How
Do We
Know
The
Catholic
Church
Is The
Church
Which
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-Catholicscharge 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 33,800*
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 Pharoah 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?
15.
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.
16.
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.
17.
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 33,800. 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
18.
We know by the indelible
Four
Marks which only the Catholic Church has.
CCC
(Catechism of the Catholic Church) 813-822
19.
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?
20.
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.
21.
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.
22.
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
23.
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.
24.
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."
25.
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.
26.
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."
27.
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.
28.
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 neccessary 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
33,800 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 "All's".
"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 the Roman circus in 107 A.D.. He was the first one to mention the Catholic Church
by name in his writings.
All of the Popes in the first
300 years of the Church were Martyred. With a record like that, why would anyone
want to accept that position during those early centuries of extreme
persecution?
77.
We know from the
many authentic Relics that
the Catholic Church has in its possession.
Among them
are:
The Manger in which Baby
Jesus was laid after His birth. Luke 2:7
The Relic of
the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. John 19:17-18
The "INRI" inscription from the True Cross, called "Titulus
Crucis". John 19-19
The Nails which held Jesus to the
cross. John 20:25
The Lance Point of Saint Longinus
which pierced the side of Jesus. John 19:34
The Crown of
Thorns and the individual thorns from it. John 19:2
The
Table used at the Last Supper is in St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome. Matthew
26:20
The Scala Santa, the steps which Jesus Christ
ascended on His way to meet Pontius Pilate.
The Chains
of Saint Peter, in the Church of St. Peter in Chains in Rome. Acts 12:6-7
There are many more which are not
listed here. All of these may be seen by visiting the various Churches in which
they are displayed. Many of these listed are on display in "Santa Groce in
Gerusalemme", the Church dedicated to the Holy Cross, in Rome.
78.
We know
from the scores of Eucharistic Miracles which have been manifested
to us for well over a thousand years. These have been investigated and verified
by both Catholic and secular sources and have been found to have no scientific
explanation for these events. You will not find a Eucharistic Miracle in other
Christian Churches founded after 1500, as none of them have a valid priesthood
to call down "The Word" with their word. Consequently, they have only a
'symbolic' presence, whereas the Catholic Church has the "True Presence" of Jesus
Christ.
See 1Corinthians 10:15-16, and 1Corinthians
11:23-30.
79.
We know from the
plentitude of Biblical
Scriptural History, which
answers objections brought up against the Catholic Church by non-Catholics.
Here is a sampling of some of the subjects. There are many
more objections to Catholic teaching answered on this website, which are not
listed here...
The Biblical
foundation for the Authority of the Catholic Church.
The Biblical foundation for the Family of GOD .
The Biblical foundation for our Salvation .
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The Queen of
Heaven .
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The New Eve .
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The New Ark of the Covenant
.
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The Mother of GOD .
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The Mother of the Church
.
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The Immaculate Conception
.
The Blessed Virgin Mary's "Other Children"???
The Biblical foundation for the Papacy
.
The Biblical foundation for the Magisterium and the Pope .
The Biblical foundation for the Confession of Sins to a
Priest .
The Biblical
foundation for the True Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy
Eucharist .
The Biblical
foundation for Purgatory .
The Biblical
Foundation against Abortion . + Abortion turns a womb into a tomb.
+ One dead, one wounded. +
The false charge that the Catholic Church teaches "New
Doctrine".
The false charge that the Catholic Church
is Old
Fashioned and is too Rigid .
The false charge
that Catholics "Worship Idols".
80.
We know because the Apostles were the Foundation of the Catholic Church, as mentioned
earlier.
"And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church
(singular), FIRST APOSTLES, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers;..."
1Corinthians 12:28
By now, we should be convinced that the Catholic Church is
truly the only Church which Jesus Christ founded, and that all other Christian
churches did not even appear on the scene until well over 1400 years later. All
of the Apostles were long dead by that time.
The Catholic Church can lay claim to the Apostles as being Catholic, for many
reasons:
A.
*The Catholic Church faithfully follows their teaching
where other churches do not, as seen in many verses:
The Church is the Pillar and foundation of the truth,
1Timothy 3:15. It is not the Bible.
The Church is
the final authority, not the Bible, Matthew 18:15-18.
There is to be no private interpretation of Holy
Scripture, 2Peter 1:20.
Stand firm and hold the
traditions whether by WORD or by letter, 2Thess 2:15.
By WORKS a man is justified and NOT by faith only,
James 2:24
We must believe what He said, else we
make Him to be a liar, 1John 5:10. How many deny His words in Matthew
26:26? Show me the symbolism in that verse, and in what the Apostles taught in
1Corinthians 10:15-16 and 11:23-30?
Everything is NOT in the Bible, John 16:13, 20:30-31,
21:25
B.
*The Didache is the teaching of the Apostles and it
has in it the same things which the Catholic Church teaches, but yet many other
Christian Churches do not teach them at all.
1. You
shall confess your transgressions in the Church, Did 4:14, the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
2. Baptism by pouring water is acceptable, Did 7:3.
Many other churches insist on submersion only.
3. Elect for yourselves Bishops and Deacons, Did 15:1.
Does your church have Bishops and Deacons?
4. But
on the Lords Day (Sunday),...break bread and give thanks, Did 14:1. This is
Sunday worship, and not Saturday as some other churches insist on.
5. "Let none eat or drink of your Eucharist but such
as have been baptized into the name of the Lord, for of a TRUTH the
Lord has said concerning this, give not what is HOLY unto dogs."
Did 9:5. This is the True Presence of Jesus Christ
in the Holy Eucharist. If it were not, how then could it be Holy? How many other
churches do not follow the teaching of the Apostles on this subject and just
call it a symbol?
C.
*The remains of all of the Apostles are in Catholic
Churches, and so are all of the Gospel writers.
Note!
Some relics are divided between Catholic Churches.
St. Peter is in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
St. Paul is in St. Paul's Church in Rome.
St. Matthew is in the Cathedral of St. Matthew in
Messina, Sicily.
St. James the Greater is in St.
James Church in Compostela Spain.
St. James the
Less (the Just) is in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles in Rome.
St. Bartholomew is in St. Bartholomew-in-the-island
Church in Rome.
St. Andrew is in the Cathedral of
Amalfi in Italy.
St. Philip is in the Church of
the Dodici Apostoli in Rome, Basilica of the Holy Apostles.
St. Simon is in the Vatican, under the Altar of the
Crucifixion.
St. Jude is in St. Peter's Basilica
in Rome.
St. Thomas is in the Cathedral of Saint
Thomas in Mylapore, India.
St. Matthias is in St.
Matthews Abbey in Trier Germany, and in St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
St. John is in the ruins of the Basilica of St. John
in Ephesus Turkey.
"You are
built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets with Jesus Christ Himself
as the Chief Corner Stone."
Ephesians 2:20
D.
*Even though he was not an Apostle, he did write the Gospel
of Mark.
St. Mark is in St. Mark's Church in
Venice, Italy.
*Even though he
was not an Apostle, he did write the Gospel of Luke.
St. Luke is in the Basilica of Santa Giustina in
Padua, Italy.
*The first
Christian Martyr. Acts 7:60
St. Stephen is in Rome
in the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls.
*The first person to arrive at the tomb of the Risen
Christ. John 20:1
St. Mary Magdalene is in the
Basilica of St. Maximin in Villalata, France.
*He produced the first Bible containing both the Old and
New Testaments, the Latin Vulgate.
St. Jerome is in St.
Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
*One of the greatest Catholic theologians of all time,
St. Thomas Aquinas is in the Church of St. Sernin in
Toulouse France.
E.
*Lastly, there is this very obvious reason. It is simply
that the Catholic Church was the ONLY Christian Church at the time of the
Apostles, so therefore they all had to have been Catholic.
There is not, and never has been, an Apostle in any other church but the
Catholic Church.
81.
We know because it
is the Catholic Church which is the New Jerusalem as described in the Bible. The old Jerusalem was destroyed
in 70 A.D. by the Roman general Titus, and the destruction was prophesied by
Jesus Christ in Matthew 24. Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation about 20-30
years later, and in it he describes a New Jerusalem...
"He who overcomes, I will make him a Pillar in the Temple
of My GOD, and never more shall he go outside. And I will write upon him the
name of my GOD, and the name of the City of my GOD, the New Jerusalem, which
comes down out of heaven from my GOD, and my new name."
Revelation 3:12.
This verse is
absolutely loaded with interesting details.
Who is "him"
who will be made a Pillar? The precedent was set in Galatians 2:9 where three of
the Apostles (meaning, one who is sent) were called "Pillars". I have already
shown that all of the Apostles were Catholic.
The "Pillar in the Temple" is the Catholic Church in 1Timothy 3:15 as already
discussd.
The Temple of my GOD,
is the "City that is set on a Mountain that cannot be hidden", the Visible Catholic
Church, as already discussed.
Revelation 3:12 calls it "The New Jerusalem".
"And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from GOD,
made ready as a Bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the
throne saying, 'Behold the dwelling of GOD with men, and He will dwell with
them. And they will be His people, and GOD Himself will be with them as their
GOD'."
Revelation 21:2-3
The New
Jerusalem, the "Bride Adorned for Her Husband", is the Bride of Christ, the Catholic Church, as already
discussed.
Doesn't GOD come down from Heaven to
Earth during every Mass, when the priest calls down The Word with his
word during the consecration of the Holy Eucharist?
Lastly, GOD is
certainly present with us in the Catholic Church in the Holy Eucharist, during
Eucharistic Adoration, and in the Holy Tabernacle.
82.
We know because
the Catholic Church is Our
Mother.* This is Why we
Call Her "Mother Church".
*Lumen
Gentium I,6
Since I have previously shown that the Catholic Church is
the New Jerusalem, we can see from Scripture that the Church is Our Mother:
"But that Jerusalem which is above
is free, which is our mother. For it is written, Rejoice thou barren, that dost
not bear; break forth and cry, thou that dost not prevail; for many are the
children of the desolate, more than that of her that has a husband. Now we,
brethren, are the children of promise, as Isaac was."
Galatians 4:26-28
What does a good mother do for her children? She nurtures
them. She feeds them. She tends to their needs. She watches over them and
protects them as a shepherd watches over the sheep.
"And the dragon was angered at the woman, and went away to
wage war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments
of GOD, and hold fast the testimony of Jesus."
Revelation 12:17
83.
We know because
Jesus Christ Loves the One
Church Which He Founded.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the
Church, and delivered himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, cleansing
her in the bath of water by means of The Word; in order that He might present to
himself the Church in all her glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any such
thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."
Ephesians 5:25-27
Since there are
over 33,800 non Catholic churches, each teaching a different "truth", name the
one which can claim "not having spot or wrinkle, and be without blemish"? Truth
is ONE, remember?
84.
We know from the many Prophecies made by Catholic Prophets of the past.
"And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church, first
Apostles, SECONDLY PROPHETS, thirdly teachers;..."
1Corinthians 12:28
It is to be noted that Jesus Christ, The Word, and the Son
of GOD, was the last prophet of public revelation (Heb 1:1-2).
The later prophets have revealed no new public revelation,
but of future events and happenings.
Hebrews 1:1-2
precludes any such claim of new public revelation as some attempt to do in a few
non-Catholic sects, thereby showing that they are false prophets.
Beginning in the first century
there have been prophets who have, with uncanny accuracy, described the times in
which we presently live.
Just to show you that accurate
Catholic Prophecy continues to this day, here is a comparatively recent example
of one made by Pope Paul VI in 1968, which clearly has been
fulfilled.
Do you know of any prophets from other Christian churches who have made accurate
prophecies such as those on the above referenced pages?
85.
We know from the many authentic and verified
Miracles in the history of the Catholic Church.
The Miracle of Fatima in
Portugal was witnessed by over 70,000 people on October 13, 1917, and was well
documented by the secular press. Over a period of several months, the Blessed
Virgin Mary revealed to three children, the rise of communism a month before the
communist revolution started in Russia. She foretold the end of World War I, and
the beginning of a new and worse war during the Pontificate of Pope Pius XI.
That Pope was elected in 1922, 5 years after the message was revealed, and he
died in 1939. World War II did in fact start in 1938, 21 years after the Mother
of GOD revealed it would come, and it did in fact start during the Pontificate
of Pope Pius XI. The Blessed Virgin Mary had also foretold that the fall of
communism was to come in Russia, but only years after Russia had spread her
errors all over the world. These prophecies were all fulfilled, and beginning in
1989, the great and most feared communist USSR collapsed without a shot being
fired, while the whole world held its breath. How could this have happened so
painlessly and so bloodlessly except by a miracle from GOD? It was a clear
fulfillment of the prophecy of Fatima.
Jacinta, one of
the children is incorrupt.
The Miracle of Lourdes occurred in 1858. Pope Pius IX had defined the dogma of
the Immaculate Conception in 1854. When the visionary, Saint Bernadette, asked
the Blessed Virgin Mary, who had appeared to her, what her name was, she
replied, "I am the Immaculate Conception", and in so doing confirmed from heaven
what the Pope had declared on earth four years earlier. A miraculous spring of
healing water came from the ground and there have been scores of well documented
miraculous healings from there as a result. To this day, millions of pilgrims go
to Lourdes France every year to bathe in its waters, and the healings continue.
Bernadette is incorrupt.
There was the miraculous appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Juan Diego in
1531, in what is now Mexico City, in which she left an Image of herself on his tilma,
a cloak like garment. This image exists to this day and has defied all
scientific explanation as to just how it was formed. Cactus cloth like that on
which it is imprinted, disintegrates in about 20 years, and yet this image, and
the cactus cloth, are in perfect condition after over 450 years. This image can
be viewed in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where it is
on display.
Read about the Miracle of Lepanto in 1571, a pivotal battle
between a large Moslem force and a much smaller Christian force which prevented
the inroads by Islam to all of Europe. This event is recorded in secular history
books as well as in Vatican Archives.
A more recent Miraculous event occurred in Akita Japan in the 1970's and
1980's.
It is Our Lady of Akita.
These are only a few examples of secular and Church verified miracles, and there
are many others. For those who scoff at these miraculous events within the
Catholic Church, I must point out to the scoffers, of their unbelief in Holy
Scripture, where Saint Paul clearly stated that they will happen within the
Church which Jesus Christ founded. If these detractors refuse to believe in
these miracles, then I am forced to comment to them, that they are simply in the
wrong church...
"Now you are
the Body of Christ, member for member. And GOD indeed has placed some in the
Church (singular), first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly Teachers; after
that MIRACLES, then GIFTS OF HEALING (Lourdes), Services of Help, Power of
Administration, and the Speaking of various Tongues."
1Corinthians 12:27-28
I have not heard of Miracles such as these in any other
Christian Church.
I have not heard of so many dramatic,
medically proven, Miraculous Healings in other Christian Churches, as there are
from Lourdes.
86.
We know from the
Many Mysteries within the Catholic Church which defy
scientific explanation.
A Mystery is something that is
not fully understood. It is something that baffles or is incomprehensible to
reason. Science has not been able to explain the process in which these images
were formed. However, science HAS been able to show how they were NOT formed, by
artistry, painting, or photographic process, or any other process devised by
mankind.
*The Shroud of Turin.
*The Image of
Our Lady of
Guadalupe.
*The Veil of Veronica.
*The Sudarium Christi.
87.
We know from the
Many and Varied Devotions
within the Catholic Church.
*Eucharistic Adoration.
*Benediction.
*The Holy Face of
Jesus.
*The Sacred Heart of Jesus.
*The Stations of the Cross.
*The
Five Wounds of Jesus.
*The Holy Cross.
*The Divine Mercy Chaplet.
*The
Divine Office.
*The Divine Praises.
*The Immaculate Heart of Mary.
*The
Rosary.
*Novenas.
*Missions.
*Retreats.
*Votive Candles.
These varied devotions are
suitable for different types of people, filling their different spiritual needs,
from the simplest to the deepest devotions available; the comfort of the Rosary;
the faith of a Novena; the Spiritual stimulation of a Mission; simple words of
love to God; and the most intense love given to God, daily Mass. And like little
children, we say over and over to our God, our Creator, "I love you, I love you,
I love you". This is no vain repetition, but a manifesto of unrequited love.
Most non-Catholic Christian
churches do not offer any of these devotions. Some offer a few.
88.
We know from the
Splendor of the Many Priceless Art Treasures within the Catholic Church, which has been for centuries,
the patroness of the arts.
*The
Sistine Chapel with the beautiful wall and ceiling paintings by Michelangelo.
*The Pieta by Michelangelo.
*The
Moses of Michelangelo.
*The Transfiguration by
Raphael.
*The Borghese Gallery which holds many art
masterpieces.
*The Vatican has hundreds of priceless
treasures, paintings, statues, mosaics, etc.
Many of the greatest artisans that the world has ever seen,
dedicated their talents and years of their lives to doing GOD's work for the
Church which Jesus Christ founded.
We see that the great
art, in all forms and shapes, not only comes to decorate our Churches and the
Vatican, but it is a recognition of the artistic talents that God has given to a
selected few. The art represents what the soul wants to manifest. Writers write.
Photographers take pictures. Painters, sculptors, and architects do their own to
manifest their faith. This art within the Catholic Faith has been an inspiration
for many to seek the Lord. The Church has a responsibility to recognize the
hands of the Lord in these great talents, and to preserve their testimonies of
faith. They represent the real "splendor", the one that comes from the souls of
the faithful. Every artist offers to God the best they have. When the Lord asked
Moses to build the Tabernacle, He asked for the best, and He got it.
There is not another Christian
Church in the world which can even come close to the splendor of the art
treasures within the Catholic Church. Where should such artistic beauty be found
other than in the glory of the House of GOD?
89.
We know from the well documented Exorcisms which the Catholic Church has performed for almost 2
millennia.
The definition of an Exorcism is, "To drive
out evil spirits by a Priest who is delegated for the purpose by a Bishop".
"Then having summoned His twelve
Apostles, He gave them power
over unclean spirits, TO CAST THEM OUT, and to cure every kind of disease and infirmity."
Matthew 10:1
"The
Kingdom of Heaven (the Church)
is at hand! Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, CAST OUT
DEVILS."
Matthew 10:8
"And there came also multitudes from the towns near
Jerusalem, bring the sick and those troubled with unclean spirits, AND THEY WERE ALL
CURED."
Acts 5:16. See also, Acts 19:13-16.
Some Protestant denominations say
that the Catholic Church was founded by Satan. I have this verse to offer to
them in return.
"And knowing their thoughts Jesus said
to them, "Every kingdom divided
against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against
itself will not stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against
himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?""
Matthew
12:25-26
So if the
Catholic Church was founded by Satan, then explain the Exorcisms of Satan and
his demons by the Catholic Church? How is it that the Catholic Church has stood
for almost 2000 years? I can explain this easily. The demons who are being
Exorcized did not come from the Catholic Church in the first place, but from
those sects which made this ridiculous charge.
Who, other than a Catholic Priest, has the ability to cast
out demons? Who, other than a Catholic Priest, have you ever heard of who could
do such a thing? What other Christian Church can claim successful Exorcisms?
90.
We know from its sheer Size and Rapid Growth, with over 1,057,000,000* (one billion,
fifty-seven million) members, or one in six of the entire population of the
earth, as of February 2000. That is an increase of over 40,000,000 (forty
million), since December 1997, more than half of the total membership of the
largest single non-Catholic denomination. In 2001, the Catholic Church grew to
over 1,070,540,000* members, plus another 216,000,000* Orthodox. Bar none, the
Catholic Church is the fastest growing Christian Church in the world. All of the
over 33,800 various Non-Catholic denominations, collectively added, total less*
than the Catholic membership.
For those detractors of
the Catholic Church who say that numbers are irrelevant, they are in effect,
saying that Satan is winning souls and that GOD is losing souls. They are saying
that more people are convinced by the lie from the father of lies, John 8:44,
than they are convinced of the truth of GOD, John 14:6. They have forgotten, or
maybe they never knew, that Satan can only do what GOD allows him to do. I would
prefer to believe that GOD is the greater attraction, wouldn't you agree?
What other Christian Church can
lay greater claim to,
"Go, therefore and make disciples of all
nations...", as can the Catholic
Church?
*World Christian
Encyclopedia, April 2001.
91.
We know
because the Catholic Church is adamantly Pro-Life. It is the most
outspoken organization on earth against the "Culture of Death" in which we live
today. Pro-Life stimulates the desire to protect and promote the gift of human
life. That also includes refraining from contraception, tubal ligation,
vasectomy, and at the other end of the spectrum, euthanasia, assisted suicide,
even the death sentence of criminals. These methods when used, preclude that
life is unimportant and can be discarded at the discretion of others. Life
begins when GOD creates a soul for one egg, and one sperm, as they meet in the
womb. The soul is the life of the body. Why is it so hard to understand that
life begins at conception? What causes the egg to immediately start multiplying
its cells? Is it not life? If not life, then would you please tell me what it
is? Does a "Lump of Flesh" have a heartbeat? Does a lump of flesh kick in the
womb?
"...Thou shalt not kill a
child by abortion, neither shalt thou slay it when born,..."
The Didache 2:2, the teaching of the Apostles.
"And when you stretch forth your
hands, I will turn away My eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will
not hear, for your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, be clean, take away
the evil of your devices from My eyes."
Isaiah
1:15-16
The Catholic Church is
persecuted from all directions for its unwavering stand against Abortion. The
Church will never change its teaching against this most barbaric of all evils
against its most helpless victims, the child in the womb.
Several other churches, which call themselves "Christian",
have softened their stance against this evil. Some even accept it.
Supporters of Abortion call it by its satanic name of
"Pro-Choice", while trying to mask its true name which is simply, "Legalized
Murder". The people who are "Pro-Choice", are pitted against GOD and His
Catholic Church, which is "Pro-Life". Which side are you on?
Which side do you think will win?
"A nation that kills its own children, is a nation without hope."
Pope John Paul II
92.
We know because of
the People who have gone before us in the Catholic
Church. We all stand on the shoulders of Giants, each of whom has made
meritorious contributions.
*Doctors of the Church, the
tallest of the Giants, and all are Saints.
*Saint Thomas
Aquinas, called the Aristotle of Christianity. His many writings are studied
today all over the world. His Summa Theologica is a benchmark for Catholic
Christian truth in theology.
*Johann Gutenberg, a
Catholic, is credited with one of, if not the greatest invention of all time,
the movable type printing press. The first book he ever printed was a Catholic
Bible.
*John Cardinal Newman, a convert from the
Anglican Church is credited with many outstanding writings of his journey to the
Catholic Church. He was not afraid to read the history of the Christian Church
and when he did, he wrote, "To be deep in history is to cease to be
Protestant."
93.
We know because of
the Influx of Intellectuals
into the Catholic Church.
Studies have shown that well informed Protestants, who were previously vocally
anti-Catholic, but who did not have a closed mind to the truth, are entering the
Catholic Church in increasing numbers. All you have to do to see this, is to
tune into E.W.T.N. and see how many ex-protestant ministers have
their own programs or are guest speakers. These people are Bible Christians, who
spent years in the study of Holy Scripture. Many found questions that simply
could not be answered in Protestant circles. One big question was, "Where are
the documents of the Primitive Church?" In their search, they found that the
only authentic documents to be found were in Catholic sources, the Fathers of
the Church. Once they started reading of the history of the Church which Jesus
Christ founded, they discovered that it was the Catholic Church alone. They did
prove to themselves that, "To be deep in history was to cease to be Protestant"
(Cardinal Newman). It is precisely for this reason that Protestant clergy and
teachers tell their own people not to read the Church Fathers and early church
writers.
"For the wrath of GOD
is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those men who
in wickedness hold back the truth of GOD."
Romans
1:18
That verse by itself should deter any GOD loving
person from withholding the truth from anyone.
"...but wrath and indignation to those who are contentious,
and who do not submit to the truth but assent to iniquity."
Romans 2:8
A thinking person who does not ignore Church history will
invariably be led to the Catholic Church.
In contrast to the influx is the outflow of Catholics to other Christian
churches. These people are the uninformed, who knew nothing of what they were
leaving, or who had misconceptions of what the Catholic Church really taught.
The numbers,
however, show that the influx is much greater than the outflow.
"There are not more than 100 people in the world who truly
hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they perceive to
be the Catholic Church."
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.
94.
We know from the
profound Proliferation
of the Catholic Church around
the world.
Jesus Christ said,
"Go,
therefore and make disciples of ALL NATIONS...." Matthew 28:19
"Go into the WHOLE WORLD and preach the Gospel
to every creature ." Mark
16:15
"...and that repentance and remission of sins should be
preached in His Name TO ALL THE NATIONS, BEGINNING FROM JERUSALEM." Luke 24:47
He
commanded Peter, the first Bishop of Rome, the first Pope, to feed His sheep, in
John 21:15-17.
He told His Apostles to be witnesses for
Him, "...TO THE VERY ENDS OF THE
EARTH" in
Acts 1:8.
The Catholic Church can be found in almost every country in
the world today, far more countries in number than any other Christian Church.
95.
We know by its vast array of Services of Help.
"And GOD indeed has placed some
in the Church, first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that
Miracles, then Gifts of Healing, SERVICES OF HELP..."
1Corinthians 12:28
The Catholic Church offers more of these Services than any
other Christian Church and they are scattered all over the world. Here are just
a few examples:
Catholic
Hospitals.
Catholic Relief
Services
Catholic Food Services
for the poor, such as Loaves and Fishes.
The Saint Vincent de Paul Society.
Orphanages
The Knights of Columbus.
The Legion of Mary.
Many diverse Missionaries, such as
Maryknoll, in many countries.
I
am sure you have heard of Boystown in Nebraska which was started by Fr. Flanagan
in the 1930's. There are now Boystown's in many other countries of the world,
and their mission is to provide homes for thousands of boys and girls who have
no home at all.
The
Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's group, who in
themselves are in many places of the world. Who in the world does not know of
Mother Teresa? Name one group from another Christian Church which has done more
for the worst of the destitute than this one?
How does your church compare in their Services of Help?
96.
We know from the Obvious Visible Manifestations of GOD's Work in the Catholic Church.
GOD's Recipe:
Take one uneducated,
and almost crippled Franciscan Nun who knew absolutely nothing of what she
would be called to do, and who claimed she worked hard for her "F's" in
school.
Add a starting fund of much less than
$500.00.
Endow her with perseverance and tenacity.
Teach her that success comes in "Cans", and not
"Cant's".
Give her the ability to attract people who
know what they are doing.
Stir well.
Add GOD's growth "yeast".
The final
result is the Eternal
Word Television
Network.... E.W.T.N..
"The heavens tell the glory of GOD, and the firmament
proclaims the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth His Word, night to night sends out
this knowledge. There is no speech and no utterance whose sound may not be
heard: INTO ALL THE EARTH THEIR SOUND GOES FORTH, AND UNTO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD
THEIR TIDINGS."
Psalms 19:2-5
"All you
inhabitants of the world, who dwell on the earth, when the sign shall be lifted
up on the Mountains YOU SHALL SEE, AND YOU SHALL HEAR THE SOUND
OF THE TRUMPET."
Isaiah 18:3
"Come near, you Gentiles, and hear, and harken you people.
LET THE EARTH HEAR, AND ALL THAT
IS THEREIN, THE WORLD, AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES FORTH OUT OF IT."
Isaiah 34:1
"And this Gospel of the kingdom SHALL BE PREACHED TO THE
WHOLE WORLD, FOR A WITNESS TO ALL NATIONS, and then will come the
end."
Matthew 24:14
"Have they not heard? Yes indeed, THEIR VOICE HAS GONE FORTH INTO ALL THE
EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS UNTO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD."
Romans 10:18
"...Of that hope you have heard in
THE WORD OF THE GOSPEL TRUTH
WHICH HAS REACHED YOU, EVEN AS IT IS IN THE WHOLE WORLD, BOTH BEARING FRUIT AND
GROWING., just as it does among
you since the day that you heard and recognized the grace of GOD in truth."
Colossians 1:5-6
"Only you must remain firmly founded in the faith and
steadfast and not withdrawing from the hope of the GOSPEL WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD. IT HAS BEEN PREACHED TO EVERY
CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN..."
Colossians 1:24
E.W.T.N. has seven satellites which girdle the globe. It
reaches Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, Australia, and Oceania.
E.W.T.N. is not just a television network. It is a
world wide media network.
There is W.E.W.N., EWTN's
system of short wave radio which reaches people all over the world who do not
have television.
There is E.W.T.N. AM and FM radio.
There is EWTN.COM, the world wide Internet connection which
carries the same programming.
All of the Biblical prophecies listed above have been
fulfilled by this feisty,
"Nothing but the best for
GOD", Franciscan Nun, whose name is Mother Angelica.
With
all of this, practically every person in the world can be reached. Mother
Angelica has said,
"We are going to come through one
way or another".
Name another
Christian church that can compare with what Mother Angelica has done?
Many recent visionaries have said
that when (and if) certain predictions happen, the whole world will be able to
witness them at the same time. E.W.T.N. could very well be the vehicle to do
this.
97.
We know
from the scores of Religious Orders within the Catholic Church, each
with its own specific mission, whether it be feeding the poor, tending to the
sick, aiding unwed mothers, caring for the elderly, aiding the homeless,
disaster relief, teaching the faith, and many other worthwhile causes.
98.
We know because
the Catholic Church "Never
Ceases to Send Heralds of the Gospel Until Each Time as the Infant Churches are
Fully Established, and Can Themselves Continue the Work of
Evangelization."
Lumen Gentium II,17
There are Catholic Missionaries which are sent all over the
world and it seems that a day does not go by without a report of one or more
being martyred.
"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 consumnation of the world."
Matthew 28:19-20
Did you notice the order of
business in these two verses?
First, make disciples.
Second, Baptize them.
Third, teach
them ALL that Christ has commanded.
99.
We know from the
many very large and beautiful Cathedrals,
Basilicas, Shrines,
and Churches
throughout the world. Saint Peter's in Rome is the largest Church on earth, and
it is only one of four major Basilicas in Rome. The other three are, Saint
Paul's Outside the Walls, Saint John Lateran, and Saint Mary Major. There are
several minor Basilicas as well, such as Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls. The
Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. is the largest Church in
the United States.
There is no other non-Catholic
Christian denomination that even comes close to the sheer size, number, and
beauty of Catholic Churches. This is in spite of the documented facts that King
Henry VIII, Luther, Calvin and other reformers, confiscated Catholic Churches,
and Protestantism still holds many of them today.
100.
We know by its
Incredible Diversity.
There is no other organization on earth which can match the Catholic Church in
this respect, with so many Classes from kings to peasants, so many
Nationalities, so many Cultures, so many Races, so many Customs, and so many
Languages and Dialects. All of these variances are blended together everywhere,
seamlessly, in the Catholic Mass. It is the same the world over. How can this be
explained other than it is the work of GOD?
The
Catholic Church certainly has fulfilled the commands given to her, the Bride, by
her Originator, Founder, and Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ in:
Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-49, John 21:15-17,
and Acts1:8.
101.
We know from the
Incredible Numbers of the
Faithful who Flock to see the Holy Father, the Pope, no matter where in the world he visits. The numbers range
from the hundreds of thousands into the millions every time. There is such an
outpouring of love for him, the world over. When he visited the Philippines,
they numbered 5 million in Manila, in Paris 3 million, and in Rome in August
2000, the largest gathering ever in Italy, estimated to be 2.5 to 3 million.
102.
We know because the Tiny Seed, the Acorn of the Primitive
Catholic Church, planted by
Jesus Christ and nurtured by the Apostles and their Successors, did Grow into the
magnificent and majestic oak tree, which is the Catholic Church of today.
"The
Kingdom of Heaven (the Church
which Jesus Christ founded) is
like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. This
indeed is the smallest of all of the seeds; but when it grows up it is larger
than any herb and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell in
its branches."
Matthew 13:31-32
We do not begin life in an adult stage, but slowly evolve
from an infant, while gaining in knowledge and strength, over time.
Likewise, for the Church, as previously noted:
It takes many centuries to unpack the treasures and
mysteries of Divine Revelation.
"I have planted, Apollos watered, but GOD has given the
growth."
1Corinthians 3:6
The oak tree has all of
the qualities of the acorn,
but the acorn does not have
all the qualities of the oak tree.
103.
We know by the Incredible
Openness of the Catholic Church.
"Therefore
do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be
disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known."
Matthew 10:26
Archives and historical records regarding the Catholic
Church are readily available for all to see. They can be researched by anyone
through the Catholic
Encyclopedia, University Libraries, even The Catholic Church invites anyone
and everyone to peruse and research this vast wealth of information. There are
literally thousands and thousands of documents made available for public use
ranging from the first century until now.
If you wish to
learn what the Catholic Church teaches, to whom do you go?
If you wish to buy a new Ford, do you go to a Chevrolet
dealer? What is the Chevrolet dealer going to tell you about Fords? You will not
learn the truth about them, that's for sure.
Why then do
Protestants fail to go to the source, the Catholic Church itself, to learn the
truth of what it teaches? Why do they, instead, listen to detractors bad
mouthing it, and then believe what they have heard or read, without ever going
to the source to research for themselves as to which side is telling the truth?
The writings of the Church Fathers are a veritable gold mine of
information of the history of Christianity. I find their writings to be most
fascinating reading. Errors of the past are revealed. The truth of the teachings
of Christ are made manifest. Why would anyone want to repeat the mistakes of the
past? However, some Protestants will never read what the Fathers had to say,
simply because they are told not to do so by others in their church.
What a pity. What a waste!
104.
We know because,
in addition to the Holy Bible, the Church has given to us the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). This comprehensive work contains the
teaching of the Church for all to see. It has fast become one of the most sought
after references ever written. It is for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. When
someone wishes to know what the Catholic Church teaches, then they should go
only to the source of that teaching and purchase a Catholic Catechism. It makes
no sense at all to go to a non-Catholic source to find out what the Catholic
Church teaches. Would you go to a Ford dealer to learn about Chevrolets? What
would they tell you if you did? What would non-Catholics tell you about the
Catholic Church?
105.
We know because
the Catholic Church Has the
Answers and Can Back Them With Documents.
I have provided hundreds of Bible
verses and references of official documents to back up what I have said in this
file, and through the links which I have provided. The Vatican Archives contain
the largest collection of authentic Christian documentation in the world.
When detractors make false charges against the Catholic
Church, I always ask for their documents to "prove" their charges. Not
surprisingly, they never seem to have any. However, Catholics can provide them
with many historical and contemporary documents to back up what they have said.
Truth can always be backed up by authentic documentation, false charges
cannot.
106.
We know because of
the Religious Freedom
of the Catholic Church.
Have you noticed in the Gospels, that Jesus Christ never
did argue with anyone who disagreed with His teaching? One of the best examples
of this is in the Gospel of John. The Jews (representing us) did not
agree with His teaching of His "True Presence" in the Holy Eucharist. They
revolted, as in
John 6:66 (666?) and simply walked away
from Him. Did He call them back? No, as he would have let them all go as He said
in John 6:67, "Will you also go
away?".
The Catholic Church also follows in the footsteps of its
founder by saying the same,
"Here is the Truth. If
you cannot accept it, then so be it."
We are all admonished to seek the truth, and if we refuse
to do so,
then we will have all eternity to pay for
it.
"...but wrath and
indignation to those who are contentious, and who do NOT submit to the truth but
assent to iniquity."
Romans 2:8
"Wherefore, put away lying and
speak truth each one with his neighbor, because we are members of one
another."
Ephesians 4:25
"...And there shall not enter into it (heaven) anything
defiled, nor he who practices abomination and falsehood, but those only who are
written in the book of life of the Lamb."
Revelation
21:27
There you have it. Each
of us is obligated to seek the truth for ourselves. That is the meaning of
Religious Freedom, and is the teaching of the Catholic Church.
When I wanted to know what Protestant and Cultic
denominations taught, I obtained their materials, Baptist, Seventh Day
Adventist, Mormon, Jehovah Witness, etc, and I read from the source what they
taught. I had the freedom in my Church to do that.
However, many denominations tell their flocks that their
doctrines are the only truth, and they are cautioned not to read material from
other churches, by using the excuse that,
"You will
become corrupted, you must believe what we say and not seek elsewhere."
This is nothing but mind control, and it certainly is not
Religious Freedom.
We are all
looking for the True Church and when we have found it:
"You shall
know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:32
If you deny the truth, then you
will perish. See 2Thess 2:9-12
Do you have the freedom in your church to search for the
truth, or are you trapped in a mind control situation where you must believe
everything they tell you, and read only their own materials?
Do you have Religious Freedom as we have in the Catholic
Church?
107.
We know because of
the Ecumenical Efforts of the
Catholic Church to Unite
All Christianity into One, in obeyance of the words of Jesus
Christ.
"And other sheep I have that are not of this
fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, AND THERE SHALL BE
ONE FOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD."
John 10:16
It cannot be denied that the Church has been reaching out
to all of our separated brethren in an effort to bring all of Christianity
together.
One only has to look at the scores of trips
Pope John Paul II has made all over the world in the name of unity. He has
reached out to Orthodox, Protestants, Jews, Islam, and others.
Have you noticed any non-Catholic
Church attempting to do the same?
108.
We know because
The
Holy Spirit Dwells Within the Catholic Church.
I have already shown that the
Bible is a
Catholic Book .
I have already shown that all of
the Apostles
and New Testament writers are Catholic.
Here is a verse
for which the Apostles confirm the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
"For THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WE HAVE DECIDED to lay no further
burden upon you but this indispensable one...".
Acts
15:28
"And we are witnesses of
these things, AND SO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN TO ALL WHO OBEY
HIM."
Acts 5:32
"Now throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria the
Church was in peace and was being built up, walking in fear of the Lord, AND IT
WAS FILLED WITH THE CONSOLATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."
Acts 9:31
109.
We know because
the Pillar
and Foundation of Truth Has Said So. (Lumen Gentium I,8)
The Catholic
Church cannot silence the truth, for if it did, it would be a sin of commission,
nor can it stand by in silence when it sees error being dispensed, for that
would be a sin of omission. World wide error was in fact dispensed, when the
United Nations announced that all of the worlds religions are equal. The Church
almost immediately responded with the document, Dominus
Iesus ,
"On The Unicity And Salvific Universality Of Jesus Christ
And The Church".
Despite the fact that there was
non-Catholic criticism of this document, there is nothing new in it but a
re-iteration of what the Church has always taught.
It
is a simple thing to ask, "What would Jesus Christ do in this situation?"
He would most certainly speak out, as many New Testament
verses attest that He did just that when He saw error. By its very actions, the
Catholic Church follows in the footsteps of its Holy founder, by its imitation
of Christ.
110.
We know because,
"Just as there is One Christ, so There Exists a
Single Body of Christ: a Single Catholic and Apostolic Church."*
*Dominus
Iesus
Using our intellect and
common sense, it stands to reason that there is only one GOD, and in Him there
is only One Church, which teaches only One truth, and has only One Baptism.
"One body and one Spirit, even as
you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism;
one GOD and Father of all, who is above all, and throughout all, and in us
all."
Ephesians 4:4-6
111.
We know because it is a simple matter of using Common Sense and Our Human Reasoning
Ability.
Some people try very hard to complicate the Word of GOD,
but it is in reality very simple. Jesus Christ founded one Church in Matthew
16:18, as pointed out many times in this file. Today, there are over 33,800
churches which call themselves "Christian", and all teach something different
from one another. Our common sense and human reasoning should tell us, "How can
this be, since Jesus Christ taught one truth?" Consequently, common sense should
be telling us that there can be only one Christian Church which teaches all
truth. By the simple process of elimination, we can determine which is the true
church. Ask yourself:
A. Can my church be traced all the way back to the time of Christ? If
not, how can it be the true Church?
B. Does my church
fit the pattern of the primitive Church of the Apostles? It had better, or it is definitely
not the true Church.
C. Can I trace an unbroken line of
the succession of teaching authority, the Bishops, all the way back to
the beginning of the Church which Jesus Christ founded?
D. Can my Church be found in authentic written documents in every century from the time of Christ
until now?
E. Did my church decide which books of the Bible are the
Bible?
Common
sense questions such as these should be asked and answered by all of us.
How many of us are able to answer all of the above
questions with a resounding, "Yes"?
How many of us are
compelled to answer "No" to all of them?
Using common sense and reasoning to the questions
eliminates all Christian churches, save one.
Unfortunately, it appears that common sense is not so
common anymore.
112.
We know because it
is the Catholic Church Which is
the Most Outspoken Defender of Morality in this worldwide immoral society in which we live today.
"Woe to you that call evil
good, and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that
put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."
Isaiah
5:20
"But know this, that in
the last days dangerous times will come. Men will be lovers of self, covetous,
haughty, proud, blasphemers disobedient to parents, ungrateful, criminal,
heartless, faithless, slanderers, incontinent, merciless, unkind, treacherous,
stubborn, puffed up with pride, loving pleasure more than GOD, having a
semblance indeed of piety, but disowning its power.
Avoid these. For of such are they who make their way into
houses and captivate silly women who are sin-laden and led away by various
lusts: ever learning yet never gaining knowledge of the truth." 2Timothy 3:1-7,
Confraternity.
Does this sound
familiar? I would say the 'last days of dangerous times' are upon us now,
wouldn't you? Holy Scripture is telling us something. It is giving us a wake-up
call. Are we listening?
The Church which Jesus Christ
founded is listening.
Who is the "Voice of One Crying in
the Wilderness" of today? (Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:3)
Listen, and you will hear that it is the Catholic Church.
113.
We know from the
hundreds of beautifully written Papal Documents which have been presented to the whole world over the
centuries. They cover many aspects of faith and morals and are the guidelines
for everyone. Here is an outstanding and very prophetic one.
Humanae Vitae, read paragraph 17 and see how something warned of in 1968
is a reality today.
Go here for over 280 more Papal
Documents.
114.
We know from the
Profound Humility demonstrated by the Catholic Church for the
past actions of some of its members, by issuing an Apology to GOD. Once again, the Catholic Church demonstrated that
it follows the teaching of Jesus Christ, by not only saying, but by practicing:
"For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself
shall be exalted". Luke 14:11
Has anyone ever heard of a
non-Catholic church making such an apology for sins of its members?
115.
We know because
the Catholic Church is Based on
Faith, and Not on Feelings.
How many times have you heard someone say, I go to this
church because it is cool, or it has such lively music, or for the fellowship,
or for the children's activities, or for the minister as he does not talk about
hell or the devil? Jesus Christ founded a Church which would serve GOD, and GOD
alone, and not ourselves, and certainly not our feelings, or to tickle our
senses.
You cannot connect spirituality to emotions.
116.
We know because
history has shown that When an
Anti-Christian
Society Threatens Christianity, People Turn to the
Catholic Church as their Refuge.
This is but one reason why the Church has perdured for so many centuries longer
than any other Christian organization on earth. In the anti-GOD society in which
we live today, it is no wonder that the Catholic Church is experiencing an
increasingly rapid influx of New Catholics.
During
the battle of Lepanto
in 1571, Christians fled to the Catholic Church, and prayed the rosary in
conjunction with the Pope. This resulted in a great victory over the
Muslims for the vastly outnumbered Christians.
During World War II, approximately
800,000 Jews fled to the safety of the Vatican and were sheltered there at great
risk to the Catholic Church. Due to the efforts of the Church, they were
subsequently saved from Nazi
extermination.
The fall of
Communism, predicted by the Blessed Virgin Mary at
Fatima in
1917, was brought about as a result of a Polish union leader soliciting the aid
of the Polish Pope of the Catholic Church.
117.
We know because in
His infinite wisdom and goodness, GOD Can Bring Something Good Out of Something
Evil. This is easily seen when
the greatest evil ever conceived, the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, was turned
into the greatest good, the salvation of all mankind.
The greatest man-made evil of that time was centered in
Rome, and was the tyrannical Roman Empire. The great evil Roman Empire collapsed
and fell in 476 A.D., after an existence that spanned just over 500 years.
Now the center of all Christianity, the Catholic Church, is
seated in Vatican City, which is surrounded by Rome. Is it just a Coincidence that the ruins of the seat of the old Roman Empire are
within walking distance of Saint Peter's Basilica, the largest Church in
Christendom, and that the great dome of St. Peter's can be seen from these same
ruins?
Or is it part of GOD's plan?
"Be not overcome by evil, but
overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:21.
Is it just another coincidence that this verse is from the
Epistle to the Romans?
118.
We know because
the very center of all Christianity, the Catholic Church, is Situated in its Very Own City-State,
the Vatican, in the Heart of what once was Pagan Rome, but is now Christian
Rome.
The Catholic Church also is represented in the United
Nations as an observer and sovereign state.
Jesus Christ said, "...but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
upon you, and you shall be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and
Samaria and even to the very ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8
The Catholic Church is certainly
the witness for Jesus Christ, "to the very ends of the earth", as it witnesses
for Him before all of the nations on the earth in the United Nations.
Name a non-Catholic Christian church which has such
representation?
119.
We know because
the Catholic Church Commands
Leadership of Christianity for
the Whole World.
When the Holy See releases important documents there is
intense interest from every sector. Non-Catholics as well as Catholics analyze
every word and discussions abound, both pro and con. This is evidenced with the
release of Dominus Iesus, on September 5, 2000. The rhetoric continued for weeks in
all circles and the document was reported and dissected by the secular press
around the world. The interest and attention given to this document, as was to
many others, was monumental despite the fact that this document is just a
re-iteration of what the Church has always taught for almost 2000 years.
When Rome speaks, the whole world listens.
120.
We know because
It is only the Catholic Church
which Proclaims and Celebrates Jubilee Years.
"Seven weeks of years shall you
count, seven times seven years, so that the seven cycles amount to forty-nine
years. Then on the tenth day of the seventh month let the trumpet resound; on
this, the Day of Atonement, the trumpet blast shall re-echo throughout your
land. This fiftieth year you shall make sacred by proclaiming liberty in the
land for all its inhabitants. It shall be a JUBILEE for
you..."
Leviticus 25:8-10.
Read
Leviticus 25:11-54 and 27:17-24 also, for what takes place during a Jubilee
year.
The timing of a Jubilee
year is shown in Leviticus 25:8-10 and is echoed in Ezechiel 40:1.
Ezechiel chapters 40-47 describe the rebuilding of
Jerusalem, and the temple, which are symbolic of the Church. Ezechiel chapter 47
describes an issuing of waters from the temple (2-5) which covers the land. This
is symbolic of the graces which flow from GOD in a Jubilee year. The water flows
to a cultural desert east of Jerusalem and into the Dead Sea (8) bringing life
to something that was dead. (Note! This paragraph is a partial summary of a talk
given by Fr. Mitch Pacwa, Nov 2000)
"The Spirit
of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me; to bring good news to the
poor He has sent me, to proclaim the captives release, and sight to the blind;
to set at liberty the oppressed, to proclaim the Acceptible Year of the Lord,
and the Day of Recompense (Jubilee)."
Luke 4:18-19
In these two
verses, Jesus quoted Isaiah 61:1-2 which is about what is supposed to happen in
a Jubilee year.
Non-Catholic
Christian churches do not proclaim Jubilee Years.
However, the Catholic Church alone, continues to do so.
121.
We know because of
the Mountain of Circumstantial
Evidence Which Points Directly To the Catholic Church.
Jesus Christ founded only one
Church as was pointed out before in Matthew 16:18.
In
Matthew 28:20, Jesus Christ promised He would be with His Church every day in
every century, and this means with no gaps in time whatsoever. There is only one
Christian Church which can show it even existed in the first century and which
still exists to this very day.
The Catholic Church has
a multitude of genuine written records going all the way back to the time of the
Apostles, and in which the Church is mentioned by name hundreds of times. It has
a library much more extensive than has any other church, so much so, that
scholars from all over the world and from many religions search its archives.
The Catholic Church has records of the succession of
the Popes from the first one, St. Peter, to its present Pope.
Here are just a couple of examples of the weight of
archaeological evidence alone that is sufficient to point to the Catholic
Church. They are, St. Peter's tomb found under the main altar in St Peter's
Basilica in Rome, and the finding of parts of all seven Deuterocanonical books
in the Qumran library of the Dead Sea Scrolls. These seven books were removed
from the Bible by Martin Luther in the 16th century.
There is not another church on earth which can match this
abundance of evidence and from so many different sources, from Holy Scripture,
to Historical Archives, to Archaeology, and more.
122.
We know
because,
"The Catholic Church Always Has What The World Is
Lacking". G.K.Chesterton...
Christian Leadership of the Whole
World...
Discernment...
Morality...
Truth...
Stability...
Spiritual
Direction...
The True Presence of Jesus Christ...
123.
We know because we
can sum up the Catholic Church into one word. It is simply AWESOME.
Unlike most non-Catholic
churches, when you enter a Catholic Church, you immediately become aware that it
truly is The House of GOD, and not just a plain looking hall or barn-like building.
It is Awesome in its beauty. It is Awesome in its Liturgy. It is most sublime.
There is a feeling of Divine Presence, a feeling of Holiness that is not found
anywhere else.
From the humblest church building to the
majestic Cathedrals, and even when Mass is celebrated under the trees or stars,
the Divine Presence is felt. This incredible awesomeness staggers the mind, as
we accept the Creator in His creation, and in His Church, and we are in humble
subjection to His Kingdom on earth, for we are that Kingdom.
124.
We know because When Jesus
Christ speaks, the Catholic Church listens.
How many others do not
listen?
When He says, "He who has ears to hear, let him
hear" (Matthew 11:15), His Church hears.
*He founded one Church only by using the singular "Church",
and not churches in Matthew 16:18.
How many say He
founded all of the thousands of different non-Catholic churches?
*He commanded all of us to
hear His One Church (singular), (Matthew 18:17).
Do all Christians obey this command?
*He commanded through the Apostles
that whoever does not receive them, or listen to their words, (the word of His
Church), go forth outside that house or town and shake the dust off their
feet.
(Matthew 10:14) Again, how many do not listen to
His Church?
*He told His
Apostles that he who hears them, hears Him, and he who rejects them rejects Him,
and he who rejects Him, rejects He who sent Him (Luke 10:16). Jesus did not
leave this world devoid of His voice, and His voice is the Catholic Church. Do
you listen to His Catholic Church, or do you reject Him? You have only these two
choices.
*He commanded through
St. Paul that the Church is the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth, (1Timothy
3:15). How many deny this command and say it is the Bible and not the Church?
*He commanded through St. Paul
that we must obey our superiors and to be subject to them (Hebrews 13:17). Did
the founder of Protestantism, Martin Luther, and the others who broke away
during the reformation obey this command?
*He promised that He would be with His Church every day in
every century until the end of time, (Matthew 28:20). How many deny His promise
and say He left His Church shortly after the last book of the Bible was written,
or that His Church left Him?
*He promised that the Gates of Hell would not prevail
against His Church (Matthew 16:18).
How many say the
gates of hell did prevail?
*He
said, "I tell you and you do not
believe", (John 10:25).
How many do not believe Him when He said, "This IS My Body" in Matthew 26:26 or, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His
blood, you have no life in you",
in John 6:53?
The Catholic Church heard His words and
believed and practices them. How many do not believe His words, but say He was
only speaking symbolically? Again, I say, show me the symbolism?
*He said that he who is not with
him is against Him, and he who does not gather wih Him scatters (Matthew 12:30).
What did He mean by this? He meant, as He prayed for in John 10:16,
"...and there shall be One fold
and One Shepherd." The Catholic
Church hears her Founder and heeds His Word by trying to unite all Christians
into One fold, while non-Catholics keep dividing the Body of Christ into ever
smaller pieces.
"He who is of GOD hears the words of GOD. The
reason why you do not hear is that you are not of GOD." John 8:47
Since I have shown
that the Catholic Church hears the words of her founder, Jesus Christ, then she
is of GOD.
He said,
"Everyone who is of the truth
hears My voice". John 18:37
There again, the Catholic Church hears His voice, so it is
of the truth, as Holy Scripture confirms in 1Timothy 3:15.
Does your church comply with what I have listed here?
"HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE THE SON,
MAKES HIM A LIAR..."
1 JOHN 5:10
125.
How do we know? In a nutshell!
Here is a summary of what we have
learned so far about the Church which Jesus Christ founded.
It was prefigured by Old Testament
prophets.
It has a Holy Founder in Jesus Christ.
It was built upon the Rock of Peter and the foundation of
the Apostles.
God guaranteed that the Gates of Hell
would not prevail against it.
Jesus Christ said it would
last forever, as He would be with it always.
Therefore
it can be found in every day, in every century, from the time He said it.
Jesus Christ left His legacy, the Kingdom of GOD, His
Church, to the care of the Apostles.
It is guided by the
Holy Spirit. Acts 15:28
It is a living Church.
It is the Mystical Body of Christ.
It can neither be confused nor separated from its head.
The thread of the Church is woven throughout Holy
Scripture.
It is a Christ based Church, whereas the
Bible is Catholic Church based.
It has all of the pieces
to the puzzle.
It is indefectible. Ephesians 5:27
It is The Bride of Christ.
It is
infallible in matters of faith and morals since it is guided by the Holy
Spirit.
It is infallible in its teaching of Holy
Scripture since it is guided by the Holy Spirit.
It fits
the blueprint laid out for it in Holy Scripture.
It is a
visible Church that could not be hidden.
Jesus Christ
would be the invisible head and we, the body of His Church.
His Church would cover the earth. Matthew 28:19, Acts
1:8.
GOD appointed a visible Father Figure to shepherd
His flock on earth, as He had always done.
It is the
Pillar and the Foundation of Truth. 1Timothy 3:15
It
alone has the fullness of truth.
GOD's Church would have
an hierarchal form of government.
GOD's Church would
have Bishops, Priests, and Deacons within it.
It has a
system of Apostolic Succession in order to perpetuate the visible Church on
earth.
It is traceable through an unbroken line of
Apostolic Succession all the way back to St. Peter.
This
unbroken line is shown in secular encyclopedias as well as Catholic archives.
It has a succession of truth in teaching all the way from
Jesus Christ down to present day Bishops.
It is almost
1500 years older than the oldest Protestant church.
It
has the authority to abolish or enforce rules of conduct, through binding and
loosing.
It has the authority to forgive or to retain
sins, through binding and loosing. John 20:21-23
It
teaches that we are not automatically saved, but our salvation depends upon us
as well.
It has the authority to form Councils when
needed, in order to settle the issues that arise. Acts 15
It was given the authority to decide the Canons of both the
Old and New Testaments of Scripture.
It decided the
Canon of both testaments by infallible decision of several Councils.
It more finely develops revealed public revelation.
It does not twist Scripture to conform to its teachings. It
conforms its teaching to Scripture.
It has faithfully
copied and preserved Holy Scripture down through the ages.
It has known that The Word was Heard and not Read by the
masses before the printing press.
It has the final
authority. Matthew 18:15-18
It holds many traditions
which are followed by Catholics and Protestants alike.
It is an "And" Church, not "Or".
It
is a teaching Church as commanded by Holy Scripture.
It
is consistent in its teaching and does not 'flip-flop' as do other churches for
the whims of people.
It faithfully feeds the sheep as
commanded by Jesus Christ.
It is rock solid and
unchanging in its teaching.
It stands upon a solid three
legged stool, of Scripture, of Apostolic Tradition, and the Magisterium.
It is the guardian of both Sacred Scripture and of Sacred
Tradition.
It has the True Presence of Jesus Christ in
the Holy Eucharist. Matthew 26:26
The Apostles knew that
the truth was in Jesus Christ and in His one true Church.
It has Eucharistic Adoration.
It
offers a clean oblation around the world and around the clock, in the Holy Mass.
Malachi 1:11
In every minute of every day, a Mass is
being celebrated somewhere.
It venerates Christ on the
Cross as a sacrifice and not just a plain cross devoid of Christ.
It preaches the Gospel to the whole world. Matthew 24:14
It has produced many thousands of Holy Saints.
The Church venerates the Mother of GOD. Luke 1:26-56
The Church venerates the Saints who have done so much for
it.
The Mother of GOD is also the Mother of the Church.
John 19:26-27
It has all seven Sacraments.
It treats marriage as a Sacrament.
It has an annulment procedure.
It
has many varied Devotions.
It can be found by its name,
the Catholic Church, in thousands of early writings.
It
can be shown from these same writings that it is the same Church which Jesus
Christ founded.
It houses the remains of all of the
Apostles and Gospel writers.
It is the New Jerusalem.
It is our Mother Church.
It has
withstood the ravages of thousands of detractors and heretics from its very
foundation.
It has performed many successful
exorcisms.
It is unbending and unmovable in its pro-life
stance.
It has scores of separate services of help.
1Corinthians 12:28
It preaches the Word of GOD to the
entire world through E.W.T.N. and other resources.
It
tries to unite all of Christianity into one fold.
It has
incredible openness.
It has provided us with a
comprehensive catechism.
It has a vast influx of
intellectuals.
It has had a spectacular growth, with
over one billion Catholics in the world now.
It has the
Holy Spirit dwelling within it.
It has humbled itself by
apologizing to GOD for the past sins of some of its members.
It is the most outspoken advocate of morality on earth.
It has issued so many beautiful Papal documents which are
guidelines for the whole world.
It has the largest
collection of authentic Christian documents in the world in the Vatican
archives.
It is the last refuge for those who are
persecuted.
It is because the "Pillar and the foundation
of truth" has said so.
It is because common sense tells
us so.
It is the undisputed leader of Christianity in
the world.
It is its own City-State, and is represented
in the United Nations. Acts 1:8
When Rome speaks, the
whole world listens.
It is the only Christian Church
which proclaims Jubilee years.
Circumstantial evidence
points to the Catholic Church and only the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church hears and listens carefully to Jesus
Christ, her founder.
It always has what the world is
lacking.
It is simply Awesome.
For the Catholic Church, the
answer is "Yes" to all of these. How does your church compare?
How many other Christian
Churches can match even one category of what I have put forth so
far?
126.
We know because of
the nonsensical Lack of
Doctrinal Unity in Other Christian Churches. It stands to reason that only one church can have the
fullness of truth.
"...and
there shall be ONE FOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD."
John 10:16
"Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. Even as you
have sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for them I
sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. Yet not for these
only do I pray, but for those also who through their word are to believe in Me,
that ALL MAY BE ONE, EVEN AS YOU, FATHER, IN ME AND I IN YOU; THAT THEY ALSO MAY
BE ONE IN US, THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME. AND THE GLORY
THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, I HAVE GIVEN TO THEM, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, EVEN AS WE
ARE ONE: I IN THEM AND YOU IN ME; THAT THEY MAY BE PERFECT IN UNITY, AND THAT
THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME, AND THAT YOU HAVE LOVED THEM EVEN AS
YOU HAVE LOVED ME."
John 17:17-23
"ONE BODY AND ONE SPIRIT, even as you were called in
ONE HOPE of your calling; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM; ONE GOD AND
FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS ABOVE ALL, AND THROUGHOUT ALL, AND IN US ALL."
Ephesians 4:4-6
"For whoever keeps the whole law, BUT OFFENDS IN ONE POINT,
HAS BECOME GUILTY IN ALL."
James 2:10
May then the GOD of patience and
of comfort grant you to be of ONE MIND towards one another according to
Jesus Christ; that, ONE IN SPIRIT, you may with ONE MOUTH glorify the GOD and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 15:5-6
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing; and that
there be no dissensions among you, but that you be perfectly united in ONE MIND
and in ONE JUDGMENT."
1Corinthians 1:10
"Because the BREAD IS ONE, WE
THOUGH MANY, ARE ONE BODY, ALL OF US WHO PARTAKE OF THE ONE BREAD."
1Corinthians 10:17
"Only let your lives be worthy of the Gospel of Christ; so
that, whether I come and see you, or remain absent, I may hear about you, that
you are steadfast in ONE SPIRIT, with ONE MIND striving together for the faith
of the Gospel."
Philippians 1:27
There you have it, Jesus Christ,
St. John, St. Paul, and St. James, all calling for ONENESS AND UNITY. Since
the advent of the Reformation, those pleas have fallen upon deaf ears and have
been grossly ignored.
According
to the World Almanac for 1953, there were in the United States, 20 different
organizations of Methodists, 22 kinds of Baptists, 10 branches of Presbyterians,
13 organizations of Mennonites, 18 of Lutherans, and many splits in other
denominations.
To this day
Protestant churches have multiplied to over 33,800 denominations and are still
increasing. Every time a new one is added, the Body of Christ is split more and
more. Which one has the fullness of truth? Which one is true to Holy Scripture
and does not "Offend in ONE point"?
Where is the ONE mind, ONE mouth, ONE judgment, and ONE in
spirit in Protestantism?
Apparently, none of the
thousands of denominations read the above verses.
"And if a
house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand".
Mark 3:25
United in ONE, is GOD's plan.
Divide and conquer, is Satan's plan.
127.
We know because of
the Shotgun Analogy, as Pointed
out by Marcus Grodi. (Mr Grodi
is a former Protestant minister who is now Catholic)
If you fired a non-Catholic shotgun and a Catholic
shotgun at a wall, the two resulting shot patterns would represent the opinions
of those within their respective Churches, whether they be liberal,
conservative, etc.. Upon close examination of the Catholic pattern, we always
would know who is in the center, as it is the Pope and the Magisterium. However,
by careful examination of the non-Catholic pattern, how can we possibly
determine who is in the center?
128.
We know because The Catholic Church is the Most Hated Christian Church in
the World.
Just as the Catholic Church is the Body of Christ, so she
naturally must follow the trials and tribulations of her founder and Head. His
physical body endured an unmerciful persecution and scourging, and so must His
Mystical Body, the Catholic Church, endure the same.
A comparison between Jesus Christ and His Mystical Body.
They are one and cannot be separated.
What happened to
the One also happens to the other.
Jesus
Christ persecuted..................................His Mystical
Body, the Catholic Church
persecuted...
They rebelled against His
Authority......................They rebel against its Authority. 2Peter 2:10
They said Crucify
Him.........................................They have tried to destroy it for
2000 years.
He is called
Beelzebub..........................................It is run by Satan. Matthew
10:25.
He is a false
messiah............................................It is a false church. Luke
22:70-71
He called Himself the Son of
GOD.......................It claims it was founded by GOD, Matthew 16:18.
He called Himself
Truth.......................................It claims to be infallible, 1Timothy
3:15.
He called Himself
King........................................It says it is the only true Church,
Matthew 16:18.
He could not
sin...................................................It has no spot or wrinkle,
Ephesians 5:27.
He was not be believed by
many...........................It is not believed by many. Luke 22:67
He was denied by
many........................................It is denied by many. Luke
22:57-60
Not understanding Him, they walked
away...........Not understanding it, they walk away. John 6:66
He had false
accusers...........................................It has false accusers. Mark
14:56-59
He was
mocked....................................................It is mocked. Luke
23:35-37
He was
scandalized..............................................It is scandalized. Luke
17:1-2
He was hated without a
cause...............................It is hated without a cause. John
15:18-25
His accuser, Judas,
died.......................................Its accusers die,
but still, the Church lives on.
His enemies would
stumble and fall......................Its enemies stumble and fall.
John 18:6
We have no king but
Caesar.................................We have no need of it, as we have the
Bible.
Can anything good come out of
Nazareth?............Can anything good come from Rome? John 1:46
They cried out, "Not this one but Barabbas".........It is
also rejected by the world. John 15:18-25
He bore His
Cross................................................It bears a cross also, the
cross of persecution.
He died on the
Cross............................................It has thousands of martyrs,
many on crosses.
1970 years
later, He lives, stronger than ever........1970 years later, it lives, stronger
than ever.
However, no matter
how hard the persecutors try...
His Kingdom will last
forever, Daniel 7:14, Hebrews 1:8.
His Church will last
until the end of the world as promised by Him in Matthew 28:20.
"BEHOLD, I
HAVE GIVEN YOU POWER TO TREAD UPON SERPENTS AND SCORPIONS, AND OVER ALL THE
MIGHT OF THE ENEMY; AND NOTHING SHALL HURT YOU."
Luke 10:19
"Do not be a stumbling block to
Jews and Greeks AND TO THE CHURCH OF GOD"
1Corinthians
10:32
Anyone who persecutes the Catholic Church has made
himself/herself a stumbling block to the Church of GOD. It is a clear violation
of Holy Scripture.
"For I am
the least of the Apostles, and I AM NOT WORTHY TO BE CALLED AN APOSTLE, BECAUSE
I PERSECUTED THE CHURCH OF GOD." 1Corinthians 15:9
"Do not be surprised, brethren, IF THE WORLD HATES YOU."
1John 3:13
"IF THE WORLD HATES YOU, KNOW THAT IT HATED ME
BEFORE YOU.
IF YOU WERE OF THE WORLD, THE WORLD WOULD
LOVE ITS OWN. BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU OUT OF
THE WORLD, THEREFORE THE WORLD HATES YOU.
REMEMBER THE
WORD THAT I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU: NO SERVANT IS GREATER THAN HIS MASTER. IF THEY
HAVE PERSECUTED ME, THEY WILL PERSECUTE YOU ALSO; IF THEY HAVE KEPT MY WORD,
THEY WILL KEEP YOURS ALSO.
BUT ALL OF THESE THINGS THEY
WILL DO TO YOU FOR MY NAME'S SAKE, BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KNOW HIM WHO SENT ME.
IF I HAD NOT COME AND SPOKEN TO THEM, THEY WOULD HAVE NO
SIN. BUT NOW THEY HAVE NO EXCUSE FOR THEIR SIN. HE WHO HATES ME HATES MY FATHER
ALSO. IF I HAD NOT DONE AMONG THEM WORKS SUCH AS NO ONE ELSE HAS DONE, THEY
WOULD HAVE NO SIN. BUT NOW THEY HAVE SEEN, AND HAVE HATED BOTH ME AND MY FATHER;
BUT THAT THE WORD WRITTEN IN THEIR LAW MAY BE
FULFILLED, 'THEY HAVE HATED ME WITHOUT CAUSE', (Psalms 35:19)".
John 15:18-25
I would say that Jesus Christ said it all in these verses
written with the inspired pen of Saint John wouldn't you?
Name
another Church which is attacked so much on a daily basis as is the Catholic
Church?
Jesus Christ warned us, "You will be HATED BY ALL NATIONS for My
Name's sake."
Matthew 24:9
"Blessed
are you when men reproach you, and persecute you, and speaking falsely, say all
manner of evil against you, for My sake. REJOICE AND EXULT, BECAUSE YOUR REWARD
IS GREAT IN HEAVEN; for so did they persecute the prophets who were before
you." Matthew 5:11-12
Everytime you see someone
persecuting the Catholic Church, or speaking falsely against her, be happy,
because those people are merely helping Catholics to gain their eternal reward
in Heaven.
It is a promise from Jesus Christ Himself.
A message from Bishop Fulton J. Sheen...
"If I were not
a Catholic, and were looking for the true Church in the world today, I would
look for the one Church which did not get along well with the world; in other
words, I would look for the Church which the world hates. My reason for doing
this would be, that if Christ is in any one of the churches in the world today,
He must still be hated as He was when He was on earth in the flesh. If you would
find Christ today, then find the Church that does not get along with the world.
Look for the Church which is hated by the world, as Christ was hated by the
world. Look for the Church which is accused of being behind the times, as Our
Lord was accused of being ignorant and of never having learned. Look for the
Church which men sneer at as socially inferior, as they sneered at Our Lord
because He came from Nazareth. Look for the Church which is accused of having a
devil, as Our Lord was accused of being possessed by Beelzebub, the Prince of
Devils. Look for the Church which, in seasons of bigotry, men say must be
destroyed in the name of GOD as men crucified Christ and thought they had done a
service to GOD. Look for the Church which the world rejects because it claims it
is infallible, as Pilate rejected Christ because He called Himself The Truth.
Look for the Church which is rejected by the world as Our Lord was rejected by
men. Look for the Church which amid the confusion of conflicting opinions, its
members love as they love Christ, and respect its Voice as the very voice of its
Founder, and the suspicion will grow, that if the Church is unpopular with the
spirit of the world, then it is unworldly, and if it is unworldly, it is
other-worldly. Since it is other-worldly it is infinitely loved and infinitely
hated as was Christ Himself. But only that which is Divine can be infinitely
hated and infinitely loved. Therefore the Church is Divine."
Msgr (at the time of writing)
Fulton J. Sheen D.D..
Preface to Radio Replies Volume
#1, Fr. Leslie Rumble and Fr. Charles Carty, a Tan Book.
129.
We know because
It is the Catholic Church Alone
Which Does Not Conform to This World. It Conforms Instead to the Will of GOD.
It is
criticized from all sectors for not bending to secular changes and worldly
ideas. As pointed out previously, other ecclesial communities have "changed with
the times" over and over again as secular pressures arise to allow
contraception, abortion, divorce, etc.. They bend to the "will of the people"
instead of holding fast to the will of GOD.
GOD never
changes so why do they change their teaching with the times?
"My Kingdom
is not of this world..." said
Jesus Christ in John 18:36, and His Kingdom , as previously pointed out, is His Catholic Church.
"If you
were of the world, the world would love what is its own. But BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT
OF THE WORLD, BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU OUT OF THE WORLD, THEREFORE THE WORLD HATES
YOU." John 15:19
"I have
given them your word; and the world has hated them, BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT OF THE
WORLD, EVEN AS I AM NOT OF THE WORLD. I do not pray that you take them out of
the world, but that you keep them from evil. THEY ARE NOT OF THE WORLD, EVEN AS
I AM NOT OF THE WORLD." John
17:14-16
Did you notice that in verses 14 and 16, Jesus
Christ repeated Himself?
Why does anyone repeat
himself? It is to drive home an important message.
The
Catholic Church is not loved by many, simply because she listens to and heeds
the words of her founder, Jesus Christ, instead of being swayed by secular
opinions and pressures. The Catholic Church did indeed get the message.
As pointed out in the previous segment, since the Catholic
Church is not worldly, therefore it is other-worldly. The Body of Christ is of
the same world as is the Head of Christ.
130.
We know because
It is the Catholic Church Alone
Which is the Unbending and Unmovable Fortress Against the Three Greatest
Temptations of Mankind: The World, The Flesh, and The Devil.
1. Against
the world, as pointed out in the previous segment, that it does not conform to
worldly pressures to change to worldly ideas, but instead, it holds to the
commands of Jesus Christ.
2. Against the flesh, because
it holds to the highest moral standards of any institution on earth.
3. Against the Devil, because, who else performs exorcisms
of Satan and of his demons if it is not the Catholic Church?
131.
We know from the fact that Detractors Have Not,
and Will Never be Able to Show
That the Catholic Church is NOT
the Church which Jesus Christ Founded. There is simply too much documented historical evidence
against them, for which I have already listed numerous examples. Every Christian
church can be traced back to a named human person founder, that is, all except
for one, and that ONE is the true Church which the Divine person of Jesus Christ
founded.
132.
We know because
Those who Make False Charges
Against the Catholic Church Never Have Official Documented Proof of What They
Charge. Always ask the detractor
for official documents of what they charge and you will find that they have
none, or at best a quote or a footnote from another detractor, who in turn had
no proof of what he said.
Non Catholic detractors make
all sorts of false charges against the Catholic Church trying to prove or
disprove this or that. I am forced to point out to these people what Holy
Scripture has to say about being Truthful at all times, and the dire consequences
they will face if they persist in spreading lies and in calumnizing the Church.
Read what happens to liars in Revelation 21:27.
A.
They charge that the Catholic
Church apostatized soon after it was formed and therefore the Church of today is
not the same Church as the original Church.
Immediately,
they have called Jesus Christ a liar (1John 5:10), for He promised to be with
His Church forever, as in Matthew 28:20. They called Him a liar again by
inferring that the gates of hell did prevail against His Church in Matthew
16:18.
If the detractors think what they say is true,
then have them explain why the historians of Christianity, the Church Fathers,
in all of their thousands of writings, had not once mentioned even a hint of
such a "monumental event"? It would seem that the Church which Jesus Christ
founded, by going into apostasy, would be the biggest, most news worthy event
since the resurrection. Ask them to provide you with the documents which "prove"
what they charge, or to retract the charge.
B.
They charge that "since I cannot find it
in the Bible, it simply did not happen and is therefore not to be believed,
or does not exist". Ask them to show you in the Bible where it says, "everything
is in it"? They cannot do it, as nowhere in Holy Scripture does it say that. It
does, however, say that "everything is NOT in it". See John 20:30-31 and John 21:25.
How can these people believe in the Trinity, or the
Incarnation, or even the Bible itself, since none of these words can be found
between its covers? How can they equally believe in the things I have previously
shown, since none of them can be found in Holy Scripture either? Anyone who
fails to look for documents outside of the Bible, will never have the full
truth, and Half Truths are no truth at all.
C.
They try in vain to "prove" that
Peter was never given Primacy over the other Apostles, and thus could not
have been the first Pope. The evidence they supply is simply so flimsy that it
is non existent. They point out that it was James who presided over the Council
of Jerusalem
(Acts 15:13-21). James was the Bishop of
Jerusalem, but the detractors of Peter ignore Acts 15:7, where Peter said, "GOD
made choice among us that through MY MOUTH the Gentiles should hear the word of
the gospel and believe". Who made the choice? GOD did. The evidence that Peter
did in fact receive primacy is overwhelming. Read the link above for a plenitude
of evidence that Peter, was indeed given Primacy, by the Father, by the Son, and
by Holy Scripture.
D. They attack Peter again by saying that never was he in Rome, and
thus could not have been the first Pope. Ask them to show you the documentation
to "prove" what they charge. They will simply reply that "they cannot find it in
the Bible". See "B" above. Once again, there are scores of
Church Father writings attesting to the fact that Peter was indeed in Rome, and
in fact he was crucified there in 67 A.D.. That fact is also in recorded secular
history writings of the time. However, as I have said before, the detractors
simply refuse to read the documented history of Christianity before the
reformation.
I ask this question of those who deny that the Catholic Church is the Church
which Jesus Christ founded:
"Since He founded only One
Church, as Scripture clearly shows in Matthew 16:18, and since He guaranteed the
Perpetuality of that Church in the same verse
and in so many other verses, then please tell me the name of the Church which He
did found? After all, it must still be here and it must have a name, isn't that
true?"
I have never received a serious answer to that
question.
133.
We know because
Catholics can easily show that Many Non-Catholic Sects do NOT Follow the Teaching of GOD
in Holy Scripture. Their
preachings and teachings of hatred for the Catholic Church echo what Satan, the
enemy of GOD and His Church, would say, not what GOD has said. This includes
some large mainline denominations as well.
We are all
GOD's children, and Jesus Christ left us with just two commandments. We must
love GOD and we must love our neighbor. Our neighbor is EVERYONE.
"Thou shall love the Lord thy GOD with thy whole heart, and
with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first
commandment. And the second is like it, THOU SHALL LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS
THYSELF."
Matthew 22:37-39
"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: YOU SHALL LOVE
YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF."
Galatians 5:14
"If you love Me, keep My commandments."
John 14:15
Anyone who says he loves GOD but
hates his neighbor is a hypocrite, a liar, and a heretic.
The Catholic Church is the people within it, not the
buildings. When you attack the Church, you attack the Body of Christ which are
the members of it (Romans 12:5). A malicious attack on the Church is an attack
on the Body, and whatever happens to the Body is registered in the Head.
Why then, do some non-Catholic sects attack the Catholic
Church with these malicious lies?
* The Catholic Church was founded by Satan.
Where are your documents to prove this? Didn't you read
about Exorcisms above?
* The Catholic Church is not the Church which
Jesus Christ founded.
Prove this with documents?
Also please name the Church that He did found...with
documents please?
* The
Catholic Church apostatized at the time of Constantine.
Prove this baseless charge with genuine historical
documents. Those who charge this are calling Jesus Christ a liar (1John 5:10),
as He promised the gates of hell would not prevail against His Church (Matthew
16:18), and He promised He would be with His Church forever (Matthew 28:20).
* The Catholic Church is the whore
of Babylon.
Detractors mistranslate this from Revelation
17:9, "...seven mountains upon which the woman sits...". They say it is Rome,
the seat of the Vatican. However, if any of them had ever been to Rome, they
would have easily seen that Rome has seven low hills, not mountains, and all
seven are across the Tiber River from the Vatican.
When
you hear this from a non-Catholic just smile and say, "Thank you very much for
confirming that the Catholic Church is the true Church which Jesus Christ
founded, for you are doing exactly what Jesus Christ said you would do."
"It is
enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and for the servant to be like
his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, HOW MUCH MORE
THOSE OF HIS HOUSEHOLD!"
Matthew 10:25
* The Pope is the beast of 666.
Show me your documented proof? Of course, there never is
any.
*The Pope has engraved on
his miter, "Vicar of the Son of GOD".
This
title adds up to 666 in Roman numerals, but unfortunately for those who say
this, it was never one of his titles. This is a 'twist' on "Vicar of Christ",
which is one of his titles, but, alas, it does not add up to 666. Satan has
his fingerprints all over this one.
* All Catholics are going to hell.
Tell me, "How do you know who is going to hell, and who
isn't"? Does GOD tell you?
What about those who do not
keep GOD's commandment to love thy neighbor? Where do they go?
Whatever happened to, "Judge not lest you be judged" (Luke
6:37)?
These are but a few of
the false charges made against the Catholic Church by people who call themselves
"Christians".
Why do some in
other denominations say these things?
They try to
justify their existence by calumnizing the Church which Jesus Christ founded. It
was part of the plan of the reformers. If you break from the Church of truth,
what justification can you possibly show for doing so? There can be only one
truth, so the only other recourse is to try to show error. If the proofs of
error are not to be found, then invent some. Thus the invention becomes a
lie.
Interestingly, all of
these false charges melt away when the detractors are asked for authentic
historical documentation of the charges they make against the Catholic Church.
The only "documentation" they have, is simply a writing from another calumnizer
of the Church.
I do not have to
name these other churches as I am sure everyone knows which ones they are. Be it
known that those who say these things are not obedient to GOD and do not follow
Holy Scripture.
"A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a
bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down
and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruits you will know
them."
Matthew 7:18-20
People who propagate these lies, bear bad fruit, and so
stand convicted out of their own mouths.
There can be
only one conclusion drawn as to why some continually attack the Catholic Church
in spite of GOD's command to "Love Thy Neighbor".
It is
obvious that their hatred of the Catholic Church is greater than their love for
GOD.
I invite all detractors to
drop the attacks against the Catholic Church, that is, if they are true
followers of Jesus Christ, and to put their efforts towards obeying the Word of
the Lord instead.
134.
We know because
No one can find a verse in Holy
Scripture which gives authority to any person to found another church other than
the ONE which Jesus Christ founded.
Since non-Catholic ecclesial
communities are all Bible based and believe in the man made doctrine of Sola
Scriptura, how then can they continue to split the Body of Christ into smaller
and smaller pieces if Scripture does not give them any authority to do so?
135.
We know because
Not One Non-Catholic Church can
show, by any means, that it was Founded by Jesus Christ.
I have sent this
file to militant non-Catholics and I have asked them to refute it and to show me
just ONE PROOF that their church was founded by Jesus Christ, and they
simply cannot do it.
Not one
can:
*Trace their origin back to the time of the
Apostles.
*Claim the Apostles as belonging to their church.
*Show that they have a valid Priesthood.
*Claim the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.
*Show that they have the Authority.
*Claim the fullness of Truth.
*Show that they have Doctrinal Unity.
*Adjudicate disputes in Bible teaching and beliefs among
themselves.
*Show that they hold the same Doctrine as
the Early Church.
*Prove the existence of the false
doctrine of Sola Scriptura before the Reformation, and the invention of the printing
press in 1450.
All can only:
*Trace their origins back to only a Human
Founder.
*Trace their origins back only to less than 500 years.
*Deny the Authority of the Church established by Jesus
Christ. However, they never do have documented proof of this denial.
*Claim their Authority is Bible only, even though the Bible
does not say that.
*Claim that each member is his/her
own "pope" regarding Bible interpretation.
*Show their
disunity with other Protestant Churches, because for every doctrine (except for
the existence of GOD), taught by one non-Catholic church, it
is denied by another.
136.
We know because of
the Lack of Historicity of
Non-Catholic Churches.
They disregard genuine historical documents from the time
of the writing of the Book of Revelation, around 90-95 A.D., until the
reformation beginning in 1517. This is an historical gap of over 1400 years,
from which they draw almost a total blank. There are literally thousands of
historical writings available which cover this 1400 year period. There are
hundreds of authentic historical writers during this same period which are
ignored. How can over 1400 years of genuine historical documents be ignored by
anyone who, in good conscience, is searching for the truth?
137.
We know because
Non-Catholic Ecclesial
Communities are Either Imploding, or Dividing at Ever Increasing Rates, whereas
at the same time, the Catholic Church is Experiencing Outstanding Phenomenal
Growth.
In the
summer of 2000, the Southern Baptists split yet again, this time over the
ordination of women, and that women should be submissive to their husbands.
The Methodists split because of an "Unholy Union" (they
called it a 'holy union') administered between two females, which was approved
by a Methodist Bishop and about 65 ministers.
Recently,
in my area, an independent community split in half because of a doctrinal
dispute.
The Anglican church is in deep trouble ever
since they approved the ordination of women in the early 1990's. Since then,
they have lost more than 1200 priests and Bishops, and many lay people, in
conversions to the Catholic Church. This is just one reason, out of many, for
the recent rapid growth of the Catholic Church.
The
Lutheran Church underwent turmoil in February 2001, because an admitted
homosexual was ordained to the priesthood. Is there yet another division brewing
here?
Whats next? Does GOD approve of all of these
abominations which are strictly against Holy Scripture?
138.
We know because detractors who say the
Catholic Church was not founded by Jesus Christ, are unable to name the person
Who Founded the Catholic Church
if it were Not Jesus Christ. The
reason why detractors cannot name a human person founder of the Catholic Church
is simply that there was none. There is no one to name. However, Catholics can
easily name those who founded the non-Catholic Christian churches. They
were mere men and woman, and they are undeniably recorded in the history books.
Many were former Catholic priests. Many were false prophets .
"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheeps
clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know
them...."
Matthew 7:15-16
The cults were founded by the false prophet.
Just to name a few, and the fruits they produced:
*Seventh-Day Adventists, founded by Ellen Gould White. She
made many false prophecies.
Deuteronomy 13:1-6,
18:10-22
*Jehovah's Witnesses, founded by Charles Taze Russell.
Jehovah's Witnesses rewrote the Bible to suit their own teachings.
Deuteronomy 4:2, 13:1, Revelation 22:18-19
*Mormons,
founded by Joseph Smith. He wrote a whole new book, the Book of Mormon, of which
he elevated even above the Bible.
Galatians 1:8-9
*I will
provide the URL for the proofs of what I have said here upon request.
139.
We know the
Catholic Church is the True Church because Satanists,
the enemies of God in total hatred, mock the Catholic Church only, not the Reformed churches. They mock the Consecrated Holy
Eucharist, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and anything Catholics proclaim Holy. Isn't
it strange that they always try to steal Holy Eucharists in order to desecrate
them in their demonic black masses? They know without question, that it is the
true presence of their arch enemy, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus
Christ.
I know that in my own parish, some have seen
them trying to conceal the Holy Eucharist on their person without consuming it,
and then they attempt to leave the Mass. We follow them and retrieve Jesus.
Children have been paid to perform these abominations, so they can deliver the
Eucharistic Host to the Satanists for their diabolical deeds against it. The
Satanists believe their acts against the Holy Eucharist are true because they
know it really is Jesus Christ. They want to hurt Our Lord and they believe this
is the way to do it. We all have to be on constant watch to insure that this
does not happen.
During Eucharistic Adoration, there is
always a loyal Catholic present during the time of exposition, to guard against
it being stolen and removed from the Church. If a person or demon did not know
what it was, then why would they try to steal it?
A
better proof there could not be.
The devil knows very
well the truth of the True Presence, even though non-Catholics deny it.
"Now in the synagogue there was a
man possessed by an unclean devil, and he cried out with a loud voice, saying,
'LET US ALONE! WHAT HAVE WE TO DO WITH YOU, JESUS OF NAZARETH? HAVE YOU COME TO
DESTROY US? I KNOW YOU, WHO YOU ARE, THE HOLY ONE OF GOD'."
Luke 4:33-34
Another man with an unclean spirit:
"...and crying out with a loud voice he said, 'What have I
to do with you, JESUS, SON OF THE MOST HIGH GOD? I adjure you by GOD, do not
torment me!' For He was saying to him,
'Go out of the
man, you unclean spirit'."
Mark 5:7-8
"You believe that there is one GOD. You do well. THE DEVILS
ALSO BELIEVE AND TREMBLE."
James 2:19
Have you ever heard of Satanists
breaking into a non-Catholic Church in order to steal something which was
considered holy by non-Catholics?
140.
We know from the merciless Persecution
Against the Catholic Church, from within and from without, since its
inception. These Persecutions were foretold by Jesus Christ Himself, in
Matthew 5:11-12, Luke 6:26, and in many other verses. These
attacks were from the very beginning, and started with the Jews. Look what
happened to them instead! Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed and every
Jewish priest was slain by the Romans in 70 A.D.. Judaism was almost completely
destroyed. Then came the Romans who burned Christians at the stake and fed them
to the lions. They, in turn, and their empire with them were destroyed in 476
A.D.. Then came the Nestorians, Arians, Vandals, Moslems, Waldenses,
Albigensians, Catharists, Protestantism, the French Revolution, Modernism,
Naziism, Communism, Dissidents, and now Secular Humanism, Fundamentalism,
Relativism, Indifferentism, and Hedonism. There are many more heretical groups
and beliefs which are not listed here.
"There is not enough time in the day for me to recite even
the names
of all the various sects of heretics."
Saint Ambrose of Milan, The Mystery of the Lord's
Incarnation, 5,35, 382 A.D.
Those who take pleasure in kicking "The Rock", have never
learned that all they will ever accomplish is to hurt their own foot.
They never
learned either, that those who are ignorant of history are prone to repeat its
mistakes.
Where are all of these attackers today? Most are gone, some
of the others are splintered so badly that they are practically impotent, and
some are still with us temporarily. There will always be new ones popping up,
like weeds amongst the wheat. After all, you cannot have a rose without a
thorn.
"...And at harvest time I will say to the
reapers: gather up the weeds first and bind them in bundles to burn; but gather
the wheat into My barn."
Matthew 13:30
"It is an unhappy ending for those who attack the Catholic
Church."
Saint Robert Bellarmine 1542-1621
"This Church is Holy, the One
Church, the True Church, the Catholic Church, fighting as she does against all
heresies. She can fight, but she cannot be beaten. All heresies are expelled
from her, like the useless loppings pruned from a vine. She remains fixed in her
root, in her vine, in her love. The gates of hell shall not conquer her."
Saint Augustine of Hippo, Sermon to Catechumens, on the
Creed, 6,14, 395 A.D.
After all
of this, where is the Catholic Church today?
The
Catholic Church is still here, still very much viable, still preaching and
teaching the truth of Jesus Christ, as it has been doing for almost 2000 years,
and... it is still growing.
GOD has won.
Satan has lost.
With all of this against it, how on earth did the Catholic
Church ever survive for almost two millennia? The answer to
that one is easy, as Holy Scripture gives us the answers...
"Fear not, for I am with thee: turn not aside, for I am your
GOD. I have strengthened thee,
and have helped thee,
and the right hand of My Just One hath upheld thee.
Behold all that fight against thee shall be confounded
(split into 33,800 pieces
maybe?) and ashamed, they shall
be as nothing, and the men shall perish that strive against thee."
Isaias 41:10-11
"And they shall fight against thee, and shall not prevail,
for I am with thee, said the Lord, to deliver
thee."
Jeremiah 1:19
Did you not know that Jesus Christ is the savior of His
Body the Church?
"... just as Christ is head of the
Church, being himself savior of the body."
Ephesians
5:23
So...
"If GOD is
for us, who is against us?"
Romans 8:31
What force on earth would give you
trepidation, if the Lord of Lords,
and the King of
Kings is with you?
©
Written by Bob Stanley,
June 24, 2000
Updated April 11, 2002
Note! When I speak of the Catholic Church in this file, I include all of the
rites which have a valid priesthood and all seven sacraments.
Back to Home Page...