Were you crucified, buried, and resurrected with the Lord Jesus Christ yet (Rom 6:3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12; Gal 2:20)? Does the second death have power over you still (Rev 20:6)? Have you received the Holy Spirit yet (Jn 20:22)? Do you yet walk in the Holy Spirit, never fulfilling any of the lusts of your flesh (Gal 5:16), and always experiencing the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22-23)?Are you a practicing Catholic?
Have you received the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion)?
Do you submit to the authority of the Pope as laid out in Vatican Council I?
To him, in blessed Peter, full power has been given by our lord Jesus Christ to tend, rule and govern the universal Church. All this is to be found in the acts of the ecumenical councils and the sacred canons... Both clergy and faithful, of whatever rite and dignity...are bound to submit to this power by the duty of hierarchical subordination and true obedience, and this not only in matters concerning faith and morals, but also in those which regard the discipline and government of the Church throughout the world.
Are you there yet?
I am complete in the Lord Jesus Christ (Col 2:9,10) - a complete Catholic. And I did it the hard way, through my home faith, through its hard knocks, through scrupulous adherence to its laws and customs and rituals and traditions; and no, I'm not planning on going through that rope course again. I've run my race. I got there by a different way, externally, and a more difficult way, internally, than Catholics. Catholics are given the hints and tips, a streamlined algorithm, perfected over two thousand years and through two hundred sixty-five Popes. I think I explicitly appreciate what many practicing Catholics have in the Roman Catholic Church and Organization, more than they do, because I know how rocky a path it is for those outside of Her.
This is where the Church wants you to be. Are you there yet?
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