
Thats my feeble attempt to explain it. The Christian walk is often shrouded in fog, at least as far as what's in the distance, but moment by moment, when I think with God's mind and not my own and meditate on His word, the path is clear.

 

[Gerhard Ebersoehn]

I am sure TS could answer this much better than yours truly. I'm still learning these terms. The paschal mystery... HOW could Jesus die and rise again? What effect did each part of this action have? Why? What is His ascension? To where? How long? on and on.

I believe it is a mystery in the same way that the Trinity is a mystery. Mysteries are subject to meditation and deep intellect. You're SUPPOSED to think about them and try to understand them. They're called mysteries because they are questions which ultimately cannot be answered in the long run, so they provide endless tract of ground to meditate on the spiritual meaning behind them. Sure we can give analogies and so on, but no one can fully explain it.

You can spend thousands and millions of words pulling out more and more of it and still not fully plumb the depths or even getting your metaphorical arms around it.
Thats my feeble attempt to explain it. The Christian walk is often shrouded in fog, at least as far as what's in the distance, but moment by moment, when I think with God's mind and not my own and meditate on His word, the path is clear.

Shucks, that's deep!

 

[Walter]

Shucks, that's deep!

Certainly my faith and belief has developed as I have read deeper and had to work through what I thought on particular issues in the Catechism. Some of them are still developing such as what I think of the massacre passages in the OT. Fortunately I am not a pastor and called on to guide others.

 

[Walter]

Here you have it, another of those weak and beggarly first principle nogods superstitiously adored, worship, hung on to for the salvation of one's soul.

The Roman Catholic "Paschal Mystery" is blasphemous idolatry. Catholicism has not changed one bit; it still and more than ever is just what the Reformers used to call it, the anti-Christ!

Could you please explain how the Paschal Mystery' is 'blasphemous idolatry'?

Any tradition, handed down or which has evolved in the Church which my be "beyond" what is written will never conflict or go against what is written, at least *not* in the Church Jesus Himself founded or He'd be a liar as would the Holy Spirit . The Church is an 'organism' however, and grows and evolves over the years, but never goes against the word of God as is *written.* Most Baptists and non-denoms have their own 'traditions' that they 'cling to' but most of the individual congregants never would admit that they do or see it that way. Collecting a tithe/offering at the same time during a service and singing praise songs for 45 minutes before the sermon which usually starts at the same time at every service and then the preaching for 45 minutes to an hour of that sermon, at every service, is "beyond" what is written. If fact the word "trinity" is going *beyond what is written* as that word cannot even be found in scripture, yet we Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

 

[Melanie]

I dont recall....is this considered a Holy Day of Obligation in the Catholic Calendar?

It is certainly a Holy day of Obligation in the Liturgical Calendar. Lent is the lead up to the most important part of Christ's misson on earth.

Holy Week, the week prior to Easter which starts on Palm Sunday recalls His Passion in detail.....the Gospels of His Passion are central to this.

There is a LOT of ritual leading up to Easter, which as a Catholic I attend as many as I can, these can be very long, but it is ALL about remembering and meditating on each and every aspect of His Passion.

 

[Walter]

It is certainly a Holy day of Obligation in the Liturgical Calendar. Lent is the lead up to the most important part of Christ's misson on earth.

Holy Week, the week prior to Easter which starts on Palm Sunday recalls His Passion in detail.....the Gospels of His Passion are central to this.

There is a LOT of ritual leading up to Easter, which as a Catholic I attend as many as I can, these can be very long, but it is ALL about remembering and meditating on each and every aspect of His Passion.

While all Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass (or at least attend a service where ashes are imposed) on Ash Wednesday in order to begin the Lenten season with the proper attitude and reflection, Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation. It is, however, a day of fasting and abstinence. Catholics have an obligation in that sense.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

http://www.baptistboard.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1949591

While all Catholics are encouraged to attend Mass (or at least attend a service where ashes are imposed) on Ash Wednesday in order to begin the Lenten season with the proper attitude and reflection, Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation. It is, however, a day of fasting and abstinence. Catholics have an obligation in that sense.

http://www.baptistboard.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1949591

 

[Walter]

http://www.baptistboard.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1949591

http://www.baptistboard.com/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=1949591

EWF, did you mean to post two links to my comment? Probably not.
I do want to say that Melanie has been part of the Catholic Faith for some time and probably is much more up on the canons of the Church than I am. I remain a student of the Faith.