The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-03-03

recognize that it lives of a life that
is divine: to hear it's voice is at once
to recognize that it's voice is the voice
! of the Master. The Church once built
by Christ lives and reigns: otherwise
Christ has ceased to live and to reign.
If the Catholic Church is not the
Church of Christ, where else may we
find the Church of Christ?
Our Act of Faith.
Il believe these and all the truths
which the Holy Catholic Church
teaches" This, the rule of faith, ap-
pointed by Christ: this, the immediate
reason Of the Catholic act of faith.
Why are we Catholics? The reason
is that the Catholic Church is the
Church established by Christ. No
other would be a valid foundation to
| our faith. We are not Catholics be-
cause we were born into the bosom
of the Catholic Church, and the
memories of our childhood are en-
are we Catholics because the Catholic
Church happens to be the Church of
| neighbors whom we esteem and whose
social approval we fain would make
our own: nor again are we Catholics,
because the ritualistic beauty of the
Catholic Church charms our fancy, or
it's dogmas and ordinances seem to
give quietness to our spiritual needs
and aspirations. Considerations such
as those do not authorize that sover-
eign surrender of mind and heart,
even unto martyrdom, which is the
essence of our act of faith-a surren-
der made only to God and for His
sake to the Church which we believe
to have been founded in His love and
power.
Why should others, heretofore liV-
ing outside the Catholic Church, seek
to unite with it in humble and earnest
discipleship? What should be the one
principle by which they should be
guided when they pledge to it their
submission? This and this alone
that the Catholic Church is the Church
of Christ, that in obeying the Cath
Ollie Church they obey the Master of
their souls. Many, it is said, are the
roads that lead towards the Catholic
Church: they do not lead Alright I'M
less they converge into the one royal
highway, whose goal is the Church
which Christ established, with which
He abides "all days. Christ the
builder of the Church, Christ abiding
''all days" with the Church-this, the
sole vital foundation-stone of Catholic
faith. Other arguments afford help,
suggestion, joyOusneSs of journey:
| they do not, however, take the place
of the one argument upon which the
Church rests it's claim, which is the
essence of the true Catholic act of
| faith-the' authority of the Church, as
| the duly-appointed interpreter of the
teachings of Christ.
Only the One Church.
Christ established one Church: to
| that Church all are commanded to give
adhesion. Here at once is the answer
| to the somewhat popular saying-one
| Church is as good as another: one
| form of Christianity has the value OF
another. One Church as good as an.
other? Is the human, the man-made
| Church, as good as the divine, the
| Christ-made Church-"On this rock ]
will build my Church" In opposition
| to the Church built by Christ no man
may build a church of his own device:
| For other foundations no man can
lay, but that which is laid: which is
Christ Jesus" All things said, all
pleas to the contrary invoked, a
Church other than that which is
| Christs own is a rebellion against the
authority of Christ: adherence to it is
participation in the rebellion. There
is one Church of Christ: to that
Church all must submit. There is one
| Gospel, that which was confided to
| the preaching of the apostles and OF
| their successors until the end of time
to that Gospel all must submit, under
penalty of condemnation-'He that be-
| lieveth not shall be condemned "
Naught else but positive inyincible
| ignorance excuses from submission OF
mind and heart to the one Church.
which is that which Christ himself
| did build.
Faith Full and Entire.
| The Church, st. Paul writes, is "the
house of God, the Church of the living
| Cod" 1.-THE pillar and the ground OF
truth. Therefore, our act of faith is
to be whole-souled and entire, no quail
t1cations accompanying it, no limita
tons shortening the fulness of it's EN-
brace. Every word falling from the
| lips of the Master, who is Christ, was
spoken for a purpose: every word OF
His is a demand upon our faith. The
commission was: Teach all nations
l.. teaching them all things
whatsoever ! have commanded you
A distinction between doctrines OF
faith, some said to be more funda
mental than others, some to be viewed
as of lesser Importance than others, is
contrary to the divine mandate. The
Catholic Church admits of no such
distinction: neither does the Catholic
act of faith required from it's dis
ciples. All that the Church teaches
in matters Of faith and morals mus
be accepted with reverence and be
| 1ioVoH without r.ocoruo TI,o