11/11/2023
[Q] Where is it in the Bible?
[A] The Catholic Church traces its origins to the time of Jesus Christ, who according to Catholic tradition, founded the Church. The New Testament records Jesus’ activities and teachings, his appointment of the twelve Apostles, and his instructions to them to continue his work 1. The Catholic Church was established on earth in [33 AD] when Jesus clothed the Church with heavenly power to do his will, while he sat as eternal King and High Priest at the right hand of God in Heaven 2. {Matthew 16:18}, is cited as evidence of the Catholic Church’s origin. It reads, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
In our last lesson, we learned of the blessed life of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. In this lesson, we have studied the foundation of the Christian Church. We learned of the people who made up the Church in its earliest days, led by St. Peter and the Apostles under him, along with the bishops, priests and deacons that were appointed over time. We see that the success of the Church in carrying out the mission given to her by Christ was nothing less than miraculous. In fact, it really was filled with miracles! The power of God ensured the Church’s success and in all that the Church did, God was glorified in all nations through Jesus Christ.
Of course, as the kingdom of God expanded, the devil was forced to fight back with the lies and violence that his kingdom is built on. In our next lesson, we will study the persecution of the Church by the kings of the earth as it threatened the wealth, power–even worship–they received from their subjects in many places. Be prepared to learn of history’s greatest heroes, whose stories are incredible.
