How do we know that it is the
Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?
1.
We know because
of the Promises of Perpetuality
made by Truth Himself (John 14:6), Jesus Christ.
We know that He founded One Church only, as He stated in Matthew 16:18.
We know because He promised His Church would be defended from
within
and from without.
"And the gates of hell
will NOT prevail
against it." Matthew
16:18
We know because He promised to be with His Church until the end of the
world, in Matthew 28:20.
We know because He promised He would not leave us orphans, in John
14:18.
We know because He promised the Spirit of Truth would dwell with it
forever, in John 14:16.
We know because Saint Paul promised the Church will be with us
forever." Ephesians 3:21
2.
We know because
of Holy
Scripture. The Catholic Church* is the only Church on
earth
which fits the pattern of the Church which Jesus Christ founded, and as
Blueprinted for us in the
Bible. There is not
another Christian Church in the world that matches this plan as does
the Catholic Church.
Compare your Church with what Holy Scripture has said it should be.
* The Catholic Church herein, includes all of
the rites which
have seven Sacraments and a valid Priesthood.
3.
We know because
the Kingdom
of GOD promised
in Holy Scripture is the Catholic Church*.
Note: Saint Matthew most often used the term Kingdom of
Heaven instead, as he
directed his Gospel to the Jews, and
they were forbidden to even say the name of GOD.
*Lumen Gentium
I,3-5
Why did Jesus Christ
become Incarnate in the
first place? Was it to leave us with a book, or to establish a Church?
Well, He just happened to tell us why:
"But He said to them, "To
the other towns
also I must PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR THIS IS WHY I HAVE BEEN
SENT"."
Luke 4:43
"But I tell
you truly, there are some
standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of
GOD."
Luke 9:27
Jesus Christ founded His Church shortly after making this statement,
and some to whom He spoke will live to see it.
"For the Son
of Man came to seek and to
save what was lost."
Luke 19:10
And how are we, who are the lost ones, to be saved?
It is through the Church which Jesus Christ founded here
on
earth.
"The Kingdom of GOD may be found where the Body of Christ
shall be."
St. Alphonsus Liguori
"Where the Bishop appears, there let the people be, just as
where Jesus
Christ is, there is the Catholic Church."
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrneans
8, 107 A.D..
Where Jesus Christ can be found in the Holy Eucharist, there
is the
Kingdom of GOD.
4.
We know because
it is the Catholic Church
which is the "Pillar and the
Foundation of the
Truth", not the Bible, as shown in 1Timothy 3:15. Not one
non-Catholic church can make that claim, as not one of them even
existed until almost 1500 years after 1Timothy was written.
5.
We know because
the Catholic Church is
firmly Implanted in Solid
Rock.
"Everyone therefore who
hears these My Words and
acts upon them, SHALL BE LIKENED TO A WISE MAN WHO BUILT HIS HOUSE ON
ROCK. AND THE RAINS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW AND BEAT AGAINST THAT
HOUSE, BUT IT DID NOT FALL, BECAUSE IT WAS FOUNDED ON ROCK."
Matthew 7:24-25
For almost 2000 years the rains and the winds of enemy and heresy have
certainly beat against the Church which Jesus Christ founded. However,
His Church is firmly anchored in Rock and has endured the worst of
these Storms.
"And I say to you, you
are Peter, and UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH."
Matthew 16:18
Non-Catholics charge that Peter is not the "rock" because the
Greek word
used for "rock" in this verse means a little pebble. Right away, it is
obvious from the very beginning, that there is a translation problem
here. Scholars have determined that Matthew was not written in Greek,
but in Aramaic, and was soon translated into Greek, so we have to go to
the original written language to find the true meaning of this verse.
Peter was called "Cephas" or "Kepha(s)" in Aramaic, by Christ in
Matthew 16:18, and it means a large massive stone or rock. Christ said
this at Caesarea Philippi, the site of a large rock mass. See Matthew
16:13. The Aramaic word for a small stone or pebble is "evna". "Kepha",
when translated to the Greek language means "Petra" (a large rock) or
"Petros" (a small stone). However, unlike Aramaic words which have no
gender, some Greek words do have gender, and "Petra" is feminine.
Translators from the Aramaic to the Greek, changed the word to the
masculine gender or "Petros" because they were unwilling to assign a
name with feminine gender to a man.
In Matthew 16:18, it is correct to say that Jesus would have said, "You are 'Kepha', and upon this 'Kepha', I
will build
My Church." In Greek,
it would translate
to, "You are 'Petros',
and upon this
'Petra', I will build My Church."
It was
the translation of the Aramaic word, "Kepha" (Cephas), into the Greek
language that caused the confusion among some who look upon Peter as
not being called "rock", but only a "pebble", and in so doing attempt
to deny his Primacy.
Matthew 16:13, 18, John 1:42, 1Corinthians 1:12, 3:22, 9:5,
15:5,
Galatians 2:8-9.
Some charge that Matthew 16:18 is based on the "confession"
of Peter
and not Peter, the person. First of all, the Context
clearly shows that the verse is based upon the person
of Peter, and not his confession of faith. In the previous verse 17,
Jesus blessed the person. In verse 19, He blessed Peter, the person, a
second time by giving him and him only the keys. Clearly, all three
verses signify a great and special blessing was bestowed upon the
person of Peter.
Secondly, the Catholic Church is built upon confessors, and not
confessions.
"Where Peter is, there is the Church. And where the Church,
no death is
there, but life eternal."
Saint Ambrose, On Twelve Psalms, 40,30, 397 A.D.
"You are built upon the foundation of the
Apostles and Prophets
with Christ Jesus Himself as the Chief Cornerstone. In Him the whole
structure is fitted together and grows into a temple holy in the Lord."
Ephesians 2:20-21
"And everyone who hears
these My Words and does
not act upon them, shall be likened to A FOOLISH MAN WHO BUILT HIS
HOUSE ON SAND. AND THE RAIN FELL, AND THE FLOODS CAME, AND THE WINDS
BLEW AND BEAT AGAINST THAT HOUSE, AND IT FELL, AND WAS UTTERLY RUINED."
Matthew 7:26-27
Other Christian churches have been buffeted and splintered into over
36,400* pieces because they were not founded by Jesus Christ and thus
were not built upon Rock.
"Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in
vain who build
it."
Psalms 127:1
*World Christian
Encyclopedia, 2001 edition, a Protestant publication.
6.
We know because
only the Catholic Church
has the Fullness of Truth.
"I am the
way, and THE TRUTH and the life.
No one comes to the Father but through Me."
John 14:6
Since Jesus Christ is the truth, then the Church which He founded and
guides has all truth.
There can be only one truth. If all Christian Churches taught
all
truth, then there would be only one Christian Church. However, this is
not the case, as there are literally thousands of Christian Churches
today, with each teaching something different from the others. How can
this be possible that each one of these plenitude of Churches has all
truth? By reasoning, it is obvious that only one of these churches can
have the fullness of truth. The trick is to find which one it is.
How do we find truth? We test for it.
"For whoever keeps the whole law, but offends in one point,
has become
guilty in all".
James 2:10
So we find the churches who do not keep the whole law, and by process
of elimination, we can determine which Church has the fullness of
truth.
I will pose just one test question which will eliminate 99% of the
thousands of Christian Churches:
"So then, brethren, stand firm, and HOLD THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU HAVE
LEARNED, WHETHER BY WORD
OR BY LETTER OF OURS."
2Thessalonians 2:15
Obviously, BY WORD OF OURS, means to hold the Apostolic
traditions.
Every non-Catholic church which denies holding of these traditions, is
thereby denying parts of Holy Scripture.
7.
We know because
it is the only Church
which has the Authority, Given to it by Jesus Christ
Himself.
Christ did not leave the world devoid of His voice.
"He who hears you, hears
Me; and he who rejects
you, rejects Me; and he who rejects Me, rejects him who sent Me."
Luke 10:16
If you reject the Church which Jesus Christ founded, you reject Him,
and in turn, the Father.
"But if your
brother sin against you, go
and show him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to
you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take
with you one or two more so that on the word of two or three witnesses
every word may be confirmed. AND IF HE REFUSES TO HEAR THEM, APPEAL TO
THE CHURCH, BUT IF HE REFUSES TO HEAR EVEN THE CHURCH, LET HIM BE TO
YOU AS THE HEATHEN AND THE PUBLICAN."
Matthew 18:15-17
So, to whom did Jesus Christ give the final authority? Did He give it
to a book? No, He gave it to the Church which He founded.
"But for the authority
of the Church, I would
not believe the Gospel."
Saint Augustine, Against the Letter of Mani 5:6
8.
We know because the
Catholic Church is a Living
Body.
As we read the Acts of the Apostles we realize that from the moment the
Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1-4), He has remained
in the Catholic Church (John 14:15-18), which is the Body of Christ, to
make it a "Living Body".
"For He is not a GOD of
the dead, but of
the living: for all live unto Him."
Luke 20:38
If we have a
"Living
Head" in Jesus Christ, we also have a "Living Body" in the Church, a
unity which the Holy Spirit makes possible by dwelling in it and by
distributing His gifts so it can bear fruit.
Every member of the
Catholic Church receives the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, with the
Sacraments. At Mass the Catholic Church lives the death and
Resurrection of Christ, and it is in the Holy Eucharist that we find
the "Fountain of Life and Holiness". Read 1Corinthians 11:23-30.
"It is done!
I am the Alpha and the Omega,
the beginning and the end. To him who thirsts I will give of the
Fountain of the Water of Life freely."
Revelation 21:6
The Catholic
Church
works to bring Jesus to humanity. Scripture scholar Fr. Francis Martin
wrote: "The Church is a Bride, and she shows to the world that her
Spouse is alive by living by His power and receiving life from Him. If
we yield to what the Lord has poured out upon us, His Spirit, the world
will know that the Church is truly the spouse of a living GOD."
How does the
Catholic
Church make sure that it is a Living Body?
First through
the
Sacraments. We receive with each Sacrament, in our different
capacities, the Paraclete, the Giver of Life, the Holy Spirit. Without
the Holy Spirit there is no life.
9.
We know because The Catholic Church is the Mystical Body of
Christ.
As such it is the
visible hands and feet
of the invisible GOD.
"If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the
whole body were hearing, where would be the smelling? But as it is, GOD
has set the members, each of them in the body as He willed. Now if they
were all one member, where would the body be? But as it is, there are
indeed many members, yet one body. AND THE EYE CANNOT SAY TO THE HAND,
"I DO NOT NEED YOUR HELP"; NOR AGAIN THE HEAD TO THE FEET, "I HAVE NO
NEED OF YOU"."
1Corinthians 12:17-21
"Because Christ the Head holds such an eminent position, one
must not
think that he does not require the help of the Body. What Paul said of
the human organism is to be applied likewise to the mystical Body: "The
head cannot say to the feet: I have no need of you". It is manifestly
clear that the faithful need the help of the Divine Redeemer, for He
has said: "Without me you can do nothing," and according to the
teaching of the Apostle every advance of this Mystical Body towards its
perfection derives from Christ the Head (Eph 4:16). Yet this, also,
must be held, marvelous though it may seem: Christ has need of His
members. First, because the person of Jesus Christ is represented by
the Supreme Pontiff, who in turn must call on others to share much of
his solicitude lest he be overwhelmed by the burden of his pastoral
office, and must be helped daily by the prayers of the Church. Moreover
as our Savior does not rule the Church directly in a visible manner, He
wills to be helped by the members of His Body in carrying out the work
of redemption. This is not because He is indigent and weak, but rather
because He has so willed it for the greater glory of His spotless
Spouse. Dying on the Cross He left to His Church the immense treasury
of the Redemption, towards which she contributed nothing. But when
those graces come to be distributed, not only does He share this work
of sanctification with His Church, but He wills that in some way it be
due to her action. This is a deep mystery, and an inexhaustible subject
of meditation, that the salvation of many depends on the prayers and
voluntary penances which the members of the Mystical Body of Jesus
Christ offer for this intention and on the cooperation of pastors of
souls and of the faithful, especially of fathers and mothers of
families, a cooperation which they must offer to our Divine Savior as
though they were His associates."
Mystici Corporis Christi (On the Mystical Body of Christ, paragraph 44)
Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Promulgated on 29 June, 1943
10.
We know by its Visibility. One cannot
govern an invisible Church, only a visible one.
"No man, when
he has lit a candle, puts it
in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that
they which come in may see the light."
Luke 11:33
Jesus Christ said, "A
city set on a
mountain cannot be hidden."
Matthew 5:14
"And in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be
prepared on top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the
hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many shall go, and say:
Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of
the GOD of Jacob, and He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in
His paths, for the law shall come forth from Zion, and the Word of the
Lord from Jerusalem."
Isaiah 2:2-3
There are many verses in Holy Scripture which refer to "The
Mountain of
the Lord", and of going up the mountain to the House of GOD, Exodus
3:1, Numbers 14:40, Psalms 48:1-4, Isaiah 2:2-3,
Isaiah 11:9, 25:6-12, 30:29, 65:11,25, 66:20, Jeremiah 31:23, Ezekiel
11:23, 20:40, Daniel 9:16, 20,
Joel 2:1, 3:17, Micah 4:1-2, Haggai 1:8, Zechariah 8:3, Matthew 5:14
Jesus also had this to
say, "And if he refuse
to hear them, appeal to the Church,
but if he refuses to hear even the Church, let him be to you as the
heathen and the publican. Amen I say to you, whatever you bind on earth
shall be bound also in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be
loosed also in heaven."
Matthew 18:17-18
How then does such an appeal apply to an invisible Church,
and
likewise, how is binding and loosing on earth applied to an invisible
Church?
"As the
Father has sent Me, I also send you."
John 20:21
"He who hears you,
hears Me." Luke 10:16
Clearly, GOD has established a visible Church in the service of the
invisible GOD.
"From what We have thus far written and explained, Venerable
Brethren,
it is clear, we think, how grievously they err who arbitrarily claim
that the Church is something hidden and invisible, as they also do who
look upon her as a mere human institution possessing a certain
disciplinary code and external ritual, but lacking power to communicate
supernatural life. On the contrary, as Christ, Head and Exemplar of the
Church is not complete, if only His visible human nature is
considered…, or if only His divine, invisible nature…, but He is one
through the union of both and one in both … so is it with His Mystical
Body since the Word of God took unto Himself a human nature liable to
sufferings, so that He might consecrate in His blood the visible
Society founded by Him and lead man back to things invisible under a
visible rule."
Mistici Corporus Christi (On the Mystical Body of Christ), paragraph 64.
Pope Pius XII
Encyclical promulgated June 29, 1943
11.
We know because the
Catholic Church is the only Christian Church which has always had a Visible Head on earth, a "Father
Figure", just as GOD had patterned for
His people from the very beginning, since the time of Adam and Eve. GOD
always dealt with His people through one man.
"And Pharaoh (the King) said unto Joseph (a Father Figure),
'For as
much as GOD has shown you all of this, there is none so discreet and
wise as you are: You shall be over my house, and according to your word
shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than
you'. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'See, I have set you over all the
land of Egypt'. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it
upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put
a gold chain around his neck..."
Genesis 41:39-42
12.
We know because the
Catholic Church is an Hierarchy* in
its system of government, just
as Jesus Christ had instituted. He is the Head, Ephesians 1:22, 5:23;
we are the body, Colossians 1:24. The Head tells the body what to do.
The body does not tell the head. Many other Christian churches are
controlled by a vote of the body, as in a Democracy, which in turn
informs the head of its decisions.
*Lumen Gentium III
13.
We know because as
a living body, The
Catholic Church Cannot
be Confused or
Separated* from
its
Head Which is Jesus Christ.
*Dominus Iesus, Vatican letter released
by Cardinal Ratzinger on September 5, 2000
14.
We know because the
Catholic Church is
Jesus Christ Based. The
Bible is Catholic
Church Based.
The Bible is a Catholic book. The New Testament was
written by Catholics. The Canons of both testaments
were decided by Catholics, and the written Word of GOD was Faithfully Preserved
down
through the ages by Catholics.
All other Christian churches are Bible
Based, with a Bible Taken
from the Catholic Church.
Jesus Christ founded a Church (Matthew 16:18). He did not command
anyone to write a Gospel.
The Word of GOD is a person, and not a book (John 1:1,14).
The Catholic Church is based on the Word of GOD alone and not on
Scripture alone.
15.
We know because it
was the Catholic Church which, in the fourth century, exercised its
authority by Deciding Which Books of
the Bible ARE
the Bible.
"The Church recognized its image in the inspired books of the
Bible.
That is how it determined the Canon of Scripture."
Fr. Ken Baker
This also shows that the Bible came from the Church, and that
the
Church did not come from the Bible. The Catholic Church is the Mother
of the Bible, not the Daughter.
THE BIBLE IS A CATHOLIC BOOK.
For those who deny that the Bible is a Catholic
Book, the founder
of Protestantism,
Martin Luther, concurred that the Bible is indeed a Catholic
Book.
He had this to say:
"We are compelled to concede to the Papists that they have the Word of
GOD, that we received it from them, and that without them, we should
have no knowledge of it at all."
Martin Luther, commentary on St. John.
Isn't it strange that other Christian Churches have to admit
(since
they use the same canon) that the Catholic Church made an infallible decision when it decided
which books of
the New Testament are inspired and which ones aren't, yet these same
Churches reject the Canon of the Old Testament decided by the same
Bishops in the same Councils?
16.
We know because it
was the Catholic Church alone, which faithfully Preserved Holy Scripture down
through the centuries, due to the efforts of dedicated Monks in
Monasteries, who gave years of their lives to transcribe hand written
copies of it.
17.
We know because the
Catholic Church has always taught that The
Word was Heard and Not Read by
the masses
for centuries before the invention of the printing press in 1450. There
were so few written Bibles that they were kept in Churches and read to
the people. Besides that, the great bulk of the masses were illiterate
and could not even read the written word. Those who could read or
afford a hand copied Bible were few. The cost was prohibitive, for each
subsequent copy took up to twenty years of a monks life to duplicate.
The Word that is Heard, is called "Tradition".
"So then, brethren, stand firm, and HOLD THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU HAVE
LEARNED, WHETHER BY WORD OR BY LETTER OF OURS."
2Thessalonians 2:15
Contrast this with what Sola
Scriptura advocates will
tell you. They have said that there
were thousands of manuscripts (for millions of people), and that the
great majority of the masses were literate, and could afford to pay for
the wages of 20 years work of one person. The secular history books of
these time periods do not agree with this premise at all. There is no
written record of the false doctrine of Sola Scriptura to be found
before the reformation.
18.
We know by its Antiquity. The Catholic
Church is the only Christian Church which can trace its origins back
for almost 2000 years. All other Christian denominations can only go
back a few hundred years at most for their origins. Here are the
founders and dates of some of the mainline Churches.
They are in time line order:
* 30 A.D., The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ.
Matthew 16:18, John 19:34, Acts 2:1-4, 1Timothy 3:15
* 1521, Martin Luther started Protestantism by forming the Lutherans,
when he broke away from the One True Church that had already
existed for almost 15 centuries.
* 1521, Thomas Munser, a Catholic priest, started Anabaptists in the
same year that Luther broke away. Protestantism
started
splitting within itself immediately. By 1600 there were 100 splits. By
1900 there were 1000, and today there are over
36,400.
Where is the One Fold (John 10:16)?
* 1525, Mennonites started by Grebel, Mantz, and Blaurock in
Switzerland.
* 1534, Henry VIII started the Church of England (Anglican).
* 1536, John Calvin, teaching predestination, formed the Calvinists.
* 1560, John Knox, who studied under Luther, started Presbyterians.
* 1582, Congregationalists started by Rob Brown, as a branch from
Puritanism.
* 1609, John Smyth formed the Baptists in Holland.
* 1639, Roger Williams started the Baptists in America. They have since
splintered severely.
* 1647, George Fox started the Quakers in England.
* 1739, John and Charles Wesley started the Methodists.
* 1770, Universalists were started by John Murray in New Jersey.
* 1774, Theophilus Lindley started Unitarians.
* 1789, Samuel Seabury started Episcopalians.
* 1793 to 1809, the Churches of Christ had four separate founders.
* 1803, Evangelicals were founded by Jacob Albright in Pennsylvania.
* 1830, Joseph Smith founded the Mormons in Palmyra New York.
* 1860, William Miller, a farmer, started the Adventists.
* 1863, Ellen Gould White started the Seventh-Day Adventists.
* 1865, William Booth started The Salvation Army.
* 1879, Mary Baker Eddy started Christian Scientists.
* 1879, Charles Russell started the Jehovah's Witnesses.
* 1875, New Age was started by Helena Blavatsky. *COL 2:8
* 1895, French Abbe, Alfred Loisy and English Jesuit, George Tyrrell
started Modernism.
Modernism was condemned by Pope Saint Pius X in 1907.
* 1901, Pentecostalism was started in the United States.
* 1914, Felix Manalo started Iglesia ni Cristo.
* 1914, Assembly of GOD was started by a General Assembly in Arkansas.
* 1919, Church of the Nazarene was started by a Union at a General
Assembly.
* 1930, Independent Churches of America (IFCA), a consortium of
churches .
* 1934, Evangelical Reformed was started by Union at a General
Assembly.
* 1952, L. Ron Hubbard started the Church of Scientology.
* 1965, Chuck Smith began Calvary Chapel.
* 1968, Disciples of Christ, separated from the Churches of Christ.
* 1974, Ken Gullickson started the Vineyard Christian Fellowship.
* Pentecostal Gospel, and other splinter Pentecostal groups, are some
of the hundreds of new sects founded by mere men in the 20th century.
"Has Christ been divided up?" 1Corinthians 1:13
"Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it."
Psalms 127:1
19.
We know by the
indelible Four Marks
which only the
Catholic Church has.
CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) 813-822
20.
We know by its Durability. It is the
oldest, and longest lasting established organization on earth by far.
Many secular encyclopedias will tell you this.
"No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and
every tongue
that resists you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the
inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and their justice with Me,
said the Lord."
Isaiah 54:17
"So now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone. For
if this plan or work is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of
GOD, you will not be able to overthrow it.
ELSE PERHAPS
YOU MAY FIND YOURSELVES
FIGHTING EVEN AGAINST GOD."
Acts 5:38-39
I must ask you. In the almost 2000 year history of the Catholic Church,
how many have tried and failed to overthrow
it? What message, if any, did you get from Acts 5:38-39?
21.
We know from the Writings
of the Old
Testament Prophets.
In 2Samuel, GOD prefigured the Church which the "Seed of
David", Jesus
Christ will found.
"And when your days shall be fulfilled and you shall sleep with your
fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, which shall proceed out
of your bowels, and I will establish His kingdom. HE SHALL BUILD A
HOUSE TO MY NAME, AND I WILL ESTABLISH THE THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM
FOREVER."
2Samuel 7:12-13
This is a clear guarantee of the Holiness and perpetuality of the
Church which Jesus Christ founded, the Catholic Church. All other
Christian Churches came some 1500 years after His crucifixion.
Isaiah,
who so accurately
predicted many things about Jesus Christ, including the details of His
passion in Isaiah 53, also foretold, equally as accurate, details of
the Church which Jesus Christ would set up.
"This is My covenant with them, said the Lord: My Spirit that is in
you, and the words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out
of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth
of your seed's seed, said the Lord, FROM HENCEFORTH AND FOREVER."
Isaiah 59:21
This is a clearly stated guarantee of the perpetuality and orthodoxy of the
Catholic Church.
"Unless the Lord build the house, they
labor in vain
who build it. Unless the Lord guard the city,
the guard watches in vain."
Psalms 127:1
What does this verse mean to you if you cannot trace the origin of your
Church all the way back to Jesus Christ?
Jeremiah had this to say, one short
example out of
many.
"And I will gather together the remnant of My flock, out of all the
lands into which I have cast them out; and I will make them return to
their own fields, and they shall increase and be multiplied. AND I WILL
SET UP PASTORS OVER THEM, AND THEY SHALL FEED THEM: THEY SHALL FEAR NO
MORE, AND THEY SHALL NOT BE DISMAYED, AND NONE SHALL BE WANTING OF
THEIR NUMBER, SAID THE LORD."
Jeremiah 3:15, 23:3-4
The Catholic Church feeds its flock the truth of GOD.
Daniel had some things to say also.
"But in the days of those kingdoms the GOD of heaven will set up a
kingdom THAT SHALL NEVER BE DESTROYED, and His kingdom SHALL NOT BE
DELIVERED UP TO ANOTHER PEOPLE; AND IT SHALL BREAK IN PIECES, AND SHALL
CONSUME ALL THESE KINGDOMS, AND ITSELF SHALL STAND FOREVER."
Daniel 2:44
"And He gave him power, and glory, AND A KINGDOM, and all
peoples,
tribes and tongues shall serve Him. His power is an everlasting power
that shall not be taken away, AND HIS KINGDOM SHALL NOT BE DESTROYED."
Daniel 7:14
These verses are a clearly stated guarantee of the impregnability and perpetuality
of the Catholic Church. They are a clear warning against those who
would attack her.
Micah added to the prophecies.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the
house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the mountains, and
high above the hills, and people shall flow to it. And many nations
shall come in haste, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the
Lord, and to the house of the GOD of Jacob, AND HE WILL TEACH US HIS
WAYS, AND WE WILL WALK IN HIS PATHS, FOR THE LAW SHALL GO FORTH OUT OF
ZION, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD OUT OF JERUSALEM."
Micah 4:1-2
This is clearly stated by Micah, that the Church which GOD will
establish, the Catholic Church, would be a world wide teaching Church,
and it would be set upon a Mountain
for All to See,
and that it would have the Authority
to teach
the Word of GOD.
It was upon a mountain, Mount Sinai, in which Moses received GOD's
teaching, written on stone tablets (Exodus 31:18). This is a clear Type of the Catholic Church and
its teaching
authority.
Jerusalem as seen here is the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ (Jer
7:34, Rev 19:7-8, 21:2), the Church.
Haggai wrote this:
"And I will move all nations, and THE DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS SHALL
COME; AND I WILL FILL HIS HOUSE WITH GLORY, SAID THE LORD OF HOSTS. The
silver is mine, and the gold is mine, said the Lord of Hosts. GREAT
SHALL BE THE GLORY OF THIS LAST HOUSE MORE THAN OF THE FIRST, SAID THE
LORD OF HOSTS; AND IN THIS PLACE I WILL GIVE PEACE, SAID THE LORD OF
HOSTS"
Haggai 2:8-10
The "Desired of all Nations" could only mean Jesus Christ, and the
Church He will build is the "Last House", the indefectible Catholic
Church, greater in glory than what it replaced, the Church which will
last until the end of the world (Matt 28:20).
Zechariah wrote this:
"Thus said the Lord of Hosts: I am returned to Zion, and I will dwell
in the midst of Jerusalem; and JERUSALEM SHALL BE CALLED THE CITY OF
TRUTH, AND THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE SANCTIFIED MOUNTAIN."
Zechariah 8:3
Jerusalem here is of course the New Jerusalem as described earlier. It
is the Catholic Church which is the "City of Truth", and the "Mountain of the Lord of Hosts".
Malachi wrote this:
Malachi 1:11
He wrote a clear description of the Sacrifice performed in every
Catholic Mass.
22.
We know because the
Thread of the
Catholic Church is Woven throughout Holy Scripture from the first book of Genesis to the last
book of
Revelation. However, the thread does not end with Revelation, for it
continues unbroken where GOD's Public Revelation ended, and on down
through the ages for almost 2000 years of richly recorded history until
this very day.
23.
We know from Holy
Scripture, as it is one continuous story from beginning to end. It is
the story of GOD's Salvation History through a series of Covenants which He made with
mankind. Each
successive covenant encompassed a larger group of people until the last
covenant, which included the whole world, the Universal Church, the
Catholic Church.
"But you shall receive
power when the Holy
Spirit comes upon you,
and you shall be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem (local) and in Samaria (spreading out) and even
to the very ends of the earth (worldwide)."
Acts 1:8
24.
We know because it
is only the Catholic
Church Which has All
of the Pieces to the
Puzzle.
You might ask, "What Puzzle"?
All of Scripture and the story of GOD's Salvation History is likened to
a giant jigsaw puzzle, an overall picture of GOD's plan for us.
Non-Catholic churches have very large gaps in their puzzle with many
pieces missing. Because of this they will never see the full picture.
Here are some examples of what I mean:
They are missing all of Church history, almost 1500 years,
from the end
of the Book of Revelation until the start of the reformation. The
recorded history is certainly there, but they simply refuse to read it.
They are missing seven books and parts of at least two more,
from Holy
Scripture, simply because one man decided they should be removed.
They are missing many pieces of rich Apostolic Tradition,
simply
because when they separated themselves from the One True Church, they
could not lay claim to it.
They are missing five of the seven Sacraments which were
instituted in
the New Testament and which were in use by the Catholic Church for
almost 1500 years before the reformation.
They are missing all of the Saints and their wonderful works.
The Catholic Church has all of the pieces listed.
25.
We know by its Indefectibility, as shown
in Ephesians 5:25-27.
(25)"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church,
and delivered Himself up for her, (26) that He might sanctify her,
cleansing her in the bath of water by means of The Word; (27) IN ORDER
THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT TO HIMSELF THE CHURCH IN ALL HER GLORY, NOT
HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING, BUT THAT SHE MIGHT BE HOLY
AND WITHOUT BLEMISH."
26.
We know because the
Catholic Church is The
Bride of Christ.
Did you notice in the previous category, that the Church
(singular), is mentioned twice in these three verses, and that Saint
Paul referred to the Church as her four times, and
as she
once?
It is therefore befitting that the Church carries the title of, "The
Bride of Christ".
"He who loves his own wife, loves himself. For no one ever
hated his
own flesh; on the contrary he nourishes and cherishes it, AS CHRIST
ALSO DOES THE CHURCH because we are members of His body, made from His
flesh and from His bones. For this cause a man shall leave his father
and mother, and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.
THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY - I MEAN IN REFERENCE TO CHRIST AND TO THE
CHURCH."
Ephesians 5:29-32
"And the Lord Himself says in the Gospel: "So they are no
longer two,
but one flesh". They are, in fact, two different persons, yet they are
one in conjugal union,... as Head, He calls Himself the Bridegroom, as
Body, He calls Himself 'bride'."
St Augustine of Hippo, C.C.C. 796.
"Even as He chose us before the foundation of the world, THAT
WE SHOULD
BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH IN HIS SIGHT IN LOVE."
Ephesians 1:4. Compare this verse with Ephesians 5:27 as listed in the
previous category.
"And the Bridegroom shall rejoice over the bride, and your
GOD shall
rejoice over you."
Isaiah 62:5
"Can the
wedding guests mourn as long as
the Bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the Bridegroom
shall be taken away from them, and then they will fast."
Matthew 9:15. See also Mark 2:19-20
"He who has the bride is the Bridegroom; but the friend of
the
Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices exceedingly at the voice
of the Bridegroom. This my joy, therefore is made full. He must
increase, but I must decrease."
John 3:29-30
"For I betrothed you to one spouse, that I might present you
a chaste
virgin to Christ."
2Cor 11:2
Read the parable of the ten virgins and the Bridegroom in
Matthew
25:1-13
Since the Catholic Church is the bride of Christ, can he be
the spouse
of other churches?
No, for just like us, He can have only one bride, for more than one
would be the sin of polygamy.
27.
We know because the
Catholic Church holds periodic Church
Councils to
settle disputes and problems which arise from time to time.
"Where there is no governor, the people shall fall; but there
is safety
where there is much council."
Proverbs 11:14
The first Church Council was the Council of Jerusalem in 49
A.D., as
described in Acts 15:1-29.
A doctrinal dispute had to be decided and there was a debate, and the
Primacy of the first Pope, Peter, was voiced (Vs 7). After that the
whole meeting quieted down (Vs 12). The Apostles had composed a letter
(Vs 23) in which they had written their agreed upon decisions in
conjunction with the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Vs 28).
"The Apostles had spoken. The issue was settled."
Over the centuries, there have been many Church Councils from
time to
time. They are normally called in order to settle disputes, and the
issues of the day, just as was the first one.
Now it is "Rome has spoken, the matter is settled."
28.
We know by its Church Council Teachings
to the whole world in which all Christians adhere to in many respects.
It was Catholic Church Councils
which have
defined many doctrines used today by both Catholics and Protestants
alike.
"Where there is no governor, the people shall fall; but there
is safety
where there is much Council."
Proverbs 11:14
"Designs are strengthened by Councils, and wars are to be managed by
governments."
Proverbs 20:18
The very first Church Council held, was the Council of
Jerusalem 48-50
A.D. (Acts 15:1-35), in which Peter
said,
"Brethren, you know that in early days GOD
MADE CHOICE THAT
THROUGH MY MOUTH THE
GENTILES SHOULD HEAR THE WORD OF THE
GOSPEL AND BELIEVE."
Acts 15:7
Church Councils are presided over by the
Bishop of Rome, the Pope, in
conjunction with the other Bishops and...
"For THE HOLY
SPIRIT AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO LAY NO
FURTHER BURDENS ON YOU..." Acts 15:28
Here are just a few examples of doctrines
which have
emerged from Church Councils:
You will not find the word "Trinity" in
Holy
Scripture. The doctrine of the "Holy Trinity" was defined in the
Catholic Council of Nicea in 325.
The "Nicene
Creed", which is
said in many Protestant churches as well as Catholic,
came from the Council of Nicea in 325, and was revised as to the
wording it is today, in the Council of Constantinople I in 381.
The Canons
of both the Old
and New Testaments were decided by the Catholic Councils of Rome in
382, Hippo in 393, and Carthage III in 397.
The Catholic Councils of Ephesus in 431,
and of
Chalcedon in 451, defined the doctrine that Jesus Christ is one person
with two natures, the Hypostatic Union.
The Catholic Council of Lyons I in 1245
defined the
doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the
Son.
29.
We know because of Apostolic
Succession.
"May his days be few. and may another take up his duties."
Psalms 109:8
"...And his ministry let another take."
Acts 1:20
"I laid the foundation and
another builds
thereon."
1Corinthians 3:10
"...you are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets with
Jesus Christ as the chief corner stone. In Him the whole structure is
closely fitted together and grows into a temple holy in the Lord..."
Ephesians 2:20-21
The succession of the Bishops of Rome, the Popes,
can be traced all the way back in an Unbroken
Line
to St. Peter.
30.
We know because of
the Truth in Teaching
Succession all the way
from Jesus Christ to the Bishops and
Priests of the Catholic Church to this day.
Here is just one path I will show as an example.
From Jesus Christ to the Apostles.
"As the Father has sent
Me, I also send you."
John 20:21
"He who receives anyone
I send, receives
Me; and he who receives Me, receives Him who sent Me."
John 13:20
"He who hears you,
hears Me; and he who
rejects you, rejects Me; and he who rejects Me, rejects Him who sent Me."
Luke 10:16
"But when He, the
Spirit of Truth, has
come, He will teach you all the truth."
John 16:13
"For the Holy Spirit and we have decided to lay no further burden upon
you but this indispensable one..."
Acts 15:28
From the Apostles to St. Paul.
"Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas,
taking also Titus along with me. And I went up in consequence of a
revelation, and I conferred with them on the Gospel which I preach
among the Gentiles, but separately with the men of authority; lest
perhaps I should be running, or had run in vain."
Galatians 2:1-2
Here, Paul went to the Apostles to have them confirm that his teaching
was in tune with theirs.
From St. Paul to Timothy and then to the Bishops.
"...and the things that you have learned from me through many
witnesses, commend to trustworthy men who shall be competent in turn to
teach others."
2Timothy 2:2
St. Paul, in effect said: I have taught you. Now you teach others who
will in turn teach yet others the truth which I received from the
Apostles, who in turn received it from Truth Himself, The Word, Jesus
Christ. This succession of truth is shown by the unchanging truth in the
teachings of the Catholic Church.
31.
We know from the
hundreds of years of Writings by Church
Fathers and
Ecclesiastical Writers, where they professed the Same
Beliefs then, as the Catholic Church practices today. Here is
a
small sampling of the thousands of writings which are available to
anyone.
*Saint Irenaeus (140-202), wrote a monumental work called
"Against
Heresies", which is used by scholars even today.
*Eusebius of Caesarea (263-339) wrote 10 volumes of the
History of the
Catholic Church.
He covered Church History from before the birth of Christ until about
330 A.D..
*Saint Augustine (354-430) was a very prolific writer. He
wrote
hundreds of letters, essays, and books. I recently read his
"Confessions", and it was almost like he had written it this year as
far as the Church goes. In his vast collection, he had mentioned the
Catholic Church by name over 300 times.
All of the writings listed here are available in the
Internet, free for
the downloading by anyone.
"To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant"
John Cardinal Newman
He who does not know history is condemned to repeat it.
32.
We know from the Writings
of the Church Fathers and
early Church writers, in which
they said the Catholic Church is the True
Church
which Jesus Christ founded.
"You must all follow the lead of the bishop, as Jesus Christ
followed
that of the Father; follow the presbytery as you would the Apostles;
reverence the deacons as you would God's commandment. Let no one do
anything touching the Church, apart from the bishop. Let that
celebration of the Eucharist be considered valid which is held under
the bishop or anyone to whom he has committed it. Where the bishop
appears, there let the people be, JUST AS WHERE JESUS CHRIST IS, THERE
IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. It is
not permitted without
authorization from the bishop either to baptize or to hold an agape;
but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God. Thus everything you
do will be proof against danger and valid."
St Ignatius of Antioch, Letter
to the Smyrneans, 107 A.D.
"We say, therefore, that in substance, in concept, in origin
and in
eminence, the ancient and Catholic Church is alone,..."
St. Clement of Alexander, Miscellanies, 7:17:107:3, 202 A.D.
"He cannot have GOD for his Father who does not have the
Church for his
Mother."
St. Cyprian of Carthage, The Unity of the Catholic Church, 6, 251 A.D.
"It is, therefore, the Catholic Church alone which retains
true
worship. This is the fountain of truth; this is the domicile of faith;
this is the temple of GOD."
Lactantius, The Divine Institutions, 4:30:1, 304 A.D.
"But what is also to the point, let us note that the very
tradition,
teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which
the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the
Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from
this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian."
St. Athanasius, Four Letters to Serapion of Thmuis, 1:28, 359 A.D.
"Christian is my name, and Catholic my surname. The one
designates me,
while the other makes me specific. Thus am I attested and set apart.
When we are called Catholics it is by this appellation that our people
are kept apart from any heretical name."
St. Pacian of Barcelona, Letter to Sympronian, 1:4, 375 A.D.
"We must hold to the Christian religion and to communication
in her
Church which is Catholic, and which is called Catholic not only by her
members but even by all her enemies."
St. Augustine of Hippo, The True Religion, 7:12, 390 A.D.
"Yet it is a fact that the Church is called Catholic because
it truly
embraces the whole of that truth, some particles of which may be found
even in various heresies."
St. Augustine of Hippo, Letter of Augustine to Vincent the Rogatist,
93:7:23, 408 A.D.
There are hundreds more by scores of writers.
33.
We know from the
hundreds of years of authentic early Church
Writings in which the Catholic
Church is mentioned by Name, Hundreds
of times.
I find it necessary to repeat what I have already said:
"He who does not know history is condemned to repeat it."
34.
We know because
Jesus Christ did not command anyone to write a Gospel.
However, He did command that His Church would be a Teaching
Church.
"And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church, first
Apostles, secondly
prophets, thirdly TEACHERS..." 1Cor 12:28
"And He said to them, "Go
into the whole
world and preach the Gospel to every creature.""
Mark 16:15
"And the things that thou hast heard from me through many
witnesses,
commend to trustworthy men who shall be competent in turn to teach
others." 2Tim 2:2
Next to the public school system in size, is the Catholic
Parochial
school system. These Catholic schools can be found in most communities.
These schools are unmatched by anyone in providing quality education at
a much lower cost per student than public schools, and many Protestants
and Jews prefer to send their children to them.
There are more than 30 Catholic Colleges and more than 40
Catholic
Universities in the United States alone. There are many more scattered
throughout the world. These figures do not include Catholic Seminaries
which are numerous.
There is not another Christian church which even comes close
to
matching the teaching ability of the Catholic Church.
Many other Christian churches put their emphasis upon a book.
35.
We know because of
the Consistency of
Teaching of the
Catholic Church for almost 2000 years.
The teaching of the Catholic Church has not changed, simply because
truth does not change. The Church has frequently been accused of
changing its teaching on several subjects. However, these accusations
are unfounded when the facts come to light.
One of the main false charges that detractors like to reiterate is that
the Catholic Church changed its teaching regarding, "Outside the Catholic Church there is no
Salvation." (Lumen Gentium
II,16)
Contrast this Catholic consistency to the inconsistency of what other
Christian churches have taught.
Here is but one example out of a great many:
In the early 1930's, the Lambeth Conference of Anglicans condoned Contraception on a limited
basis. Soon after, most non-Catholic sects followed suit, with each
going farther and farther from the teaching of Holy Scripture. Many now
wholeheartedly endorse contraception.
36.
We know because it
is the Catholic Church which Develops
Existing Doctrine . This
is in stark contrast to the charges of
detractors that it is constantly proclaiming "new" doctrine. The Church
has always taught that Divine Public Revelation was sealed when the
last Apostle died. This is a truth. However, understanding of that
revealed public revelation is a continuing process until the end of
time, as the finite mind of man struggles to discern the infinite mind
of GOD. It is simply a matter of a fuller and better unfolding of what
GOD has revealed to mankind.
The Church calls it the Deposit of
Faith.
"The faith once delivered to the Saints".
Jude 3.
However, the total
understanding of the
infinite GOD by finite beings is not possible.
"But when He,
the Spirit of Truth has
come, HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THE TRUTH..."
John 16:13
"GOD, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in
times past to
the fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days has spoken to us
by his Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made
the world..."
Hebrews 1:1-2.
There will be no more Public Revelation. Christ was the
fulfillment of
the law of the Old Testament.
Matthew 5:17.
There is only one teacher, Jesus the Christ.
Matthew 23:10.
The Apostles saw in Christ, "The coming of the fullness of
time".
Galatians 4:4.
"What you have learned from me, commend to trustworthy men
who shall be
competent in turn to teach others".
2Timothy 2:2.
"You are to continue in the things you have learned and that
have been
entrusted to you,...".
2Timothy 3:14.
"In giving us His Son, His only Word (for He possesses no
other), He
spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word, and He has no more to
say... because what He spoke before to the prophets in parts, He has
now spoken all at once by giving us the 'All Who is His Son'. Any
person questioning GOD or desiring some vision or revelation would be
guilty not only of foolish behavior but also of offending Him, by not
fixing his eyes entirely upon Christ and by living with the desire for
some other novelty."
St. John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, 2,22,3-5.
See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 65-67
It takes many centuries to unpack the treasures and mysteries
of Divine
Revelation.
37.
We know from the Rock
solid, Unwavering, Fidelity in the Teaching
of the Catholic Church.
Earlier in the 20th century, just about all Christian Churches agreed
on several points. They were united in being against Divorce, Contraception,
Abortion, the Homosexual
Act, Holy Unions,
and more. One by one,
many Protestant Churches are accepting some of these sinful practices
despite the fact that these practices are all strictly against the will
of GOD.
The Catholic Church has not, and will not, accept these things, as it,
like GOD, is unchanging in its doctrine and will adhere to the will of
GOD regardless what the secular world thinks.
The Catholic Church obeys the directives from the Head, whereas some
other Christian churches bend to the will of the body.
"But JUST AS THE CHURCH IS SUBJECT TO CHRIST, so also let
wives be to
their husbands in all things."
Ephesians 5:24
As previously stated, GOD has guaranteed Perpetual Orthodoxy for His Church.
38.
We know from the Infallibility of the
Catholic Church when it comes to discernment, and in defining of the
meaning of Holy Scripture. The Catholic Church has One single,
authoritative source for the interpretation of Holy Scripture. That
source is the Pope, in conjunction with All the Bishops of the world
(over 3500), with All of them having impeccable credentials, and All
speaking with One single unified voice, and with All under the guidance
of the Spirit of Truth.
"Rome Has Spoken, the Issue is Settled".
Saint Augustine
Have you heard that there is a Spirit of Truth and a Spirit
of Error?
"WE ARE OF GOD. HE WHO KNOWS GOD LISTENS TO US. BY THIS WE KNOW THE
SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR."
1John 4:6
Contrast that with the other Christian churches (over 36,400
denominations), all interpreting Scripture as they see fit. There are
thousands of sects, all teaching a different interpretation of the same
Bible. Millions of Protestants see themselves as their own "little
pope". This is precisely the reason why there is no unity in
Protestantism, and why they have split the Body of Christ into so many
pieces. A Protestant church in my area recently split in two because of
a dispute over Scriptural interpretation. The Baptists have split yet
again recently (they have scores of splinters as it is) over a dispute
about the ordination of women. Methodists have split again over another
doctrinal dispute regarding what they call "Holy (unholy) Unions".
The strange thing here is that all of these "little popes" say the same
thing, "The Holy Spirit told me". Which Pope has the Spirit of Truth,
and which "popes" have the spirit of error?
Who in Protestantism has the authority to adjudicate a
Scriptural
dispute between two factions?
Who in Protestantism can speak with authority in order to settle the
matter?
Who in Protestantism truly has the Spirit of Truth?
Why is individual interpretation of Scripture even allowed in
Protestantism?
For those who are not Catholic, and who profess to follow the
teaching
of Scripture, why do you ignore these following verses?
"This, then, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND FIRST OF ALL, THAT NO
PROPHECY OF SCRIPTURE
IS MADE BY PRIVATE
INTERPRETATION."
2Peter 1:20
It is as clear as it could be, there is to be ,
of Holy Scripture.
Saint Peter's Epistle unambiguously warns, do NOT do it, and yet,
non-Catholics do it regardless.
Here is another:
"In these Epistles there are certain things difficult to understand, WHICH THE UNLEARNED AND THE UNSTABLE
DISTORT, JUST AS
THEY DO THE REST OF SCRIPTURES ALSO, TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION."
2Peter 3:16
Wow! The last part is scary. Of whom did Peter speak here? It could not
be the Pope in conjunction with the 3500 Bishops because, surely, they
are not unlearned. They are also not unstable since they are implanted
upon the Rock of Peter. They also cannot distort Scripture since they
are, as a single voice of authority, under the guidance of the Holy
Spirit. Saint Peter had to have been speaking about all of those
"little pope's" interpreting Scripture for themselves as mentioned
above.
Here is yet another:
"And Philip, running up, heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and he
said,
"Do you then understand what you are reading"?
But he said, "Why, HOW
CAN I, UNLESS
SOMEONE SHOWS ME?""
Acts 8:30-31
Isn't this exactly what the Catholic Church does? An Apostle
interpreted the meaning of Scripture for the man. Today, the Successors to the Apostles, the
Pope, and the
Bishops interpret it for us.
Yet in Protestantism, there is no one to show them. It is every
individual person's private opinion.
Who faithfully follows the teaching of Holy Scripture in
these verses,
and who does not?
"The Bible is a supernatural book and can be understood only
by
supernatural aid."
A.W.Tozer 1897-1963
39.
We know because the
Catholic Church Interprets
Holy Scripture
by always discerning it
in Context, and
by taking into account the Senses
in which it was written, and by noting the Customs
of the people of the
time, and their Language
of the day. The
Church is also keenly aware of Translation
Difficulties,
which lead many "unlearned" astray and into Scriptural error.
The eleventh commandment, "Thou shalt not take Scripture Out of Context."
Never take a verse or two and the apparent meaning by itself without
taking into context the verses around it.
Examples:
Protestants try to "prove" the legitimacy of Sola
Scriptura from just 2 verses, 2Timothy 3:16-17. If they would
only
take it in context by backing up a few verses, they would find it does
not mean what they believe it to mean at all. Read the link for the
proof.
Matthew 23:9, call no man your Father
is taken out of context.
1Timothy 2:5, there is only one Mediator
is
taken out of context.
"A text without a context is a pretext."
We should always take into account the Language
of the day, the meaning
of the words as
they were written then, and not as their apparent meaning of today.
The language of that time period or era was very clear. However,
enduring or undergoing several translations, has made the meaning less
accurate and interpreting it today (modern era) may lose the basic
meaning.
An excellent example is the Protestant present day mis-usage of the
word "Brethren".
Another example is All have
sinned, Romans 3:23.
Here is a prime example of using the wrong Senses
of Scripture.
Protestants take practically the whole Bible in the literal sense. Yet,
why is it when they come to
John Chapter 6, they say it
is figurative, when
in no verse is a figurative sense indicated?
40.
We know because the
Catholic Church is true to the teaching of Holy Scripture.
It Does NOT Distort Scripture
to conform to
its teaching. Whereas, many non-Catholic denominations form their own
teaching in order to be "different" from the others, and then they
deliberately "twist" Holy Scripture in order for it to seemingly
"conform" to their false teachings.
"In these epistles there are certain things difficult to
understand,
which the UNLEARNED AND UNSTABLE DISTORT, JUST AS THEY DO THE REST OF
THE SCRIPTURES ALSO, TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION."
2Peter 3:15
41.
We know from the
sturdy, rock solid, Three Legged
Stool upon
which the Catholic Church is based.
Each leg has its place on what is called The
Deposit of Faith.
First, there is Holy
Scripture. Next
there is Holy
Tradition (2Thess
2:15). Lastly, there is the Magisterium
of the Church which is the authoritative teacher, interpreter, and
protector of both Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition.
No two legs can stand alone without the support of the third.
During the Protestant reformation, the reformers broke with the
Catholic Church, and thereby lost one leg, the teaching authority of
the Church, the Magisterium. As a result of that action, they could no
longer lay claim to the wealth of Holy Tradition. So they were forced
to cut off a second leg of the stool for themselves, of which
Christianity had been using for almost 1500 years.
They were forced to turn to the only leg left for them, Holy Scripture,
which was taken from the Catholic Church, remember?
Since all that was left for them was Holy Scripture and no authority
whatsoever, they invented the false man-made tradition of Sola Scriptura and declared
Holy Scripture to
be the Sole Authority.
How can you have an infallible book without having an infallible
interpreter for it?
What is the purpose of the United States Supreme Court?
Where is the authority in Protestantism to settle interpretive
disputes?
Who in Protestantism has the authority to do so?
Protestantism's one legged stool sways hither and yon, blowing with the
wind of private opinion.
Upon which stool will you entrust your eternal salvation?
42.
We know because it
is the Catholic Church which follows the teaching of Holy Scripture in
that it is the Guardian
of Sacred
Tradition."
Does faith depend upon the reading of Holy Scripture? What
does the
Bible say?
"Faith then depends on ON THE WORD OF CHRIST."
Romans 10:17
"So then, brethren, stand
firm, and HOLD
THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED, WHETHER BY
OR BY LETTER OF OURS."
2Thessalonians 2:15
"Hold to the form of SOUND
TEACHING WHICH
YOU HAVE FROM ME, in
the faith and love, which are in Christ Jesus."
2Timothy 1:13
"And the THINGS
THAT YOU HAVE
FROM ME THROUGH MANY WITNESSES, COMMEND TO TRUSTWORTHY MEN WHO SHALL BE
COMPETENT IN TURN TO TEACH OTHERS."
2Timothy 2:2
All of these verses, and a host of others, command us to heed
to the
Oral Word as well, as we guard and protect the written Word of GOD. The
Oral Word of GOD is called Apostolic
Tradition,
or the Unwritten Word of GOD, as it is handed down from generation to
generation. The Catholic Church has faithfully preserved the Unwritten
Word for almost 2000 years. In the 16th century when Protestantism
began, the reformers lost the teaching arm of the Church, the
Magisterium and they could no longer lay claim to the preserved
Apostolic Traditions, so they rejected them. They put them into the
same category as false man-made traditions, and then rejected the whole
category.
However, they invented false man-made traditions of their own, such as Sola Scriptura and Individual
Interpretation of Holy Scripture. They simply declared the
Bible to
be the sole authority and if it cannot be found in the Bible, then it
simply did not happen and therefore does not exist. Isn't it strange
that neither their beliefs in Sola Scriptura, and Individual
Interpretation cannot be found in the Bible either?
Here are some
traditions which came right out of
the Catholic Church and to which Protestants hold, as well as
Catholics, and none of them are from the Bible:
*The Nicene Creed.
Many Protestants say, "We
believe in one, holy 'Catholic' and Apostolic Church", which is right
out of the Nicene Creed. Some try to avoid using the word "Catholic", by substituting the
word "Universal" instead, but
it means the same thing.
*The word "Christmas", which is "Christ's-Mass". How could anyone be more Catholic every
time
they say the word?
*The Writer of the
Gospel of Matthew. A
predominance of Christians acknowledge it was
Matthew.
*The Writer of the
Gospel of Mark. Almost
all Christians say it was Mark.
*The Writer of the
Gospel of Luke. Almost
all Christians accept Luke.
*The Writer of the
Gospel of John. Almost
all Christians call him John.
*The End of Public
Revelation when the
Last Apostle died.
*The Gregorian Calendar, which we all use.
*The Date for Christmas, December 25, which all Christians
acknowledge.
*The Date for Easter, which Catholics as well as Protestants
recognize.
*The Date for Ash
Wednesday, used by many
Protestant denominations as well.
*The Ritual of
receiving ashes on Ash
Wednesday, now done by
some Protestants.
*The Date for All
Hallows Eve, which is
used by practically everyone as,
"Halloween".
*The Season of Advent.
*The Season of Lent.
*The Canon of the New
Testament, which all
Christian churches use.
*The Catholic
Liturgical Calendar,
which many Protestant denominations follow.
*The Praying of the
Rosary, now done
faithfully by a lot of Protestants.
*The Veneration of
Saints, by some, all of
whom were declared saints by the
Catholic Church. You will not find Saint Peter, or Saint Paul, or Saint
Matthew, or Saint Mark, or Saint Luke, or Saint
John, worded as "Saints" in Holy Scripture.
However, all Christians call these persons "Saint".
How then, can Protestants ever say that Catholics should not
hold the
traditions when they hold so many Catholic traditions themselves?
*Then there are the first five books of
the Old
Testament, all written by Moses, who appeared for the first time in
Exodus 2:2. How then could he write Genesis, except from Oral
Traditions handed down from generation to generation? What about Saint
Luke? He was one of the earliest converts. His name is first mentioned
in Colossians 4:14. How then, did he manage to write his Gospel and the
book of Acts, except by Oral Tradition? Read Luke 1:1-4. His prologue
says, "..the Word HANDED DOWN TO US...". What is that
if not
by oral tradition?
Where in the Bible does it say the Word is limited to what is
written?
43.
We know because the
Catholic Church teaches that Everything
is NOT in the Bible.
Many other Christian
denominations teach that everything IS in the Bible even though the
Bible itself does not say this.
"If it is not in the Bible, it simply does not exist or it is not
true", is what some have said.
However, the Bible itself does not, in any way, say that it is
complete.
In fact it says there are many things which are NOT in it,
and will be
taught in some future time.
"Many things yet I have to say to you, but you
cannot bear them
now. But when He, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, has come, He will teach you all
the truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He
will hear He will speak, and THE THINGS THAT ARE TO COME HE WILL
DECLARE TO YOU."
John 16:12-13
Here are some more verses which say
everything is
NOT in the Bible:
Mark 4:33-34, 6:34, John 20:30-31, 21:25, 2Thessalonians 2:15.
Here are some of the things which Non-Catholics accept, yet
are not to
be found in the Bible.
*The word 'Trinity'.
*The word 'Incarnation'.
*The word 'Bible'.
*The word 'Protestant'.
*The Canon of the New Testament.
*The words 'Sola Scriptura'.
*The false, man made doctrine of Sola
Scriptura.
*The word 'Rapture'.
*The word 'Papist'.
*The word 'Popish'.
*The word 'Romish'.
*The age of accountability.
*Altar calls.
Here are some of the things which are not in the Bible and
that
non-Catholics reject. They reject them simply because they are all
Catholic oriented.
*The entire History of the Christian Church from the last book of the
Bible until the reformation.
*The Writings of the Church Fathers.
*The Canon of the Old
Testament.
*The word 'Purgatory'.
*The word 'Pope'.
44.
We know because the
Catholic Church has an
"And" Philosophy,
whereas non-Catholic Protestant churches have an "Either / Or" Philosophy.
P. Bible only, no tradition (except theirs). C. Bible And Apostolic
tradition.
P. If it is not in the Bible, it is not true. C. All is not in the
Bible And there are many other sources.
P. One Mediator only, no other intercessors. C. One Mediator only, And
many intercessors.
P. Saved by Faith only, no works. C. Saved by Faith and Works.
P. Jesus only, no veneration for Mary. C. Jesus only Savior, And
veneration for Blessed Mary.
45.
We know because the
Catholic Church Does
NOT Teach an "Ear
Tickling Gospel".
Some other Christian churches teach only what they think their members
want to hear.
"For there will come a time when they will not endure the
sound
doctrine; but having itching ears, will heap up to themselves teachers
according to their own lusts."
2Timothy 4:3
The Catholic Church teaches all of the Gospel, and does not
omit what
is painful to some.
46.
We know because the
Catholic Church teaches that Our
Salvation is NOT guaranteed simply by accepting Jesus
Christ as
Our Lord and Savior as
some non-Catholic
sects teach. We have been redeemed by the sacrifice
of Jesus
Christ on the cross. Salvation, however, is an on going process which
involves our Co-operation
with GOD. This is
the teaching of Holy Scripture. Just think about it for a minute or so.
If we are "saved", then we can do anything we wish with no fear of
losing our salvation. This is a sin of presumption. What purpose then,
do the Ten Commandments serve? What purpose would any church on earth
serve? Did Jesus Christ die on the cross just so we could sin?
"He has commanded no man to do wickedly, and He has given no man
license to sin."
Sirach 15:21
The question, "Are You
Saved?", is an invention
of Protestant Evangelical sects.
Those who ridicule the Catholic Church for canonizing people as Saints,
are in reality canonizing themselves when they claim they are "saved".
The on going process of salvation...
We were saved in the past:
Romans 5:1-2, 8:24, Ephesians 2:5-10, 2Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:5.
We are being saved now:
1Corinthians 1:18, 15:2, Philippians 2:12, Hebrews 10:14, 1Peter 1:8-9,
2:1-2.
We will be saved in the future:
Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 8:35, Acts 15:11, Romans 5:9-11, 6:16,
13:11,
1Corinthians 3:15, 5:5, Galatians 2:17, 5:4-5, Hebrews 9:28, Revelation
21:6-7.
We can lose our salvation:
Matthew 7:21, 24:44-51, 25:31-46, Romans 11:22, 1Corinthians 9:27,
10:11-12, Galatians 5:4, Philippians 2:12, 2Timothy 2:11-13, Hebrews
6:4-6, 10:26-27, Revelation 21:8, 27.
"THEREFORE LET HIM WHO THINKS HE STANDS TAKE HEED LEST HE
FALL."
1Corinthians 10:12
"...WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING."
Philippians 2:12
GOD created us without our co-operation, but He will not save
us
without our co-operation.
47.
We know because it
is the Catholic Church alone which teaches the Doctrine
of Purgatory .
Contrary to what detractors say, the doctrine of Purgatory is very
Biblical. The problem is that they simply do not know enough about it
to discern it in Holy Scripture. Also, they have tied their own hands
by removing seven Canonical Books
from the
Bible. One key verse which detractors do not have is 2Maccabees 12:46
which says, "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for
the dead". Neither those in hell, nor in heaven need our prayers, for
in the former they are condemned and in the latter they have achieved
eternal salvation.
Those souls who are in neither place are the ones in need of prayer,
for GOD has said, that nothing defiled may enter heaven, Revelation
21:27.
Catholics pray for the dead individually and in every Mass
. There is even a special Mass for the dead called a Requiem Mass.
I feel sorry for all those non-Catholics who have died, as there is no
one to pray for them.
48.
We know by its very
Name, Catholic, which means
Universal, all
encompassing, all peoples, all teachings, all places, and for all time.
This is shown in Matthew 28:19-20, by the three "Alls".
"Go, therefore and make
disciples of ALL
nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe ALL that I have commanded
you; and behold, I am with you ALL days, even unto the consummation of
the world."
49.
We know from the Unity of
the Catholic
Church in the Family of
GOD.
The CHURCH MILITANT which are those of us on Earth, the CHURCH
SUFFERING which are those in Purgatory
, and
the CHURCH TRIUMPHANT which are those in Heaven, are all united in one
family called "The Communion of Saints". When we receive communion, the
Priest says, "The Body of Christ", and we respond with "Amen", meaning
"So Be It". It is an affirmation of what the Priest has just said, and
that we are all truly united in One Body of Christ, One belief, One
Family, Uno, Union, Communion.
"I am the GOD of Abraham, and the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD
of Jacob.
I am NOT the GOD of the dead but of the living."
Mt 22:32, Mk 12:26-27
Does this sound like the dead are really dead, or are they alive? GOD
has told us we do not die.
"And behold, two men were talking with Him. And these were
Moses and
Elias, who, appearing in glory, spoke of His death, which He was about
to fulfill in Jerusalem."
Lk 9:30-31.
Not only were these two Saints alive, but they spoke, and they even
spoke to Him about future happenings.
50.
We know from the Typology
of Scripture where the Old Testament
prefigured the New Testament, and the people, and the happenings
therein. The Catholic Church is well represented, but other Christian
Churches are not.
The "types" of the Old Testament point to the realities of the New
Testament.
51.
We know because the
Catholic Church has Deacons,
Priests, and Bishops, just as the Apostles had installed at the
very
beginning of the Christian Church.
"So the Twelve called together the multitude of the disciples
and said,
'It is not desirable that we should forsake the Word of GOD and serve
at tables.
Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good
reputation, full of Spirit and of wisdom, that we may put them in
charge of this work. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the
ministry of the Word'."
Acts 6:1-6
The word "Deacon" is derived from the Greek "Diakonos", which means
"Servant".
Stephen was chosen as the first Deacon (Acts 6:5) and he also became
the first Christian Martyr.
Acts 7:54-60.
"And when they had appointed Presbyters (Priests) for
them in each Church, with prayer and fasting, they commended
them to the
Lord in whom they had believed."
Acts 14:22
"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set right
anything that is defective and SHOULD APPOINT PRESBYTERS IN EVERY CITY,
AS I MYSELF DIRECTED YOU TO DO."
Titus 1:5
Each Church had its own priest then, just as it does today.
"And He Himself gave some men as Apostles, and some as
prophets, others
again as evangelists, and others as PASTORS and teachers."
Ephesians 4:11
"Let the Presbyters who rule well be held worthy of double
honor,
especially those who labor in the word and in teaching."
1Timothy 5:17
"Is anyone among you sick? Let him bring in the Presbyters of
the
Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name
of the Lord."
James 5:14
"Take heed to yourselves and to the whole
flock in
which the Holy Spirit has placed you as Bishops,
to rule the Church of
GOD, which He has
purchased with His own
blood."
Acts 20:28
Did you understand, from this verse, exactly who is to rule the Church
of GOD?
Luke wrote that Paul was speaking to the Presbyters (Acts 20:17). This
is a clear passage regarding Apostolic
Succession
and that existing and upcoming Bishops would govern the Church of GOD.
Also, it is a clear message that the Church of GOD on earth has to be a
Visible Church in order to
have visible people
ruling it. How could visible Bishops possibly rule an invisible Church?
"Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the
saints in
Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons."
Philippians 1:1
Does your Church have Deacons, Priests,
and Bishops?
The Church which Jesus Christ founded, did then, and still does to this
very day.
52.
We know because
only the Catholic Church has a Valid
Priesthood, which was
created by GOD to
offer sacrifice in perpetuality.
"You shall be to Me a Kingdom of Priests, a holy nation."
Exodus 19:6
These listed verses soon follow the
rebellion of Korah
(Core) against the Aaronic Priesthood in
Numbers 16. In reading the following, not only will you see the
Priesthood in perpetuality, but the "Sacred Offerings" which prefigure
the Sacred Holy Eucharist.
"...but the responsibility of the priesthood shall rest on
you and your
sons alone."
Numbers 18:1
"But only you and your sons are to have charge of performing
the
priestly functions in whatever concerns the altar and the room within
the veil. I GIVE YOU THE PRIESTHOOD AS A GIFT..."
Numbers 18:7
"The Lord said to Aaron, "I myself have given you charge of
the
contributions made to me in the VARIOUS SACRED OFFERINGS (a 'type' of the Holy Eucharist) of
the Israelites, BY
PERPETUAL ORDINANCE I HAVE ASSIGNED THEM TO YOU AND TO YOUR SONS AS
YOUR PRIESTLY SHARE."
Numbers 18:8
"You shall have the right to share in the OBLATIONS (see Malachi 1:11 ) THAT ARE MOST
SACRED, in whatever
they offer me as cereal offerings, or sin offerings, or guilt
offerings; for these shall accrue to you and to your sons. In EATING
THEM YOU SHALL TREAT THEM AS MOST SACRED; every male among you may
partake of them. AS SACRED, THEY BELONG TO YOU."
Numbers 18:9-10
"By PERPETUAL ORDINANCE I have assigned to you and
to your sons
and daughters all the contributions from the sacred gifts which the
Israelites make to the Lord; THIS IS AN INVIOLABLE COVENANT, TO LAST
FOREVER BEFORE THE LORD, FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR DESCENDANTS."
Numbers 18:19
"...this is a PERPETUAL ORDINANCE FOR ALL YOUR GENERATIONS."
Numbers 18:23
"...DO NOT PROFANE THE SACRED GIFTS OF THE ISRAELITES AND SO
BRING
DEATH ON YOURSELVES."
Numbers 18:35
See how this ties with:
"Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord
unworthily, will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But
let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of
the cup; for he who eats and drinks unworthily, without distinguishing
the body, EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT TO HIMSELF."
1Corinthians 11:27-29
The Old Testament foundation for the
Perpetual
Priesthood was followed in the New Testament by, not the order of the
Aaronic priesthood of the Jews (Hebrews 7:11), but of the Priestly order of Melchizedech,
who was both King
and High Priest, a figure of Jesus Christ.
See Hebrews 7:1-25.
53.
We know because
only a Catholic Priest
is Able to Act "In
Persona Christi" , that is, in
the Person of Christ (2Corinthians
2:10), as he calls down The Word with his word during the consecration
of the Holy Eucharist, and in the Sacrament
of Reconciliation .
54.
We know from the Mass,
the highest form of prayer, which was
instituted by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, Matthew 26:26-28, and
which you will not find in other Churches.
"For
from the rising of the sun
even to the going down, My name is great among the Gentiles, and IN
EVERY PLACE THERE IS SACRIFICE, AND THERE IS OFFERED TO MY NAME A CLEAN
OBLATION, FOR MY NAME IS GREAT AMONG THE GENTILES, SAID THE LORD OF
HOSTS." Malachi 1:11
The Catholic Church does offer sacrifice,
a clean
oblation, in every place. There is a Mass being celebrated somewhere in
the world every minute of every day.
55.
We know because it
is The Catholic Church
Which Venerates
the Crucified Christ on the Cross.
Most non-Catholic
ecclesial communities
have removed the Body of Christ from the cross and have only a simple
cross of two pieces of wood. This is an absurdity and a contradiction.
In doing so, where is the "sacrifice from the rising of the sun even to
the going down and in every place", as written in Malachi 1:11?
Fr. Benedict Groeschel once said, "People can relate to a Crucified
Christ, as all of us have crosses to carry. But no one can relate to a
Risen Christ, since none of us has ever risen from the dead."
56.
We know from the
fact that Holy
Scripture tells us to
Celebrate by Breaking Bread OFTEN,
as the
Catholic Church has always done in the sacrifice of the Mass.
"This is My
body, which is being given for
you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Luke 22:19
"In like manner also the cup, after He had supped, saying "This cup is the new covenant in My blood;
DO THIS AS
OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. FOR AS OFTEN AS YOU SHALL
EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, YOU PROCLAIM THE DEATH OF THE LORD,
UNTIL HE COMES"."
1Corinthians 11:25-26
"As OFTEN as you shall eat this bread", does this ring a bell
with you?
It would seem to me that the word "often" means "frequently", does it
not? Go to the end of the previous frame in which I said there is a
Mass being celebrated every minute of every day, and re-read Malachi
1:11.
If you read what the Apostles said in several verses, that
when they
met, they broke bread.
Acts 2:42, STEADFASTLY in the breaking of the bread.
Acts 2:46, DAILY breaking bread.
Acts 20:7, WEEKLY in the breaking of the bread.
Breaking of bread is the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass.
In most
Catholic Churches there is sacrifice of the Mass at least once a day.
Why is it then, when Scripture uses the word "often", and "daily", and
"weekly", that some other Christian churches "break bread" only once a
month, four times a year, or just once a year?
57.
We know because the
Catholic Holy Mass is
so Biblical.
*It was started by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, "Do this in memory of Me."
Luke 22:19
*It was to be on Sunday, the Lord's Day, "And on the first day of the
week, when we had met for the breaking of the bread", Acts 20:7
*It was to be often, even everyday, Acts 2:46.
*We confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another, James
5:16
*We give thanks to GOD, 1Thessalonians 1:13.
*It has the Liturgy of the Word, Acts 2:42, Hebrews 2:12.
*The Word can only be opened by the High Priest, Revelation 5:8.
*The Priest, acting in Personna
Christi (in
the person of Christ),
is the only one who can open the Word, and read the Gospel.
2Corinthians 2:10.
*The entire Bible, except for some of the begats, is read and preached
in the Mass over a three year period and then the cycle is repeated
over and over again. Revelation 14:6
*Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Luke 13:35, 19:38
*We say Holy, Holy, Holy, Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8.
*There is singing, Revelation 14:3.
*United are the Church Triumphant, Church Militant, and Church
Suffering, Revelation 5:13.
*We have an altar to offer sacrifice, Hebrews 13:10.
*We lift up our hearts, Revelation 11:12.
*Hosanna in the Highest, Matthew 21:9.
*It is a clean oblation, Malachi 1:11
*"This is My body." Matthew 26:26
*Behold, The "Lamb of GOD". John 1:29
*Those who are not in communion with the Catholic Church,
shall not partake of the Holy Eucharist, 1Corinthians 11:27-29, Hebrews
13:9-10.
*A collection is to be taken, 1Corinthians 16:1-2.
*Candlesticks are used, Revelation 1:13.
*Incense is used, Luke 1:9-10, Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4.
*Prayers are offered with the prayers of the saints, Revelation 5:8,
8:3-4.
58.
We know because
during the Mass we lift up our hearts and participate in Heaven on Earth.
For a brief moment, time stands still, and we are immersed in the Mass
as one body in the most sublime beauty in which a mortal man can find
himself. That brief moment is eternity!
59.
We know because the
Catholic Church faithfully follows its founder by complying with His
command to Feed My
Sheep (John 21:15-17).
Jesus Christ is the Shepherd and we
are the sheep.
To whom did He make this remark? He made it to Simon Peter to whom he
had given the keys of the Kingdom of
Heaven in
Matthew 16:19.
Catholics are frequently accused of being Bible deprived, but the facts
are, that the priests and lectors of the Catholic Church read from the
pulpit almost the entire Bible over a three year cycle, and have been
doing so for centuries. The only parts omitted are some of the
genealogies, the "begats". Consequently, every three years, all
Catholics have heard almost all that is written in Holy Scripture.
*The Catholic Church feeds the person with nearly all of Holy
Scripture
every three years.
*The Catholic Church feeds the soul with the True
Presence of Jesus Christ every day.
Name another Christian Church which feeds its sheep both in
body and in
spirit, as does the Catholic Church?
60.
We know because the
Catholic Church
still has, and will
always have, Seven
Sacraments, just as it
had almost 2000 years ago. This is yet
another example of the Fidelity
to which the
Catholic Church adheres in the teachings of Jesus Christ and of Holy
Scripture.
For almost 1500 years there were seven Sacraments in Christianity. Now
most of the other Christian Churches only have two Sacraments. By whose
authority were the other five removed? They were removed by a Catholic
Monk, Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, who had no authority
whatsoever to do so. Luther was rebuked by King Henry VIII for doing
this, and his Chancellor, Saint Thomas More, tried in vain to get
Luther to change his mind and reinstate them.
Baptism: Matt
28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, John 3:1-5, Acts 8:26-39, Rom 6:3-4, Eph 4:4-7.
Reconciliation: Matt 16:19, Luke 5:17-26, 7:36-50, 13:1-5,
John
8:3-11, 20:23.
Confirmation: Acts
1:8, 2:1-4, 8:14-20, 19:1-7, 2Cor 1:21-22, Eph 1:13.
Holy Eucharist: Malachi 1:11, Matt 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-27,
Luke
22:19-20, John 6:All,
1Cor 10:16-17, 11:17-29, Heb 7,8,9.
Matrimony: Gen
2:18-24, 1Cor 7:2-8, Eph 5:21-33.
Holy Orders: Luke
5:1-11, John 1:35-39, 15:15-16, 20:19-23, Acts 6:3-6, 13:3, 1Cor
11:19-27,
2Tim 1:6, Heb 5:1-5, 1Pet 2:5-11.
Anointing of the Sick: Mark 6:13, 16:18, James 5:14-15.
61.
We know because the
Catholic Church Baptizes
All Persons regardless of
age. This is unlike many non-Catholic
denominations which do not Baptize infants. There is nothing in the New
Testament which says that Jesus Christ excluded infants from Baptism.
On the contrary, He commanded:
"Let the little
children be, and do not
hinder them from coming to Me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Matthew 19:14
"Now they were bringing the babes to Him
that He might
touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them (as some
do today). But Jesus called them together and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do
not hinder
them, for of such is the Kingdom of GOD.""
Luke 18:15-16
The words of Jesus Christ in this verse express exactly, the practice
of the Catholic Church.
"Amen,
amen I say to you,
UNLESS A MAN BE BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE
KINGDOM OF GOD."
John 3:5
We are born with the sin of Adam, and the Sacrament of
Baptism removes
that sin and makes the soul pleasing to GOD. Scripture is very clear
that all must be baptized in order to achieve salvation.
62.
We know because the
Catholic Church Does
Not Condone Divorce, in
keeping with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Marriage, as a Sacrament, has been rejected by most non-Catholic
denominations, and in so doing, they have accepted divorce as a way of
life.
However, Holy Scripture, to the contrary, has this to say:
And there came to Him some Pharisees, testing Him and saying, "Is it
lawful for a man to put away his wife for any cause?" But He answered
and said to them, "Have
you not read that
the Creator, from the beginning, made them male and female, and said,
For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to
his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? Therefore, now they are
no longer two, but one flesh. WHAT THEREFORE GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER,
LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER."
Matthew 19:3-6
Clearer words than those cannot be spoken than that last sentence, yet
non-Catholic churches disobey and allow the splitting of the one flesh.
When what is "One Flesh" is split, does it become, two halves?
What was the first covenant GOD made with man? It was the
marriage
covenant in the first book of the Bible, Genesis 2:21-25. Take a look
at the last paragraph of the last book of the Bible in Revelation
22:17, and who do you see mentioned? None other than a Bride. I would
say that GOD is trying to tell us something here, like marriage is very
important to Him.
63.
We know because the
Catholic Church has an Annulment Procedure
which
is far removed from that of divorce.
In the previous frame, the key words spoken by Jesus Christ in Matthew
19:6 are, "What
therefore GOD has joined
together, let no man put asunder."
What exactly does that mean? It means that marriage is a contract
between three persons, not just two. Those three persons are, the
husband, the wife, and GOD. If GOD joined the two into one flesh, the
contract cannot be broken, except by the death of husband or wife.
However, there are impediments to marriage where GOD would not
recognize that it is a valid marriage, if it does not fit with his plan
for creation. This is where annulments may be utilized.
The main criteria for marriage is a love for one another and for the
begetting of children. It is in GOD's plan to perpetuate the human
race. We become co-creators with GOD.
"Then GOD blessed them and said to them, "Be
fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it."" Genesis 1:28
There are several valid reasons for obtaining an annulment. One of the
basic reasons is when one party or the other thwarts GOD's plan by
declaring that they do not want to have children. An annulment may be
obtained by their not participating in pro-creation, which is God's
plan and therefore, a man and woman have not become one. Other
indicators are also considered and reviewed for the best solutions to
be determined.
64.
We know from the
many Wonders of GOD which
we find in the
Catholic Church, and which we do not find anywhere else.
65.
We know because the
Catholic Church is No
Smorgasbord. There is
no picking and choosing as you will find in
other Christian churches. The Catholic Church is Christ Centered, not secular
centered. How many times have you heard people say something similar
to, "I moved from this church to that one, to another, looking for a
church which fits me and my lifestyle"?
The Catholic Church is a no-nonsense Church which faithfully follows
the teaching of Jesus Christ, and offers the sacrifice of the Mass. It
is the Church of Truth that will not bend to the whims of its members.
If 99% of all Catholics wanted to change a Church doctrine, it would
not be changed if it conflicted with the teaching of Jesus Christ.
66.
We know because the
Catholic Church, and only the Catholic Church, has the True Presence of Jesus Christ in
the Holy
Eucharist, Matthew 26:26-28.
It is the First Wonder of the World, the source, center, and summit of
the Catholic Church.
It is GOD's greatest gift to us.
It is Really Jesus Christ
giving His complete
self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, to us every time we receive Him
in Holy Communion.
Scoffers and unbelievers from other Christian Churches insist that it
is only a "symbolic gesture", and is not the True Presence. Let me
clarify this by remarking, that they are correct in saying this if they
are referring to their very own celebration. It IS only a "symbolic
gesture" for them. They do not have the Sacrament of Holy
Orders, the Laying on of Hands, the Apostolic
Succession, of the Bishops which was passed on from the
Apostles.
This enabled the remarkable ability of the Priests to call down The
Word with their word, thus by the power of the Holy Spirit, changing
the substance of ordinary bread and wine into the substance of the Body
and Blood of Jesus Christ.
It is to be noted, however, that none of these non-believers
have the
authority to say it is only a symbol for Catholics as well.
I have asked non-believers, for years, to show me the
"symbolism" in
Matthew 26:26-28, and not one person has been able to do so. Jesus
Christ did say, "This
IS My Body", did He
not?
It must be true because He said it.
"And you have
not His word abiding in you,
since you do not believe Him who he Has sent."
John 5:38
"The Protestant celebration can be likened to their reading
the menu,
while we enjoy the meal. "
A quote from Dr. Scott Hahn.
Where the True Presence of Holy Eucharist is, there is Jesus
Christ.
Where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. The Holy Eucharist
is the source, center, and summit of Christian life.
67.
We know because The Apostles Knew Quite Well That There Was
No One
Else to Turn To. The Truth was with Jesus Christ and His One Church.
"Then Simon Peter
answered Him, Lord, to
whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
John 6:68
Jesus Christ had just finished His teaching on His true presence in the
Holy Eucharist in
John 6:31-66.
In verse 53 He said, "Amen,
amen, I say to
you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood,
you shall not have life in you."
The non-believers of His true presence in the Eucharist
walked away
from Him in John 6:66 (666?) and returned not. He did not recant His
teaching, for in verse 67, He asked the rest if they wanted to leave
also. Most non-Catholic ecclesial communities do not believe His words
of John 6 either, and they too walked away. The Catholic Church
believes the words of its founder, Jesus Christ.
68.
We know because
only the Catholic Church has Eucharistic
Adoration, an
unimaginable heavenly gift
from GOD.
"And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from
top to
bottom..."
Matthew 27:51. See Exodus 26:31-34, 30:10, and Hebrews 10:19
"It is a sign that the Old Covenant GOD had made with the
Jews had
ended, and a New Covenant was beginning. The veil of the temple hung in
front of the Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant. It was
forbidden for anyone to pass through it except for the high priest, and
only he could pass once a year. It is a symbol or 'Type'
of GOD's separation from His people. The 'Archetype' is the torn body
of Christ. When the veil was torn, the barrier between GOD and man was
lifted."
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.
"Since then, brethren, WE ARE FREE TO ENTER THE HOLIES IN
VIRTUE OF THE
BLOOD OF CHRIST, A NEW AND LIVING WAY WHICH HE INAUGURATED FOR US
THROUGH THE VEIL (THAT IS HIS FLESH), AND SINCE WE HAVE A HIGH PRIEST
OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD, LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART IN THE
FULLNESS OF FAITH...."
Hebrews 10:19-22
The unapproachable GOD of the Old Testament, has become the
approachable in the New.
How many non-Catholic churches can say,
"Come, and draw near and adore the real Jesus Christ"?
69.
We know from the
many thousands of Saints
which the Catholic
Church has produced. Whenever there is a need to combat heresy, GOD
raises up yet another Saint to aid His Church. It has happened time and
time again.
70.
We know from the
perpetual Veneration
given to the Blessed
Virgin Mary, the Mother of GOD,
by the
Catholic Church, since the very beginning of the Church. This is shown
in hundreds of writings by Church
Fathers and
Ecclesiastical writers in every century from the first until now. The
doctrines regarding her were also defined in Church
Councils, and Papal letters.
Have you ever given thought that as a mother, she gave motherly
guidance to her Son as He passed through His childhood?
In other words, she told the creator of the universe what to do and He
obeyed her.
"And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, AND WAS SUBJECT TO
THEM."
Luke 2:51.
Jesus spent 30 years educating His mother, but only 3 years
educating
His Apostles.
I am always amazed at the detractors inability to distinguish between
the words "venerate" and "worship". Look them up in your dictionary. I
challenge anyone to show me an official Catholic document which says
that Catholics "worship" the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Here is what the founder of Protestantism had to say:
"The veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human
heart."
Martin Luther, (Sermon, September 1, 1522).
71.
We know because of
the many dramatic Old Testament prefigurements of the Mother of the Catholic Church,
the Blessed
Virgin Mary, depicting her as the Queen
Mother
of the King, and of many other important roles.
If the King of Kings came through her to us, then why can't we go
through her to Him?
Why didn't He come directly to us instead of going through her first?
If we wish to trace our heritage back to Adam, we all have to go
through a woman to do so.
72.
We know because Catholics Love and Honor the Blessed
Virgin Mary whereas
many non-Catholics
constantly malign her.
Here is yet another instance of those who call themselves
"Christians",
and who claim to follow the Bible, but, in fact, do not:
"...for, behold, HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSED."
Luke 1:48
Let us examine this statement, made by the Mother of GOD:
The word "Henceforth", means from the time she said it and
for all
eternity.
"All generations", means every person in every century until the end of
time.
"Will", denotes a command and not a suggestion.
"Call me Blessed", means just that.
When Catholics invoke her name we say "Blessed Virgin Mary". However,
when we hear criticism of her from Non-Catholics, the word "Blessed"
before her name is never invoked. It is always Mary this or Mary that.
This attitude is in direct violation of a command from Scripture, and
is indicative of someone who refuses to call her "blessed".
The founder of the Reformation, Martin Luther, had a great Love for
the Mother of GOD, as
did other reformers. Why is it that most Protestant churches have since
rejected any veneration due her now, in defiance of the beliefs of
their founders?
When you criticize the Masterpiece, you criticize the Master.
When facing her Son after death, I would rather hear Him say,
"Yes, My mother has spoken of you often."
Those who spite her are in danger of hearing Him say, "Why did you
calumnize My mother?"
What would YOU say to someone who deliberately calumnized your mother?
"Let no one presume to hope for the mercy of GOD, who dares
to slight
or offend GOD's mother."
Saint Louis de Montfort
73.
We know because of
the beautiful prayer,
"Hail Mary", and of
the Rosary which came from the Catholic Church.
Here is what the founder of Protestantism said about that
beautiful
prayer to the Mother of GOD:
"Our prayer should include the Mother of God . . . What the Hail Mary
says is that all glory should be given to God, using these words: 'Hail
Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among
women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Christ. Amen!' You
see that these words are not concerned with prayer but purely with
giving praise and honor . . . We can use the Hail Mary as a meditation
in which we recite what grace God has given her. Second, we should add
a wish that everyone may know and respect her . . .
He who has no faith is advised to refrain from saying the Hail Mary."
Martin Luther, (Personal Prayer Book, 1522).
Why do Protestants of today ignore the teaching of their
founder, who
was the first Protestant?
You cannot say "Hail Mary" without having "Hail Jesus" echo
throughout
the universe. Fr. Corapi
74.
We know because of
the Veneration of the Saints,
who are all
Catholic, and whom we admire as role models of holiness, sanctity,
tenacity, perseverance, and of all the other virtues they may possess.
The difference between a Saint and the rest of us, is that when they
fell, they just got up again and kept on going. They never gave up.
We have been blessed with beautiful male and female role models. In a
world of chaos and immorality, we are able to look to our older
brothers and sisters, the Saints, for direction.
If you need a spiritual uplift, then read the Lives of the Saints. If
you have problems in life, as we all do, then read how they handled the
same problems. Why re-invent the wheel when you can gain from their
experience, in resolving problems successfully? There is not a present day problem where a
Saint had not
experienced it before you.
Non-Catholics have missed a lot by ignoring the deeds of the Saints.
75.
We know from the Relics
of Many Incorrupted
Saints, whose intact bodies defy
scientific explanation.
Scores of them can be seen today. One young girl who died in 1333,
Blessed Imelda Lambertini, looks even today, like a Sleeping Beauty
after over 667 years in death. She can be seen now in Bologna, Italy,
just as I have described her.
How many non-Catholics have even heard of Incorrupted Saints?
76.
We know from the
thousands of Catholic Martyr's
who gave their lives so
that the Church may live.
"The blood of the martyrs became the seed of the Church."
Tertullian
From the very beginning, faithful Catholics were murdered for
their
belief in Jesus Christ. It is hard to imagine the courage that these
people must have had to sacrifice their lives willingly for the faith.
+Saint Peter, the first Bishop of Rome, was crucified upside down in
Rome in 67 A.D.. His tomb and his remains are under the main
altar of St Peter's Basilica in Rome.
+Saint Paul was beheaded in Rome in 67 A.D.. His tomb and his remains
are in St. Paul's Church in Rome.
+Saint Clement of Rome, Pope, was thrown into the Black Sea in 100
A.D.. His remains were taken to Rome and buried there.
+Saint Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch, was torn apart by lions in