> FROM: Robert Fischer, INTERNET:rfischer@eecs.harvard.edu
> TO: Father Mateo
> DATE: 1/15/96 10:33 PM
> Subject: Glue in the Church
>
> Father Mateo,
>
> In its most visible role, the church is a collection of
> individuals. Although many of us would like to think of
> ourselves as soverign individuals who _choose_ to give up
> part of our soverignity to join a group, this soverignity
> wasn't ours to begin with. How, then, is the Church bound
> together? Please comment on the relative importance of the
> following things which _might_ be binding it together:
>
> *) common belief in Jesus Christ as the Incarnation and Savior
> *) one baptism for forgiveness of sins
> *) doctrinally precise common belief
> *) prayer to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
> *) celebration of the Eucharist, esp. Holy Communion
> *) the work of the Holy Spirit
> *) Apostolic Succession
>
> in particular, keeping in mind the doctrine of Separated
> Brethern, in what ways is the Catholic church bound to
> Protestent Churches, and in what ways is the communion not
> complete?
>
> Thank you,
> --- Bob
Dear Bob,
The Catechism of the Catholic Church answers your questions in ##
813-822, 866; # 819 details the ways in which we are linked to
non-Catholic Christians.
The Church of Christ is not a gaggle of individuals. We are a
socially ordered unity in the Holy Spirit, joined in real union
with one another and with Christ our Head (Ephesians 4:7-16;
1st Corinthians 12:4-31).
Among our principles of unity - all God-given -- are:
1) God's initial grace and call (Ephesians 4:3-7)
2) the work of the Holy Spirit, who is often called the soul of
the Church (1st Corinthians 12:13)
3) faith in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:26-28)
4) baptism (1st Corinthians 12:13; John 3:5; Titus 3:5-7
Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-4; Hebrews 10:21-22;
Ephesians 5:25-27)
5) Communion with one another through the real, true,
substantial Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist
(1st Corinthians 10:16-17)
--- This, of course is not an exhaustive list.
With non-Catholic Christians we share (to a greater or lesser
degree depending on their different theologies) faith, baptism,
Scriptures, the life of grace with the virtues and gifts of the
Spirit, whose power derives in them and in us from the fulness of
the grace and truth won for us by Christ in his saving death and
resurrection.
Sincerely in Christ,
Father Mateo
- Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit -
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