J
JohnJFarren
Guest
“Abide in me, and I in you … I am the vine, you are the branches.” John 15:4-5.
Hello All You Actual & Potential Sons & Daughters of God –
I want to share with you an image (a new image?) of the Church. This image is a partial image … that shows us the institutional Church from one especially important viewpoint. The Church is far more than this image.
By the Church, which is very precious to me, I mean the institutional Church founded by Jesus upon Peter … and protected and guided by the Holy Spirit.
Our Supreme Model is Jesus Christ … both in our individual and family live, and in our community lives. Above all is Jesus the Model for the Church he established.
This partial image of this Church, which is very real and alive to me, is that of Our Savior during his Passion. Not being a finished product and yet in its life and growth and becoming … I see the Church, in partial image, as dirty and bloody and spit covered and groaning in great anguish – and yet protected and guided by Jesus’ Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit never ceased to protect and guide the Church through Vatican II … nor did the Holy Spirit neglect to provide us with holy and extraordinary shepherds in the popes from Pius XII through to our dear Pope Francis.
Are all these integral parts perfect? Are ANY of them perfect? No. Should we have expected perfection? To have done so would have been a mistake.
Drag all the dirt and mistakes and sins of Church past history out. The same image of Jesus in his Passion depicts the same Church struggling with all the sins of its members, including many in high positions and for many years.
“The gates [powers] of hell shall not prevail against this Church.” Let us trust God the Holy Spirit to continue guiding this “Peter” Church all through its continuing growing and maturing … all the way to the Final Conclusion, which only God can effect … in the manner and time God determines.
In closing I give profound thanks to God for His Church and for His special recent shepherds.
Pray for me. I Pray for you. JohnJFarren
Hello All You Actual & Potential Sons & Daughters of God –
I want to share with you an image (a new image?) of the Church. This image is a partial image … that shows us the institutional Church from one especially important viewpoint. The Church is far more than this image.
By the Church, which is very precious to me, I mean the institutional Church founded by Jesus upon Peter … and protected and guided by the Holy Spirit.
Our Supreme Model is Jesus Christ … both in our individual and family live, and in our community lives. Above all is Jesus the Model for the Church he established.
This partial image of this Church, which is very real and alive to me, is that of Our Savior during his Passion. Not being a finished product and yet in its life and growth and becoming … I see the Church, in partial image, as dirty and bloody and spit covered and groaning in great anguish – and yet protected and guided by Jesus’ Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit never ceased to protect and guide the Church through Vatican II … nor did the Holy Spirit neglect to provide us with holy and extraordinary shepherds in the popes from Pius XII through to our dear Pope Francis.
Are all these integral parts perfect? Are ANY of them perfect? No. Should we have expected perfection? To have done so would have been a mistake.
Drag all the dirt and mistakes and sins of Church past history out. The same image of Jesus in his Passion depicts the same Church struggling with all the sins of its members, including many in high positions and for many years.
“The gates [powers] of hell shall not prevail against this Church.” Let us trust God the Holy Spirit to continue guiding this “Peter” Church all through its continuing growing and maturing … all the way to the Final Conclusion, which only God can effect … in the manner and time God determines.
In closing I give profound thanks to God for His Church and for His special recent shepherds.
Pray for me. I Pray for you. JohnJFarren
