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Anthony
Jones
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
- The Bible speaks against vain repetitions,
so how is saying the Rosary not vain repetition?
- The Bible speaks against graven images,
so how are medals and figurines not graven
images?
- If one does wear a medal, is it okay
to wear it under their clothes or should it be
worn out where it can be seen?
- If one is receiving Holy Communion on
First Fridays for Jesus and First Saturdays
for Mary, is it okay to go to both the
First Friday and First Saturday of each
month?
Andrew
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{
Can you answer questions on repetitious prayer, graven images, and First Fridays and Saturdays? }
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Eric
replied:
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Hi, Andrew —
The prohibition against vain repetitions should be understood
in context. It says vain repetitions
as the pagans do. You see, the pagans
treated prayers as kind of magic
incantations. By using the deity's
name, they wielded control over the
deity. The more they used it, the
more assured they were of power.
So they felt that by multiplying
words over and over mindlessly, they
had a better chance of being heard.
This is not what the Rosary is about
at all. It's a meditation on the
mysteries of the faith. The words should be prayed sincerely, directed
heart to heart, not as an incantation
to obtain power.
Moreover, it is clear that repetitive
prayer itself is not forbidden by
Scripture because there are multiple
instances of repetitive prayer in
Scripture. For example:
the four living creatures in Revelation 4 who say
"Holy,
Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty,
and is and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)
over
and over ceaselessly.
Or, Isaiah 6, where the Seraphim
say,
"Holy, holy, holy is
the Lord of hosts; the whole earth
is full of his glory."
(Isaiah 6:1-3)
Or, consider Psalm 118, where
"His
love endures forever" (Psalm 118)
is
repeated over and over.
(Remember
the Psalms were used as prayers
by the Jews.) |
As in so many things, what matters
is not the externals but the internals
— not the appearances but what's
in the heart.
As for graven images, read carefully
the commandment:
Thou shalt not make unto thee
any graven image, or any likeness
of any thing that is in heaven
above, or that is in the earth
beneath, or that is in the water
under the earth.
Thou shalt not bow down thyself
to them, nor serve them: for I
the LORD thy God am a jealous
God, visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children
unto the third and fourth generation
of them that hate me...
Deuteronomy 5:6-9 |
It says you shall not bow down to
them or serve them — this is
the heart of the commandment. Here,
too, we have examples where Scripture
calls for graven images to be made.
For example, God commanded the making
of the brazen serpents (Numbers 21:8–9)
which brought healing, and also of the
angels covering the Ark of the Covenant
(Exodus 25:18ff) so images weren't
absolutely forbidden; only images
that were worshiped.
One reason why this prohibition is
lived so differently in the Christian
church compared to the Jewish community
is because of the Incarnation. Deuteronomy 4 gives a rationale for the commandment:
It says it's because they did not
see God in any form (verse 15) but
with the Incarnation, God did take
a form — a human form. And
in fact, He makes His dwelling inside
of us and we become other Christs (Christian means little Christ)
and partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). So this inaugurated a new economy
of images.
You said:
- If one does wear a medal, is it okay
to wear it under their clothes or should it be
worn out where it can be seen?
It doesn't matter how you wear a
medal.
You said:
- If one is receiving Holy Communion on
First Fridays for Jesus and First Saturdays
for Mary, is it okay to go to both the
First Friday and First Saturday of each
month?
You can go to both First Fridays
and First Saturdays. Just be aware
that they aren't always adjacent
(if, for example, the first day of
the month falls on a Saturday).
For more information see:
Eric
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Andrew
replied:
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Hi, Eric —
On reading back over what I sent,
it may have looked like I was attacking
but I didn't mean it that way. Let
me tell you what recently happened with
me.
Not long ago I came across my Halley's
Bible handbook and was reading in
it. I read where it said that when
Jesus's side was pierced, blood and
water came out and the water was
really serum, and the blood that issued
forth was evidence that His Heart
had ruptured. This moved me so much
and I remembered hearing about the
Sacred Heart. I ordered a Sacred
Heart medal for myself and have been
wearing it, even before I got your
answer about graven images. I started
reading about the Sacred Heart online.
I ordered a beautiful print of a
painting of Jesus and His Sacred
Heart and will frame it and put it
up in my house when it arrives.
Then, for some reason, I wanted to
read about the Lady
of Fatima and from there have
been reading about Catholicism online.
I read something about Mary and how
one can do First Saturday devotions
to her. She seems so left out of
most other Christian religions. I've
only recently understood that the
Roman Catholic Church is the rock
upon which Jesus built His Church.
I've been saved and baptized but
I've never really identified myself
with any denomination, just
as a Christian, because I've never liked
the idea of different sects. At any
rate, I've been thinking about exploring
the Catholic Church near me — or
at least going to a Mass.
Thanks
for pointing out that the first Fridays
and first Saturdays aren't always
going to be one after another in
a month; and thanks for the answers
to my other questions too. I was
surprised to get answers so soon.
- Does one have to be a Catholic
to do the First Friday and First
Saturday devotions?
I'm wondering because I was thinking
about doing them beginning in June,
the month of the Sacred Heart.
Thanks,
Andrew
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Eric
replied:
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Hi, Andrew —
It is wonderful that you are so interested
in Catholicism! Welcome. I did not
suspect you were attacking since
you were asking questions about how
to wear the medals, which someone
who was attacking the Church obviously
wouldn't do!
Yes, the blood and water which flowed
from Jesus's side also proves that
he truly died.
I'd definitely encourage you to go
to a Mass (although you won't be
able to receive Communion) and after
you've been for a while and studied
some, consider making an appointment
with the local priest to talk about
receiving instruction. There is no commitment
required; no salesman will call!
If you wish to go deeper, consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.
The
Catechism contains the basics of
our faith in an official form.
The First Friday and First Saturday
devotions require receiving the sacraments
of Confession and the Eucharist,
which you can't receive as a non-Catholic.
I'm sure both Mary and Jesus would
be pleased if you went to Mass anyway,
made a Confession to God and a Spiritual
Communion.
A spiritual Communion is where you
ask to receive the Lord spiritually,
uniting yourself to him in prayer,
asking to be made a partaker of the
divine nature (2 Peter 1).
You may want to do some reading.
I recommend the conversion stories
in Surprised
by Truth edited by Patrick Madrid,
and also Surprised
by Truth II and III.
If you have further questions, or
want some other reading recommendations,
let us know.
Eric
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Mike
replied:
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Hi, Andrew —
I just wanted to add to my colleague's
fine reply.
I have a great devotion to both First
Fridays and First Saturdays. I have done them now for 25 years
and have only missed 8 times. This
posting will help explain
both devotions.
Also, many erroneously call the Catholic Christian faith a denomination. It is not!
Calling our faith a denomination implies Catholics are just a part of the whole Christian faith which is a grave error.
Also, many erroneously call the Catholic Christian faith a denomination. It is not!
Calling our faith a denomination implies Catholics are just a part of the whole Christian faith which is a grave error.
The word Catholic, means according to its totality. So the Catholic Christian faith is the Christian faith according to its totality. It's all here, at least for faithful Catholics.
This is unlike Protestants or dissenting Catholics, who pick and choose what they wish to believe. Check out the quote from St. Pacian of Barcelona, (c.310-375 A.D.) on the home page of AskACatholic.com
Mike
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