Every neighborhood has the kid who is blessed with the most. Blessed with the most (in talent, advantage, intellect, looks, etc.) he, or she, is expected to far outshine all others. Sometimes, however, this is not so. The same can be said for the fullness of Christian truth and expression in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.
Four marks of the Church: http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/churb2.htm
Though we are blessed with the most avenues for finding grace we, sometimes, squander the absolute fullness of blessings in Jesus' Apostolic Church.
Consider, aside from the one baptism we all share, that Catholics are blessed with six other avenues for Christ's grace. Blessed with the fullness of grace in Confirmation, the family building Sacrament of Marriage, supported by ordained clergy throughout our faith lives, and blessed with the Anointing of the Sick (in our final time of peril), Catholics are never left untouched by God's grace in a visible tangible way. And this alone should produce gratitude full enough to inspire sainthood!
The Catechism on the seven sacraments: http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p2s2.htm
Yes, I left out two Sacraments on purpose! Sacramental confession and the Real Presence of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, in His body, blood, soul and divinity, in the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, received in the Catholic Mass, where heaven and earth meet, provide repeatable encounters with the Mercy of Jesus. Yet, how often do we go to confession? And how much do we truly believe in Jesus' real presence in the little host and the chalice of wine?
The Eucharist: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05572c.htm
Finally, all Christians are blessed with Sacred Scripture. Only Catholicism, however, has the fullness of Revelation in Sacred Tradition, and from within this unbroken Apostolic witness, Teaching and Interpretive Authority, not to mention the presence of St Peter and his companions the apostles in the Pope and Bishops.
Sacred Tradition and the living Magisterium: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15006b.htm
But do Catholics delve into the treasury of Sacred Tradition? And do Catholics, particularly American Catholics, listen to, and obey, the Pope and Bishops, in unity with each other?
Sadly, the answer is all to often, No! And we must pray that this changes.
Agree? tranz4mation@comcast.net
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