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Israeli officials say they have discovered what may be the oldest Christian Church in the Holy Land - on the site of a maximum security prison.Archaeology is quite exciting. Finds like this are the reason I wanted to be in that specific field years ago. This is an excellent find and will help better understand the early Church in Israel. Here's the rest of the article.
Martyrdom entails death; only that one who dies for the faith is called a "martyr" . . . the death imposed on the martyr is the result of a judgment to death.. . . the judgment to death imposed on the martyr is due to the refusal of the martyr to confess and to sacrifice to false gods. Confession of faith, rejection of idolatry, and judgment to death--these are the irreducible components of every martyrdom.1These points are integral to understanding how the early Church viewed martyrs, and distinguished true martyrs from those who simply died. As is touched on in the article, a perfect example of this idea is found in the Martyrdom of Polycarp. The writer first discussed the story of Quintus, a man who convinced several others to turn themselves into the authorities so they could achieve martyrdom. After some threatening and entreaties, the authorities were able to convince Quintus and his band to abjure and offer sacrifice to the Roman gods. In contrast, Polycarp ran (as is the directive of Christ2), was arrested, and was unshakable in his faith and confession. He the authorities were unable to break and force to offer a sacrifice.
Jesus took his disciples up on the mountain and gathered them around him. And he taught them, saying "Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the meek. Blessed are those who are persecuted. Blessed are those who suffer. When these things happen, rejoice, for your reward will be great in heaven."
And Simon Peter said, "Do we have to write this down?"And Jesus wept.
And Phillip said "Is this going to be on the test?"
And John said, "Would you repeat that, slower?"
And Andrew said, "John the Baptist's disciples don't have to learn this stuff."
And Matthew said, "Huh?"
And Judas said, "What's this got to do with real life?"
And then one of the religious leaders, an expert in law, said, "I don't see any of this in your syllabus. Do you have a lesson plan? Where's the student guide? Will there be a follow-up assignment?"
And Thomas, who had missed the sermon, came to Jesus privately and said, "Did we do anything important today?"
the extra-sacramental remission of the temporal punishment due, in God's justice, to sin that has been forgiven, which remission is granted by the Church in the exercise of the power of the keys, through the application of the superabundant merits of Christ and of the saints, and for some just and reasonable motive.At the Council of Trent, during the final session on 4 December 1563 (session xxv), the RCC declared
Whereas the power of conferring Indulgences was granted by Christ to the Church; and she has, even in the most ancient times, used the said power, delivered unto her of God; the sacred holy Synod teaches, and enjoins, that the use of Indulgences, for the Christian people most salutary, and approved of by the authority of sacred Councils, is to be retained in the Church; and It condemns with anathema those who either assert, that they are useless; or who deny that there is in the Church the power of granting them.**Where do you happen to fall? I not only say they are useless, but also that the RCC has any power at all to use them. Guess I am anathema.**