11 May 2010: Organization of the Church

The bond of faith, a belief in the same doctrines, the same Sacraments, and the same precepts of morality are what unite the faithful throughout the world into one body, forming the Church of Jesus Christ. Our Lord, therefore, before his Ascension, provided for unity and indefectibility of the faith which he had preached to mankind and left to his apostles.

First: “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Mt 28:20) without any change.

Second: “And I send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth.” (Jn 15:26) That is, the Holy Spirit.

Third: By assuring them that the successors of St Peter should always retain the gift of infallibility in faith and morals; saying to that great Apostle, “I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail” (Lk 22:32).

Jesus Christ founded his Church 2,000 years ago, and yet we see it remaining unchanged to this day. The Church alone has stood firm, unshaken amidst all changes and revolutions of the world. The deposit of the Faith confided to the Apostles is preserved intact.

Examination of Church traditions will convince us that we believe all the same doctrines first announced by Jesus Christ and his Apostles. Consequently, we are in the true Church ‘militant’ on earth, and may hope to pass into the Church ‘triumphant’ in heaven.

“He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who believes not shall be condemned.” (Mk 16:15-6)

If we carefully consider our Lord’s words, we shall find a powerful motive of joy and fear. Of ‘joy’ because they show a secure and easy way to eternal salvation. Of fear because they declare the condemnation of obstinate heretics and two kinds of Catholics.

The ‘explicit’ condemnation of whoever speak lightly of certain doctrines, and thus seem to approve of the detestable belief that ‘it matters little what a man believes, provided he leads a good life’; and an ‘implicit’ condemnation of those who strictly profess every article of faith, but lead lives contrary to their belief.

Our Lord says, “God will render to every man according to his works” (Mt 16:27); and St James declares, “faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:26).

Let us examine seriously our belief about the malice and pernicious effects of venial sin; the obligation of our commitments, the duties of our office, reverence due to God especially in time of prayer, the importance of beginning each day well. In short, our ‘practical faith’.

Jesus promised the gift of miracles to the Apostles, and their immediate followers, as confirmation of their preaching, and to strengthen the faith of their converts.

“These signs”, he said, “shall follow them that believe: in my name they shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents; and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands upon the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mk 16:17-8)

History records all these promises were literally fulfilled. Let us admire the wisdom and goodness of God who always proportions the means to the end. He works miracles to persuade the Gentiles to receive the true Faith; but once it has been accepted and stable, he recalls the gift, that we may fully benefit from making acts of faith.

Ref: cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp258-60

The Church

“I can well understand that pause of yours as you pray, savoring the words: ‘I believe in the Church, one, holy, catholic and apostolic’.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “The Way”, 517)

“Catholic, apostolic, Roman! I want you to be very Roman, ever anxious to make your ‘pilgrimage to see Peter’.” (cf Ibid, Op cit, 520)

` ` ` MAY DEVOTIONS ` ` `

Mary welcomes the Magi

‘Going into the house they saw the child with Mary, his Mother.’ Our Lady is always by her Son. The Magi are not received by a king on a throne, but by a child in the arms of his Mother. Let us ask the Mother of God, who is our Mother, to prepare for us the way to the fulness of love ... Her sweet heart knows the surest path for finding Christ. (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 38)

Let us offer our Mother: ‘A visit to a poor person to remind him of Our Lady’s concern for him.’

Ref: Fr Charles Belmonte and Fr James Socias (Eds), “Handbook of Prayers”, 1988, p307

The Rosary, a compendium of our Faith

Mary invites us not only to prayer, but also offers a simple and effective means of meditation on the mysteries we must believe, a way full of examples we must imitate; and guaranteed supernatural life as a pledge of everlasting life.

To what can our faith be reduced? To the two principal mysteries of the Unity and Trinity of God and of the Incarnation of Jesus.

In the ‘Joyful mysteries’ we see the work of the Blessed Trinity in preparing the incarnation of the Word: then we find delight in the serene vision of the birth and infancy of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the ‘Sorrowful mysteries’ we follow the bloody marks by Jesus accomplishing our redemption.

And in the ‘glorious mysteries' we see in the light of a most beautiful reality that blessed and happy life that has been guaranteed us through the passion and death of Our Redeemer.

To meditate lovingly on these mysteries means to live in the pure light of our faith; strengthening our heart with certainties that rest on the words of Christ and on the salvation He brought us.

The Most Rev Bishop Fulton J Sheen declared: “When we say the Rosary, we are saying to God, the Trinity, to the Incarnate Saviour, to the Blessed Mother: ‘I love you, I love you, I love you!’”

Ref: Rev Joseph A Viano, SSP, “Two Months with Mary”, 1984, p45

Our Lady of Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil (The Lady who appeared.) (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm); (MaryLinks Calendar.htm)

Our Lady of Aparecida, Patroness of Brazil (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html)

'Nossa Senhora Aparecida'. Patroness of Brazil. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)

Apparition of Our Lady to St Philip Neri, whom she healed of a serious malady, in the year 1594. — See his Life. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; http://www.bethlehemobserver.com)

Apparition of Our Lady to St Philip Neri (1594). (http://www.divinewill.org/feastofourlady.htm;
MaryLinks Calendar.htm; http://www.starharbor.com/santiago/m feasts.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)