Ecclesiology
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You are kindly invited to explore and discover
the sacred mysteries of the Catholic faith.
the sacred mysteries of the Catholic faith.
presbytery as ye would the apostles. Do ye also reverence the deacons, as those that carry
out the appointment of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without
the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the
bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let
the multitude also be; by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the
bishop shall appear, there let the multitude also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there
is the Catholic Church.”
St. Ignatius of Antioch,
Epistle to the Smyrneans, 8:2
(c. A.D. 110)
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“But [it has, on the other hand, been shown], that the preaching of the Church is
everywhere consistent, and continues in an even course, and receives testimony from the
prophets, the apostles, and all the disciples…For in the Church,” it is said, “God hath set
apostles, prophets, teachers,’ and all the other means through which the Spirit works; of
which all those are not partakers who do not join themselves to the Church, but defraud
themselves of life through their perverse opinions and infamous behaviour. For where the
Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church,
and every kind of grace; but the Spirit is truth.”
St. Irenaeus of Lyons,
Against Heresies, 3:24
(A.D. 180)
“The spouse of Christ cannot be adulterous; she is uncorrupted and pure. She knows one
home; she guards with chaste modesty the sanctity of one couch. She keeps us for God.
She appoints the sons whom she has born for the kingdom. Whoever is separated from the
Church and is joined to an adulteress, is separated from the promises of the Church; nor
can he who forsakes the Church of Christ attain to the rewards of Christ. He is a stranger;
he is profane; he is an enemy. He can no longer have God for his Father, who has not the
Church for his mother. If anyone could escape who was outside the ark of Noah, then he
also may escape who shall be outside of the Church. The Lord warns, saying, ‘He who is
not with me is against me, and he who gathereth not with me scattereth.’
St. Cyprian of Carthage,
On Unity, 6
(A.D. 251)
“But in learning the Faith and in professing it, acquire and keep that only, which is now
delivered to thee by the Church, and which has been built up strongly out of all the
Scriptures….Take heed then, brethren, and hold fast the traditions which ye now receive,
and write them and the table of your heart.”
St. Cyril of Jerusalem,
Catechetical Lectures, 5:12
(A.D. 350)
“But beyond these [Scriptural] sayings, let us look at the very tradition,
teaching and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning,
which the Lord gave, the Apostles preached, and the Fathers kept.”
St. Athanasius of Alexandria,
Four Letters to Serapion of Thmuis, 1:28
(A.D. 360)
“Inasmuch, I repeat, as this is the case, we believe also in the Holy Church, [intending
thereby] assuredly the Catholic. For both heretics and schismatics style their
congregations’ churches. But heretics, in holding false opinions regarding God, do injury to
the faith itself; while schismatics, on the other hand, in wicked separations break off from
brotherly charity, although they may believe just what we believe. Wherefore neither do the
heretics belong to the Church catholic, which loves God; nor do the schismatics form a part
of the same.”
St. Augustine of Hippo,
On Faith and Creed, 10:21
(A.D. 393)
“Philip the presbyter and legate of the Apostolic See said: There is no doubt, and in fact
it has been known in all ages, that the holy and most blessed Peter, prince and head of the
Apostles, pillar of the faith, and foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of
the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the human race,
and that to him was given the power of loosing and binding sins: who down even to to-day
and forever both lives and judges in his successors.”
Council of Ephesus, Session III (A.D. 431)
“Wherefore the most holy and blessed Leo, archbishop of the great and elder Rome,
through us, and through this present most holy synod together with the thrice blessed and
all-glorious Peter the Apostle, who is the rock and foundation of the Catholic Church, and
the foundation of the orthodox faith, hath stripped him of the episcopate, and hath
alienated from him all hieratic worthiness. Therefore let this most holy and great synod
sentence the before mentioned Dioscorus to the canonical penalties.”
Council of Chalcedon, Session III
(A.D. 451)
But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You
are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon
son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in
heaven. 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.”
Matthew 16, 15-18
Pax vobiscum
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