Pentecost Sunday 2016-05-15

Index

Pentecost Sunday

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk
15th May 2016

The Everlasting Foundation of the Church by Fr. Martin von Cochem O.S.F.C.

Jesus Christ had now finished the work for which He came down from Heaven. He had enlightened the world by His doctrine, and redeemed it by His death; He had established His Church, which He commands all to hear; He had promised to assist His Church with the Spirit of truth to the end of ages; He had appointed St. Peter and his successors as the Universal Pastor to preside over the Church, to feed the lambs and the sheep of His flock in His name; nothing more remained but to take possession of that seat of bliss which He had merited.

Therefore on that day of Pentecost Christ planted His Church as an everlasting monument of His Victory. To the latest posterity this monument shall stand, and defy every effort that either man or devils can make against it. The spirit of truth shall abide with the Church, and teach her all truth to the end of the world. Thus Christ fulfils His farewell promise to His Apostles: "Behold, I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world".

Christ continues to live in His Church, as the Redeemer and High Priest, in the holy sacrifice of the Mass, in the sacraments, and other means of grace. Christ lives in His Church as a Teacher of truth and heavenly wisdom, by guiding her councils through the Holy Ghost, and by saving the Popes, as heads of the Church, from error in their definitions of faith and morals.

Christ lives in His Church as King, by clothing His representatives, the Priests, according to their various ranks, with divine authority, and by maintaining through their instrumentality God's Kingdom on Earth in discipline, peace, and tranquillity. Christ lives in His Church by leading individuals to extraordinary holiness, and creating, in the monastic life and other religious associations, schools of the highest virtue and perfection for those whom He calls to the observance of the Evangelical Counsels.

Christ lives in His Church despised and crucified, in as much as His doctrines have been misrepresented, denied, and rejected by misguided men in all ages, as in His own lifetime; and inasmuch as His faithful followers individually, and His holy Church in general, have been, in private and in public, violently attacked and persecuted, wronged and misrepresented by declared enemies and treacherous friends.

Christ lives in His Church as the glorious Conqueror. For the Church, even in the midst of her greatest trials and under severest oppression, has won victory after victory, triumph after triumph. "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock" (Matt. 7:25).