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  • #2080
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    i’m 15 years old and have been in and out of the Christian church, but always felt some what empty after leaving a service. i’ve been introduced to the catholic church and i want to know more about it. Some of my questions include:

    Who are the saints and are they worshiped?
    What is the Vatican?
    How did the Catholic Bible come about-why is it different?
    Is the Catholic Bible the only Scripture taught of in church?
    Is there anything i should know?

    #10175
    Anonymous
    Inactive

    There’s a very similar post below yours with some discussion and links. Many of these questions would be too long to answer here. I suggest you do some research using official Catholic sites and get a Catholic authorized Catechism. If you live in or near a major city, there is certainly a Catholic bookstore near you.

    As for the Vatican; they have their own site.

    http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm

    As for the hierarch of the Church and how it’s structured:

    http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/

    There are also online bookstores: I only recommend this one since I’ve been there. It’s by no means exclusive.

    http://store.pauline.org/

    A moderator and someone more knowlegeable can provide you with additional information. But I would start with a Catechism first.

    If you have been introduced to the Catholic Church, then you might attend Mass or already have. Of course, you cannot yet receive Communion, but if after reading and regular attendance, you might want to speak with a priest about religious instruction — if you decide to proceed. The answers on the saints and scripture will be brought up there.

    What you should know is that not all readings and sites are official. Beware of any site which might pretend to be Catholic, but is not. One of the posters here can also link you to other sites and forums, but from my own experience, that might be for down the road a bit as you become more familiar. Some of what you are looking for might be found in the “Core Beliefs” section of this site. There is a section on the Bible or Scripture.

    Good luck.

    #10180
    Anonymous
    Inactive
    "mysoultolove":1q5z6kml wrote:
    i’m 15 years old and have been in and out of the Christian church, but always felt some what empty after leaving a service. i’ve been introduced to the catholic church and i want to know more about it. Some of my questions include:?[/quote:1q5z6kml]
    [quote:1q5z6kml]Who are the saints and are they worshiped?[/quote:1q5z6kml]
    Anyone who is living life in a state of God’s grace is a Saint. However the term is commonly used to identify those who are in heaven with God. Some of them have been acknowledged by the Church, and are honored as so, most are the souls of those in heaven who’s names we don’t know. Worship is due only to God. Saints may be honored or venerated, that is looked to as examples of great virtue and love of God. We as Catholics also believe that Death does not separate us from membership in the Church, so those in heaven are also members of the Church, and we know from the Bible that those in heaven can and do pray for us.
    [quote:1q5z6kml]What is the Vatican?[/quote:1q5z6kml]
    The Vatican is a small City-State within the confines of modern day Rome, it is where the central leadership of the Catholic Church is. As an independent state it it eliminate the influence of other countries. The Vatican is built on a hill outside of the original seven hills of Ancient Rome. While there are some Anti-Catholic groups that claim the Vatican the city built on the seven hills, it was outside the walls of the seven hills when the New Testament was written, and remains outside of the seven hills today.
    [quote:1q5z6kml]How did the Catholic Bible come about-why is it different?[/quote:1q5z6kml]
    The Protestant Bible is what was left of the Bible that the Catholic Church determined to be Sacred Scripture in the fourth Century and what was accepted by the Catholic Church before that time. Martin Luther and other Protestants removed several books from the Bible that did not agree with their new theologies in the 15th Century.
    [quote:1q5z6kml]Is the Catholic Bible the only Scripture taught of in church?[/quote:1q5z6kml]
    The Bible is the only Scripture taught by the Catholic Church. Scripture you will note comes from Scriptura, or writings. Nowhere in the New Testament does it state that the only source of revelation or truth is the Scriptures, nor does the Bible, Old or New Testament say which books are Scripture and which are not. There were several books that are not part of Scripture that individual Churches in Apostolic times held to be scripture which were rejected by the entire Church. St. Paul tells us to adhere to his teachings be they in writing or spoken word. The New Testament also tells us that the Apostles, and the Church are the pillar of truth, not a book. While the Bible is the written inspired word of God, it nowhere says it is the only source of revelation, but rather that the Church founded on the Apostles is the pillar of Truth.
    [quote:1q5z6kml]Is there anything i should know?[/quote:1q5z6kml]
    Leegal’s advice that you learn what the Catholic Church teaches from Catholic sources rather than sources that distort what the Church teaches are wise words.
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