Quoting awolbob:
Perhaps there is some confusion here about the definition of “Church”, or universal (catholic) church. Our current Pope has stated that the scattered [christian] churches must come back together for the sake of Christ’s mystical body (the Church) here on earth.
The Bible of the catholic (universal) church was codified around the 400’s AD in order to dispel heresies, which were many, and to give the whole church a valid manual from which to operate and teach. This compilation of letters and oral traditions are all the church has to go on with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There may, from age to age, be different emphasis by each Pope in order to address the needs of each age. It was many many years until the first printing press made Bibles available to the laity. And that is when all the quarrelling really started. The Catechism was meant to inform and to dispell heresy, not to continue to divide Jesus’ Church.
The current catechism of the Church was meant, said its writer, for teachers and leaders, so they would teach a consistant doctrine. But bishops thought it to be so well-written, they ordered copies for their parishoners, too.
The christian faith, whether Catholic or protestant, is a gift from God. It is not for each one of us to posit under which title the true Body of Christ exists.
Greetings in Christ, awolbob,
I appreciate your thoughts here, and your gentle replies. I can see you have a grasp of the entire picture. I am more childlike in my approach, and enjoy learning.
For that reason, when I write that there is One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, it is of course not because I have declared it so, and not in a spirit of personal superiority over other believers. (I am nothing in my small self) but I declare it the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic because Christ made it so.
He prayed so fervently before His Passion, “That all may be One.” At the Last Supper, many left Him because they could not believe His statement was literal, that they should feed on His Body and His Blood. “Many left Him.” after that, unable to believe.
Centuries later, few of these scattered “churches” teach the Real Presence, and this is the summit of our Faith.
True, The Church allows for “invincible ignorance,” and only God can judge the hearts of men. I do agree that in God’s Divine Mercy, He desires that all come to him in the fullness of His Church. In fullness, that is the key! All do not realize how glorious is that gift!
** A little analogy:** I think of the story of the Prodigal Son, who was outside the realm of his father’s house, having sinned greatly, having felt that he could not anticipate being anything but a servant. He somehow felt worthy enough to be just that, a servant. But his father would not hear of it! He declared to his son that he was not born to be his servant, but his son! Notice too that the “justified” son out in the fields would have gladly barred his Prodigal brother from his full inheritance. This is a lovely story, illustrating how the father had set the celebration and invited both sons to join him inside the house! And not to a simple meal, but to a banquet. That is the difference: The Church has prepared the Banquet of Christ’s Real Presence, here and now, and some want only to step back into something lesser. No Sacraments, no Saints, no veneration of Our Blessed Mother. A church, with a little c that although just as welcome to the banquet, seems not to know the fullness of what God has prepared for us, now and in eternity!
If others go to Heaven some other way, perhaps not being taught of the joy of full Communion with the Church, others of us realize now, at this moment, that they are drawn, they are absolutely longing for their Father’s lavish gifts of love, of Holy Communion, His Real Presence inside His Ark-like House, His Church. Why would we not want to go to Heaven as Christ’s Bride, His Holy Church?
Of course it is all too big for me to understand on a doctrinal level. I hope my analogy makes sense. You and others here have a good grasp of these things. Yet one thing I know is that even a child senses the different levels of joy offered, and with childlike faith, do we not all grasp for all God’s blessings?
I only know His Holy Church, and no other, gives me Sacraments, Magisterium, Catechism, Traditions and His Real Presence, and only with these can I even hope to make it to Heaven. Because I sinned more, I love more, in my pitiable state, as the scripture says. Maybe others feel perfectly acceptable in their own goodness to attain Heaven. I need His Holy Church and His Real Presence to have a hope of entering in.
The Church is the Bride of Christ. God our Father, in His Divine Mercy, has given us the Divine Continuity of Apostolic Succession. Christ handed the Keys to St. Peter, establishing The Chair of St. Peter, declaring that whatsoever Peter and his successors bound on earth would be bound in Heaven, and whatsoever they loosed on earth would be loosed in Heaven. This is a literal proclamation of power. The Catholic Church was THE ONLY Church for over 1500 years, before the “wicked schism” (words of St. Ambose of Milan.)" The gates of Hell will shall not prevail against it." This is the glory of the Church Christ gave us, knowing we would need all of His power to save us.
Many blessings,
Kathryn Ann
Wow, I don’t think anyone could have said it better. Thanks
). I was explaining that no one can be saved outside of the Catholic Church, not to scare her but to let her know how serious it is to be a part of Christ’s true Church.