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The card came in a small, unobtrusive envelope
with a San Diego return address on the back. It was sent to the ministry Post Office box, “Attn James
White.” I
opened it to find a card with a drawing of a Roman Catholic
chalice and wafer on the front, and the title, “For Your
Intentions.” I
opened it to find the following:
At
the request of
CATHOLIC
ANSWERS
The
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
will
be offered for the intentions of
JAMES
R. WHITE
Rev.
Nabil Morannes
Then,
in handwriting, was written:
Mass
was offered for your intentions at the headquarters of
Catholic Answers June 21, 2000
Well, if the folks who sent this intended to
get my attention, they succeeded.
I had never received a “Mass card” before, or at
least if I did, I do not remember it (and given the impression
this one left, I doubt I would forget such an event).
As I pondered the card I started to wonder
what had motivated someone to do this.
The first thought, given the long history of hit-pieces
in This Rock magazine, was that it had been done to see
if I would explode and provide CA with “fodder” to
use to further their “James White is a nasty man, don’t
listen to him, please” campaign.
I discussed it with some others (including one Roman
Catholic via IRC), and got various theories as to what the
motivation would be for having a mass said for me at the
headquarters of Catholic Answers.
Finally I came to the conclusion that the date (June
21) was the key: someone I knew had just gone to work for Catholic
Answers that week, and I decided that the card reflected
their desires.
Just today a Roman Catholic wrote to me and
indicated that he was praying to “Our Lady” and a few
various saints for my conversion to Holy Mother Church.
I had the same response as I did to the mass card: what
a sad system of belief! What
hopelessness when one has to utilize such means and methods!
To say masses for “intentions” as if this religious
rite will do something...to pray to saints who do not even
hear you, are utterly unaware you are calling upon
them....what emptiness!
As I considered these things, I decided to
write a short response back to the folks, whoever they are,
who decided to offer a mass in my name on June 21.
Here’s my reply:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am in receipt of the mass card you sent to
me in June. As
I’m sure you expect, I’m not writing to say “thank
you.” It would
be fundamentally inconsistent of me to ever give thanks for
the offering of a mass, since my study of God’s Holy Word
has convinced me the Roman Mass is a blasphemy against the
cross of my Lord Jesus Christ.
It accomplishes nothing, outside of perpetuating the
myths of transubstantiation and a sacramental priesthood.
I have a theory I know why this took place, and who was
behind it, but I assure you that I need no medieval religious
rite to make my “intentions” known to God.
As a Christian I am invited to boldly come before the
throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), not by any righteousness of my
own, but solely by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
I look to Him, and Him alone, as the one who can save
me “completely” since He ever lives to make intercession
for me (Hebrews 7:24-25), not by being transubstantiated into
wine and a wafer on an altar, but by the one offering of His
perfect sacrifice on Calvary.
Instead of appearing on Roman altars, my Lord Jesus is
ever in the presence of the Father, interceding for me
(Hebrews 9:12, 24). He
is seated there, His work of sacrifice being
accomplished (Hebrews 10:12), with the result that all those
for whom He died are perfected by His work in their behalf
(Hebrews 10:14). The
Roman Mass is not a “re-presentation” of that one
sacrifice, as you claim, for it does not result in the
perfection of anyone.
I continue to pray that God will be merciful
in showing you all the power of His grace, the truth of His
gospel. And since
my God is not dependent upon the actions or sacraments of men,
I truly believe my request is infinitely greater than any
offering of masses for the “intentions” of myself or
anyone else. I do
hope you will come to know that.
In the service of the risen Christ,
James White
Added
information as of 8/17/00: I was informed by
"Shell," a Roman Catholic woman who has visited our
chat channel a number of times, that she was the person who
requested the Mass be said at CA headquarters for me.
She also indicated, in a follow-up message, that she did not
pay any monies for the saying of the Mass.
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