This is a little mini-series, as you have seen in the past few days, on the great encyclical Mystici Corporis Christi and the CDF Declaration Domininus Iesus. How fortunate Catholics have been in the leaders of our church for almost 200 years.
Here is a quotation from the first document mentioned: 87. No less far from the truth is the dangerous error of those who endeavor to deduce from the mysterious union of us all with Christ a certain unhealthy quietism. They would attribute the whole spiritual life of Christians and their progress in virtue exclusively to the action of the Divine Spirit, setting aside and neglecting the collaboration which is due from us. No one, of course, can deny that the Holy spirit of Jesus Christ is the one source of whatever supernatural powers enters into the Church and its members. For "The Lord will give grace and glory" as the Psalmist says.[167] But that men should persevere constantly in their good works, that they should advance eagerly in grace and virtue, that they should strive earnestly to reach the heights of Christian perfection and at the same time to the best of their power should stimulate others to attain the same goal, - all this the heavenly Spirit does not will to effect unless they contribute their daily share of zealous activity. "For divine favors are conferred not on those who sleep, but on those who watch," as St. Ambrose says.[168] For if in our mortal body the members are strengthened and grow through continued exercise, much more truly can this be said of the social Body of Jesus Christ in which each individual member retains his own personal freedom, responsibility, and principles of conduct. For that reason he who said: "I live, now not I, but Christ liveth in me"[169] did not at the same time hesitate to assert: "His (God's) grace in me has not been void, but I have labored more abundantly than all they: yet not I, but the grace of God with me."[170] It is perfectly clear, therefore, that in these false doctrines the mystery which we are considering is not directed to the spiritual advancement of the faithful but is turned to their deplorable ruin.
We are the Church Militant, as Pope Benedict XVI also reminds us. We cannot get complacent. We cannot fall asleep and enter into a comatose state of pretending everything will be just fine. I wrote on Quietism months ago and you can enter that search in the box at the side here. That the Pope warns us against this is a loud call to all.
If we are not with the Lord, we are against the Lord. How do we persevere? BY STAYING IN THE CHURCH. Side with Rome and you will be safe.Those who follow Peter will not be abandoned. But, if we abandon the Bride of Christ, we are open ourselves to deceit and self-deceit.
I cannot trust someone fully on matters of religion unless they speak with the authority of the Church. Please beware of false teachers.
One more snippet. There are many Catholics who do not want to offend the Islamic people and do not want to emphasize Christ. This is not only false, but dangerous thinking. Christ, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity saved us by His Passion and Death, and through the Resurrection, He gives us new life. If we deny Him, we have left His protection.
90. Finally, there are those who assert that our prayers should be directed not to the person of Jesus Christ, but rather to God, or to the Eternal Father through Christ, since our Savior as Head of His Mystical Body is only "Mediator of God and men."[172] But this certainly is opposed not only to the mind of the Church and to Christian usage, but to truth. For to speak exactly, Christ is Head of the universal Church as He exists at once in both of His natures[173] moreover He Himself has solemnly declared: "If you shall ask me anything in my name, that I will do."[174] For although prayers are very often directed to the Eternal Father through the only-begotten Son, especially in the Eucharistic Sacrifice - in which Christ, at once Priest and Victim, exercises in a special manner the office of Mediator - nevertheless not infrequently even in this Sacrifice, prayers are addressed to the Divine Redeemer also; for all Christians must clearly know and understand that the man Jesus Christ is also the Son of God and God Himself. And thus, when the Church Militant offers her adoration and prayers to the Immaculate Lamb, the Sacred Victim, her voice seems to re-echo the never-ending chorus of the Church Triumphant: "To him that sitteth on the throne and to the Lamb benediction and honor and glory and power forever and ever."[175]
