THE CHURCH
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AUTHORITY ON TRADITION
Though I allude to it referring to St Jerome and the early Church, but up to now I have not mentioned the "Catholic" Church, since so many automatically jump to conclusions. However, we can't ignore history and which came first, the chicken or the egg. Afterall, "Catholic isn't even mentioned in the Bible" is what many say. However, who kept and eventually compiled and translated the Old and New Testaments into one language but the "universal" Catholic Church. It's just a fact.
This is the reason when I highlight certain scriptures throughout this site, I use the Douay-Rheims version because it's a direct translation into English from Jerome's Latin Vulgate of 382 A.D.
True, the word "catholic" does not appear in any Bible, as such. Catholic is derived from the Greek word καθολικός (katholikos) meaning "universal" and was first used in the 2nd century to describe the Church in the early 2nd century in a letter of St Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, in 130 A.D. In his "Catechetical Discourses" of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Ignatius used "catholic" (katholikos) to describe followers of Jesus Christ. And the only reasons the Church fathers and leaders began using the word was to distinguish His followers from other schismatic groups who began referring to themselves as Christian and "the Church". The only way to distinguish the true followers of Christ back the, as now, was to know the truth of Jesus teachings from the apostles. That wasd the only way to uncover heresies and false teachers.
"Now the church had peace throughout all Judea, and Galilee, and Samaria; and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and was filled with the consolation of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 9:11)
(according to original Greek), “ai men oun ekklesia (the church) kath oles (universal-catholic) tēs ioudaias kai galilaias kai samareias eichon eirēnēn oikodomoumenai kai poreuomenai tō phobō tou kuriou kai tē paraklēsei tou agiou pneumatos eplēthunonto.”
Since the word "catholic" means universal, where all believers follow the same teachings throughout the ages, in every nation, that there is one God, one begotten Son, divine and eternal. This understanding has been with God's people going all the way back to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, the nation of ancient Israel, Moses, down to the apostles and all faithful disciples of Christ through the ages to this day. Even King David referred to Israel as the Church of saints. (Psalms 149:1) Therefore, it's no surprise that the Lord Jesus Christ called His followers, His Church. (Matthew 16:18) Since there was only one group of Christians Jesus called "the Church", and it was the "catholic church", ekklesia katholikos. To this day, it's difficult for non-Catholics to accept this , but it's true.
Christ commanded His disciples to preach the "gospel of His kingdom" to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and Holy Ghost (spirit). (Matt. 24:14) This is how people from all nations were to view God and the means to be saved by following Christ and His Church, the Catholic Church. This doesn't mean the Catholic Church is perfect, infallible, any more than any of their clergy or even the Popes of the Church, but this is Christ Church, hard as it is to admit at times looking at the shape it has fallen into in the 20th century. It'ss no wonder the Catholic Church has come under so much criticism and ridicule, even hated, by non-Catholics.
It was Christ's desire that the Church would be the apple of His eye, the envy of the world.
"If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the world, the world hates you. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you." (John 15:18-21)
"...friendship with the world is enmity with God." (James 4:4)
Why? "The god of this world (Satan) has blinded the minds of unbelievers of the world."
(2 Corinthians 4:4) "The world is seated in wickedness" (outside His Church)." (1 John 5:19)
It's hard to pinpoint when the Catholic Church began to faulter and defect over the centuries, but an indepth study of the facts clearly shows it has. This is difficult to admit and sad for faithful Catholic people since they have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly truth, particularly in the 20th century.
The Lord’s Prayer
"Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name (I AM), God the Father;
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen."
Sacrament of Baptism
"Go therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost (Spirit)." Matthew 18:19 "Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost (Spirit), he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5 Notice 'EENS' in the background.
JESUS BEFORE BAPTISM
CARPENTER
CONFESSION - PENANCE
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful, He will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all iniquity.." (1 John 1:9)
(priests receive Holy Orders to stand in Christ's place during confession; Council of Trent)
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The Holy Eucharist (Communion)
"And taking bread, he gave thanks, and brake; and gave to them, saying: THIS IS my body, which is given for you. Do this for a commemoration of me." (Luke 22:19)
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"First Holy Communion, "Eucharist"
John 6:48-59;
"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath everlasting life: and I will raise him up in the last day. "
(This is Christ "presence", during Holy Communion, the Eucharist, when Christ changes or converts the substance of the host, the bread, into His body as it enters our body; called tran-substantiation)
THE HOLY ORDERS
A manifestations in the Catholic Church is the Holy Orders of the clergy of the Church beginning with Jesus appointing as head and ruler of the Church and the first Pope.
"Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose upon earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven." Matt. 16:18-19 (Click)
Peter - Chief Apostle
"Jesus saith to Simon Peter: Simon son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith to him: Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee. He saith to him: FEED MY LAMBS.(John 21:15)
Jesus told Peter to TEACH His followers to observe ALL His commands; and in doing so, He would be with them until the consummation of the world. (Matt. 28:20) This is also a key scripture that clearly points out that Christ would be with His Church and have His Church visibly flourish until the end, to the consummation of the world. This makes it clear that He would not allow His Church enter into apostacy "until" the last days.
When Jesus handed Peter the keys of authority of His Church, Jesus wasn't declaring Peter "infallible". While Peter occupied a very important role in Christ Church, Peter was just a man with frailties and imperfections. And though Peter was the chief apostle because Jesus bestowed that unique charism or authority upon him, Jesus also gave all the apostles great powers and authority to cure sickness, heal the blind, even raise the dead, but their primary task was to provide Jesus lambs spiritual food when they needed it. (Matt. 24:45)
When Peter died a martyr's death in 66-67 A.D., other faithful shepherds, Church fathers, would continue the work of Peter to govern the Church. Although little is written about him, Church tradition has it that Linus was successor to Peter, the next bishop of the Church. (Philippians 4:3)
Jesus also promised He would provide the Church with "... apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelizes, some as doctors and some as saints..." to insure the body of the Church would remain all in unity. (Ephesians 4:11-13)
An example of such a "saint" and "doctor" of the Church was St Thomas Aquinas in the 13th Century, "Angelic Doctor of the Church". (Many saints and 33 doctors of the Church) (Click on photos)
St Thomas Aquinas is holding a copy of the Bible in one hand and what appears to be a model of the Church in his other hand, symbolizing the teachings of the Church. In a very real way, like Peter, St Thomas Aquinas is holding the representations of Peter's keys. Remember, there was no completed compiled copy of "the Bible" for many centuries when Jesus gave Peter the keys. So the final say on Christ teachings weren't "sola scriptura", i.e., scriptures only. They taught by word of mouth based on the traditions that Jesus and His apostles passed when the Church was born at Pentecost.
Below are just a few other early Church fathers and theologians.
St Linus, then St Clement - 88 A.D., St Ignatius 108, Justin Martyr 155 and St Siricius in 350. The list of bishops, Church leaders, historians and Saints of the Church seems endless providing clear indication that the Church not only did NOT go into decline and apostacy as the "latter-day" group teach their follower, but the Church, in fact, flourished all through the ages. And just because some proved to be unfaithful and sinned greatly, was no indication Christ abandoned His Church.
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Pope St. Siricius of the 4th century, the 38th Bishop of Rome left behind his original handwritten decrees that is now preserved in Rome. This document provides clear guidance on a significant issue that is crucial for faithful Catholics today. (Click on photo)
THE CHICKEN OR THE EGG
The Bible or the Church and its teachings and tradition?
2 Thessalonians 2:14, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or written (epistle)." This includes the Old and New Testaments. And the "word" implied any and all words of the apostles including the chief apostle Peter and his successors, the fathers, bishops (teachers), saints and doctors of the Church who passed on the teachings of the Church. Again, remember, the faithful "lambs" in the Church for many centuries did not have a Bible to read, if they even could read. The faithful sheep in the Church had only the oral word(s) spoken to them by bishops, priests and the saints. So, the teaching and guidance came primarily by word(s) of of mouth by local priests (preachers and evangelists) following the governance of the Church.
Below is a photo of one of the oldest complete Latin Vulgate Bible of St Jerome in 405 AD. as directed by St Damasus I in 382 A.D., the 37th bishop of Rome. (Click photo)
Genesis 6: “And the earth was corrupted before God's (eyes) and filled with sin; and God said; The end of all flesh is come before me... and I WILL DESTROY THEM….” (OUTSIDE Noah's Ark)
Matthew 24, “Jesus ... said…As it was in the days of Noah, SO IT SHALL BE IN THE COMING DAY OF THE SON OF MAN.” No one will survive. (OUTSIDE His Church)
ARE CATHOLICS ANTI-SEMITIC ~ ANTI-JEWS?
First of all, "anti-semitic" is a misnomer (wrong name) that many use to apply to some who do not agree with Jews. The word "Semite" applies to all descendants of Noah's son Shem, including Israel. All Arabs and middle-Easterners are Semites, so, to accuse someone as antisemitic because they don't agree that Jesus is the foretold Messiah (Christ) is a misnomer and incorrect. Christians have no mandate or permission from Jesus to be against Jews.
St Paul said at Romans 12:9, "...hate what is evil (bad), cleave (cling) to what is good." Catholics cling to Jesus words as outlined in Matthew 23 below; ANYONE, Jews or otherwise, who reject Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, are God's enemies. Many have demonstrated hatred toward God, His prophets, and Jesus. This does not give Christians a right to fight or even show hatred for their enemies. Rather, Jesus commanded His followers to "love" their enemies and "pray" for those who persecute them. However, Jesus did say to know who the enemy is and be prepared to be persecuted.
"[31] Wherefore you are witnesses against yourselves, that you are the sons of them that killed the prophets. [32] Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. [33] You serpents, generation of vipers, how will you flee from the judgment of hell? [34] Therefore behold I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them you will put to death and crucify them, (such as St Peter crucified upside down) and some you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city: [35] That upon you may come all the just blood that hath been shed upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the just, even unto the blood of Zacharias the son of Barachias, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. [36] Amen I say to you, all these things shall come upon this generation. [37] Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered together thy children, as the hen doth gather her chickens under her wings, and thou wouldest not? [38] Behold, your house (Jews) shall be left to you, desolate (abandoned to you)." (Matthew 23:31-38)
PROOF JESUS WAS THE FORETOLD MESSIAH?
HE FULFILLED 360 PROPHESIES OF THE OLD TESTAMENT
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