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 869.
The fourth ‘Mark of the Church’ is that she is “apostolic.” The apostolicity of the Church should be considered in at least four (4) ways.
The first way the Church is apostolic is that she is built on the durable stones, the twelve Apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:14). Jesus Christ founded His Church on the Twelve Apostles whom He called and chose (cf. Matthew10:2–4; Mark 3:14–19; Luke 6:13–16).
A second way the Church is apostolic is that she is indestructible (Mt 16:18). It is not because of our individual qualities, abilities or strengths or even all of these combined that the Church can not be destroyed. It is in virtue of Christ’s promise made to Saint Peter. This has been a source of great consolation throughout the centuries, especially during times of persecution. In ancient times Nero (37–68), Trajan (53–117), Septimius Severus (145–211), Diocletian (224–311) all tried in vain to stamp out Christ’s apostolic Church. Closer to our own day, Joseph Stalin (1878–1953), Adolf Hitler (1889–1945), Mao Tse-tung (1893–1976), tried with all the might at their disposal to do the same, yet they were unable to destroy the Church. While we are assured by God that the gates of Hell will not prevail against Mother Church we are not to put the Lord our God to the test nor open the gates of Hell by our sins (cf. Matthew 4:6; Luke 4:12).
A third way the Church is apostolic is that she is kept infallibility in the truth. The infallibility of the Church’s teaching is due to Christ’s prayer for Saint Peter and his successors (cf. Luke 22:32). In fact, Jesus Christ so identifies with His apostolic Church that He assured the Apostles and assures us that when we listen to the Apostles (and their successors) we listen to Him and that we can not despise the apostles (and their successors) without despising Christ Himself (cf. Luke 10:16).
A fourth way the Church is apostolic is that Christ governs her by Peter and the other apostles, who are present in their successors, the Pope and the college of Bishops. Whoever would deny that the bishops are successors of the apostles by Christ’s design think that George Washington (1732–1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), James Madison (1751–1836) had more foresight in drawing up lines of presidential succession in the Constitution. Jesus Christ gave the power to bind and to loose to Saint Peter, not just for him personally nor was this for the first generation of Christians only (cf. Matthew 16:19; 18:18). Bishops receive at their ordination and consecration the grace to govern Christ’s apostolic Church.
Be sure to pray for and with the successors of the Apostles!
God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr