Jesus not found outside the Church, Pope preaches

Catholic News Agency ^ | 04/23/13 | Estefania Aguirre

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Jesus not found outside the Church, Pope preaches :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/jesus-not-found-outside-the-church-pope-preaches/

April 23, 2013

Pope Francis celebrates Mass in St. John Lateran on March 29, 2013. Credit: Stephen Driscoll/CNA.

Vatican City, Apr 23, 2013 / 07:39 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis said that people cannot be fully united to Jesus outside of the Church during a Mass to commemorate Saint George, the saint he is named after.

“You cannot find Jesus outside the Church,” he said April 23 in the Apostolic Palace’s Pauline Chapel.

“It is the Mother Church who gives us Jesus, who gives us the identity that is not only a seal, it is a belonging,” he declared in his homily.

The pontiff spoke about Christian identity as well as persecution, making it the sixth time in two weeks he has mentioned those who suffer for the faith.

Speaking about the Gospel reading for today from Saint John, Pope Francis underscored that “the missionary expansion of the Church began precisely at a time of persecution.”

“They had this apostolic fervor within them, and that is how the faith spread!” he exclaimed.

It was through the Holy Spirit’s initiative that the Gospel was proclaimed to the Gentiles, the Pope noted, and the Spirit “pushes more and more in this direction of opening the proclamation of the Gospel to all.”

The pontiff also repeated a line from his April 17 homily in St. Martha’s residence, when he emphasized that being a Christian is not like having “an identity card.”

“Christian identity is belonging to the Church, because all of these (the apostles) belonged to the Church, the Mother Church, because finding Jesus outside the Church is impossible,” he said.

“The great Paul VI said it is an absurd dichotomy to want to live with Jesus but without the Church, following Jesus out of the Church, loving Jesus without the Church,” he added.

Pope Francis said that “if we are not sheep of Jesus, faith does not come” and that it is “a rosewater faith and a faith without substance.”

The Pope also commented on Barnabas, who was sent to Antioch and was glad to see that the grace of God had encouraged people there to remain true disciples.

“Let us think of the consolations that Barnabas had, which is the sweet and comforting joy of evangelizing,” he preached.

“Let us ask the Lord for this frankness, this apostolic fervor that impels us to move forward, as brothers, all of us forward,” he remarked.

After the Mass in the papal chapel, the Swiss Guard band offered a brief musical performance in the Courtyard of Saint Damaso for the Pope’s name day.

[hope]

If anyone believes the Pope meant the Church as in the Body of Christ is wearing rose colored glasses. It is well know the Catholic Church teaches they are the only true church.

Catholic Hierarchy's=Jesus in a box...Now I do not believe that is the case with all Catholics.

[sigzero]

“He so wanted to believe in his view of salvation by faith alone “

That’s good because that is EXACTLY what the Bible teaches.

[Boogieman]

If Christ can’t be found outside your church, then you’d better remove all the books Paul wrote from the Bible, since that would make him a liar.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

See now I have had up front and personal nearly 40 years of this same mentality of not being able to have or be near Christ because I was not stamped Catholic....

Maybe this will be a blessing and a balm to you. This is what the Vatican II Council said about those who were Christian outside of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God. They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood.

That was almost 50 years ago, so someone has been mistaken in their own faith if they have been conveying to you that you have not been able to be near or have Christ because you were not stamped Catholic. The Catholic Church views you as Christian.

[ex-snook]

"Fortunately, we have Christ’s promise that heresies will never prevail against the Church. They will arise, endure sometimes for centuries, like Protestantism, but we can be confident in Christ’s promise that the Church will always teach the Truth.

Thanks

Q. How do we know the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church?

A. The bible tells us so. Of course, the Church developed the Bible.

[CatherineofAragon]

"Completly following Scripture"

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"----John 11:26.

Jesus said it, and yes, I do believe it. THAT is Scripture.

You and Francis are wrong.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

Saint Irenaeus (died A.D. 202): “[The Church] is the entrance to life; all others are thieves and robbers. On this account we are bound to avoid them… We hear it declared of the unbelieving and the blinded of this world that they shall not inherit the world of life which is to come… Resist them in defense of the only true and life giving faith, which the Church has received from the Apostles and imparted to her sons.” (Against Heresies , Book III)

Origen (died A.D. 254): “Let no man deceive himself. Outside this house, that is, outside the Church no one is saved.” (In Iesu Nave homiliae )

Saint Cyprian (died A.D. 258): “He who has turned his back on the Church of Christ shall not come to the rewards of Christ; he is an alien, a worldling, an enemy. You cannot have God for your Father if you have not the Church for your mother. Our Lord warns us when He says: `he that is not with Me is against Me, and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth.’ Whosoever breaks the peace and harmony of Christ acts against Christ; whoever gathers elsewhere than in the Church scatters the Church of Christ.” (Unity of the Catholic Church )

“He who does not hold this unity, does not hold the law of God, does not hold the faith of the Father and the Son, does not hold life and salvation.” (Patrologiae Cursus Completus: Latina , Father Migne)

“Nay, though they should suffer death for the confession of the Name, the guilt of such men is not removed even by their blood…No martyr can he be who is not in the Church.” (Ancient Christian Writers )

Bishop Firmilean (died A.D. 269): “What is the greatness of his error, and what the depth of his blindness, who says that remission of sins can be granted in the synagogues of heretics, and does not abide on the foundation of the one Church.” (Anti-Nicene Fathers )

Lactantius (died A.D. 310): “It is the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship. This is the fountain of truth, this is the abode of the Faith, this is the temple of God; into which if anyone shall not enter, or from which if anyone shall go out, he is a stranger to the hope of life and eternal salvation.” (The Divine Institutes )

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (died A.D. 386): “Abhor all heretics…heed not their fair speaking or their mock humility; for they are serpents, a `brood of vipers.’ Remember that, when Judas said `Hail Rabbi,’ the salutation was an act of betrayal. Do not be deceived by the kiss but beware of the venom. Abhor such men, therefore, and shun the blasphemers of the Holy Spirit, for whom there is no pardon. For what fellowship have you with men without hope. Let us confidently say to God regarding all heretics, `Did I not hate, O Lord, those who hated Thee, and did I not pine away because of Your enemies?’ For there is an enmity that is laudable, as it is written, `I will put enmity between you and the woman, between your seed and her seed.’ Friendship with the serpent produces enmity with God, and death. Let us shun those from whom God turns away.” (The Fathers of the Church )

Saint Ambrose (died A.D. 397): “Where Peter is therefore, there is the Church. Where the Church is there is not death but life eternal. …Although many call themselves Christians, they usurp the name and do not have the reward.” (The Fathers of the Church )

Bishop Niceta of Remesiana (died A.D. 415): “He is the Way along which we journey to our salvation; the Truth, because He rejects what is false; the Life, because He destroys death. …All who from the beginning of the world were, or are, or will be justified – whether Patriarchs, like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, or Prophets, whether Apostles or martyrs, or any others – make up one Church, because they are made holy by one faith and way of life, stamped with one Spirit, made into one Body whose Head, as we are told, is Christ. I go further. The angels and virtues and powers in heaven are co-members in this one Church, for, as the Apostle teaches us, in Christ `all things whether on the earth or in the heavens have been reconciled.’ You must believe, therefore, that in this one Church you are gathered into the Communion of Saints. You must know that this is the one Catholic Church established throughout the world, and with it you must remain in unshaken communion. There are, indeed, other so called `churches’ with which you can have no communion. …These `churches’ cease to be holy, because they were deceived by the doctrines of the devil to believe and behave differently from what Christ commanded and from the tradition of the Apostles.” (The Fathers of the Church )

Saint Jerome (died A.D. 420): “As I follow no leader save Christ, so I communicate with none but your blessedness, that is, with the Chair of Peter. For this, I know, is the rock on which the Church is built. …This is the ark of Noah, and he who is not found in it shall perish when the flood prevails. …And as for heretics, I have never spared them; on the contrary, I have seen to it in every possible way that the Church’s enemies are also my enemies.” (Manual of Patrology and History of Theology )

Saint Augustine (died A.D. 430): “No man can find salvation except in the Catholic Church. Outside the Catholic Church one can have everything except salvation. One can have honor, one can have the sacraments, one can sing alleluia, one can answer amen, one can have faith in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and preach it too, but never can one find salvation except in the Catholic Church.” (Sermo ad Caesariensis Ecclesia plebem )

Saint Fulgentius (died A.D. 533): “Most firmly hold and never doubt that not only pagans, but also all Jews, all heretics, and all schismatics who finish this life outside of the Catholic Church, will go into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Enchiridion Patristicum )

St. Bede the Venerable (died A.D. 735): “Just as all within the ark were saved and all outside of it were carried away when the flood came, so when all who are pre-ordained to eternal life have entered the Church, the end of the world will come and all will perish who are found outside.” (Hexaemeron )

Saint Thomas Aquinas (died A.D. 1274): “There is no entering into salvation outside the Church, just as in the time of the deluge there was none outside the ark, which denotes the Church.” (Summa Theologiae )

Saint Peter Canisius (died A.D. 1597): “Outside of this communion – as outside of the ark of Noah – there is absolutely no salvation for mortals: not for Jews or pagans who never received the faith of the Church, nor for heretics who, having received it, corrupted it; neither for the excommunicated or those who for any other serious cause deserve to be put away and separated from the body of the Church like pernicious members…for the rule of Cyprian and Augustine is certain: he will not have God for his Father who would not have the Church for his mother.” (Catechismi Latini et Germanici )

Saint Robert Bellarmine (died A.D. 1621): “Outside the Church there is no salvation…therefore in the symbol [Apostles Creed] we join together the Church with the remission of sins: `I believe in the Holy Catholic Church, the communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins’…For this reason the Church is compared with the ark of Noah, because just as during the deluge, everyone perished who was not in the ark, so now those perish who are not in the Church.” (De Sacramento Baptismi )

[FatherofFive]

I'd have to have a little more context before making a judgment.

Thank you for your comments. We are here to discover the Truth.

Here is more context. I would ask you to look at the “Church” in the context of the clear words of Scripture:

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Mat 6:18

Here Christ says he has established a Church and his Church will not be destroyed.

“But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.” 1Tim 3:15

Here the Church is established as the pillar and foundation of truth. There cannot be multiple ‘Truths’ so there cannot be multiple Churches.

The Church of the apostles was definitely one: "There is one body and one spirit," Paul wrote, "just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all" (Eph. 4:4-5). Paul linked this primitive unity to the Church's common Eucharistic bread: "Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of one bread" (1 Cor. 10:17). Jesus had promised at the outset that "there would be one flock, one shepherd" (John 10:16).

Scripture cleary points to ONE Church.

And so sorry you had to move to CA from TX!

[sigzero]

All of them are merely men that have no more and no less right to claim what the Church is than you or I do. They are not imbued with some “extra measure” of the Holy Spirit that makes what they say correct or infallible.

[plain talk]

So give us the Cliff Notes version - do Proestants go to Hell unless they become Catholic?

[sigzero]

“Scripture cleary points to ONE Church.”

Yes it does. Just not the Roman Catholic one. Church there means “All who have believed on Christ”.

[pax_et_bonum]

So give us the Cliff Notes version - do Proestants go to Hell unless they become Catholic?

No.

:-)

[FatherofFive]

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"----John 11:26.

“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven” Mat 7:21

It is not that easy.

[SECURE AMERICA]

If you can not find Jesus outside of a church how can you be a Christian..

[FatherofFive]

Church there means “All who have believed on Christ”.

Show me the Scripture on that one.

[DannyTN]

"So all non Christians go to hell then....."

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jhn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. Jhn 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Jhn 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Jhn 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

The reason they are condemned all ready is because none are righteous. Everyone has sinned. There is nothing you can do to make up for sin. Because the good that you know to do, is only what you should have done anyway.

There's two ways to stand before a perfect holy God and survive. Never sin, or be forgiven. And Jesus is the only way to be forgiven.

[CatherineofAragon]

So was Jesus lying or mistaken in John 11:26?

Which was it?

You think maybe you should tell Him he ought to reconsider what He said?

[Just mythoughts]

See now I have had up front and personal nearly 40 years of this same mentality of not being able to have or be near Christ because I was not stamped Catholic.... Maybe this will be a blessing and a balm to you. This is what the Vatican II Council said about those who were Christian outside of the Roman Catholic Church. The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God. They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits. Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood. That was almost 50 years ago, so someone has been mistaken in their own faith if they have been conveying to you that you have not been able to be near or have Christ because you were not stamped Catholic. The Catholic Church views you as Christian.

Maybe this pope is one who still has issues with Vatican II Council? There are always posters here that use the same language regarding non-Catholics.

I suppose I should put into perspective my 'righteous indignation'. Saint Biden the highest ranking elected Catholic in the US, has been all about doing his lord's work in stripping US of our 2 Amendment Right, however, not one single utterance out of him over that mother and baby butcher from the city of 'brotherly love'.

I do not believe for a twinkle of my eye that the Heavenly Father and His Only Begotten Son are turning a blind eye to this demonic practice. I really expected something out of Rome on this barbaric practice but instead I get told that Rome owns Jesus. Breathtaking.

[DannyTN]

"And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"----John 11:26.

“Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven” Mat 7:21

"It is not that easy." - FatherofFive

It is that easy. If you read the passage that you quoted in 7:23, Jesus says "I never knew you". Not "I knew you but you didn't obey me." Or "I knew you but It's been a while and I've forgotten you." Or "I knew you but you were lazy." And certainly not, "I knew you but wish I didn't." It's "I NEVER knew you."

You either have a relationship with Jesus or you don't. Casting out demons or performing works in Jesus name, does not mean you ever asked Jesus to cover your sins. Doesn't mean you ever established a relationship with Him.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

[Mad Dawg]

So one must have the secret Catholic decoder ring to understand what this man plainly said?

Nope. One must be able and willing to read. That's all.

Building straw men will not help. Generally the builders of straw men don't want the truth, they want to win the exchange. So I don't engage with them.

What Catholics understand by "Church" and "the Church" and how they view the necessity of Baptism has been so often laid out on FR that the kindest possible explanation for the arguments offered against what Pope Francis said is culpable negligence.

Another freeper has put up a couple of threads arguing against basic dogma of Catholicism but has done so without the lust for specious victory which is too often seen here. There's no need and no profit in the kind of argumentative response this thread already shows.

"Secret Catholic decoder ring?" Really?