Monday, November 28, 2016

Saint Quote of the Day- The One True Catholic Church

'The Church is only one, and this one true Church is the congregation of men bound together by the profession of the same Christian Faith, and by the communion of the same Sacraments, under the rule of the legitimate pastors and especially under the one Vicar of Christ on earth, the Roman Pontiff. From this definition, it can easily be ascertained which men belong to the Church and which do not. For there are three parts to this definition: 1) the profession of the true Faith, 2) the communion of the Sacraments, 3) and subjection to the legitimate Pastor, the Pope. By reason of the first part, all infidels are excluded, as well as those who have never been in the Church, such as Jews, Mohammedans, and pagans, and such as have been in the Church but fallen away, such as heretics and apostates. By reason of the second part, catechumens and excommunicates are excluded, because the former are not to be admitted to the communion of the Sacraments and the latter have been cut off from them. By reason of the third part, schismatics are excluded, who have faith and sacraments, but are not subject to the lawful Pastor, the Roman Pontiff; therefore, they profess faith and receive Sacraments outside the Church.'
St. Robert Bellarmine