WHY A CHURCH THAT IS CATHOLIC IS THE TRUE CHURCH

I have often then inquired earnestly and attentively of the very many men eminent for sanctity and learning, how and by what safe and universal rule I may be able to distinguish the Truth of Catholic faith from the falsehood of heretical pravity; and I have always and in almost every instance, received an answer to the this effect .   That whether I or any one else should wish to detect the frauds and avoid the snares of heretics as they rise, and to continue sound and complete in the Catholic faith, we must, the Lord helping, fortify our own belief in two ways, first , by the authority of the divine law,  and then by the tradition of the Catholic Church.   But here someone will ask perhaps  'Since the Canon of Scripture is complete and sufficient of itself for everything, and more than sufficient , what need is there to join with it the authority of the Church's interpretation?   For this reason - because owing to the depth of Holy Scripture all do not accept it in one and the same sense, but one understands its words in one way, another in another way so that it seems to be capable of as many many interpretations as there are interpreters.   For Novarium expounds in one way, Sebelius another, Donatus another, Darius, Euronius, Macedonius another, Pontius, Apolinarius, Priscillian, another, Iovinaian, Pelagius, Celestius, another, and lastly Nestorius another .   Therefore it is very necessary on account of so great intricacies of such various error, that the rules of the right understanding of the prophets and apostles should be framed in accordance with the standard of ecclesiastical and Catholic interpretation.

Meanwhile in the Catholic Church itself all possible care must be taken that we hold the faith that has been believed everywhere, always, by all.   For that is truly and in the strictest sense Catholic, which as the name itself and the reason of the thing declares, comprehends all universality.

                                  ST VINCENT OF LERINS AD  (Notebook 2: 4 - 6   c AD 434)

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