THOUGHTS AS FOOD CAN ANY GOOD THING COME OUT OF OLD ROMAN CATHOLICISM?
By Celes A. Gianan, DD, PhD
This question has a semblance to the question asked by Nathanael to Philip, saying, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” to which Philip answered by saying, “Come and see” (Ref. John 1:45-46).
Brothers, to the question “Can any good thing come out of Old Roman Catholicism?”, may we humbly invite us to “COME and SEE” and find for ourselves the answer.
The answer is an absolute YES.
ANTIQUE, NOT ANTIQUATED
The Old Roman Catholicism is ANTIQUE for it has got its early beginnings long, long time ago. It has been advancing in years since its earliest beginnings in the Apostolic times. However, Old Roman Catholicism is NOT ANTIQUATED. The value it had possessed since its earliest beginnings in the Apostolic times remains undiminished and safeguarded by the power of the Spirit of God. The older Roman Catholicism becomes, the sweeter its taste becomes and the stronger its charism stands. Old Roman Catholicism is like an old tree we see in forests. A tree that has been planted long, long years ago and continues to live until now is a tree that exhibits life and strength. We see its wonders. Thus, it is NOT AN ANTIQUATED tree as if it has diminished and is diminishing in its stature and strength. So is the case of Old Roman Catholicism. It is ANTIQUE, BUT NOT ANTIQUATED. It has not diminished its life and strength nor its status is diminishing. It remains and looks powerful and valuable. In Old Roman Catholicism, we come to know the genuine and authentic life of Catholic FAITH-WITNESSING as lived out by the early community of believers in God and lovers of the Church. In Old Roman Catholicism, we see the PERPETUATION of how the early Church in the Apostolic times lived out their CATHOLIC FAITH, a CATHOLIC FAITH that is same yesterday, today and tomorrow.
ARCHAIC, BUT NOT OBSOLETE
Old Roman Catholicism is ARCHAIC for it has its beginning in the past and its roots being traceable to ancient history and even in the mind of our “one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all” (Ref. Ephesians 4:6). Indeed, it is ARCHAIC, BUT NOT OBSOLETE. The POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT that has given BIRTH to the CATHOLICITY of the Church on that Pentecost Day continues to EMPOWER men and women to cause great things to happen and produce great results in life. The FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT intertwined into “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Ref. Galatians 5:22-23) is very much shown and needed as useful in our lives and are generating good works constructive of human life. This is one of the TENETS of the Spirit and Charism of Old Roman Catholicism in aid of FAITH-WITNESSING. Thus, Old Roman Catholicism is ARCHAIC but NOT OBSOLETE. It acquires and exhibits GREAT RELEVANCE to our lives in our contemporary times.
We, therefore, enjoin ourselves and our Christian faithful to embrace and live out the Spirit and Charism of OLD ROMAN CATHOLICISM if only for us to pursue our Catholic Faith- witnessing in PERPETUATION of the kind of Faith-Witnessing the early Church has faithfully and courageously shown as made manifest in the Acts of the Apostles – a FAITH-WITNESSING the world seeks to see and God wills of us.
We enjoin us all and shepherd our Christian faithful to FREELY embrace and live the Spirit and Charism of OLD ROMAN CATHOLICISM if only for us and our Christian faithful “BE SAVED FROM THIS PERVERSE GENERATION” – a living exhortation spoken of by Peter the Apostle (Ref. Acts 2:40). We are in this generation in which THE TRUTH of CATHOLIC FAITH and its WITNESSING are being perverted by the forces of MODERNITY. HIERARCHS of the Church, too, are already and seemed to be inclined to accommodate modern innovations, strategies and approaches in the life of the Church. There are those who are acting as an INSTITUTIONAL CHURCH and no longer as a MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST, His Church. The forces of MODERNITY are impacting the mindset of people with an attitude that enforces them REDUCE the MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST into something INSTITUTIONAL.
Our special task NOW is to help in the RESTORATION of each and every BAPTIZED into the MYSTICAL BODY OF CHRIST, His Church, Him being the Head.
God loves us all. – Bishop Celes