chosen, those predestined by God, who knew before the foundation of the
world that they would be just.”
St. Cyprian of Carthage, Letter to Florentius Pupianus 66 (69), 8
(254 AD)
“There speaks Peter, upon whom the Church would be built, teaching in the
name of the Church and showing that even if a stubborn and proud
multitude withdraws because it does not wish to obey, yet the Church does
not withdraw from Christ. The people joined to the priest and the flock
clinging to their shepherd are the Church.”
St. Hilary of Poitiers, The Trinity 7, 4 (c. 357 AD)
“The Church, instituted by the Lord and confirmed by the Apostles, is one
for all men; but the frantic folly of the diverse impious sects has cut them
off from her. It cannot be denied that this tearing asunder of the faith has
arisen from the defect of poor intelligence, which twists what is read to
conform to its opinion, instead of adjusting its opinion to the meaning of
what is read. However, while individual parties fight among themselves,
the Church stands revealed not only by her own doctrines, but by those also
of her adversaries. And although they are all ranged against her, she
confutes the most wicked error which they all share, by the very fact that
she is alone and one.”
St. John Chrysostom, On the Incomprehensible Nature of God 3, 6
(c. 387 AD)
“You cannot pray at home as at church, where there is a great
multitude, where exclamations are cried out to God as from one great
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