Random Thought 1: The Roman Catholic Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. The four marks of the True Church of Jesus Christ.
The authors of the New Testament all agreed that there is only ONE church, one people of God of the New Covenant. However, the Apostle Paul wrote to individual churches while he knew that these local gatherings of Christians were all part of the one Church of Jesus Christ. Very similar to a large corporation with multiple plants or branches spread around the world. St. Paul was a strong defender of the unity of the Church. He Corrected the Christians in Corinth for dividing into different groups, following different leaders. He insists that “there is one body and one Spirit … one hope … one Lord, … one faith, one baptism, because there is one God and Father of us all, who binds us together with certain visible bonds of communion:
— profession of one faith received from the Apostles;
— common celebration of divine worship, especially of the sacraments;
— apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders,
maintaining the fraternal agreement of God’s family. (815 CCC)
How does this first mark of the true Church fit with what the Church is today, i.e. under the present Pope, Cardinals and bishops. It is important that we all understand how to evaluate the Church as different ideas come to us from Denver and Rome. I will go on to the other three marks of the Church the next weeks. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to e-mail me.