The Early Church on the Meaning of "Catholic"
The Church of God which sojourns at Smyrna, to the Church of God sojourning in Philomelium, and to all the congregations(2) of the Holy and Catholic Church in every place (The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, Inscription)
Now, as soon as he had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the time of his departure having arrived. (The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, 8)
all the people wondered that there should be such a difference between the unbelievers and the elect, of whom this most admirable Polycarp was one, having in our own times been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna. (The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, 16)
For, having through patience overcome the unjust governor, and thus acquired the crown of immortality, he [St. Polycarp] now, with the apostles and all the righteous[in heaven], rejoicingly glorifies God, even the Father, and blesses our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls, the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world. (The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, 19)
Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude[of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. (St. Ignatius, Ep. ad Smyrneans, 8)
For the men of former generations, who instituted private and public rites in honour of such as were more powerful, caused forgetfulness of the Catholic(2) faith to take possession of their posterity. (St. Justin, On the Sole Government of God, 1)
the Catholic Church possesses one and the same faith throughout the whole world, as we have already said. (St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book I, cap. 10, 3)
Those, then, that adhere to impious words ... neither themselves enter into the kingdom of heaven, nor permit those whom they have deluded to attain the truth ... they constitute themselves the Mystagogues[8] of the soul of the impious. For that the human assemblies which they held were posterior to the Catholic Church[9] requires not many words to show. (St. Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, Book VII, cap. 17)
Therefore in substance and idea, in origin, in pre-eminence, we say that the ancient and Catholic[4] Church is alone, collecting as it does into the unity of the one faith ... those already ordained, whom God predestinated, knowing before the foundation of the world that they would be righteous. But the pre-eminence of the Church, as the principle of union, is, in its oneness, in this surpassing all things else, and having nothing like or equal to itself. (St. Clement, Stromata, Book VII, cap. 17)
Although, even supposing that among intimate friends,(20) so to speak, [the Apostles] did hold certain discussions, yet it is incredible that these could have been such as to bring in some other rule of faith, differing from and contrary to that which they were proclaiming through the Catholic churches,(21)--as if they spoke of one God in the Church, (and) another at home, and described one substance of Christ, publicly, (and) another secretly ... (Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics, 26)
Where was Marcion then, that shipmaster of Pontus, the zealous student of Stoicism? Where was Valentinus then, the disciple of Platonism? For it is evident that those men lived not so long ago,--in the reign of Antoninus for the most part,(2)--and that they at first were believers in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, in the church of Rome under the episcopate of the blessed Eleutherus,(3) until on account of their ever restless curiosity,with which they even infected the brethren, they were more than once expelled. (Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics, 30)
With regard, then, to the pending(9) question, of Luke's Gospel (so far as its being the common property(10) of ourselves and Marcion enables it to be decisive of the truth,(11)) that portion of it which we alone receive(12) is so much older than Marcion, that Marcion, himself once believed it, when in the first warmth of faith he contributed money to the Catholic church, which along with himself was afterwards rejected,(13) when he fell away from our truth into his own heresy. (Tertullian, Five Books Against Marcion, Book IV, cap. 4)
But how remote is our (Catholic) verity from the artifices of this heretic, when it dreads to arouse the anger of God, and firmly believes that He produced all things out of nothing, and promises to us a restoration from the grave of the same flesh (that died) and holds without a blush that Christ was born of the virgin's womb! (Tertullian, Five Books Against Marcion, Book V, cap. 19)
Let such things, however, be lightly esteemed by him who is desirous of being trained in divine learning, while retaining in its integrity the rule of the Catholic faith. (Origin, De Principiis, Book III, Preface of Rufinus)
Behold, into how great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by inculcating adultery and murder at the same time! And withal, after such audacious acts, they, lost to all shame, attempt to call themselves a Catholic Church! (St. Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies, Book IX, 7)
Of the Catholic faith ... This we lay down with one accord, in opposition to those who have said boldly, that it is not right to speak of the Word of God as our Lord Jesus Christ spake. We come together chiefly to bring out the holy truth(14) regarding God; and we have separated them, because they do not agree with the Church in theology, nor with us the sons of the Scriptures. On this account we have sundered them from the Church, and have left what concerns them to God, who will judge His creatures with justice. (Canons of the Church of Alexandria, Canon 1)
There have come to us, beloved brother, sent by Novatian, Maximus the presbyter, and Augendus the deacon, and a certain Machaeus and Longinus. But, as we discovered, as well from the letters which they brought with them, as from their discourse and declaration, that Novatian had been made bishop; disturbed by the wickedness of an unlawful ordination made in opposition to the Catholic Church, we considered at once that they must be restrained from communion with us. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 40, 1)
And lest their raging boldness should ever cease, they are striving here also to distract the members of Christ into schismatical parties, and to cut and tear the one body of the Catholic Church, so that, running about from door to door, through the houses of many, or from city to city, through certain districts, they seek for companions in their obstinacy and error to join to themselves in their schism. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 40, 2)
As was fitting for God's servants, and especially for upright and peaceable priests, dearest brother, we recently sent our colleagues Caldonius and Fortunatus, that they might, not only by the persuasion of our letters, but by their presence and the advice of all of you, strive and labour with all their power to bring the members of the divided body into the unity of the Catholic Church, and associate them into the bond of Christian charity. But since the obstinate and inflexible pertinacity of the adverse party has not only rejected the bosom and the embrace of its root and Mother, but even, with a discord spreading and reviving itself worse and worse, has appointed a bishop for itself, and, contrary to the sacrament once delivered of the divine appointment and of Catholic Unity, has made an adulterous and opposed head outside the Church. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 41, 1)
I have though it both obligatory on me, and necessary for you, dearest brother, to write a short letter to the confessors who are there with you, and, seduced by the obstinacy and depravity of Novatian and Novatus,(3) have departed from the Church; in which letter I might induce them, for the sake of our mutual affection, to return to their Mother, that is, to the Catholic Church. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 42, 1)
For we, who furnish every person who sails hence with a plan that they may sail without any offence, know that we have exhorted them to acknowledge and hold the root and matrix of the Catholic Church. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 44, 3)
That we, with the rest of our colleagues, may steadily and firmly administer this office, and keep it in the concordant unanimity of the Catholic Church, the divine condescension will accomplish; so that the Lord who condescends to elect and appoint for Himself priests in His Church, may protect them also when elected and appointed by His good-will and help, inspiring them to govern, and supplying both vigour for restraining the contumacy of the wicked, and gentleness for cherishing the penitence of the lapsed. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 44, 4)
Behold the safe and unspotted integrity of their praise; behold the uncorrupted and substantial dignity of these confessors, that they have departed from the deserters and fugitives, that they have left the betrayers of the faith, and the impugners of the Catholic Church. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 46, 1)
When, then, such and so great examples, and many others, are precedents whereby the priestly authority and power by the divine condescension is established, what kind of people, think you, are they who, being enemies of the priests, and rebels against the Catholic Church, are frightened neither by the threatening of a forewarning Lord, nor by the vengeance of coming judgment? (St. Cyprian, Epistle 54, 5)
Let the lapsed, however, who acknowledge the greatness of their sin, not depart from entreating the Lord, nor forsake the Catholic Church, which has been appointed one and alone by the Lord; but, continuing in their atonements and entreating the Lord's mercy, let them knock at the door of the Church, that they may be received there where once they were, and may return to Christ from whom they have departed. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 63, 5)
Whence you ought to know that the bishop is in the Church, and the Church in the bishop;(1) and if any one be not with the bishop, that he is not in the Church, and that those flatter themselves in vain who creep in, not having peace with God's priests, and think that they communicate secretly with some; while the Church, which is Catholic and one, is not cut nor divided, but is indeed connected and bound together by the cement of priests who cohere with one another. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 68, 8)
Which thing, indeed, Agrippinus also, a man of worthy memory, with his other fellow-bishops, who at that time governed the Lord's Church in the province of Africa and Numidia, decreed, and by the well-weighed examination of the common council established: whose opinion, as being both religious and lawful and salutary, and in harmony with the Catholic faith and Church, we also have followed. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 70, 4)
For the second birth, which occurs in baptism, begets sons of God. But if the spouse of Christ is one, which is the Catholic Church, it is she herself who alone bears sons of God. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 74, 14)
But if any one, moreover, believes that any increment has been given to the Trinity by reason of the assumption of humanity by the Word, he is an alien from us, and from the ministry of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. This is the perfect, holy, Apostolic faith of the holy God. (St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, On the Trinity, Fragment from the Discourse)
For, indeed, in the most considerable councils of the bishops, as I hear, it has been decreed that they who come from heresy should first be trained in Catholic doctrine, and then should be cleansed by baptism from the filth of the old and impure leaven. (St. Dionysius, Epistle 6)
And besides the pious opinion concerning the Father and the Son, we confess to one Holy Spirit, as the divine Scriptures teach us; who hath inaugurated both the holy men of the Old Testament, and the divine teachers of that which is called the New. And besides, also, one only Catholic and Apostolic Church, which can never be destroyed, though all the world should seek to make war with it; but it is victorious over every most impious revolt of the heretics who rise up against it. (St. Alexander, Epistles on the Arian Heresy, Ep. 1, 12)
To our beloved and most reverend fellow-ministers of the Catholic Church in every place, Alexander sends greeting in the Lord. (St. Alexander, Epistles on the Arian Heresy, Ep. 2, Inscription)
Since, therefore, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has thus Himself exhorted us ... we, who have heard their impiety with our own ears, have consistently anathematized such men ... and have declared them to be aliens from the Catholic Church and faith, and we have made known the thing, beloved and most honoured fellow-ministers, to your piety, that you should not receive any of them, should they venture rashly to come unto you. (St. Alexander, Epistles on the Arian Heresy, Ep. 2, 6)
Therefore it is the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship.
This is the fountain of truth, this is the abode of the faith, this is the temple of God; into which if any one shall not enter, or from which if any shall go out, he is estranged from the hope of life and eternal salvation ... But, however, because all the separate assemblies of heretics call themselves Christians in preference to others, and think that theirs is the Catholic Church, it must be known that the true Catholic Church is that in which there is confession and repentance,(1) which treats in a wholesome manner the sins and wounds to which the weakness of the flesh is liable. (Lactantius, The Divine Institutes, Book IV, cap. 30)
Whosoever will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled: without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. (Athanasian Creed)
You, therefore, O bishops, are to your people priests and Levites, ministering to the holy tabernacle, the holy Catholic Church; who stand at the altar of the Lord your God, and offer to Him reasonable and unbloody sacrifices through Jesus the great High Priest. (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Book II, cap. 25)
Let us pray for the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which is spread from one end of the earth to the other; that God would preserve and keep it unshaken, and free from the waves of this life, until the end of the world, as founded upon a rock. (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Book VII, 10)
Thine all-holy Spirit, send down, O Lord, upon us, and upon these offered holy gifts ... that coming, by His holy and good and glorious appearing, He may sanctify this bread, and make it the holy body of Thy Christ ... And this cup the precious blood of Thy Christ ... That they may be to all that partake of them for remission of sins, and for life everlasting, for the sanctification of souls and of bodies, for bearing the fruit of good works, for the stablishing of Thy Holy Catholic Church, which Thou hast founded on the Rock of Faith,(4) that the gates of hell may not prevail against it; delivering it from all heresy and scandals, and from those who work iniquity, keeping it till the fulness of the time. (The Divine Liturgy of St. James, 32-33)
But all envy, all fear, all temptation, all the influence of Satan, all the snares of wicked men, do Thou, O Lord, drive away from us, and from Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. (The Divine Liturgy of St. Mark, 1)
Pray for me, my fathers, brethren, and masters, that God may grant unto me the capability and power to perform this service to which I have drawn near, and that this oblation may be accepted from the hands of my weakness, for myself, for you, and for the whole body of the Holy Catholic Church. (The Divine Liturgy of St. Mark, 8)
O Lord our God, bestow on us Thy rest and peace all the days of this life ... Make remembrance of prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, bishops, doctors, priests, deacons, and all the sons of the Holy Catholic Church who have been signed with the sign of life, of holy baptism. (The Divine Liturgy of St. Mark, 13)
Now, as soon as he had ceased praying, having made mention of all that had at any time come in contact with him, both small and great, illustrious and obscure, as well as the whole Catholic Church throughout the world, the time of his departure having arrived. (The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, 8)
all the people wondered that there should be such a difference between the unbelievers and the elect, of whom this most admirable Polycarp was one, having in our own times been an apostolic and prophetic teacher, and bishop of the Catholic Church which is in Smyrna. (The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, 16)
For, having through patience overcome the unjust governor, and thus acquired the crown of immortality, he [St. Polycarp] now, with the apostles and all the righteous[in heaven], rejoicingly glorifies God, even the Father, and blesses our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of our souls, the Governor of our bodies, and the Shepherd of the Catholic Church throughout the world. (The Martyrdom of St. Polycarp, 19)
Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude[of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. (St. Ignatius, Ep. ad Smyrneans, 8)
For the men of former generations, who instituted private and public rites in honour of such as were more powerful, caused forgetfulness of the Catholic(2) faith to take possession of their posterity. (St. Justin, On the Sole Government of God, 1)
the Catholic Church possesses one and the same faith throughout the whole world, as we have already said. (St. Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book I, cap. 10, 3)
Those, then, that adhere to impious words ... neither themselves enter into the kingdom of heaven, nor permit those whom they have deluded to attain the truth ... they constitute themselves the Mystagogues[8] of the soul of the impious. For that the human assemblies which they held were posterior to the Catholic Church[9] requires not many words to show. (St. Clement of Alexandria, Stromata, Book VII, cap. 17)
Therefore in substance and idea, in origin, in pre-eminence, we say that the ancient and Catholic[4] Church is alone, collecting as it does into the unity of the one faith ... those already ordained, whom God predestinated, knowing before the foundation of the world that they would be righteous. But the pre-eminence of the Church, as the principle of union, is, in its oneness, in this surpassing all things else, and having nothing like or equal to itself. (St. Clement, Stromata, Book VII, cap. 17)
Although, even supposing that among intimate friends,(20) so to speak, [the Apostles] did hold certain discussions, yet it is incredible that these could have been such as to bring in some other rule of faith, differing from and contrary to that which they were proclaiming through the Catholic churches,(21)--as if they spoke of one God in the Church, (and) another at home, and described one substance of Christ, publicly, (and) another secretly ... (Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics, 26)
Where was Marcion then, that shipmaster of Pontus, the zealous student of Stoicism? Where was Valentinus then, the disciple of Platonism? For it is evident that those men lived not so long ago,--in the reign of Antoninus for the most part,(2)--and that they at first were believers in the doctrine of the Catholic Church, in the church of Rome under the episcopate of the blessed Eleutherus,(3) until on account of their ever restless curiosity,with which they even infected the brethren, they were more than once expelled. (Tertullian, Prescription Against Heretics, 30)
With regard, then, to the pending(9) question, of Luke's Gospel (so far as its being the common property(10) of ourselves and Marcion enables it to be decisive of the truth,(11)) that portion of it which we alone receive(12) is so much older than Marcion, that Marcion, himself once believed it, when in the first warmth of faith he contributed money to the Catholic church, which along with himself was afterwards rejected,(13) when he fell away from our truth into his own heresy. (Tertullian, Five Books Against Marcion, Book IV, cap. 4)
But how remote is our (Catholic) verity from the artifices of this heretic, when it dreads to arouse the anger of God, and firmly believes that He produced all things out of nothing, and promises to us a restoration from the grave of the same flesh (that died) and holds without a blush that Christ was born of the virgin's womb! (Tertullian, Five Books Against Marcion, Book V, cap. 19)
Let such things, however, be lightly esteemed by him who is desirous of being trained in divine learning, while retaining in its integrity the rule of the Catholic faith. (Origin, De Principiis, Book III, Preface of Rufinus)
Behold, into how great impiety that lawless one has proceeded, by inculcating adultery and murder at the same time! And withal, after such audacious acts, they, lost to all shame, attempt to call themselves a Catholic Church! (St. Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies, Book IX, 7)
Of the Catholic faith ... This we lay down with one accord, in opposition to those who have said boldly, that it is not right to speak of the Word of God as our Lord Jesus Christ spake. We come together chiefly to bring out the holy truth(14) regarding God; and we have separated them, because they do not agree with the Church in theology, nor with us the sons of the Scriptures. On this account we have sundered them from the Church, and have left what concerns them to God, who will judge His creatures with justice. (Canons of the Church of Alexandria, Canon 1)
There have come to us, beloved brother, sent by Novatian, Maximus the presbyter, and Augendus the deacon, and a certain Machaeus and Longinus. But, as we discovered, as well from the letters which they brought with them, as from their discourse and declaration, that Novatian had been made bishop; disturbed by the wickedness of an unlawful ordination made in opposition to the Catholic Church, we considered at once that they must be restrained from communion with us. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 40, 1)
And lest their raging boldness should ever cease, they are striving here also to distract the members of Christ into schismatical parties, and to cut and tear the one body of the Catholic Church, so that, running about from door to door, through the houses of many, or from city to city, through certain districts, they seek for companions in their obstinacy and error to join to themselves in their schism. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 40, 2)
As was fitting for God's servants, and especially for upright and peaceable priests, dearest brother, we recently sent our colleagues Caldonius and Fortunatus, that they might, not only by the persuasion of our letters, but by their presence and the advice of all of you, strive and labour with all their power to bring the members of the divided body into the unity of the Catholic Church, and associate them into the bond of Christian charity. But since the obstinate and inflexible pertinacity of the adverse party has not only rejected the bosom and the embrace of its root and Mother, but even, with a discord spreading and reviving itself worse and worse, has appointed a bishop for itself, and, contrary to the sacrament once delivered of the divine appointment and of Catholic Unity, has made an adulterous and opposed head outside the Church. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 41, 1)
I have though it both obligatory on me, and necessary for you, dearest brother, to write a short letter to the confessors who are there with you, and, seduced by the obstinacy and depravity of Novatian and Novatus,(3) have departed from the Church; in which letter I might induce them, for the sake of our mutual affection, to return to their Mother, that is, to the Catholic Church. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 42, 1)
For we, who furnish every person who sails hence with a plan that they may sail without any offence, know that we have exhorted them to acknowledge and hold the root and matrix of the Catholic Church. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 44, 3)
That we, with the rest of our colleagues, may steadily and firmly administer this office, and keep it in the concordant unanimity of the Catholic Church, the divine condescension will accomplish; so that the Lord who condescends to elect and appoint for Himself priests in His Church, may protect them also when elected and appointed by His good-will and help, inspiring them to govern, and supplying both vigour for restraining the contumacy of the wicked, and gentleness for cherishing the penitence of the lapsed. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 44, 4)
Behold the safe and unspotted integrity of their praise; behold the uncorrupted and substantial dignity of these confessors, that they have departed from the deserters and fugitives, that they have left the betrayers of the faith, and the impugners of the Catholic Church. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 46, 1)
When, then, such and so great examples, and many others, are precedents whereby the priestly authority and power by the divine condescension is established, what kind of people, think you, are they who, being enemies of the priests, and rebels against the Catholic Church, are frightened neither by the threatening of a forewarning Lord, nor by the vengeance of coming judgment? (St. Cyprian, Epistle 54, 5)
Let the lapsed, however, who acknowledge the greatness of their sin, not depart from entreating the Lord, nor forsake the Catholic Church, which has been appointed one and alone by the Lord; but, continuing in their atonements and entreating the Lord's mercy, let them knock at the door of the Church, that they may be received there where once they were, and may return to Christ from whom they have departed. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 63, 5)
Whence you ought to know that the bishop is in the Church, and the Church in the bishop;(1) and if any one be not with the bishop, that he is not in the Church, and that those flatter themselves in vain who creep in, not having peace with God's priests, and think that they communicate secretly with some; while the Church, which is Catholic and one, is not cut nor divided, but is indeed connected and bound together by the cement of priests who cohere with one another. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 68, 8)
Which thing, indeed, Agrippinus also, a man of worthy memory, with his other fellow-bishops, who at that time governed the Lord's Church in the province of Africa and Numidia, decreed, and by the well-weighed examination of the common council established: whose opinion, as being both religious and lawful and salutary, and in harmony with the Catholic faith and Church, we also have followed. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 70, 4)
For the second birth, which occurs in baptism, begets sons of God. But if the spouse of Christ is one, which is the Catholic Church, it is she herself who alone bears sons of God. (St. Cyprian, Epistle 74, 14)
But if any one, moreover, believes that any increment has been given to the Trinity by reason of the assumption of humanity by the Word, he is an alien from us, and from the ministry of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. This is the perfect, holy, Apostolic faith of the holy God. (St. Gregory Thaumaturgus, On the Trinity, Fragment from the Discourse)
For, indeed, in the most considerable councils of the bishops, as I hear, it has been decreed that they who come from heresy should first be trained in Catholic doctrine, and then should be cleansed by baptism from the filth of the old and impure leaven. (St. Dionysius, Epistle 6)
And besides the pious opinion concerning the Father and the Son, we confess to one Holy Spirit, as the divine Scriptures teach us; who hath inaugurated both the holy men of the Old Testament, and the divine teachers of that which is called the New. And besides, also, one only Catholic and Apostolic Church, which can never be destroyed, though all the world should seek to make war with it; but it is victorious over every most impious revolt of the heretics who rise up against it. (St. Alexander, Epistles on the Arian Heresy, Ep. 1, 12)
To our beloved and most reverend fellow-ministers of the Catholic Church in every place, Alexander sends greeting in the Lord. (St. Alexander, Epistles on the Arian Heresy, Ep. 2, Inscription)
Since, therefore, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ has thus Himself exhorted us ... we, who have heard their impiety with our own ears, have consistently anathematized such men ... and have declared them to be aliens from the Catholic Church and faith, and we have made known the thing, beloved and most honoured fellow-ministers, to your piety, that you should not receive any of them, should they venture rashly to come unto you. (St. Alexander, Epistles on the Arian Heresy, Ep. 2, 6)
Therefore it is the Catholic Church alone which retains true worship.
This is the fountain of truth, this is the abode of the faith, this is the temple of God; into which if any one shall not enter, or from which if any shall go out, he is estranged from the hope of life and eternal salvation ... But, however, because all the separate assemblies of heretics call themselves Christians in preference to others, and think that theirs is the Catholic Church, it must be known that the true Catholic Church is that in which there is confession and repentance,(1) which treats in a wholesome manner the sins and wounds to which the weakness of the flesh is liable. (Lactantius, The Divine Institutes, Book IV, cap. 30)
Whosoever will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which Faith except everyone do keep whole and undefiled: without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. (Athanasian Creed)
You, therefore, O bishops, are to your people priests and Levites, ministering to the holy tabernacle, the holy Catholic Church; who stand at the altar of the Lord your God, and offer to Him reasonable and unbloody sacrifices through Jesus the great High Priest. (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Book II, cap. 25)
Let us pray for the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church which is spread from one end of the earth to the other; that God would preserve and keep it unshaken, and free from the waves of this life, until the end of the world, as founded upon a rock. (Constitutions of the Holy Apostles, Book VII, 10)
Thine all-holy Spirit, send down, O Lord, upon us, and upon these offered holy gifts ... that coming, by His holy and good and glorious appearing, He may sanctify this bread, and make it the holy body of Thy Christ ... And this cup the precious blood of Thy Christ ... That they may be to all that partake of them for remission of sins, and for life everlasting, for the sanctification of souls and of bodies, for bearing the fruit of good works, for the stablishing of Thy Holy Catholic Church, which Thou hast founded on the Rock of Faith,(4) that the gates of hell may not prevail against it; delivering it from all heresy and scandals, and from those who work iniquity, keeping it till the fulness of the time. (The Divine Liturgy of St. James, 32-33)
But all envy, all fear, all temptation, all the influence of Satan, all the snares of wicked men, do Thou, O Lord, drive away from us, and from Thy Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. (The Divine Liturgy of St. Mark, 1)
Pray for me, my fathers, brethren, and masters, that God may grant unto me the capability and power to perform this service to which I have drawn near, and that this oblation may be accepted from the hands of my weakness, for myself, for you, and for the whole body of the Holy Catholic Church. (The Divine Liturgy of St. Mark, 8)
O Lord our God, bestow on us Thy rest and peace all the days of this life ... Make remembrance of prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, bishops, doctors, priests, deacons, and all the sons of the Holy Catholic Church who have been signed with the sign of life, of holy baptism. (The Divine Liturgy of St. Mark, 13)
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