Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Tit 3, 10-11 After a first and second warning…

(Tit 3, 10-11) After a first and second warning…
[10] After a first and second warning, break off contact with a heretic, [11] realizing that such a person is perverted and sinful and stands self-condemned.
(CCC 870) "The sole Church of Christ which in the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic, and apostolic,… subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him. Nevertheless, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside its visible confines" (LG 8). (CCC 821) Certain things are required in order to respond adequately to this call: - a permanent renewal of the Church in greater fidelity to her vocation; such renewal is the driving-force of the movement toward unity (Cf. UR 6); - conversion of heart as the faithful "try to live holier lives according to the Gospel" (UR 7 § 3); for it is the unfaithfulness of the members to Christ's gift which causes divisions; - prayer in common, because "change of heart and holiness of life, along with public and private prayer for the unity of Christians, should be regarded as the soul of the whole ecumenical movement, and merits the name 'spiritual ecumenism"' (UR 8 § 1); - fraternal knowledge of each other (Cf. UR 9); - ecumenical formation of the faithful and especially of priests (Cf. UR 10); - dialogue among theologians and meetings among Christians of the different churches and communities (Cf. UR 4; 9; 11); - collaboration among Christians in various areas of service to mankind (Cf. UR 12). "Human service" is the idiomatic phrase. (CCC 865) The Church is ultimately one, holy, catholic, and apostolic in her deepest and ultimate identity, because it is in her that "the Kingdom of heaven," the "Reign of God" (Rev 19:6), already exists and will be fulfilled at the end of time. The kingdom has come in the person of Christ and grows mysteriously in the hearts of those incorporated into him, until its full eschatological manifestation. Then all those he has redeemed and made "holy and blameless before him in love" (Eph 1:4), will be gathered together as the one People of God, the "Bride of the Lamb" (Rev 21:9), "the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, having the glory of God" (Rev 21:10-11). For "the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb" (Rev 21:14).

No comments: