1. Our goal.
The goal of this blog is to present the theology I have learned in the past and show how present teachings go against this old theology. This old theology had been the teaching of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church for the last 2000 years. It works this way; that when we learn and believe these teachings taken from Divine Revelation and the Fathers of the Church, we developed a certainty that it is the truth and only the truth even if we do not fully understand it. We believed with certainty that these are the Words of God who will not deceive and cannot be deceived. This certainty is beyond anything one can imagine. It is called Faith.
When we read the theology of today coming from the men of the church, there seems to be no certainty that accompanies it. It is like discussing the weather; it does not matter if it rains or not. Unlike the old theology, wherein we are so sure that we can depend on it for our salvation.
When Gilbert Chesterton was asked why he became a Catholic, his answer was; ‘I am convinced that the way sins are forgiven in the Catholic Church really works.’ The virtue of Penance is so powerful it can convincingly forgive mortal sins. In these posts we have been discussing the most important theological truths that pertains to the eternal salvation of souls. One is the ecclesiology of the Catholic Church; what is the true Church of Christ. And the virtue of Penance; how are sins forgiven. These basic truths for the meantime.
2. Ecclesiology, the Church.
Can we recognize which is the Catholic Church and who is the Catholic man? Yes! By the four visible signs mentioned in the Nicene Creed and expanded by the Fathers and Doctors of the Church specially by St. Robert Bellarmine. No Catholic is excused for being ignorant of them. The signs are all there and are books on them are selling cheap in Amazon (maybe, nobody is buying them.)
My interest was aroused by the fact that a bishop publicly announced that a person was not a Catholic and that everyone should avoid him. The circular had absolutely no proof showing the person was not a Catholic (like mentioning the absence of the four visible signs of the true Church.) The person concerned often requested for a chance to face his accuser, the bishop and the Diocesan canon lawyer to answer and defend himself. All his requests were rejected. It is the classical repetition of the Court that condemned St. John of Arc influenced by that corrupt seller of his own country Bishop Cauchon.
Having been denied of a fair trial in the canonical court it was suggested that the case be brought to the civil court; not to send the bishop to prison or even to make money by suing the Bishop. But to force the bishop to prove in public his allegation that the said person was not a Catholic. It would have been a disaster if the bishop was brought to court. Not for anything; but because he would not be able to prove that the said person was not Catholic. Because the bishop, himself, did not know the visible signs of the true Catholic Church. In fact, his diocese and all his parish churches did not have a single sign of the visible sign of the true Church mentioned in the Nicene Creed.
Fortunately, the lawyer of the man concerned suggested to spare the bishop the embarrassment of appearing that the bishop head of the Catholic Diocese cannot, even, prove that he and his Diocese is Catholic. He had not withdrawn the circular though he could not prove his accusation.
This scene is not only the present state of the Church in the Philippines. It is the state of the Catholic organization in the whole world……though there are many good nuns, priest and bishops,…. all of them cannot show that they have the visible signs of the True Church of Christ as taught by the Nicene Creed and the Fathers and doctors of the Church. Following the observation of St. John Chrysostom, that the spiritual state of one monastery reflects the state of the Catholic Church; there is no need to look further……..we are in a very bad state.
This scenario is what we find in Europe, the US, South and Central America, China, Russia, the Middle East, Africa, Asia……no place on earth is spared. Thus the call of Holy Mother the Church, through the Blessed Virgin Mary, for every one to check if they have the four visible signs of the true Church of Christ. This is summarized more in the short exhortation of Christ; to check if you have Faith.
The realization that most Catholics do not have the visible signs of the true Church was facilitated by the countless groups of retreatants. One group specially was a wide eye opener. It was a group of Catholics from the underground Catholic Church from Beijing, China. They were admirable in the heroic practice of their Faith under the most cruel atmosphere. Their thirst for the truth and their bravery in leaving China to attend a religious event was astounding. But they did not have the visible sign of the true Church of Christ. They were ignorant of this aspect of ecclesiology and they were so desirous to stay and learn it. But due to their lack of ease in foreign language the topic had to be taught slowly with the aid of electronic translator, their instruction could not be hasten and their visas could not be prolonged.
We had here a group of Catholic who were so desirous to remain and die as Catholics but they had a limited knowledge on what were the visible signs of the true Catholic Church. These signs can be taught. But 3 days were not enough. And this is the state of the human aspect of the Catholic Church in the whole world. There are many good bishops, priest, nuns and laymen who are desirous to live the fullness of the Catholic Church. But they do not know how to acquire the four visible signs of the true Church. And Pope Francis and most of the cardinals, bishops down the list, do not know how to do it. In fact, many do not know anything about it, as shown in the above mentioned incident when the Vatican was preparing for the Bishop’s Synod of 2012.
3. Statement of the case.
The Catholic Church was given by God four visible signs by which all men can recognize her. Only those who are inside the Church can attain eternal life. Those outside cannot be saved because of the mere fact that they are outside. Knowledge of these four visible signs contains the way these very signs can be acquired. It could take time but everything depends on the generosity of the soul. St. Paul, after all, acquired these four visible signs in a matter of seconds. We can, at least, acquire in a matter of minutes.
There I have performed my obligation of Charity as a Christian. It is called fraternal correction, the highest form of Charity. It consists in preaching to souls the need to have the four visible signs of the Church which are necessary for salvation; to tell souls that they do not have those signs and, therefore, their souls are in danger of damnation, that the way to have those visible signs is found in the very definition of those visible signs and putting them into practice.
My obligation of Christian Charity begins here and ends here. Everything from here on depends on God’s grace and the human efforts of those concerned.
4. Conclusion.
Whether we have the four visible signs mentioned in the Nicene Creed or the 15 Marks mentioned by St. Robert Bellarmine, or not is a very important issue for every Catholic desirous to save his souls; because with these signs we shall be worthy of eternal life, but without those signs we shall be condemned. We cannot afford not to know the answer.
Although I have proven that all levels in the Catholic Church, from the Pope down to the bishops and priest; from religious orders to secular institutes; from ecclesial institutes to religious organization; from families to unmarried laymen…….even though there are many good souls……most of them do not have the four visible signs of the true Church. Having said that, I was expecting a riot at my doorstep. But no. I have been shouting this message. There is only utter silence.
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