Mystical Body of Christ

[emarc]

I am not sure if there’s an earlier thread on this but here goes…do Protestant denominations (who believe in the Holy Trinity) belong in the Mystical Body of Christ with Catholics? A fellow Catholic said no but I believe otherwise. Need your (name removed by moderator)ut.
God bless.

 

[wardrandolph]

Read:CCC#818,838,847,820 and791.Hope this helps.

 

[AmericanJosiah]

I am not sure if there’s an earlier thread on this but here goes…do Protestant denominations (who believe in the Holy Trinity) belong in the Mystical Body of Christ with Catholics? A fellow Catholic said no but I believe otherwise. Need your (name removed by moderator)ut.
God bless.

Your question seems directed to Catholics, but MY (Protestant) reply is…

Yes. IMHO, all believers - past, present (and maybe even future) - are one, holy and catholic and are, TOGETHER, the church, the Body of Christ, the communion of saints, the mystical union of all believers. IMHO, this has absolutely nothing to do with what congregation they may be officially registered at or what denomination that congregation may legally be affiliated with; it has nothing to do with what political party they may be registered as or what kind of car they legally own or where they hold official citizenship or whether they drink tea or coffee in the morning, or whether they be male or female, black or white, young or old, blonde or brunette, or any other distinction PEOPLE make. God puts faith in our hearts and God knows who are His own; the church is His people, His family, His body, His church - together.

Thank you.

Blessings

• Josiah

.

 

[Tomster]

I am not sure if there’s an earlier thread on this but here goes…do Protestant denominations (who believe in the Holy Trinity) belong in the Mystical Body of Christ with Catholics? A fellow Catholic said no but I believe otherwise. Need your (name removed by moderator)ut.
God bless.

Maybe we should ask what, precisely, is meant by the Mystical Body of Christ? For a quick reference refer to the Summa of St. Thomas Aquinas, III, Q. 8.

It is obvious that the Church is not the natural Body of Christ. On the other hand it is more than merely morally the Body of Christ, i.e., the union between its members and Christ is not merely the union of ideas and ideals - there is a much closer connection between Christ the Head and his members, constituting a unique entity, which, because of its close connection with the Word Incarnate, is designated by a unique name: the Mystical Body of Christ - a body in which the members, living indeed their natural life individually, are supernaturally vivified and brought into harmony with the whole by the influence, the wondrous power and efficacious intervention of the Divine Head. That Invisible Head ever abides, the members of the Mystical Body come and go, but the Body continues to exercise its influence in virtue of the vivifying power from on high animating its members, and that with such persistence and consistency, with such characteristic independence of action transcending the powers of the individual members, that we may speak of it as a Person, as Christ ever living in his Church, which is his Body, inasmuch as we are the members of which he is the Head.

What makes Christ’s Mystical Body so very different from any mere moral body of men is the character of the union existing between Christ and the members. It is not a mere external union, it is not a mere moral union: it is a union which, as realized in Christ’s Church, is at once external and moral, but also, and that primarily, internal and supernatural. It is the supernatural union of the sanctified soul with Christ, and with all other sanctified souls in Christ. Now, given the nature of the human soul, its individuality, its immortality, it is clear that the union of our soul with Christ in his Mystical Body excludes the conversion of our soul into the Divine Substance, excludes any identification of man with God, any confusion or a co-mingling of the Divine and human natures. In that union there is not and cannot be equality or identity, but there is a likeness, a supernatural likeness between our soul and Christ the Head of the Mystical Body.

 

[Tomster]

Your question seems directed to Catholics, but MY (Protestant) reply is…

Yes. IMHO, all believers - past, present (and maybe even future) - are one, holy and catholic and are, TOGETHER, the church, the Body of Christ, the communion of saints, the mystical union of all believers. IMHO, this has absolutely nothing to do with what congregation they may be officially registered at or what denomination that congregation may legally be affiliated with; it has nothing to do with what political party they may be registered as or what kind of car they legally own or where they hold official citizenship or whether they drink tea or coffee in the morning, or whether they be male or female, black or white, young or old, blonde or brunette, or any other distinction PEOPLE make. God puts faith in our hearts and God knows who are His own; the church is His people, His family, His body, His church - together.

Thank you.

Blessings

• Josiah

.

There is only one Body of Christ, and it is by Baptism that we are incorporated in it.

Every man validly baptised is a member of Christ’s Mystical Body, is a member of the Church. Now it may well happen that adverse external circumstances may prevent a man’s character as an incorporated member of the Church being recognized, and the absence of such recognition may involve the juridical denial of all that it involves. In the eyes of men he may appear to have broken the bond uniting him to the Church, and yet, because of the supernatural faith, and the persistent loving life of grace, whereby he seeeks in all things to do the will of God, his union with the Church really continues: spiritually he remains a member of the Church, he belongs to the body of the Church. He may, all the time, through error, be giving his external adhesion to a religious society which cannot be part of the Church. But at heart, by internal and implicit allegiance, he may be a faithful member of the Church.

Evidently, if the Church is the Mystical Body of Christ, then to be outside the Mystical Body is to be outside the Church, and since there is no salvation outside the Mystical Body, there is no salvation outside the Church. But a man’s juridical situation is not necessarily his situation before God.

 

[Janet1983]

I am not sure if there’s an earlier thread on this but here goes…do Protestant denominations (who believe in the Holy Trinity) belong in the Mystical Body of Christ with Catholics? A fellow Catholic said no but I believe otherwise. Need your (name removed by moderator)ut.
God bless.

Dearest friend,
I will try and answer your question to the best of my knowledge and hope that this will help you in this situation.
I believe that all believers are part of the one Church which is the Body of Christ with Christ being the Head. I base this on several passages in Scripture:

Romans 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

 

[Bluegoat]

THe Catholic Church can seem a bit confusing on this, but it is really pretty simple.

I think it is easiest to think about if first you forget about the existance of the Catholic Church that we see here on Earth. (Not that we will really forget, but as a kind of intellectual exersize.)

The mystical body of Christ is the Church. Anyone that is in that Body is part of the Church.

The teaching of The Church from fairly early on is that Baptism is how we Christians are incorporated, in some mystical way, into that Body. So any baptized person could be part of the Body/the Church. However, baptism alone isn’t enough, one can still choose to not exist in that body, by behavior or belief. At least as long as he is alive he has kind of an attachment through baptism, but his continuing actions and choices are also at issue.

OTOH, there may be persons who exist in the Body of Christ who are not baptized at all, and who do not seem to be part of The Church at all. God is not limited by the sacraments he gives us.

Now, the Catholic Church teaches that this invisible Church, and the Catholic Church we see on Earth, are pretty much one thing. So anyone who is part of the Body is also part of the Catholic Church, even if he doesn’t know it. They also teach that any baptism made in the name of the trinity with the correct understanding is valid, and grafts one into the Body. So yes, people from other denominations are thus part of the mystical Body and the Catholic Church.

You can contrast this with some other POV. Many Protestants agree in general, except they say that The Body of Christ is not identical with the Catholic Church, but that all Christian Churches are part of it - it’s earthly instantiation is simply split up. Others have a slightly different understanding of baptism.

The Orthodox, OTOH, say that the The Church means the Orthodox Church. Anyone who is part of the Body of Christ is thus unknowingly part of the Orthodox Church. But unlike Catholics, they see only Orthodox baptisms as valid, so there is no need to say that anyone baptized with the right formula is actually Orthodox without knowing it.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

QUOTE=Janet1983;6141246]Dearest friend,
I will try and answer your question to the best of my knowledge and hope that this will help you in this situation.
I believe that all believers are part of the one Church which is the Body of Christ with Christ being the Head. I base this on several passages in Scripture:

Romans 12:5
So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.

1 Corinthians 12:12-27
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked. That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Ephesians 3:6
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Ephesians 5:23
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

Colossians 1:18
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

All of the above scriptures introduce the Church as the body of Jesus Christ. To become the mystical body of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church takes it to another level of bibilcal teaching and revelation;

We are partakers of his divinity; (2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. 4 Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, **so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature). **Remain in me, as I remain in you.

The valid sacrament of baptism brings one into the Kingdom of God, Holy communion consumates our New and everlasting covenant in Jesus “True body, blood soul and divinity” union as the mystical body of Jesus Christ, the sacrament of Confirmation gives us the grace and power to Proclaim the Kingdom of God is at hand without fear of death.

These 3 sacraments validate the “Full Christian Initiation into the body of Jesus Christ”.

John 6:53
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
54
Whoever eats 19 my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
55
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56
**Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. **

Anyone who receives a valid baptism at anytime in life, is saved, and falls under the umbrella of the Church militant on earth which is the body of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church of which Jesus built upon Peter (Matthew 16:17 **Jesus said to him in reply, **"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood 12 has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
18
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,

Without the True presence of Jesus Christ body, blood soul and divinity no Church is the mystical body of Jesus Christ. Without Peter and the apostles unbroken succession, no Church possesses the “Keys to the Kingdom of God” on earth in the body of Christ, as Jesus is the head of his body in heaven binding and loosing in heaven, what Peter and his successors in the unbroken line of Popes are binding and loosing on earth, inspite of opposition to Peter’s successors in the Popes in every age excercising this binding and loosing God given authority.

 

[Janet1983]

Anyone who receives a valid baptism at anytime in life, is saved, and falls under the umbrella of the Church militant on earth which is the body of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church of which Jesus built upon Peter (Matthew 16:17 Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood 12 has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
18
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,

Without the True presence of Jesus Christ body, blood soul and divinity no Church is the mystical body of Jesus Christ. Without Peter and the apostles unbroken succession, no Church possesses the “Keys to the Kingdom of God” on earth in the body of Christ, as Jesus is the head of his body in heaven binding and loosing in heaven, what Peter and his successors in the unbroken line of Popes are binding and loosing on earth, inspite of opposition to Peter’s successors in the Popes in every age excercising this binding and loosing God given authority.

Well I assume that is where the Protestant and the Catholic position differ.
I see myself as a part of the one Church and I see all believers in the Lord as part of this one Church. Be they nor Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox, all true believers make up the one Church.

Peace be to you, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

In Him,
Janet

 

[Carlan]

Gabriel_of_12:
All of the above scriptures introduce the Church as the body of Jesus Christ. To become the mystical body of Jesus Christ, the Catholic Church takes it to another level of bibilcal teaching and revelation;

We are partakers of his divinity; (2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has bestowed on us everything that makes for life and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. 4 Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, **so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature). **Remain in me, as I remain in you.

The valid sacrament of baptism brings one into the Kingdom of God, Holy communion consumates our New and everlasting covenant in Jesus “True body, blood soul and divinity” union as the mystical body of Jesus Christ, the sacrament of Confirmation gives us the grace and power to Proclaim the Kingdom of God is at hand without fear of death.

These 3 sacraments validate the “Full Christian Initiation into the body of Jesus Christ”.

John 6:53
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
54
Whoever eats 19 my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
55
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
56
**Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. **

Anyone who receives a valid baptism at anytime in life, is saved, and falls under the umbrella of the Church militant on earth which is the body of Jesus Christ in the Catholic Church of which Jesus built upon Peter (Matthew 16:17 **Jesus said to him in reply, **"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood 12 has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.
18
And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church,

Without the True presence of Jesus Christ body, blood soul and divinity no Church is the mystical body of Jesus Christ. Without Peter and the apostles unbroken succession, no Church possesses the “Keys to the Kingdom of God” on earth in the body of Christ, as Jesus is the head of his body in heaven binding and loosing in heaven, what Peter and his successors in the unbroken line of Popes are binding and loosing on earth, inspite of opposition to Peter’s successors in the Popes in every age excercising this binding and loosing God given authority.

Yes, and our Christian worship as members of the mystical body of Christ is completely surrounded around the Holy Eucharist, the Body,Blood , Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.:harp::heaven::grouphug: Carlan

 

[emarc]

Read:CCC#818,838,847,820 and791.Hope this helps.

the CCC pretty much explained it clearly. many thanks to all your (name removed by moderator)ut.
God bless.

 

[Gabriel_of_12]

Well I assume that is where the Protestant and the Catholic position differ.
I see myself as a part of the one Church and I see all believers in the Lord as part of this one Church. Be they nor Catholic or Protestant or Orthodox, all true believers make up the one Church.

Peace be to you, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.

In Him,
Janet

You are correct, the True presence of Jesus body, blood soul and divinity is the difference in Christian practice. The Protestant position differs in many ways from a symbolic, metaphorical presence of Jesus to a presence of Jesus body and blood which co-habits bread and wine. The Catholic position celebrates the "True Presence of Jesus body, blood, soul and divinity by Transubstantiation.

As a Catholic I don’t consider myself a “slave” of God, but a Child of the living God. This is a fundamental difference of how one practices and believes in ones Christian faith. A child (of God) is a blood member of the Family of God, a slave is an employee of the household of God. But this is my opinion that is not worth anything.

The word “All” can lead to the “wide path” of destruction, The bible uses the word “the many” follows the narrow path to life.

I do not argue against your protestant position, I respect your position and admire your grace to share your position, thank you and God bless you and may the peace and love of Jesus Christ be also with you.