Origin Of Roman Catholic Church

The study of the origin of the Roman Catholic Church reveals that this is the true church started by Jesus himself. The below material is taken from another source and throws detailed light on why the Catholic Church is the REAL church founded by Jesus. For better understanding please read post on: History of Christian Churches

The first part of the article is a prelude to HOW DO WE KNOW that it is the Catholic church that Jesus Christ founded. The article is followed by 140 reasons proving the same.

So many false charges are made against the Catholic Church by people who refuse to go to the source of Catholic teaching, to find out what the Church really teaches. They instead prefer to propagate the lie they are taught by others of the same mind set. If you wanted to buy a Ford, would you go to a Chevy dealer to find the "truth" about Fords? No, you would go to the source, the ones who built the Ford. In the same way you will not learn the truth of what the Catholic Church teaches from a non-Catholic source. So if you have not bothered to go to the source for Catholic teaching, then why do you continue to perpetuate the lie? By doing so, you gamble with your eternal salvation.

Here are some of the false charges made against the Catholic Church, and the replies of truth to those charges:

*The Catholic Church is not the Church which Jesus Christ founded.
Okay, then please give me the name of the Church which He did found, since it must still be here, as He did promise that His Church would last forever, did He not? Matthew 28:20. Did Jesus lie?
Also, since every Church on earth was founded by a person with a name, please name the person who did found the Catholic Church if it was not Jesus Christ? Oh, and please do not forget to include the genuine historical document(s) to back up what you say.

*There is no "proof" that Jesus Christ founded the Catholic Church.
To the contrary, here are 140 reasons why it is the Catholic Church which He founded and none other. Now you give me just one reason to "prove" that it is your church which He founded and not the Catholic Church?

*The Catholic Church apostatized soon after the last Apostle died, so the Catholic Church of today is not the same Church which Jesus Christ founded.
Please give me the date of this monumental historical event? Show me your genuine historical documents which "prove" what you charge? Of the thousands of genuine historical documents of every century going all the way back to the first century, and which are available for anyone to research, why is there no mention of this so-called earth shaking "great Apostasy" anywhere to be found? Don't you think that a falling away of the Church which Jesus Christ founded would "rock the universe", so to speak, and be the cause of a great chastisement from GOD after what His Son went through in His passion? Look at what happened to the Jews for their disobedience.
Jesus did promise the Holy Spirit would be with, and teach His Church forever in John 14:16-17.
Are you calling Jesus Christ a liar for His promises of perpetuity for His Church?
See 1John 5:10.

*Well it was not any specific date, but was a gradual process over time.
Okay, but that still implies that it did happen at some time, so give me the date, and your genuine historical documents. List for me the "gradual" apostasies of which you refer and the dates of their supposed happenings?
What is the teaching of the Catholic Church on the Holy Trinity? Is that apostasy?
Does the Church teach that Jesus Christ is GOD? Does the Church......well, I could ask you about what the Church teaches regarding a hundred subjects.
Instead of my listing all of the subjects on which the Church teaches, it would be much easier if you would just please tell me the subjects of your charges of apostasy by the Catholic Church, and the dates of each?

*The Eucharist is "obviously" only a symbol.
Please show me the "obvious" Scriptural verses which say that it is only a symbol after you have read and studied the two links in this section?

*The Bible alone is our sole authority. We do not need the Catholic Church.
Oh? What did Jesus Christ found, a teaching Church, or a book? Since the Gospels are the heart of the New Testament, please show me the verse(s) where He commanded anyone to write them?
Please show me where the Bible says that it alone is the sole authority?

*The Catholic Church is always coming up with "new doctrine". I refuse to believe anything if I cannot find it in the Bible.
Oh? Please give me a list of this "new" doctrine of what you speak? Also please give me the verse which you use to "prove" that everything worth believing is in the Bible?

*GOD did not need Mary.
Oh? Did GOD tell you that He did not need her? Or did some human person in your sect tell you? Are you a modern day prophet?
Is your remark that, "GOD did not need Mary", in the Bible? Are you a Sola Scriptura believer?
If so, then you must find that in the Bible for any other SS follower to believe it, right? Show me the verse as 'proof' of what you say?
Well, to the contrary, explain Luke 1:26-38 to me? Why did GOD send the angel Gabriel to her to tell her of the great gift she was about to receive if He did not need her?

*Catholics "worship" Mary.
I have been a Catholic all of my life and I have never heard the Church tell its people that we must worship Blessed Mary (Luke 1:48). For that charge to be true, then please provide the genuine Catholic Church document which states that Catholics are to worship Blessed Mary? Did you ever think to go to the source for the answer to this one?

*Mary could not have been immaculately conceived.
Oh? Are you saying that GOD could not have done this?
Did not Jesus say this?
"But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.""
Matthew 19:26
Didn't Adam and Eve, and Jesus Christ come into the world without sin? Then please explain to me, why the Mother of GOD could not?

*Mary gave birth to the human nature of Jesus only.
Mothers do not give birth to natures alone, but to persons who possess a nature. Blessed Mary gave birth to the complete person. Now, is Jesus Christ a divine person, or is he a human person?
He could not be both, as that would make Him to be two persons.

*Mary could not be the Mother of GOD.
Well, because you made this statement, you now have only two options. Either Jesus Christ is not GOD, or He had another mother other than Blessed Mary. Which option will you choose?

*Mary had "other children".
Show me where Holy Scripture says that, after you have read the link? Suppose you were the brother or sister of GOD. Wouldn't there be a mountain of material written about you and your lives? Isn't it possible that the meaning of words then, are not the same as they are today, especially after they have been translated from language to language? You see, something is always added or lost in a language translation. To prove this, I gave you an example in the 3rd sentence, 'you and your lives'. Do you see it? The word 'you' in English can be singular or plural, but in Greek, different words are used for 'you', sou (singular) and humeis (plural). I do explain the importance of this particular translation problem in greater detail here.
So do not fall into the "brothers-brethren" trap by using today's English meaning only.
Read the link for much more.

*Mary could not have been assumed into Heaven.
Oh? Why not? Were you there? Is this yet something else that GOD could not do?

*It does not matter which church a person belongs to.
To the contrary, it does matter a great deal. Do you wish to gamble with your eternal salvation?
There is only one true Church, the one which Jesus Christ founded.
I would suggest that you read Psalms 127:1.
Now, since everyone has read Psalms 127:1, I wish to ask all non-Catholics who make these false charges against the only Church which Jesus Christ founded, to please show me the verse(s) in Holy Scripture which give authority for any person to found another church other than that one of Matthew 16:18? Notice that Jesus did say "Church", and not churches in that verse.

For those who make false charges against the Catholic Church without bothering to go to the source to see if the charges are true or not, please read this quote from Saint Irenaeus which was written in 180 A.D.

CHAP. IV.--THE TRUTH (of what the Catholic Church teaches*) IS TO BE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE BUT IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, THE SOLE DEPOSITORY OF APOSTOLICAL DOCTRINE. HERESIES ARE OF RECENT FORMATION, AND CANNOT TRACE THEIR ORIGIN UP TO THE APOSTLES.

1. Since therefore we have such proofs, it is not necessary to seek the truth among others which it is easy to obtain from the Church; since the apostles, like a rich man [depositing his money] in a bank, lodged in her hands most copiously all things pertaining to the truth: so that every man, whosoever will, can draw from her the water of life. For she is the entrance to life; all others are thieves and robbers. On this account are we bound to avoid them, but to make choice of the thing pertaining to the Church with the utmost diligence, and to lay hold of the tradition of the truth. For how stands the case? Suppose there arose a dispute relative to some important question among us, should we not have recourse to the most ancient Churches with which the apostles held constant intercourse, and learn from them what is certain and clear in regard to the present question? For how should it be if the apostles themselves had not left us writings? Would it not be necessary, [in that case,] to follow the course of the tradition which they handed down to those to whom they did commit the Churches?"
Saint Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 3, Chapter 4, Par 1, 180 A.D.. Jurgens 213

*Added by myself and not in the original


STOP!!! Right here and take a deep breath before proceeding, for your eternal salvation may be at risk!
For proof of this, now read on.

"This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
1Timothy 2:3-4
It is the will of GOD that we all must come to the truth. No one can come to the truth who has a closed mind, or is prejudiced, or has preconceived ideas. The only way anyone can find the truth is to go to the source with an open mind, and discover it for themselves.

"...but for those who are factious and do not obey the truth, but obey wickedness, there will be wrath and fury."
Romans 2:8
"Now the works of the flesh are obvious: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Galatians 5:19-21
"Factious"? The dictionary says, "Factious: (1) relating to internal dissension. (2) Promoting internal dissension." Doesn't this sound like the mindset of the reformers? The Reformation certainly did lead to the "thousands of factions"* which we have in Protestantism today.
The word "factions" leads us to yet another verse,
"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing; and there be no dissensions among you, but that you be perfectly united in one mind and in one judgment."
1Corinthians 1:10
For all of those who refuse to come to the truth, they will be met with the wrath of GOD.

*There were 33,820 factions of Protestantism as of April 2001, World Christian Encyclopedia, a Protestant publication. This publication can be purchased from www.amazon.com.

"The coming of the lawless one by the activity of Satan will be with all power and with pretended signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends upon them a strong delusion, to make them believe what is false, so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness."
2Thessalonians 2:9-12
For those who do not believe the truth, ALL will be condemned.

What does all of this mean? Let us summarize:
1. We are all bound to search for the truth. 1Timothy 2:3-4
2. Those who refuse to search for the truth will be met with the wrath of GOD. Romans 2:8
3. Those who refuse to accept the truth, will be condemned. 2Thessalonians 2:9-12
4. He who has refused to acknowledge the truth in life will be forced to confront it in death. Hebrews 9:27, Revelation 21:27
5. Now who does all of this fit? It certainly does fit all of those who perpetuate false charges against the only Church which Jesus Christ founded, and who continue to do so, by refusing to go to the source for the truth of what the Catholic Church teaches.
6. These are not my rules or ideas. They are the teaching of GOD through Holy Scripture.

"Have I then become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?"
Galatians 4:16
"Truth has always bothered people and is never comfortable."
Cardinal Ratzinger, October 9, 2000
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However, He who has refused to acknowledge the truth in life will be forced to confront it in death.


Part 1
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church that Jesus Christ founded?

140 Reasons

# Reason 01
We know because of the Promises of Perpetuality made by Truth Himself (John 14:6), Jesus Christ.
We know that He founded One Church only, as He stated in Matthew 16:18.
We know because He promised His Church would be defended from within and from without.
 "And the gates of hell will NOT prevail against it." Matthew 16:18
We know because He promised to be with His Church until the end of the world, in Matthew 28:20.
We know because He promised He would not leave us orphans, in John 14:18.
We know because He promised the Spirit of Truth would dwell with it forever, in John 14:16.
We know because Saint Paul promised the Church will be with us forever." Ephesians 3:21

# Reason 02
We know because of Holy Scripture. The Catholic Church* is the only Church on earth which fits the pattern of the Church which Jesus Christ founded, and as Blueprinted for us in the Bible. There is not another Christian Church in the world that matches this plan as does the Catholic Church.
Compare your Church with what Holy Scripture has said it should be.

* The Catholic Church herein, includes all of the rites which have seven Sacraments and a valid Priesthood.

# Reason 03
We know because the Kingdom of GOD promised in Holy Scripture is the Catholic Church*.
Note: Saint Matthew most often used the term Kingdom of Heaven instead, as he directed his Gospel to the Jews, and they were forbidden to even say the name of GOD.
*Lumen Gentium I,3-5

Why did Jesus Christ become Incarnate in the first place? Was it to leave us with a book, or to establish a Church? Well, He just happened to tell us why:
"But He said to them, "To the other towns also I must PROCLAIM THE KINGDOM OF GOD, FOR THIS IS WHY I HAVE BEEN SENT"."
Luke 4:43

"But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Kingdom of GOD."
Luke 9:27
Jesus Christ founded His Church shortly after making this statement, and some to whom He spoke will live to see it.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
Luke 19:10
And how are we, who are the lost ones, to be saved?
It is through the Church which Jesus Christ founded here on earth.

"The Kingdom of GOD may be found where the Body of Christ shall be."
St. Alphonsus Liguori

"Where the Bishop appears, there let the people be, just as where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church."
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrneans 8, 107 A.D..

Where Jesus Christ can be found in the Holy Eucharist, there is the Kingdom of GOD.

# Reason 04
We know because it is the Catholic Church which is the "Pillar and the Foundation of the Truth", not the Bible, as shown in 1Timothy 3:15. Not one non-Catholic church can make that claim, as not one of them even existed until almost 1500 years after 1Timothy was written.

# Reason 05
We know because the Catholic Church is firmly Implanted in Solid Rock.

"Everyone therefore who hears these My Words and acts upon them, SHALL BE LIKENED TO A WISE MAN WHO BUILT HIS HOUSE ON ROCK. AND THE RAINS CAME, AND THE WINDS BLEW AND BEAT AGAINST THAT HOUSE, BUT IT DID NOT FALL, BECAUSE IT WAS FOUNDED ON ROCK."
Matthew 7:24-25
For almost 2000 years the rains and the winds of enemy and heresy have certainly beat against the Church which Jesus Christ founded. However, His Church is firmly anchored in Rock and has endured the worst of these Storms.

"And I say to you, you are Peter, and UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH."
Matthew 16:18

Non-Catholics charge that Peter is not the "rock" because the Greek word used for "rock" in this verse means a little pebble. Right away, it is obvious from the very beginning, that there is a translation problem here. Scholars have determined that Matthew was not written in Greek, but in Aramaic, and was soon translated into Greek, so we have to go to the original written language to find the true meaning of this verse.
Peter was called "Cephas" or "Kepha(s)" in Aramaic, by Christ in Matthew 16:18, and it means a large massive stone or rock. Christ said this at Caesarea Philippi,

Part 2
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church that Jesus Christ founded?

# Reason 06
We know because only the Catholic Church has the Fullness of Truth.

"I am the way, and THE TRUTH and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me."
John 14:6
Since Jesus Christ is the truth, then the Church which He founded and guides has all truth.

There can be only one truth. If all Christian Churches taught all truth, then there would be only one Christian Church. However, this is not the case, as there are literally thousands of Christian Churches today, with each teaching something different from the others. How can this be possible that each one of these plenitude of Churches has all truth? By reasoning, it is obvious that only one of these churches can have the fullness of truth. The trick is to find which one it is.
How do we find truth? We test for it.

"For whoever keeps the whole law, but offends in one point, has become guilty in all".
James 2:10
So we find the churches who do not keep the whole law, and by process of elimination, we can determine which Church has the fullness of truth.
I will pose just one test question which will eliminate 99% of the thousands of Christian Churches:
"So then, brethren, stand firm, and HOLD THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED, WHETHER BY WORD OR BY LETTER OF OURS."
2Thessalonians 2:15

Obviously, BY WORD OF OURS, means to hold the Apostolic traditions. Every non-Catholic church which denies holding of these traditions, is thereby denying parts of Holy Scripture.

# Reason 07
We know because it is the only Church which has the Authority, Given to it by Jesus Christ Himself.
Christ did not leave the world devoid of His voice.

"He who hears you, hears Me; and he who rejects you, rejects Me; and he who rejects Me, rejects him who sent Me."
Luke 10:16
If you reject the Church which Jesus Christ founded, you reject Him, and in turn, the Father.

"But if your brother sin against you, go and show him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take with you one or two more so that on the word of two or three witnesses every word may be confirmed. AND IF HE REFUSES TO HEAR THEM, APPEAL TO THE CHURCH, BUT IF HE REFUSES TO HEAR EVEN THE CHURCH, LET HIM BE TO YOU AS THE HEATHEN AND THE PUBLICAN."
Matthew 18:15-17
So, to whom did Jesus Christ give the final authority? Did He give it to a book? No, He gave it to the Church which He founded.

"But for the authority of the Church, I would not believe the Gospel."
Saint Augustine, Against the Letter of Mani 5:6

# Reason 08
We know because the Catholic Church is a Living Body.
As we read the Acts of the Apostles we realize that from the moment the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles (Acts 2:1-4), He has remained in the Catholic Church (John 14:15-18), which is the Body of Christ, to make it a "Living Body".
"For He is not a GOD of the dead, but of the living: for all live unto Him."
Luke 20:38
If we have a "Living Head" in Jesus Christ, we also have a "Living Body" in the Church, a unity which the Holy Spirit makes possible by dwelling in it and by distributing His gifts so it can bear fruit.

Every member of the Catholic Church receives the Holy Spirit, the Giver of Life, with the Sacraments. At Mass the Catholic Church lives the death and Resurrection of Christ, and it is in the Holy Eucharist that we find the "Fountain of Life and Holiness". Read 1Corinthians 11:23-30.

"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To him who thirsts I will give of the Fountain of the Water of Life freely."
Revelation 21:6

The Catholic Church works to bring Jesus to humanity. Scripture scholar Fr. Francis Martin wrote: "The Church is a Bride, and she shows to the world that her Spouse is alive by living by His power and receiving life from Him. If we yield to what the Lord has poured out upon us, His Spirit, the world will know that the Church is truly the spouse of a living GOD."

How does the Catholic Church make sure that it is a Living Body?

First through the Sacraments. We receive with each Sacrament, in our different capacities, the Paraclete, the Giver of Life, the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit there is no life.

# Reason 09
We know because The Catholic Church is the Mystical Body of Christ.
As such it is the visible hands and feet of the invisible GOD.
"If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were hearing, where would be the smelling? But as it is, GOD has set the members, each of them in the body as He willed. Now if they were all one member, where would the body be? But as it is, there are indeed many members, yet one body. AND THE EYE CANNOT SAY TO THE HAND, "I DO NOT NEED YOUR HELP"; NOR AGAIN THE HEAD TO THE FEET, "I HAVE NO NEED OF YOU"."
1Corinthians 12:17-21

"Because Christ the Head holds such an eminent position, one must not think that he does not require the help of the Body. What Paul said of the human organism is to be applied likewise to the mystical Body: "The head cannot say to the feet: I have no need of you". It is manifestly clear that the faithful need the help of the Divine Redeemer, for He has said: "Without me you can do nothing," and according to the teaching of the Apostle every advance of this Mystical Body towards its perfection derives from Christ the Head (Eph 4:16). Yet this, also, must be held, marvelous though it may seem: Christ has need of His members. First, because the person of Jesus Christ is represented by the Supreme Pontiff, who in turn must call on others to share much of his solicitude lest he be overwhelmed by the burden of his pastoral office, and must be helped daily by the prayers of the Church. Moreover as our Savior does not rule the Church directly in a visible manner, He wills to be helped by the members of His Body in carrying out the work of redemption. This is not because He is indigent and weak, but rather because He has so willed it for the greater glory of His spotless Spouse. Dying on the Cross He left to His Church the immense treasury of the Redemption, towards which she contributed nothing. But when those graces come to be distributed, not only does He share this work of sanctification with His Church, but He wills that in some way it be due to her action. This is a deep mystery, and an inexhaustible subject of meditation, that the salvation of many depends on the prayers and voluntary penances which the members of the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ offer for this intention and on the cooperation of pastors of souls and of the faithful, especially of fathers and mothers of families, a cooperation which they must offer to our Divine Savior as though they were His associates."
Mystici Corporis Christi (On the Mystical Body of Christ, paragraph 44)
Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Promulgated on 29 June, 1943

# Reason 10
We know by its Visibility. One cannot govern an invisible Church, only a visible one.

"No man, when he has lit a candle, puts it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light."
Luke 11:33

Jesus Christ said, "A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden."
Matthew 5:14

And in the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared on top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. And many shall go, and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the GOD of Jacob, and He will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths, for the law shall come forth from Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem."
Isaiah 2:2-3

There are many verses in Holy Scripture which refer to "The Mountain of the Lord", and of going up the mountain to the House of GOD, Exodus 3:1, Numbers 14:40, Psalms 48:1-4, Isaiah 2:2-3,
Isaiah 11:9, 25:6-12, 30:29, 65:11,25, 66:20, Jeremiah 31:23, Ezekiel 11:23, 20:40, Daniel 9:16, 20,
Joel 2:1, 3:17, Micah 4:1-2, Haggai 1:8, Zechariah 8:3, Matthew 5:14

Jesus also had this to say, "And if he refuse to hear them, appeal to the Church, but if he refuses to hear even the Church, let him be to you as the heathen and the publican. Amen I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven."
Matthew 18:17-18

How then does such an appeal apply to an invisible Church, and likewise, how is binding and loosing on earth applied to an invisible Church?

"As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." John 20:21
"He who hears you, hears Me." Luke 10:16
Clearly, GOD has established a visible Church in the service of the invisible GOD.

"From what We have thus far written and explained, Venerable Brethren, it is clear, we think, how grievously they err who arbitrarily claim that the Church is something hidden and invisible, as they also do who look upon her as a mere human institution possessing a certain disciplinary code and external ritual, but lacking power to communicate supernatural life. On the contrary, as Christ, Head and Exemplar of the Church is not complete, if only His visible human nature is considered…, or if only His divine, invisible nature…, but He is one through the union of both and one in both … so is it with His Mystical Body since the Word of God took unto Himself a human nature liable to sufferings, so that He might consecrate in His blood the visible Society founded by Him and lead man back to things invisible under a visible rule."
Mistici Corporus Christi (On the Mystical Body of Christ), paragraph 64.
Pope Pius XII
Encyclical promulgated June 29, 1943

Part 3

# Reason 11
We know because the Catholic Church is the only Christian Church which has always had a Visible Head on earth, a "Father Figure", just as GOD had patterned for His people from the very beginning, since the time of Adam and Eve. GOD always dealt with His people through one man.

"And Pharaoh (the King) said unto Joseph (a Father Figure), 'For as much as GOD has shown you all of this, there is none so discreet and wise as you are: You shall be over my house, and according to your word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than you'. And Pharaoh said to Joseph, 'See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt'. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck..."
Genesis 41:39-42

# Reason 12
We know because the Catholic Church is an Hierarchy* in its system of government, just as Jesus Christ had instituted. He is the Head, Ephesians 1:22, 5:23; we are the body, Colossians 1:24. The Head tells the body what to do. The body does not tell the head. Many other Christian churches are controlled by a vote of the body, as in a Democracy, which in turn informs the head of its decisions.
*Lumen Gentium III

# Reason 13
We know because as a living body, The Catholic Church Cannot be Confused or Separated* from its Head Which is Jesus Christ.
*Dominus Iesus, Vatican letter released by Cardinal Ratzinger on September 5, 2000

# Reason 14
We know because the Catholic Church is Jesus Christ Based. The Bible is Catholic Church Based.
The Bible is a Catholic book. The New Testament was written by Catholics. The Canons of both testaments were decided by Catholics, and the written Word of GOD was Faithfully Preserved down through the ages by Catholics.
All other Christian churches are Bible Based, with a Bible Taken from the Catholic Church.
Jesus Christ founded a Church (Matthew 16:18). He did not command anyone to write a Gospel.
The Word of GOD is a person, and not a book (John 1:1,14).
The Catholic Church is based on the Word of GOD alone and not on Scripture alone.

# Reason 15
We know because it was the Catholic Church which, in the fourth century, exercised its authority by Deciding Which Books of the Bible ARE the Bible.

"The Church recognized its image in the inspired books of the Bible. That is how it determined the Canon of Scripture."
Fr. Ken Baker

This also shows that the Bible came from the Church, and that the Church did not come from the Bible. The Catholic Church is the Mother of the Bible, not the Daughter.
THE BIBLE IS A CATHOLIC BOOK.

For those who deny that the Bible is a Catholic Book, the founder of Protestantism,
Martin Luther, concurred that the Bible is indeed a Catholic Book.
He had this to say:
"We are compelled to concede to the Papists that they have the Word of GOD, that we received it from them, and that without them, we should have no knowledge of it at all."
Martin Luther, commentary on St. John.

Isn't it strange that other Christian Churches have to admit (since they use the same canon) that the Catholic Church made an infallible decision when it decided which books of the New Testament are inspired and which ones aren't, yet these same Churches reject the Canon of the Old Testament decided by the same Bishops in the same Councils?

Part 4
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church that Jesus Christ founded?

# Reason 16
We know because it was the Catholic Church alone, which faithfully Preserved Holy Scripture down through the centuries, due to the efforts of dedicated Monks in Monasteries, who gave years of their lives to transcribe hand written copies of it.

# Reason 17
We know because the Catholic Church has always taught that The Word was Heard and Not Read by the masses for centuries before the invention of the printing press in 1450. There were so few written Bibles that they were kept in Churches and read to the people. Besides that, the great bulk of the masses were illiterate and could not even read the written word. Those who could read or afford a hand copied Bible were few. The cost was prohibitive, for each subsequent copy took up to twenty years of a monks life to duplicate.

The Word that is Heard, is called "Tradition".
"So then, brethren, stand firm, and HOLD THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED, WHETHER BY WORD OR BY LETTER OF OURS."
2Thessalonians 2:15

Contrast this with what Sola Scriptura advocates will tell you. They have said that there were thousands of manuscripts (for millions of people), and that the great majority of the masses were literate, and could afford to pay for the wages of 20 years work of one person. The secular history books of these time periods do not agree with this premise at all. There is no written record of the false doctrine of Sola Scriptura to be found before the reformation.

# Reason 18
We know by its Antiquity. The Catholic Church is the only Christian Church which can trace its origins back for almost 2000 years. All other Christian denominations can only go back a few hundred years at most for their origins. Here are the founders and dates of some of the mainline Churches.
They are in time line order:

* 30 A.D., The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ.
  Matthew 16:18, John 19:34, Acts 2:1-4, 1Timothy 3:15
* 1521, Martin Luther started Protestantism by forming the Lutherans, when he broke away from the One True Church that had already existed for almost 15 centuries.
* 1521, Thomas Munser, a Catholic priest, started Anabaptists in the same year that Luther broke  away. Protestantism started splitting within itself immediately. By 1600 there were 100 splits. By  1900  there were 1000, and today there are over 36,400. Where is the One Fold (John 10:16)?
* 1525, Mennonites started by Grebel, Mantz, and Blaurock in Switzerland.
* 1534, Henry VIII started the Church of England (Anglican).
* 1536, John Calvin, teaching predestination, formed the Calvinists.
* 1560, John Knox, who studied under Luther, started Presbyterians.
* 1582, Congregationalists started by Rob Brown, as a branch from Puritanism.
* 1609, John Smyth formed the Baptists in Holland.
* 1639, Roger Williams started the Baptists in America. They have since splintered severely.
* 1647, George Fox started the Quakers in England.
* 1739, John and Charles Wesley started the Methodists.
* 1770, Universalists were started by John Murray in New Jersey.
* 1774, Theophilus Lindley started Unitarians.
* 1789, Samuel Seabury started Episcopalians.
* 1793 to 1809, the Churches of Christ had four separate founders.
* 1803, Evangelicals were founded by Jacob Albright in Pennsylvania.
* 1830, Joseph Smith founded the Mormons in Palmyra New York.
* 1860, William Miller, a farmer, started the Adventists.
* 1863, Ellen Gould White started the Seventh-Day Adventists.
* 1865, William Booth started The Salvation Army.
* 1879, Mary Baker Eddy started Christian Scientists.
* 1879, Charles Russell started the Jehovah's Witnesses.
* 1875, New Age was started by Helena Blavatsky. *COL 2:8
* 1895, French Abbe, Alfred Loisy and English Jesuit, George Tyrrell started Modernism.
 Modernism was condemned by Pope Saint Pius X in 1907.
* 1901, Pentecostalism was started in the United States.
* 1914, Felix Manalo started Iglesia ni Cristo.
* 1914, Assembly of GOD was started by a General Assembly in Arkansas.
* 1919, Church of the Nazarene was started by a Union at a General
Assembly.
* 1930, Independent Churches of America (IFCA), a consortium of churches .
* 1934, Evangelical Reformed was started by Union at a General Assembly.
* 1952, L. Ron Hubbard started the Church of Scientology.
* 1965, Chuck Smith began Calvary Chapel.
* 1968, Disciples of Christ, separated from the Churches of Christ.
* 1974, Ken Gullickson started the Vineyard Christian Fellowship.
* Pentecostal Gospel, and other splinter Pentecostal groups, are some of the hundreds of new sects founded by mere men in the 20th century.

"Has Christ been divided up?" 1Corinthians 1:13
"Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it." Psalms 127:1

# Reason 19
We know by the indelible Four Marks which only the Catholic Church has.
CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) 813-822

# Reason 20
We know by its Durability. It is the oldest, and longest lasting established organization on earth by far. Many secular encyclopedias will tell you this.

"No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that resists you in judgment, you shall condemn. This is the inheritance of the servants of the Lord, and their justice with Me, said the Lord."
Isaiah 54:17
"So now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone. For if this plan or work is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of GOD, you will not be able to overthrow it.
ELSE PERHAPS YOU MAY FIND YOURSELVES FIGHTING EVEN AGAINST GOD."
Acts 5:38-39
I must ask you. In the almost 2000 year history of the Catholic Church, how many have tried and failed to overthrow it? What message, if any, did you get from Acts 5:38-39?

Part 5
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church that Jesus Christ founded?

# Reason 21
We know from the Writings of the Old Testament Prophets.

In 2Samuel, GOD prefigured the Church which the "Seed of David", Jesus Christ will found.
"And when your days shall be fulfilled and you shall sleep with your fathers, I will raise up your seed after you, which shall proceed out of your bowels, and I will establish His kingdom. HE SHALL BUILD A HOUSE TO MY NAME, AND I WILL ESTABLISH THE THRONE OF HIS KINGDOM FOREVER."
2Samuel 7:12-13
This is a clear guarantee of the Holiness and perpetuality of the Church which Jesus Christ founded, the Catholic Church. All other Christian Churches came some 1500 years after His crucifixion.
Isaiah, who so accurately predicted many things about Jesus Christ, including the details of His passion in Isaiah 53, also foretold, equally as accurate, details of the Church which Jesus Christ would set up.
"This is My covenant with them, said the Lord: My Spirit that is in you, and the words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your seed, nor out of the mouth of your seed's seed, said the Lord, FROM HENCEFORTH AND FOREVER."
Isaiah 59:21
This is a clearly stated guarantee of the perpetuality and orthodoxy of the Catholic Church.
"Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it. Unless the Lord guard the city, the guard watches in vain."
Psalms 127:1
What does this verse mean to you if you cannot trace the origin of your Church all the way back to Jesus Christ?
Jeremiah had this to say, one short example out of many.
"And I will gather together the remnant of My flock, out of all the lands into which I have cast them out; and I will make them return to their own fields, and they shall increase and be multiplied. AND I WILL SET UP PASTORS OVER THEM, AND THEY SHALL FEED THEM: THEY SHALL FEAR NO MORE, AND THEY SHALL NOT BE DISMAYED, AND NONE SHALL BE WANTING OF THEIR NUMBER, SAID THE LORD."
Jeremiah 3:15, 23:3-4
The Catholic Church feeds its flock the truth of GOD.
Daniel had some things to say also.
"But in the days of those kingdoms the GOD of heaven will set up a kingdom THAT SHALL NEVER BE DESTROYED, and His kingdom SHALL NOT BE DELIVERED UP TO ANOTHER PEOPLE; AND IT SHALL BREAK IN PIECES, AND SHALL CONSUME ALL THESE KINGDOMS, AND ITSELF SHALL STAND FOREVER."
Daniel 2:44

"And He gave him power, and glory, AND A KINGDOM, and all peoples, tribes and tongues shall serve Him. His power is an everlasting power that shall not be taken away, AND HIS KINGDOM SHALL NOT BE DESTROYED."
Daniel 7:14

These verses are a clearly stated guarantee of the impregnability and perpetuality of the Catholic Church. They are a clear warning against those who would attack her.

Micah added to the prophecies.
"And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be prepared in the top of the mountains, and high above the hills, and people shall flow to it. And many nations shall come in haste, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the GOD of Jacob, AND HE WILL TEACH US HIS WAYS, AND WE WILL WALK IN HIS PATHS, FOR THE LAW SHALL GO FORTH OUT OF ZION, AND THE WORD OF THE LORD OUT OF JERUSALEM."
Micah 4:1-2
This is clearly stated by Micah, that the Church which GOD will establish, the Catholic Church, would be a world wide teaching Church, and it would be set upon a Mountain for All to See, and that it would have the Authority to teach the Word of GOD.
It was upon a mountain, Mount Sinai, in which Moses received GOD's teaching, written on stone tablets (Exodus 31:18). This is a clear Type of the Catholic Church and its teaching authority.
Jerusalem as seen here is the New Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ (Jer 7:34, Rev 19:7-8, 21:2), the Church.
Haggai wrote this:
"And I will move all nations, and THE DESIRED OF ALL NATIONS SHALL COME; AND I WILL FILL HIS HOUSE WITH GLORY, SAID THE LORD OF HOSTS. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, said the Lord of Hosts. GREAT SHALL BE THE GLORY OF THIS LAST HOUSE MORE THAN OF THE FIRST, SAID THE LORD OF HOSTS; AND IN THIS PLACE I WILL GIVE PEACE, SAID THE LORD OF HOSTS"
Haggai 2:8-10
The "Desired of all Nations" could only mean Jesus Christ, and the Church He will build is the "Last House", the indefectible Catholic Church, greater in glory than what it replaced, the Church which will last until the end of the world (Matt 28:20).

Zechariah wrote this:
"Thus said the Lord of Hosts: I am returned to Zion, and I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; and JERUSALEM SHALL BE CALLED THE CITY OF TRUTH, AND THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD OF HOSTS, THE SANCTIFIED MOUNTAIN."
Zechariah 8:3
Jerusalem here is of course the New Jerusalem as described earlier. It is the Catholic Church which is the "City of Truth", and the "Mountain of the Lord of Hosts".

Malachi wrote this:
Malachi 1:11
He wrote a clear description of the Sacrifice performed in every Catholic Mass.

# Reason 22
We know because the Thread of the Catholic Church is Woven throughout Holy Scripture from the first book of Genesis to the last book of Revelation. However, the thread does not end with Revelation, for it continues unbroken where GOD's Public Revelation ended, and on down through the ages for almost 2000 years of richly recorded history until this very day.

# Reason 23
We know from Holy Scripture, as it is one continuous story from beginning to end. It is the story of GOD's Salvation History through a series of Covenants which He made with mankind. Each successive covenant encompassed a larger group of people until the last covenant, which included the whole world, the Universal Church, the Catholic Church.
"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you shall be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem (local) and in Samaria (spreading out) and even to the very ends of the earth (worldwide)."
Acts 1:8

# Reason 24
We know because it is only the Catholic Church Which has All of the Pieces to the Puzzle.
You might ask, "What Puzzle"?
All of Scripture and the story of GOD's Salvation History is likened to a giant jigsaw puzzle, an overall picture of GOD's plan for us. Non-Catholic churches have very large gaps in their puzzle with many pieces missing. Because of this they will never see the full picture.

Here are some examples of what I mean:

They are missing all of Church history, almost 1500 years, from the end of the Book of Revelation until the start of the reformation. The recorded history is certainly there, but they simply refuse to read it.

They are missing seven books and parts of at least two more, from Holy Scripture, simply because one man decided they should be removed.

They are missing many pieces of rich Apostolic Tradition, simply because when they separated themselves from the One True Church, they could not lay claim to it.

They are missing five of the seven Sacraments which were instituted in the New Testament and which were in use by the Catholic Church for almost 1500 years before the reformation.

They are missing all of the Saints and their wonderful works.

The Catholic Church has all of the pieces listed.

# Reason 25
We know by its Indefectibility, as shown in Ephesians 5:25-27.
(25)"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church, and delivered Himself up for her, (26) that He might sanctify her, cleansing her in the bath of water by means of The Word; (27) IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT TO HIMSELF THE CHURCH IN ALL HER GLORY, NOT HAVING SPOT OR WRINKLE OR ANY SUCH THING, BUT THAT SHE MIGHT BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH."

Part 6
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church that Jesus Christ founded?

# Reason 26
We know because the Catholic Church is The Bride of Christ.
Did you notice in the previous category, that the Church (singular), is mentioned twice in these three verses, and that Saint Paul referred to the Church as her four times, and as she once?
It is therefore befitting that the Church carries the title of, "The Bride of Christ".

"He who loves his own wife, loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh; on the contrary he nourishes and cherishes it, AS CHRIST ALSO DOES THE CHURCH because we are members of His body, made from His flesh and from His bones. For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh. THIS IS A GREAT MYSTERY - I MEAN IN REFERENCE TO CHRIST AND TO THE CHURCH."
Ephesians 5:29-32

"And the Lord Himself says in the Gospel: "So they are no longer two, but one flesh". They are, in fact, two different persons, yet they are one in conjugal union,... as Head, He calls Himself the Bridegroom, as Body, He calls Himself 'bride'."
St Augustine of Hippo, C.C.C. 796.

"Even as He chose us before the foundation of the world, THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH IN HIS SIGHT IN LOVE."
Ephesians 1:4. Compare this verse with Ephesians 5:27 as listed in the previous category.

"And the Bridegroom shall rejoice over the bride, and your GOD shall rejoice over you."
Isaiah 62:5

"Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the Bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the Bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then they will fast."
Matthew 9:15. See also Mark 2:19-20

"He who has the bride is the Bridegroom; but the friend of the Bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices exceedingly at the voice of the Bridegroom. This my joy, therefore is made full. He must increase, but I must decrease."
John 3:29-30

"For I betrothed you to one spouse, that I might present you a chaste virgin to Christ."
2Cor 11:2

Read the parable of the ten virgins and the Bridegroom in Matthew 25:1-13

Since the Catholic Church is the bride of Christ, can he be the spouse of other churches?
No, for just like us, He can have only one bride, for more than one would be the sin of polygamy.

# Reason 27
We know because the Catholic Church holds periodic Church Councils to settle disputes and problems which arise from time to time.

"Where there is no governor, the people shall fall; but there is safety where there is much council."
Proverbs 11:14

The first Church Council was the Council of Jerusalem in 49 A.D., as described in Acts 15:1-29.
A doctrinal dispute had to be decided and there was a debate, and the Primacy of the first Pope, Peter, was voiced (Vs 7). After that the whole meeting quieted down (Vs 12). The Apostles had composed a letter (Vs 23) in which they had written their agreed upon decisions in conjunction with the guidance of the Holy Spirit (Vs 28).
"The Apostles had spoken. The issue was settled."

Over the centuries, there have been many Church Councils from time to time. They are normally called in order to settle disputes, and the issues of the day, just as was the first one.
Now it is "Rome has spoken, the matter is settled."

# Reason 28
We know by its Church Council Teachings to the whole world in which all Christians adhere to in many respects.
It was Catholic Church Councils which have defined many doctrines used today by both Catholics and Protestants alike.

"Where there is no governor, the people shall fall; but there is safety where there is much Council."
Proverbs 11:14
"Designs are strengthened by Councils, and wars are to be managed by governments."
Proverbs 20:18

The very first Church Council held, was the Council of Jerusalem 48-50 A.D. (Acts 15:1-35), in which Peter said,
"Brethren, you know that in early days GOD MADE CHOICE THAT THROUGH MY MOUTH THE GENTILES SHOULD HEAR THE WORD OF THE GOSPEL AND BELIEVE."
Acts 15:7
Church Councils are presided over by the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, in conjunction with the other Bishops and...
"For THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WE HAVE DECIDED TO LAY NO FURTHER BURDENS ON YOU..." Acts 15:28
Here are just a few examples of doctrines which have emerged from Church Councils:
You will not find the word "Trinity" in Holy Scripture. The doctrine of the "Holy Trinity" was defined in the Catholic Council of Nicea in 325.
The "Nicene Creed", which is said in many Protestant churches as well as Catholic,
came from the Council of Nicea in 325, and was revised as to the wording it is today, in the Council of Constantinople I in 381.
The Canons of both the Old and New Testaments were decided by the Catholic Councils of Rome in 382, Hippo in 393, and Carthage III in 397.
The Catholic Councils of Ephesus in 431, and of Chalcedon in 451, defined the doctrine that Jesus Christ is one person with two natures, the Hypostatic Union.
The Catholic Council of Lyons I in 1245 defined the doctrine that the Holy Spirit proceeds from both the Father and the Son.

# Reason 29
We know because of Apostolic Succession.

"May his days be few. and may another take up his duties."
Psalms 109:8
"...And his ministry let another take."
Acts 1:20
"I laid the foundation and another builds thereon."
1Corinthians 3:10
"...you are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the chief corner stone. In Him the whole structure is closely fitted together and grows into a temple holy in the Lord..."
Ephesians 2:20-21

The succession of the Bishops of Rome, the Popes,
can be traced all the way back in an Unbroken Line to St. Peter.

# Reason 30
We know because of the Truth in Teaching Succession all the way from Jesus Christ to the Bishops and Priests of the Catholic Church to this day.
Here is just one path I will show as an example.

From Jesus Christ to the Apostles.
"As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
John 20:21
"He who receives anyone I send, receives Me; and he who receives Me, receives Him who sent Me."
John 13:20
"He who hears you, hears Me; and he who rejects you, rejects Me; and he who rejects Me, rejects Him who sent Me."
Luke 10:16
"But when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will teach you all the truth."
John 16:13
"For the Holy Spirit and we have decided to lay no further burden upon you but this indispensable one..."
Acts 15:28

From the Apostles to St. Paul.
"Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking also Titus along with me. And I went up in consequence of a revelation, and I conferred with them on the Gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but separately with the men of authority; lest perhaps I should be running, or had run in vain."
Galatians 2:1-2
Here, Paul went to the Apostles to have them confirm that his teaching was in tune with theirs.

From St. Paul to Timothy and then to the Bishops.
"...and the things that you have learned from me through many witnesses, commend to trustworthy men who shall be competent in turn to teach others."
2Timothy 2:2
St. Paul, in effect said: I have taught you. Now you teach others who will in turn teach yet others the truth which I received from the Apostles, who in turn received it from Truth Himself, The Word, Jesus Christ. This succession of truth is shown by the unchanging truth in the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Part 7
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church that Jesus Christ founded?

31.
We know from the hundreds of years of Writings by Church Fathers and Ecclesiastical Writers, where they professed the Same Beliefs then, as the Catholic Church practices today. Here is a small sampling of the thousands of writings which are available to anyone.

*Saint Irenaeus (140-202), wrote a monumental work called "Against Heresies", which is used by scholars even today.

*Eusebius of Caesarea (263-339) wrote 10 volumes of the History of the Catholic Church.
He covered Church History from before the birth of Christ until about 330 A.D..

*Saint Augustine (354-430) was a very prolific writer. He wrote hundreds of letters, essays, and books. I recently read his "Confessions", and it was almost like he had written it this year as far as the Church goes. In his vast collection, he had mentioned the Catholic Church by name over 300 times.

All of the writings listed here are available in the Internet, free for the downloading by anyone.

"To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant"
John Cardinal Newman

He who does not know history is condemned to repeat it.
32.
We know from the Writings of the Church Fathers and early Church writers, in which they said the Catholic Church is the True Church which Jesus Christ founded.

"You must all follow the lead of the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed that of the Father; follow the presbytery as you would the Apostles; reverence the deacons as you would God's commandment. Let no one do anything touching the Church, apart from the bishop. Let that celebration of the Eucharist be considered valid which is held under the bishop or anyone to whom he has committed it. Where the bishop appears, there let the people be, JUST AS WHERE JESUS CHRIST IS, THERE IS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. It is not permitted without authorization from the bishop either to baptize or to hold an agape; but whatever he approves is also pleasing to God. Thus everything you do will be proof against danger and valid."
St Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrneans, 107 A.D.

"We say, therefore, that in substance, in concept, in origin and in eminence, the ancient and Catholic Church is alone,..."
St. Clement of Alexander, Miscellanies, 7:17:107:3, 202 A.D.

"He cannot have GOD for his Father who does not have the Church for his Mother."
St. Cyprian of Carthage, The Unity of the Catholic Church, 6, 251 A.D.

"It is, therefore, the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship. This is the fountain of truth; this is the domicile of faith; this is the temple of GOD."
Lactantius, The Divine Institutions, 4:30:1, 304 A.D.

"But what is also to the point, let us note that the very tradition, teaching, and faith of the Catholic Church from the beginning, which the Lord gave, was preached by the Apostles, and was preserved by the Fathers. On this was the Church founded; and if anyone departs from this, he neither is nor any longer ought to be called a Christian."
St. Athanasius, Four Letters to Serapion of Thmuis, 1:28, 359 A.D.

"Christian is my name, and Catholic my surname. The one designates me, while the other makes me specific. Thus am I attested and set apart. When we are called Catholics it is by this appellation that our people are kept apart from any heretical name."
St. Pacian of Barcelona, Letter to Sympronian, 1:4, 375 A.D.

"We must hold to the Christian religion and to communication in her Church which is Catholic, and which is called Catholic not only by her members but even by all her enemies."
St. Augustine of Hippo, The True Religion, 7:12, 390 A.D.

"Yet it is a fact that the Church is called Catholic because it truly embraces the whole of that truth, some particles of which may be found even in various heresies."
St. Augustine of Hippo, Letter of Augustine to Vincent the Rogatist, 93:7:23, 408 A.D.

There are hundreds more by scores of writers.

33.
We know from the hundreds of years of authentic early Church Writings in which the Catholic Church is mentioned by Name, Hundreds of times.

I find it necessary to repeat what I have already said:
"He who does not know history is condemned to repeat it."
34.
We know because Jesus Christ did not command anyone to write a Gospel.
However, He did command that His Church would be a Teaching Church.

"And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church, first Apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly TEACHERS..." 1Cor 12:28

"And He said to them, "Go into the whole world and preach the Gospel to every creature.""
Mark 16:15

"And the things that thou hast heard from me through many witnesses, commend to trustworthy men who shall be competent in turn to teach others." 2Tim 2:2

Next to the public school system in size, is the Catholic Parochial school system. These Catholic schools can be found in most communities. These schools are unmatched by anyone in providing quality education at a much lower cost per student than public schools, and many Protestants and Jews prefer to send their children to them.

There are more than 30 Catholic Colleges and more than 40 Catholic Universities in the United States alone. There are many more scattered throughout the world. These figures do not include Catholic Seminaries which are numerous.

There is not another Christian church which even comes close to matching the teaching ability of the Catholic Church.
Many other Christian churches put their emphasis upon a book.
35.
We know because of the Consistency of Teaching of the Catholic Church for almost 2000 years.
The teaching of the Catholic Church has not changed, simply because truth does not change. The Church has frequently been accused of changing its teaching on several subjects. However, these accusations are unfounded when the facts come to light.
One of the main false charges that detractors like to reiterate is that the Catholic Church changed its teaching regarding, "Outside the Catholic Church there is no Salvation." (Lumen Gentium II,16)
Contrast this Catholic consistency to the inconsistency of what other Christian churches have taught.
Here is but one example out of a great many:
In the early 1930's, the Lambeth Conference of Anglicans condoned Contraception on a limited basis. Soon after, most non-Catholic sects followed suit, with each going farther and farther from the teaching of Holy Scripture. Many now wholeheartedly endorse contraception.

Part 8
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

36.
We know because it is the Catholic Church which Develops Existing Doctrine . This is in stark contrast to the charges of detractors that it is constantly proclaiming "new" doctrine. The Church has always taught that Divine Public Revelation was sealed when the last Apostle died. This is a truth. However, understanding of that revealed public revelation is a continuing process until the end of time, as the finite mind of man struggles to discern the infinite mind of GOD. It is simply a matter of a fuller and better unfolding of what GOD has revealed to mankind.
The Church calls it the Deposit of Faith.
"The faith once delivered to the Saints".
Jude 3.
However, the total understanding of the infinite GOD by finite beings is not possible.

"But when He, the Spirit of Truth has come, HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THE TRUTH..."
John 16:13

"GOD, who at sundry times and in diverse manners spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all in these days has spoken to us by his Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world..."
Hebrews 1:1-2.

There will be no more Public Revelation. Christ was the fulfillment of the law of the Old Testament.
Matthew 5:17.

There is only one teacher, Jesus the Christ.
Matthew 23:10.

The Apostles saw in Christ, "The coming of the fullness of time".
Galatians 4:4.

"What you have learned from me, commend to trustworthy men who shall be competent in turn to teach others".
2Timothy 2:2.

"You are to continue in the things you have learned and that have been entrusted to you,...".
2Timothy 3:14.

"In giving us His Son, His only Word (for He possesses no other), He spoke everything to us at once in this sole Word, and He has no more to say... because what He spoke before to the prophets in parts, He has now spoken all at once by giving us the 'All Who is His Son'. Any person questioning GOD or desiring some vision or revelation would be guilty not only of foolish behavior but also of offending Him, by not fixing his eyes entirely upon Christ and by living with the desire for some other novelty."
St. John of the Cross, The Ascent of Mount Carmel, 2,22,3-5.

See the Catechism of the Catholic Church, CCC 65-67

It takes many centuries to unpack the treasures and mysteries of Divine Revelation.
37.
We know from the Rock solid, Unwavering, Fidelity in the Teaching of the Catholic Church.
Earlier in the 20th century, just about all Christian Churches agreed on several points. They were united in being against Divorce, Contraception, Abortion, the Homosexual Act, Holy Unions, and more. One by one, many Protestant Churches are accepting some of these sinful practices despite the fact that these practices are all strictly against the will of GOD.
The Catholic Church has not, and will not, accept these things, as it, like GOD, is unchanging in its doctrine and will adhere to the will of GOD regardless what the secular world thinks.
The Catholic Church obeys the directives from the Head, whereas some other Christian churches bend to the will of the body.

"But JUST AS THE CHURCH IS SUBJECT TO CHRIST, so also let wives be to their husbands in all things."
Ephesians 5:24
As previously stated, GOD has guaranteed
Perpetual Orthodoxy for His Church.

38.
We know from the Infallibility of the Catholic Church when it comes to discernment, and in defining of the meaning of Holy Scripture. The Catholic Church has One single, authoritative source for the interpretation of Holy Scripture. That source is the Pope, in conjunction with All the Bishops of the world (over 3500), with All of them having impeccable credentials, and All speaking with One single unified voice, and with All under the guidance of the Spirit of Truth.
"Rome Has Spoken, the Issue is Settled".
Saint Augustine

Have you heard that there is a Spirit of Truth and a Spirit of Error?
"WE ARE OF GOD. HE WHO KNOWS GOD LISTENS TO US. BY THIS WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR."
1John 4:6

Contrast that with the other Christian churches (over 36,400 denominations), all interpreting Scripture as they see fit. There are thousands of sects, all teaching a different interpretation of the same Bible. Millions of Protestants see themselves as their own "little pope". This is precisely the reason why there is no unity in Protestantism, and why they have split the Body of Christ into so many pieces. A Protestant church in my area recently split in two because of a dispute over Scriptural interpretation. The Baptists have split yet again recently (they have scores of splinters as it is) over a dispute about the ordination of women. Methodists have split again over another doctrinal dispute regarding what they call "Holy (unholy) Unions".
The strange thing here is that all of these "little popes" say the same thing, "The Holy Spirit told me". Which Pope has the Spirit of Truth, and which "popes" have the spirit of error?

Who in Protestantism has the authority to adjudicate a Scriptural dispute between two factions?
Who in Protestantism can speak with authority in order to settle the matter?
Who in Protestantism truly has the Spirit of Truth?
Why is individual interpretation of Scripture even allowed in Protestantism?

For those who are not Catholic, and who profess to follow the teaching of Scripture, why do you ignore these following verses?

"This, then, YOU MUST UNDERSTAND FIRST OF ALL, THAT NO PROPHECY OF SCRIPTURE IS MADE BY PRIVATE INTERPRETATION."
2Peter 1:20
It is as clear as it could be, there is to be NO PRIVATE INTERPRETATION, of Holy Scripture.
Saint Peter's Epistle unambiguously warns, do NOT do it, and yet, non-Catholics do it regardless.

Here is another:
"In these Epistles there are certain things difficult to understand, WHICH THE UNLEARNED AND THE UNSTABLE DISTORT, JUST AS THEY DO THE REST OF SCRIPTURES ALSO, TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION."
2Peter 3:16
Wow! The last part is scary. Of whom did Peter speak here? It could not be the Pope in conjunction with the 3500 Bishops because, surely, they are not unlearned. They are also not unstable since they are implanted upon the Rock of Peter. They also cannot distort Scripture since they are, as a single voice of authority, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Saint Peter had to have been speaking about all of those "little pope's" interpreting Scripture for themselves as mentioned above.

Here is yet another:
"And Philip, running up, heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and he said,
"Do you then understand what you are reading"?
But he said, "Why, HOW CAN I, UNLESS SOMEONE SHOWS ME?""
Acts 8:30-31
Isn't this exactly what the Catholic Church does? An Apostle interpreted the meaning of Scripture for the man. Today, the Successors to the Apostles, the Pope, and the Bishops interpret it for us.
Yet in Protestantism, there is no one to show them. It is every individual person's private opinion.

Who faithfully follows the teaching of Holy Scripture in these verses, and who does not?

"The Bible is a supernatural book and can be understood only by supernatural aid."
A.W.Tozer 1897-1963

39.
We know because the Catholic Church Interprets Holy Scripture by always discerning it in Context, and by taking into account the Senses in which it was written, and by noting the Customs of the people of the time, and their Language of the day. The Church is also keenly aware of Translation Difficulties, which lead many "unlearned" astray and into Scriptural error.

The eleventh commandment, "Thou shalt not take Scripture Out of Context."
Never take a verse or two and the apparent meaning by itself without taking into context the verses around it.
Examples:
Protestants try to "prove" the legitimacy of Sola Scriptura from just 2 verses, 2Timothy 3:16-17. If they would only take it in context by backing up a few verses, they would find it does not mean what they believe it to mean at all. Read the link for the proof.

Matthew 23:9, call no man your Father is taken out of context.

1Timothy 2:5, there is only one Mediator is taken out of context.

"A text without a context is a pretext."

We should always take into account the Language of the day, the meaning of the words as they were written then, and not as their apparent meaning of today.
The language of that time period or era was very clear. However, enduring or undergoing several translations, has made the meaning less accurate and interpreting it today (modern era) may lose the basic meaning.
An excellent example is the Protestant present day mis-usage of the word "Brethren".
Another example is All have sinned, Romans 3:23.

Here is a prime example of using the wrong Senses of Scripture.
Protestants take practically the whole Bible in the literal sense. Yet, why is it when they come to
John Chapter 6, they say it is figurative, when in no verse is a figurative sense indicated?
40.
We know because the Catholic Church is true to the teaching of Holy Scripture.
It Does NOT Distort Scripture to conform to its teaching. Whereas, many non-Catholic denominations form their own teaching in order to be "different" from the others, and then they deliberately "twist" Holy Scripture in order for it to seemingly "conform" to their false teachings.

"In these epistles there are certain things difficult to understand, which the UNLEARNED AND UNSTABLE DISTORT, JUST AS THEY DO THE REST OF THE SCRIPTURES ALSO, TO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION."
2Peter 3:15

Part 9
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

.
We know from the sturdy, rock solid, Three Legged Stool upon which the Catholic Church is based.
Each leg has its place on what is called The Deposit of Faith. First, there is Holy Scripture. Next there is Holy Tradition (2Thess 2:15). Lastly, there is the Magisterium of the Church which is the authoritative teacher, interpreter, and protector of both Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition.
No two legs can stand alone without the support of the third.
During the Protestant reformation, the reformers broke with the Catholic Church, and thereby lost one leg, the teaching authority of the Church, the Magisterium. As a result of that action, they could no longer lay claim to the wealth of Holy Tradition. So they were forced to cut off a second leg of the stool for themselves, of which Christianity had been using for almost 1500 years.
They were forced to turn to the only leg left for them, Holy Scripture, which was taken from the Catholic Church, remember?
Since all that was left for them was Holy Scripture and no authority whatsoever, they invented the false man-made tradition of Sola Scriptura and declared Holy Scripture to be the Sole Authority.
How can you have an infallible book without having an infallible interpreter for it?
What is the purpose of the United States Supreme Court?
Where is the authority in Protestantism to settle interpretive disputes?
Who in Protestantism has the authority to do so?
Protestantism's one legged stool sways hither and yon, blowing with the wind of private opinion.

Upon which stool will you entrust your eternal salvation?
42.
We know because it is the Catholic Church which follows the teaching of Holy Scripture in that it is the Guardian of Sacred Tradition."

Does faith depend upon the reading of Holy Scripture? What does the Bible say?
"Faith then depends on HEARING, AND HEARING ON THE WORD OF CHRIST."
Romans 10:17

"So then, brethren, stand firm, and HOLD THE TRADITIONS THAT YOU HAVE LEARNED, WHETHER BY WORD OR BY LETTER OF OURS."
2Thessalonians 2:15

"Hold to the form of SOUND TEACHING WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME, in the faith and love, which are in Christ Jesus."
2Timothy 1:13

"And the THINGS THAT YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ME THROUGH MANY WITNESSES, COMMEND TO TRUSTWORTHY MEN WHO SHALL BE COMPETENT IN TURN TO TEACH OTHERS."
2Timothy 2:2

All of these verses, and a host of others, command us to heed to the Oral Word as well, as we guard and protect the written Word of GOD. The Oral Word of GOD is called Apostolic Tradition, or the Unwritten Word of GOD, as it is handed down from generation to generation. The Catholic Church has faithfully preserved the Unwritten Word for almost 2000 years. In the 16th century when Protestantism began, the reformers lost the teaching arm of the Church, the Magisterium and they could no longer lay claim to the preserved Apostolic Traditions, so they rejected them. They put them into the same category as false man-made traditions, and then rejected the whole category.
However, they invented false man-made traditions of their own, such as Sola Scriptura and Individual Interpretation of Holy Scripture. They simply declared the Bible to be the sole authority and if it cannot be found in the Bible, then it simply did not happen and therefore does not exist. Isn't it strange that neither their beliefs in Sola Scriptura, and Individual Interpretation cannot be found in the Bible either?

Here are some traditions which came right out of the Catholic Church and to which Protestants hold, as well as Catholics, and none of them are from the Bible:

*The Nicene Creed. Many Protestants say, "We believe in one, holy 'Catholic' and Apostolic Church", which is right out of the Nicene Creed. Some try to avoid using the word "Catholic", by substituting the word "Universal" instead, but it means the same thing.
*The word "Christmas", which is "Christ's-Mass". How could anyone be more Catholic every time   they say the word?
*The Writer of the Gospel of Matthew. A predominance of Christians acknowledge it was Matthew.
*The Writer of the Gospel of Mark. Almost all Christians say it was Mark.
*The Writer of the Gospel of Luke. Almost all Christians accept Luke.
*The Writer of the Gospel of John. Almost all Christians call him John.
*The End of Public Revelation when the Last Apostle died.
*The Gregorian Calendar, which we all use.
*The Date for Christmas, December 25, which all Christians acknowledge.
*The Date for Easter, which Catholics as well as Protestants recognize.
*The Date for Ash Wednesday, used by many Protestant denominations as well.
*The Ritual of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday, now done by some Protestants.
*The Date for All Hallows Eve, which is used by practically everyone as, "Halloween".
*The Season of Advent.
*The Season of Lent.
*The Canon of the New Testament, which all Christian churches use.
*The Catholic Liturgical Calendar, which many Protestant denominations follow.
*The Praying of the Rosary, now done faithfully by a lot of Protestants.
*The Veneration of Saints, by some, all of whom were declared saints by the Catholic Church. You will not find Saint Peter, or Saint Paul, or Saint Matthew, or Saint Mark, or Saint Luke, or Saint John, worded as "Saints" in Holy Scripture. However, all Christians call these persons "Saint".

How then, can Protestants ever say that Catholics should not hold the traditions when they hold so many Catholic traditions themselves?
*Then there are the first five books of the Old Testament, all written by Moses, who appeared for the first time in Exodus 2:2. How then could he write Genesis, except from Oral Traditions handed down from generation to generation? What about Saint Luke? He was one of the earliest converts. His name is first mentioned in Colossians 4:14. How then, did he manage to write his Gospel and the book of Acts, except by Oral Tradition? Read Luke 1:1-4. His prologue says, "..the Word HANDED DOWN TO US...". What is that if not by oral tradition?

Where in the Bible does it say the Word is limited to what is written?
43.
We know because the Catholic Church teaches that Everything is NOT in the Bible. Many other Christian denominations teach that everything IS in the Bible even though the Bible itself does not say this.
"If it is not in the Bible, it simply does not exist or it is not true", is what some have said.
However, the Bible itself does not, in any way, say that it is complete.

In fact it says there are many things which are NOT in it, and will be taught in some future time.

"Many things yet I have to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, has come, He will teach you all the truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He will hear He will speak, and THE THINGS THAT ARE TO COME HE WILL DECLARE TO YOU."
John 16:12-13
Here are some more verses which say everything is NOT in the Bible:
Mark 4:33-34, 6:34, John 20:30-31, 21:25, 2Thessalonians 2:15.

Here are some of the things which Non-Catholics accept, yet are not to be found in the Bible.
*The word 'Trinity'.
*The word 'Incarnation'.
*The word 'Bible'.
*The word 'Protestant'.
*The Canon of the New Testament.
*The words 'Sola Scriptura'.
*The false, man made doctrine of Sola Scriptura.
*The word 'Rapture'.
*The word 'Papist'.
*The word 'Popish'.
*The word 'Romish'.
*The age of accountability.
*Altar calls.

Here are some of the things which are not in the Bible and that non-Catholics reject. They reject them simply because they are all Catholic oriented.
*The entire History of the Christian Church from the last book of the Bible until the reformation.
*The Writings of the Church Fathers.
*The Canon of the Old Testament.
*The word 'Purgatory'.
*The word 'Pope'.

44.
We know because the Catholic Church has an "And" Philosophy, whereas non-Catholic Protestant churches have an "Either / Or" Philosophy.
P. Bible only, no tradition (except theirs). C. Bible And Apostolic tradition.
P. If it is not in the Bible, it is not true. C. All is not in the Bible And there are many other sources.
P. One Mediator only, no other intercessors. C. One Mediator only, And many intercessors.
P. Saved by Faith only, no works. C. Saved by Faith and Works.
P. Jesus only, no veneration for Mary. C. Jesus only Savior, And veneration for Blessed Mary.
45.
We know because the Catholic Church Does NOT Teach an "Ear Tickling Gospel".
Some other Christian churches teach only what they think their members want to hear.

"For there will come a time when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but having itching ears, will heap up to themselves teachers according to their own lusts."
2Timothy 4:3

The Catholic Church teaches all of the Gospel, and does not omit what is painful to some.

Part 10
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

46.
We know because the Catholic Church teaches that Our Salvation is NOT guaranteed simply by accepting Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior as some non-Catholic sects teach. We have been redeemed by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Salvation, however, is an on going process which involves our Co-operation with GOD. This is the teaching of Holy Scripture. Just think about it for a minute or so. If we are "saved", then we can do anything we wish with no fear of losing our salvation. This is a sin of presumption. What purpose then, do the Ten Commandments serve? What purpose would any church on earth serve? Did Jesus Christ die on the cross just so we could sin?
"He has commanded no man to do wickedly, and He has given no man license to sin."
Sirach 15:21
The question, "Are You Saved?", is an invention of Protestant Evangelical sects. Those who ridicule the Catholic Church for canonizing people as Saints, are in reality canonizing themselves when they claim they are "saved".
The on going process of salvation...

We were saved in the past:
Romans 5:1-2, 8:24, Ephesians 2:5-10, 2Timothy 1:9, Titus 3:5.

We are being saved now:
1Corinthians 1:18, 15:2, Philippians 2:12, Hebrews 10:14, 1Peter 1:8-9, 2:1-2.

We will be saved in the future:
Matthew 10:22, 24:13, Mark 8:35, Acts 15:11, Romans 5:9-11, 6:16, 13:11,
1Corinthians 3:15, 5:5, Galatians 2:17, 5:4-5, Hebrews 9:28, Revelation 21:6-7.

We can lose our salvation:
Matthew 7:21, 24:44-51, 25:31-46, Romans 11:22, 1Corinthians 9:27, 10:11-12, Galatians 5:4, Philippians 2:12, 2Timothy 2:11-13, Hebrews 6:4-6, 10:26-27, Revelation 21:8, 27.

"THEREFORE LET HIM WHO THINKS HE STANDS TAKE HEED LEST HE FALL."
1Corinthians 10:12

"...WORK OUT YOUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING."
Philippians 2:12

GOD created us without our co-operation, but He will not save us without our co-operation.
47.
We know because it is the Catholic Church alone which teaches the Doctrine of Purgatory .
Contrary to what detractors say, the doctrine of Purgatory is very Biblical. The problem is that they simply do not know enough about it to discern it in Holy Scripture. Also, they have tied their own hands by removing seven Canonical Books from the Bible. One key verse which detractors do not have is 2Maccabees 12:46 which says, "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead". Neither those in hell, nor in heaven need our prayers, for in the former they are condemned and in the latter they have achieved eternal salvation.
Those souls who are in neither place are the ones in need of prayer, for GOD has said, that nothing defiled may enter heaven, Revelation 21:27.
Catholics pray for the dead individually and in every Mass . There is even a special Mass for the dead called a Requiem Mass.
I feel sorry for all those non-Catholics who have died, as there is no one to pray for them.
48.
We know by its very Name, Catholic, which means Universal, all encompassing, all peoples, all teachings, all places, and for all time.
This is shown in Matthew 28:19-20, by the three "Alls".
"Go, therefore and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe ALL that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you ALL days, even unto the consummation of the world."
49.
We know from the Unity of the Catholic Church in the Family of GOD.
The CHURCH MILITANT which are those of us on Earth, the CHURCH SUFFERING which are those in Purgatory , and the CHURCH TRIUMPHANT which are those in Heaven, are all united in one family called "The Communion of Saints". When we receive communion, the Priest says, "The Body of Christ", and we respond with "Amen", meaning "So Be It". It is an affirmation of what the Priest has just said, and that we are all truly united in One Body of Christ, One belief, One Family, Uno, Union, Communion.

"I am the GOD of Abraham, and the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob.
I am NOT the GOD of the dead but of the living."
Mt 22:32, Mk 12:26-27
Does this sound like the dead are really d
We know from the Unity of the Catholic Church in the Family of GOD.
The CHURCH MILITANT which are those of us on Earth, the CHURCH SUFFERING which are those in Purgatory , and the CHURCH TRIUMPHANT which are those in Heaven, are all united in one family called "The Communion of Saints". When we receive communion, the Priest says, "The Body of Christ", and we respond with "Amen", meaning "So Be It". It is an affirmation of what the Priest has just said, and that we are all truly united in One Body of Christ, One belief, One Family, Uno, Union, Communion.

"I am the GOD of Abraham, and the GOD of Isaac, and the GOD of Jacob.
I am NOT the GOD of the dead but of the living."
Mt 22:32, Mk 12:26-27
Does this sound like the dead are really dead, or are they alive? GOD has told us we do not die.

"And behold, two men were talking with Him. And these were Moses and Elias, who, appearing in glory, spoke of His death, which He was about to fulfill in Jerusalem."
Lk 9:30-31.
Not only were these two Saints alive, but they spoke, and they even spoke to Him about future happenings.
50.
We know from the Typology of Scripture where the Old Testament prefigured the New Testament, and the people, and the happenings therein. The Catholic Church is well represented, but other Christian Churches are not.
The "types" of the Old Testament point to the realities of the New Testament.

Part 11
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded

51.
We know because the Catholic Church has Deacons, Priests, and Bishops, just as the Apostles had installed at the very beginning of the Christian Church.

"So the Twelve called together the multitude of the disciples and said, 'It is not desirable that we should forsake the Word of GOD and serve at tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of Spirit and of wisdom, that we may put them in charge of this work. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word'."
Acts 6:1-6
The word "Deacon" is derived from the Greek "Diakonos", which means "Servant".
Stephen was chosen as the first Deacon (Acts 6:5) and he also became the first Christian Martyr.
Acts 7:54-60.
"And when they had appointed Presbyters (Priests) for them in each Church, with prayer and fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed."
Acts 14:22
"For this reason I left you in Crete, that you should set right anything that is defective and SHOULD APPOINT PRESBYTERS IN EVERY CITY, AS I MYSELF DIRECTED YOU TO DO."
Titus 1:5
Each Church had its own priest then, just as it does today.

"And He Himself gave some men as Apostles, and some as prophets, others again as evangelists, and others as PASTORS and teachers."
Ephesians 4:11

"Let the Presbyters who rule well be held worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching."
1Timothy 5:17

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him bring in the Presbyters of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord."
James 5:14
"Take heed to yourselves and to the whole flock in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as Bishops, to rule the Church of GOD, which He has purchased with His own blood."
Acts 20:28
Did you understand, from this verse, exactly who is to rule the Church of GOD?
Luke wrote that Paul was speaking to the Presbyters (Acts 20:17). This is a clear passage regarding Apostolic Succession and that existing and upcoming Bishops would govern the Church of GOD. Also, it is a clear message that the Church of GOD on earth has to be a Visible Church in order to have visible people ruling it. How could visible Bishops possibly rule an invisible Church?

"Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus that are at Philippi, with the Bishops and Deacons."
Philippians 1:1
Does your Church have Deacons, Priests, and Bishops?
The Church which Jesus Christ founded, did then, and still does to this very day.
52.
We know because only the Catholic Church has a Valid Priesthood, which was created by GOD to offer sacrifice in perpetuality.

"You shall be to Me a Kingdom of Priests, a holy nation."
Exodus 19:6
These listed verses soon follow the rebellion of Korah (Core) against the Aaronic Priesthood in
Numbers 16. In reading the following, not only will you see the Priesthood in perpetuality, but the "Sacred Offerings" which prefigure the Sacred Holy Eucharist.

"...but the responsibility of the priesthood shall rest on you and your sons alone."
Numbers 18:1

"But only you and your sons are to have charge of performing the priestly functions in whatever concerns the altar and the room within the veil. I GIVE YOU THE PRIESTHOOD AS A GIFT..."
Numbers 18:7

"The Lord said to Aaron, "I myself have given you charge of the contributions made to me in the VARIOUS SACRED OFFERINGS (a 'type' of the Holy Eucharist) of the Israelites, BY PERPETUAL ORDINANCE I HAVE ASSIGNED THEM TO YOU AND TO YOUR SONS AS YOUR PRIESTLY SHARE."
Numbers 18:8

"You shall have the right to share in the OBLATIONS (see Malachi 1:11 ) THAT ARE MOST SACRED, in whatever they offer me as cereal offerings, or sin offerings, or guilt offerings; for these shall accrue to you and to your sons. In EATING THEM YOU SHALL TREAT THEM AS MOST SACRED; every male among you may partake of them. AS SACRED, THEY BELONG TO YOU."
Numbers 18:9-10

"By PERPETUAL ORDINANCE I have assigned to you and to your sons and daughters all the contributions from the sacred gifts which the Israelites make to the Lord; THIS IS AN INVIOLABLE COVENANT, TO LAST FOREVER BEFORE THE LORD, FOR YOU AND FOR YOUR DESCENDANTS."
Numbers 18:19

"...this is a PERPETUAL ORDINANCE FOR ALL YOUR GENERATIONS."
Numbers 18:23

"...DO NOT PROFANE THE SACRED GIFTS OF THE ISRAELITES AND SO BRING DEATH ON YOURSELVES."
Numbers 18:35
See how this ties with:
"Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily, will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man prove himself, and so let him eat of that bread and drink of the cup; for he who eats and drinks unworthily, without distinguishing the body, EATS AND DRINKS JUDGMENT TO HIMSELF."
1Corinthians 11:27-29
The Old Testament foundation for the Perpetual Priesthood was followed in the New Testament by, not the order of the Aaronic priesthood of the Jews (Hebrews 7:11), but of the Priestly order of Melchizedech, who was both King and High Priest, a figure of Jesus Christ.
See Hebrews 7:1-25.
53.
We know because only a Catholic Priest is Able to Act "In Persona Christi" , that is, in the Person of Christ (2Corinthians 2:10), as he calls down The Word with his word during the consecration of the Holy Eucharist, and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation .
54.
We know from the Mass, the highest form of prayer, which was instituted by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, Matthew 26:26-28, and which you will not find in other Churches.
"For from the rising of the sun even to the going down, My name is great among the Gentiles, and IN EVERY PLACE THERE IS SACRIFICE, AND THERE IS OFFERED TO MY NAME A CLEAN OBLATION, FOR MY NAME IS GREAT AMONG THE GENTILES, SAID THE LORD OF HOSTS." Malachi 1:11
The Catholic Church does offer sacrifice, a clean oblation, in every place. There is a Mass being celebrated somewhere in the world every minute of every day.
55.
We know because it is The Catholic Church Which Venerates the Crucified Christ on the Cross.
Most non-Catholic ecclesial communities have removed the Body of Christ from the cross and have only a simple cross of two pieces of wood. This is an absurdity and a contradiction. In doing so, where is the "sacrifice from the rising of the sun even to the going down and in every place", as written in Malachi 1:11?
Fr. Benedict Groeschel once said, "People can relate to a Crucified Christ, as all of us have crosses to carry. But no one can relate to a Risen Christ, since none of us has ever risen from the dead."

Part 12

How do we know that it is the Catholic Church that Christ is founded?

56.
We know from the fact that Holy Scripture tells us to Celebrate by Breaking Bread OFTEN, as the Catholic Church has always done in the sacrifice of the Mass.

"This is My body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Luke 22:19

"In like manner also the cup, after He had supped, saying "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; DO THIS AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. FOR AS OFTEN AS YOU SHALL EAT THIS BREAD AND DRINK THIS CUP, YOU PROCLAIM THE DEATH OF THE LORD, UNTIL HE COMES"."
1Corinthians 11:25-26

"As OFTEN as you shall eat this bread", does this ring a bell with you? It would seem to me that the word "often" means "frequently", does it not? Go to the end of the previous frame in which I said there is a Mass being celebrated every minute of every day, and re-read Malachi 1:11.

If you read what the Apostles said in several verses, that when they met, they broke bread.
Acts 2:42, STEADFASTLY in the breaking of the bread.
Acts 2:46, DAILY breaking bread.
Acts 20:7, WEEKLY in the breaking of the bread.

Breaking of bread is the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass. In most Catholic Churches there is sacrifice of the Mass at least once a day. Why is it then, when Scripture uses the word "often", and "daily", and "weekly", that some other Christian churches "break bread" only once a month, four times a year, or just once a year?
57.
We know because the Catholic Holy Mass is so Biblical.

*It was started by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper, "Do this in memory of Me." Luke 22:19
*It was to be on Sunday, the Lord's Day, "And on the first day of the week, when we had met for the breaking of the bread", Acts 20:7
*It was to be often, even everyday, Acts 2:46.
*We confess our sins to one another, and pray for one another, James 5:16
*We give thanks to GOD, 1Thessalonians 1:13.
*It has the Liturgy of the Word, Acts 2:42, Hebrews 2:12.
*The Word can only be opened by the High Priest, Revelation 5:8.
*The Priest, acting in Personna Christi (in the person of Christ),
is the only one who can open the Word, and read the Gospel. 2Corinthians 2:10.
*The entire Bible, except for some of the begats, is read and preached in the Mass over a three year period and then the cycle is repeated over and over again. Revelation 14:6
*Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, Luke 13:35, 19:38
*We say Holy, Holy, Holy, Isaiah 6:3, Revelation 4:8.
*There is singing, Revelation 14:3.
*United are the Church Triumphant, Church Militant, and Church Suffering, Revelation 5:13.
*We have an altar to offer sacrifice, Hebrews 13:10.
*We lift up our hearts, Revelation 11:12.
*Hosanna in the Highest, Matthew 21:9.
*It is a clean oblation, Malachi 1:11
*"This is My body." Matthew 26:26
*Behold, The "Lamb of GOD". John 1:29
*Those who are not in communion with the Catholic Church,
shall not partake of the Holy Eucharist, 1Corinthians 11:27-29, Hebrews 13:9-10.
*A collection is to be taken, 1Corinthians 16:1-2.
*Candlesticks are used, Revelation 1:13.
*Incense is used, Luke 1:9-10, Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4.
*Prayers are offered with the prayers of the saints, Revelation 5:8, 8:3-4.
58.
We know because during the Mass we lift up our hearts and participate in Heaven on Earth.
For a brief moment, time stands still, and we are immersed in the Mass as one body in the most sublime beauty in which a mortal man can find himself. That brief moment is eternity!
59.
We know because the Catholic Church faithfully follows its founder by complying with His command to Feed My Sheep (John 21:15-17). Jesus Christ is the Shepherd and we are the sheep.
To whom did He make this remark? He made it to Simon Peter to whom he had given the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew 16:19.
Catholics are frequently accused of being Bible deprived, but the facts are, that the priests and lectors of the Catholic Church read from the pulpit almost the entire Bible over a three year cycle, and have been doing so for centuries. The only parts omitted are some of the genealogies, the "begats". Consequently, every three years, all Catholics have heard almost all that is written in Holy Scripture.

*The Catholic Church feeds the person with nearly all of Holy Scripture every three years.
*The Catholic Church feeds the soul with the True Presence of Jesus Christ every day.

Name another Christian Church which feeds its sheep both in body and in spirit, as does the Catholic Church?
60.
We know because the Catholic Church still has, and will always have, Seven Sacraments, just as it had almost 2000 years ago. This is yet another example of the Fidelity to which the Catholic Church adheres in the teachings of Jesus Christ and of Holy Scripture.
For almost 1500 years there were seven Sacraments in Christianity. Now most of the other Christian Churches only have two Sacraments. By whose authority were the other five removed? They were removed by a Catholic Monk, Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism, who had no authority whatsoever to do so. Luther was rebuked by King Henry VIII for doing this, and his Chancellor, Saint Thomas More, tried in vain to get Luther to change his mind and reinstate them.

Baptism: Matt 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16, John 3:1-5, Acts 8:26-39, Rom 6:3-4, Eph 4:4-7.
Reconciliation: Matt 16:19, Luke 5:17-26, 7:36-50, 13:1-5, John 8:3-11, 20:23.
Confirmation: Acts 1:8, 2:1-4, 8:14-20, 19:1-7, 2Cor 1:21-22, Eph 1:13.
Holy Eucharist: Malachi 1:11, Matt 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-27, Luke 22:19-20, John 6:All,
 1Cor 10:16-17, 11:17-29, Heb 7,8,9.
Matrimony: Gen 2:18-24, 1Cor 7:2-8, Eph 5:21-33.
Holy Orders: Luke 5:1-11, John 1:35-39, 15:15-16, 20:19-23, Acts 6:3-6, 13:3, 1Cor 11:19-27,
 2Tim 1:6, Heb 5:1-5, 1Pet 2:5-11.
Anointing of the Sick: Mark 6:13, 16:18, James 5:14-15.

Part 13
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

61.
We know because the Catholic Church Baptizes All Persons regardless of age. This is unlike many non-Catholic denominations which do not Baptize infants. There is nothing in the New Testament which says that Jesus Christ excluded infants from Baptism. On the contrary, He commanded:
"Let the little children be, and do not hinder them from coming to Me, for such is the Kingdom of Heaven."
Matthew 19:14
"Now they were bringing the babes to Him that He might touch them; but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them (as some do today). But Jesus called them together and said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for of such is the Kingdom of GOD.""
Luke 18:15-16
The words of Jesus Christ in this verse express exactly, the practice of the Catholic Church.
"Amen, amen I say to you, UNLESS A MAN BE BORN AGAIN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT, HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD."
John 3:5

We are born with the sin of Adam, and the Sacrament of Baptism removes that sin and makes the soul pleasing to GOD. Scripture is very clear that all must be baptized in order to achieve salvation.
62.
We know because the Catholic Church Does Not Condone Divorce, in keeping with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Marriage, as a Sacrament, has been rejected by most non-Catholic denominations, and in so doing, they have accepted divorce as a way of life.

However, Holy Scripture, to the contrary, has this to say:
And there came to Him some Pharisees, testing Him and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for any cause?" But He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that the Creator, from the beginning, made them male and female, and said, For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? Therefore, now they are no longer two, but one flesh. WHAT THEREFORE GOD HAS JOINED TOGETHER, LET NO MAN PUT ASUNDER."
Matthew 19:3-6
Clearer words than those cannot be spoken than that last sentence, yet non-Catholic churches disobey and allow the splitting of the one flesh. When what is "One Flesh" is split, does it become, two halves?

What was the first covenant GOD made with man? It was the marriage covenant in the first book of the Bible, Genesis 2:21-25. Take a look at the last paragraph of the last book of the Bible in Revelation 22:17, and who do you see mentioned? None other than a Bride. I would say that GOD is trying to tell us something here, like marriage is very important to Him.
63.
We know because the Catholic Church has an Annulment Procedure which is far removed from that of divorce.
In the previous frame, the key words spoken by Jesus Christ in Matthew 19:6 are, "What therefore GOD has joined together, let no man put asunder."
What exactly does that mean? It means that marriage is a contract between three persons, not just two. Those three persons are, the husband, the wife, and GOD. If GOD joined the two into one flesh, the contract cannot be broken, except by the death of husband or wife. However, there are impediments to marriage where GOD would not recognize that it is a valid marriage, if it does not fit with his plan for creation. This is where annulments may be utilized.
The main criteria for marriage is a love for one another and for the begetting of children. It is in GOD's plan to perpetuate the human race. We become co-creators with GOD.
"Then GOD blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it."" Genesis 1:28
There are several valid reasons for obtaining an annulment. One of the basic reasons is when one party or the other thwarts GOD's plan by declaring that they do not want to have children. An annulment may be obtained by their not participating in pro-creation, which is God's plan and therefore, a man and woman have not become one. Other indicators are also considered and reviewed for the best solutions to be determined.
64.
We know from the many Wonders of GOD which we find in the Catholic Church, and which we do not find anywhere else

65.
We know because the Catholic Church is No Smorgasbord. There is no picking and choosing as you will find in other Christian churches. The Catholic Church is Christ Centered, not secular centered. How many times have you heard people say something similar to, "I moved from this church to that one, to another, looking for a church which fits me and my lifestyle"?
The Catholic Church is a no-nonsense Church which faithfully follows the teaching of Jesus Christ, and offers the sacrifice of the Mass. It is the Church of Truth that will not bend to the whims of its members. If 99% of all Catholics wanted to change a Church doctrine, it would not be changed if it conflicted with the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Part 14
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

66.
We know because the Catholic Church, and only the Catholic Church, has the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, Matthew 26:26-28.
It is the First Wonder of the World, the source, center, and summit of the Catholic Church.
It is GOD's greatest gift to us.
It is Really Jesus Christ giving His complete self, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, to us every time we receive Him in Holy Communion.
Scoffers and unbelievers from other Christian Churches insist that it is only a "symbolic gesture", and is not the True Presence. Let me clarify this by remarking, that they are correct in saying this if they are referring to their very own celebration. It IS only a "symbolic gesture" for them. They do not have the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the Laying on of Hands, the Apostolic Succession, of the Bishops which was passed on from the Apostles. This enabled the remarkable ability of the Priests to call down The Word with their word, thus by the power of the Holy Spirit, changing the substance of ordinary bread and wine into the substance of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

It is to be noted, however, that none of these non-believers have the authority to say it is only a symbol for Catholics as well.

I have asked non-believers, for years, to show me the "symbolism" in Matthew 26:26-28, and not one person has been able to do so. Jesus Christ did say, "This IS My Body", did He not?
It must be true because He said it.

"And you have not His word abiding in you, since you do not believe Him who he Has sent."
John 5:38

"The Protestant celebration can be likened to their reading the menu, while we enjoy the meal. "
A quote from Dr. Scott Hahn.

Where the True Presence of Holy Eucharist is, there is Jesus Christ. Where Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. The Holy Eucharist is the source, center, and summit of Christian life.
67.
We know because The Apostles Knew Quite Well That There Was No One Else to Turn To. The Truth was with Jesus Christ and His One Church.
"Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."
John 6:68
Jesus Christ had just finished His teaching on His true presence in the Holy Eucharist in
John 6:31-66.
In verse 53 He said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you."
The non-believers of His true presence in the Eucharist walked away from Him in John 6:66 (666?) and returned not. He did not recant His teaching, for in verse 67, He asked the rest if they wanted to leave also. Most non-Catholic ecclesial communities do not believe His words of John 6 either, and they too walked away. The Catholic Church believes the words of its founder, Jesus Christ.
68.
We know because only the Catholic Church has Eucharistic Adoration, an unimaginable heavenly gift from GOD.

"And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom..."
Matthew 27:51. See Exodus 26:31-34, 30:10, and Hebrews 10:19

"It is a sign that the Old Covenant GOD had made with the Jews had ended, and a New Covenant was beginning. The veil of the temple hung in front of the Holy of Holies and the Ark of the Covenant. It was forbidden for anyone to pass through it except for the high priest, and only he could pass once a year. It is a symbol or 'Type' of GOD's separation from His people. The 'Archetype' is the torn body of Christ. When the veil was torn, the barrier between GOD and man was lifted."
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.

"Since then, brethren, WE ARE FREE TO ENTER THE HOLIES IN VIRTUE OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, A NEW AND LIVING WAY WHICH HE INAUGURATED FOR US THROUGH THE VEIL (THAT IS HIS FLESH), AND SINCE WE HAVE A HIGH PRIEST OVER THE HOUSE OF GOD, LET US DRAW NEAR WITH A TRUE HEART IN THE FULLNESS OF FAITH...."
Hebrews 10:19-22

The unapproachable GOD of the Old Testament, has become the approachable in the New.

How many non-Catholic churches can say,
"Come, and draw near and adore the real Jesus Christ"?
69.
We know from the many thousands of Saints which the Catholic Church has produced. Whenever there is a need to combat heresy, GOD raises up yet another Saint to aid His Church. It has happened time and time again.
70.
We know from the perpetual Veneration given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of GOD, by the Catholic Church, since the very beginning of the Church. This is shown in hundreds of writings by Church Fathers and Ecclesiastical writers in every century from the first until now. The doctrines regarding her were also defined in Church Councils, and Papal letters.
Have you ever given thought that as a mother, she gave motherly guidance to her Son as He passed through His childhood?
In other words, she told the creator of the universe what to do and He obeyed her.
"And He went down with them and came to Nazareth, AND WAS SUBJECT TO THEM."
Luke 2:51.

Jesus spent 30 years educating His mother, but only 3 years educating His Apostles.
I am always amazed at the detractors inability to distinguish between the words "venerate" and "worship". Look them up in your dictionary. I challenge anyone to show me an official Catholic document which says that Catholics "worship" the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Here is what the founder of Protestantism had to say:
"The veneration of Mary is inscribed in the very depths of the human heart."
Martin Luther, (Sermon, September 1, 1522).
71.
We know because of the many dramatic Old Testament prefigurements of the Mother of the Catholic Church, the Blessed Virgin Mary, depicting her as the Queen Mother of the King, and of many other important roles.
If the King of Kings came through her to us, then why can't we go through her to Him?
Why didn't He come directly to us instead of going through her first?
If we wish to trace our heritage back to Adam, we all have to go through a woman to do so.

Part 15
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

72.
We know because Catholics Love and Honor the Blessed Virgin Mary whereas many non-Catholics constantly malign her.

Here is yet another instance of those who call themselves "Christians", and who claim to follow the Bible, but, in fact, do not:
"...for, behold, HENCEFORTH ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSED."
Luke 1:48

Let us examine this statement, made by the Mother of GOD:

The word "Henceforth", means from the time she said it and for all eternity.
"All generations", means every person in every century until the end of time.
"Will", denotes a command and not a suggestion.
"Call me Blessed", means just that.
When Catholics invoke her name we say "Blessed Virgin Mary". However, when we hear criticism of her from Non-Catholics, the word "Blessed" before her name is never invoked. It is always Mary this or Mary that. This attitude is in direct violation of a command from Scripture, and is indicative of someone who refuses to call her "blessed".

The founder of the Reformation, Martin Luther, had a great Love for the Mother of GOD, as did other reformers. Why is it that most Protestant churches have since rejected any veneration due her now, in defiance of the beliefs of their founders?

When you criticize the Masterpiece, you criticize the Master.
When facing her Son after death, I would rather hear Him say,
"Yes, My mother has spoken of you often."
Those who spite her are in danger of hearing Him say, "Why did you calumnize My mother?"
What would YOU say to someone who deliberately calumnized your mother?

"Let no one presume to hope for the mercy of GOD, who dares to slight or offend GOD's mother."
Saint Louis de Montfort
73.
We know because of the beautiful prayer, "Hail Mary", and of the Rosary which came from the Catholic Church.

Here is what the founder of Protestantism said about that beautiful prayer to the Mother of GOD:
"Our prayer should include the Mother of God . . . What the Hail Mary says is that all glory should be given to God, using these words: 'Hail Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus Christ. Amen!' You see that these words are not concerned with prayer but purely with giving praise and honor . . . We can use the Hail Mary as a meditation in which we recite what grace God has given her. Second, we should add a wish that everyone may know and respect her . . .
He who has no faith is advised to refrain from saying the Hail Mary."
Martin Luther, (Personal Prayer Book, 1522).

Why do Protestants of today ignore the teaching of their founder, who was the first Protestant?

You cannot say "Hail Mary" without having "Hail Jesus" echo throughout the universe. Fr. Corapi
74.
We know because of the Veneration of the Saints, who are all Catholic, and whom we admire as role models of holiness, sanctity, tenacity, perseverance, and of all the other virtues they may possess. The difference between a Saint and the rest of us, is that when they fell, they just got up again and kept on going. They never gave up.
We have been blessed with beautiful male and female role models. In a world of chaos and immorality, we are able to look to our older brothers and sisters, the Saints, for direction.
If you need a spiritual uplift, then read the Lives of the Saints. If you have problems in life, as we all do, then read how they handled the same problems. Why re-invent the wheel when you can gain from their experience, in resolving problems successfully? There is not a present day problem where a Saint had not experienced it before you.
Non-Catholics have missed a lot by ignoring the deeds of the Saints.
75.
We know from the Relics of Many Incorrupted Saints, whose intact bodies defy scientific explanation.
Scores of them can be seen today. One young girl who died in 1333, Blessed Imelda Lambertini, looks even today, like a Sleeping Beauty after over 667 years in death. She can be seen now in Bologna, Italy, just as I have described her.
How many non-Catholics have even heard of Incorrupted Saints?


Part 16
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

76.
We know from the thousands of Catholic Martyr's who gave their lives so that the Church may live.
"The blood of the martyrs became the seed of the Church."
Tertullian

From the very beginning, faithful Catholics were murdered for their belief in Jesus Christ. It is hard to imagine the courage that these people must have had to sacrifice their lives willingly for the faith.
+Saint Peter, the first Bishop of Rome, was crucified upside down in Rome in 67 A.D.. His tomb and  his remains are under the main altar of St Peter's Basilica in Rome.
+Saint Paul was beheaded in Rome in 67 A.D.. His tomb and his remains are in St. Paul's Church  in Rome.
+Saint Clement of Rome, Pope, was thrown into the Black Sea in 100 A.D.. His remains were taken  to Rome and buried there.
+Saint Ignatius, the Bishop of Antioch, was torn apart by lions in the Roman circus in 107 A.D.. He was the first one to mention the Catholic Church by name in his writings.
All of the Popes in the first 300 years of the Church were Martyred. With a record like that, why would anyone want to accept that position during those early centuries of extreme persecution?
77.
We know from the many authentic Relics that the Catholic Church has in its possession.
Among them are:

The Manger in which Baby Jesus was laid after His birth. Luke 2:7
The Relic of the True Cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified. John 19:17-18
The "INRI" inscription from the True Cross, called "Titulus Crucis". John 19-19
The Nails which held Jesus to the cross. John 20:25
The Lance Point of Saint Longinus which pierced the side of Jesus. John 19:34
The Crown of Thorns and the individual thorns from it. John 19:2
The Table used at the Last Supper is in St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome. Matthew 26:20
The Scala Santa, the steps which Jesus Christ ascended on His way to meet Pontius Pilate.
The Chains of Saint Peter, in the Church of St. Peter in Chains in Rome. Acts 12:6-7

There are many more which are not listed here. All of these may be seen by visiting the various Churches in which they are displayed. Many of these listed are on display in "Santa Groce in Gerusalemme", the Church dedicated to the Holy Cross, in Rome.
78.
We know from the scores of Eucharistic Miracles which have been manifested to us for well over a thousand years. These have been investigated and verified by both Catholic and secular sources and have been found to have no scientific explanation for these events. You will not find a Eucharistic Miracle in other Christian Churches founded after 1500, as none of them have a valid priesthood to call down "The Word" with their word. Consequently, they have only a 'symbolic' presence, whereas the Catholic Church has the "True Presence" of Jesus Christ.
See 1Corinthians 10:15-16, and 1Corinthians 11:23-30.
79.
We know from the plenitude of Biblical Scriptural History, which answers objections brought up against the Catholic Church by non-Catholics.
Here is a sampling of some of the subjects. There are many more objections to Catholic teaching answered on this website, which are not listed here...

The Biblical foundation for the Authority of the Catholic Church.
The Biblical foundation for the Family of GOD .
The Biblical foundation for our Salvation .

The Blessed Virgin Mary as The Queen of Heaven .
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The New Eve .
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The New Ark of the Covenant .
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The Mother of GOD .
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The Mother of the Church .
The Blessed Virgin Mary as The Immaculate Conception .
The Blessed Virgin Mary's "Other Children"???

The Biblical foundation for the Papacy .
The Biblical foundation for the Magisterium and the Pope .
The Biblical foundation for the Confession of Sins to a Priest .

The Biblical foundation for the True Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist .

The Biblical foundation for Purgatory .
The Biblical Foundation against Abortion . + Abortion turns a womb into a tomb. + One dead, one  wounded. +

The false charge that the Catholic Church teaches "New Doctrine".
The false charge that the Catholic Church is Old Fashioned and is too Rigid .
The false charge that Catholics "Worship Idols".
80.
We know because the Apostles were the Foundation of the Catholic Church, as mentioned earlier.
"And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church (singular), FIRST APOSTLES, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers;..."
1Corinthians 12:28

By now, we should be convinced that the Catholic Church is truly the only Church which Jesus Christ founded, and that all other Christian churches did not even appear on the scene until well over 1400 years later. All of the Apostles were long dead by that time.
The Catholic Church can lay claim to the Apostles as being Catholic, for many reasons:

A.
*The Catholic Church faithfully follows their teaching where other churches do not, as seen in many verses:
 The Church is the Pillar and foundation of the truth, 1Timothy 3:15. It is not the Bible.
 The Church is the final authority, not the Bible, Matthew 18:15-18.
 There is to be no private interpretation of Holy Scripture, 2Peter 1:20.
 Stand firm and hold the traditions whether by WORD or by letter, 2Thess 2:15.
 By WORKS a man is justified and NOT by faith only, James 2:24
 We must believe what He said, else we make Him to be a liar, 1John 5:10. How many deny His  words in Matthew 26:26? Show me the symbolism in that verse, and in what the Apostles taught in  1Corinthians 10:15-16 and 11:23-30?
 Everything is NOT in the Bible, John 16:13, 20:30-31, 21:25

B.
*The Didache is the teaching of the Apostles and it has in it the same things which the Catholic Church teaches, but yet many other Christian Churches do not teach them at all.
1. You shall confess your transgressions in the Church, Did 4:14, the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
2. Baptism by pouring water is acceptable, Did 7:3. Many other churches insist on submersion only.
3. Elect for yourselves Bishops and Deacons, Did 15:1. Does your church have Bishops and Deacons?
4. But on the Lords Day (Sunday),...break bread and give thanks, Did 14:1. This is Sunday worship, and not Saturday as some other churches insist on.
5. "Let none eat or drink of your Eucharist but such as have been baptized into the name of the Lord,  for of a TRUTH the Lord has said concerning this, give not what is HOLY unto dogs."
Did 9:5. This is the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. If it were not, how then could it be Holy? How many other churches do not follow the teaching of the Apostles on this subject and just call it a symbol?

C.
*The remains of all of the Apostles are in Catholic Churches, and so are all of the Gospel writers.
Note! Some relics are divided between Catholic Churches.

 St. Peter is in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
 St. Paul is in St. Paul's Church in Rome.
 St. Matthew is in the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Messina, Sicily.
 St. James the Greater is in St. James Church in Compostela Spain.
 St. James the Less (the Just) is in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles in Rome.
 St. Bartholomew is in St. Bartholomew-in-the-island Church in Rome.
 St. Andrew is in the Cathedral of Amalfi in Italy.
 St. Philip is in the Church of the Dodici Apostoli in Rome, Basilica of the Holy Apostles.
 St. Simon is in the Vatican, under the Altar of the Crucifixion.
 St. Jude is in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
 St. Thomas is in the Cathedral of Saint Thomas in Mylapore, India.
 St. Matthias is in St. Matthews Abbey in Trier Germany, and in St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.
 St. John is in the ruins of the Basilica of St. John in Ephesus Turkey.

"You are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets with Jesus Christ Himself as the Chief Corner Stone."
Ephesians 2:20


D.
*Even though he was not an Apostle, he did write the Gospel of Mark.
 St. Mark is in St. Mark's Church in Venice, Italy.

*Even though he was not an Apostle, he did write the Gospel of Luke.
 St. Luke is in the Basilica of Santa Giustina in Padua, Italy.

*The Three Wise Men, or Magi. Matthew 2:1-12.
 Their relics are in the Cathedral of Cologne, Germany.

*The first Christian Martyr. Acts 7:60
 St. Stephen is in Rome in the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls.

*The first person to arrive at the tomb of the Risen Christ. John 20:1
 St. Mary Magdalene is in the Basilica of St. Maximin in Villalata, France.

*He produced the first Bible containing both the Old and New Testaments, the Latin Vulgate.
St. Jerome is in St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome.

*One of the greatest Catholic theologians of all time,
St. Thomas Aquinas is in the Church of St. Sernin in Toulouse France.

E.
*Lastly, there is this very obvious reason. It is simply that the Catholic Church was the ONLY Christian Church at the time of the Apostles, so therefore they all had to have been Catholic.
There is not, and never has been, an Apostle in any other church but the Catholic Church.


Part 17
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded？

81.
We know because it is the Catholic Church which is the New Jerusalem as described in the Bible. The old Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Roman general Titus, and the destruction was prophesied by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24. Saint John wrote the Book of Revelation about 20-30 years later, and in it he describes a New Jerusalem...
"He who overcomes, I will make him a Pillar in the Temple of My GOD, and never more shall he go outside. And I will write upon him the name of my GOD, and the name of the City of my GOD, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my GOD, and my new name."
Revelation 3:12.
This verse is absolutely loaded with interesting details.
Who is "him" who will be made a Pillar? The precedent was set in Galatians 2:9 where three of the Apostles (meaning, one who is sent) were called "Pillars". I have already shown that all of the Apostles were Catholic.

The "Pillar in the Temple" is the Catholic Church in 1Timothy 3:15 as already discussed.

The Temple of my GOD, is the "City that is set on a Mountain that cannot be hidden", the Visible Catholic Church, as already discussed.
Revelation 3:12 calls it "The New Jerusalem".
"And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from GOD, made ready as a Bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold the dwelling of GOD with men, and He will dwell with them. And they will be His people, and GOD Himself will be with them as their GOD'."
Revelation 21:2-3
The New Jerusalem, the "Bride Adorned for Her Husband", is the Bride of Christ, the Catholic Church, as already discussed.
Doesn't GOD come down from Heaven to Earth during every Mass, when the priest calls down The Word with his word during the consecration of the Holy Eucharist?
Lastly, GOD is certainly present with us in the Catholic Church in the Holy Eucharist, during Eucharistic Adoration, and in the Holy Tabernacle.
82.
We know because the Catholic Church is Our Mother.* This is Why we Call Her "Mother Church".
*Lumen Gentium I,6

Since I have previously shown that the Catholic Church is the New Jerusalem, we can see from Scripture that the Church is Our Mother:

"But that Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother. For it is written, Rejoice thou barren, that dost not bear; break forth and cry, thou that dost not prevail; for many are the children of the desolate, more than that of her that has a husband. Now we, brethren, are the children of promise, as Isaac was."
Galatians 4:26-28

What does a good mother do for her children? She nurtures them. She feeds them. She tends to their needs. She watches over them and protects them as a shepherd watches over the sheep.

"And the dragon was angered at the woman, and went away to wage war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of GOD, and hold fast the testimony of Jesus."
Revelation 12:17
83.
We know because Jesus Christ Loves the One Church Which He Founded.
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church, and delivered himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, cleansing her in the bath of water by means of The Word; in order that He might present to himself the Church in all her glory, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish."
Ephesians 5:25-27
Since there are over 36,400 non Catholic churches, each teaching a different "truth", name the one which can claim "not having spot or wrinkle, and be without blemish"? Truth is ONE, remember?

84.
We know from the many Prophecies made by Catholic Prophets of the past.
"And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church, first Apostles, SECONDLY PROPHETS, thirdly teachers;..."
1Corinthians 12:28

It is to be noted that Jesus Christ, The Word, and the Son of GOD, was the last prophet of public revelation (Heb 1:1-2).
The later prophets have revealed no new public revelation, but of future events and happenings.
Hebrews 1:1-2 precludes any such claim of new public revelation as some attempt to do in a few non-Catholic sects, thereby showing that they are false prophets.

Beginning in the first century there have been prophets who have, with uncanny accuracy, described the times in which we presently live.
Just to show you that accurate Catholic Prophecy continues to this day, here is a comparatively recent example of one made by Pope Paul VI in 1968, which clearly has been fulfilled.
Do you know of any prophets from other Christian churches who have made accurate prophecies such as those on the above referenced pages?
85.
We know from the many authentic and verified Miracles in the history of the Catholic Church.

The Miracle of Fatima in Portugal was witnessed by over 70,000 people on October 13, 1917, and was well documented by the secular press. Over a period of several months, the Blessed Virgin Mary revealed to three children, the rise of communism a month before the communist revolution started in Russia. She foretold the end of World War I, and the beginning of a new and worse war during the Pontificate of Pope Pius XI. That Pope was elected in 1922, 5 years after the message was revealed, and he died in 1939. World War II did in fact start in 1938, 21 years after the Mother of GOD revealed it would come, and it did in fact start during the Pontificate of Pope Pius XI. The Blessed Virgin Mary had also foretold that the fall of communism was to come in Russia, but only years after Russia had spread her errors all over the world. These prophecies were all fulfilled, and beginning in 1989, the great and most feared communist USSR collapsed without a shot being fired, while the whole world held its breath. How could this have happened so painlessly and so bloodlessly except by a miracle from GOD? It was a clear fulfillment of the prophecy of Fatima.
Jacinta, one of the children is incorrupt.
The Miracle of Lourdes occurred in 1858. Pope Pius IX had defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854. When the visionary, Saint Bernadette, asked the Blessed Virgin Mary, who had appeared to her, what her name was, she replied, "I am the Immaculate Conception", and in so doing confirmed from heaven what the Pope had declared on earth four years earlier. A miraculous spring of healing water came from the ground and there have been scores of well documented miraculous healings from there as a result. To this day, millions of pilgrims go to Lourdes France every year to bathe in its waters, and the healings continue. Bernadette is incorrupt.
There was the miraculous appearance of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Juan Diego in 1531, in what is now Mexico City, in which she left an Image of herself on his tilma, a cloak like garment. This image exists to this day and has defied all scientific explanation as to just how it was formed. Cactus cloth like that on which it is imprinted, disintegrates in about 20 years, and yet this image, and the cactus cloth, are in perfect condition after over 450 years. This image can be viewed in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, where it is on display.
Read about the Miracle of Lepanto in 1571, a pivotal battle between a large Moslem force and a much smaller Christian force which prevented the inroads by Islam to all of Europe. This event is recorded in secular history books as well as in Vatican Archives.
A more recent Miraculous event occurred in Akita Japan in the 1970's and 1980's.
It is Our Lady of Akita.
These are only a few examples of secular and Church verified miracles, and there are many others. For those who scoff at these miraculous events within the Catholic Church, I must point out to the scoffers, of their unbelief in Holy Scripture, where Saint Paul clearly stated that they will happen within the Church which Jesus Christ founded. If these detractors refuse to believe in these miracles, then I am forced to comment to them, that they are simply in the wrong church...

"Now you are the Body of Christ, member for member. And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church (singular), first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly Teachers; after that MIRACLES, then GIFTS OF HEALING (Lourdes), Services of Help, Power of Administration, and the Speaking of various Tongues."
1Corinthians 12:27-28

I have not heard of Miracles such as these in any other Christian Church.
I have not heard of so many dramatic, medically proven, Miraculous Healings in other Christian Churches, as there are from Lourdes.


Part 18
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

86.
We know from the Many Mysteries within the Catholic Church which defy scientific explanation.
A Mystery is something that is not fully understood. It is something that baffles or is incomprehensible to reason. Science has not been able to explain the process in which these images were formed. However, science HAS been able to show how they were NOT formed, by artistry, painting, or photographic process, or any other process devised by mankind.
*The Shroud of Turin.
*The Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
*The Veil of Veronica.
*The Sudarium Christi.
87.
We know from the Many and Varied Devotions within the Catholic Church.

*Eucharistic Adoration.
*Benediction.
*The Holy Face of Jesus.
*The Sacred Heart of Jesus.
*The Stations of the Cross.
*The Five Wounds of Jesus.
*The Holy Cross.
*The Divine Mercy Chaplet.
*The Divine Office.
*The Divine Praises.
*The Immaculate Heart of Mary.
*The Rosary.
*Novenas.
*Missions.
*Retreats.
*Votive Candles.

These varied devotions are suitable for different types of people, filling their different spiritual needs, from the simplest to the deepest devotions available; the comfort of the Rosary; the faith of a Novena; the Spiritual stimulation of a Mission; simple words of love to God; and the most intense love given to God, daily Mass. And like little children, we say over and over to our God, our Creator, "I love you, I love you, I love you". This is no vain repetition, but a manifesto of unrequited love.

Most non-Catholic Christian churches do not offer any of these devotions. Some offer a few.
88.
We know from the Splendor of the Many Priceless Art Treasures within the Catholic Church, which has been for centuries, the patroness of the arts.

*The Sistine Chapel with the beautiful wall and ceiling paintings by Michelangelo.
*The Pieta by Michelangelo.
*The Moses of Michelangelo.
*The Transfiguration by Raphael.
*The Borghese Gallery which holds many art masterpieces.
*The Vatican has hundreds of priceless treasures, paintings, statues, mosaics, etc.

Many of the greatest artisans that the world has ever seen, dedicated their talents and years of their lives to doing GOD's work for the Church which Jesus Christ founded.
We see that the great art, in all forms and shapes, not only comes to decorate our Churches and the Vatican, but it is a recognition of the artistic talents that God has given to a selected few. The art represents what the soul wants to manifest. Writers write. Photographers take pictures. Painters, sculptors, and architects do their own to manifest their faith. This art within the Catholic Faith has been an inspiration for many to seek the Lord. The Church has a responsibility to recognize the hands of the Lord in these great talents, and to preserve their testimonies of faith. They represent the real "splendor", the one that comes from the souls of the faithful. Every artist offers to God the best they have. When the Lord asked Moses to build the Tabernacle, He asked for the best, and He got it.

There is not another Christian Church in the world which can even come close to the splendor of the art treasures within the Catholic Church. Where should such artistic beauty be found other than in the glory of the House of GOD?

89.
We know from the well documented Exorcisms which the Catholic Church has performed for almost 2 millennia.
The definition of an Exorcism is, "To drive out evil spirits by a Priest who is delegated for the purpose by a Bishop".

"Then having summoned His twelve Apostles, He gave them power over unclean spirits, TO CAST THEM OUT, and to cure every kind of disease and infirmity."
Matthew 10:1

"The Kingdom of Heaven (the Church) is at hand! Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, CAST OUT DEVILS."
Matthew 10:8

"And there came also multitudes from the towns near Jerusalem, bring the sick and those troubled with unclean spirits, AND THEY WERE ALL CURED."
Acts 5:16. See also, Acts 19:13-16.

Some Protestant denominations say that the Catholic Church was founded by Satan. I have this verse to offer to them in return.
"And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then shall his kingdom stand?""
Matthew 12:25-26
So if the Catholic Church was founded by Satan, then explain the Exorcisms of Satan and his demons by the Catholic Church? How is it that the Catholic Church has stood for almost 2000 years? I can explain this easily. The demons who are being Exorcised did not come from the Catholic Church in the first place, but from those sects which made this ridiculous charge.

Who, other than a Catholic Priest, has the ability to cast out demons? Who, other than a Catholic Priest, have you ever heard of who could do such a thing? What other Christian Church can claim successful Exorcisms?
90.
We know from its sheer Size and Rapid Growth, with over 1,057,000,000* (one billion, fifty-seven million) members, or one in six of the entire population of the earth, as of February 2000. That is an increase of over 40,000,000 (forty million), since December 1997, more than half of the total membership of the largest single non-Catholic denomination. In 2001, the Catholic Church grew to over 1,070,540,000* members, plus another 216,000,000* Orthodox. Bar none, the Catholic Church is the fastest growing Christian Church in the world. All of the over 36,400 various Non-Catholic denominations, collectively added, total less* than the Catholic membership.
For those detractors of the Catholic Church who say that numbers are irrelevant, they are in effect, saying that Satan is winning souls and that GOD is losing souls. They are saying that more people are convinced by the lie from the father of lies, John 8:44, than they are convinced of the truth of GOD, John 14:6. They have forgotten, or maybe they never knew, that Satan can only do what GOD allows him to do. I would prefer to believe that GOD is the greater attraction, wouldn't you agree?

What other Christian Church can lay greater claim to,
"Go, therefore and make disciples of all nations...", as can the Catholic Church?

Part 19
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

91.
We know because the Catholic Church is adamantly Pro-Life. It is the most outspoken organization on earth against the "Culture of Death" in which we live today. Pro-Life stimulates the desire to protect and promote the gift of human life. That also includes refraining from contraception, tubal ligation, vasectomy, and at the other end of the spectrum, euthanasia, assisted suicide, even the death sentence of criminals. These methods when used, preclude that life is unimportant and can be discarded at the discretion of others. Life begins when GOD creates a soul for one egg, and one sperm, as they meet in the womb. The soul is the life of the body. Why is it so hard to understand that life begins at conception? What causes the egg to immediately start multiplying its cells? Is it not life? If not life, then would you please tell me what it is? Does a "Lump of Flesh" have a heartbeat? Does a lump of flesh kick in the womb?

"...Thou shalt not kill a child by abortion, neither shalt thou slay it when born,..."
The Didache 2:2, the teaching of the Apostles.

"And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away My eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear, for your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices from My eyes."
Isaiah 1:15-16

The Catholic Church is persecuted from all directions for its unwavering stand against Abortion. The Church will never change its teaching against this most barbaric of all evils against its most helpless victims, the child in the womb.
Several other churches, which call themselves "Christian", have softened their stance against this evil. Some even accept it.
Supporters of Abortion call it by its satanic name of "Pro-Choice", while trying to mask its true name which is simply, "Legalized Murder". The people who are "Pro-Choice", are pitted against GOD and His Catholic Church, which is "Pro-Life". Which side are you on?
Which side do you think will win?
"A nation that kills its own children, is a nation without hope."
Pope John Paul II
92.
We know because of the People who have gone before us in the Catholic Church. We all stand on the shoulders of Giants, each of whom has made meritorious contributions.
*Doctors of the Church, the tallest of the Giants, and all are Saints.
*Saint Thomas Aquinas, called the Aristotle of Christianity. His many writings are studied today all over the world. His Summa Theologica is a benchmark for Catholic Christian truth in theology.
*Johann Gutenberg, a Catholic, is credited with one of, if not the greatest invention of all time, the movable type printing press. The first book he ever printed was a Catholic Bible.
*John Cardinal Newman, a convert from the Anglican Church is credited with many outstanding writings of his journey to the Catholic Church. He was not afraid to read the history of the Christian Church and when he did, he wrote, "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant."

93.
We know because of the Influx of Intellectuals into the Catholic Church. Studies have shown that well informed Protestants, who were previously vocally anti-Catholic, but who did not have a closed mind to the truth, are entering the Catholic Church in increasing numbers. All you have to do to see this, is to tune into E.W.T.N. and see how many ex-protestant ministers have their own programs or are guest speakers. These people are Bible Christians, who spent years in the study of Holy Scripture. Many found questions that simply could not be answered in Protestant circles. One big question was, "Where are the documents of the Primitive Church?" In their search, they found that the only authentic documents to be found were in Catholic sources, the Fathers of the Church. Once they started reading of the history of the Church which Jesus Christ founded, they discovered that it was the Catholic Church alone. They did prove to themselves that, "To be deep in history was to cease to be Protestant" (Cardinal Newman). It is precisely for this reason that Protestant clergy and teachers tell their own people not to read the Church Fathers and early church writers.

"For the wrath of GOD is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of those men who in wickedness hold back the truth of GOD."
Romans 1:18
That verse by itself should deter any GOD loving person from withholding the truth from anyone.

"...but wrath and indignation to those who are contentious, and who do not submit to the truth but assent to iniquity."
Romans 2:8

A thinking person who does not ignore Church history will invariably be led to the Catholic Church.
In contrast to the influx is the outflow of Catholics to other Christian churches. These people are the uninformed, who knew nothing of what they were leaving, or who had misconceptions of what the Catholic Church really taught. The numbers, however, show that the influx is much greater than the outflow.
"There are not more than 100 people in the world who truly hate the Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they perceive to be the Catholic Church."
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen.
94.
We know from the profound Proliferation of the Catholic Church around the world.
Jesus Christ said,
"Go, therefore and make disciples of ALL NATIONS...." Matthew 28:19
"Go into the WHOLE WORLD and preach the Gospel to every creature ." Mark 16:15
"...and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His Name TO ALL THE NATIONS, BEGINNING FROM JERUSALEM." Luke 24:47
He commanded Peter, the first Bishop of Rome, the first Pope, to feed His sheep, in John 21:15-17.
He told His Apostles to be witnesses for Him, "...TO THE VERY ENDS OF THE EARTH" in
Acts 1:8.

The Catholic Church can be found in almost every country in the world today, far more countries in number than any other Christian Church.
95.
We know by its vast array of Services of Help.
"And GOD indeed has placed some in the Church, first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that Miracles, then Gifts of Healing, SERVICES OF HELP..."
1Corinthians 12:28

The Catholic Church offers more of these Services than any other Christian Church and they are scattered all over the world. Here are just a few examples:

Catholic Hospitals.

Catholic Relief Services

Catholic Food Services for the poor, such as Loaves and Fishes.

The Saint Vincent de Paul Society.

Orphanages

The Knights of Columbus.

The Legion of Mary.

Many diverse Missionaries, such as Maryknoll, in many countries.

I am sure you have heard of Boystown in Nebraska which was started by Fr. Flanagan in the 1930's. There are now Boystowns in many other countries of the world, and their mission is to provide homes for thousands of boys and girls who have no home at all.

The Congregation of the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's group, who in themselves are in many places of the world. Who in the world does not know of Mother Teresa? Name one group from another Christian Church which has done more for the worst of the` destitute than this one?

How does your church compare in their services of Help?


Part 20

How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

96.
We know from the Obvious Visible Manifestations of GOD's Work in the Catholic Church.
GOD's Recipe:
Take one uneducated, and almost crippled Franciscan Nun who knew absolutely nothing of what  she would be called to do, and who claimed she worked hard for her "F's" in school.
Add a starting fund of much less than $500.00.
Endow her with perseverance and tenacity.
Teach her that success comes in "Cans", and not "Can'ts".
Give her the ability to attract people who know what they are doing.
Stir well.
Add GOD's growth "yeast".
The final result is the Eternal Word Television Network.... E.W.T.N..

"The heavens tell the glory of GOD, and the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. Day to day pours forth His Word, night to night sends out this knowledge. There is no speech and no utterance whose sound may not be heard: INTO ALL THE EARTH THEIR SOUND GOES FORTH, AND UNTO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD THEIR TIDINGS."
Psalms 19:2-5

"All you inhabitants of the world, who dwell on the earth, when the sign shall be lifted up on the Mountains YOU SHALL SEE, AND YOU SHALL HEAR THE SOUND OF THE TRUMPET."
Isaiah 18:3

"Come near, you Gentiles, and hear, and harken you people. LET THE EARTH HEAR, AND ALL THAT IS THEREIN, THE WORLD, AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES FORTH OUT OF IT."
Isaiah 34:1

"And this Gospel of the kingdom SHALL BE PREACHED TO THE WHOLE WORLD, FOR A WITNESS TO ALL NATIONS, and then will come the end."
Matthew 24:14

"Have they not heard? Yes indeed, THEIR VOICE HAS GONE FORTH INTO ALL THE EARTH, AND THEIR WORDS UNTO THE ENDS OF THE WORLD."
Romans 10:18

"...Of that hope you have heard in THE WORD OF THE GOSPEL TRUTH WHICH HAS REACHED YOU, EVEN AS IT IS IN THE WHOLE WORLD, BOTH BEARING FRUIT AND GROWING., just as it does among you since the day that you heard and recognized the grace of GOD in truth."
Colossians 1:5-6

"Only you must remain firmly founded in the faith and steadfast and not withdrawing from the hope of the GOSPEL WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD. IT HAS BEEN PREACHED TO EVERY CREATURE UNDER HEAVEN..."
Colossians 1:24

E.W.T.N. has seven satellites which girdle the globe. It reaches Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, Australia, and Oceania.
E.W.T.N. is not just a television network. It is a world wide media network.
There is W.E.W.N., EWTN's system of short wave radio which reaches people all over the world who do not have television.
There is E.W.T.N. AM and FM radio.
There is EWTN.COM, the world wide Internet connection which carries the same programming.

All of the Biblical prophecies listed above have been fulfilled by this feisty,
"Nothing but the best for GOD", Franciscan Nun, whose name is Mother Angelica.
With all of this, practically every person in the world can be reached. Mother Angelica has said,
"We are going to come through one way or another".

Name another Christian church that can compare with what Mother Angelica has done?

Many recent visionaries have said that when (and if) certain predictions happen, the whole world will be able to witness them at the same time. E.W.T.N. could very well be the vehicle to do this.
97.
We know from the scores of Religious Orders within the Catholic Church, each with its own specific mission, whether it be feeding the poor, tending to the sick, aiding unwed mothers, caring for the elderly, aiding the homeless, disaster relief, teaching the faith, and many other worthwhile causes.
disaster relief, teaching the faith, and many other worthwhile causes.
98.
We know because the Catholic Church "Never Ceases to Send Heralds of the Gospel Until Each Time as the Infant Churches are Fully Established, and Can Themselves Continue the Work of Evangelization."
Lumen Gentium II,17

There are Catholic Missionaries which are sent all over the world and it seems that a day does not go by without a report of one or more being martyred.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world."
Matthew 28:19-20

Did you notice the order of business in these two verses?
First, make disciples.
Second, Baptize them.
Third, teach them ALL that Christ has commanded.
99.
We know from the many very large and beautiful Cathedrals, Basilicas, Shrines, and Churches throughout the world. Saint Peter's in Rome is the largest Church on earth, and it is only one of four major Basilicas in Rome. The other three are, Saint Paul's Outside the Walls, Saint John Lateran, and Saint Mary Major. There are several minor Basilicas as well, such as Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls. The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C. is the largest Church in the United States.
There is no other non-Catholic Christian denomination that even comes close to the sheer size, number, and beauty of Catholic Churches. This is in spite of the documented facts that King Henry VIII, Luther, Calvin and other reformers, confiscated Catholic Churches, and Protestantism still holds many of them today.
100.
We know by its Incredible Diversity. There is no other organization on earth which can match the Catholic Church in this respect, with so many Classes from kings to peasants, so many Nationalities, so many Cultures, so many Races, so many Customs, and so many Languages and Dialects. All of these variances are blended together everywhere, seamlessly, in the Catholic Mass. It is the same the world over. How can this be explained other than it is the work of GOD?
The Catholic Church certainly has fulfilled the commands given to her, the Bride, by her Originator, Founder, and Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ in:
Matthew 28:19-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-49, John 21:15-17, and Acts1:8.


Part 21
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

101.
We know from the Incredible Numbers of the Faithful who Flock to see the Holy Father, the Pope, no matter where in the world he visits. The numbers range from the hundreds of thousands into the millions every time. There is such an outpouring of love for him, the world over. When he visited the Philippines, they numbered 5 million in Manila, in Paris 3 million, and in Rome in August 2000, the largest gathering ever in Italy, estimated to be 2.5 to 3 million.
102.
We know because the Tiny Seed, the Acorn of the Primitive Catholic Church, planted by Jesus Christ and nurtured by the Apostles and their Successors, did Grow into the magnificent and majestic oak tree, which is the Catholic Church of today.
"The Kingdom of Heaven (the Church which Jesus Christ founded) is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. This indeed is the smallest of all of the seeds; but when it grows up it is larger than any herb and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and dwell in its branches."
Matthew 13:31-32

We do not begin life in an adult stage, but slowly evolve from an infant, while gaining in knowledge and strength, over time.
Likewise, for the Church, as previously noted:
It takes many centuries to unpack the treasures and mysteries of Divine Revelation.

"I have planted, Apollos watered, but GOD has given the growth."
1Corinthians 3:6

The oak tree has all of the qualities of the acorn,
but the acorn does not have all the qualities of the oak tree.




103.
We know by the Incredible Openness of the Catholic Church.
"Therefore do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known."
Matthew 10:26
Archives and historical records regarding the Catholic Church are readily available for all to see. They can be researched by anyone through the Catholic Encyclopedia, University Libraries, even The Catholic Church invites anyone and everyone to peruse and research this vast wealth of information. There are literally thousands and thousands of documents made available for public use ranging from the first century until now.
If you wish to learn what the Catholic Church teaches, to whom do you go?
If you wish to buy a new Ford, do you go to a Chevrolet dealer? What is the Chevrolet dealer going to tell you about Fords? You will not learn the truth about them, that's for sure.
Why then do Protestants fail to go to the source, the Catholic Church itself, to learn the truth of what it teaches? Why do they, instead, listen to detractors bad mouthing it, and then believe what they have heard or read, without ever going to the source to research for themselves as to which side is telling the truth? The writings of the Church Fathers are a veritable gold mine of information of the history of Christianity. I find their writings to be most fascinating reading. Errors of the past are revealed. The truth of the teachings of Christ are made manifest. Why would anyone want to repeat the mistakes of the past? However, some Protestants will never read what the Fathers had to say, simply because they are told not to do so by others in their church.
What a pity. What a waste!
104.
We know because, in addition to the Holy Bible, the Church has given to us the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). This comprehensive work contains the teaching of the Church for all to see. It has fast become one of the most sought after references ever written. It is for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. When someone wishes to know what the Catholic Church teaches, then they should go only to the source of that teaching and purchase a Catholic Catechism. It makes no sense at all to go to a non-Catholic source to find out what the Catholic Church teaches. Would you go to a Ford dealer to learn about Chevrolets? What would they tell you if you did? What would non-Catholics tell you about the Catholic Church?
105.
We know because the Catholic Church Has the Answers and Can Back Them With Documents.
I have provided hundreds of Bible verses and references of official documents to back up what I have said in this file, and through the links which I have provided. The Vatican Archives contain the largest collection of authentic Christian documentation in the world.
When detractors make false charges against the Catholic Church, I always ask for their documents to "prove" their charges. Not surprisingly, they never seem to have any. However, Catholics can provide them with many historical and contemporary documents to back up what they have said. Truth can always be backed up by authentic documentation, false charges cannot.


Part 22
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

106.
We know because of the Religious Freedom of the Catholic Church.
Have you noticed in the Gospels, that Jesus Christ never did argue with anyone who disagreed with His teaching? One of the best examples of this is in the Gospel of John. The Jews (representing us) did not agree with His teaching of His "True Presence" in the Holy Eucharist. They revolted, as in
John 6:66 (666?) and simply walked away from Him. Did He call them back? No, as he would have let them all go as He said in John 6:67, "Will you also go away?".
The Catholic Church also follows in the footsteps of its founder by saying the same,
"Here is the Truth. If you cannot accept it, then so be it."

We are all admonished to seek the truth, and if we refuse to do so,
then we will have all eternity to pay for it.

"...but wrath and indignation to those who are contentious, and who do NOT submit to the truth but assent to iniquity."
Romans 2:8

"Wherefore, put away lying and speak truth each one with his neighbor, because we are members of one another."
Ephesians 4:25

"...And there shall not enter into it (heaven) anything defiled, nor he who practices abomination and falsehood, but those only who are written in the book of life of the Lamb."
Revelation 21:27

There you have it. Each of us is obligated to seek the truth for ourselves. That is the meaning of Religious Freedom, and is the teaching of the Catholic Church.
When I wanted to know what Protestant and Cultic denominations taught, I obtained their materials, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Mormon, Jehovah Witness, etc, and I read from the source what they taught. I had the freedom in my Church to do that.
However, many denominations tell their flocks that their doctrines are the only truth, and they are cautioned not to read material from other churches, by using the excuse that,
"You will become corrupted, you must believe what we say and not seek elsewhere."
This is nothing but mind control, and it certainly is not Religious Freedom.

We are all looking for the True Church and when we have found it:
"You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free."
John 8:32

If you deny the truth, then you will perish. See 2Thess 2:9-12

Do you have the freedom in your church to search for the truth, or are you trapped in a mind control situation where you must believe everything they tell you, and read only their own materials?
Do you have Religious Freedom as we have in the Catholic Church?
107.
We know because of the Ecumenical Efforts of the Catholic Church to Unite All Christianity into One, in obeyance of the words of Jesus Christ.

"And other sheep I have that are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, AND THERE SHALL BE ONE FOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD."
John 10:16

It cannot be denied that the Church has been reaching out to all of our separated brethren in an effort to bring all of Christianity together.
One only has to look at the scores of trips Pope John Paul II has made all over the world in the name of unity. He has reached out to Orthodox, Protestants, Jews, Islam, and others.

Have you noticed any non-Catholic Church attempting to do the same?
108.
We know because The Holy Spirit Dwells Within the Catholic Church.
I have already shown that the Bible is a Catholic Book .
I have already shown that all of the Apostles and New Testament writers are Catholic.
Here is a verse for which the Apostles confirm the indwelling of the Holy Spirit:
"For THE HOLY SPIRIT AND WE HAVE DECIDED to lay no further burden upon you but this indispensable one...".
Acts 15:28

"And we are witnesses of these things, AND SO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM."
Acts 5:32

"Now throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria the Church was in peace and was being built up, walking in fear of the Lord, AND IT WAS FILLED WITH THE CONSOLATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT."
Acts 9:31
109.
We know because the Pillar and Foundation of Truth Has Said So. (Lumen Gentium I,8)
The Catholic Church cannot silence the truth, for if it did, it would be a sin of commission, nor can it stand by in silence when it sees error being dispensed, for that would be a sin of omission. World wide error was in fact dispensed, when the United Nations announced that all of the worlds religions are equal. The Church almost immediately responded with the document, Dominus Iesus ,
"On The Unicity And Salvific Universality Of Jesus Christ And The Church".
Despite the fact that there was non-Catholic criticism of this document, there is nothing new in it but a re-iteration of what the Church has always taught.
It is a simple thing to ask, "What would Jesus Christ do in this situation?"
He would most certainly speak out, as many New Testament verses attest that He did just that when He saw error. By its very actions, the Catholic Church follows in the footsteps of its Holy founder, by its imitation of Christ.
110.
We know because, "Just as there is One Christ, so There Exists a Single Body of Christ: a Single Catholic and Apostolic Church."*
*Dominus Iesus

Using our intellect and common sense, it stands to reason that there is only one GOD, and in Him there is only One Church, which teaches only One truth, and has only One Baptism.

"One body and one Spirit, even as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one Baptism; one GOD and Father of all, who is above all, and throughout all, and in us all."
Ephesians 4:4-6


Part 23
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

111.
We know because it is a simple matter of using Common Sense and Our Human Reasoning Ability.
Some people try very hard to complicate the Word of GOD, but it is in reality very simple. Jesus Christ founded one Church in Matthew 16:18, as pointed out many times in this file. Today, there are over 36,400 churches which call themselves "Christian", and all teach something different from one another. Our common sense and human reasoning should tell us, "How can this be, since Jesus Christ taught one truth?" Consequently, common sense should be telling us that there can be only one Christian Church which teaches all truth. By the simple process of elimination, we can determine which is the true church. Ask yourself:
A. Can my church be traced all the way back to the time of Christ? If not, how can it be the true Church?
B. Does my church fit the pattern of the primitive Church of the Apostles? It had better, or it is definitely not the true Church.
C. Can I trace an unbroken line of the succession of teaching authority, the Bishops, all the way back to the beginning of the Church which Jesus Christ founded?
D. Can my Church be found in authentic written documents in every century from the time of Christ until now?
E. Did my church decide which books of the Bible are the Bible?
Common sense questions such as these should be asked and answered by all of us.
How many of us are able to answer all of the above questions with a resounding, "Yes"?
How many of us are compelled to answer "No" to all of them?

Using common sense and reasoning to the questions eliminates all Christian churches, save one.

Unfortunately, it appears that common sense is not so common anymore.

112.
We know because it is the Catholic Church Which is the Most Outspoken Defender of Morality in this worldwide immoral society in which we live today.

"Woe to you that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter."
Isaiah 5:20

"But know this, that in the last days dangerous times will come. Men will be lovers of self, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers disobedient to parents, ungrateful, criminal, heartless, faithless, slanderers, incontinent, merciless, unkind, treacherous, stubborn, puffed up with pride, loving pleasure more than GOD, having a semblance indeed of piety, but disowning its power.
Avoid these. For of such are they who make their way into houses and captivate silly women who are sin-laden and led away by various lusts: ever learning yet never gaining knowledge of the truth." 2Timothy 3:1-7, Confraternity.

Does this sound familiar? I would say the 'last days of dangerous times' are upon us now, wouldn't you? Holy Scripture is telling us something. It is giving us a wake-up call. Are we listening?
The Church which Jesus Christ founded is listening.
Who is the "Voice of One Crying in the Wilderness" of today? (Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 3:3)
Listen, and you will hear that it is the Catholic Church.
113.
We know from the hundreds of beautifully written Papal Documents which have been presented to the whole world over the centuries. They cover many aspects of faith and morals and are the guidelines for everyone. Here is an outstanding and very prophetic one.
Humanae Vitae, read paragraph 17 and see how something warned of in 1968 is a reality today.
Go here for over 280 more Papal Documents.
114.
We know from the Profound Humility demonstrated by the Catholic Church for the past actions of some of its members, by issuing an Apology to GOD. Once again, the Catholic Church demonstrated that it follows the teaching of Jesus Christ, by not only saying, but by practicing: "For everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted". Luke 14:11
Has anyone ever heard of a non-Catholic church making such an apology for sins of its members?
115.
We know because the Catholic Church is Based on Faith, and Not on Feelings.
How many times have you heard someone say, I go to this church because it is cool, or it has such lively music, or for the fellowship, or for the children's activities, or for the minister as he does not talk about hell or the devil? Jesus Christ founded a Church which would serve GOD, and GOD alone, and not ourselves, and certainly not our feelings, or to tickle our senses.
You cannot connect spirituality to emotions.


Part 24
How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

116.
We know because history has shown that When an Anti-Christian Society Threatens Christianity, People Turn to the Catholic Church as their Refuge. This is but one reason why the Church has perdured for so many centuries longer than any other Christian organization on earth. In the anti-GOD society in which we live today, it is no wonder that the Catholic Church is experiencing an increasingly rapid influx of New Catholics.

During the battle of Lepanto in 1571, Christians fled to the Catholic Church, and prayed the rosary in conjunction with the Pope. This resulted in a great victory over the Muslims for the vastly outnumbered Christians.

During World War II, approximately 800,000 Jews fled to the safety of the Vatican and were sheltered there at great risk to the Catholic Church. Due to the efforts of the Church, they were subsequently saved from Nazi extermination.

The fall of Communism, predicted by the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima in 1917, was brought about as a result of a Polish union leader soliciting the aid of the Polish Pope of the Catholic Church.
117.
We know because in His infinite wisdom and goodness, GOD Can Bring Something Good Out of Something Evil. This is easily seen when the greatest evil ever conceived, the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, was turned into the greatest good, the salvation of all mankind.
The greatest man-made evil of that time was centered in Rome, and was the tyrannical Roman Empire. The great evil Roman Empire collapsed and fell in 476 A.D., after an existence that spanned just over 500 years.
Now the center of all Christianity, the Catholic Church, is seated in Vatican City, which is surrounded by Rome. Is it just a Coincidence that the ruins of the seat of the old Roman Empire are within walking distance of Saint Peter's Basilica, the largest Church in Christendom, and that the great dome of St. Peter's can be seen from these same ruins?
Or is it part of GOD's plan?

"Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:21.
Is it just another coincidence that this verse is from the Epistle to the Romans?
118.
We know because the very center of all Christianity, the Catholic Church, is Situated in its Very Own City-State, the Vatican, in the Heart of what once was Pagan Rome, but is now Christian Rome.
The Catholic Church also is represented in the United Nations as an observer and sovereign state.

Jesus Christ said, "...but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you shall be witnesses for Me in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and even to the very ends of the earth."
Acts 1:8

The Catholic Church is certainly the witness for Jesus Christ, "to the very ends of the earth", as it witnesses for Him before all of the nations on the earth in the United Nations.
Name a non-Catholic Christian church which has such representation?
119.
We know because the Catholic Church Commands Leadership of Christianity for the Whole World.
When the Holy See releases important documents there is intense interest from every sector. Non-Catholics as well as Catholics analyze every word and discussions abound, both pro and con. This is evidenced with the release of Dominus Iesus, on September 5, 2000. The rhetoric continued for weeks in all circles and the document was reported and dissected by the secular press around the world. The interest and attention given to this document, as was to many others, was monumental despite the fact that this document is just a re-iteration of what the Church has always taught for almost 2000 years.
When Rome speaks, the whole world listens.


Part 25

How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

123.
We know because we can sum up the Catholic Church into one word. It is simply AWESOME.
Unlike most non-Catholic churches, when you enter a Catholic Church, you immediately become aware that it truly is The House of GOD, and not just a plain looking hall or barn-like building. It is Awesome in its beauty. It is Awesome in its Liturgy. It is most sublime. There is a feeling of Divine Presence, a feeling of Holiness that is not found anywhere else.
From the humblest church building to the majestic Cathedrals, and even when Mass is celebrated under the trees or stars, the Divine Presence is felt. This incredible awesomeness staggers the mind, as we accept the Creator in His creation, and in His Church, and we are in humble subjection to His Kingdom on earth, for we are that Kingdom.
124.
We know because When Jesus Christ speaks, the Catholic Church listens.
How many others do not listen?
When He says, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Matthew 11:15), His Church hears.

*He founded one Church only by using the singular "Church", and not churches in Matthew 16:18.
How many say He founded all of the thousands of different non-Catholic churches?

*He commanded all of us to hear His One Church (singular), (Matthew 18:17).
Do all Christians obey this command?

*He commanded through the Apostles that whoever does not receive them, or listen to their words, (the word of His Church), go forth outside that house or town and shake the dust off their feet.
(Matthew 10:14) Again, how many do not listen to His Church?

*He told His Apostles that he who hears them, hears Him, and he who rejects them rejects Him, and he who rejects Him, rejects He who sent Him (Luke 10:16). Jesus did not leave this world devoid of His voice, and His voice is the Catholic Church. Do you listen to His Catholic Church, or do you reject Him? You have only these two choices.

*He commanded through St. Paul that the Church is the Pillar and Foundation of the Truth, (1Timothy 3:15). How many deny this command and say it is the Bible and not the Church?

*He commanded through St. Paul that we must obey our superiors and to be subject to them (Hebrews 13:17). Did the founder of Protestantism, Martin Luther, and the others who broke away during the reformation obey this command?

*He promised that He would be with His Church every day in every century until the end of time, (Matthew 28:20). How many deny His promise and say He left His Church shortly after the last book of the Bible was written, or that His Church left Him?

*He promised that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against His Church (Matthew 16:18).
How many say the gates of hell did prevail?

*He said, "I tell you and you do not believe", (John 10:25).
How many do not believe Him when He said, "This IS My Body" in Matthew 26:26 or, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you", in John 6:53?
The Catholic Church heard His words and believed and practices them. How many do not believe His words, but say He was only speaking symbolically? Again, I say, show me the symbolism?

*He said that he who is not with him is against Him, and he who does not gather with Him scatters (Matthew 12:30). What did He mean by this? He meant, as He prayed for in John 10:16, "...and there shall be One fold and One Shepherd." The Catholic Church hears her Founder and heeds His Word by trying to unite all Christians into One fold, while non-Catholics keep dividing the Body of Christ into ever smaller pieces.

"He who is of GOD hears the words of GOD. The reason why you do not hear is that you are not of GOD." John 8:47
Since I have shown that the Catholic Church hears the words of her founder, Jesus Christ, then she is of GOD.

He said, "Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice". John 18:37
There again, the Catholic Church hears His voice, so it is of the truth, as Holy Scripture confirms in 1Timothy 3:15.
Does your church comply with what I have listed here?

"HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE THE SON, MAKES HIM A LIAR..."
1 JOHN 5:10


Part 26

How do we know that it is the Catholic Church
that Jesus Christ founded?

125.
How do we know? In a nutshell!
Here is a summary of what we have learned so far about the Church which Jesus Christ founded.

It was prefigured by Old Testament prophets.
It has a Holy Founder in Jesus Christ.
It was built upon the Rock of Peter and the foundation of the Apostles.
God guaranteed that the Gates of Hell would not prevail against it.
Jesus Christ said it would last forever, as He would be with it always.
Therefore it can be found in every day, in every century, from the time He said it.
Jesus Christ left His legacy, the Kingdom of GOD, His Church, to the care of the Apostles.
It is guided by the Holy Spirit. Acts 15:28
It is a living Church.
It is the Mystical Body of Christ.
It can neither be confused nor separated from its head.
The thread of the Church is woven throughout Holy Scripture.
It is a Christ based Church, whereas the Bible is Catholic Church based.
It has all of the pieces to the puzzle.
It is indefectible. Ephesians 5:27
It is The Bride of Christ.
It is infallible in matters of faith and morals since it is guided by the Holy Spirit.
It is infallible in its teaching of Holy Scripture since it is guided by the Holy Spirit.
It fits the blueprint laid out for it in Holy Scripture.
It is a visible Church that could not be hidden.
Jesus Christ would be the invisible head and we, the body of His Church.
His Church would cover the earth. Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8.
GOD appointed a visible Father Figure to shepherd His flock on earth, as He had always done.
It is the Pillar and the Foundation of Truth. 1Timothy 3:15
It alone has the fullness of truth.
GOD's Church would have an hierarchal form of government.
GOD's Church would have Bishops, Priests, and Deacons within it.
It has a system of Apostolic Succession in order to perpetuate the visible Church on earth.
It is traceable through an unbroken line of Apostolic Succession all the way back to St. Peter.
This unbroken line is shown in secular encyclopedias as well as Catholic archives.
It has a succession of truth in teaching all the way from Jesus Christ down to present day Bishops.
It is almost 1500 years older than the oldest Protestant church.
It has the authority to abolish or enforce rules of conduct, through binding and loosing.
It has the authority to forgive or to retain sins, through binding and loosing. John 20:21-23
It teaches that we are not automatically saved, but our salvation depends upon us as well.
It has the authority to form Councils when needed, in order to settle the issues that arise. Acts 15
It was given the authority to decide the Canons of both the Old and New Testaments of Scripture.
It decided the Canon of both testaments by infallible decision of several Councils.
It more finely develops revealed public revelation.
It does not twist Scripture to conform to its teachings. It conforms its teaching to Scripture.
It has faithfully copied and preserved Holy Scripture down through the ages.
It has known that The Word was Heard and not Read by the masses before the printing press.
It has the final authority. Matthew 18:15-18
It holds many traditions which are followed by Catholics and Protestants alike.
It is an "And" Church, not "Or".
It is a teaching Church as commanded by Holy Scripture.
It is consistent in its teaching and does not 'flip-flop' as do other churches for the whims of people.
It faithfully feeds the sheep as commanded by Jesus Christ.
It is rock solid and unchanging in its teaching.
It stands upon a solid three legged stool, of Scripture, of Apostolic Tradition, and the Magisterium.
It is the guardian of both Sacred Scripture and of Sacred Tradition.
It has the True Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Matthew 26:26
The Apostles knew that the truth was in Jesus Christ and in His one true Church.
It has Eucharistic Adoration.
It offers a clean oblation around the world and around the clock, in the Holy Mass. Malachi 1:11
In every minute of every day, a Mass is being celebrated somewhere.
It venerates Christ on the Cross as a sacrifice and not just a plain cross devoid of Christ.
It preaches the Gospel to the whole world. Matthew 24:14
It has produced many thousands of Holy Saints.
The Church venerates the Mother of GOD. Luke 1:26-56
The Church venerates the Saints who have done so much for it.
The Mother of GOD is also the Mother of the Church. John 19:26-27
It has all seven Sacraments.
It treats marriage as a Sacrament.
It has an annulment procedure.
It has many varied Devotions.
It can be found by its name, the Catholic Church, in thousands of early writings.
It can be shown from these same writings that it is the same Church which Jesus Christ founded.
It houses the remains of all of the Apostles and Gospel writers.
It is the New Jerusalem.
It is our Mother Church.
It has withstood the ravages of thousands of detractors and heretics from its very foundation.
It has performed many successful exorcisms.
It is unbending and unmovable in its pro-life stance.
It has scores of separate services of help. 1Corinthians 12:28
It preaches the Word of GOD to the entire world through E.W.T.N. and other resources.
It tries to unite all of Christianity into one fold.
It has incredible openness.
It has provided us with a comprehensive catechism.
It has a vast influx of intellectuals.
It has had a spectacular growth, with over one billion Catholics in the world now.
It has the Holy Spirit dwelling within it.
It has humbled itself by apologizing to GOD for the past sins of some of its members.
It is the most outspoken advocate of morality on earth.
It has issued so many beautiful Papal documents which are guidelines for the whole world.
It has the largest collection of authentic Christian documents in the world in the Vatican archives.
It is the last refuge for those who are persecuted.
It is because the "Pillar and the foundation of truth" has said so.
It is because common sense tells us so.
It is the undisputed leader of Christianity in the world.
It is its own City-State, and is represented in the United Nations. Acts 1:8
When Rome speaks, the whole world listens.
It is the only Christian Church which proclaims Jubilee years.
Circumstantial evidence points to the Catholic Church and only the Catholic Church.
The Catholic Church hears and listens carefully to Jesus Christ, her founder.
It always has what the world is lacking.
It is simply Awesome.

For the Catholic Church, the answer is "Yes" to all of these. How does your church compare?
How many other Christian Churches can match even one category of what I have put forth so far?

126.
We know because of the nonsensical Lack of Doctrinal Unity in Other Christian Churches. It stands to reason that only one church can have the fullness of truth.

"...and there shall be ONE FOLD AND ONE SHEPHERD."
John 10:16

"Sanctify them in the truth. Your word is truth. Even as you have sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for them I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. Yet not for these only do I pray, but for those also who through their word are to believe in Me, that ALL MAY BE ONE, EVEN AS YOU, FATHER, IN ME AND I IN YOU; THAT THEY ALSO MAY BE ONE IN US, THAT THE WORLD MAY BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME. AND THE GLORY THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, I HAVE GIVEN TO THEM, THAT THEY MAY BE ONE, EVEN AS WE ARE ONE: I IN THEM AND YOU IN ME; THAT THEY MAY BE PERFECT IN UNITY, AND THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME, AND THAT YOU HAVE LOVED THEM EVEN AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME."
John 17:17-23

"ONE BODY AND ONE SPIRIT, even as you were called in ONE HOPE of your calling; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM; ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS ABOVE ALL, AND THROUGHOUT ALL, AND IN US ALL."
Ephesians 4:4-6

"For whoever keeps the whole law, BUT OFFENDS IN ONE POINT, HAS BECOME GUILTY IN ALL."
James 2:10

May then the GOD of patience and of comfort grant you to be of ONE MIND towards one another according to Jesus Christ; that, ONE IN SPIRIT, you may with ONE MOUTH glorify the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Romans 15:5-6

"Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all say the same thing; and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be perfectly united in ONE MIND and in ONE JUDGMENT."
1Corinthians 1:10

"Because the BREAD IS ONE, WE THOUGH MANY, ARE ONE BODY, ALL OF US WHO PARTAKE OF THE ONE BREAD."
1Corinthians 10:17

"Only let your lives be worthy of the Gospel of Christ; so that, whether I come and see you, or remain absent, I may hear about you, that you are steadfast in ONE SPIRIT, with ONE MIND striving together for the faith of the Gospel."
Philippians 1:27

There you have it, Jesus Christ, St. John, St. Paul, and St. James, all calling for ONENESS AND UNITY. Since the advent of the Reformation, those pleas have fallen upon deaf ears and have been grossly ignored.

According to the World Almanac for 1953, there were in the United States, 20 different organizations of Methodists, 22 kinds of Baptists, 10 branches of Presbyterians, 13 organizations of Mennonites, 18 of Lutherans, and many splits in other denominations.

To this day Protestant churches have multiplied to over 36,400 denominations and are still increasing. Every time a new one is added, the Body of Christ is split more and more. Which one has the fullness of truth? Which one is true to Holy Scripture and does not "Offend in ONE point"?

Where is the ONE mind, ONE mouth, ONE judgment, and ONE in spirit in Protestantism?
Apparently, none of the thousands of denominations read the above verses.

"And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand".
Mark 3:25

United in ONE, is GOD's plan.
Divide and conquer, is Satan's plan.

127.
We know because of the Shotgun Analogy, as Pointed out by Marcus Grodi. (Mr Grodi is a former Protestant minister who is now Catholic)
If you fired a non-Catholic shotgun and a Catholic shotgun at a wall, the two resulting shot patterns would represent the opinions of those within their respective Churches, whether they be liberal, conservative, etc.. Upon close examination of the Catholic pattern, we always would know who is in the center, as it is the Pope and the Magisterium. However, by careful examination of the non-Catholic pattern, how can we possibly determine who is in the center?


Part 27