Choosing the Catholic and Apostolic Church rests on unique spiritual and historical foundations in Christianity. The Catholic Church is distinguished not only by its continuity with the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Apostles, but also by its universal character, its fidelity to essential doctrines, and its unity throughout the centuries. Let us explore in detail the key elements of this fidelity, including apostolic succession, the authority of Peter, the doctrine of the Filioque, and the orthodoxy and universality of the Catholic Church.
I- The Apostolic Succession: Transmitting the Authority of Christ
Apostolic succession is at the heart of the Church's fidelity to its founder, Jesus Christ, who entrusted his apostles with the authority to transmit his teaching and sacraments. The unbroken chain of apostolic succession, which Saint Irenaeus of Lyons describes as "the tradition of the apostles made manifest throughout the world" ( Against Heresies , III, 3, 1), guarantees the continuity of spiritual authority. Irenaeus affirms that each bishop, heir of the apostles, is the depositary of authentic doctrine: "Those who wish to see the truth can observe in each Church the tradition of the apostles made manifest throughout the world."
St. Clement of Rome, one of the first bishops of the Church of Rome and the fourth Pope of the Catholic Church, wrote to the Corinthians in the first century, illustrating the importance of unity under apostolic authority: “The apostles preached to us the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, which Jesus Christ sent from God. […] Having therefore received their instruction and being established in the word by our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the full assurance of the Holy Spirit, they went out proclaiming that the kingdom of God was coming” ( Letter to the Corinthians , 42-44). Clement directly links apostolic authority to the unaltered transmission of the Christian faith, which is essential to guaranteeing doctrinal authenticity.
II- The Primacy of Peter and the Popes: Foundation of Unity and Continuity in the Church
The primacy of Peter, given by Christ himself, constitutes the foundation of unity and continuity in the Catholic Church. This primacy, preserved through the centuries by the popes, confirms the authority of the Church of Rome in matters of faith and morals, ensuring the doctrinal coherence and integrity of the Christian faith. The Fathers of the Church, among the oldest witnesses of the faith, have forcefully underlined the unique importance of the succession of Peter and the place of the pope as guide of the universal Church.
Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (2nd century), in his work Against Heresies , affirms the primacy of the Church of Rome in these terms: "With this Church, because of her more excellent origin, the whole Church must necessarily agree, that is, the faithful everywhere" (III, 3, 2). Irenaeus directly links the primacy of Rome to the succession of Peter, which guarantees the integrity of the doctrine transmitted by the apostles. By referring to Rome as the model of unity, he confirms that this Church has the capacity to avoid doctrinal deviations and to maintain fidelity to the teaching of Christ.
Saint Cyprian of Carthage (3rd century), in his Letter to Cornelius , Bishop of Rome, writes: "There is only one Church, one See founded on Peter by the voice of the Lord. Every other altar and every other priesthood is foreign" ( Letter 55, 21 ). For Cyprian, communion with the See of Peter is essential to being part of the true Church. He compares Peter's place in the Church to that of a pedestal on which the unity of all rests, affirming that every legitimate priesthood must remain united with the See of Rome.
Saint Ambrose of Milan (4th century) also testifies to the primacy of Peter and his successors by emphasizing their role as moral and spiritual authorities. In his work Commentary on Luke , he states: "Where Peter is, there is the Church" ( In Lucam VI, 98 ). By affirming that the presence of Peter and his successors defines the Church, Ambrose reinforces the idea that communion with the pope is a central element of belonging to the universal Church.
Saint Jerome (4th century) also supports this primacy in a letter addressed to Damascus, Bishop of Rome, where he declares: "I stand united to your Beatitude, that is, to the Chair of Peter; on this rock the Church is built." ( Letter 15 ). Saint Jerome, although he was in Bethlehem, recognizes the unique authority of the pope as spiritual guide for the whole Church, thus confirming the primacy of the Chair of Peter and its successors as guarantor of the unity of the faith.
Finally, Saint Augustine , in a more implicit but no less strong way, supports this primacy by indicating in his Treatise on the Gospel of John that Peter represents the entire Church: "Peter, the first of the apostles, the most fervent in love for Christ... he represented, as for his person, the universal Church" ( In Ioannis Evangelium Tractatus 124, 5 ). For Augustine, Peter is not only the head of the apostles, but a model of faith that must serve as a guide to all, ensuring through his successors a stable and strong communion throughout the ages.
The primacy of Peter and the popes, reinforced by the concordant testimonies of the Fathers of the Church, shows that the Catholic Church maintains a unique continuity in the faith. By remaining united with the pope, it ensures that it stays on course with the original teaching of Christ and remains united in the diversity of its faithful.
III- The Filioque: The Procession of the Holy Spirit in the Trinity
The issue of the Filioque is a major theological issue between the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches. This clause, meaning that the Holy Spirit proceeds "from the Father and the Son ," clarifies the Trinitarian relationship by emphasizing the unity and harmony within the Trinity. For the Catholic Church, this formulation is essential to understanding that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are distinct in their relationships but united in their divine nature, without subordination. The Filioque thus rests on the teachings of the Fathers of the Church, who express the unity and consubstantiality of the Son and the Spirit in their relationship to the Father.
The Filioque clause – added to the Creed by the Latin Church – means that the Holy Spirit proceeds “from the Father and the Son .” This doctrine reinforces the understanding of the Trinitarian unity, affirming that the Spirit, although a distinct Person, comes from both the Father and the Son, in a relationship of love and perfect communion. Catholic theology draws here on the teachings of the Fathers of the Church, who emphasized the consubstantiality and union of the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son, thus seeing him as coming from the entire divine communion.
Saint Augustine , in De Trinitate , clearly expresses this Trinitarian vision: "This same Spirit is equally the Spirit of both, of the Father and of the Son. He proceeds from both" ( De Trinitate , XV, 26, 47). With this statement, Augustine shows that the Holy Spirit is deeply linked to the Father and the Son without distinction of nature or substance. This consubstantiality expresses that the Spirit, although he has a mission of his own, remains intimately united to the other two divine Persons.
Similarly, St. Epiphanius paints a picture of the Holy Spirit as being in full communion with the Father and the Son, without being separate in his divine essence: "The Holy Spirit is a true hypostasis, differing in no way from the essence of the Father and the Son, nor alien to them in any way, and deriving his nature from their own essence; but a distinct person in himself and proceeding from the persons of the Father and the Son." ( The Anchoratus ). Here Epiphanius emphasizes the personal distinction of the Spirit but insists on his common origin, deriving his nature from the same divine essence as the Father and the Son. This statement reinforces the idea that the Holy Spirit proceeds in harmony with both, participating in the same Trinitarian unity.
Saint Ambrose of Milan goes in the same direction and insists on the indivisibility of the Spirit, despite his procession from the Father and the Son: "The Holy Spirit, when he proceeds from the Father and the Son, does not separate himself from the Father, does not separate himself from the Son." ( On the Holy Spirit , I, 11, 120, PL, 16:733A). Ambrose insists on divine indivisibility, recalling that the Holy Spirit is never separated, neither from the Father nor from the Son, and that, although proceeding from both, he remains in perfect unity with them. Thus, the Trinitarian relationship is a communion that knows no separation in essence or in action.
Saint Damascus , a fourth-century pope, also stated faith in the procession of the Spirit from the Father and the Son in a declaration at the Council of Saragossa in 380: "Credimus… Spiritum Sanctum de Patre et Filio procedentem." ("We believe in the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son."). In this profession of faith, Saint Damascus expounds on Catholic teaching by confirming the dual origin of the Spirit within the Trinity, as he proceeds from both the Father and the Son. This affirmation underlines the perfect communion between the divine Persons in the apostolic tradition.
Finally, Saint Cyril of Alexandria , in his study of the Trinity, also expresses the unity and consubstantiality of the Spirit in relation to the Son and the Father: "Although the Holy Spirit subsists in his own person, if we consider him in himself and insofar as he is the Holy Spirit and not the Son, he is nevertheless not foreign to the Son, since he is called the Spirit of truth, and Jesus Christ is the truth: consequently he proceeds from the Son as he proceeds from God the Father." By this statement, Cyril emphasizes that the Holy Spirit, although distinct as a Person, is intimately linked to the Son, proceeding equally from him and finding his nature in the Trinitarian unity. He recalls that the Spirit, as the Spirit of truth, cannot be dissociated from the truth which is Christ.
In short, the Fathers of the Church attest to the inseparable relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. The procession of the Spirit from both the Father and the Son, expressed in the Filioque , reinforces the unity of the Trinity, respecting the consubstantiality and indivisibility of the three divine Persons.
IV- The Catholic Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church
The Catholic Church claims to be the true Church founded by Jesus Christ, as proclaimed in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed: "I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church." These four characteristics, called "notes" of the Church, are the marks of her divine authenticity and her universal mission. Each of them finds its foundation in the Scriptures, the teachings of the Apostles and the testimonies of the Fathers of the Church, and they are clearly distinguished from other Christian confessions.
A. A Church United in Faith
The unity of the Catholic Church is based on its common faith, transmitted from generation to generation through the Apostles and protected by the Magisterium. This unity is guaranteed by the primacy of the Pope, the successor of Peter, who plays the role of spiritual guide for the faithful throughout the world. Unlike some divisions present in other Christian confessions, such as the fragmentation of the Protestant Churches or the differences of jurisdiction in the Orthodox Churches, the Catholic Church remains a single spiritual and institutional entity.
Saint Ignatius of Antioch , in his letter to the Ephesians, underlines this essential unity: "Where Christ is, there is the Catholic Church." This first-century testimony shows that the Church has always seen itself as a community united under one faith, one doctrine, and one authority.
B. A Holy Church
The holiness of the Church derives from her union with Christ, her founder, who sanctified her by his sacrifice. This holiness is manifested by the sacraments, the virtues of the saints and fidelity to the Gospel. The Church is not an ordinary human institution: she is a divine reality that guides the faithful on the path to holiness.
Holiness does not mean that its members are free from sin, but that the Church, through its mission and means of sanctification, remains the channel of divine grace for humanity. As St. Ambrose writes: "The Church is immaculate, although composed of sinners, because she is purified by the tears of penance and by the blood of Christ."
C. A Catholic, Universal Church
The Catholic Church is universal not only in its presence throughout the world, but also in its mission to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. Unlike some denominations that are limited to specific cultures or regions, the Catholic Church transcends geographical, cultural and ethnic boundaries, uniting all peoples in one faith.
Saint Irenaeus of Lyons , in his work Against Heresies , writes: "The Church spread throughout the world preserves the faith of the Apostles, as if it lived in one house, and believes in God with one soul and one heart." This testimony shows that the Church, from its origins, had the vocation to be a universal and inclusive community, reflecting the mission entrusted to it by Christ: "Go, make disciples of all nations" (Mt 28:19).
D. An Apostolic Church
The apostolicity of the Church is based on its direct link with the Apostles, through the apostolic succession. The bishops, in communion with the Pope, the successor of Peter, are the guardians of this apostolic tradition. This link guarantees that the faith transmitted is in conformity with that of the first disciples of Christ.
Tertullian describes this continuity eloquently: "If you want to know what the Apostles taught, look where their Church is." This statement reminds us that the Catholic Church can trace its history back to the Apostles themselves, ensuring uninterrupted fidelity to the teaching of Christ.
The Difference with Other Churches
The Orthodox Churches share many elements of faith with the Catholic Church, but their organization is fragmented, with each national Church operating autonomously, thus posing a problem in the event of international conflicts as we can currently see with the war between Ukraine and Russia, the Ukrainian parliament recently voted a bill banning the Ukrainian Orthodox Church attached to the Moscow Patriarchate, leaving only the Ukrainian Church attached to the Kiev Patriarchate, thus raising questions about the notion of unity among its Orthodox Churches. This lack of universal unity contrasts with the Catholic vision of the Church as a single unified body, guided by a central authority.
As for the Protestant Churches, they rejected the apostolic succession and divided themselves into a multitude of denominations, often disagreeing on fundamental points of doctrine. These divisions show a rupture with the visible unity desired by Christ for his Church: "That they may be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you" (Jn 17:21).
In conclusion, the Catholic Church, through her unity, holiness, universality and apostolicity, remains faithful to the mission entrusted to her by Christ. She is the spiritual refuge for all those who seek to live in truth and to be guided on the path of salvation.
V- The role of the Catholic Church in the universal mission of Salvation
The Catholic Church is distinguished by its unique and universal role in the economy of salvation. Founded by Jesus Christ, it is the instrument through which God acts to gather humanity, proclaim the Gospel and dispense the sacraments. This universal role is not limited to the preservation of the faith: it encompasses the mission of unification, sanctification and evangelization throughout the world.
A. A mission given by Christ
The Catholic Church is based on the mandate given by Jesus to his Apostles after his resurrection: "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Mt 28:19). This universal commandment entrusts the Church with the task of transmitting divine Revelation, of teaching the truth and of leading souls to salvation.
This mission, first entrusted to the Apostles, has been perpetuated in history thanks to the apostolic succession. The Fathers of the Church emphasize this continuity. Saint Irenaeus of Lyons , in Against Heresies , states: "Where the Church is, there is the Spirit of God; and where the Spirit of God is, there is the Church." He thus shows that the Church, guardian of the Holy Spirit, plays a central role in the salvation of souls.
B. The Church as the Universal Sacrament of Salvation
The Catholic Church defines itself as the "Universal Sacrament of Salvation", according to the Dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium of the Second Vatican Council. It is the visible institution through which the invisible grace of God is communicated to humanity. In this sense, it is not an institution among others, but it allows through its sacraments instituted by Christ the union between God and men.
The sacraments of the Church, especially the Eucharist, bear witness to this mission. As Saint Ambrose reminds us, “The Church is the body of Christ, and it is through her body that Christ acts in the world.” This sacramental role makes the Church the guardian and distributor of the spiritual treasures necessary for the sanctification of souls.
C. A Universal Church for all peoples
The universal character of the Church is expressed in her mission to reach out to all nations, cultures and times. Unlike national churches or divided communities, the Catholic Church unites in one faith the faithful of all origins.
The Fathers of the Church have often insisted on this universality. Saint Cyprian of Carthage , in his treatise On the Unity of the Church , states: "The Church is like a seamless garment, woven in one piece, which Christ left to unite all believers." This image illustrates the universal vocation of the Church, which transcends human divisions to achieve spiritual unity in God.
D. The Church as Moral and Spiritual Guide
In a world searching for meaning, the Catholic Church offers clear guidance in matters of faith and morality. It teaches the truth revealed by God, while enlightening consciences on the great issues of human life: the dignity of the person, social justice, the family, and the search for peace.
This role of guide finds its foundation in the words of Christ to his Apostles: "You are the light of the world" (Mt 5:14). The Fathers of the Church, such as Saint Augustine , emphasize this vocation: "The Church is like the city on the mountain: she enlightens those who are in darkness and shows them the way to salvation."
E. The Church facing the challenges of modernity
The Catholic Church, as a universal institution, faces many challenges in the contemporary world: secularization, moral relativism, divisions within Christianity and the rise of ideologies contrary to the faith. Yet it remains faithful to its mission, as evidenced by the constant teaching of the Magisterium and the commitment of the faithful to prayer, evangelization and works of charity.
The Second Vatican Council recalled the importance of this witness in the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes : "The Church does not live for herself, but for the salvation of the world." This statement shows that, despite obstacles, the Catholic Church remains faithful to her universal vocation, bringing the message of Christ to all peoples.
F. A lasting and faithful Church
For two millennia, the Catholic Church has endured persecutions, internal crises and social upheavals. Despite this, it remains a living institution, proof of Christ's promise: "And I am with you always, to the end of the age" (Mt 28:20).
This continuity is emphasized by the Fathers of the Church, such as Tertullian , who writes: "Heresies are born and die, but the Church remains." This continuity in time testifies to its divine origin and the constant protection of the Holy Spirit.
VI- Conclusion: The Church, mediator of the union between God and men through the sacraments
In conclusion, the Catholic Church, as mediator, enables believers to enter into a deep and living union with God, in a tangible and real way, through the sacraments instituted by Christ. These sacred rites are not symbols or empty gestures, but concrete divine actions that make the faithful participate in the life of God, uniting them to Him in a specific and effective way.
Each sacrament has a profound and essential meaning in the Christian life. Through Baptism , man is washed from original sin and becomes an integral part of the family of God, the Church. Through the Eucharist , he receives the body and blood of Christ, nourishing himself with divine life. Through Reconciliation , he is reconciled with God and regains the grace lost by sin. Through Confirmation , he receives the strength of the Holy Spirit to live and bear witness to his faith, and through the Anointing of the Sick , he finds consolation and healing in his moments of suffering. Furthermore, the sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders are means of living the divine call to service and love, strengthening the Christian vocation in the world. These sacraments, all connected to the life of the Church, are the means by which God touches and transforms humanity.
The Church, in her role as mediatrix, transmits the grace of Christ through these sacraments, not as a mere intermediary, but as the Body of Christ, an instrument of salvation, through which God works for the good of humanity. In this sense, the Church, in administering the sacraments, acts according to the will of Christ, and it is through her that Christians receive divine life.
Saint Augustine said it clearly: "Christ is the physician of souls, and the Church is the dispenser of the remedies of divine grace." The mission of the Church is therefore to be the instrument chosen by God to reconcile humanity with Him, to allow each individual to receive divine life and to be transformed by this encounter.
Thus, each sacrament is not a mere symbolic act, but a true channel through which Christians are immersed in the grace of Christ and received into the divine mystery. The Church, as mediatrix, does not act for herself, but to lead each believer into an intimate relationship with God, offering him the means of sanctification and union with the Trinity.
This underlines the fundamental importance of the Church in Christian life: it is not only a place of gathering, but a place of real encounter with God, where the sacraments serve as bridges between heaven and earth, enabling men to live fully their vocation to holiness. Through the sacraments, God gives every Christian the opportunity to live in communion with Him, to receive His grace, and thus to be transformed into His image.
Ultimately, the union between God and man, made possible through the sacraments, is at the heart of the Church's mission. The Catholic Church, through her role as mediatrix, enables man to participate actively in the mystery of redemption, while guiding him in his relationship with God. This makes the Church not only a sign of salvation, but a concrete and real means of participating in the divine life.
