Mr Jody Hudson
Member
Here is something just sent to me...
Jody
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St. Gabriel Possenti Patron of Handgunners; GUN SAINT.
The book GUN SAINT, by John Michael Snyder, is the story of St. Gabriel Possenti and of efforts to promote his official Vatican designation as Patron of Handgunners. http://www.possentisociety.com/
A PATRON FOR SHOOTERS
By Carlo Stagnaro,
ARMI Magazine,
Milan, Italy, June 2003,
reprinted with permission of ARMI and translated by Mr. Stagnaro
Many of today's Roman Catholics are bewitched by pacifist sirens, or fall victim to the deceptive melody of nonviolence. Maybe these people don't know that, at the very same time that they argue in favor of certain principles, they are far from orthodoxy and, indeed, make heretical arguments. When one says that "tranquility" or "safety" are values in themselves - that is, when one says that nothing is worth risking, fighting or dying for - one implicitly is denying that a superior Truth does exist; therefore, one is talking against our Lord Jesus. After all, He came on earth and sacrificed Himself to save our souls.
The commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," of course, properly translated from the original with its meaning intact, really is, "Thou shalt not murder." In fact, the use of lethal force in self-defense is legitimate in the Christian tradition. It is written: "You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword; then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans" (Exodus 22:21-23). So, God Himself states the principle that aggressive violence is illegitimate, while it is legitimate to act against aggression. Christ said: "But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one" (Luke 22:36).
The difference between aggression and self-defense has been understood by theologians since the very beginning of Christian philosophy. St. Augustine of Hippo
pointed out that peace without justice and liberty is an "unjust peace," as opposed to the "tranquility of order." St. Thomas Acquinas noted that "true peace is only in good men and about good things. The peace of the wicked is not a true peace but a semblance thereof." This line of reasoning has been unchanged for at least 1,000 years - except in the minds of heretics. Indeed, the Roman Catholic Church has been so conscious of the importance and relevance of self-defense that it chose several patron saints for those who deal peacefully with weapons. To mention only a few of them: St. Barbara, Patron of Artillerymen; St. Sebastian, Patron of Archers; St. Michael the Archangel, Patron of the Security Forces.
However, shooters still do not have an official patron saint. This is true for firearm hobbyists as well as for those who use guns to protect life, liberty and property. This is why Mr. John Michael Snyder, a former associate editor of the NRA's American Rifleman magazine, founded the St. Gabriel Possenti Society, Inc. (www.gunsaint.com). He tells the story in the brilliant book Gun Saint (Arlington, VA: Telum Associates, 2003). It is a "must have" book for all those who believe owning and using guns is not against the Law of Jesus.
St. Gabriel Possenti (born in Assisi, Italy on March 1, 1838) has been chosen by Mr. Snyder as a candidate for patronizing shooters.
Read the rest here... http://www.possentisociety.com/stagnaro.asp
Take a look at the Patron Saint of Guns; Promotional and Supportive Home Page here http://www.possentisociety.com/default.asp
Jody
=====================================
St. Gabriel Possenti Patron of Handgunners; GUN SAINT.
The book GUN SAINT, by John Michael Snyder, is the story of St. Gabriel Possenti and of efforts to promote his official Vatican designation as Patron of Handgunners. http://www.possentisociety.com/
A PATRON FOR SHOOTERS
By Carlo Stagnaro,
ARMI Magazine,
Milan, Italy, June 2003,
reprinted with permission of ARMI and translated by Mr. Stagnaro
Many of today's Roman Catholics are bewitched by pacifist sirens, or fall victim to the deceptive melody of nonviolence. Maybe these people don't know that, at the very same time that they argue in favor of certain principles, they are far from orthodoxy and, indeed, make heretical arguments. When one says that "tranquility" or "safety" are values in themselves - that is, when one says that nothing is worth risking, fighting or dying for - one implicitly is denying that a superior Truth does exist; therefore, one is talking against our Lord Jesus. After all, He came on earth and sacrificed Himself to save our souls.
The commandment, "Thou shalt not kill," of course, properly translated from the original with its meaning intact, really is, "Thou shalt not murder." In fact, the use of lethal force in self-defense is legitimate in the Christian tradition. It is written: "You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword; then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans" (Exodus 22:21-23). So, God Himself states the principle that aggressive violence is illegitimate, while it is legitimate to act against aggression. Christ said: "But now one who has a money bag should take it, and likewise a sack, and one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one" (Luke 22:36).
The difference between aggression and self-defense has been understood by theologians since the very beginning of Christian philosophy. St. Augustine of Hippo
pointed out that peace without justice and liberty is an "unjust peace," as opposed to the "tranquility of order." St. Thomas Acquinas noted that "true peace is only in good men and about good things. The peace of the wicked is not a true peace but a semblance thereof." This line of reasoning has been unchanged for at least 1,000 years - except in the minds of heretics. Indeed, the Roman Catholic Church has been so conscious of the importance and relevance of self-defense that it chose several patron saints for those who deal peacefully with weapons. To mention only a few of them: St. Barbara, Patron of Artillerymen; St. Sebastian, Patron of Archers; St. Michael the Archangel, Patron of the Security Forces.
However, shooters still do not have an official patron saint. This is true for firearm hobbyists as well as for those who use guns to protect life, liberty and property. This is why Mr. John Michael Snyder, a former associate editor of the NRA's American Rifleman magazine, founded the St. Gabriel Possenti Society, Inc. (www.gunsaint.com). He tells the story in the brilliant book Gun Saint (Arlington, VA: Telum Associates, 2003). It is a "must have" book for all those who believe owning and using guns is not against the Law of Jesus.
St. Gabriel Possenti (born in Assisi, Italy on March 1, 1838) has been chosen by Mr. Snyder as a candidate for patronizing shooters.
Read the rest here... http://www.possentisociety.com/stagnaro.asp
Take a look at the Patron Saint of Guns; Promotional and Supportive Home Page here http://www.possentisociety.com/default.asp
