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.

[knarf]

but he wasn’t baptized ... ?!?!

[old and tired]

Communion is not just Catholics only, as our separated brethren (the Orthodox Churches) are invited to receive our Lord as well. The problem with any old Christian receiving the Eucharist is that if they do not believe the Host is Jesus Himself, then they are not in a proper state to receive Him. I’ll grant you that with pro-aborts like Pelosi and Kerry receiving Him, it seems like many in the Church hierarchy don’t care - unfortunately, it is likely true that the roads of Hell are paved with the skulls of bishops.

[CynicalBear]

>>Ever hear of the Sins of the Holy Spirit that cannot be forgiven?<<

So now the Pope is the Holy Spirit? Can you get any more blasphemous?

[svcw]

1 Corinthians 11:24

And when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

Luke 22:19

And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.

[FatherofFive]

Really? If you are going to try and insult me......you need to try harder.

No insult at all. Sorry if you took my response as an insult.

just answer the question.

[FatherofFive]

This is my body

Exactly. This is My Body.

[svcw]

remembrance......not literally flesh and blood

[FatherofFive]

Not, “ This represents my body”

[FatherofFive]

Is = Is

What part of Is don't you understand?

[CynicalBear]

>> You cannot just pick out those verses that support your man-made beliefs.<<

You mean like the RCC does with Peter as the rock?

Deut. 32:4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

2 Sam. 22:2 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.

Psalm 18:31, "And who is a rock, except our God."

Isaiah 44:8, "Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none."

But the RCC says they know that it’s not God but Peter that is the rock. Sorry Catholics, but you are following a false religion.

[Mad Dawg]

Like I know?

If I say, "When you're drafted into the Army, you're in the army," that doesn't mean being drafted is the ONLY way into the Army.

If pax_et_bonum says.""When a person is baptised by water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he is incorporated into the body of Christ," he doesn't imply that's the ONLY way to be incorporated into the body of Christ.

Is that more better?

[pax_et_bonum]

but he wasn’t baptized ... ?!?!

It WAS a trick question!!!

First of all, the Catholic church does what Jesus said to do, so we baptise.

Secondly, Because Jesus said so, I trust that He has the good thief with him.

[FatherofFive]

Do you believe in the old testament or the new? The new testament clearly establishes peter as the Rock.

“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

[HangnJudge]

then they are not in a proper state to receive Him

I am under Command to receive Communion
This is not dependent on my State of Mind
Even the best of my thoughts have admixed severe error
It is the Word of Our God and Savior
I Must Submit to His Grace

This would seem to be independent of my particular location,
depth of Understanding,
or "Proper State"

BTW - the fading presence of Communion amongst Protestants
would also seem to be in error,
largely relegated to "Giving Thanks" when eating

I would greatly desire that the Body of Christ
be of United Voice on this Earth.

[evangmlw]

God shares His glory with no man. That goes for Peter as well as anyone else. Jesus Christ is the Rock, and Peter confessed Christ as the Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Solid Rock, and those who believe in Him (not some imaginary ecclesiastical church, not Peter, not the Pope, nor upon any other man or organization), are building on a sure foundation. “On CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND, ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND.”

[pax_et_bonum]

You know, I have lots of friends and family members who aren't Catholic, and we focus on whatever it is that we have in common.

Considering that we all are doing the best we can, it would be awesome if we here at FR could focus on what we have in common and the good in each other, and not let, of all things, our faith in Jesus divide us.

I choose to focus on what John wrote: God is Love.

[CynicalBear]

In Matthew 16 Jesus is talking to all of the Apostles. They were all asked the question of who they thought He was. Though Peter was the one who answered for the group Jesus was talking to them all. When Peter said that they believed He was “Christ the Son of the Living God” Jesus replied and said that it was not flesh and blood that had revealed that to Peter but that it was “my Father which is in heaven”. He then says to Peter “and thou art Peter”, acknowledging that He knew who Peter was just as Peter knew who Jesus was. Then Jesus, referring back to “my Father which is in heaven”, says, “upon this rock I will build my church”.

Isaiah 44:8, "Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none."

>>The new testament clearly establishes peter as the Rock.<<

Oh really?

Rom. 9:33, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, and he who believes in Him will not be disappointed."

1 Cor. 3:11, "For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ,"

1 Cor. 10:4, "and all drank the same spiritual drink, for they were drinking from a spiritual rock (petras) which followed them; and the rock (petra) was Christ."

[CatherineofAragon]

You omitted the second part of that verse, which is "but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

And He didn't specify a denomination.

I answered your question. Now will you answer mine, please? Regarding John 11:26, where Jesus says, "And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" ..........do you believe Him? Or not?

[Salvation]

The Sins of the Holy Spirit involve denying the truth as taught by the Holy Spirit.

[CatherineofAragon]

"Do you believe in the old testament or the new?"

You don't believe the Old Testament? What?