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Author Topic: Some Sources of Misunderstanding  (Read 818 times)

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Offline Lover of Truth

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Re: Some Sources of Misunderstanding
« Reply #15 on: August 11, 2017, 02:17:09 PM »
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  •  The Catholic Church is One, she has both inward and outward bonds of unity. These bonds of unity (inward and outward) within the Mystical Body of Christ are not two distinct Churches. The Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity along with the other Gifts of the Holy Ghost and sanctifying grace itself are the inward bonds of unity within the Church. Partaking of the Sacraments, professing the Faith and submitting to legitimate ecclesiastical authority are the outward bonds of unity. Those who possess the latter (the outward bonds of unity) are the members of the Church though they may not be in a state of sanctifying grace [they may not have an essential inner bond of unity for salvation] and will be damned if they die in a state of unrepentant mortal sin. The former may not be members of the Church [do not have one or more of the outward bonds of unity] but can die in a state of sanctifying grace and be saved within the Church. 
    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church


    Offline Lover of Truth

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    Re: Some Sources of Misunderstanding
    « Reply #16 on: August 24, 2017, 07:34:37 AM »
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    The key to understanding what the Mystical Body of Christ is is the fact that it is a visible body composed of members who partake of the Sacraments, profess the faith and submit to legitimate ecclesiastical authority. These are the only members of the Mystical Body of Christ on earth which is one and the same as the Roman Catholic Church. That being said, there are non-members united to this Church by [an] inward or invisible bond(s) of ecclesiastical unity which means, at the very least, they have the Divine Supernatural virtue of Faith though they can also have any of the other virtues and Gifts of the Holy Ghost. The people, who in addition to having the virtue of Faith also have perfect charity and possibly other virtues of the Holy Ghost are those who can be saved within the Church though they are not actual members until the moment of death. Only God can see their inner bond of unity within the One visible Roman Catholic Church despite their not actually being members of that Church. And it is He Who Judges them as being "within" that Church. Fenton

    "I receive Thee, redeeming Prince of my soul. Out of love for Thee have I studied, watched through many nights, and exerted myself: Thee did I preach and teach. I have never said aught against Thee. Nor do I persist stubbornly in my views. If I have ever expressed myself erroneously on this Sacrament, I submit to the judgement of the Holy Roman Church, in obedience of which I now part from this world." Saint Thomas Aquinas the greatest Doctor of the Church