Question for Roman Catholics?

Question

Can you please name one sure way or method, that a new believer in Christ, can know that the Roman Catholic church is the One True Church?

P.S. Im Not a Roman Catholic or a Protestant.

Answer 1

Christ established only one Church with one set of beliefs (Eph. 4:4–5). He did not establish numerous churches with contradictory beliefs. Why do these churches have contradicting beliefs? Because Jesus Christ gave the Holy Spirit to only one Church (John 14,25; John 16,13). He also authorized only one Church to teach the world (Matthew 28,20; Luke 10,16).

To see which is the true Church, we must look for the one that has an unbroken historical link to the Church of the New Testament. Catholics are able to show such a link. They trace their leaders, the bishops, back through time, bishop by bishop, all the way to the apostles, and they show that the pope is the lineal successor to Peter, who was the first bishop of Rome. The same thing is true of Catholic beliefs and practices. Take any one you wish; e.g. confessing to a priest, purgatory, Immaculate Conception of Mary, Sacred Images, etc., and you can trace it back to the apostolic period.


Peace and blessings!

Answer 2

*Is Catholic*

Well first the Roman Catholic Church is only one of the Churches that make up the Catholic Church. Don't forget the Eastern Catholic Churches!

I can prove that the Catholic Church alone is the "One True Church"

either by history or by philosophy. Scripture is not needed for this question as a proof text, just use it as an historical text.

It is extremely easy to show that that Church of the Apostles and the first generation (33 AD - 150 AD) believe after the manner of the Catholics or the Orthodox. It takes a bit more doing to show that Catholics are correct and the Orthodox are not quite correct as it is more about Church structure rather than doctrine fundamentals when everything comes down to it.

Try this...grab an early catechism and read it along with the current catechism.

Answer 3

I tried to answer this question last night and kept getting an error when I hit submit. I could answer other questions, just not this one. So, I'm trying again.

Wow...somebody doesn't want me posting an answer. I just wrote another long answer and it kicked me out. So...trying again!!

I'm a Catholic convert. It's been over 10 years since my conversion.

I do not think there is one quick answer such as a way or a method to understanding that the Catholic Church is the one true Church. As I took baby steps in the direction that God was leading me, it's as if the blinders were removed and I could see the love that Christ was pouring out through his Church. This was not what I expected.

The Church is over 2000 years old. It has had trials and tribulations, but "the gates of hell have not prevailed against it." The Church has stood strong in the face of all sorts of changes and persecution. The Church continues to be a beacon in very stormy dark times, for the faithful to find their way. The Church's responsibility is "feed Christ's sheep." And that she does.

When you let go and in faith begin your journey...Christ will lead you. As you receive the sacraments, the grace of God becomes abundant through this obediance. It's truly amazing. Receiving Eucharist begins to change you from within. I look forward to Mass and can not even consider missing it.

My advice to you, pray! Seek God first but be willing to go where he leads you. Read about Catholicism from knowledgable sources. Love Christ.

Some good websites are:

http://www.catholic.com
http://www.ewtn.com
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/history/world/wh0106.html
http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/index2.htm

Answer 4

Read some history. The Bible tells us that Christ founded ONE Church, and that it was His divine will that it remain ONE Church forever. History plainly traces the Catholic Church directly back to the Apostles, and there was no Christian Church but the Catholic Church on earth for more than 1,000 years after Christ. Therefore no honest person who knows any Christian history at all can miss the obvious fact that the Catholic Church is the ONE Church founded by Jesus Christ for all mankind, and that Jesus never intended or approved any churches but the ONE He personally founded upon the Apostles, the Catholic Church.

Answer 5

Get a book called "Apologetics and the Catholic Doctrine" by Archbishop Michael Sheehan. It's logic is absolutely flawless. Trust me on this one. I went through the same episode a few years ago as well.

Alternatively you can look up "catholic apologetics" websites on the internet, but this is less informative. If you research you will see that no Christian denomination can back up it's claims at being the one true Church Jesus Christ instituted as well and as thoroughly as the Catholic Church can.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

yes, I'll try...

The consecration, in 1942, of Pope Pius XII of the whole Church, and the whole world and all humanity to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

and later, the consercration of all humanity to the Sacred Heart of Mary by John Paul II.

Thirdly, look at all the martyrs and saints.

Answer 7

A true believer in christ would know that the church doesn't matter only the teachings of christ and love are all that is important.

Answer 8

What the recent document from Rome addresses is the more subtle question of the relationship between the Catholic Church and other Christian churches and ecclesial communities. The Church Fathers of the Second Vatican Council taught in Lumen Gentium article # 8 that the Church of Christ "subsists in" the Catholic Church rather than "is" the Catholic Church. This means that the Church of Christ is found in the Catholic Church and is comprised of all those rites that confess the Church to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic, as proclaimed in the Creed, and recognize the Pope as the successor of Peter.

This distinction also recognizes that while the Catholic Church possesses all the constitutive elements of the Church founded by Christ, other Christian communities that have broken communion with the Catholic Church retain many of these same elements of sanctification and truth, including baptism and the transforming presence of Christ in Scripture. As such, the means of salvation in the Lord Jesus are available to non-Catholic Christians since they too have been baptized into the Lord's death and resurrection. This distinction also reminds us, as members of the Catholic Church, that while we have maintained unity with the apostolic church established by Jesus Christ, we are always in need of conversion and repentance both as individuals and as a community of faith.

This observation leads to another important distinction that the document tries to clarify. What is the difference in meaning and application between the terms "church" and "ecclesial community"? In order to understand this distinction, we must remember that there are two essential elements that are necessary to constitute the existence of the Church. They are a validly ordained priesthood that is a necessary prerequisite for a valid celebration of the Eucharist. "Validly ordained bishops, i.e., those who are in the line of apostolic succession, validly confer the three degrees of the sacrament of Holy Orders" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1576). If these two essential elements do not exist in any community of Christian believers, they do not form a Church but rather an ecclesial community of Christian faith. Thus, many of our Protestant brothers and sisters, whose communities were formed after the Reformation of the 16th century, are called ecclesial communities because they did not maintain apostolic succession, many do not celebrate all of the seven sacraments or believe all that is maintained in the Creed as handed down to us by the apostles. They remain, however, communities that are vibrant, alive with faith in the Lord Jesus and committed to the Gospel message to evangelize the world.

It is unfortunate that many have understood these recent documents from Rome as representing a retreat in the work of ecumenism. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Pope Benedict XVI, in his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, had this to say about ecumenism and the progress needed to be made, "Union with Christ is also union with all those to whom He gives himself. I cannot possess Christ just for myself; I can belong to Him only in union with all those who have become, or who will become, His own. Communion draws me out of myself towards Him, and thus also towards unity with all Christians" (article #14).

The clear desire that Jesus had at the Last Supper was that all would be one. Perhaps, the Lord foresaw the divisions that would occur among those who would follow Him. How important it is for us today to work for this unity and understanding among ourselves. Unfortunately, human words and theological concepts seldom bring us together. It is the lived relationships of love and acceptance that make us one in Christ and recognize that our faith in Jesus Christ many times goes beyond our theological understanding.

The work of ecumenism, which seeks unity among Christian churches and ecclesial communities, is something that we cannot shy away from. It is to "put out into the deep" and recognize our isolation and work toward the unity that Christ sincerely desired. Pray with me that the work for ecumenism in our own Diocese here in Brooklyn and Queens will bear fruit as we witness the mutual love, concern and respect for all who bear the name of "Christian."

Source(s) Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio

Answer 9

the fact that our first Pope was Peter, the one Jesus appointed is enough.

I don't care about what other people want to believe in, as long as I know our history, it's enough validation for me that it's true.

Answer 10

It would be the same method, that you derived at your faith, and knew that it was the One True Church.

They prayed, and their prayers were answered. Just like believers in all other faiths...