Thank you for sharing this, David. God bless you! ~Mjvt [This collection and category of blog articles comes from papers Ive written as a graduate student for a Master of Arts in Theology and Christian Ministry at Franciscan University of Steubenville. The goal of this particular assignment for Theology of the Church was to select something tensionous out in the material of the course and reflect upon it.] In reflection of and in response to the material presented in this course; in particular of Henri De Lubac’s and Professor Martin’s comments on that part of the Niceno–Constantinopolitan Creed in which the Catholic Church expresses the temporal dimension and transcendent reality of herself; that is, where she calls herself One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic, I will present and place in perspective both my own and the Church’s understanding of that dimension and reality through the construct of the seven historical marks of the Church in the Kingdom of God. There remains to be fewer greater errors in regards to man’s historical perception of the Church than when he, sometimes in forgivable ignorance, posits that the Church emerged only after the Death of Jesus of Nazareth. To argue such a position is to first deny that the Church is the Body of Christ; for, if the Church is the body and fullness of Christ1, and there was never a time when the Son of God did not exist, then it, therefore, follows that there was never a time when His Church did not exist. And if there were never a time when the Church of Christ did not exist, then it, therefore, follows that this Church has been the deposit of God’s promissory covenants from the very beginning. Indeed, the first historical mark of the Church of Christ is that there was never a time when it did not exist. With this first mark St. Clement of Alexandria in his Stromateis or Miscellanies (202 C.E.) would certainly agree where he writes, “From what has been said, then, it seems clear to me that the True Church, that which is really ancient, is one; and in it are enrolled those who, in accord with a design, are just. . . .2 We say, therefore, that in substance, in concept, in origin and in eminence the ancient and Catholic Church is alone, gathering as it does into the unity of the one faith which results from the familiar covenants, – or rather, from the one covenant in different times, by the will of the one God and through the one Lord, – those already chosen, those predestined by God who knew before the foundation of the world that they would be just.” To oppose this first historical mark is to suggest that there was a time when the Son of God was not. To the contrary, the Church was always present in the heart of God and became visible to man gradually over time. In this sense, we can define with surety that the Church consists of those who are in union with the God who said, “’I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”3 For, God has always made a way for men and women to be in union with Him and has never left them to fend for themselves, but, rather, has ceaselessly offered help to lead them into true relationship with Himself. If there was never a time when the Church of Christ did not exist, then it would certainly be reasonable for someone to ask, ‘When was it that that Church became uniquely visible if the body of Christ had not yet been made visible?’ I answer question by saying that the second historical mark of the Church is that it came to exist in a unique way amongst those who were related to Abraham through blood and through his household.4 The cooperative covenants that God had established and deposited within the bosom of the Church from the beginning were not with the singular individual Abraham, but, rather, with the entire community (“To your descendants . . .”);5 that is, the ecclesia, the Church of Christ. God’s Covenants are always with the whole community, whom He gathers together into His one body, and this is why He called for the whole household (including infants) to be circumcised. Later He would call whole households to be baptized. In this first visible expression of the Church of Christ there was deposited within her a broad implication with first promissory covenant. That broad implication was that YHWH promised to perpetuate the Davidic Kingdom forever.6 The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council expressed the validity of this second historical mark in the following manner: “God did not create man for life in isolation, but for the formation of social unity. So also “it has pleased God to make men holy and save them not merely as individuals, without any mutual bonds, but by making them into a single people, a people which acknowledges Him in truth and serves Him in holiness.” So from the beginning of Salvation history He has chosen men not just as individuals but as members of a certain community. Revealing His mind to them, God called these chosen ones “His People” (Ex. 3:7-12), and, furthermore, made a covenant with them on Sinai (Cf. Ex. 24:1-8).”7 It would then be asked, ‘If there were never a time when the Church of Christ did not exist, and that Church came to be uniquely visible to the people of God, then how was that people not belonging to the blood and household of Abraham came to belong to it?’ I answer that question by noting that the third historical mark of the Catholic Church is that it came to exist in a fulfilled way amongst those who are related to Abraham through faith in the New Covenant established through the Blood of Christ, the (Davidic) King, who established the new and fulfilled priesthood in the Church.8 Whereas we cooperated with God in the old covenant through circumcision, we cooperate with God in the new covenant through the Sacrament of Baptism, which heals us through the Blood of Christ, configures us to the Body of Christ (through the Holy Spirit), and gathers us into the household of God. The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council expressed the benefit of this third historical mark in the following manner: “All men are called to belong to the new People of God. Wherefore this people, while remaining one and only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world and must exist in all ages, so that the decree of God’s will may be fulfilled. In the beginning, God made human nature one and decreed that all his children, scattered as they were, would finally be gathered together as one (Cf. Jn. 11:52). It was for this purpose that God sent his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things (cf. Heb. 1:2), that he might be teacher, king and priest of all, the head of the new and universal people of the sons of God. For this too God sent the Spirit of his Son as Lord and Life-giver. He it is who brings together the whole Church and each and every one of those who believe, and who is the well spring of their unity and the teaching of the Apostles and in fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers (Cf. Acts 2:42).”9 It is this Church that has always existed and came to be uniquely visible with the covenant made with Abraham, and later through the Blood of Jesus, the Lord, that gives evidence of the fourth historical mark of the Church of Christ, which speaks of her hypostatic completeness. That is, like He who is her head and spouse, she too is one, holy, whole, universal (catholic), and available to all people at all times.10/sup> The Church has always taught one Lord, one faith, one Baptism, one God, and Father of all.11 Meaning, that within it there are no doctrinal factions or divisions (only one teaching). She is first ‘one’, but inconsequence of her being one, she is simultaneously holy, whole, universal (catholic), and available to all people at all times. She is the perpetual sign and instrument of divine solidarity. To be a member of the Church (the Body of Christ) is to be like the Church; for in the beginning we were made in her image and likeness,12 for she was, is, and will be one with her spouse. The Church is fully the Body of Christ in that it is the household of those who are In Christ; it is His means (physical body on earth of which He is the head) to fulfill the mission of the Kingdom of God, and it is where He reigns in His Real Presence as King and gives Himself away to those who believe through the Holy Eucharist. This next question that should follow from here is, ‘What are the permanent and visible means of transmission and gathering that this Church expresses if it is truly for all people at all times?’ This is an important question that is answered by elucidating upon the fifth historical mark, which begins with the phrase, ‘The Church is Apostolic’; meaning that it was established by the Twelve Apostles themselves as a visible organization and it has existed in perpetuity with their successors as Bishops, through Peterine succession, since the Pentecost of the Holy Spirit.13 This Church is not only Apostolic in its roots, but Christ Jesus prayed that it would always remain to be Apostolic through ordained Apostolic Succession.14 This grace was purposed, so that there would always be an authentic transmission of His doctorial teaching on earth. “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.”15 In consequence that the Church of Christ is Apostolic within this fifth historical mark is also contained a second phrase, ‘The Church is without error in regards to its doctorial teachings on faith and morals, because she only teaches what the Holy Spirit has deposited in her since the age of the Apostles.’ The true Church of Christ will never be compromised by the lie of popular culture or waiver on any part of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. This truth is not only evident in sacred Scripture, but also in sacred Tradition, which is the perpetual life, teachings, and history of the Church. The sixth historical mark of the Catholic Church is that it is at the perpetual service of the Kingdom of God. Perhaps I could have noted it as the first mark, but it can be better understood now; having followed the five prior and before I note the last. Indeed, the sole purpose of the existence of the Church of Christ is to fulfill the mission of the Kingdom of God on earth, which is to gather all of God’s creatures and reconcile them to Himself. The Church accomplishes this awesome task through the performance of her three duties: (1) To proclaim the word of God; (2) To celebrate the Sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance and/or Reconciliation, Matrimony, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick); and (3) To perform works of Charity. The bright cord that binds and looses the many ministries and efforts of the Church to accomplish the mission given to her is called ‘the Peterine Ministry’. This ministry was established by Christ Jesus Himself and given to St. Peter and His successors to perform three duties, which are: (1) to be guided by the truth of God the Father, to obey the commands of God the Son, and to listen for and act upon the promptings of the Holy Spirit; (2) to be the servant, slave, and friend of all creatures of God; and (3) to be the rock of strength, unity, and support for the global Christian community. As the vessel of God’s will on Earth, the Church is the undying communion of the living God with all the angels and saints in Heaven, souls in Purgatory, and on Earth who join in at every moment to know, love, and serve/trust the Holy Trinity. This is the Church that exposes the fullness of the Light to the world, but because wicked people prefer darkness over the light, they have always persecuted her.16 Therefore, the seventh and final historical mark of the Catholic Church is that the more she reflects the light of her spouse, the more the world hates her. There has never been a point of time in the history of the world when the wicked were not trying to destroy the community of God’s people. The only new thing on this chessboard of God’s creation is that He castled when He made His Church uniquely visible; thereby, giving the enemy a visible target for his wickedness. Although Christ the King, Mary the Queen, and the Church triumphant, suffering, and militant will ultimately have victory, this seventh mark will never go away until they do. It would be easier for the moon to stop reflecting the light of the sun than for the Church to stop reflecting the light which the wicked hate, because it burns and convicts the truest part of their being. These are the seven identifying historical marks of the Church that is fully within and in the service to the Kingdom of God. The reason why the Catholic Church has fit each one of these marks during her entire existence is simply because our Lord prayed that she would.17 1 Cf. Eph. 1:22-23. 2 Here (. . .), Clement attributes the book of Hebrews to St. Paul. 3 Mt. 22:32. 4 Dt. 9:10, 18:16, 23:1ff, 2 Esdr. 13:1; Num. 20:4. 5 Cf. Gen. 15:12-21. 6 Cf. 2 Sam. 7:13-17. 7 Gaudium Et Spes 32, Pastoral’ Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Vatican II. 8 Cf. Heb. 7:12. 9 Lumen Gentium 13, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Vatican II. 10 Cf. Rev. 7:9-10. 11 Cf. Eph. 4:5-6. 12 Cf. Gen. 1:26. 13 The Church as defined by sacred Scripture – a general assembly (ecclesia) – (Dt. 9:10, 18:16); established by Jesus the Christ to last forever – (Mt. 16:18); is Catholic – (Rev. 7:9-10); for general/local areas – (Acts 5:11; 1 Cor. 1:2, 16:1); a physical building – (Rom. 16:5; 1 Cor. 11:18, 14:19, 28 34-35); a universal community of believers – (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal. 1:13; Phil. 3:16); the mystical body of the Christ – (1 Cor. 12:1-31; Rom. 12:4-8); decisions of the Church are binding – (Mt. 18:47; Acts 15:28-29); the Church that Jesus established is necessary for Salvation – (Eph. 1:22-23); household of God and pillar and foundation of truth – (1 Tim. 3:15); CCC 830-835. 14 The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines Apostolic Succession as: The handing on of apostolic preaching and authority from the Apostles to their successors the bishops through the laying on of hands, as a permanent office in the Church (Cf. CCC 77, 861). 15 John 17:20 16 Cf. John 3:19-21. 17 Cf. Mt. 16:18. Read more at: davidlgray.info/blog/2013/11/the-7-historical-marks-of-the-catholic-church/ | DavidLGray.INFO
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 18:29:14 +0000
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