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| Faith and unbelief |
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Sections:
WHY
BE A CATHOLIC? "If you were not incomprehensible, O Lord, you would not be God, for how can the finite understand the infinite?" But belief in the divinity of Christ as Son of God, who took on our human nature - to believe this stupendous fact defies all human analysis. The great St. Augustine (of "Confessions" fame) did not hesitate to write: "Incredible, incredible but our whole faith is based on incredible things" - incredible by human criteria. To believe this humanly incredible fact is possible ONLY by a special, personal, supernatural gift from God as Christ and St Paul stressed often. Christ said to his Apostles: "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" And they said: "Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah or one of the prophets." "But you" Christ said, "who do you say I am?" Then Peter spoke up: "You are the Christ". He said "the Son of the living God." Jesus replied: "Simon, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but MY FATHER IN HEAVEN." (Matt. 16 v. 13-18). About 1.5 billion people believe in Christ as members of various Christian churches - Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Episcopalians. The Catholic Church is, by far, the most numerous, exceeding one billion, is truly universal and claims DIRECT DESCENT FROM CHRIST, the Apostles and unity of doctrine and teaching. The other Christian churches have the most varied teaching, have their origins in the 16th and 17th centuries, have no DIRECT, UNBROKEN descent from the first century. The Anglican Church has great diversity of teaching - the low church, the middle church and the high church. The high church is almost catholic but does not recognise the supremacy of the Pope. Catholics respect profoundly the dedication and sincerity of all their fellow Christians and in these ecumenical days are working together as never before. Long overdue! The hatred, bigotry and wars of the past are most regrettable. So back to the question - Why be a Catholic? Answer: The Catholic Church ALONE goes back in unbroken succession to Peter and the Apostles, in doctrine and worship, with special insistence on the primacy of the Mass, the Eucharist and the Papacy. The Church is divine - and HUMAN, often very human. Hence the human frailties of sin and corruption through the centuries. Any merely HUMAN ORGANISATION could not have survived but the Church has survived and continues to grow in new lands because, as Christ promised, the Holy Spirit would guide it, enlighten it and fortify it. Hence the true Church of Christ - if guided by the Holy Spirit - must go back in unbroken succession to the Apostles and not just arrive in the 16th or 17th century, with such diversity of doctrine, often far removed from the early church. St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is unique for its mystical splendor and historical tradition. Many are converted to Catholicism because of its unbroken succession from the Apostles and unity of doctrine as promised by Christ. And again, its seemingly miraculous survival as empires rise and fall. Winston Churchill referred to the Catholic Church as that "august and seemingly indestructible communion." Lord Macaulay, eminent Anglican Historian wrote: "The Catholic Church may still exist in undiminished vigor when some traveler from New Zealand, shall, in the midst of a vast solitude, take his stand on a broken arch of London bridge to sketch the ruins of St. Paul's." Whatever your Christian beliefs, pray constantly to the Holy Spirit for light and guidance - and follow the dictates of your conscience. |