CHURCH INSTITUTIONS
The Catholic Church also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity. The Catholic Church is among the oldest institutions in the world and has played a prominent role in the history of Western civilisation. It teaches that it is the one true church founded by Jesus Christ, that its bishops are the successors of Christ's apostles and that the Pope is the successor to Saint Peter. Catholic doctrine maintains that the Catholic Church is the original and true Church and is infallible when it dogmatically teaches a doctrine of faith or morals. Catholic worship is centred on the Eucharist, in which the Church teaches that the sacramental bread and wine are supernaturally transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ. The Church holds the Blessed Virgin Mary in special regard. Catholic beliefs concerning Mary include her Immaculate Conception and bodily Assumption at the end of her earthly life.
What did the Church do to save Her flock?
She founded a series of institutions that fostered the sanctification of souls, such as:
• Ecclesiastical institutions, for the sanctification of the clergy;
• Religious institutions, like the monastic orders;
• Lay institutions, like knighthood, workers’ guilds, Third Orders, for the sanctification of society as a whole.
These Church institutions were based on the knowledge that one is more likely to save one’s soul, when supported by a good environment, than when one has to heroically resist a bad environment.
In some countries today, Conciliar Churchmen are telling us that they have fewer people attending, but that it is the elite; they add that the others used to come for social reasons. Even if some parishioners were coming for social reasons, these Churchmen do not understand that they benefited greatly and were ready to call a priest in time of necessity. Holy Mother Church has never been “elitist”, a “church” for heroes only. She wants as many as possible of Her sons and daughters to be saved through the Cross of Her Divine Spouse.
Without these supportive institutions, the Church knows how much more difficult it would be to save oneself. For this reason, the Church has established a good number of them.
What are the particular notes, or characteristics, of Church Institutions?
• Excellency: they are the best possible means to reach the end the Church has given them.
• Mission: they give an official mandate from the Church.
• Graces: they give appropriate graces to fulfill that mission.
• Universality: they apply wherever the Church extends.
• Perenniality: since they are the best means, there is no reason to change; they are lasting.
Can you give examples of long lasting Church Institutions?
Examples of lasting Church Institutions are:
• The Priesthood, which was founded by Our Lord, while the different degrees of the Hierarchy were set up by the Church. The Apostles instituted the degrees of the Hierarchy for the salvation of souls as follows: Deacon, Priest, Bishop. In the 2nd century A.D., the Church added the degree of Lector. By the middle of the following century, other minor orders of the Clergy were established, namely: Porter, Acolyte, Exorcist, and Sub-deacon. The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy has not changed much since that time.
• Special religious institutions were set up for the personal sanctification of the faithful. In the 3rd century A.D., the Monks (Coenobites and Hermits) would strictly follow the Evangelical counsels. In the 13th century A.D., the Third Orders would make it as easy as possible to do the same for people in the world. Both of these institutions still exist in our day.
• Other institutions were founded for the general sanctification, not only of individuals, but of society as a whole, such as workers’ guilds, confraternities, the Truce of God, the Peace of God, and particularly the four above-mentioned institutions for the promotion and defense of the Christendom: Christian Monarchy, Christian Knighthood, the Crusades, and the Military Orders. Most of these institutions lasted a long time, or are still in existence. The Crusades did not stop with the loss of the Holy Land in 1291. They were called until the 17th century, such as the Crusade to defend Vienna besieged by the Turks. The galleys of the Order Malta protected Europe at the Battle of Lepanto, and until the end of the 18th century. Pope Pius XIIth himself said, in his 1956 Christmas message, that he had been thinking of calling for a Crusade, as Hungary was being invaded by the Communist Russians.
Has the Church mentioned the perennial aspect of Her Institutions?
Yes, on many occasions. More particularly, Pope St. Pius X, in 1910, did so in a very significant way when he had to condemn a French progressive Catholic organization called “le Sillon”, because it wanted to find new bases and principles for society, a “New Christendom”, as Maritain later called it. They admitted that it would have to be a pluralist liberal democracy. That document of St. Pius Xth is known as the Letter about le Sillon.
It reads thus: “This has to be emphasized in our time of social and intellectual anarchy, when everyone establishes himself as doctor and legislator: one will not build the city otherwise than God has built it; one will not build up society if the Church does not lay its foundations and lead its construction; no, civilization does not have to be discovered, nor the new city to be built in the clouds. It has been, and it is; this is Christian Civilization, this is the Catholic City. One only has to build it and restore it unceasingly, on its natural and divine bases, against the ever reviving attacks of pernicious utopias, revolt and impiety: Omnia instaurare in Christo [restore all things in Christ].”
What are the main Institutions set up by the Church for the promotion of Christendom?
They are Christian Monarchy and Knighthood, with their three levels of consecration, one for Emperors, one for Kings, and one for Knights. Anointing or coronation was conferred upon an Emperor or a King, while the rite of liturgical dubbing was conferred upon a Knight.
What are the main Institutions founded by the Church for the defense of Christendom on all its fronts?
They are the Crusades, as a temporary movement, followed by the Military Orders, as the permanent order and defense structure of Christendom.
• Ecclesiastical institutions, for the sanctification of the clergy;
• Religious institutions, like the monastic orders;
• Lay institutions, like knighthood, workers’ guilds, Third Orders, for the sanctification of society as a whole.
These Church institutions were based on the knowledge that one is more likely to save one’s soul, when supported by a good environment, than when one has to heroically resist a bad environment.
In some countries today, Conciliar Churchmen are telling us that they have fewer people attending, but that it is the elite; they add that the others used to come for social reasons. Even if some parishioners were coming for social reasons, these Churchmen do not understand that they benefited greatly and were ready to call a priest in time of necessity. Holy Mother Church has never been “elitist”, a “church” for heroes only. She wants as many as possible of Her sons and daughters to be saved through the Cross of Her Divine Spouse.
Without these supportive institutions, the Church knows how much more difficult it would be to save oneself. For this reason, the Church has established a good number of them.
What are the particular notes, or characteristics, of Church Institutions?
• Excellency: they are the best possible means to reach the end the Church has given them.
• Mission: they give an official mandate from the Church.
• Graces: they give appropriate graces to fulfill that mission.
• Universality: they apply wherever the Church extends.
• Perenniality: since they are the best means, there is no reason to change; they are lasting.
Can you give examples of long lasting Church Institutions?
Examples of lasting Church Institutions are:
• The Priesthood, which was founded by Our Lord, while the different degrees of the Hierarchy were set up by the Church. The Apostles instituted the degrees of the Hierarchy for the salvation of souls as follows: Deacon, Priest, Bishop. In the 2nd century A.D., the Church added the degree of Lector. By the middle of the following century, other minor orders of the Clergy were established, namely: Porter, Acolyte, Exorcist, and Sub-deacon. The Ecclesiastical Hierarchy has not changed much since that time.
• Special religious institutions were set up for the personal sanctification of the faithful. In the 3rd century A.D., the Monks (Coenobites and Hermits) would strictly follow the Evangelical counsels. In the 13th century A.D., the Third Orders would make it as easy as possible to do the same for people in the world. Both of these institutions still exist in our day.
• Other institutions were founded for the general sanctification, not only of individuals, but of society as a whole, such as workers’ guilds, confraternities, the Truce of God, the Peace of God, and particularly the four above-mentioned institutions for the promotion and defense of the Christendom: Christian Monarchy, Christian Knighthood, the Crusades, and the Military Orders. Most of these institutions lasted a long time, or are still in existence. The Crusades did not stop with the loss of the Holy Land in 1291. They were called until the 17th century, such as the Crusade to defend Vienna besieged by the Turks. The galleys of the Order Malta protected Europe at the Battle of Lepanto, and until the end of the 18th century. Pope Pius XIIth himself said, in his 1956 Christmas message, that he had been thinking of calling for a Crusade, as Hungary was being invaded by the Communist Russians.
Has the Church mentioned the perennial aspect of Her Institutions?
Yes, on many occasions. More particularly, Pope St. Pius X, in 1910, did so in a very significant way when he had to condemn a French progressive Catholic organization called “le Sillon”, because it wanted to find new bases and principles for society, a “New Christendom”, as Maritain later called it. They admitted that it would have to be a pluralist liberal democracy. That document of St. Pius Xth is known as the Letter about le Sillon.
It reads thus: “This has to be emphasized in our time of social and intellectual anarchy, when everyone establishes himself as doctor and legislator: one will not build the city otherwise than God has built it; one will not build up society if the Church does not lay its foundations and lead its construction; no, civilization does not have to be discovered, nor the new city to be built in the clouds. It has been, and it is; this is Christian Civilization, this is the Catholic City. One only has to build it and restore it unceasingly, on its natural and divine bases, against the ever reviving attacks of pernicious utopias, revolt and impiety: Omnia instaurare in Christo [restore all things in Christ].”
What are the main Institutions set up by the Church for the promotion of Christendom?
They are Christian Monarchy and Knighthood, with their three levels of consecration, one for Emperors, one for Kings, and one for Knights. Anointing or coronation was conferred upon an Emperor or a King, while the rite of liturgical dubbing was conferred upon a Knight.
What are the main Institutions founded by the Church for the defense of Christendom on all its fronts?
They are the Crusades, as a temporary movement, followed by the Military Orders, as the permanent order and defense structure of Christendom.