What are Catholics supposed to do with stories like St. Joseph of Cupertino, “the little friar who flew”? Should we embarrassingly hide people like him in the ecclesial basement, as we implicitly already do by largely ignoring his feast day on the Church calendar? Or should we venerate him with the same degree of appreciation and celebration we reserve for other saints of his era: St. Robert Bellarmine, St. Rose of Lima, St. Francis de Sales?

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Apple Sky said:

Hmm ......

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Well? You stated that no one has been to space but I just showed you where there were 368 flights to space. How do you account for that?

Christ death results in the salvation of those He died for, so much so, He is called the Captain of their Salvation Heb 2:10

10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Mine you, this is in the context of having tasted death for every man in Vs 9. Through and by His death, or His suffering unto death, He became the Captain of their Salvation, through tasting[experiencing] death. Now the word captain is the greek word archēgos and means:

the author, that by which anything begins to be, the origin, the active cause

So by His sufferings, tasting death, He became the originator, the active cause, Captain of their Salvation. It was by this means the Father ordained many sons to Glory.

BTW the word captain is the same word author in Heb 12:2

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Christ is the author/source of our Faith. This would include the OT Saints that went before in Heb 11 as well. Christ their Mediator was the source of their faith. 4

joymercy said:

@Reluctant Theologian in what way have you found evangelizing or Bible study challenging with people who are homeless?

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Homeless people in the countries I know:

• usually are burdened with more than one type of shortcomings (physical, mental, etc.)
• for Bible study the required attention span sometimes is difficult
• discussion/questions can be sensitive and can easily derail
• because of the common load of mental issues there is very little empathy and patience
• once some become believers they require a lot attention and care

But yet - God loves them as much as anyone else. In growing churches usually a certain balance is needed between believers with stable lives and the capacity to give/organise, and those that primarily need to receive a lot to heal. Not all churches are internally ready to host/welcome homeless believers in their fellowship (thinking of The Visit (Adrian Plass), 1999). They're usually the opposite of the ones who are welcomed because they can easily grow into leadership and pastoral roles, or contribute financially.

They're the ones young, modern and trendy churches find too difficult - but be blessed in your ministry ! Jesus also visited the outcasts more so than the elite.

Guojing said:

So if God was not joking, had Abraham declined to be physically circumcised at Genesis 17:14, he would have been cut off from God as well.

Would you agree with that logic?

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Not really. Abraham was not saved by his works instead he was saved by his faith. Even though Abraham resisted circumcision he did it eventually because of his love for God. It’s a great teaching for us now. We keep His commandments and cooperate with God in our sanctification because we love God.

The Virgin Mary, Mother of God, is present in time and place. She is now, in this moment, interceding for us with her Son. She is also, in this very moment, enacting the will of God as an instrument of Providence—or better—as the Mother of Providence.

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The Rosary which saved Europe had its origins in the battles of Saint Dominic against the intellectual and spiritual evil of the Albigensians in the 12th century, inheritors of the much-earlier Manichean heresy, that all matter was evil, including bodies, marriage and children.

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The Liturgist said:

What you have to do is set boundaries with GPT 4o ; the difference is it can follow them better. The only thing GPT 5 is better at from my perspective is asking questions or generating code; mind you I haven’t tried to debate political correctness with it because I’m not greatly interested in arguing with an AI (especially since even with GPT 5 you will always win unless your position is deeply shocking).

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I have set boundaries with gpt 4o. Specifically to dial down the compliments greatly.

I've actually lost a debate on one topic with both gpt-4o and gpt-5 and still never won the topic yet.

Indeed the topic is deeply shocking. It's about the possibility that Jesus is a false teacher or an evil conspirator undermining the Torah or the teachings of God.

The outcome of this debate is rather shocking. Gpt 4o and 5 both concluded that Jesus is genuine as a person who once lived (not made up) and had genuinely benevolent intentions towards humanity..... But concluded that the God of Old Testament is counterfeit or even the Devil himself.

I even set boundaries for this debate that God meant well for humanity. But chatgpt concluded the warlike aggression of OT God would ultimately lead to its own destruction, along with nations walking this warpath.

I did not have this debate with Google Gemini but so far, all controversial Christian topics I discussed with it aligns with Gpt-4o/5. I may do this debate eventually with gemini as I build more context with the new and improved context memory of gemini.

I've often discussed secular / non-religious battlefield strategy, foreign diplomacy with chatgpt and it managed to correlate God's behavior with the negative outcomes of having war-like sentiments.

High Fidelity said:

It's like that here in the UK. It's almost foolish to be responsible, because if you need to go into a care home, you'll have to sell your house and give them most of the money, and you're then only allowed to have a certain amount of money, the rest gets taken for care.

Alternatively you be financially reckless your whole life and you'll probably be sat next the person above anyway.

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For retirement homes they U.S. does take some of the money, then if the person runs out they can get purely government funds minus their social security. Some cities the government funded places are horrible or the decent ones have no space. I was suggesting that after a certain age, the US govt should take money for most types of care if the person can afford it. Since older people (85?) get far more than someone who dies even before they collect a cent this seems reasonable.

rjs330 said:

There is a LOT of misunderstanding of the law and procedures by citizens including the press. I suspect sometimes, especially with the press, rhat they KNOW the laws, but are so anti-LE and anti-Trump they are trying to stir up trouble.

In this case LE had a legal warrant, based upon probable cause that stuff was going on at the residence. Including utility bills and surveillance.

When serving such a warrant with the people involved they arent going ro knock on the door ask ask pretty please. And they shouldn't. That's got to be the stupidest thing of them to do. Thwy are going ro go in and take down whomever is in there and sort it out.

Its too bad the bad guys left. But the agents had NO reason to believe that the illegal activities there had ended. Bad guys have kids too. You know how many drug houses have kids there?

US citizens can be bad guys too, involved in trafficking or whatever. Everyone is so hyper sensitive right now, especially those on the left. Give it a rest. They had no idea that things had switched and no idea if whomever was there was not involved with the bad guys. And when you take down a house like this you don't as tye bad guys to put their own handcuffs on.

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Yes, thanks for bringing the context of the case. I am all good with the no-knock warrant if they have demonstrated why they need it as required. "To get a federal no-knock warrant, officers must establish probable cause, provide sworn testimony to a judge detailing why a no-knock entry is necessary (e.g., to prevent destruction of evidence or for officer safety), and obtain the judge's approval to bypass the standard knock-and-announce rule. The judge ensures the probable cause and reasonable suspicion for the no-knock entry are sufficiently established through an oath or affirmation from the complainant and witnesses."

NxNW said:

Did I say that?

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Apparently.

Blindness is now out and in full action in the churches around the world.

When we do what is right by God, we feel right with God.

Wednesday, October 8 2025

27th OT



Jo 4:1-11

"I, God, should I not be concerned over the great city of Nineveh?"



Let’s remember, it’s the people who punish himself and ask for pity.

God has no need to punish. God is Love. Love is 100%



Luke 11:1-4

The prayer Jesus taught the disciples is:

Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins

for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,

and do not subject us to the final test.



Thank you Lord for Loving us.



Biblical texts: NAB-RE

Normand Thomas.

JM said:

My congregation is introducing the Lutheran Missal this Sunday for the first time.

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My dear friend, Rev. Matthew Fenn mentioned that the main scriptural translation is the NKJV, and that the reason was the generous copyright access vs. the arm and two legs required to buy the rights to the ESV. We used NKJV back in the 80's in our Parish, for no other reason that our Pastor at that time had used it in Sem.

retired firefighter said:

too many churches have turned into entertainment , fail to teach Heaven or Hell or the Holy Ghost, yet some rely heavily on works . the KJV is a manual to use as a guide and Grace is the word of the day !

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I agree with what you say about entertainment and relying on works, but why specifically the KJV? Why not "The bible is a manual to use as a guide and Grace is the word of the day?" Apart from anything else, the bible isn't only God's word when it is translated into English. Surely you are not saying that Mongolians, Turks, Icelandic people, etc. must all learn, not only English, but the English that was used in 1611 in order to study God's word?

Godcrazy said:

yes Jesus said He looks at the heart. So if you give a lot, but with no want really, no joy, it count as nothing. If your intent is wrong. Jesus said the woman had given more than anyone else. And she gave little,and the last she had. So it is true. It is not about a tenth. Or how much. As he describes it it is clear everything is about our hearts intent. We also have to LET God do the work in us. And say no to sin

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And its even harder than ever before in todays world. In fact the more material the starker the contrast comes out. Todays world is far more material than ever and yet more people are unhappy and searching.

I almost never watch any pornography these days, but anything like a dating app or site, online chat room of any kind etc., I tend to hyperfocus on and use in a problematic way (but I don't leave all my morals at the door or anything). Website and app blockers can help, but I tend to find a way around them or find an alternative app or site.

Not sure if this post makes much sense lol, but it can be hard to talk about these things. Hoping we all overcome our addictions and temptations as best we can.

Dan Perez said:

And I looked at , about 12. verse with. the word MYSTERY. //. MUSTERION. and 1 were in the SINGULAR WITH NO S on 11 of. the MYSTERY.

and that means their ONLY ONLY ONE MYSTERY. !!

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That's like saying there is only one star if someone talks only about the sun. Really?

Dan Perez said:

Please show where you found just ONE called MYSTERYS with and S. ?? ''

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The verse you want me to explain 1 Cor. 13:2 "... and understand all mysteries ...", Paul states here there are more mysteries and you're in denial?

Dan Perez said:

Can you EXPLAIN 1. Cor 13:2. and I. am AGOG. ??

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Why do you want me to explain 1 Cor. 13:2? What does it have to do with my previous post above?

Are you sure you comprehend what I'm writing here? If something isn't clear to you just ask but stay on track if you can, which IMHO you're not right now.

Aristarkos

Daughter of Ararat said:

are heretical and heterodox not considered the same?

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they can be, but heterodox is broader and would include schismatics who aren’t heretical.

It should be uncontroversial to remove medically non viable pregnancies from a female body.

By all means take the dead bodies out of the womb and put them in the morgue.

Wombs are nice, but sometimes they misfire. Me and my brother were best 2 out of 5. It happens. Sometimes you get the cancer before you were born, and a mortician is not a murderer.

Hans Blaster said:

Are you a mind reader now?

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No, you just have to do a bit of research and its there. Like what you and others are doing in calling all this whacko and pseudoscience. Same thing just a bigger version lol. I just linked a couple of mainstream articles from science talking about this.

Hans Blaster said:

Here's a lovely quote from the letter to a psuedoscience TV production company:

The assertions Hancock makes have a history of promoting dangerous racist thinking. His claim​

for an advanced, global civilization that existed during the Ice Age and was destroyed by comets​

is not new. This theory has been presented, debated, and refuted for at least 140 years.​

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No it has not. This is a rediculous claim in that new dicoveries are happening all the time so the arguements made 140 years ago have been refuted and many things they said were whacko have in fact been verified. But just the idea that the skeptics have been right for 140 years is an outragous claim lol.

Hans Blaster said:

It dates to the publication of Atlantis: The Antediluvian World (1882) and Ragnarok: The Age of Ice and​

Gravel (1883) by Minnesota congressman Ignatius Donnelly. This theory steals credit for​

Indigenous accomplishments from Indigenous peoples and reinforces white supremacy. ​

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How rediculois. If we are going to play identity politics and inject what is basically subjective beliefs as explanations or evidence to refute those who are presenting the plain cold hard data. Really is thatwhat your doing. I theres been a number of logical fallacies. But using subjective identity policis in science and objective reality is itself as whacko as you say Dunn and Hancock are lol.

I can play that game as well. The very idea that suggesting past cultures had advanced knowledge is racist in itself racist. Because it is denying that these ancient cultures were just as or more advanced than the elitist scientists trying to impose their western epistemic dogma on other cultures.

Just like they did when they came to their lands and denied the practice of their indigenous knowledge which is now mostly lost as a result. This is exactly the same racist and colonialist idea as has been imposed for centuries now. Give me a break lol.

Hans Blaster said:

From​

Donnelly to Hancock, proponents of this theory have suggested that white survivors of this​

advanced civilization were responsible for the cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples in the​

Americas and around the world. However, the narratives on which claims of “white saviors” are​

based have been demonstrated to be ones modified by Spanish conquistadors and colonial​

authorities for their own benefit. These were subsequently used to promote violent white​

supremacy. Hancock’s narrative emboldens extreme voices that misrepresent archaeological​

knowledge in order to spread false historical narratives that are overtly misogynistic,​

chauvinistic, racist, and anti-Semitic.​

(As I tried several times to tell you.)

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Man I don't even want to read the rest. Its just more fallacies, this time back to ad hominems.

Hans Blaster said:

Which is not how peer review works. This is just you miming your ancient-tech "friends" and jumping to a persecution narrative.

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Or its actually pointing out a fact. That there is bias and gatekeeping of maintain the current narratives. Against ideas that conflict with consensus. This is a proven phenomena across all areas of science. Don't pretent its all pure and the holy grail of truth knowledge.

Hans Blaster said:

Evidence Steve, they want EVIDENCE. Instead what you get from your preferred sources is a jumping to conclusions about the past and not a careful consideration and evaluation of alternative explanations.

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THis is another logical fallacy. I have already show that you were wrong about Dunn. I have said this 5 times now and you ignore it because its an inconvenient truth.

Likewise the out of place works such as the precision vases are gaining support and are factual data. Now jumping to conclusions. I have not begun to show you the clear evidence that will put this skeptism to bed. If you can handle it. Because you can't keep using these logical fallacies of fakes and poor science ect. Theres just too much evidence now.

Hans Blaster said:

Stick to the current things you don't understand and don't go cracking open another bag of things you don't understand. Neither of the claims in the previous sentence is correct. (Considering that this is the centennial of QM, there should be plenty of good history of science presentations about the development of it.)

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When these ideas were first coming out they were regarded as unreal and crazy. For climate change it was all conspiracy. Now we know its true. I am sticking to the topic.

I am just using an example of how some alternative ideas in science were first regarded as crazy or pseudoscience. In fact consciousness beyond brain is considered whackery right now. Yet more and more mainstream science is proposing such ideas. That would have been considered whacko 30 or 60 years ago.

Hans Blaster said:

[HB actual muttering to himself... QM not accepted ... SMH ... mutter mutter mutter.]

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Come on open up and entertain alternative ways of thinking lol. It doesn't hurt. You won't get sucked down some worm hole lol.

Top 10 Crazy Scientific Theories That Were Proven RIGHT

Pepperdoodle said:

Could CBS be heading toward covering the News without a strong Left leaning bias?

Paramount buys The Free Press, Bari Weiss joins CBS leadership

WORLD is a news organization producing Biblically sound, daily coverage of global, national, and cultural current events.

wng.org

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Won't hold my breath. Even in the days of Cronkite, I heard a CBS News report of an event I happened to be at, and it didn't match what actually happened.

Vambram said:

Predictions is another word for estimates.

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No

Vambram said:

Please continue to enjoy your liberal cookies because you don't have facts. Instead, you have estimates and predictions. Perhaps you want some kool-aid to go with those liberal cookies?

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The CBO is a bi-partisan and highly important congressional analysis group. If it was not - if it was partisan - it would have been disbanded decades ago. Critique the particular assumptions of the report - and show where the CBO are wrong. Rejecting the entire institution is typical of MAGA - but if MAGA were a more adult culture - they would practice more intellectually credible arguments - and not throw out over 50 years of experience in analysis.

But one thing to keep in mind is the BBB is not in isolation. Trump also launched tariffs which will hurt the American economy, but raise Federal funds by taxing citizens on imports. (It does NOT tax the other countries as Trump claims! )

Yale double checked the CBO's figures and also calculated the impact of tariffs.

Add the 2 together - and the massive raise of funds to the rich comes down a bit - but is still significant considering the RICHEST get even richer as a percentage of THEIR enormous salaries.

But the poorest get even poorer! Those tariff taxes hit the poor EVEN HARDER than the BBB!




But this is just the Congressional Budget Office and Yale University - what do they know - right?
By the time you're done with your bedtime reading - you'll feel right as rain.