Definition of 'The Church'/Scripture/Theology

[brabble]

I have been reading the opening pages of a Papal Letter on Suffering. In the introduction, The Holy Father quotes St. Paul as follows:
1. Declaring the power of salvific suffering, the Apostle Paul says: “In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church”(1). 1. Declaring the power of salvific suffering, the Apostle Paul says: “In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church”(1).

As I understand it and I may well be wrong, ‘The Church’ as theological definition does encompass all?

Since Christ in His afflictions suffered and died for all?

Hope I’m in the right Forum (learner) please let me know if I’m not.

I would be most grateful for any website addresses that could help me with this one.

Joyous Easter Season to all!

 

[brabble]

As a P.S. - For anyone interested in the Papal Letter on Suffering, the website address is:

[http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/j...ers/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici -doloris_en.html](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/j...ers/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici -doloris_en.html)

Easter Greetings!

 

[brabble]

Oh dear, what have I got myself into! I went to the Catholic Encyclopedia on:

newadvent.org/cathen/03744a.htm
and if you read No. 1X “Members of The Church” it seems that it is only the baptized. But as I understand it there is baptism of blood (martyrdom) and also baptism of desire (searching for Truth). I am certainly no theologian, but if you read my initial post, I think my dilemma is clear? I repeat it here:…
I have been reading the opening pages of a Papal Letter on Suffering. In the introduction, The Holy Father quotes St. Paul as follows:

1. Declaring the power of salvific suffering, the Apostle Paul says: “In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church”(1). 1. Declaring the power of salvific suffering, the Apostle Paul says: “In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church”(1).

As I understand it and I may well be wrong, ‘The Church’ as theological definition does encompass all?

Since Christ in His afflictions suffered and died for all?

All I can say is 'HELP!'

 

[brabble]

I am hoping I may have solved my own dilemma. I have been pondering St. Paul’s words - and then I realized I could be reading them wrongly . . .

St. Paul is saying that what he is suffering is for The Church (he was imprisoned and eventually martyred for The Faith) . . . not that the sufferings of Christ were strictly for The Church? . . . since Christ died for all?

I am still pleading help to confirm/explain St. Paul’s meaning?

 

[Verbum]

Hi Brabble,

What St. Paul is saying is that Christ has willed that our suffering, as members of the Church (which is the body of Christ) should partake of the merits he has earned and be applied to the welfare of the Church.

In other words, the sufferings that you might experience, if you bear them in unity with Christ’s sufferings, earn graces for you and the other members of the Church.

Verbum

 

[brabble]

Thanks Verbum . . . I was getting something into a sweat there for a bit! Your post made sense to me.

Easter Greetings!

 

[Ignatius]

brabble:

I have been reading the opening pages of a Papal Letter on Suffering. In the introduction, The Holy Father quotes St. Paul as follows:1. Declaring the power of salvific suffering, the Apostle Paul says: “In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church”(1). 1. Declaring the power of salvific suffering, the Apostle Paul says: “In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church”(1).

As I understand it and I may well be wrong, ‘The Church’ as theological definition does encompass all?

Since Christ in His afflictions suffered and died for all?

Hope I’m in the right Forum (learner) please let me know if I’m not.

I would be most grateful for any website addresses that could help me with this one.

Joyous Easter Season to all!

Who do you mean by ‘us all’? Certainly not those who reject or distort the teachings of Christ. He, Himself said “My blood which will be shed for you and for many for the forgivness of sin”. He didn’t say for all.