Posted on 05/04/2010 9:10:37 AM PDT by Salvation
Featured Term (selected at random):
The faithful of the whole world. This broad definition can be understood in various senses all derived from the Scriptures, notably as the community of believers, the kingdom of God, and the Mystical Body of Christ.
As the community of believers, the Church is the assembly (ekklesia) of all who believe in Jesus Christ; or the fellowship (koinonia) of all who are bound together by their common love for the Savior. As the kingdom (basileia), it is the fulfillment of the ancient prophecies about the reign of the Messiah. And as the Mystical Body it is the communion of all those made holy by the grace of Christ. He is their invisible head and they are his visible members. These include the faithful on earth, those in purgatory who are not yet fully purified, and the saints in heaven.
Since the Council of Trent, the Catholic Church has been defined as a union of human beings who are united by the profession of the same Christian faith, and by participation of and in the same sacraments under the direction of their lawful pastors, especially of the one representative of Christ on earth, the Bishop of Rome. Each element in this definition is meant to exclude all others from actual and vital membership in the Catholic Church, namely apostates and heretics who do not profess the same Christian faith, non-Christians who do not receive the same sacraments, and schismatics who are not submissive to the Church's lawful pastors under the Bishop of Rome.
At the Second Vatican Council this concept of the Church was recognized as the objective reality that identifies the fullness of the Roman Catholic Church. But it was qualified subjectively so as to somehow include all who are baptized and profess their faith in Jesus Christ. They are the People of God, whom he has chosen to be his own and on whom he bestows the special graces of his providence. (Etym. Greek kkyriakon, church; from kyriakos, belonging to the Lord.)
See Also: SACRAMENT OF SALVATION
The Church as the necessary means of salvation for humankind. All who are saved, therefore, receive the necessary grace somehow through the visible Church founded by Christ.
Catholic Word of the Day – links will be provided later by another FReeper.
|
Contumely |
Alienation |
Ethics |
|
Quam Singulari |
Indissolubility |
Celibacy |
|
Comparative Religion |
Founder |
Edification |
|
Noumenon |
Stag |
Ecclesia |
|
Eternal City (Rome) |
New Earth |
Samuel |
|
Benefice |
Papal Regesta |
Defender of the Faith |
|
Sacrament House |
James the Less |
Devotion to St. Joseph |
|
Vicar-General |
Holy Doors |
Te Deum Laudamus |
|
Preconization |
Determinants of Morality |
Penitential Psalms |
|
Hatred |
Synoptics |
Proclamation |
|
Serra International |
Purity of Intention |
Abomination of Desolation |
|
Matrimonial Contract |
Conventual |
Doubtful Conscience |
|
Homosexuality |
Promised Land |
May Laws |
|
Toulouse |
Mystery Theology |
Eucharistic Meal |
|
Dilemma |
Sacrifice of the Mass |
Prie-dieu |
|
Motives of Credibility |
Church |
|
Catholic Word of the Day Ping!
Please send me a FReepmail if you would like to be on the Catholic Word of the Day Ping List.
**Since the Council of Trent, the Catholic Church has been defined as a union of human beings who are united by the profession of the same Christian faith, and by participation of and in the same sacraments under the direction of their lawful pastors, especially of the one representative of Christ on earth, the Bishop of Rome.**
Note “Catholic” is referenced. No other adjectives......just Catholic!
never hurts to review the fundamentals.
I once heard a priest say that we can (in a manner of speaking) say that Jesus Christ is the “sacrament” of God, in the sense that Jesus makes the invisible God visible among men. The Church can be thought of as a “sacrament” of Jesus, in that sense ... He is visible on earth in the Church’s members, collectively.
It’s not a perfect formulation of course, but I’ve found it gives me some food for thought.
In other words, they twisted language to camouflage heresy, to make a the false idea appear to be un-heretical for ecumenism 's sake.
The first definition of Church from the Council of Trent is the only true one.
"Why God would allow these "ambiguities" to occur in Vatican II. (and other magisterial documents)?
Considering all that I have said thus far, especially concerning the ulterior motives of the liberal prelates and their virtual hijacking of Vatican II, I think Scripture has an answer as to why God would allow these "ambiguities" to occur. In short, there is an interesting working principle in Scripture. As a punishment for your sin, God will allow you to pursue, and be condemned by, what you sinfully desire. This is what I believe happened at Vatican II. The progressivist bishops and theologians sought for a way to push their heterodox ideas into the Church, so God allowed them to do so, as a witness and judgment against them. He would allow the Council to have its "ambiguities" so that those who would interpret them contrary to nineteen centuries of established Catholic dogma, would lead themselves into sin, and ultimately into God's judgment. Unfortunately, as is always the case, the sheep suffer for what the shepherds do wrong, and as a result, we have all been wandering in the spiritual desert of liberal theology for the past 40 years. (Article from Catholic Family News, Feb 2003, by Robert Sungenis)(1)
(1) In fact, the bad shepherds may be a chastisement for the sins of the sheep. Saint John Eudes, basing his words on Sacred Scripture, says that when God wants to punish his people, he sends them bad priests. See The Priest, His Dignity and Obligations, by Saint John Eudes, Chapter 2, "Qualities of a Holy Priest". (New York: P.J. Kenedy and Sons, 1947).
Vatican II is a punishment from God. It is a snare, a siren song to RUN AWAY FROM! Do not seek any answers about the Faith from Vatican II or any theologian that refers to it.
Really squishy language there, wasn’t it. I noticed it this morning, but was off to go to Daily Mass and then meet my daughter, son in law and three grandchildren who are visiting from Chicago!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.