Celtic Prayer

[Talisien]

Well I'll my opinion about the church to myself...hope it doesn't bother you...The last time I went to church was actually during my Cornwall holiday. I must say that liked it, to my own surprise. It was in a small community and everybody seemd close. I guess that's the reason why I enjoyed it. Here in Germany I live in a rather big city and chruches seem very cold...they are more fearful than cheerful...Okay, now I did talk about my opinion, anyway I hope I don't get judged by you guys

[Talisien]

As the rain hides the stars,
As the autumn mist hides the hills,
As the clouds veil the blue of the sky,
So the dark happenings of my lot
Hide the shining of your face from me.
Yet, if I may hold your hand in the darkness,
It is enough, since I know that,
Though I may stumble in my going,
You do not fall.

Carmina Gadelica,
translated by Alistair MacLean

[susandel]

Hello I know this is after the fact .........but

I love European churches. They hold so much history and I feel very spiritual while in them.
GEE WIZ Ben! You have a name. I know you are an introvert and probably your mother was very close to you by the way you write. I am by no means saying you are a mammas boy....noy at all. I did not know if you were a priest or something. You must have a good memory because you know where to find information in order to answer your questions. But I wonder if you would be able to write something in you own words to explain your views in a religious conversation. Not that it matters I just like to try to read people and can't get much from you.........but I know you fear God..fact.

I believe church is within your heart/soul. I do not go to church but have God in and on my mind all day long. I believe we are all here for our own lessons. If someone else thinks you are not a good Christen......then he/she are not a good christen for judging you. Let us leave that for God. If you are aware of the fact you may not be the Christen you would like to be than that is the first step in changing. You will start to learn your way of becomeing a good Christen.......or whatever else it is you want to believe....just listen to people and take what you want and leave the rest behind.

Church is good for lots of people. I go when I am with my mother...for her sake. There is power in pray especially when we pray together. I pray at the hours of the Holy Trinity every 3 hours when I am aware of it. 12:00, 9:00, 6:00, 3:00. Lots of people do this and it is comforting for me.

God knows we are human.....don't dwell on what you don't do......just change what you don't like. I know only good can come from prayer but if something bad should happen your faith in God with guide you through it....there is a lesson in everything and up to you to learn from it

Sorry...I get on a roll............I'll stop.

Always keep in front of you the focus of why you are here.

[Fear_nam_Beanntan]

Sorry if I was a bit impersonal on the other thread. I was in a hurry so I didn't have much time to do anything but relate facts. Alright, my views on God...

God is communicative. He has revealed to us His nature and what He expects us to do.

God is absolute truth. Since different religions make contradictory claims about His nature and what He expects of us, only one religion can be completely true. I believe Catholic Christianity is that religion.

God is perfection. And He demands perfection from me. Since He is a gracious God, He won't forsake me if I sincerely try to stop sinning, but fail. However, eventually, before or after death, I must become purified, since nothing unclean shall enter heaven, and I don't believe I will get Christ's righteousness legally imputed to my account.

Christ is the only way to the Father. Without God's grace, delivered through faith in Jesus Christ, nothing I could ever do would be of any worth in God's sight. It is impossible to earn your salvation.

Judging is God's domain alone. But that does not mean I can not criticise views which I believe to be dangerous, such as "once saved always saved," or Arianism in any form, Pelagianism, or universalism, etc.

[Mamie]

you might also like John O'Donohue's
Anam Cara - a book of Celtic Wisdom

[Talisien]

Originally posted by Mamie
you might also like John O'Donohue's
Anam Cara - a book of Celtic Wisdom

Hi Mamie, thanks for the tip but I've already read it a few years back. It's a great book and I really enjoyed it at the time, but to be honest I can't remember much about it.
Do you know 'The Connemara Blues' from him? It's a collection of his poetry. He writes so beautifully!

'I would love to live
Like a river flows,
Carried by the surprise
Of its own unfolding.'

Fluent, John O'Donohue

[susandel]

Ben....Hello!

Thank you for responding to me. I believe the same thing except for the Catholic Church. I am very glad I was raised Catholic. I just think that there are way to many inconsistancies throughout the whole world. Even from church to church. If we have a specific religion why not one rule for all churches. I was not allowed to be married by a priest because it had to be preformed "under Gods roof". I was very ill could not walk and wanted to get married at home with only my family.......I could not even have a wedding I was so crippled at the time. The priest from my parish aid it was not allowed. Now in California I spoke with a priest who would have done it. Then I spoke with a friend near by who said her friend who was a priest would have done it,,,,,,,,,.....my husband was so mad he will never let me even get it blessed. I can not go to communion because of that? How dear they deny me that right.

You know my relatives are very close with the Vatican and they will not even allow friends to visit them while they are in the hospital because if you are not in the elete club of the pompus Catholic church you are not worthy of visiting. There would be a sign posted on the hospital door saying.....if you are not with black club do not enter. I don't even remember the name. The pompus jerks think they are better if they have more money. It is about money. I know I am from a wealthy family and go to partys where I hear things from so called Catholic people who put people down if they are not brought up with a silver spoon in thier mouths.

I know each person has to answer to God but I just don't understand. If the top people with the Catholic church can act this way........what does that say about the religion. I will ask my mother what club it is my cousins belong to. I am angry when I think of it. I know I should let it go but I will get the word out. They are like con artist. I know the Pope is a good person.......I do not deny that but it is the issue of why they started the church. MONEY. At least they should get their rules straight with all parishes.