To be honest, I'm getting sick and tired of reporting bad news! If it were only in the secular world, that would be bad enough, but when the news is bad -- and gets worse -- with each passing day, in the ecclesiastical world, that is news and has to be reported. After all, it is through the Catholic Church that we must be saved: no one comes to the Father but by Him, Jesus, that is...
When you come right down to it, it's really pretty easy to follow the law as handed down to Moses in the Ten Commandments (not the "ten suggestions," as so many people would like them to be), and, since the new Covenant, the teachings and precepts of the church that Christ founded upon the rock of St. Peter. We know what the Bible tells us about that scene, but not too many continue with these next two sentences: "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (St. Matthew 16:18-19, King James Version.)
(It should be noted that keys are a symbol of authority, especially the power of the New Testament priesthood to loose and bind (sins). The idea of keys being a symbol of authority can be seen when a VIP comes to a city; the mayor will usually use some type of photo op to give that VIP a symbolic "key to the city." Sort of like the old TV show Queen for a Day, where the winning female contestant would be given "carte blanche" to go on a shopping spree in the store of her choice, etc.)
Regardless of how a Protestant might want to spin the authority angle, the fact remains that St. Peter was the Prince of the Apostles, the "capo di tutti capi," -- head of all heads -- so to speak, and was specifically singled-out by our Lord for this leadership role among the Apostles. Christ also prophesied how St. Peter would meet his death -- by crucifixion. Tradition tells us that St. Peter requested to be crucified upside-down, feeling unworthy to die in the same manner as his Master...
Christ also gave the enormous power to His priests (bishops) to confect the substances (the accidents) of bread and wine into His body and blood, soul and divinity in the Holy Eucharist. I must point to St. John, Chapter Six (KJV) because it is imperative for my Protestant friends to read the entire chapter, and not just to pick and choose particular verses to support a certain belief system --outside the Catholic Church. It is also key to know what our Lord said in verse 53: "...verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you."
It is because I love my Protestant friends so much that I write my articles the way that I do, and say what must be said in order to impress the importance of living the entire New Law; to have the Holy Eucharist, and the supernatural life (of grace) that goes with that great sacrament!
Please pray for discernment!
And pray for strength and honor!
Viva Cristo Rey! Bl. Fr. Miguel Pro, pray for us...
Gene DeLalla
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