Since God is a Perfect Cause with infinite power and infinite goodness, all His works must necessarily be of the Greatest Perfection. Now ORDER is one of the primary qualities of a being of infinite intelligence. Thus it must follow that the universe and all existing within the universe, both in its whole and in its tiniest most infinitesimal part, as also in its unity or its united operation - must have a most Perfect or STUPENDOUS ORDER.
Saint Thomas Aquinas as do all traditional Catholic scholars, tell us that God must constantly rule the world by His Divine Providence, else all would fall back into nothingness. By His creative act, God brought everything which now exists outside of Himself, into existence. But this requires His holding in existence everything which He created.
Further, we know that God created every being to seek its own perfection, in addition to contributing to the perfection of the whole of creation. Perhaps this latter quality of His STUPENDOUS ORDERING is the most difficult to comprehend by any mind except that MIND which sees all. In addition every functional part of every being is moved to its own good and the good of the whole being of which it is a part. And so the intellect of man naturally seeks truth, and the will naturally seeks the good. This must be necessary for man to seek his/her own perfection. And likewise the whole body and all its parts naturally seek their own good and the good of the whole body.
A first principle in this regard is: The lessor or lower being is for the higher, in a hierarchy of subjection and order. Thus for example God feeds grass eating animals with the grasses which He planted, and then feeds meat eating animals with the flesh of the grass-eaters.
*** LINK TO ORDERED UNIVERSE
Friday, October 17, 2014
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Satan's Power Over The Weather/Nature
The question of Satan's power over the weather must first of all treat of Satan 's power in general. St. Thomas Aquinas, especially in his Summa Theologica, gives us more information into the essential nature and powers of angels, it seems, then all other sources combined. Satan we know is a fallen angel and so is an angel in his nature.
St. Thomas says that angels, are pure spirits who in their nature are greatly above the species of man. Angels can move matter and to a degree have power over all of nature in the sense of direct and immediate use and manipulation of the laws of nature. They cannot change the laws of nature or work miracles or produce effects outside of all created nature. Only God can do this and so only God can work miracles.
Black-magic magicians (as opposed to those who do simple/complex tricks) produce magical tricks or acts via the help of the demons. The magician who in his act has the piano rise from the floor, without wires, has the help of a demon. Pharaoh's magicians worked signs similar in appearance to Moses' miracles, but they were not actual miracles, but a direct and immediate use of the laws of nature. And so St. Thomas and St. Augustine tell us that these magicians of Pharaoh, produced real frogs and real serpents or snakes.
The book of Job gives us actual true stories of Satan using his power over the weather. And so St. Thomas and St. Augustine tell us that Satan produced real lightning and produced a real storm (not phantoms), so to kill Job's sons and sheep etc.
And so we can proceed to say:
1. It is absolutely certain that Satan has some power over the weather.
2. His freedom to use this power depends on God's permission.
3. It is a spiritual law that 'where sin increases, there Satan's power increases' - his effective power or freedom to use his power. The positive side of this equation is that 'where grace increases, there Satan is cast out or his power taken away'. Also you might read the paper SATAN UNCHAINED, for more on Satan's power vs the power of grace.
4. In our times, there exists great evils and immorality, far above the not so distant past, which by the above mentioned spiritual law, gives Satan increased power, which he did not have in the not so distant past. And logically then Satan has increased power over the weather in our times. Hence it is quite reasonable to conclude that some at least of this recent severe weather and upheavals of nature: such as earthquakes, major storms, floods etc are directly due to Satan's work.
From the side of God and His justice, we must say that these upheavals and severe weather is God's anger and punishment for evil and sin unleashed through natural and spiritual laws which He has established, so to help move mankind to repentance and good. God has created a world wherein freewill exists - as opposed to a world of robots - and so good and evil both exist. However, God with the greatest intensity wills all to be saved, wills all to come to perfection, wills only goodness and hates all evil.
NOTE: Obviously Satan can do nothing without God's permission. By saying Satan has power over the weather does not mean that God is not in charge. God is fully and completely in charge and uses secondary powers to bring beings of freewill to goodness, to merit, to show their stuff, to prove themselves as real men etc.
As first cause God does everything. He holds in existence everything that exists. There is no other way - else it falls back into nothingness. As first cause God must move Satan to act, as he must move my fingers, else they do not move. There is no other way. All good gifts come from God, for everything that exists comes from God as first cause, there is no other way. As St. Paul says : "What have you which you have not received." Hence why boast as if to take first credit. Give credit to Him who deserves the credit. Not that secondary causes do not deserve credit - but simply that they deserve second credit. There is no other way.
***** MORE ITEMS *****
*** For more items to look at click http://cctcblog.blogspot.com/ (Catholic Church Truth Center), or continue to scroll down on this blog. ***
St. Thomas says that angels, are pure spirits who in their nature are greatly above the species of man. Angels can move matter and to a degree have power over all of nature in the sense of direct and immediate use and manipulation of the laws of nature. They cannot change the laws of nature or work miracles or produce effects outside of all created nature. Only God can do this and so only God can work miracles.
Black-magic magicians (as opposed to those who do simple/complex tricks) produce magical tricks or acts via the help of the demons. The magician who in his act has the piano rise from the floor, without wires, has the help of a demon. Pharaoh's magicians worked signs similar in appearance to Moses' miracles, but they were not actual miracles, but a direct and immediate use of the laws of nature. And so St. Thomas and St. Augustine tell us that these magicians of Pharaoh, produced real frogs and real serpents or snakes.
The book of Job gives us actual true stories of Satan using his power over the weather. And so St. Thomas and St. Augustine tell us that Satan produced real lightning and produced a real storm (not phantoms), so to kill Job's sons and sheep etc.
And so we can proceed to say:
1. It is absolutely certain that Satan has some power over the weather.
2. His freedom to use this power depends on God's permission.
3. It is a spiritual law that 'where sin increases, there Satan's power increases' - his effective power or freedom to use his power. The positive side of this equation is that 'where grace increases, there Satan is cast out or his power taken away'. Also you might read the paper SATAN UNCHAINED, for more on Satan's power vs the power of grace.
4. In our times, there exists great evils and immorality, far above the not so distant past, which by the above mentioned spiritual law, gives Satan increased power, which he did not have in the not so distant past. And logically then Satan has increased power over the weather in our times. Hence it is quite reasonable to conclude that some at least of this recent severe weather and upheavals of nature: such as earthquakes, major storms, floods etc are directly due to Satan's work.
From the side of God and His justice, we must say that these upheavals and severe weather is God's anger and punishment for evil and sin unleashed through natural and spiritual laws which He has established, so to help move mankind to repentance and good. God has created a world wherein freewill exists - as opposed to a world of robots - and so good and evil both exist. However, God with the greatest intensity wills all to be saved, wills all to come to perfection, wills only goodness and hates all evil.
NOTE: Obviously Satan can do nothing without God's permission. By saying Satan has power over the weather does not mean that God is not in charge. God is fully and completely in charge and uses secondary powers to bring beings of freewill to goodness, to merit, to show their stuff, to prove themselves as real men etc.
As first cause God does everything. He holds in existence everything that exists. There is no other way - else it falls back into nothingness. As first cause God must move Satan to act, as he must move my fingers, else they do not move. There is no other way. All good gifts come from God, for everything that exists comes from God as first cause, there is no other way. As St. Paul says : "What have you which you have not received." Hence why boast as if to take first credit. Give credit to Him who deserves the credit. Not that secondary causes do not deserve credit - but simply that they deserve second credit. There is no other way.
***** MORE ITEMS *****
*** For more items to look at click http://cctcblog.blogspot.com/ (Catholic Church Truth Center), or continue to scroll down on this blog. ***
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The One True Church
Either the Roman Catholic Church is the ONE TRUE CHURCH established by Jesus Christ or no such Church and True Religion exists. However the evidence in this regard answers the question with absolute certainty for anyone really seeking the TRUTH.
If a seeker of TRUTH, and yet having more questions then answers, I recommend Fr. Walter Farrell's four volumes of : A COMPANION TO THE SUMMA (of St. Thomas Aquinas), starting with volume II which can be read or checked out online by doing a SEARCH on Companion To The Summa and clicking the proper link.
But for starters I say read the short article WHAT IS NEEDED FOR SALVATION at http://vaticaniidebate.com/id5.html.
If a seeker of TRUTH, and yet having more questions then answers, I recommend Fr. Walter Farrell's four volumes of : A COMPANION TO THE SUMMA (of St. Thomas Aquinas), starting with volume II which can be read or checked out online by doing a SEARCH on Companion To The Summa and clicking the proper link.
But for starters I say read the short article WHAT IS NEEDED FOR SALVATION at http://vaticaniidebate.com/id5.html.
Road To Happiness
St. Thomas Aquinas , in his great work The Summa Theologica, tells us that the common denominator and driving force for all mankind, is happiness. All men seek happiness as their ultimate goal or end. He goes on to say that true happiness must have many qualities including the stability of lasting forever. Obviously then the end or goal which all men seek cannot be of this world. Yet partial happiness logically will exist when one is securely on the proper road or path to ultimate happiness, and knows this to be true.
Now the Map outlining the Road to Happiness is urgently needed by all men. How else can they find the way and reach their goal. And so one needs absolute certainty of the Truth which is the Map of The Road to follow. Where can one find this absolute certainty? It certainly cannot be a man made or man determined Map or Body of Truth. It must come from the Source of Truth and the One who designed the universe and end for all mankind.
And so as a starter for anyone who has not yet found this MAP, I highly recommend the article WHAT IS NEEDED FOR SALVATION at http://vaticaniidebate.com/id5.html. Also highly recommended is Fr. Walter Farrell's book Volume II of A COMPANION TO THE SUMMA. Check it out online by doing a Google search on : Companion to the Summa, and clicking the appropriate link.
Pursuit of Happiness This link is to the wisdom of Aristotle on happiness. Saint Thomas Aquinas referred to Aristotle as THE PHILOSOPHER. St. Thomas drew much wisdom from Aristotle, who he greatly admired.
Now the Map outlining the Road to Happiness is urgently needed by all men. How else can they find the way and reach their goal. And so one needs absolute certainty of the Truth which is the Map of The Road to follow. Where can one find this absolute certainty? It certainly cannot be a man made or man determined Map or Body of Truth. It must come from the Source of Truth and the One who designed the universe and end for all mankind.
And so as a starter for anyone who has not yet found this MAP, I highly recommend the article WHAT IS NEEDED FOR SALVATION at http://vaticaniidebate.com/id5.html. Also highly recommended is Fr. Walter Farrell's book Volume II of A COMPANION TO THE SUMMA. Check it out online by doing a Google search on : Companion to the Summa, and clicking the appropriate link.
Pursuit of Happiness This link is to the wisdom of Aristotle on happiness. Saint Thomas Aquinas referred to Aristotle as THE PHILOSOPHER. St. Thomas drew much wisdom from Aristotle, who he greatly admired.
Catholic Church's Greatest Abomination - IDIOTIC
One is tempted to speak unprofessionally and say that the Catholic Church is now run by IDIOTS, but that is not proper. This temptation or movement of the mind, heart and soul to extreme frustration and anger (along with sorrow and sadness), is especially due to seeing the fully unreasonable and surely diabolically inspired practices and actions now in effect, regarding the treatment of the Body and Blood of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Before the Catholic Church made major changes stemming from the great (in upheaval) council of Vatican II (1962-1965), reverence for Jesus Christ was perhaps its strongest characteristic. With lay involvement and altar girls, and women in general now participating in what was once reserved for the priest or one specially consecrated, many acts or sins of irreverence toward Jesus Christ, TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN, have become the norm.
The ripping out of communion railings and the dashing of the long held or traditional practices and actions (to every detail) - all set in place to help to guard and protect the Infinite Dignity of Jesus Christ, by proper and due Reverence and Devotion and so Fruitfulness when receiving the GREATEST SACRAMENT - done in our modern times when the holding to traditional practices is most needed, is absolutely irrational. There is absolutely nothing to be gained, and the loss is horrific.
This whole set of modern actions which have replaced traditional practices and actions in this regard, we sum up by the principal action COMMUNION IN THE HAND. According to traditional Catholic teachings Communion in the Hand must be declared a SACRILEGE - as John Vennari, editor of Catholic Family News had well written in his article : Truth About Communion in the Hand
Also please read REVERENCE FOR JESUS CHRIST : http://vaticaniidebate.com/id7.html. Also go to http://communion-in-the-hand.org/.
Before the Catholic Church made major changes stemming from the great (in upheaval) council of Vatican II (1962-1965), reverence for Jesus Christ was perhaps its strongest characteristic. With lay involvement and altar girls, and women in general now participating in what was once reserved for the priest or one specially consecrated, many acts or sins of irreverence toward Jesus Christ, TRUE GOD AND TRUE MAN, have become the norm.
The ripping out of communion railings and the dashing of the long held or traditional practices and actions (to every detail) - all set in place to help to guard and protect the Infinite Dignity of Jesus Christ, by proper and due Reverence and Devotion and so Fruitfulness when receiving the GREATEST SACRAMENT - done in our modern times when the holding to traditional practices is most needed, is absolutely irrational. There is absolutely nothing to be gained, and the loss is horrific.
This whole set of modern actions which have replaced traditional practices and actions in this regard, we sum up by the principal action COMMUNION IN THE HAND. According to traditional Catholic teachings Communion in the Hand must be declared a SACRILEGE - as John Vennari, editor of Catholic Family News had well written in his article : Truth About Communion in the Hand
Also please read REVERENCE FOR JESUS CHRIST : http://vaticaniidebate.com/id7.html. Also go to http://communion-in-the-hand.org/.
Satan Unchained as Prophysied
The book of Revelation tells us that near the end of the world, Satan would be loosed or unchained for a short period of time. Is this prophesy now being fulfilled?
Please read the arguments set forth in the article or paper SATAN UNCHAINED on http://vaticaniidebate.com/
Please read the arguments set forth in the article or paper SATAN UNCHAINED on http://vaticaniidebate.com/
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