A Leap to Christian Faith

By Christine D’sylva

Take a giant leap to Christianity with this book. If you have no time for boring theological books then this book is meant for you.

Easy to read, with practical tips on walking with Christ everyday makes it a must for everyone to realize the power of God in our lives. Can miracles happen? This book demonstrates that indeed they can if you take this leap and start to believe. Karl Marx said “Religion is the opium of the masses”. But each day when we live in safety and relative comfort is more miraculous than any of us would give credit for. We only want life size affirmations that God is indeed present in our lives and looks after us.

Do you enjoy playing with Ouja boards and are drawn to tarot cards and astrology? Then perhaps you will be attracted to this book which negates any need for these props in our life.

Do you think you are the author of your own destiny? Then consider this, ‘Man proposes but God disposes’. This popular saying reiterates the power of God in our lives.

In this day of instant answers obtained by a touch of a button people can’t be bothered to pray and wait, they want instant solutions and answers. Faith is not like instant coffee, but is nurtured in ones heart and is slow to build up.

Christianity is a beautiful religion and deserves an explanation to clear common misconceptions and untruths.

Dan Brown and others may come and go with their theories and so called facts but Jesus Christ lives on forever.

So here is a challenge – read this book with childlike faith. Then watch the power of God working miracles in your life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Notion Press
• Release date: Jul 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9789352061303

Book preview

CHRISTINE D’SYLVA

Notion Press

Old No. 38, New No. 6

McNichols Road, Chetpet

Chennai - 600 031

First Published by Notion Press 2015

Copyright © Christine D’Sylva 2015

All Rights Reserved.

ISBN: 978-93-52061-30-3

This book has been published in good faith that the work of the author is original. All efforts have been taken to make the material error-free. However, the author and the publisher disclaim the responsibility.

No part of this book may be used, reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Foreword

I wrote this book mainly to explain the Christian faith to anyone of any religion who is interested in Christianity. Christianity is a beautiful religion and it deserves an explanation.

There are so many books available which are helpful, so perhaps this is another one, but in a concise form.

I hope that through this book, people who are interested in Christianity whether out of curiosity or for an intellectual reason, feel a respect for and realise the power of God in our lives.

Of course, it cannot be reiterated enough that to understand the Christian religion, the Bible is indispensable.

I hope that this book helps clarify the many misconceptions about Christianity and gives a clearer insight into our faith in Christ.

Christine D’Sylva

May 2015

Introduction

The fact that you hold this book means that you have demonstrated an interest in the Christian faith. That’s a good start to understanding a world renowned beautiful faith that has endured for centuries.

Dan Browne, the famous author of ‘DaVinci Code’, in an interview to Indian newspapers said that he knew Christianity had been around for thousands of years and survived every dent to it, so he was sure his book wouldn’t really affect its popularity. Even people who denounce Christianity know that it is too strong and powerful to fall like a deck of cards against any detrimental breeze.

A book, movie or publication against Christianity cannot really shake the strong foundations of this religion. A Leap to Christian Faith takes you on a short journey in understanding this enduring faith.

Criticisms, barbs, and hatred are like missiles that touch it but leave no lasting scars behind, at least none that can eliminate people’s strong faith.

We begin this leap with a short reflection on Christian Marriages. Marriage is a very important sacrament of Christianity and family is central to a happy Christian life.

Many marriages have broken down due to both internal and external factors. With Christ as the centre of a marriage, difficulties which seem insurmountable can be overcome. After all, Christ’s first miracle was at the wedding at Cana and it shows us that he knew the importance of marriage. At a marriage reception when his mother Mary pleaded with him, He turned water into wine and saved the host considerable embarrassment. Christ knew the sanctity of marriage and honored it.

Contents

Title

Copyright

Foreword

Introduction

Christian Marriage

The Rosary

The Three Hail Marys

The Holy Spirit

God the Father

Mother Mary

Jesus

Birth of Jesus

Youth of Jesus

Adulthood of Jesus

God’s love for Jesus

The Crucifixion of Jesus

Resurrection of Christ

The Christian Saints – St. Anthony of Padua

Priests

Holy Communion

Faith Healers

Parables of Jesus

The Teachings of Jesus

The Greatest Teaching of Christ

Why People give up Christianity

Depictions of Christ in Christian Homes Jesus of Divine Mercy

The Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Crucifix

Jesus - The Good Shepherd

Miracles of Jesus

Healing through Visualisation - Imploring God’s Divine Mercy

God’s ways

Mary The Mother of the Church

Suicide, Abortion

The Dangers of Black Magic, Superstitions, etc.

Our Lady of Fatima

St. Michael the Archangel

Consecration to St. Michael

The Ten Commandments

The Power of Prayer

Christian Hymns

Feast of Christ the King

Our Lady of Lourdes and Our Lady of Fatima

Our Lady of Fatima

Do Miracles Still Happen?

Common Prayers of Christianity

Stand by Jesus

The bias against the female sex

Nature and God

Guardian Angels

The Holy Mass

The war against Christianity

Sickness of Body, Mind and Soul

True Religion

Conclusion

Christian Marriage

Marriage is a sacrament according to Christianity. The old phrase marriages are made in heaven could well be applicable to Christian marriages. Christians have to take marriage very seriously for divorce is not permitted by the Catholic Church.

Separation is allowed where a couple can live apart but they cannot remarry. This is a very hard teaching to follow especially in Western countries where divorce is common and remarrying is prevalent.

However, the doctrine of Christianity is very clear on this topic. There can be no divorce and one has to live with one’s partner till death does them apart. Many people have broken away from the Catholic Church due to this strict teaching. Therefore marriage has to be taken very seriously and one should never jump into marriage without a great deal of wise thought.

Extra marital affairs are not permitted for this creates a rift in the relationship between husband and wife. Three is crowd could well apply to a Christian marriage.

Sometimes because of these strict teachings, couples merely coexist in the same house with little real communication with each other. They have grown apart mentally and no longer view each other with rose rimmed spectacles. However this is their fault since Christianity does not really wish that a couple to be forced to live with each other. It tries to make people aware of the need to learn to coexist with minimum fault finding and criticism, and to encourage the best in each other. Learning to live with one’s weaknesses is following Christ’s teaching that you must love your neighbor as yourself.

A lady once when asked why she wed her husband who was neither handsome nor brilliant said simply, He brought out the best in me and made me feel special. After so many years of marriage we are still special to each other and try to encourage each other. Being best friends does help a marriage to succeed more than any other factor. If all couples could follow this, then the teaching of divorce not being permissible would not be regarded as too narrow minded or strict.

Both husband and wife are joined together in holy matrimony and promise to leave their past family ties behind. They would now embark on a new journey with their own new family. This does not mean severing relations with their parents, siblings etc, but this means that now one’s spouse and kids have to take first priority.

Sadly so many people cling on to old family ties neglecting their spouse’s feelings. They forget that they are partners now in every sense and their first priority must be towards each other. If marriage is truly a sacrament, then the joining of each other in holy matrimony is more sacred than blood ties. The sacredness of matrimony makes a couple united in body and spirit with the blessing of Christ and his Church. This is what many couples fail to understand and misunderstandings crop up quickly in marriages. Thus Christianity honors marriage as sacred and life abiding.

Marriage is for the propagation of children and continuation of human life. Family which results through marriage is also given due importance in society.

In every Christian marriage, a couple must realize that Christ is their mentor and guide. There is no place for selfishness