| CHRISTIAN UNITY |
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| For a FREE Trifold on: Eucharist Unity of Christians |
| "that they may all be one" John 17:21 From the Pope's Letter on Commitment to Ecumenism "Ut Unum Sint", Pope John Paul II: p. 39, "It was in order to reaffirm this duty that I set before the faithful of the Catholic Church a model which I consider exemplary, the model of a Trappistine Sister, Blessed Maria Gabriella of Unity, whom I beatified on January 25, 1983. Sister Maria Gabriella, called by her vocation to be apart from the world, devoted her life to meditation and prayer centered on chapter seventeen of Saint John's Gospel, and offered her life for Christian unity." |
| Sister Maria Gabriella pray for us who desire unity! |
| QUESTION: Should Christians be united? |
In the Gospel of John 17:20-21; Jesus prays the night before He was crucified; "I do not pray
for these only, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be
one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may also be in us, so that the
world may believe that thou has sent me."
Jesus not only tells us through His prayer to seek unity among the believers, but, He tells us
we need to be one "as He and the Father are one", "as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee".
Jesus is saying "as the Father thinks, Jesus thinks, and so all Christians should think!
NOT 33,000 DENOMINATIONS!
According to the World Christian Encyclopedia (2001) by David B. Barrett, there are “over
33,000 denominations in 238 countries.” Every year there is a net increase of around 270 to
300 denominations. According to Barrett’s study (1970), there are 8,196 denominations within
Protestantism.
JOKE: Protestant minister once said:
"There are only two things that multiply by division, amebas and Protestant Churches"!
Jesus also tells us that this is to happen right here on earth, "...so that the world may believe
that thou has sent me". The only way that the world will know that the heavenly Father sent
Jesus is, when all Christians are united. The only way that the world can acknowledge this is if
it happens here on earth!
Yes, perfect unity will occur in heaven, but we need unity of all Christians here on earth so
that the "world may know"!p.2 DOE, (Decree On Ecumenism)
This movement toward unity is called ecumenical. p. 87 DOE,
The ultimate goal of the ecumenical movement is to reestablish full visible unity among all the
baptized.
False Ecumenism
p. 89 DOE, "In this courageous journey toward unity, the transparency and the prudence of
faith require us to avoid both false irenicism (promotion of peace)and indifference to the
Church's ordinances. Conversely, that same transparency and prudence urge us to reject a
halfhearted commitment to unity and, even more, a prejudicial opposition or defeatism which
tends to see everything in negative terms.
To uphold a vision of unity which takes account of all the demands of revealed truth does not
mean to put a brake on the ecumenical movement. On the contrary, it means preventing it
from settling for apparent solutions which would lead to no firm and solid results. The
obligation to respect the truth is absolute. Is this not the law of the Gospel?
Our Holy Father is telling us that we need to avoid "false ecumenism"! We can not water down
our faith to the least common denominator, and expect unity! That would be "False
Ecumenism"! We need to speak "the truth in love" as ST. Paul says to the Ephesians, 4:15.
MEDITATION:
From the Encyclical Letter, "Ut Unum Sint", Of the Holy Father John Paul II,On Commitment to
Ecumenism p. 96,
The ministry of unity of the Bishop of Rome.
Among all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities, the Catholic Church is conscious that
she has preserved the ministry of the Successor of the Apostle Peter, the Bishop of Rome,
whom God established as her "perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity" and
whom the Spirit sustains in order that he may enable all the others to share in the essential
good. In the beautiful expression of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, my ministry is that of
servus servorum Dei.
(The Servant of the Servants of God [added]) This designation is the best possible safeguard
against the risk of separating power (and in particular the primacy) from ministry. Such a
separation would contradict the very meaning of power according to the Gospel: "I am among
you as one who serves" (Lk 22:27), says our Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. On
the other hand, as I acknowledged on the important occasion of a visit to the World Council of
Churches in Geneva on June 12, 1984, the Catholic Church's conviction that in the ministry of
the Bishop of Rome she has preserved, in fidelity to the Apostolic Tradition and the faith of
the Fathers, the visible sign and guarantor of unity, constitutes a difficulty for most other
Christians, whose memory is marked by certain painful recollections. To the extent that we are
responsible for these, I join my Predecessor Paul VI in asking forgiveness.
for these only, but also for those who believe in Me through their word, that they may all be
one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may also be in us, so that the
world may believe that thou has sent me."
Jesus not only tells us through His prayer to seek unity among the believers, but, He tells us
we need to be one "as He and the Father are one", "as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee".
Jesus is saying "as the Father thinks, Jesus thinks, and so all Christians should think!
NOT 33,000 DENOMINATIONS!
According to the World Christian Encyclopedia (2001) by David B. Barrett, there are “over
33,000 denominations in 238 countries.” Every year there is a net increase of around 270 to
300 denominations. According to Barrett’s study (1970), there are 8,196 denominations within
Protestantism.
JOKE: Protestant minister once said:
"There are only two things that multiply by division, amebas and Protestant Churches"!
Jesus also tells us that this is to happen right here on earth, "...so that the world may believe
that thou has sent me". The only way that the world will know that the heavenly Father sent
Jesus is, when all Christians are united. The only way that the world can acknowledge this is if
it happens here on earth!
Yes, perfect unity will occur in heaven, but we need unity of all Christians here on earth so
that the "world may know"!p.2 DOE, (Decree On Ecumenism)
This movement toward unity is called ecumenical. p. 87 DOE,
The ultimate goal of the ecumenical movement is to reestablish full visible unity among all the
baptized.
False Ecumenism
p. 89 DOE, "In this courageous journey toward unity, the transparency and the prudence of
faith require us to avoid both false irenicism (promotion of peace)and indifference to the
Church's ordinances. Conversely, that same transparency and prudence urge us to reject a
halfhearted commitment to unity and, even more, a prejudicial opposition or defeatism which
tends to see everything in negative terms.
To uphold a vision of unity which takes account of all the demands of revealed truth does not
mean to put a brake on the ecumenical movement. On the contrary, it means preventing it
from settling for apparent solutions which would lead to no firm and solid results. The
obligation to respect the truth is absolute. Is this not the law of the Gospel?
Our Holy Father is telling us that we need to avoid "false ecumenism"! We can not water down
our faith to the least common denominator, and expect unity! That would be "False
Ecumenism"! We need to speak "the truth in love" as ST. Paul says to the Ephesians, 4:15.
MEDITATION:
From the Encyclical Letter, "Ut Unum Sint", Of the Holy Father John Paul II,On Commitment to
Ecumenism p. 96,
The ministry of unity of the Bishop of Rome.
Among all the Churches and Ecclesial Communities, the Catholic Church is conscious that
she has preserved the ministry of the Successor of the Apostle Peter, the Bishop of Rome,
whom God established as her "perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity" and
whom the Spirit sustains in order that he may enable all the others to share in the essential
good. In the beautiful expression of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, my ministry is that of
servus servorum Dei.
(The Servant of the Servants of God [added]) This designation is the best possible safeguard
against the risk of separating power (and in particular the primacy) from ministry. Such a
separation would contradict the very meaning of power according to the Gospel: "I am among
you as one who serves" (Lk 22:27), says our Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church. On
the other hand, as I acknowledged on the important occasion of a visit to the World Council of
Churches in Geneva on June 12, 1984, the Catholic Church's conviction that in the ministry of
the Bishop of Rome she has preserved, in fidelity to the Apostolic Tradition and the faith of
the Fathers, the visible sign and guarantor of unity, constitutes a difficulty for most other
Christians, whose memory is marked by certain painful recollections. To the extent that we are
responsible for these, I join my Predecessor Paul VI in asking forgiveness.
There is a picture that is a great Lenten
meditation, it is a picture of Our Lord after the
scourging.
meditation, it is a picture of Our Lord after the
scourging.
Our Lord's hands are bound,
His Sacred Head bears the
crown of thorns and He has
the purple robe of mock
royalty draped across His
shoulders. His body is
scarred to the point of looking
like a torn piece of cloth!
His Sacred Head bears the
crown of thorns and He has
the purple robe of mock
royalty draped across His
shoulders. His body is
scarred to the point of looking
like a torn piece of cloth!
| Jesus' Scarred Body We are aware that each cruelty suffered by Jesus is a result of the sins of mankind. |
While imagining Jesus' body torn like an
old rag, think of each tear in His body as
caused by the separation of each
"church" from the Church He established
on ST. Peter.
old rag, think of each tear in His body as
caused by the separation of each
"church" from the Church He established
on ST. Peter.
Jesus in the "Divine Mercy Novena" says for the 5th day; "Today bring to Me THE
SOULS OF THE SEPARATED BRETHREN and immerse them in the ocean of My
mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is My Church. As
they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My
Passion."
Each separation took place because of mankind's sins! Each tear in Christ's body is a
result of pride! There is the name of a different denomination for each wound.
SOULS OF THE SEPARATED BRETHREN and immerse them in the ocean of My
mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is My Church. As
they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My
Passion."
Each separation took place because of mankind's sins! Each tear in Christ's body is a
result of pride! There is the name of a different denomination for each wound.
When I first read of the Pope's statement in the encyclical; that he asks for forgiveness for any
pain the Catholic Church may have caused anyone in the separation of the Churches, I did
not know how to feel.
To me the Catholic Church has always been correct in everything they did. How could
Catholics and especially the best Catholic ask forgiveness? Look at that picture. You and I are
guilty! 1John 1:10 If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in
us.
We added to the separation and sometimes still do.
How can we stop tearing apart the body of Christ?
The Church gives us a "Game Plan", it consists of four parts!
Game Plan:
Holiness
Know the Faith and Live it
Make the first approach and share the "Truth in Love"
The fourth is really the first and the second and the third;
prayola
PRAY BEFORE DURING AND AFTER EACH PART!
Holiness
Babsie Bleasdel a world renowned Catholic Charismatic Conference speaker once said, when
speaking on the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" at a conference in Jacksonville, Florida that: "If we try
to use the Service Gifts without first making use of the Holiness Gifts we would cause disunity
and confusion!"
I want to make the same point! That is; if we try to bring about unity in the "Body of Christ"
without first seeking holiness in our lives...we will cause disunity!
Pope Paul VI in His "Decree On Ecumenism":
P.10, All the faithful should remember that the more effort they make to live holier lives
according to the Gospel, the better will they further Christian unity...
P. 7, All Catholics must therefore aim at Christian perfection.
Know the Faith and Live it
1 Peter 3:15; our first pope speaking to all Christians; "Always be prepared to make a defense
to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you,..."
In order to make a proper defense we would need to know our faith first.
CCC 1303, The Effects of Confirmation - it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to
spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the
name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.
So, we see from the Bible and the Catechism that we need to know our faith, spread the
Gospel message and be able to defend it.
Make the first approach and share the "Truth in Love"
DOEp 7, Catholics, in their ecumenical work, must assuredly be concerned for their separated
brethren, praying for them, keeping them informed about the Church, making the first
approaches toward them...
pain the Catholic Church may have caused anyone in the separation of the Churches, I did
not know how to feel.
To me the Catholic Church has always been correct in everything they did. How could
Catholics and especially the best Catholic ask forgiveness? Look at that picture. You and I are
guilty! 1John 1:10 If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in
us.
We added to the separation and sometimes still do.
How can we stop tearing apart the body of Christ?
The Church gives us a "Game Plan", it consists of four parts!
Game Plan:
Holiness
Know the Faith and Live it
Make the first approach and share the "Truth in Love"
The fourth is really the first and the second and the third;
prayola
PRAY BEFORE DURING AND AFTER EACH PART!
Holiness
Babsie Bleasdel a world renowned Catholic Charismatic Conference speaker once said, when
speaking on the "Gifts of the Holy Spirit" at a conference in Jacksonville, Florida that: "If we try
to use the Service Gifts without first making use of the Holiness Gifts we would cause disunity
and confusion!"
I want to make the same point! That is; if we try to bring about unity in the "Body of Christ"
without first seeking holiness in our lives...we will cause disunity!
Pope Paul VI in His "Decree On Ecumenism":
P.10, All the faithful should remember that the more effort they make to live holier lives
according to the Gospel, the better will they further Christian unity...
P. 7, All Catholics must therefore aim at Christian perfection.
Know the Faith and Live it
1 Peter 3:15; our first pope speaking to all Christians; "Always be prepared to make a defense
to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you,..."
In order to make a proper defense we would need to know our faith first.
CCC 1303, The Effects of Confirmation - it gives us a special strength of the Holy Spirit to
spread and defend the faith by word and action as true witnesses of Christ, to confess the
name of Christ boldly, and never to be ashamed of the Cross.
So, we see from the Bible and the Catechism that we need to know our faith, spread the
Gospel message and be able to defend it.
Make the first approach and share the "Truth in Love"
DOEp 7, Catholics, in their ecumenical work, must assuredly be concerned for their separated
brethren, praying for them, keeping them informed about the Church, making the first
approaches toward them...
PRAY:
COME HOLY SPIRIT!
The call to holiness means saying "Yes" to the movement of the
Holy Spirit in your life; on a moment-to-moment basis. If we do
this the Spirit will show us where and when to make our approach.
It may simply be a conversation at the Flea Market with one of the
vendors. Maybe a comment is made about the Catholic Church
and you know that they misunderstand the Church, it would be
your duty to know the truth and then share it with "gentleness
and reverence". [1 Pt 3:15]
UUS p. 59, "...the quest for Christian unity is not a matter of
choice or expediency, but a pursuit which springs from the very
nature of the Christian community."
COME HOLY SPIRIT!
The call to holiness means saying "Yes" to the movement of the
Holy Spirit in your life; on a moment-to-moment basis. If we do
this the Spirit will show us where and when to make our approach.
It may simply be a conversation at the Flea Market with one of the
vendors. Maybe a comment is made about the Catholic Church
and you know that they misunderstand the Church, it would be
your duty to know the truth and then share it with "gentleness
and reverence". [1 Pt 3:15]
UUS p. 59, "...the quest for Christian unity is not a matter of
choice or expediency, but a pursuit which springs from the very
nature of the Christian community."
The opportunity may come when a son or daughter who has left the Church for a "Bible
Church" visits for the holidays.
One priest felt called to supplement his public preaching by writing pamphlets refuting
Calvinism, then sliding them under the doors of the inhabitants. Ultimately, 70,000 were
reunited with the Church through ST. Francis De Sales' influence!
PRAYER
James 5:16, "The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects."
Remember I told you to seek holiness first. That was because the "prayer of a holy man has
great power". Sounds like a Catch 22, we need to pray to become holy, and we need to be
holy in order to have powerful prayer!
So, we need to do as the Apostle says: "Pray constantly", [1 Thess. 5:17], before, during and
after!
Do you have any idea when your religion was founded and by whom?
If you are a member of the Jewish faith, your religion was founded by Abraham about 4,000
years ago.
If you are a Hindu, your religion developed in India around 1500 B.C.
If you are a Buddhist, your religion split from Hinduism, and was founded by Buddha, Prince
Siddhartha Gautama of India, about 500 B.C.
If you are Roman Catholic, Jesus Christ began your religion in the year 33 A.D.
If you are Islamic, Mohammed started your religion in what is now Saudi Arabia around 600
A.D.
If you are Eastern Orthodox, your sect separated from Catholicism around the year 1,000.
If you are Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex-monk in the Catholic
Church, in 1517.
If you belong to the Church of England (Anglican), your religion was founded by King Henry
VIII in the year 1534 because the pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to remarry.
If you are Presbyterian, your religion was founded when John Knox brought the teachings of
John Calvin to Scotland in the year 1560.
If you are Unitarian, your religious group developed in Europe in the 1500's.
If you are a Congregationalist, your religion branched off from Puritanism in the early 1600's
in England.
If you are a Baptist, you owe the tenets of your religion to John Smyth, who launched it in
Amsterdam in 1607.
If you are a Methodist, your religion was founded by John and Charles Wesley in England in
1744.
If you are an Episcopalian, your religion was brought over from England to the American
Colonies and formed a separated religion founded by Samuel Seabury in 1789.
If you are a Mormon (Latter-day Saints), Joseph Smith started your church in Palmyra,
N.Y..the year was 1830.
If you worship with the Salvation Army (it is a religious group), your sect began with William
Booth in London in 1865.
If you are a Christian Scientist, you look to 1879 as the year your religion was founded by
Mary Baker Eddy.
If you are a Jehovah's Witness, your religion was founded by Charles Taze Russell in
Pennsylvania in 1870's .
If you are Pentecostal, your religion was started in the U.S. in 1901.
If you are agnostic, you profess an uncertainty about the existence of God.
If you are an atheist, you do not believe in the existence of God.
THIS UNITY CAN ONLY OCCUR IN THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED BY
JESUS ON ST. PETER!
There are three proofs that show that true unity can only be achieved in the Catholic Church.
1.) Bible Matthew 16:18
2.) History shows that in the beginning there was one church established by Jesus, this is
supported by statements of History outside the Catholic Church. i.e., Ann Landers, "If you are
Roman Catholic, Jesus Christ began your religion in the year 33 A.D."
Webster's Universal College Dictionary, Catholic -
1. of or pertaining to the Roman Catholic Church
2. pertaining to the Christian Church that was formerly undivided".
Encarta - Concise Encyclopedia Article - The Microsoft Network:Catholic Church. The term
catholic was first used in the letter of Saint Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans (about AD
110).
History - Until the break with the Eastern church (See Orthodox Church) in 1054 and the
break with the Protestant churches in the 1500's, it is impossible to separate the history of
Christianity in general.
PLEASE! FOR A MOMENT.
Picture a church in your mind...
Now visualize part of that church breaking off, maybe about 25% ...this would be the Schism
of the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054 A.D.
Catholic Church splitting
Now there are always little splinters breaking off but only about a hair's breath wide and most
of these disintegrate and there is nothing left.
Now visualize again about 25% breaking off again! This would be
Catholic Church splitting again
the Protestant reformation! 1517
After awhile all those split into smaller and some larger groups, some disintegrate and
disappear, some grow but not at the rate of the original column which has been growing all
these years!
The Catholic Church is still the largest pillar. (At present there is about 1 billion Catholics in
the world,[This Rock, April '97]) It would make sense that to achieve unity, all the smaller
columns need to come together. Splintering the columns further will not bring about unity and
stability!
Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II had A VISION of future unity! His
vision entailed a knowledge of the past. The first 1000 years of the
Church suffered very little disunity then in 1054 we had a major split.
Then for the next 1000 years the "Body of Christ" the "Church' continued
to split, with a rather large split in the Protestant Reformation.
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II had a vision for the "New Millennium",
the next 1000 years as one of "Christian Unity"!
ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BRING ABOUT UNITY!
BE OPEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVING YOU TO GREATER UNITY!
DOE = Pope Paul VI "Decree On Ecumenism"
UUS = Pope John Paul II "Ut Unum Sint", On Commitment to Ecumenism
CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church
[Hilaire Belloc]
The reason for the Primacy of Peter is unity!
SOLA SCRIPTURA
The greatest attack against the prayer of Jesus that "all may be one" John 17:21, is the
Protestant Reformation because:
The Protestant attack differed from the rest [other heresys] especially in this characteristic,
that its attack did not consist in promulgation of new doctrine or of a new authority, that it
made no concerted effort at creating a counter-Church , but had for its principal the denial of
unity. It was an effort to promote that state of mind in which a Church in the old sense of the
word - that is, an infallible, united, teaching body, a Person speaking with Divine Authority -
should be denied; not the doctrines it might happen to advance, but its very claim to advance
them with unique authority.
Thus, one Protestant may affirm, [...], the truth of all the doctrines underlying the Mass - the
Real Presence, the Sacrifice, the sacerdotal power of consecration, etc. - another Protestant
may affirm that all such conceptions are false, yet both these Protestants are Protestant
because they communicate in the fundamental conception that the Church is not a visible,
definable and united personality, that there is no central infallible authority, and that therefore
each is free to choose his own set of doctrines.
Church" visits for the holidays.
One priest felt called to supplement his public preaching by writing pamphlets refuting
Calvinism, then sliding them under the doors of the inhabitants. Ultimately, 70,000 were
reunited with the Church through ST. Francis De Sales' influence!
PRAYER
James 5:16, "The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects."
Remember I told you to seek holiness first. That was because the "prayer of a holy man has
great power". Sounds like a Catch 22, we need to pray to become holy, and we need to be
holy in order to have powerful prayer!
So, we need to do as the Apostle says: "Pray constantly", [1 Thess. 5:17], before, during and
after!
Do you have any idea when your religion was founded and by whom?
If you are a member of the Jewish faith, your religion was founded by Abraham about 4,000
years ago.
If you are a Hindu, your religion developed in India around 1500 B.C.
If you are a Buddhist, your religion split from Hinduism, and was founded by Buddha, Prince
Siddhartha Gautama of India, about 500 B.C.
If you are Roman Catholic, Jesus Christ began your religion in the year 33 A.D.
If you are Islamic, Mohammed started your religion in what is now Saudi Arabia around 600
A.D.
If you are Eastern Orthodox, your sect separated from Catholicism around the year 1,000.
If you are Lutheran, your religion was founded by Martin Luther, an ex-monk in the Catholic
Church, in 1517.
If you belong to the Church of England (Anglican), your religion was founded by King Henry
VIII in the year 1534 because the pope would not grant him a divorce with the right to remarry.
If you are Presbyterian, your religion was founded when John Knox brought the teachings of
John Calvin to Scotland in the year 1560.
If you are Unitarian, your religious group developed in Europe in the 1500's.
If you are a Congregationalist, your religion branched off from Puritanism in the early 1600's
in England.
If you are a Baptist, you owe the tenets of your religion to John Smyth, who launched it in
Amsterdam in 1607.
If you are a Methodist, your religion was founded by John and Charles Wesley in England in
1744.
If you are an Episcopalian, your religion was brought over from England to the American
Colonies and formed a separated religion founded by Samuel Seabury in 1789.
If you are a Mormon (Latter-day Saints), Joseph Smith started your church in Palmyra,
N.Y..the year was 1830.
If you worship with the Salvation Army (it is a religious group), your sect began with William
Booth in London in 1865.
If you are a Christian Scientist, you look to 1879 as the year your religion was founded by
Mary Baker Eddy.
If you are a Jehovah's Witness, your religion was founded by Charles Taze Russell in
Pennsylvania in 1870's .
If you are Pentecostal, your religion was started in the U.S. in 1901.
If you are agnostic, you profess an uncertainty about the existence of God.
If you are an atheist, you do not believe in the existence of God.
THIS UNITY CAN ONLY OCCUR IN THE CHURCH ESTABLISHED BY
JESUS ON ST. PETER!
There are three proofs that show that true unity can only be achieved in the Catholic Church.
1.) Bible Matthew 16:18
2.) History shows that in the beginning there was one church established by Jesus, this is
supported by statements of History outside the Catholic Church. i.e., Ann Landers, "If you are
Roman Catholic, Jesus Christ began your religion in the year 33 A.D."
Webster's Universal College Dictionary, Catholic -
1. of or pertaining to the Roman Catholic Church
2. pertaining to the Christian Church that was formerly undivided".
Encarta - Concise Encyclopedia Article - The Microsoft Network:Catholic Church. The term
catholic was first used in the letter of Saint Ignatius of Antioch to the Smyrnaeans (about AD
110).
History - Until the break with the Eastern church (See Orthodox Church) in 1054 and the
break with the Protestant churches in the 1500's, it is impossible to separate the history of
Christianity in general.
PLEASE! FOR A MOMENT.
Picture a church in your mind...
Now visualize part of that church breaking off, maybe about 25% ...this would be the Schism
of the Eastern Orthodox Church in 1054 A.D.
Catholic Church splitting
Now there are always little splinters breaking off but only about a hair's breath wide and most
of these disintegrate and there is nothing left.
Now visualize again about 25% breaking off again! This would be
Catholic Church splitting again
the Protestant reformation! 1517
After awhile all those split into smaller and some larger groups, some disintegrate and
disappear, some grow but not at the rate of the original column which has been growing all
these years!
The Catholic Church is still the largest pillar. (At present there is about 1 billion Catholics in
the world,[This Rock, April '97]) It would make sense that to achieve unity, all the smaller
columns need to come together. Splintering the columns further will not bring about unity and
stability!
Our Holy Father Pope John Paul II had A VISION of future unity! His
vision entailed a knowledge of the past. The first 1000 years of the
Church suffered very little disunity then in 1054 we had a major split.
Then for the next 1000 years the "Body of Christ" the "Church' continued
to split, with a rather large split in the Protestant Reformation.
The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II had a vision for the "New Millennium",
the next 1000 years as one of "Christian Unity"!
ONLY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN BRING ABOUT UNITY!
BE OPEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVING YOU TO GREATER UNITY!
DOE = Pope Paul VI "Decree On Ecumenism"
UUS = Pope John Paul II "Ut Unum Sint", On Commitment to Ecumenism
CCC = Catechism of the Catholic Church
[Hilaire Belloc]
The reason for the Primacy of Peter is unity!
SOLA SCRIPTURA
The greatest attack against the prayer of Jesus that "all may be one" John 17:21, is the
Protestant Reformation because:
The Protestant attack differed from the rest [other heresys] especially in this characteristic,
that its attack did not consist in promulgation of new doctrine or of a new authority, that it
made no concerted effort at creating a counter-Church , but had for its principal the denial of
unity. It was an effort to promote that state of mind in which a Church in the old sense of the
word - that is, an infallible, united, teaching body, a Person speaking with Divine Authority -
should be denied; not the doctrines it might happen to advance, but its very claim to advance
them with unique authority.
Thus, one Protestant may affirm, [...], the truth of all the doctrines underlying the Mass - the
Real Presence, the Sacrifice, the sacerdotal power of consecration, etc. - another Protestant
may affirm that all such conceptions are false, yet both these Protestants are Protestant
because they communicate in the fundamental conception that the Church is not a visible,
definable and united personality, that there is no central infallible authority, and that therefore
each is free to choose his own set of doctrines.
