THE ONE, TRUE, HOLY, CATHOLIC, APOSTOLIC CHURCH

 I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, Who was conceived of the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, was Crucified, and Resurrected. I believe in the Holy Spirit.              I believe in the Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.     I believe in the resurrection of the body.   I believe in life everlasting, Amen.

CC18 …. What is the value of the Letter of of Cornelius ?

a)     The testimony of Clement of Rome regarding the Apostolic Succession, is of inestimable value, both for the explicit manner by which it affirms the succession and because of its proof since antiquity.

Clement wrote his Letter about the year 96 aC. Addressing it to the Church in Corinth. About this Letter, St. Irenaeus (140a.C.) remarks thus: “The preaching of the Apostles was still echoing in his (Clement’s) ears and their teaching under his eyes.” SO, this proves that Clement is an immediate witness of the Apostles.

b)    Clement indicates CHRIST as the source of the Apostolic Succession. It was the Lord Himself, who, in order to ensure the authentic transmission of the Gospel, established an unbroken chain of qualified and authorized persons.

This holds true at all times.  But, it becomes, even more necessary, when, “ravening wolves introduce themselves into the fold of Christ.” (Acts 20: 29 – 31), claiming for themselves a power which no one has ever committed, entrusted to them. So it happened in Clement’s days and at other times….and in our days as well.

Jesus, however, clearly states, rather WARNS: “Take heed, that you are not led astray….Do not go after them “ (Lk. 21:8).                                 /CC19

Extracts by kind permission of  HG Mons. Sylvester Magro ofm, Apostolic Nuncio of Benghazi.