My dear Parishioners,

Peace! The ninth article of the Apostle’s Creed is “I believe in the Holy Catholic Church.” There are thirty-five (35) In Brief passages in the Catechism of the Catholic Church regarding this article of the Creed. The following is a reflection on article 810.

The unity of the blessed Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the source, origin, model and goal of the unity of the Church, in a parish, in a diocese, throughout the universal Church (which is the only one founded by Jesus Christ directly).

There are several different sources which the Catechism of the Catholic Church uses as it addresses matters of faith and morals. When treating ecclesiology, the science or body of knowledge about the Church, citations come from Sacred Scripture, and Sacred Tradition. Representing Sacred Tradition we see from the Second Vatican Council (1962–1965) the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) and the Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem) also cited is Pope Paul VI’s Credo of the People of God.

While there are many different Saints who have lived throughout the years addressing the mystery and unity of the Church, it is interesting to note that the only one cited in the In Brief sections of the Catechism treating ecclesiology is the Bishop and Martyr Saint Cyprian of Carthage (+14 September, 258). The life and times of Saint Cyprian were anything but tranquil. Pope St. Stephen I (254–257) and Pope St. Sixtus II (257–258) both suffered martyrdom in the years and month ahead of Saint Cyprian. Yet, seventeen hundred years after Saint Cyprian went to his eternal reward the Council Fathers at Vatican II invoke his wisdom regarding the unity of the Church mirroring the eternal unity of Almighty God.

Among Saint Cyprian’s most important works is his De unitate ecclesiae (On the unity of the Church). Two gems from this ecclesiological work are: “He can not long have God for his Father who has not the Church for his mother,… he who gathers elsewhere than in the Church scatters the Church of Christ” (vi); and “nor is there any other home to believers but the one Church” (ix).

Let us all play our part in building up the unity of Mother Church. We can do this in many ways. The first thing we can do is to cooperate with God’s grace and live holy lives by rejecting sin and Satan at every turn. Second, by holding steadfastly to the doctrine of the faith (including ecclesiological doctrine) we build up the unity of the Church. Third, by encouraging all others to do the first and second we build up the unity of Christ’s Church on Earth. But all of this requires prayer and worthy reception of the Sacraments which give us God’s grace. Then we will be one with God and with all of those united in the mystery of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr