AboutGeorge A. Card,sfo, M.I Expertise I am willing to attempt to answer any question. If I don’t know the answer, I will look-up or pass the question on to friends for feed back. Beside Catholicism (especially the social/moral and the Eastern rites), I am well read on Mormonism and so-called Modern Christian Fundamentalism.
Also I study Franciscan History as means of growing in my lay Franciscan calling to holiness in Christ.
Experience 20+ years as the Justice and Peace Laison for my (local)Secular Franciscan Fraternity,22+ years public speaking on the Faith,and/or teaching CCD and Youth Retreats,a former Officer for K of C and my SFO Fraternity,still hold appointed offices in local SFO fraternity
Organizations Catholic Church, Rome Rite
Secular Fraciscan Order
Knights of Columbus
The Men's Study (A local Catholic study group I co founded)
Others
Militia Immaculata(Knights of the Immaculate
Publications Local News Letters:Mostly my Poetry
Education/Credentials 2 years of Minor Seminary
Bible and Adult Faith Studies and Seminars
Question My husband and I are Roman Catholic, and have had a minister over every week from the non-musical church of Christ for bible study. He mentioned that there were no more "Miracles" or "healings" after the New Testament, and that the Catholic Church is NOT the true Church. I know enough of my history to refute some of his arguements, but what can I tell him about the miracle issue? I am not worried about myself, as I am firmly rooted in my beliefs, but my husband is not as knowledgeable and I fear that he may actually believe some of this misinformation. The minister is a wonderful man, and very kind, I don't want to do anything to upset him or my husband, but the direction this is going seems to be very misleading.
VC
Answer Peace
Dear Vivian
No Miracles after the Apostles;what a strange thing to confess at the same time Christ is Lord. I would strong disagree with your minister friend.
Below are some scriptures and related questions:
V1.Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ, yesterday, and today; and the same forever.Q1: Why did Jesus proform miracles "yesterday" and why doesnt he today or forever more?
V2.James 5:14 Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Q2:What the purpose of this ritual? Q2b Wouldnt it be nonsense to take the name of our Lord, in vain with such a ritural.
V3. 1st Corinthians 11:30 Are all workers of miracles? Have all the grace of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? Q3 Why did the Holy Spirit prompt St Paul to write such words, if they were only relavent to the believers of the Apostolic Age?
V4. Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth: and he that seeketh,
findeth: and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone? Or if he shall ask him a fish, will he reach him a serpent? If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more will your Father who is in heaven, give good things to them that ask him? Q4: Whats the meaning/purpose of this inspired verse?
V5. Luke 11:9-10 And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Q5:Whats the meaning/purpose of this inspired verse?
V6 Mark16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name they shall cast out devils: they shall speak with new tongues. 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover. 19 And the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God. Q6: Where in the bible does it state that this promise was only those of the Apostolic Age.
I close with a quote from the Catechism approved by John Paul II:
#156: What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear as true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason: we believe "because of the authority of God himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived". So "that the submission of our faith might nevertheless be in accordance with reason, God willed that external proofs of his Revelation should be joined to the internal helps of the Holy Spirit." Thus the miracles of Christ and the saints, prophecies, the Church's growth and holiness, and her fruitfulness and stability "are the most certain signs of divine Revelation, adapted to the intelligence of all"; they are "motives of credibility" (motiva credibilitatis), which show that the assent of faith is "by no means a blind impulse of the mind". ( to read in context: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c3a1.htm#156 )
