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The Profession of Faith IN BRIEF 934 ''Among the Christian Faithful by divine institution there exist in the Church sacred ministers, who are also called clerics in law, and other Christian faithful who are called laity.'' In both groups there are those Christian faithful who, professing the evangelical counsels, are consecrated to God and so serve the Church's saving mission (cf. CIC, can. 207 S 1,2). 935 To proclaim the faith and to plant his reign, Christ sends his apostles and their successors. He gives them a share in his own mission. From him they receive the power to act in his person. 936 The Lord made St. Peter the visible foundation of his Church. He entrusted the keys of the Church to him. The Bishop of the Church of Rome, successor to St. Peter, is ''head of the college of bishops, the Vicar of Christ and Pastor of the Universal Church on earth'' (CIC, can.331). 938 The Bishops, established by the Holy Spirit, succeed the apostles. They are ''the visible source and foundation of unity in their own particular Churches'' (LG23). 10/18/2018 THE PRIESTHOOD: Of the faithful: The Priestly people of God. Christ has made of his Church a "Kingdom of Priest", and gives the faithful a share in his priesthood through the Sacrament of Baptism and Confirmation (784, 1119, 1546). (2) Ministerial: The ministerial priesthood received in the Sacrament of Holy Orders differs in essence from this common priesthood of all the faithful by building up and guiding the Church in the name of Christ, who is the head of the Body (1547).  11/01/2018 ''Let Us Rejoice in the Unwavering Sacrifice of the Saints on this All Saints Day. May we Ever be Benefactors of their Unceasing Intercession'' ''May Our Holy Mother Mary, Queen of Heaven Protect Us here on Earth'' ''May that Glorious Archangel St. Michael, Illustrious leader of the heavenly host Defend us in Battle'' 11/26/2018 THE INSTITUTION OF THE PRIESTHOOD St. John Chapter 20, verses, 21-23 There is no salvation apart from the institution of the the Lord's Church. Through Jesus Christ the priesthood and apostolic power was instituted and the Church was founded. Man's sins may be absolved by the Church. Absolution from sin means, "To free from sin", which is in meaning, "forgiveness of sins". II. Cor. ch. 5, vs. 19. The Priest is acting under the Authority and Power of the Church, which in turn is acting under the Authority and Power of Christ. II. Cor. ch. 5, vs. 20. The Priest is a man, not a supernatural being with the power to forgive on his own, but when acting under the Authority of the Church, which has been given Authority from Christ, the Priest is acting in harmony with Christ's teaching and instructions, he has the power to absolute sins. II. Cor. ch. 5, vs. 20-21. The Bishop / Archbishop who has the fullness of the ''Priesthood of Christ'', as priest and bishop, he is altus Christus acting in persona Christi capitis Ecclesiae. The priest is a ''christ''. He becomes one in Christ who performs transubstantiation at the sacred altar where Christ himself is presence, soul, body, and divinity in the Holy Eucharist. February 22, 2019 "FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD"  Is there water in Jerusalem? A question that Cardinal Priest, Archbishop Bobby Land often ask the Lord during Holy Eucharistic Mass and times of intercessory prayer. In this photo (January 13, 2019) during the "Feast of the Baptism of the Lord" the Man of God prepares and sanctifies the water for Baptism. The Priest also consecrates the new Baptismal Font in the Family Chapel that rest below the Paschal Easter Candle. Archbishop Land draws his homily text from I Peter ch. 3 vs. 18 - 22, "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were dis- obedient, when once the long -suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were SAVED BY WATER. The like figure where unto even BAPTISM DOTH NOW SAVE US (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. V. Who Can Baptize? 1256 The ordinary ministers of Baptism are the Bishop and priest and, in the Latin Church, also the deacon. 57 In case of necessity, anyone, even a non-baptized person, with the required intention, can baptize, 58 by using the Trinitarian baptismal formula. The intention required is to will to do what the Church does when she baptizes. The Church finds the reason for this possibility in the universal saving will of God and the necessity of Baptism for salvation. 59 VI. The Necessity of Baptism Baptism being one of the (7) sacraments of the Church, the Archbishop affirms that baptism is a necessity. He quotes from the Catechism, VI. The Necessity of Baptism 1129 1257 The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation. 60 He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them. 61 Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and (161, 846) who have the possibility of asking for this sacrament. 62 The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she receives from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn of water and the Spirit." God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments. VII. The Grace of Baptism 1262 The different effects of Baptism are signified by the perceptible elements of the sacramental rite. Immersion in water symbolizes not only death and purification, but also regeneration and renewal. Thus the two principle effects are purification from sins and new birth in the Holy Spirit. 65 For the forgiveness of sins... 1263 By Baptism all sins are forgiven, original sin and all personal sins, 977 as well as all punishment for sin. 66 In those who have 1425 been reborn nothing remains that would impede their entry into the kingdom of God, neither Adam's sin, nor personal sin, nor the consequences of sin, the gravest of which is separation from God. Incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ 782 1267 Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: "Therefore...we are members one of another." 72 Baptism incorporates us into the Church. From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant, which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, cultures, races, and sexes: "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body." 73 Lent 2019   May 22, 2019 ''The Dignity of Every Human Life''  Metropolitan Archbishop Bobby Land Jr. greets the faithful with a smile as he stands at the Altar preparing to offer Mass for the life of the unborn. The Archbishop has been a strong advocate of the dignity of human life from conception in the womb to full term birth. The Archbishop said, ''Every person is made in the image of God, every human life is sacred and worthy of respect. The Archbishop believes that we are called to care for all human life and that abortion is a direct violation of that respect and murdering of the unborn. In his homily he stated, "As a gift from God, every human life is sacred from conception to natural death. It is the cornerstone social teaching of the Universal Church. Human dignity is not something that we can bestow upon or take away from another person, it comes from God and is the foundation of our existence. Even in aging, the human experience should be to age with dignity, to affirm and safeguard individuals as they age, and to promote better care for those near the end of life. Each person is worthy of honor and respect for who they are and not just for what they can do. It is my prayer we promote and envision a nation that seeks life over the culture of death. A nation that promotes "Pro - Life", a nation and a world that promotes life and the human experience above unjustifiable homicide''. September 13, 2019 ''Mysteries of the Mass''  Metropolitan Archbishop Bobby Land invokes the mysteries of the Holy Mass. The remembrance and these mysteries of the sacrifice are indeed a glorious experience in the Church. "During the Mass, the miracle of transubstantiation happens as the celebrant Priest becomes one with Christ. The bread and wine on the altar becomes the real presence, Soul, Body, Blood, and divinity of Jesus Christ''., the Archbishop said. In the Mass there is a gathering of the Saints triumphant and militant during the offering of prayers, singing of hymns, and the reading of the liturgy. God's presence is invoked in prayer, celebration, worship, and praise. It is a time when God speaks to all the Saints, and especially the Priest who rest under the prophetic mantle. He recalls the Resurrection, both natural and spiritual. "At that time there shall arise Michael, the great prince, guardian of your people; It shall be a time unsurpassed in distress since the nation began until that time. At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; Some to everlasting life, others to reproach and everlasting disgrace. But those with insight shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, And those who lead many to Justice shall be like the stars forever''. The Archbishop believes, this prophecy not only gives us a spiritual application of future events, but a present reality of God's favor and presence upon his chosen vessels.
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