2.13 Paano ko matitiyak na nagsasabi ng totoo ang Simbahan?
Si Hesus mismo ang nagtatag ng Simbahan, kasama si Pedro at ang iba pang mga Apostol at ang kanilang mga kahalili bilang kanyang mga pinuno. Tinawag niya ang Simbahan na “kuta ng katotohanan” (I Timoteo 3:15) I Timoteo 3:15 upang kung hindi man ako makarating agad ay malaman mo kung ano ang dapat na maging ugali ng mga tao sa sambahayan ng Diyos na buháy, sa iglesya na haligi at saligan ng katotohanan.. Upang matiyak na maipapasa ng mga Apostol ang katotohanan ng pananampalataya nang walang pagkakamali, binigyan sila ni Hesus ng Banal na Espiritu [>1.31].
Ngayon din ay tinutulungan ng Banal na Espiritu ang Simbahan na maunawaan nang mabuti ang pananampalataya. Samakatuwid, at dahil hindi lamang ito isang institusyon ng tao, maaari kang magtiwala na palaging sinasabi ng Simbahan ang katotohan tungkol sa Diyos.
Why is the Church apostolic?
The Church is apostolic in her origin because she has been built on “the foundation of the Apostles” (Ephesians 2:20). She is apostolic in her teaching which is the same as that of the Apostles. She is apostolic by reason of her structure insofar as she is taught, sanctified, and guided until Christ returns by the Apostles through their successors who are the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter. [CCCC 174]
In what way is the Church holy?
The Church is holy insofar as the Most Holy God is her author. Christ has given himself for her to sanctify her and make her a source of sanctification. The Holy Spirit gives her life with charity. In the Church one finds the fullness of the means of salvation. Holiness is the vocation of each of her members and the purpose of all her activities. The Church counts among her members the Virgin Mary and numerous Saints who are her models and intercessors. The holiness of the Church is the fountain of sanctification for her children who here on earth recognize themselves as sinners ever in need of conversion and purification. [CCCC 165]
Ang pangangaral ng Iglesya ay pare-pareho kahit saan, at nagpapatuloy sa isang pantay na kurso, at tumatanggap ng patotoo mula sa mga propeta, sa mga Apostol, at sa lahat ng mga alagad ... at ang sistemang may batayan na umaakay sa kaligtasan ng tao, samakatuwid nga, ang ating pananampalataya. [St. Irenaeus, Against heresies, Bk 3, Chap. 24 (MG 7, 966)]
