See our playlist "Dealing with Roman Catholicism, Idolatry & the Virgin Mary" with 132 videos & counting at http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFFA8D69D1B914715&feature;=plcp. Mary Allen spent 26 years as a Nun. She gives a personal and very descriptive account of her long life in the convent. Her coming to true Christian salvation many years after convent life is fascinating. Please share this video with family and friends. If possible please make it known to Catholic nuns. "What Every Catholic Should Know" playlist: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E1CB721E3CA65D76. Larry Wessels, director of Christian Answers of Austin, Texas/ Christian Debater (YouTube channel CANSWERSTV at http://www.youtube.com/user/CAnswersTV?feature=mhee; websites: http://www.BIBLEQUERY.ORG, http://www.HISTORYCART.COM, & http://www.MUSLIMHOPE.COM) presents former Roman Catholic priest for 22 years Richard Bennett for this video. Larry actually attends the same church in Austin, Texas (http://www.DayspringChapel.org) with Richard Bennett (website: http://www.BEREANBEACON.ORG) so the opportunity to present Richard's research is truly by God's providence. Richard Bennett is joined in studio by former nun Mary Allen for this presentation. Roman Catholic nuns, similar in tradition to ancient Rome's "vestal virgins" (the Vestals or Vestal Virgins (Vestales, singular Vestalis), were priestesses of Vesta, goddess of the hearth. The Vestals were freed of the usual social obligations to marry and bear children, and took a vow of chastity in order to devote themselves to the study and correct observance of state rituals) or Buddhist nuns, think their ascetic lifestyle will earn them eternal salvation. Even Mother Teresa felt the emptiness of this type of "works to earn salvation" writing, "How cold—how empty—how painful is my heart.—Holy communion—Holy Mass—all the holy things of spiritual life—of the life of Christ in me—are all so empty—so cold—so un-wanted. The physical situation of my poor, left in the streets unwanted, unloved, un-claimed—are the true picture of my own spiritual life, of my love for Jesus...." (Letter to Fr. Neuner, May 12, 1962, Mother Teresa, p. 232). The Dominican nuns were founded by St. Dominic even before he had established the friars. They are contemplatives in the cloistered life. The Friars and Nuns together form the Order of Preachers properly speaking. The nuns celebrated their 800th anniversary in 2006. Dominic nevertheless became the spiritual father to several Albigensian women he had reconciled to the faith, and in 1206 he established them in a convent in Prouille. This convent would become the foundation of the Dominican nuns, thus making the Dominican nuns older than the Dominican friars. Dominic sought to establish a new kind of order, one that would bring the dedication and systematic education of the older monastic orders like the Benedictines to bear on the religious problems of the burgeoning population of cities, but with more organizational flexibility than either monastic orders or the secular clergy. Dominic's new order was to be a preaching order, trained to preach in the vernacular languages. Rather than earning their living on vast farms as the monasteries had done, the new friars would survive by begging, "selling" themselves through persuasive preaching. True Christian believers have the "Spirit of truth" (John 14:17) and through that Spirit, a vital bond of union with Jesus Christ. If anyone has Christ as Savior, he or she has the Holy Spirit as Indweller (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Anyone who claims to belong to Jesus Christ but gives no evidence of being indwelt by the Holy Spirit lacks the indisputable proof to establish his or her claim. No test could be more easily applied and none is more decisive, as Scripture explains; "now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Romans 8:9). The consolation of the Holy Spirit is so basic to Christian life that the Apostle Paul calls it "everlasting consolation;" "now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace...." (2 Thessalonians 2:16). For those who are truly saved, "everlasting consolation" follows on the everlasting love, the eternal redemption, and the everlasting life that is found in the Gospel of grace (Ephesians 2:8-10). Thus living in a monastery or convent is unnecessary & hoping relics, praying to Mary, or following ascetic rules & rituals will lead to salvation is worthless (Galatians 1:6-9).

• published: 30 Aug 2012
• views: 195394