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FCEGM
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An individual expounds that communal memory, conserved in the practice and preaching of the Church and in the Scripture as understood by the community. That is because the Spirit of Truth has been permanently given to the Church at Pentecost and never withdrawn, never meant to be withdrawn, keeping it One.
The Bishops manifest this unity with their primate, and have the gift of recognizing this memory and meaning and continuing the reality of the memory and meaning within the community.
Teaching is an expressed meaning, i.e, expressed thoughts; oral understandings can be remembered and repeated in different or similar words as well as in the same words. Written understandings can be preserved only by thought processes when read. Both the thought processes in hearing oral meanings, and the thought processes in reading written meanings can err left to the unaided human mind. To conserve the meaning in either instance requires a Divine grace of keeping one from error, but a guidance of the Holy Spirit. Such a guiding grace is not a positive inspiration or new Revelation; but it is a grace. It is given to the Church, not to the individual as such; he nevertheless shares in that grace by accepting and repeating what the Church has. The individual thus “happens” to be infallible; the Church is guaranteed to be infallible in its memory and indefectible in the possession of the Realities celebrated when it is united substantially.
Unity is thus a sign of infallible teaching conserving Apostolic preaching, as also in the conserving the Realities preached in celebrating the Sacramental life of the Church. Substantial unity of the successors of the Apostles (i.e., episcopate with primate as a substantial body) manifest unity of faith.
How (and under what circumstances) this promise of the Church’s union with Christ is applicable is seen in united Apostolic Teaching and Practice. I think this can be shown from Scripture where the Apostolic office there ensures communion of faith, celebrating the Realities of the Revelation in sacramental practice, deciding in a united council doctrinal and disciplinary and moral questions. That is clear in Scripture: united Apostolic authority in preaching, worship, decisions.
bringyou.to/apologetics/a44.htm
The Bishops manifest this unity with their primate, and have the gift of recognizing this memory and meaning and continuing the reality of the memory and meaning within the community.
Teaching is an expressed meaning, i.e, expressed thoughts; oral understandings can be remembered and repeated in different or similar words as well as in the same words. Written understandings can be preserved only by thought processes when read. Both the thought processes in hearing oral meanings, and the thought processes in reading written meanings can err left to the unaided human mind. To conserve the meaning in either instance requires a Divine grace of keeping one from error, but a guidance of the Holy Spirit. Such a guiding grace is not a positive inspiration or new Revelation; but it is a grace. It is given to the Church, not to the individual as such; he nevertheless shares in that grace by accepting and repeating what the Church has. The individual thus “happens” to be infallible; the Church is guaranteed to be infallible in its memory and indefectible in the possession of the Realities celebrated when it is united substantially.
Unity is thus a sign of infallible teaching conserving Apostolic preaching, as also in the conserving the Realities preached in celebrating the Sacramental life of the Church. Substantial unity of the successors of the Apostles (i.e., episcopate with primate as a substantial body) manifest unity of faith.
How (and under what circumstances) this promise of the Church’s union with Christ is applicable is seen in united Apostolic Teaching and Practice. I think this can be shown from Scripture where the Apostolic office there ensures communion of faith, celebrating the Realities of the Revelation in sacramental practice, deciding in a united council doctrinal and disciplinary and moral questions. That is clear in Scripture: united Apostolic authority in preaching, worship, decisions.
bringyou.to/apologetics/a44.htm