Some time ago I remarked about the priest saying faith does not change but the context does. I was asked to elaborate.

Years ago the emphasis was not on abortion. When I was young the debate was about "spare the child and kill the mother".

In my father's time people believed Protestants would not be saved. A motive for the missionary work of St Francis Xavier was his belief that without sacramental baptism one could not be saved.

Also we used to believe in limbo. Now it itself is in limbo!

When I was young also the two great commandments were love God and neighbor. Now I have seen "love God, neighbor and nature" is the great commandment.

Also when I was young we prayed for the "perfidious Jews". Nowadays it seem almost a doctrine of the faith that Israel should be supported. Do we really think Jews should rule from the Nile to the Euphratres?

Interst/usury was condemned by the Church, now it is seen as the basis of our modern life.

When I was young we adored the Holy Ghost; we never heard of the Holy Spirit.

Also in the Apostle's Creed we believed (as Anglicans do today) that "He descended into hell".

Fundamentally we believe Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. But out beliefs are expressed differently and doctrine develops. The early Church did not have the understanding of a later Church.

God bless,

Noelfitz.

Don,

Thank you for your poat.

I wish there were more of us here.

Again I do not really know what you mean.

Do you mean that the person who is open to the Holy Spirit understands all mysteries or that the prayer of one who is open to the Spirit will be answereed?

What does open to the Spirit measn? Does it mean being in the state of grace or of being receptive to new ideas?

God bless,

Noelfitz.

Don,

I agree fully with you.

Well said!

Do you have any special prayer to the Holy Spirit?

God bless,

Noelfitz.

Don,

You might like to consider the following:

Pray: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created,

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of Your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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How can we encourage others to join us here?

God bless,

Noelfitz.