THE ECCLESIAE (IGLESIA)

THE "ECCLESIAE"

There is not in English a Word for “Iglesia” (Ecclesiae in Latin) our word in romance lenguajes for “Church” would be “templo”, so when we refer to the IGLESIA it is the Catholic one, the only one founded by Jesus Christ, one , holy, catholic, apostolic and roman, these are the main and first foundation of this living spiritual association of the baptized to wich we belong, and profess, under the visible head that it has, the POPE, that leads the hierarchy scattered in all the orb, under the dioceses headed by the bishop of each and every one, as first spiritual and religious  authority.

This “Ecclesiae” of ours has several foundational moments, that we will exam ahead but its birth is seen especially at the Jesus Christ Cross by the Magistery and the Tradition, having been the task of Jesus its creation since He started its public life. Jesus created it to be assisted by the Holy Spirit in the fulfillment of its objectives, its mission that consists in the education that we acquire trough the word of God expressed in person by the Son (the Second Person of the Holy Trinity) to his apostles and disciples, this knowledgement that will last for ever until the end of times in its lively and active form, but this is not its only objective, besides it is the announcing the Kingdom of God that is brought to us and that is among us, even if it is not of this world, in it is, in the form of mystery. In the history of the life of the “Ecclesiae” we find several foundational moments:

--When Jesus tells Simon, you will be Petrus  and will be the foundation of my Ecclesiae.

--At the cross after his death when the lance goes through his side and water and blood come

    out, some Fathers of the Ecclesiae see in this a point of foundation.

--Also in “PENTECOSTES” when the Holy Spirit comes to the “Apostle Reunion.

The Ecclesiae is our teacher, the one that cares with special neatness the instruction of THE DEPOSIT OF THE FAITH, where Jesus Christ´s Doctrine is contained, knowledgment that is in the Written Word and the Tradition. Its mission is supernatural the Ecclesiae is the administrator of the Sacraments established by Jesus, is also the one that introduces, and help us grow  into our faith, and offers the means to get eternal salvation. Other aspect that is very important about the Ecclesiae is its INFALIBILITY, which is given to the MAGISTRY and the POPE when he expresses Ex-Cathedra, due to the care that the Holy Spirit exerts over its Eccleciae on the care of the DIVINE REVELATION.

The Ecclesiae will always be recognized as “UNA, SANTA, CATÓLICA Y APOSTÓLICA. Even thoug named in the anglo-saxon countries as the ROMAN CATHOLIC.

Jorge Casas y Sánchez.