There are some horrific goings on in our world and people ask why does God allow this. Sometimes we need to ask why are people like this? This morning I was guided to a chapter to share that explains this and more. In addition, I have included more information with experience of Providence, so that you can recognize in context.
Quoting Scripture in context 'The vain reasonings of the wicked: their persecuting the just, especially the Son of God."
For they have said, reasoning with themselves, but not right: The time of our life is short and tedious, and in the end of a man there is no remedy, and no man hath been known to have returned from hell: For we are born of nothing, and after this we shall be as if we had not been: for the breath in our nostrils is smoke: and speech a spark to move our heart, Which being put out, our body shall be ashes, and our spirit shall be poured abroad as soft air, and our life shall pass away as the trace of a cloud, and shall be dispersed as a mist, which is driven away by the beams of the sun, and overpowered with the heat thereof: And our name in time shall be forgotten, and no man shall have any remembrance of our works. For our time is as the passing of a shadow, and there is no going back of our end: for it is fast sealed, and no man returneth.
Come therefore, and let us enjoy the good things that are present, and let us speedily use the creatures as in youth. [Let us fill ourselves with costly wine, and ointments: and let not the flower of the time pass by us. Let us crown ourselves with roses, before they be withered: let no meadow escape our riot. Let none of us go without his part in luxury: let us everywhere leave tokens of joy: for this is our portion, and this our lot. Let us oppress the poor just man, and not spare the widow, nor honour the ancient grey hairs of the aged.
But let our strength be the law of justice: for that which is feeble, is found to be nothing worth. Let us therefore lie in wait for the just, because he is not for our turn, and he is contrary to our doings, and upbraideth us with transgressions of the law, and divulgeth against us the sins of our way of life. He boasteth that he hath the knowledge of God, and calleth himself the son of God. He is become a censurer of our thoughts. He is grievous unto us, even to behold: for his life is not like other men' s, and his ways are very different.
We are esteemed by him as triflers, and he abstaineth from our ways as from filthiness, and he preferreth the latter end of the just, and glorieth that he hath God for his father. Let us see then if his words be true, and let us prove what shall happen to him, and we shall know what his end shall be. For if he be the true son of God, he will defend him, and will deliver him from the hands of his enemies. Let us examine him by outrages and tortures, that we may know his meekness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a most shameful death: for there shall be respect had unto him by his words.
These things they thought, and were deceived: for their own malice blinded them. And they knew not the secrets of God, nor hoped for the wages of justice, nor esteemed the honour of holy souls. For God created man incorruptible, and to the image of his own likeness he made him. But by the envy of the devil, death came into the world: And they follow him that are of his side.' Wisdom 3
Holy Scripture taken from the Douay-Rheims Bible and Challoner Notes.
To learn more about the Douay-Reims Bible, allow me to share because this is one that I have here in hard copy in my home. Translated from the Latin Vulgate (Douay, A.D. 1609; Reims, A>D> 1582) With a prface from E.E. The cardinal Archibishop of Westminster. The edition contains notes compiled by Bishop Calloner (1791-1781). It is published in London by the Catholic Truth Society.
The meaning of Catholic is Universal.
The very first page as you turn over the leaf from the cover it is written:
TO THE RIGHT
VVELELOVED ENGLISH
READER GRACE AND GLORIE
IN IESVS CHRIST EVERLASTING
Reproduced from the first edition ofthe Old Testament printed at Douay in 1609
First published May 1956. Second Impression October 1956
This is an easy read Holy Bible. To introduce the opening paragraphs of the preface, then at least you will understand the truth of why this was written and it is actually a book I was guided to have in my possession that day; for that I can explain later.
PREFACE
I am glad to welcome this edition of the Douay version of the Bible, produced by the Catholic Truth Society in an endeavour to provide a Bible which is earthly within the resources of all who would study the Word of God.
The Vatican Council declared that the Scriptures are to be held sacred because 'being written under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost they have God as their author and, as such, have been delivered to the Church herself." In the words of Pope Pius XII, Almighty God has "most providently sent us these books from the seat of His Majesty, as the letters of a Father to His own children".
The Holy Bible, therefore, besides unfolding in all its majestic harmony the meaningful plan which begins with Genesis and sees its full flower in the closing words of the Apocalyspe, contains a pattern of life for the individual soul and its journey through this world. It has always been the Church's concern that men should be brought to a full and loving knowledge of this. For many centuries, when the written word was available to but a few, she passed the message by the word of mouth. Sacred art not only gave to God what glory which is His due and to the people an expression of devotion, but served to imprint the Bible story on their minds.
It is to be remembered that vernacular versions of the Bible have been in existence from the 8th century. Later, the printing press was used by the Church to make the Scriptures more widely known, and in recent times she has without denying her divine right of guardianship over the accuracy of the Sacred Texts and over their interpretation, exhorted men to read the Scriptures in a spirit of prayer and humility, that they may model their lives on the central Figure of these glorious pages.
If the Catholic Truth Society had done no more than produce a cheap edition of the Douay version of the Vulgate text, it would have performed a great service to the Church. But it has done more : a great deal of painstaking work has been done in studying the Douay version with Bishop Calloner's notes and, where necessary, emendations have been made to provide for easier reading. Such work is a positive and commendable step to make the Bible more widely known in accordance with the most recently expressed wishes of the Holy Father in his Encylical Letter Divino Afflante Spiritu.
Here is an opportunity for men of good will to find the inspired text the answers to their most sacred aspirations. The Bible should live in us as in the great saints, not merely as a book to be given special reverence and quoted with our lips, but its spirit woven into the very fabric of our thoughts and actions. We confidently commend this edition of the Bible knowing that Almighty God will bless thought who made it and those who use it.
Bernard Cardinal Griffin
Archbishop of Westminster
8th September 1955.
There are people who believe they must memorise word for word of the Holy Bible - if you are not gaining the spiritual understanding of the messages, then memorizing the words are going to be - how can I put this in a simple say so to explain and not offend. If you are to eat a cake and taste nothing, you might have the texture but nothing to savor and even the residue of taste and memory from this experience. When being guided to scripture that holds a message for what is happening now and for our understanding, it is as if a lightbulb goes on and the understanding of the past and present day reality becomes so much more clear.
On the day I was to have this book, while older tham my years it is in new condition, I decided to go to Bolton Town Centre. While there my thoughts were 'Mary Magdalene' and popped into a charity shop. On the shelf there was a book about Mary Magdalene so I bought it. In opening the pages 'I was not feeling the connection' but I did follow the guidance given. Then on my way home I decided last minute to call into another charity shop as it was preparing to close. A thought came to look for a 'Bible', even though I have copies at home. The gold cross on the front cover caught my attention and so I bought it there and then.
Now this might not sound like anything extraordianry because we can all go into a shop for something. Being divinely guided is sometimes bringing me to exactly what I need to know and this is with trust and also with validation too.
One time, just thinking about the New WORLD Order, in my heart I knew if this is to involve the whole world then especially with most people being believers, even if they doubt that Christ will return, then this World Order would be with Christ at the head of this World Kingdom. Still, with knowing there are a lot of iffy goings on and corruption is high, the men who are in places to bring about this World Order might be more preoccupied og getting every resource under private corporations and contracts. These people might not even believe in Christ or even an afterlife, and this explains why they do not consider the consequences too.
Asking in prayer, when even needing something by saying 'God I really want to know.....' the answer comes. A lady knocked on my door and said she was going out of town and invited me to go with her for a drive. Realising his was meant to be. We went into a packed charity shop. Wondering over the to bookshelf a liitle green book caught my eye. Hearing 'Prayer' - thinking it was a prayer book. The page I opened was Creatures Work in World Government. The Book is My Way of Life by Saint Thomas.
Be guided in truth and keep an open mind. You will find that what you need to know comes in the most simple way and you do not need to pay a fortune. One message I have been given to share 'You do not need to pay to pray'.
Providence is God's intervention in the world.
Peace, love and best wishes
Pauline Maria
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