Love Letters to Lukewarm Souls

Catholic Basics Series (Post#2) Matthew 16:18 is key to understanding Christ’s intent to pass on the authority to lead the Church to Peter and the apostles. Christ tells Peter that he is the rock on which He will build His church. When Catholics use the term apostolic succession, they are referring to the line of bishops that stretches all the way back to the apostles—to Peter—the first Pope. Apostolic tradition (the authentic teaching of the apostles) was handed from Christ to the apostles, and from them to their successors. This unbroken line of popes (the bishops of Rome) and all other bishops have guided the Church for the past 2,000 years, just as Christ intended (Matthew 28:19-20).  Christ sent His apostles out into the world with authority to teach and heal (Luke 9:1-2) and to forgive sins (John 20:23). This God-given authority is exercised by the bishops within the Catholic Church to this day. Here's the historical list of Pope from Peter down to cur...

Catholic Basics Series (Post #1)   The Catholic Church is the only church today that can claim to be the one church founded by Jesus Christ 2,000 years ago. Other denominations (collectively known as Protestants) can trace their origins back to various human founders at a later date in history (as early as 16th century with the exception of Eastern Orthodox in 1054) . Nice to know stuff: Catholicism is the largest faith community in the world (more than 1.2 billion) The Catholic church is the one that collected and compiled the Bible. For 2,000 years, the Catholic church has fed, clothed, and housed more people in need than any group or institution in history. The Catholic church founded the first school/education system. The Catholic church founded the first hospital/health care system. The church has been the largest benefactor of arts. The church remains the world's premier institutional defender of human rights. Peter is the very first Pope, appointed ...