16
votes
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read?
Before the Gospel is read, a Catholic makes signs of the cross, with the thumb, on his or her
forehead,
mouth, and
heart,
which represents that the Catholic must
understand the Gospel,
proclaim it, ...
- 38.6k
15
votes
What objective, foolproof method do Eastern Orthodox have for working out which side is correct in the case of a Schism?
In essence you are asking an epistemological question: How can one side "know" that it is correct in a theological debate? The question could just as well apply to any Christian body, let alone the ...
- 5,637
14
votes
Does the Catholic Church officially claim that the Bible is insufficient without tradition?
Yes she (Catholic Church) does. I've copied the pertinent parts from the previous poster's quotes to show this.
82 As a result the Church, to whom the transmission and interpretation of Revelation ...
- 13.1k
13
votes
Accepted
Was Jesus good at singing?
There is no information on the quality of Jesus' singing
The Catena Aurea includes commentaries on this verse from Origen, Bede, Rabanus, Chrysostom, Hilary, and Jerome and not one of them talk about ...
- 6,337
11
votes
Accepted
What is the origin of the story that James had knees as hard as a camel's, because of his praying?
The first recorded instance of the tradition comes from Hegesippus, a second century Christian writer. Unfortunately, his works have been lost, except for a small portion of his writings quoted by ...
- 7,743
11
votes
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read?
Why do Catholics sign themselves three (3) times just before the Gospel is read?
To understand the significance of this tradition, let us take a look into its origins.
Concerning the making the ...
- 67.8k
10
votes
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read?
Contrary to what you say about missals, the rubrics in my missal (The CTS New Daily Missal) say that before the reading of the gospel, "He [the deacon/priest] makes the Sign of the Cross on the book ...
- 201
8
votes
Accepted
When did a "formal act of correction" of a pope's statement happen in the past?
The Doctor of the Church St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621) collected 40 cases—from Pope St. Peter to Pope Innocent VIII (reigned 1484-1492)—of where a pope or anti-pope was said to have erred in faith ...
- 38.6k
8
votes
Accepted
Is there any theological basis for the eating of lamb at Easter?
It seems that the Catholic tradition of eating lamb at Easter was first documented in the 7th century:
“The oldest prayer for the blessing of lambs can be found in the seventh-century sacramentary (...
- 29.7k
7
votes
Where does the Catholic tradition that Mary did not have pain giving birth to Jesus come from?
Extensive biblical and traditional material advocating for Mary's painless childbirth can be found from "The Virginity of Our Lady in Partu". Many Protestants reject this teaching, but most are ...
- 638
7
votes
Accepted
How would Jesus write his full name as, in civil records?
First, I'd point out that even in modern times full names are far from unambiguous. My own fairly uncommon first, middle, and last name together are not enough to uniquely single me out. All legal ...
- 37.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Do any denominations use the full form of INRI?
Do any denominations use the full form of INRI?
The short answer is yes.
First of all, there are several denominations that have the tradition of have of displaying crucifixes in their church, such ...
- 67.8k
7
votes
Accepted
Did the women disciples of Jesus go to his tomb on Sunday morning to perform an optional Jewish ritual?
In early Jewish beliefs, the tomb would have remained open for three days, but no longer as the body would have decayed and begun to stink.
The tomb, however, was not immediately closed over the dead....
- 13.1k
7
votes
Accepted
What is the Eastern Orthodox view of tradition and its authority?
In its early centuries Eastern Orthodoxy based tradition on the authority of bishops, based on the principle of apostolic succession. Tradition is rooted in dogma, again based on the teaching ...
- 5,365
7
votes
Accepted
Does any non-Catholic denomination maintain Altar Lamp, following Lev 6:12-13?
Does any non-Catholic denomination maintain Altar Lamp, following Lev 6:12-13?
The Orthodox Churches have vigil lights, just like Catholic Churches to indicate that that Christ is present in the Holy ...
- 67.8k
6
votes
Where does the Catholic tradition that Mary did not have pain giving birth to Jesus come from?
Her painless childbirth follows from these truths of divine revelation:
Painful childbirth is one of the punishments of Original Sin (Gen. 3:16: "in travail shalt thou bring forth children")...
- 38.6k
6
votes
Accepted
When does a tradition become a Tradition?
So the Catholic Church bases its beliefs on the truths revealed to it by God; that is, on Revelation from Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This revelation comes in two parts: Scripture, which has ...
- 18.5k
6
votes
Accepted
Is there any Ethiopian ancient source about the eunuch who was evangelized by Philip?
Around 180 CE, Irenaeus summarises the account in Acts 8, then writes:
Against Heresies III.12.8: This man was also sent into the regions of Ethiopia, to preach what he had himself believed...
The ...
- 14.4k
6
votes
Why sleep next to an open Bible?
While doubtless some do actually sleep with the Good Book physically open by their bedsides, the bulk of the usage of this phrasing is idiomatic. At least in every context I've ever heard it, whether ...
- 37.3k
6
votes
Accepted
Do Catholics believe in other apparitions like Mary? Or is she unique in this respect?
Yes, other saints and angels as well as Jesus Himself have appeared to visionaries throughout the ages.
I can give three examples:
St. Joan of Arc received visions of Saint Michael the Archangel, ...
- 34k
6
votes
Why there isn't a daily prayer structure like Liturgy of the Hours among Protestants?
As a lifelong Protestant, born into a Protestant family, then converted, personally, at the age of sixteen and a Protestant ever since, it is evident to me - if to no other - that the very nature of '...
- 23.7k
6
votes
Accepted
How many prayers (to Heaven) by believers are in the 66 books of the (Protestant) Bible? Are any literally addressed to anyone except God?
I can think of no biblical example where a believer prayed to any created being, which would include angels because angels are created beings. Jesus only instructed his followers to pray to God in ...
- 29.7k
6
votes
What were the practices observance of which was abhorred by St Paul in Gal 4:9-10?
The practices being observed by Galatian Christians, which Paul so abhorred he wrote in the strongest terms to dissuade them from doing, were those things back then causing them to return to bondage. ...
- 27k
5
votes
How old were Joseph & Mary when they marrried?
One common source of knowledge about Joseph and Mary is the Protoevangelium of James. This non canonical gospel was actually composed some time in the 2nd century AD. It is very known in most churches,...
- 159
5
votes
What is the origin of the tradition that Mary lived in Turkey after John took her there?
There seems to be only two historical possibilities as to where Mary ended the pilgrim journey on earth: Jerusalem or Ephesus?
Historically, there are proponents to both sides of this question as can ...
- 67.8k
5
votes
Accepted
Is there is any external source about Demas, Paul's fellow worker?
Demas is mentioned in the Acts of Paul and Thecla, an apocryphal work attested by Tertullian around AD 190.
In this work, Demas is portrayed as a troublesome "follower" of Paul. Paul is portrayed ...
- 42.3k
5
votes
Why do Catholic laity cross themselves three times before the Gospel is read?
Having been a lifelong Catholic, I have only picked this up through seeing other people do it. That being said, I have always seen it as being symbolic of keeping the Gospel in my mind, on my lips, ...
- 489
5
votes
Accepted
Is there a historical reason why the liturgical colour purple eventually replaced black to symbolize penance?
Is there a historical reason why the liturgical colour purple eventually replaced black to symbolize penance?
Having dived into this question for some time now, I would like to simply postulate a ...
- 67.8k
5
votes
Accepted
What is the origin of vicars/priests wearing the white dog collar?
First of all, let us deal with the origins of the term "dog Collar".
The term "Dog Collar" is a nickname of Anglican origin for the neckband of a clerical shirt or a Roman Collar (of the Catholic ...
- 67.8k
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