Question:

Is it the same to be a Protestant Christian as to be a Christian in the Church of Christ: the Catholic Church?

Is it important to be in her? Is being a Catholic Christian a source of pride?

What did the first Christians think about this?

Answer:

We are CATHOLICS and proud of it

 

“Christian is my name, and Catholic my surname. The first names me, while the other specifically identifies me. In this way I have been identified and registered… When we are called Catholics, it is by this name that our people are kept apart from any heretical name.”

Saint Pacian of Barcelona, Letter to Sympronian, Year 375 after Christ.

“Always stay close to the Catholic Church, because she alone can give you complete peace, since she alone has Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, the true Prince of Peace.”

Blessed Padre Pio…

“It is because Jesus is the center of evangelization that the Church adheres obstinately and firmly to His traditional message. For this reason she does not accept modernisms or fraternization with the spirit of the moment.”

Karl Adam, The Spirit of Catholicism…

“The Catholic Church understands her antagonists, but they do not understand the Catholic Church.”

Hilaire Belloc, The Great Heresies…

“While Protestants study the menu (the Bible), Catholics enjoy the dinner.” 1 Cor 11:23-27 Jn 6:48-69 Dr. Scott Hahn…

Former minister evangelical

“The dogmas of the Catholic Church are connected with one another. If one is rejected, such as the infallibility of the Pope, then all the others are rejected.”

Fr. Trujillo…

“Here we have the analogous conjecture. Fire one Protestant shot and one Catholic shot at a wall. The dispersion obtained will be the opinions of those who fired them, identifying them as liberals, conservatives, etc. With Catholics, we always know who is at the center: the Pope and his Magisterium. With Protestants, how can we determine who is at the center?”

Marcus Grodi, former Protestant minister, now Catholic.

“For those who spread lies about the Catholic Church: their ignorance is their lack of education, their hatred is their wisdom, and their truth is falsehood.”

Unknown author…

“Heretics who have been expelled bring this about when by their own desire they separate themselves from the Church, a separation which, as they well know, constitutes eternal punishment.”

Saint Jerome, Commentary on Titus, 3:10, Year 386 after Christ.

“Where Peter is, there we find the Church.”

Saint Ambrose of Milan, On Twelve Psalms, Year 381 after Christ.

“A Christian man is Catholic while he lives in the body; separated, he is a heretic; the Spirit does not follow an amputated member.”

Saint Augustine…

“It is contradictory for a Protestant to accept the Bible and refuse to accept the authority of the Catholic Church, which was the one that made it available to him.”

Anonymous…

“In attacking the Catholic Church, Protestants cut their own roots.”

Unknown author…

“Protestant churches have hymns and prayers. Catholic churches have hymns, prayers, and sacrifice Lk 22:19.”

Dr. Scott Hahn… Former evangelical pastor converted to Catholicism.

“A Protestant should not quote any of the Sacred Scriptures, since he has no way of knowing to which books he may refer; unless he wishes to accept the authority of the Catholic Church for this.”

Fr. William Most…

“If you read the Bible with Catholic eyes, things will begin to break into your mind.”

Unknown author…

“We must all follow the direction of the bishop, as Jesus Christ followed that of the Father; obey the presbyter as if you were obeying the Apostles; show reverence to the deacons as you would show it to the commandments of God. Do not allow anyone to touch the Church apart from the bishop. Accept that the celebration of the Eucharist be considered valid when it is celebrated by the bishop or by someone to whom he has entrusted it. Where the bishop is present, let the people also gather, just as where Jesus Christ is, there also is the Catholic Church. Without the bishop’s authorization it is not permitted to baptize or hold an agape feast; but understand that what he approves, God will bless. Therefore, everything you do will be proven against dangers and valid.”

Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Year 107 after Christ.

“From what has been said, it is clear to me that the true Church, the one that is truly ancient, is one; and in her are members all those who, according to a prearranged covenant, are righteous… Likewise, we say that in substance, concept, origin and eminence, the ancient and Catholic Church stands alone, gathering into the unity of the one faith—which results from familiar covenants, or rather, from one covenant of different ages, by the power of GOD and through our Lord—those who had been chosen, those predestined by GOD who knew after the foundation of the world that they would be righteous.”

Saint Clement of Alexandria, Stromateis, Year 202 after Christ.

“Therefore, it is the Catholic Church alone that retains true worship. This is the source of truth; this, the dwelling place of faith; this is the temple of GOD. Whoever does not enter there, or whoever departs from here, is a stranger to the hope of life and salvation… Nevertheless, because various groups of heretics are sure that they are Christians and believe that their church is the Catholic Church, it is better to clarify that: it is in the true Church where there is confession and penance, and where wholesome care is taken of the sins and wounds to which weak flesh is exposed.”

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes, Year 304 after Christ.

“Let us note that the tradition, teachings, and faith of the Catholic Church, which from the beginning the Lord provided, was preached by the Apostles and preserved by the Fathers. This was the foundation of the Church; and if anyone departs from this, he is not, nor should he be called, Christian.”

Saint Athanasius, Letter to Serapion of Thmuis, Year 359 after Christ.

“I believe in the Gospel because it was authorized by the Catholic Church.”

Saint Augustine of Hippo, Against the Letter of Mani, Year 397 after Christ.

“This Church is sacred, the one Church, the true Church, the Catholic Church, always fighting against every heresy. She can fight, but she cannot be conquered. All heresies are expelled from her, as useless branches are pruned from the vine. She remains rooted in her roots, in the vine, in her love. The gates of hell shall never overcome her.”

Saint Augustine of Hippo, Sermon to the Catechumens on the Creed, 6,14, Year 395 after Christ

 

Source: Defiendetufe.org