“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (St. Matt. 28:19).
Remaining essentially one and the same, the Church adapts to all times,
places and people. No nation or race is excluded from her fold, no language
from proclaiming her Gospel. Those who assert that the true believers are
only white and Anglo-Saxon limit the redeeming power of Christ’s
Precious Blood. Christ opened His arms on the Cross for all peoples and
nations, hence the true Church must be universal, not simply a national
church based on race, or subject to a particular king or parliament.
Apostolic
The true Church will trace its history, episcopal succession and doctrine
right back to the Apostles themselves: “I am with you always” (St. Matt.
28:20). It was not established in 1517, 1534, 1540, in the nineteenth
century, or last week in California. It must have existed since the Apostles,
exist now, and continue until the end of the world.
Only the Catholic Church can show herself to be One, Holy, Catholic and
Apostolic.
The Fathers
St. Clement of Rome, Letter to the Corinthians 42, 1 (c. 98 AD)
“The Apostles received the Gospel for us from the Lord Jesus Christ; and
Jesus Christ was sent from God. Christ, therefore, is from God, and the
Apostles are from Christ. Both of these orderly arrangements, then, are by
God’s will. Receiving their instructions and being full of confidence on
account of the resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and confirmed in
faith by the word of God, they went forth in the complete assurance of the
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