Monday, March 22, 2010

Part I, Chapter XII. The Rulers of the Church

151. Who is the head of the Church?
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the invisible head of the Church, which is his Mystical Body.
152. Has the Church a visible head on earth?
The Pope, who is bishop of Rome, is Christ's vicar on earth and visible head of the Church.
153. Why is the Pope the visible head of the Church?
The Pope is the visible head of the Church because he is the successor of St. Peter, who was chief of the apostles, and first bishop of Rome.
154. When did Christ promise to make St. Peter head of the Church?
Christ promised to make St. Peter head of the Church when He said to him: Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church...
and I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. xvi, 18-19).

155. When did Christ fulfil his promise and make St.Peter head of the Church?
Christ made St. Peter head of the Church when, after the resurrection, He said to him: Feed my lambs, feed my sheep (John xxi, 15-17).
156. What power has the Pope over the Church?
The Pope, as successor of St. Peter, has supreme power over the whole Church and every part of it, in matters of faith, of morals and of discipline.
157. Who are the successors of the other apostles?
The bishops of the Holy Catholic Church are the successors of the other apostles.
158. Is the Church infallible?
The Church is infallible, that is, it cannot err, when it teaches doctrines of faith and morals to be held by all the faithful.
159. How do we know that the Church is infallible?
We know that the Church is infallible, because Christ promised the apostles and their successors that He would send the Holy Ghost to guide and teach them, and that He Himself would be with them all days, even to the end of the world.
160. Who in the Church can teach infallibly?
The infallible teachers in the Church are the Pope, and the general body of bishops united with the Pope.
161. What is the authority of the bishop in his own diocese?
The bishop in his own diocese has power from God to teach, to sanctify and to rule the faithful, in subjection to the Pope, and in accordance with the laws of the Church.
162. How can the faithful help the Church?
The faithful can help the Church in its work, by defending it against attack, by being active members of Catholic societies, and by giving good example in their own lives.

1 comment:

  1. Regarding Q161, I have a comment myself, which I'll put in my main blog (http://tltttt.blogspot.com)

    ReplyDelete