6th Mark of the true Church. Agreement in Doctrine with the ancient Church.

 1. Agreement in Doctrine with the ancient Church. 
     Indeed, the true Church is called apostolic, as Tertullian witnesses, not only on account of the succession of bishops from the apostles, but even on account of the kinship of doctrine; in that it retains the doctrine which the apostles handed down. 
     Moreover, it is certain that the ancient Church was the true Church for the first five hundred years, and hence retained apostolic doctrine whereby Theodosius the emperor is praised by 
Sozomen because by this method he restrained the heretics of his time.
     He bid the leaders of the sects to come together, thereupon he asked whether they thought the ancient Fathers, who ruled the Church before their separation, which then had arisen from religion, to have thought rightly and truly that the apostles were saints, and when they conceded to this, enjoined them; 'Then let us examine your doctrine against their writings, and if it should agree with them, it may be retained but if not let it be thrown out.'

2. Two ways.
    Now we can prove in two ways from this Mark that the Catholic 
Church is the true Church and not that of the adversaries. First, by advancing the teachings of the Fathers. This manner is very lengthy. The second way is shorter and more certain, without a doubt by showing first from the confession of our adversaries, that our doctrine is indeed the doctrine of all the ancients. Then showing whether the dogmas of our adversaries were held in the ancient Church by exploring their heresies. The it will be certain, our doctrine agrees with the doctrine of the ancient Catholics, but their doctrine agrees with the doctrine of the ancient heretics. 

3. St. Robert Bellarmine proceeds.
     St. Bellarmine proceeds to analyse all the heresies; the Arians, the Pelagians, the Donatist, the Manichees etc..and showed how their teachings differed from the ancient teachings of the Christian Church. Then he continues in treating the sects of Calvin, Luther and the Centuriators of Magdeburg. This is followed by descriptions of the Simonians, the heresy of Florinus, the heresy of Origen, the Peputiani heresy, the heretic Proclus, Sabellius, etc..

4. Overlappings.
    The 15 Marks of the true Catholic Church as described by St. Robert Bellarmine are all overlapping. This 6th Mark overlaps with the 2nd Mark, Antiquity. If one Mark is absent, the rest of the Marks would, also, be absent. On the other hand, if one is present the probability is that the rest will be present. 

5. This 6th Mark is difficult to use as a gauge of true Catholicity for two reasons. First, knowledge of the entire ancient teachings  of the Christian Church is necessary. And secondly, knowledge of the heresies of adversaries which goes against the ancient teachings, is, also, necessary. 
     Knowledge of the ancient teachings can only be obtained through mastery of the New Testament and its correct interpretation as given by the so-called Fathers and Doctors of the Church. These doctrines are outlined in the Catechism; but the Catechism does not have the interpretation of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. Besides there are many Catechism that are filled with errors. 
     For most Catholics, it is nearly impossible to use this 6th Mark of the true Church in checking the Catholicity of one's parish, diocese or even on checking on the VaticanChurch  of Pope Francis. Much knowledge is required. Yet this is the most reliable Mark of the Church. It is a perfect Mark.  This Mark, alone, can show that a church is, indeed, the true Catholic Church. 

6. A feeble attempt.
     A life time study of the teachings of the ancient, primitive Catholic Church is needed to use this 6th Mark of the true Church. And much prayer to obtain grace to understand the teachings of Christ and the explanation of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. This is why nobody knows where the Church is. They do not have this immense knowledge necessary to discover the Church. 
     For the same reason, few know if their parish or diocese is Catholic. Few know if the Vaticanchurch of Pope Francis is Catholic. Few even know if they are Catholics. 
     But a feeble attempt to acquire the knowledge necessary to apply this 6th Mark so we can check on our parish, diocese and even on the Vatican of Pope Francis, can be attempted. Use the 'Compendium of Pope Benedict XVI.' This 'compendium' was rushed by Pope Benedict to counteract the thick CCC post Vatican II catechism that was printed and issued prematurely though filled with errors. 
     Pope Benedict's 'Compendium' is highly Scriptural and based on the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. So it gives us a close semblance to the ancient teachings of the ancient Christian Church. 

7. The Philippine experience. 
     A skill  to be able to use this 6th Mark was attempted so priests can see if their parish or diocese are Catholic. It was meant also to give everyone the skill to detect if they, the bishops, priests and laymen are Catholic. Of course, if this skill was developed it would, also, give anyone the skill to see if the Vaticanchurch and Pope Francis is Catholic.
     A newsletter was published containing the teachings of the Fathers of the Church explaining every line of the New Testament together with the four visible signs of the true Catholic Church. This contained the ancient description of the Catholic Church.
     The newsletter was published for more than 40 years and send to all priests in the archipelago (and a few priest abroad). Apparently the results were not so good. Nobody could still find the Church and most still could not see that they were not Catholic. And most still think that Pope Francis is Catholic. 
     What went wrong? The grace to understand the teachings of the New Testament and the grace to understand the writings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. The grace that comes only with the supernatural and theological virtue of Faith was not there. 

8. Up to this point we can, already,  judge which is the true Church.
     This 6th Mark gives us a very clear knowledge which is the true Church. It is a very tedious process, impossible without the help of grace. Today, nobody seems to have this Mark. We know it is somewhere around. But where? Not in the Chinese Patriotic church, not in Europe, not in Ireland, not in the Philippines and not in the Vatican.  St. Bellarmine had explained this Mark. Anybody can apply it on any parish, diocese, religious order, or any person. Try it and you will be surprised at what you find. 

     The VaticanChurch of Pope Francis does not have the six signs just enumerated. In a recent interview with Spadaro, he just said that the doctrines of the church changes. That is precisely against this Mark showing Pope Francis' church is not identical with the ancient Catholic Church.
     Catholic truths are perfectly explained during the ancient times and today, too. It cannot change. A deeper understanding is possible but it cannot change. 
      
     

6th Mark of the true Church. Agreement in Doctrine with the ancient Church.

 1. Agreement in Doctrine with the ancient Church. 
     Indeed, the true Church is called apostolic, as Tertullian witnesses, not only on account of the succession of bishops from the apostles, but even on account of the kinship of doctrine; in that it retains the doctrine which the apostles handed down. 
     Moreover, it is certain that the ancient Church was the true Church for the first five hundred years, and hence retained apostolic doctrine whereby Theodosius the emperor is praised by 
Sozomen because by this method he restrained the heretics of his time.
     He bid the leaders of the sects to come together, thereupon he asked whether they thought the ancient Fathers, who ruled the Church before their separation, which then had arisen from religion, to have thought rightly and truly that the apostles were saints, and when they conceded to this, enjoined them; 'Then let us examine your doctrine against their writings, and if it should agree with them, it may be retained but if not let it be thrown out.'

2. Two ways.
    Now we can prove in two ways from this Mark that the Catholic 
Church is the true Church and not that of the adversaries. First, by advancing the teachings of the Fathers. This manner is very lengthy. The second way is shorter and more certain, without a doubt by showing first from the confession of our adversaries, that our doctrine is indeed the doctrine of all the ancients. Then showing whether the dogmas of our adversaries were held in the ancient Church by exploring their heresies. The it will be certain, our doctrine agrees with the doctrine of the ancient Catholics, but their doctrine agrees with the doctrine of the ancient heretics. 

3. St. Robert Bellarmine proceeds.
     St. Bellarmine proceeds to analyse all the heresies; the Arians, the Pelagians, the Donatist, the Manichees etc..and showed how their teachings differed from the ancient teachings of the Christian Church. Then he continues in treating the sects of Calvin, Luther and the Centuriators of Magdeburg. This is followed by descriptions of the Simonians, the heresy of Florinus, the heresy of Origen, the Peputiani heresy, the heretic Proclus, Sabellius, etc..

4. Overlappings.
    The 15 Marks of the true Catholic Church as described by St. Robert Bellarmine are all overlapping. This 6th Mark overlaps with the 2nd Mark, Antiquity. If one Mark is absent, the rest of the Marks would, also, be absent. On the other hand, if one is present the probability is that the rest will be present. 

5. This 6th Mark is difficult to use as a gauge of true Catholicity for two reasons. First, knowledge of the entire ancient teachings  of the Christian Church is necessary. And secondly, knowledge of the heresies of adversaries which goes against the ancient teachings, is, also, necessary. 
     Knowledge of the ancient teachings can only be obtained through mastery of the New Testament and its correct interpretation as given by the so-called Fathers and Doctors of the Church. These doctrines are outlined in the Catechism; but the Catechism does not have the interpretation of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. Besides there are many Catechism that are filled with errors. 
     For most Catholics, it is nearly impossible to use this 6th Mark of the true Church in checking the Catholicity of one's parish, diocese or even on checking on the VaticanChurch  of Pope Francis. Much knowledge is required. Yet this is the most reliable Mark of the Church. It is a perfect Mark.  This Mark, alone, can show that a church is, indeed, the true Catholic Church. 

6. A feeble attempt.
     A life time study of the teachings of the ancient, primitive Catholic Church is needed to use this 6th Mark of the true Church. And much prayer to obtain grace to understand the teachings of Christ and the explanation of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. This is why nobody knows where the Church is. They do not have this immense knowledge necessary to discover the Church. 
     For the same reason, few know if their parish or diocese is Catholic. Few know if the Vaticanchurch of Pope Francis is Catholic. Few even know if they are Catholics. 
     But a feeble attempt to acquire the knowledge necessary to apply this 6th Mark so we can check on our parish, diocese and even on the Vatican of Pope Francis, can be attempted. Use the 'Compendium of Pope Benedict XVI.' This 'compendium' was rushed by Pope Benedict to counteract the thick CCC post Vatican II catechism that was printed and issued prematurely though filled with errors. 
     Pope Benedict's 'Compendium' is highly Scriptural and based on the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. So it gives us a close semblance to the ancient teachings of the ancient Christian Church. 

7. The Philippine experience. 
     A skill  to be able to use this 6th Mark was attempted so priests can see if their parish or diocese are Catholic. It was meant also to give everyone the skill to detect if they, the bishops, priests and laymen are Catholic. Of course, if this skill was developed it would, also, give anyone the skill to see if the Vaticanchurch and Pope Francis is Catholic.
     A newsletter was published containing the teachings of the Fathers of the Church explaining every line of the New Testament together with the four visible signs of the true Catholic Church. This contained the ancient description of the Catholic Church.
     The newsletter was published for more than 40 years and send to all priests in the archipelago (and a few priest abroad). Apparently the results were not so good. Nobody could still find the Church and most still could not see that they were not Catholic. And most still think that Pope Francis is Catholic. 
     What went wrong? The grace to understand the teachings of the New Testament and the grace to understand the writings of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church. The grace that comes only with the supernatural and theological virtue of Faith was not there. 

8. Up to this point we can, already,  judge which is the true Church.
     This 6th Mark gives us a very clear knowledge which is the true Church. It is a very tedious process, impossible without the help of grace. Today, nobody seems to have this Mark. We know it is somewhere around. But where? Not in the Chinese Patriotic church, not in Europe, not in Ireland, not in the Philippines and not in the Vatican.  St. Bellarmine had explained this Mark. Anybody can apply it on any parish, diocese, religious order, or any person. Try it and you will be surprised at what you find. 

     The VaticanChurch of Pope Francis does not have the six signs just enumerated. In a recent interview with Spadaro, he just said that the doctrines of the church changes. That is precisely against this Mark showing Pope Francis' church is not identical with the ancient Catholic Church.
     Catholic truths are perfectly explained during the ancient times and today, too. It cannot change. A deeper understanding is possible but it cannot change. 
      
     

5th MARK of the true Church. Apostolic Succession of Bishops in the Roman Church.

 1. The Succession of Bishops deduced from the apostles even up to our present time. 
     All the Fathers of the Church used this succession as a most clear argument to who's the true Church, wrote St. Robert Bellarmine. 'Let them unfold the order of their bishops. Others fall away from that succession, others simply ceased while others are obscure. St. Cyprian specifically described it thus; 'the Church is the people united to the bishop, and the bishop is in the Church, and the Church in the bishop. 
     'The second note; only those who are within the Church have always been held to be true bishops. That is, those who were shown to descend from the apostles through a legitimate succession and ordination. All others were thieves and robbers, obviously who did not enter through the gate. 
      The case of St. Paul is unique and will illustrate the importance of the spiritual aspect of this succession. St. Robert Bellarmine continues; '.....among the people of the New Testament, they are multiplied by spiritual generation, so that none are Christians, except converted through the apostles, or their successors or those sent by them; none are bishops, unless they succeed legitimately to the same. 
     St. Bellarmine continues; ....at some time, the people, together with the clergy, chose the bishop, and at other times only the  clergy. In either case, succession and ordination are required. 
     A bishop may be deposed if legitimately judged and condemned by legitimate judgment. 'It doesn't necessarily follow, that there is a church where there is a succession.

2. Two levels of succession.
     One level of succession might be described as 'Liturgical.' This is a true Mark of the true Catholic Church established by Christ. This Mark is when the bishop of a place is able to show that he is a direct successor of the apostles. Ordinarily very difficult to ascertain, every bishop in good standing has a published record of his direct descent from the Apostles usually available in the Internet. 
     It can happen that along the line of succession, there is the possibility of a 'break' in the succession for many reasons. Usually this defect is in the 'liturgical' line of succession, like when the line of succession is not clear, or it has disappeared. According to the above quotation from St. Bellarmine, the more common defect in succession is when the bishop has spiritually been unsuccessful in entering the Catholic Church due to lack of Faith. In which case, he will not have the four visible signs of the true Catholic Church mentioned in the Nicene Creed or the 15 Mark of the true Church mentioned by Bellarmine. 
     In other words, the bishop may have all the physical and 'Liturgical' proof that he descended from the Apostles but, spiritually, he was not able to make the Act of Faith. In such a case he will not have either the four visible signs or the 15 Marks of the Church.

3. Let us look at the different combinations.
    First, a Catholic community with a Catholic bishop. This is the ideal truly Catholic Church. God will make certain the truly Catholic community will have a holy successor  to the apostles. Both will be exhibiting the four visible Marks and the 15 Marks of the true Church.
    Second, a Catholic community with a non-Catholic bishop. This will happen when God would wants to test this community. This often happens when a new young bishop replaces a retired bishop. Being young, the spirituality of the new bishop is imperfect and most often he has not entered the Catholic Church due to his inability to make a mature act of Faith. This happens every time the older bishop retires and a new young bishop takes over. So, the retirement of bishops at 75 as provided for by Vatican II was a very unwise decision. Bishops and Popes should never retire. Like Abbots they should be for life....to prevent this image of a Catholic community with a non-believing bishop. That image will not project the true image of the Catholic Church. This often happens when the previous bishops are truly Catholic, then a replacement comes in who is not Catholic. With a non-catholic bishop, such communities will eventually cease to be Catholic.
     Thirdly, a non Catholic community with a Catholic Bishop. This happens when God sees that the community is worthy because, like the early Gentiles, they believe. This is common in mission countries. The mission country is usually non Catholic. A Catholic bishop is sent to such a country to evangelise. So we see the beginning of a mission country where we have a non-Catholic community with a Catholic bishop. Hopefully, the Catholic bishop can evangelise the community into becoming a Catholic community. 
      Fourthly, a non-Catholic community with a non-Catholic bishop. This is a chastisement to an unfaithful formerly Catholic community who have lost the faith. This is the most common situation today. We have a community that have ceased to be Catholic. Vocations come from this no longer Catholic Community. They enter the seminary remaining non-Catholic, are ordained priest and become bishop still remaining non-Catholic due to their inability to make the mature act of Faith. This is the situation of the Catholic Church today. We have parishes, Dioceses and a Vatican where most of the bishops are not Catholics ruling the world, the dioceses and parishes that are no longer Catholic. 

4. We cannot find the Catholic Church today.
     Neither in the Pope, in most bishops, priest nor the community. Neither in the Vatican, the dioceses, the parish nor the family. Though we know it is somewhere.
     This is a chastisement for an unfaithful church. This state of affairs is common in the history of the Catholic Church. The Church is filled with stories of unfaithful parishes, dioceses and nations led by unfaithful priests, bishops, cardinals and Popes. 
    An unfaithful community will definitely produce unfaithful priests, bishops and Popes since the one will come from the other. And today, we see an unfaithful community reaching since the 18th century led by struggling holy Popes like Pius VIII, doing their best to sustain the Church but almost to no avail. Suddenly we have no holy Pope; a non-Catholic Pope as head of a non-Catholic church. What we feared. 

    Using the four visible signs of the true Church as enumerated by the Nicene Creed........and using the 15 Marks of the true Church, which are the expanded version of the four visible signs, ....we cannot find the Catholic Church today. Why?  As the Book of Revelation writes; ' because God have placed the Church in the desert in a very special place prepared for her,' where the devil can do minimal harm to her.  Where she is, she exhibits most brilliantly the four visible and the 15 Marks of the true Church. Entrance is by invitation only. Here, the community is Catholic; and the spiritual heads are Catholics.....the Catholic Church par excellence. The bishop will not be as Linus, the direct successor of St. Peter. He will be like St. Paul. Direct successor of no apostle. 

      

5th MARK of the true Church. Apostolic Succession of Bishops in the Roman Church.

 1. The Succession of Bishops deduced from the apostles even up to our present time. 
     All the Fathers of the Church used this succession as a most clear argument to who's the true Church, wrote St. Robert Bellarmine. 'Let them unfold the order of their bishops. Others fall away from that succession, others simply ceased while others are obscure. St. Cyprian specifically described it thus; 'the Church is the people united to the bishop, and the bishop is in the Church, and the Church in the bishop. 
     'The second note; only those who are within the Church have always been held to be true bishops. That is, those who were shown to descend from the apostles through a legitimate succession and ordination. All others were thieves and robbers, obviously who did not enter through the gate. 
      The case of St. Paul is unique and will illustrate the importance of the spiritual aspect of this succession. St. Robert Bellarmine continues; '.....among the people of the New Testament, they are multiplied by spiritual generation, so that none are Christians, except converted through the apostles, or their successors or those sent by them; none are bishops, unless they succeed legitimately to the same. 
     St. Bellarmine continues; ....at some time, the people, together with the clergy, chose the bishop, and at other times only the  clergy. In either case, succession and ordination are required. 
     A bishop may be deposed if legitimately judged and condemned by legitimate judgment. 'It doesn't necessarily follow, that there is a church where there is a succession.

2. Two levels of succession.
     One level of succession might be described as 'Liturgical.' This is a true Mark of the true Catholic Church established by Christ. This Mark is when the bishop of a place is able to show that he is a direct successor of the apostles. Ordinarily very difficult to ascertain, every bishop in good standing has a published record of his direct descent from the Apostles usually available in the Internet. 
     It can happen that along the line of succession, there is the possibility of a 'break' in the succession for many reasons. Usually this defect is in the 'liturgical' line of succession, like when the line of succession is not clear, or it has disappeared. According to the above quotation from St. Bellarmine, the more common defect in succession is when the bishop has spiritually been unsuccessful in entering the Catholic Church due to lack of Faith. In which case, he will not have the four visible signs of the true Catholic Church mentioned in the Nicene Creed or the 15 Mark of the true Church mentioned by Bellarmine. 
     In other words, the bishop may have all the physical and 'Liturgical' proof that he descended from the Apostles but, spiritually, he was not able to make the Act of Faith. In such a case he will not have either the four visible signs or the 15 Marks of the Church.

3. Let us look at the different combinations.
    First, a Catholic community with a Catholic bishop. This is the ideal truly Catholic Church. God will make certain the truly Catholic community will have a holy successor  to the apostles. Both will be exhibiting the four visible Marks and the 15 Marks of the true Church.
    Second, a Catholic community with a non-Catholic bishop. This will happen when God would wants to test this community. This often happens when a new young bishop replaces a retired bishop. Being young, the spirituality of the new bishop is imperfect and most often he has not entered the Catholic Church due to his inability to make a mature act of Faith. This happens every time the older bishop retires and a new young bishop takes over. So, the retirement of bishops at 75 as provided for by Vatican II was a very unwise decision. Bishops and Popes should never retire. Like Abbots they should be for life....to prevent this image of a Catholic community with a non-believing bishop. That image will not project the true image of the Catholic Church. This often happens when the previous bishops are truly Catholic, then a replacement comes in who is not Catholic. With a non-catholic bishop, such communities will eventually cease to be Catholic.
     Thirdly, a non Catholic community with a Catholic Bishop. This happens when God sees that the community is worthy because, like the early Gentiles, they believe. This is common in mission countries. The mission country is usually non Catholic. A Catholic bishop is sent to such a country to evangelise. So we see the beginning of a mission country where we have a non-Catholic community with a Catholic bishop. Hopefully, the Catholic bishop can evangelise the community into becoming a Catholic community. 
      Fourthly, a non-Catholic community with a non-Catholic bishop. This is a chastisement to an unfaithful formerly Catholic community who have lost the faith. This is the most common situation today. We have a community that have ceased to be Catholic. Vocations come from this no longer Catholic Community. They enter the seminary remaining non-Catholic, are ordained priest and become bishop still remaining non-Catholic due to their inability to make the mature act of Faith. This is the situation of the Catholic Church today. We have parishes, Dioceses and a Vatican where most of the bishops are not Catholics ruling the world, the dioceses and parishes that are no longer Catholic. 

4. We cannot find the Catholic Church today.
     Neither in the Pope, in most bishops, priest nor the community. Neither in the Vatican, the dioceses, the parish nor the family. Though we know it is somewhere.
     This is a chastisement for an unfaithful church. This state of affairs is common in the history of the Catholic Church. The Church is filled with stories of unfaithful parishes, dioceses and nations led by unfaithful priests, bishops, cardinals and Popes. 
    An unfaithful community will definitely produce unfaithful priests, bishops and Popes since the one will come from the other. And today, we see an unfaithful community reaching since the 18th century led by struggling holy Popes like Pius VIII, doing their best to sustain the Church but almost to no avail. Suddenly we have no holy Pope; a non-Catholic Pope as head of a non-Catholic church. What we feared. 

    Using the four visible signs of the true Church as enumerated by the Nicene Creed........and using the 15 Marks of the true Church, which are the expanded version of the four visible signs, ....we cannot find the Catholic Church today. Why?  As the Book of Revelation writes; ' because God have placed the Church in the desert in a very special place prepared for her,' where the devil can do minimal harm to her.  Where she is, she exhibits most brilliantly the four visible and the 15 Marks of the true Church. Entrance is by invitation only. Here, the community is Catholic; and the spiritual heads are Catholics.....the Catholic Church par excellence. The bishop will not be as Linus, the direct successor of St. Peter. He will be like St. Paul. Direct successor of no apostle. 

      

4the Mark of the true Church. Extend, Multitude and Diversity of Believers. Part IV.

1.  Robert Bellarmine  writes' 
     'Indeed, a Church that is truly Catholic ought not only to embrace all times but all places, all nations and all races of men. Therefore, St. Vincent of Lerin explains what a Catholic might be in his 'Commonitorium' where he says that they are properly Catholics, who hold to that which has been believed always, everywhere and by all. '
    ' The following must be observed. First, from St. Augustine and St. Bede namely, that for the Church to be Catholic, first, it is required that it should not exclude any times, places or races of men, whereby it is distinguished from the Synagogue, which was a particular Church, not a catholic one, because it was bound to one time, that is, even to the coming of the Messiah, likewise, in one place, that is the temple of Solomon, outside of which they could not sacrifice and to one family, that is the sons of Jacob.'
     'Secondly, as noted by St Augustine, that the Church might be catholic, it is not required that it must be in every place of the world, but merely that it  becomes conspicuous in all provinces and bears fruit in them, so that in all provinces someone should be from the Church, until this should happen, the day of the Lord will not come, as obviously is predicted in Matthew.' 
     'Thirdly, it is not required that in this it happens together so that in one tine there ought to necessarily be some faithful in all lands, it is sufficient enough if it happens successively. Whereby it follows that if only one land should retain the true faith, still truly and properly it could be called the Catholic Church, provided that it should be clearly shown that it was one and the same with that which was in some time or at different times in the whole world, in so far as now whichever diocese you like is called Catholic. 

2. Heresies are everywhere, too.
    St. Augustine teaches beautifully that, as the Church is everywhere so also heresy is everywhere. But the Church is one and the same everywhere. Heresy, however, is not the same but very different which does not know one from the other, and hence non of them can be Catholic.

3. The bishop's Synod of 2015.
     During the Bishop's Synod of 2015 where Pope Francis tried to have the outline of 'Amores Laetitia' approved, with the help of Baldiseri, Kasper and Tagle, the Vatican church no longer had this fourth Mark of the true Church. They were no longer agreeing on Catholic doctrines.

4. How do you check on the teachings of the true Church?
     As St.Augustine wrote, just as the Church teaches the same identical doctrines all over the world, heretics are, also, all over the world teaching different heretical doctrines. This is found among the pagan religious and even among the different Protestant sects. Everybody is all over the world like the true church but everybody is teaching different doctrines. 
     This is what happened after Vatican II. There were many groups that branched off from the Catholic Church, all teaching different doctrines but all of them fall under the umbrella of the ideology of discontinuity. That is, their only similarity is that they believe that the Catholic Church have ceased to exist and that they are now the continuation of the original Catholic Church. All christian sects make the same identical claims. All post-vatican sects make the same claim. And the more  popular is the FrancisChurch headed by Pope Francis. But they do not have this fourth Mark of the true Church.

5. Checking doctrines from the teachings of Christ.
    From the very beginning of the Catholic Church, her doctrines were based on Scriptures as interpreted by the Fathers of the Church; and fortified by the doctors of the Church and her saints. These are the doctrines of the Catholic Church everywhere, by Catholics in all nations, by different peoples and all races. This is not the case in the Bishop's Synod of 2015.
     Let us take one example; Pope Francis' proposal to the Synod backed up by his lieutenants Baldiseri, Kasper and Tagle, was to allow remarried Catholics living in adultery to receive Holy Communion. He even tried to include tolerating  aberosexual relationships, etc. These are, indeed, against Catholic doctrines. So the majority of the fathers in the Synod rejected and outvoted his proposal. 
     Evidently, the Synod was not a Catholic gathering since it did not have this 4th Mark of the Church. The group of Cardinal Burke, backed up by most of the bishops of Poland and Africa were acting like Catholics because they had the 4th Mark. Pope Francis, with Baldiseri, Kasper and Tagle were not acting like Catholics because they did not have the 4th Mark. There was a schism with Pope Francis and his group leaving the Catholic Church. The cry 'schism' resounded in news around the world. 

6. The separation of the different groups holding the ideologue of discontinuity have gone further away from the Catholic Church and the farthest is the FrancisChurch. All these groups do not have the 4th Mark including a big group in the Philippines Bishop's conference who are attached to the FrancisChurch. 
    
7. The present situation.
     We have total confusion in the Catholic Church with no one teaching the Catholic truth on salvation, with many teaching the opposite on how to go to hell. We have most of the priests, bishops and cardinals more concerned with global warming and political issues rather saving souls, we have Catholics who do not have Faith, we have parents divorcing, remarrying and receiving Holy Communion and going to hell and we have a Pope teaching no one goes to hell, souls disappear and God forgives without repentance......so what do we do. Ask the Pope and most of the bishops, priests and nuns to resign, abandon our adulterous parents, impeach the President? Well, no. Let everything stay as they are. These things are happening because it is God's permissive will, as St. Thomas would say. And we must always be resigned to the unavoidable permissive will of God; as the first Christians were resigned to the rule of Emperors Domitian or Diocletian as they martyred. Did the first Christians lift a finger to change the status quo? No. They let it be in resignation of God's unavoidable permissive will. 
     It is a test God gives all men 'to see if they will continue in their Faith,' the main message of the 5th weekday of Lent. When we are given a test, we do not change the test questions that we cannot answers. We answer them as best we can. St. Thomas comments on the Gospel writing; 'God initiates Faith in us, and then test us to see if we will continue in the Faith.'
     God is testing all men to see if they will remain Catholic in this present situation. Or are we going to sacrifice to the idols of the NuChurches of post-Vatican II. This blog aims at helping souls pass the test.
     The present situation will continue. The 'dubia' will not accomplish anything. Pope Francis will not answer and will continue as Pope. But it does not matter. We all know what the answer should be. What is important is that we are on the side of the Catholic Church who knows all the answers. Let the rest of the world chose their own sides. They have their own free wills. Let Pope Francis pass his own test.
     

4the Mark of the true Church. Extend, Multitude and Diversity of Believers. Part IV.

1.  Robert Bellarmine  writes' 
     'Indeed, a Church that is truly Catholic ought not only to embrace all times but all places, all nations and all races of men. Therefore, St. Vincent of Lerin explains what a Catholic might be in his 'Commonitorium' where he says that they are properly Catholics, who hold to that which has been believed always, everywhere and by all. '
    ' The following must be observed. First, from St. Augustine and St. Bede namely, that for the Church to be Catholic, first, it is required that it should not exclude any times, places or races of men, whereby it is distinguished from the Synagogue, which was a particular Church, not a catholic one, because it was bound to one time, that is, even to the coming of the Messiah, likewise, in one place, that is the temple of Solomon, outside of which they could not sacrifice and to one family, that is the sons of Jacob.'
     'Secondly, as noted by St Augustine, that the Church might be catholic, it is not required that it must be in every place of the world, but merely that it  becomes conspicuous in all provinces and bears fruit in them, so that in all provinces someone should be from the Church, until this should happen, the day of the Lord will not come, as obviously is predicted in Matthew.' 
     'Thirdly, it is not required that in this it happens together so that in one tine there ought to necessarily be some faithful in all lands, it is sufficient enough if it happens successively. Whereby it follows that if only one land should retain the true faith, still truly and properly it could be called the Catholic Church, provided that it should be clearly shown that it was one and the same with that which was in some time or at different times in the whole world, in so far as now whichever diocese you like is called Catholic. 

2. Heresies are everywhere, too.
    St. Augustine teaches beautifully that, as the Church is everywhere so also heresy is everywhere. But the Church is one and the same everywhere. Heresy, however, is not the same but very different which does not know one from the other, and hence non of them can be Catholic.

3. The bishop's Synod of 2015.
     During the Bishop's Synod of 2015 where Pope Francis tried to have the outline of 'Amores Laetitia' approved, with the help of Baldiseri, Kasper and Tagle, the Vatican church no longer had this fourth Mark of the true Church. They were no longer agreeing on Catholic doctrines.

4. How do you check on the teachings of the true Church?
     As St.Augustine wrote, just as the Church teaches the same identical doctrines all over the world, heretics are, also, all over the world teaching different heretical doctrines. This is found among the pagan religious and even among the different Protestant sects. Everybody is all over the world like the true church but everybody is teaching different doctrines. 
     This is what happened after Vatican II. There were many groups that branched off from the Catholic Church, all teaching different doctrines but all of them fall under the umbrella of the ideology of discontinuity. That is, their only similarity is that they believe that the Catholic Church have ceased to exist and that they are now the continuation of the original Catholic Church. All christian sects make the same identical claims. All post-vatican sects make the same claim. And the more  popular is the FrancisChurch headed by Pope Francis. But they do not have this fourth Mark of the true Church.

5. Checking doctrines from the teachings of Christ.
    From the very beginning of the Catholic Church, her doctrines were based on Scriptures as interpreted by the Fathers of the Church; and fortified by the doctors of the Church and her saints. These are the doctrines of the Catholic Church everywhere, by Catholics in all nations, by different peoples and all races. This is not the case in the Bishop's Synod of 2015.
     Let us take one example; Pope Francis' proposal to the Synod backed up by his lieutenants Baldiseri, Kasper and Tagle, was to allow remarried Catholics living in adultery to receive Holy Communion. He even tried to include tolerating  aberosexual relationships, etc. These are, indeed, against Catholic doctrines. So the majority of the fathers in the Synod rejected and outvoted his proposal. 
     Evidently, the Synod was not a Catholic gathering since it did not have this 4th Mark of the Church. The group of Cardinal Burke, backed up by most of the bishops of Poland and Africa were acting like Catholics because they had the 4th Mark. Pope Francis, with Baldiseri, Kasper and Tagle were not acting like Catholics because they did not have the 4th Mark. There was a schism with Pope Francis and his group leaving the Catholic Church. The cry 'schism' resounded in news around the world. 

6. The separation of the different groups holding the ideologue of discontinuity have gone further away from the Catholic Church and the farthest is the FrancisChurch. All these groups do not have the 4th Mark including a big group in the Philippines Bishop's conference who are attached to the FrancisChurch. 
    
7. The present situation.
     We have total confusion in the Catholic Church with no one teaching the Catholic truth on salvation, with many teaching the opposite on how to go to hell. We have most of the priests, bishops and cardinals more concerned with global warming and political issues rather saving souls, we have Catholics who do not have Faith, we have parents divorcing, remarrying and receiving Holy Communion and going to hell and we have a Pope teaching no one goes to hell, souls disappear and God forgives without repentance......so what do we do. Ask the Pope and most of the bishops, priests and nuns to resign, abandon our adulterous parents, impeach the President? Well, no. Let everything stay as they are. These things are happening because it is God's permissive will, as St. Thomas would say. And we must always be resigned to the unavoidable permissive will of God; as the first Christians were resigned to the rule of Emperors Domitian or Diocletian as they martyred. Did the first Christians lift a finger to change the status quo? No. They let it be in resignation of God's unavoidable permissive will. 
     It is a test God gives all men 'to see if they will continue in their Faith,' the main message of the 5th weekday of Lent. When we are given a test, we do not change the test questions that we cannot answers. We answer them as best we can. St. Thomas comments on the Gospel writing; 'God initiates Faith in us, and then test us to see if we will continue in the Faith.'
     God is testing all men to see if they will remain Catholic in this present situation. Or are we going to sacrifice to the idols of the NuChurches of post-Vatican II. This blog aims at helping souls pass the test.
     The present situation will continue. The 'dubia' will not accomplish anything. Pope Francis will not answer and will continue as Pope. But it does not matter. We all know what the answer should be. What is important is that we are on the side of the Catholic Church who knows all the answers. Let the rest of the world chose their own sides. They have their own free wills. Let Pope Francis pass his own test.
     

The THIRD MARK of the Catholic Church - Long duration without Interruption. Part III

 1. The debate is getting hotter.
     Writers are now calling names and showing proofs to support their stands. And public relation groups are all out protecting their clients. Recently, a letter of introduction from Pope Emeritus is in the center of the controversy; apparently, it is an introduction to the 11 little books of Pope Francis. At the centre of the maelstrom are two basic issues; which is the Catholic Church and who is the true Pope. Two issues that all Catholic must resolve because these will affect the salvation of souls. 
     These posts, summarised from the writings of St. Robert Bellarmine. will answer these two questions. Taken from the treatise 'de controversiis' and sub-titled ' the 15 Marks of the Church',  we are enumerating the 15 Marks of the true Church of Christ which is the expanded version of the four visible signs of the true Church as found in the Nicene Creed. 
      The on going issue was a letter purportedly describing that the Papacy of Pope Francis is a continuation of the Papacy of Pope Benedict. Nothing is further from the truth. The Papacy of Pope Benedict has this third Mark of the Church. The Papacy of Pope Francis does not have this Mark. 

2. Theology of discontinuity.
     The heresy that is the foundation of Pope Francis' church is called the theology of discontinuity, a post Vatican II heresy, that believes that the Old Catholic Church that up to now has all the Marks of the true Church had ceased to exist at the onset of Vatican II, and that a new church had began to exist ruled by Pope Francis. That there was a break in the existence of the Catholic Church; this occurred during Vatican II. The Catholic Church with the 15 Marks had ceased to exist and a new churches without any of the 15 signs have began to exist; among the many that sprouted one of this church is the FrancisChurch with Pope Francis as its head. 
     The theology of discontinuity shows the absence of this third Mark of the true Church because it seems to imply that the Catholic Church does not have a long duration and that there was an interruption in the existence of the Catholic Church. If this is true then the Catholic Church cannot be the true Church. But both assertions, i.e. that the Catholic Church does not have a long duration and that it has undergone interruption, is erroneous. It continues to have a long duration and has had no interruption. The new FrancisChurch is giving these lies to rationalize their new church and attract members. In fact, the ongoing strong opposition to Pope Francis and his Nuchurch comes from this 'long duration and without interruption' Catholic Church that continue to exist. 

3. Long duration without interruption.
    Pope Benedict, went against the theology of discontinuity calling it a heresy and proposed the theology of continuity which is in accordance with this third Mark of the true Church. This states that the Catholic Church before Vatican II  continues to exist today. Where? Not in the FrancisChurch in the Vatican but somewhere else. 
     This is the reason why during the 'ad lumina' visits, Pope Benedict would inquire from the bishops if any of them have seen 'the church.' And he would describe it by giving the visible signs. I do not know if any bishop ever found the 'church' Pope Benedict was describing because this church must have these 15 Marks or the 4 visible signs from the Creed. The true church must continue without interruption. 

4. The FrancisChurch and the ideology of discontinuity.
     The issue is even larger than the introduction to a book. The issue is which is the true Catholic Church and who is the true Pope, because the two churches and the two popes are being compared. The 3 Marks already mentioned and the following 12 other Marks will definitely settle the problem. 
     It all begun during Vatican II. The 'modernist, who hibernated due to the onslaught of the Popes against modernism, suddenly found an opportunity to come out in the open. They found the opportunity to resurrect and positioned themselves during Vatican II. They campaigned, they grouped together, they were funded well from outside the halls of the Vatican, they controlled the media. They were simply called 'progressives.' There were many modernist groups but they were together under the banner of the ideology of 'discontinuity'; they wanted to change the old Catholic Church completely. They will declare the Old Catholic Church passe' and present a NuChurch. 
     But they had stiff opponents from the 'conservatives' led by Ottaviani. The records of the council have all their names and the list of the arguments of each side. Seeing the stiff opposition they settled in making the declarations of Vatican II so blurred that it could be interpreted in anyway. 
     The diabolical plan was this; immediately after 
Vatican II,  they will pre-empt the Vatican with their own heretical interpretation of Vatican II, even before the Vatican can publish any official interpretation. And this they did. 

5. The ideology of 'discontinuity' grabs the limelight immediately after Vatican II.
     True enough, after Vatican II the ideologues of 'discontinuity' immediately publish their heretical interpretation of Vatican II. Their books flooded the seminaries, the theological schools and all the bookstores. While up to now, Rome does not have an official interpretation of the documents of Vatican II. Expect none because Pope Francis have already filled up the Vatican with ideologues of 'discontinuity.'
     The more popular work that pre-empted the official interpretation is the now famous work from the school of Bologna that promoted the ideology of discontinuity. Up to now it is the only attempt to interpret the works of Vatican II. The author of one of the chapters is Cardinal Tagle which explains the strong influence of the school of discontinuity in the Philippine bishop's conference. This philosophy was, in fact, proposed by president Villegas of the bishop''s conference in a 2015 opening talk at the Pius Centre which was featured in the news world wide. The Philippine Catholic Church have lost its 3rd Mark of the true Church. With the lost of the 3rd Mark, it necessarily lost all the rest of the Marks. 
     
      The Jesuits are in the fore front pushing for this ideology and backed with their mass communication centres they have influenced most of the Bishop's conference around the world. I was surprised to see that bishop's conference have in their portfolio copies of 'La civilta' the Jesuit publication. How come they have a periodical of the Jesuits but not the periodicals of the Dominicans or Benedictines. It is clearly an effort to influence Bishop's conferences. And it is very effective because majority of the bishops in those conferences embrace this NuChurch without knowing anything about it. 
     Recently, in the just concluded Philippine's bishop's conference in Cebu, they voted (around 30 in favour) in secret to support this heretical ideology, going against an objection to it, without knowing anything about it. Around 20 went against the heresy and 9 abstain. This shows the extend to which some bishops have embraced this entirely new church that does not have this third Mark of the true Catholic Church.  Imagine what is the state of the dioceses and the parishes of these bishops. They would be Protestants in no time. Because of the secret voting, we do not know in what diocese the 30 belong. But that is the majority of the dioceses in the Philippines whose bishops do not have the third Mark of the Church. It is no longer the only Catholic nation in the far east. 

The THIRD MARK of the Catholic Church - Long duration without Interruption. Part III

 1. The debate is getting hotter.
     Writers are now calling names and showing proofs to support their stands. And public relation groups are all out protecting their clients. Recently, a letter of introduction from Pope Emeritus is in the center of the controversy; apparently, it is an introduction to the 11 little books of Pope Francis. At the centre of the maelstrom are two basic issues; which is the Catholic Church and who is the true Pope. Two issues that all Catholic must resolve because these will affect the salvation of souls. 
     These posts, summarised from the writings of St. Robert Bellarmine. will answer these two questions. Taken from the treatise 'de controversiis' and sub-titled ' the 15 Marks of the Church',  we are enumerating the 15 Marks of the true Church of Christ which is the expanded version of the four visible signs of the true Church as found in the Nicene Creed. 
      The on going issue was a letter purportedly describing that the Papacy of Pope Francis is a continuation of the Papacy of Pope Benedict. Nothing is further from the truth. The Papacy of Pope Benedict has this third Mark of the Church. The Papacy of Pope Francis does not have this Mark. 

2. Theology of discontinuity.
     The heresy that is the foundation of Pope Francis' church is called the theology of discontinuity, a post Vatican II heresy, that believes that the Old Catholic Church that up to now has all the Marks of the true Church had ceased to exist at the onset of Vatican II, and that a new church had began to exist ruled by Pope Francis. That there was a break in the existence of the Catholic Church; this occurred during Vatican II. The Catholic Church with the 15 Marks had ceased to exist and a new churches without any of the 15 signs have began to exist; among the many that sprouted one of this church is the FrancisChurch with Pope Francis as its head. 
     The theology of discontinuity shows the absence of this third Mark of the true Church because it seems to imply that the Catholic Church does not have a long duration and that there was an interruption in the existence of the Catholic Church. If this is true then the Catholic Church cannot be the true Church. But both assertions, i.e. that the Catholic Church does not have a long duration and that it has undergone interruption, is erroneous. It continues to have a long duration and has had no interruption. The new FrancisChurch is giving these lies to rationalize their new church and attract members. In fact, the ongoing strong opposition to Pope Francis and his Nuchurch comes from this 'long duration and without interruption' Catholic Church that continue to exist. 

3. Long duration without interruption.
    Pope Benedict, went against the theology of discontinuity calling it a heresy and proposed the theology of continuity which is in accordance with this third Mark of the true Church. This states that the Catholic Church before Vatican II  continues to exist today. Where? Not in the FrancisChurch in the Vatican but somewhere else. 
     This is the reason why during the 'ad lumina' visits, Pope Benedict would inquire from the bishops if any of them have seen 'the church.' And he would describe it by giving the visible signs. I do not know if any bishop ever found the 'church' Pope Benedict was describing because this church must have these 15 Marks or the 4 visible signs from the Creed. The true church must continue without interruption. 

4. The FrancisChurch and the ideology of discontinuity.
     The issue is even larger than the introduction to a book. The issue is which is the true Catholic Church and who is the true Pope, because the two churches and the two popes are being compared. The 3 Marks already mentioned and the following 12 other Marks will definitely settle the problem. 
     It all begun during Vatican II. The 'modernist, who hibernated due to the onslaught of the Popes against modernism, suddenly found an opportunity to come out in the open. They found the opportunity to resurrect and positioned themselves during Vatican II. They campaigned, they grouped together, they were funded well from outside the halls of the Vatican, they controlled the media. They were simply called 'progressives.' There were many modernist groups but they were together under the banner of the ideology of 'discontinuity'; they wanted to change the old Catholic Church completely. They will declare the Old Catholic Church passe' and present a NuChurch. 
     But they had stiff opponents from the 'conservatives' led by Ottaviani. The records of the council have all their names and the list of the arguments of each side. Seeing the stiff opposition they settled in making the declarations of Vatican II so blurred that it could be interpreted in anyway. 
     The diabolical plan was this; immediately after 
Vatican II,  they will pre-empt the Vatican with their own heretical interpretation of Vatican II, even before the Vatican can publish any official interpretation. And this they did. 

5. The ideology of 'discontinuity' grabs the limelight immediately after Vatican II.
     True enough, after Vatican II the ideologues of 'discontinuity' immediately publish their heretical interpretation of Vatican II. Their books flooded the seminaries, the theological schools and all the bookstores. While up to now, Rome does not have an official interpretation of the documents of Vatican II. Expect none because Pope Francis have already filled up the Vatican with ideologues of 'discontinuity.'
     The more popular work that pre-empted the official interpretation is the now famous work from the school of Bologna that promoted the ideology of discontinuity. Up to now it is the only attempt to interpret the works of Vatican II. The author of one of the chapters is Cardinal Tagle which explains the strong influence of the school of discontinuity in the Philippine bishop's conference. This philosophy was, in fact, proposed by president Villegas of the bishop''s conference in a 2015 opening talk at the Pius Centre which was featured in the news world wide. The Philippine Catholic Church have lost its 3rd Mark of the true Church. With the lost of the 3rd Mark, it necessarily lost all the rest of the Marks. 
     
      The Jesuits are in the fore front pushing for this ideology and backed with their mass communication centres they have influenced most of the Bishop's conference around the world. I was surprised to see that bishop's conference have in their portfolio copies of 'La civilta' the Jesuit publication. How come they have a periodical of the Jesuits but not the periodicals of the Dominicans or Benedictines. It is clearly an effort to influence Bishop's conferences. And it is very effective because majority of the bishops in those conferences embrace this NuChurch without knowing anything about it. 
     Recently, in the just concluded Philippine's bishop's conference in Cebu, they voted (around 30 in favour) in secret to support this heretical ideology, going against an objection to it, without knowing anything about it. Around 20 went against the heresy and 9 abstain. This shows the extend to which some bishops have embraced this entirely new church that does not have this third Mark of the true Catholic Church.  Imagine what is the state of the dioceses and the parishes of these bishops. They would be Protestants in no time. Because of the secret voting, we do not know in what diocese the 30 belong. But that is the majority of the dioceses in the Philippines whose bishops do not have the third Mark of the Church. It is no longer the only Catholic nation in the far east. 

The SECOND MARK of the Catholic Church. Part II - ANTIQUITY

 1. The aim of this blog.
      The aim of this blog is to teach souls three things, all of which are  necessary for the salvation of souls. To put it simply, we are saved if we die within the Catholic Church. Thus, we must know three things, first, how does the Church look like. Secondly, how to enter the Catholic Church. Thirdly, how to find out if we are inside the Catholic Church. 
       We are concentrating on the first, how does the true Church of Christ look like. Evidently, we must know how she looks like before we can enter the true Church. The second and third steps may be for later. 
        We know very well that Satan is the perfect imitator. He waits for God to move first. Then, he imitates God's move. God, first instituted His Church. Then Satan follows and imitates the Church 
God instituted and calls it his church. Christ selected apostles, Satan imitates and have his own apostles. Christ instituted His Mass and Satan follows and creates his own Satanic masses. 
         St. Bellarmine wrote, God existed first, then the devil. The good seed is planted first, then the devil sows his own seeds. The true Church is more ancient than the false church. 

2. The six points in its 'antiquity.' 
     We have seen the first Mark of the Church. Let us look at the second Mark, 'antiquity.' There are six points that makes the Catholic Church antique; these are the same six points that makes other churches false but it will show that they do not have the quality called antiquity. 
     First, the founder is 'antique.' The founder or author of the Catholic Church is God and he existed even before the creation of the world. Its second founder is Christ, who is one with the God-founder, and who  perfected the Church during His lifetime. There was no other church before God. Thus the Catholic Church has 'antiquity'.

     Secondly, the doctrines taught are new and totally unknown to men; like the doctrine on the Trinity, the incarnation, and on grace. These were the doctrines from the beginning but slowly unveiled as the history of man progressed.  The Catholic Church  started teaching the concept of one God. Then, the the incarnation was unveiled; and later on the theology of grace. All doctrines are contained in the initial doctrines from the beginning but unveiled gradually as man became capable of higher understanding.
     
      Thirdly, the time in which it began. The Catholic Church was first preached to Adam and Eve. It was perfected in the 15th year of the Emperor Tiberius Caesar. And continues in its fulfilment up to Pope Benedict XVI and the Holy Spirit will continue until  the fulfilment of time. 

       Fourthly, the place where it began. The Catholic Church begun in Paradise. She was kicked out of Paradise and transferred in this world. She was perfected in Judea by Christ but it will be perfectly fulfilled at the end times......we still don't know where. 

        Fifth, who opposed it. The Church was opposed by the devil and by all the pagan tribes. The Egyptian opposed it during the time of Moses. Then the Scribes, the Pharisees and the Roman. Then by all the nations. Finally, it will be opposed by the physical member of the Church itself. 

         Sixly, the Church will begin very small amongst the greater number of other pagan religions.

3. These signs of antiquity happened only once in the history of men. It happened to the Catholic church. Seeing this happen to the true Church, the devil imitated these six signs to show that the other diabolical religions is undergoing the same thing that happened to the Catholic Church. Except that what happened to other religions shows that it is different from the sign of 'antiquity'  present in the true Church. In other words, other religions cannot show they have the characteristic 'antiquity.' That they are different from the Catholic Church.

4. Let us take two examples of what is not the Catholic Church;  a Protestant Church and the modern post Vatican II church of Pope Francis called FrancisChurch. 
     First; who is the author of the Protestant sects? Martin Luther. Who is the author of the newly established post Vatican II church? Pope Francis. Luther and Pope Francis are the authors of the doctrinal changes in the Protestant and the FrancisChurch. 
      Secondly,   Luther changed the formula of salvation to faith alone. The original Catholic doctrine is faith and good works. Pope Francis proposed that remarried persons in the state of mortal sin can receive Holy Communion. The original Catholic doctrine is that the state of sanctifying grace is necessary to receive Holy Communion worthily. There is change of doctrines.
    Thirdly, Luther' started in 1517; Bergoglio's started just 50- years ago. So Luther and Bergoglio does not have the sign antiquity. 
     Fourth. The place where it began. While the Catholic Church began in Paradise, Arianism began in Egypt, Lutheranism in Saxony, the FrancisChurch in Argentina. They are not the same church. They are different. 
     Fifth, who opposed them. The Arians were opposed by Pope Sylvester, the council of Nicea and by St. Athanasius. The Lutheran heresy was attacked by Pope Leo X, the Council of Trent. The FrancisChurch is being attacked by the four cardinals, by Bishop 
Athanasius and a long list of concerned Catholics. The true Church is opposed by evil persons. The fake church is opposed by good people and by true Catholics. 
     Sixth, they are a small community. The charismatics are a huge group. The FrancisChurch has the majority of the members of the bishop's conference on his side. The billions of members of the Catholic Church is a mere facade. Pope Benedict wrote that this cannot be the true Church. It should be very, very small. And he even showed a very small replica of St. Peter's to illustrate his point. In fact, it is so small you cannot find it.

5. Conclusion
     Just with these two Marks of the true Church,  many who claim to be Catholic will not pass, neither bishop nor cardinal, neither diocese nor parish, neither priest nor nun, neither laymen nor Pope Francis. With just these two Marks only the old Catholic Church instituted by God the Father in the Old Testament, by God the Son in the New Testament and perfected by the Holy Spirit in this our time would qualify as the true Church of Jesus Christ. The present post Vatican II church, especially the FrancisChurch does not have neither of the two above Marks. 
     The true Catholic Church today should look very, very small AND very, very old. 

      
     

The SECOND MARK of the Catholic Church. Part II - ANTIQUITY

 1. The aim of this blog.
      The aim of this blog is to teach souls three things, all of which are  necessary for the salvation of souls. To put it simply, we are saved if we die within the Catholic Church. Thus, we must know three things, first, how does the Church look like. Secondly, how to enter the Catholic Church. Thirdly, how to find out if we are inside the Catholic Church. 
       We are concentrating on the first, how does the true Church of Christ look like. Evidently, we must know how she looks like before we can enter the true Church. The second and third steps may be for later. 
        We know very well that Satan is the perfect imitator. He waits for God to move first. Then, he imitates God's move. God, first instituted His Church. Then Satan follows and imitates the Church 
God instituted and calls it his church. Christ selected apostles, Satan imitates and have his own apostles. Christ instituted His Mass and Satan follows and creates his own Satanic masses. 
         St. Bellarmine wrote, God existed first, then the devil. The good seed is planted first, then the devil sows his own seeds. The true Church is more ancient than the false church. 

2. The six points in its 'antiquity.' 
     We have seen the first Mark of the Church. Let us look at the second Mark, 'antiquity.' There are six points that makes the Catholic Church antique; these are the same six points that makes other churches false but it will show that they do not have the quality called antiquity. 
     First, the founder is 'antique.' The founder or author of the Catholic Church is God and he existed even before the creation of the world. Its second founder is Christ, who is one with the God-founder, and who  perfected the Church during His lifetime. There was no other church before God. Thus the Catholic Church has 'antiquity'.

     Secondly, the doctrines taught are new and totally unknown to men; like the doctrine on the Trinity, the incarnation, and on grace. These were the doctrines from the beginning but slowly unveiled as the history of man progressed.  The Catholic Church  started teaching the concept of one God. Then, the the incarnation was unveiled; and later on the theology of grace. All doctrines are contained in the initial doctrines from the beginning but unveiled gradually as man became capable of higher understanding.
     
      Thirdly, the time in which it began. The Catholic Church was first preached to Adam and Eve. It was perfected in the 15th year of the Emperor Tiberius Caesar. And continues in its fulfilment up to Pope Benedict XVI and the Holy Spirit will continue until  the fulfilment of time. 

       Fourthly, the place where it began. The Catholic Church begun in Paradise. She was kicked out of Paradise and transferred in this world. She was perfected in Judea by Christ but it will be perfectly fulfilled at the end times......we still don't know where. 

        Fifth, who opposed it. The Church was opposed by the devil and by all the pagan tribes. The Egyptian opposed it during the time of Moses. Then the Scribes, the Pharisees and the Roman. Then by all the nations. Finally, it will be opposed by the physical member of the Church itself. 

         Sixly, the Church will begin very small amongst the greater number of other pagan religions.

3. These signs of antiquity happened only once in the history of men. It happened to the Catholic church. Seeing this happen to the true Church, the devil imitated these six signs to show that the other diabolical religions is undergoing the same thing that happened to the Catholic Church. Except that what happened to other religions shows that it is different from the sign of 'antiquity'  present in the true Church. In other words, other religions cannot show they have the characteristic 'antiquity.' That they are different from the Catholic Church.

4. Let us take two examples of what is not the Catholic Church;  a Protestant Church and the modern post Vatican II church of Pope Francis called FrancisChurch. 
     First; who is the author of the Protestant sects? Martin Luther. Who is the author of the newly established post Vatican II church? Pope Francis. Luther and Pope Francis are the authors of the doctrinal changes in the Protestant and the FrancisChurch. 
      Secondly,   Luther changed the formula of salvation to faith alone. The original Catholic doctrine is faith and good works. Pope Francis proposed that remarried persons in the state of mortal sin can receive Holy Communion. The original Catholic doctrine is that the state of sanctifying grace is necessary to receive Holy Communion worthily. There is change of doctrines.
    Thirdly, Luther' started in 1517; Bergoglio's started just 50- years ago. So Luther and Bergoglio does not have the sign antiquity. 
     Fourth. The place where it began. While the Catholic Church began in Paradise, Arianism began in Egypt, Lutheranism in Saxony, the FrancisChurch in Argentina. They are not the same church. They are different. 
     Fifth, who opposed them. The Arians were opposed by Pope Sylvester, the council of Nicea and by St. Athanasius. The Lutheran heresy was attacked by Pope Leo X, the Council of Trent. The FrancisChurch is being attacked by the four cardinals, by Bishop 
Athanasius and a long list of concerned Catholics. The true Church is opposed by evil persons. The fake church is opposed by good people and by true Catholics. 
     Sixth, they are a small community. The charismatics are a huge group. The FrancisChurch has the majority of the members of the bishop's conference on his side. The billions of members of the Catholic Church is a mere facade. Pope Benedict wrote that this cannot be the true Church. It should be very, very small. And he even showed a very small replica of St. Peter's to illustrate his point. In fact, it is so small you cannot find it.

5. Conclusion
     Just with these two Marks of the true Church,  many who claim to be Catholic will not pass, neither bishop nor cardinal, neither diocese nor parish, neither priest nor nun, neither laymen nor Pope Francis. With just these two Marks only the old Catholic Church instituted by God the Father in the Old Testament, by God the Son in the New Testament and perfected by the Holy Spirit in this our time would qualify as the true Church of Jesus Christ. The present post Vatican II church, especially the FrancisChurch does not have neither of the two above Marks. 
     The true Catholic Church today should look very, very small AND very, very old. 

      
     

THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT. - Friday of the 3rd week of Lent

 1. The greatest command.
      The Pharisees would often question Christ, not to learn but to entrap Him. The Sadducees were more sincere. They were learners of the law and there were too many laws to study. And one of them approached Christ and to simplify their learning wanted to know which is the greatest among the many commandments of God.
     Christ gave three commands. Theologians often mentions only two, the second and third, and often miss the first most important one. Christ answered;  'the first of all the commandment is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord.' Christ said that there is only one God; there is no other god but Him alone. There is only one religion; the religion of this one God. All the others are man made.
      Note that Pope Francis said that all the gods of the different religions are gods and these gods can save their souls. Or that all the gods of different religions are one and the same god. Or that all religions should unite and only have one god. He can't seem to make up his mind. 
       Thus Pope Francis discourages people to transfer from one religion to another. He discourages members of other religion to transfer to the Catholic Church as he prevented his friend Tony Parker, an Anglican, from becoming a Catholic. And Pope Francis prohibited Catholics from evangelising to convert souls to the Catholic Faith. He clearly goes against this first greatest command of God. Well, if you recall Pope Francis does not believe in obeying the commands of the Catholic God which he does not believe in. In short, Pope Francis does not believe in the mystery of the Three Persons in one God, which he calls the Catholic God which he does not believe in. 
     Not believing in this first great commandment, St. James writes, Pope Francis surely will not believe in any other Catholic truths. 

2.    Christ proceeded to the second greatest command; 'thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.' Christ said, this is the first command; but as enumerated in the Gospel, this is the second command. You must first believe in one God before you can love this one God. If you believe that there are many gods as Pope Francis believe, you will not be able to love him with all your soul. Because you will have to divide your love to all the other gods. This second command is based on the fact that there is only one God, a Catholic God.      
     How can you love God as described above? By obeying all His commands; 'if you love Me, keep My commandments (both from the Old Testament and from the New Testament.)' Pope Francis had disobeyed the 6th and 9th command of God in the Old Testament; and disobeyed the command on family planning from the New Testament as can be clearly seen in 'Amores laetitia.' 

     Without obeying the first and second commands of God, it will be impossible for Pope Francis to obey the third greatest command, to love your neighbour. How do you love your neighbours? By teaching and encouraging them to obey God's command. Pope Francis is teaching the whole world to disobey God's commands calling these commands 'stifling.' Since love of God and neighbor consists in obeying the commands of Christ in the New Testament, Pope Francis disobedience of God's commands makes him unable to love God and neighbor. 

      He does not believe there is only one God alone. He does not love God. He does not love his neighbour. He is no Christian and certainly not a Catholic as the 'dubia' suspects. 

3. You are not far from the kingdom of God.
     The Scribe believed that there is the Lord God alone. And that God should be loved with all you mind, soul, strength and heart; and that we must love our neighbours as we love ourselves. The Scribe believed that these are the three greatest commands of God. And Christ said; 'you are not far from the kingdom of heaven.' But he was not yet inside the kingdom of God, the Catholic Church. Why? Because he had not yet put into practice what he believed; so he was not yet inside the kingdom of God. But he was not far from the kingdom; i.e. he was near because he believe correctly that the above were the greatest commands of God.
     If Pope Francis does not believe in the first command, if he is not obeying the second command and could not obey the third command.......where is he in relation to the kingdom of God? Basing it on the answer of Christ to the Scribe, Pope Francis is not yet inside the kingdom of God, i.e. the Catholic Church. He is not near the kingdom of God. And unlike the Scribe who was not far....he seems to be nowhere around the kingdom of God, the Catholic Church.