"I believe in the holy, Catholic Church." Creed.
Some years ago there lived in Paris, Kentucky, a couple who had been married several years. Although they had been married for quite some time, they had managed to keep alive the spirit of their honeymoon, as the following incident proves.
The wife had gone on a trip to Europe. When she entered the Agricultural Bank of Paris, France, and presented a check signed by her husband, it was discovered that the check was made payable to "Sweetest of the Sweet."
"Who is this 'Sweetest of the Sweet'?" asked the cashier at the window.
Smilingly and sweetly she answered: "Why, I am."
The banker directed her to endorse the check. The good woman wrote her real name across the back of the check and handed it through the grill to the cashier. He told her that she must endorse it just as it was drawn.
Again she wrote. This time, right below her own name, she wrote: "Sweetest of the Sweet." The amount the check called for was handed over to her.
Later the check was framed and hung on the wall of the bank as a reminder of the tender and enduring love of a couple from the "Blue Grass" region.
Jesus Christ Himself has compared His relations to His Church to the relations between bridegroom and bride. Christ is to the true Church what a bridegrom is to His bride. And what a Bridegroom He is! In our story the bride was called "Sweetest of the Sweet." But in the case of the Church it is the Bridegroom who must be called by that name. Yes, He can also be called Strongest of the strong, and Bravest of the brave, and Kindest of the kind, and Purest of the pure, most Gentle of the Gentle, and most Powerful of the powerful.
The Founder of the Catholic Church was the most perfect Person who ever trod this earth. He was the sweetest and the strongest of the sweet and strong. The brief bit from the Bible which we have just read above shows Him sweet and shows Him strong.
In His sweetness He wanted to do something to help the apostles who had been fishing all night without success; like, perhaps, many in your parish. In His strength He worked a miracle by giving them an unheard-of catch of fish. Little wonder that Simon Peter and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish which they had made.
In fact, you and I and all the world and all history have been amazed at the life and works of Christ, the Son of God, who left His home in heaven, to live, labor and die for all of us, and to found a Church for all time. Take a look at some of the wonders He worked to prove that He was God. Before the very eyes of unfriendly, prejudiced observers, so numerous that the sick man had to be letdown through the roof, Jesus cured a paralytic. (St. Matthew, 9 and St. Luke, 5) Twice Christ multiplied bread to feed thousands. (St. Matthew 14 and St. John, 6) He cured a man blind from birth. (St. John, 9) Several times Jesus raised the dead to life. These wonders we read on every page of His story.
Note a few points about these miracles. They were worked before large crowds from different classes and nations of people, yes, even before His most bitter enemies who were constantly spying for a flaw or fraud in anything Christ would do or say.
These wonders were so striking and astounding that simple and uneducated people as well as the learned could see and appreciate. One or the other wonder might deceive a few or even many, but the almost countless wonders worked by Christ cannot find any other explanation but that they were worked by One with the power of God.
Why did Christ work miracles?
To prove that He was God. In St. John, 14:12, Jesus plainly tells His hearers that if they will not believe His teaching, they should at least believe His works: "Otherwise believe because of the works themselves."
"If thou be the Christ," they demanded, "tell us plainly." Jesus answered: "If I do not perform the works of my Father, do not believe me; But if I do perform them, and if you are not willing to believe me, believe the works." (St. John, 10:37-38). Yes, Christ was the strongest of the strong; He was infinitely powerful.
The Founder of the Catholic Church was also the holiest Man who ever lived. We know not where to begin when we speak of the goodness of Jesus. He had every virtue without limit. He had every good quality, every grace and beauty of character one could imagine.
His tenderness toward the weak, the sinful, the poor, the needy - where, in all history will you find anyone who ever begins to approach Him? By way of contrast, stand the founder of modern Communism beside Christ. Lenin was a blood-thirsty, cruel, dishonest, proud tyrant. He was the very opposite of Christ. Naturally, the way of life which Lenin and others started will follow the same lines of cruelty and bloodshed. Daily we have new proof of that fact. And daily we have new proof that the life and character of Christ inspire to goodness.
As did no other, Jesus went about doing good. He gave His life for us. He founded a Church for us. And it is that very Church, founded by Christ, the peerless Character of all time - it is that Church which calls for our faith when we pray in the Creed: "I believe in the holy, Catholic Church."
Read the inspiring story of George Washington, founder of our country: his honesty, his courage, his unselfishness. It will give added meaning and force to our American way of life. In the same way, think of Christ and His marvelous life, and it will give new force and fire to our faith in His Church. Amen.
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Adapted from Talks on the Creed
by Fr. Arthur Tonne, OFM (© 1946)
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