Published in the bulletin of Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Knoxville, TN, on the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time.

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 804.

Of old, God chose a people unto Himself, Israel (cf. Exodus 5:1; Numbers 16:9; Deuteronomy 14:2; Joshua 7:13…). Mother Church is the new People of God. All of the promises made of old are fulfilled in Christ and those who believe in Him and are obedient to Him are His people (cf. Matthew 5:17; John 14:15).

One enters the Church, the new People of God, by means of the grace of Faith and the graces given in Baptism. The grace of Faith allows one to believe in God and all that God has revealed. The fullness of revelation has been realized in Christ. We do not expect any further revelation. Public revelation ended with the death of the last apostle (cf. Jude 1:3). When an infant is baptized, the Faith which Baptism presupposes is present and active not only in the parents and God-parents but also in the minister who is ordinarily a Bishop, Priest or Deacon.

Every person on the face of the Earth is called to enter into the People of God by means of the graces of Faith and Baptism. This is clear in light of Christ’s missionary mandate, just before His Ascension: Go therefore, teach all nations, baptize them… All are called, even as Christ the Lord died for all (cf. Matthew 28:19–20; Mark 16:15–16; 2 Corinthians 5:14–15). May we all cooperate in fulfilling this command of the Lord.

It is by means of Faith and Baptism that the unity of the human family is strengthened and perfectly realized. It is good to be fellow creatures of the One Creator and naturally all brothers and sisters to Christ via His human nature. It is even greater to be adopted brothers and sisters with Christ and each other by means of Baptism which is the portal to the supernatural life of Faith.

Another name for the Church is the People of God, Populo Dei. The Holy Trinity is One God. The People of God is one people united in the graces of Faith and Baptism with one hope, a longing for Heaven, through the one mediator between God and man, Christ Jesus (cf. Galatians 3:20; Ephesians 4:4–5; 1 Timothy 2:5).

The most frequently cited source used in the Catechism of the Catholic Church is Sacred Scripture. Other sources are also used. The Documents of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican (1962–1965) hold second place for frequency of use in the Catechism (the above reflection is based in part on the Decree on Missionary Activity, Ad Gentes, 1). Another source used in this reflection is the Apostolic Exhortation of Blessed John Paul II on the Lay Members of Christ’s Faithful, Christifides laici, 24.

God bless you!

Father John Arthur Orr