Mystical Body of Christ

[Tomster]

“Moreover, if that sincere charity, whereby we should see our Savior in the Church and her members, is not to grow gradually cold, we shall do well to take as our model Jesus Himself, the supreme and ideal Lover of the Church.” Pope Pius XII - Mystical Body of Christ.

As I was reading through “The Spiritual Life” by A. Tanquerey last night for whatever reason I came upon paragraphs # 1325 through #1327. Here the author discussed the gify of piety, its nature and necessity. I hope this is appropriate to discuss in light of our topic.

In #1326 he says: "This same sentiment makes us love those persons and things which have a participation in the Divine Being and in His perfections.

1. Thus, we love and venerate the Blessed Virgin, because she is the Mother of God and our Mother; and so we refer to her some of the veneration and some of the love we have for God, since of all creatures she best reflects His perfections.
2. We likewise love and revere in the Angels and Saints a reflection of the divine attributes.
3. Holy Writ is for us the Word of God, a letter from our Heavenly Father, communicating to us His thoughts and His designs in our regard.
4. Holy Church is for us the Spouse of Christ, born of His Sacred Heart, perpetuating His mission upon earth, and invested with His own infallible authority; she is for us a holy mother who has brought us forth to the life of grace and nourished us with her sacraments. We are therefore interested in whatever concerns her, in her successes and her humiliations; we espouse all her interests and are glad to further them; we sorrow are her sorrows; in a word we bear her a filial love. To this we add a sincere obedience, well knowing that when we submit to her injunctions we yield obedience to God Himself: “He that heareth you heareth me.”

continued

 

[Tomster]

1. The head of this Church, the Sovereign Pontiff, is for us the vice-regent, the visible representative of Jesus Christ on earth. We therefore offer him the veneration and love we hold for the Invisible Head of the Church, and we delight in obeying him as if he were Christ Himself.
2. We entertain these same sentiments towards our superiors in whom we love to see Jesus Christ: “I look upon my superior as upon the likeness of Christ;” and if God confides subjects to our care, we have for them the same fatherly tenderness which God shows towards us."

Tomster

 

[st_raphael]

Very beautiful, Tomster!

Also, see #1328:

This gift (piety) is no less necessary in order to treat with kindness and love those persons who do not naturally appeal to us, to entertain for those whom God deigns to confide to our care a paternal tenderness, and to share the sentiments of St. Paul, who wanted to beget Jesus Christ Himself in the souls of his disciples, “My little children, of whom I am in labor again, until Christ be formed in you.”

 

[Tomster]

S.R.,

It is so very beautiful isn’t it? I was going to get to #1328 but due to time constraints I am off to the salt mines .

Please, let’s hold the thought. I have a long day ahead of me and I will be pondering it as it relates to Tomster.

God bless,

Tomster

 

[Tomster]

“It should not be supposed, however, that His government is conducted only in the invisible or extraordinary way; for the divine Redeemer rules His mystical Body also visibly and ordinarily through His Vicar on earth. It is a well known fact, Venerable Brethren, that when Christ our Lord, after having Himself throughout this mortal pilgrimage visibly governed the ‘little flock,’ (Luke 12:32) was about to leave this world and return to the Father, He entrusted to the Prince of the Apostles the visible government of the whole society which he had founded. Such was His wisdom that He could in no wise leave the social body of His Church without a visible head. And it cannot be validly objected that by the establishment of a primacy of jurisdiction in the Church this Body was given two heads. For in virtue of the primacy Peter is none othr than the Vicar of Christ, and therefore this Body has only one principal Head, namely Christ, who, continuing Himself to govern the Church invisibly and directly, rules it visibly through His personal representative on earth; so that now, after His glorious Ascension into heaven, that Church is built not only on Himself but also on Peter as on its visible foundation. That Christ and His Vicar constitute only one Head was solemnly taught by Our Predecessor of immortal memory, Boniface VIII, in his Apostolic Letter Unam Sanctam, and the same doctrine has been constantly repeated by his Successors.” Pope Pius XII - The Mystical Body of Christ

From “Dogma for the Layman” by Thomas J.Higgins, S.J., copyright 1961: The Church is one flock under one supreme shepherd. The Roman See is the practical source of the Church’s unity. For “in order that the episcopacy itself be one and undivided and that the whole body of the faithful be preserved in unity in faith and communion through priests closely bound one to another, Christ put Peter over the rest of the Apostles and in him established a perpetual principle and visible basis of both unities.” (Vatican Council I, Denzinger 1821) The Bishops of Rome have always claimed supreme rule over all the Christian Churches, and the churches have acknowledged that claim, so that whatever church should repudiate it is guilty of schism, of rending the seamless robe of Christ."

The testimony of Scripture and the Church’s solemn affirmation at Vatican I are clear.

 

[Tomster]

Very beautiful, Tomster!

Also, see #1328:

This gift (piety) is no less necessary in order to treat with kindness and love those persons who do not naturally appeal to us, to entertain for those whom God deigns to confide to our care a paternal tenderness, and to share the sentiments of St. Paul, who wanted to beget Jesus Christ Himself in the souls of his disciples, “My little children, of whom I am in labor again, until Christ be formed in you.”

St. Raphael,

I’m about to risk having this thread closed but I must register my view regarding the position of some Catholics posting here. I ask for the moderator’s patience but I am compelled to speak.

Some years ago I was working in a large metropolitan area. I made service calls in the city and suburbs. One afternoon I happened to be working in the inner city and drove by a small neighborhood Church, Baptist as I recall. In the parking lot there was a large tent set up and food was being served. I turned around and drove in. This Church, as I soon found out, was having a fund raiser for a project. No problem, the Tomster was hungry.

After loading up my plate I sat down and ate. It was then that a beautiful old, and I mean old, church lady brought me another plate of food and another cold drink, I didn’t ask for it but I sure appreciated it. She said, “child, you look hungry and we can’t let you leave here hungry.” I finished my meal and expressed my thanks to this lady and to the rest of the people who were doing the cooking. There was no price list posted anywhere for the meals, just a free will donation. Needless to say, my wallet was empty as I rolled out of the parking lot.

My point is simply this, because these people are not visibly united in the Catholic Church does it mean that salvation is denied them? I think not. The Tomster was hungry and these people fed him. The Tomster was thirsty and they gave him something to drink. Whether these wonderful Christian people knew it or not, they were taking heed to Our Blessed Mother’s request to " . . . do whatever He tells you to do."

Who am I to say whether or not these people will enter into the Beatific Vision. I pray that they will as with the rest of us.

This other stuff posted here (and I won’t use the four letters they use to describe themselves) is nothing but mule muffins as far as I am concerned.

I promise to the moderators of this thread that this will be the last time I mention this on this thread!

Tomster

 

[st_raphael]

Tomster,

What a beautiful example of God’s outpouring love you received from these christians. Hold fast to the truth you know in your heart, Tom, and do not be upset by those who strive to turn you aside from God’s ways through sophistry and cunning.

The job of conviction belongs to the Holy Spirit, when our words fail to reach a person who remains fixated in their private opinion. (Jn. 16:8) We simply lift them in prayer, turning them over to God.

 

[Jean_Anthony]

Please do not discuss personalities or make personal observations in any posts in any threads in this forum. Keep the conversation focused on the topic at hand, everyone. If not, I will have to close this thread. Thank you.

 

[Joysong]

Today’s gospel and homily delivered by Fr. Mitch Pacwa on EWTN was excellent, and more or less fit into our topic. To access the audio, scroll to the top of the page and click the left side to listen to today’s homily. After today, you may need to get it from their archives.

The gospel was from Mt. 5:43-48. Father explained that in the Qumran dead sea scrolls, their Community Rule chapter #9 stated they were to love thier friends and hate their enemies; i.e., love the Sons of Light, but hate the Sons of Darkness.

Our Lord was critical of this group that lived separate from men in this community, even though they were very committed to their faith, even though they considered themselved to be the perfect ones. This commandment was what precisely prevented them from being among the perfect, since they permitted themselves to hate those that were not “perfect,” their “enemies.”

So Jesus’s remark, You have heard it said, was referring to their own law which said “hate your enemies.” He then went on to show the new Law of His kingdom, to LOVE your enemies, which would include ALL MEN. But not only to love them that persecute us, but to pray for them that they too, may become perfect.

This was a fabulous homily! It caused me to think that we can fall into serious temptation when others persecute and calumniate us because we do not believe as they do. If we retaliate with an interior hatred of our own, it will also prevent us from being among the perfect.

May God bless us with the words of today’s scriptures and speak to our hearts.

 

[gorman64]

Taken from the encyclical of Pope Pius XI, Mortalium Animos:

These pan-Christians who turn their minds to uniting the churches seem, indeed, to pursue the noblest of ideas in promoting charity among all Christians: nevertheless how does it happen that this charity tends to injure faith? Everyone knows that John himself, the Apostle of love, who seems to reveal in his Gospel the secrets of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and who never ceased to impress on the memories of his followers the new commandment “Love one another,” altogether forbade any intercourse with those who professed a mutilated and corrupt version of Christ’s teaching: “If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house nor say to him: God speed you.”

 

[Tomster]

A Love Ever Active

“The all-embracing range of the charity with which Christ has loved the Church is matched by its unremitting activity; and we too must all love the mystical Body of Christ with a constant and practical zeal. Not an hour can we find in the life of the Redeemer in which He did not labor, and labor (though He was the Son of God) even to exhaustion, in shaping and firmly establishing His Church: from the moment of His Incarnation when He laid the first foundation of His Church until the end of His mortal life, He was ever giving outstanding examples of holiness, ever preaching, discoursing, assembling, making plans. And so We would have all who acknowledge the Church as their mother carefully consider that, not only the sacred ministers, not only those who have dedicated themselves to God in the religious life, but in their measure also the other members of the mystical Body of Jesus Christ, are under an obligation to work zealously and energetically for the building and increase of that Body. We wish this to be especially realized - as in fact, to their honor, it is realized - by those militant members of Catholic Action who are co-operating with Bishops and priests in the work of the apostolate, and by the members of auxiliary pious associations which work to the same end. It is evident that under present conditions this untiring activity of theirs is of the first and highest importance.” Pope Pius XII - The Mystical Body of Christ

From “Dogma for the Layman” - Thomas J. Higgins S.J.

“The eating of a common food nourishes a common activity. This is the ferment of the vine producing everlasting fruit, or the salutary activity of the members which is both exterior and interior. Exterior activity is the care of souls: the apostolic work of the clergy and the Catholic Action of the laity. . . Interior activity is the co-operation of the members with grace. Some think this has a direct influence on the distribution of supernatural help. “This is a deep mystery . . .that the salvation of many depends on the prayers and voluntary penances which the members of of the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ offer for this intention . . . to our Divine Savior as though they were His associates (Mystical Body of Christ #46).” But whether one adverts to it or not, everyone plays an indespensable role through his reaction to grace. The holy life of one member benefits the whole Church just as the sinful life of another hinders it. As in the body healthy organs help sickly parts, so the members of Christ do not live to themselves alone but they help one another by good works and thus assist in the building up of the whole Christ.”

 

[st_raphael]

Gorman:

These pan-Christians who turn their minds to uniting the churches seem, indeed, to pursue the noblest of ideas in promoting charity among all Christians.

I don’t believe this topic is about uniting the churches, and you apparently did not see Ms. Anthony’s request to avoid EENS.

However, in looking at the encyclical, your quote was pulled out of context, and in itself does not correlate with other teachings of Christ in the scriptures. The Pope summarized his teaching later in the document, which was to protect the faithful from mixing with others “in assembly.” The duty to love others - outside of assembly - is still clear.

1. So, Venerable Brethren, it is clear why this Apostolic See has never allowed its subjects to take part in the assemblies of non-Catholics.

1. Furthermore, in this one Church of Christ no man can be or remain who does not accept, recognize and obey the authority and supremacy of Peter and his legitimate successors.

 

[Tomster]

Carole,

I did listen to Fr. Pacwa’s homily yesterday and he was right on the mark.

I found a beautiful work in my archives this morning, “Christ in His Mysteries” by Dom Columba Marmion O.S.B. It has a beautiful dedication on the front leaf, “To the Sacred Heart of Jesus, wherein dwelleth all the fulness of the Divinity, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge which is for us the fount of life and holiness.”

On page 208 Dom Marmion teaches: "The deepest form of misery is sin. If there is a trait particularly striking in the conduct of the Incarnate Word during His public life, it is the strange preference that He manifests for His ministry towards sinners.

The sacred writers tell us that "as He was sitting at meat . . . behold many publicans (footnote here: tax collectors in the pay of the Roman masters of Judea; recruited from the lowest class, they were regarded as contemptible on account of their exactions; they were ranked among thieves.) and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and His disciples (Matthew 9:10; c.f. Marc 2:15, Luke 5:29). Jesus was even called "the friend of publicans and sinners (Matthew 11:19 and Luke 7:34). And when the Pharisees showed that they were scandalized, far from denying the fact, Jesus confirmed it, in giving the reason that lay at the root of it: “They that are well have no need of a physician, but they that are sick. For I came not to call the just but sinners.” "

God Bless,

Tomster

 

[gorman64]

st_raphael:

don’t believe this topic is about uniting the churches, and you apparently did not see Ms. Anthony’s request to avoid EENS.

So why don’t you report it using the proper procedure…the “report post” button. I posted the excerpt from Mortalium Animos as it deals with a false charity that injures faith. Pope Pius XI instructs us that even the Apostle of love, St. John, tells us to avoid those "who professed a mutilated and corrupt version of Christ’s teaching: “If any man come to you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into the house nor say to him: God speed you.” "

St. John didn’t say to avoid sinners…but to avoid heretics! You seem to confuse the two.

However, in looking at the encyclical, your quote was pulled out of context, and in itself does not correlate with other teachings of Christ in the scriptures.

How is it “pulled out of context”? St. John does not “correlate” with the “other teachings” of Christ? How? What “other teachings” are you referring to?

The Pope summarized his teaching later in the document, which was to protect the faithful from mixing with others “in assembly.” The duty to love others - outside of assembly - is still clear.

Who said it wasn’t our duty?

Gorman

 

[Tomster]

I thought heresy was a sin. Oh well, another thread perhaps.

 

[st_raphael]

St. John does not “correlate” with the “other teachings” of Christ? How? What “other teachings” are you referring to?

I’m surprised you would ask, Gorman. I’m sure you don’t need my (name removed by moderator)ut, for if you know Christ, you know His teachings. You seem to know St. John’s epistles, also, so how is it you are not familiar with his words here: “He who says that he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. . . . the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

The topic of this thread seems to ask the question, who is my brother? Your teachings seem designed to limit our charity to only those who profess Catholicism. If you are coming to this thread to instill more of the same, I will not debate with you.

 

[gorman64]

I thought heresy was a sin. Oh well, another thread perhaps.

Yes, Tomster, heresy is a sin. But all sins are not heresies…and all sinners are not heretics.

The Church is full of sinners…heretics are not in the Church by definition.
Mystici Corporis:

1. Nor must one imagine that the Body of the Church, just because it bears the name of Christ, is made up during the days of its earthly pilgrimage only of members conspicuous for their holiness, or that it consists only of those whom God has predestined to eternal happiness. it is owing to the Savior’s infinite mercy that place is allowed in His Mystical Body here below for those whom, of old, He did not exclude from the banquet. [20] For not every sin, however grave it may be, is such as of its own nature to sever a man from the Body of the Church, as does schism or heresy or apostasy. Men may lose charity and divine grace through sin, thus becoming incapable of supernatural merit, and yet not be deprived of all life if they hold fast to faith and Christian hope, and if, illumined from above, they are spurred on by the interior promptings of the Holy Spirit to salutary fear and are moved to prayer and penance for their sins.

 

[Tomster]

S.R.,

Who is my brother? You put your finger on it.

And for the perfecting of Christ’s great scheme, He has given us the Catholic Church, “which is His body, and the fulness of Him who is filled all in all.” (Ephesians 1:23) By means of her sacraments, her various rites, her prayers, the kingdom of God - which is the kingdom of grace - is extended within us. It is through her that we receive the primary gift of sanctifying grace, but we receive actual grace as well, for we may rightly say that it is as members of the Church that Christ gives us His help. True, actual grace is given also to men who do not belong to the Church; but it is given in order that they may be drawn to the Church, and be animated by its soul even if they never visibly belong to its body. In this respect we may see once more how well Christ’s own figure of the Vine corresponds with the facts of the supernatural life of souls; for the vine draws into itself various extraneous substances which it builds up as parts of itself, and Christ by His grace draws men into union with himself that they may become part of His Mystical Body. Well may we thank Him for the richness of that life which He has bestowed on us; well may we have confidence in the closeness of the influence exercised over us by Him of whose fulness we have all received; and well may we pray that we ourselves may be built up “unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ,” and that those who know Him not may be brought to Him who is the way, the truth and the life.

 

[Joysong]

Tomster:

True, actual grace is given also to men who do not belong to the Church; but it is given in order that they may be drawn to the Church, and be animated by its soul even if they never visibly belong to its body. In this respect we may see once more how well Christ’s own figure of the Vine corresponds with the facts of the supernatural life of souls; for the vine draws into itself various extraneous substances which it builds up as parts of itself, and Christ by His grace draws men into union with himself that they may become part of His Mystical Body.

Tomster, this image of the vine (and branches) is so perfect an example chosen by Jesus to teach us how connected we are to Him and to one another, and the disastrous results of severing oneself from it. I’m glad you brought this to our topic.

I saw this reference in another thread:

Faith avails nothing without Charity.

Leo XIII, Eximia nos Laetitia, to the Bishop of Poitiers, (July 19, 1893): “Those men… separated from the most holy communion of the Catholic world. Let them not rely on the honesty of their morals, nor on their fidelity to discipline, nor on their zeal in maintaining the doctrine and stability of religion —does not Saint Paul say that all this counts for nothing without charity?

… as Saint Paul says (2 Tim 3:5) and of which Saint Augustine speaks at length (Serm 71 on Matt 32) : “The form of the branch may be visible, even outside the vine, but the invisible life of the root can only be preserved in union with the stock. That is why the bodily sacraments kept and advocated by some outside Christ’s unity, can only retain the appearance of piety. But the invisible and spiritual virtue of true piety cannot abide there any more than feeling can remain in an amputated member.”

I am wondering if it would benefit us to discuss what that fruit on the true vine would look like?

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, 23 Mildness, faith, modesty, continency, chastity. Against such there is no law.

 

[Tomster]

Joysong,

I found this last night in a work titled “Christianus” by Abbot Anscar Vonier, O.S.B. In chapter 16 titled Christianus Unitus he says: "The thing most frequently talked of in Christianity is also the thing which is most rarely defined, if, indeed, it be definable at all. Charity is constantly on our lips and let us hope in our hearts, yet few of us, though quite clear about certain manifestations of charity, would be ready to explain what we mean by the great thing itself. This lack of clearness of outline is, in itself, not to be regretted; too easy and too prompt a definition would be in danger of narrowing down a thing truly immense to a measurable circumference. Charity is of the highest order as is life in the lower order - a mysterious reality whose manifestations are everywhere, well known, easily discerned, and whose absence is still more readily detected by the least observant; yet who can say what life is, it is always greater than its manifestations. So with Charity.

continued in a few moments - rats - the phone beckons.

Tomster