Interesting, though the Word of God is the Word of God...
FromNews:
A newly discovered fragment of the oldest surviving copy of the New Testament indicates that, as far as the Antichrist goes, theologians, scholars, heavy metal groups, and television evangelists have got the wrong number. Instead of 666, it's actually the far less ominous 616.
The new fragment from the Book of Revelation, written in ancient Greek and dating from the late third century, is part of a hoard of previously unintelligible manuscripts discovered in historic dumps outside Oxyrhynchus in Egypt. Now a team of expert classicists, using new photographic techniques, are finally deciphering the original writing.
Professor David Parker, Professor of New Testament Textual Criticism and Paleography at the University of Birmingham, thinks that 616, although less memorable than 666, is the original. He said: 'This is an example of gematria, where numbers are based on the numerical values of letters in people's names. Early Christians would use numbers to hide the identity of people who they were attacking: 616 refers to the Emperor Caligula.'"
Tuesday, May 3, 2005
Call for One Christian Calendar
This would be a move toward unity with the Orthodox that would cost no one...
From >>> AsiaNews.it <<< Stronger ties with the Catholic Church, says Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim:
The Patriarch expressed his desire to see Christian Churches agree to a "fixed calendar for celebrations", which would give the Christian people, wherever they dwelt, the possibility of celebrating the same feasts at the same time.
The Patriarch strongly reiterated his desire to maintain and strengthen the ties established by the late Pope John Paul II with the Church now led by Pope Benedict XVI to whom he sends his best wishes.
At the end of the service, Ignatius Iv asked Mary, Mother of God, for Her intercession, so that today's world may "be more peaceful, dialogue and communication between one and another."
From >>> AsiaNews.it <<< Stronger ties with the Catholic Church, says Patriarch Ignatius IV Hazim:
The Patriarch expressed his desire to see Christian Churches agree to a "fixed calendar for celebrations", which would give the Christian people, wherever they dwelt, the possibility of celebrating the same feasts at the same time.
The Patriarch strongly reiterated his desire to maintain and strengthen the ties established by the late Pope John Paul II with the Church now led by Pope Benedict XVI to whom he sends his best wishes.
At the end of the service, Ignatius Iv asked Mary, Mother of God, for Her intercession, so that today's world may "be more peaceful, dialogue and communication between one and another."
Monday, May 2, 2005
It is Time to Renew the Church
Father Benedict Groeschel visits his seminary. Interestingly the place where he did his novitiate, fairly close to where I work was also sold and bought by another denomination.
From Father Benedict:
"The other day I visited the old seminary I had attended as a Capuchin. Because of the loss of vocations the large building on the banks of the Hudson in Garrison, New York, had been closed and later sold. It is now a Buddhist retreat house, and the staff treated me with friendliness and courtesy. It was the occasion of great sadness, however, when I saw in the place where the Blessed Sacrament had once been reserved a large and imposing statue of Buddha. I have no hostility to the Buddhist religion. Buddha himself tried to lead people to peace; more than anything else he was an ethical philosopher. Buddhists have made him into something of a god, although that term does not fit too well. The statue certainly showed a serious artistic attempt to portray divinity. What saddened me greatly was that the presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist was gone. When the Capuchin friars sold the seminary, the building was supposed to be converted into condominiums. The new owner was not able to do that, however, and resold the property to the Buddhist retreat movement. This is a sad commentary on the fact that in the last thirty or forty years Catholics in the United States have 'dropped the ball,' if I may put it that way. There may be many excuses and reasons, but history will judge that we did not do well with the vibrant faith we received from our forebears. It is time to get on with the Church's work, that is, the work Christ gives us as Catholics. It is time to renew religious education, Catholic life, and the observance of the Gospel. It is time for every Catholic who has his or her wits about them to become as fervent a Christian as possible. "
From Father Benedict:
"The other day I visited the old seminary I had attended as a Capuchin. Because of the loss of vocations the large building on the banks of the Hudson in Garrison, New York, had been closed and later sold. It is now a Buddhist retreat house, and the staff treated me with friendliness and courtesy. It was the occasion of great sadness, however, when I saw in the place where the Blessed Sacrament had once been reserved a large and imposing statue of Buddha. I have no hostility to the Buddhist religion. Buddha himself tried to lead people to peace; more than anything else he was an ethical philosopher. Buddhists have made him into something of a god, although that term does not fit too well. The statue certainly showed a serious artistic attempt to portray divinity. What saddened me greatly was that the presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Eucharist was gone. When the Capuchin friars sold the seminary, the building was supposed to be converted into condominiums. The new owner was not able to do that, however, and resold the property to the Buddhist retreat movement. This is a sad commentary on the fact that in the last thirty or forty years Catholics in the United States have 'dropped the ball,' if I may put it that way. There may be many excuses and reasons, but history will judge that we did not do well with the vibrant faith we received from our forebears. It is time to get on with the Church's work, that is, the work Christ gives us as Catholics. It is time to renew religious education, Catholic life, and the observance of the Gospel. It is time for every Catholic who has his or her wits about them to become as fervent a Christian as possible. "
Sunday, May 1, 2005
Benedict Blesses from Papal Apartment
One Fox news reporter mentioned that it seemed strange to see somone standing at the window (referring to Pope John Paul's ill health over the past few years)...
Happy Easter to the Orthodox!
Happy Feast Day to all workers under the patronage of St. Joseph...
From BBC NEWS | Europe | New Pope delivers first blessing:
"Pope Benedict XVI has given his first traditional Sunday blessing to the faithful from the same apartment window used by his predecessor.
St Peter's square was packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims, who the Pope addressed in Italian and Spanish.
He also wished Orthodox Christians a happy Easter, and mentioned the need to promote Christian unity in the world.
In delivering his blessing on May Day, Benedict XVI also called for worker's rights to be respected.
'I address you, my very dear brothers and sisters, for the first time from this window that the beloved figure of my predecessor made familiar to countless people in the entire world,' he said."
Happy Easter to the Orthodox!
Happy Feast Day to all workers under the patronage of St. Joseph...
From BBC NEWS | Europe | New Pope delivers first blessing:
"Pope Benedict XVI has given his first traditional Sunday blessing to the faithful from the same apartment window used by his predecessor.
St Peter's square was packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims, who the Pope addressed in Italian and Spanish.
He also wished Orthodox Christians a happy Easter, and mentioned the need to promote Christian unity in the world.
In delivering his blessing on May Day, Benedict XVI also called for worker's rights to be respected.
'I address you, my very dear brothers and sisters, for the first time from this window that the beloved figure of my predecessor made familiar to countless people in the entire world,' he said."
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