Do you really want to know what the Roman Catholic Church believes about the priest and his power?
The following quotes are from the Roman Catholic doctrinal book, "The Faith of Millions."
The Credentials of the Catholic Religion
Rev. John O'Brien - Our Sunday Visitor, Inc.
Nihil obstat; Rev. Lawrence Gollner, Censor Librorum Imprimatur: Leo A. Pursley, Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend; March 16, 1974
"The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official Roman Catholic declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error."
(Nihil Obstat means that this book is officially approved by the Roman Catholic Church.)
"A distinctive power of the (Roman Catholic) priestly office is that of pardon-ing. When the priest raises aloft his right hand and pronounces the words of pardon over the sinner in the tribunal of Confes-sion, the shackles of sin are torn from the soul of the penitent. The priest pardons as effectively as if the words fell from the lips of Christ."
"Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?" (Mark 2:7)
"In this essential phase of the sacred ministry, the power of the priest is not surpassed by that of the bishop, the archbishop, the cardinal or the pope. Indeed it is equal to that of Jesus Christ. For in this role the priest speaks with the voice and the authority of God Himself."
The author claims that the priest is equal with God.
"For false Christs and false prophets shall rise:to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things." (Mark 13:22-23)
The Scripture says, there is only ONE mediator ; If you include an R. C. priest that make two mediators; if you include Mary that makes three mediators.
THE BIBLE CLEARLY SAYS,
"For there is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS" (1 Timothy 2:5)
Now did you get that? There is only ONE mediator and it is NOT a Catholic priest.
When the Bible talks about Jesus Christ it says,
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12 )
When the priest pronounces the tremendous words of consecration, he reaches up into the heavens, BRINGS CHRIST DOWN FROM HIS THRONE, and places Him upon our altar to be OFFERED UP AGAIN AS THE VICTIM for the sins of man.
: the priest brings Christ down from heaven, and renders Him present on our altar AS THE ETER-NAL VICTIM for the sins of man - NOT ONCE BUT A THOUSAND TIMES! The priest speaks and lo Christ, the eternal and omnipotent God, bows his head in humble obedience to the priest's com-mands.
THE BIBLE SAYS HOWEVER,
"But this man (Jesus Christ), because HE CONTINUETH EVER, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also TO SAVE THEM TO THE UTTERMOST that come unto God by him, seeing HE EVER LIVETH to make intercession for them:WHO NEEDETH NOT DAILY, as those high priests, TO OFFER UP SACRIFICE, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once , when he offered up himself." (Hebrews 7:24-27)
"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: NOR YET THAT HE SHOULD OFFER HIMSELF OFTEN, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: BUT NOW ONCE in the end of the world hath he appeared to PUT AWAY SIN BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF." (Hebrews 9:24-26)
"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many." (Hebrews 9:28)
"By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. a nd every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins : But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God ;" (Hebrews 10:10-12)
Praise the Lord! I do not need a Catholic priest as a mediator between God and myself. I HAVE an eternal Mediator that ever liveth and makes intercession for me. Jesus Christ does NOT need to be sacrificed over and over. He offered ONE sacrifice for sins and that was enough.
What about it my friend, do you know Jesus Christ as your Mediator and Saviour?
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way , the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me ." (John 14:6)
If you trust in Mary or a Roman Catholic priest as a mediator then my friend you are lost and on your way to hell. Please be saved today.