To: D-fendr
I think this is true: If we place limits on His Church, we place limits on God, for they are inseparable.
I completely agree with your statements thus far, and it seems they are very consistent with the teachings on the Church by Vatican II and other official teachings of the Church, particularly the concept of "Baptism of desire."
St. Augustine points out that, "When we speak of within and without in relation to the Church, it is the position of the heart that we must consider, not that of the body . . . All who are within in heart are saved in the unity of the ark" (Baptism 5:28:39). At the same time we must keep in mind that no one who positively repudiates the Church can be said to belong to the Church in any sense. As St. Cyprian put it: "he will not have God for his Father who would not have the Church for his mother."
2,735 posted on
07/19/2009 9:02:26 PM PDT by
bdeaner
(The bread which we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ? (1 Cor. 10:16))
To: bdeaner
thanks for your reply. I greatly appreciate and rely upon you knowledge of the teachings of the Church. I am still very much a learner in this.
no one who positively repudiates the Church can be said to belong to the Church in any sense
If one repudiates, semi-quoting: The Church including ALL of the instrumental means of salvation operating in the world through Christ and the Holy Spirit, no matter where that may be occurring
I can see the meaning. I would equate this rejection, or at least include in it: denying the reality of Goodness, Beauty, Truth. And I imagine such a person would not know anything of his connection with the divine or with anyone else and would experience this life as being abandoned in a deep and dark well. Hell.
But there is still hope.
2,743 posted on
07/19/2009 11:06:13 PM PDT by
D-fendr
(Deus non alligatur sacramentis sed nos alligamur.)
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