Artistic representation of Revelation 12 with Mary the Mother of the Messiah as the Woman Clothed with the Sun, Satan as the Ancient Dragon defeated by St. Michael the Archangel who remained faithful to God.
Fiel
said...
[salamat po fr.]
WELCOME
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speaking of saints fr.
1.bakit po may mga saints na sinasabi ang ating simbahan na non-existing?
2.ano po ba ang batayan nila upang tanggalin ang mga saints na sinasabing non-existing?
3.papaano po benatify at kenanonize ang mga mga saints na mga anghel tulad ni st michael archangel, st rafael etc?
4.pwede po ba tayong magdasal sa mga saints ng mga orthodox na hindi naman kinikilalalng saints ng mga katoliko?
salamat po fr. -
Fr. Abe, CRS said...
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[speaking of saints fr.
1.bakit po may mga saints na sinasabi ang ating simbahan na non-existing?]
WALANG SAINTS NA NON-EXISTING.
ANG SINASABING NON-EXISTING AY IYONG MGA HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS SHOWING THEIR EXISTENCE KASI NABUHAY SILA NUON PA. BUT THE FACT THAT THE CHURCH TEACHES AND TESTIFIES THAT THESE SAINTS REALLY EXISTED IS A SOLID PROOF IN FAVOR OF THEIR EXISTENCE. REMEMBER THAT IN CASE OF DOUBT PRESUMPTION IS ON THE SIDE OF THE AUTHORITY. THE AUTHORITY ON THIS MATTER IS THE CHURCH AND THE CHURCH RECOGNIZES THAT THE PARTICULAR SAINT LIVED ON EARTH AS ONE OF HER HEROIC MEMBERS IS AN UNDENIABLE FACT. IF OTHER WILL DENY THEIR EXISTENCE IT IS THE BURDEN OF PROOF IS ON THEM.
LET THE DENIERS PROVE BEYOND ANY REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THOSE SAINTS REALLY DIDN'T EXIST HISTORICALLY. FOR OUR COUNTRY IT IS THE SAME WHEN A FOREIGNER CLAIMS THAT RAJAH SULAIMAN OR LAKANDULA WERE NOT HISTORICAL. OUR OWN HISTORY AS A PEOPLE AND AS A NATION IS THE LIVING PROOF THAT THEY TRULY EXISTED. THEIR EXISTENCE IS NOT DEPENDENT ON THE BOOKS WRITTEN BY FOREIGNERS.
ANOTHER THING, SINCE SOME OF OUR SAINTS LIVED A LONG TIME AGO MANY STORIES WERE SPREAD ABOUT THEM. THE CHURCH SIMPLY ACCEPTS THE HISTORICITY OF THEIR EXISTENCE AND THEIR SANCTITY OF LIFE. WE ARE NOT BOUND TO DEFEND THE SO-CALLED MYTHS OR STORIES CONNECTED WITH THEM WHICH DEVELOPED IN SOME LITERATURES.
[2.ano po ba ang batayan nila upang tanggalin ang mga saints na sinasabing non-existing?]
HINDI SILA TINANGGAL AS SAINTS. SAINTS PA RIN SILA. WALA NAMANG GINAGAWA ANG PAPA NA DECLARATION REVOKING THE CANONIZATION OR PROHIBITING THE VENERATION OF THESE SAINTS. HE HE HE...
BECAUSE THERE ARE NEW AND MORE POPULAR SAINTS SUCH AS ST. PADRE PIO, ST. FAUSTINA, ST. LORENZO DE MANILA, BLESSED MOTHER TERESA, BLESSED JOHN XXIII AND BLESSED POPE JOHN PAUL THE GREAT SO THE SAINTS WHO ARE NO LONGER THAT POPULAR ARE REPLACED 'IN THE LITURGICAL CALENDAR' BY THE NEWER AND MORE POPULAR ONES.
IN SHORT, THEY ARE NOT REMOVED AS SAINTS THEY ARE ONLY REPLACED IN THE LIST OF SAINTS IN THE CALENDAR. HE HE HE...
[3.papaano po benatify at kenanonize ang mga mga saints na mga anghel tulad ni st michael archangel, st rafael etc?]
HA HA HA.... ANG MGA SAINTS NA NASA BIBLE JUST LIKE THE ANGELS, THE VIRGIN MARY, ST. JOSEPH, ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL, ETC. DO NOT NEED CANONIZATION. IT WAS GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BIBLE ITSELF WHO CANONIZED THEM. THEY ARE ALREADY CONSIDERED AS SAINTS DUE TO SOLID TESTIMONIES OF THEIR HOLINESS OR FIDELITY TO GOD AS RECORDED IN SACRED SCRIPTURES.
FOR INSTANCE, REV. 12:9 STATES THAT ST. MICHAEL WAS THE ONE WHO DEFEATED SATAN DURING THE REBELLION IN HEAVEN. IT MEANS ST. MICHAEL WAS FAITHFUL TO GOD AS SATAN WAS A TRAITOR. SO, HE IS A SAINT IN HEAVEN. SAINT MEANS 'HOLY' AND HEROICALLY LIVED FAITHFULLY TO GOD.
[4.pwede po ba tayong magdasal sa mga saints ng mga orthodox na hindi naman kinikilalalng saints ng mga katoliko?]
WELL, ALMOST ALL OF CATHOLIC SAINTS AND ORTHODOX SAINTS ARE RECOGNIZED BY BOTH SIDE ESPECIALLY THE SAINTS DURING THE FIRST 1,000 YEARS OF CHRISTIANITY WHEN WE WERE STILL UNITED. LIKE STS. ATHANASIUS, CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA, JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, ETC. WE ARE NEITHER PROHIBITED TO VENERATE THEIR NEW SAINTS NOR WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO DO SO.
[salamat po fr.]
WELCOME
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![ST. JEROME EMILIANI [1486-1537]](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_6dKQTchkJaA/R0lo013dyBI/AAAAAAAAB_4/XzUAPDESwwQ/s1600/St.+Jerome+in+prayer,+small_1.jpg)
Fr. Arganiosa, I wanna ask a question again. Why does God the Father know when his son, Jesus Christ, is going back again to earth to judge the living and the dead while the son, who is going back again to earth to judge the living and the dead, doesn't know when he is coming back? Is it a sign that God the Father is higher than God the Son? Or Christ really knows when he is coming back again? Thanks.
ReplyDelete[Fr. Arganiosa, I wanna ask a question again. Why does God the Father know when his son, Jesus Christ, is going back again to earth to judge the living and the dead while the son, who is going back again to earth to judge the living and the dead, doesn't know when he is coming back? Is it a sign that God the Father is higher than God the Son? Or Christ really knows when he is coming back again? Thanks.]
ReplyDeleteDEAR MR. THUNDER,
THE VERSE YOU ARE REFERRING TO ABOUT IS MATTHEW 24:36.
IT IS VERY INTERESTING THAT BOTH THE CATHOLIC DOUAY-RHEIMS AND THE PROTESTANT KING JAMES VERSION DOESN'T STATE THAT THE SON DOESN'T KNOW THE TIME AND THE HOUR OF THE SECOND COMING:
Mat 24:36 [DRV] But of that day and hour no one knoweth: no, not the angels of heaven, but the Father alone.
Mat 24:36 [KJV] But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
AND THERE ARE SOME BIBLE TRANSLATIONS THAT CONTAINS "NOT EVEN THE SON" WHILE THERE ARE OTHERS WHICH DO NOT STATE IT AT ALL.
I CHECKED AT THE GREEK TEXT OF THE BIBLE AND I FOUND OUT THAT THE ONE CONTAINING THE SON AS ONE OF THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW THE DAY OF THE SECOND COMING IS Greek NT: Westcott/Hort with Diacritics. BUT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF OTHER GREEK NEW TESTAMENT TEXTS LEND SUPPORT TO THE TRANSLATION OF DOUAY-RHEIMS AND KING JAMES VERSION:
1. Greek NT: Greek Orthodox Church
2. Greek NT: Stephanus Textus Receptus (1550, with accents)
3. Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
4. Greek NT: Textus Receptus (1894)
SO, THE MAJORITY OF THE GREEK MANUSCRIPTS DO NOT STATE THAT THE SON DOESN'T KNOW THE DAY OF HIS SECOND COMING.
HOWEVER, IF EVER THE TEXT REALLY CONTAINS THE PHRASE "NOT EVEN THE SON" IT COULD BE EXPLAINED IN SEVERAL WAYS:
1. Jesus as a Man doesn't know it but in His Divinity as the Logos-God He definitely knows.
2. The humility of Jesus. He simply wants to exalt the Father and humbled himself as if he knows it not. He surely knows but he expressed it with humility of spirit.
THE EXPRESSION NO ONE KNOWS EXCEPT THE FATHER DOES NOT NEGATE THE DIVINITY OF JESUS. WHY? BECAUSE THERE IS ALSO A STATEMENT IN THE BIBLE THAT SAYS THE SON KNOWS SOMETHING THAT "NO ONE ELSE KNOW":
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that NO MAN KNEW, BUT HE HIMSELF.
SO, SHALL WE INTERPRET IT IN A WAY THAT JESUS KNOWS SOMETHING THAT THE FATHER DOES NOT? OF COURSE NOT. IT MUST NOT BE INTERPRETED THAT WAY.
HOW ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT? WELL, THE HOLY SPIRIT ACCORDING TO ST. PAUL SCRUTINIZES THE VERY DEPTH OF GOD... EVEN THE DEEPEST THINGS OF GOD. IT MEANS HE CAN PENETRATE THE DEEPEST KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
1 Cor 2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
THE HOLY SPIRIT KNOWS FULLY WELL THE DEPTH OF THE FATHER AND THE SON. BECAUSE HE IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD [1 Cor 6:11] AND THE SPIRIT OF JESUS [1 Peter 1:11]. IF HE IS THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST THEN HE KNOWS WHAT CHRIST KNOWS. BESIDES, HE IS THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH [1 John 5:6]. SURELY THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH IS NOT IGNORANT IN ANY WAY. HE HE HE...
DON'T FORGET ALSO THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND OF REVELATION OF KNOWLEDGE:
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him...
WHAT DOES IT MEAN? THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT ARE EQUAL IN DIVINITY AND IN POWER AND IN PERFECTION OF KNOWLEDGE. NONE OF THEM IS LOWER THAN THE OTHER.
Father,
ReplyDeleteIs it okay to ask the Old Testament prophets for intercession? Bakit hindi ini-encourage ang mga Catholics na humingi ng intercession sa mga prophets na ito eh sila naman talaga yong powerful intercessors sa Biblia. Bakit walang parish na nakapangalan kay Prophet Elijah, isipin mo na lang kung gaano kamakapangyarihan ang kanyang intercession eh he was taken alive to heaven and God was pleased with him, o di naman kaya kay Enoch, o kay Elisha, atbp. Bakit walang St. Elijah, St. Elisha and so on? Sila yong sigurado talaga tayo na nasa langit at pinatutunayan ng Biblia, eh yong ibang mga santo, Simbahan na lang ang nagpo-proclaim na silay nasa langit at wala namang solid proof.
I would be very grateful for your reply Father. Salamat!
St. Moses
[Is it okay to ask the Old Testament prophets for intercession?]
ReplyDeleteYES. DEFINITELY IT IS OK TO ASK THE INTERCESSIONS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS. THEY ARE CONSIDERED AS SAINTS OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
[Bakit hindi ini-encourage ang mga Catholics na humingi ng intercession sa mga prophets na ito eh sila naman talaga yong powerful intercessors sa Biblia.]
ANONG HINDI, IT IS BEING ENCOURAGED BY THE CHURCH AND PROMOTED. KAYA LANG SA SOBRANG DAMI NG MGA SAINTS NATIN WE CAN NO LONGER PROMOTE ALL OF THEM. BESIDES, THE OT PROPHETS DO NOT NEED PROMOTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT DAHIL BIBLIA NA MISMO ANG NAGPO-PROMOTE SA KANILA.
[Bakit walang parish na nakapangalan kay Prophet Elijah, isipin mo na lang kung gaano kamakapangyarihan ang kanyang intercession eh he was taken alive to heaven and God was pleased with him, o di naman kaya kay Enoch, o kay Elisha, atbp.]
MERON YAN KAYA LANG HINDI LANG DITO SA ATIN GINAWA KUNDI DUON SA MGA LUGAR NA MARAMING JEWS. KASI NGA DAHIL NASA BIBLIA SILA E SURE TAYO NA LOVED AND RESPECTED NA SILA. WE FOCUS ON THE NEW SAINTS WHO LIVED NEAR OUR TIME AND PLACE... FOR INSTANCE DAHIL FILIPINO TAYO WE PROMOTE MORE ST. LORENZO DE MANILA.
[Bakit walang St. Elijah, St. Elisha and so on?]
MERON... NASA OLD BOOKS YAN NG MGA LIVES OF THE SAINTS AT NASA OLD CALENDAR OF THE CHURCH. MERONG MGA ST. ABRAHAM, ST. MOSES, ETC. SIGURO HINDI KA LANG NAGBABASA NG MGA OLD LIVES OF THE SAINTS. HE HE HE...
[Sila yong sigurado talaga tayo na nasa langit at pinatutunayan ng Biblia,]
KAYA NGA AUTOMATIC NA SAINTS SILA NG CATHOLIC CHURCH. YUNG MGA BORN AGAIN, INC AT ADD ANG HINDI KUMIKILALA SA MGA SAINTS KASI MGA PATAY NA DAW SILA. HE HE HE...
ISA PA, TAYO AY KABILANG SA ROMAN RITE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. KAYA ANG MGA SAINTS NA POPULAR SA ATIN AY MGA WESTERN SAINS: ST. FRANCIS, ST. DOMINIC, ETC. PERO ANG MGA OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS E MAS SIKAT SA EASTERN RITE OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
SUBALIT IN BOTH EASTERN AND WESTERN CHURCHES THEY ARE FAVORITE SUBJECTS IN CATHOLIC CHRISTIAN ARTS INSIDE THE HOUSES OF WORSHIPS SUCH AS IN ICONS, CLASSICAL PAINTINGS, STAINED GLASSES AND OTHERS.
[eh yong ibang mga santo, Simbahan na lang ang nagpo-proclaim na silay nasa langit at wala namang solid proof.]
BAGO KA MAGSALITA GAMITIN MO MUNA ANG UTAK MO AT WAG MAGDUNONG-DUNUNGAN. DAHIL ANG PINAGSASABI MO AY WALANG BASEHAN SA KATOTOHANAN.
ANG SANTA IGLESIA AY MAY KAPANGYARIHANG MAGTALI AT MAGKALAG SA LANGIT MAN O SA LUPA [Mt 16:19 and Mt 18:18]. SIGURAMENTE MAY POWER ANG CHURCH MAG DECLARE KUNG NASA LANGIT O HINDI ANG ISANG KALULUWA DAHIL ANG CHURCH ANG PILLAR AND GROUND OF TRUTH [1 Tim 3:15]. KAPAG PINAGTIBAY NG SIMBAHAN SA LUPA AY PINAGTITIBAY DIN NG LANGIT. ISA PA, THE CHURCH BASED ITS DECISION ON SOLID PROOFS AND SOME OF THEM ARE SCIENTIFICALLY UNQUESTIONABLE MIRACLES.
[I would be very grateful for your reply Father. Salamat!]
WELCOME.
salamat po fr. abe sa pag sagot mo sa tanong ko about the saints.
ReplyDeletemay tanong pa po ako fr. nung hindi pa nagkaroon ng great schism between orthodox ang catholic(east and west), catholic church po ba tawag sa lahat ng simbahan(christian church)? nung nagkaroon ng great schism lang ba tinawag na na orthodox church ang simbahan sa west? slamat po fr.
pagpalain nawa kayo ng Diyos.
FIEL, IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE NA NAHAHATI ANG RELIGION DAHIL MAY IBA-IBANG OPINION ANG MGA TAO AT YUNG IBA GUSTONG MAGTAYO NG SARILI NILANG RELIGION.
ReplyDeleteGANON PA MAN OUR CATHOLIC CHURCH IS ONE IN FAITH, IN DOCTRINES, IN MANNER OF WORSHIP ROOTED IN OUR ONE GOD AND ONE LORD. WE HAVE ONE BAPTISM IN CHRIST. WE ARE NOT DIVIDED EVEN THOUGH WE ARE MAY. WE ARE IN IN THE SPIRIT.
[salamat po fr. abe sa pag sagot mo sa tanong ko about the saints.]
ReplyDeleteWELCOME.
[may tanong pa po ako fr. nung hindi pa nagkaroon ng great schism between orthodox ang catholic(east and west), catholic church po ba tawag sa lahat ng simbahan(christian church)?]
SIEMPRE CATHOLIC. IT WAS THE PARTICULAR NAME OF THE ONE AND ONLY CHURCH FOUNDED BY JESUS AND SPREAD BY THE APOSTLES IN THEIR EVANGELIZATION.
THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES REFERS TO THE CHURCH THROUGH GALILEE, JUDEA, SAMARIA... AS "EKKLESIA CATHOLES" i.e., CATHOLIC CHURCH or in literal translation: "The Church throughout" = Universal.
THIS IS THE GREEK RENDERING OF THE ORIGINAL VERSE:
Act 9:31 Αἱ μὲν οὖν ἐκκλησίαι καθ᾿ ὅλης τῆς ᾿Ιουδαίας καὶ Γαλιλαίας καὶ Σαμαρείας εἶχον εἰρήνην οἰκοδομούμεναι καὶ πορευόμεναι τῷ φόβῳ τοῦ Κυρίου, καὶ τῇ παρακλήσει τοῦ ῾Αγίου Πνεύματος ἐπληθύνοντο. [Hai men oun e EKKLESIA KATH'OLES tes Ioudaias kai Galalaias kai Samarias...]
ANG TUNAY NA PANGALAN NG SANTA IGLESIA AY HINDI GALING SA TAGALOG O ENGLISH BIBLE KUNDI SA GREEK BIBLE NA ORIGIHINAL AT ISINAGAWA ITO NUON PANG PANAHON NG MGA APOSTLES. HINDI PEKE AT NEWLY INVENTED ANG NAME NG CHURCH NATIN.
nung nagkaroon ng great schism lang ba tinawag na na orthodox church ang simbahan sa west?
ReplyDeleteYES. DAHIL ANG OFFICIAL NA NAME NG SANTA IGLESIA SA BUONG MUNDO AY CATHOLIC CHURCH. IN PARTICULAR ANG TAWAG SA MGA LOCAL CHURCHES AY BASED ON THE PLACE WHERE IT IS EXISTING FOR INSTANCE: CHURCH OF ROME, CHURCH OF JERUSALEM, CHURCH OF ANTIOCH, CHURCH OF EPHESUS, ETC. PERO ANG UNIVERSAL NAME AS ONE AND AS A WHOLE IS 'CATHOLIC CHURCH'. ITO AY PINATUTUNAYAN NG MGA LUMANG MGA DOCUMENTS AND TESTIMONIES OF EARLY CHRISTIAN BISHOPS, WRITERS AND SCHOLARS:
"See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Christ Jesus does the Father, and the presbytery as ye would the apostles. Do ye also reverence the deacons, as those that carry out the appointment of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Smyrneans, 8:2 (c. A.D. 110).
"[A]ll the people wondered that there should be such a difference between the unbelievers and the elect, of whom this most admirable Polycarp was one, having in our own times been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna. For every word that went out of his mouth either has been or shall yet be accomplished." Martyrdom of Polycarp, 16:2 (A.D. 155).
“…to be in honour however with the Catholic Church for the ordering of ecclesiastical discipline...one to the Laodicenes, another to the Alexandrians, both forged in Paul's name to suit the heresy of Marcion, and several others, which cannot be received into the Catholic Church; for it is not fitting that gall be mixed with honey. The Epistle of Jude no doubt, and the couple bearing the name of John, are accepted by the Catholic Church...But of Arsinous, called also Valentinus, or of Militiades we receive nothing at all.” The fragment of Muratori (A.D. 177).
"[N]or does it consist in this, that he should again falsely imagine, as being above this [fancied being], a Pleroma at one time supposed to contain thirty, and at another time an innumerable tribe of Aeons, as these teachers who are destitute of truly divine wisdom maintain; while the Catholic Church possesses one and the same faith throughout the whole world, as we have already said." Irenaeus, Against Heresies, 1:10,3 (A.D. 180).
“For it is evident that those men lived not so long ago,--in the reign of Antoninus for the most part,--and that they at first were believers in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, in the church of Rome under the episcopate of the blessed Eleutherus, until on account of their ever restless curiosity, with which they even infected the brethren, they were more than once expelled.” Tertullian, On the Prescription Against Heretics, 22,30 (A.D. 200).
”Whence you ought to know that the bishop is in the Church, and the Church in the bishop; and if any one be not with the bishop, that he is not in the Church, and that those flatter themselves in vain who creep in, not having peace with God's priests, and think that they communicate secretly with some; while the Church, which is Catholic and one, is not cut nor divided, but is indeed connected and bound together by the cement of priests who cohere with one another.” Cyprian, To Florentius, Epistle 66/67 (A.D. 254).
ReplyDelete“But for those who say, There was when He was not, and, Before being born He was not, and that He came into existence out of nothing, or who assert that the Son of God is of a different hypostasis or substance...these the Catholic and apostolic Church anathematizes.” Creed of Nicea (A.D. 325).
"Concerning those who call themselves Cathari, if they come over to the Catholic and Apostolic Church, the great and holy Synod decrees that they who are ordained shall continue as they are in the clergy. But it is before all things necessary that they should profess in writing that they will observe and follow the dogmas of the Catholic and Apostolic Church; in particular that they will communicate with persons who have been twice married, and with those who having lapsed in persecution have had a period [of penance] laid upon them, and a time [of restoration] fixed so that in all things they will follow the dogmas of the Catholic Church..." Council of Nicaea I (A.D. 325).
“Concerning this Holy Catholic Church Paul writes to Timothy, 'That thou mayest know haw thou oughtest to behave thyself in the House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth'” Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures,18:25(A.D. 350).
"[T]he Article, In one Holy Catholic Church,' on which, though one might say many things, we will speak but briefly. It is called Catholic then because it extends over all the world, from one end of the earth to the other; and because it teaches universally and completely one and all the doctrines which ought to come to men's knowledge, concerning things both visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly… for this cause the Faith has securely delivered to thee now the Article, And in one Holy Catholic Church;' that thou mayest avoid their wretched meetings, and ever abide with the Holy Church Catholic in which thou wast regenerated. And if ever thou art sojourning in cities, inquire not simply where the Lord's House is (for the other sects of the profane also attempt to call their own dens houses of the Lord), nor merely where the Church is, but where is the Catholic Church. For this is the peculiar name of this Holy Church, the mother of us all, which is the spouse of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God.” Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, 18:23,26 (A.D. 350).
"I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the remission of sins, the resurrection of the flesh, and eternal life. Amen." Apostles Creed (A.D. 360).
"And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-giver, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is together worshiped and together glorified, Who spoke through the prophets; in one holy Catholic, and apostolic Church." Constantinopolitan Creed (A.D. 381).
"Those who from heresy turn to orthodoxy, and to the portion of those who are being saved, we receive according to the following method and custom: Arians, and Macedonians, and Sabbatians, and Novatians, who call themselves Cathari or Aristori, and Quarto-decimans or Tetradites, and Apollinarians, we receive, upon their giving a written renunciation [of their errors] and anathematize every heresy which is not in accordance with the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church of God." Council of Constantinople I, Canon 7 (A.D. 381).
ReplyDelete“We must hold to the Christian religion and to communication in her Church, which is Catholic and which is called Catholic not only by her own members but even by all her enemies. For when heretics or the adherents of schisms talk about her, not among themselves but with strangers, willy-nilly they call her nothing else but Catholic. For they will not be understood unless they distinguish her by this name which the whole world employs in her regard.” Augustine, The True Religion, 7:12 (A.D. 390).
“Inasmuch, I repeat, as this is the case, we believe also in the Holy Church, [intending thereby] assuredly the Catholic. For both heretics and schismatics style their congregations churches. But heretics, in holding false opinions regarding God, do injury to the faith itself; while schismatics, on the other hand, in wicked separations break off from brotherly charity, although they may believe just what we believe. Wherefore neither do the heretics belong to the Church catholic, which loves God; nor do the schismatics form a part of the same.” Augustine, On Faith and Creed, 10:21 (A.D. 393).
"For in the Catholic Church, not to speak of the purest wisdom, to the knowledge of which a few spiritual, men attain in this life…--not to speak of this wisdom, which you do not believe to be in the Catholic Church, there are many other things which most justly keep me in her bosom. The consent of peoples and nations…so does her authority…the succession of priests…[a]nd so, lastly, does the name itself of Catholic, which, not without reason, amid so many heresies, the Church has thus retained; so that, though all heretics wish to be called Catholics, yet when a stranger asks where the Catholic Church meets, no heretic will venture to point to his own chapel or house. Such then in number and importance are the precious ties belonging to the Christian name which keep a believer in the Catholic Church…Now if the truth is so clearly proved as to leave no possibility of doubt, it must be set before all the things that keep me in the Catholic Church…For my part, I should not believe the gospel except as moved by the authority of the Catholic Church…for it was through the Catholics that I got my faith in it; and so, whatever you bring from the gospel will no longer have any weight with me. Wherefore, if no clear proof of the apostleship of Manichaeus is found in the gospel, I will believe the Catholics rather than you." Augustine, Against the Epistle of Manichaeus, 4:5,5:6 (A.D 397).
"You think that you make a very acute remark when you affirm the name Catholic to mean universal, not in respect to the communion as embracing the whole world, but in respect to the observance of all Divine precepts and of all the sacraments, as if we (even accepting the position that the Church is called Catholic because it honestly holds the whole truth, of which fragments here and there are found in some heresies) rested upon the testimony of this word's signification, and not upon the promises of God, and so many indisputable testimonies of the truth itself, our demonstration of the existence of the Church of God in all nations." Augustine, To Vincent the Rogatist, 93:7,23 (A.D. 403).
"Philip the presbyter and legate of the Apostolic See said: There is no doubt, and in fact it has been known in all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter, prince and head of the Apostles, pillar of the faith, and foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the human race, and that to him was given the power of loosing and binding sins: who down even to to-day and forever both lives and judges in his successors." Council of Ephesus, Session III (A.D. 431).
ReplyDelete"I have often then inquired earnestly and attentively of very many men eminent for sanctity and learning, how and by what sure and so to speak universal rule I may be able to distinguish the truth of Catholic faith from the falsehood of heretical depravity; and I have always, and in almost every instance, received an answer to this effect: That whether I or anyone else should wish to detect the frauds and avoid the snares of heretics as they arise, and to continue sound and complete in the Catholic faith, we must, the Lord helping, fortify our own belief in two ways; first, by the authority of the Divine Law, and then, by the Tradition of the Catholic Church…Therefore, it is very necessary, on account of so great intricacies of such various error, that the rule for the right understanding of the prophets and apostles should be framed in accordance with the standard of Ecclesiastical and Catholic interpretation" Vincent of Lerins, Commonitory for the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith, 2:4,5 (A.D. 434).
"Wherefore the most holy and blessed Leo, archbishop of the great and elder Rome, through us, and through this present most holy synod together with the thrice blessed and all-glorious Peter the Apostle, who is the rock and foundation of the Catholic Church, and the foundation of the orthodox faith, hath stripped him of the episcopate, and hath alienated from him all hieratic worthiness. Therefore let this most holy and great synod sentence the before mentioned Dioscorus to the canonical penalties." Council of Chalcedon, Session III (A.D. 451).
ANG GREAT SCHISM BETWEEN THE CATHOLIC AND THE ORTHODOX CHURCH HAPPENED IN THE YEAR 1054 BUT HERE LOOK AT THE OFFICIAL CREED STATEMENT OF NICEA-CONSTANTINOPOLITAN CREED [381A.D.] WHICH IS THE OFFICIAL CREED OF BOTH CATHOLIC AND ORTHODOX:
ReplyDelete"And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the life-giver, Who proceeds from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son is together worshiped and together glorified, Who spoke through the prophets; in one holy CATHOLIC, and apostolic Church." [Constantinopolitan Creed (A.D. 381)]
THE DESCRIPTION AND NAME GIVEN IS CATHOLIC. THE TERM ORTHODOX DOESN'T EVEN APPEAR IN THE OFFICIAL CREED COMPOSED BY THE FATHERS OF THE CHURCH PRIOR TO THE GREAT SCHISM.