How did the Church begin?

God planned the gathering of His faithful people together into a single community from the beginning of human history (Catechism of the Catholic Church 759). We see this plan played out over the various stages of humanity in Scripture. For example, God’s Old Testament covenant with Abraham leads eventually to the establishment of the kingdom of Israel, a precursor to the Church as it exists today. As God more fully reveals Himself to mankind, and human knowledge about God grows, the stage becomes set for God to fully reveal Himself in Christ, Who finally establishes a single community of believers, God’s one true Church.  

Jesus prepares His Church by appointing twelve apostles. The Catechism (CCC) explains: “Representing the twelve tribes of Israel, they are the foundation stones of the new Jerusalem. The Twelve and the other disciples share in Christ’s mission and his power, but also in his lot. By all his actions, Christ prepares and builds His Church” (765). 

During his ministry on Earth, Jesus singles out the apostle Simon Bar-Jona to be the head of His new Church, which will exist to the end of time: “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the powers of death shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18; see also John 1:42). With these words, Jesus changes Simon’s name to Peter, which means “rock.” In Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, Simon’s new name is Kepha (or Cephas), which means a sizable rock usable as a building’s foundation. Kepha is translated into Greek as Petros, from which we get Peter in English. 

Jesus goes on to give Peter special authority over His Church: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (CONFESSION) (Matt. 16:19). Peter and the other apostles who hear this proclamation understand these symbolic keys to be Jesus’ Own Authority over His Church in His absence. Such a handing on of kingly authority was known to the Jews and is imaged in the Old Testament foretelling of Eliakim being given authority as King Hezekiah’s royal steward over the kingdom of Israel (Isa. 22:20-22).  

Just as God gives Eliakim the keys to the kingdom of Israel, Jesus gives Peter the keys to his kingdom. And just as Eliakim “shall be a father” to Israel (Isa. 22:21), Peter (and his successors) leads the Church as a spiritual father—as papa, or pope. The authority to “bind and loose” (“open and shut”) is given first to Peter and later to the apostles under him as well. 

The Catechism explains: 

The “power of the keys” designates authority to govern the house of God, which is the Church. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, confirmed this mandate after his Resurrection: “Feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17). The power to “bind and loose” connotes the authority to absolve sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgments, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church. Jesus entrusted this authority to the Church through the ministry of the apostles and in particular through the ministry of Peter, the only one to whom he specifically entrusted the keys of the kingdom (553). 

Having established an authoritative hierarchy for His Church, Jesus demonstrates that He intends the Church to be a community of believers with a continual, visible hierarchy here on earth. For example, He outlines a procedure involving sinners in the Church:  

If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the Church; and if he refuses to listen even to the Church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector (Matt. 18:15-17). 

Clearly, Jesus founded the Church as a tight-knit community of disciples with tangible access to the authority of Peter and the apostles. Shortly after the Ascension, this all became manifest to the world: “When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that he might continually sanctify the Church. Then the Church was openly displayed to the crowds and the spread of the gospel among the nations, through preaching, was begun” (CCC 767). 

[TAKEN FROM - 20 ANSWERS: THE EARLY CHURCH]

Our Lady of Lourdes February 11th & Day of the Sick

History of Our Lady of Lourdes: 

The Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in southern France is the most visited pilgrimage site in the world -- principally because of the apparent healing properties of the waters of the spring that appeared during the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to a poor, fourteen-year-old girl, Bernadette Soubiroux.

The first apparition occurred February 11, 1858. There were eighteen in all; the last took place July 16, of the same year. Bernadette often fell into an ecstasy during these apparitions, as was witnessed by the hundreds who attended the later visions, though no one except Bernadette ever saw or heard the apparition.

The mysterious vision Bernadette saw in the hollow of the rock Massabielle, where she and friends had gone to gather firewood, was that of a young and beautiful lady. "Lovelier than I have ever seen" said the child. She described the Lady as clothed in white, with a blue ribbon sash and a Rosary hanging from her right arm. Now and then the apparition spoke to Bernadette.

One day, the Lady told the girl to drink of a mysterious fountain within the grotto itself, the existence of which was unknown, and of which there was no sign. But Bernadette scratched at the ground, and a spring immediately bubbled up and soon gushed forth. On another occasion the apparition bade Bernadette go and tell the priests she wished a chapel to be built on the spot and processions to be made to the grotto. At first the clergy were incredulous. The priest said he would not believe it unless the apparition gave Bernadette her name. After another apparition, Bernadette reported that the Lady told her, "I am the Immaculate Conception". Though the girl was unfamiliar with the term, the Pope had declared the doctrine of the immaculate conception of the Virgin Mary in 1854.

Four years after Bernadette's visions, in 1862, the bishop of the diocese declared the faithful "justified in believing the reality of the apparition" of Our Lady. A basilica was built upon the rock of Massabielle by M. Peyramale, the parish priest. In 1873 the great "national" French pilgrimages were inaugurated. Three years later the basilica was consecrated and the statue solemnly crowned. In 1883 the foundation stone of another church was laid, as the first was no longer large enough. It was built at the foot of the basilica and was consecrated in 1901 and called the Church of the Rosary. Pope Leo XIII authorized a special office and a Mass, in commemoration of the apparition, and in 1907 Pius X extended the observance of this feast to the entire Church; it is now observed on February 11.

Miracles at Lourdes

World Day of the Sick, an observation introduced by Pope John Paul II as a way for believers to offer prayers for those suffering from illnesses. The day coincides with the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes and is an important opportunity for those who serve in Catholic health ministry to reflect on caring for those who are sick as well as those who provide care to them.

Entrusting Oneself to the Merciful Jesus like Mary:
“Do whatever he tells you” (Jn 2:5)

God of all goodness,
Look with mercy on all who suffer any kind of infirmity, sickness or injury,
that they may be comforted.

Let Your hand of healing and protection be upon them.
When they are fearful, ease their fear and anxieties.
When they are afraid, give them strength and courage.
When they feel alone, send them someone to listen and to care.
When they are confused, provide reassurance and direction.
When they are in pain, ease their suffering.
When they despair, give them hope.
May they experience Your healing presence
in the comfort of a caregiver's calm gaze and tender touch.

God of compassion and comfort,
Help caregivers to see Your Face in the faces
of those who suffer illness, pain or infirmity.

May they reach out with compassionate hearts and capable hands.
May they have the ability to calm those who are anxious.
May they be present to those who feel alone.
May they offer hope to those in despair.
May they bring comfort where there is pain.
May they provide reassurance amidst confusion and doubt.

O Lord, enclose all who are sick and those who care for them in Your healing Embrace.
We pray through the intercession of Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes.
Amen.